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Nintendo has constantly teased Americans with games never released on our shores. For a while one game was seen as the White Whale of the importing dream: Sin & Punishment. While it wasn’t hard to import and had English voices dubbed in it seemed like it would never see a wide American release. Nintendo never really seemed to care to bring some titles to the US. Well, they have changed their mind. This week brings two dreams come true with the Virtual Console releases of Sin & Punishment and Super Mario Brothers 2 Super Mario Brothers: The Lost Levels. The press release is below, note the fact that it officially calls this the beginning of the "New Import Genre." Think about this: today Nintendo also confirmed that the Japanese-only Mother 3 character Lucas would be in Smash Brothers. Coincidence? Did I just blow your freaking mind?! Not likely – maybe in a few weeks will all be playing Mother 3 on our Wiis. From the press release:

This is a special week on the Wii Shop Channel. Frankly, it's a gamer's dream come true: Nintendo is launching the new Import genre with the release of two games that previously have never been available in the Western Hemisphere on their original platforms. The first will be hugely popular with Mario™ fans, who will love reliving the style of his classic games as they encounter new skills, new levels and new dangers. Nintendo® 64 enthusiasts also get a masterpiece of the shooter genre and perhaps the best game never released outside of Japan. Welcome to Import Week for the Wii Shop Channel!

Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels NES 1 player 600 Wii Points Originally released in Japan as Super Mario Bros.2, this game has previously made only brief cameo appearances in the Western Hemisphere. Now available on the Virtual Console in all of its original splendor, Mario fans will appreciate the familiar look and feel of the game, while finding that its updated game play creates an entirely new challenge. No longer content just to wear different-colored overalls, Mario and Luigi also possess different skill sets: Mario can stop quicker, while Luigi can jump higher. In addition to the classic enemies already known to fans worldwide, there are also Poison Mushrooms, backward Warp Zones, and the occasional wind gust (which can help or hinder your progress) to take into account. And if that's somehow not enough, expert players can go looking for the game's secret worlds. So get ready to put your Mario skills to the ultimate test, and save the Princess again. Just don't be surprised if she's in another castle. Sin & Punishment Nintendo 64 1-2 players 1,200 Wii Points Created by the legendary development studio Treasure, this is a game that hard-core gamers and fans of Japanese imports recognize as one of the finest Nintendo 64 titles to have never previously reached North American shores. Its unique combination of English voice-overs with Japanese subtitles (preserved in this version) has only added to the enthusiasm for its eventual release here. Experience the frenetic pace of a classic shooter, while choosing from a variety of options and a number of different skill levels until you are ready to take on the full-blown challenge of Turbo Hard mode. Not to be outdone by the action, however, the intriguing story line gives the game its soul and draws you even further into the mix. Set in the near future, on an overpopulated Earth starved for resources, players uncover the intriguing mystery of two teenagers (Saki and Airan) and their battle against the Ruffians as they advance through level after level of nonstop action. Take a deep breath, gather your energy and prepare to see why this game is so highly praised. Go to the Wii Shop channel to download these games in addition to already available classics like Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Gunstar Heroes, Sonic The Hedgehog, Bonk's Adventure, and Super Mario Bros.! Click here for a list of games available on Virtual Console.

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