This weeks Virtual Console games go live at 10 a.m. Mountain on the Wii Shop Channel and include Xevious, R-Type 3 and Moto Roader.

Xevious(TM) (NES(R), 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points): Players control their
Solvalou ship and destroy the XEVIOUS forces. Fire the zapper missiles
against air-based enemies and drop the blaster bombs down upon
ground-based targets. Destroy Andor Genesis to earn bonus points. Unique
enemies, interesting background music, a variety of vertically scrolling
background environments and many hidden game play features differentiated
Xevious from the other shooting games released at the time. Are you
devious enough to beat Xevious?

R-Type III(TM): The Third Lightning (Super NES(R), 1-2 players, 800 Wii

Points): It was believed on Earth that the deadly BYDO Empire had been

destroyed — but now they've returned, as nasty as ever. Their ships and

armies are more powerful than before, and Earth will surely be conquered

unless the new R-90 ship can destroy them. Powered with engines that

launch it into different dimensions, and armed with the Round, Shadow and

Cyclone Forces, the R-90 has what it takes to wipe out the BYDO threat.

The BYDO mother ship must be found and destroyed to entirely erase the

species from our galaxy.

Moto Roader(TM) (TurboGrafx16, 1-5 players, 600 Wii Points): Moto Roader

is a futuristic racing game that allows up to five players to compete

against each other. Players use the cash earned when they win a race to

power up their machine. Not only can they change the "TIRE" and "BODY" of

their vehicles, but they also can add "SPECIAL" parts. Jump over tall

obstacles with a "HOPPER" and blast past rivals at incredible speeds with

"NITRO." What multiplayer game would be complete without attack items?

Use a forward-launching "GRENADE" or a backward-dropping "BOMBER" to blow

up and knock away rivals. Outmaneuver rivals in all eight heats to become

the champion. Any combination of Wii Remote(TM) and Nintendo GameCube(TM)

controllers can be used in multiplayer games.

I like that there seems to be a theme, maybe they'll keep that up. Brian Crecente