Virtual Console releases help remind us not only of the good parts of our gaming past, but of the absolutely awful parts too. For instance, this week, the Virtual Console releases will help you to teach your kids about some of the terrible naming conventions of the 90s. Wrecking Crew gets a pass, but Sonic 3D Blast and Super Air Zonk? ... Seriously? Let's take a closer look.
Wrecking Crew (NES, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points): When you have contests with your friends to see who can name the most games with Mario in them, they'll always forget Wrecking Crew. It's a scientific fact. Is having a constant reminder of that trump card at your fingertips worth $5.00 to you? That's a question only you can answer.
Sonic 3D Blast (Sega Genesis, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): It's like Sonic, but in 3D! ... Hmm. ... There's still a lot of space to fill up here. Well, we could also say that it's like Sonic, but in an isometric view. It's also a great reminder of why more 3D games aren't played with a d-pad.
Super Air Zonk(TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): In the 90s, if you wanted to denote that your game was the "next" in a series, you couldn't just put a "2" at the end. You had to put one of the following words in the title: "Super," "Air," "Turbo," "3D," "Nitro" or "In Space." Super Air Zonk has two of those words, so you know it's edgy. And according to Wikipedia, the full title is actually "Super Air Zonk: Rockabilly-Paradise," so it's also a must-buy.
Wrecking Crew was fun as hell. Trying to figure out the pattern to get the super hammer was a blast. Knocking that bastard computer player to the bottom of the level was so satisfying.
Whoohoo...oh yeah! 'Wrecking Crew' and 'Super Air Zonk' screw all those other games coming out this week like 'Rock Band' and 'Mass Effect'. There goes my holiday shopping money.../sarcasm
Also, new trend methinks, albeit a lame one.
StrangeBum (BTW, this is the trend, now set by GuessLotto)
It was quite possibly one of the worst isometric platform games ever created. The controls were infuriating, the level design was poor, music was par for a Megadrive game and the visuals were superb... So it's like a modern Sonic game. But most importantly, it was dull and boring.
Myself being one of the bigger Sonic apologists out there nowadays, i still figure 3D Blast was a mistake, Sonic R without the R is what they should've gone for initially, at least if they had wanted the Saturn at all to compete (but of course, they seemed determined to shoot themselves in the foot at every interval in terms of making the oh-so-awesome Saturn actually marketable)
I sold my Genesis in order to upgrade to the N64 just weeks before Sonic 3D Blast hit. At first, I was upset because I was missing out on a brand new Sonic game. When I finally played the game many, many years later, I was relieved that I didn't hold on to my Genesis for this piece of filth.
Awesome, thanks for posting the link to my video of Sonic 3D Blast. When I saw you put a video, I had a feeling it would be mine lol. I think I'm the only source for Sonic 3D Blast footage on YouTube.
Wrecking Crew? Dude! That game had such awesome music. Plus, you have to give credit for the last game that featured Mario doing anything related to construction, which was in theory his original job and all. Of course, then he switched unions, got involved with plumbing, and the rest is history.
