3 games, this thankfully appears to be returning to the routine we had running into Christmas.

Game 1 - Columns 3: Revenge Of Columns
Mega Drive - 800 Points

As far as puzzle games go, I consider Columns to be at the high table along with Tetris and Denki Blocks. Its a simple premise, rotate the gems in stacks of 3 to create lines of 3 either horizontally, diagonally or vertically. Its also a premise that's eaten a lot of my time from the original all the way though to the GBA's Columns Crown. If you have Crown then you don't need this but if you've already bought Columns on the VC then this is still a worthy purchase as it introduces Columns' battle mode for 5 players with no need for a stupid multi-tap.

Game 2 - Final Soldier
Turbografx-16 - 700 Points


The following game was never released outside Japan

Its a Turbografx game, so the fact that its a shooter really should be taken as a given. The 3rd game in the Star Soldier series so if you've liked them so far you'll probably like this.

Game 3 - Gradius 2
Turbografx-16 - 900 Points

Its Gradius 2. A game never released in the US until Gradius Collection on the PSP and released in the UK as 'Vulcan Venture'. Now we finally get it as its meant to be. Another testament to the reason the VC exists.

So 3 games and 3 pretty decent games as well. Also worth noting no C64 games, Galey will be happy.

Also I'd like to welcome South Korea to the Virtual Console! The Koreans finally got in on the fun last week as their VC launched with 10 games. Antarctic Adventure, Donkey Kong, Kirby's Adventure and Super Mario Bros for the NES. Gradius 3, Super Mario World, Super Metroid, Cybernator and Contra 3 for the SNES. Mario Kart 64 for the N64. Always good to have new territories.

>NJ