Enduro Racer is released on the Virtual Console

Today the 1987 Master System game Enduro Racer was released on the North American Virtual Console for 500 Wii Points. The game is a conversion of the coin-op released in 1986, and joins other Sega sprite-scalers such as Out Run and Super Hang On.

The Master System version does not play in the same way as the arcade. Instead of the 3D-style forward motion, we have an isometric viewpoint. Therefore, you drive your motorbike towards the top-right of the screen.

Along the way, you must avoid rocks, water and ruins, and go over massive jumps. The other racers try and get in your way - you can be up against buggies and other motorbikes, much like an 8-bit MotorStorm.

The game has five tracks which you must complete twice each. After each one you can buy upgrades and repairs with points earned from the race, giving the game much more depth and strategy.

I would highly recommend this game; it is one of my favourites for the Master System. However my cartridge version sometimes freezes up and reboots to the "Sega Mk III" title screen rather than the Master System one. Weird!

Read a review of the game here.