Here is a review for the original Sonic the Hedgehog on the Sega Genesis (Mega Drive). Please excuse my voice, I'm still battling a cold.
Here is a review for Virtua Fighter on the Sega 32x. Recording off real hardware with composite video. "Squeeze" mode is enabled in the options menu for proper wide screen aspect ratio.
Here is a review of Neo Drift Out for the Neo Geo CD. Recorded off real hardware and a retail disc with S-Video.
Here is a review for Windjammers (Flying Power Disc in Japan) for the Neo Geo CD. Recorded off real hardware and a retail disc. Captured using S-Video.
Here is a review for Metal Slug on the Neo Geo CD. Recorded with a retail disc using real hardware with an S-Video cable.
This is a review of Aero Fighers 2 (Sonic Wings 2) for the Neo Geo CD. Recorded with retail disc and real hardware using S-Video.
Here is a review of Ghost House for the Sega Master System.
This is Hang On for the Sega Master System. This game is mildly amusing for a little while, but ultimately very average and repetitive.
Here is an unscripted review/play-through/commentary of Enduro Racer for the Sega Master System. Be sure to stick around for the awesome end sequence.
This is Doritos Crash Course for the Microsoft Xbox 360. This is available free from the Xbox Live Arcade marketplace. I highly recommend this little gem if you're a fan of 2D platformers. Features gameplay and commentary.
This is R-Type for the Sega Master System. This is a terrific port of the iconic shooter/shmup, and perhaps the best game on the system. Note: I'm saying "FM Sound Chip"
This is Bust-A-Move (Puzzle bobble in Japan) for the Neo Geo CD. This is a brilliant little puzzle games and one of my favorites for the Neo Geo CD.
This is Pitfall The Mayan Adventure for the Atari Jaguar. This video is also a slight commentary of the Atari Jaguar's library as a whole. In either case, special thanks to austinmackert for making me play this one.
This is Raiden for the Atari Jaguar, and is one of the best titles for the system. Special thanks to MrPants432 who played the second ship (blue).
This is Rocket Knight Adventures for the Sega Genesis. It was released by Konami in 1993. RKA is a Genesis exclusive and a terrific game, showing off the Genesis's processing power and sporting some awesome music.
This is Super R-Type for the Super Nintendo and is the third title in the legendary R-Type series. Features gameplay and commentary from real hardware.
This is Virtua Racing for the Sega Genesis. The first and only Sega Genesis game with the SVP enhancement chip. It's classic 90's Sega with oodles of style. Enjoy.
This is The Lost Vikings for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It also the very first game created by the legendary Blizzard Entertainment. I love the graphics, the music, the creative puzzles, and the funny sense of humor. Check it out! Show Notes: Again, sorry about the vertical lines. My capture device hates the SNES. I will hold off on SNES reviews until I can come up with a solution.
This is Truxton (Tatsujin in the East) for the Sega Genesis (Mega Drive) an early 1989 release. Truxton is an excellent shmup for it's time, with responsive controls and a simplistic weapons systems. Highly recommended. I also offer a contrast to modern shooters (in this case, Mushihimesama Futari for the Xbox 360) with their many modes, difficulty settings, and other options. Show notes: I don't often make a personal appearance in these videos, let me know what you think. Also sorry about the Xbox 360 hum, even with 2 pillows and a blanket covering it, it's still loud. Viva la Genesis, which makes no noise at all.
This is Dr. Mario for the 8-bit Nintendo. Dr. Mario is a puzzle game released on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990. The goal of the game is simple, rid each level of Blue, Red, and Yellow viruses. You accomplish this task by rotating vitamins and lining up colors. Overall, Dr. Mario is an awesome puzzle game and one of my all time favorites in the genre. I love the simple game play mechanics, the simplistic, yet charming graphics, and the awesome 8-bit music. Show notes: I apologize for the extra cheesiness in this episode. It won't happen again :)
This is Ivan "Ironman" Stewart's Super Off Road for the original Nintendo Entertainment System.
The Steel Empire is a horizontal shooter, released on the Sega Genesis in 1992. It's a fairly standard shmup from a game play perspective but does offer a unique game play setting. Rather than aiming for an ultra-futuristic technology driven environment, The Steel Empire is straight-up steam punk.
An epic review for an epic game! It's Sonic CD for the Sega CD, my favorite 2D Sonic game of all time.
It's magic on the blacktop! Street Slam (Street Hoop in the Europe or Dunk Dream in Japan) is a 3 on 3 street basketball game released by Data East on the Neo Geo CD system in 1994. Is it in any good?
The Sega CD (Mega CD) add-on for the Sega Genesis (Mega Drive) is often criticized for it's crappy FMV games, half-assed Genesis ports, and is even credited for the demise of Sega's hardware business. But to me, the Sega CD will always be a highly underrated system, with a library filled with hidden gems. And one of those gems is Android Assault: The Revenge of the Bari-Arm, a terrific Shmup released in 1994.
This is M.U.S.H.A. (Metallic Uniframe Super Hybrid Armor) Aleste for the Sega Genesis (Mega Drive). This is easily one of the most hyped shmups on Sega's 16-bit system and commands a lot on auction sites. So how does Compile's effort stand up 21 years later? Watch the video to find out!
Image Fight is a vertical shmup by Irem, of R-Type fame, in arcades back in 1988. It was released on a plethora of home consoles in Japan, but only the NES version made it to American shores. And that's a shame...
Psycho Fox is a platformer released on the Sega Master System in 1989. The game feels like an obvious response to Nintendo's 8-bit Mario games, as Sega was still searching for it's million selling mascot. Sega set it's sights high, and I have to say, they mostly hit their mark...
With every gamer there will always be a few key titles that remain in their memories forever. Games that started their passion and set them on their course for gaming obsession for decades to come. The game that would send me down my current path of gaming blog, forum troller, YouTube Reviewer, and all around Nerd, without a doubt, is Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for the Sega Genesis. I hope you enjoy this video as much as I enjoyed making it, and as always, thanks for watching and commenting!
As I'm sure I've mentioned before, I've arrived late to the shmup party and and am slowly catching up on some of the titles I've missed over the past few decades. Which brings me to the best part of retro-gaming, discovering a hidden gem. A game that should be on the top of everyone's must have list, but somehow remains obscure. Bio Hazard Battle on the Genesis is one such game.
To be honest, the only reason I purchased Arkanoid: Doh It Again was because it supports the Super Nintendo mouse peripheral. I have a copy of Mario Paint, but can't be bothered to fire it up. I've wanted to test out the SNES Mouse for a while, and am finally getting to it with Taito's 1997 release of Arkanoid.
I've owned Axelay (1992 Konami) for a few years but have never made it past the first level. The weird camera angle, floaty movement, and bland enemies have always been a huge turn-off. But when I finally gave it an honest chance, I've got to say, there is more here than I originally thought.
In the summer of 1994, 3 blokes from France convinced a development company, Virtual eXperience, to lend them an Atari Jaguar development kit on weekends. So in between college and real life, the three of them stayed up all weekend coding what would later be one of the finest 2D racing games of all time, working from the bedroom of one of their homes. Six months later, they received the development kit full time and Atari agreed to publish the title. On July 5, 1995, twelve months after the project began, it was released to the world. So what is the greatest game in the Atari Jaguar library?
