Wii's Cube remakes coming to Europe

By Tom Bramwell Published 3 October, 2008

Pikmins, Metroids, Mario Tennis in 2009.

Nintendo UK has told Eurogamer that Wii reworkings of GameCube titles Pikmin 1 and 2, Metroid Prime 1 and 2 and Mario Tennis will all be released in Europe next year.

Also on the cards for remake treatment are Chibi Robo and Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat, although both are currently TBC for Europe.

Yesterday Nintendo Japan announced that Jungle Beat and Pikmin would be the first two GameCube games to receive Wii control systems as part of the above range, confirming release dates of 11th and 25th December respectively.

Nintendo's decision to retool Cube titles - already playable on the backwards-compatible Wii console, of course - is good news for those of you who never bothered with the little purple joybox.

It's also an opportunity for everyone to revisit some forgotten gems. In its original incarnation, Jungle Beat was a platform game, of sorts, which used the Donkey Konga bongos for a controller, and picked up rave reviews.

We'll let you know more about specific dates for the above titles in Europe as soon as we can.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (61) Latest comment 3 years ago

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  • LHH #1 3 years ago

    Remakes? Ah well, I guess it's better than Mario Bowling 10 or whatever.

  • Canyarion #2 3 years ago

    Awesome. Pikmin 2 is so hard to find (used almost as expensive as a new game), so I guess I'll wait for the Wii version.

    Metroid Prime 1 and 2 should be great with Wii controls. Of course I'm not going to buy them again, I have them for the Cube.


    And Mario Bowling 10, we can only dream....

  • Garulon #3 3 years ago

    When they say "remakes", are they going to take advantage of all the new Wii functionality (like a wireless controller!, Dolby STEREO sound! erm and that's it) or are they going to remove the GameCube jacket from the game and slide the Wii jacket on?

  • Pac-man-ate-my-wife #4 3 years ago

    If the price is right then this is a good idea as some of these are impossible to pick up for less than £35 (such as Chibi-Robo) and the addition of wii-mote controls to games such as Metroid and Pikmin could really add to the experience.

    They'll be loads of frothing at the mouth fanboys saying "God damn you Nintendo for selling old games!!!" but, at the end of the day, you can pick up most of these for Cube for not much if you want and...

    no. one. is. forcing. you. to. buy. them.

    Remember that the Wii has already hugely outsold the Cube, so Nintendo is looking to introduce those gamers who missed out first time to excellent titles that perhaps didn't reach as wide as audience as they could've done.

    And there where lots of new IPs annouced yesterday before the "Where's the new games!!!" shouting starts.

  • chrisjm #5 3 years ago

    still not played pikmin 2, its been sitting on my shelf gathering dust. keep meaning to though but what to do now!

  • Santino #6 3 years ago

    i'll definitely pick up the 2 prime games again if the price is right (would love a bundle with all 3), mp3's controls were brilliant.

  • bitesize #7 3 years ago


    if they're remaking metroid primes 1+2 with wii control scheme ala prime3, i don't care if i've bought em already, i'm gonna get em again! first one is one of my fave games ever, and prime3 has the best FPS controls i've ever used (i'm not a keyboard and mouse fan, sorry pc gamers). combine the two for instant awesomeness!

  • Canyarion #8 3 years ago

    @Garulon

    Check http://ww w.nintendo.co.jp/n10/conference... it has videos of Pikmin and DK:JB. You can see they changed the controls.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #9 3 years ago

    Personally I think Metroid will gain a lot by the added Wii controls. The game is heavily based on exploration yet the controls weren't implemented well enough I think. The game was fantastic of course but having a real free look like in MP3 will greatly enhance the experience.

    The best part is that I never bought most of the games that will be re-released. I never picked up MP2 for example. I also skipped Mario Tennis (loved the N64 one though) and never had the Bongos. Bring them on I say.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #10 3 years ago

    "Shit, how can we get some Core games produced quickly to fill the gap in the market that we left by concentrating on toss like Wii Music?"

    "Why not just rehash a load of the good old Gamecube games that nobody bought because they all had PS2s last time round?"

    Cut to itprintsmoney.jpg.

  • Triggerhappytel #11 3 years ago

    I agree with Mentalist. I know Nintendo are not forcing you to buy the games, but it just seems like they're taking all Wii owners up the arse and people are willingly bending over and allowing it. If you'll excuse the crude analogy.

