Likely one of the last Nintendo-developed NES games we'll see
Let's see how generous Nintendo is for Europe this week - We get a game the US already has and a game which is already available in a superior form!
Clu Clu Land is likely the third-last non-import Nintendo game for the NES (The last remaining likely games being Golf and Pro Wrestling). You play as Bubbles as you float around a maze, grabbing poles to swing yourself around and uncovering gold bars to gradually reveal a picture. You also have to avoid the nasty Sea Urchins and other dangers which appear in the maze. The game is quite fun for a while, but like most old NES games it's extremely simplistic - Almost every level is the same, meaning it gets boring quite fast. Check out our Clu Clu Land review.
The other new game isn't a much better deal though - Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair is pretty much exactly the same as Monster Lair for the Turbografx-CD - Pretty much the only difference is that the Mega Drive version has worse graphics and music, making this release practically completely pointless. On top of that, the game itself isn't that hot either - It doesn't play at all like any other Wonder Boy game, it's more like a platformer mixed with a shoot 'em up. We'll have our review up soon, but until then you can check out the Monster Lair TG16 review to get an idea of what to expect.
Still no Hanabi Festival! Don't you hear all those sweet imports just begging to be released?
1. marktheshark
05 Mar 2009, 23:40 GMT
The trash just has be released sometime sooner or later.
Can't keep it in the backburner for too long.
2. Pj
05 Mar 2009, 23:40 GMT
What? No exclusives! Rubbish week. I look forward to the fortnightly VC releases but on this occasion please wake me up again in two weeks.........
3. tootie_kicks
05 Mar 2009, 23:41 GMT
Gah!
I was looking forward to a Hanabi festival and Ogre Battle, but it's not to be...
4. Kurachi
05 Mar 2009, 23:41 GMT
i dont know wonder boy, and dont really like the way its played
clu clu land, i had fun back then, maybe i buy it later, after my list is complete
i really prefered SSB
5. DDR Paladin356
05 Mar 2009, 23:44 GMT
Yawn
6. Ratengo
05 Mar 2009, 23:49 GMT
The Turbografx version of Monster Lair contains 14 levels and also has a better ending than the Mega Drive version, which has only 9 levels. Otherwise, what a crappy update...!
7. The Fox
05 Mar 2009, 23:51 GMT
Wow, what a shitty week. For a while there Europe was faring better in releases than North America, but not so much recently.
8. PaperToad
05 Mar 2009, 23:58 GMT
All I can say is...
Ouch.
9. Tragickingdom
06 Mar 2009, 00:00 GMT
ouch as well
10. Adamant
06 Mar 2009, 00:03 GMT
Well, uh...
We knew they were coming, so at least they're out of the way now.
Still, why release these two together?
I know some people like Clu Clu Land, but it's a rather aquired taste, and it's probably the least popular score-based NES game Nintendo has made.
11. Starwolf_UK
06 Mar 2009, 00:08 GMT
Don't you hear all those sweet imports just begging to be released?
They're begging but nobody is listening. Nintendo of Europe can't hear over the sound of cash registers.
As far as getting things over with I hope the next update is Golf and the Wonder boy version of Dragon's Curse just so we can have two things over and done with...unless I've missed some Wonder Boy games...which is very possible
12. Drake
06 Mar 2009, 00:10 GMT
Yes, The Dragon's Trap is the last remaining Wonder Boy game, not counting Monster World IV. Unless they start releasing the C64 versions too (And Europe got a Master System port of Wonder Boy in Monster World)
13. Tony
06 Mar 2009, 00:11 GMT
I don't want to speak for everyone, but I hope this is the last version of Wonderboy. Nintendo you can move on to other games now
14. Angelic Lapras King
06 Mar 2009, 00:11 GMT
You know this makes 6 updates in a row to have at least 1 Sega Console game right? 0.o
15. Drake
06 Mar 2009, 00:14 GMT
Keep in mind that Sega used to release three games a month in Europe in 2007 - Obviously the only way to get close to doing that now is releasing a game with every single update
16. Objection_Blaster
06 Mar 2009, 00:14 GMT
Another suckish update for Europe...
17. Corbie
06 Mar 2009, 00:56 GMT
Wow this was a fairly lacking European update. Sorry guys.
18. Kelvin
06 Mar 2009, 01:16 GMT
Is... is that it?
19. Party On Dude
06 Mar 2009, 01:18 GMT
@Tony:
You just said it PERFECTLY for everyone else on here, Congrats and AMEN to you MAN!!
20. Pj
06 Mar 2009, 01:55 GMT
I look forward to the fortnightly VC releases but on this occasion please wake me up again in two weeks........