Supercross 3D was released for the Atari Jaguar on December 20, 1995, and capped off the Jaguar's final holiday season. The game is an ambitious attempt to simulate the sport of Supercross with the use of textured polygons. I came into Supercross 3D with extreme scepticism and very low expectations, as it is one of the lowest rated Atari Jaguar games there are. So is it really that bad?
Psycho Fox for the Sega Master system is one of my favorite platformers of the 8-bit era, offering a terrific alternative to the Nintendo's highly popular Mario games. Now imagine my surprise to learn that developers Vic Tokai made a follow-up for the 16-bit Sega Genesis system.
And we're back after a far too long hiatus! On today's episode of the IMPLANTgames Show we take a look at Tecmo's classic 8-bit side scroller Ninja Gaiden for the Nintendo Entertainment System.
Super Pinball: Behind the Mask was released on the Super Nintendo in 1994. Unlike most pinball games of the era, Super Pinball features a pseudo 3rd person perspective and aims for a more realistic feel rather than fantasy. Kaze would go on to make a couple excellent pinball games for the Sega Saturn that they are more know for, but it all started here, on the SNES.
Zool 2 was released on the Atari Jaguar at the end of 1994, and is a direct sequel to the original title, Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension. While the first title was released on most home consoles of the era, Zool 2's only console port was on Atari Jaguar. I never played either of the Zool titles when they were new in the 90s, so I have no nostalgia for this game at all.
Sega Rally Championship was the very first game I'd ever played when I first got my Sega Saturn, and to date, remains one of my favorite titles for the system. Unlike many early 3D racing games, Sega's early racing effort still remain quite enjoyable, even today.
Like most gamer's of my generation, my first handheld system ever, was an original Game Boy. I didn't care that the screen was blurry, or that everything was green. It didn't matter when I had masterpieces like Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins at my disposal.
In the year 2000 Merlin Racing was released on the NUON. Three years later the developers chopped the game into four parts and released on the PlayStation 1 as budget titles. These were Miracle Space Race, Rascal Racers, ATV Racers, and XS Airboat Racing. Today I'll be looking at Miracle Space Race, but I hope to obtain the other 3 in the future. Miracle Space Race is a mascot racing game featuring eight characters and nine different tracks. But is it any good?
I've always found it difficult to review an average game. A game that has no obvious faults, but no obvious triumphs either. A game that commits no game play crimes, but contains no elements that elevate it in any way. With that, I present Super Mario Land for the Game Boy.
I Made a Game With Zombies In It was released on the Xbox Live Indie Game service in 2009 for the budget friendly price of just one dollar. With the resurgence of Zombies in popular culture, and my current addiction to AMC's The Walking Dead, it seemed timely to revisit this little gem.
Qix was originally an arcade title developed by Taito and released in 1981. Over the next decade it would be released on most home computers and console systems of the era. Today I'll be looking at the Game Boy version of the game.
I absolutely loved Dr. Mario on the NES and it remains one of my favorite puzzle games of all time. The simple gameplay mechanics, the simplistic, yet charming graphics, and the awesome 8-bit music hit all the right retro notes, and holds up well despite it's vintage. I will eventually visit all of the versions of Dr. Mario on Nintendo's classic consoles and what better way to start, than the other 8-bit version. Recorded using a SNES, using S-Video into an XRGB mini and an El Gato Game Capture HD.
The Sega CD get’s a lot of flack for being flooded with awful Full Motion Video games, but once you get past the bargain bin fodder, there is a surprising amount quality titles for the system. One such title is The Terminator, released in 1993.
In honor of the 15 year anniversary of the North American Dreamcast launch, I wanted to do something special to commemorate the occasion. Prior to 9/9/99 most gamers were eagerly anticipating Dreamcast launch titles like Sonic Adventure or Soul Calibur. I on the other hand, could not wait for Tokyo Xtreme Racer.
Checkered Flag was released for the Atari Jaguar in November of 1994 as polygon racers were taking arcades by storm and making their way to home consoles. Atari needed to check polygon racer off their 64-bit gaming checklist and produced Checkered Flag.
Sonic 3D Blast was released for the Sega Genesis in November of 1996 and represents the final Sonic game to grace this classic system. It is a dramatic departure from the main side-scrolling series, featuring an isometric viewpoint utilizing sprites to simulate a 3D environment.
Now that I have a Wii U, I can finally catch up on some of the Wii titles I've missed over the past 8 years. At the top of my list is Sonic Colors, a 2010 release that never found it's way to my beloved Xbox 360. I knew this game had received a lot of praise upon release, but that wasn't enough to get me to buy a Wii. So with that, I am finally diving in.
Princess Rescue is a home-brew title for the Atari 2600 released by AtariAge.com in July of 2013. The game is a tribute to the original Super Mario Bros for the 8-bit Nintendo.
Downfall is a home-brew title for the Atari Jaguar CD by developers Reboot. It's based on another home-brew title for the 2600 called Man Falls Down, though I don't believe that project was ever finished.
River Raid is an early vertical shooter for the Atari 2600 released by Activision in 1982. If you are looking for a good way to get into the 2600, it doesn’t get much better than this.
New Super Mario Bros. U was a launch title for Nintendo’s Wii U console back in 2012. Despite the positive reviews at the time, this game wasn’t enough to move hardware units and Wii U sales have been mostly disappointing since.
Power Drive Rally is an Atari Jaguar exclusive, developed by Rage Software, and released in 1995. It is the sequel Power Drive, which was available on most home consoles and computers in the European market.
After Burner was developed by Rutubo Games and released for the Sega 32x in 1995. Think of this as a retro-retro game, developed before re-releasing old 80's games was a thing. After Burner had been released on dozens of home consoles and computers before 1995, but this version finally did the arcade classic justice.
This is TI Invaders, released for the Texas Instruments TI-99/4a home computer in 1981. The reason it looks exactly like Space Invaders, is because it is exactly like space invaders. Welcome to the 80's.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was released in early 1994, and in many ways is half finished. The other half of the game was released later in the year as Sonic and Knuckles. Sonic 3 can be locked onto Sonic and Knuckles to form the complete adventure. For this review, I'll be looking at Sonic 3 as a stand alone title. We'll look at Sonic and Knuckles in a future video.
In the year 2000, Merlin Racing was released on the ill-fated NUON. Three years later the developers chopped the game into four parts and released them on the PlayStation 1 as budget titles. I’ve previously looked at Miracle Space Race, and today we’ll be looking at ATV Racers.
Top Hunter: Roddy & Cathy was released by SNK for the Neo Geo CD in 1994. The title is a side scrolling action game and a breath of fresh air in comparison to the flood of fighter games usually associated with the Neo Geo platform.
Bust-A-Move for the Super Nintendo was released in 1995, just one year after the arcade original. As you’ve no doubt played this title, or one of the dozens of sequels or knock-offs over the years, I’m going to instead focus on at what makes this version unique.
