A few months ago we had a look at the SNES Classic Controller, which was a Japanese exclusive for Club Nintendo members.
Now they’re fairly common though they do fetch upwards of $70AU in most cases. For most people that’s a bit out of reach for a controller, & what if you don’t like using the original SNES controller? What if you prefer to use a Honeybee or SN controller? The SNES Classic Controller can’t really help you there. That’s where this device comes in:
This is simply called the NES/SNES to Wii Adapter. It’s a simple name but I like it. It gets to the point of what this device actually is & what it does. Let’s have a look at it & see how it works. First thing’s first, you have a look at the packaging & see a diagram showing how a NES & SNES controller plug into it, then into the Wiimote:
Pretty simple, just plug one or the other into the adapter, then straight into the Wiimote & the gaming can begin. It also tells you how to enable turbo fire on the controller. You can assign turbo to individual buttons on the controller. But hold on… what’s this?
Well I see a SNES port, but that other port is a standard 9PIN controller port used by Sega, Amstrad & Atari consoles. That’s not going to fit in a NES controller.
It’s not easy to see in the picture, but anyone with a NES controller can just take a quick look now & see that it won’t fit into this device. Note it doesn’t say “Famicom” either, the packaging clearly says NES. The NES controller port has been standard across both NES models & the Famicom AV, so where they got the idea that this 9PIN port will work with the NES is just beyond me. So anyway, that’s not going to work. Let’s plug in a SNES controller & see how it goes:
Excellent, & unlike the SNES Classic Controller I can use my American controller that has a nice long cable. Let’s see what happens when we play Super Mario World:
Great, it operates just like the SNES Classic Controller. You could easily forget that this is the Virtual Console on a Wii. How about 3rd party controllers? I’ve always been rather partial to the SN Propad myself. Let’s see that in action:
Again it works very well. Obviously the images on the screen are paused, but I got them to where they were with the controller in the image. The turbo & autofire options on the SN Propad also work, so if you have a controller with a specific feature you want to use then you should be well catered for here.
Now I did get curious about that alleged “NES port” though. Would it work with other controllers that actually fit into it? I got a Sega Master System, Sega Genesis & Amstrad GX4000 controller to see what would happen. First the Sega Genesis:
What’s this? Nothing works, but if I push down on the controller & the Wii menu comes up. So Mario doesn’t want to play with Sega. Let’s try a Sega emulator on the Wii. First we’ll put in the SN Propad again:
The game of choice is Rolo to the Rescue. The Propad works just as it should, so no problems there. Let’s try that Genesis controller again:
Again, none of the controls work except pressing Down which acts as the “Home” button on the Wiimote which takes you back to the emulator menu. Let’s try Amstrad’s controller & see what happens.
Please excuse Dale my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in the bottom of the shot. He wouldn’t move when he was told to. As you can see the Amstrad controller works exactly the same as the Genesis: Down is “Home” & nothing else works. Maybe we should try a different emulator & a different controller. Let’s try a Gameboy Advance emulator with a Master System controller:
Dale decided to move which was nice, but as you can see the Master System controller behaves the same as the other 2 I tried. I don’t honestly know what this other port is supposed to be used for. A NES controller won’t fit, Genesis, Master System & GX4000 controllers won’t work other than pushing down for the “Home” menu. If someone works it out feel free to email us.
For those disappointed at the lack of other controllers working, look at it this way: Nintendo achieved perfection when they made the SNES controller. Yes I know that’s a controversial statement, but it’s my opinion. With postage this cost me just under $20, so if you have a SNES controller lying around & don’t feel like forking out the big biccies for a SNES Classic Controller then this is the device for you. Just don’t expect it to work on anything else.
Nintendo have released their classic games many times on many of their systems. From Super Mario All Stars on the SNES to the limited edition Zelda collection on the Gamecube, Nintendo have seized every opportunity to release their most popular games over & over again. The Wii added a new dimension, allowing you to buy games online & store them on the console itself. This way you don’t need a disc, or a cartridge to play your favourites. Just switch on the console, point & press the A button.
To play these classic games Nintendo released their Classic Controller. The problem is this controller is… well it’s downright horrible to use. I know some people like it, but most people I’ve spoken to have a few issues with it. Added to this, because it’s not the original controller, it just FEELS like emulation. Nintendo & SNK realised this & have made efforts to give gamers the experience they want. For this article, we will focus on Nintendo’s effort.
So, what happens when you take these 2 devices & put them together?
The answer is this:
Yes, Nintendo of Japan released the Super Famicom Classic Controller through Club Nintendo. I believe recently Club Nintendo has been introduced in other countries, but it doesn’t offer even half the benefits the Japanese get. Now I know a some of you may have seen these devices being sold all over the place & they’re reasonably expensive for a controller. You’re probably wondering, are they any good?
Well I booted up Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past on the Wii to find out. I played through the whole game & while it started out as a bit of a review of the controller, I have to say there were times I forgot I was even on the Wii. Yes it’s true, the right controller really DOES enhance the gaming experience.
When you purchase this, providing you get the WHOLE kit it should come in a fairly plain looking white box like this:
When you remove the contents of the white box you get this:
Beautiful isn’t it? I bought 2 of them, one to use & one to keep in its box. I kinda wish I bought a 3rd one for 2 player games, but they’re still easily obtainable so I can still always do that.
As you can see from the picture, Nintendo even provide instructions on how to access the Virtual Console store & a list of available SNES games for purchase. Here’s a closer look at the pamphlet that came with it:
Please excuse the slightly blurry pictures.
