This week's VC releases: These games are related, and I'll tell you how edition

8:13 AM on 12.03.2007   |   Nick Chester

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As Nintendo puts it, "Sometimes the Wii-kly Updates have a nice, unifying them [sic]. Sometimes they don't." While they think this week does not have a unifying theme (there's a shooter, a fighter, and a platform/RPG), I beg to differ -- all of them will cost you more than $4 and less than $9. Somehow, they're also all linked to Sega. See, it depends on how you look at these things. 

The attack of the Virtual Console shmups continues this week with ZANAC (NES, 1 player, 500 Wii Points), developed by the now disbanded developer Compile, creator of the Puyo Puyo series. The latter game was slightly modified by Compile and brought to America, where it was published by Sega as Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine. 

That same year (1993), Sega tried to break into the fighting game market, with their answer to Mortal Kombat, Eternal Champions (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points), complete with "overkills" and fighting animals. (An owl named "Hooty"? Come on, Sega.)

In the early 90s, Sega had a bit more success by publishing more light-hearted fare, like Wonder Boy in Monster World. The platform/RPG was later re-branded as The Dynastic Hero (TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM, 1 player, 800 Wii Points), complete with palette swaps, significant character changes, and a completely new soundtrack.

All of this fancy nonsense should be going live on the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time.

Sometimes the Wii-kly Updates have a nice, unifying them. Sometimes they don't. This week we scoured the recesses of the classic games vault to come up with some interesting, if unrelated, gems. You can fight mechanized forces, battle with a bunch of fighters in the afterlife or play the role of a heroic regal bug. Like we said: Sometimes they don't.

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:

ZANAC (NES®, 1 player, rated E for Everyone - Mild Fantasy Violence, 500 Wii Points): ZANAC is a vertically scrolling shoot-'em-up game that was released in November 1986. Take control of the state-of-the-art fighter, ZANAC, with the objective of destroying the bases of the mechanized enemy forces. Use your full array of regular weapons as well as eight special weapons to clear the 12 intense areas of the game. Be careful, though, as the game changes the degree of difficulty in real time based on how well you play. This ensures that it feels like you're experiencing a new game every time you play.

Eternal Champions™ (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, rated T for Teen - Animated Blood, Animated Violence, 800 Wii Points): This 2-D fighting game introduces a cast of different characters that met untimely deaths in their lives on Earth. Now they have been given a chance to compete against each other, with the winner taking on the Eternal Champion, the ultimate fighter in the universe. The reward for defeating the Eternal Champion is a return to Earth for the opportunity to avenge death and restore balance to the universe. Choose from nine unique characters with a variety of fighting styles, and bring your best moves to defeat all comers in your quest to topple the Eternal Champion.

The Dynastic Hero (TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM, 1 player, rated E for Everyone - Comic Mischief, 800 Wii Points): The Dynastic Hero is an action RPG featuring a cast of insect characters. The story begins with the invasion of their peaceful homeland of Tarron by the evil Drilkor Empire. Rushing to the insects' aid is Dyna, the prince of Beetras. Take control of Dyna as he battles through action-filled stages. Equip weapons and items to vanquish the relentless foes, and acquire special items that enable you to brave the journey across the perilous desert or open sea. But it's not just all action. Correctly answer multiple-choice quizzes, and play the ocarina to find the right melody to open doors. Plus, there are countless traps and other puzzles packed into this fun game to keep you entertained and ensure you continue coming back for more.