25 Games We'll Never See on the Virtual Console

Synopsis: When it was first announced few people expected GoldenEye 007 to be anything spectacular. Despite the pedigree of Rare, the idea of a movie-based first-person shooter wasn't all that attractive back in the mid-1990s. But somehow Rare managed to surprise us all and introduced the world to one of the greatest games of all time. For many this was the first time a console first-person shooter was able to live up to their PC counterparts. To this day GoldenEye 007 is one of the most wanted classic games, the type of thing gamers would pay a premium for if only they had the opportunity.

What's the Hold Up? Talk about a licensing nightmare, they don't get much worse than GoldenEye 007 for the Nintendo 64. Like all video games based on movies you have to worry about the company that currently holds the license, and in this case that's Activision. And then there's the problem of the GoldenEye name, which Electronic Arts currently owns. Oh, and did I mention that the game was developed by Rare, who is now owned by Microsoft? All this wouldn't matter if it weren't for the fact that this game is on the top of everybody's wanted list. There are a lot of games based on movies, but very few rise to the level of GoldenEye 007, and that's what makes this so damn frustrating. Nintendo boss Reggie Fils-Aimes says that they are attempting to find a way of getting it on the Virtual Console, but outside of an act of God I simply don't see this happening. Stranger things have happened, but it's never easy to get four companies to agree on anything. Face it, GoldenEye 007 is out of your reach ... which is only going to make you want it more!

Synopsis: Super Glove Ball is one of the few games released for the Power Glove. It offered an interactive experience that was not unlike what we are now seeing with the Wii, a pseudo-3D game where you throw and catch a moving ball. While you could also play this game with a standard NES control, it was when you finally strapped on the Power Glove that you really saw the full potential of the game.

What's the Hold Up? The last thing Nintendo wants to do right now is give off the impression that the Wii's remote control is just another video game gimmick. When people turn on the Wii they don't want to think of the Power Pad, Super Scope, R.O.B, or the Rock 'N Roller. And they don't want to think of the Power Glove, the little device you needed to play Super Glove Ball. With the Wii's unique control there's no denying that this would be a perfect candidate for the Virtual Console, but I suspect that Nintendo is going to do everything it can to keep people from remembering the Power Glove.

Synopsis Not every Zelda game has been released on a Nintendo console; case and point are the three titles available for the Philips CD-i. While these games may not look or feel like A Link to the Past or Twilight Princess, they are no less Zelda games that fans of the series should check out (if only to better appreciate the quality of Nintendo's own Zelda titles).

What's the Hold Up? There are a lot of things keeping these CD-i Zelda titles from seeing the light of day on the Wii. Chief among these problems is that currently the Virtual Console does not offer CD-i games. While this could certainly change in the future, I simply cannot imagine the amount of systems they would have to add before finally getting to Philips' failed console. Putting the CD-i games on the Virtual Console is akin to hitting rock bottom, by that time you might has well sign yourself up for an AA program and start begging for forgiveness. Another reason we will never see these games on the Virtual Console is because they are absolutely abysmal. Judging by the release of Soccer and Urban Champion it's clear that Nintendo doesn't mind putting out the worst of the worst, but the CD-i Zelda games are the type of bad that could leave long term scarring. I can understand the argument that some collectors may want to own every game set in the Zelda mythology, but asking for the CD-i games is like asking for a terminal disease.

Synopsis The Nintendo World Championship cartridge was never released for retail consumption, but it is one of those products that game collectors clamor for. This video game collection was only given out to gamers lucky enough to actually win this 1990 event. It features three games, including Tetris, Super Mario Bros. and Rad Racer.

What's the Hold Up? While true that the Nintendo World Championship cartridge is one of the most expensive games of all time, it certainly has nothing to do with the quality. This is the kind of game where you would feel ripped off at 5 dollars, let alone tens of thousands. Don't believe the hype, this little cartridge is nothing more than a speed test that has you playing three different games. You play the first level of Super Mario Bros., you race in Rad Racer, and you run out the clock with a little Tetris. Individually those three games are well worth five dollars, but since you only get to play the game for a few minutes this collection is not worth your time or money. Nintendo no doubt realizes that selling this game for five bucks would only annoy their user base, not to mention that it would take some of the mystique away from the highly sought after NES cartridge. Perhaps if they were to release it as a free download, but even then I suspect we've seen the last of this 17 year old game.

Synopsis: One of Nintendo's earliest sports games didn't revolve around Mario, Toad or the Princess; instead it allowed you to take on a certain pugilist named Mike Tyson. At the game's release Iron Mike was the biggest star of his sport, an almost indestructible character that could do no wrong. Oh how the mighty have fallen.

What's the Hold Up? You may see Punch-Out, you may see Super Punch-Out, but you will never, ever see Mike Tyson's Punch-Out on the Virtual Console. Let's forget for a moment that getting Mike Tyson's likeness in this game will require Nintendo renegotiating the license, the real reason this game will never happen on the Virtual Console is because Mike Tyson is not the kind of sportsman the Big N wants to buddy up with. Since the release of Mike Tyson's Punch-Out Iron Mike has had one problem after another, he's been in and out of trouble for assault, he's been accused of beating up girlfriends, and in 1992 he went to prison for rape. And that's not even taking into account that in 1997 he bit a part of Evander Holyfield's ear off. And then there's the fact that he couldn't get certified to fight in most states, and when he finally did return to the ring he was knocked out in just a few rounds. At this point the very idea of Mike Tyson being featured in a Nintendo game is something of a joke; it wouldn't make any sense at all. Of course, that's not what older gamers want to hear. Fans of the series are only interested in the original Mike Tyson's Punch-Out; nobody wants the edited remake that replaces Iron Mike with Mr. Dream. Considering Mike Tyson's criminal record, constant outbursts and crazy pigeon collecting, it is impossible to imagine Nintendo actually spending the money to make Punch-Out whole again. A lot of games on this list will probably never happen, but Mike Tyson's Punch-Out is one of the few titles that will never, ever happen ... even if Nintendo felt like ponying up the money to bring us the original game.