  • peterfll #12 3 years ago

    Am I alone in being a bit gutted that a proper Wii Pikimin now looks unlikely?

    I love those little guys, but, you know, I've already played through both 1 and 2 on my old GC.

    (same goes for Metroid)

  • Agent_Llama #13 3 years ago

    Chibi Robo!

  • Triggerhappytel #14 3 years ago

    @ peterfll

    On the contrary, I suspect that Ninty might be testing the water with this Pikmin repackaging - if they sell well there probably will be a sequel.

  • Pac-man-ate-my-wife #15 3 years ago

    To me these are no different from Wipeout HD or Super Street Fighter HD.

    Remakes with added extras.

    Nowt wrong with that and a great way to get younger gamers to come to classic titles.

    It's the equivilant of releasing a special DVD of a classic film or the like.

  • bigbadbeasty #16 3 years ago

    I am with Peterfll, I was hoping for a proper Pikmin for the Wii. It is a great game, but I have played them already.

    Hopefully these will at least be sub £20.
    Edited by 1 at 03/10/08 @ 10:47

  • chrisjm #17 3 years ago

    they better make a proper wii pikmin :-|

    and these games should be in addition to some decent non mini game shovelware. i think this will be the first christmas i can remember since owning an n64 that there wont be any nintendo games under the tree (unless there are some big/new surprises in AC). sure they wont care as they will be in the money, but who will still be there when the wii fad users have moved onto the next thing.

  • bitesize #18 3 years ago

    @Donnelly: No need for these games at all.

    why? people went mad for WipeoutHD and RezHD, how is this any different? how come when nintendo does it it's milking and/or arse rape?

    They were made with the cube controller in mind, and the gameplay was balanced around that. Throw in Wii controls and these games become piss easy.

    and you know this how? you don't think, when remaking the games, they might think about the balancing?

  • gingerlink #19 3 years ago

    yes, but didn't shigsy already say they were working on a NEW pikmin?

  • Gartt #20 3 years ago

    this is pointless, theres really no need to remake games from a single generation ago and especially given that the wii really isnt that much more powerful than a cube anyway.

  • bigbadbeasty #21 3 years ago

    Yeah. New Pikman game: [link url=http://kotaku.com/5026096/miyamoto-were-making-pikmin ]http://ko taku.com/5026096/miyamoto-were-...[/link]

    But was he just teasing us with this GC remake?

  • BadBoyBonner #22 3 years ago

    Fact is most Wii owners will never have played these games - this is based on a simple extrapolation of the number of Wii owners against Gamecube ownership.

    Should help me in my games schooling of all my nephews an nieces - who have munched their way through half the Nintendo back catalogue - helped no end by being kick-started with the DS.

    I am not sure an updated control mechanism is worthy of the title "remake" - are Nintendo adding some extras? Would be a shame if not, but either way, I hope these classics will be cheap as chips.

  • andywilkie35 #23 3 years ago

    Metroid 1 & 2 with Wii controls is great news! I've still got the originals and considered playing through the first one again recently but think I'll hold off for now

  • sneetch #24 3 years ago

    @chrisjm
    "still not played pikmin 2, its been sitting on my shelf gathering dust. keep meaning to though but what to do now!"

    I'd say save your money and play the cube version; Pikmin and Pikmin 2 were designed to work with the cube controller and they work very well. Particularly for long play sessions IMO.

    @Triggerhappytel
    "@ peterfll

    On the contrary, I suspect that Ninty might be testing the water with this Pikmin repackaging - if they sell well there probably will be a sequel."

    I thought Monsieur Miyamoto already said there was one under development at some stage? Maybe I invented it, the wish is father of the thought. I reckon that, like Capcom and their resident evil re-release, they're more interested in the fact that these didn't sell well on the cube, they sold well for cube games, but not well compared to PS2 or Xbox titles. They just want to give them a chance to sell again (btw anyone who has a Wii, didn't get these on the cube and now doesn't buy these games on Wii is crazy, and I mean sheep-eating-lunatic crazy).

    But you're right, if these tank then they probably won't release "Pikmin: Return of the Pikmin who Struck Back against a lack of Hope (new or otherwise)" or whatever it's called.

    @Pac-man ate my wife
    "And there where lots of new IPs annouced yesterday before the "Where's the new games!!!" shouting starts."

