Contra (Commodore 64 - Rating: 1/10)
Contra WAS NOT supposed to be a bad game. The arcade version was awesome, the NES version was twice as awesome, and this Commodore port....is not even half-worth it.
You know all of the rapid-firing gun-shooting platforming action you knew and loved in the arcade and NES games? Well, in this Contra, THEY ARE TERRIBLE! The shooting is slower and can be unresponsive at certain times.
Guess how the control scheme is? You press Spacebar to jump and Ctrl to shoot. How bad can this be? Well, that results in your weak pinky having to fire the gun rapidly (Or....whatever), and I hate that. Plus, it also makes the game even HARDER.
Speaking of the difficulty, whereas I can beat the arcade game by using its limited continues and the NES version with the Konami code (no continues), I CAN ONLY GET UP TO THE SECOND STAGE'S BOSS!!!
Sometimes, even the situations are frustrating. More frustrating than the other versions, I may add. The movements aren't smooth at all, and they can cause you to just flat-out mess up and lose the whole game.
That's right, you CAN'T continue! You have to beat this frustrating disaster in one go!
Stay as far from this version of Contra as possible. Don't even try to play it online, or even with Joy-to-Key (A program where you can use joypads to play online games) for that matter.
You know all of the rapid-firing gun-shooting platforming action you knew and loved in the arcade and NES games? Well, in this Contra, THEY ARE TERRIBLE! The shooting is slower and can be unresponsive at certain times.
Guess how the control scheme is? You press Spacebar to jump and Ctrl to shoot. How bad can this be? Well, that results in your weak pinky having to fire the gun rapidly (Or....whatever), and I hate that. Plus, it also makes the game even HARDER.
Speaking of the difficulty, whereas I can beat the arcade game by using its limited continues and the NES version with the Konami code (no continues), I CAN ONLY GET UP TO THE SECOND STAGE'S BOSS!!!
Sometimes, even the situations are frustrating. More frustrating than the other versions, I may add. The movements aren't smooth at all, and they can cause you to just flat-out mess up and lose the whole game.
That's right, you CAN'T continue! You have to beat this frustrating disaster in one go!
Stay as far from this version of Contra as possible. Don't even try to play it online, or even with Joy-to-Key (A program where you can use joypads to play online games) for that matter.
Crazy Kong 64 (Commodore 64 - Rating: 1/10)
For those of you who remember Crazy Kong, a bootleg version of Donkey Kong created by Falcon, in the arcade....this is not by the same company. Yet, they attempt (and fail) to copy the same game. Only except the arcade version is just a color and sound edit. This is made from scratch.....making this one A LOT WORSE!
The title screen you get at the beginning....isn't really so great. It shows four colored "Crazy Kongs" beating their chests. And of course, they are beside the title itself, which is flashing. The controls for the keyboard are shown awkwardly, but really, they are not what is shown up there.
Really, you can just move with the arrows (Including Up for climbing) and press Shift to jump.
The game is extremely terrible from the start. The sprites are a monstrosity. You have a guy that looks like an insect in which is who you're playing as. And you've got Crazy Kong, who throws down barrels in 2 seconds. Once he throws down the barrels and you're still at the bottom of the level, then you are dead. You have no choice but to get killed. Also, you can't even jump while standing still.
Once you grab a hammer, you get another laughable sprite. You are also invincible, though. You can even climb up WITH the hammer! And that is half-cool, and half-pathetic. It just makes the game seem like cakewalk. In fact, once you lose the hammer, you can go THROUGH THE BARRELS THROWN AT YOU!
Okay, so I reach the last ladder, and.....nothing's happening. Why am I not going to the next level? I also don't know if I can move down or not, so basically, you're just stuck. And with no solution to help you.
Overall, it's a pile of cassette trash.
The title screen you get at the beginning....isn't really so great. It shows four colored "Crazy Kongs" beating their chests. And of course, they are beside the title itself, which is flashing. The controls for the keyboard are shown awkwardly, but really, they are not what is shown up there.
Really, you can just move with the arrows (Including Up for climbing) and press Shift to jump.
The game is extremely terrible from the start. The sprites are a monstrosity. You have a guy that looks like an insect in which is who you're playing as. And you've got Crazy Kong, who throws down barrels in 2 seconds. Once he throws down the barrels and you're still at the bottom of the level, then you are dead. You have no choice but to get killed. Also, you can't even jump while standing still.
Once you grab a hammer, you get another laughable sprite. You are also invincible, though. You can even climb up WITH the hammer! And that is half-cool, and half-pathetic. It just makes the game seem like cakewalk. In fact, once you lose the hammer, you can go THROUGH THE BARRELS THROWN AT YOU!
Okay, so I reach the last ladder, and.....nothing's happening. Why am I not going to the next level? I also don't know if I can move down or not, so basically, you're just stuck. And with no solution to help you.
Overall, it's a pile of cassette trash.
Golden Axe (Master System - Rating: 6/10)
Golden Axe is an arcade game. And it is by Sega. So of course there would be a port for the Sega Genesis. Oh wait! What about the Master System? Did it get a port, too? Yes, and it's not as good.
After the title screen, you get to choose....your special attack. Yeah, that's right. You don't get to play as the other characters. ONLY THE ONE ON THE COVER! WHOA! But you can choose the powers of the other characters.
The game begins, and you get 8-Bit versions of the nice little tunes from the arcade original.
The gameplay is that you must beat up punks and move on. Just like any other beat 'em up....or hack 'n slash.
The biggest letdown is how low your health is. About 5 or 6 hits from standard enemies can kill you. And I'm NOT talking about the huge guys. You can press 1 and 2 at the same time to unleash the special attack, but it's really hard to be able to charge into somebody and tackle him/her. That's another letdown.