Atari Karts was released for the Atari Jaguar in December of 1995. The Atari Jaguar was discontinued three months later, making Atari Karts one of the final, and rarer, games released by Atari.
Yars’ Revenge is a space ship shooting game of sorts released for the Atari 2600 in 1981. It's one of the system's most popular titles, so let's find out why.
Virtua Racing Deluxe is an update to the arcade original and launched with Sega's 32x in November of 1994. Everything in the game is fully rendered with polygons including all of the rival racers, environments, and trackside details. As a launch title for the 32x, this game certainly showed some promise for the little add-on.
Toy Story was a late title for the Sega Genesis, released in April of 1996. It’s a side scrolling platformer, and mostly mirrors Woody’s adventure through the film of the same name. What makes this an interesting title to review are the graphics. In 1996, this game blew me away.
A “real” 3D Sonic game was never released on the Sega Saturn. Sonic R is as close as it gets. It was also released about two years too late. On October 31, 1997, when the Saturn was nearing it's death, Sega released this little gem.
The Jungle Book was released for the Sega Genesis in 1994, developed and produced by Virgin Interactive. The credits include industry heavyweights including a game design credit to David Perry and a music credit to Tommy Tallarico.
Road Rash II is the second release in the now defunct Road Rash series. It was developed and published by Electronic Arts in 1992, and is a Sega Genesis exclusive. I haven’t played the first Road Rash title so I won’t be able to make any comparisons or talk about the evolution of the series.
Portal was developed by Valve Corporation and released as part of The Orange Box collection on Windows and the Xbox 360 in 2007. Around this time I was beginning to feel developers had given up on creating new concepts, and 7 years ago, Portal really blew me away.
Kirby’s Pinball Land was released for the Game Boy in 1993. Presumably because Kirby is round, someone thought it would be a good idea to turn him into a pinball, and the world he inhabits, into pinball tables. And you know what? It actually works.
Tin Star is a light gun shooter released for the Super Nintendo in 1994. Despite being developed in Europe, it was only released in the North American market. It obviously supports the Super Scope peripheral, but more importantly, it supports the SNES Mouse, allowing for precision play on a modern flat panel television.
One of my favorites is Sled Storm for the original Playstation. Developed and released in 1999 by Electronic Arts, this was one of the few games to steal some of my attention away from my beloved Dreamcast.
Aero Fighters is a vertical scrolling shooter, originating in arcades in 1992, and released on the SNES a year later. I'm a big fan on the sequel, and was stoked to finally track down the original a few years ago.
If you have ever hooked up an old game system to a modern flat panel television, you’ve probably noticed it looks dreadful. Thankfully, it doesn't have to be this way. Micomsoft’s latest model, nearing two years old now, is the XRGB-mini FrameMeister. The XRGB-mini FrameMeister is an amazing device and has really elevated my appreciation and passion for retro gaming.
Spongebob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Bottom is a 3D platformer released on the Xbox, GameCube, and PlayStation 2 during the holidays in 2003. You take control of Spongebob, Patrick, and Sandy on your quest to stop an invasion of robots from taking over Bikini Bottom.
17 years. That's how long it took to develop a true sequel to Yu Suzuki's 1986 arcade masterpiece. A year later, in 2004, the code ninjas at Sumo Digital figured out how to squeeze a game requiring 512 megabytes of ram onto a system with just 64. The result is the excellent OutRun 2 for the original Xbox.
I’ve always been fascinated by the Metal Slug series. It debuted when 2D was on it’s death bed and SNK kept the party going well after it was buried. Metal Slug 3 was released in arcades in 2000 with this Xbox port being released 4 years later.
Shinobi was developed by Sega and released in arcades back in 1987. A year later, Sega ported it to their 8-bit Master System console. Over the next few years it would be released on just about everything, but today I’m going to look at the Master System version.
There comes a time in every triple A platformer's life when they must spin off and be featured in their own kart racing game. For Crash Bandicoot, this happened in 1999 with Crash Team Racing. The game did well enough that a sequel was released 5 years later and today we'll be looking at Crash Nitro Kart for Microsoft's original Xbox.
Aladdin was released on the Sega Genesis in 1993 and started the tradition of awesome Disney titles developed by Virgin Games. As you probably already know, this is a platformer where you take Aladdin through the world created in the feature film.
Robo Aleste is a sequel of sorts to the Genesis classic M.U.S.H.A. and was released on the Sega CD in 1993. On the surface, Robo Aleste looks similar to M.U.S.H.A. You pilot a giant steam engine powered ninja mech through seven different vertical scrolling stages.
Astro Warrior is an incredibly early shmup, developed by Sega, and released for the Master System back in 1986. The game acts as a bridge of sorts, between single screen arcade shooters of the early 80’s, and the mature shmups of the late 80’s.
Silpheed is a vertical shmup developed by Game Arts and released for the Sega CD in 1993. It's most famous for its excellent polygon styled visuals that give a real sense of 3D.
Spyro the Dragon is a 3D platformer released for the PlayStation back in 1998. You control the little dragon Spyro on a quest to free your fellow fire-breathers from their frozen state and ultimately defeat Gnasty Gnorc who made them that way.
Like most things Atari Jaguar related, the controller has been the brunt of many jokes and focus of much ridicule. The three main complaints are that it’s too big, it’s too confusing, and features a strange number pad with outdated overlays. I’m going to give the Atari Jaguar Controller a proper review based on 15 years of actual use.
The first Crash Bandicoot was developed by Naughty Dog and released for the original PlayStation back in 1996. The title was a huge success, helping launch the PlayStation brand into the mainstream as well as spawning many Crash sequels and spinoffs for the years that followed.
BC Racers was developed by Core Design and released on the Sega 32x in 1995. It is a mascot kart racing game similar to Mario Kart, featuring the characters from the Chuck Rock series of platforming games.
Cloud Master is a quirky little horizontal shmup released for the Sega Master System back in 1989. You take control of Michael Chen who flies around on a cloud. This is a sharp departure to the common space ship shooters that were popular at the time.
Re-volt is racing game released back in 1999. It was a multi-platform title available for the original PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and the PC, but today I’m looking at the Sega Dreamcast version.
Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse is a Sega-developed platformer released on the Genesis back in 1990. Being such an early release, my expectations for this one were not that high, despite the glowing reviews it usually receives.
Sonic & Knuckles was released during the Holiday season of 1994. In many ways, it is the second half of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which was released before the entire game could be completed.
Kao the Kangaroo is a 3D platformer released for the Sega Dreamcast in early 2001. It stars a boxing kangaroo named Kao and he must journey through 36 levels and escape the hunters that captured him.
Cybermorph was a launch title for the Atari Jaguar during the holiday season of 1993. Reviews at the time were mixed, but as time has passed, the game has developed a reputation for being awful. But is that extreme criticism really warranted?
Motocross championship was developed by the Canadian company Artech Digital Entertainment, and released on the ill-fated Sega 32x in 1994. The game attempts to capture the experience of motocross, featuring a large number of opponents and tracks taking place in both stadiums, and outdoors.