21. Bahamut ZERO
06 Mar 2009, 01:57 GMT
Europe is so lucky. First Pong Toss now this
22. KingMike
06 Mar 2009, 02:23 GMT
Last likely, but not last possible.
Then they'll probably move on to the Zapper games.
And I suppose they could do Power Pad, since isn't the Active Life pad essentially a re-branded Power Pad (successor to the Family Fun Fitness pad, as it was known in Japan and Europe).
Or they could move to the last first-party SNES games. Though EarthBound has been discusses as unlikely previously, there's still Super Punch-Out left (and TinStar, which I never played so I have no opinion on.).
23. seanehawk
06 Mar 2009, 02:28 GMT
Ouch. i feel bad for EU gamers....
24. Neomega
06 Mar 2009, 02:31 GMT
Why not release every game that had a trophy in SSBM
EU gamers...do you need a hug?
25. sega nerd
06 Mar 2009, 02:55 GMT
Wow this is very uninspiring release for EU gamers. Something like Ogre Battle or Super Punch-Out would have been acceptable.
26. potomas
06 Mar 2009, 03:00 GMT
hulk mad
27. tootie_kicks
06 Mar 2009, 03:04 GMT
@Neomega
Yes...
hugz
28. brooks83
06 Mar 2009, 03:05 GMT
Was Pro Wrestling an import for EU? Because that would make 2 Nintendo developed NES games we're missing.
29. Clayfrd
06 Mar 2009, 03:25 GMT
Wow, that's what I call a dissappointment. Clu-Clu Land is kind of fun, though.
On a completely unrelated note, I just started playing Ikaruga again, and it is superb. I love it. I recommend it to anyone that can take a challenge without whining.
30. chunky_droid
06 Mar 2009, 03:35 GMT
I love Wonderboy, and at least the Australians got 2 games this time instead of 1
So the TG-CD version is an ACTUAL Wonderboy title? Or is it sprite remodelled etc? I know about all the games except this one
31. tootie_kicks
06 Mar 2009, 03:43 GMT
[headbutts chunky_droid]
[sees winking smiley]
[un-headbutts chunky_droid]
32. chunky_droid
06 Mar 2009, 03:47 GMT
ouch! I mean.... un-ouch!!
I'm Australian too (just American console), Nintendo of Australia just suck IMO. Will be importing my DSi in April too
33. Jogurt the Yogurt
06 Mar 2009, 03:52 GMT
You know, this isn't too too bad, but it's... well, it's pretty bad, yeah. Better luck next time dudes!
34. Josh5890
06 Mar 2009, 03:59 GMT
Hey, at least it's better than nothing.
35. Adamant
06 Mar 2009, 04:14 GMT
"Was Pro Wrestling an import for EU?"
No, it was released there.
Ogre Battle, which was suggested above, was not, though, so we all knew that wasn't coming.
Plus, the lack of ratings and all.
36. morphballer
06 Mar 2009, 04:45 GMT
I have a sneaking suspicion you guys are going to get Rondo of Blood before we do...
37. MickEiA
06 Mar 2009, 05:18 GMT
#25 id rather nothing and wait another 2 weeks to hopefully lucasarts coming to VC
38. Shinnok
06 Mar 2009, 05:28 GMT
Yippee, more crap! I can smell it from the computer screen!
39. tootie_kicks
06 Mar 2009, 05:40 GMT
@Shinnok
It's not that it's crap, it's just...
Yeah, it's crap.
At least this will stop my impulsive spending habits for another week, seeing as WiiPoints aren't real money.
40. brooks83
06 Mar 2009, 08:20 GMT
The reason I asked if Pro Wrestling was an import is because in the news article it says that Golf is the only other Nintendo developed NES game that could come out. But that would be wrong, because they are forgetting Pro Wrestling...
41. That Guy from Faxanadu
06 Mar 2009, 08:41 GMT
... Monster lair is pretty fun, but since we already have the Turbo version... Yes, a pretty bad update.
42. Bass X0
06 Mar 2009, 08:59 GMT
Until Hanabi arrives, theres very little for us to catch up on now - just Powerball and Life Force Salamander. I wonder how soon it will be until we see those two games.
43. Golgo
06 Mar 2009, 11:00 GMT
crock of shit. aint bought a thing off vc since secret of mana, and not sure i ever will again at this rate.
44. Jono
06 Mar 2009, 11:01 GMT
@Brooks
I think they're forgetting about Popeye & Dr. Mario as well? They were released in Europe.
45. Ratengo
06 Mar 2009, 11:06 GMT
Clu Clu Land arrives to Japan in next week, but it seems that the Famicom Disk System version (aka Welcome to New Clu Clu Land) is coming instead. Are there bigger differences between the versions? I have never played so called "Clu Clu Land D" before - is it worth getting then...?