But overall, it's an...okay port. But you may buy this only if you prefer a bigger challenge than in the Genesis/arcade game.
After the title screen, you get to choose....your special attack. Yeah, that's right. You don't get to play as the other characters. ONLY THE ONE ON THE COVER! WHOA! But you can choose the powers of the other characters.
The game begins, and you get 8-Bit versions of the nice little tunes from the arcade original.
The gameplay is that you must beat up punks and move on. Just like any other beat 'em up....or hack 'n slash.
The biggest letdown is how low your health is. About 5 or 6 hits from standard enemies can kill you. And I'm NOT talking about the huge guys. You can press 1 and 2 at the same time to unleash the special attack, but it's really hard to be able to charge into somebody and tackle him/her. That's another letdown.
But overall, it's an...okay port. But you may buy this only if you prefer a bigger challenge than in the Genesis/arcade game.
Mario Clash (Virtual Boy - Rating: 8/10)
Mario Clash isn't like any main Mario title, but it sure is as fun as any Mario game can be, even when it comes to being available for a system that's rumored to hurt your eyes badly.
Basically, it's like the arcade game Mario Bros, but with a new gimmick in which you can stomp Koopas and throw their shells towards or far back away from the screen to kill enemies. You can also throw them left or right. This actually makes for even more interesting action that Mario Bros seems to be somewhat missing.
The variety of enemies isn't bad, either. Along with the standard walking Koopas and Spinies, you now have hopping enemies, as well as ghosts. Like the shell bashing, it adds to the already addicting arcade-style platforming formula. Oh, yes. Did I forget to mention that the game is endless, just like Mario Bros? Sorry, I just can't get anywhere without comparing it to that game.
But if you enjoy playing games with that kind of 80s arcade gameplay, and if you're not afraid of the Virtual Boy's rumors, definitely try and pick this up.
Basically, it's like the arcade game Mario Bros, but with a new gimmick in which you can stomp Koopas and throw their shells towards or far back away from the screen to kill enemies. You can also throw them left or right. This actually makes for even more interesting action that Mario Bros seems to be somewhat missing.
The variety of enemies isn't bad, either. Along with the standard walking Koopas and Spinies, you now have hopping enemies, as well as ghosts. Like the shell bashing, it adds to the already addicting arcade-style platforming formula. Oh, yes. Did I forget to mention that the game is endless, just like Mario Bros? Sorry, I just can't get anywhere without comparing it to that game.
But if you enjoy playing games with that kind of 80s arcade gameplay, and if you're not afraid of the Virtual Boy's rumors, definitely try and pick this up.
Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (Master System - Rating: 7/10)
Michael Jackson's Moonwalker was a movie composed of music videos starring the King of Pop himself. People had loved it, but even when the movie was made of music videos, games based off of it spawned. The Genesis and Master System versions were based off of the arcade game, which was an awesome 3-player beat 'em up! Those versions however, weren't faithful to the arcade game, but instead, were platformers. Seriously? All of Sega's arcade games have been ported to the Genesis and/or Master System while remaining mostly the same as the arcade originals, so why not this?
The game starts with Michael throwing a coin into the jukebox, playing Smooth Criminal. World 1 just so happens to be what was the second level in the arcade version. The goal is to rescue kids, rather than getting to the end of the level. All the kids look the same, strangely. You have to look through doors, windows, etc, to look for kids. If you find all the kids, a guy named "Mr. Big" comes, saying "You'll never catch me!", and then a swarm of enemies come.
Let's note that the music is classic MJ music represented with few notes as possible. Not bad, but not great.
The items you can find are either health packs, or power-ups that let you throw your hat rather than kick or punch. There are some other cool moves, but they are stupid at the same time. You can moonwalk, but it's pointless. Hold down the 2 button, and Michael will spin and then dance, forcing the enemies to dance with him, and then die. Too bad they don't pop up onscreen with Michael....and what's worse is that the move will drain HALF YOUR HEALTH, whereas in the arcade game, IT DOESN'T DAMAGE YOU OR THE PEOPLE PLAYING WITH YOU! WHAT THE HECK?!
The second world is Night Street, the simplest world in the game. Now you must look through cars. Some cars have bombs, while others have kids. Unlike the Genesis version, the bombs are more avoidable. The third level of the world, however, gets a tiny bit more annoying as there are dogs jumping all around the place.
The third world is, if you guessed it, the graveyard. Now you must look for kids hiding in tombstones and bushes. Why are there so many kids hiding everywhere? Zombies pop out of the ground and also jump like the dogs....sorta.It looked like there are platforms there for a reason, but really, it's just so you wouldn't walk in the dark mud, which only slows you down SLIGHTLY.
The fourth world, is not even from the arcade game. It is a cave full of enemies. The music is actually Billie Jean. The openings of the cave are where the kids are, but there are also enemies. It somewhat bothers me about how it differs from just normally checking in doors or cars.
The fifth world is the Evil Fortress, but it looks NOTHING like in the arcade game whatsoever. It's full of laser-shooting and futuristic computers. It makes the game even harder. Thankfully there are continues in the game, but how many times do you need to continue? Wait til I tell you about the next world....
The sixth world is where you'll either rip out your hair, or you'll be able to find a pattern so you can beat it easily. You finally get to play as Mecha Jackson, but tons of enemies keep shooting you. I try to find patterns, but I end up dying. Perhaps you can find a pattern here, but good luck. There will be 3 shooting levels you have to go through.
After all you have done, you get to watch Michael Jackson dance various dances as Smooth Criminal plays in the credits. As you expected, it is a different credits sequence compared to the arcade game.
