This week’s Yay or Nay? takes a look at two highly anticipated games for the Virtual Console that previously only saw release in Japan. We’ll start out by taking a look at the Famicom version of Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, and then we’ll take a look at the Nintendo 64 classic - Sin and Punishment. What do we have to say about the games, and are they worth your Wii Points? Read on and find out!

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Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels

If you’ve played the original Super Mario Bros., which is pretty much a requirement if you’ve lived after 1985, then you’ll have a good idea of what The Lost Levels is like. Actually, many of you probably played the game in its Super Nintendo release, included as a part of the Super Mario All-Stars compilation. The Lost Levels was the Japanese Super Mario Bros. 2, so it stayed truer to the original game than the Yume K?j?: Doki Doki Panic conversion the rest of the world knows as a Mario game. The Lost Levels looks and feels like the original platformer, expanding upon it with new level designs and secret worlds.

While there is no 2-player mode as there was in the original, the player can choose at the beginning whether to play as Mario or Luigi. It is in this game that the brothers are differentiated by Luigi’s signature higher/farther jump, and his lack of traction while running. Mario, on the other hand, doesn’t play quite the same as he does in the original. He may feel a little heavier - his jump is a little sluggish compared to in the first game. It still gets the job done, but even Joey points out that it’s probably closer to Mario’s jump in the international release of Super Mario Bros. 2 than it was in the original Super Mario Bros.

Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels is noticeably more difficult than its predecessor, but it’s definitely something you’ll want to try out if you’re a devoted fan of the original, and haven’t played the SNES remake of the game.

Final Opinion: Yay

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Sin and Punishment: Successor to the Earth

Sin and Punishment: Successor to the Earth has been been denied release outside of Japan for nearly seven years. The game’s undeniable quality has made Japan the envy of many Nintendo fans worldwide. Now, it’s available on the Virtual Console for a hefty 1200 Wii Points.

Sin and Punishment is a rail-shooter, plain and simple, with the occasional sword use for close combat and returning projectiles. You’ll follow the story of Saki and Airan as they are forced to deal with the Ruffians, a mutated population threatening the existence of humanity. Unfortunately, the military force fighting against the Ruffians has their own intentions, and the corruption forces you to deal with both on different fronts. The game features a rich story, told through the original Japanese text but still accompanied by the original English voice-acting.

The game’s deep story and pure fun make the game an enjoyable experience above most rail-shooters. Sin and Punishment was a Nintendo 64 release, but benefiting from Treasure’s development talent and the wisdom that comes with developing a title at the end of a console’s lifespan pushed the Nintendo 64 to its technical limit. The game is visually amazing for a Nintendo 64 game. On the other hand, the game is very short, and despite various difficulty settings, most of you could probably finish it in a few hours with little replay desire (there is a multiplayer co-op mode, however). If you can get over the 1200 Wii Points price tag, this is definitely one to download.

Final Opinion: Yay

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That closes our Yay or Nay? feature for this week. It’s only two games this week, but luckily they’re both games the Nintendo fan and collector would definitely like to add to his/her collection, or at least take the opportunity to try out. Check back next week for another edition of Yay or Nay? See you then!

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