It’s party time on the Wii’s Virtual Console for the next three weeks in Europe and Australia. Named after the Japanese Hanabi Festival, a selection of titles released only in Japan or America will be making their way to the online service.

Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels (Nintendo Entertainment System, 1 Player, 600 Wii Points):

Released only in Japan (and as part of the Super Mario All-Stars compilation on the SNES and Super Mario Bros. DX on Game Boy Colour), this follow-up to the blockbuster platformer Super Mario Bros. looked and played exactly like the original, but featured much harder stages, trickier challenges (which included killer mushrooms in addition to the power-up mushrooms), and differing abilities for Mario and Luigi.

The first of this week’s retro treats is the 1986 sequel to the best-selling game of all time. Super Mario Bros.™: The Lost Levels™ was originally only available for the Famicom Disk System in Japan and expands on the original with all-new level designs, trickier enemies and obstacles, and secret worlds to explore. For the Mario purist this is the ultimate gaming treat, but make sure you hurry; this title will be a collector’s item and will only be available for download until the last day of the event on 30th September (all other Hanabi Festival titles will remain available after the event). Super Mario Bros.™: The Lost Levels™ is available now for 600 Wii Points.

Super Mario’s Super Picross (Super Nintendo Entertainment System, 1 Player, 900 Wii Points:

Joining this great game will be 1995 Super Nintendo puzzle title Mario’s Super Picross™. This classic picture crossword game, previously available only in Japan, features hundreds of challenging yet relaxing puzzles. Each puzzle features a grid of tiles that reveal a picture when filled correctly. Like Picross DS, Mario’s Super Picross™ includes a save function allowing players to return to puzzles later and a selection of changeable background melodies. Mario’s Super Picross™ is available now for 900 Wii Points.

Neutopia II (TurboGrafx-16, 1 Player, 600 Wii Points):

Not long has past since the original Neutopia was unleashed unto the Virtual Console and Wii owners, but already we are blessed with its sequel. Similar to the first, Neutopia II is a Legend of Zelda-alike from Hudson Soft.

Some years have passed since the brave hero Jazeta destroyed Dirth, the Emperor of Darkness. Peace has returned to the land of Neutopia. But there are still monsters roaming the countryside, and some of them were spotted near Yurius Shrine. Jazeta went there to find out what exactly had happened. But he didn’t return. You are Jazeta’s son, and you must first of all find your missing father! Can it be that the shadow of Emperor of Darkness threatens the peaceful land again?

The sequel to Neutopia is similar to the predecessor in every way. Navigating your hero from a top-down view, you explore the vast countryside, fighting monsters in real time combat. The game is not a true RPG, but an action adventure: you don’t gain any experience points from combat, only collect money to buy supplies. In dungeons, you must use bombs on walls to reveal secret passages, push stones, and fight many regular enemies and bosses.

Until next week… enjoy!