Three classic Sega consoles are about to be added to the Wii's Virtual Console service.

The Master System was a console that was released by Sega in direct competition with the NES. Though it was a commercial failure, the console enjoyed a fairly long lifespan in some regions with a wide array of releases, including versions of Sonic the Hedgehog and Alex Kidd.

Adding to the already bustling selection of retro consoles available on the Wii's Virtual Console service, Sega have announced the additions of the Master System, Game Gear and the Sega Mark III (the original Japanese version of the Master System). The Master System section of the Virtual Console will launch in Japan next month with the additions of Fist of the North Star (600 Wii Points) and Fantasy Zone (500 Wii Points), with a US and European launch following later in the year.

Stay tuned to N-Europe for the latest Virtual Console news.