What's Happened To Nintendo's "New Play Control"?

[R.O.B.]

When first announced, Nintendo's line of "New Play Control" games seemed like a great idea. Repackage games from the criminally unloved GameCube, then sell them onto a massive audience that missed them first time around. So what's happened?

It's been over a year since the first "New Play Control" title was released in Japan, and since then, only a handful of games have been "updated" for the Wii with new features like Wii Remote compatibility and 16:9 visuals. And not many of them are any good.

So come on, Nintendo. Where are the rest? There are dozens of titles released on the GameCube that are due a second lease on life. Titles like these.

We've gone ahead and made a selection of some of the games we think are most deserving of a Wii re-release. Some, like Wind Waker, are purely for the 16:9 visuals. Others, like F-Zero, are because they're amazing games that never received the sales, or credit they were due, all because they were released on the poor little GameCube.

Also selected are a couple of amazing games that used Nintendo's fun, but under-utilised Game Boy Advance connectivity. Re-release them on the Wii and you can just split the screen and let four players go at it. Finally, we've also picked out a few classic titles from third-party publishers, which to date are yet to be represented in the New Play Control line.

While some may benefit from Wii controls and others may not, it's not - despite the line's name - all about the controller in your hand. The key point here is that there were many GameCube games that suffered unduly from problems plaguing the console itself; with the Wii now the best-selling platform in the world, this is more about giving those games a second chance with people who missed them first time around.

Mario Kart has sold over ten million copies on the Wii, and it wasn't even as good as Double Dash. Repackage the game with a new, whiter cover (to match Mario Kart Wii) and add Wii remote gameplay and it can be the easiest "sequel" Nintendo ever had to release.

Silicon Knights' port of the original Metal Gear Solid was a great remake, both in terms of its updated visuals and Nintendo cameos. It was never released in enough numbers to satisfy the needs of Metal Gear fans, so the least Konami and Nintendo could do would be to release it again.

Rebel Strike was probably the best of Factor 5's Star Wars games for Nintendo consoles. Anyone remember the fact it was the very first time you could get actual footage from a Star Wars movie on an optical disc?

A much better game than most gave it credit for, Billy Hatcher's egg-rolling gameplay is a revelation compared to most of the crap available on the Wii today. It also has the best damn intro song of all time.

Before he was famous for talking too much and releasing the awful Too Human, Silicon Knights' Denis Dyack was famous for this creepy thriller, which would be spoken of in the same breath as Alone in the Dark and Resident Evil if it hadn't been released solely on the GameCube.

A GBA-connectivity game that could shine on the Wii were four players simply given Wii Remotes and 1/4 of the screen.

My favourite Zelda game of all time. My favourite game of all time. I don't care much for Wii Remote controls, but I'd love to see it in widescreen.

WipeOut may be the most famous "futuristic anti-grav racer" of all time, but this is probably better. On harder tracks it's an eye-melting blur, and like many games on this list, deserves another shot at the market.

No game needs a New Play Control re-release more than this. The amount of fun you can have playing Four Swords is almost indescribable, and if Nintendo could get it running on the Wii, a lot of people would be made very, very happy.

Source: Kotaku

[Betagam7]

'New Play Control' remains a hideously awkward expression.

[hansolo350]

All I have to say about this article is that Rebel Strike is easily the worst of their Star Wars games.

[slangman]

Originally Posted by Kotaku

Rebel Strike was probably the best of Factor 5's Star Wars games for Nintendo consoles. Anyone remember the fact it was the very first time you could get actual footage from a Star Wars movie on an optical disc

Nope, It wasn't as good as Rogue Leader. The on-foot sections and that riding bit on Endor ruined the game for me.

Not really interested in New Play Control, since I see them more as lazy ports then actually making the games better. Although Twin Snakes wouldn't be too bad, as the Gamecube version can go for up to £40 on Ebay.

[dk_xcalibur]

Originally Posted by hansolo350

All I have to say about this article is that Rebel Strike is easily the worst of their Star Wars games.

Originally Posted by slangman

Nope, It wasn't as good as Rogue Leader. The on-foot sections and that riding bit on Endor ruined the game for me.

Not really interested in New Play Control, since I see them more as lazy ports then actually making the games better. Although Twin Snakes wouldn't be too bad, as the Gamecube version can go for up to £40 on Ebay.

I agree 100%. This lost all credibility when they made this ridiculous statement.

Couldn't they do the awesome Pacman Vs on Wiiware for 1/4 of the cost? It would be a great game.

