Fireworks are in the air for Virtual Console users as Nintendo of Europe announced the latest batch of titles now available on the downloadable game service. Included in this week's update are several well-loved Japanese titles as well as the return of one of the most anticipated titles from the NeoGeo platform, Metal Slug. For more information, check out our full article after the jump.

Gamers who enjoy using the Japan Wii Virtual Console service are in for a treat. The list of games that will be available for next week and the entire month of May have already been revealed. To check it out for yourself, head on over to the full article.

To make up for last month's rather sparse Virtual Console selection, Nintendo Japan has released a wider variety of old-school titles for the month of April. In the forefront of the VC scene is Konami's Castlevania X (a.k.a. Castlevania: Blood of Rondo), along with several other notable titles. You can check out the entire list of previewed VC games in our full article.

If you're in Japan and you're looking for a good way to spend those leftover Wii Points, then read on as we give you the latest retro fix that Nintendo has lined up for you lucky gamers. This update heralds the arrival of the Sega Master System onto Virtual Console, as well as the arrival of what could be the MANLIEST GAME EVER. WITH EXPLODING HEADS.

Check out all the details in the full article.

Puzzle fans might be happy to know that Columns III: Revenge of Columns has already been rated by the ESRB for the U.S. Virtual Console. The game was originally released by Sega for the Mega Drive system.

In case you're not familiar with Columns III, you might want to go to the full article which has a short synopsis on the game.

We previously reported on Tectoy's Sega Mega Drive portable. Now it's available on Play-Asia for US$ 39.90. You'll be able to play games such as Sonic and Knuckles, Golden Axe, and Kid Chameleon. If you're not satisfied with the screen sizes of portables devices, you'll be happy to know that this gadget also has a TV out connection.

If you're interested in learning to know more about this device, click on the "read more" link.

Japanese gamers are set to start the New Year with a bang, now that they'll have a bunch of good classic gaming coming their way via the Wii's Virtual Console. From Yie Ar Kung Fu to Super R-TYPE, classic gaming couldn't be even sweeter.

Official Brazilian Sega distributor TecToy has just announced a new portable gaming device for the region. This is not an entirely new platform, however, as the gadget is based from Sega's fourth-generation console Mega Drive.

It will become available on December 5 for roughly around US$ 100. TecToy's Portable Mega Drive comes in a cool blue finish, reminiscent of Sega's most beloved character and mascot Sonic the Hedgehog. To know about its full details, check the "read more" link below.

This Virtual Console update for Europe and Australia is a bit early, but there's nothing like the present to get a sneak peek at the bounty of retro gaming Nintendo's sending our way. So, without further ado, let's get to the game list and see what titles we'll be splurging our Wii Points on this holiday season.

First up is Art of Fighting from the Neo-Geo System, going for 900 Wii Points. Soon-to-be Fatal Fury mainstays, Ryo Sakazaki and Robert Garcia, make their debut on the videogaming world as two martial artists on a mission to rescue the kidnapped Yuri Sakazaki, Ryo's sister, from the evil Mr. Big. Kick, punch and beat-the-living-crap out of your opponents in one-on-one matches that started the versus mania off to a rocketing start.

Next in the list are two titles from the Sega Mega Drive, namely Alien Soldier and Sonic 3D. Alien Soldier puts you in the shoes - or rather, taloned claws - of Epsilon Eagle, in an epic side-scrolling shoot-em-up where the stages are short and the bosses are many. Sonic 3D has the blue hedgehog being seen in another dimension, with improved graphics, a killer soundtrack and a quest to collect all the flickies you can come across. Both titles can be downloaded for 800 Wii Points each.

Last but not least is Samurai Ghost originally from the TurboGrafx. You control Tairo no Kagekiyo, a swordsman brought back to life to vanquish an encroaching demon horde once and for all. And being an undead samurai, you'll be able to use powers such as levitation and energy manipulation to make your work a little bit easier. All you need is 600 Wii Points to get on this adventure.

Definitely a great back of titles for Wii owners in Europe. Updates as we get them!

 

For those of us fortunate enough to be in the land of the rising sun, Nintendo has recently updated its Virtual Console page to reflect a huge bounty of retro games headed to the Wii Shop Channel in the region of Japan. So big, in fact, that it could probably called the motherlode of retro as we know it - and it's worth shaking our fists at Nintendo for giving it to Japan first, even if their company headquarters is situated in that territory and they have this thing about pleasing their most faithful customers. Yes, I know, it's a totally weird reason.

So, what's the choice bits of the retro smorgasbord that only Wii owners in Japan are only invited to? I'm not really glad you asked, but suffice to say they're getting their Wii Points' worth. One of the titles is Knight's King, one of Square's first games that's almost like a cross between a shoot-em-up and Final Fantasy. You control four different characters - Knight, Wizard, Thief and Godzilla Monster - across a world to save the proverbial princess-in-distress, and if you manage to do it with all four, they link up into one at the final stage. Talk about replayability!

What else is Japan getting early? Another one is Eternal Champions, the ultra-violent fighting game that gave us a taste of stage-based fatalities and other mechanics that was ahead of its time. There's also Ecco Jr., Gradius II and Panel de Pon - all quality retro titles that's sure to while away those hours in pure old school joy.

Well, they may be getting the titles early, but we know that they'll also be making their way to NA and EU shores soon enough. In the meantime, here's the complete lineup for the Virtual Shop Consoles in Japan.

Follow the full article for the list of game additions!