For the Wii, Wii U, and 3DS, Nintendo re-released several older games as Virtual Console games. These releases emulate the original hardware and code for each game, resulting in highly accurate representations of the original games. The games and systems which are available vary depending on the system and region.
Features[]
Wii[]
For NES games on the Wii Virtual Console, the player had several options for controls. The player could use a horizontal Wii Remote, a Wii Classic Controller, or a GameCube controller. By pressing the home button on the controller, the player could also access an electronic manual, reset the game, or return to the Wii home menu. Quitting out of the game this way would automatically save a restore point which would resume the next time the player opened the game.
3DS[]
The 3DS introduced the ability to create and load restore points while playing, effectively allowing a player to create a "bookmark" which they could go back to at any point. For certain games with multiplayer, the player can send out a downloadable version locally to play with others using Download Play.
Wii U[]
The Wii U also includes the restore and suspend points from the 3DS. For Game Boy Advance games, there is also an option to smooth the sprites using an upscaling shader.
Games[]
Wii[]
Wii Virtual Console Balloon Fight
There were only home console games available, including the NES, SNES, N64, Sega Master System, Commodore 64, MSX, TurboGrafx-16, Sega Genesis, Neo-Geo AES, and Arcade games. Of these, the only game related to Balloon Fight was a release of the NES version.
3DS[]
A screenshot of Balloon Kid running on the 3DS.
Virtual Console on the 3DS introduced handheld games, including the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Gear. However, the N64, Master System, Genesis, Neo Geo AES, Commodore 64, MSX, and Arcade games were never available. SNES games were also available later in the system's lifespan, but could only run on the New 3DS family of systems. Game Boy Advance games were only available to those who purchased a 3DS before the first price drop as part of the Ambassador Program.
With the support of handheld systems, as well as access to NES games, the 3DS had several Balloon Fight related games available through Virtual Console, including several games which only included cameos and references:
- Balloon Fight (NES)
- Balloon Kid
- Only available in North America and Europe.
- Balloon Fight GB
- Only available in Japan.
- WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!
- Only available through the Ambassador Program.
- Game & Watch Gallery 3
- Available normally internationally, but only available through a promotion in Japan.
Wii U[]
Balloon Fight (Wii U Virtual Console)
The Wii U had access to both Wii Virtual Console releases through the built-in Wii menu and to Wii U-specific releases. The Wii U included releases of NES, SNES, N64, TurboGrafx-16, MSX, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS games. The following Balloon Fight related games were released on the system:
Availability[]
All Virtual Console games were only available digitally through each system's digital storefront, with the exception of Super Mario All-Stars, which was available as a disc to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Super Mario series. However, because the Wii Shop Channel became defunct on January 30th 2019, all Wii Virtual Console games are no longer available for purchase. Similarly, the 3DS and Wii U eShops have been discontinued, so all of the Virtual Console games on those services are also no longer available for purchase. Before these shutdowns, some games were delisted prematurely due to licensing issues, including Game Boy Tetris on the 3DS eShop.