Ninja Combat

Developer: Alpha Denshi Corp.

Publisher: D4 Enterprise

Price: 900 Wii Points

Originally appeared on: Neo Geo



RECOMMENDATION: Fry It



Now that everyone is used to paying $9 for Neo Geo games on the Virtual Console, it's easy to forget that these games typically sold for about $200 when they were first released. Such was the price of getting the true arcade experience at home. That said, the only people who would confess to liking Ninja Combat are those poor suckers who picked up this game when they first bought their Neo Geo system and forced themselves to like it rather than admit that they wasted the dough.



Just about everything about this game screams "generic early '90s beat-'em-up." From the recycled names of the main characters, Joe (like Shinobi's Joe Musashi) and Hayabusa (Ninja Gaiden's hero is Ryu Hayabusa), to the dull, repetitive (and quarter-suckingly cheap) gameplay, there is absolutely no reason to pick up this title. The graphics and animation are also extremely dated, and not in that charming, retro way -- more in a "wow, this looks pretty crummy" kind of way. Pass!

Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa


Developer: Konami

Publisher: Konami

Price: 600 Wii Points

Originally Appeared On: Famicom



RECOMMENDATION: Buy It



Hey, another import Virtual Console game! We love import Virtual Console games! Even better, this game is actually pretty darn good. It may have an unnecessarily goofy title, but all you need to know about Upa is that it's a neat platformer from a company that was awfully good at making platformers on the NES.



Like most Konami NES games, the controls are fantastic, and the level designs are extremely imaginative. The game has you controlling Upa, a baby sent on a mission to defeat an evil demon or some such nonsense. The little guy uses his rattle to inflate enemies, which can then be stood on as they float away or knocked into other enemies.



Konami probably figured that a baby-themed game wouldn't play to the American NES market back in the day, so it's nice to see the game finally getting a second chance. Fans of Konami's import-only shooter series, Parodius, will also be interested to know that Upa appeared as a playable character in Chatting Parodius Live.

Dig Dug

Developer: Namco

Publisher: NBGI

Price: 600 Wii Points

Originally appeared on: Famicom



RECOMMENDATION: Fry It



On the same week that Upa was released, we got another import Virtual Console title -- Namco's arcade classic, Dig Dug. Some people might not recall that Dig Dug didn't get a U.S. release on the NES. The sequel, Dig Dug II, was released over here, but the original remained in Japan. Most people have undoubtedly played Dig Dug at some point in their lives as it has been ported to pretty much every system out there.

This is one of those classic arcade titles that holds up pretty well by today's standards. Sure, the "burrow through the ground and kill monsters" gameplay is very simplistic, but it has an addictive quality that will keep you coming back for one more play. Still, the $6 price tag on this game is far too expensive (especially considering the $1 "import tax"). You'd be much better off spending a couple more dollars and picking up one of the Namco Museum collections for GameCube (which is, of course, playable on the Wii).

Samurai Shodown


Developer: SNK

Publisher: D4 Enterprise

Price: 900 Wii Points

Originally appeared on:Neo Geo

RECOMMENDATION: Buy It

The Neo Geo has played host to a wide variety of fighting games, but only a few are really worth playing nowadays. This is especially true when talking about some of the older games which were frequently outclassed by their sequels. Samurai Shodown, however, is still worth a go. Its weapon-based combat gives it a much different feel from its contemporaries, and the fast-paced action remains exciting to this day.

Adding to the enjoyment is the wide range of combatants including the samurai, Haohmaru, the ninja, Hattori Hanzo (who is loosely based on an actual person from Japanese history), and the hulking giant, Earthquake. With 12 available characters, you're bound to find one that fits your fighting style. Adding further value to the game is the fact that the version released on the Virtual Console is the uncensored version that retains the Japanese version's red blood, something that was edited out of the original American release.

Alex Kidd in Miracle World

Developer: Sega

Publisher: Sega

Price: 500 Wii Points

Originally appeared on: Sega Master System



RECOMMENDATION: Buy It



Poor Alex Kidd. During the Master System days, he was Sega's premiere mascot, but that all changed when that upstart hedgehog, Sonic, showed up. Shoved into the background, young Alex is all but forgotten these days. Now, thanks to the Virtual Console, you can relive Alex's first (and arguably best) adventure.



Clearly created as Sega's answer to Nintendo's popular Super Mario Bros. series, Alex Kidd in Miracle World is a colorful platformer where you lead our hero through 16 levels that can scroll in any direction. Hey, when the competition was the "you can only move to the right" Super Mario, the ability to go down into a stage was mighty impressive!



Punching bad guys and collecting cash to purchase vehicles add another layer of depth to the game, but watch out for the frustrating boss battles. If you can overlook the occasional game of Rock-Paper-Scissors against these foes (which rely on luck instead of skill), you'll enjoy this retro adventure.

Burning Fight

Developer: SNK

Publisher: D4 Enterprise

Price: 900 Wii Points

Originally appeared on: Neo Geo

RECOMMENDATION: Fry It

There's no getting around this fact -- Burning Fight looks a lot like Capcom's classic beat-'em-up, Final Fight. One of the characters even dresses like Final Fight's Guy, for crying out loud. Heck, even the title screens look pretty similar if you squint a little. With three playable characters and plenty of goons to smack around as you walk to the right, this game is about as derivative as they come. Did we mention that you can pick up the occasional weapon and collect extra health by punching phone booths? Yawn.



When you have the vastly superiorFight Fight and Streets of Rage games available on the Virtual Console, there's no reason to even consider buying a wannabe like Burning Fight. The game neither looks nor plays as well as the classics of the genre. When you consider that Burning is also more expensive than those other titles, then this game is definitely fit to be fried.