Strangely serene painting for the cover of a shoot-em-up. I blame the sunset. Don’t drink the water. PLAYERS: 1-2 alternating PUBLISHER: Acclaim DEVELOPER: Micronics GENRE: Shoot-em-up RELEASE DATE: September 1987 Tiger-Heli is often confused as Tiger Hell, though the latter is another concept altogether. The game is a … Continue reading #662 – Tiger-Heli
#661 – Thundercade
Good thing he’s wearing his helmet. The peach tanks struck fear into my heart. PLAYERS: 1-2 simultaneous PUBLISHER: American Sammy DEVELOPER: Micronics GENRE: Shoot-em-up RELEASE DATE: July 1989 Thundercade is the shoot-em-up equivalent of a contemporary summer blockbuster: fun and exciting while you’re watching/playing it, but once it’s … Continue reading #661 – Thundercade
#660 – Thunderbirds
Take that, day time! Thunderbird 3, hoping to make it out of Varicose Vein Valley alive. PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: Activision DEVELOPER: Pack-in Video GENRE: Shoot-em-up RELEASE DATE: September 1990 Creepy British puppets from the 60s have no place in video games, and yet, in the 80s and early … Continue reading #660 – Thunderbirds
#659 – Thunder & Lightning
This cover really does cover every aspect of Thunder & Lightning. Humble beginnings for Mr. Chin. PLAYERS: 1-2 simultaneous/alternating PUBLISHER: Romstar DEVELOPER: Romstar GENRE: Breakout RELEASE DATE: December 1990 Breakout begat Arkanoid which begat Woody Pop which begat Thunder & Lightning. Breakout‘s children range from “uninspired” to “further … Continue reading #659 – Thunder & Lightning
#658 – The Three Stooges
Calling all chowdah-heads! “Mutton for brains, the both of ya!” PLAYERS: 1-2 simultaneous PUBLISHER: Activision DEVELOPER: Beam Software GENRE: Minigame RELEASE DATE: October 1989 The Three Stooges is a basket of strange nyuks: a handful of minigames/events starring the Stooges that limits their antics, while staying true to … Continue reading #658 – The Three Stooges
#657 – Tetris 2
Poor Tetris. Even the COM isn’t doing that well. PLAYERS: 1-2 simultaneous PUBLISHER: Nintendo DEVELOPER: TOSE GENRE: Puzzle RELEASE DATE: October 1993 The original Tetris for the NES is a complete work, perfect inasmuch as any game can be perfect. So why Tetris 2? Perhaps a Tetris sequel … Continue reading #657 – Tetris 2
#656 – Tetris (Tengen/Nintendo)
Dah. Love the Cossacks. “From Russia With Fun”? C’mon, Nintendo… Nintendo’s version has more vibrant colors for the Tetris pieces. PLAYERS: 1-2 simultaneous (Tengen)/ 1 (Nintendo) PUBLISHER: Tengen/Nintendo DEVELOPER: Tengen/Nintendo GENRE: Puzzle RELEASE DATE: 1989 (Tengen)/ November 1989 (Nintendo) Tengen’s Tetris is … Continue reading #656 – Tetris (Tengen/Nintendo)
#654 – Terminator 2: Judgment Day
The judgment is in his eyes. Arnold just wants a drink, not a hullabaloo. PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: LJN DEVELOPER: Software Creations GENRE: Action RELEASE DATE: February 1992 “Terminator 2” is one of the greatest action films of all time, so its only natural that its 8-bit counterpart reek … Continue reading #654 – Terminator 2: Judgment Day
#653 – The Terminator
Arnold demands kisses of the bullet-filled variety. When Kyle was a man. PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: Mindscape DEVELOPER: Radical Entertainment GENRE: Action RELEASE DATE: December 1992 Terminator? Shoot yeah, I remember him. Big muscly fellow, liked leather, shades, and loud guns. He was always after my patron, Kyle Reese … Continue reading #653 – The Terminator
#652 – Tennis
But… his shirt is blue in the game. Mario reffin’ like he’s got a pair. PLAYERS: 1-2 simultaneous PUBLISHER: Nintendo DEVELOPER: Nintendo GENRE: Sports RELEASE DATE: October 1985 Twenty years before Wii Sports lit up retirement homes worldwide, Tennis was Nintendo’s first stab at the back-and-forth racket game. … Continue reading #652 – Tennis
#651 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters
Konami’s covers are always fantastic. It’s like I’m playing the end of the first movie! PLAYERS: 1-2 simultaneous PUBLISHER: Konami DEVELOPER: Konami GENRE: Fighting RELEASE DATE: February 1994 A Turtles fighting game is a brilliant idea, but on the NES? With a controller that only has two buttons … Continue reading #651 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters
#650 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project
Psst! Raph! The war is in the opposite direction! Tonk and the Tonk-ettes come to croon – and bludgeon! PLAYERS: 1-2 simultaneous PUBLISHER: Konami DEVELOPER: Konami GENRE: Beat-em-up RELEASE DATE: February 1992 Here’s Manhattan: home of the brash, outrageous, and green. The Turtles are back to curb-stomp Foot … Continue reading #650 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project