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!

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!

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.

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.

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.