DuckTales is a side-scrolling platformer developed by Capcom and released on the NES back in 1989. It was based on the popular Saturday morning cartoon, and the game was created by some of the same folks who worked on the excellent Mega Man series.
Kabuki Quantum Fighter is a side scrolling action game released on the original Nintendo Entertainment System back in 1991. You play the role of Scott O'Connor who transfers his brain into a computer program in order to fight off a virus hacking Earth's defense systems.
Choplifter is another arcade title ported over to the Master System by Sega and released in 1986. Generally, I find many of these Master System ports underwhelming, and it’s obvious the 8-bit hardware couldn’t pull off what Sega was doing in the arcades at the time. Choplifter on the other hand, is awesome.
When you combine the awesome graphics and sound, with good controls and divine level design, you get one of the greatest 3D platformers ever created. It's Sonic Adventure for the Sega Dreamcast.
The Toro Dreamcast VGA Box by BBS is a regular Dreamcast VGA Box, sync combiner for use with the XRGB-mini Framemeister and a scan-line generator all in one. It's a beautiful device hand-built in Turkey, and you should buy one.
Hydro Thunder is a racing game from Midway released in arcades in 1999, and ported over to the Sega Dreamcast in time for it's North American launch. The game oozes 90's style with over-the-top track design and sound effects, and an insane difficulty level.
Blackthorne is a cinematic platformer developed by Blizzard Entertainment and released on the Sega 32x back in 1995. Blackthorne is a bit of an oddity for the Sega 32x. I find it strange that such an obscure, quality title was ported over to the Sega 32x in the first place.
Clean Sweep is a Pac-Man clone released on the Vectrex in 1982. If this wasn’t released on the Vectrex, I doubt anyone would care about the game. But on the beautiful vector monitor, Clean Sweep is a lot more interesting.
Suzuki Alstare Extreme Racing was developed by Criterion Software and released for the Dreamcast back in 1999. It features Suzuki motorcycles and fantasy environments. Sadly, there is nothing actually Extreme about this game.
Gunstar Heroes is a side-scrolling run and gun game developed by Treasure and released by Sega in 1993. Gunstar Heroes is a quality, fun, side scroller from start to finish. It’s easily one of the best looking Sega Genesis games released, and it backs that up with some excellent game play.
Knuckles' Chaotix is one of the few high profile exclusive titles for the Sega 32x and the only game to date, where Knuckles the Echidna is the star.
Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 is the third installment of the Super Mario Land series, and the first installment in the long-standing Wario Land series of games. It was released for the Nintendo’s Game Boy in 1994.
Super R.C. Pro-Am is an isometric remote control car racer, developed by RARE, and released on the Game Boy back in 1991, four years after the NES original.
Aladdin for the Super Nintendo was developed by Capcom and released in 1993. Despite sharing the same name, this is a completely different game than what was developed on the Virgin Interactive and released for the Sega Genesis.
Dirt Trax FX was developed by Sculptured Software and released for the Super Nintendo in 1995. It was one of the few games that used Nintendo’s, Super FX co-processor chip allowing for 3D polygon graphics.
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest is an entry-level RPG released for the Super Nintendo in 1992. Reviews were mixed to positive upon release, but the game has developed a bit of a negative reputation by hardcore RPG fans over the years.
Comix Zone is beat-em-up developed by Sega’s former American development studio, Sega Technical Institute. It was also released very late in the Sega Genesis life-cycle, in the fall of 1995.
Earthworm Jim is a run-n-gun action platformer released for the Sega Genesis in 1994. It was met with critical acclaim, receiving Electronic Gaming Monthly's Genesis game of the year award.
Rayman was first released on the Atari Jaguar back in September of 1995. It was one of the few, high-profile, third-party releases for the System, and easily one of the best games available for the Jag today.
Ristar is a platformer developed by Sonic Team and released for the Sega Genesis back in 1995. Coming from many of the same folks that worked on the Sonic the Hedgehog series of games, some of the music and level design has a certain familiarity to it, but as a whole, this is a very unique experience.
Mickey’s Speedway USA is a kart racer developed by Rare and released for the Nintendo 64 back in 2000. It was released three years after the well-received Diddy Kong Racing, and gamers were hopeful for yet another awesome kart racer for Nintendo’s ageing console.
Super Magnetic Neo is a platformer released exclusively on the Sega Dreamcast back in 2000. The Pinki gang has rigged the entire Pao Pao Park with magnetic contraptions. To fight the Pinki gang, the Professor created a robot named Neo, to defeat the gang and restore order to the park.
Phalanx is a horizontal shmup released on the Super Nintendo back in 1992. The game is more commonly associated with it’s box art, featuring a bearded man playing a banjo, than anything else.
Wacky Races is a kart-style racing game released on the Dreamcast back in 2000. It was the first game on the Dreamcast, and possible ever, to feature cell-shaded graphics, predating Jet Set Radio by a few weeks.
Kao the Kangaroo Round 2 is a follow-up the Dreamcast title, Kao the Kangaroo. It was released on on the Xbox, PlayStation 2, and GameCube, and today we’ll be looking at the at the GameCube version.
Castlevania Bloodlines was released on the Sega Genesis back in 1994. The title is interesting as it was the only Castlevania game ever released on a Sega console, and it has never been ported over to any other system, since it’s release.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening was released for the Game Boy in 1993. It was the fourth Zelda game released, and also the first portable Zelda game. Not only that, it's one of the greatest games of all time!
Gunstar Super Heroes is the follow-up to the critically acclaimed Gunstar Heroes, and was released on the Game Boy Advance in 2005. As a late Game Boy Advance release, sales were sluggish despite receiving positive reviews.
Metal Slug Advance is the 9th or so game in the long running Metal Slug series. As the name would suggest, this was released for Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance. Despite being a handheld title, Metal Slug Advance does a great job capturing the action of the arcade originals.
Sonic Advance 2 is the second game in the popular handheld series, and was released on the Game Boy Advance in 2003. The game was well received upon release, and went on to sell over a million copies.
Astal is 2D sprite based platformer released on the Sega Saturn in 1995. I suspect when Sega originally designed the Saturn, they thought games like this were the direction video games were headed. Instead of being the norm, games like Astal ended up being the swan songs of a dying genre.
After many years of successful Disney games from the likes of Sega, Capcom, and Virgin Games, Disney decided to develop Gargoyles in-house, and released it on the ageing Sega Genesis in 1995.
Mickey Mania: The Timeless Adventures of Mickey Mouse was released for the Sega CD in 1995. The game celebrates Mickey Mouse’s theatrical career, and each level is based on a feature film.
Darius Twin is the third game in the long running Darius series, and was released for the Super Nintendo back in 1991. Like the other titles in the series, Darius Twin is a horizontal shmup and you pilot a Silver Hawk in attempt to save the galaxy from giant fish alien, things.
Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance is the second title in a trilogy of Castlevania games developed by Konami for the Game Boy Advance. Harmony of Dissonance was released in 2002, and is sometimes regarded as the best of the three.
