This Week in Defunct Games - Sept. 2, 2011

What Is It? There isn't a person alive that doesn't know who Pac-Man is. At one time he was the biggest arcade phenomenon of all time, the video game industry's very first superstar. Beyond being a landmark character, Pac-Man has been ported to nearly every video game system new and old. Here we see him ported to the original black and white Game Boy. This 1991 release demonstrates the problem with the Game Boy, there's just not enough room to properly port this large maze to the small screen. As a result we're left with map that moves around depending on where our dot-muncher is at that particular moment. Although it gets the job done, this Game Boy port is less than ideal.

Does It Still Hold Up? For the most part this 1991 port of Pac-Man is accurate to the source material. However, that doesn't mean it's not without a whole host of problems. The moving background is a big deal to expert Pac-Men, plus some of the cinemas (if you want to call them that) have been altered. The controls are fine and the sound effects sound about right. If you can get over the moving map, Pac-Man on the Game Boy holds up.

Is It Worth The Money? With so many better versions of Pac-Man available, there's absolutely no reason to buy this Game Boy port. You're better off picking up the recently released Pac-Man & Galaga Dimensions for the 3DS. For one dollar more, PSP owners can pick up Pac-Man: Championship Edition and completely forget about moving backgrounds. With so many choices out there, Pac-Man on the Game Boy should be at the bottom of your list.

What Is It? Have you ever wondered what Metal Slug would be like if it was played from an overhead perspective? Then let me introduce you to Shock Troopers, SNK's 1997 arcade hit. This eight-way shooter looks and feels a lot like Ikari Warriors and Guerrilla War, only with better graphics and animation. The game offers three unique paths, giving players enough incentive to play through the game multiple times. There's also two-player support, which helps cut down on some of the repetition. Shock Troopers is filled with impressive bosses and enough interesting backgrounds to keep players interested for quite a while. Though the story may be lacking, Shock Troopers has enough charm to attract fans of the Metal Slug franchise.

Does It Still Hold Up? Let me make one thing clear right from the get-go: Shock Troopers is a repetitive action game. It's no different from all games in this franchise (no matter if they're overhead of side-scrolling), shooters from the 1990s were all about running and gunning. Don't expect any puzzle elements or a deep narrative. The controls are solid, though aiming your gun can take a little getting used to. Like the Metal Slug games, Shock Trooper excels when it comes to the impressive presentation. I also like the diverging paths, which requires several play-throughs.

Is It Worth The Money? Shock Troopers may not plow original ground, but it does have enough new ideas to warrant the $7 - $9 price tag (depending on the system). If you're a fan of Commando, MERCs or Ikari Warriors, then you owe it to yourself to play one of the best examples of the sub-genre. The gameplay may not be very deep, but I have a hunch you'll be blown away by the amount of content found in this tiny download. Shock Troopers is definitely worth picking up if you're into overhead shoot-em-ups.

What Is It? Oh, World Heroes. Will you ever get any respect? While Neo Geo fanboys will spend hours talking up Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting, nobody cares about one of SNK's most likeable (albeit flawed) one-on-one fighting games. World Heroes is nothing more than a Street Fighter II clone with semi-historical figures. The goofiness of the characters (which includes a football quarterback, a robotic dictator and, no joke, Rasputin) is endearing, though the antiquated gameplay leaves a lot to be desired. What sets this game apart from the competition is the death match mode, which features deadly arenas that fight back. Even if this is nothing more than SNK's attempt to cater to the Western audience, two decades later World Heroes is still a whole lot of fun.

Does It Still Hold Up? The gameplay is something of a mixed bag. On one hand, the special modes are generally easy to pull off (both on the PlayStation 3 and PSP controllers). However, I'm not a fan of holding the button down to perform more powerful moves. That didn't work in the original Street Fighter and it certainly doesn't work here. SNK had four buttons to work with, it's a shame they only utilized two. The game's presentation holds up, though most of the franchise's most interesting characters came later.

Is It Worth The Money? Part of me really likes World Heroes, if only as a guilty pleasure. The gameplay is simple enough and the cast of character is goofy enough to be entertaining. Still, this isn't one of SNK's best fighters. Fans of Neo Geo fighting games should stick with The King of Fighters '95 and Samurai Shodown. The moment World Heroes 2 hits the Neo Geo Station, this 1992 original will be completely obsolete.