Happy New Year -- here are some late recommendations for the Virtual Console! http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/vcArt.cfm?artid=15049 The holidays may have gotten the best of us (or maybe just me), but nonetheless here we are, starting the new year off playing catch-up with the Virtual Console. The best thing about the VC for me is that since I have to buy some occasionally not so good games for review, I get to play stuff I never would have before. This also means I have yet to download stuff I really want, like the Donkey Kong Country games, Super Metroid, and now some fun looking stuff recommended below, like Top Hunter and Cybernator. Knowing that the VC isn't an open and shut book, when I get the opposite feeling about the Wii's library, is a nice feeling.
Furthermore, I want to emphasize how awesome it is that Treasure is all over the Virtual Console, including this week's super-weird (for them) Genesis game Light Crusader. Alongside masterpieces like Alien Soldier, Gunstar Heroes, and Sin and Punishment, it's really strange to see this very Japanese developer do an Anglo-Saxon fantasy, and the results are mixed. But once again, the Virtual Console is a great resource for those weird, "Recommended for Fans" type games that might never be remembered if not for a small rabid fanbase and a publisher that has no other material to release. Speaking of which, where the hell is Mischief Makers?
Be sure to post your comments and opinions in Talkback!
Cybernator - SNES
Cost: 800 Wii Points ($8)
Players: 1
Controllers: Wii Classic, GameCube
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Released: 4/1993
Click here for a video preview
Cybernator is an interesting little action game from the Super NES. A localization of Konami's Assault Suit series, it's an arcadey mech shooter with three different gameplay variations. Usually, you walk around the levels, shooting all sorts of enemies. You can jump very high, and then the booster jets kick in, allowing you to hover around for a few extra seconds. Also notable is that your gun can fire in 360 degrees, as in Gunstar Heroes and some other similar games, and you can hold the L button to lock the direction as you move around. On some outdoors levels and in certain boss battles, you can defy gravity by jumping off surfaces and hovering indefinitely, where your omnidirectional shooting skills will really be put to the test. Finally, there are horizontally scrolling shmup levels that move a little bit faster than you can maneuver and shoot, making them the weak point in the game. There are far better shmups on Virtual Console, but this is only a small portion of the game.
Cybernator isn't a brutally difficult game, but it is challenging in a way that rewards careful play and mastery of the different weapons and the blocking feature. A generous life bar and handful of continues will help you to push deeper into the game. The jumping controls are a bit floaty, and aiming is too slow, but these aren't major problems and can be overcome after a few minutes of adjustment. The graphics are above average and feature lots of little details, like environmental damage (very impressive for such an old game). Occasionally you will get some idea of your mech's size as miniscule human soldiers attack from underfoot. If you're a fan of Gunstar Heroes and other similar shooter-platformers from this era, you'll have a good time with Cybernator. - Jonathan Metts
Alien Storm - Genesis
Cost: 800 Wii Points ($8)
Players: 1-2
Controllers: Wii Remote, Wii Classic, GameCube
ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+ (Mild Fantasy Violence)
Released: 1991
Click here for a video preview
It seems there are a lot of side-scrolling beat-'em-ups on the Genesis that are modeled after Streets of Rage. One of them is Alien Storm, a brawler that replaces the endless waves of thugs with endless waves of aliens. Although the three available characters carry guns, rocket launchers, and flame throwers, these weapons are only of use if you're up close and personal to your enemies, since the game plays exactly like Streets of Rage. Characters have screen-clearing special moves here, too. There are a few portions of the game where you fight enemies in a first-person, shooting gallery setup, tearing up aliens and the scenery and finding energy canisters for your weapons and your special attacks.
Alien Storm is a boring knock-off of Streets of Rage and it does little to hide it. If it was possible to use your arsenal of weapons to actually shoot aliens from across the screen rather than being forced to battle with them up close, this might have been an unusual enough game experience to warrant a recommendation. The crushing blow is that you never seem to get enough energy to make special attacks worth using, especially because you can't fire your guns once you're out of it. First they give us weapons that don't act like you would expect them to, and then they expect us to conserve weapon energy when the point of beat-'em-ups is to get in as many punches as possible? That doesn't sound like a well-thought out game to me. - Steven Rodriguez
Monster Lair – TurboGrafx 16
Cost: 800 Wii Points ($8)
Players: 1-2
Controllers: Wii Remote, Wii Classic, GameCube
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Released: 1991
Click here for a video preview
Monster Lair is the TurboGrafx version of the third game in the Wonder Boy series. It was originally an arcade game, as evidenced by the automatically scrolling screen, slowly diminishing life, simple platforming, and shooting-focused gameplay. Each level of the game is divided into two parts, a platform section and a flying section, followed by a boss. You have a few continues and a few extra lives, but it can get pretty hairy to avoid all the bad guys and advance to the next level.