[theUndead_feature]

Originally Posted by dk_xcalibur

Couldn't they do the awesome Pacman Vs on Wiiware for 1/4 of the cost? It would be a great game.

Yeah, really. That's the only one they picked I'm interested in, but it doesn't need a whole damn retail release.

[slangman]

Originally Posted by dk_xcalibur

Couldn't they do the awesome Pacman Vs on Wiiware for 1/4 of the cost? It would be a great game.

You know I just realised that Pacman VS was a freebie with another Gamecube game. If Namco/Nintendo does release it again, I would rather it came with another game rather than pay over £20/$20. Even at £20/$20 this sounds expensive

[dk_xcalibur]

I would pay $10 for a wiiware version of Pacman Vs.

[Angelic Lapras King]

Rerelease the rerelease of Skies of Arcadia damnit. ><

[link64]

Originally Posted by R.O.B.

WipeOut may be the most famous "futuristic anti-grav racer" of all time Source: Kotaku

Maybe

Originally Posted by R.O.B.

but this is probably better.

It is

[Betagam7]

Pac Man Vs is currently available on DS as part of some Namco Arcade collection if I recall correctly.

[King Elemento]

Re: Billy Hatcher New Play Control.


Yes.

[Radretrogamer]

no Beyond Good & Evil ??

[link64]

Originally Posted by Radretrogamer

no Beyond Good & Evil ??

I had no idea there was a Gamecube version.

[coire]

I completely agree - I would check out the majority of those titles if the were New Play Control'd.

[noobers]

I just want NPC Pikmin 2 to finally come to NA.

[kawaiipikachu]

Originally Posted by noobers

I just want NPC Pikmin 2 to finally come to NA.

Well im allready loving my New Play Controll Pikmin 2 on my Wii .

[Angelic Lapras King]

Originally Posted by Radretrogamer

no Beyond Good & Evil ??

I'd say wait. You know they'll release something to promote the sequel.

[Betagam7]

Originally Posted by Angelic Lapras King

I'd say wait. You know they'll release something to promote the sequel.

I'd be surprised if the sequel is coming out for Wii.

[Angelic Lapras King]

Originally Posted by Betagam7

I'd be surprised if the sequel is coming out for Wii.

Exactly, the PS3 and 360 get the sequel while the Wii gets a rerelease of the first. ;P

[Diebythesword]

I'd definitely buy Double Dash, especially with online play

[Tides of Chaos]

Originally Posted by Diebythesword

I'd definitely buy Double Dash, especially with online play

If that happened, it would be an insta-buy for me. Double Dash has got to be my favorite Mario Kart and I would love an online version of the game. I don't care if I already own the thing, I'll still shell out $30 for a new widescreen, online version.

[Jogurt the Yogurt]

I was never a big fan of Double Dash, but online play alone would make it worth a mere $20 used.

[gaga64]

Double Dash is a no brainer. All they'd need to do was add the player-switching to the MK Wii controls (I suggest the A button), and upgrade the LAN connectivity to WFC and it's done.

I'm surprised they didn't think to mention Luigi's Mansion, which is surely even more suited to Wiimote controls than it was to the GameCube controller.

Not sure about F-Zero - the obvious thing would be to use the Wii Wheel again, but I think it'd suffer from awkard placing of buttons, wouldn't it?

[kawaiipikachu]

Originally Posted by Diebythesword

I'd definitely buy Double Dash, especially with online play

Considering its was the only online Gamecube game ever & we all know how successful the Gamecube online wasnt .

[link64]

I would actually pay for a copy of F-zero GX new play controls if they included online.

Then again it is my third favourite game.

My favourite is F-zero X.

[Tides of Chaos]

Originally Posted by kawaiipikachu

Considering its was the only online Gamecube game ever & we all know how successful the Gamecube online wasnt .

What? Phantasy Star was the GC online game, not Double Dash. You must be thinking of something else, because I'm pretty sure Double Dash couldn't do that.

[Angelic Lapras King]

Originally Posted by Tides of Chaos

What? Phantasy Star was the GC online game, not Double Dash. You must be thinking of something else, because I'm pretty sure Double Dash couldn't do that.

Actually, Japan did get a non-Phantasy Star online GC game as well, its name escapes me...

[Tides of Chaos]

Originally Posted by Angelic Lapras King

Actually, Japan did get a non-Phantasy Star online GC game as well, its name escapes me...

