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Virtual Console Mondays: May 21, 2007

by Steven Rodriguez - May 22, 2007, 10:55 pm
Total comments: 19

Two out of three ain't bad. Again.

Two out of the three games seen last week were ninja games. This week, two out of three on the new release list are sequels, and damn good sequels at that. And also like last week, there's an odd man out. Which game got the snubbing? You'll need to keep reading to find out.



Streets of Rage 2

SystemVirtual Console - Genesis

Cost800 Points
Players2
ControllersWii Remote,Wii Nunchuk,GameCube
ESRB Rating
ReleasedYear 1993

Click here for a video preview

Streets of Rage was one of the series that made the Genesis the hit that it was back in the early 90s, and the second game one-ups the original in almost every way. A new character allows you to speed around bad guys with ease. Characters have a new special attack that's very powerful, but it takes away a bit of life to perform it. The graphics are amazing, and although the game is about 14 years old, you will still be impressed. Oh yeah, and the game's a blast to play alone or with a friend.

Streets of Rage 2 comes even more highly recommended than Streets of Rage 1, which was also Recommended for Everyone. Both are great, but the second one is better. If you haven't yet downloaded one of these suckers, what's wrong with you? Get it now!

Recommended for Everyone

- Steven Rodriguez



Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

SystemVirtual Console - Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Cost800 Points
Players2
ControllersWii Nunchuk,GameCube
ESRB RatingEveryone
ReleasedDec 1995

Click here for a video preview

This ACM-rendered sequel may not look so pretty to modern eyes as it did back in 1995, but the gameplay still holds up very well. DKC2 is a straightforward platformer with not so simple level designs. The placement of platforms, ropes, and enemies can get nefarious, but some new animal buddies like the snake are happy to help Diddy and Dixie Kong. There are dozens of levels in the game, and each one is absolutely packed with secret bonus stages and hidden bananas that are fun to discover, even though the "rewards" are not so exciting. As a Rare game, DKC2 sports way too many collectibles, including bananas, "KONG" letters, balloons, banana coins, K.Rool coins, and DK coins...yes, that's three different types of coins.

Unless you have the slightly borked GBA port of this game, it's well worth the download price on Virtual Console. Not only is it packed with old school 2D fun, but you also get a lot of content for your money.

Recommended for Everyone

- Jonathan Metts



Blazing Lazers

SystemVirtual Console - TurboGrafx-16

Cost600 Points
Players1
ControllersWii Remote,Wii Nunchuk,GameCube
ESRB RatingEveryone
ReleasedYear 1992

Click here for a video preview

Looks Hudson decided to dust off another NEC shmup and make it available for a $6 download. Blazing Lazers is this week's shooter, one of the vertical variety. Your ship can collect different weapon types, missile types and special abilities. There are four of each type, and mixing and matching them all will produce a wide variety of attack types and patterns. Bomb pickups for your ship are abundant, which let you clear the screen quite easily.

As with most shooters, things in Blazing Lasers get hectic soon after the start. However, the game seems to hit you with as many powerups as it does enemies, and since certain powerups can plow through enemies like a hot knife through butter there's not that much challenge. Considering all the shoot-em'-up options on Virtual Console, Blazing Lazers isn't worth the time.

Not Recommended

- Steven Rodriguez


Talkback

that Baby guyMay 22, 2007

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It's a vertical scrolling shooter, and you guys make it sound pretty easy, almost beatable in fact! ... What's not to like?

that Baby guyMay 22, 2007

Hey, I was right!

ShyGuyMay 22, 2007

Isn't Blazing Lasers supposed to be the best or 2nd best shmup on the TG16?

It seems like NWR is panning it just because it's a vertical scrolling shooter.

PaulTMay 23, 2007

"Trixie" Kong?

Also, it's been a long time since I played DKC2, but it doesn't have all those collectables in does it? I thought KONG letters were just in Donkey Kong Land. And I have no memory of "K. Rool coins" at all. I'm sure someone will leap to correct me though.

TansunnMay 23, 2007

KONG letters have been around since DKC1. There's also the banana coins you can give to the other Kongs for info, the Kremcoins you can give to Klubba to go to the lost world, and the large DK tokens that add to your percentage.

ArbokMay 23, 2007

Quote

Originally posted by: ShyGuy
Isn't Blazing Lasers supposed to be the best or 2nd best shmup on the TG16?


Well, it was good enough that Hudson re-released it as a licensed game based on the Gunhed franchise, which of course was infinitely better than the NES game Toho themselves made, and then re-re-released it as a Gold edition with the Gunhed name again.

So clearly someone liked it. I never cared for it much myself, but then I have never been a huge fan of the genre in general.

Ian SaneMay 23, 2007

I think had Hudson not released so many other shooters Blazing Lazers would get a better review. This seems less like a quick review of Blazing Lazers and more of a commentary on too many TG-16 schmups being released. I think a game should only get a "Not Recommended" if it outright sucks. Odds are schmups fans would dig it so "For Fans" is probably more accurate.

DKC2 is the start of needless Rare collecting but only the DK coins and Krem coins are arbitrary or required. Kong coins are used to save. Bananas work like coins in Mario: 100 = 1 life. Balloons are 1 ups. The KONG letters give you a 1 up are are optional and don't count towards the total percentage. DKC2 isn't a big collectathon so don't let that influence your decision. If it's a collectathon then so is Mario with all it's mushrooms and coins and such.

Is "Trixie Kong" a typo or did Rare change the name for some copyright reason or something?

These are the best Streets of Rage and Donkey Kong Country games.

ArbokMay 23, 2007

Quote

Originally posted by: Ian Sane
These are the best Streets of Rage and Donkey Kong Country games.


Preach it!

ShyGuyMay 23, 2007

Man, reducing scores because TG16 had too many shmups is like reducing scores on the Xbox for having too many FPS!

FPSs.

FPS-es.

that Baby guyMay 23, 2007

A gaggle of FPS.

A pride of FPS'.

UltimatePartyBearMay 23, 2007

A murder of FPS. Like crows. Because crows kill people.

Quote

Originally posted by: PaulT
"Trixie" Kong?


Yes, fixed. *sigh*

Totally disagree with the "Not Recommended" on Blazing Lazers. I bought it way back in the day for TG-16 and loved it. I remember the power-ups were really cool and it had some great sound effects (digitized, if I remember correctly).

I'd say "Recommended for Fans" is more accurate. I know I'll be downloading it soon.

KDR_11kMay 24, 2007

Maybe I should unpack and dust off my Wii one of these days and get a Wii points card. Maybe. But I'm busy enough with uni work and making lolis...

Since DKC and Streets of Rage were released on the VC simultaneously, and so were DKC2 and Streets of Rage 2, logically we will see the conclusions to both series on the same day as well.

GoldenPhoenixMay 27, 2007

Quote

Originally posted by: insanolord
Since DKC and Streets of Rage were released on the VC simultaneously, and so were DKC2 and Streets of Rage 2, logically we will see the conclusions to both series on the same day as well.


Well I can definitely wait for DKC3, one of my least favorite continuations of a series EVER.

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