Author: jrsupermoore I might not have spent many hours of my youth in the library reading books, but I did enjoy many a fun filled scrimmage of roller hockey with my friends in the library parking lot. Here, hard earned allowance money was spent on sticks, roller blades, knee guards — anything…
Author: John Legendoffzelda Three years after the end of the Back to the Future film series, long after America gave up on the notion of a good video game adaptation, the Japan-exclusive music label Toshiba EMI released Super Back to the Future II. The game’s quality might remind players of…
Author: John Legendoffzelda For all the edge and shimmering visuals apparent throughout Castlevania: Dracula X, you can still see its creators reinstating the series’ strict roots and doing so with relative panache. No swinging from hooks, no whipping in a direction that isn’t directly in front of you, and…
Author: jrsupermoore I can imagine what a 15-year old Tiger Woods must have thought after playing True Golf Classics: Waialae Country Club with his factory fresh Super Nintendo in 1991. “You can choose your own caddy!”, the young golfer might have mused. “And you can alter your foot stance, choice of club, even what…
Author: Eric Dude Demon’s Crest is the third entry in a somewhat underappreciated action adventure series from Capcom. The trials and tribulations of Firebrand (a.k.a. the Red Demon from Ghosts ‘n Goblins) first began on the black & white Game Boy with Gargoyle’s Quest, and then graduated to the…
Author: John Legendoffzelda In its own uncommon and assertive way, First Samurai demonstrates a lot of potential. With a shirtless samurai warrior at the center of its fantasy mix, Kemco and Vivid Media’s platformer could make its hodgepodge of 2D action-game elements succeed with the radical confidence of something like…
Author: Masamune If you’re looking for an arcade style boxing game for the Super NES, Super Punch Out!! is really the only game in town. Or so I thought. Another title in a somewhat similar vein exists, but was only available in Japan. Ashita no Joe, or Tomorrow’s Joe…
Author: John Legendoffzelda A great video game presents immaculate execution of its ideas for interactive entertainment. A great video game sequel uses this feat to override its existence as a follow-up. When the sequel re-configures its established gameplay concepts with enough skill and perhaps even some accidental genius, it changes…
Author: John Legendoffzelda In a regular sci-fi scrolling shooter, the sleek weaponized spacecraft being controlled by the player earns power-ups. They enhance the main weapons, or else stick close to the hull and multiply the firepower. Atlus and AI try for a novel twist on this convention with their arcade port BlaZeon,…
Author: jrsupermoore One of the Super Nintendo’s strengths was in converting certain arcade gallery classics into equally excellent experiences on home console. A couple examples that come to mind are Midway’s NBA Jam (1993) and Capcom’s Street Fighter II (1991). Both of these games were paramount for reinvigorating their genres, but it’s…