Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Ask people to name the first Commodore 64 game that comes to mind, and we're willing to bet that more than half would mention International Karate +. Despite coming out on loads of different platforms back in the late-1980s, System 3's chop-'em-up is still most widely recognized as one of the C64's biggest hits, and is now available on the Virtual Console for ... slightly more than its 1987 price!

Neo Turf Masters is a rather gaudy, fast-paced take on ruining a good walk golf (though if reviews are to be believed, it's heaps better than the other golfing options on the VC), while City Connection completes the bill. As usual, you can check past the break for footage of all three.

• City Connection -- NES -- 500 Wii Points
• Neo Turf Masters -- Neo Geo -- 900 Wii Points
• International Karate + -- Commodore 64 -- 500 Wii Points *

* Only in Europe.

Here's something I didn't know until I went Wikipedializing: the comically squatty car that serves as the player avatar in City Connection isn't just a broad caricature of small cars. It's actually based on a real automobile, the Honda City. The City, went on to be known as the Jazz in Europe, as did its future models, but it was renamed in Japan in 2002 to the Fit. Which means that I have just discovered that I'm in the process of purchasing an updated version of the car from City Connection. Retro games are in my blood.

Personal anecdote aside, I wonder how Honda felt about the City's portrayal in City Connection. On the one hand, it is being used to destroy cop cars, and it crashes irreparably on contact with any cat. On the other hand, it handles really well in the game, and can jump.

Pretty much any time City Connection comes up, it's as an excuse to talk about the music. In that vein, enjoy the guitar version of the level one theme! I'm pretty sure you will enjoy it. And after the break, a vintage Japanese City Connection commercial!

Even on a holiday, Nintendo saw fit to release Virtual Console games for download. And, we wouldn't be good at our job (or, trying to be good at our job) if we didn't provide you with your expected coverage. So, sit back, relax and enjoy the video above. Then, head past the break for the rest.

Early last month, we found OFLC listings for two import games: Gley Lancer, which has since been released in Europe and Australia, and Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa. A release of the obscure platformer anywhere outside of Japan seemed incongruous enough, but now, bafflingly, it's planned for a North American release as well, though there's no guarantee it'll show up any time soon. Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa, in case (for some reason) you aren't familiar with it, is a Famicom Disk System platformer starring a baby with a rattle.

Both Gley Lancer and Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa are now rated by the ESRB, along with non-imports City Connection and Alex Kidd in Miracle World. Unfortunately, there's no sign of Gley Lancer's Hanabi Festival cohorts like Gradius II, Star Parodier, and Cho Aniki.

Four games hit the Virtual Console this week in Japan, none of which cost more than 600 Wii Points. Some of them may even be worth those small prices! The Famicom's original 2D fighting game, Joy Mech Fight stands out; though we have no idea if the game's any good, we suddenly have an interest in Nintendo-developed fighting games. Fantasy Zone is, of course, one of the Sega Master System's best: a free-scrolling (Defender-style) shooter in a super-colorful, cute environment.

For us, however, the most notable title on the Virtual Console this week is City Connection, and not because it's a good game. City Connection was in my personal NES collection for just a short time before it got "temporarily" loaned out; however, even after having played it only for a week or two, and after 20 years, that incessant music is still completely fresh in my mind. It won't go away, ever.

• City Connection (Famicom, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points)
• Joy Mech Fight (Famicom, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points)
• Fantasy Zone (Master System, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points)
• Psycho Chaser (PC Engine, 1 player, 600 Wii Points)