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

A couple of reasonably decent titles including a previously unreleased strategy title, a Nintendo classic and an updated Jordan Khoviteri-Zadeh review for a once popular arcade title. Anyway enough from me and on with the games!
 
Available for download this week we have...     

Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV
Galaga                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Super Mario Bros 2

Price: GB £5.49, EU €7.99
Publisher: Koei
Developer: Koei
Released: 1995
System: SNES

Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV is an intense strategy game set in ancient China where you must devise strategies against foreign rulers in order to take control of their cities so that you can grow your own empire. Build armies and move your troops across the map, before plunging into battle, in order to be a successful ruler you will need not only great warriors but also farmers plus scientists; growing crops to keep your people well-fed and developing new weapons to aid you in battle, you must also be prepared for unexpected events like plagues, floods or swarms of locusts! If you can overcome all of these trials only then will you be considered a master.

It might all sound rather exciting from the hype-reel above, for the most-part it is but just remember that this is a SNES strategy title which doesn't exactly have the most friendly of user-interfaces so it's not really the ideal starting point for anyone wanting to get into the series who is just casually interested. For anyone who is very much into the Strategy RPG genre though you might as well give this game a go being that there isn't a huge amount available that's quite like it; the ultimate aim is to unite Ancient China which is quite something when you compare it to your average goal of 'saving the world' in the majority of RPG's... so it's refreshing at least.

You'll be forming many alliances, fighting many battles, managing multiple rescources, and much more besides all the while being wary of everything that's going on around you as allies can turn on you quite quickly, natural disaster can strike at the worst possible times or you could encounter something rather unexpected, so you always need to be on top of everthing if you want to survive. Taking on the role of a master tactician is essentially what you'll be doing as you need to one step ahead of what's going on before the winds of change blow in, if you are good at predicting these kinds of things then you'll most likely go far in this title but it will take up a fair amount of your time.

Visually there are some nice details on the overall map screens but everything else definitely falls under the category of being 'functional' even if there are some nicely animated pieces at certain points, the menu system seems reasonably well throught out as everything is pretty clear so you'll at least know what's going on even if you don't manage to keep track of it all. There are certainly a few nice tracks that play along in the background as this is definitely a high point as it's all of a very decent standard indeed, sound effects are also well suited to the game as expected.

This is most definitely a thinking man's game so if it's all-out action that you're after then just look elsewhere as there is no shortage in that genre, but here we have a SRPG that is specifically for those who actively enjoy the genre, it's not the best example but it's certainly one of the more unique offerings that you can buy. So why not give it a try, if you've already played the more superior games available on the Wii VC which are similar then you won't go far wrong here being that on the Wii U VC there's not much to compare it with and it might just be what you're looking for.

Verdict : A flawed but fantasticly enjoyable strategy RPG made for the fans.

Price: GB £3.49, EU €4.99
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Developer: Namco
Released: 1981
System: NES

Galaga the sequel to Galaxian, graced many a platform in the day, including the NES but was Originally released seven years before the NES even existed, this game didn't push the console at all However that doesn't mean that it's dull... far from it. You take control of a small space ship, you can fire rockets to destroy the enemies which fly from the top of the screen, swooping downwards toward you. To finish each level, all you have to do is kill all the enemies in one level; the further you go through the levels, the tougher the game gets, more enemies drop and your shooting rate never increases.

This simple style of gameplay still holds up fantastically well, it's incredibly frantic plus almost heart pounding at times when you hear the familiar "choooooo" sound of a falling ship as you desperately try to dodge it. Personally I'm quite a fan of this game, even though it hasn't aged well, it still plays great.

Visually everything is quite standard as this title uses simple sprite graphics, but they are colourful and eye catching. There is some music, which is instantly recognisable along with some basic but well made sound effects which always suit the on-screen action.

The only downside is that the game is of course an arcade game and that is all you get. Game start and options: even the two player mode is just alternate. Also because this is an age-old game it has been updated many times before, so for the price you could easily get an 'improved' version elsewhere if you so desire, but if you want to play the original then you really can't go far wrong here... plus the Miiverse community is the perfect place to share in a bit of nostalgia for a once classic arcade game.

Verdict: An age old arcade game gets a new chance at fame.  

Price: GB £4.49, EU €4.99
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Released: 1989
System: NES

For each of its “big three” system selling series of titles Nintendo is well known for creating sequels to the originals that for whatever reasons are that little bit different, in the case of Zelda it was the side scrolling Adventure of Link, for Metroid the visually inferior Return of Samus and the case in question for the portly plumber is Super Mario Bros 2. Originally the template for SMB2 was a completely different game by the name of Doki Doki Panic, however by the time the big N had finished with it they had made it their own; so much so that if you had never heard of the title it was based on then you could easily assume that it was a Mario title all along.

It does not play like its predecessor or any subsequent sequels though and instead a very different mechanic of play is used. As Mario you have your usual D-pad to move and the A button allows you to jump; so far everything sounds normal but go to jump on an enemy and squish them you shall not, for instead you will be standing on top of your enemy which allows you to either use them as stepping stones or using the B button, pick them up and throw them.

This different brand of gameplay doesn't end there, for you can also uproot vegetables to happily hurl at hapless heathens such as Shy-Guys which this title is responsible for introducing, another notable inclusion is the ability to take control of Luigi, Toad and Peach as well as the titular Mario; this is currently the only platform game in the series time-line that allows this. A slightly different style of play is employed depending on which character you opt to use; Luigi stays airborne the longest when jumping allowing for greater distance to be crossed albeit less accurately, Toad is both fast and strong, Peach can hover in the air for a short while and Mario is the all-rounder.

Clearly a solid effort has been made both visually and audibly as well as in the brilliant design of the games world; “Subcon” which holds a few secrets of its own in the form of doorways which appear upon breaking potions and Vases with Tardis-like proportions housing whole areas inside objects which appear smaller on the surface and often lead to secret items.

SMB2 is a credit to the series thanks to its marvelous mechanics, bold boss battles and hereditary humor. A fun, quirky and completely lovable title in it's own right that can stand proudly beside it's brethren; if you've yet to play this sublime sequel or are looking for a platform game to blast through then you could do far worse than purchase this VC incarnation.

Verdict : Vivaciously vicious virtual vegetable volleying.

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!