Wii Shop Channel will be shut down in 2019

[Andromeda Stardust]

I think I have like 100 points left on the Wii Shop channel that I can't spend. Nintendo owes me a buck.

[Andromeda Stardust]

 

I made a list a while back of all the Wii Virtual Console titles that aren't available on the Wii U eShop, and thought I'd post it here.

-Games in bold are those available on other modern platforms of the past two generations.

-Games are that are underlined are releases that were once available on the Wii Virtual Console, but have since been delisted from the Wii Shop.

NES:

• A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia
• Adventures of Lolo 2
• Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa
• Blades of Steel
• Bubble Bobble (NES Classic)
• BurgerTime
• Double Dribble
• Elevator Action
• Faxanadu
• Final Fantasy (NES Classic)
• King's Knight
• Lunar Pool
• Milon's Secret Castle (3DS)
• NES Play Action Football
• Operation Wolf
• Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• The Legend of Kage
• Yoshi's Cookie
• Zanac (PS3; PSP; Vita; PSTV)

SNES

• ActRaiser
• Aero the Acro-Bat
• Aero the Acro-Bat 2
• Chrono Trigger
• Darius Twin
• DoReMi Fantasy: Milon's DokiDoki Adventure
• Final Fantasy II
• Final Fantasy III (SNES Classic)
• Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
• Ghoul Patrol
• Gradius III
• Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures
• Kirby's Avalanche
• Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen
• Prince of Persia
• R-Type III: The Third Lightning
• Secret of Mana (SNES Classic)
• SimCity
• Space Invaders: The Original Game
• Super Adventure Island
• Super Adventure Island II
• Super Bonk
• Super R-Type
• Super Star Wars (PS4; Vita; PSTV)
• Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
• Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
• Super Turrican
• Super Turrican 2
• The Combatribes
• Zombies Ate My Neighbors

N64:

• Bomberman Hero
• Cruis'n USA
• Pokémon Puzzle League
• Super Smash Bros.

Sega Master System:

• Alex Kidd in Miracle World (360; PS3; XB1)
• Alex Kidd in Shinobi World
• Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars
• Enduro Racer
• Fantasy Zone (PS3; 3DS)
• Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa (PS3; 3DS)
• Phantasy Star (360; PS3)
• R-Type
• Secret Command
• Sonic Chaos
• Sonic the Hedgehog (3DS: Game Gear conversion of SMS original)
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (3DS: Game Gear conversion of SMS original)
• Space Harrier (PS3)
• Wonder Boy
• Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap (PS4; XB1; Switch: Original mode runs in 16:9)
• Wonder Boy in Monster Land

Genesis:

• Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle (PSP; Vita; PS3; 360)
• Alien Soldier (PS3)
• Alien Storm (PS3; 360)
• Altered Beast (PSP; Vita; PS3; 360; 3DS)
• Beyond Oasis (PS3; 360)
• Bio-Hazard Battle
• Bonanza Bros. (PSP; Vita; PS3; 360)
• Boogerman: A Pick and Flick Adventure
• ClayFighter
• Columns (PSP; Vita; PS3; 360; 3DS)
• Columns III: Revenge of Columns
• Comix Zone (PSP; Vita; PS3; 360; XB1)
• Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (PS3; 360)
• Dynamite Headdy (PS3; 360)
• Earthworm Jim
• Earthworm Jim 2
• Ecco Jr. (PSP; Vita)
• Ecco the Dolphin (PSP; Vita; PS3; 360; 3DS)
• Ecco: The Tides of Time (PSP; Vita; PS3; 360)
• Eternal Champions
• Forgotten Worlds
• Gain Ground (PSP; Vita; PS3; 360)
• Galaxy Force II (PS3)
• Ghouls 'n Ghosts
• Gley Lancer
• Golden Axe (PSP; Vita; PS3; 360)
• Golden Axe II (PSP; Vita; PS3; 360; XB1)
• Golden Axe III (PSP; Vita; PS3; 360; XB1)
• Gunstar Heroes (PS3; 360; 3DS; XB1)
• Kid Chameleon (PSP; Vita; PS3; 360)
• Landstalker: The Treasures of King Nole
• Light Crusader
• M.U.S.H.A.
• Mega Turrican
• Mercs
• Monster World IV (360; PS3; XB1)
• Phantasy Star II (PSP; Vita; PS3; 360; XB1)
• Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom (PSP; Vita; PS3; 360)
• Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium (PSP; Vita; PS3; 360)
• Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium (PSP; Vita; PS3; 360)
• Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure
• Powerball
• Pulseman
• Puyo Puyo 2
• Ristar (PSP; Vita; PS3; 360)
• Rolling Thunder 2
• Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi (PSP; Vita)
• Shanghai II: Dragon's Eye
• Shining Force (PS3; 360)
• Shining Force II: Ancient Sealing (PS3; 360)
• Shining in the Darkness (PS3; 360)
• Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master (PSP; Vita; PS3; 360; 3DS)
• Sonic & Knuckles (PS3; 360; XB1; DS)
• Sonic 3D Blast (PS3; 360)
• Sonic Spinball (PS3; 360)
• Sonic the Hedgehog (PSP; Vita; PS3; 360; 3DS; XB1; DS)
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (PSP; Vita; PS3; 360; 3DS; XB1; DS)
• Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (PS3; 360; DS)
• Space Harrier II (PS3)
• Splatterhouse 2 (PS3; 360)
• Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition
• Streets of Rage (PS3; 360; 3DS; XB1)
• Streets of Rage 2 (PS3; 360; 3DS; XB1)
• Streets of Rage 3 (PS3; 360; XB1)
• Strider
• Super Fantasy Zone (PS3)
• Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers
• Super Thunder Blade (PSP; Vita; PS3; 360)
• Sword of Vermilion (PSP; Vita)
• The Revenge of Shinobi (PS3; 360; XB1)
• ToeJam & Earl (360; XB1; PS3)
• ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron (360; XB1; PS3)
• Vectorman (PSP; Vita; PS3; 360)
• Virtua Fighter 2 (PSP; Vita)
• Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair
• Wonder Boy in Monster World (360; PS3; XB1)

TG16:

• Bloody Wolf
• Bravoman
• Chase H.Q.
• Cratermaze
• Dead Moon
• Dragon Spirit
• Dragon's Curse
• Drop Off
• Galaga '90 (PS3)
• J.J. & Jeff
• Military Madness
• Ordyne
• Psychosis
• Samurai Ghost
• Silent Debuggers
• Splatterhouse (PS3)
• Street Fighter II: Champion Edition
• World Class Baseball

TG16 CD:

• Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (PSP; Vita)
• Cho Aniki
• The Dynastic Hero
• Fighting Street
• Gate of Thunder (PS3)
• Gradius II: Gofer no Yabou (PS3)
• Monster Lair
• Riot Zone
• SimEarth: The Living Planet
• Star Parodier
• Super Air Zonk: Rockabilly-Paradise
• Ys Book I & II (PS3; Japanese PS Store, so not import friendly)

Neo Geo:

• Ironclad
• Sengoku 3
• The Last Blade 2

Virtual Console Arcade:

• 1942 (PS3; 360; XB1; PSP; Vita; PSTV)
• Altered Beast (PS3; 360; XB1)
• Black Tiger (PS3; 360; XB1; PSP; Vita; PSTV)
• Commando (PS3; 360; XB1; PSP; Vita; PSTV)
• Exed Exes (PS3; 360; XB1; PSP; Vita; PSTV)
• Gaplus (Wii; PS3; PSP; Vita; PSTV)
• Ghosts 'n Goblins (PS3; 360; XB1; PSP; Vita; PSTV)
• Golden Axe (PS3; 360; XB1)
• Mappy (Wii; PS3; PSP; Vita; PSTV; 360; DS)
• Ninja Gaiden (XB1)
• Rygar (PS4)
• Shinobi (360; XB1)
• Solomon's Key (PS4)
• SonSon (PS3; 360; XB1; PSP; Vita; PSTV)
• Space Harrier (PS3; 360; PS4)
• Star Force (PS4)
• Super Hang-On (PS3; 360; XB1; PS4)
• Tecmo Bowl
• The Tower of Druaga (PS3; PSP; Vita; PSTV; DS; 360; Switch)
• Wonder Boy in Monster Land (PS3; 360; XB1; Announced for PS4)
• Zaxxon (PS3; 360)

I left off the now delisted Commodore 64 lineup. And for the sake of brevity, I left off those Neo Geo games that have been released via the Arcade Archives lineup since the vast bulk of it is available on current gen platforms and remains widely accessible despite the upcoming demise of the Wii Shop.

