Every Thursday Defunct Games wants to take a moment and reflect on all of the classic games that were given new life. Thanks to video game compilations, Nintendo's Virtual Console, the Xbox Live Arcade and even the PlayStation 3, fans of retro games are able to find all sorts of crazy old games. But what games are good? How well have these games held up? Which ones should you spend your money on? In This Week In Defunct Games we plan on answering those questions in both written and audio podcast form. So without further ado I give you the podcast version of This Week In Defunct Games, followed by our full guide to the best (and worst) classic games of the week.
NOTE: Scheduling conflicts came in the way of Cyril and Wes recording a This Week In Defunct Games podcast, but don't worry, we'll be back next week with an all new episode that will expose the underbelly of E3. Oh, and we'll also talk about this week and next week's games ... assuming there are any retro games next week!
F-Zero X (Virtual Console)
What Is It?
F-Zero X is the follow up to one of most memorable Super NES launch titles of all time. This Nintendo 64 upgrade takes everything you loved about the 16-bit racer and throws in better graphics, better tracks, and one of the fastest gameplay you'll ever see. Race through multiple environments as you manipulate your surroundings and try not to get run off the road ... or course, or whatever it is you're on. Unfortunately this Virtual Console game does not come with the F-Zero X Expansion Pack, the Nintendo 64DD program that allowed players to create their own F-Zero courses. I can only hope that this is something we see in the future, even though I know that the chances of playing this Japan-only game are zero to none. The good news is that F-Zero X holds up on its own and is considerably better than the GameCube update. Nintendo's best racer on the N64 now becomes the best racer on the Virtual Console.
Does It Still Hold Up?
While a lot of the Nintendo 64 games are hit and miss, F-Zero X manages to be just as good today as it was ten years ago. The speed and graphics are still impressive, and the game is one of the best multiplayer experiences on the Virtual Console. I'm a bit disappointed that we didn't get the Expansion Pack with this game, but the tracks that are available are well designed and the gameplay is as manic as ever.
Is It Worth The Money?
Considering that the disappointing GameCube update used to be five times this price, I don't think $10 is too much to ask for F-Zero X. Obviously this would have been a irresistible price if it came with the Expansion Pack, but even without the N64DD add-on content this is still a killer value. If you're a fan of high speed racing games then this is the only Virtual Console game you need to own!
China Warrior (Virtual Console)
What Is It?
You know you're in trouble when the best thing you can say about a game is how large the character models are. Just take a look at Chad's review (posted on Defunct Games almost two years ago): "Get a load of this guy! [...] The character model is HUGE. I mean, my god, he's HUGE!! Your character easily takes up a quarter of the screen as he walks across China, punching and kicking men in cult-inspired robes (not to mention various un-identifiable flying creatures)." On the TurboGrafx-16 China Warrior looked good, it was full of detail and the characters were gigantic. However, nearly twenty years later the graphics haven't held up well and the fact that the characters are large is a novelty at best. The game is worth checking out if only to see how amazingly large everybody is, but after you've experienced that you're pretty much seen everything that is worth seeing in China Warrior!
Does It Still Hold Up?
With its poor control and boring gameplay, China Warrior fails to impress on every level. Well, not every level. If you're impressed with characters so large you almost need a taller television to see them then China Warrior is for you. If you're the type of person that just wants to play a fun Virtual Console game then maybe you should just pass on this one.
Is It Worth The Money?
I'm tempted to just say no, but in truth it's not me who should say no (since I already played China Warrior) ... it you. Whatever you do, don't buy China Warrior, even if you're a fan of super huge characters that take up the entirety of the TV screen. Don't do it!
Street Fighter II Turbo (Virtual Console)
What Is It?
Street Fighter II Turbo was the second Street Fighter game released on the Super NES back in the mid-1990s. Thanks to the overwhelming success of Capcom's first outing, Street Fighter II Turbo adds four new playable characters (the four bosses found in the first Street Fighter II release), player versus player, a speed gauge, improved graphics, and some brand new moves. The game also goes a long way to balance out the characters, something sorely missing the first go around. Unfortunately this was not the last Street Fighter II release on the Super NES, one year later we saw the release of Super Street Fighter II ... which will no doubt find its way onto the Virtual Console sooner or later. Either way, Street Fighter II Turbo is considered by many to be the best of the 16-bit Street Fighter gamers, which makes this version easy to recommend. Of course, it's also disappointing that Wii owners are forced to put up with the slightly watered down version of Street Fighter II Turbo instead of a superior arcade port. Despite all its flaws, the Xbox Live Arcade version of the game is still a better looking and more complete port of the game.
Does It Still Hold Up?
If ever we get to the point where Street Fighter II Turbo stops holding up then you might as well kill me now and put me out of the misery. Even though we've successfully managed to make 3D fighting the standard, 2D fighting is still loved by many (including most of the writers on this very website). The controls are still easy to use, the characters are diverse and exciting, and you can play the game hundreds of times and never have the same match twice. The Virtual Console's Classic Control is hardly the best game pad to play this on, but that's not the fault of the original game (which, at the time, had more than enough joysticks to choose from).
Is It Worth The Money?
There is no simple answer for this question. If you decided not to buy the original Street Fighter II on the Virtual Console then this Turbo edition is for you. At $8 it's a much better deal than the Street Fighter that came out a couple of months ago and it's about the only 2D Street Fighter game available on the Wii (or even GameCube for that matter). But then again, if you already own Street Fighter II for the Virtual Console this might not be the best $8 you have spent. Either way, this is a solid game that deserves to be played ... it's up to you how much you actually want to spend for all of these Street Fighter enhancements.
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