Gamer's like to knock the Wii as not being a "hardcore" gamers console, but like most things in life, that's all a matter of perspective. If you are a retro game fan, quite possibly the hardest of hardcore gamers, then the Wii's Virtual Console is your holy grail. Mitch and Boan all you like about the Wii's library, but there is no denying that the Virtual console has a fantastic selection of games for the retro game enthusiast. For those interested in give the Virtual Console a try, heres a selection of nine awesome oldies to get you started.
Gunstar Heroes
System: Mega Drive
Developer: Treasure
Publisher: Sega
Price: 800 Points
Treasure’s 16-bit debut remains one of the finest of any videogame developer. Ignore the nonsensical plot, and simply get caught up in one of the finest run-and-guns to appear on any system. Like many later Treasure games Gunstar Heroes is technically astounding, delivering the sort of polished visuals and trippy effects that many thought the Mega Drive was incapable of delivering. It also highlights Treasure’s obsession with beautifully realised combat mechanics and innovative boss design that would go on to appear in everything from Dynamite Headdy to Sin & Punishment. A true classic that just gets better and better with age.
The Legend Of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
System: N64
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Price: 1,000 Points
Forget Ocarina Of Time or A Link To The Past; this is the first Virtual Console Zelda game you should download. Majora’s Mask gives you 3 days to stop the moon from crashing into the mystical world of Termina. Although there are only four main dungeons, their design is simply superb and rivals the best the franchise has to offer. Character design is far more developed than in other Zelda games, while the use of masks adds interesting new game mechanics to Ocarina’s core gameplay. Add in clever puzzles that revolve through the constant rewinding of time and Majora’s Mask is as inventive as it is clever.
Streets Of Rage 2
System: Mega Drive
Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Price: 800 Points
While there are many scrolling fighters on Virtual Console, nothing comes close to the majesty of Sega’s high-kicking sequel. Street Of Rage 2 delivers two new characters – agile skater Skate and hulking powerhouse Max – huge, well-animated sprites and some of the finest music to ever emit from the Mega Drive’s sound chip.
Streets Of Rage 2 is interesting because it doesn’t being anything new or innovative to its genre. Instead it simply delivers blisteringly brutal combat, genuinely satisfying weapons and fantastic interplay between its four hugely different characters. It is, quite simply, the greatest scrolling fighter of all time.
Secret Of Mana
System: Super Nintendo
Developer: Squaresoft
Publisher: Square Enix
Price: 900 Points
Secret Of Mana wasn’t the first action RPG to arrive on the scene, but it remains one of the best examples, and for some it still hasn’t been bettered. In addition to featuring an excellent story, Secret Of Mana is bolstered by its entertaining real-time combat and clever combat mechanics, which require you to fully charge weapon strikes to get the best out of them. It’s ‘Ring’ system remains a joy to use as well, making it extremely easy to select weapons, spells and items as needed. Best of all is its excellent multiplayer approach, which enables up to three players to enjoy Mana’s entertaining story and epic boss battles.
Super Metroid
System: Super Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo R&D1
Publisher: Nintendo
Price: 800 Points
Samus’ first 16-bit adventure remains a master class in game design and effortlessly built on the blueprints laid out in NES hit Metroid. From its ominous opening to its creepily effective soundtrack, every element of Super Metroid comes together to deliver one of the finest Metroidvanias around. While it introduces several new abilities and weapons, including the Grapple Beam and the Screw Attack, it’s the incredible atmosphere and well-structured level design that makes Super Metroid such a joy to play through. Super Metroid is not only the best game in the franchise, but one of the finest Super Nintendo games, period. Miss it at your peril.
Super Probotector: Alien Rebels
System: Super Nintendo
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Price: 800 Points
The Eighties hard men may have been replaced with less controversial robots, but this is still an amazing addition to the Contra franchise. Great weapons, jaw-dropping Mode 7 effects and some astonishing bosses cement Super Probotector as the best game in the franchise. Filled with memorable moments, subtle gameplay mechanics – dual wielding is great – and inventive stages, it’s packed with challenge, but never unfair with what it throws at you. An excellent run-and-gun.
Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap
System: Master System
Developer: WestOne
Publisher: Sega
Price: 500 Points
There’s also a PC Engine version of Wonder Boy III on VC called Dragon’s Curse, but we prefer the Master System original and not just because it’s 100 points cheaper. The Dragon’s Trap builds upon the platform/RPG elements of its predecessor (which is also available on VC) by delivering better visuals, immense battles against a cadre of evil dragons, and more exciting Metroid style level design, unlocked by changing into a variety of distinctive creatures.
IK+
System: Commodore 64
Developer: Archer Maclean
Publisher: System 3
Price: 500 Points
The obvious pick would have been Street Fighter II, but this gem from acclaimed 8-bit coder is far worthier of your money, and cheaper to boot. While it lacks the ridiculous over-the-top moves of its many Virtual Console peers, IK+ delivers with the addition of a third fighter. Playable by either a player or the computer, it adds an excellent dynamic that still makes it exciting to play, some 25 years after its original release.
Lylat Wars
System: N64
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Price: 1,000 Points
No videogame, not even the Star Wars franchise, has featured space battles as epic as those featured in Nintendo’s 64-bit sequel to its Super Nintendo hit Star Wing. Lylat Wars (or Star Fox 64 as it’s more commonly known outside Europe) throws every sci-fi cliché in the book at you – navigating asteroid fields, annoying co-pilots – but remains as truly refreshing and enjoyable shoot-em-up. This is mainly due to its excellent pacing, genuinely enjoyable interplay between Fox and his animal wingmen, and some of the best visuals to grace Nintendo’s 64-bit console. Full of replay value thanks to its multiple routes, it’s little wonder it was remade for the 3DS.