Welcome to VC Weekly, N-Europe's guide to the wonderful world of Nintendo's download service. Written by Sam C Gittins.

A surprise this week, but a pleasant one as Nintendo release a classic SNES platform title and a perfectly playable puzzle game.

This weeks titles consist of...

• Mario and Yoshi
• Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

Points: 800
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Released: 1995
System: SNES

When the Virtual Console service launched in Europe there were a number of decent games made available that provided a reasonable retro range of console classics to choose from. For many however it can be safely said that there was one title that stood that little bit higher than everything else at the start of it all.

Donkey Kong Country is the title in question: for many this title was in its day "the" reason to own a SNES; with its sumptuous pseudo 3D graphics, sublime sound and trademark humour backed up with solid gameplay ensured it was a surefire hit for both Rare and Nintendo.

So it was of no surprise, indeed a joy, that Rare decided to release a sequel only a year after the original which had found a home within the hearts of many a gamer in a relatively short space of time. Of course, as with every sequel to a hugely popular title, there were concerns as to whether it could or would be even as half as good as DKC; thankfully those worries and fears were quickly proven quite unnecessary.

DKC2 was released and much to the delight of gamers not only did it match the original in every respect, but it took everything that the original had and pushed the envelope even further. For many the second entry is even today considered to be the zenith of the series and is held in even higher regard than both the original and final installments.

It's not hard to see why. From the moment you load the game and are presented with the ever familiar (for that era) blue & gold, stylised "R" shaped logo, followed by the beautifully rendered title screen which actually "looks" as good as the box art (a rare thing in those days) makes it clear to see that this is a title of high production values.

High standards continue when you start the main game, beginning where the previous left off in the place known as Gangplank Galleon; in this area you get to meet the games starring characters Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong (Diddy's girlfriend). Ignoring the fact that they share the same surname which technically relates them; they are on a quest to save Donkey Kong, who has been kidnapped by the evil Kremlin, King K Rool.

It's also the place where you actively take control of the dubious duo as the initially uncomplicated control mechanics come into play; when you have control of both characters "A" initiates a piggy-back maneuver, "B" is the all important jump button, "X" allows you to dismount from the aforementioned move and "Y" serves as the context sensitive action button which covers everything from making Diddy cartwheel, Dixie swing and when held allows you to run with either Kong as well as having other multiple uses.

Automatically apparent is the game's intensely detailed and realistic pseudo 3D style on a 2D backdrop; this graphical approach which suited the first entry so well has been carried over and executed on an even greater level. Animation is now even more fluid than before with all the action flowing as seamlessly in this VC release as the SNES original did due to it being optimised for 50Hz; meaning it runs much the same as it's American counterpart.

DKC2 really is a melodic marvel on the audio, from the very first piece of opening music to end credits. This is thanks to composer David Wise, who also worked on the first outing and, needless to say, the BGM is of exceptional caliber. Throw into the mix many sound effects previously used as well as new ones of equal quality and you have a platform title that easily stands out as one of the best of it's time.

Not only does the title set high standards visually and audibly but it truly is as much of a joy to play today as it was back in the day; from the start it's the simply things such as dispatching with multiple enemies with a perfectly executed cartwheel or barrel throw thanks to spot-on controls and then watching as the Kremlins fall overboard causing a spray of water to appear signifying their demise.

It's the combination of the fact that you have full control of the characters and all the different ways of getting from the start to finish of each level; the variation comes from defeating the enemies in new ways. During the course of your adventure you will discover destructible crates that contain creature companions who will lend you their various abilities; such as Rambi the Rhino who sends enemies flying and this time around can charge at high speed which helps in finding those all important bonus stages.

There are a few ways of obtaining extra lives, which is just as well seeing as they are as easy to lose as they are to obtain; you can collect coloured DK balloons, 100 bananas, the infamous "K-O-N-G" letters throughout the levels or you can enter one of the games various bonus stages which often involve selecting a correct barrel or finding a krem-coin hidden in a timed mini-stage.

Collected Krem-coins can be exchanged at various points on the stage map via one of the many members of the Kong-Klan such as Wrinkly Kong who will sell you info or Swanky Kong who will quiz you for the chance to win extra 1-Ups. Above the fantastic gameplay it's the small but noticeable things which Rare took the time to include that elevates the experience above being 'just another' platform game.

From posters of previous Rare games and incorrect math sums in the backdrops of certain Kong residences, to Kranky Kong providing self-referential humour relating to the series and of course the wonderfully alliterated location labels. Thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish, and with plenty of replay value, Donkey Kong Country 2 is a benchmark example of how good a platform title can truly be.

Verdict: A killer-ape king of the Kong series.

Points: 500
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Released: 1992
System: NES

Puzzle games have been almost defined by the release of one infamous example of the genre, involving falling quads of blocks known as "Tetriminos". Ever since the success of that game it seems like developers have tried to create new and original concepts in a hope that they stack up against Alexy Pajitnov's masterpiece; and Nintendo are no exception.

Released not too soon after the NES version of Tetris; Mario & Yoshi is a title which tries its hand at an original concept instead of just mapping an existing template and changing one or two variables. You are presented with four columns; at the bottom of which are plates which you are able to switch with the aid of Mario and at the top various past enemies from Mario games fall onto the plates.

The aim of the game is to clear the enemies for points before they stack right up to the top causing the game to end. Creatures can be cleared by aligning two in the same stack or by capturing them inside an item which falls in two halves, a Yoshi egg; positioning enemies on top of the lower half of an egg and then letting an upper half fall on top of the stack causes the two halves to merge, collecting the enemies inside and completing the egg which hatches, spawning a Yoshi who consumes the enemies.

And that's essentially the game in an eggshell; direct control is caused by switching the plates round either left or right which allows you to choose which stack the enemies fall on and triggering the aforementioned egg capture method is the way in which you earn the most points. While you can still clear enemies using the two-stack method, most of the game involves waiting for the egg halves to drop and the rest is merely strategic placement to avoid the game ending prematurely.

One small niggle about the control method is that due to the two-button nature of the game (A & B to switch left and right), moving a plate from one end to the other requires multiple switching and while it doesn't have the same frantic pace as Tetris it still demands quick-switching "skills" from the player.

Mario & Yoshi is a puzzle game that, while not brilliant, is still far from terrible. Visually void, audibly agitating and a tame two-player mode, it's the decent concept and solid playability which will keep you playing. If you enjoy puzzle games and a looking for something a bit different, this is worth a download.

Verdict: A cracking original alternative puzzler.

And there we have it, another end to another edition of VC Weekly; which will return soon so until then enjoy the rest of the week and Game On!