SNES ROMS

The BBFC has granted classification to Wii-exclusive MadWorld. The game received an 18 rating, but apart from looking a bit weird on shelves between the ranks of party games and shovelware, it didn’t have too much trouble getting passed the censors.

MadWorld stands out from other Wii titles thanks to its instantly recognisable graphics. The game relies on a very limited colour palette consisting of black and white, with liberal splashes of bright red blood.

The levels of violence in the game have caused controversy in the UK, following Mediawatch-UK’s appeal to the Daily Mail, which complained that the bloody title would “spoil the family fun image of the Wii”. That isn’t to say that MadWorld is any more violent than other ‘ultra-violent’ titles out there though, it just happens to be one that the mainstream media has latched on to. Since the Manhunt 2 brouhaha kicked off over a year ago, there hasn’t been much else to whinge about.

In fact, the game is fairly tongue-in-cheek. You tear through opponents on a Running Man-esque television show using chainsaws, knives and other assorted instruments of death. Mini games are going to play an important part too, including one called Man Darts, in which you smack people at a giant darts board using a baseball bat and appropriate Wii remote gestures. The gore itself is pretty cartoony.

Nintendo has also stood firmly by the game, despite the alleged risk to its console’s image. It has also made it clear previously, that the Wii is not just for children and families, but for all ages, including the violence loving, more traditional gamer demographics. And given the number of disgruntled Nintendo fans who feel missed out by the Wii’s heavy focus on ‘casual’ gamers, Ninty needs more titles like this to prove it still knows its core audience.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

• Platform: SNES
• Wii Points: 900
• In Real Money: GBP 6.30 / EUR 9 (approx)

It’s been a while since Nintendo graced the VC with a genuinely anticipated title, and with the arrival of Super Mario RPG we can at last cross another beloved classic off the list. It’s been worth the wait - and is even worth gritting your teeth and putting up with the needlessly inflated price-tag.

Famously developed by Square, under direct supervision from Miyamoto, the game is every bit as impressive as you’d expect given the creative muscle at work behind the scenes. It may sound slightly obvious, but it really is a Mario game and it really is an RPG. Neither element suffers for the cross-genre mash-up, and the result is a game that positively oozes charm and depth.

The story finds a new threat unleashed on Mario’s world - the enormous sword-shaped Smithy. As you progress through the saga you collect the inevitable band of companions, some (Princess Toadstool, Bowser) drawn from classic Mario mythology, others (Mallow, Geno) created for this adventure. The roster obviously isn’t huge - and fans may pine for Luigi or Yoshi to join the party - but don’t be fooled into thinking this mean’s the game is a dumbed down version of Square’s “real” role-playing epics.

Pretty much every aspect you’d expect from a mid-’90s Final Fantasy title is included, albeit disguised in Mario clothing. Flower Points are the currency for special attacks, for instance, while mushrooms replace potions for restoring health. Combat follows the traditional turn-based template, but with a small twist - attacks can be increased in power by hitting or spamming buttons at the right time or even twizzling the d-pad. If the concept sounds familiar, it’s because Square used it again for Final Fantasy VIII - though this version is fast and arcadey, and nothing like the elongated Guardian Force animations that would come later.

They also shrewdly borrowed ideas from their other titles, most notably Chrono Trigger’s refreshing absence of random battles. Moving around the game world feels more like an isometric Mario platformer, and enemies are clearly visible. Contact triggers the fight, at which point things switch to the familiar Square battle screen.

The game puts up a tough fight as well. Pity the complacent soul who thinks the cute exterior means a toothless challenge. The early stages are simple enough, with Level Ups easy to come by, but if you wander into the first real boss encounter without taking things seriously and stocking up on health and revival items, even the best RPG player can struggle.

There’s really not much more to say - it’s up there with Zelda as one of Nintendo’s crowning achievements, and is the closest the VC has had to an essential download in a good long while. Here’s hoping that this means Chrono Trigger isn’t far away…

Mario’s off on his biggest adventure ever, and this time he’s brought along a friend. Yoshi the dinosaur teams up with Mario to battle Bowser, who has kidnapped Princess Toadstool once again. Guide Mario and Yoshi through nine peril-filled worlds to the final showdown in Bowser’s castle. Use Mario’s new powers and Yoshi’s voracious monster-gobbling appetite as you explore 96 levels filled with dangerous new monsters and traps. Climb mountains and cross rivers, and descend into subterranean depths. Destroy the seven Koopa castles and find keys to gain entrance to hidden levels. Discover more warps and thrilling bonus worlds than ever before!

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