Metal Slug X is a remixed version of Metal Slug 2, fixing minor problems the game had, as well as making major changes to the color palette, weapons, and enemy placement. This PlayStation port was released 2001, and does a remarkable job of recreating the Neo Geo experience.
Riding Hero was developed by SNK and released on the Neo Geo CD in 1995. Aesthetically, the title is clearly inspired by Sega’s Hang-On. In addition to the checkpoint styled racing action provided by that title, SNK put their own spin on the game with real circuits, and a secondary goal of finishing in third place or better in addition to meeting tough time limits.
Last Resort is a horizontal shmup originally released for the Neo Geo in 1992, and this CD version following in 94. You pilot a Cyber Jet ship, which has a striking resemblance to the R-9a Arrowhead from R-Type. The similarities don’t stop there, as you also control an orb, which can soak up bullets as well as deliver extra firepower.
Sonic Advance 3 is the final game in the Game Boy Advance trilogy, and was released in 2004. Like the previous instalments, this is a 2D platformer with a nod to Sonic’s Genesis glory days, with a few new twists on the classic formula.
F-Zero was a launch title for the Super Nintendo and one of the first games to show off the SNES's famous Mode-7 graphics which simulates a 3D plane without utilizing polygons. It was well received by the press at the time, and still enjoys a cult following to this day.
Metal Slug 4 was released on the Neo Geo hardware in 2002, with SNK Playmore publishing this Xbox port 3 years later. The American release was also bundled with Metal Slug 5, and both games are featured on their own disc, which is pretty cool.
Kirby's Dream Land was developed by HAL Laboratory and released on the original Game Boy in 1992. This game actually marks the debut of the Kirby character, who has since been featured in dozens of games.
Out Run is yet another arcade hit from Sega originating from the 1980's. It was designed by Yu Suzuki and was his follow-up to Hang-On. Like most of Sega's arcade titles of the era, the game was ported to the Master System, in 1987.
Super Castlevania IV is the fourth installment in the popular Castlevania series of games, debuting on the Super Nintendo back in 1991. The game is both an homage to the NES original, as well as a unique game in its own right, and ushered Castlevania into the 16-bit era.
Gradius III is a horizontal shmup from Konami, notorious for both its difficulty and its slowdown, and was a launch title for the North American Super Nintendo in 1991.
Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex is the fourth title in the main Crash Bandicoot series, released in 2001, with this Xbox port following in 2002. The game is noteworthy as it was developed by Traveller’s Tales rather than Naughty Dog, and the title is obviously not a PlayStation exclusive.
Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa Opa was released for the Sega Master System in 1987 and is a sequel to Sega's arcade hit Fantasy Zone from the year prior. At first glance this appears to be a shmup, but the gameplay has more in common with Defender, than a true side scrolling shoot-em-up.
Kolibri is a hummingbird shooting game released for the Sega 32x in 1995. The game comes from the same developers as the Ecco the Dolphin series, sharing a similar surreal art style and earthy soundtrack.
Metal Slug 5 was released on the Neo Geo hardware in 2003, with SNK Playmore publishing this Xbox port in 2005. The American release was also bundled with Metal Slug 4, and both games are featured on their very own disc.
Streets of Rage is a beat-em-up game developed by Sega and released for the Genesis in 1991. The game's protagonists are former cops, who have decided to take the law into their own hands to take down the city's big crime syndicate.
Vectorman is a run and gun game released in 1995 for the ageing Sega Genesis. The year is 2049, and humans have all left Earth in search of new planets to deplete. Left behind are robots, charged with cleaning up the massive mess the human race has left on planet Earth.
Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000 is an isometric shmup released for the Sega 32X in 1995. Despite the title, this game actually has nothing to do with the classic arcade series, and the Zaxxon name was simply tacked on for the U.S. release.
WWF Raw is a professional wrestling game released for the Sega 32X in 1994. The game features 12 of the biggest WWF stars from the mid 90's and in many ways is a great time capsule for this period in pro wrestling.
Donkey Kong for the Atari 2600 is very much a time capsule into an alternate video game universe. It's a Nintendo game, published by Coleco, and released on the Atari. Something that could only happen in 1982.
Space Invaders was released on the Super Nintendo in 1994 and attempts to re-create the feel of the original 1978 arcade classic. The main gimmick of this release is how Taito offers a nearly perfect arcade experience foregoing any additional sound or graphical upgrades.
Streets of Rage 2 is the sequel to Sega's hit Streets of Rage, and was released for the Sega Genesis in 1992. The game improves and tweaks nearly every aspect of the original, and is often cited as the best Beat-Em-Up of all time.
The Super Game Boy was released in 1994 and is a hardware device allowing you to play original Game Boy games on a television through your Super Nintendo game console. In addition to simply playing Game Boy games, developers could program their carts to take advantage of the additional features offered by the hardware.
The Amazing Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin is an action game released on the Sega CD in 1993. The game is a remake of the Sega Genesis version, featuring some gameplay tweaks, FMV cut scenes, and a brand new CD soundtrack.
F355 Challenge debuted in arcades in 1999, with deluxe models sporting 4 Naomi arcade boards and 3 monitors for the ultimate immersive experience. The game was ported to the Dreamcast a year later, and is surprisingly accurate.
Aquaventure was an unreleased game developed by Atari in 1983. This lost game was resurrected and released as one of the included titles on the Atari Flashback 2 and 2+ plug and play systems.
Super Earth Defense Force is a horizontal shmup developed by Jaleco and released on the Super Nintendo in 1992.
Strike Gunner S.T.G. is a vertical shmup originally released by Tecmo in arcades, and then ported to the Super Nintendo in 1992.
Sonic Heroes was the third 3D Sonic game in the main series, and was released on the Xbox, GameCube, and PlayStation 2 in early 2004. The game let's you control 4 teams of 3 characters, allowing you to play as Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails at the same time, for example. So, how has it held up?
The original Qix was released in arcades by Taito in 1981. A sequel called Volfield was released in 1989, adding a sci-fi spin to the classic gameplay. Volfield would finally make its way to the North American PlayStation in 2003, in the form of a budget title renamed Qix Neo.
The Vectrex is an incredibly unique gaming system. While photographs make it look like a small television with a vertically oriented screen, the Vectrex is so much more than that. The Vectrex was released by General Consumer Electronics in 1982. The entire console is a self-contained unit, with the video game console housed with a 9" black and white, vector monitor.
Ranger X is a side scrolling action game created by Japanese developer GAU Entertainment and published by Sega for the Genesis in 1993. On the surface, Ranger X is a simply sidescroller, but the game blends platforming, run-n-gunning, and mission style objectives, to create one of the more original Genesis games I’ve played in a while.
Twin Cobra is a vertical scrolling shmup released in arcades in 1987 and ported to the North American NES in 1989. On the surface, Twin Cobra is a pretty vanilla shooter. You pilot a helicopter through various battle zones taking out enemy tanks, planes, and ships.
TNN Motorsports Hardcore Heat was a launch title for the North American Dreamcast in 1999. It was known as Buggy Heat in Japan, and was developed by the same folks that created Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000 for the Sega 32X.
