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

Three varied titles of even more variable quality from one end of the spectrum to the other we have the good, the not-so-bad and the ugly; so without any further tenuously linked introduction from me, on with the games!

Available for download this week we have...

• Lunar Pool
• Neutopia
• Wrecking Crew

Points: 500
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: D4 Enterprise
Released: 1991
System: NES

Pool, a game thats fun to play every now and then even if it is just based on simple physics which are relatively easy to master if you have a basic understanding of them. Videogame iterations of the popular pastime have rarely succeeded in managing to remain fun for more than a few plays, bar a certain mini game featuring some spherical simians which quite often ends with the ever self contradictory phrase "just one more go!" Indeed...

While it potentially sounds like a good idea (and probably seemed like at the time of its original release) Lunar Pool which offers adversely abstract table-tops and preposterously proposed physics is ultimately its own worst enemy. Yes it has variation, yes it has an excessive amount of levels to mess about on and yes it even has a two player mode but ultimately it's just shallow short-term fun which simply will not last you very long at all; and with so many greater experiences available on the Virtual Console you have to wonder why you would want to download something that will last you only a sitting or two.

Once you've messed around with the physics, had a blast on about less than a third of the available tables (of which there are over two hundred and fifty) and maybe tested the two player mode "for a laugh" *rolls eyes* you will most likely be done with this and it will never be played again. If you want to play a decent physics based ball game then why not give Kirby's dream course a go? As that is a more accomplished title thats arguably more fun to play than this.

Verdict : Pool on the moon, superficially "cool" and over too soon.

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

Zelda was quite possibly one of the single greatest innovations in gaming for the time of the originals release and while now it pails in comparison to anything from the hugely successful third iteration and onwards there simply was nothing quite like it towards the end of the eighties. Fast forward a few years and while the Zelda franchise had another installment under its belt and its third in production, another company had taken it upon themselves to emulate the success of the original; and with that Neutopia was born.

From the very start this game is near enough a complete a carbon copy of Shigeru Miyamoto's epic eight-bit adventure title. You play as a young warrior named Jazeta; the princess Aurora was kidnapped by the evil Dirth, so the king sends you on a mission to rescue her. Dirth was sealed away by eight wise men using the power of eight sacred medallions. Princess Aurora is the only one who knows how to use the medallions, so Dirth abducted her with the intentions of gaining the medallions power; you must explore the land, descend to the dangerous labyrinths, retrieve the eight medallions, rescue the princess, and defeat Dirth.

But a slew of similarities from the storyline alone however are only the beginning; as you journey across the games overworld you will come across enemies such as pig soldiers who wield bows and arrows, desert dwelling creatures that rise from the sands and even aquatic assailants who will spit projectiles at you from the waters edge. Most of your time spent roaming the plains involves visiting caves, houses and other dwelling places revealed by pushing blocks or burning bushes which often reveal inhabitants who will aid you on your quest.

Acquirable additions to your arsenal include such items ranging from a fire rod, various swords and even bombs which are frequently used to uncover entrances via bombing walls which is an often occurrence in the games dungeons. These dwellings of demons are eerily similar to Zelda's in many a way; you move from room to room solving puzzles and dealing death to enemies ranging from small gelatinous blobs, sword wielding skeletons and even fireball shooting static statues with your eventual goal being that of finding the single key to the "crypt" (read boss room) and dealing death to the demon inside.

While this may be a clone in almost every single conceivable way it is a decent one which has a lot of unique differences of its own such as varied bosses, an unusually structured path of completion and slightly more detailed graphics even if it has to be said that the score isn't a patch on Zelda's overworld them. Neutopia is a decent game in its own right and while it may be a relatively easy experience it's still worthwhile, just don't forget who invented this type of game first.

Verdict : A decent Zelda clone which comes into its own.

Points: 500
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Released: 1987
System: NES

When the NES originally launched this was one of its first titles, but wait a minute... didn't another title starring the now legendary plumber appear on that day as well? Oh yes it did, one of the greatest games of all time; Super Mario Bros. So it's understandable if you've never heard of this title before as it was overshadowed by the immense popularity of one of the best selling games of its time.

Starring the portly plumber himself; Mario along with the comparatively compact Luigi, Wrecking Crew is a platform action game in which you take control of the two brothers who's task is to destroy multiple buildings. After demolishing each wall in the building you then move onto the next buildings which become progressively more difficult; there is also puzzling portion to each level as you have to plan your route so that you don't become trapped under a pile of rubble at the end when the structure collapses.

Featuring a century of stages with a bonus level after every quad and a selection mechanics which were also present in the original Mario Bros arcade game such as walking to the edge and appearing on the opposite side to avoid enemies, it's a new experience with familiar proceedings.

Enemies aren't exactly estranged either ranging from simple Eggplant Men who travel along a linear path, Gotcha Wrenches who will actively hunt you down throughout the level and a few other familiar foes make themselves known as well. Later on in the game you will encounter the Foreman Spiker; a character of Wario proportions and characteristics who's aim is to obstruct your objectives by breaking down walls directly in your path, hindering your progress and sending you back down to the lowest floor of the level if you happen to be in the path of the falling debris, which is bothersome to say the least.

As it stands Wrecking Crew is fun to play and offers a uniquely rewarding experience with a reasonable amount of challenge along the way; it will last you a while if you persevere with it which is worth doing and if you ever tire of it you can always mess around with the two player mode. This game was originally overshadowed upon its first release, this VC incarnation now gives players who for whatever reason never got to play it before now the chance to do so; it's readily available and easily accessible so if you have always wanted to play it then what better time than now?

Verdict : Wrecking Crew, surprisingly good yet played by so few.

And so this edition of VC Weekly comes to it's inevitable climax, but rest assured it will return again soon so until then, enjoy the rest of the week and Game On!

Sam Gittins
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