Good news and bad news this month for fans of seminal strategy-RPG series Ogre Battle.
The good news is that the classic Square Enix game will be available on Virtual Console next week. The bad news is that Square Enix only puts games on Virtual Console when it has no intention of continuing the franchise with new products. Join us fans of Secret of Mana in our bittersweet agony.
It’s actually a pretty bleak month for Virtual Console overall — only nine games total for Japan. It’s the same old cautionary fable of “be careful what you wish for.” I wished on a star that the American and Japanese release lineups would be closer to each other, and the cruel Fates responded by gutting Japan too.
I am so sorry, Japan. Enjoy your pittance (list below). Also enjoy your no Ghouls ‘n Ghosts for SuperGrafx, which got delayed indefinitely.
Released on November 3: *Mercs *(Capcom, Mega Drive), Mega Man 3 (Capcom, Famicom)
To be released on November 11: Cadash (Taito, PC Engine), Ogre Battle (Square Enix, Super Famicom)
To be released later in November: Smash Ping Pong (Nintendo, Famicom), Dragon Buster (Namco Bandai, Famicom), Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Sega, Master System), Volfied (Taito, PC Engine), Kaze no Densetsu Xanadu (Falcom, PC Engine CD)
Image courtesy Nintendo