Nintendo 64, Nintendo DS games come to Wii U Virtual Console
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Nintendo 64 and Nintendo DS games are now available on Wii U Virtual Console. So far, no Pokémon games for Nintendo DS or Nintendo 64 have been announced for release on Wii U Virtual Console.
While a single Nintendo DS game, Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain?, was available for Wii U Virtual Console in Japan and PAL regions from June to July in 2014, Nintendo DS games are now available for purchase on Wii U Virtual Console and include more display options, although they can only be played with the GamePad. The player can alter where the screens are displayed, including: main screen on the TV and touch screen on the GamePad; both DS screens in a Nintendo DS frame which appears on both the TV and GamePad; both DS screens on both the TV and GamePad, but the touch screen is small and off to the side (right side for left-handed players, left side for right-handed players); both DS screens on both the TV and GamePad, but the main screen is small and off to the side (left side for left-handed players, right side for right-handed players); both screens on the GamePad, vertically.
While Nintendo 64 games could be played on the Wii U by running it in Wii mode, due to Nintendo 64 games being released for Wii Virtual Console, these games can now be run on the Wii outside of Wii mode. Unlike Wii Virtual Console, the GamePad will rumble in Wii U Virtual Console releases of Nintendo 64 games with Rumble Pak support. For Nintendo 64 titles, the player can select from three different control schemes, based on which two of the three parts of the Nintendo 64 controller they hold on to, as well as configure specific buttons. These games are played with the GamePad.
Both Nintendo DS and Nintendo 64 games support off-TV play.
In North America, the Nintendo DS game Yoshi's Island DS and the Nintendo 64 game Super Mario 64 are now available. Nintendo 64 games will cost US$9.99 to US$11.99, while Nintendo DS games will cost US$6.99 to US$9.99. Nintendo 64 games that the player has already purchased for Wii Virtual Console can be transferred to Wii U and upgraded with the new Virtual Console feature for US$2. Yoshi Touch & Go and WarioWare: Touched! will be released for Wii U Virtual Console on April 9, Donkey Kong 64 on April 16, Mario Kart DS on April 23, and Paper Mario on April 30, 2015.
In Europe and Australia, the Nintendo DS games Mario Kart DS and WarioWare: Touched! are now available for £8.99/€9.99; the Nintendo 64 games Super Mario 64 and Donkey Kong 64 are now available for £8.99/€9.99. Nintendo 64 games that the player has already purchased for Wii Virtual Console can be transferred to Wii U and upgraded with the new Virtual Console feature for £1.79/€1.99. Additionally, players who purchase three of these new Virtual Console launch titles before April 16, 2015 can download the fourth one for free. The games Paper Mario and Yoshi's Island DS will be released for Wii U Virtual Console in May 2015.
In Japan, the Nintendo DS games New Super Mario Bros. and Big Brain Academy and the Nintendo 64 game Donkey Kong 64 are now available. Nintendo 64 games will cost ¥952 to ¥1143, while Nintendo DS games will cost ¥630 to ¥880. Nintendo 64 games that the player has already purchased for Wii Virtual Console can be transferred to Wii U and upgraded with the new Virtual Console feature for ¥200. Yoshi's Island DS and Super Mario 64 will be released for Wii U Virtual Console on April 8, and WarioWare: Touched! on April 15, 2015.