Virtual Player: Ninja Combat, Dig Dug, Alex Kidd in Miracle World and more

6/24/2008 5:41 PM | 0 Comments | Page 1 of 2

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).