Backwards compatibility has long been a core tenet of Nintendo’s hardware, with the Wii U able to switch into a Wii mode and play the titles from that console, as well as the eShop featuring games from the NES, SNES and GBA. Now Nintendo have figured out a way to combine those two together and start to offer Wii games for download, skipping the previous step of needing to load the Wii menu. On top of this, you’ll be able to use the Wii U gamepad as a controller, in games that previously required the Classic Controller.
To celebrate this, the next three weeks will see three of the best Wii games arrive on the eShop with a one week long half price discount. Super Mario Galaxy 2 arrives today, Donkey Kong Country Returns lands on January 22nd and Metroid Prime Trilogy on January 29th, for €9.99/£8.99 rather than the regular €19.99/£17.99 pricing.
Those three games are just the start, though, with Kirby’s Adventure Wii, Punch-Out, Pandora’s Tower and Sin And Punishment: Successor Of The Skies set to arrive in the coming months.
Update: Wii game pricing confirmed.
Blair Inglis
Super Mario Galaxy 2, yes!
DirtyHabit
Bought it on disc last week for £7 (and twilight princess for £8) :-)
Got caught out on the wii u which I’m a bit annoyed about. I put £20 on to buy the MK8 DLC. Was planning to spend the change on a couple of N64 games, only to find out they are separate stores and the balance can’t be spent on the wii store :-(
Blair Inglis
Oh wow, I’ve never seen it below £15 before. £9 is good enough for me, especially for a download.
Well, at least you could use that credit to buy Metroid or Donkey Kong?
Kennykazey
But can I use the gamepad as a controller when playing my disc-based Wii games? I want to play Xenoblade on it.
Kennykazey
It appears the answer is no. C’mon Nintendo, please!
And people, watch the new Xenoblade Chronicles X trailer. It’s got some awe-inspiring vistas.
Dominic Leighton
Yeah Xenoblade Chronicles X looks phenomenal!