Virtual Console
The Virtual Console (Japanese: バーチャルコンソール Virtual Console) is a service for the Nintendo 3DS, Wii and Wii U that allows players to purchase games originally released on old consoles and play them on official Virtual Console emulators on newer systems. Virtual Console titles are purchased from the Wii Shop Channel (for the Wii) or the Nintendo eShop (for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U).
On Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, the Virtual Console menu allows the player to create a single Restore Point for each game at any time. A Restore Point can be instantly created or returned to at any time. Uniquely, Pokémon Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow cannot use this feature.
Pokémon games
Wii
| Title | Genre | Original system | Original release | VC release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pokémon Snap | First-person rail shooter | Nintendo 64 | 1997 | 2007 |
| Pokémon Puzzle League | Puzzle | Nintendo 64 | 2000 | 2008 |
| Super Smash Bros. | Versus fighting | Nintendo 64 | 1999 | 2009 |
Nintendo 3DS
| Title | Genre | Original system | Original release | VC release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pokémon Trading Card Game | Card game | Game Boy Color | 1998 | 2014 |
| Pokémon Puzzle Challenge | Puzzle | Game Boy Color | 2000 | 2014 |
| Pokémon Red and Green | Main series RPG | Game Boy | 1996 | 2016 |
| Pokémon Blue | Main series RPG | Game Boy | 1996 | 2016 |
| Pokémon Red and Blue | Main series RPG | Game Boy | 1998 | 2016 |
| Pokémon Yellow | Main series RPG | Game Boy* Game Boy Color* |
1998 | 2016 |
Wii U
Games from the Wii Virtual Console can also be played on the Wii U by running the console in Wii Mode.
| Title | Genre | Original system | Original release | VC release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire | Pinball | Game Boy Advance | 2003 | 2014 |
| Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team | Dungeon crawler | Game Boy Advance | 2005 | 2016 |
| Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team | Dungeon crawler | Nintendo DS | 2005 | 2016 |
| Pokémon Ranger | Action RPG | Nintendo DS | 2006 | 2016 |
Differences from original games
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This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: images of Jynx in each version, confirmation on whether Pinball RS simulates the rumble function using the Wii controller |
Pokémon Snap
In the original Nintendo 64 version of Pokémon Snap, players could take their games to certain stores to print stickers of their in-game photos; in the Virtual Console version, players can instead send a photo to the Wii Message Board once per day. Additionally, the Virtual Console release changes Jynx's complexion from black to purple, matching the modern design change.
Pokémon Trading Card Game
Similar to Pokémon Snap, the Virtual Console version of Pokémon Trading Card Game has Jynx's skin color changed from black to purple. Due to the lack of infrared hardware, the Card Pop! feature is disabled, leaving Mew Lv15 and Venusaur Lv64 unobtainable. As with many Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console games all multiplayer functionality is disabled, making dueling another player impossible. Finally, since there is no way to connect to the Game Boy Printer or any sort of equivalent (unlike Pokémon Snap), the "Print" option on the PC is disabled.
Pokémon Puzzle Challenge
Again, like all Game Boy Color games for Virtual Console, Pokémon Puzzle Challenge has all its multiplayer functionality made inaccessible since the Game Link Cable is neither supported nor emulated in any way.
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire
The Virtual Console version of Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire has no e-Reader compatibility due to lack of hardware.
Pokémon Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow
Unlike many Virtual Console games on the Nintendo 3DS which lack multiplayer support, the re-releases of the main Generation I games are all able to use the Nintendo 3DS local wireless communication to trade and battle, simulating the function of the Game Boy Game Link Cable. The process is done through the Virtual Console's menu, in which players can establish connections through a hosting system. They are also compatible with the Pokémon Bank, allowing one-way transfer to the service and compatible games, including Pokémon Sun and Moon.
