The one with all the cows.

Kid Icarus - NES, 500 points
Y'know how old games are always hard? This is proof of that. Based on a not-very-heavily modified Metroid engine, you're Pit an angel, who can jump high and shoot arrows, and that's about it. The biggest differences between this and the original Metroid are that it's level based- all big tall levels, and killing enemies, rather than giving you health, give you hearts, which can be used to buy lots of items. The controls are a bit awkward, and it's hard, but still relatively enjoyable

7/10

Kirby's Adventure - NES, 500 points
Kirby's a great character. While your average platformer can jump and walk, kirby can jump, walk, fly, eat, suck, steal powers, and probably some stuff I forgot to mention. Kirby's Adventure is, for the most part, just an average platformer. Get through the levels withot getting killed and beat the occasional boss. What makes it special is the abilities- loads of the enemies, when eaten, give you a weapon, attack, ability, and loads of other things. There's also a few mini games, and loads of levels. If you're looking for a really cheap VC game that'll last you a while, this is it. Though the graphics don't hold up very well, and the gameplay is a bit repetetive...

8/10

Donkey Kong Country - SNES, 800 points
This is why I like the Virtual Console. Donkey Kong Country is one of the top platformers of all time, but many gamers still haven't played it. Controlling Diddy and Donkey Kong, go through all sorts of unique areas on your island, using various means to defeat crocodiles, wasps, and loads more enemies to get to the end of the level. Each level also has loads of gimmicks and items to make the game far more interesting than just running, jumping, and attacking, like cannon barrels (Shoot you around) and your animal friends (Ride them for awesomeness). Each level also has loads of secret areas, with extra bananas. Some of the levels are bit too hard, and there's an annoying save system, but they're manageable if you don't mind going back to older levels to try and get more lives to stop the dreaded Game Over. Two player mode's pretty interesting, too.

9/10

F-Zero - SNES, 800 points

F-Zero, as I’m sure you all know, is the first in a series of futuristic, super fast racing games. Unfortunately, the original suffers from lack of content- there’s no multiplayer mode, and only three cups. Luckily, these each have 5 tracks, meaning there’s 15 tracks to master, but the small number of enemies compared to sequels, the very basic gameplay, and the repetitiveness means there’s little to do before you’re bored. And nobody say my review is bad because I’m playing the 50Hz PAL version of the game- the speed doesn’t change my points.

7/10

Super Castlevania IV - SNES 800 points

I may not be in the best position to review this, but when I saw this game released for Virtual Console, I was immediately desperate to get it, with memories of the awesome free-roaming RPGs of late. I was incredibly disappointed with a linear, repetitive, and dull platformer that is like a wannabe ghouls and goblins. Graphics are very blocky and undetailed, and sound and music don't offer anything special.

5/10

The Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past - SNES, 800 points

I'm The Last Sheikah. It's my job to like Zelda. And with the Virtual Console release, I've finally seen what's so good about Link to the Past. Two huge worlds, filled with hidden extras, enemies, and people to talk to. Plus one of, if not the, longest game on Virtual Console. If you haven't played it before, this is a must get, and even if you just didn't complete it before, it's a pretty good buy.

9/10

Mario Kart 64 - N64, 1000 points

Mario Kart is renowned for being a fantastic multiplayer game, and Mario Kart 64 is just that. If you get a chance to play multiplayer often, you'll love it, with 16 tracks, and four battle modes. If you can't, it's still worth a download, since it's still got 4 cups on three difficulty settings, as well as time trials. There's a decent selection of weapons, and eight characters to entertain. Graphics wise, it's not particularly appetising, with pre-rendered characters and the usual 3D polygons, but it still does its job pretty well. Despite the technical disappointments, Mario Kart 64 still gives the feeling of being more like a new game than a silly little retro game.

9/10

Altered Beast - SMD, 800 points

Altered Beast is a side scrolling beat-em-up that sees you fighting hoards of zombies and monsters to… get to the boss and kill ‘im. At first, the gameplay seems restrictive and plain, and it is only when you start collecting pickups from werewolves that you get into the meat of the game. Each pickup makes you more naked and muscular, and the third turns you into the level’s were-creature, which is where the fun begins. There are four transformations, meaning five forms overall, all of which have different attacks and moving styles. Unfortunately, there are also only four levels, but it’ll be at least a few plays until you get through them all. There’s also support for two player co-operative play, which is always a good thing.

8/10

Ecco the Dolphin - SMD, 800 points

Dolphins are awesome, and being a dolphin is one of the high points of Ecco the Dolphin. All of Ecco's movements- using Sonar, Dashing, and Ramming, along with the obvious things like moving and leaping out the water, feel fluid and elegant. The gameplay itself is mostly pretty good- the general idea is to get past enemies, talk to other sea mammals using sonar, activate crystals to do all sorts of things, and push items around to solve problems. You also need to keep an eye on your health (by eating fish) and your air (By just going to the surface). The levels are large and confusing, just like the puzzles, and it's annoyingly hard to defeat an enemy without getting stuck inside another one, but the presentation of the game, and the imaginiteveness (or whatever) makes up for this.

8/10

Gunstar Heroes - SMD, 800 points

Run and Gun games can be awesome. Take Gunstar Heroes, for instance: Give players access to 4 individual weapons, and 20 weapons combinations, lots of melee moves, hordes of smart enemies, huge bosses, six unique, large levels, two player co-op and pretty graphics, and what could go wrong? My only concern is the lack of levels, but the difficulty is high enough to keep my occupied for quite a while as it is. Shame a laser and a seeker makes the game ridiculously easy...

9/10

Bomberman '93 - TGFX, 600 points

Everybody knows Bomberman. Show this game to some non-gamers, and you’d be surprised how many people know how to play… ok, maybe not, but you obviously all know how to play? Bomberman 93 is the same old game, with all sorts of features. The single player is as dull as ever, but the multiplayer mode is as fantastic as ever, allowing up to five players at once, using a combination of any controllers you feel like using. The AI players are pretty smart, and the action is intense. There’s all the usual tools, and 9 gimmick- filled levels to keep you entertained. I can’t think of any bad points, but the reason it’s not 10/10 is that… well, it’s bomberman. Everybody’s played it before, and this brings little new to anyone nowadays.

9/10

Military Madness - TGFX, 600 points

Military Wars. Advance Madness. I can't decide what this game reminds me of, but it's practically the same, but with hexagons instead of squares. But everyone loves hexagons, right? Military Madness is a really great strategy game, where you just move your units, choose which adjacent enemy to attack, and try to wipe out the enemy or take them over with infantry. It really is identical to Advance Wars, which is great. There's a pretty long and difficult single player, as well as a multiplayer mode. Look into it if you like strategy games.

8/10

(Is that twelve?)