Not all American gamers want to see American bros on a Japanese brawler, Technos. These frat boys deserve a good pummeling. PLAYERS: 1-2 alternating PUBLISHER: Technos DEVELOPER: Million GENRE: Beat-em-up/RPG RELEASE DATE: January 1990 Alex and Ryan are your average high school students. They love gel in their … Continue reading #525 – River City Ransom
#526 – Road Runner
Magnets, Wile E… how do they work? The Road Runner’s last hurrah. PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: Tengen DEVELOPER: Beam Software GENRE: Arcade RELEASE DATE: 1989 The Looney Tunes have strange lives, do they not? They act snarky, they get blown up, they dress in drag, they have speech impediments. … Continue reading #526 – Road Runner
#524 – Ring King
Ray Leonard Jr. approved Ring King as soon as the check cleared. Great character animation for an early NES game. PLAYERS: 1-2 simultaneous PUBLISHER: Data East DEVELOPER: Namco GENRE: Sports RELEASE DATE: September 1987 There’s only one NES boxing game that matters: Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! (or, if you … Continue reading #524 – Ring King
#523 – Rescue: The Embassy Mission
That terrorist knows he’s hosed. Steve shoots out windows for the fun of it. In his sniper class, he was voted “Most Likely to Die First.” PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: Kemco DEVELOPER: Infogrames GENRE: Shooter RELEASE DATE: January 1990 The NES really was the system that launched a thousand … Continue reading #523 – Rescue: The Embassy Mission
#522 – Renegade
Never pick on a guy who obviously lifts weights. Pink ninjas? Now I’ve seen everything. PLAYERS: 1-2 alternating PUBLISHER: Taito DEVELOPER: Million GENRE: Beat-em-up RELEASE DATE: January 1988 Renegade might star my beloved Kunio-kun (see: River City Ransom, Nintendo World Cup, Crash ‘N The Boys), and be one … Continue reading #522 – Renegade
#521 – The Ren & Stimpy Show: Buckaroo$!
Ren’s just greedy and Stimpy’s an idiot. I wish money sacks really would rain down. PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: THQ DEVELOPER: Imagineering GENRE: Platformer RELEASE DATE: November 1993 I’m still in awe that Nickelodeon ever allowed “Ren and Stimpy” to air on their network. It was random, disgusting, and … Continue reading #521 – The Ren & Stimpy Show: Buckaroo$!
#520 – Remote Control
The tagline is blunt, harsh, and accurate. The contestants’ faces mimic my own. PLAYERS: 1-2 simultaneous PUBLISHER: Hi-Tech DEVELOPER: RSP GENRE: Game show RELEASE DATE: May 1990 Remote Control replicates the MTV game show in almost every way. Three contestants select from nine channels on a large TV. … Continue reading #520 – Remote Control
#519 – Rampart
I assumed the cannons fired themselves. I ASSUMED WRONG! Well, I don’t like to brag, but… PLAYERS: 1-2 simultaneous PUBLISHER: Jaleco DEVELOPER: Bitmasters GENRE: Action/Strategy RELEASE DATE: January 1992 Rampart didn’t interest me as a kid: castles, cannons, ships, strategy. No thanks. At eight years of age, I … Continue reading #519 – Rampart
#518 – Rampage
I like the citizens cheering on the destruction. You’re next, business-people! Saving the worst for last. Ralph’s face says it all. PLAYERS: 1-2 simultaneous PUBLISHER: Data East DEVELOPER: Data East GENRE: Arcade RELEASE DATE: December 1988 Rampage‘s building-smashing ethos isn’t the most cultured or open-minded, but it does … Continue reading #518 – Rampage
#517 – Rambo
Good luck finding any bullets for that gun. The Viet Cong, ignorant of Rambo’s presence, practice their techniques on each other. PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: Acclaim DEVELOPER: Pack-In Video GENRE: Action RELEASE DATE: May 1988 “To survive a war, you gotta become war.” Rambo a.k.a. Sylvester Stallone spoke that … Continue reading #517 – Rambo
#516 – Rally Bike
Wait… you’re racing next to the Golden Gate bridge, yet you’ve got New York City in your sights? Not even my helper bikes could prevent my death. Some help! PLAYERS: 1-2 alternating PUBLISHER: Romstar DEVELOPER: Visco GENRE: Racing RELEASE DATE: September 1990 You’re gonna need more than headgear and … Continue reading #516 – Rally Bike
#515 – Rainbow Islands
My fortune’s at the end of the rainbow? What a fool I’ve been! “There’s your problem. Rainbow to the face. Never fails.” PLAYERS: 1-2 alternating PUBLISHER: Taito DEVELOPER: Disco GENRE: Arcade/Platformer RELEASE DATE: June 1991 You don’t need a machine to make a rainbow. I learned this from … Continue reading #515 – Rainbow Islands