Kelvin

The Stelladapter is good for recreating the C64 experience, but not so great for reviewing the games as VC releases. I like to test the games based on how well they work with a d-pad or analogue stick, since that's what VC players will use.

Betagam7, in most cases, I review the ROM. At this point, we're not given review copies of the VC releases, so in order to have the reviews ready for publication on release day, we more often than not review based on the ROMs. If the VC release has some differences (like some of the glitches we've seen on some C64 titles), then the review is rewritten to take those into account. A USB-Gamecube adapter is invaluable.

Captain_Konami, we're not comparing games directly against each other. If we were, then of course the scores would be skewed in the direction you suggest. However, that's not the way I do it, and I'd guess that the rest of the reviewers here feel the same way. I review a game in isolation, on its own merits; I judge it based on how good that game is, how well that game plays, and not how it stacks up to the latest PS3 release, or how much I liked it first time around (indeed, I didn't like Wizball much the first time around, and in reviewing it for a possible VC release, I found I liked it much more now). As such, Last Ninja III is a solid 5/5 good time, just as Super Mario Galaxy is, despite the differences in processing power, graphics, sound, etc.

To my mind, comparing a VC game to a game of today is just as unfair as looking at it from a nostalgic point of view.

Yatesy, nostalgia had no part in the scores I gave to Last Ninja 3 or Impossible Mission II I assure you. That would be dishonest, and I try to come to review each game on its own merits.

Both versions of Sonic 2 came out on the same day, the 24th of November 1992. Sonic Twosday.

@ Drake, well, the Game Gear version plays quite differently, since the play area is scaled down due to the screen size. This is one of my favourites in the whole series, but it tends to get overlooked due to 16-bit snobbery.

Like the first Sonic on the Master System, it's a good game, but nowhere near as good as its console counterpart.

Lies! Well, technically correct, since MD Sonic 2 is absolutely brilliant, and MS Sonic 2 is just plain brilliant, but you're definitely doing the 8-bit game a disservice Marcel.

Happy birthday VCR!

Mr Cheez, in all fairness, there's not much grinding in the first Phantasy Star, but what there is, is all at the beginning of the game, so it might be a bit off-putting to newcomers.

@Adamant, I haven't played the rest of the games for a while, but the first Phantasy Star does require a lot of grinding in the early part of the game.

Virus, we had a couple of months of one-game-weeks not so long ago, so we'll take two games and be happy about it!

I'm still waiting for the first Phantasy Star...

Great game, one of my favourites in the series, and second only to the MD version in my mind.

Very good game, and despite being in the same broad genre as titles like FF Tactics and Shining Force, it's got a number of unique features which set it apart. Great music too.

Ogre Battle is a brilliant game that I'm not sure was as popular as it should have been back in the day, so it's good to see it getting a second chance.
And Sonic 2 is also quite brilliant. Better by far than the already-excellent original.

There are three generations of MS box art. The first generation, like Space Harrier, have the basic grid and dodgy art. The second generation (like the first Sonic) retain the grid, but improve the art. The third generation (circa 1992, like Mortal Kombat) drop the grid entirely in most cases.

I've been telling people about the group battles on the MD version for ages!

Easily my favourite version of "plain" SFII.

Hey, without that old Sega/Nintendo rivalry, Brawl matches between Sonic and Mario wouldn't be nearly as fun for us old-timers!

I'd argue that the zealot culture is still rife, particularly between X360 and PS3 owners (and to a lesser extent between them and the Wii owners). It reminds me of the old days! I don't know if it's still present in the gaming mags, as I haven't read one in years.

Absolutely brilliant game, and it will be great to play it on a TV! I've been hoping to see t on Wiiware since the service was announced, as in many ways Cave Story feels like a classic Nintendo game of yesteryear. Its spiritual home is on a Nintendo console, so the release is very fitting. Wiiware's killer app?

Cave Story! Brilliant!

eltomo, read the last question.

soniczelda dude, so you're basing this opinion on what? The video? Seems a strange way to judge the gameplay...

David77, the game is respected now because it's a good game, just as it was when it was released.

David77, this game did come out after Super Mario World but also on a far inferior system, so it's unfair to compare them directly. And if you think the first Super Mario Bros is "way ahead" of this game, you're crazy. Really.

Draygone, fair enough. Since I grew up playing computer (rather then console) games, pressing a button to jump strikes me as odd.

Jazzem, I would have given this four (eight under the new system) stars, because despite the presentation and the technical achievement, the controls are a bit fiddly, particularly the speed dash.

Why not? It makes more sense that up should be jump, if you think about it. You press up to go, er, up.

Also, the C64 had only one fire button, so there's not much that can be done.

Betagam7, yes the Rowlands brothers were also responsible for the excellent Creatures series, as well as the not-quite-as-excellent Cyberdyne Warrior.

Great game, but Creatures 2 was better! Very good and fair review, Mat.

