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

A very small offering this time but please understand as there are sure to be plenty more games next week. Anyway enough from me and on with the game!
 
Available for download this week we have...     

Spelunker


 
Price: GB £3.49, EU €3.99
Publisher: Tozai Games
Developer: Irem
Released: 1985
System: NES

Oh dear what has fallen before my eyes, but a rather nasty surprise in disguise; sneaking in alongside the quality is this freakish abnormality. Created way back in nineteen-eighty-five I am surprised that this download ever went live; Spelunker is over two decades old but this game really should have been put on hold.

You play as an explorer of caves, as the darkness our young hero braves; you are there in the pursuit of a long rumored treasure and getting to it shall be no small endeavor. As you make your way to the bottom from the top many creatures will chase you and in your tracks you will stop.

Many more dangers will challenge your wits as you are faced with water, chasms, small ledges and pits. Visually and audibly it's an abomination and the broken gameplay leads to frustration; limited controls that play like a chore and repetitive tasks assure it's a bore.

At times it's enough to make the player cry, when they discover yet another method to die; it may have been good if they had put in some thought, rather than flawed mechanics which may leave you distraught. As much as I would like to take this as a serious game, that I can't do because it truly is lame.

Worth its price it most certainly is not, its gameplay is as dull as its wafer-thin plot; more I could say about it's infinite flaws, but I cannot be bothered to waste my time or yours.

Verdict : Crushingly crud cave crawler.


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