The first of this week’s Virtual Console offerings welcomes back classic ’90s gaming hero Earthworm Jim^.

Jim was an ordinary earthworm who did very earthworm-like things such as flee from crows and eat dirt. One day, during an outerspace fight, a suit drops to Earth, and falls around Jim. It mutates him into a large and intelligent (at least by earthworm standards) superhero.

Play as Jim in this SEGA MEGA DRIVE classic! When you learn of the evil plans of Psy-Crow and Queen Slug-for-a-Butt, you decide to rescue Princess What’s-Her-Name. Run, gun, swing on hooks by your head and launch cows at the interesting characters you meet along the way, such as Major Mucus, Chuck and Fifi, Evil the Cat and Bob the Killer Goldfish. Earthworm Jim is available now for 800 Wii Points.

Next up this week is the acclaimed strategy role-playing game Shining Force II, also for SEGA MEGA DRIVE. It’s a dark and stormy night in the kingdom of Granseal, when a thief steals two jewels from the Tower of the Ancients. He sets in motion strange events that lead to the resurrection of Zeon, the Devil King.

Granseal’s king falls sick, the princess is kidnapped and a door to Arc Valley, the Devil King’s home, is opened. The young swordsman, Bowie, realising the grave danger Granseal faces, must lead the Shining Force to find the Holy Sword, the stolen jewels, and protect Granseal against the invading armies of Zeon. Shining Force II is available now for 800 Wii Points.

Virtual Console offers users the ultimate retro gaming experience. This week’s titles join the list of 252 classic titles already available for Virtual Console in Europe.