Shooting, quad-biking, and plumbing are the agenda this week in the European Virtual Console update.

Nintendo of Europe are really giving their servers some loving today. On top of releasing the first 'proper' online Wii game in the form of Mario Strikers: Charged Football today, Ninty have decided to release three more classic games of retro goodness, adding to their total of a whopping 89 already available downloadable games. Read on to find out more about the golden oldies that have been uploaded this week.

First up this week is Super Mario Bros. 2 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Initially released in Europe in 1989, it didn't actually start life as a Mario game. Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic was its original name when it was released in Japan, and it was as different to a Mario platformer as is humanly possible. Doki Doki Panic was only released in Japan, and it was only after several changes to the game's code that it was brought out in America and Europe under the guise of Super Mario Bros. 2. The game featured four playable characters (Mario, Luigi, Peach and Toad) which could be picked at the beginning of a level, an evil frog lord called Wart as the main villain, and saw the introduction of Bob-Ombs, Shy Guys and Birdo. Super Mario Bros. 2 is available now for 500 Wii Points.

Next up this week is Mach Rider on the Nintendo Entertainment System, a futuristic quad-biking game from Nintendo, originally released in 1987. It is the year 2112. Planet Earth has been invaded by an alien force called the Quadrunners. You must save the world and defeat this menace by riding a quadbike. You know, because in the future they don't have nukes and tanks and other heavy weaponry, so one person has to save the world on a quadbike. Storyline aside, Mach Rider is widely thought to be the spiritual predecessor to the F-Zero series, due to its many similarities and the fact that Mach Rider has never received a true sequel. Mach Rider is available now for 500 Wii Points.

Enter Blazing Lazers on the Turbografx, the critically acclaimed game that was originally released in 1989. This vertical-scrolling space shoot 'em up sees you facing off against an alien armada consisting of hundreds of spaceships. All of which must be destroyed! Blazing Lazers contains nine levels of non-stop action and upgradeable weapons which means you have all the time and resources you need to wipe E.T. and his pals out of the sky! Blazing Lazers is available now for 600 Wii Points.

Stay tuned to N-Europe for Sam's verdict on these three classics in the next edition of VC Weekly.

by Tellyn!