    There were a few damn interesting looking ones announced. Some quite bizarre looking, but Nintendo's brand of bizarre is intriguing. Good to see Nintendo lurch back into life with new stuff. :)

    Edit: BTW I paid over €60 for Chibi Robo last year from someone in Germany.
    Edited by 1 at 03/10/08 @ 11:02

  • MrDurandPierre #25 3 years ago

    Interesting. While I absolutely adored DK: Jungle Beat, I feel like that is the one that will benefit least from this porting. Being able to physically beat something was a fundamental part of making you feel like a badass gorilla.

    I'm really interested in Metroid Primes 1 & 2 being ported. On one hand, I preferred the Wii controls of the third, but I'm also curious how they'll fit all the functions of those games onto the Wii's limited controller. I mean the older games used every single button on the GC controller, so I'm a little skeptical they'll be able to make it work without something ridiculous like motion controls to select visors.

    Pikmin is a perfect game to port though. It really needed pointer/mouse/stylus-style controls from the beginning.

  • MrDurandPierre #26 3 years ago

    @Gartt

    I don't think these are full-fledged remakes, but rather just ports. A lot of these games would benefit a lot from Wii controls and maybe they'll get widescreen support too. As long as they're released at a budget price, I'm not opposed to it. Think RE4 Wii Edition.

  • Tomo #27 3 years ago

    They've pretty much picked the games I didn't own on the GC which is great news.

    Got Pikmin, but the others are good candidates for me.

  • The_Inquisitor #28 3 years ago

    I hope they put effort into them and make them work well with all the perks of modern games (widescreen for example).

  • CallousB #29 3 years ago

    It was reconfirmed yesterday that a brand new Wii Pikmin games IS in the works. This Wiimake is just an extra.

    Can't say I'm overly interested (certainly wouldn't pay more than £20 for any of them)...although I may consider Metroid Prime 1 as it's ages since I played it. I'd consider Metroid Prime 2 if they put the multiplayer mode online.

    As far as Wii remakes go....I'm more interested on the rumour that LucasArts have sold the publishing rights to Rogue Squadron and a Wii enhanced (in control and graphics) compilation is in the works.

  • JonFE #30 3 years ago

    To be honest, I feel that a new control scheme for Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat will deprive the game of some of its charm. The Wiimote + Nunchuck cannot take anything near the punishment the bongos could and the little cable that connects them could become annoying and troublesome in the heat of the moment.

    As for Metroid, a new control scheme may allow dual-stick-FPS-retards as myself get to grips with a game that -stubbornly, in my opinion- refused access to any optional alternative control configuration and may well have suffered from it sales-wise.
    (EDIT: Not that Metroid 3 turned out to be any more helpful for me though.)

    Of course, the proof is in the pudding, as they say, so I think it will be interesting to see how things play out (and how much will Nintendo ask for the privilege)...
    Edited by 2 at 03/10/08 @ 11:26

  • sneetch #31 3 years ago

    @BuckoA51
    "Metroid Prime 1 and 2 will be insanely easy with the Wiimote considering the baddies are designed around the one analogue stick method"

    I reckon they'll be harder; you'll have to hold your aim steady. :)

  • Pac-man-ate-my-wife #32 3 years ago

    I think they'll just add the controls in without thinking about balancing at all.

  • kinky_mong #33 3 years ago

    To be honest this is typical of the Nintendo of the last few years. Minimum effort on their part for maximum return of investment. They've been milking re-releases for at least 5 years (anyone remember the "NES classics" range for the GBA? £15 for four levels of Donkey Kong?!) and as long as people keep lapping it up they'll keep doing it.

  • Pac-man-ate-my-wife #34 3 years ago

    Surely there's a viable market to be had in classic/retro games?

    XBLA, PSN, Wii VC all show us gamers like revisiting/discovering old classics.

    I for one am glad that these titles aren't dying. Look at classic books, movies or music - they often get buffed up, value-added new editions of classics, why should us gamers not? And why should we get bothered if we do? After all, you don't have to buy it.
    Edited by 1 at 03/10/08 @ 12:37

  • robson_wii #35 3 years ago

    If pricing of these games is around £20 it's not too much to ask for. I hope the visuals are improved even if only slightly as those GC titles on the wii do look poor on a large screen and I'm not really a graphics whore. I would be tempted to get MP1 and Pikmin1 again as I preferred these on the cube over their respective sequels.

    These games are a must for all who haven't played them although I don't see how DK Jungle Beat will play since you had to clap as well as bash the bongos. Wii wireless Bongos?

