Wii-kly Virtual Console Update: 10/15/07
I am back from Austin (what a wonderful city, can't wait to move there) and it's time to start the week out with another Wii-kly Virtual Console Update! This week is somewhat of a special one as it "marks the first appearance of a CD-ROM game for the TurboGrafx16 on
Virtual Console." I cannot help but wonder how large that game will be. Anyways, that game is Gate of Thunder from the TurboGrafx16 for 800 Wii Points. It's labeled as a 'legendary' sci-fi shooter. Perhaps it is, but this is the first time I've ever heard of it. Of course, since it is a side-scrolling shooter, it automatically piques my interest. If you've played this game, please give us your impressions.
The Wii gets some hot ninja action from ninja hottie, Ryu Hayabusa in Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos (NES, 500 points). The game is nearly as epic as the title!! This is another game that I already own but for fans of the series who don't already have the games unlocked on their next-gen copies of Ninja Gaiden, this would be a good investment for you.
Metal Marines come marching in from the Super Nintendo for 800 points. Fans of turned based strategy games should enjoy this one. However, I cannot guarantee that for certain because it only sounds fun. I have not ever had the pleasure of playing this game. To be honest, I'm more of a fan of Real Time Strategy games than turn based, yet I really like everything else to be turned based. Odd?
For more details on this week's offerings, make the jump.
Oct. 15, 2007
Wii-kly Update: Three New Classic Games Added to Wii Shop Channel
This week marks the first appearance of a CD-ROM game for the TurboGrafx16 on
Virtual Console. Take control of the Hunting Dog ship and battle deadly
Obbellon fighters in the classic horizontal sci-fi shooter, Gate of Thunder.
If shootings not your thing, you can go out and save the world from evil
demons or a power-hungry general in this weeks other offerings that bolster
the Wii Shop Channels catalog of action-adventure and real-time strategy
games.
Three new classic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new
games to the Wii Shop Channel every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed
Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points
can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This weeks new
games are:
Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos (NES®, 1 player, rated E for
Everyone Mild Violence, 500 Wii Points): In Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword
of Chaos, a new villain, Ashtar, is revealed. Take on the role of Ryu Hayabusa
and rescue Irene Lew, a former CIA agent, from Ashtar. Destroy the Sword of
Chaos, a weapon of great power forged from the bone of a demon. Use techniques
such as the Fire Wheel or the Windmill Throwing Star and attack while holding
on to walls and ladders. Use the most innovative technique of all the
ability to create Shadow Clones, orange shadow versions of Ryu that will
constantly follow him, repeating previous actions (moving or attacking) in a
delayed cycle. Once again defeat henchmen, creatures and bosses with new
fighting techniques and even more weapons as you progress through multiple
stages on your way to destroying Ashtar, Jaquio and the Realm of Chaos.
Metal Marines® (Super NES®, 1 player, rated E for Everyone Fantasy Violence,
800 Wii Points): Set in the near future, most of Earths land has been
disintegrated in the chaos of the Anti-matter War. This real-time strategy
game portrays the Colonies Allied Force the Metal Marines in their epic
struggle against General Zorgeuf and the Imperial Federation, who are bent on
world domination. Commanding the Metal Marines across a series of battles, the
player must strategically allocate resources, ready supplies, manage funds and
move troops in an effort to outwit and outmove the opponent. The real-time
battle system rewards split-second decisions and adaptability in the struggle
for military superiority. Unlike most turn-based strategy games, Metal Marines
engrosses the player in a fast-paced and frantic battle in which both sides
advance simultaneously. A constant eye must be kept on enemy movements to
maintain a formidable defense and not miss the perfect chance to strike.
Strategic foresight and quick judgment hold the key to victory.
Gate of Thunder (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, rated E for Everyone Fantasy
Violence, 800 Wii Points): The legendary sci-fi shooter is back! Gate of
Thunder is a horizontal side-scrolling shooter that places you in control of
special undercover agent Hawk, whose mission is to stop the deadly army of
Obbellon fighters. Jump into the action as Hawk gets aboard his ship, the
Hunting Dog, and heads out toward the enemy. Blast through stages while
effectively using all three of the weapons at your disposal and receiving
support from ally Wild Cat ships. Switch through equippable power-up options
on the fly to change the direction of your attack. Youll have to blast in
front of and behind you to survive all seven stages. Hard-core shooting-game
fans looking for a challenge can select HARD or DEVIL mode to experience even
more intense action!
Super Timsy
Posted to Hot Stuff, Video Games on 15 October 2007
· Comments (5)
Other stuff like this: Gate of Thunder, Metal Marines, Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos, Nintendo, VC, Virtual Console, Wii
Please turn in your shooter geek card if you've never heard of such a game. It's held up in esteem with the likes of R-Type and Thunder Force, and was one of the ONLY reasons to drool over TG16-CD / Turbo Duo.
Gate of Thunder (along with its sequel Lords of Thunder) was one of the best shoot'em ups to come out of the 16-bit era and I'm glad to see it get a second chance at life on Nintendo's VC. This game was part of a pack-in compilation CD that came with the Turbo Duo console. The other games included on the Gate of Thunder CD was Bonk's Adventure and Bonk's Revenge, with a hidden Bomber Man game accessible by inputting a code. Ah, nostalgia!
Yes, Gate of Thunder was and still is an amazing shooter. The PCEngine/Turbo Grafx- 16 is one of the best platforms for shooters. In my opinion, it was one of the games that I thought, 'wow this couldn't be done on a cart'. My obsession with the whole system began and it was downhill ever since. I'm so excited for these releases. I hope they will eventually put some titles that never made it to the US or some games that I never got.
I am...ashamed. To make up for my transgression, I shall download it at once!
Gate of Thunder is definitely one of the better titles out there for the TG-CD. If I remember correctly, it's a bit short; only 6 or 7 levels. But there is so much going on you'll want to play it through several times just to see everything and try and kill the stuff you missed the first time.
It you do check it out, I'd be interested to read your impressions. I always wonder how something like this holds up over time. It was definitely one of my favorites back in the day.