Overall, it's still a good game. I'd just rather prefer beating up punks with magic powers with 2 other people in the arcade game.
The game starts with Michael throwing a coin into the jukebox, playing Smooth Criminal. World 1 just so happens to be what was the second level in the arcade version. The goal is to rescue kids, rather than getting to the end of the level. All the kids look the same, strangely. You have to look through doors, windows, etc, to look for kids. If you find all the kids, a guy named "Mr. Big" comes, saying "You'll never catch me!", and then a swarm of enemies come.
Let's note that the music is classic MJ music represented with few notes as possible. Not bad, but not great.
The items you can find are either health packs, or power-ups that let you throw your hat rather than kick or punch. There are some other cool moves, but they are stupid at the same time. You can moonwalk, but it's pointless. Hold down the 2 button, and Michael will spin and then dance, forcing the enemies to dance with him, and then die. Too bad they don't pop up onscreen with Michael....and what's worse is that the move will drain HALF YOUR HEALTH, whereas in the arcade game, IT DOESN'T DAMAGE YOU OR THE PEOPLE PLAYING WITH YOU! WHAT THE HECK?!
The second world is Night Street, the simplest world in the game. Now you must look through cars. Some cars have bombs, while others have kids. Unlike the Genesis version, the bombs are more avoidable. The third level of the world, however, gets a tiny bit more annoying as there are dogs jumping all around the place.
The third world is, if you guessed it, the graveyard. Now you must look for kids hiding in tombstones and bushes. Why are there so many kids hiding everywhere? Zombies pop out of the ground and also jump like the dogs....sorta.It looked like there are platforms there for a reason, but really, it's just so you wouldn't walk in the dark mud, which only slows you down SLIGHTLY.
The fourth world, is not even from the arcade game. It is a cave full of enemies. The music is actually Billie Jean. The openings of the cave are where the kids are, but there are also enemies. It somewhat bothers me about how it differs from just normally checking in doors or cars.
The fifth world is the Evil Fortress, but it looks NOTHING like in the arcade game whatsoever. It's full of laser-shooting and futuristic computers. It makes the game even harder. Thankfully there are continues in the game, but how many times do you need to continue? Wait til I tell you about the next world....
The sixth world is where you'll either rip out your hair, or you'll be able to find a pattern so you can beat it easily. You finally get to play as Mecha Jackson, but tons of enemies keep shooting you. I try to find patterns, but I end up dying. Perhaps you can find a pattern here, but good luck. There will be 3 shooting levels you have to go through.
After all you have done, you get to watch Michael Jackson dance various dances as Smooth Criminal plays in the credits. As you expected, it is a different credits sequence compared to the arcade game.
Overall, it's still a good game. I'd just rather prefer beating up punks with magic powers with 2 other people in the arcade game.
Michael Jackson: The Experience (PSP - Rating: 4/10)
Alright! Who thought this was a good idea?! Okay...before I go crazy, I just wanna say that I absolutely love Michael Jackson's songs (To the point where I feel shame in becoming a fan only after his death), and I have the DS version of Michael Jackson: The Experience. I thought that version was pretty good, but would've used improvement. But THIS version on the PSP....is a total disgrace.
The only redeeming quality about this PSP offering is that it contains some more songs than the DS version, including the famous "Thriller". This game has a soundtrack that sets the bar higher than many video games couldn't be able to achieve. And that soundtrack is Michael Jackson's music. What's even better is that the songs are as crisp as they could get.
The graphics are identical to the DS game. It features an animated Michael Jackson dancing by his lonesome, making the scenery feel rather empty. At least his dance moves and costumes/backgrounds are unique to every song. I just wish Michael had some backup dancers to liven up everything. After all, I KNOW the PSP can handle more than the DS can.
So what killed this game for me? The GAMEPLAY. Who the HECK thought it was a good idea to utilize only TWO buttons (Left and the circle button)? The PSP has EIGHT face buttons, and the game only uses TWO? That's total bullcrap! Worse, it's like this for all difficulty modes, so no matter what, the game as a whole is entirely and unnecessarily basic for all the wrong reasons.
Granted, the L and R buttons are in use when Michael has to spin around, but does that really add any depth? No. This game is basic and easy.
The game can't possibly be any more simplistic than Ubisoft managed to make it. The game just feels like something to do while listening to the King of Pop's songs rather than an actual game. I now understand why this game is so freakishly inexpensive compared to the other versions.
The only redeeming quality about this PSP offering is that it contains some more songs than the DS version, including the famous "Thriller". This game has a soundtrack that sets the bar higher than many video games couldn't be able to achieve. And that soundtrack is Michael Jackson's music. What's even better is that the songs are as crisp as they could get.
The graphics are identical to the DS game. It features an animated Michael Jackson dancing by his lonesome, making the scenery feel rather empty. At least his dance moves and costumes/backgrounds are unique to every song. I just wish Michael had some backup dancers to liven up everything. After all, I KNOW the PSP can handle more than the DS can.
So what killed this game for me? The GAMEPLAY. Who the HECK thought it was a good idea to utilize only TWO buttons (Left and the circle button)? The PSP has EIGHT face buttons, and the game only uses TWO? That's total bullcrap! Worse, it's like this for all difficulty modes, so no matter what, the game as a whole is entirely and unnecessarily basic for all the wrong reasons.
Granted, the L and R buttons are in use when Michael has to spin around, but does that really add any depth? No. This game is basic and easy.
The game can't possibly be any more simplistic than Ubisoft managed to make it. The game just feels like something to do while listening to the King of Pop's songs rather than an actual game. I now understand why this game is so freakishly inexpensive compared to the other versions.
