This Week in Defunct Games - Sept. 14, 2012

What Is It? In this world of title updates and day one patches, I wonder if Metal Slug X would even exist. At its core, this 1999 release is a remixed version of the popular (but kind of broken) Metal Slug 2. Beyond fixing some of the technical problems (slowdowns, etc.), this redux offers brand new weapons, enemies and boss battles. The good news is that all of the Metal Slug fun is front and center in this Virtual Console port. We're given gorgeous artwork that still looks great today, plus funny animations that are guaranteed to make you yearn for the good old days of sprite-based graphics. Throw in a few awkward vehicles and an unexplained plotline and you have another great entry in the Metal Slug franchise. Too bad it wasn't an original entry.

Does It Still Hold Up? It's a Metal Slug game; you know exactly what you're getting from the get-go. The hand-drawn graphics and animation look amazing, even when stacked against the Wii's current library. Although the gameplay is solid, I do have an issue with the limited control I'm giving over my gun. Outside of that, this game holds up beautifully.

Is It Worth The Money? Longtime fans of This Week in Defunct Games already know what I'm going to say. Metal Slug X on the Virtual Console is a bad deal. Don't get me wrong, it's a great shooter, but nine dollars is simply too much money to spend on this Neo Geo game. These days you can find the Metal Slug Anthology for less than the price of this download. On the PlayStation 3, this same game is three dollars cheaper. Metal Slug X is easy to recommend, but you're better off looking around for a better deal.

What Is It? Fans of rotoscoping are in luck, because this marks the second time Prince of Persia has been re-released on the Virtual Console in 2012. You may remember me talking about this game back in June, when I reviewed the Game Boy Color port on the 3DS Virtual Console. This is the version Arsys Software Inc. made for the Super NES back in 1992. This is a competent port of Jordan Mechner's influential computer game.

Prince of Persia gives players exactly one hour to locate and rescue his one true love. This requires our hero to battle guards, avoid traps and navigate the labyrinthine dungeons. But there's no time to second guess your actions, because that time limit is always at play. This adds an important layer of urgency, which I would argue is the one thing people take away from Prince of Persia. Regardless of whether you defeat the Sultan or not, you come away from Prince of Persia having experienced something that feels significantly more important.

Does It Still Hold Up? With the exception of Ubisoft's recent Xbox Live Arcade/PlayStation Network game, this is the best Prince of Persia has ever looked. The sprites are sharp and the animation will still wow you all these years later. Unfortunately, the gameplay is a little rough. The play mechanics will take some time getting used to. Once the controls are mastered, you'll find that Prince of Persia is a deeply rewarding experience.

Is It Worth The Money? Despite the roughness of the controls, Prince of Persia is an easy game to recommend. Sadly, Prince of Persia Classic was never released on the Wii, making this the system's best Prince of Persia game by default. Still, this is a sharp game with a lot of great ideas. You may be surprised how well some of the level designs and mechanics hold up. Forget bringing back the Sands of Time, it's time to send the prince on another 2D adventure!

What Is It? When all of the hens and eggs are kidnapped, Toki Tori is forced to go on an amazing quest rescue his friends and family. This is the set-up for one of the most inventive puzzlers on the Game Boy Color. And not only is this an addictive time-waster, but it's also an incredible showpiece for what the Game Boy Color was capable of.

Toki Tori must travel from level to level picking up all of the stranded eggs. To do this he'll need to dodge enemies, build bridges, climb ladders and use items to successfully navigate the increasingly complicated levels. And you can't just sit around waiting for the puzzle to solve itself, because Toki Tori is given only a few minutes to complete each level. The end result is a captivating puzzle game that is impossible to put down.

Does It Still Hold Up? Without question, this is one of the best Game Boy Color games I've seen. Even with the limited palette, the colors stand out and it's easy to see what everything is supposed to be. The gameplay is also good, even though I wish our hero could jump a little higher and farther. This is an endearing quest full of memorable character; it's hard to believe that it's an 8-bit title.

Is It Worth The Money? I've always been a fan of this style of puzzle game. Don't worry about quick reflexes and making lucky jumps, because this is a thinking man's platformer. You spend most of your time laying down items and deciding which order to pick up the unhatched chicks. Levels can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes, making this the perfect portable game. The core mechanics are ageless and it's one of the best Game Boy Color games on the Virtual Console. Toki Tori is a must-buy!

What Is It? Have you heard the legend of the Mystical Ninja? If you're in an English speaking part of the world, then chances are good that you missed out on most of Goemon's 8- and 16-bit action games. This 1998 Game Boy game comes a full six years after Konami's first attempt to localize the popular Japanese series. Now on the 3DS Virtual Console, Mystical Ninja starring Goemon is a real surprise that mostly works.

This late generation Game Boy release is something of a Legend of Zelda clone, though I mean that in the nicest way possible. You choose one of three characters, including Sasuke the robot ninja, Ebisumaru the happy-go-lucky fighter and, of course, Goemon the brave hero. You set out on an adventure that takes you through villages, forests and underground dungeons. These characters fight samurais, ghosts, monsters and samurai ghost monsters. Even on the aging hardware, Mystical Ninja starring Goemon is full of character.

Does It Still Hold Up? Fans of the Zelda series will feel at home with Mystical Ninja. The gameplay has been simplified a bit and there isn't as much puzzle solving. Instead we find ourselves constantly fighting monsters and searching the map for treasure chests. The graphics are impressive, showing what the 8-bit handheld could pull off when given a chance. Mystical Ninja doesn't exactly break any new ground, but holds up as a Game Boy game.

Is It Worth The Money? My excitement for the game ebbed and flowed. Often I found myself bored of the same backgrounds and enemies, hoping for something new. However, my excitement for the game was refreshed every time something new happened. There's a big adventure here, even if this is a small game. The characters are fun and I enjoyed the world it created. I can see the groundwork for a truly special game. This Game Boy port isn't revolutionary, but it's worth playing for three dollars.