Bro gets his kicks in a mall. Radical! If only skateboards were still allowed in malls today. PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: Electronic Arts DEVELOPER: Konami GENRE: Skating RELEASE DATE: December 1990 You think you know fear? Try taking down the mayor’s wife with a paint gun without thrashing and … Continue reading #575 – Skate or Die 2: The Search for Double Trouble
#574 – Skate or Die
She said, “See you later boy.” A couple amateur skaters, eager for Monster endorsements, got a date with Mother Road Rash instead. PLAYERS: 1-8 (alternating) PUBLISHER: Ultra Games DEVELOPER: Konami GENRE: Skating RELEASE DATE: December 1988 Skateboarding games didn’t become a popular genre until the Tony Hawk series … Continue reading #574 – Skate or Die
#573 – The Simpsons: Bartman Meets Radioactive Man
Everybody, if you can, refrain from doing the Bartman. This is how I felt these last couple days playing these Simpsons games: cold, isolated, alone. PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: Acclaim DEVELOPER: Imagineering GENRE: Platformer RELEASE DATE: December 1992 The final platformer in the “Is Nothing Sacred?” Simpsons NES trilogy, … Continue reading #573 – The Simpsons: Bartman Meets Radioactive Man
#572 – The Simpsons: Bart Vs. The World
Marge ice skating with the penguins is brilliant. Poor misshapen Bart. PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: Acclaim DEVELOPER: Imagineering GENRE: Platformer RELEASE DATE: December 1991 Less than a year after the atrocity that was Bart Vs. The Space Mutants comes Bart Vs. The World, a slightly better, if still underwhelming … Continue reading #572 – The Simpsons: Bart Vs. The World
#571 – The Simpsons: Bart Vs. The Space Mutants
Sorry Bart, I believe I will have a cow. Bart ponders the significance of space mutants jumping in front of a “Space Mutants 4” poster. PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: Acclaim DEVELOPER: Imagineering GENRE: Action/Puzzle RELEASE DATE: February 1991 For the first few years of the Simpsons’ television existence, the … Continue reading #571 – The Simpsons: Bart Vs. The Space Mutants
#570 – Silver Surfer
Silver Surfer is all chocolate underneath. Invading the local mall for a quick bite! PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: Arcadia Systems DEVELOPER: Software Creations GENRE: Shoot-em-up RELEASE DATE: November 1990 Silver Surfer is a licensed shoot-em-up with a bad reputation. The Angry Video Game Nerd famously disparaged it in one … Continue reading #570 – Silver Surfer
#569 – Silkworm
The best tag-team shmup of its day. Calm before the inevitable crap storm. PLAYERS: 1-2 simultaneous PUBLISHER: American Sammy DEVELOPER: American Sammy GENRE: Shoot-em-up RELEASE DATE: June 1990 Two questions you should ask yourself while engaging a shoot-em-up: 1) does it present a unique/interesting concept that enhances the … Continue reading #569 – Silkworm
#568 – Silent Service
The Beav and Steve McQueen team up for the ultimate underwater adventure. Silent Service‘s slow pace actually made me long for the sailing in Wind Waker. PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: Ultra Games DEVELOPER: Rare GENRE: Sim RELEASE DATE: December 1989 Submarine sims are a dime a dozen these days,* … Continue reading #568 – Silent Service
#567 – Silent Assault
Doesn’t look very silent to me. In a salmon-colored world, only one soldier can save the Olympic Torch from mini-UFOs. PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: Color Dreams DEVELOPER: Sachen GENRE: Action RELEASE DATE: 1990 Two breeds of Color Dreams’ games exist: the wicked and the weird. Silent Assault was only … Continue reading #567 – Silent Assault
#566 – Side Pocket
Cyndi Lauper cheers on Rick Astley from afar. The City Master is ordering a milk on the rocks, just because. PLAYERS: 1-2 alternating PUBLISHER: Namco DEVELOPER: Data East GENRE: Pool RELEASE DATE: June 1987 NES pool simulators are a curious lot. Fantasy titles like Lunar Pool take place … Continue reading #566 – Side Pocket
#565 – Short Order/Eggsplode!
The beef and the buns look exactly the same. “Short Order,” my eye. It’ll take you a half hour and a couple heart attacks to build a burger with the pig’s specifications.* PLAYERS: 1-5 alternating PUBLISHER: Nintendo DEVELOPER: TOSE GENRE: Mini-games RELEASE DATE: December 1989 As a Power … Continue reading #565 – Short Order/Eggsplode!
#564 – Shooting Range
Warning: Zapper does not fire actual lasers. Welp, I’m horrified. Well done, Shooting Range. PLAYERS: 1-4 alternating PUBLISHER: Bandai DEVELOPER: TOSE GENRE: Light gun RELEASE DATE: June 1989 Today’s outdoor “shooting range” implies real guns, earplugs, and precious antique cans. According to Bandai, a Shooting Range is a … Continue reading #564 – Shooting Range