Retro Reviews

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for NES – An Underwater Challenge of Epic Proportions The 1989 NES classic, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” brought the pizza-loving, crime-fighting reptiles from the sewers of New York City to the screens of eager gamers everywhere. While this title brought a lot of joy, it also brought immense challenge, particularly the notorious water level that tested the patience and skill of many. A Test of Turtle …

Ninja Gaiden for NES – A Test of Skill with a Story to Tell In the pantheon of NES classics, “Ninja Gaiden” stands out as a shining example of storytelling prowess and gameplay that tests the limits of even the most skilled gamers. Released in 1988, this action-packed platformer introduced players to Ryu Hayabusa, a ninja on a quest to avenge his father’s death and uncover the mysteries of a …

I played through for the first time. Gunstar Heroes – A Genesis Gem Sparkling with Action Platform: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Developer: Treasure Release Date: September 9, 1993 “Gunstar Heroes” burst onto the Sega Genesis like a comet, delivering an explosive experience that has since become a benchmark for run-and-gun shooters. Developed by Treasure, a team formed by former Konami developers, this game was not just a debut title …

The Legendary Axe Review Forget Keith Courage. The Legendary Axe was a good reason to own a TurboGrafx-16. The TurboGrafx-16 era brought us many titles, but none so memorable as “The Legendary Axe.” It’s 1989, and what we have here is a game that not only looked like a treasure trove with its crisp graphics but played like an epic saga too. Meet Gogan, our barbarian hero, larger than life …

Neutopia Review: TurboGrafx-16’s Homage to Hyrule In the realm of video games, imitation is not just a form of flattery but often the seed from which a new gaming experience blossoms. This was undoubtedly the intent behind Hudson Soft’s “Neutopia,” a game for the TurboGrafx-16 system that wears its inspiration not just on its sleeve but in every pixel and gameplay element. Released in the shadow of Nintendo’s groundbreaking “The …

Keith Courage in Alpha Zones: A Stalwart of the TurboGrafx-16 Era “Keith Courage in Alpha Zones” emerged on the TurboGrafx-16 in 1988, the same year the gaming world was graced with the iconic “Super Mario Bros. 3” on the NES. While Nintendo’s heavyweight was stealing headlines and hearts, Keith Courage quietly carved out its own niche, delivering a remarkable adventure that showcased the TurboGrafx-16’s graphical and gameplay capabilities. Borrowing this …

Valis III for Sega Genesis: A Mixed Port with Limited Appeal Valis III, originally a hallmark of the TurboGrafx-CD’s library, made its way to the Sega Genesis with the promise of bringing its action-packed adventure to a wider audience. This port, however, comes with a fair share of caveats, and my experience with it has been less than satisfactory. Porting Challenges The transition from the TurboGrafx-CD to the cartridge-based Sega …

MUSHA: Metallic Uniframe Super Hybrid Armor for Sega Genesis – A 1990 Visual Marvel In the pantheon of Sega Genesis titles, MUSHA (Metallic Uniframe Super Hybrid Armor) holds a special place, especially for those who were savvy enough to experience it upon release or who have since been guided to its glory by fellow retro enthusiasts. Recommended to me by David Medina, a fellow retro game guru on Facebook, MUSHA …

Blazing Lazers on TurboGrafx-16: A Time-Honored Classic Revisited During the height of the console wars of the early ’90s, the TurboGrafx-16 carved out its place in the hearts of gamers as the underdog. One of its crowning jewels was “Blazing Lazers,” a game I vividly remember playing in the ’90s after my friend Chris introduced me to the system by lending it to me. This classic shoot ’em up has …

What an amazing playthrough. Rocket Knight Adventures (1993) – A Genesis Classic In the realm of 16-bit platformers, few games can match the charm, challenge, and sheer awesomeness of Rocket Knight Adventures. Released in 1993 for the Sega Genesis, this Konami masterpiece tells the tale of Sparkster, a brave opossum knight on a quest to save his kingdom from the evil King Zygmunt. I never had the chance to play …

This game is a lot of fun. I played through it with my son Derek. I did try and record commentary but unfortunately I had the game audio up too loud in the dueling audios make things too difficult to hear at times. I would say out of all the 1990s beat em ups this game is by far the greatest of all time. Man, I just got off this …

This game was a lot of fun. I played through it with my son Derek, and then David jumped in the last 3 levels or so and helped us beat Shredder. I guess this has up to 6 players, so I am going to try and do another run-through with 4 local and 2 online if that is possible. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge – A Retro Review for …

