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Virtual Console Mondays: January 15

by Steven Rodriguez - January 15, 2007, 9:22 pm EST
Total comments: 6

There are three new releases this week, one each from three different systems. But it's pretty much the same as last week's update.

Welcome to another edition of Nintendo World Report's Classic Shoot-'em-up Roundup. I mean, Virtual Console Mondays. For the second week in a row, Nintendo has opted to sit out and let some third parties pull out their guns. Again, of the three games released this week, two are of the classic arcade shooter variety. But are they truly classics worth playing again, or games that are simply old and washed up? Here are our recommendations for this week's games.


R-Type III: The Third Lightning - SNES

R-Type III: The Third Lightning - SNES

Released: 8/2/1994

1-2 Players

Cost: 800 Wii Points ($8)

Controllers: Wii Classic, GameCube

R-Type III is a side scrolling shooter in the classic vein that has a great graphical style. Story is typically mum while gameplay is fast. As the environments whiz by you, you'll have to juggle many different elements, like powerups that attach themselves to either the front or back of you, different ships, weapon types, and charging methods. For a simple genre, R-Type III takes its shooting seriously - you'll have to read the Operations Manual to get a feel for the different combinations, but for the shmup enthusiast, the VC is the place to be.

Recommended for FansDo you like shooting them up (shmupping)? Then get this game. It's got some good variety of playstyles and a high level of difficulty, making it perfect for those who like to prove themselves with the D-Pad. The fainthearted out there (grandmas looking for good VC games, for instance) should probably avoid, as getting past the first level is a challenge.



Xevious - NES

Xevious - NES

Released: 1990

1-2 Players

Cost: 500 Wii Points ($5)

Controllers: Wii Remote, Wii Classic, GameCube

Xevious is an arcade game from 1982 that was ported to the NES in 1990. It's a vertical scrolling shooter that features two forms of attack. The "Zapper" fires out in front of the player's ship, while the "blaster" will hit the bases shooting up from below. When using the "blaster", shots must be fired when the target is in a cross-hair that is out in front of the ship. This allows for the correct about of lead time.

Not RecommendedWhat may have been a great game in 1982 looks pathetic next to other shooters that are already out on the VC, like Gradius. There really isn't any reason to pick this game up. Even shooter fans should spend their Wii points elsewhere.



Moto Roader - TurboGrafx-16

Moto Roader - TurboGraphx 16

Released: 1989

1-5 Players

Cost: 600 Wii Points ($6)

Controllers: Wii Remote, Wii Classic, GameCube

In this week's non-shooter VC release, Moto Roader is a racing game that shares many traits to RC Pro-Am or the Micro Machines games. You start off with a basic car that crawls around the track, but you can upgrade it with a sleeker body, a more powerful engine and grippier tires. You can even buy weapons to add some firepower to your aresenal. The game was designed for five players in mind, so if you fall behind the game will warp you back to the center of the track to get back in the fight. Don't let it happen too many times, though, or you'll run out of gas.

Not RecommendedAlthough this looks like it would be a good deal of fun with five humans, playing it by yourself is kind of a chore. The warping cars mean it's possible to lose a race on account of a car vaulting ahead of you at the last moment, and if you don't upgrade your car soon enough, you'll be doing more warping than racing. I like racing games a lot, but Moto Roader didn't do it for me.

Talkback

vuduJanuary 16, 2007

Has anyone here played both R-Type for TG-16 and R-Type III for SNES (either on Wii or their original consoles)? Which is a better buy?

I'm not a hardcore shmup fan by any means, but I do enjoy some old-school shooters every now and then. Should I pick one of these bad boys up or wait for a forthcoming release?

vuduJanuary 16, 2007

Has anyone here played both R-Type for TG-16 and R-Type III for SNES (either on Wii or their original consoles)? Which is a better buy?

