Well look what we have here. This week’s Virtual Console update features two excellent classic gaming experiences in Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom for the NES and Phantasy Star II for the Sega Genesis. Today, my Wii gets a pat on the controller ports for a job well done.
Ninja Gaiden III is the final entry in the original Ninja Gaiden Trilogy, and although it doesn’t quite match up to the second game in the series, it is still a fine (and difficult) action game. Phantasy Star II, on the other hand, was the first 16-bit addition to the classic franchise, and is considered by many to be among the best games of all time. If you appreciate these sorts of games, either one of today’s releases is worth checking out.
From the press release:
Ninja Gaiden™ III: The Ancient Ship of Doom: (NES®, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone – Mild Violence, 500 Wii Points): Join master ninja Ryu Hayabusa, last member of the famous Dragon Clan, in the third and final chapter of the legendary Ninja Gaiden saga. Ryu is framed for FBI agent Irene Lew’s murder, and it’s up to him to clear his name. Defeating superior life-forms created out of "life energy" called BIO-NOIDs and avoiding enemy ambushes are among the many obstacles which Ryu faces in this unpredictable adventure of mystery, deceit and destruction. Noticeable changes to the game-play mechanics include Ryu’s ability to grab on to horizontal surfaces, his reduced falling speed and altered jumping maneuvers, and visible power-ups. Help Ryu defeat the forces of evil once more and discover the real culprit behind Irene’s death as one of the most loved trilogies in video-game history comes to a close.
Phantasy Star™ II: (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone – Mild Animated Violence, 800 Wii Points): Hailed as one of the greatest games of all time by fans and media alike, Phantasy Star II is an RPG that features an epic story line and turn-based battles. Play as Rolf, Nei, Rudo or several other characters as you navigate through the Algol star system battling the evil Dark Force. Build your characters, select the right weapons and armor, and take on the forces of evil through various missions as you find the right combination of characters to complete each objective. Experience the magic once again in this great sequel.