  • stevetuck #36 3 years ago

    mario tennis \o/ me lub that game

  • azazel_fallenangel #37 3 years ago

    can any techies out there tell me if a Wii Disc (DVD I think?) can hold more data than a GameCube disc (?).
    In which case, it'll be cool to get two GC games on 1 Wii disc, etc...
    Might not work, but MP1+2 with MP3 controls sounds brilliant. And as I missed Pikmin the first time round, I think I'll shell out for the remake instead of tracking down the original.

  • Les #38 3 years ago

    Never got to playing Pikmin, too much to play on PS2 reduced my GC to a dust magnet. If they release them at a budget price (or two in one or someting, DVD is much bigger storage wise than the GC discs) I might be tempted.

  • Darren #39 3 years ago

    Hmmm, I guess porting over old GameCube titles is easier than creating new games eh, Nintendo? And cheaper! ;)

  • Ryze #40 3 years ago

    Good stuff.

  • FenderMaster #41 3 years ago

    Wind Waker remake please

    will defo pick up Prime 1 too

  • andywilkie35 #42 3 years ago

    "Wind Waker remake please"

    If they remade Wind Waker with Wii controls like Twilight Princess I'd be all over it like a pig in shit

    Imagine doing that conducting whatsit with that wand (was that the wind waker? I can't remember) Anyway, yes I would like to see that

  • electrolite #43 3 years ago

    Missed MP2, Pikmin 2, and Chibi Robo so, as long as the price is right, sold!

  • malexous #44 3 years ago

    "Hmmm, I guess porting over old GameCube titles is easier than creating new games eh, Nintendo? And cheaper! ;) "

    Hmm, at least 4 "hardcore" games are in development, confirmed by Nintendo....

    "shit hot, a bunch of games ive played already, with shoehorned in shit control systems! "

    shit control systems? you didn't like MP3's control system then.

    Just a couple of the many posts I would quote if I wanted to waste my time.

  • TimidEmperor #45 3 years ago

    Finally some good polished looking Wii games!

    Oh...

  • manic_mouse #46 3 years ago

    "Hmm, at least 4 "hardcore" games are in development, confirmed by Nintendo.... "

    Wow, four whole games. GO WII!!!!! /rolls eyes (and yes, I own one)

  • smelly #47 3 years ago

    >Wow, four whole games. GO WII!!!!! /rolls eyes (and yes, I own one


    In other news.. Micrsoft have How many games in production? Or sony for that matter?

    Bloody 360 fanboys in every thread.. it's getting me MAAAAAAAAD!

  • smelly #48 3 years ago

    Reet.. Calmed down a bit now -

    I missed MP2 as i found MP1 to be nearly unplayable on the pad.

    But I complete MP3 no problems.. And really enjoyed it.

    So, i'd go back to the other 2 if they had wii controls.

    Pikmin 1 & 2 i'd buy if they were in a double pack.

    If the prices of these are cheap - i dont see difference between them and microsoft charging for "xbox originals" (without improvements)

    Or indeed different from creaming themselves over this years fifa remake...
    Edited by 2 at 03/10/08 @ 22:01

  • Vin #49 3 years ago

    Yes, you've totally missed the point AGAIN, smelly.

    Metroid was a big bag of shite and most folk were already pretty ambivalent toward Pikmin. Nintendo needs to develop some new EPIC franchises. Where are the NEW settings and characters to compete with the likes of Mario, Samus, Zelda, Pokemon, and Kid Icarus? Where are the new worlds like Zebes, Hyrule, and the Mushroom Kingdom?

    If this is how they appease the core gamer, they can keep the fucking thing.

  • smelly #50 3 years ago

    >Metroid was a big bag of shite

    No it wasnt. Although, imho the controls were shit. But then I find ALL dual stick controlled first person games to control shit. MP3 was the best game i've played in years THANKS to the controller. So putting MP3 controls on MP1 will probably make it brilliant for me.


    >most folk were already pretty ambivalent toward Pikmin.

    "Most folk" being 360 owning fps loving morons? Or are you just generalising your own opinion to be that of the masses?

    if that's the case, I can do the same with my own opinion : Most folk think the 360 only has games which are fps games - and everyone knows that fps games on a dual pad are shit.


    >Where are the NEW settings and characters

    You mean like "de blob" and "Disaster: Day of Crisis" or even Wii Music?

    Or do you mean like halo 5? Or Fifa 830984029384? Or maybe RezHD? Or Wipeout HD? Or Even Gran tourismo HD?

