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

Two titles to tantalise (or taint) your gaming tastes; ones a classic the others a catastrophe.

Available for download this week we have...

• F-Zero X
• J.J & Jeff

Points: 1000
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Released: 1998
System: Nintendo 64

When the original F-Zero was released on the SNES it was a true revelation in gaming; it was the first of it's kind an undeniably defined the genre that it created in it's scrolling 3D rendered glory and masterful audio thanks to Mode 7 technology. After the titles success many tried to imitate it, most notably Wipeout which was all style and no substance and in comparison is no match for the fine tuned controls and tight course design of the original F-Zero.

So when the time came along for Nintendo to make a sequel, expectations were understandably high with the high standard that had initially been set. Thankfully though no compromises were made in creating this superior, streamlined, superlative sequel; featuring everything that made the original so great and giving it an admirable amount of aesthetic and audible augmentation.

Improvements have been made in the way of the sheer wealth of variables that are made available to you, the original offered four different selectable ships; this time around there are in total thirty customisable craft to choose from. In addition three classes of races are available with each featuring six tracks taking three laps each to complete; there are multiple levels of difficulty which upon completion offer yet more traversable tracks and versatile vehicles.

Forgone are the flat facets of the former F-zero in favour of a fresh, fun flavour of tracks fully formed in the third dimension; curvaceous courses created for your craft to cruise along count towards the dramatic differences that define this incarnation. Low gravity loops, turbulent tubes, contorted curves and many more misshapen, makeshift motorways add both depth and challenge to the races and keeps the experience varied.

Getting into the action is both simple and straightforward as you simply choose your craft, alter the acceleration � speed slider and colour if you so desire and you're away! An average race tends only to last around three minutes due to the high octane nature of the game but those few minutes are likely to be the most intense, heated and totally absorbing moments of your game playing existence and it's only until those three minutes are up, you realise that you haven't blinked once.

Aesthetically and audibly just like it's brethren the game set new standards for it's time of release and although in comparison to it's spiritual successor F-Zero GX it's somewhat lacking in the texture department on both track and ship detail it's still a true accomplishment for it's time and the audio serves to amplify the experience with tracks from Mute City and the Big Blue serving as stellar, stand out scores.

It can be forgiven it's slight graphical shortcomings though as at the speeds your craft reaches, track side detail will be the last thing on your mind as your manically manoeuvring around each corner with pinpoint precision due to the spot on controls which really complement the rest of the game and help make to take the experience that little bit further.

As with previous N64 titles on the VC the obvious omission of the originally obligatory rumble pak is a blow but nevertheless a small one; though it would be nice to have the option made available at some point, a classic controller redesign perhaps? Who knows, but for now the Wavebird is the obvious choice for these rumble redundant renditions of N64 titles.

Extra controllers are recommended for this games multiplayer mode which is well worth playing as it's quick accessible and frequently fun, just as it always was. With a wealth of modes from time attack to death race and even a random track generator to boot; there are plenty of reasons to come back to F-Zero X even if and when you completely obliterate the single player mode which is as challenging as it is absorbing, a true classic and remains quite probably one of if not "the" definitive games in the time-line.

Verdict: Fantastically fast-paced and fine-tuned favourite of the F-zero franchise.

Points: 600
Publisher: Hudsonsoft
Developer: Hudsonsoft
Released: 1990
System: Turbografx

Another week, another tedious Turbografx game has infested the VC, this time in the form of J.J. & Jeff; a platform game in which you take control of either character from the dwindling detective duo as you trudge through the lurid, linear levels.

Oh and theres some plot revolving around some rich guy who's been kidnapped that they have to rescue and erm, thats pretty much it, this title has unresponsive controls, poor graphics and humor thats of limited appeal. Any time spent playing this is a waste and you would be much better off spending your Wii points on a game that deserves them.

Verdict: Nonchalant, nonsensical nastiness.

Sam Gittins
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