Ancient China looks rough. Don’t screw it up, Wang Kuang PLAYERS: 1-12 (alternating, of course) PUBLISHER: Koei DEVELOPER: Koei GENRE: Turn-based strategy RELEASE DATE: September 1991 Recruit generals, spy on neighboring provinces, train soldiers, make alliances, go to war: a filthy year’s worth of work in Romance of … Continue reading #545 – Romance of the Three Kingdoms II
#544 – Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Koei covers are always masterfully done. Metals? ABSOLUTELY! PLAYERS: 1-8 alternating PUBLISHER: Koei DEVELOPER: Koei GENRE: Turn-based strategy RELEASE DATE: October 1989 Nobunaga’s Ambition was Koei’s first “Koei” game – tons of history, tons of strategy, statistically overwhelming – but Romance of the Three Kingdoms was their first … Continue reading #544 – Romance of the Three Kingdoms
BONUS ROUND! – Nuts and Milk (JPN)
According to Wikipedia, this was the first third-party game to be released on the Famicom. Interesting, if true. Milk feels emasculated. PLAYERS: 1-2 alternating PUBLISHER: Hudson Soft DEVELOPER: Hudson Soft GENRE: Arcade RELEASE DATE: July 1984 The combination of nuts and milk is downright ridiculous. What kind of snack … Continue reading BONUS ROUND! – Nuts and Milk (JPN)
#543 – Rolling Thunder
Daryl Hall rescues Sheila E. from the oppressive sounds of the Eighties. Has anyone considered how the red box feels about this situation? PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: Tengen DEVELOPER: Arc System Works GENRE: Action RELEASE DATE: 1989 Rolling Thunder is a sentimental favorite. I usually try to not … Continue reading #543 – Rolling Thunder
#542 – Rollergames
Harrison Ford stars as Billy Rollergame, an aging cyberpunk who’s out for one last roll. Run-down alleys are no match for Jazzercise. PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: Ultra Games DEVELOPER: Konami GENRE: Platformer/beat-em-up RELEASE DATE: September 1990 How many rollerbladers does it take to make a decent beat-em-up? I don’t … Continue reading #542 – Rollergames
#239 – Fox’s Peter Pan and the Pirates
Peter jumps into the white oblivion. Just a hobbit trying to make it in a elf’s world. PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: THQ DEVELOPER: Equilibrium GENRE: Platformer RELEASE DATE: January 1991 Was the cartoon upon which this game was based really popular enough to warrant this half-baked adaptation? Perhaps, but … Continue reading #239 – Fox’s Peter Pan and the Pirates
#540 – Rollerblade Racer
Does that guy in the front have a meth problem? What’s with his teeth? “Oops!” is the ethos of Rollerblade Racer PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: Hi-Tech Expressions DEVELOPER: Radiance GENRE: Racing RELEASE DATE: February 1993 If you’ve ever thought of Paperboy as a complex game, what with all the … Continue reading #540 – Rollerblade Racer
#539 – Rollerball
The future is now! Led Zeppelin and their Bouncing Bumpers, ladies and gentlemen! PLAYERS: 1-4 alternating PUBLISHER: HAL Labs DEVELOPER: HAL Labs GENRE: Pinball RELEASE DATE: February 1990 Even if you heartily enjoy pinball video games, one must admit that said genre can only produce a limited amount … Continue reading #539 – Rollerball
#538 – Roger Clemens’ MVP Baseball
That ball’s comin’ right for you, but will you be able to hit it? Think again! Look at all that baseball. PLAYERS: 1-2 simultaneous PUBLISHER: LJN DEVELOPER: Sculptured Software GENRE: Sports RELEASE DATE: October 1991 Just when you thought you were content with your NES baseball game collection, … Continue reading #538 – Roger Clemens’ MVP Baseball
#537 – Rockin’ Kats
Such a simple, cartoony design. Wonderfully done. I’m not sure if this is racist or not, but it does actually happen within the game. PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: Atlus DEVELOPER: Atlus GENRE: Platformer RELEASE DATE: September 1991 Before Atlus established themselves in the States as the torchbearers of anything … Continue reading #537 – Rockin’ Kats
#536 – The Rocketeer
Fantastic box-art. If only the game were this well-conceived. That gangster’s purple zoot suit, stylish though it may be, is no match for the Rocketeer’s fearsome helmet. PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: Bandai America DEVELOPER: Bandai GENRE: Action RELEASE DATE: May 1991 I complained vigorously about the Rocket Ranger resembling/completely … Continue reading #536 – The Rocketeer
#535 – Rocket Ranger
People in the hovercar: “Out of the way, dingus! We’re trying to watch the movie!” The sky is purple. Blue was too expensive. PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: Kemco DEVELOPER: Beam Software GENRE: Shooting/Strategy RELEASE DATE: June 1990 The Rocket Ranger, as a name, doesn’t have the same ring as … Continue reading #535 – Rocket Ranger