    Or while we're talking about NEW settings - why not new gameplay? (unlike every carbon copy fps game out there)
    Edited by 2 at 04/10/08 @ 02:46

  • smelly #51 3 years ago

    Yes, you've totally missed the point AGAIN, Vin.

    The cube didnt sell very well (well that said - it sold about as many units as the original xbox did, and the 360 will probably do - but in comparision to the wii - not well at all). Therefor not many people have played these games - so therefor why not re-release them (especially if they have better controls in the case of metroid).

    I fail to see how a marginally improved version of metroid with new controls is any different from a marginally improved yearly fifa sequel anyhow.

    It's like re-releasing an old film, digitally remastered on dvd.

  • damatman #52 3 years ago

    They should really re-make LoZ: Wind Waker. CONTROL IT WITH THE WII REMOTE! :D

  • Vin #53 3 years ago

    "Most folk" being 360 owning fps loving morons? Or are you just generalising your own opinion to be that of the masses? if that's the case, I can do the same with my own opinion : Most folk think the 360 only has games which are fps games - and everyone knows that fps games on a dual pad are shit.

    What on earth are you babbling on about? I thought Pikmin was incredibly cute and charming, AS A VISUAL GIMMICK. Too bad the game play was, as they say in the land of bad dentistry and buggery, total fuckin' bollocks.

    You mean like "de blob" and "Disaster: Day of Crisis" or even Wii Music?
    Or do you mean like halo 5? Or Fifa 830984029384? Or maybe RezHD? Or Wipeout HD? Or Even Gran tourismo HD? Or while we're talking about NEW settings - why not new gameplay? (unlike every carbon copy fps game out there)

    I fucking despair, I really do.

  • electrolite #54 3 years ago

    @Vin

    I almost stopped reading at 'Metroid was a big bag of shite', but hey, gaming is subjective, even when someone is wrong ;-)

    I don't think this is just about appeasing the hardcore gamer, they've promised 'core' stuff on top of this, it's just a money making opportunity. There are a lot of serious Nintendo fans will buy them again (including me, with some of them). They've got a big base of Wii owners who didn't have a 'Cube and now they can repackage these games for very little outlay and sell them to those people. If they're priced right I think they could do well. A lot of Wii owners won't be arsed about the graphics, and lets face it Pikmin & Metroid look better than a lot of Wii games. I also think they've got potential sales if they release some of the more obscure Wii stuff, and that released late in its life.

    Price will be interesting though. The Japanese price is lower than normal Wii games and hopefully will be the same over here.

  • electrolite #55 3 years ago

    Having said that, it's wrong to present your own opinion as cast-iron fact....

  • CitizenGeek #56 3 years ago

    Wow, the Wii is even worse that I used to think it is. I'm so glad I sold mine aaaages ago :)

  • ph101 #57 3 years ago

    i wonder how mario tennis wil play on the wii. Potentially very interesting I think.

  • smelly #58 3 years ago

    Ignoring the trolls..

    >i wonder how mario tennis wil play on the wii. Potentially very interesting I think.

    Depends.. if they do it with the motionplus add on - it could be very cool indeed...

    Why release a brand new mario tennis game with marginal updates (like fifa does every year), when you can just re-release the game with new controls.. Sounds like a top idea to me.

  • spookyzombie #59 3 years ago

    It's another backward step. I'd rather they'd concentrate on new stuff rather than focus on old Cube titles. Presumably these 'new' titles will be available as downloads in the Shopping Channel?

  • smelly #60 3 years ago

    "It's another backward step. I'd rather they'd concentrate on new stuff rather than focus on old Cube titles"

    I presume you have no problems at all with the "xbox originals" downloads?

    Or is it only a problem if they TRY to IMPROVE the gamess?

  • robson_wii #61 3 years ago

    Considering the sales of the Cube, there is an enormous un-tapped market for these titles.

    Personally, I thought MP1 controls were sublime and I play fps's on my PC as well but the game was really hard (Ridley boss took me days to get past). MP3 was excellent but for some reason I didn't enjoy MP2 as much. Maybe because I got tired of the game mechanics...Roam around, find a new room, fight the big creature(s) and get new weapon that allows you to open up new areas...repeat until Metroid Prime (or Dark Samus) is defeated.

    Wind Waker on Wii: Yes but please reduce the cost of the maps as sailing around for hours looking for large amounts of rupees was not fun.