Ninja Gaiden III and Phantasy Star II added to Virtual Console @ Gaming Target

Written by John Scalzo on February 18, 2008

News: Classic platformer and classic RPG join the service.

Nintendo has once again decided to add only two games to the Virtual Console download service, but once again both games are absolute classics.

First up is the final chapter in the NES Ninja Gaiden trilogy, Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom. Some say Ryu Hayabusa's last adventure on the NES was the best and its finally on the VC.

Also being released today is Sega's flagship RPG from the Genesis days, Phantasy Star II.

If neither of these games ping your memory meter, here's a quick rundown from Nintendo:

Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom (NES, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Violence, 500 Wii Points): Join master ninja Ryu Hayabusa, last member of the famous Dragon Clan, in the third and final chapter of the legendary Ninja Gaiden saga. Ryu is framed for FBI agent Irene Lew's murder, and it's up to him to clear his name. Defeating superior life-forms created out of "life energy" called BIO-NOIDs and avoiding enemy ambushes are among the many obstacles which Ryu faces in this unpredictable adventure of mystery, deceit and destruction. Noticeable changes to the game-play mechanics include Ryu's ability to grab on to horizontal surfaces, his reduced falling speed and altered jumping maneuvers, and visible power-ups. Help Ryu defeat the forces of evil once more and discover the real culprit behind Irene's death as one of the most loved trilogies in video-game history comes to a close.

Phantasy Star II (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Animated Violence, 800 Wii Points): Hailed as one of the greatest games of all time by fans and media alike, Phantasy Star II is an RPG that features an epic story line and turn-based battles. Play as Rolf, Nei, Rudo or several other characters as you navigate through the Algol star system battling the evil Dark Force. Build your characters, select the right weapons and armor, and take on the forces of evil through various missions as you find the right combination of characters to complete each objective. Experience the magic once again in this great sequel.