So is this a worthwhile purchase? If you’re going to be playing SNES games it definitely is the ultimate retrogaming experience. If you’re playing Megadrive/Genesis, Master System, NES, Neo Geo maybe not so much. It is a darn sight better than the classic controller though, so you may want to give it a go.
Ultimately with controllers it all come down to whether it feels right using them or not. This is a perfect replica of the Super Famicom controller, so if you don’t like using SNES/SFC controllers then it’s probably not for you. However, if you’re a fan & grew up using them then you MUST have one.
Finally, a test. Which is the real one, & which is the classic controller?
Do Re Mi Fantasy: Milon No Doki Doki Daibouken (Super Famicom)
Do Re Mi Fantasy: Milon’s Doki Doki Adventure (Wii Virtual Console)
Released 1996/2008
It is often said that a sequel is never better than the original. Have a look at Back to the Future 2, Oceans 12, or almost any horror movie sequel. As always there are exceptions to the rule, take The Empire Strikes Back for example. It’s a wonderfully crafted movie that has more flow & a better story than the original. I know it’s a point much argued among fans, but the general consensus is that it’s the best movie of the original trilogy. But I’m getting off topic here, where was I??
Do Re Mi Fantasy: Milon No Doki Doki Daibouken (Referred to from this moment as Do Re Mi Fantasy) is the sequel to Milon’s Secret Castle for the NES. If you’re a fan of Angry Video Game Nerd you’re probably familiar with how poor Milon’s Secret Castle is. AVGN isn’t the only person to give that game a poor review, just do a Google search on it & see what you get. As for my opinon: Yes, it’s a bad game.
For some reason towards the end of the Super Nintendo’s lifecycle it was decided that the world needed another Milon game, so after the Western world had abandoned the SNES for greener 32-bit fields Japanese fans got a sequel starring the little guy in the floppy hat. Actually… doesn’t be remind you of Noddy? Anyway, this game is the equivalent of The Empire Strikes Back, & it’s that good you will forget all about Milon’s Secret Castle.
When you first start the game you see a nice little semi animated intro which shows Milon playing with his friends. One of his friends is the fairy “Alis”. She gets kidnapped by the dreaded Amon who for the record is an evil wizard. After her capture Milon decides it’s up to him to rescue her. Oh, & Amon has also taken all the music from the world. I assume these 2 events are related, but as the game is in Japanese I’m not 100% sure how that fits in. If you own the WiiWare version you’ll find it hasn’t been translated unfortunately. For the purposes of this review I’m playing the original Super Famicom cartridge.
The first thing you’ll notice is the map screen, just like Super Mario World. When you get to the game you’ll see just how smooth Milon moves & how nice the backgrounds look. The pictures don’t do it justice. There is a lot of colour used but it’s not over the top. The music is very happy & boppy & sound effects are all appropriate. Everything looks like it’s been given a spoonfull of suger to add that little bit of extra sweetness, but not so much it becomes bitter. Nice little touches like Milon pulling his hat down over his head when you leave him standing still really show how much effort went into this game.
Milon is a joy to control & the only thing I had a bit of a problem with is that he doesn’t jump as high as Mario or Sonic, though the gameworld is designed with this in mind so it’s not a problem. You’ll notice in the screenshots that Milon wears different coloured clothes. There are 2 clothes upgrades that allow you to take extra hits. Red gives you 1 hit, blue gives you 2 & green gives you 3. If you get hit wearing green, your clothes change to blue, then red, then you die.
Like Milon’s Secret Castle you shoot bubbles at the enemies, but this time you need to pop them which makes it feel like a side scrolling Bubble Bobble, & that’s definately not a bad thing. Bubbles can also be used to destroy blocks & shoot away hidden passages. Milon also has an attack whereby you hold down the fire button & he charges up, then shoots bubbles all around him. This is handy for hitting blocks above your head, as Milon cannot shoot upwards.
Unlike Milon’s Secret Castle which felt like more an adventure game played on platforms, Do Re Mi Fantasy which is a pure platformer & the better for it, but there are some differences. Unlike Mario, when Milon jumps on the heads of enemies he only stuns them. Like Mario however, if you pick up 100 musical notes (instead of coins) you get a 1 Up. If you run low on lives you can revisit earlier, easier levels to stock up.
As you play through the game the story progresses. Prior to defeating the first boss Milon is told about the 5 magical instruments he must collect before he can rescue Alis. As well as this, Milon must collect stars.
Milon can also collect items to help him on his quest. Bubble Gum in an emergency item. If you have this in your inventory & fall to your death, Milon will reappear blowing on the bubble gum & using it to float back up. You can also get shoes that allow you to float, keys to open doors, bowling balls to throw at your enemies & more.
This game may seem like your average platformer, but it really is one of the undiscovered gems in the SNES/SFC collection & well worth getting your hands on. Hudson Soft can rarely put a foot wrong in my book & this game reinforces that. Also, being that Hudson Soft made the game it’s hardly surprising to see a cameo from their star Bomberman.
While the game never received a translation on the Super Nintendo, it was released on the Wii Virtual Console in 2008 in English, in North America. If it’s still available by the time you read this & you have a US Wii I strongly recommend downloading it. If not then it’s well worth hunting it down on Ebay. A mint copy will cost you, but the cartridge alone is affordable. This one gets a rating of 5/5, it’s a little known game, but an absolute classic.