I'm not a hardcore shmup fan by any means, but I do enjoy some old-school shooters every now and then. Should I pick one of these bad boys up or wait for a forthcoming release?

tonythekittyJanuary 16, 2007

As a semi casual shooter fan myself ( i like em but i dont invest enough time in them to get good at them and beat them without infinite continues) I can wholeheartedly reccomend r type 3 for snes. I played back on my original snes before I even knew what a schmup was. Its great fun, great graphics, and seeing all the mode 7 "super cool" graphics mode stuff on the snes is really a treat now. Its so nostalgic. It does have a lot of slowdown in some spots, but trust me, thats not a bad thing, the action gets so frantic the slowdown can actually help you survive.

Xevious really and truly sucks tho. Avoid like the plague. Galaga was a 10 times better shooter than Xevious and it will surely come out soon on VC. (If Galaga 90 for turbografx 16 comes out pick that one up)!

And Moto Racer is an illconcieved top down racer. Wait for the release of Super RC Pro am or something similar.

tonythekittyJanuary 16, 2007

As a semi casual shooter fan myself ( i like em but i dont invest enough time in them to get good at them and beat them without infinite continues) I can wholeheartedly reccomend r type 3 for snes. I played back on my original snes before I even knew what a schmup was. Its great fun, great graphics, and seeing all the mode 7 "super cool" graphics mode stuff on the snes is really a treat now. Its so nostalgic. It does have a lot of slowdown in some spots, but trust me, thats not a bad thing, the action gets so frantic the slowdown can actually help you survive.

Xevious really and truly sucks tho. Avoid like the plague. Galaga was a 10 times better shooter than Xevious and it will surely come out soon on VC. (If Galaga 90 for turbografx 16 comes out pick that one up)!

And Moto Racer is an illconcieved top down racer. Wait for the release of Super RC Pro am or something similar.

tonythekittyJanuary 16, 2007

Oh I forgot to say, to the other guy.... R type for turbografx, is near impossible. I cant beat the first stinkin level. Its fun, its pretty, but darn is it hard. Get RTYPE 3 for snes if you want to have a prayer for survival.

tonythekittyJanuary 16, 2007

Oh I forgot to say, to the other guy.... R type for turbografx, is near impossible. I cant beat the first stinkin level. Its fun, its pretty, but darn is it hard. Get RTYPE 3 for snes if you want to have a prayer for survival.

WindyManSteven Rodriguez, Staff AlumnusJanuary 16, 2007

They are both impossibly hard. I would get R-Type III just because it's better looking and has some new things you can't do in the original.

WindyManSteven Rodriguez, Staff AlumnusJanuary 16, 2007

They are both impossibly hard. I would get R-Type III just because it's better looking and has some new things you can't do in the original.

KDR_11kJanuary 16, 2007

R type for turbografx, is near impossible. I cant beat the first stinkin level.

Just wait until you get to the Baldo gardens. That stage is freaking impossible if you haven't memorized every last bit of it. R-Type was my first console game (though for the Gameboy which is a lot easier).

KDR_11kJanuary 16, 2007

R type for turbografx, is near impossible. I cant beat the first stinkin level.

Just wait until you get to the Baldo gardens. That stage is freaking impossible if you haven't memorized every last bit of it. R-Type was my first console game (though for the Gameboy which is a lot easier).

XanderMarch 28, 2008

I find it interesting that no one can get a handle on Moto Roader.

Your review is akin to playing Army of Two by yourself.  This game is a multiplayer racer, that's what it is.  It is essentially a Mario Kart GP game.  You buy grenade upgrades and other fun things and have a blast blowing up your friends.  I have 4 brothers, and we have a TG16 and 5 controllers.  5 player Moto Roader is some of the most fun I have had playing multiplayer video games.  We would switch between Moto Roader and Bomberman all the time, and it was always a blast.

XanderMarch 28, 2008

I find it interesting that no one can get a handle on Moto Roader.

Your review is akin to playing Army of Two by yourself.  This game is a multiplayer racer, that's what it is.  It is essentially a Mario Kart GP game.  You buy grenade upgrades and other fun things and have a blast blowing up your friends.  I have 4 brothers, and we have a TG16 and 5 controllers.  5 player Moto Roader is some of the most fun I have had playing multiplayer video games.  We would switch between Moto Roader and Bomberman all the time, and it was always a blast.

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