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

Nintendo have chosen to release a rather mixed bag for this update featuring titles that fall into good, bad and downright ugly categories. Anyway enough from me and on with the games!

Available for download this week we have...

• Ecco Jr
• Pitstop II
• Samurai Shodown II
• Splatterhouse 2

Points: 800
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Novotrade
Released: 1995
System: Megadrive

The original Ecco the Dolphin and it's sublime sea-based sequel were both brilliant examples of a previously unexploited genre; loosely classed as part puzzle part adventure they were wonderfully crafted games that offered a rich experience with depth as vast as the ocean floors you explored.

So why did Sega then see fit to produce Ecco Jr... a god damn awful cash-in edutainment title aimed solely at kids and gullible parents who actually purchased this garbage; basically what's been done is that the basic framework of an Ecco game is there - you take control of Ecco Jr, supposedly a younger version of Ecco along with his two friends, Tara the baby Orca and Kitnee the baby Atlantic dolphin - and you go off on amazing aquatic adventures... or not.

In order to keep things simple, each and every single element from the original game has been stripped back, you need never surface for air, there are no enemies and not even a way to die, though you may wish there was after only a few moments of playing. All you do is swim around the cruelly cut-back levels in search of random objects which you must hit using your sonar (the only familiar element to the game) then find the crystal at the end of the stage, go to the next, lather rinse and repeat.

Pathetically that's it, there really is no more to this horribly cobbled together mess of a game that is nothing more than a sinister cash-in that represents nothing of the brilliance of the first two games; well actually there is one more soul destroying feature... a parent info section which requires a password and gives information on dolphins for children.

No more needs to be said please buy the original instead or risk the sanity that resides in your head.

Verdict : Too terrible to be even turned into tuna.

Points: 500
Publisher: Epyx
Developer: Epyx
Released: 1984
System: C64

Racing games from the era of the eighties all seemed to follow a familiar formula to a fault, from games like Burning Rubber to Outrun, as fantastic as they were at the time they all merely revolved around pushing the accelerator and making it through the course; then along came Pitstop which took all that and added that extra bit of realism.

No longer are you merely getting from A to B but instead you are constantly aware of such previously unexploited elements such as tire traction and fuel capacity; while such subtleties might have been lost on those who prefer the purer racing experience but for those who like a bit more depth to their driving experience, this is the series that managed to deliver it.

This sequel brings about more of the same which was pioneered in the original which includes the pitstops where you take control of one of two engineers for either your fuel or tires as you partake in a mini-game of sorts in order to complete the pitstop, it's in these part of the game where races are often won or loss depending on speed of completion.

Everything now features crisper visuals and tighter controls since the original outing and thankfully that's about it, too many sequels add too much to the game and succeed only in diluting it beyond recognition, so it's nice to see a sequel that manages to live up to it's predecessor.

You may appreciate this game if you are looking to play an old racing game but want a bit more than just a mere drive from one point to another; however many racers of modern times make this look like a mini game due to the overwhelming overburdened of features that seems to be the standard these days, so if you want something that looks and sounds acceptable, has a bit of depth but is still simple enough to enjoy then you have found your middle-ground in this title.

Verdict : Perfectly playable, pole position racer of it's time.

Points: 900
Publisher: SNK
Developer: SNK
Released: 1994
System: NeoGeo

The second in the series and in many ways superior sequel to the successful Samurai Shodown manages to surpass due to simply following the terrific template set in the original; whats newly added is four more characters each with their own distinct fighting style, improved move sets for existing characters and a few slight enhancements to the combat system.

Not a great deal has changed but in all fairness not much needed to, what was already laid as the foundations in the original was more than adequate yet the small aforementioned additions to the game this time around make it even better than the first ever was.

Additions to the combat engine include some new offensive and defensive manoeuvres which allow you to duck and roll alongside the myriad of moves that are already available, the newly incorporated elements make the experience all the more playable and engaging. Each character now has their own backdrop to fight against along with a few returning favourites all rendered and animated in higher detail than before.

Each of the fifteen characters has their own impressive set of weapon based moves ranging from light stabs and scrapes to heavy blows designed to penetrate your opponents flesh and permeate their armour. A kick move is also available to break up the heavy weapon usage but mostly this is a game all about the clash of steel and the spilling of gore all beautifully put together and immensely fun in it's execution.

What's been added to this title further enhances the brilliance found in the original and it's more a case of each element that's been upgraded has been done so properly, this is more of a full sequel than a minor update. It's incredibly fun to play, pleasant to look at, bliss to listen to and a treat to enjoy, if you enjoy fighting games you'll want it, even if you don't this is a reason to, if your planning on getting either in the series then get this as it's just undeniably better.

Verdict : Superior sequel and superb samurai slash-em-up.

Points: 800
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Namco
Released: 1992
System: Megadrive

Sequel to the original Splatterhouse, the uber violent (for it's time) scrolling splatter-em-up which starred Rick who when donning the Terror Mask would slash, smack, slug and smash his way through hoards of evil incarnations that stood between him and his captured girlfriend who supposedly met an unfortunate end.

In this follow-up however the Terror Mask comes back and tells Rick that she can still be saved... Rick dons the mask once more and goes off in search of a house located nearby the remains of the mansion from his first nightmarish outing for that is apparently where she resides.

After this brief introduction it's business as usual, you face eight more stages which are in similar vein to those found in the original albeit in mostly new location but with the same familiar punch, jump kick and weapon based attacks featuring old favorites such as the two by four and shotgun which are joined by new additions such as the almighty chainsaw!

Main differences really come down to the fact that the majority of the locations are now outside instead of inside and have you trudging through forests, piers and swamps with a few "indoor" locations such as the remains of the Splatterhouse, dungeons and even a laboratory. New disturbing bosses come at you when you reach the end of each stage and will profusely pour gore all over the screen upon their demise.

Even though it shares similarities with the original it certainly doesn't show in it's execution or presentation, this is most likely due to the hardware it was originally released on, while the original is famous for it's Turbografx release this sequel is a Megadrive game and as such it just doesn't look or sound as nice as the original did; if you can ignore that though you are in for a pleasant ride overall though you may wish to hold out for the drastically different but superior sequel to this which will undoubtedly finally see a European release thanks to the viability of the virtual console.

Verdict : Standard sequel to the solid side-scroller.

Thats it for another installment of VC Weekly which will return again soon. So until then, enjoy the rest of the week and Game On!

Sam Gittins
[email protected]

Looking for reviews on other Virtual Console games? Or a full list of games available on the system? Then Check out our Virtual Console Index Page.