This Week in Defunct Games 32

Every week Cyril Lachel comes down from his giant castle in the hills to provide the final word on all of the classic downloadable games and retro compilations. This is the Retro Round-Up, your official guide to the best (and worst) in classic gaming for the Nintendo Virtual Console, Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network. Join us as we shed some light on what games are worth your five or ten dollars, and what games you should avoid at all costs. For more information about these games (and retro gaming in general) we invite you to check out Defunct Games. Nintendo is just adding new consoles left and right on the Virtual Console. Last week it was the Neo Geo, and this week it appears to be the TurboDuo. Thankfully this week`s selections are a lot better than what we had to play through last week, so get that credit card ready because you`re about to spend some money on games like Gates of Thunder, Metal Marines and Ninja Gaiden II. But don`t worry, this week we also look at two games that are free. So get that bad taste out of your mouth from last week and get ready for another episode of the Retro Round-Up ...

Gates of Thunder (Virtual Console)
What Is It?
Gates of Thunder is one of the two best 2D shooters on the TurboDuo (the other being the amazing Lords of Thunder). And that`s not all, Gates of Thunder is also the first CD-based TurboGrafx-16 game released on the Virtual Console, a cause, as far as I`m concerned, to celebrate. Believe it or not, Gates of Thunder was actually a pack-in game for the TurboDuo, NEC/TTI`s combination TurboGrafx-16, CD-ROM and Super System Card game system released in 1992. Like so many other TurboGrafx games of that era, Gates of Thunder was a 2D shooter with a lot of style, some cool power-ups and (literally) more enemies than you could shoot at. Gates of Thunder`s claim to fame has nothing to do with its originality, though, it has more to do with the rocking soundtrack that sounds good even today. If you`ve played a lot of the 2D shooters already available on the Virtual Console then chances are you`re going to notice a couple of things that make this game stand out, such as the highly polished graphics and the fact that the game is fast. I mean, this game is eye-blistering fast. Put it all together and you have a great game with a lot of style and replay, which is probably why many regard it as one of the best shooters on the TurboDuo. Thankfully time has been kind, because Gates of Thunder proves to be one of the very best (if not the best) shooter on the Virtual Console.

Does It Still Hold Up?
Like most 2D shooters from that era, Gates of Thunder proves to be a timeless exercise in fun video gaming. While the gameplay is similar to that of most other shooters on the Virtual Console, the look and style of the game is completely different. The game also has some unique power-ups and enough bosses to keep you busy for the next few days. But even more than the bosses, power-ups and groovy style, this game is worth it just for the rocking soundtrack. No really, you`ve got to hear the game`s rocking soundtrack!

Is It Worth The Money?
You better believe it is, of all the games released this week, Gates of Thunder is by far the best. I can certainly understand if you have shooter fatigue; after all, it seems like every other game released on the Virtual Console is a 2D shoot-em-up. But Gates of Thunder is different; it`s one of the newest shooters and easily the best looking of the bunch. Best of all, it won`t make you feel bad about also buying R-Type, Gradius and all of those other classic shooters you probably already own. After a few weeks of non-shooting action, isn`t it about time Nintendo gives us another classic shooter to chew on? And thankfully they gave us one of t...