Ninja Gaiden III, Phantasy Star II added to Virtual Console
by Jason Dobson 
{ Feb 18th 2008 at 9:11AM }
With all eyes turned to San Francisco's Moscone Center this week, we half expected the Wii's Virtual Console to take a breather. What we got, as it turns out, is two extremely competent releases playing to two of our greatest loves, namely ninjas and, well, genetically engineered chicks with claws, giving those of us manning the Joystiq bunker something to fawn over while the team prepares to burn the midnight oil.
- Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom (NES, 1 player, 500 Wii Points): We'd be more inclined to watch daytime television if network soap operas took a page from Tecmo and filled their stories with ninjas, demons, and trans-dimensional clones. While Ryu Hayabusa's 8-bit escapades may be lacking the over-the-top gore found in the series' more contemporary offerings, we doubt even the upcoming Ninja Gaiden II will have a 'ship of doom.'
- Phantasy Star II (Sega Genesis, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): While Phantasy Star is better known now for its multiplayer shenanigans and a story thin enough to be named Top Model, the franchise's single player roots continue to be home to some of our most fondly-remembered role-playing from days when pixels were king. It's true that some could argue that Phantasy Star IV tops out its brothers as the series' best bet, but we'll always have a special place in our hearts for Phantasy Star II and Nei's cosmetically-challenged ears.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chase @ Feb 18th 2008 9:19AM
No Boy and His Blob? Boo!
Cesaria @ Feb 18th 2008 9:38AM
Whoah, I remember that game. Sad thing is I probably remember it through rose tinted glasses. Very unique for its time, though.
boulderhorn @ Feb 18th 2008 9:22AM
i loved me some Phantasy Star II when it first came out. Infact, i still have the ofiginal game cartrige and the free cheat guide it came with.
/that "SEGA" slogan at then end of the commercial brought back a lot of memories...
JayVe @ Feb 18th 2008 9:55AM
Agreed. Phantasy Star II is on my 'Buy Right Away' list.
Mr.ESC @ Feb 18th 2008 11:33AM
Or you could buy Sega Genesis collection and get Ps II,III and IV.
Ryura @ Feb 18th 2008 9:38AM
This is awesome, I was just wanting to play PSII this morning!
Roto13 @ Feb 18th 2008 9:53AM
Wow, two really great games. I wouldn't mind getting 2 games per week if they were of this quality.
kevinski @ Feb 18th 2008 10:00AM
God, I really need to beat PSII. The only thing that really makes the experience so horrible is the constant leveling. It makes perfect sense within the confines of the story that your characters are so weak, but c'mon.
Mr.ESC @ Feb 18th 2008 11:35AM
I think they actually fixed that in PSIV,well if you ask me the level up system in PSIV was better,in fact everything in PsIV is awesome.
kevinski @ Feb 18th 2008 12:36PM
PSIV is definitely a huge improvement in pretty much all respects (aside from the story), although I definitely think that a proper remake of PSII (one that's released in the U.S., I mean) would be awesome.
Kizzle @ Feb 18th 2008 10:50AM
Ninja Gaiden III didn't live up to the first two. The story was weaker and the amazingly awesome music of the first two was downgraded to just regular awesome.
Still worth it if you like your old school action sidescrollers with a side of extreme difficulty, though.
dan stabbingworth @ Feb 18th 2008 11:30AM
Also didn't they add a limited continue system to III? I remember you could slog your way through the first 2, but not III. Also, NG2 was the shit.
Mr.ESC @ Feb 18th 2008 11:32AM
I liked PSII,PsIII was sort of meh but PSIV kicked ass.
jynxycat @ Feb 18th 2008 12:18PM
PSII and III were decent. Definitely not something I could go back and play today. IV was incredible on the other hand, it's a shame that by the time they ever release IV on the VC, the next Nintendo system will be out.
BPM VII: Crisis Core @ Feb 18th 2008 12:51PM
What's this? A good week on VC? It's been a while since we saw that...
Dictatorship @ Feb 18th 2008 1:51PM
Agreed. But personally, I'm still waiting for Earthbound, Pocky & Rocky and Chrono Trigger VC mondays, since those games were the shit. And I still have a long list of SNES and NES games that I am begging to God that end up on the VC.
BPM VII: Crisis Core @ Feb 18th 2008 2:17PM
Although I already have Chrono Trigger (Less than $5 for the Super NES version from a pawn shop, woot!), I can't argue with it deserving to be on VC. What's the matter, Square-Enix? Do you hate money?
I would love to see EarthBound and Pocky & Rocky (best game about a miko and a raccoon, ever) as well.
And, hell, where's Megaman on VC? Sure, I already have Anniversary and X Collections, but it'd still be nice for those who don't/want.
Gaddes @ Feb 19th 2008 4:18AM
I would've rather had them add Shining Force 2. ;___;