Squeenix games coming to VC (finally!)

Ever since Nintendo announced which companies would be contributing games to the Wii's Virtual Console, I've hoped and prayed Square-Enix would give us the original Final Fantasy. I have the PSone and GBA remake, and like both fairly well, but as an old-school curmudgeon I just prefer the ancient, blocky graphics of the version that appeared on the NES.

Well, today IGN.com revealed Squeenix will finally be dropping one of its many classics onto the VC, though unfortunately it isn't my beloved Final Fantasy. The game that will be coming to Japanese Wii owners in March (and hopefully the U.S. as well) is quite a catch, though: Actraiser!

Japan's getting quite the lineup next month, in fact. Excitebike and Yoshi will be coming from Ninty's old NES console, the SNES is unloading Legend of the Mystical Ninja and Actraiser, Genesis lovers will see Alex Kidd and Alien Storm and those old PC Engine fans should be happy to see Shubibinman (Shockman in the U.S.).

Take hold of the conductor's baton on the PS2

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've seen the early build of what is sure to end up as a portion of the upcoming Wii Music game--the one where the player conducts for an orchestra playing the Zelda theme song.

Well, music-loving PS2 owners need not be jealous any longer. According to a story that just went up on Siliconera.com, Banpresto will be bringing out a game based on the manga license, Nodame Cantabile, quite soon.

Apparently, players watch for the glowing light and use it as a cue to press the right button. I'm guessing the chances of this coming to the States are between slim and none, but it's probably a worthwhile import purchase for orchestra buffs or fans of the anime.

Super Paper Mario continues to unfold

EGM's Shane Bettenhausen is one of those lucky schmucks who received a preview copy of Wii's upcoming multi-faceted platformer, Super Paper Mario. He's a nice guy, though, and has been sharing what he can about the slick-looking game on his blog.

Here's one exchange that particularly piqued my interest:

Underfooter: Is this the next big thing for Wii owners after Zelda, would you say? Or is it just a mild distraction until Super Mario Galaxy?"

Shane: Compared to most of the Wii stuff out there, this is a really meaty game. It's also more accessible than the past PM games, given its traditional Mario gameplay. The complex 2D/3D mechanic might scare off little kids, but I think that older gamers will want to spend some quality time with this.

Add a console (or two) to your VC wish lists

Take a look at the pick to the right. Notice anything new among the systems supported by Nintendo's Virtual Console (in Japan)? You got it--there's a NEO-GEO on there!

According to a blurb on GoNintendo, NEO-GEO games will start appearing on the Japanese VC this summer, soon after MSX games first show up.

Will we be getting them here in the U.S.? I would imagine so, though there's no confirmation as of yet.

Also, notice that little empty space next to the NEO-GEO? I wonder what that means. Maybe another system yet to be announced? I'd kind of like it to be the GameBoy, though I'll bet it's something else...

Are your favorite game characters (gulp) gay?

Don't by shy. You know you do it. And there's nothing wrong with that. Really.

I'm talking, of course, about the riotous gaymer past time of trying to suss out which game characters have yet to bust out of the closet.

Well, it appears certain straight gamers do the same thing. Though, after reading a recent article at Games Radar, I'm pretty sure the two camps (gay gamers and straight ones) go about it in different ways.

In his article (imaginatively titled, "Are They Gay?") writer Matt Cundy contemplates the sexual orientation of five of gaming's leading men. Although Cundy deserves kudos for his witty selections (including Kratos from God of War and Dead Rising's Frank West), I can't quite say the same for his reasoning.

Kratos is gay because he killed his wife and daughter? And Gears of War's Marcus Fenix plays on our team because he's been in prison and wears a bandana? Gosh, if that's the case, there are a lot more gay people out there than the scientists have led me to believe!

Of course, you get the sense that Cundy meant the article to be taken with a grain of salt. If that's the case, good for him (and for Games Radar) for being able to make light of a subject that in many other venues tends to spiral into homophobia.