My list of alternative platforms isn't definitive, since out of lack of familiarity and to simplify it, I've ignored non-dedicated gaming platforms, backwards compatibility with media older than two generations, and plug and plays other than Nintendo's own. I do include things like PS1 downloads off the Playstation Store, and imports when easily accessible on North American hardware.

 

You forgot the Donkey Kong Country trilogy for SNES. They were available for Wii VC but got delisted, then later added (along with DK64) to Wii-U VC.

 

I can't say I'm not a bit disappointed that Nintendo still hasn't rolled out the red carpet for Virtual Console games on Switch despite being a year on the market and doing very well. I desparately need to buy Super Mario World for the 7th time. LOL!

 

SMAS+World (my original SNES cart)

Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World.

Wii VC.

Wii-U VC.

NEw Nintendo 3DS

Super SNES Mini.

 

Switch???

 

Come on Nintendo, shut up and take my money!!!

[0078265317]

So after january 31 2019 no way to get the games on my wii. No hack to copy them from another system.

[Atariboy]

You waited too long, 007. The only possibility now might be tracking down a sealed Wii Points card, but good luck with that one.

 

They've been out of production for many years now and I imagine the few left today still unopened in their plastic are probably worth more as they are than their un-redeemed 2,000 Wii Points inside are worth, thanks to sealed game collectors (I'm sure there's some Wii fanatic that would pay a premium for one, just as a display).

 

And even if you found one, there's no guarantee that you could successfully redeem the code. So your best bet is the Wii Homebrew Channel and install the VC Super Mario World download that way, or just buy Super Mario All-Stars for $19.99 on disc if you just want to test a SNES classic out on your Wii. It's essentially a physical Wii Virtual Console SNES release, and it remains widely available new thanks to a semi-recent Selects reprinting.

 

And Kosmic, that list I made is of titles that are on the Wii Shop that aren't also available on the Wii U eShop. The 16-bit Donkey Kong Country trilogy was made available on the Wii U eShop, thus it isn't a Wii Shop exclusive. And if you have 100 points left to spend and own Mega Man 9/10 but don't already own all of the DLC, I suggest you go browse their in-game shops.

 

You can buy something like a bonus stage for 100 points, bringing your balance down to zero.

Edited April 6, 2018 by Atariboy

[Austin]

Homebrew Channel, that's your only bet. You missed the boat otherwise.

[0078265317]

Thanks for the advice its not a big deal. Its just one game. I just remember downloading it for some reason and it says I never did. But according to nintendo website points cards do not work after march 26-27 either. But I have enough anyway. I just wanted to test out super nintendo controller options before I opened my classic edition. I have the red limited edition all stars box with 2 discs (1 game and 1 whatever was on the other disc). But no world on it. Only mario 1, 2, and 3, and lost levels. I wanted to test out all for buttons. But super mario world does not use all 4 buttons either (or shoulder buttons for that matter) does it?

 

If not it does not matter. I will just open the classic eventually and try.

[Atariboy]

Don't you have to open your SNES Classic Edition anyways, if you're going to test the controllers out with your Wii?

 

And Super Mario World uses every button (L/R adjusts the camera), but Super Mario All-Stars doesn't have anything mapped to L/R or select. But perhaps try another game? Tons of Classic Controller enabled Wii releases, many of which will have something mapped to all 8 buttons. These SNES styled controllers work with every Wii/Wii U Classic Controller supported game except analog stick required releases.

 

And Nintendo's notices don't explicitly say that Wii Points cards don't work. It says that "you can still add Wii Points until March 26", yet I can buy a DLC code for a Xbox Live Arcade game removed from sale years earlier and still add it to my account, since Microsoft sees it as that particular copy of the game having already been issued (And the physical code potentially in an individual's possession) even though it has yet to actually be redeemed.

