Virtual Console Roundup Review

NeoGeo and Mega Drive treats.

Version tested: Wii

Do you like hitting people? Kicking them in the face? Maybe you prefer clobbering them with lead pipes or even an axe. If so, it's a good week in the VC lounge with no less than three fighty favourites joining the line-up, including the first fruits from Nintendo's new saucy romance with the beloved-by-hardcore-gamers Neo Geo format. There's also a clunky old helicopter and a fellow called Nigel. Don't pretend you're not intrigued.

Fatal Fury

  • Platform: NeoGeo
  • Wii Points: 900
  • In Real Money: GBP 6.75 / EUR 9

A fitting opening salvo from the NeoGeo catalogue since, along with Metal Slug, this fighting series is the one that most people associate with the cult console. As such, there's a certain thematic sense in starting at the beginning with the first game. After all, it's a finely balanced no-frills beat-em-up with an eclectic cast of characters, and deserving of its many accolades.

'Virtual Console Roundup' Screenshot ff

On the plus side, it introduces the dual-plane fighting system in which fighters can shuffle between two lines of attack, and a very nifty two-player co-op mode that lets you and a friend team up to work your way through the array of enemies. But, on the other hand, it does only offer three playable fighters which makes it rather hard to swallow the 900 point price tag, especially since Fatal Fury Special has already punched up Xbox Live Arcade with more game for less dosh, plus online gubbins.

So while Fatal Fury remains a slick and fun experience, and a significant game in the history of the NeoGeo and beat-em-ups in general, the knowledge that there are even better games in the series, and that they'll certainly offer better value when they inevitably get added to the VC, is reason enough to hold off on this purchase for the time being.

7/10

Streets of Rage 3

  • Platform: Sega Megadrive
  • Wii Points: 800
  • In Real Money: GBP 6 / EUR 8

Received rather sniffily on its 1994 release, and selling so poorly that the planned fourth game was axed, this seminal side-scroller has since undergone a reappraisal and emerged as arguably the finest game of its type from the 16bit era.

'Virtual Console Roundup' Screenshot sor

There are more characters than in Streets of Rage 2 - both immediately playable and secret - while the gameplay itself is about as refined and nuanced as the genre could offer at the time. Mostly, it's just enormous fun with a wide variety of enemies, each requiring actual tactics to defeat, and the usual spread of weapons and combos, all slightly tweaked to make them more useful and/or interesting. It's fast, but the game rewards thoughtful play over button mashing. There are dodge and dash moves, grappling counter movies, special attacks that recharge rather than running out, and loads of nice little visual touches - like the way scenery will shake when you body slam an enemy.

The game even boasts multiple endings, depending on your performance. It's nothing wildly innovative - if you fail to save a key character in level 6 then you play a different final stage, but it does give you that little added incentive to go back for another playthrough.

The music is still rather garish, an unusually atonal industrial cacophony from the normally chilled-out Yuzo Koshiro, but Streets of Rage is a varied and inventive take on a genre that suffers far too many uninspired knock-offs. Well worth the effort for casual fans, downright essential for fighting fans.

9/10

Golden Axe 3

  • Platform: Sega Megadrive
  • Wii Points: 800
  • In Real Money: GBP 6 / EUR 8

And here's an interesting counterpoint to Streets of Rage 3, another third entry in a scrolling Sega beat-em-up series but one that manages to add more stuff without really improving anything.

Golden Axe was always the sort of dumb cousin to the better side-scrolling fighters, and by the time this entry limped out it was clear that nothing was going to change that perception. So once again you choose a stock fantasy character - barbarian, dwarf, woman with enormous tits - and hackenslash your way through the stages.

Like Streets of Rage 3, there are more characters, more attacks and a shake-up in design - branching levels, in this case - yet it's clear that these elements were thrown in so they could be listed on the back of the box, not as part of any concerted attempt to actually evolve the game. The animation is basic, the graphics uninspired, while generic enemies line up to be twatted.

Like the prior Golden Axe games it's passable fluff, and amusing enough on the most basic retro level, but offers no compelling reason to choose this over any of the dozens of similar games already out there. It should come as no surprise that Sega couldn't even be arsed releasing the original cartridge outside of Japan.

6/10

Super Thunder Blade

  • Platform: Sega Megadrive
  • Wii Points: 800
  • In Real Money: GBP 6 / EUR 8

Pity the poor game chosen to launch with a console. Put together by developers still getting to grips with new hardware, such games are almost always doomed to riff on previously established ideas but with better graphics. That's certainly the case with Super Thunder Blade, a 1988 Megadrive launch title distinguishable from the Master System version only by its crudely digitised music, slightly better sprites and the word "Super" in front of the title.

'Virtual Console Roundup' Screenshot stb

It's basically little more than a hurried reworking of Space Harrier, designed to seduce those 80s kids still enthralled by Airwolf and Blue Thunder, and the stuttering forwards scrolling and glitching scenery betray the commercial imperative behind the release. It's also ferociously hard, with enemies that fire enormous one-hit-kill orange projectiles en masse - often within seconds of your respawning.

