Staff reviews
4,733 reviews · showing 4,321–4,340
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Staff SNES
Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest review
The reason for Mystic Quest's being is an interesting one (and a humourous one, depending on how serious you are about the genre and what side of the Pacific you're on). It seems that Squaresoft wanted to present a dumbed down taste of…
Marc Golding · January 13, 2004
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Staff SNES
Earth Defense Force review
The only thing that we likely have forever branded on our crumpled shmupper’s ego is the painful memory of that relentless, recalcitrant, snapping turtle head. Flashbacks of his refusal to let you win, to let the immemorially inevitable…
Marc Golding · January 13, 2004
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Staff SNES
Darius Twin review
If you’ve played a Darius game before—and most shooter fans have—the boss encounters won't floor you. The familiar siren sounds along with a dramatic written warning that both names, and describes, the oncoming sea-dwelling behemoth. But…
Marc Golding · January 13, 2004
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Staff SNES
Super Nova review
Darius has always been about some evil force known as ''Belser'' that threatens life as we know it and so they’ve got hell to pay, and your role is to ensure proper remittance. Shamefully, Super Nova recycles this old shooter story cliché…
Marc Golding · January 13, 2004
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Staff SNES
BlaZeon: The Bio-Cyborg Challenge review
There are few redeeming factors to be found in this strange game, where the first level is the most exciting. Truly, it is all downhill from there. To be fair, the boss music is great, that fourth level boss encounter is nice, and most of…
Marc Golding · January 13, 2004
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Staff SNES
Axelay review
Listen to that. It’s the sound of crescendoing drums and bass line as you begin the game, and excitably contemplate the weapon select screen. It will only get better. From the Robotech inspired level two track, to the haunting…
Marc Golding · January 13, 2004
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Staff Sega Master System
Zillion II: The Tri-Formation review
No. This game is nothing at all like Zillion in terms of gameplay. Where Zillion was Sega's Metroid, Zillion II is a cross between the simplest shooter (think Cloud Master) and the simplest jump and shoot platformer (think Cyber Shinobi)…
Marc Golding · January 12, 2004
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Staff Sega Master System
Wonder Boy in Monster Land review
Follow me through Monster Land. Undertake a battle of wits (or memory) with the Sphinx. Vanquish the Grim Reaper with your shortest sword, his damage meter worn plainly and usefully (however silly it may look to super-realism spoiled…
Marc Golding · January 12, 2004
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Staff Sega Master System
Wonder Boy review
You've probably heard about this game's big brothers, subtitled Monster Land and The Dragon's Trap, respectively. But this early Master System release has your character lacking a sword, armour, or any animal morphing ability. Instead, a…
Marc Golding · January 12, 2004
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Staff Sega Master System
Slap Shot review
Slap Shot is based on hockey like one of those Hollywood movies is 'based on a true story'. Loosely. Very loosely. Sega's knowledge of hockey back in 1990 must have been extremely limited and certainly Slap Shot is evidence of this. I am…
Marc Golding · January 12, 2004
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Staff Sega Master System
Shinobi review
The conversion in terms of overall gameplay mechanics are excellent. Certainly the game is as good as you might imagine it being, making that precarious trip from arcade to 8-bit; that’s not an easy road. Even the bonus rounds, (you throw…
Marc Golding · January 12, 2004
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Staff Sega Master System
Scramble Spirits review
This game was a much-needed addition to the Sega Master System's meager library of 2-D shooters. It's generally thought of as a bottom feeder, even on this system, and I won't try to convince you otherwise. Even with only a handful of…
Marc Golding · January 12, 2004
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Staff Sega Master System
Rastan review
Something usurped this brand of base hack and slash side-scroller a long time ago. Golden Axe added some Double Dragon-esque depth to the mixture, and two-player action to boot. The Legendary Axe added inimitable enemy confrontations, and…
Marc Golding · January 12, 2004
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Staff Sega Master System
R-Type review
R-Type is a classic. The arcade game was a diabolical quarter muncher featuring detailed alien and mechanical enemy hybrids the likes of which nobody had seen before. The general consensus among shooter fans seems to be that R-Type's first…
Marc Golding · January 12, 2004
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Staff Sega Master System
Power Strike review
Power Strike (called Aleste in some parts of the world) is a Compile-developed vertical shooter in the Zanac, Blazing Lazers and MUSHA vein. While you're up against lots of the usual robot ships, the real bad guys (read: bosses) are…
Marc Golding · January 12, 2004
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Staff Sega Master System
Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse review
The 8-bit Castle of Illusion has to be one of the system's strongest efforts and most memorable moments. It should be on your 'must have' list, along with gems like Wonderboy II and III, Alex Kidd in Miracle World, and R-Type. With the…
Marc Golding · January 12, 2004
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Staff Sega Master System
Lord of the Sword review
LotS is epic in one very real sense of the word. It's long. And ridiculously so. In fact, it's unreasonably long for a game with no passwords or saves. You'll be at it for hours on end, endeavouring to protect your vitality bar (you've…
Marc Golding · January 12, 2004
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Staff Sega Master System
Altered Beast review
The five stages of side-scrolling jump, punch and kick tedium in the bestiary that we played in the arcades, was dulled significantly for our Sega Genesis experience. It was dulled even further still for the four level Master System…
Marc Golding · January 12, 2004
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Staff Sega Master System
Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars review
The game is so colourful in fact, that a cursory glance at screenshots gives you the impression you are looking at a children’s book. Games that would appear many years later, such as Super Mario Brothers 3 and Yoshi’s Island, will spring…
Marc Golding · January 12, 2004
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Staff Sega Master System
Alex Kidd in Miracle World review
So what's Janken? Well, young Alex defeats his tougher foes (Janken the Great's henchmen with names like Scissorhead, whose head actually looks like a hand in the shape of scissors) by nonviolent means; bringing his great 'skill' at paper…
Marc Golding · January 12, 2004