Pac-Man (Neo Geo Pocket Color - Rating: 8/10)
Pac-Man needs no introduction. It's a timeless classic that will be played for generations TO COME. How? Well, it's been and always will be released on every system known to man. So what does that make Pac-Man on the Neo Geo Pocket Color? After all, the NGPC itself was released after Pac-Man was already released on Game Boy. Twice. Plus, The Game Boy Advance would eventually be released, and knowing Pac-Man's widespread release, surely a version would come out on that handheld.
Well, those that stuck with the Neo Geo were in for a good time with Pac-Man. This version is nearly arcade-perfect. The graphics and gameplay were the exact same as the arcade original! That said, dot-munching and ghost-avoiding felt as fluid as ever. This game is great.
However, Pac-Man by itself does not make the price all that worthy. Like I said, Pac-Man's been released on every previous thing already. But what I didn't mention was that it was packed with some titles. Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures on the SNES and Sega Genesis included it, and the Game Boy's 2nd Pac-Man release had spin-off puzzler Pac-Attack bundled with it. The Game Boy Advance eventually had a whole compilation with Pac-Man being one of the titles.
Like another review said: Why the game wasn't bundled with anything here on Neo Geo Pocket Color is beyond him/me.
Well, those that stuck with the Neo Geo were in for a good time with Pac-Man. This version is nearly arcade-perfect. The graphics and gameplay were the exact same as the arcade original! That said, dot-munching and ghost-avoiding felt as fluid as ever. This game is great.
However, Pac-Man by itself does not make the price all that worthy. Like I said, Pac-Man's been released on every previous thing already. But what I didn't mention was that it was packed with some titles. Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures on the SNES and Sega Genesis included it, and the Game Boy's 2nd Pac-Man release had spin-off puzzler Pac-Attack bundled with it. The Game Boy Advance eventually had a whole compilation with Pac-Man being one of the titles.
Like another review said: Why the game wasn't bundled with anything here on Neo Geo Pocket Color is beyond him/me.
Plumbers Don't Wear Ties (3DO - Rating: 1/10)
Plumbers Don't Wear Ties is not a video game. It is just a slideshow. Yet, there are choices in which you get to pick the next scene. But how is that considered a game? Better yet, how's it considered full-motion? It's supposed to be a full-motion video game. But it failed on both occasions. It's a slideshow. It really is.
Along with horrendous voice overs and still pictures, there's unnecessary content in some of the pictures, like how the narrator wears a chicken mask in certain pictures. It's awful..ly funny. Speaking of which, there's also unnecessary scenes such as the shower scene, and a part where the narrator gets in a fight with a girl that wants to narrate the story.
You can just take all the pictures from the game, and the audio, and just recreate it on YouTube with annotations for choices. Someone may as well do that.
This is the worst "game" of all time, even beating E.T, Action 52, and Cheetahmen II.
Along with horrendous voice overs and still pictures, there's unnecessary content in some of the pictures, like how the narrator wears a chicken mask in certain pictures. It's awful..ly funny. Speaking of which, there's also unnecessary scenes such as the shower scene, and a part where the narrator gets in a fight with a girl that wants to narrate the story.
You can just take all the pictures from the game, and the audio, and just recreate it on YouTube with annotations for choices. Someone may as well do that.
This is the worst "game" of all time, even beating E.T, Action 52, and Cheetahmen II.
Rambo (Master System - Rating: 7/10)
You know...it's strange. This game has actually been re-released onto Virtual Console as Secret Commando to avoid copyright issues. Sometimes, I just don't know how that works. However, I can see why it was re-released: It is so addicting that I bet the development team didn't want anybody to miss out on this classic.
The premise of the game is pretty simple. All you gotta do is move and shoot the enemies as they try to kill you. There is also a Two-Player mode in which you both go and shoot off the bad guys in your paths. It looks and plays like it was a greatly well-made shooter.
BUT, there's one problem I have with this game: The difficulty. It just gets hard at times when you try to think of certain strategies involving killing the enemies, because it's possible they'll kill you before you start it, and I don't mean by mistiming, either.
But overall, this is one good shooter you should try out. It isn't bad, so let it pass.
The premise of the game is pretty simple. All you gotta do is move and shoot the enemies as they try to kill you. There is also a Two-Player mode in which you both go and shoot off the bad guys in your paths. It looks and plays like it was a greatly well-made shooter.
BUT, there's one problem I have with this game: The difficulty. It just gets hard at times when you try to think of certain strategies involving killing the enemies, because it's possible they'll kill you before you start it, and I don't mean by mistiming, either.
But overall, this is one good shooter you should try out. It isn't bad, so let it pass.
Rocky (Master System - Rating: 1/10)
Rocky is just a game based off of a movie. A boxing game.
Well guess what? You only have 3 people to fight. Compare that amount to Punch Out. The first fighter is really easy, but the second fighter is nearly impossible. How does the difficulty change like that??
There are also workout stages, but they only waste your time and use up your finger strength.
Overall, this is all you needed to know to figure out how bad it is.
Well guess what? You only have 3 people to fight. Compare that amount to Punch Out. The first fighter is really easy, but the second fighter is nearly impossible. How does the difficulty change like that??
There are also workout stages, but they only waste your time and use up your finger strength.
Overall, this is all you needed to know to figure out how bad it is.
Sega Genesis Collection (PSP - Rating: 10/10)
Geez...you've seen what Sega has done in recent years. Although there were some bad Sonic games in the line of the 2000s' Sega games, the company has released a lot of game collections, and this is on of them. Actually, even more recently, these collections are HUGE. This one has 28 games, plus 5 unlockable ones, resulting in 33 total!
Most (Like...over 90% of these games) of these Sega Genesis games are already released in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, but there's still a reason to own this even if you already have that compilation. That reason is: This is the PSP version, meaning that you are playing 33 games within the palm of your hand!