Boss battles switch to a top-down view, where things actually work better, but for the most part you're stuck in a visibly slapped-together 3D shooting game that doesn't really work in 3D. As with Golden Axe, there are better options available.

4/10

Landstalker: The Treasure of King Nole

  • Platform: Sega Megadrive
  • Wii Points: 800
  • In Real Money: GBP 6 / EUR 8

Here's a curiosity piece - an RPG-style platform game that draws as much influence from the likes of Knight Lore as it does from Zelda. Created by Climax, the developer behind the Shining Force series, Landstalker has its fans - but it also has more than a few flaws as well.

'Virtual Console Roundup' Screenshot land

Visually its more than adequate, aping the colourful pointy-eared Link style and filled with cute nods to other inspirations - the opening scene is a clear parody of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Our hero is a treasure hunter called Nigel (no, really) and an unplanned rendezvous with a nymph sets him of the trail of the greatest prize of all, the legendary stash of gold once belonging to King Nole.

The adventure elements are fairly crude though, with none of the depth or variety of Miyamoto's beloved fantasy series. Money is only really good for buying health items, while combat never really gets beyond mashing the same attack button over and over. It's the isometric view that really harms the game, though. Accurate jumping is almost impossible as nothing casts a shadow, and benign amusement is soon replaced by confusion and frustration as you're asked to perform increasingly impossible feats of 3D navigation despite not being sure where you're going to land.

It's a shame since there's quality in spades here but, with so many cool RPGs and adventures available on the VC now, this shouldn't be your first choice.

5/10

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Comments (32) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Der_tolle_Emil #1 4 years ago

    Doesn't look too good sadly with the exception of Streets of Rage 3. I never had a SEGA console so I could not even reminisce about the good old times when I play them.
  • convercide #2 4 years ago

    I remember Landstalker being raved about my every magazine at the time. Looks REALLY dated now though. It's no Story Of Thor that's for sure. SOR3 isn't as good as 2 mainly because I HATE Zan and his crappy attacks.
  • Pulsar_t #3 4 years ago

    SoR3 is the best of the series IMHO. Definitely worth it.
  • Scimarad #4 4 years ago

    I would buy a Wii and Landstalker but I gave all my money to that strange big bird...

    - edit -

    Holy crap! HOW much are they charging for these games??
    Edited by 1 at 06/10/07 @ 10:36
  • chischis #5 4 years ago

    I'll take Bombergames Streets Of Rage Remake, thanks:
    http://ww w.bombergames.net/sorr_gallery/...
  • brainbird #6 4 years ago

    Fun fact #316: Nigel from Landstalker is called Nils in the german version.
    You're welcome.
  • Retroid #7 4 years ago

    Streets of Rage 3?

    The best of the series?

    It was bloody awful!
  • weeno #8 4 years ago

    5 for Landstalker is just wrong,
    and I much preferred Streets of Rage 2 over 3.
  • UncleLou #9 4 years ago

    Hello Nintendo,

    I want original, new games on the Virtual console. Not too much to ask one year after the launch. Thanks.

    Regards
    Lou
  • thefilthandthefury #10 4 years ago

    New games? Pfft. The VC is for retro classics and whatnot. New ones would just clutter it even more than it already is.
  • Abscido #11 4 years ago

    Each to his own ... but Landstalker is one of the greatest 16-bit era games. A true classic. 5/10 is understandable if Dan only had a short time to play it and hadn't played it before, but that's the problem with these retro-roundups - there's no way he had time to sit down and give it a real go, in which case it's always going to look a bit shit.

    Anyway, it's a genuinely classy piece of gaming.
  • Mun #12 4 years ago

    ok, seriously this isn't funny anymore, where the fuck is super metroid?
  • caligari #13 4 years ago

    Rather shocked by the Landstalker score - but hey, it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea.

    As Lutz once said, Landstalker is what Zelda WANTS to be (when it grows up). ;P
  • UncleLou #14 4 years ago

    New games? Pfft. The VC is for retro classics and whatnot. New ones would just clutter it even more than it already is.

    Could not possibly care less about "retro classics". They promised an XBLA-like service, and there's still nothing.
  • orakio #15 4 years ago

    Ouch for that Landstalker score!

    Admittedly, the first few hours of play seem a bit repetitive, but it's only after those few hours that the depth and true character of the game begin to show (right around Mir's tower, story-wise).
    Money is indeed used a lot to buy health, but some of the shops do have a wide variety of things to buy, that you'll actually want to have.

    This game is huge, and can be frustrating at times when you miss that decisive jump. However, the satisfaction you'll get at times will be unmatched! I'm sure many of you will remember the feeling you had when you reached the end of greenmaze ;-)

    I played it through again, emulated, about a year ago. Despite the dated graphics it was still a blast, and definitly provided for more fun than many of the 'modern' adventure RPG's.

