Reviews

Grace H, Roving reporter

Wii Virtual Console Reviews

Have you had your fill of the newer stuff the online Wii store has to offer? How about we take a trip back in time to the days of the NES, SNES, Nintendo 64 and many others with the Wii’s Virtual Console?

The Virtual Console is great for those gamers who never got a go at these classics the first time around, offering a chance to look back at gaming history and have a lot of fun in the process.

The Legend of Zelda

Originally on the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System), this classic was the first to feature Link, Zelda and the legend that is so famous and well-known today. You were given a basic story and then thrown into a huge open world to make your own way through. You had to travel through dungeons and pick up new weapons and items if you wanted any hope of advancing.

It’s almost like "Ye Olde Skyrim" with its open-world style and the amount of freedom it gives the player to decide how they want to play, compared to the more linear Legend of Zelda games we have today. As an NES game it was advanced for its time, being one of the first games that actually allowed you to save your progress. And believe me, you’ll need to save because you’ll probably get lost or stuck quite a few times.

The challenge this game offers and its simplistic charm is what drives it. Having said that, if you have an aversion to too much freedom, no real motivation or simple games, this might not be for you.

Finally, a tip for those that love it. Enter your name as "ZELDA" on the name enter screen for an entirely new playthrough of the game.

3 out of 5

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

This time we’re taking it up a notch to a SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System) game. If you’ve ever played a title from the Paper Mario or Mario and Luigi series, you might have a bit of an idea what you’re in for. Combine that with Square, the creators of Final Fantasy, and you have a very memorable and quirky little roleplaying game.

It begins with the usual - a showdown between Mario and Bowser - when suddenly a giant sword comes in, scattering Mario’s friends as well as the legendary star pieces. It’s up to Mario to save the day and find out what exactly this giant sword is.

It sounds simple and a bit silly, but it’s actually a deep, heartwarming story. That doesn’t make it any less silly or charming, though. In terms of gameplay it’s your fairly standard RPG fare: turn-based battles, equipping better items, all that fun stuff. It’s definitely done well, though, and there are lots of interesting little secrets to find along the way, but then what would you expect from the creators of Final Fantasy?

This is one of the best examples of the RPG genre and a must-play if you’re a fan of the genre.

4 out of 5

Mario Kart 64

I’ll round off this collection with an absolute must-play classic regardless of what kind of games you enjoy. This party game always draws a crowd at any kind of gathering. It’s Mario Kart 64, originally released for the Nintendo 64 and the second entry in the Mario Kart series.

It doesn’t have anything fancy, like two people in one kart or motorbikes, but it does have a handful of tracks, a handful of characters, a handful of zany items and a bucketful of fun for all ages and all kinds of people. It can be played alone, though there’s really not much to gain from it - it really does need to be played with others to live up to its full potential.

There's nothing like that satisfying feeling you get when you hit the person in first place with a shell and drive past them, letting them eat your dust. Give it a try - it still holds up really well and if you’re in need of a new game to play with your friends, this is your best bet.

4 out of 5

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