Far be it from me to shortchange anybody’s request for a game review, but… you all gave me a lot of requests; 43, if my math isn’t mistaken. There’s no way I can devote large chunks of time to each game – especially deep titles like Sweet Home, Mother, or Final Fantasy 2 and … Continue reading Weekend Roundup: Reviews for the Masses
Tag Archives: shoot-em-up
Summer Carnival ’92: Recca – By Request
Now you’re playing with power. Death! It is everywhere! PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: Naxat Soft DEVELOPER: KID GENRE: Shoot-em-up RELEASE DATE: July 1992 Imagine a summer carnival in 1992: carousels, fried twinkies, vomit, girls in skimpy clothing, enormous stuffed animals, glistening sweat. The carnival is a hazy fantasy that … Continue reading Summer Carnival ’92: Recca – By Request
#754 – Zombie Nation
“Hey ladies!” So it’s come to this. PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: Meldac DEVELOPER: Kaze GENRE: Shoot-em-up RELEASE DATE: September 1991 Namakubi, the decapitated samurai zombie head star of Zombie Nation, is the wind beneath our wings. He spews rivers of vomit upon creatures of the earth. Endless waves of … Continue reading #754 – Zombie Nation
#750 – Zanac
They’ve got the whooooole world in their hands. I can’t count the number of times I died here. PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: FCI DEVELOPER: Compile GENRE: Shoot-em-up RELEASE DATE: October 1987 Zanac is either a gentle joyride across twelve planets, or a relentless shoot-em-up co-sponsored by the devil. It’s … Continue reading #750 – Zanac
#745 – Xexyz
But wait, there’s more! Just another day on XEXYZ. PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: Hudson Soft DEVELOPER: Hudson Soft GENRE: Platformer/shoot-em-up RELEASE DATE: April 1990 Just so we’re all clear, a “XEXYZ” (pronounced zeks-zees) is a series of five worlds turned into one nation; at least according to the official … Continue reading #745 – Xexyz
#744 – Xevious
Standing on the edge of tomorrow… yesterday! That’s a forest, not a jello mold. PLAYERS: 1-2 alternating PUBLISHER: Bandai DEVELOPER: Namco GENRE: Shoot-em-up RELEASE DATE: September 1988 The slogan for the original arcade version of Xevious (pronounced Zeh Vee Us) was “Are you devious enough to beat Xevious?” … Continue reading #744 – Xevious
#738 – Wurm: Journey to the Center of the Earth
This cover’s all kinds of crazy. Much like the game itself! “Ziggy… can’t hear you now. We had to pack his ears with gauze.“ PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: Asmik Corporation DEVELOPER: Cyclone System GENRE: Shmup/Action/Adventure/First-person shooter RELEASE DATE: November 1991 Wurm is a genre sampler. It hands out bite-size … Continue reading #738 – Wurm: Journey to the Center of the Earth
#695 – Ultimate Stuntman
Pretty sure that’s an airbrushed Arnold. He wouldn’t be the Ultimate Stuntman if he couldn’t climb up a building with his bare hands. PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: Camerica DEVELOPER: Codemasters GENRE: Action/Shoot-em-up/Puzzle RELEASE DATE: 1990 Ultimate Stuntman is an odd, unpolished game that manages to entertain in spite of … Continue reading #695 – Ultimate Stuntman
#688 – Twin Eagle: Revenge Joe’s Brother
The Twin Eagle font looks RPG-ish to me. This cover is just all-around terrible. Believe it or not, the screen was moving quite fast during this portion of the game. PLAYERS: 1-2 simultaneous PUBLISHER: Romstar DEVELOPER: Visco GENRE: Shoot-em-up RELEASE DATE: October 1989 To paraphrase a Britney Spears … Continue reading #688 – Twin Eagle: Revenge Joe’s Brother
#687 – Twin Cobra
What makes a “mega” chip? And where does one procure two of them? No annoying morse-code soundtrack in Twin Cobra, thank God. PLAYERS: 1 PUBLISHER: American Sammy DEVELOPER: Micronics GENRE: Shoot-em-up RELEASE DATE: January 1990 The NES has a king’s ransom of shoot-em-ups, many of which lack personality, … Continue reading #687 – Twin Cobra
#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