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

It's finally here, one of the most original RPG's ever conceived Paper Mario makes it's much celebrated arrival on the VC! Many have been waiting for this one (myself included) so without further ado, onto the games!

Available for download this week we have...

• Air "Zonk"
• Paper Mario

Points: 600
Publisher: Hudsonsoft
Developer: Hudsonsoft
Released: 1992
System: Turbografx

It's schmup time again! Yes here we have another shooter on Hudson's home console; Air "Zonk" is a scrolling shooter of the horizontal orientation. It's a spin-off to the Bonk series (the flagship platform games of the Turbografx) and as such features the main character which for some unknown reason has been renamed as "Zonk" and now has such features as a jet-pack and a blaster.

Comparable only really to Konami's Parodius due to its bizarre backgrounds, estranged enemies and all over absurd appearance; this is a title that certainly stands out from the rest of the available shooters. All of this only does the game justice as it's all decently rendered just like the Bonk games before it and it feature a nice selection of accompanying melodies which serves to compliment the experience.

Terribly taxing this isn't as you can breeze through this game without even much thought to things as you proceed to blast everything in your path. If it's a serious shooter then you won't find it here but if you want nothing more than an easygoing entry-level example of the genre then look no further as there is a lot of fun to be had with this title even if the whole experience is a little short-lived.

Whimsical weapons, behemoth sized bosses and ludicrous locations; this title has everything that you'd expect to find in a novel shooter, it's only flaw is that when that novelty wears off there is nothing to come back for. A decent attempt at creating something that isn't self conscientious in an otherwise serious genre.

Verdict : The best epic caveman shooting game eva!!!11!

Points: 1000
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Released: 2001
System: Nintendo 64

Role-playing games have often followed a set formula, rigid structure and a serious storyline often recreating self perpetuating situations which have been seen before. Paper Mario is different, the spiritual sequel to Super Mario RPG sticks to the template introduced by the original, sure it also has a formula but a deceptively simple one, structure? Yes, but it doesn't deviate unnecessarily and as for the storyline; well it revolves around the usual princess kidnapping / rescuing scenario, the games main difference is that it doesn't take itself seriously at all and is probably the most fun RPG your ever likely to experience playing.

The first thing that your likely to notice is its completely original and quite frankly ingenious graphical style; you see the whole of the games world is like an interactive picture book being that everything is made out of paper! While it is still three-dimensional everything from the background, foreground, and even Mario is entirely flat; this unique perspective brings life, charm and character into the vibrant world of the Mushroom Kingdom and like a good book it makes you always want to progress to the next page.

You play through the game in chapters as you journey from Toad Town to places such as a vast desert, a frozen mountain, and a haunted forest to name but a few in order to retrieve the seven star spirits so you can rescue Peach from the evil clutches of Bowser. Battle mechanics are neither strictly turn based or real-time but a combination of the two; you initiate a battle by either giving or receiving the first strike when approached by an enemy in the main game world.

Once in battle mode the world around you is transformed into a stage and you have various options available to you; first off as Mario you can attack by either jumping on the heads of enemies or you can opt to use your trusty hammer on them either of which will be have more or less of an effect depending on the enemy. Also available is assistance from one of your companion characters who you will join you as you progress on your adventure; each of which have their own abilities which serve to aid Mario such as Para-Karry's airborne attacks which are useful for taking out aerial attackers.

Many other attacks, extensive items, badges can be used and there is much to explore along the way with mini-games, hidden areas, and much more besides wrapped up in a genuinely witty dialogue which makes this a truly joyful experience. If you have been longing for a truly original RPG or even if you haven't, Paper Mario deserves to be enjoyed by everyone; buy it, play it, love it!

Verdict: An RPG that's a (paper) cut above the rest.

I would like to dedicate this edition of VC Weekly to my grandfather who passed away on 12/07/07. He wasn't much of a gamer but he was a great, hardworking man who lived a full life and always did what he could to make his family happy; Rest in peace Ivor.

VC Weekly will return again soon so until then, whatever you choose to play; enjoy it and Game On!

Sam Gittins
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