Sod Secret of Mana, I'm so pleasantly surprised to see Mayhem! Of course, Creatures 2 is better, but you can't have everything.

Exactly, there were versions of Sensi on SNES, Mega Drive and Master System, so while I'd obviously prefer the Amiga version, there are possibilities!

Wizball is great, but I hope that this means that Sensible Soccer is on its way!

Not interested in Mario Golf really, but it bodes well for the excellent Mario Tennis to be released!

I'd disagree. The MD port is on a par with SNES Turbo. While it is called Special Champion Edition, it includes both a version of Championship Edition (the "second upgrade" Fax mentions), enhanced to four-star speed and a version of Turbo which is just as fast as the SNES port. Yes, perhaps the graphics and sound are a little worse than SNES Turbo, but the additional features more than make up for it; this is the best non-Super version of the game available.

I will amend my first statement though. If you haven't picked up a version of SFII yet, then get Super; I'd completely forgotten about its release!

@Tony: I can't be sure, but I believe the NES version was indeed released in the US.

@WiiloveitOnline: Yes, Rocks n Gems is essentially a Boulder Dash clone. I think there are some minor differences, but if you liked the PS1 game, you should enjoy this.

Tides, this version of SFII is roughly the same as Turbo on the SNES, but it's got a couple of extra features, like team battle and turbo stars in championship mode. If you've already got Turbo, then there's not much of a reason to get the MD version, but if you've been waiting, this is definitely the one to get.

Maybe you North Americans will have to wait twelve years to see Super Mario RPG on VC!

@Mr Cheez, now I understand what you mean by "crappy sounding". Yeah, the sound isn't as good as the SNES versions, but the game as a whole is a touch better, so you make your choice.

And my avatar is from the C64 game Creatures 2 which I hope we'll see sometime on the VC. Brilliant game.

@Mickeymac, I adore Timesplitters 2, and it definitely captures the Goldeneye feel, but Future Perfect is probably a bit better.

Just buy the GC version of one of the Timesplitters games? They play almost identically to Goldeneye anyway.

Yes, good solid game this, with unpretentious gameplay. I do think that the lack of bells and whistles does let it down a bit, but if all you want to do is some simple racing, then you could do worse. And it's not as if we've got a huge choice of racers on the VC right now.

Dazza, I doubted it just slightly because the original announcement was that we'd see GG games under the MS banner too, so I was just checking.

Bass, thanks for the confirmation. I knew about the differences between the two versions, I was just expecting Nintendo to cock up somehow and release the GG version. I'm looking forward to the UK release of this one!

I found this one more difficult than the MD version. Great game this, although the sequel is a touch better (and more difficult again!), and the music is particularly good, especially for the MS, which often didn't do well in this regard. A definite classic.

Oh, and can we confirm that it is indeed the MS version, and not the GG one?

Well, to be fair, some of the really early SMS cover art was shockingly awful. This game is in the middle period, where it's not quite as awful as stuff like Choplifter, but the style hasn't grown up quite yet. Once we get to 1991 or so, the cover art has really improved.

Ooh, the PCE port was pretty good. I wouldn't be surprised if we did see that!
Or maybe even the C64 port... ;P

Demon, you're not missing much; the original Street Fighter was terrible!

Mr Cheez, why is this "crappy-sounding"? I'm honestly baffled by that.

This is definitely the most complete version of SFII Turbo available. Fair enough if you've already got Turbo on the SNES, there's not a whole lot added here to make it worth an additional purchase. But if you were to buy only one version of SFII Turbo, this is the one to get.

For what it's worth, I had both back in the day, although since I owned a MD and SNES at different times, I didn't have both at the same time. If I had to pick one now, it would be the MD version.

Yeah, the 3-button MD pads were a pain in the proverbial when the beat-em-up craze hit!

Roo, you're quite incorrect. This is a touch better than SNES SFII Turbo. Full turbo capability, turbo stars available in "normal" mode too, more character colour options and, unless I'm mistaken in my memories of the game, a rudimentary team battle mode.

The sound is a bit weaker than the SNES version, but overall, this is the stronger game, by virtue of the extra features.

I'm pleased by the SFII release, as I reckon it's the best of the pre-Super editions.

If you press the T key on the keyboard, your opponents' trousers fall down, distracting them briefly so you can get a few quick hits in, or get up if you've been knocked down. I thought you could do it on the C64, but it may be an Amiga exclusive!

I don't think it's fair to call Jumpman a rip-off of Donkey Kong. There are visual similarities, but the game plays very differently. it's got girders and ladders in it, and that's it. Hardly a rip-off.

Weird. Well, I had both the C64 and Amiga editions, so I'm probably confusing the two.

@DEMON212, the "trousers" aren't in the C64 version? Really? I was sure they were. I'm going to have to check now, which won't be a chore, as IK+ is such an excellent game!

@Fierce, IK+ is about as fast paced as you get. Give it a try, it's excellent!