Nintendo, as they originally announced in February, are preparing to finally add Game Boy Advance titles to their Virtual Console service. Classics like Metroid Fusion, Advance Wars, and WarioWare, Inc: Mega Microgames will soon be available at a discounted price for longtime fans and newcomers alike to try out. There is a catch, though, and that’s the fact that instead of offering the games on Nintendo’s current handheld, the 3DS, these will only be available on the Wii U.
The release schedule for April in both North America and Europe is as follows:
- April 3 – Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Metroid Fusion, Advance Wars
- April 10 – WarioWare, Inc: Mega Microgames, Kirby and the Amazing Mirror
- April 17 – Golden Sun, F-Zero: Maximum Velocity
- April 24 – Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3
Each game will be priced at $8, with the exceptions of WarioWare Inc: Mega Microgames, Kirby and the Amazing Mirror, and F-Zero: Maximum Velocity, which will be $7 each. All the games will support off-TV play on the GamePad controller, save states, customizable controls, and Miiverse functionality. On a non-GBA Virtual Console note, Super Mario Bros. 3 has been confirmed for a Wii U and 3DS simultaneous release on April 17 for $5.
As happy as I am to finally see Game Boy Advance titles up for digital purchase, I can’t help but be baffled by the decision to make them Wii U-exclusive. I don’t think unaltered re-releases will help the system’s struggling sales like Nintendo is expecting, and seeing how popular the 3DS currently is, putting those titles on the company’s handheld would undoubtedly translate to many more sales and a higher profit. With luck, they’ll choose to make the leap to 3DS eventually with these titles, but for now, if you don’t own a Wii U, you won’t have access to these games.
A promotional trailer for the Game Boy Advance Virtual Console launch titles can be viewed below. Check it out and let us know which, if any, you’ll be picking up.
