This week's VC releases: Mach Rider, Yoshi, and Air Zonk

9:22 AM on 07.09.2007   |   Nick Chester

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Nintendo brings fans another rousing round of classics with this week's Virtual Console releases. Mach Rider (NES, 1 player, 500 Wii Points), Yoshi (NES, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points), and Air "Zonk" (TurboGrafx-16, 1 Player, 600 Wii Points) should on the Wii Shop Channel by the time you're reading this. 

While there's nothing particularly wrong with these titles, this really could have been the week that Nintendo busted out all of the classics gamers have been itching for. What better time to do it than the week of E3? We already know Nintendo is itching to pat themselves on the back at this week's E3 press conference, and they've earned it. But in discussing the success of their online services, what are they going to say?

"And we've been delivering the classics that gamers young and old have been hungry for. From the core gamer to the more casual player that we've brought back into the living room, the response to the Wii Shop Channel has been tremendous. Just this week, for example, we released the classic NES title, Mach Rider."

Yeah -- that doesn't quite have the same ring as say, "We just owned your a**es this week with Paper Mario, Super Metroid, and Super Mario Bros. 3!"  Maybe next year.

Think you've got what it takes to be a hero? Prove it with these three heroic games, available this week on the Wii Shop Channel. Whether you're rescuing Mario's dinosaur pal from an eggshell or battling to protect the planet from evil invaders, the future is in your hands.

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

Mach Rider(R) (NES(R), 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): It's the year 2112. Earth has been invaded by the forces of evil. Battle the invaders as you race from sector to sector on your motorcycle, searching for survivors. Feel the incredible sense of speed as you zip past evil Quadrunners and zigzag between treacherous rocks, oil spills and other obstacles on the course. For a different challenge, create your own course in Design Mode, using the various twists, turns and straightaways the game has to offer. Remember, you are Earth's only hope-you are Mach Rider.

Yoshi(R) (NES, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Yoshi is an action/puzzle game starring Mario's dinosaur buddy, Yoshi(TM), who has been imprisoned in an egg. Now it's raining Goombas, Bloopers and Boo Buddies, and you have to help Mario(TM) stop the airborne invasion. As the critters fall, catch them on trays. Stack two of a kind and they both disappear, or capture the whole bunch in between eggshells. When the eggshells match, out hatches Yoshi and up goes your score. The action heats up as the characters fall faster and faster. To save the day, switch and shuffle, and don't let your piles get too high.

Air "Zonk"  (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Cartoon Violence, 600 Wii Points): Air "Zonk" is a spin-off of the popular Bonk's Adventure series. This side-scrolling shooter retains the same cartoonish style of Bonk but is set in a cyberpunk future. The powered-up "Zonk" gathers his friends to form Team Cool, and they set out to stop King Drool's plan to conquer the world. Choose from three levels of difficulty and three Friend Modes. Shoot King Drool's cyber-robots and avoid their attacks while collecting the Air Bones to unleash a variety of unique attacks. Combine with a friend to create an invincible hybrid form or blast enemies with a charged attack. Air "Zonk" is filled with humor, made evident by the wacky theme song that plays when you post a huge score or when your game is over.