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Virtual Console Mondays: April 2, 2007

by Steven Rodriguez - April 2, 2007, 10:06 pm
Total comments: 15

The lions, tigers and bears (oh my!) are nowhere to be found, but just about everything else in the zoo is.

There seems to be a theme with the Virtual Console releases this week. Turtles, foxes, dragons, birds, toads, rats and a bunch of other animals can be found in all three games listed below. Is it a coincidence? Or maybe the planets and stars are aligning, marking the beginning of some earth-changing event?

Nah, it's just a coincidence.



Star Fox 64

SystemVirtual Console - Nintendo 64

Cost1000 Points
Players4
ControllersWii Nunchuk,GameCube
ESRB RatingEveryone
ReleasedJul 01, 1997

Star Fox 64 is one of the greatest arcade-style shooters ever made and is a must-download for anyone who doesn't already own the cartridge. As Fox McCloud, you fly your Arwing fighter ship through space and over planetary surfaces, shooting down scads of enemies and facing massive bosses who report to the evil Andross. The original Star Fox for SNES pioneered 3D polygonal graphics in video games, but its sequel on N64 is a far more balanced and cinematic game that can be enjoyed by a wider audience. There is still plenty of challenge in figuring out how to access the more difficult mission paths, while the brilliant combo system can be mastered to earn medals on each stage. There is also a hidden Expert Mode and

four-player Vs. battles.

Oddly enough, the Virtual Console version of Star Fox 64 does not feature rumble support (ironic, considering SF64 originally included the N64 Rumble Pak) or the usual suspend feature through the Home menu. You can play with either the Classic or GameCube controller, and both of them have the boost and brake functions mapped to buttons so that you don't have to use the second joystick if you don't want to. The GameCube controller actually feels better for this game, since you use the A button so heavily, and the position of the control stick is arguably more comfortable for long playing sessions. Remember to keep playing until "Game Over" or until you beat the game in order to save your achievements!

Recommended for Everyone

- Jonathan Metts



Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

SystemVirtual Console - Nintendo Entertainment System

Cost600 Points
Players1
ControllersWii Remote,Wii Nunchuk,GameCube
ESRB Rating
ReleasedJun 1989

Well, isn't this interesting timing. Just as the new TMNT movie is out and about in theaters, the original NES game hits Virtual Console. (The arcade game came out on Xbox Live Arcade last week, too.) The game is features a top-down overworld linking the meaty side-scrolling action sequences where you can switch between the four turtles at will. Each uses their specialty weapon, and sub-weapons like boomerangs and ninja stars can be acquired along the way. Every so often you'll come across a sub-boss (like Bebop or Rocksteady) who will be glad to drain your life and K.O. one or two of your turtles. You can keep playing as long as one of your characters are still standing, but try to find as much pizza as you can to keep everyone in the party fresh.

TMNT is a decent game, but it's getting a big X for a few reasons. First of all, it's overpriced. There's no reason why this should be the most expensive NES game. Secondly, it's frustratingly difficult. No matter how you good you are, there will be times where you will have no other choice but to take damage and die. (Remember the dam level?) And unlike the other turtle games, this one's single-player only. All things considered, there's really no good reason to download the original TMNT, even if you do have fond memories of playing it back in the day.

Not Recommended

- Steven Rodriguez



Dragon's Curse

SystemVirtual Console - TurboGrafx-16

Cost600 Points
Players1
ControllersWii Remote,Wii Nunchuk,GameCube
ESRB Rating
ReleasedAug 1990

Here we have a side-scrolling action RPG that sees our human hero cursed, transforming into various animals. Your dragon form spits fire, your mouse form can stick to blocks, piranha man can swim, and turning into a hawk will allow you to fly over distance. You eventually gain the ability to switch forms at will, which is important if you want to gain access to certain areas. The RPG part of the game is made up of using gold collected from felled enemies to purchase new weapons, shields and armor. If you collect enough of a certain item, you can raise your charisma level to woo shopkeepers into selling you better stuff.

This is one of the better TurboGrafx games available on Virtual Console, and it's worth the $6 asking price. It's a fun game that will have you scraping for every last gold coin to get the most powerful swords and sub-weapons you can get your hands on. If you've played New Adventure Island, you may find this game to feel similar. That's a good thing, though.

Recommended for Everyone

- Steven Rodriguez


Talkback

that Baby guyApril 02, 2007

A six-hundred point NES game? Is this the first licensed game? Maybe that's why?

IceColdApril 02, 2007

Hopefully it doesn't set a precedent.

NephilimApril 02, 2007

Proberly licencing, they would of needed permission from Mirage Studios under the "Creator's Bill of Rights", Mirage proberly just stated they wanted a profit margin from each VC
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creator's_Bill_of_Rights

EntroperApril 02, 2007

I don't think anyone has FOND memories of playing TMNT back in the day. More like painful memories, that is, if the trauma wasn't sufficient for them to be repressed. Licensing or no, I can't believe Nintendo had the gall to charge 600 points for this.

