This week’s virtual console release is action packed. We got two great PC Engine games, and an oldie but goodie NES side-scrolling shooter. Here are the releases and their descriptions:
NES:
Gradius: 500 Points
The people of Gradius are in trouble. The ameoboid Bacterions have launched an all out attack against the planet, and it’s up to you to fly into battle and save them. Along the way you’ll be able to power up your ship with hyper speed, force fields, lasers, missiles, double beam cannons and more to help you battle.
Based on the arcade game, Gradius is a side scrolling shooter. Shooting certain enemies will leave a power up pod behind which can be collected to add more power to your ship. Each level features a wide variety of enemies trying to stop you, with a large boss at the end. Gameplay is for one player or two players alternating.
PC Engine:
Soldier Blade: 600 Points
A new shooter in the “Star Soldier” tradition. Players play as an SIA (Special Interception Airforce) pilot flying the heavy assault fighter “Soldier Blade.” Players face the Zeograd invasion force with weapon attacks that change each time they grab a power-up item. Players can unleash three different kinds of attack depending on the color of the power-up item. New features, such as the “Gunbody” option for avoiding enemy attacks and the “Burst Out” system (which has a different effect depending on the power-up level), add a strategic element that requires players to make snap decisions about which items to grab and when to use special attacks. Awesome boss battles await players at the end of each operation. Playing in “CHALLENGE” mode requires players to try to get as many points as they can in a limited amount of time.
Dungeon Explorer: 600 Points
Gauntlet has been a source of inspiration for many programmers, and there have been many clones and derivatives released over the last few years. Dungeon Explorer s one such clone, but stands head and shoulders above everything that’s previously been seen. That might sound over the top, so let me explain…
At the start of a game there’s a neat introductory sequence in which a mountain scene scrolls in five level parallax to show a gang of characters atop a cliff. The action then switches to a tavern, where the game characters are selected.
Up to five players can play at once (as long as you’ve for a five-player adaptor and enough joypads to go round), and the participants can take control of either a Fighter, Warlock, Witch, Bishop, Bard, Thief, Elf or Dwarf. Each has his or her own characteristics (intelligence, strength, agility and charisma), represented by status bars which can be called up and viewed. The characters are also assigned hit points and hit power - in other words how much punishment they can give and take.
Nintendo Wii, Virtual Console, Gradius, Soldier Blade, Dungeon Explorer
