Evocative cover for a bland game. *rimshot* PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: Toho DEVELOPER: Origin GENRE: Action/RPG RELEASE DATE: May 1991 Times of Lore answers the question, “What if the original Dragon Warrior was a non-threatening action-RPG?” You play as a knight, valkyrie, or barbarian who runs errands for powerful … Continue reading #665 – Times of Lore
#664 – Time Lord
You can’t just become a Time Lord… Ugh, time banditos are the worst. PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: Milton Bradley DEVELOPER: Rare GENRE: Action RELEASE DATE: September 1990 Time waits for no man, including the man known as “Time Lord.” One would think if your birth name was Time Lord, … Continue reading #664 – Time Lord
#663 – Tiles of Fate
What sorcery is this? Level 5 is when Tiles of Fate decided to ratchet up the difficulty. PLAYERS: 1-2 alternating PUBLISHER: American Video Entertainment DEVELOPER: C&E Inc. GENRE: Puzzle RELEASE DATE: 1990 I reviewed Tiles of Fate in September 2012 as part of a fifteen-game multi-cart known as … Continue reading #663 – Tiles of Fate
#662 – Tiger-Heli
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