This was our first time doing a game in a while. it was recommended by a friend and lots of fun. LifeForce Review: A Classic NES Shmup That Still Thrills The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) has a legendary lineup of games that helped define the tastes and gaming sensibilities of a generation. Among those classics, we find LifeForce, known in Japan as Salamander, a side-scrolling shooter that’s both a spin-off and a …

This was a fun Sonic 2 hack to play through. Kirby is naturally over powered. Kirby Superstar 2 Genesis Hack Review (2016) – A Sonic Spin on Kirby’s Powers In the world of fan-made content, few things are as intriguing as seeing a beloved character reimagined in an entirely different gaming universe. The 2016 Genesis hack known as Kirby Superstar 2 brings everyone’s favorite pink puffball into the fast-paced world …

The Lost Adventure – Episode II: A Masterclass in ROM Hacking Considered to be one of the best and most complete Super Mario World hacks of all time, The Lost Adventure – Episode II is the highly anticipated sequel to the original The Lost Adventure hack of Super Mario World, created by the talented ROM hacker isaix. Building upon the stellar foundation of the first installment, Episode II takes Mario …

Note: We ran through this 3 players. Something I’ve always wanted to do. The game audio is still too loud and overshadows the commentary. My son’s and I enjoyed this one. They were the age I was when I used to play it in the arcade. To see them enjoy retro gaming makes me be happy. Perhaps we will run through a few more 3/4 player games soon. The Simpsons …

Double Dragon: A Retro Arcade Review with a Father-Son Power Team There are games you play once and forget, and there are games that etch themselves into your memory forever. For me, Double Dragon sits firmly in that second category. Released in 1987, it wasn’t just another arcade cabinet, it was the spark that lit a fire under the entire beat ’em up genre. I spent my childhood pumping quarters …

The Punisher Arcade Game Review: A Retro Rampage with a Father-Son Duo In an era where pixels were mightier than photo-realism, “The Punisher” arcade game stood out as a gritty gem in the crown of 90s side-scrolling beat ’em ups. DashingDerek and I decided to revisit this classic, not in the neon glow of an arcade, but on our trusty PC, armed with a couple of gamepads and hearts full …

I remember renting this game briefly once or twice. For being released in 1990 I can not get over how beautiful this game was. Well done! Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse: A Genesis Gem Retro Review Once upon a time in the golden era of 16-bit gaming, a little game featuring a globally adored mouse took the Sega Genesis by storm. “Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse,” released in …

1994 had better than this. Retro Review: Denjin Makai – A Forgotten Brawler Lost in the Arcade Shuffle In the golden era of arcade gaming, where quarters were the keys to pixelated kingdoms, a little-known brawler named “Denjin Makai” emerged from the shadows. This side-scrolling beat ’em up, released unceremoniously in 1994 by Banpresto, aimed to capture the attention of arcade enthusiasts. However, despite its flashy moves and colorful cast, …

Being a big fan of Rastan my entire life dating back to the arcades at the bowling alley, I always found myself going back to that game. Sadly, the sequel sucked. Little did I know until someone in Facebook groups mentioned it, but there was a 3rd title, released only in Japan. I found it and gave it a shot. I did not love nor hate it. It was a …

Retro Review: Dragon Warrior II – A Childhood Quest Fulfilled on the NES The 8-bit era of gaming was a time of simple pleasures and immense imaginations, where games like “Dragon Warrior II” for the NES captured the hearts of many young adventurers. As a sequel to the venerable “Dragon Warrior,” this game promised a grander adventure and delivered a world that was not just a step but a leap …

The All New Punch-Out!! for the NES by RatedJpG. Retro Review: All New Punch-Out!! – A Fresh Knockout on the NES Imagine stepping back into the ring of a beloved NES classic, but this time, the faces staring back are both familiar and entirely new. “All New Punch-Out!!”, a ROM hack of the iconic “Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!”, is a love letter to the franchise, taking players on a nostalgic uppercut through …

Spider-Man: Separation Anxiety for Sega Genesis – A Web-Slinging Co-op Experience “Spider-Man: Separation Anxiety” for the Sega Genesis is a title that often swings into the conversations of retro gaming enthusiasts, especially those fond of the superhero genre. Teaming up with my Australian Discord friend, Hyrule13, we dove into this side-scrolling beat ’em up adventure, which is a sequel to the earlier “Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage.” Classic Comic Book …

Pocky & Rocky Review for the Super Nintendo – A Mythical Multiplayer Adventure “Pocky & Rocky” for the Super Nintendo is a title that conjures up images of mythical creatures, vibrant levels, and frenetic action. This top-down, shoot ’em up style game, developed by Natsume, is a hidden gem that I recently had the pleasure of playing through with my Australian Discord friend, Hyrule13. The game tapped into Japanese folklore, …