What's with all these sequels? Sonic 2? Zelda II? Golden Axe II? Proof that sequelitis has never been a new thing. Game developers/publishers have always felt the urge to make just one dollar more. Enjoy your infected hedgehog, kids!
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points):
Dr. Eggman (aka Dr. Robotnik) is back to continue his zealous search for the Chaos Emeralds needed to fuel his new Death Egg contraption. The evil doctor secretly follows Sonic to his vacation spot, Westside Island, and launches a full-scale attack, imprisoning all the helpless animals of the island and turning them into mindless worker drones. Now Sonic must thwart the doctor's plans at all costs. This time he isn't alone, as a peculiar two-tailed fox named Miles Prower (aka Tails) decides to aid him in the battle. Together they must locate the Chaos Emeralds before Dr. Eggman does, and put an end to his diabolical scheme.
"If you're burned out on Sonic, or already own a dozen copies of the game, skip this download; but for those who have only experienced the original, this is definitely a worthy purchase." Worth It! - 1up
"...Sonic Team [will] never match the level of brilliance seen here and the blue hedgehog has become a bit of a joke in recent times thanks to a string of lacklustre titles. But forget all that - now is as good a time as any to enjoy what remains Sonic's finest hour!" 5 out of 5 - The Virtual Console Archive
Zelda II Edition
Lode Runner and Golden Axe II after the jump.
Lode Runner (NES, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points):
This landmark action-puzzle game has been a worldwide fixture in video games from the moment of its inception until today, producing many sequels and related products along the way. The player controls the hero, or “Runner,” who collects gold nuggets located around every stage, all the while avoiding capture by enemy robots. The action itself is simple, but the stages are designed as increasingly challenging puzzles, and none of the 50 stages is as easy as it seems. The Runner avoids enemies by digging holes in the floor to the right and left of his position—by doing this, he can clear a path to places that, at first glance, seem unreachable. Players must use their brains to collect all the gold nuggets in every puzzling stage if they want to escape to the next. In addition to normal play, this version of the game features an Edit Mode that allows players to design their own stages, adding a new level of enjoyment to the game.
"...only truly dedicated Lode fans need apply." Not Worth It! - 1up
"This game is great fun to play however the NES version has dated considerably. If you want some Lode Runner action we recommend checking out the superior TurboGrafx-16 version which is also available on the Virtual Console." 3 out of 5 - The Virtual Console Archive
Golden Axe II (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points):
Not long after the devastating reign of the wicked Death Adder, another evil arose. Dark Guld and his minions invaded and took hold of the prized Golden Axe with plans to destroy it. Once again, as a fierce barbarian named Ax-Battler, a fearless female Amazon known as Tyris-Flare or a ferocious dwarf named Gilius Thunderhead, you will wield steely swords and powerful magic in an all-out war to recover the sword. Once you slash your way through the six side-scrolling levels, you'll get the chance to defeat Dark Guld once and for all.
"...you'll find your share of quality home brawlers out there -- Sega's Streets of Rage games, for instance. Golden Axe, though, isn't among the ranks, and its $8 asking price on VC is about $7.75 too much." Not Worth It! - 1up
"It's a shame that Sega expected the general public to pay good money for a game they'd already played to death over a year beforehand, but Golden Axe 2 is still a worthy purchase for fans of the series." 3 out of 5 - The Virtual Console Archive
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