The games themselves are awesome, for the most part. There are a few games that aren't really worth it, like Alex Kidd and maybe the sequels to Golden Axe (They don't really live up to the first game well), but lemme tell ya, there are platformers, fighting games, arcade games, puzzlers, and EVEN FREAKING RPGs (Phantasy Star games)!
C'mon..you know you want to play all of these 33 games. It's an offer for your PSP you can't possibly refuse.
Most (Like...over 90% of these games) of these Sega Genesis games are already released in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, but there's still a reason to own this even if you already have that compilation. That reason is: This is the PSP version, meaning that you are playing 33 games within the palm of your hand!
The games themselves are awesome, for the most part. There are a few games that aren't really worth it, like Alex Kidd and maybe the sequels to Golden Axe (They don't really live up to the first game well), but lemme tell ya, there are platformers, fighting games, arcade games, puzzlers, and EVEN FREAKING RPGs (Phantasy Star games)!
C'mon..you know you want to play all of these 33 games. It's an offer for your PSP you can't possibly refuse.
Sharp Shot (Intellivision - Rating: 9/10)
The Intellivision has some good games going for it. I've played these in the Intellivision Classics compilation for the Playstation. Sharp Shot is one of them. It kinda acts as one of the first game collections ever, since it has simplified versions of 4 different games. However, the one-button premise makes them have a bit of the same gameplay. That bit is timing.
The goal is to get the highest score as possible within under one minute of play. In Football, you have to pass the ball to your teamate to get touchdowns. 7 points per touchdown. The version of Space Battle has you kill enemy ships for points. Sea Battle also has you shoot off ships, but, of course, in naval combat. The last game, Dungeons and Dragons, lets you, once again, shoot enemies, but this time, the arrows you shoot bounce off parts off the walls surrounding it.
It all matters about timing, but that is what makes it so addicting. It's a pretty great addition to the Intellivision's library.
The goal is to get the highest score as possible within under one minute of play. In Football, you have to pass the ball to your teamate to get touchdowns. 7 points per touchdown. The version of Space Battle has you kill enemy ships for points. Sea Battle also has you shoot off ships, but, of course, in naval combat. The last game, Dungeons and Dragons, lets you, once again, shoot enemies, but this time, the arrows you shoot bounce off parts off the walls surrounding it.
It all matters about timing, but that is what makes it so addicting. It's a pretty great addition to the Intellivision's library.
Snafu (Intellivision - Rating: 10/10)
Right off the bat, Snafu is a clone of the Light Cycle chases in Tron.
You draw a line by moving across the screen, and you are against other players/CPU opponents. They draw lines as well. The goal is to not run into the long-running lines they create, and they would hopefully run into yours or themselves. Basically, it's like a battle twist on Snake, with everyone always stretching. The result is much more addicting than a great amount of Intellivision games!
You can also go in EIGHT directions instead of four. Along with that, you can select the amount of rounds, and if there should be obstacles onscreen!
Plus, the soundtrack is catchy.
You draw a line by moving across the screen, and you are against other players/CPU opponents. They draw lines as well. The goal is to not run into the long-running lines they create, and they would hopefully run into yours or themselves. Basically, it's like a battle twist on Snake, with everyone always stretching. The result is much more addicting than a great amount of Intellivision games!
You can also go in EIGHT directions instead of four. Along with that, you can select the amount of rounds, and if there should be obstacles onscreen!
Plus, the soundtrack is catchy.
Space Armada (Intellivision - Rating: 8/10)
We all love Space Invaders, right? You know the one - You shoot at aliens while dodging their attacks. A UFO would sometimes come, and when you shoot it, it gives you bonus points. Space Armada is exactly just like that, but for the Intellivision.
As fun as Space Invaders is, it just doesn't seem like a game that could be sold by itself without being in some sort of game collection or multiple game modes. While Space Invaders for the Atari 2600 has supposedly 112 game modes, Space Armada doesn't really have as much to offer. Buy this game only if you're a big fan of Taito's arcade classic.
As fun as Space Invaders is, it just doesn't seem like a game that could be sold by itself without being in some sort of game collection or multiple game modes. While Space Invaders for the Atari 2600 has supposedly 112 game modes, Space Armada doesn't really have as much to offer. Buy this game only if you're a big fan of Taito's arcade classic.
Sonic CD (Sega CD - Rating: 10/10)
Every Sonic fan knows the old-school Sonic lineup: Sonic 1, Sonic 2, Sonic 3, Sonic & Knuck- Wait! Are you saying I'm missing one? Oh yes I am! Sonic 1, Sonic 2, SONIC CD, Sonic 3, etc!
Sonic CD was released for the notorious Sega CD, an add-on for the Genesis. It was the only game on the add-on to sell around a million copies.
Sonic CD took what made Sonics 1 & 2 so awesome, and multiplied them by 10! This game has all the high-speed Sonic action you could ever want. The new zones were better than ever. In the Special Stages, you navigate Sonic around roads to destroy UFOs to gather Chaos Emeralds; a unique goal for a Special Stage.
The music and sounds are extremely amazing thanks to the compact disc.
The graphics are really great. There are even animated cutscenes!
Overall, this is one Sonic game you have gotta try! It's the best Sonic game ever!
Sonic CD was released for the notorious Sega CD, an add-on for the Genesis. It was the only game on the add-on to sell around a million copies.
Sonic CD took what made Sonics 1 & 2 so awesome, and multiplied them by 10! This game has all the high-speed Sonic action you could ever want. The new zones were better than ever. In the Special Stages, you navigate Sonic around roads to destroy UFOs to gather Chaos Emeralds; a unique goal for a Special Stage.
