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Mega Virtual Console Recommendations '94-'95

by J.P. Corbran - June 20, 2011, 2:21 pm
Total comments: 12

The staff of Nintendo World Report covers the current Virtual Console titles for the second week in a row!

It's the second week of 3DS Virtual Console, and Nintendo World Report is here to tell you whether the game is worth your money. We've also got coverage of the Wii Virtual Console, both from this week and from our backlog.

First, Andrew Brown discusses Donkey Kong for the Game Boy. Is its reputation as one of the best black-and-white Game Boy game deserved?

Then, Zach Miller covers Mega Man 5. Is the fifth NES entry in this storied franchise among the best?

Finally, Pedro Hernandez goes back to cover The King of Fighters '95 for Neo Geo. Does it stand out among the fighting games available on the Wii's Virtual Console? 


Donkey Kong

SystemVirtual Console - Game Boy

Cost$3.99
Players1
ControllersNULL
ESRB RatingEveryone
ReleasedJun 1994

At first, this game appears to be a watered-down, miniaturized version of the original arcade Donkey Kong game. But, oh, how wonderfully deceptive it is. Sometimes referred to as Donkey Kong '94 for clarity, this Game Boy title features Mario on an epic chase across 9 worlds, solving platform puzzles and doing battle with the hulking ape on his quest to save Pauline.

Each world has a number of platforming levels that require Mario to find a key and deliver it safely through the enemies, tricks and traps to the exit door. Every fourth stage is a classic-style DK arena where Mario must either fight his way past oncoming attacks to reach the Kong, or turn his attacks back on himself and knock him out. Those who played Mario vs. Donkey Kong on GBA will instantly see where the concept of the game came from.

Elements are borrowed from both Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr, from barrel-jumping to vine-climbing to the age-old hammer pickup that sends Mario into a deadly flurry of swinging metal madness. All the original arcade sound effects are intact such as DK's angry grunting, and especially the comically obscure walking noises Mario makes as he scampers about. The graphics are top-notch and the levels are broken up between hilarious little animated sequences that show Mario's endless pursuit. While this is not the Super Game Boy version, even in the grey tones of the original Game Boy release, it looks superb.

Recommended for Everyone

- Andrew Brown



Mega Man 5

SystemVirtual Console - Nintendo Entertainment System

Cost500 Points
Players1
ControllersNULL
ESRB RatingEveryone
ReleasedDec 1992

Mega Man 5 is near and dear to my heart. It was the only MM game I owned on the NES, and you can bet I played the hell out of it. It also features one of my favorite tunes from the entire series - Charge Man's stage music. The story concerns Proto Man, who's apparently gone rogue, and the Blue Bomber's got to put his predecessor down...or does he?

MM5 features some very interesting level design and continues the series' post-MM3 tradition of being easier than the preceding game (MM4). It's got a lot of charm, though, and is a good place for series newcomers to start given its relative ease (and brevity).

Recommended for Everyone

- Zachary Miller



The King of Fighters '95

SystemVirtual Console - NEOGEO

Cost900 Points
Players2
ControllersNULL
ESRB RatingTeen
ReleasedSep 01, 1995

King of Fighters '94 combined all of SNK's fighting franchises and created a fighting game that is unique in its three-on-three mechanics and features a wide selection of characters to choose from. With King of Fighters '95, a Madden like tradition was started: a new King of Fighter games almost yearly, featuring further enhancements and even more characters.

What is new in this iteration of the series? The biggest one is the ability to create your own team of fighters, revealing a very deep system where players could create their own balanced and unstoppable fighting team. Of course, if you want to stick with the game's pre-made teams, you can do that too. Several new characters were also introduced, including Iori, who would become one of the series' main characters and whose story would become the backbone of all the future King of Fighters games to come.  

The only thing left to say is that if you loved King of Fighters '94, then you will enjoy this iteration. Not a lot has been changed in this sequel, but if you love to create your own fighting team it is definitely worth trying.

Recommended for Fans

- Pedro Hernandez


Talkback

KITT 10KJune 20, 2011

I'm very happy that Donkey Kong for the Game Boy was put out in the virtual console. I had a lot of fun playing it when it came out and I am having fun again with it. (Can you say, "Super Mario Land 2"?)

KITT 10KJune 20, 2011

(For the next game to be added in the virtual console I mean.)

UltimatePartyBearJune 20, 2011

Super Mario Land 2 is pretty likely to hit the shop sooner or later, and I recommend it to anyone who missed it, but I already played it to death when I was a kid.  I'm more interested in gems I missed, such as Donkey Kong, and I'm not convinced there are many of those.  The only game I already own that I'm sure I'd buy again is the One True Tetris, but something tells me it's not likely to be made available.  :-\

Edit: I take that back.  I might buy Motocross Maniacs, too, just for an occasional fix.

I am really enjoying my first-ever playing of Donkey Kong '94 and hope to see the bug spray from DK3 show up eventually.

StrikerObiMike Sklens, Podcast EditorJune 20, 2011

I'm basically hooked on DK 94. I never played it previously, and had no idea it was the predecessor to Mario vs Donkey Kong (which I LOVED). So when I found that out, I got this right away and I can't believe how good it is.

I am also playing DK '94 for the first time and absolutely in love with it. It's making me wish I still had my copy of Mario vs. Donkey Kong; hopefully it won't be too long until GBA games hit the VC and we get a shot at it.

I just beat DK '94 last night. SUCH a good game, such a breath of fresh air. Only a few levels are tricky, but the whole thing is so well put together that I didn't care if it was easy.

TanookisuitJune 21, 2011

Playing Donkey Kong on my honeymoon right now!  It's awesome.  I never had it as a kid, because I thought it was just a port of the arcade game.

CericJune 21, 2011

Quote from: Tanookisuit

Playing Donkey Kong on my honeymoon right now!  It's awesome.  I never had it as a kid, because I thought it was just a port of the arcade game.

Hurry, some mod change "Playing" to "Planning to Play" and "on" to "after".  Hurry a marriage is at stake man. :P:
Hope your having fun.

Retro DeckadesJune 22, 2011

Quote from: Ceric

Quote from: Tanookisuit

Playing Donkey Kong on my honeymoon right now!  It's awesome.  I never had it as a kid, because I thought it was just a port of the arcade game.

Hurry, some mod change "Playing" to "Planning to Play" and "on" to "after".  Hurry a marriage is at stake man. :P:
Hope your having fun.

I'd wager that his wife doesn't read the NWR forums, and if she does then it is probably a match made in heaven.

Also, Donkey Kong on the Game Boy may be worth risking a marriage over -- it's that good. Absolutely one of the best games on the system.

Ian SaneJune 22, 2011

For some reason, depite owning a Super Game Boy, I don't have Donkey Kong, even though I've seen it at used videogame stores hundreds of times.  For whatever reason it is one of these games I never pick up.  I have to change that.  Next time I see it, I buy it.

Mop it upJune 22, 2011

Quote from: Ian

For some reason, depite owning a Super Game Boy, I don't have Donkey Kong, even though I've seen it at used videogame stores hundreds of times.  For whatever reason it is one of these games I never pick up.  I have to change that.  Next time I see it, I buy it.

This is eerily the same case for me as well. If the 3DS version had the Super Game Boy content, I'd be tempted to download it. But since it doesn't, I'll be hunting down an original copy.

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