  • Skywise #16 4 years ago

    I thought Camelot was responsible for the Shining Force series back then, and the Mario Golf and Mario Tennis games right now?
  • Waldo #17 4 years ago

    Who says there are no good games for the Wii?
  • tea4me #18 4 years ago

    Bah... the Landstalker review (and score) is a flippin' disgrace!

    I'm starting to dislike these EG roundup reviews more and more...
  • orakio #19 4 years ago

    We demand that Mr Whitehead plays the game through, and re- reviews it then ;-)
  • Kami #20 4 years ago

    "I want original, new games on the Virtual console. Not too much to ask one year after the launch. Thanks."

    Isn't that coming with Wiiware? I sorta remember there being some talk about it...

    Or maybe I was dreaming...
  • paul_haine #21 4 years ago

    "I want original, new games on the Virtual console. Not too much to ask one year after the launch. Thanks."

    "Isn't that coming with Wiiware?"

    Yep, it's coming next year last I heard.
  • mk-1601 #22 4 years ago

    Streets of Rage 3 isn't terrible by any means but you'd have to be judging it on some pretty weird criteria to favour it over Streets of Rage 2. More is not always better, especially when most of the extra stuff is very lazy and silly. And the music is shit.

    The Landstalker review is disappointing as well. The years haven't been kind, but it's still a really cleverly designed, charmingly written game. Certainly a better bet than the assortment of useless and rudimentary (mostly 8-bit) adventure/RPG games we've seen so far on the VC.

    Still, nothing as shocking as the WAR CRIME that was the Toejam & Earl VC-review.
  • caligari #23 4 years ago

    First the Crazy Taxi PSP review, NOW this Landstalker review - you'd think that EG had gone all anti-Sega all of a sudden.

    /ignores the new Sega Rally and SoR 3 scores
  • retr0gamer #24 4 years ago

    I think that is just plain shit at games. The landstalker, Ghouls n' Ghosts and Super Ghouls n' Ghosts scores are nothing short of criminal with the only flaws being that the are too tough for completely cack handed players with no patience.
  • smelly #25 4 years ago

    Dear UncleLou

    Since when did you buy a wii? I thought you were happy with your 360? Obviously not

    Signed

    Smelly
  • Artemis_Matsas #26 4 years ago

    Reasons i barely hold on to my Wii:

    Mario Galaxy
    Metroid
    WiiFit
    My collection of GC Star Wars games

    I couldn't care less about retro crap thank you very much. XBLA and PSN have hit the nail on the head with some very good small innovative games.

    It's not funny anymore.
  • Iceberg #27 4 years ago

    I bought SoR 3 because I am a fan of SoR 2 and only played the first two levels on an emu.

    I remember playing and beating Landstalker twice when it was out originally for the MegaDrive, in fact I keep the original game as new, like all my other MegaDrive games. A 5/10 is too rude for a game that I enjoyed a lot back in 1994/5, I think a 8/10 is a fairer score. If I had the time to play it again, I would buy it, but I'm finishing Paper Mario (VC N64) and would begin playing Paper Mario 2 (GC) soon.

    SoR 3 makes good short times being able to stop and resume at any time ;)
  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #28 4 years ago

    nothing as shocking as the WAR CRIME that was the Toejam & Earl VC-review

    I remember, even back in the day, finding Toe-Jam and Earl to be impenetrable rubbish. I couldn't understand why it got such good reviews.
  • samadriel #29 4 years ago

    Toejam and Earl is screamingly good, as is its sequel.

    I daresay SoR3 would be much better regarded today if it hadn't been butchered in translation (chucking out Max for that ridiculous 'Zan' didn't help either). It actually plays fine -- certainly no worse than SoR2 -- but neither Japanese nor American version had satisfactory difficulty (I forget which was too easy and which was too hard, heh), and the American story changed from a nation-wide fight against a nuke-wielding Mr X to some bollocks about him kidnapping the Chief of Police. What on earth possessed the vandals at SoA, I don't know...

    Landstalker is a corker (rhymes!), but the isometric 3D is definitely a bitch in the last few dungeons, where you're leaping across platforms over pits with absolutely no idea where the things are in relation to anything else. Very frustrating. Still, one of the greats; it's a terrible shame Climax went on to do 'Dark Saviour' for the Saturn; urgh.
  • Lutz #30 4 years ago

    Streets of Rage 3 a 9/10, and Landstalker a 5/10?
    This guy knows not what he does!
  • Ryze #31 4 years ago

    /waits for Samurai Shodown & King Of The Fighters...
  • Nemesis #32 4 years ago

    Thunder Blade had a sitdown cabinet which was sweet for all of 30 seconds...bleugh.

    [link url=http://w ww.klov.com/images/10/1062617429.jpg
    ]http://ww w.klov.com/images/10/1062617429...[/link]

    /wanders back over to Space Harrier.