In 2000, Sega dropped this little gem onto the Dreamcast, Virtua Tennis. Despite having never played a tennis game before, and having zero interest in the sport, I promptly purchased Virtua Tennis and was immediately hooked.
Sonic Adventure 2 was released in the summer of 2001, a few months after Sega announced they were discontinuing the Dreamcast and becoming a third party developer. Sonic Adventure 2 was met with high acclaim upon release, with the press and gamers alike proclaiming it one of the best Dreamcast games, ever. A swan song of sorts.
Star Soldier: Vanishing Earth is a vertical scrolling shmup developed by Hudson Soft and released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998. It is one of the few shooters released on the N64, and one of the even fewer, to ever be released in North America.
Wave Race 64 is a jet ski racing game, developed by Nintendo and released on the N64 in late 1996. The game was a critical and commercial hit, becoming a million-seller for Nintendo. As a result, this game is incredibly easy to find, and cheap to buy.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has always been one of my favorite games of all time. It holds a huge place in my childhood, and these memories of playing Sonic 2, way back when, are memories I will always cherish.
Daredevil is a side scrolling action game published by Encore Entertainment and released on the Game Boy Advance back in 2003. While Daredevil is an awesome character, with some great comics, and a terrific TV show, this game is based on a weaker entry in the Daredevil franchise, the 2003 film starring Ben Affleck.
Wonder Boy is an arcade-style platformer developed by Sega and released in arcades in 1986, with this Master System version following a year later.
Raiden is a vertically scrolling shooter, originally released in arcades in 1990. The 16-bit ports that followed added Trad to the title, but Raiden Trad is really a port of the arcade game, nothing more. This Super Nintendo version hit North American shores in the spring of 1992.
Super Mario Bros. was a launch title for the Nintendo Entertainment System back in 1985. Today I’m going to be looking at the enhanced port, released in 1993 for the Super Nintendo as part of the Super Mario All-Stars game pack.
Zanac is a vertically scrolling shooter developed by the legendary programmers at Compile and released for the North American Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987. Compile of course is responsible for the excellent Aleste series of video games, so I was excited to take a look at their earlier work.
Sonic 3 & Knuckles is the final chapter in the classic era of Sonic. For many fans, locking the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 cartridge, onto the Sonic & Knuckles cartridge, reveals the greatest Sonic game ever released; an epic game with outstanding music, beautiful graphics, unmatched level design and new gameplay mechanics.
While Electronic Arts was busy building Road Rash from the ground up for the 3DO, and later the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation, they also released an often overlooked title for the Sega CD. This one released in 1995, and unlike its 32-bit counterparts, uses the old Genesis engine, rather than something new.
Doom was released near the launch of the Sega 32X during the Holiday season of 1994. It was highly regarded upon release, receiving rave reviews from the gaming press. As time has passed, the game has developed a reputation of being a bad port, and 32X Doom's legacy fades with each passing year.
WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game is a fighting game from Midway released in arcades in 1995, with home ports following the very same year. The game takes the fighting elements from the Mortal Kombat series of games, mixes in some wrestling staples, and adds an NBA Jam style presentation over top, to create a unique fighting game experience.
The American version of Super Mario Bros. 2 was released in 1988. The game was a critical and commercial success, becoming one of the best selling games on the original NES system. It was also released in 1993 for the Super Nintendo, as part of the All-Stars game pack. Of course as kids, we didn’t know this was a reworking of the Japanese title Doki Doki Panic, but that’s a story for another time.
Ridge Racer 64 was developed by Namco and Nintendo Software Technology, and released on the Nintendo 64, in 2000. Curiously enough, this one was never released in Japan... Like the games before it, Ridge Racer 64 is an arcade style racing game, oozing with style, and placing an emphasis firmly on drifting.
Wipeout 64 was developed by the Sony-owned Psygnosis, and debuted on the Nintendo 64 in 1998. The game was released just after the immensely popular F-Zero X, and gamers at the time would spend the rest of the holiday season arguing over which was better.
Dr. Mario 64 was the final Mario game to grace the N64 game console in North America. It's also a sequel to one of my favorite puzzle games of all time, Dr. Mario. Being a budget title for a dying system released in the spring of 2001, Dr. Mario 64 didn't garner much excitement upon release. As a retro title however, it's fantastic.
Over Top is an overhead racing game developed by ADK and released on the Neo Geo CD in 1996. Being an arcade racer, the premise is simple. Choose one of 8 unlicensed cars and race through 7 unique environments before time runs out.
Rally Chase is a top down racing game developed by ADK, and released on the Neo Geo hardware in 1991. This CD version followed in 1994, around the launch of the console.
Shortly after Sonic’s debut on the Sega Genesis, Sega followed up with a couple of 8-bit ports for the Master System and Game Gear. Today, we’ll be looking the Game Gear port of Sonic the Hedgehog.
ChuChu Rocket was Sonic Team’s second title released for the Sega Dreamcast, and the first Dreamcast game allowing online multiplayer, thanks to it's built-in modem. The reason ChuChu Rocket was so critically acclaimed back in 2000 was the multiplayer, both local and online. In many ways, Sonic Team was able to capture the magic of many popular Nintendo 64 games, which were often better with 4 players huddled around the television.
Mega Man X was a reboot of sorts for the immensely popular Mega Man series. It arrived on North American shores in early 1994, released exclusively for the Super Nintendo. Mega Man X was a huge hit amongst fans and the press, spawning a whole new franchise of Mega Man games.
Sonic Chaos is the third side-scrolling Sonic game for the Game Gear, arriving in North America in 1993. While the first two games were met with mixed reviews, most Sonic fans agree Sonic Chaos is where the 8-bit Sonics finally started hitting their stride.
Cyber Speedway is a futuristic racing game, released exclusively for the Sega Saturn in 1995. While trying to cash-in on the extreme racing fad of the day, the developers also expanded on the formula, adding a bit of story to the game.
After being released on the 3DO and PlayStation first, Road Rash finally made its way to the Sega Saturn in 1996. For many, this 4th instalment in the series was Road Rash's high point, with no game since capturing the magic that made the game so special.
Sonic 3D Blast was released for the Sega Saturn on November 20, 1996. The game was ported from the Genesis, to the Saturn, in just 7 weeks, as a last minute effort by Sega to have a Sonic game out by Christmas, following the cancellation of Sonic X-treme.
Zool is a mascot platformer developed by Gremlin and originally released on the Amiga in 1992. It would later be ported to the popular consoles of the day, making it’s way to the North American Super Nintendo in 1993 or '94.
With Sony's North American launch of the PlayStation 2 having supply issues, Shenmue was Sega's last chance to save it's failing hardware business. The burden placed on Shenmue to be successful, and save the company, was immense. There will never be another game with so much pressure behind it. Under these circumstances, Shenmue was released to North American gamers in the winter of 2000.
Sonic Blast is the fifth and final traditional Sonic game for the Game Gear, debuting in North America in 1996. The first thing you'll notice about Sonic Blast is the dramatic shift in art direction. Gone are the cartooney worlds of previous games, and in are the pre-rendered 3D landscapes made popular by the Donkey Kong Country franchise.
