Nintendo's Wii console is the top-selling system these days. While other consoles might be more powerful and filled with all kinds of bells and whistles, the Wii manages to strike a certain chord with people of all ages. It's not just motion controls that make the Wii stand out though. One of the system's other big features is the Virtual Console. Think about it like a trip down memory lane for gamers, where you can download all sorts of games from days past. Sporting a library of more than 300 retro classics, it's easy to overlook a few of the hidden gems. Don't worry ... we're here to help. Here's five of the most underrated titles currently available on the Virtual Console. You won't find Mario or Sonic anywhere on this list. They've got their share of the spotlight already. Instead, these are the game's you probably aren't playing ... but should be.

1.) ActRaiser (SNES, 1991, Square Enix, 800 Wii Points, Rated E10+)

Back when the Super Nintendo was first released, some gamers thought of it as a miracle machine. Well, what better way to show that off than by playing as a god? Back when the folks over at Square Enix were still just Square and Enix, the latter publisher gave players both the power and responsibilities of a deity. ActRaiser was a unique experience, combining the action of a side scrolling platformer with the strategy of a city building simulator. One minute you're drawing your sword and battling demons to purify the land, and the next you're busy building homes, tending to farms, and answering the prayers of your villagers. ActRaiser was a perfect blending of two completely different genres, proving that action and strategy, when done right, were two great tastes that taste great together.

2.) F-Zero (SNES, 1991, Nintendo, 800 Wii Points, Rated E)

These days, when it comes to racing games, more always assumed to be better. More cars. More tracks. More weapons. A lot of times, it's more about luck than skill. In the case of F-Zero, though, when you won a race, it wasn't through some random power-up or fluke of chance. You won the race because you were the best. You couldn't blast the competition out of the way with some magic shell. Instead, you had to memorize each of the game's fifteen tracks, know just when to bank on a turn, and plan your route to hit every speed boost and avoid every hazard. F-Zero was like the futuristic version of The Fast and the Furious. Oh, and it didn't hurt that it was the best looking racing game of its time either. The genre may have evolved on consoles since Captain Falcon first bolted off the starting line, but the legacy of F-Zero can still be seen in nearly every kart-style racer to come along in the nearly two decades since its release.

3.) Blaster Master (NES, 1988, Sunsoft, 500 Wii Points, Rated E)

Blaster Master is a classic video game story. Boy loses pet frog. Frog find radioactive box and grows to Godzilla proportions. Frog falls into a cave. Boy follows frog and finds super-cool armored tank vehicle. Boy uses tank to rescue pet frog and save the planet. Huh? Okay, so maybe the plot behind Blaster Master sounds more like a cheesy B-movie matinee. Regardless, Sunsoft's action/adventure game was another interesting melding of two radically different styles of gameplay. When riding in SOPHIA, your tank, the game's side scrolling platforming and exploration are on par with just about anything with the words "Metroid" or "Castlevania" in the title. Leaving the safety of SOPHIA to explore other labyrinth-like caverns switches things from a 2D side scrolling to a top-down 360 degree battle for survival. With sharp graphics, huge bosses, and a soundtrack that's as catchy today as it was back in '88, it's no surprise that Blaster Master is still a fan favorite, prompting Sunsoft to rejoin the gaming market with a re-release of the original NES classic on the Virtual Console AND a complete re-imagining of the franchise in Blaster Master Overdrive, currently available as a WiiWare download.

River City Ransom (NES, 1989, Aksys Games, 500 Wii Points, Rated E10+)

4.) River City Ransom wasn't the first beat 'em up to grace the Nintendo Entertainment System. Heck, it wasn't even the best looking. But there was something special about RCR. On the surface, River City Ransom seemed like any other Double Dragon clone. Walk, punch, kick, punch ... wash, rinse, repeat. What made RCR stand out, though, was that the game had a strange sort of RPG element to it. Defeated gang members would usually drop some sort of money or loot, which players could cash in at shops for hamburgers, shakes, and other food to help earn some extra life. You could even take a relaxing dip in the spa to rest those weary bones. Shop also stocked new moves for the player to purchase. Moves like Stone Hands or Dragon Feet would boost the players' stats in one way or another, making them more effective when facing down goons in later stages. While this sort of gameplay is commonplace today, at the time of River City Ransom's release, this was almost unheard of. RCR wasn't just another cookie cutter clone. In fact, it took the generic mold and smashed it into a million pieces.

5.) Zombies Ate My Neighbors (SNES, 1993, LucasArts, 800 Wii Points, Rated E10+)

If ever there was a game that could be classified as a cult classic, it would be Zombies Ate My Neighbors. Besides having what has to be the greatest title ever in gaming, LucasArts' tongue-in-cheek action game is one of the craziest, laugh out loud games you'll ever play. In fact, it was one of the most requested titles for the Virtual Console prior to the Wii's release. The game puts players in the role of either Julie or Zeke as they rush to rescue their neighbors from all manner of movie monsters, from vampires and werewolves to possessed dolls and 50-foot babies. Oh yeah ... and there are plenty of zombies too. The game's 50+ stages include suburbian neighborhoods, shopping malls, Egyptian pyramids, and even a special stage set in the LucasArts offices. The players' weapons are just as diverse (and outlandish) as the monsters they face too. You'll fight with water pistols, popsicles, soda can grenades, weed whackers, rocket launchers, and just about anything else you could imagine. Best of all, you can have a friend jump in to lend a hand with co-op play, because no one should have to face the undead alone. Zombies Ate My Neighbors is goofy, cheesy fun that's just hard to put down. The game spawned a pseudo-sequel, Ghoul Patrol (also available on the Virtual Console), but nothing will ever top the original experience.

There you have it. Five "can't miss" games you can download today on the Wii's Virtual Console, none of which star a certain mustachioed plumber, a whip cracking vampire hunter, or a hyper-kinetic hedgehog. Step away from the main stage and don't be afraid to check out some of the side acts. You never know what you'll find when you decide to look "under the radar". You might have missed these gems the first time around, but thanks to the Wii's Virtual Console, now they've got a second chance to make a first impression.