Video game evolution is the theme to this week's Wii Virtual Console's classic re-releases as both titles are important milestones in their respective genres. While one, Renegade, paved the way to a golden age in beat-'em-up titles, the other, Pokémon Puzzle League, pushed a classic puzzle series from 2D to 3D.

• Renegade – Original Release: 01/1988, Platform: Nintendo Entertainment System:
  Following-up last week's re-release on the Virtual Console, Double Dragon, comes its predecessor – the NES version of the arcade beat-'em-up, Renegade, both of which were designed by the great Yoshihisa Kishimoto. Although Double Dragon innovated fighting games, it was Renegade that set the pieces in motion, having players beat the tar out of every enemy they come across in multiple levels that are two screens in length, each ending in a boss battle. The NES version also features side-scrolling motorcycle combat.

• Pokémon Puzzle League – Original Release: 09/2000, Platform: Nintendo 64:
  A N64 rework of the Super Nintendo classic Tetris Attacks (aka Panel de Pon in Japan) the basic puzzle game remains the same, only now with a new graphical 3D version of the puzzles, and characters from the Pokémon animated series.

  Like many other puzzle games, PPL has the playing field filling with colored blocks that you must adjust so they chain together with the same color. Once you've got a series of chained blocks they disappear. Instead of the blocks falling from above, they fill the tubular field from below in game matches that are addictive, fun and aside from the character art, has nothing to do with Pokémon.

Packshot © Nintendo