Four more for Euro VC

Nintendo has released a quartet of classics for the European Virtual Console this week, led by Mega Drive ninja-nibble Shinobi III.

It's probably the best game in the sword-slashing series, thanks to better graphics and a less difficult but faster action slant, and asks you as Joe Musashi to save the work from an evil crime syndicate with your masterful Ninjitsu powers.

Close behind is another Mega Drive outing following a funny creature who throws his head at people, Dynamite Headdy. He's a toy, as are all the others in the world, and he'll have to better numerous action platform levels if he wants to defeat his lifelong nemesis Trouble Bruin. Arf.

Completing the SEGA hattrick this week is role-playing game Shining Force, a turn-based affair considered a little easy by those of you with beards by your ankles. Kill the baddies, save the day, win the girl, claim the fame.

And back there, sulking in the background, is Drop Off - a puzzle action game for TurboGrafx-16. It looks lots like Breakout, and you'll have to rebound a ball off of your paddle up into falling obstacles to progress through levels.

But remember, remember: Mega Drive morsels cost you 800 points (GBP 5.60 / EUR 8), and TurboGrafx-16 ticklers tend to tango towards 600 points (GBP 4.50 / EUR 6).