 

It's a gray area that may or may not work, but all we really know to my knowledge is that the add Wii Points function of the Wii Shop where you buy points with a credit or debit card has been disabled. Unless there's a pop up now when you go to where you would've in earlier years to redeem a code, nobody really knows for sure about Wii Points cards (if there's even any valid but un-redeemed cards even still out there; Some of this stuff has expiration dates so any such card may be time expired by now).

 

It's academic anyways, so I shouldn't of even speculated in the first place. You're not going to be able to locate one even if they did work, so it didn't even need to be mentioned. People just weren't buying these things and then not redeeming them, and Nintendo hasn't sold them in almost a decade.

Edited April 6, 2018 by Atariboy

[cybercylon]

I feel like I could make a video of all of the different ways I could play SMW and Link to the Past... all of them legal....

[boog]

I had a 2000 Wii Points card that I bought years ago and never redeemed... sold it on ebay last month and the buyer used the code with no issues. I assumed March 26th was the deadline for any method of adding points but there are still a few cards/codes for sale on ebay.

[0078265317]

Don't you have to open your SNES Classic Edition anyways, if you're going to test the controllers out with your Wii?

I meant test other options before I open the classic.

 

The hyperkin cable avr 1 gave me will let me use original snes controllers on wii snd possibly classic.

 

My original plsystation 1 wireless controllers also work also with an adapter I have. But B super speed does bot work in super mario brothers 1 like you need for 8-1.

 

Original snes and nes controllers work also with a wii to gamecube adapter I have. Bit my gamecube to wii adaptler cable broke. And the mayflash adapters are not good reviews on amazon.

[0078265317]

I tested a normal playstation controller and its fine. Only the wireless docs controllers are not working. No B on the wireless controllers.

[+sramirez2008]

Homebrew Channel, that's your only bet. You missed the boat otherwise.

 

This is what I mostly use my Wii for. 2600 and 7800 homebrews and every now and then, I load up Mario Kart.

[Rick Dangerous]

So what are the must download WiiWare titles before the shop shuts down in 5 months?

 

Planning to pick up a few titles for nostalgia sake before the service shuts down in Jan 2019

[Flojomojo]

I'm thinking "if you need to ask, you don't need any of it."

[Atariboy]

He must have the credit on his Wii Shop account since you can't add funds any longer, so he may as well use it to his benefit.

 

To get things rolling, Contra Rebirth is excellent.

[Skippy B. Coyote]

He must have the credit on his Wii Shop account since you can't add funds any longer, so he may as well use it to his benefit.

 

To get things rolling, Contra Rebirth is excellent.

Seconded! Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth, Gradius ReBirth, and MotoHeroz would be excellent uses of your credit as well.

[boog]

My personal favorite Wiiware exclusive is Space Invaders Get Even. Unique shmup that uses the Wiimote/nunchuck combo to direct a cloud of Space Invaders as you attack the humans. I thought it was a great game, but critics panned it for the pricing structure... the base game is 500 points for just the 1st level. The other 3 level packs are 500 points each, making the total game $20. I played a lot and ended up 3rd on the leaderboards.

 

Some of the other Taito Wiiware games were pretty good also; Bubble Bobble Plus, Puzzle Bobble Plus, and Arkanoid Plus but they're just updates of the originals with new levels/powerups/etc.

 

Along with the Konami Rebirth & Taito games there are a lot of other decent retro gaming updates on Wiiware like Alien Crush Returns, Adventure Island: The Beginning, Blaster Master Overdrive, Mr Driller W, Star Soldier R, Bomberman Blast, Rainbow Islands Towering Adventure, etc.

 

The Konami Rebirth series is coming to the Switch, so at least those games will get another shot at preservation... shame that most of the others will disappear forever.

[boxpressed]

The Wii Shop goes away in about two more weeks.

 

I bought only one Wiiware and one VC game over its lifespan. I have to say, between the Homebrew Channel and native GC compatibility, the Wii is one fun, versatile system.

 

I'm enjoying Rogue Leader on a projected 120" screen (Dolphin can't emulate this game right). And I just ordered an N64-to-GC adapter to use with the VC N64 games.