This week's VC releases: fast-driving, high-flying, hard-hitting

9:51 AM on 06.25.2007   |   Nick Chester

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Maybe I'm dating myself here, but does anyone remember what it was like in 1992 when the arcade break-out hit, Street Fighter II, was about to hit the Super Nintendo? The hype could have made your ears bleed, and the thought of bringing the arcade experience home prompted many impatient gamers (myself included) to drop out-of-control amounts of money on an imported copy of the game.

I remember defacing my Super Nintendo's cartridge slot (much to the chagrin of my parents) just so I could fit my $89.99 plus $19.99 for overnight shipping Super Famicom cartridge into my console. And it was worth it to be sure, as countless hours were dumped into perfecting the game's moves and make-shift combos, all for the sole purpose of making neighborhood children cry at my Rain Man-like Street Fighter II prowess. 

But man, it sure did sting when less than a year later Capcom released the enhanced Street Fighter II Turbo, forcing me to rent and steal a copy from my local Blockbuster Video. What do you want from me? Those Game Genie codes that were supposed to let me play as M. Bison just were not cutting it.

My point here is this: Nintendo is letting you live that experience all over again by adding Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting (Super NES, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points) to the Virtual Console today, only a few months after releasing an "inferior" title at the same price. The game is joined by the Nintendo 64 game, F-Zero X (Nintendo 64, 1-2 players, 1000 Wii Points) and the mildly offensive sounding China Warrior (TurboGrafx-16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points).

Forget the lemonade and long naps. If it’s summer action you’re after, head straight to the Wii Shop Channel for a thrill-packed selection of fast-driving, high-flying, hard-hitting games. This week’s new additions include futuristic racers and fierce fighters guaranteed to liven up your lazy summer.

Three new classic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the Wii Shop Channel every Monday. Wii™ owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week’s new games are:

F-Zero® X (Nintendo® 64, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): Choose from 30 different hover-car racers, including updated versions of the Blue Falcon and other vehicles from the original F-Zero, and get ready to play one of the fastest racers ever. You’ll speed to the finish line on tracks that twist and turn through the air, doing your best to avoid the other 29 cars on the track. If you’re in a competitive mood, try to win a Grand Prix Cup, get the fastest lap time in a Time Trial or destroy the competition in a Death Race. You can also challenge three friends in the Versus mode. With five separate play modes, hidden vehicles and courses, and an excellent soundtrack, F-Zero X still represents one of the best racing titles to date.

Street Fighter® II’ Turbo: Hyper Fighting (Super NES®, 1-2 players, Rated T for Teen –Violence, 800 Wii Points): Street Fighter II defined gaming in the 1990s by revolutionizing the fighting-game genre. Regarded as one of the greatest games of all time, Street Fighter II’ Turbo: Hyper Fighting was the third and final release in the original series. Featuring the eight original World Warriors (including Ryu, Chun Li and Guile) along with playable boss characters (Balrog, Sagat and M. Bison), this classic title offered enhanced playing speed and improved character balancing.

China Warrior (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older –Violence, 600 Wii Points): China Warrior is a side-scrolling action game that was released around the same time as the TurboGrafx16 in Japan. It’s up to the kung fu master Wang to defeat the Dark Emperor, who stands atop the kung fu world in China. Punch, kick and jump-kick enemies along the path that lies between you and the three bosses of each stage. Skillfully fight your way through all four stages, and be sure not to miss recovery items while dodging enemy attacks. China Warrior boasts character size and detail that rivaled all other games at the time of its release. Exciting one-on-one fights against the game’s realistic bosses will make you feel like you’re in the middle of a kung fu movie.