The music and sounds are extremely amazing thanks to the compact disc.
The graphics are really great. There are even animated cutscenes!
Overall, this is one Sonic game you have gotta try! It's the best Sonic game ever!
Sonic Jam (Sega Saturn - Rating: 10/10)
The Sonic games for the Sega Genesis are platforming masterpieces that should never be forgotten....literally. Sega always re-releases the original Sonics in numerous video game collections, such as Sonic Mega Collection, Sonic Classic Collection, Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, you know, to name a few. But this is the first re-release with all four of the original Genesis titles together.
In this collection, you get to play Sonic 1, Sonic 2, Sonic 3, and Sonic and Knuckles (complete with Knuckles in Sonic 2 and 3). All of those games feature the fast-paced high-speed action that Sonic was known for. While they are re-released classics, there are now new difficulty modes for all of the games: Easy, Normal, and Original (Of course, you know what Original means). In Easy mode, there are actually some stages ENTIRELY REMOVED so the game(s) can be completed easier. The Spin Dash is also added in Sonic 1 when you play either Easy or Normal mode.
Not having to worry about the lock-on technology, the Knuckles versions of Sonic 2 and 3 are also playable. In Knuckles in Sonic 2, you just play as Knuckles in Sonic 2. That makes the game more fun in a way, but beware: He doesn't jump as high as Sonic does. Only almost. On the other hand, Knuckles in Sonic 3 combines Sonic 3 and Sonic and Knuckles, making it one huge Sonic game with twice the number of zones Sonic 3 originally had. Plus, Knuckles is a selectable character, as you can tell already. There's also Blue Sphere, but that's a full game version of the special stages in Sonic 3 (and Knuckles).
Also in this collection is a game mode where you can play in a 3D world, collecting rings, reaching markers, or finding Tails as missions. While the missions are exciting, you can also go to a museum and view Sonic's history, artwork, advertisements, and music. You can also watch the cutscenes from the best Sonic game of all time: Sonic CD (Sonic 2's a close second). One thing I also find interesting is the advertisement for Sonic Ride, a virtual roller coaster ride for arcades that never saw the light of day.
Overall, this collection is very big, and if you're a Sonic fan in any way, this is a must-have....unless you don't own a Saturn.
In this collection, you get to play Sonic 1, Sonic 2, Sonic 3, and Sonic and Knuckles (complete with Knuckles in Sonic 2 and 3). All of those games feature the fast-paced high-speed action that Sonic was known for. While they are re-released classics, there are now new difficulty modes for all of the games: Easy, Normal, and Original (Of course, you know what Original means). In Easy mode, there are actually some stages ENTIRELY REMOVED so the game(s) can be completed easier. The Spin Dash is also added in Sonic 1 when you play either Easy or Normal mode.
Not having to worry about the lock-on technology, the Knuckles versions of Sonic 2 and 3 are also playable. In Knuckles in Sonic 2, you just play as Knuckles in Sonic 2. That makes the game more fun in a way, but beware: He doesn't jump as high as Sonic does. Only almost. On the other hand, Knuckles in Sonic 3 combines Sonic 3 and Sonic and Knuckles, making it one huge Sonic game with twice the number of zones Sonic 3 originally had. Plus, Knuckles is a selectable character, as you can tell already. There's also Blue Sphere, but that's a full game version of the special stages in Sonic 3 (and Knuckles).
Also in this collection is a game mode where you can play in a 3D world, collecting rings, reaching markers, or finding Tails as missions. While the missions are exciting, you can also go to a museum and view Sonic's history, artwork, advertisements, and music. You can also watch the cutscenes from the best Sonic game of all time: Sonic CD (Sonic 2's a close second). One thing I also find interesting is the advertisement for Sonic Ride, a virtual roller coaster ride for arcades that never saw the light of day.
Overall, this collection is very big, and if you're a Sonic fan in any way, this is a must-have....unless you don't own a Saturn.
Sonic Mega Collection Plus (Xbox - Rating: 10/10)
Well, while I'm waiting to buy a copy Sonic Rush Adventure (Why didn't I think about getting it before?), I think I'll just review another Sonic game collection, and I must say, this is one heck of a collection! Sonic Mega Collection Plus contains a HUGE chunk of games from Sonic's past, and even has 3 non-Sonic-related games for some reason (Comix Zone, The Ooze, Ristar)! Let's take a brief look at each game shall we?
==SEGA GENESIS GAMES==
Sonic the Hedgehog - It's only the first Sonic game, yet it's one of the best platformers of its time!
Sonic 2 - It's a sequel done right in the best ways possible! It's the 3rd best Sonic game ever, in my book.
Sonic 3 - Although I prefer 2 over 3, the game is still tons of fun, and it just pushes everything further again!
Sonic and Knuckles - Really Sonic 3: Episode 2, Sonic and Knuckles offers the same amount of awesomeness as Sonic 3 does. Knuckles in Sonics 2 & 3 and Blue Sphere are unlockable games!
Sonic Spinball - I actually find this a mediocre title. It's not bad at all, but a pinball adventure with Sonic feels kinda off, and hard to progress through.
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine - A mashup of Puyo Puyo and the Adventures of Sonic cartoon show, the puzzle gameplay is incredibly addicting, and the opponents are just as goofy as in the show. Definitely a must-play if you're a puzzle fan.
Sonic 3D Blast - Since the game is pretty long compared to other Genesis games due to its gimmick involving collecting Flickies, I'm so glad there's a save feature in this collection. Anyway, this pseudo-3D Sonic has a slightly slower pace due to said gimmick, but it's still a lot of fun.
Flicky - Sonic 3D Blast's collecting Flickies gimmick comes from this arcade title. However, this game is at a much faster pace.