I'm all for difficult games (I love Kid Icarus!) but TMNT isn't difficult, it's just lame. A difficult game presents you with challenges which, with enough practice, you can overcome. A lame game repeatedly subjects you to certain damage and death situations, not to mention terrible play control.

SheckyApril 03, 2007

I could always only get so far in TMNT... I think some point where you have to get/use rope. Like Entroper notes, it's almost an arcade game with one life. Designed such that it can easily dish out cheap damage (scroll an enemy on improperly for example).

It'll be great to finally play Starfox in a resolution that I can see on a moderately sized TV (36")... playable on the 27", but just a blurry mess on the larger one when played from the 64. I look forward to enjoying all the quotes again ("I'll do you fast, Peppy old pal") ... no rumble is going to make the expert path in Macbeth not nearly as entertaining.

planetidiotApril 03, 2007

Dragon's Curse? How close is this to Wonder Boy 3 for the Sega Master System?

UltimatePartyBearApril 03, 2007

I have fond memories of this TMNT game, actually. I could beat the dam level without taking any damage. It was level 3 that always stopped me back when I was a kid, but for some reason I was a wuss back then and would just stop there without even trying.

Star Fox 64 would be worth it with rumble support, but without it I only care enough to ask how you "Do a barrel roll!" with analog shoulder buttons.

Ian SaneApril 03, 2007

"Dragon's Curse? How close is this to Wonder Boy 3 for the Sega Master System?"

It's the same game except without the Wonder Boy franchise. I think technically Sega owns the Wonder Boy trademark so Hudson had to give the game a different name when releasing it on a different console. It's like how the NES version of Wonder Boy is Adventure Island.

The only reason any of us played TMNT was because we were kids itching to play our favourite heroes in game form. We were the kids that play crappy Harry Potter games now.

KDR_11kApril 03, 2007

Wonderboy is called Wonderboy on the C64.

Ian SaneApril 03, 2007

"Wonderboy is called Wonderboy on the C64."

The Commodore 64 is technically a computer and thus doesn't have the same legal issues as another console. But then I might just be making an assumption there. It might also relate to who is publishing the game: Sega or Hudson. Adventure Island is literally Wonder Boy on the NES with a different character so there's precedence of a Wonder Boy title showing up on another console with a different name to get past Sega.

Anyway Dragon's Curse IS Wonder Boy III.

Viewtiful marioApril 03, 2007

TMNT? To hard? Pfft, people seem to suck at videogames nowadays. I douwloaded it because I played it as a kid and I find it fairly chalenging, not "Super Difficult". On the dam level just swich tutles when one of them starts beeping, it only took me 4 tries to beat and I know I can beat it again without dieing. And if your faced with a jump with a low cealing, just tap the jump button and he gets right over, you don't have to do flips over every hole. And besides, you get 2 lives, if you die once you can continue from the begining of the level, but only once.

Seriously, after beating twilight Princess, I welcome a game with good challenge. I think games are too easey nowadays anyway. And for the record I didn't find Viewtiful Joe or Devle Mey Cry too difficult, maby it's because I beat stroy mode on f-Zero GX and now I can hanle anything. (I also got to the 5th level in R-type, it mey only be halfway through but with how hard it is it's still a big acomplishment)

Bill AurionApril 03, 2007

Well there's a difference between "hard" and "holy crap the game is hard because it's really poorly made"... face-icon-small-smile.gif

WindyManSteven Rodriguez, Staff AlumnusApril 03, 2007

TMNT is artificially difficult. It's designed for you to deliberately take damage in areas to prolong the game. Also, to make you hate it.

And on the 600 points deal, I think it may have something to do with the fact that Ubisoft has the rights to TMNT now. That extra $1 may be going to them.

SheckyApril 03, 2007

I'd imagine rolling in star fox is handled using the clicks of the gamecube controller (ie, click twice). I don't think any N64 games support the suspend feature, likely because the snapshot is to large to store (or at least large enough. They're bigger than the insignificant older games)

Mario323April 05, 2007

Quote

Originally posted by: Viewtiful mario
TMNT? To hard? Pfft, people seem to suck at videogames nowadays. I douwloaded it because I played it as a kid and I find it fairly chalenging, not "Super Difficult". On the dam level just swich tutles when one of them starts beeping, it only took me 4 tries to beat and I know I can beat it again without dieing. And if your faced with a jump with a low cealing, just tap the jump button and he gets right over, you don't have to do flips over every hole. And besides, you get 2 lives, if you die once you can continue from the begining of the level, but only once.

Seriously, after beating twilight Princess, I welcome a game with good challenge. I think games are too easey nowadays anyway. And for the record I didn't find Viewtiful Joe or Devle Mey Cry too difficult, maby it's because I beat stroy mode on f-Zero GX and now I can hanle anything. (I also got to the 5th level in R-type, it mey only be halfway through but with how hard it is it's still a big acomplishment)


Anything else you want to brag about?

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