Yeah, they did. But my point still stands to Kawaii that DD was not online for the Gamecube.

[gaga64]

Originally Posted by Tides of Chaos

What? Phantasy Star was the GC online game, not Double Dash. You must be thinking of something else, because I'm pretty sure Double Dash couldn't do that.

You could use the GC's LAN adaptor to play local mutliplayer, if you had the LAN adaptor (which I don't think I ever saw on sale anywhere, but then I wasn't ever looking for it), 2 Cubes, 2 TVs and 2 copies of the game. That's as close as it came, but it's a start.

I'm sure if Nintendo really wanted to, with that architecture already built into the MKD!! code, and the WFC infrastructure running decently enough in the MKWii code, it'd be an obvious inclusion, if they wanted an NPC version of Double Dash.

But I think they'd probably wait until sales of Mario Kart Wii were drying up - and I'm sure it's still floating around the Top 10 Wii games even after almost 2 years, isn't it?

[Tides of Chaos]

Originally Posted by gaga64

You could use the GC's LAN adaptor to play local mutliplayer, if you had the LAN adaptor (which I don't think I ever saw on sale anywhere, but then I wasn't ever looking for it), 2 Cubes, 2 TVs and 2 copies of the game. That's as close as it came, but it's a start.

Yeah, I know about that. I've done similar things with my 360. But that's still not online. And I'm pretty sure Nintendo wouldn't bother adding online with a NPC version since getting servers and setting up match-making is a lot tougher than doing LAN.

[SegaFan]

Yeah, I know about that. I've done similar things with my 360. But that's still not online. And I'm pretty sure Nintendo wouldn't bother adding online with a NPC version since getting servers and setting up match-making is a lot tougher than doing LAN.

I believe there was an unofficial network which allowed online Double Dash play with the LAN adaptor. I'm not sure how well (or if) it ever worked.

[SKTTR]

There were only 3 LAN games and 4 Online games for the Gamecube:


Gamecube LAN-games:

- 1080° Avalanche
- Kirby Air Ride
- Mario Kart: Double Dash!!


Gamecube Online-games:

- Homeland (JP only)
- Phantasy Star Online Episode I&II
- Phantasy Star Online Episode I&II Plus (not released in EU)
- Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution



That's it!

A meager collection of Gamecube games that used the Broadband adapter.

Some hackers made the LAN-compatible games online, but that was unofficial.

[kawaiipikachu]

Originally Posted by SKTTR

There were only 3 LAN games and 4 Online games for the Gamecube:

Gamecube LAN-games:

- 1080° Avalanche
- Kirby Air Ride
- Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

[B]Gamecube Online-games:[/B

- Homeland (JP only)
- Phantasy Star Online Episode I&II
- Phantasy Star Online Episode I&II Plus (not released in EU)
- Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution

That's it!

A meager collection of Gamecube games that used the Broadband adapter.

Some hackers made the LAN-compatible games online, but that was unofficial.

Thou i thougt that hackers made Double Dash to play lan via a program running on a computer tricking the games into thinking that the system is hooked up to the Internet .
I guess i was wrong .

[Mickeymac]

Yeah, I really wish they would make more NPC games, especially an NPC Four Swords Adventures.

[Ouenben]

Originally Posted by kawaiipikachu

Thou i thougt that hackers made Double Dash to play lan via a program running on a computer tricking the games into thinking that the system is hooked up to the Internet .
I guess i was wrong .

This is correct and it's what SKTTR said in his post at the bottom if you read it properly.

[sponge]

Originally Posted by Ouenben

This is correct and it's what SKTTR said in his post at the bottom if you read it properly.

thats the opposite of what he said, if you read it properly.

[kawaiipikachu]

Originally Posted by sponge

thats the opposite of what he said, if you read it properly.

Yea you pwned Ouenben .

[Jogurt the Yogurt]

pwnt by sponge and kawaiipikachu...?

[Earl_Wiggles]

Originally Posted by sponge

thats the opposite of what he said, if you read it properly.

To be fair, we all have to make assumptions on what Kawaii is talking about when he posts (I like to think of it as a linguistic dot-to-dot that's missing a few numbers). Normally he's pretty sharp on the technical side of things so I think he was trying to say that there was a way to play the game online unofficially (which is correct) and hence agreeing with SKTTR.

Anyway, a few of those titles would work with NPC but I don't think it should be used as a platform to just rerelease games that have had any commercial success. I also don't see why GC controller support should be lost in NPC games.