Ristar - An overlooked gem with very colorful levels! Definitely worth a play!
The Ooze - Um...This game actually never really appealed to me, so I can't help you here. Go and see what anyone else has to say about The Ooze!
Comix Zone - One of the most creative games EVER (A comics creator gets sucked into his own comic book!), Comix Zone is a pretty rad beat 'em up with very robust scenery.
==GAME GEAR GAMES== (Weird to see handheld games be played on a collection like this, but whatever)
Sonic the Hedgehog - This 8-Bit counterpart to the high-speed classic has its gameplay a bit more simplified, but it's no less great fun!
Sonic Chaos - This game is yet another classic Sonic platformer, except in 8-Bit form, of course. There's nothing I can really note about it standing out from the other Sonic games other than its levels, but it's fun to play nevertheless.
Sonic Drift - Basically, this is Sega's take on Namco's arcade classic Pole Position. And it's just as good as that game.
Sonic Labyrinth - This is the only really bad Sonic game on the list. It has a HUGE lack of speed, and the maze-like gameplay just isn't fun...
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine - It's questionable inclusion, really. Why would Sega put on a handheld version of a Genesis game, in the same collection, that plays identical? This is literally the Genesis game in 8-Bit format. Of course, the game itself would have the same fun factor...I guess.
Sonic Blast - There's a bit of sloppy design here and there, but Sonic Blast plays a lot like Sonic Chaos, which is a good thing, making this another one to play. Don't be fooled by the title, as it's not an equivalent to Sonic 3D Blast.
So, yeah. We've got a really meaty lineup here. Even if you think a few games sucked, there's still lots of greatness remaining! I've reviewed a good majority of these games, in fact, so if this one review isn't enough to convince you to get this collection, be sure to go find my reviews for almost every one of these above games!
==SEGA GENESIS GAMES==
Sonic the Hedgehog - It's only the first Sonic game, yet it's one of the best platformers of its time!
Sonic 2 - It's a sequel done right in the best ways possible! It's the 3rd best Sonic game ever, in my book.
Sonic 3 - Although I prefer 2 over 3, the game is still tons of fun, and it just pushes everything further again!
Sonic and Knuckles - Really Sonic 3: Episode 2, Sonic and Knuckles offers the same amount of awesomeness as Sonic 3 does. Knuckles in Sonics 2 & 3 and Blue Sphere are unlockable games!
Sonic Spinball - I actually find this a mediocre title. It's not bad at all, but a pinball adventure with Sonic feels kinda off, and hard to progress through.
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine - A mashup of Puyo Puyo and the Adventures of Sonic cartoon show, the puzzle gameplay is incredibly addicting, and the opponents are just as goofy as in the show. Definitely a must-play if you're a puzzle fan.
Sonic 3D Blast - Since the game is pretty long compared to other Genesis games due to its gimmick involving collecting Flickies, I'm so glad there's a save feature in this collection. Anyway, this pseudo-3D Sonic has a slightly slower pace due to said gimmick, but it's still a lot of fun.
Flicky - Sonic 3D Blast's collecting Flickies gimmick comes from this arcade title. However, this game is at a much faster pace.
Ristar - An overlooked gem with very colorful levels! Definitely worth a play!
The Ooze - Um...This game actually never really appealed to me, so I can't help you here. Go and see what anyone else has to say about The Ooze!
Comix Zone - One of the most creative games EVER (A comics creator gets sucked into his own comic book!), Comix Zone is a pretty rad beat 'em up with very robust scenery.
==GAME GEAR GAMES== (Weird to see handheld games be played on a collection like this, but whatever)
Sonic the Hedgehog - This 8-Bit counterpart to the high-speed classic has its gameplay a bit more simplified, but it's no less great fun!
Sonic Chaos - This game is yet another classic Sonic platformer, except in 8-Bit form, of course. There's nothing I can really note about it standing out from the other Sonic games other than its levels, but it's fun to play nevertheless.
Sonic Drift - Basically, this is Sega's take on Namco's arcade classic Pole Position. And it's just as good as that game.
Sonic Labyrinth - This is the only really bad Sonic game on the list. It has a HUGE lack of speed, and the maze-like gameplay just isn't fun...
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine - It's questionable inclusion, really. Why would Sega put on a handheld version of a Genesis game, in the same collection, that plays identical? This is literally the Genesis game in 8-Bit format. Of course, the game itself would have the same fun factor...I guess.
Sonic Blast - There's a bit of sloppy design here and there, but Sonic Blast plays a lot like Sonic Chaos, which is a good thing, making this another one to play. Don't be fooled by the title, as it's not an equivalent to Sonic 3D Blast.
So, yeah. We've got a really meaty lineup here. Even if you think a few games sucked, there's still lots of greatness remaining! I've reviewed a good majority of these games, in fact, so if this one review isn't enough to convince you to get this collection, be sure to go find my reviews for almost every one of these above games!
Sonic Pocket Adventure (Neo Geo Pocket Color - Rating: 10/10)
Weird, isn't it? Sonic Adventure was just out when this game was released, and it doesn't involve any modern Sonic action whatsoever. It's like a Genesis-era Sonic game, except released at a more recent time. There's nothing wrong with that, though. Sonic Pocket Adventure is certainly one of the best 8-Bit offerings the Blue Blur has ever starred in.
Pocket Adventure borrows the level environments from Sonic 2 (Special stage, too), but adds different names (Cosmic Casino?), as well as new level designs to make it fresh again. The soundtrack is borrowed from the likes of Sonics 2, 3, & Knuckles, with a few original tunes into the mix. The bosses are definitely new (With the exception of a surprise appearance by Knuckles), and they are somewhat challenging.