Road Rash 3D is a complete reimagining of the Road Rash series. The graphics engine is all new, as are the motorcycle physics. More importantly, the 2D line scrolling road surface is finally gone, and in it's place a full, true, 3D world.
D2 is a third-person survival horror game, developed by WARP and published in North America in the fall of 2000. Despite being released at the height of survival horror popularity, the game was met with mixed reviews and didn’t sell particularly well.
Mega Man 2 is an action platformer developed by Capcom and released on the North American NES in 1989. The game was a smash hit for Capcom, catapulting the franchise into the hearts of millions, and still remains relevant even today.
The Sega Nomad is a portable Sega Genesis released exclusively in North America in 1995. Unfortunately for Sega, gamer’s were not terribly interested in the hardware, and it was discontinued after selling around just 1 million units.
The Texas Instruments TI-99/4A was a personal computer released in North America back in 1981. It is notable for being the first home computer with a 16-bit processor, but after selling around 3 million units, the computer was discontinued 3 years later.
The Sega CDX is a Genesis and Sega CD combo unit, released in the summer of 1994 for the amazing low low price of $399. Thankfully, the system is quite small with a significantly smaller footprint than a normal Sega CD and Genesis. It also requires just a single power cable, which is an awesome bonus.
The Legend of Zelda was introduced to North American gamers in the fall of 1987, and was an immediate hit for the NES. The popularity of the Zelda series has not waned since, and continues to be a system seller for Nintendo.
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus is a 3D platformer, developed by Sucker Punch and released on the PlayStation 2 in 2002. The game was met with critical acclaim and commercial success, allowing the franchise to continue for three more games.
Raiden is a vertically scrolling shooter, originally released in arcades in 1990. The 16-bit ports that followed added Trad to the title, but Raiden Trad is really a port of the arcade game, nothing more. This Sega Genesis version hit North American shores in 1991.
WipEout is a futuristic racing game, developed by Psygnosis and released on the Sega Saturn in 1996, just a few months after the PlayStation version. Despite Psygnosis being owned by Sony, they were given enough freedom to create games as they pleased, and Psygnosis developed games for competing hardware like the Nintendo 64 and Sega Saturn.
In May of 2015 news broke that a British company called Data Discs had secured the rights to re-release the epic Streets of Rage soundtrack on vinyl. I was able to pre-order my very own copy on May 30th, and after months of waiting, it has finally arrived!
Super Mario Bros. 3 was released in North America in 1990. The game was a critical and commercial success, becoming one of the best selling games on the original NES. It was also released in 1993 for the Super Nintendo, as part of the All-Stars game pack.
Sonic Labyrinth is a spin-off title for the Game Gear, debuting in North America in 1995. Unlike Sonic’s traditional 2D outings, Labyrinth is presented in an isometric viewpoint. The gameplay is changed from a speedy platformer, to a slow treasure hunting game. Fans of Sonic have generally been unimpressed with this diversion.
Vanishing Point is a racing game developed by Clockwork Games and released on the Sega Dreamcast in December of 2000. The game was met with positive reviews, but has mostly fallen into obscurity over the past 15 years.
T-Mek is a tournament style vehicular combat game developed by Atari Games and published by Time Warner Interactive in 1994. The game would receive a port for the Sega 32X the following year. Being a late release on an obscure console, T-Mek is uncommon, and commands a moderate price on eBay.
4x4 Evolution is an off-road racing game developed by Terminal Reality and published by Gathering of Developers for the Sega Dreamcast in 2000. The game was revolutionary for its day, allowing online cross platform play with the Dreamcast, PC and Mac, thanks to Sega’s support of the Windows CE operating system.
Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure is a side scrolling platformer developed by Activision and released on most contemporary home consoles of the mid 90's, with this Super Nintendo port debuting in 1994.
I loved N+ the moment I played it back in 2008 for the Xbox 360. So when I finally picked up a PlayStation Portable, N+ would be one of the first titles I snagged for the system. The game hearkens back to the 8-bit era of videos games, where all you did was run, and jump.
The Yobo FC Game Console is an NES clone from hardware maker Yobo Gameware, debuting sometime after 2003. The system includes a power cable, a pair of controllers, and plays most original NES game packs.
Most modern televisions feature just 1 or 2 component video inputs. But if you’re like me, you have more than 1 or 2 game systems needing these valuable ports. Worse yet, video capture devices like the El Gato Game Capture HD, and video processors like the XRGB-mini Framemeister have just a single component input.
Cool Boarders 2 is a snowboarding game, developed by EUP Systems and released for the PlayStation in 1997. Extreme sports games were extremely popular at the time, and Cool Boarders 2 was a commercial hit for Sony.
Golden Axe is a beat-em-up originally released in arcades, and ported to the Sega Genesis in 1989. Until the arrival of Sonic the Hedgehog in 1991, Sega relied heavily on sports games, and arcade ports, to differentiate the Genesis from Nintendo's dominant NES.
NBA Jam is an arcade style basketball game, originally released in arcades in 1993. After the immense success, it was quickly ported to every mainstream console of the time. A sequel was released in 1995, titled Tournament Edition, which again was ported to every mainstream console.
Rollcage is a futuristic racing game published by Psygnosis for the PlayStation in 1999. The game was well received at the time, and spawned a sequel just one year later.
Batman Returns is a beat-em-up developed by Konami and released for the Super Nintendo in 1993. As expected, the game takes us through Tim Burton’s 1992 film of the same name, even featuring digitized cut scenes from the movie.
Sonic Lost World is a 3D platformer developed by Sonic Team and released on the Wii U in 2013. After the enjoying Sonic Colors and Sonic Generations, I was confident Lost World would continue the trend of high quality Sonic, and I purchased a Wii U along with Lost World shortly after it’s release.
G Darius is the fourth instalment of Taito's long-running Darius series, originally released in arcades in 1997, and ported to the PlayStation one year later.
Batman: The Video Game is a side scrolling action game developed by Sunsoft and released on the NES in 1990. The game loosely follows the 1989 film Batman, which relaunched the Dark Knight into mainstream culture.
Life Force is a shmup developed by Konami and released on the original NES in 1988. The game combines design elements from Salamander, along with the power-up system from Gradius, to create a unique shooting experience.
F-Zero X is a futuristic racer, developed by Nintendo, and released on the N64 in 1998. The game was well-received at the time, but criticized for it's lack of detail in the graphics department.
Mickey Mania: The Timeless Adventures of Mickey Mouse is a mascot platformer, developed by Travellers Tales, published by Sony Imagesoft, and released in North America in 1994. The game is unique as the six stages each represent one of Mickey’s classic films.
Sonic Adventure was a launch title for the North American Dreamcast back in 1999. In 2003, it was ported to the GameCube and Window with enhanced visuals and some extra content, titled Sonic Adventure DX. This Windows port would then be the basis for a digital release on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network in 2010. If you’re the physical media type, Sonic Adventure was released as one of the four games on the Dreamcast Collection, released on the Xbox 360 in 2011.
The Road Rash series has always been one of my favorite racing franchises from the 90’s. But until recently, I’ve never actually played the very first title. This problem has now been rectified, so let’s take a look at the game that started it all.
