Virtual Console Roundup

Power Golf

• Platform: TurboGrafx 16
• Wii Points: 600
• In Real Money: GBP 4.20 / EUR 6 (approx)

About as basic as golf games get (although not quite as basic as the NES Golf game already available) Power Golf is one of those games that doesn't really bring anything of value to the VC line-up. Especially when you consider most people will have already got Wii Sports, which includes a similarly basic golf game but with a more pleasing modern sheen.

And, yes, I know that "modern sheen" doesn't always mean "better", but where sports games are concerned, I beg to differ. The aiming in Power Golf, for instance, is a clunky prehistoric chore as you nudge a pixellated arrow in awkward increments in the hope of sending the ball in the general direction you want. Oh, for a smooth analogue gauge. Ball physics is non-existent, needless to say, while gauging the power of your shot for anything other than full speed wallops is a hit and miss affair.

You may have put up with such irritations back in 1989 when such things seemed par for the course (brilliant) but paying even a few quid for something so outdated today just feels like punishment.

3/10

Alien Soldier

• Platform: Megadrive
• Wii Points: 800
• In Real Money: GBP 6 / EUR 8 (approx)

OK, so this was released last week. There's a very good reason why I completely missed it back then (it involves a mother-in-law, an unplanned visit to the emergency dentist and a subsequent mad scramble to hit deadline) but, hey, better late than never. If you like the sound of it, feel free to print out this review, toss it into your nearest temporal wormhole and see if your Last Week Self picks it up.

While the title just sounds like two words that were thrown together because they'd appeal to young boys (much like Explosion Boobs, the legendary Taito platform game) Alien Soldier is yet another manically-paced and often bizarrely creative blaster from shoot-em-up masters Treasure.

The alien soldier of the title, Epsilon Eagle, looks like a cross between RoboCop and a parrot, and comes with a bewildering selection of stupidly destructive weaponry. The game has two settings - the hilariously honest Supereasy or Superhard - while gameplay itself consists of short but sweet levels during which you amass as much firepower as possible for the multitude of boss battles. There are 25 levels and 31 bosses. As the Americans say, you do the math.

Assuming you've already anticipated the "it's really hectic and difficult if you're not into this sort of thing" disclaimer, Alien Soldier is rather great, actually, and I feel like a proper spoon for overlooking it last week. Spoony me.

8/10