Retro Reviews

Blaze On

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:00:00 +0000

Blaze On is a deservedly obscure horizontal shooter which immediately feels like an inferior R-Type clone. The attract mode features a breathtaking (for 1992) anime sequence which heightens your expectations to the point where you believe the game you're about to play is... well, more than an inferior R-Type clone.

Bang Bang Ball

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 10:00:00 +0000

1996 Banpresto

Oh, this needs a remake.

Bang Bang Ball is a physics-based puzzler that puts you in the middle of the action as a vulnerable bob (player-controlled sprite, the avatar that represents your actions in the game world – why doesn't anyone use this term anymore? I kinda feel like a dusty old academic). As in most puzzle games, a chain of several like-coloured balls must be connected in order to eliminate them from play. These balls are constantly drifting around, so you can move your bob (in this case, a skateboarding mouse) around freely inside the play area in order to attack from various angles by shooting balls at the cluster.

Sounds interesting enough already, but herein lies the rub – if a ball hits your mouse from any angle other than head-on, your mouse will take damage. If it hits the ball that your mouse is carrying, it'll bounce off. It's kinda like playing a cross between Asteroids and Puzzle Bobble, as hard as that might be to imagine.

Magical Drop III

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 10:00:00 +0000

1997 Data East

Magical Drop III is a fast-paced puzzle game that will hurt your wrists unless you're using European-style joysticks with a nice short throw. That reminds me – perhaps I should do a MAME controller roundup sometime soon. Anyway, on to the review.

Neratte Chu

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 10:00:00 +0000

1996 Seta

Well, “Neratte” means “Aim,” and “Chu” means, from what I can tell, either a kissing sound, insect, mouse, loyalty, middle, or corporal/capital punishment. I'm guessing in this context, it means “Mouse.” I thought “Neratte Chu” meant “Rat Kiss.”

Oh My God!

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 10:00:12 +0000

1993 Atlus

This is kind of like Snake, mixed with any generic puzzle game. It's as interesting as it sounds, but not quite as fun – the learning curve is very steep, making this better for two-player games.

Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 10:00:03 +0000

1996 Capcom

Let me get one thing very clear right from the beginning – there is no Puzzle Fighter. There is no Puzzle Fighter II. There is no Super Puzzle Fighter II. It's Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo or nothing. Hats off to Capcom for the self-parody, and hats off again for making such a fantastic puzzle game!

Retro Reviews Returns

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 22:02:20 +0000

Wow, wasn't that an awesome 80's week? What other website has the balls to offer a single review of Super Pac-Man and then disappear for three months, and call it an "80's Week?" No good website, that's who!

Anyway, Retro Reviews is back! New reviews begin tomorrow, and look for community features soon!

I'd write a bit more for this post, but I've got reviews to write, and I'm pretty sure I know which you'd rather I worked on. See you tomorrow!

80's Week - Super Pac-Man

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:28:37 +0100

1982 Bally Midway / Namco

An often-overlooked sequel to the 1980 original, in which gameplay is dramatically enhanced with a new maze layout and the addition of an extra powerup type. There are two pulsing green dots, which Pac-Man can eat to become much larger, faster, and immune to ghosts. He can also eat through the pink walls dotted around the maze, which must normally be opened by eating the keys nearby.

Shmup Week - Thunder Dragon

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 10:00:14 +0100

1991 NMK

Thunder Dragon is one of the most satisfying and challenging vertical shooters I've played. Last week, I reviewed the disappointing and charmless sequel, which was... well, disappointing and charmless, particularly when compared with this forgotten classic.

Shmup Week - Sorcer Striker

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 10:00:55 +0100

1993 Raizing

Sorcer Striker is an impressive vertical shooter from 1993. It's not the scoring system (which is pretty standard) or the powerups (which are just okay) that make this game so notable, but the hugely imaginative and perfectly-executed level design and set pieces.