The game isn't groundbreaking, but it does have a neat two player mode for some simple fun. The platforming action is pretty repetitive, and the only real threat is the constantly scrolling screen that makes each jump and item a bit more precious than they normally would be. If you're a Wonder Boy fan, you could do worse. - Evan Burchfield
Blades of Steel - NES
Cost: 500 Wii Points ($5)
Players: 1-2
Controllers: Wii Remote, Wii Classic, GameCube
ESRB Rating: Everyone (Mild Violence)
Released: 12/1988
Click here for a video preview
Hockey may have dropped down to America's second sports tier, but as far as sports video games go, there have been a lot of top-tier hockey simulators over the years. Konami's Blades of Steel is simplistically beautiful recreation of everyone's favorite-but-doesn't-know-it-yet sport. The five-a-side action is very fast. It's easy to pass and shoot at the net, and you can even control the goaltender to help make last-moment saves. If you get too aggressive with the body checking, a fight will break out, sending the loser to the penalty box (as it should be) and putting the winning team on the power play. You can even get into tie-breaking penalty shots. For a hockey game from the late 80s, Blades of Steel was definitely ahead of its time.
Fans of hockey video games know that Blades of Steel is one of the best hockey games ever made. It's got the synthesized organ music, basic vocal play-by-play ("Face-off!" "Fight!") and a Zamboni resurfacing the ice between periods. We hockey fans know this is an instant download. For everyone else, Blades of Steel is a very fun, very competitive sports game that will have you coming back for more. It's something you should consider downloading, too. - Steven Rodriguez
Donkey Kong Country 3 - SNES
Cost: 800 Wii Points ($9)
Players: 1-2
Controllers: Wii Classic, GameCube
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Released: 11/22/1996
Click here for a video preview
One of the Super Nintendo's swan songs, Donkey Kong Country 3 builds upon DKC2's refined style for more ape adventuring, bonus barrels, and animal buddy antics. With both Donkey and Diddy out of the picture, Dixie Kong and her brutish toddler cousin, Kiddy Kong, must stop K. Rool and save the day in this platformer!
Diddy Kong's Adventure refined the original DKC into a multifaceted classic; in comparison, Dixie Kong's Double Trouble takes DKC2's formula and runs with it. The expanded overworld introduces secret areas and caves on the map; Dixie and Kiddy have different, useful talents; and the Lost World is as tough as ever. The pre-rendered CG graphics continue to impress (on a traditional CRT television), and the game's real soundtrack—different from the GBA port—is equally fantastic. Unfortunately, this series remains virtually unplayable with a GameCube controller. DKC2 is superior, but as long as you have a Classic controller, DKC3 is a satisfying, if slightly redundant, sequel that is well worth playing. - Michael Cole
Rolling Thunder 2 - Genesis
Cost: 800 Wii Points ($8)
Players: 1-2
Controllers: Wii Remote, Wii Classic, GameCube
ESRB Rating: Everyone (Violence)
Released: 1991
Click here for a video preview
This sequel to the original Rolling Thunder is a side-scrolling action platformer with a story set 30 years after the original, seeing initial release in arcades and then on Sega's Mega Drive (a.k.a. Genesis). "Rolling Thunder" is the code name of an Interpol task force under orders to stop the evil Neo-Geldra organization and their cyborg minions. You can choose to play as either of Interpol's finest - Leila or Albatross - or side-by-side in two-player mode. Your primary gun is a pistol, and you can use a rifle, flame thrower, and other weapons as you progress.