Sonic CD is the third game released in the classic Sonic series, developed in Japan while Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was being developed in America. As a result, Sonic CD has a distinct look and feel, with some fans even declaring this the best of the classic Sonic series.
Unlike most Disney games from the 90's, 1993's Goof Troop for the SNES is not a platformer, but rather a top down action puzzle game. You take control of Goofy, or Max, from the animated cartoon and make your way through a pirate themed island to rescue Pete and PJ.
Daytona USA was an arcade hit for Sega, taking America by storm in 1994. Even today, cabinets can still be found in bowling alleys and laundromats throughout the country. A year after the arcade debut, Daytona USA would be a launch title for the Sega Saturn in 1995.
Mega Man II is an action platformer released for the Game Boy in 1992. The game is often criticized for being outsourced, rather than being developed in house, but was still a commercial hit for Capcom.
Jackal is an arcade-style, top down shooter, developed by Konami and released on the NES in 1988. Despite there being an abundance of this style game on the 8-bit platforms, Jackal somehow managed to stand out above the rest, and is still well received to this very day.
Hydro Thunder is a speed boat racing game developed by Midway, released in arcades in 1999. It was also a launch title for the Sega Dreamcast, again in '99. In 2005, the Dreamcast version of the game was ported to the Xbox, GameCube, and PlayStation 2 as part of the Midway Arcade Treasures 3 compilation disc. Today, we'll be looking at the Xbox version.
Toy Story was a terrific platformer for the Genesis and Super Nintendo back in 1996. The game featured gorgeous graphics, a great soundtrack, tight controls, and a ton of variety. It is a real hidden gem, and I was curious to see if the developers could capture the magic on the primitive Game Boy hardware.
Contra: The Alien Wars is a side-scrolling run-n-gun game developed by Factor 5 and released by Konami for the Game Boy in 1994. The game follows the events of Contra III on the Super Nintendo, but is obviously scaled back for the weaker hardware.
Manx TT SuperBike is an arcade-style racer from Sega, the king of arcade racers in the 1990’s. After years of success with open wheel racers, stock cars, and even rally, it only made sense for Sega to keep the train rolling.
Halo: Combat Evolved was the defining title of the first Xbox console back in 2001. Microsoft bet big with their acquisition of Bungie, pinning the hopes of a billion dollar business on the backs of Master Chief and company.
Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers is 2D platformer developed by Capcom and released on the NES in 1990. The game was a success for Capcom, but never quite lived up to the legacy of Capcom’s other Disney platformer, DuckTales.
Red Faction is a first person shooter released on the PlayStation 2 in May of 2001. The game was well received and was quite possibly the best home console FPS upon release.
Blades of Steel is an arcade-style hockey game developed by Konami and released on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1988. While lacking an official NHL license, the norm for the 80’s, Blades of Steel does feature eight teams representing real hockey cities from the time.
Donkey Kong was a launch title of sorts for the Super Game Boy, back in 1994. At first glance, this appears to be a handheld version of the arcade game, with Mario on his quest to save Pauline from Donkey Kong. However, after clearing the 4 arcade levels, a much deeper experience is presented. Donkey Kong is actually a puzzle platformer, taking elements from Donkey Kong, Super Mario Brothers, and sprinkles in plenty of puzzle elements.
The Lost Vikings is an action puzzle game developed by what is now Blizzard Entertainment, for the Sega Genesis in 1993. You take control of a trio of Vikings who have been abducted by aliens, and are forced to use the game's unique mechanics to solve puzzles and ultimately return them to their homeland.
Re-Volt is a remote control car racing game from Acclaim, released on the Dreamcast, PlayStation, N64, and Windows back in 1999. The Dreamcast version of the game is one of my favorite racing games on the system, so I was curious how the N64 port would hold up.
New Super Luigi U started life as downloadable content for New Super Mario Bros. U helping to celebrate the Year of Luigi. However, it was successful enough to launch as a stand-alone game, complete with a green case, matching our green hat wearing hero.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game is a port of Konami’s 1989 arcade hit, which itself was based off the immensely popular cartoon series. Unlike the first Turtles game on the NES, this one is a side scrolling beat-em-up, and a superior follow-up in every way.
Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle is a side-scrolling platformer released on the Sega Genesis in 1989. A year later, the entire franchise would essentially die, before Sonic the Hedgehog took over as Sega’s mascot. Having never played an Alex Kidd game before, this is my entry into the series, so, let’s take a look.
Road & Track Presents: The Need for Speed was developed by Electronic Arts and released on the 3DO back in 1994. This instalment of the game marks the very first entry into the series, with games still being released under the Need for Speed moniker to this very day.
In 1994, Electronic Arts rebooted the iconic Road Rash franchise, starting with the ill-fated 3DO system. The game was well received at the time, and fans of Road Rash still swear the first 32-bit version marks the high-point in the series.
Cyberia is an action-adventure game originally released for DOS in 1994, and later ported to the 3DO in 1996. Despite being rather dated, even upon release, Cyberia blends pre-rendered graphics, full motion-video, and light puzzle elements together to create a rather interesting science fiction game.
Double Dragon is a beat-em-up developed by Technos and released in Japanese arcades in 1987. The game was a commercial hit, and often credited for popularizing the genre. A year later, Sega developed and published a port for their struggling Master System.
D is a horror, puzzle, FMV game developed by WARP and debuting on the 3DO console in 1995. The game was a hit in Japan, but failed to make a big splash in other territories. Over the past 20 years however, it has developed a bit of a cult following, so let’s dive in.
Alien Gate is an arcade shooter developed by The Vision Factory and released on the Philips CD-i in 1993. With a scrolling background, this appears to be a traditional horizontal shmup, but the game actually has more in common with the static screen arcade shooters of the 1980's.
In my estimation, Tetris just might be the greatest video game of all time. There are few flaws to speak of, and the act of rotating and dropping tetrominoes onto a playfield, clearing lines, making room for the next set-of pieces is equal parts satisfying and hypnotic, making for some of the most fun I’ve had playing a video game. Philips advertised their CD-i version as being legendary, but is it? Let’s take a look.
Rise of the Dragon: A Blade Hunter Mystery is a point and click adventure game originally developed by Dynamix, and then ported to the Sega CD by Game Arts in 1993. The game is notable for its high quality voice acting, mature themes, and cyberpunk atmosphere, but has mostly fallen into obscurity since its release.
Mystic Midway: Rest in Pieces is a shooting gallery game developed by Philips POV and released on the Philips CD-i in 1992. The Mystic Midway is a haunted amusement park run by Dr. Dearth, who himself appears to be a ghost. Rest in Pieces is one of the attractions, which he promptly invites you to play.
Pac-Attack is a puzzle game developed by Namco and released on home consoles in 1993 and handhelds 1994. Over the years, the game has been re-released on numerous Namco compilations and digital stores. In Europe and Japan, Pac-Attack was actually known as Pac-Panic. Strangely enough, in 1995 Philips licensed Pac-Panic and ported the game to their failing CD-i. However, it remained a European exclusive, never making it to North America.