46. Betagam7
06 Mar 2009, 11:09 GMT
I can see some parents complaining when they buy little Johnny another of those Wonderboy games he loves anly to find out its a WORSE VERSION of one he's already got.
47. Drake
06 Mar 2009, 11:10 GMT
Clu Clu Land D only has new levels, an extra enemy and two difficulty levels, I think. Nothing major!
48. CENGOMANIA
06 Mar 2009, 11:12 GMT
I am sorry, but HOW MANY VERSIONS OF WONDERBOY3 DO WE HAVE NOW???
Whatta lame Week!
49. Bass X0
06 Mar 2009, 11:20 GMT
#44: Popeye was a licensed game so that can't be done and Dr. Mario has a modern update on WiiWare that Nintendo would probably rather you buy instead.
50. EJD
06 Mar 2009, 11:49 GMT
Another lousy update.
I've been keeping my points in case of a good release but it looks like they may be unspent for another week.
51. slangman
06 Mar 2009, 12:04 GMT
Yay more crap, while NA is getting all the great games, we are getting garbage as an alternative. I am guessing we are getting more shovelware for Wiiware next week.
52. Bass X0
06 Mar 2009, 12:05 GMT
Don't know why people buy points in anticipation after being disappointed week after week waiting for something they particularly want. Me, I only buy points on the shop using a Visa Electron card when there's something I want already available to me.
53. Sean Aaron
06 Mar 2009, 12:11 GMT
Seriously is that it? Do we not even get a new WiiWare game? WTF? In Japan they've been getting 4-7 releases for weeks (next week seems to be the first with only 3 titles I can remember) and clearly there's stuff that should be waiting for release.
Whatever, Japan gets The Super Shinobi on Megadrive next week and I still haven't bought Ai Cho Aniki, so that plus all the other stuff I've been downloading of late will do me (plus I still haven't finished Pikmin or touched Ookami).
54. Bass X0
06 Mar 2009, 12:13 GMT
Do we not even get a new WiiWare game?
Not this week. Thats next week. As has been the case for many months now.
55. timp29
06 Mar 2009, 12:40 GMT
Doh 2 weeks until the chance of something decent :/
56. slangman
06 Mar 2009, 13:01 GMT
I actually would like Ai Cho Aniki as a Hanabi Festival title. I envy anybody here who owns a Japanese Wii.
57. Tony
06 Mar 2009, 13:22 GMT
Clu Clu Land D is an unlockable in Animal Crossing if anyone wants to try it out. I thought it was a little better than the original and the difficulty seemed toned down a little. I think its likely to make its way to the NA VC as an import.
58. Rapadash6
06 Mar 2009, 17:03 GMT
I was kind of expecting a Hanabi to start with this update but I guess not. I'm sure things will pick up for you guys soon... I mean it has to some time, right?
59. Winter
06 Mar 2009, 21:54 GMT
Yeah that`s what we hope for ...
60. Viral
07 Mar 2009, 08:05 GMT
I'm not impressed with this release week. As someone stated earlier, I haven't bought anything from the VC since Secret of Mana. I must agree as well. I'm almost finished with Lolo and Zack & Wiki.
61. ovaLs
07 Mar 2009, 21:42 GMT
Look on the bright side
you guys get all the C64 games
I want jumpman
62. Terranigma
07 Mar 2009, 22:05 GMT
Well, they're out of the way. That's something i guess but still, it should have been better.
63. Sean Aaron
12 Mar 2009, 12:22 GMT
Well, I bought Ai Cho Aniki and Super Shinobi. The former is goofy as hell, though the controls are giving me some trouble so I need to find a FAQ to figure out how to pull off some of the shots. Still the music is awesome and the game is fun.
Super Shinobi, not so much. I had read reviews of this in the past which suggested as much. It's not like the arcade game; slower-paced, not enough enemies, shurikens that run out (who thought was a good idea?). I dunno. It's only 22 blocks so it can stay on my system for awhile, but I'm not feeling the love...
64. Kurachi
13 Mar 2009, 02:18 GMT
haha, most people who hate this weekend's update are american people
(or worse)
its not that bad... at least its not 2 of those stupid wonder boy games
as i said: clu clu land isnt that bad, i liked it, and might buy after my lists are done for VC, but also after any better game i can and want to get which comes on it before i completed my lists
ps. nice to see american people feeling sry for us, while some said: let europe dont get SoM yet, when it wasnt here
oh well, i only wait really for SSB (n64) and Kirby Dreamland 3 (snes) for now
lets hope that the next hanabi will let me get Kirby 3
GreetZ Kurachi... Kirbyfan forever
65. MickEiA
20 Mar 2009, 10:30 GMT
ah back in the good old days when we got 2 vc titles this update we got 1 with no wiiware games
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