While the game does scream "rehash", it's not a remake of a Genesis Sonic game, and it fares much better than the more recent Sonic 4 ever does, mostly due to the fact that the classic high-speed platforming (Complete with the Spin Dash move) is extremely top-notch and fun, with the physics being spot-on. Like I said, the new level designs and bosses show that the game isn't a remake, but rather its own game. If you're looking for a good Sonic game to play, you should really get yourself a Pocket Color and buy this game. It's familiar, but not copied. You can think of it as a rehash, but in my perspective, it's an all-new fun and great classic Sonic game.
Pocket Adventure borrows the level environments from Sonic 2 (Special stage, too), but adds different names (Cosmic Casino?), as well as new level designs to make it fresh again. The soundtrack is borrowed from the likes of Sonics 2, 3, & Knuckles, with a few original tunes into the mix. The bosses are definitely new (With the exception of a surprise appearance by Knuckles), and they are somewhat challenging.
While the game does scream "rehash", it's not a remake of a Genesis Sonic game, and it fares much better than the more recent Sonic 4 ever does, mostly due to the fact that the classic high-speed platforming (Complete with the Spin Dash move) is extremely top-notch and fun, with the physics being spot-on. Like I said, the new level designs and bosses show that the game isn't a remake, but rather its own game. If you're looking for a good Sonic game to play, you should really get yourself a Pocket Color and buy this game. It's familiar, but not copied. You can think of it as a rehash, but in my perspective, it's an all-new fun and great classic Sonic game.
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection (PS3/Xbox 360 - Rating: 10/10)
Ah, yes...the Sega Genesis. While Sega did have stupid add-ons for it, as well as graphics and sound quality that isn't as on par as the Super Nintendo (although that system was made a couple years later), there was a colorful selection of games out there.
Even if a few were terrible, the majority was awesome, if not just good in general. As years have gone by, Sega kept re-releasing a handful of these games, which are found in collections like Sonic Mega Collection and the PSP's Sega Genesis Collection. But, I must say, the finest of them all is THIS piece of wonder.
This collection is Heaven for a Sega gamer. Right away, without unlocking anything, it has 40 games! Are they bad? Well, there are unwanted games, like Alex Kidd and ESWAT, but DANG!! FORTY Genesis games??? How can you not like this offer? Even the Phantasy Star games and the Sonic games are present! There's also Kid Chameleon, which is a good Mario clone, and the Streets of Rage trilogy. I could just keep yapping about each game shown on the list, but I haven't even gotten to the unlockable ones yet!
If you think 40 games is enough, think again: There are 9 unlockable games, resulting in...OH MY GOD!!! 49 GAMES! Granted, one of them is an arcade version of Altered Beast, despite the Genesis version already being available, but still! There's Space Harrier, the original Phantasy Star, Golden Axe Warrior, Congo Bongo (answer to Donkey Kong), and Shinobi!
So, simply put: Buy this collection!! How can you say "No" to almost 50 games in one disc???!?!?!
Even if a few were terrible, the majority was awesome, if not just good in general. As years have gone by, Sega kept re-releasing a handful of these games, which are found in collections like Sonic Mega Collection and the PSP's Sega Genesis Collection. But, I must say, the finest of them all is THIS piece of wonder.
This collection is Heaven for a Sega gamer. Right away, without unlocking anything, it has 40 games! Are they bad? Well, there are unwanted games, like Alex Kidd and ESWAT, but DANG!! FORTY Genesis games??? How can you not like this offer? Even the Phantasy Star games and the Sonic games are present! There's also Kid Chameleon, which is a good Mario clone, and the Streets of Rage trilogy. I could just keep yapping about each game shown on the list, but I haven't even gotten to the unlockable ones yet!
If you think 40 games is enough, think again: There are 9 unlockable games, resulting in...OH MY GOD!!! 49 GAMES! Granted, one of them is an arcade version of Altered Beast, despite the Genesis version already being available, but still! There's Space Harrier, the original Phantasy Star, Golden Axe Warrior, Congo Bongo (answer to Donkey Kong), and Shinobi!
So, simply put: Buy this collection!! How can you say "No" to almost 50 games in one disc???!?!?!
Sonic X (Leapster - Rating: 9/10)
Okay, I gotta be honest. I never wanted to review a Leapster game due to the fact that all of them are educational and all of them won't seem pretty fun to older people. However, I think this might be an exception. Sonic X is obviously based off of the anime cartoon series of the same name. Right when you start a new game, Chris introduces himself. Man, do we all hate him or what? Then Sonic comes and realizes Eggman has captured his friends. Of course, us non-children might find these kind of scenes to be corny.
The gameplay is semi-stripped down Sonic action with math problems. It's actually kinda fun and provides a challenge for those who are trying to learn basic math. There are also some pen-heavy problems, too.
The graphics are great. Sprites are taken cleverly from the older Sonic games, and everything looks pretty neat.
The sounds and music are okay for a Leapster game, but of course every Leapster and Leap Frog product has to have that voice that tells you the problems.
So overall, this is an excellent game for your kid. If he/she is still in Kindergarten or up to 3rd Grade, this game will entertain him/her for a long while.
The gameplay is semi-stripped down Sonic action with math problems. It's actually kinda fun and provides a challenge for those who are trying to learn basic math. There are also some pen-heavy problems, too.
The graphics are great. Sprites are taken cleverly from the older Sonic games, and everything looks pretty neat.
The sounds and music are okay for a Leapster game, but of course every Leapster and Leap Frog product has to have that voice that tells you the problems.
So overall, this is an excellent game for your kid. If he/she is still in Kindergarten or up to 3rd Grade, this game will entertain him/her for a long while.