Instantly giving me déjà vu of my early days in arcades, I found that this run and gun classic has aged well. There's enough cheese and action to ensure that most will find Rolling Thunder 2 appealing, but those who remember playing the series in the arcade will be happiest. Everyone else can still have fun running and gunning through colorful levels for hours and hours. The soundtrack is entertaining and keeps the story moving with rather amusing cut scenes (exclusive to the Sega version). Rolling Thunder 2 is a straightforward game but loads of fun. - Les Thomas
Light Crusader - Genesis
Cost: 800 Wii Points ($8)
Players: 1-2
Controllers: Wii Remote, Wii Classic, GameCube
ESRB Rating: Everyone (Animated Violence)
Released: 1995
Click here for a video preview
Light Crusader was developed by Treasure, responsible for the three best games on the Virtual Console, and this game is nothing like any of them. More like Landstalker than Gunstar Heroes, the game follows a bland looking Knight named David who comes to the aid of the King of Green Row, a town where many people have disappeared. The game's mechanics owe a ton to Landstalker, from the isometric perspective to the puzzle-heavy dungeons. Unfortunately, the game isn't nearly as good looking as Landstalker, and it's three years older. It's strange, and maybe unfortunate, that Treasure decided to make a "Western" game with an understandable plot when their style is extreme Japanese anime melodrama with incomprehensible plot twists and character relationships. The result is just generic.
The gameplay is rough all around. Battles are awkward and repetitive. Traversing dungeons and talking to people is difficult thanks to the perspective, and depending on what controller you use. I think isometric movement was easier with the Genesis pad, and your best bet here is the big D-Pad on the Classic Controller. Even then, it's not too easy, as isometric never is, and the dungeons are harder for it. Yet I still want to recommend the game, at least to those who know what they're getting into. The way you combine spells is very Treasure, and you can make some fun combinations. The dungeons are meaty enough, if sometimes tedious. There are some of us who love bad action-RPGs, like Quest 64 or the Super NES Lord of the Rings. If those games light up your eyes even a little bit, then Light Crusader is a good bet. - Evan Burchfield
Bubble Bobble - NES
Cost: 500 Wii Points ($5)
Players: 1
Controllers: Wii Remote, Wii Classic, GameCube
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Released: 11/1988
Click here for a video preview
Taito's classic Bubble Bobble is an arcade-style action game best remembered for its catchy, arguably maddening music and sound effects. This is one tune that will probably be stuck in your head for hours or days after playing. However, the game itself should not be overlooked, as it holds up remarkably well after twenty years. You control two little dragons, Bub and Bob, who have since starred in the Bust-A-Move series of puzzle games. In Bubble Bobble, the dragons hop around and spit bubbles at enemies. Enemies must first be entrapped, then popped before they escape from the bubbles. Every stage ends with a mad dash to collect fruit for bonus points before time runs out.
Bubble Bobble is a reminder of a time when games were based on very simple mechanics and fleshed out with many interesting level designs. Over 100 levels teach you to jump on bubbles, prioritize enemies, and take advantage of the Pac-Man-like continuity between the floor and ceiling. Water/Lightning/Fire bubbles and many other special items keep the gameplay interesting throughout and give you a better chance against nastier enemies and levels. Bubble Bobble is also an excellent two-player game with both cooperative and competitive elements. In fact, the "secret ending" requires that two players be active on the last level (most easily accomplished with a famous trick to add in P2 at the last second). This is a fun, addictive, content-packed game that is easily worth your money. - Jonathan Metts
Top Hunter – Neo Geo
Cost: 900 Wii Points ($9)
Players: 1-2
Controllers: Wii Remote, Wii Classic, GameCube
ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+ (Cartoon Violence)
Released: 5/18/1994
Click here for a video preview
SNK's best Neo-Geo stuff was its side-scrolling action games. Top Hunter is one of them. Following the winning Metal Slug formula, your must fight through four themed worlds. The hero can pick up dropped weapons, but his main attack is punching and throwing enemies until they drop dead. His extension arm can pluck foes from a distance or pull chain switches on the ceiling, which could spawn power-up bonuses. Time is always against you in this game, because if you run out before reaching the boss, you'll lose a life. Luckily, there are time bonuses littered throughout the level, but you can't dawdle around too much.
Upon first glance, Top Hunter look like a Metal Slug wannabe. It has the same side-scrolling levels and graphical style as SNK's iconic game series. You can even hop into walking tanks. What makes it different is there are two different planes of action to jump between. Levels are designed around this feature, as are boss fights. It's an interesting mechanic that sometimes feels forced, but for the most part it helps the game be more than a rote clone. In the end, the most important thing is that Top Hunter is fun to play. I think everyone will get a kick out it. - Steven Rodriguez
Thanks to VG Museum for the classic screenshots.
Topic: Virtual Console Mondays: Year-End Round-Up! (Read 2619 times)
