Virtual Console Roundup
DKC2, Mario & Yoshi, and eight more - including Zelda and Lylat Wars.
The Story of Thor
- Platform: Megadrive
- Wii Points: 800
While the Nordic title may lead you, quite understandably, to expect something involving big blond beards and enormous hammers, this sorely undervalued adventure actually involves an Aladdin-style hero called Ali, and takes place in a rather enticing Arabian Nights milieu. Originally released under the more appropriate title of Beyond Oasis, presumably the name was changed because we Europeans were expected to be more into big blond beards than turbans and scimitars.
Whatever its nomenclature, it's worthy of your attention. Viewed in the same top-down style as all the great 16-bit RPGs you have heard of, the first thing you notice is the animation. Story of Thor looks fantastic, even today. There's a Disney-esque fluidity to the movement of the characters, while the locations combine to form a solid and inviting cartoon world. The music is especially deserving of praise, coming as it does from Yuzo Koshiro, whose ability to wring epic themes from the Megadrive's six-track sound chip also helped add thematic weight to ActRaiser. Sweepingly orchestral, and carefully synchronised with the action, Story of Thor is a real treat for the ears.
Only some occasionally clunky collision detection during combat holds Ali's adventure back from the status of lost legend, but for those with a taste for large scale melodramatic Japanese RPG bombast this is an essential download.
8/10
Dragon's Curse
- Platform: TurboGrafx 16
- Wii Points: 600
Two weeks ago, I lavished no small amount of praise on the unlikely shoulders of Wonder Boy in Monster World (https://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=76031) and mentioned that it was the last official Wonder Boy title, apart from a later game that dropped the Wonder Boy brand and swapped the lead character for a girl. This, dear reader, is that game.
Despite the graphical switcharoo, it's immediately identifiable as a Wonder Boy game. The Fisher Price swordplay, the large heads and generally cute and chunky environments - it's all still here, and still winningly lovely. The big difference here is that your lead character (clad in a crown and blue skirt at the start) begins the game at the end of Wonder Boy II. After a brief battle through a castle, you face a boss dragon which is easily despatched since you're suspiciously levelled-up for the start of the game. Sure enough, this is a mere prologue and the dragon's demise turns you into a fire-breathing lizard. It's all very Symphony of the Night, although Dragon's Curse predates Konami's epic platformer by over eight years.
Over the course of the game you accrue the usual arsenal of bigger swords, better magic attacks and stronger armour, but you also gain the ability to transform into different animals with which to explore the largely free-roaming interconnected game world. As a mouse, for instance, you can squeeze into small places and even climb up walls. As an eagle, you can fly but must avoid water. Again, it's hard to avoid the Castlevania comparison, and if you consider this a bright and breezy kid-friendly version of that vampiric classic then you'll have a good idea of what to expect. Solid fun.
7/10