Virtual Console (Wii U)

The Wii U Virtual Console is the service on the Wii U eShop distributing classic games as digital downloads. The service supports NES, SNES, N64, GBA, DS, and TurboGrafx-16 games with Japan supporting MSX additionally. Each game is wrapped in an emulator. Similar Virtual Console services were available on the Wii and 3DS. The pricing structure is based on local currency rather than Nintendo points and titles owned on the Wii can be upgraded for a fee. Although the Wii U doesn't support GameCube games through the Virtual Console, if Nintendont or the Homebrew app is installed on the Wii U, the player can play GameCube games. As of March 27, 2023 the Wii U eShop has been discontinued.

Feature set

NES & SNES

While simplistic, the emulators for NES and SNES games were advanced over their predecessors on the Wii with controls configuration, an actual save state and a simple way to access the emulator's settings by tapping on the screen.

GBA

The GBA emulator isn't particular more complex, but it has a pixel smoothing filter toggle. The shortcut to this is clicking the right stick.

Titles offered

Each region is offered a different arrangement of titles

• Wii U Virtual Console titles (North America)
• Wii U Virtual Console titles (Japan)
• Wii U Virtual Console titles (PAL regions)

Changes from the originals

Although Nintendo strives to re-release all games as close as possible to the original, there have been some changes to various games, both trivial and notable.

NES

• In Zelda II, the death animation was changed to have the screen only turn red with Link's silhouette instead of flashing red and black in order to reduce the risk of seizures.

• Wrecking Crew was changed to include the ability to save custom stages, previously only available in the Famicom version.
• Duck Hunt has been altered to compensate for the lack of the zapper. Instead, the player aims with the Wii Remote and a targeter appears on screen.
• All the NES games have a pixel filtering filter which causes a slight blur effect.
• In Punch Out the dialog with Piston Honda has been changed from "Where is the NHK TV camera? Hello Tokyo!" was changed in the Virtual Console versions to "Where is my camera crew? Hello Tokyo!"

SNES

• Donkey Kong Country
  • The blinding flash that occurs when Squawks faces the screen in Torchlight Trouble was removed to greatly reduce the risk of seizures.
• Donkey Kong Country 2
  • The blinding flash that occurs when Glimmer faces the screen in Glimmer's Galleon was removed to greatly reduce the risk of seizures.

• Breath of Fire II
  • The word "Damn" used in the SNES release has been changed to "Darn"

• Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
  • The Flame Wall and Static-E! flashing effect from the SNES has been toned down to greatly reduce the risk of seizures.
  • Also in the PAL version the word "Bugger" said by Croco has been changed to "Pest".

GBA

• The Mega Man Battle Network games have been updated to just give the player trade-exclusive chips.

N64

All the N64 games, like the Wii Virtual Console, are rendered at 480p instead of the original 240p.

• Super Mario 64
  • During gameplay, the drop shadows located at the top and bottom of the screen have been removed and can only return if Mario loses all of his Health Points.
  • Chain Chomp's mouth is purple instead of red, possibly because the game in general is made a bit darker.
  • Vanish Mario appears purely transparent instead of being flickering in dithered colors for unknown reasons.
  • All slowdown and loading times have been removed, and the game is impossible to crash.
  • The sound is slightly quieter and sounds a bit muffled.
• Paper Mario
  • The brightness of the light from the Super Block has been adjusted to avoid the risk of seizures.
  • The walls in the temple in Dry Dry Desert appear more curved in the Virtual Console version.
  • The Crystal King's clones are more transparent, making it easier to spot the real Crystal King.
  • Monstar has Stars surrounding it in the Virtual Console version.

• Pokemon Snap
  • The Pokemon character sprite Jynx has been recolored from Black to Purple.

• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
  • Uses many of the updated changes from the original game including the replacement of the Fire Temple theme song, blood changed from red to green.