Welcome everyone, to the largest ranked video game list on the internet…that I’m aware of, anyway. This is a list that I have creatively named “Every Game Played.” It’s named as such because, well, as I play a game, I add it to the list. I also have a fairly large backlog of games that I’ve played over the last three decades prior to starting this list, so I plan to regularly add stuff as time goes on.
          Two things need to be addressed before you continue, however. One, if a game that you love is not on this list, it’s either because I simply haven’t added it yet or I haven’t played it yet. I purposely have not added every single one of my favorite games of all-time, because then I’m stuck with only adding poppycock games, and where’s the fun in that? I want a nice balance of good, bad, and so-so games. The second thing I need to mention is that this is a list of PERSONAL PREFERENCE. So, if you’re angry that Custer’s Revenge isn’t in the number one spot…well, first, seek help. Second, it was placed based on my preference. If you have a different preference, by all means, make a list of your own and send it my way. I like to see the opinions of others, even when they don’t mesh with my own.
          Before I leave you to the list, I want to mention one last thing – how the list is ordered. There is no formula or scientific approach to the rankings. It basically starts with me giving the game a score, which gives me a general idea of where I’ll be putting it. The score is based off of how good the game was for its time. I try my best to be objective with that score, which is why you may find some games that I gave a 7 rank higher than games that I gave a 9…I acknowledge that the 9 game is technically the better overall package, but the 7 game was the one that I enjoyed more. Likewise, I try to keep within a 1 or 2 point range…meaning that a game like Chulip, which I absolutely love but rated a 7.5 out of 10, won’t break into the top 50 which mostly consists of 10 out of 10 games…eventhough I probably consider it to be within my personal top 50 favorite games. I feel like that’s how I can keep this a “personal preference” list while also keeping it somewhat credible. Since these rankings aren’t set in stone, it is entirely possible that I revisit a game at some point and move it up or down the list. I may do other lists in time with a more “statistical” approach (I did a few of these for an old website I used to run and they were quite popular) but for now, especially in the early days of this website, this Large Marge of a list is plenty.

If you enjoy stats like I do, click the banner to the right to see various stats on this list...more coming soon.

With so many games on the list, it can be difficult trying to see if a game has been added or not. So, for your convenience (and honestly, mine as well) here's an improved way to search. Below is a table containing all games currently found on the list. Click on the name of the game to be taken to its location on the list. If you click on the headers of the table, it will sort the table so you can search for when games were added to the list, release dates, developers, and genres. Above the table is a search bar. If you don't feel like scrolling the table for a game, all you have to do is type the game's name in and the table will only include games containing the text that you typed in. *PLEASE NOTE* If clicking on the name of a game doesn't work, you may need to let the page load a little bit before trying. This is a big ol' page, so it may need a little bit to load, depending on your internet speed.

Date added: 10/31/2019 Hambo's Adventures (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Platformer My Score 0.5/10 Avg. Score 13.85/100 Hambo’s Adventures is another bad platforming game on the Action 52 cartridge that gives the player poor jumping mechanics to jump over enemies and random, cheap deaths. Enemies spawn at random places in the level, which will sometimes make the level impossible to complete...And since you only have one life (though you can collect 1ups to get more), if you happen to be doing well and come across an area that’s impossible to pass because of poor placement of the randomly spawned enemies, it’s game over...Not because you did badly but because the game is a cheap jerk. I won’t even start to get into the anger I felt from the extremely cheap deaths of spawning enemies on top of you as the level begins. Because of the poor controls and cheap deaths, Hambo’s Adventures will likely enrage you instead of making you feel like you’re having a good time. Hambo is one pig that I’d gladly watch get turned into bacon...and his game may be the absolute, single worst game that I have ever played. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/28/2020 Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing Platform PC Initial Release Date November 20, 2003 (NA) Developer Stallar Stone Genre Racing My Score 0.5/10 Avg. Score 14.33/100 I'm a little skeptical when I hear people talk about a game being "the worst game ever made." People tend to be cynical and are quick to point out flaws while ignoring positive aspects of a game...But in the case of Big Rigs, I'm having a hard time finding any positives. The graphics are basic and bland, the animation is choppy, there are no collisions (your truck just drives through everything like it's Casper the Friendly Ghost), your "opponents" don't move from the start line once the race begins, the box art mentions police roadblocks and as obstacles and makes it look like you may be part of exciting police chases…and there are no police in the game, there's a glitch that sometimes says “YOU’RE WINNER !” immediately after the race starts, there's another glitch where the race never ends, the fifth level is unplayable until you patch the game...and when you patch it and get access, you find out that it's just a mirror of the first track....The complaints just go on and on and on and on. How this was allowed to get published in the state that it's in, I'll never understand. Big Rigs very well could be the worst game I've ever played. At the very least, it’s probably found itself a permanent spot in the bottom 10. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/29/2019 WWC: World Wrestling Championship Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date 2006 (EU) Developer Phoenix Games Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 0.5/10 Avg. Score 08.27/100 WORST. WRESTLING GAME. EVER. For a long time, I considered WWF Wrestlemania on the NES to be the worst wrestling game that I've ever played...And now I've played this steaming pile of elephant turds, which makes WWF Wrestlemania look like WWF No Mercy in comparison. I don't even know where to start. Each wrestler has, maybe, 3 moves. It's not uncommon to get a glitch where you miss the grapple and are able to still walk around, but your opponent still goes through with the animation of taking the move. Nothing like watching an invisible man piledrive your opponent as you circle around them. It also takes FOREVER to diminish your opponent's health. The poorly-animated 3 moves get really old very quick when you've spent ten minutes whittling down your opponent's health…seriously, a woman could get pregnant AND push out the baby all before you’ve finished chipping away at that dang health bar. The modes are laughable, the playable characters are ridiculous (in a bad way), and the game is so dang glitchy that you wonder if this was really meant to be sold in stores or not. I like, with this being European, that it uses a round system like the old World of Sport wrestling - but that's the only praise I can give this game. At least I can have fun doing cartwheels as Bam Bam Bigelow in WWF Wrestlemania. I don't think anyone could have any fun in this mess of a game - one of the absolute worst games I've ever played. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/27/2019 Slot Machine Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1979 (NA) Developer Atari Genre Casino My Score 0.5/10 Avg. Score 25.33/100 I don't think that there are any kind of games more pointless than slot machine video games. People enjoy playing slots in casinos because of the chance to win money...You can't win money in a slot machine video game at home. You just push a button to make it go…and that’s it. When you're playing Slot Machine on the Atari 2600, you don't win anything except the realization that you just wasted your money and a portion of your life (hopefully a small portion) on a horrible, horrible game. With the chance to win money gone, you're left pressing a button and watching uninteresting designs roll down the screen over and over. I had more fun getting my wisdom teeth removed when the dentist started (and finished two teeth) before the sedative kicked in. I would rather re-live that experience than play this game ever again. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/29/2019 Mouse Club Platform Apple iPhone/iPod Touch Initial Release Date March 25, 2010 (NA) Developer Cascadia Investments Inc. Genre Action My Score 0.5/10 Avg. Score 06.53/100 Mouse Club is one of the few games where I can let the game go as the level begins, walk away, and come back to find out that I successfully completed said level. I literally watched the game play itself for four levels before I finally died. Upon actually playing the game, I quickly found out that watching the game play itself is a whole heckuvalot more fun than actually playing it. So much more fun that I combined four words into one and mis-spelled the second of the four in the sentence above. That’s a very significant difference in levels of fun, folks. Anyway, I feel as if this game is called Mouse Club because if you actually play this game about mice for more than two minutes, you will be begging someone you clock you over the cranium with a billy club. I sure did. Mouse Club has the glorious honor of being one of the absolute WORST games that I have ever played. Played on: iPhone Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Echo (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 0.5/10 Avg. Score 21.03/100 I never liked the game named Simon. In fact, I dislike it so much that whenever I meet anyone names Simon, I tell 'em to talk to the hand 'cause the face ain't listenin'. My ears aren't listening, either…I never understood why people say their faces listen in that saying. Anyway, Echo is just a game of Simon, but with the most dull, uninteresting display on screen for it that you could imagine. It's basically just a gray screen, with gray diamonds that lack any other except for the brief moments when they trigger on screen for you to memorize or when you activate them when attempting to repeat the pattern given to you. It's an awful video game version of a game that I honestly never saw any appeal for…I don't think anyone sees any appeal in it, either. That's why it's called Echo, afterall. When the developers made a speech to a room full of people that liked this game in an effort to name it, they gave that speech to an empty room, resulting in their voice echoing back to them. True story. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 Concussion Boxing Platform Ouya Initial Release Date January 21, 2014 (NA) Developer Pompi Pompi Entertainment Genre Fighting My Score 0.5/10 Avg. Score 7.33/100 Concussion Boxing is either the worst-named game or the best-named game on the Ouya, depending on what it’s named after. If it’s called Concussion Boxing because in a boxing contest, competitors typically punch each other in the head repeatedly, then this is a very poorly named game. For whatever reason, the boxers kick each other in this game, too…and I don’t mean kickboxing-style kicks. When I say kick, I’m talking about the sole of one boxer’s foot hitting the thigh of the other boxer. And, of course, kicking has better reach, so nine times out of ten, if a blow lands it’s not a punch, but a lame kick. Making matters worse, with even better reach, is the low, sweeping kicks. Good luck getting the controls to register the input, too. The hit detection is awful, and the commands all feel very delayed when pressing buttons. Even if the rules and gameplay followed traditional boxing logic, it’s still an absolute mess to play. All of that said, if this game got its name because the developers all had severe concussions when making this pile of trash, then the name fits really well. Only people with severe head trauma would release a game like this and think that they did a good job. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/21/2019 The Local Girls of Hawaii Platform Turbografx-CD Initial Release Date Unknown (NA) Developer Excite Software Genre Other My Score 0.5/10 Avg. Score 20.22/100 Here I was, thinking that the adult-themed games on the 3DO were the worst of the already-bad genre…Boy, is my face red now. Not only is The Local Girls of Hawaii an absolutely terrible “game” (it’s just a slideshow…press a button, it goes to a random picture) but it’s one of those rare games where absolutely everyone that plays it will be disappointed. And what kind of a name is The Local Girls of Hawaii? If you live in Hawaii, just calling it “The Local Girls” would be enough…and if you don’t live in Hawaii, calling it “The Girls of Hawaii” would be more accurate…it makes no sense. The content equally doesn’t make sense. It was clearly created for perverts that want to see naked women…but, as I’ve said before, people don’t buy a video game console with the intent to be perverts…they buy a video game console with the intent to play games. But let’s just say for argument sake that you did purchase a TurboGrafx-CD with the intent to be a pervert…you’ll still walk away from this disappointed. While there are nude pictures randomly thrown into the slideshow, they’re censored. So the folks wanting to play a game are disappointed. Perverts are disappointed. People wanting a game title that makes sense are disappointed. It’s a disappointment rainstorm and your only umbrella is to throw this game in the dumpster it belongs in. Played on: Turbografx-CD Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Meteor (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 0.5/10 Avg. Score 21.88/100 Meteor is basically a game for lazy people that want to save the world. What I mean by that is that initially, it appears that your goal in this game is to simply destroy any meteor blazing down towards the city beneath you…but once you miss one, you quickly begin to realize that there's no penalty if you simply decided to sit in one spot and fire straight ahead (holding the fire button down in this game results in rapid fire) until you advance to the next level, allowing all other meteors to ravage the city below. That's why I say it's for lazy people. You're technically trying to save the world, but since there's no penalty for letting 90% of meteors zoom past you, and by letting 90% of meteors zoom past you, they'll probably eliminate any of your critics, you can feel like you actually did a good deed and saved everything. Then again, if you let most of the world perish because you're lazy, then you're an awful person and you should be punished by being forced to play this game for the rest of your life. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/28/2019 Bubble Gum Rossie (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Platformer My Score 0.5/10 Avg. Score 13.73/100 This game is one of the most broken games I have ever played in my life. I’m not going to list all of the bad stuff because it will take me way too long. I will however list the good stuff this game offers....Ah, who am I kidding? There isn’t anything. The controls are frustratingly terrible. They’re so bad, I actually thought that my controller was glitching. I plugged in a different controller and same result. Half the time, your character won’t jump when you want them to, and when they do, good luck getting them to move when jumping. Oh, you want to jump past an enemy? Well, you can jump straight up, and then maybe move a quarter of an inch right before you land…probably right into them. You have the ability to shoot something (bubble gum, maybe?) at enemies, but what’s the point when most of them are immune to it? This game is one of the most awful games I’ve ever played. Discovering Bubble Gum Rossie is like discovering a chunk of chewed gum underneath your desk in school and getting it all over your hand...Very disappointing, and you’re angry at the person that left it there. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Norman (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 0.5/10 Avg. Score 21.88/100 Being a wrestling nerd, I was really hoping that Action 52 had created a licensed game about Mike Shaw. But no, this isn't about that Norman, though I do wonder if the developers at Active Enterprises may be lunatics. In Norman, you control a tank. Your goal is to shoot at other tanks, and random military folk that happen to be walking around in the middle of a battlefield. This is extremely slow-paced and boring…but perhaps the most baffling aspect of the gameplay is that if you take your tank and attempt to run over any of the military folk wandering around, your tank explodes. This isn't a case where Active Enterprises didn't want them to be killable - you're supposed to shoot them like you shoot the other tanks. It's just that the developers are psychotic and believe that if they ran into a tank, it would explode. Now that I'm thinking about it, I should have known that this wasn't a Mike Shaw game. Mr. Shaw was once known as Bastion Booger…and if this game was a booger, I definitely would not be picking it. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/18/2023 Extreme Wrestling Platform Playstation 4 Initial Release Date December 23, 2022 (JP/AU) Developer Pix Arts Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 1.0/10 Avg. Score 09.73/100 As a wrestling fanatic, I can usually find something to enjoy in just about any wrestling game to justify me playing it longer than I probably should. However, every now and then, a developer seems to take notice of people like me and take it as a challenge to create a wrestling game so abhorrent that even the most extreme of wrestling fans can't find any redeeming qualities about it…in this case, the developer even named the game after people like me and named it Extreme Wrestling. To put it bluntly, Extreme Wrestling is so bad that it's not just an insult to wrestling games, but it's an insult to game development as a whole. The developer created dance animations and designed the ugliest car I think I've ever seen for every wrestler to drive to the ring in…and spent more time on those two things than anything else in the game. Watch the trailer for the game and it's obvious that's the case since those are the only things spotlighted. And with good reason. As soon as the action starts, you'll see how broken this game is. You'll perform a piledriver with your opponent about four feet away from you, but still going through the animations like you've dropped them on their head. You'll go for a headlock takedown and instead of your opponent going with you, they go in the opposite direction as you, like in the picture to the right. The moves you perform seem to be random. I literally just pressed the grapple button with no other movements and not only won the match, but I also performed a handful of awful-looking, glitchy moves. To top it off, you can only do an attack when both wrestlers are standing…so if you've got your opponent down and are attempting to stay on them, you're out of luck. You have to wait until they get to their feet before you can do anything….and that includes tagging out to your partner. Yes, both you and your opponent have to be standing upright before the game allows you to tag. The only positive I can give, and the only reason I'm not marking this as the worst wrestling game I've played (but it IS the second worst) is that the matches are over fairly quickly. 1-2 minutes and a match should be over. But that's really the only compliment I can give. WWC may be a slightly worse wrestling game, but that's like a scenario where WWC punched you in the throat 9 times, and Extreme Wrestling punched you in the throat 8 times. It may not be quite as bad as the other guy, but both are awful enough were most folks won't be able to tell the difference. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2019 Strawberry Shortcake: Musical Match-Ups Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer Parker Bros. Genre Music My Score 0.5/10 Avg. Score 13.78/100 This is a game that magically blends music and puzzle games together decades before Lumines ever did…and does it so horribly, that it took decades for someone to attempt to combine the genres again. Okay, maybe I can’t technically blame Strawberry Shortcake: Musical Matchups for that, but this game...I don't even want to call it a game. It's an abomination. Even little children who may enjoy it at first will find out that after ninety seconds or so, they've seen everything there is to see in the game and heard all of the nails-on-a-chalkboard tunes to hear in the game as well. Some folks point to Pac-Man, E.T., or Custer's Revenge as the worst game on the Atari 2600 console, but from what I've played, there isn't much on this console (or any other, for that matter) can match this turd in the stink department. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/13/2019 Sex Platform Panasonic 3DO Initial Release Date 1995 (NA) Developer Vivid Interactive Genre Action My Score 0.5/10 Avg. Score 17.44/100 I've said it before and I'll say it again - adult content CAN have a place in video games, but make sure that you focus more on developing the game than you do on adding boobs and such or you're gonna make a turd salad that nobody's gonna want. Sex is a turd salad. Feel free to take that quote out of context if you'd like. Anyway, Sex is a "game" where you watch five poor videos and have the ability to pause and skip ahead or forward while you watch chopped-up videos with the audio replaced by cheesy saxophone music. Basically, the way you interact with your television remote or a VCR remote (that's what we used back then, kids) is a deeper, more rewarding experience than this (I'm gonna use the term again) turd salad. Played on: 3DO Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/16/2019 Bikini Girls Platform Turbografx-CD Initial Release Date Unknown (NA) Developer Excite Software Genre Other My Score 1.0/10 Avg. Score 22.28/100 I don’t know what’s more of a head-scratcher – how Excite Software felt that their slideshows were exciting or how they felt like $150 was a fair price for a slideshow. Yes, $150 USD. Look at the boxart. That was actually what they charged for this pile of poo that even a dung beetle would refuse to roll up. $150 for a slideshow that has some images that are so grainy and glitchy that you’re unable to tell if you’re looking at a lady in a bikini or a seahorse playing on a merry-go-round while wearing one of those big, furry Russian hats….And then disappointment sets in when you realize that the image was not the seahorse. At least Excite Software made a poor slideshow with a name that makes sense and a name that tells you exactly what to expect. Unlike the abomination that they put out called “The Local Girls of Hawaii,” there is no nudity here. It’s simply women in bikinis, like the title suggests…And the game is still trash, like the name Excite Software suggests. Played on: Turbografx-CD Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Dauntless (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 0.5/10 Avg. Score 22.03/100 You know what most 3rd-person, horizontal-scrolling shooters are lacking? Clouds that cover 80% of the screen. Active Enterprises, for whatever reason, felt like since their scrolling shooters were generally so easy that it led to boredom, that the best way to fix that problem wasn't to adjust the difficulty and tweak the gameplay, but to just add a bunch of clouds so you can't really see what's going on around you. The definition of the word dauntless is, "showing fearlessness and determination." I think Active Enterprises showed that in confidently releasing this awful game and believing that anyone would enjoy it. That shows some fearlessness. Going through the effort of publishing it to this cartridge shows some determination. The fact that it got published at all, shows obliviousness…which isn't officially part of the definition of dauntless, but I think it fits after this abomination made its way to our Genesis consoles. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/05/2022 Demolish Derby Nitro-Battle: Driving Car Games 2022 Deluxe Driver Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date August 30, 2022 (EU) Developer INSTAMARKETINGANDGAME Genre Racing My Score 1.0/10 Avg. Score 09.73/100 Demolish Debry Nitro….or should I use its full name? Demolish Derby Nitro-Battle: Driving Car Games 2022 Deluxe Driver…..or should I use it's REAL full name? Don't Buy This Dumpster Fire of a Game Unless You'd Like to Feel Dead Inside 2022 Super Awful Deluxe Driver 2022. Yeah, they put two 2022's in the real title of the game. What a bunch of weirdos. Anyway, whoever developed this game clearly does not speak English fluently. Not everyone speaks English, so that's understandable. What's no understandable is how this game got published in English with so many mis-spelled words. Even if English isn't your first language, if you're going to release it in English, at least get a proof-reader before you publish it. When you fail a mission and you see "You loose" on the screen, you can't decide if you should laugh at the poor spelling or cry over the fact that you spent money on this garbage. The gameplay isn't any better than the grammar. If you can't spell words correctly, then I don't really have faith that you're typing in the game code correctly when you programmed it, either. I'm not sure if I've ever played a game where I can play a stage the EXACT SAME WAY each time…and "loose" on the first try, and get a perfect, 3-star rating on the second try. By exact same thing, I mean, hold down the gas button and don't steer. I also missed my objective completely and got a perfect, passing rating. Anyway, this is an absolutely terrible game. There isn't a demolition derby at all… it's just doing "stunt" objectives and racing…and the racing didn't seem to be anything but me racing against myself. I generally get a kick out of bad, stinky games….but Demolish Derby Nitro doesn't just stink, it's rancid. It's like a skunk-farting-in-a-septic-tank kind of putrid stench that I honestly don't think that anyone can enjoy. Be warned. If you purchase this game, then you definitely "loose." Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2019 Custer's Revenge Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1982 (NA) Developer Mystique Genre Action My Score 0.5/10 Avg. Score 26.03/100 Custer's Revenge is, based on the description on the box, a game about rape. You play as a nude General Custer (who is apparently back from the grave, which is why he's getting revenge - I guess the creators thought rape was okay if it was a zombie doing it) while he tries to dodge arrows of the Native American warriors in order to fornicate with a Native American woman named Revenge, who is tied to a pole. I have no idea who tied her to a pole...but why bother filling in story holes? Not only is this an extremely poor idea for a video game, the game itself is poorly executed. I'm thankful for that, too. I'm not sure how I'd feel if I had to type the words, "That rape game had a poorly-chosen theme, but it plays like a dream!" Hey, that kind of rhymed. Anyway, if I ever meet the mastermind behind this game, I'll gladly let their stomach meet the Duke brothers, Righty and Lefty. The punches would burn like mace as they pummel his face…another rhyme!! Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/02/2020 Presswurst II: Liquid Edition Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date April 2003 (EU) Developer Metalvotze Genre Action My Score 1.0/10 Avg. Score 09.47/100 This homebrew game is the poops...Because it's a pooping simulator. Basically, you mash buttons until you fill the toilet with a brown mess. Meanwhile, you see a guy who looks like a hairy-chested poet, sans fedora, struggling to push out the turd and the fancy "anus cam" with a view of the poet's anus hole from below. It's all very bad and will very likely offend a decent number of folks that play it. The few who get a laugh out of it, probably won't be amused after playing the game a second time and realizing that there's nothing else to do in the game except mash buttons faster to get a higher score. This game concept should have been flushed down the john shortly after it was dreamed up. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/25/2019 Ooze (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Platformer My Score 0.5/10 Avg. Score 15.36/100 Ooze must’ve had lots of love because it’s the first game you'll come across in Action 52 with an actual title screen. Unfortunately, I feel that this ‘love’ came from developers that lock their children in the basement for not clipping their toenails properly. Ooze looks like it could have been a somewhat enjoyable platforming game...However, the controls are absolutely wretched. It takes a while to get used to them, and even when you do, there’s still a decent chance of you accidentally killing yourself by slipping in a pit or something. The biggest issue that’ll throw off your timing is the animation...It’s just so choppy. Nothing feels fluid. So, you’re left with a game that looks and plays terribly. I’m pretty sure the developers knew this, too. That’s likely why they spent more time creating that title screen than the actual gameplay. Ooze does make you feel the love, though...You’ll absolutely love it when you’re not playing it anymore. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Sunday Drive (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 0.5/10 Avg. Score 22.17/100 Oh, boy…where do I start here? Sunday Drive is about as fun as making a delicious sundae that you're really looking forward to eating, then getting a driver out of your golf club bag, swinging, and hitting that edible delight as far away from your tastebuds as possible. That's why it's called Sunday Drive, I think. Much like how the description I just gave you was an example of you teasing yourself of something that you want, but can't have, this game does the exact same thing. You literally see a sign that says, "SegAVILLe NeXT eXIT" (Yes, that's how it's displayed) every few seconds scroll on the screen…making you hope that you could turn your vehicle out of this game via an exit ramp and play something actually fun on your Sega Genesis instead. But the exit never comes…just another sign reminding you that the game is terrible and you just want it to end. This is one of the slowest, plodding "racing" games that I've ever played. Maybe instead of swinging at the sundae with my driver, I'll just swing at the Action 52 cartridge…then I'll never have to play this or the 51 other games on that cart ever again. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/25/2021 Elf Bowling 2 Platform Nintendo Game Boy Advance Initial Release Date November 28, 2005 (NA) Developer Black Lantern Studios Genre Sports - Shuffleboard My Score 1.0/10 Avg. Score 22.32/100 Black Lantern Studios created one of the worst pieces of garbage that I’ve ever played with Elf Bowling 1. They responded to that game by creating a sequel called Elf Bowling 2…Which is a shuffleboard game, not a bowling game. Yes, Elf Bowling 2 lacks bowling of any kind. Not only that, the awful, failed attempts at humor from the first game return here…probably because the mothers of the developers didn’t love them, so they felt the need to take it out on anyone dumb enough to play this, like me. The annoying, unfunny elves return as well, but unlike Elf Bowling 1, you can’t find mild joy in hurling a heavy ball at them…you just have to deal with the annoyance. As much as I dislike Elf Bowling 1, Elf Bowling 2 is actually worse…but honestly, comparing the two is like trying to figure out what smells worse between an elephant turd and a giraffe turd. They both reek regardless. If you ever come across a copy of Elf Bowling 1 & 2, I highly suggest throwing it in a grill and try using it to cook some burgers. It should work since this is one of the biggest lumps of coal in video game form that I imagine that anyone could ever find. Played on: Game Boy Advance Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Ninja (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 1.0/10 Avg. Score 22.92/100 What a useless game. The goal in Ninja is to simply move right until you reach the end of the level. Along the way, various ninjas will appear, but have no fear - nearly all of them are harmless. In fact, you can walk right through them. The only time any ninja can harm you is if they toss a throwing star at you and it connects…and when you walk through the ninjas passing you, they may throw stars, but they'll throw them in the wrong direction. In fact, the first two levels, you can literally just press the right directional button for 30 seconds and you've passed the level. Later levels you can use the same strategy, but throwing stars will come at you from behind, so aside from pressing the right directional button, you'll also want to press the jump button at certain times as well. This is just an awful, pointless game. Whoever designed this and decided to release it to the public is a ninjerk. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/12/2022 Stroke the Tortoise Platform Sony Playstation 5 Initial Release Date November 9, 2022 (AU) Developer Game Achievements Ltd. Genre Action My Score 1.0/10 Avg. Score 09.47/100 Since I like to update this list in batches of three, and I already had two Playstation 5 games ready to be added, I searched the Playstation Store for a game that was cheap and looked like it could be finished somewhat quickly…I eventually stumbled across Stroke the Tortoise, a game with a name so ridiculous that I had to find out more about it. The description states that your job is to stroke the tortoise to make it come out of its shell. Getting a chuckle out of everything I saw, I bought the game and got ready to play…and while I was amused by the concept, the execution is absolutely terrible. Stroke the Tortoise lasts roughly 5 minutes. The game shows you a static image of a tortoise along with a counter in the upper left corner. By hitting a button, you "stroke" the tortoise…in other words, the static image flashes. No animations, just a flash. By "stroking" the tortoise over 2000 times, your reward is over 70 trophies, plus a platinum to add to your collection. If you stroll through the list, you'll see My Name is Mayo, which also has you hitting a single button repeatedly, get a much better review than this game. That's because some effort was put into My Name is Mayo, despite its simplicity. Stroke the Tortoise (and all of the other "Stroke the Insert Animal Here" games) is a game where zero effort was made…and it'll probably still make the developer a lot of money because of the easy platinum trophy attached to it. I wanted to like Stroke the Tortoise without knowing anything about it…unfortunately, it's basically just a lazy attempt to make some money. Played on: Playstation 5 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/09/2020 Bubsy 3D Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date October 31, 1996 (NA) Developer Eidetic Genre Platformer My Score 1.0/10 Avg. Score 24.70/100 Oh, man where do I begin with this mess? This was supposed to be Bubsy's big break. After a few decent 2D platformers, Bubsy went 3D and the result is one of the absolute worst games ever created. It’s no coincidence that it was released on Halloween – this game is frighteningly bad. This is the ultimate trick…the equivalent of going trick or treating and getting a turd covered in a Snickers wrapper. The controls are awful, the camera is terrible, the gameplay itself is bland...the one, single, solitary bit of good in this game is killing off Bubsy in various ways and watching his death sequences. Not because they're funny, but because you're satisfied that the dang cat has met his demise and now you no longer have to play the game. AWFUL. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Apache (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 1.0/10 Avg. Score 23.07/100 Apache is your typical, boring 3rd-person shooter from Active Enterprises. Only this one has a catch…You're controlling a very magical helicopter as you shoot at various enemy choppers while the screen slowly scrolls vertically. Now I bet you're wondering what makes this helicopter so magical. Well, I'll tell you. This helicopter has the magical ability to crash when it flies over any rocks. Trees? Water? No problem. But if you fly over a rock on the ground, your helicopter will explode and you'll perish. They shouldn't have named this game Apache, they should have named it Abracadabra due to how magical this helicopter is. What would have been even more magical is if this was actually worth playing. Unfortunately, Active Enterprises didn't pull the playability rabbit out of their hats when they made this. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Skater (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 1.0/10 Avg. Score 23.07/100 Active Enterprises set a goal when making their second Action 52 cartridge on the Genesis - create the most boring, unenjoyable skateboarding game ever made. Needless to say, Active Enterprises definitely achieved that goal. In this slow-paced, dull game, you control a cool dude riding his skateboard on the street with the goal of collecting boomboxes as you go…because when I, personally, ride a skateboard, my goal is to carry a sack full of boomboxes that I collect as I ride….so that makes perfect sense. But let's be honest. The developers themselves knew how awful this game was. It's not uncommon to see multiple "Stop" signs on the screen at a time. They're literally telling you to stop playing and do something more fun, like getting a prostate exam or having a friend slam a car door on your fingers. So do like the game says, put the controller down, and tell the cool skateboarding dude in the game, "Later, Alliskater." Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/17/2024 Color a Dinosaur Platform NES Initial Release Date July 1993 (NA) Developer Farsight Technologies Genre Action My Score 1.0/10 Avg. Score 26.60/100 Color a Dinosaur is one of those games where I feel like the developers wasted their time. It's WAY more fun to pull out a set of crayons, grab a coloring book, and start coloring away. You likely have more options for what colors to use when going that route as well. Anyway, Color a Dinosaur is an overly simplistic, electronic coloring book. I say overly simplistic, but they managed to make is mildly frustrating at the same time. Basically, you don't have free movement of your mouse…so you just use the d-pad to change between areas to color one at a time. Since the mouse doesn't have free movement, that means that you're not really coloring…you're selecting an area and it essentially works like the paint bucket tool in Photoshop or the ol' Kid Pix, where you press a button and the whole area fills in. That's it. That's the whole game. Your color/pattern selection is limited. You've only got a handful of overly simplistic dinosaurs to color. This is just a very dull, pointless, useless game. Do yourself a favor and if you've got the option to play this game, or if your child does, just use the cart as a paper weight to keep the current page that they're working on in their coloring book down. That's probably the best use for Color a Dinosaur, honestly. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/10/2019 Immortal Desire Platform Panasonic 3DO Initial Release Date 1994 (NA) Developer Vivid Interactive Genre Action My Score 1.0/10 Avg. Score 14.38/100 Vivid Interactive sure likes to use the term "interactive" loosely. Immortal Desire, like another poor Vivid game called "Sex," is simply a selection of five videos and you've got the ability to pause, play, skip ahead a few seconds, and skip backwards a few seconds...That's it. Unlike in Sex, Immortal Desire's videos all combine together to create one film...A very cheesy film about an immortal love that lasts generations and involves a few topless lady folk for no reason except that they wanted to include topless lady folk. Anyway, amusingly cheesy film or not, a VCR remote has more depth than this game. I recommend using that to watch a movie instead of wasting your time with this trash. Played on: 3DO Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/31/2019 Non Human (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Platformer My Score 1.0/10 Avg. Score 17.52/100 Non-Human...That’s what you have to be to willingly unleash a game like this into the world. This action platformer is awful. The folks who made Action 52 need to face facts, they have absolutely no clue how to make a playable platforming game. While not as broken as Bubble Gum Rossie, Non Human’s controls aren’t very good. With bad controls, the platforming can be difficult and you’ll often end up falling into a pit full of abnormally large heads…really, you fall into a pit of huge heads. Overall, this game is just a wreck...Not nearly as big of a wreck as Bubble Gum Rossie, but a big enough of one that you’ll want to stay away. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/20/2024 Animal Football Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date June 27, 2003 (EU) Developer The Code Monkeys Genre Action My Score 1.0/10 Avg. Score 15.28/100 Wow…Talk about a dumpster game. Animal Football, is also a deceptive game. The name is deceptive and the front and back box art is deceptive. Why? Because until you pop the game in and start to play, you're under the impression that you'll be playing a game of soccer with animals…you won't be. The box art does tell you what this entire game is on the front…but it looks more like it's "bonus content" instead of the ONLY content in the game. Basically, Animal Football is split into three parts. None of them are good. The first part of Animal Football is an animated film…poorly voice acted (and the voices don't sync to what you see on top of that) and poorly animated, I have no idea how anyone could think to charge anyone to see this. When I went to college for animation, there were better animations in our introduction class than what can be found here. Next is a digital coloring book…which is also VERY poorly done. Granted, the pictures are interesting enough, but the color selection is odd for most pictures. Your only option is the equivalent to the paint bucket, where you click on an area and it fills that area with color. This would be fine except for one major problem - the lines in the pictures are not always connecting, so areas that you don't want colored because they should have a solid line preventing the color from bleeding in, don't actually have that line. With so little content in this game, I can't believe that this wasn't seen/fixed before hitting store shelves….toss in the lack of an audio sync in the cartoon in that category too, for that matter. The last part of the game is done fine…but it's the type of puzzle that most people don't really seem to care for. It's the puzzle where one piece is missing and you have to shuffle the pieces around until you have all pieces in the correct location…Toss me in the group of folks that loathe those puzzles. With a lack of any animal soccer gameplay, and the actual content either broken or boring, I'm usually somewhat lenient with kids games, but this game is such an awful mess that I can't imagine that even very young children will be able to find any enjoyment in this. It'd like to meet the developers that put this garbage out like the animals they are, so I can have my foot meet their balls….so if that ever happens, I hope that it's an all male team of developers otherwise my plan won't really have the wanted effect. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 Man Boobs Are Candy Corn HD Platform Ouya Initial Release Date May 22, 2014 (NA) Developer Time Killer Games Genre Platformer My Score 1.0/10 Avg. Score 10.27/100 I don’t know if I need to really write anything here, do I? You saw the title of the game…you can see what it looks like in the screenshot…you can see where it placed on this list. But for those of you who expect some sort of commentary, Man Boobs Are Candy Corn HD is pretty much what I thought it would be. When the official screenshots for the game failed to show screens of any actual gameplay, I knew this was going to be a stinker. But, because I like bizarre games, I figured I’d give this a shot. Afterall, I could be wrong right? Yes, I can…but not in this case. The easiest way for me to describe this game is an NES Action 52 platformer, but with prettier graphics. The controls are awful, the level design is horrendous…it’s just all bad. You might get an initial chuckle out of a man being so obese that his man boobs have transformed into candy corn, but this game is so awful that the image that initially made you laugh will forever after make you groan in disappointment. Much like real candy corn, I can’t imagine that anyone would actually enjoy this. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Shootout (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 1.0/10 Avg. Score 23.21/100 Shootout may be the absolute worst 1st person shooter that's light-gun style that I've ever played. I say this because you can literally put the cursor in one spot, and then just press the fire button from that point forward. As long as your timing is good, you'll never have to aim again, as all of your targets will eventually hit that spot. It's a very mindless, pointless game. The point of each level is to shoot all targets, but again…once you shoot one, you no longer have to move the cursor as all targets will repeatedly cross your line of fire until you either shoot them all or run out of bullets. The level could also end with a third option - instead of running out of bullets, you run out of patience while waiting for this to become fun. That third option is how I imagine that game ends when most folks play it. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/21/2020 Peppy Frog Platform Apple iPhone/iPod Touch Initial Release Date June 19, 2010 (NA) Developer Cascadia Investments Inc. Genre Action My Score 1.0/10 Avg. Score 10.27/100 I've played a few Cascadia Investments games, and they seem to follow the same trend: Good ideas for games, but horrible final product. Peppy Frog is a game where you tilt the iPhone to move a frog around in a pool. The frog can eat small fish, but you'll get eaten by big fish. Your goal is to rack up the highest score and survive as long as possible...The problem is that even with the very simple graphics and concept, the animation is choppy...And quite frankly, you have to survive through a few minutes of boredom every time you play before the game finally picks up to a non-boring pace...It could have been better on every level, from gameplay, to graphics, to audio...Instead of putting out a quality product, it seemed more like Cascadia Investments was more concerned about making a quick profit. Played on: iPhone Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2019 Ninja Assault (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Brawler My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 17.04/100 A blind person could beat this game with ease. Hold down the left directional button and tap the A button repeatedly...You’ve won the game. There is no challenge here....It’s a VERY poorly done beat-em-up that only has one entertaining aspect to it – the poorly done “Hya!” sounds you hear when you hit things. However, the novelty of those awesomely bad sound effects doesn’t last long before you’re bored out of your mind from mashing buttons. Ninja Assault is yet another game that you need to avoid in the awful world of Action 52. It smells like the odor that would come out of the place that the game is named after…minus the “ault” at the end. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/06/2019 Lady in Wading Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1982 (NA) Developer Playaround Genre Action My Score 1.0/10 Avg. Score 10.74/100 Lady in Wading was never released as a stand-alone game, only in a 2-in-1 cartridge on the Atari 2600 with Beat ‘Em & Eat ‘Em. Which tells a lot that the developers felt that a horrible game like Beat ‘Em & Eat ‘Em needed to be on the cart as well so consumers felt like they got their money’s worth. Anyway, in this game, you're a naked woman that has to build a bridge across a dangerous moat while avoiding various obstacles in order to get to the tower on the other side of the water, where a naked prince charming is waiting for you. And both of them look like nude mutant aliens. Unnecessary adult theme aside, the concept sounds like it could be fun...But unfortunately, it's not. It's a case where the developers seemed more intent on putting naked people in the game (and adding in animations of the two having intercourse in the tower) than they were in creating something that was actually enjoyable to play. The only fun I had here was purposely walking into the jaws of a gator and watching the water below turn red. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/28/2019 Spread Fire (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 1.0/10 Avg. Score 16.69/100 Absolutely no challenge here. You move your ship from side-to-side and fire at other ships that fly all over the place. They don’t fire at you, so the only way you can die is if they ram into you a few times...But it’s rare that even one will ram into you let alone several. This game is so easy that it gets boring almost immediately. If you need a self-esteem booster, this game does a good job because there’s almost no way to lose. This game fails at everything else, though. It is prettier than some of the other Action 52 games, but that doesn’t mean much. They should have spread that fire to torch the code written the make this game…coming up with that horrible attempt at a joke is actually the most fun that I had involving this game. Avoid this game at all costs. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Knockout (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Fighting - Boxing My Score 1.0/10 Avg. Score 23.36/100 Knockout is one of the games in the Genesis version of Action 52 that is only for two players…because why suffer alone, when you can trick a gullible friend into suffering with you? Knockout basically has you control one of two boxers, creatively named Red and Blue, who both have amazing, futuristic boxer shorts that never actually move. Seriously, you'll see legs move, but those amazing shorts never budge. They may actually be boxer skirts, now that I think of it. Anyway, Knockout basically has the strategy of playing with Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em Robots…you just press the button to punch over and over and hope that you come out the winner. You can jump as well, if you desire, but I couldn't find a reason to do so other than imagine that the boxer is trying to jump out of this awful game so it could have some pride in its pixelated life. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Dedant (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 1.0/10 Avg. Score 23.51/100 Dedant is another returning game from the NES Action 52. This version is baffling, though. It's neither an improved game OR a better-looking game...in fact, I'd say that they took a step backwards...yes, they managed to make an already awful game even worse. First, the color scheme here is absolutely terrible. Most of your enemies blend right into the background. On the screenshot to the right, look above the ant and you'll see a green caterpillar thingie blending right in with the grass, for example. There's also another, smaller ant off to the upper left that's gray instead of green, but still not easily visible. I can only imagine how rough this game would be for someone that's color blind. The original Dedant was pretty awful, but at least you could see what was going on. This Dedant's only minor improvement is that the enemies aren't as stupid as they are in the original…but you still probably won't have an issue plowing through all of the other insects and arachnids. I'm still baffled that not only did Active Enterprises feel like releasing a second Action 52 was a good idea, but they also felt like including sequels to some of the worst games on the original cartridge. Maybe they thought they'd get it right this time? They were incorrect. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/22/2024 Crazy Frog Arcade Racer Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date December 1, 2006 (EU) Developer Neko Entertainment Genre Racing My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 35.83/100 Most things don't really bother me…so imagine my surprise when I started playing this game and had to listen to the horrid noises coming from (I'm assuming) the Crazy Frog. Even if this was a good game, I would loathe that sound and feel the need to hit the mute button on my television. Unfortunately, Neko Entertainment didn't make a good game. They made a game that handles poorly, and is about as boring as being told that you have to sit and stare at grass grow until it reaches a specific height….and right as you're about to fall asleep for a nice nap, that stupid frog makes a noise that sounds like someone farting into a dang kazoo, with the pitch turned way up to make it extra annoying. While racing, you'll also be tortured by being forced to listen to poor remixes of popular songs….Not a single one was enjoyable to hear. Crazy Frog Arcade Racer is such an awful game that I think I'd rather volunteer to allow someone to peel my toenails completely off, one at a time, instead of playing this again….unless it's on mute….then I may have to put serious thought into which one I'd rather suffer through. The only thing "crazy" about this racer is that you'd have to be insane to enjoy it. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: Crazy Frog Racer 2 (Europe)

Date added: 07/13/2019 Charlie's Angels Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date July 8, 2003 (NA) Developer Neko Entertainment Genre Brawler My Score 1.0/10 Avg. Score 19.79/100 What a mess. The game starts out logically...well, kind of. Well, at least in the sense that there's a bikini contest on a beach and thus, with you playing as a participant, controlling a bikini-clad woman as she attacks people that seemingly turn on her for no apparent reason…okay, it’s not that logical, but at least they explained the bikini-clad part with an appropriate setting. Then the game gets even less logical when you control the next lass who is in lingere in a construction area...Huh? I believe that there are safety regulations that would prevent that in a workplace like a construction area. Mix the illogical stuff in with extremely poor animations and boring combat that never seems to end, and you've got yourself one of the absolute worst brawlers that I have ever played in my life. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/14/2020 Monika's Tic-Tac-Toe Platform PC Initial Release Date 2006 (NA) Developer Mateusz Viste Genre Strategy My Score 1.0/10 Avg. Score 10.53/100 Monika’s Tic-Tac-Toe is…well, it was a game that was made. That’s probably the nicest thing to say about it. Heck, even Monika doesn’t like it. A quote from her within the game, “Nobody won! It is pretty annoying…” Who is Monika anyway? With a quote like that, it’s a lady with some sense, I say. Supposedly she’s the wife of the fellow that created this game. That single, insightful line that I quoted was the only redeeming quality from this abomination, unfortunately. It’s nice that the developer immortalized his wife in a video game…but it likely would have meant more if it was actually good. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/25/2023 The Jumping Noodles: TURBO Platform Playstation 4 Initial Release Date August 12, 2022 (NA/EU/AU) Developer ThiGames Genre Action My Score 1.0/10 Avg. Score 10.27/100 I wrote a review for a game called Stroke the Tortoise, which was clearly just one poor game (of many) designed by a developer to get rich off of trophy-hungry folks. The Jumping Noodles: TURBO is essentially the same thing, though the developer at least put a little more time and effort into this game. In the "Stroke the" games, you just mash the X button over and over until you see a platinum. It takes roughly 5 minutes. In "The Jumping" games, you can either mash the X button or simply hold it down…I guess that's where "TURBO" in the name comes from. Instead of a flashing animal, the food in these games actually jump. So an effort for animation was made. The trophies themselves are also named so that they tell a very short story as they pop up, which again, shows at least a little more effort put in. The game as a whole is shorter, though. It takes about a minute and a half to get a platinum trophy here. I know that if you get this game, you probably care less about gameplay and more about the trophies that the game contains, but if you want both, I'd pick "The Jumping" games over the "Stroke the" games….or if you simply want a fun, enjoyable game, skip both and pick up something good instead. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/22/2019 Aabs Animals Platform Sony Playstation Vita Initial Release Date November 29, 2012 (JP) Developer Aabs Genre Other My Score 1.0/10 Avg. Score 17.51/100 Aabs Animals is one of the worst games I've ever played. The only interaction here is the camera. On the Vita, you manage the camera via moving the system around, and the background is whatever the camera on the handheld sees in front of it. On the Playstation 3, you've got a generic, 360 degree, panoramic photo of a field of grass as the background as you very awkwardly try to move the camera via the analog sticks. That's it. The only good about this game is that a portion of the purchase price is donated to the Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue. Unless you want to see how poor this game is, I'd recommend just donating right to the charity itself instead which can be located at the following link - doubutsukyuen.org/eng/ Played on: Playstation Vita, Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Alien Attack (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 24.25/100 Alien Attack is a poor Action 52 shooter. The action takes place on a single screen while various aliens (and Medusa for some reason) roam around trying to kill you. It's not particularly enjoyable by any stretch of the imagination. I will give it credit for having different backgrounds for some of the stages, and the aliens/monsters are much more detailed and interesting than enemies in some of the other games on the Genesis Action 52 cartridge…but better looks don't mean better gameplay. Honestly, I bet Alien Attack is less fun than an Asthma Attack. Putting a brown paper bag to your mouth and breathing in and out sounds like a better time to me than putting your hands on the controller and having your emotions weave in and out between sadness and boredom. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/25/2021 Elf Bowling 1 Platform Nintendo Game Boy Advance Initial Release Date November 28, 2005 (NA) Developer Black Lantern Studios Genre Sports - Shuffleboard My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 23.65/100 What’s worse than playing one of the worst games that you’ve ever played in your life? Finding out that it’s sold as a compilation with another one of the worst games that you’ve ever played in your life. Elf Bowling is, simply put, terrible. The fact that it’s an awful, boring bowling game is bad enough. But add in the fact that the developers made awful, failing attempts at humor, it just makes the whole experience all that more painful to endure. The pins in this game are also replaced with very annoying elves…and on one hand, you find mild enjoyment in seeing a bowling ball crash into them due to how annoying they tend to be. On the other hand, if the developers simply used regular pins instead, you’d never be annoyed and wouldn’t feel the need to throw a bowling ball at anyone shorter than a grade schooler. This is a complete gutterball of a bowling game and one of the absolute worst games that I’ve ever played...It’s amazing how they managed to make the sequel even worse. Played on: Game Boy Advance Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Intruder (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 24.25/100 Intruder is a game where you control a fellow dressed in green, who seemingly is walking barefoot within some sort of network. The goal seems to be to navigate your way through a maze while shooting any robots that get in your way…because even if one of your toes on your bare feet touches the top of a robot skull, you will instantly die. Likewise, if you touch any walls, you'll die, too. It's pretty easy to die, which is ironic, because shortly into playing this game, a part of your happiness will die as well. Intruder had potential to be a decent game, and it's definitely not the worst game on the Action 52 cartridge, but even the best-smelling turds in a septic tank aren't something that you'd like to take a whiff of…though, like those turds, and like the name suggests, if you get near it, the stench may intrude on you anyway. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/01/2023 Rise of the Robots Platform Panasonic 3DO Initial Release Date 1995 (NA) Developer Mirage Genre Fighting My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 24.29/100 I remember seeing ads for Rise of the Robots in magazines when I was a kid…and even back then, I wasn't really impressed. Fast forward several decades, and while I've played it in the past, I made myself sit down and see it through to the end. Now that I've seen the credits roll, I can honestly say that I don't think we have to worry about these robots rising up. Not only are the majority of these robots stupid enough to just stand there and let you attack them with minimal comebacks, but the few who defend themselves and/or attack you seem to go down with the tactic of just jumping towards and hitting attack buttons. The combat is absolutely terrible in Rise of the Robots, and not just for what I just mentioned in the previous two sentences. The combat feels kind of laggy, the controls don't feel tight, and there's not really enough variety in the fighting to prevent boredom from setting in long before you battle the final boss. You may even get confused the first time you attempt to beat the game, as you'll find yourself fighting against some of the same robots on a loop - with the cutscenes in between the fighting being the only thing really letting you know that you're actually advancing on in the game. Rise of the Robots somehow got a sequel…Rise 2. It's almost like the developer was someone's mother and she threatened to make a sequel to this game if her child didn't clean their room. They didn't, and she stuck by her word. Anyway, I'd stay away from Rise of the Robots…instead of rising, we should be lowering this game…lowering it about six feet underground would probably be the best place for it. Played on: 3DO Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2019 Time Warp Tickers (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Platformer My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 16.99/100 You’re a pair of fingers...and you flick stuff or jump over them. Well, that’s what’s supposed to happen anyway so long as when you press a button it triggers the action. For some reason, there are sometimes delays in the game as if it’s trying to figure out if you actually pressed a button or not. It’s not fun times. Time Warp Tickers also suffers from Action 52’s ever-popular random enemies problem, though not as badly as some other games on the cartridge. There really isn’t much else to add...I suppose that I’ll end it by saying that this game may have you controlling two fingers, but I really only need to use one to show the developers what I think of them after playing this fart stench of a game. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 The Cheetahmen (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 24.40/100 The original Action 52 on the NES had Cheetahmen. Then Active Enterprises released Cheetahmen II by itself on the NES later on…so I guess this would actually be Cheetahmen III? I heard that the full title was originally going to be Cheetahmen III: Why Me?! But Active Enterprises didn't have enough room for that many characters for the game's title. Besides, since everyone that attempted to play this game was already going to sobbing, "Why me?!" to themselves anyway, Active Enterprises felt like the subtitle wasn't really needed. I think they dropped the III in the title….well, because I'm not entirely sure that the developers could count that high. If they count as well as they program, I'm incredibly surprised that they were able to count to two for Cheetahmen II, to be honest. But anyway, Cheetahmen is an awful mess…ironic since the original game on the NES Action 52 was one of the better games on that cartridge. This Cheetahmen is one of the worst. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/24/2021 Ninjabread Man Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date June 26, 2007 (EU) Developer Data Design Interactive Genre Platformer My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 18.41/100 I’m a sucker for dumb puns…so, of course, when I first laid my eyes on Ninjabread Man, I immediately thought to myself, “I need this in my life!!” I knew it was going to be bad, but I was so optimistic about it being a so-bad-it’s-good game…and then Data Design Interactive took all of my hopes and dreams and CRUSHED THEM BENEATH THEIR SOULLESS FINGERS!!!...Do phalanges generally have souls? Oh well, doesn’t matter. Anyway, Ninjabread Man is a Wii game released in 2007 that looks like a Nintendo 64 game released in 1997 and plays like one of those balls on a string attached to a paddle released in 1897…except not as fun. Truth be told, putting my crotch in a vise would be more fun than playing Ninjabread Man. The motion controls of the Wii don’t help matters here, either. Anyway, if you are considering giving Ninjabread Man a shot, do yourself a favor and don’t…Instead, just run, but RUN, RUN, AS FAST AS YOU CAN, get far away, you won’t be a fan. Played on: Wii Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Slalom (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Sports - Skiing My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 24.40/100 Slalom is another one of those Action 52 games that looks like it might be fun, but it winds up being pretty boring. Basically, you control a downhill skier and your task is to avoid trees on the way down….that's about it. Weaving in and out between obstacles is all you're doing here. Get far enough down the hill and you advance to the next level where you do it all over again. If this game was released a decade earlier, it may have been a mildly fun game on the Atari 2600, with less impressive graphics, obviously. Unfortunately, since it was released in 1993 instead of 1983, most people playing this would probably be expecting quite a bit more out of the experience. The game can be mildly fun at first, but the fun only goes downhill the longer you play…kinda like the skier you control. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/16/2020 Slam City with Scottie Pippen Platform Sega CD Initial Release Date November 1994 (NA) Developer Digital Pictures Genre Sports - Basketball My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 22.01/100 Slam City with Scottie Pippen is, in my opinion, the worst basketball game ever made. Trying to mix FMV clips within a basketball game sounds harmless…Until you realize that nearly the entire game is FMV and the “gameplay” consists of awkward controls of trying to block, shoot, and jump for balls that bounce off the rim. Sure, the trash talk and such is entertaining…but it doesn’t take long to get old. The game comes with four discs containing over 2 ½ hours of FMV…and I imagine within 5-15 minutes on disc 1, most folks will give up on this game. A more appropriate name for Slam City with Scottie Pippen would probably be Toilet Town with John…since the john is what you’d wish you could flush all four discs down. Played on: Sega CD Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/31/2019 Slashers (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Brawler My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 22.57/100 Most brawlers can get repetitive after a while, but Slashers is the only one I’ve ever played that got repetitive after beating up the first enemy. This is less of a brawler and more of a ‘take a few steps, then mash buttons, and repeat’ simulator. When brawling with the enemy is almost seems random when you actually get hit. I made it through two levels without taking any damage…First enemy on the third level, I suddenly lost half of my health when the battle was exactly the same like the 20 previous battles where I lost no health. On top of that, all you can really do is mash buttons. There is no strategy here at all. It gets very repetitive very fast. This game is absolute trash...Not even die-hard fans of brawling games will find any enjoyment here. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/02/2021 Mortal Kombat Advance Platform Nintendo Game Boy Advance Initial Release Date December 12, 2001 (NA) Developer Virtucraft Genre Fighting My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 27.48/100 Want to see what a broken fighting game looks like? Mortal Kombat Advance can be the template. The computer literally avoids you 90% of the time during the fight. Walk towards them, they walk away from you. Up to the final two fights, all you have to do is walk towards an opponent until they back themselves into a corner and then repeatedly hit the punch button for the win, piling on the flawless victories in the process. The final two battles against Mortaro and Shao Khan are just as easy. They try to attack you, but simply ducking and uppercutting is enough to get yourself more flawless wins. Difficulty aside, the game itself controls horribly and just feels like a rushed, incomplete game. I love the Mortal Kombat franchise, but this is up there as one of the worst fighting games that I've ever played. Played on: Game Boy Advance Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Speed Boat (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 27.29/100 One would imagine that if you decided to call your game "Speed" Boat, that it would be fast. Maybe it's called Speed Boat because the developers were on methamphetamines when they made it. I learned about that drug in the D.A.R.E. program as a young'un. Anyway, the developers were seemingly on something if they thought that this was a game fit for release - even if it is released as one game in a collection of 52 poor games. Anyway, in Speed Boat your goal is to simply get from one end of the level to the other. Like other games in Action 52 with similar goals, you've got no idea when the level will end until the box pops up on screen telling you that you made it. Along the way to the end of each stage, you want to avoid rocks, planks of wood, and other boats…you're not racing the other boats (some contain fishermen and just sit there), you're just avoiding them. It's a pretty uneventful game. Later levels have more stuff to avoid, but regardless of the chaos around you, it always feels boring. Maybe they made the game to simulate the crash after their methamphetamines wore off. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/01/2019 Sombrero (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 22.24/100 This game is so pointless. You collect hats and kill people that generally avoid you...I guess because you don’t want them to take the hats you find. They could have just taken all enemies out of the game and it would play the exact same, boring way. The only enemies that really pose as a threat are the automobiles in the first level...But once you’re past the first level, you don’t see ‘em again. Even the vehicles aren’t that hard to avoid...Simply walk along the dotted line and you’ll have a safe passage. Or shoot constantly…it prevents them from spawning for whatever reason. This game is just so easy and boring that it’s ridiculous. I think it’s supposed to be a shooter, but you don’t have to fire a single shot to advance a level...Or collect a single hat for that matter. Technically, you can finish the game with a score of zero if you really wanted to. This game is just so pointless and horrible...The folks who made it should pull a sombrero over their faces in shame. Or just say Sombrer-NO. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/14/2020 Mind Teazzer Platform Panasonic 3DO Initial Release Date 1994 (NA) Developer Vivid Interactive Genre Puzzle My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 17.01/100 Hey, a 3DO adult game that is actually a game!...And it's still terrible. Mind Teazzer is a unique blend of adult content and gameplay that you'd find in a Sesame Street video game made for toddlers. Want to see a scene of fornication? Not 'til you solve that match game or complete that jigsaw puzzle, mister...or ma'am...whichever gender applies, I suppose. Since it actually makes an attempt to be a game, I'll give it some credit, but once you beat the ridiculously easy three game types, there's not much else to do here unless you're a perverted teenager that just reached puberty…and even then, the Kindergarten-level difficulty will likely turn off all but the biggest of perv-o’s. Like most adult-oriented games, it’s just best to stay away. Played on: 3DO Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/26/2019 Sharks (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 17.69/100 Stay away from this game. It looks innocent enough. In fact, it almost looks like Seaquest on Atari 2600...But it lacks all of the depth that makes Seaquest such an enjoyable game. You just sit there and wait for sharks to appear...And sometimes you will wait for a while. My longest waiting period was roughly ten seconds. It doesn’t sound like much, but this is an NES cart...No loading necessary, so what's the deal? There’s no reason for these large gaps of nothing. If the gameplay was so intense that I needed a few gaps of nothing for a breather, that’d be fine....But this gameplay is so lame....so tame. There’s absolutely no need for it. The sharks do nothing except swim in a straight line. That’s it. Then you shoot them. And then you’ll face sharks of a different color that act exactly the same. Then you get to face jellyfish that randomly appear and disappear. So, you go from easy to shoot sharks to rely-on-luck-to-hit jellyfish. While the jellyfish do add some much needed difficulty to the game, it’s not the kind of difficulty you can easily overcome with skill. It’s mostly luck. This game is just awful. The only good thing I can say about it is that they managed to get the controls down fairly well...But that doesn’t mean much when the rest of the game is trash. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/21/2020 Blonde vs. Brunette: Rock, Paper, Scissors Platform Apple iPhone/iPod Touch Initial Release Date October 18, 2011 (NA) Developer Tuokio Inc. Genre Action My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 12.40/100 What would be the logical choice to a racing game sequel? According to Tuokio Inc., the answer is a game of rock, paper, scissors. In a move that I thought wouldn't be possible, the second Blonde vs. Brunette game is worse than the first. What exactly is the point of a rock, paper, scissors video game? I can grab a random stranger off the street and play a few games of rock, paper, scissors with them if I'm that desperate to play...And that would probably be a whole lot more fun and entertaining, too. So, I guess if you're a rock, paper, scissors maniac that eats, sleeps, and breathes that game, you might be interested in this title...But the rest of us normal folk will likely be bored after a few hands. Played on: iPhone Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Armor Battle (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 27.44/100 Armor Battle is another one of the awful two-player-only games on the Genesis Action 52 cartridge. You and a friend (likely a drugged friend - I can't imagine how you'd get anyone to play this with you unless you drop a little helper in their chocolate milk when they're not looking) play as the creatively named Gray and Green tanks in a best of 9 series. Each round, the way the tank fires changes…which is interesting…but, these tanks control like how they do in the other Action 52 tank game, Norman. That's very slow and plodding. The end result isn't a fast-paced chaotic tank battle between friends…it's more like if you shrunk yourselves down, you each sat on top of a snail with jousting sticks, and trash talked each other for the 30 minutes it took for the snails to get close enough to each other for one of you to knock the other down. It's not a good game, it's not fun…in terms of quality, this game really tanked. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 Vegas Bowling Platform Ouya Initial Release Date July 23, 2013 (NA) Developer RESETgame Genre Sports - Bowling My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 16.60/100 Strikes are considered to be good in bowling, but I wonder if the developers of Vegas Bowling knew that. They seemingly tried to deliver a strike with their game, but instead of a bowling strike, they did a baseball strike….and I hope they hung their heads in shame as they went to go sit on the bench after striking out. And I hope the mothers of other players on the team yelled at them for dragging their kid down….and then the umpire throws those mothers out of the game and the mothers kick dirt all over the umpire on their way out. That whole scenario was fairly interesting. This game is not. At all. This is one of the worst bowling games that I’ve ever played. Want to press the O button to clear the text on the screen? Better hope that the game doesn’t register it twice because despite the fact that the game uses the analog controls to throw the ball, pressing the O button also tosses it…but not in a straight line…with a curve, so it winds up in the gutter, where this game belongs. The only reason I think they threw “Vegas” into the game’s title is because by playing this, you’re gambling with your happiness…and like in Vegas, you’ll likely lose it all by the time you’re done. If this really happened in Vegas, it should have stayed in Vegas. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/29/2021 Spice World Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date June 1998 (EU) Developer Team Soho Genre Music My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 26.98/100 Spice World is....vile. That's really the only word that I can use to describe my feelings on it. I thought I'd be walking into a Bust-A-Groove-style music game featuring irritating Spice Girls songs. Instead I found myself playing an irritating "assign the Spice Girls dance moves and then watch them perform" music game featuring ear-bleed inducing Spice Girls songs. I’m not a fan of their music or this game, if you can’t tell. Within five to ten minutes, you will literally have experienced everything that this game has to offer, gameplay-wise. Once you complete the gameplay stuff, you’re rewarded with a seemingly endless barrage of video clips with the Spice Girls before the credits mercifully begin to roll. Those video clips all last longer than the gameplay itself...This is absolutely garbage unless you're a huge Spice Girl fan...And even then, I imagine that you'd be pretty disappointed with this poor game unless you’re simply playing it to see the videos and hear them being interviewed…in which case, you can probably find all of that online. What’re you playing this for, you dullard? Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Sketch (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Other My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 27.59/100 When I was a young'un in school, there were two things that were all the rage in the computer lab. The first was Oregon Trail. The second was Kid Pix. Kid Pix was basically just a program that let you draw and animate things…it was basic, but it was fun creating things. Nintendo eventually made their own variation called Mario Paint for the Super NES, which left Sega's Genesis console without a similar program. Well, Active Enterprises attempted to come to the rescue with Sketch, but this is about as bare-bones are you can get. This is basically an Etch-A-Sketch with a controller instead of using two knobs…and you can use color. Ironically, despite the fact that there is no difficulty because of the fact that there isn't exactly a goal of any sort, this is listed as an "Expert" difficulty game due to the fact that its name is in yellow on the title screen. Yes, I'm serious. I can't imagine anyone would spend more than five minutes with this game before finding it pointless and moving onto something else. I just don't think most folks would trust this game to provide quality entertainment to pass the time. In other words, it's kinda Sketchy, if you catch my drift. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/08/2022 Miracle Space Race Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date May 6, 2003 (NA) Developer Mad Duck Productions Genre Racing My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 33.87/100 Miracle Space Race was probably named as such because the developers were named Miracle Designs…that makes way more sense than if this game was named as such because it was seen as a miracle of a game. The only thing miraculous about Miracle Space Race is that it actually found its way onto store shelves. Released a few years after the Playstation 2 was already out, not only does Miracle Space Race look like it could have been a launch game on the Playstation instead of a game released in the console's twilight months, but most early Playstation developers that were still trying to figure out how to create good 3D games did a much, much better job than Miracle Designs did on this game, which came out well after most developers had gotten the hang of creating good 3D gameplay. The racing is bland, the controls are awkward, the characters are about as boring as you can get, and the game as a whole is just an incredible disappointment. Like outer space, the place where these races take place in, this game is just a bunch of emptiness - empty gameplay that makes you feel like you've got an empty soul when you're done playing. If you're not expecting much from Miracle Space Race, it'll still find ways to disappoint you. If you're a person who has never been able to experience disappointment before, then this game can perform that miracle of disappointing you, if you so desire. Honestly, this game is about as miraculous as those religious cooks that slap people in the foreheads to heal them. If you paid for this game thinking that you'd get something good, much like if you donated money to those religious shysters expecting to be healed, then perhaps that slap to the forehead is necessary….and in fairness, receiving a concussion is WAY more fun than playing this game. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/21/2018 Horror Fish Simulator Platform PC Initial Release Date April 15, 2018 (NA) Developer Tero Lunkka Genre Sports - Fishing My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 17.6/100 I purchased Horror Fish Simulator fully expecting it to be bad...I just enjoyed the novelty idea of a zombie fishing for food instead of stalking people. That said, while I expected it to be bad, I also expected it to at least be playable...and Horror Fish Simulator is a total mess. Controls are terrible, the fishing aspect itself is worse than terrible, and it's not uncommon to run into bugs...like when I somehow found myself hurled into the sky for about 30-45 seconds before I began to fall again. When I landed, I was so far away from the fishing spot that my poor zombie died of starvation in the desert. If forced to play this game again, I would wish that the roles were reversed. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/09/2019 WWF Wrestlemania Platform NES Initial Release Date January 1989 (NA) Developer Rare Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 29.35/100 Pro Wrestling had created an absolutely fantastic wrestling experience on the NES and led the pack for a few years...And then WWF Wrestlemania came out...And pretty much made no impact...and even though WWF had almost completely taken over the sport of professional wrestling at this time, Pro Wrestling easily stayed at the top of the video game wrestling mountain. The gameplay in WWF Wrestlemania is horrendous. There are almost no wrestling moves at all...It's essentially a kick and punch fest with the wrestlers walking extremely awkwardly between the poo-looking attacks. I usually just spend my time doing cartwheels with Bam Bam Bigelow…it’s more fun than actually trying to play the game. The only real good thing I can say about WWF Wrestlemania is that is has 8-bit versions of songs from Piledriver: The Wrestling Album 2, like "Girls in Cars" and the infamous song that Vince McMahon sang - "Stand Back." Needless to say if "Soul Jive Bro" had been on this game, it would have been given a ten and probably made my favorite game of all the time. The Slickster makes everything better. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/28/2019 Micro Mike (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 18.48/100 I’ve complained a lot about Action 52's games being way too easy...Well, this one is way too difficult. In Micro-Mike, a side-scrolling shooter based off of Defender, you have to navigate through the level, which scrolls quite fast, by shooting and avoiding enemies while you make your way through a maze in hopes that you get through it before the scrolling crushes you. Avoiding the obstacles is difficult enough...But when you add the enemies, this game just becomes near impossible. The enemies are randomly placed and are often blocking the way you need to get through...And since the screen scrolls so fast, it’s very difficult to shoot them out of the way, so you end up ramming into them. Do this too many times, and you’re dead. There are also bullets that seemingly spawn from the walls to try and hit you, which can make things difficult. On top of all of that, the game is also extremely glitchy...If you somehow happen to survive more than a few seconds, you need to hope that the game doesn’t glitch up...’Cause if it does, you’re not going to see where to go and you’ll be crushed by the scrolling. Playing a challenging game is fun...Playing an impossible game is not. Unfortunately, Micro-Mike falls into the second category. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/03/2019 Little Adventure on the Prairie Platform Playstation 4 Initial Release Date February 21, 2018 (EU) Developer Infinite Madaa Genre Action My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 15.36/100 Little Adventure on the Prairie was, quite honestly, a game with very little effort put into it. It’s actually been documented that the game was purely designed to be released on the Playstation Vita and Playstation 4 as a cheap game that leads to an easy Platinum trophy in hopes that the income could finance the actual project that they were working on. Apparently it worked as plenty of folks gathered around to get the easy trophy…and by easy, I mean easy. It took me a whopping 12 minutes and 40 seconds to obtain the platinum trophy on the Playstation 4. The game is awful, it’s glitchy, it’s short, and quite honestly, it’s not worth playing if you’re looking for any sort of enjoyment…However, it also provides a fast, easy platinum trophy, so it trophies float your boat, it may be worth playing…as long as you’re aware that the stuff floating that boat will be your own tears. Played on: Playstation 4, Playstation Vita Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2019 Dedant (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd-Person Shooter My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 20.61/100 Why? Why in the world would you program enemies to fire to the left and right when your character is never able to be on their left or right? In Dedant you control an ant...You can only move left and right at the bottom of the screen, you can’t go anywhere else. You enemies can go all over the place, and they can fire at you....But most of the time, they’ll be in the middle or top of the screen firing to the left or right. I know this is part of Action 52, a collection of 52 of the worst games ever made...But c’mon. It’d be nice if they had put at least a little bit of time and effort into this to make it somewhat challenging. It’s boring, it’s broken, it’s bad....Stay away from Dedant. If you must play something similar, try playing with a stick of deodorant. It’s about as fun, but at least it won’t stink. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/29/2022 X-Man Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer Universal Gamex Genre Action My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 28.69/100 X-Man is a game where you make your way through a maze, completely naked and with your weenie hanging out for the world to see, while a giant pair of scissors stalks you…to, well, probably chop your pal between your legs off. If you manage to make it to the end of the maze without losing your sausage link, your reward Is an adult scene where you're required to move your joystick (the controller, not your dingie) back and forth to cause the male on the screen to fornicate with the female on the screen until they both change colors….My guess is that both the male and female were protesting being in this game by holding their breath. Either that or they're both victims of radiation poisoning or something. This is a game where you play as a naked man being stalked by a giant pair of scissors…I don't know if I can find logic in why these people change colors while they partake in some horizontal polka. But anyway, each time you complete a maze, you're "rewarded" with one of these scenes, but with the guy and gal in a different position each time. The maze aspects do not control well. The fornication aspects are bland and dull…unless you're a pervert, then maybe the large images of the two folks engaging in a bout of baby making may do something for you. Regardless, though, like most adult-themed games, this is pretty awful. And as for the name…I can only guess that it's called X-Man because if the scissors snips off your dangus, that may make you an ex-man. A better name may have been X-Enjoyment, because for the duration of your time playing this game, it snips away all enjoyment from your life. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Paratrooper (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 28.32/100 Oh, those Active Enterprises folks really know how to pull the wool over our eyes, don't they? You'd think, seeing a game called Paratrooper, that this would be another scrolling 3rd-person shooter where you control a soldier in a parachute, shooting at stuff. If you thought that, you'd be completely wrong. With a name like Paratrooper, you'd think that there would be a parachute attached somewhere to the character that you control in this game…or even the sight of some sky in the background since that's where you'd come from if you traveled to the current location via parachute. If you thought that, you'd be wrong again. And if you thought that with a name like Paratrooper, you should be walking on foot, collecting electronics (or are they not electronics, but the very parachutes that you should be using in this game?) while avoiding various robots that are wandering around in a forested area containing several stone walls…well, then you're completely right. Honestly, with the poor gameplay found here, it would have been better named Parablooper. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/27/2020 Superman Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date May 31, 1999 (NA) Developer Titus Software Genre Action My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 28.33/100 Oh, man. What a mess. I actually like the way the game looks and I appreciate the fact that you get to fly around and kind of experience what it's like to fly around the city like Superman, even if flying in this game feels like Superman is under the influence as he flies...But that's about where my compliments end for this game. The gameplay is horrendous. How flying through loops with poor controls saves anyone is a mystery to me. If you manage to make it past the loops, you get rewarded with…um….carrying cars for a few seconds….Because you’re Superman, so you can carry cars. After those few seconds, back to more loops. If someone was in trouble, wouldn't it just be easier and faster to just fly above all the loopy hoopy ring things and just go right to the destination instead of flying through Lex Luthor's floating obstacle course? If you fail to fly through it, what happens? He shoots you? You're bullet-proof, Superman. Stop being a doofus and just save the day already, you dolt. This game is notoriously bad, and it deserves every poor accolade. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2019 Storm Over the Desert (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd-Person Shooter My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 20.85/100 This is the second game that has its own title screen prior to playing...Which leads me to believe that this is another game that the developers were proud of. If that is the fact, I’d like to meet these developers so I can feed ‘em a knuckle sandwich...heavy on the pain mayo…paionnaise, if you will. Apparently this is supposed to let gamers understand what it was like to be in Desert Storm...It accurately portrays this war with tanks, stick figures, and an indestructable, 30-foot-tall Sadam Hussein. This game may have been fun if you could move somewhat fast and if there was a feeling of danger...But you’re in a tank and everything goes down in one hit except for that giant Hussein character. Sadam Hussein (and he has clones, I’ve seen up to three on the screen at once) randomly appear on the screen and only disappear if you collide with him. Anyway, this game is lacking of any real challenge and is frustratingly slow. It’s pretty much trash. The game, like all wars, should have never happened. Avoid it. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/03/2020 Hooter's Road Trip Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date March 26, 2002 (NA) Developer Hoplite Research Genre Racing My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 31.58/100 Take a dump, press it into a CD case, then attempt to play it on your Playstation...That experience would be more entertaining and enjoyable than Hooters Road Trip. I guess this was supposed to be like OutRun or maybe the Test Drive games...but it was more like sticking your face into the grease that Hooters fries their chicken wings in. The controls are awful, the soundtrack is extremely generic, and the game looks like a launch game for the Playstation…not like a game that came out when the Playstation 2 had already been released. Also head-scratching is when you unlock cars – you can’t simply use them. You have to license them. This involves driving through an obstacle course…the developers gave up placing obstacles down about a 3rd of the way through the course, though, kinda like how many players will give up on this game. I knocked over most of the cones on the course, because the controls are seemingly designed to simulate drunk driving, and still got the car licensed…which raises the question, if it’s an automatic license, then why force me to go through the whole licensing procedure before I can use the car? I will admit, I enjoy poor acting, so I got a good laugh at the girls trying to act and/or read lines off of a cue card…but the rest of the game is done so poorly that it’s not worth trudging through it all to have those brief moments of entertainment. I can’t imagine most folks sticking with this game for more than five minutes…and that’s not much of a road trip. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Bombs Away (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 28.47/100 Every single person in modern history has the exact same basic dream - sprint through an abandoned village while trying to avoid bombs being dropped all around you. Active Enterprises were kind enough to create Bombs Away so we all could live our dreams…what? NOBODY has a desire to run through an abandoned village while trying to avoid bombs dropped all around them? Well, I bet Active Enterprises' faces are red now. Anyway, like you might've guessed, in Bombs Away, your goal is to avoid the bombs being dropped around you. The problem is every single one of the bombs is a dud. None of them explode. So why bother running? You just don't wanna be hit on the noggin' by one. Just enter a house and wait for the planes flying above to run out bombs or fuel for their planes…whichever comes first. Then calmly walk away from the village and somewhere safer. Similar logic can be used to playing this dud of a game. Why play it? Just press the power button, eject the Action 52 cartridge, and toss it out the window. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/16/2022 Austin Powers Pinball Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date October 25, 2002 (NA/EU) Developer Wildfire Studios Genre Pinball My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 41.95/100 Wow…Because KISS Pinball was such a raging success (and I'm typing that with all the sarcasm I can muster), Wildfire Studios decided to make another pinball game using the Austin Powers movie license….and It's not any better than KISS Pinball was. In fact, it may even be inferior to a degree. Essentially, you've got two tables here - one for the original Austin Powers film and one for the sequel. The third film was already released when this came out, but I'm assuming the licensing fees for that movie were probably a bit too rich for Wildfire Studios to obtain. Anyway, the pinball in this game, like in KISS Pinball is fine to keep you occupied for maybe five minutes…but there just isn't enough here to keep most folks coming back for more…Even if you're an Austin Powers fan. Basically, you're just playing bland pinball with grainy Austin Powers imagery and low-quality sound clips from the films tossed in. Nothing fancy, nothing to make you want to play more. KISS Pinball had the ability to set your own soundtrack to the game…I didn't see that option in Austin Powers Pinball, so the one good thing about the previous pinball game that Wildfire Studios made, they decided to leave out when making this one. I like Austin Powers, but I see absolutely no value in Austin Powers Pinball. Released in 2002 with a $10 price tag, I still feel like anyone who picked it up brand new got ripped off. Wildfire Studios can go shag themselves for releasing this. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/21/2021 Bram Stoker's Dracula Platform Sega CD Initial Release Date 1994 (NA) Developer Psygnosis Genre Brawler My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 30.74/100 I played Bram Stoker’s Dracula on the NES before I played the Sega CD version of the game...as a result, I think I like this a little bit less than I might have otherwise. Not to say that I would have actually enjoyed this, mind you, this is a terrible game, but seeing how a passable game was created with the film’s license on Nintendo’s 8-bit console, I kind of expected either an enhanced port of that game or possibly something better. Instead, Psygnosis decided that rather than attempt to add on to the good things about their NES platformer, they’d instead make an entirely new game that was a side-scrolling brawler with poor hit detection and animations. But wait! That’s not all, they also decided to include some very, very low quality video clips from the film itself. That’s right, so if you decide to punish yourself by attempting to play through this game like I did, your only reward is a bunch of grainy video clips that look like you’re adjusting your television’s antenna so you can watch a movie on Showtime in the old days without actually paying for that channel. You older folks know what I’m talking about. Anyway, this should be renamed Scam Stoker’s Dracula - if you paid money for this, you’ll feel like you got scammed. Played on: Sega CD Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2019 They Came from Outer Space (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd-Person Shooter My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 21.56/100 I claimed that Storm Over the Desert was bad partially because it was slow. I stand corrected. They Came..., as it says on the “title screen” for the game, is basically the same terrible game except it’s faster, takes place in space, and doesn’t have a giant dictator roaming around the screen. It’s just as horrible as Storm Over the Desert was, which proves that bumping the speed up helps nothing when the gameplay is this boring and terrible. There’s not much else to say that wasn’t already said about Storm Over the Desert...It’s faster, but just as awful…and in space. They Lame from Outer Space is a better title…who cares about grammar? Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/29/2022 Fantastic Four Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date August 1997 (EU) Developer Probe Entertainment Limited Genre Brawler My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 34.55/100 Oh, sweet muffins, where do I begin with this dump? Fantastic Four is a game that is largely forgotten about and isn't too easy to find a physical copy for…and there's a reason for that - it's awful. At first glace, Fantastic Four seems to be a standard brawler, where you roam the streets and beat up various people and creatures…but once you throw your first punches and kicks, you'll immediately know that something isn't right. The combat is about as fun as gluing broken glass to the beaters of an electric mixer, shoving said beaters up your nostrils, and turning on the power. Actually, not as fun. At least if you're bleeding to death from your nostrils, there's a chance for an ambulance ride. The only ride that Fantastic Four puts you on is the ride to complete and utter disappointment. Anyway, you can pick any of the Fantastic Four to discover how bad this game is, or you can pick She-Hulk, too. So instead of Fantastic Four, you've actually got the Flatulent Five. Now, I enjoy She-Hulk and all (and also the crew of the Fantastic Four, honestly) but for the most part everyone play the same, but with different animations and slightly different, non-impressive special moves. If you manage to make It to the end of a level without powering down the Playstation, looking at yourself in a mirror, and wondering what you did in life to get to this point, you may be rewarded with a special one-on-one fight….against a hero like Iceman or the Incredible Hulk. Why? I've got no earthly idea. The game is also buggy - I've actually spawned in some sort of alternate dimension after my energy bar dropped to zero. The only way to get back to the main game was to move around until I fell into a pit (that I couldn't see) to lose another life and respawn back where I started. This is just a terrible game - from the poor controls to the levels that seemingly take forever to the bugs, this is simply awful. The only fantastic aspect of this experience was when it was over and I could do something more enjoyable with my life…like pry gum from the bottom of my shoes. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Black Hole (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 28.62/100 ANOTHER scrolling shooter from Active Enterprises…this one has a unique concept of scrolling in various directions, probably to emulate what they think would happen if you were being sucked into a black hole. It's an interesting concept and I appreciate the thought behind it, but I'm assuming that the black hole in this game is actually the drain in a toilet and the various scrolling directions are due to the water swirling towards the drain after a flush. If you can't tell, despite the unique scrolling concept, this is still a pretty awful game. I don't really have much else to say about it except the developers should have flushed this turd down into the watery, porcelain black hole that I assume it was inspired by. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/01/2019 The Simpsons Wrestling Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date March 23, 2001 (EU) Developer Big Ape Productions Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 37.26/100 I'm a wrestling nerd. Place me in front of most wrestling games, good or bad, and I'll enjoy myself because it's a wrestling game. The Simpsons Wrestling isn't most wrestling games. The Simpsons Wrestling is just a total abomination of a game that feels like it was quickly pumped out in order to take advantage of the wrestling craze that had been going on at the time, with Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock at the peak of their popularity...I actually lost a few hours of my life playing this game in an attempt to try to find some good in it. The only good I found was when I placed the game CD back in the case. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/01/2019 Fuzz Power (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Platformer My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 23.90/100 I appreciate that Active Enterprises tried to make this more than just a collection of 52 awful scrolling shooters and threw a few other game genres in the list...But dang it, I’d like to meet the dummy who played these platforming games and said, “Yeah, people will like these.” Fuzz Power is another awful platforming game...Although, this one is very interesting and probably would have been one of my favorites if it wasn’t so dang broken. You control an old man with giant feet that’s covered in hair. Your enemies are hair brushes and hair dryers that try to remove your hair until you’re completely naked. When you’re naked, if you get blasted with any hot air, you die. Your only offensive move is a rolling attack that you’ll usually be in the middle of doing when you die. The deaths in Fuzz Power are cheap due to the fact that the air waves are simply black lines that easily blend in with the backgrounds and that enemies tend to fire as you kill them...Which, in turn, kills you. Your only real hope to advance is to hope to avoid the air (good luck) otherwise, you’ll likely see the ‘Game Over’ screen within a minute of play. Fuzz Power is yet another poor platformer on Action 52…ahh, who am I kidding? Regardless of genre, most of this compilation is poor. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 15 Puzzle (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Puzzle My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 28.62/100 Oh, I hate 15 Puzzle. If given the choice to eat a steaming plate of baboon poo or play 15 Puzzle, I'd pick the baboon poo every time. At least the steam of the poo would keep me warm, while this cold, lifeless puzzle game just sends me into a depression each time I play it. If anyone growing up had one of those puzzle games where an image is cut up into squares and there's one hole in the image, allowing you to maneuver the squares around in an attempt to reassemble the picture to what it should be, then you know what to expect here. Most people who had those puzzle games tossed 'em in the trash shortly after receiving them. 15 Puzzle is even worse, as there is no image to unlock…your goal is to just put everything in numerical order. So your reward for completing a puzzle is a bunch of numbers. Even a mathematician would throw themselves into oncoming traffic for a reward like that. I would have given this a lower score, but technically the game does what it's supposed to do...so if you like this style of puzzle game, then maybe you'll find something to like here…but I have yet to find anyone that enjoys these, so my guess is that most folks will be eating baboon turds with me. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/08/2019 Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date July 23, 2003 (NA) Developer Lucky Chicken Genre Action My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 30.58/100 Without saying too much, my opinion of this game is that had the game been about Aquaman's arm having an arm wrestling contest with a trident, like the box art leads me to believe (think of the movie 'Over the Top' - except Aquaman needs to win for the safety of all aquatic life rather than some snot-nosed brat) then this game would probably have been about twelve and a half times better than it actually is. The controls suck, the gameplay is boring, and there isn't a single moment of underwater arm wrestling to be found. After playing this game, I felt it would be more fun to pretend I was Aquaman in the bathtub while playing with a toaster that was plugged into an electrical outlet. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/27/2019 Meong (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 23.28/100 I honestly have no real clue what the premise of this game is. It seems to be a maze-type game where you need to get to the end without falling into a trap. In order to do well in this game, you have to go very slowly and watch all of the hidden traps, ‘cause they’ll open and close at random, and then pick your path on memory. The problem is it’s boring. Very boring. If you go to fast, you’ll likely die pretty quickly. But if you take your time and go so slowly that you’re nearly falling asleep at the controller, then you’ll make it to the end. Personally, I suggest going fast since the “character” you control are the letters/numbers “A52.” It’s mildly satisfying pretending that you send Action 52 plummeting to its death. Anyway, if you decide to play this game with the intent to win, I suggest having an alarm clock nearby. You’ll need it. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/20/2020 Blonde vs. Brunette Racing Platform Apple iPhone/iPod Touch Initial Release Date July 15, 2011 (NA) Developer Tuokio Inc. Genre Racing My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 26.44/100 Who would win in a race? A blonde or a brunette? That was a trick question because when a blonde and a brunette race in a video game, everyone involved is a loser. At least that's the conclusion that I came to after playing Blonde vs. Brunette: Racing...The first in the Blonde vs. Brunette "franchise," a franchise that's about as fun to play as being mauled by a grizzly bear...Actually, being mauled would probably be a lot more interesting. And you could probably get paid for it if you’ve got good enough insurance. If given the choice to play this game again or slather my body in honey and jump in a bear cage, I think I'm probably picking the cage. Played on: iPhone Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Sharks (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 28.77/100 Sharks on the original, NES Action 52 was a game that I felt had a solid concept but poor execution. Sharks on the Genesis Action 52 is essentially the same game, with the same problems, but with nicer graphics and the inclusion of blood when a shark perishes. If you never played the original, Sharks has you controlling a scuba diver swimming underwater, which the only goal being to harpoon as many sharks as you can….when there are actually sharks on the screen, that is. Like a lot of Action 52 shooters, a big issue in this game is that you'll have several second gaps with absolutely nothing going on. The end result is just a simplistic, dull, shooter that most folks will give up on well before hitting the ninth and final level. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2021 ESPN NBA 2Night Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date November 20, 2000 (NA) Developer Konami Genre Sports - Basketball My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 29.6/100 Poor physics. Poor controls. Poor spelling. Poor value. Poor everything. ESPN NBA 2Night would probably be better named "ESPN NBA 2Rible." Get it? 'Cause this game is terrible...and 2rible sounds like terrible...Bah, you don't know funny. Anyway, from the generation-behind graphics, to the controls that make you want to headbutt a bed of nails, ESPN NBA 2Night is one of the worst sports games ever made. It’s absolutely 2rible. Yes, I’m still drilling that joke into the ground…because unlike this game, that joke was 2riffic. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/01/2019 Shooting Gallery (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 23.71/100 Yay, another bad shooting game with no challenge! Shooting Gallery seems to be based off of the old carnival game of shooting stuff from behind a counter while absolutely no audio plays while you do it. No skill is needed it was harder for me to try to die (random enemies are able to cross the counter for you to hit…but even then, half of the time your death won’t register and you’ll be punished with being forced to play more) than it was to complete each level. Moving from side to side and firing will get the job done with no effort...Even if your bullets aren’t on target, the enemies will often walk into them. I don’t blame them, if I were part of this awful collection of games, I’d walk into a bullet, too. If those carnival shooting games were as easy as this in real life, I’d be able to win fifteen teddy bears for every child in the world. This game, however, doesn’t give you a teddy bear for playing. Your reward is knowing that this game stole precious moments of your life that could have been spent enjoying the aroma of a flower or giving a wedgie to someone smaller than you. It’s not the worst game in the compilation, but I’d still avoid it unless you’d like to make yourself feel like you’re a master of 2D shooting games. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/18/2020 Rollerblade Racer Platform NES Initial Release Date February 1993 (NA) Developer Radiance Genre Racing My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 28.09/100 Rollerblade Racer was a game created when rollerblades were really starting to take off as the “cool” new type of roller skate. So, the developers decided to make a poor game where you race the clock while avoiding obstacles and trying to obtain points to qualify for a big race…the problem is that even when you obtain the proper number of points, you’re told to continue qualifying anyway. So, you’re forced to race, alone, on heavily damaged neighborhood streets, puddle-filled city streets, beach sidewalks, various obstacle courses, etc. while trying to make it to the finish line before time runs out and without falling too many times. Worse yet, the game is displayed in the same perspective as Paperboy…and for many people, that’s probably the first thing that they’ll notice. Unfortunately, all of Paperboy’s levels had personality. The levels here do not. Also, Paperboy is fun. Rollerblade Racer is not. As you get bored, you’ll be reminded that there’s another game that looks like this that’s actually fun. Anyway, Rollerblade Racer isn’t the worst game ever made, but it’s still not worth playing unless you’re able to find fun in bland, boring gameplay. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/11/2020 KISS Pinball Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date April 25, 2001 (NA) Developer Tarantula Studios Genre Pinball My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 34.84/100 Take 2 had a unique approach to selling games towards the end of the original Playstation’s lifecycle – they’d release various games at $10 price tags in hopes that cheap gamers would buy their bargain bin games rather than games from better-known companies selling their games at $50 a piece. Some of the games that Take 2 published weren’t too bad, one could argue that some of them may have actually been worth $50…But KISS Pinball is definitely not one of the good ones. The only neat part of this game is that it had the unique ability (for its time) to have custom soundtracks as you play. Yup. This is done by loading the table that you want to play, then put in the CD of your choice and follow the instructions. Playing KISS Pinball while listening to Wesley Willis helps ease the pain a bit, but not enough to feel like you haven't wasted your money if you purchased this. It was a rip-off to spend $10 on this…and I got my copy for under $1 from a thrift store, and I still feel like I paid too much. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Star Evil (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 28.77/100 Star Evil on the Genesis Action 52 is like Starevil on the NES Action 52…I think the space between Star and Evil means that it's a sequel. That's insider developer lingo. A space means it's part two since it parts the single word into two separate words. See? Perfect logic. Anyway, Star Evil is an okay, vertical-scrolling shooter. It's not exactly a great game, but compared to other Action 52 turds, this game smells like a vase full of daffodils. Anyway, the goal here is to not only avoid the enemy spacecraft, but to also avoid all the walls - if you hit them, your spaceship explodes. That said, eventhough I said that this was an okay shooter, I'm grading on a curve when I say that. Compared to other Action 52 games, this is okay. Compared to other games released outside of the Action 52 cartridge, it's still well below par. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/16/2020 M&M's Kart Racing Platform Nintendo DS Initial Release Date March 24, 2008 (NA) Developer FrontLine Studios Genre Racing My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 32.20/100 This might shock you…but this kart racing game that uses the M&M’s license is one of the worst games I’ve ever played. These can’t be real M&M’s that you’re racing as…M&M’s are a wonderful, sweet treat that people of all ages can enjoy…these imposters are clearly pieces of poo with a colorful candy coating. Imposters that get your guard down because they look like something that millions of people around the world enjoy, then they attack with their fecal felony of getting you to play this dumpster fire of a game. The game controls poorly, the tracks feel like they take forever to complete, and the drivers, karts, and tracks are all just bland and boring. Some of the tracks themselves, in my opinion, are actually good ideas…but however good the concept might be, if the design of the course is bland and boring, it ruins the whole experience. This really is just an awful game…M&M’s are known for melting in your mouth, not in your hand. In my opinion, this game shouldn’t even touch your hands…Just toss it in an incinerator and let it melt that way. Played on: Nintendo DS Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2019 Mash Man (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Platformer My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 21.56/100 In Mash Man, you’re some dude with giant feet that’s supposed to stomp everything in sight unless it happens to he a sharp object that’s somehow floating in mid-air. This wouldn’t be a problem except that this game suffers from all of the flaws that made the other platforming games in Action 52 bad, too. Surprisingly, though, the biggest problem isn’t the game’s poor controls. The problem is that the choppy frame rate mixed with the poor color selection means that you’ll likely run into things that will kill you without knowing that you’re running into things that will kill you. After a while, you eventually learn to spot that stuff you need to avoid...But most folks won’t want to suffer through the gameplay enough to gain that knowledge. Mash Man is just another game that you’ll want to avoid in Action 52. It’s like they say: big feet, big disappointment…Or something like that. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/20/2021 Water Balloon Mania Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date July 24, 2020 (EU/AU) Developer Sprakelsoft Genre Puzzle My Score 2.5/10 Avg. Score 22.40/100 Have you ever wanted to play Dr. Mario, but wanted to remove the solid controls, difficulty, and overall charm of the game? If you said yes, then Water Balloon Mania is for you! In this awful clone, instead of viruses, your goal is to extinguish fires. The problem is that it’s done very poorly. The so-called “expert” mode is easier than easy mode on Dr. Mario, in my opinion. And with the removal of the difficulty, you’ve got an extremely boring, extremely bland clone of a decent puzzle game. I’ve seen really poor games get put on the Playstation Store to provide easy trophies so that developers can use that income to finance a good game that they’re trying to make…but if you’re a trophy hunter, you don’t even get rewarded with trophies for trudging through this game. Do yourself a favor and just play Dr. Mario instead of this game. I picked up Water Balloon Mania on sale for a whopping 74 cents. I overpaid. I feel like a water buffoon. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Haunted Hills (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Platformer My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 28.92/100 I have no idea what the story of Haunted Hills is. The character you control looks like an electrician to me…so it's kind of ironic that he's carrying a torch rather than a flashlight or an electric lantern. But anyway, this electrician needs to make is way through levels that are full of oversized toads, bats, and rats that can kill you in a single hit. You'll also find bloody pitchforks and spears at the bottom of the screen at times, letting you know that if you make a wrong step, you'll be adding some extra red to the hue of those sharp objects. This probably wouldn't be an awful game, but much like the platformers on the NES version of Action 52, this simply doesn't control well. Granted, the controls are much better than the controls from Active Enterprises' 8-bit attempts at platforming, but they're still not very good. This game does have an interesting look to it and part of me is curious to see what the whole game has to offer…but am I curious enough to deal with these poor controls? Oh, hill no. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/30/2019 Project Runway Platform PC Initial Release Date February 25, 2010 (NA) Developer Atari SA Genre Action My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 28.56/100 Yeah, I played this. Got a problem with that? I will whoop you! I will whoop you like a turkey in a wheelchair!!...That didn't make sense, but that's fine. It doesn't make sense for anyone to want to play this game, either. Project Runway might sound nice for fashion design folk that also enjoy video games...until you play and see the limited selection to work with while playing dress-up. You're then rewarded with five to ten minutes of watching your model and the models of all other contestants walk the ramp only to find out that your sense of fashion is boring...Even if you gave your model tiger face paint and a mohawk. It's a bore-fest of a game that most will hate, and the lack of stuff to work with when dressing the model means that fashion designers probably won't enjoy it either....It's a lose-lose all the way around. Project Go Away is a better name. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/26/2019 Chill Out (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 22.61/100 When you’re an Eskimo that freezes to death after getting hit in the face with a snowball, you’re not cut out to be an Eskimo. When you’re a game that tries to use this premise for a fun time, you’re not cut out to be a game. This game is bad. The animation is choppy and the controls are just as bad. On top of that, there’s no real way to stop a snowball once it’s headed for you at the two-mile-an-hour pace it’s thrown at. You just have to avoid it...Which can be difficult when there’s multiple Eskimos on one level hurling snowballs in your direction. On top of that, there are common glitches that see your enemies just pace back and forth on a single block as if it can’t walk on any other part of the floor. If you get off of a ladder too soon, you ‘fall’ to your icy death. There’s terrible, noticeable slowdown (even in the music) if there’s more than a few snowballs currently floating in the air, too. It had the potential to be the frantic fun that Illuminator (another game on the Action 52 cart) was, but it just plain fails at just about everything. It’s terrible. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/07/2019 Blackjack Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1977 (NA) Developer Atari Genre Casino - Board My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 36.46/100 Blackjack is just that…a game of blackjack with nothing fancy, no frills, just a simple game of blackjack. One would wonder then, why would you want to play it in video game form…especially when the playing cards are much nicer to look at then the graphics displayed by this game? Practice for the real world? Maybe, I guess. Or perhaps this is really only useful to gambling addicts so they don’t lose any real money…or children too young to gamble, but not too young to pick up a lifetime of gambling addiction. Afterall, just look at how successful the gambling people on the cover of the boxart look. For the most part though, a pretty useless game. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/24/2020 Fight for Life Platform Atari Jaguar Initial Release Date January 15, 1996 (EU) Developer Atari Genre Fighting My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 38.97/100 The concept of Fight for Life is that all of the fighters are already dead, with this tournament taking place in the afterlife. The winner gets a second chance at life. The concept of the game is really where all the interesting aspects end. Once you pop the game in and play, it’s all downhill. The fighting mechanics are horrid, the movements are robotic, and everything is extremely bland. I actually lost fights because the computer jumped over me, the camera changed, and then after attempting to walk towards the opponent, for whatever reason my character continued to walk towards the edge of the level which is instant death. Fight for Life is such an awful fighting game that if the fighters involved understood that a second chance at life meant that they would return to a world where they may have to actually play the Fight for Life video game, I think the number of tournament entrants would be a big ol’ goose egg. Played on: Jaguar Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/22/2020 Rap Jam: Volume One Platform Super NES Initial Release Date January 1995 (NA) Developer 64WD Corporation Genre Sports - Basketball My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 26.24/100 Rap Jam: Volume One...that sounds like a threat you’d make to your children when they’re misbehaving. “Keep it up!! I’ll make sure they make a Rap Jam: Volume Two if you kids don’t clean your rooms!!” Anyway, Rap Jam: Volume One is a basketball game where various hip hop artists go to the court. While one may think that Queen Latifah slam dunking a basketball sounds like it would be amazing, you’d be wrong if you were to think that...well, kind of. In real life, that would be pretty sweet. In this 16-bit monstrosity of a game, however, it’s absolutely terrible. The title more than likely led a few people into thinking that this was NBA Jam, but on the streets instead of on the court…and this is nowhere near the quality of Midway’s hit basketball game. Honestly, they should have just tried to make an NBA Jam clone…get the NWA to sign on board and call it NWA Jam. Sure, it’d probably be a legal nightmare, but at least it’d probably be a decent game….instead we got this...and thankfully, Volume Two never saw the light of day. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/21/2019 E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1982 (NA) Developer Atari Genre Adventure My Score 1.5/10 Avg. Score 23.22/100 E.T. probably would not have been such a frustrating game had it not been for those dang pits. Falling into pits to find pieces of a phone so the hairless-sloth-looking alien we all love can go home is one thing. Floating out of the pit only to fall right back in....Repeatedly....That's a whole 'nother story. Though, seeing E.T. die and watching Elliot insert himself into E.T. to revive him did make me chuckle more than once. Anyway, apparently there's a ton of these buried in some landfill somewhere. One has to wonder if they fell in a pit, and after multiple attempts were unable to exit, and there was no Elliot in sight to revive them…if that’s the case, seems like a fitting end for this domino that helped send everything tumbling down for the crash that nearly killed video games back in the early 80s. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/25/2019 Alfredo and the Fettucinni's (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Platformer My Score 2.5/10 Avg. Score 26.11/100 Wow. That’s all I can say. Want to smash living hotdogs (or noodles…or hotdogs shaped like noodles) with a frying pan? You won’t after playing this game. The animation is just as choppy as the kind found in Ooze, and the platforming is nearly as bad. It’s not uncommon to find yourself lodged within part of the level because you tried jumping up a stairway-type platform. There are also cheap deaths galore in this game. Sometimes just being near an enemy is enough to kill you. The only real satisfying part of this game is when the chef you control dies because he twists his neck when he perishes, allowing you to make believe that one of those hot dogs snapped his neck. Hot dogs commiting murder = good times. You playing this game = bad times. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/09/2020 Action Girlz Racing Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date September 15, 2002 (EU) Developer Data Design Interactive Genre Racing My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 28.08/100 I fully expected Action Girlz Racing to be awful…I was pretty much correct. The game actually seemed to prove me wrong when I played my first race…but the more you play, the more you see all of the game’s faults. For one, the tracks are poorly designed. In most racing games, you can find shortcuts to help you out…in Action Girlz Racing, the obvious paths seem to be the shortcuts and the not-so-obvious paths are actually the long way around…and the tracks are so boring where they already feel long enough without longer routes tacked on. Equally baffling is the collision physics in the game. If another driver bumps into your car, there is a second or two delay where you can’t turn. Meaning if you’re about to take a turn around the corner, and one of your opponents bumps into your vehicle, there’s a good chance that while you’re trying to turn, you wind up t-boning the wall. This can get incredibly frustrating due to the rubber banding in the game’s race mechanics since you’ve almost always got other racers on the screen with you, so if you’re on a track with a lot of turns, you may find yourself screwed. Despite all of this, Action Girlz Racing is still slightly better than I had expected it to be. With some tweaks in the gameplay and better track designs, it might’ve been a passable game instead of the mess it is. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Dyno Tennis (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Sports - Tennis My Score 2.5/10 Avg. Score 29.81/100 Dyno Tennis is a two-player-only game on the Genesis Action 52 cartridge. Controlling either the purple dinosaur or the orange dinosaur, cleverly named Purple and Orange, you're playing tennis by wielding trees instead of tennis rackets , and by volleying a caveman around instead of a ball. I'd imagine that a human would only bounce off of trees being swung at them a few times before transforming into a bloody pile of mush…I'd also imagine that if the human is intelligent enough to wear clothing that the nude dinosaurs wouldn't be smart enough to play tennis. There's a lot of holes in the logic here. There's also a lot of holes in the gameplay, as this just simply is not fun. I think being that human ball in a real game of dinosaur tennis would be a more enjoyable experience…after all, if I wound up as that bloody pile of mush that I mentioned earlier, I'd be unable to ever play this again, wouldn't I? I like to look at the bright side of things. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/17/2021 Make My Video: Kriss Kross Platform Sega CD Initial Release Date 1992 (NA) Developer Digital Pictures Genre Music My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 33.67/100 The "Make My Video" series of games for the Sega CD were pretty terrible. Basically, each one has a few songs that you can create a music video to...And by create a video, I mean switch between three videos and add some terrible effects to them. The best end result would be the equivilent of a drawing done in MS Paint compared to the Mona Lisa. I don’t have any reason to rank Kris Kross higher than the other Make My Video games, which is why it’s last, but honestly, they’re all exactly the same game, just with different styles of music and different video footage to choose from...and that happens to be why these games all have the first few sentences copied into them. Played on: Sega CD Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/17/2021 Make My Video: Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch Platform Sega CD Initial Release Date 1992 (NA) Developer Digital Pictures Genre Music My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 29.04/100 The "Make My Video" series of games for the Sega CD were pretty terrible. Basically, each one has a few songs that you can create a music video to...And by create a video, I mean switch between three videos and add some terrible effects to them. The best end result would be the equivilent of a drawing done in MS Paint compared to the Mona Lisa. I like hamburgers and Marky Mark seems to be part of a burger chain now, so I’ll rank it second in the Make My Video series, below INXS…but honestly, they’re all exactly the same game, just with different styles of music and different video footage to choose from...and that happens to be why these games all have the first few sentences copied into them. Played on: Sega CD Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/17/2021 Make My Video: INXS Platform Sega CD Initial Release Date October 15, 1992 (NA) Developer Digital Pictures Genre Music My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 31.88/100 The "Make My Video" series of games for the Sega CD were pretty terrible. Basically, each one has a few songs that you can create a music video to...And by create a video, I mean switch between three videos and add some terrible effects to them. The best end result would be the equivalent of a drawing done in MS Paint compared to the Mona Lisa. Anyway, I found INXS to be the least harmful to my ears of all of the featured artists, which is why I have it ranked higher than the others, but honestly, they're all exactly the same, just with different styles of music and different video footage to choose from...and that happens to be why these games all have the first few sentences copied into them. Played on: Sega CD Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/25/2019 Jupiter Scope (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 2.5/10 Avg. Score 26.90/100 Jupiter Scope is a single-screen shooter that feels and plays like a poor Atari 2600 game. If it was released on the 2600, I’d likely give it a slightly better score...But since this game was released in 1991, there’s really nothing good to say about it. You shoot at stuff that looks like flaming firewood, which I believe are supposed to be comets, and that’s about it. The graphics are awful. As I stated, the comet/meteor things look like firewood, but the ship looks like those things that you use to send bursts of air at a fire to keep it burning. You know, they’ve got two handles on one end and the blower on the other and you put your hands together, which pushes all of the air out and into whatever the blower end is pointed at. I don’t know the name of them, but I think you folks know what I mean....But anyway, along with bad graphics are bad effects. There are absolutely no effects when you shoot the firewood comets...They simply disappear. Another, very boring aspect of this game is the fact that, like several other titles in Action 52, there’s no real threat here. The comets don’t spew rocks or anything...And you don’t get penalized for letting any by. The comets scroll down completely straight...so, they’re easy to avoid. The only way you can really be hit by them is to try to be hit by them. For the record, this game is like those comets, it’s easy to avoid...And you should do so at all costs. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/17/2019 China Warrior Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date November 21, 1987 (JP) Developer Hudson Genre Brawler My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 31.08/100 China Warrior is a great example of not judging a book by its cover. Looking at how impressive China Warrior looks graphically for its time, one might think that this game would be absolutely amazing. If by amazing, you mean that you’d rather take a drill to your toenail then pour a mixture of lemon juice and salt into the newly-drilled orifice, than play this game…well, then yes, China Warrior is pretty dang amazing. Basically, China Warrior is a side-scrolling brawler with horrible hit detection and a very limited moveset…it’s also a game where you supposedly control a martial arts expert that takes damage from butterflies…sadly, that’s true. I’d understand if the butterflies wore gi gear or something to make them look tough…but they’re not…They’re just normal, tiny, harmless butterflies. They just finished French-kissing a flower and they plan on slapping you around as they fly past. And unless you’re able to get the hit-detection to function in your favor, so you can punch or kick them out of the sky, the martial artist on the screen will probably just sit and take it. Anyway, China Warrior is a major bore-ior. I’d recommend staying away. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: The Kung Fu (Japan)

Date added: 07/25/2019 Critical Bypass (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 2.5/10 Avg. Score 27.86/100 Critical Bypass is a side-scrolling shooter that has good ideas and bad execution. You can shoot in four directions (up, down, left, right) which could have made this game decent if it weren’t so horribly, horribly broken. While you have the ability to shoot in four directions, it’s not as simple as heading in that direction to do it. You have to tap the directional button twice to shoot in that direction. This can be rather difficult to get used to. I don’t know how many times I died for running into an enemy because I was shooting in a direction I didn’t want to shoot in. It also seemed like the easiest way to dispose of enemies was to lure them off the left side of the screen rather than shoot them...Which I’m assuming is a glitch. Also annoying are the obstacles in the level. Obstacles would be good if the shooting system was better, but since you have to do multiple taps on the directional buttons to fire where you want to fire, you’ll find yourself hitting obstacles on a fairly regular basis. This was a game I wanted to like...It’s just a shame that it’s awful. You should take this game’s name to heart; it’s critical that you bypass this game. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/09/2019 Motion Gravure Series: Kitagawa Tomomi Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date April 24, 2003 (JP) Developer Sony Music Entertainment Genre Other My Score 2.5/10 Avg. Score 29.33/100 In Motion Gravure Series: Kitagawa Tomomi, you watch Japanese model Tomomi Kitagawa in various scenes. You can fast forward, rewind, zoom in, zoom out, pause, etc…Real exciting stuff if you’ve never grasped the concept of a remote control. I'm assuming this was made so pre-pubescent boys could do what their mothers told them they'd go blind from doing. There is a mild aspect of gameplay in that pressing the triangle button at the right time unlocks "hidden shoots" so you have even more footage of Ms. Kitagawa to watch. In the videos, she does stuff like eat shrimp, inconsiderately lays down on a billiard table when there may be others nearby that want to play a game, and pees in a pool to set off the chemical that changes urine color to make it visible, like you see in the screenshot to the right....Okay that last part was probably colored, underwater lighting, but peeing in the pool sounds like a better story. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/18/2019 Checkered Flag Platform Atari Jaguar Initial Release Date 1994 (NA) Developer Rebellion Genre Racing My Score 2.5/10 Avg. Score 36.58/100 Checkered Flag is an early-3D racing game with basic, but not-bad looking graphics. That’s not what makes this game bad, though. What makes it bad is poor controls and absolutely terrible physics. A rival car bumps you from behind? Instead of increasing your speed, both you and the rival car will come to a dead stop…and the AI is dumb enough, where there’s a good chance that they will repeatedly bump into you unless you turn to the side – kind of like a dead-stop juggle. If you slightly touch the wall, be prepared to see your car flip. And even with the poor physics and controls that make you feel like your controller is broken, you’ll still probably win the race. It’s likely called Checkered Flag because when the race is over and you’re no longer controlling a vehicle, that’s the best part of the game. In fact, if you remove the l in flag, you have a term for cigarettes…and much like cigarettes, this game is something where most people will highly recommend giving up on. Played on: Jaguar Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/03/2019 The Youthdrainers Platform PC Initial Release Date September 18, 2016 (NA) Developer Ben Apriglaino Genre Adventure My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 30.02/100 The Youthdrainers got my attention with its b-movie looks and concept…And then fell short of my admittedly already low expectations. Basically, you play the game as a topless pregnant woman who is trying to prevent evil “midgets” (as the game calls them) from murdering her and her unborn baby…Apparently to drain their youths. Your goal is to search everything before the lights go out…and if the lights go out, you need to turn them back on…well, because little people apparently hate light of any kind. Stay in the dark for too long, then you and your unborn babe shall perish. The gameplay is already mildly annoying on its own…it’s made even worse that the game is seemingly unbeatable. Several people have attempted to play through, checking every portion of the game, and have been unsuccessful beyond the “strategy guide” provided by the game’s creator. Rumors have it that the creator just plain never completed the game to allow an ending…which is ironic, because if that’s true, then most folks playing this game will do what the creator did – give up long before the end. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/22/2024 White Van Racer Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date February 9, 2007 (EU) Developer Phoenix Games Genre Racing My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 34.60/100 Who thought this was a good idea? Let's make a racing game, but only include white vans…but then run out of white vans, so then include other white vehicles like ice cream trucks, just to fill out the roster of vehicle choices. That sounds like a winner, let's spend a full week working on it. That should be enough time. Honestly, I wonder if the developers were kidnapped….likely with the use of a windowless, white van…then they made this game in memory of that kidnapping. Seriously, though, once the game starts going, you're stuck with a very slow, very boring racing game…but the gameplay itself isn't the only thing that's painfully slow - the loading times are some of the worst that I've ever seen on the Playstation 2. Without exaggerating, I'd say at least 25% of your "play" time will be staring at a loading screen…though, in honesty, waiting on load screens is probably the most fun that you'll have while playing this game. You know, now that I'm thinking of it, maybe the developers aren't the ones that were kidnapped….maybe they're the ones going around in their white, windowless vans to kidnap poor souls and force them to play this over and over like some sort of sick torturers. You hear me, Phoenix Games? You're sick!!! Anyway, like all windowless vans, just stay away from White Van Racer. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2019 City of Doom (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd-Person Shooter My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 20.70/100 What did I just play? That’s what I was asking myself after playing City of Doom. How a man climbing a building constitutes a city full of doom is beyond me. But anyway, this is another Action 52 3rd-person shooting game. You control a guy as he climbs a building and shoots at stuff. But look out, he’s right-handed so if an enemy is coming your way and is more on your left, you’re not going to hit him and he’s going to hurt you. Oh yeah, and don’t touch a window – instant death. Yes, you can get hit multiple times by enemies before you die…but just one shot from those vicious open windows and it’s game over. On top of the poor, cheap gameplay, this game has the absolute worst soundtrack I’ve heard so far on the game. Imagine taking Alvin and the Chipmunks and raking their teeth along a chalkboard as they sing...Then you’re beginning to understand the horrors of the music in this game. Bad gameplay, bad music, bad choice. It makes me want to jump off the building that that guy is climbing. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/12/2019 Spirit of Speed 1937 Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date June 9, 2000 (EU) Developer Broadsword Interactive Genre Racing My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 28.59/100 I want to like Spirit of Speed 1937. I really do. I really like the concept of old-timey racing...But this is just done so poorly. The races themselves are absolutely boring. The racing is extremely bland...Well, until you touch a wall, in which case your car bounces off like a slingshot, hurling you out of control into another wall or any other racers unfortunate enough to be around you. Broadsword Interactive is apparently unaware of the rule of physics that states "every action has an EQUAL and opposite reaction." So, by grazing the wall, I suppose being launched into another wall is an equal reaction...Anyway, Spirit of Speed has a nice concept, but extremely poor execution. There are much, much better racing titles on the Dreamcast than this turd. Avoid it. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Freeway (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 2.5/10 Avg. Score 30.10/100 Have you ever wanted to play Frogger, but without any difficulty whatsoever? Well, then Active Enterprises made a game for you. In Freeway, like in Frooger, the goal is to cross the street. Except instead of hopping across, and jumping onto things like lily pads and alligator skulls, you can simply run across the street and back without too much of an issue. The goal here is to do what we all learned in grade school - run across the street in front of traffic to grab various toys. Once you've got a toy, your goal is to bring it back to the side of the street that you came from…which begs the question, "If all of the toys are on the other side of the street, why doesn't the dog simply stay on that side of the street and enjoy the toys that are already there?" Anyway, like the vast majority of games that Active Enterprises spewed out, Freeway isn't anything worth playing. In fact, I'd call it No Way instead of Freeway, since that's my response if anyone were to ask me if I'd play it again. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/15/2019 Monster Jam: Crush It! Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date October 21, 2016 (EU) Developer Maximum Games Genre Racing My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 36.38/100 This was rough. A friend of mine asked me if I wanted an easy platinum trophy before he traded this game in...I hesitantly said alright. Two long hours later, I got a platinum trophy, but I also lost much of my sanity...I'm still trying to decide if it was worth it. Monster Jam: Crush It! is basically 2 games in 1. The first game is basically just Trials Fusion with monster trucks...except no real skill is involved. Most of the courses I held the X button down and did nothing else...which resulted in me passing each course with the best rating possible. I was even taking screenshots as the game played, which takes time, and it still didn't prevent me from getting the best rating...So, boring. The second game is more traditional monster truck races and shows in arenas...which would probably be fun if the controls weren't so wretched. Overall, Monster Jam: Crush It! is like most of the Monster Jam games...a Monster Lamb...because by counting them you can go to sleep...C'mon, ewe know that was funny. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/10/2019 Captain Novolin Platform Super NES Initial Release Date November 1992 (NA) Developer Sculptured Software Genre Platformer My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 24.34/100 Ever want to play as a character that dies if he collects too many items on the screen? Ever want to give that same character shots of insulin between stages? Ever want to take dieting tips from a doctor so overweight that he has a double chin? If you said yes to all of those questions, then you, my friend, are one of the one people that might love this game. The game is a total mess from beginning to end with controls that feel so delayed and bad that you may just stab yourself in the neck with a nearby pair of scissors to end the pain. I've seen people lose limbs due to diabetes...If you want to think positive, they can no longer play this abomination...So, that’s probably the only plus to that situation. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/12/2019 Soul Fighter Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date October 31, 1999 (NA) Developer Toka Genre Brawler My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 34.02/100 Can you imagine the number of tears that were shed when children asked their parents for Soul Calibur and they wound up with this heaping pile of steaming garbage? Controlling the characters in Soul Fighters is ridiculously horrible. Trying to walk in a straight line towards an enemy is like dropping a stone in a puddle and trying to prevent ripples from forming - it's impossible. When you finally manage to be in position to attack an enemy, there's a good chance that you'll completely miss your attack and then once again be stuck trying to maneuver around and get into striking position. This is horrible. At times it feels like the only way you can survive is to herd the enemies into a corner, then mash the attack buttons until they're all dead....mainly because if you find yourself in a corner, that's exactly what the enemy will do to you. Even if everything I complained about was perfect, the combat itself is so tedious and boring that it almost makes struggling with the game's flaws interesting in comparison. If these buffoons are fighting for our souls, we're all doomed. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/11/2019 Topps WWE Slam Platform Android Initial Release Date 2016 (NA) Developer The Topps Company Genre Other My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 22.4/100 I play this game a lot because it's wrestling related...and I love wrestling. If it were any other sport, I would have given up on it almost immediately. Topps WWE Slam is a trading card game. That's it. You open up packs of cards and try to collect them all, while trading with other players. Nothing else to it, which makes it very dull. Plus, the only real interactive aspect, the trading, is bogged down by poor community of players that will rate your trade the lowest possible unless you essentially give them quadruple or more of what you're asking in return in the trade...and even then you might get a low trade score. I've actually seen people advertising, "Offer me more than what you're asking for and I'll give you a free 5 star rating." This poor community along with the lack of any real substance (There are different tier cards and the only difference is color? C'mon, put some different pictures on there or something to get some variety.) results in a pointless app (that is also one of the buggiest apps I've ever used) that only diehard wrestling fans like myself will be able to tolerate enough to continue playing…And even then, much of the time I still ask myself why I even bother. Played on: Android Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/23/2023 Snow White and the 7 Clever Boys Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date December 15, 2006 (EU) Developer Aqua Pacific Genre Action My Score 2.5/10 Avg. Score 27.30/100 Oh boy. Snow White? More like, "Oh, why?!?!" I don't know if there's a big scandal about dwarves, or if removing them was simply away to try to avoid Disney copyrights, but even if this was a Disney-licensed game, based off of the film, this would still be awful. If I had this game as a five-year old, I'm pretty sure that I'd still dislike it. This is an assortment of boring mini-games, like a virtual coloring book, a jigsaw puzzle, a matching game, etc. When I say boring, I mean boring. The cursor of this game has a face and 90% of the time, the cursor is frowning or yawning…yes, even the cursor is bored out of its mind with this game. If you've fried your brain with boring gameplay, then you can even sit back and watch a poorly animated, poorly told, alternate version of Snow White with the children, who replaced the dwarves like the title suggests, doing child labor for Snow White, who is apparently a music star. It's terrible. If I had children, I would make them play this game as a punishment, not a reward. "Oh, you don't want to make your bed? You have to play Snow White and the 7 Clever Boys for an hour. If you keep arguing, I'll make it two hours." I can't imagine those boys are that clever if they're in the game, too. Anyway, this isn't a fun game, it's not even worth checking out as a curiosity. I'd rather eat an apple and be put into a coma than spend another second with this awful atrocity. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Spidey (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 2.5/10 Avg. Score 30.10/100 Spidey is essentially the same game as Mousetrap on the Genesis Action 52, but with different sprites. Essentially, instead of a mouse trying to collect cheese, in Spidey, you're a red spider trying to collect flies that got stuck in a web. The color scheme here makes everything much more difficult to see than in Mousetrap, with several enemies blending in with the background…which is even more weird since they're moving around on the web and not getting stuck. I get it when the enemies are spiders…but I'd think that the ants crawling on the web would get stuck…but I suppose aside from making different colored spiders to attack you, you wouldn't have too many logical options for creatures that can maneuver their way on a web, without sticking, to attack. But anyway, like Moustrap, this isn't an awful game…but the poor color scheme choices do make this variation on the "collect everything on the screen" formula does make it feel pretty cheap at times. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/30/2021 ESPN Step Aerobics Platform Panasonic 3DO Initial Release Date 1994 (NA) Developer Intelliplay Genre Fitness My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 32.56/100 ESPN Step Aerobics isn't so much a game as it is a very limited workout plan for doing aerobics. You've got several videos of aerobics including the warm up and cool down, and you basically just set up what order you'd like to play them in and then play the videos and prance around while doing your self-made workout routine. If there was more to it, I'd give it a better score, but when you could go out and purchase a VHS aerobics routine (that would be the equivalent of searching on YouTube these days, for the younger readers) and pretty much get the same thing, I question why not add more to the game than the ability to play the videos in the order that you want to. Since it’s essentially just an interactive video, I’m docking the score for it…but honestly, if you own a 3DO and want some motivation to start up a fitness routine, this game may actually help you a little bit with that. Played on: 3DO Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/06/2020 Dirt Track Devils Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date October 10, 2002 (JP) Developer Vingt-et-un Systems Genre Racing My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 33.38/100 I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I played Dirt Track Devils…but upon hearing that it was part of the Simple 2000 series in Japan, essentially a series of very cheap games (the 2000 means 2000 yen), I probably shouldn’t have had too high of hopes for it. Released pretty much everywhere in the world except for North America, Dirt Track Devils is honestly a mess. There are trees on the first track. You can drive directly through them like a ghost. However, if you happen to drive into the side of a not-so-steep hill, your vehicle’s speed drops considerably. Some nice-looking graphics along with weather effects don’t make up for the poor racing. I wanted to like Dirt Track Devils…but it simply feels like an incomplete game…like they finished the cosmetic aspects, but were forced to put the game on store shelves before anything else could be completed. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: Simple 2000 Series Vol. 11: The Offroad Buggy (Japan)

Date added: 10/31/2019 Billy Bob (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Adventure My Score 2.5/10 Avg. Score 22.75/100 Once again, another game that just screams potential has been muffled by the dummies responsible for Action 52. Billy Bob tries to play like the old Prince of Persia games...The keyword there is ‘tries’. The common theme of random hazards in Action 52 once again appears here, giving you cheap deaths galore. It’s not uncommon to be climbing up a wall just as a spear or rock spawns right above you on the ceiling so just as the animation of you climbing is finished, you get to see an animation of you dying. The controls are alright until you have to jump...Jumping and moving at the same time is like how it is in most of the platformers in Action 52; a lottery. You can press a directional and the jump button at the same time...That doesn’t mean your character is going to jump anywhere but straight up. The random enemies and poor jumping mechanics make this game far more difficult than it needs to be. This game could have been decent...But Action 52 has dropped the ball once again with poor programming. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/24/2019 Miniature Golf Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1979 (NA) Developer Atari Genre Sports - Golf My Score 2.5/10 Avg. Score 23.22/100 What a mess. Miniature Golf looks and plays nothing like the sport that it claims to be...That wouldn't be a huge deal if it was fun, but it's not. It's not even close to being fun. Playing the Atari version of Miniature Golf is about as fun as jamming a needle into your eyelid and then counting how many blinks it takes before you start to cry blood. Sorry, that’s a bit of an exaggeration…the crying blood game sounds a bit more fun. I shouldn’t have claimed that they had an equal enjoyment level. Anyway, while less fun, Miniature Golf is technically the same thing, except you're jamming a needle into your soul every time that you play this garbage. This is terrible, avoid it. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Air Command (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 2.5/10 Avg. Score 33.14/100 Air Command is a different take on the vertical scrolling shooter. Instead of the aircraft that you control being located on the bottom of the screen and shooting upward, Air Command has you at the top of the screen and shooting downward. That unique perspective change is really the only noteworthy aspect of this otherwise dull, boring shooter. It's not enjoyable by any means. It's not exactly pretty to look at. It's just a plodding game where you'll likely die from taking a nap out of boredom before you die from anything skill related. I think it's safe to say that the developers are air heads for making this game…both because they seem to like airplanes, and also because I've got a sneaking suspicion that air is the only thing between their ears. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2020 WCW/nWo Thunder Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date January 15, 1999 (NA) Developer Inland Productions Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 2.0/10 Avg. Score 37.31/100 Really? WCW Nitro was so bad that THQ decided to make another game like it. Enter Thunder. The gameplay here actually feels worse than it did in Nitro, if you can imagine that even being possible. And, much like Nitro, screenshots look good for its time, but once the game is in motion, it just looks like a complete mess...which makes sense, 'cause that's how the game plays as well. It’s like Inland Productions already knew how wrestling fans would react to this game, because when you attempt a pinfall at times, you’ll see garbage thrown at the ring by the fans. That pinfall attempt was WCW/nWo Thunder. The garbage thrown into the ring was just about everyone who played this telling the developer what a steaming pile of doodoo they made. This is probably one of the top 5 worst wrestling games that I've ever had the misfortune of playing. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/05/2020 Bomberman: Act Zero Platform Xbox 360 Initial Release Date August 3, 2006 (JP) Developer Hudson Genre Action My Score 2.5/10 Avg. Score 30.55/100 Who here likes Bomberman? Well…that’s more than I have fingers and toes, so I can’t count that high…but it’s probably like a gazillion people with their hands up. Who here wants to see a darker, edgier Bomberman? A lot of hands went down. We’re probably down to like 453 folks now. Okay, who wants a darker Bomberman with the fun gameplay thrown out the window so we can replace it with gameplay that is much less appealing? Only one hand is still up...Oh, it's the guy who was in charge of development of Bomberman: Act Zero. Can someone show that man the door? And let the door hit him in the keister on his way out. Bomberman: Act Zero is just a mess. It's admirable that they tried to give the beloved franchise a facelift with something new, but if they were a doctor and this was their facelift, they should be expecting a lawsuit for malpractice. It’s an awful game, and the worst in the franchise by a pretty large margin. Thankfully, we’ve never gotten another game in the franchise like this one again. Played on: Xbox 360 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/21/2020 Harlem Globetrotters: World Tour Platform Nintendo DS Initial Release Date November 24, 2006 (EU) Developer Full Fat Genre Sports - Basketball My Score 2.5/10 Avg. Score 42.84/100 Holy turds is this game bad. It looks like NBA Jam. It stars the Harlem Globetrotters, who are known for fancy schmancy moves on the court. One would imagine that this would be an enjoyable, over-the-top version of NBA Jam with even more fancy dunks and moves...Nope. Well, it is over-the-top, I guess. Over-the-top bad. Hey, you dribbled the ball past the computer...Oh, they stole it seemingly without even reaching for the ball. They dribbled it past you while you pressed the button to steal and watched the animation of the steal attempt...no dice. The dunks are also basic and lame. Basic shooting also seemingly lacks any animation aside from the player jumping and the ball moving from the player to the hoop. It seems like there are plenty of features to play to keep you busy, but the game is so poor to play that I honestly didn't even bother looking into all of them. When you find yourself thinking, “I’d almost rather play Slam City with Scottie Pippen on the Sega CD,” then you know that you’re playing a terrible basketball game. I really, really wanted this to be good...or passable...or even just PLAYABLE. Instead, I'm disappointed. They should really re-name this "Harlem Globetrots" 'cause they really diarrheaed this game out. Yes, that is a made-up word. It still works as a perfect description. Played on: Nintendo DS Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/26/2021 Carmageddon 64 Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date October 22, 1999 (EU) Developer Software Creations Genre Racing My Score 2.5/10 Avg. Score 31.98/100 Boy, this…isn’t good. I enjoyed Carmageddon on PC. This is nowhere near the quality of that game. In an effort to remove the controversy of running over people in the PC version, people in the Nintendo 64 version are replaced by zombies. Not just in the game, but I also think that the developers were replaced by zombies as well, because I can’t really imagine that anyone aside from mindless, drooling, half-dead dolts would create this and be happy enough with the end result to publish it for public use. In order to win a race, you’ve got to take your time (or if you’re insane, play it enough to memorize the courses), as you can easily find yourself off-course. In fact, the race that I won, I actually passed the finish line, got to the next checkpoint and got a “wrong checkpoint” message. I then backtracked and passed the finish line a second time, from the wrong direction, to end the race and still pick up a 1st place win. I won’t even go into detail on how awful the game controls or how pointless the ability to run the zombies over seems to be…I’ll just say that this is really bad. Shortly after starting this game, you’ll be Carmaged-done. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/22/2022 Overpass Platform Playstation 4 Initial Release Date February 27,2020 (EU/AU) Developer Zordix Racing Genre Racing My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 41.22/100 When you create a game where you not only can't skip the tutorial, but you also can't skip the slow-as-molasses, monotone narrator during the tutorial, you're just asking for people to give up before the game begins. Likewise, when said tutorial begins, and you make your first turn and your vehicle flips over on its side, that's not a very good sign. Overpass is just an absolutely terrible experience…from the incredibly boring and tedious beginning to when you finally begin racing and get frustrated and annoyed with how poorly everything controls, this is just a trainwreck of a racing game. When you're not fighting the controls in the game, you're fighting the terrain…and often you're fighting the terrain because of the controls. You will flip over often. You will get your vehicle lodged somewhere often, where you can't back up, go forward, or do anything. You will also often question what you've done with your life that led you down the road to playing this game. I sure did. The game looks nice…but that's really the only compliment I can give it. Honestly, that's like putting a tuxedo on a turd and saying that it's a sharp-dressed piece of feces. Sure, it looks more presentable, but it's still a piece of poo. I believe that the developers may have been a bit dyslexic when naming this game - because you should definitely pass over Overpass if you find yourself in a situation where you're able to play it. It's pretty awful. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/26/2019 WWF Wrestlemania: Steel Cage Challenge Platform NES Initial Release Date September 1992 (NA) Developer Sculptured Software Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 2.5/10 Avg. Score 35.44/100 What happened? WWF Wrestlemania Challenge was kind of fun...Adding a steel cage and an updated roster would be awesome! What? Sculptured Software re-did the game engine that Rare made for Challenge? It sucks now? Cage matches can end after one body slam? Why is this description nothing but questions? Long story short, WWF Wrestlemania: Steel Cage Challenge is awful. It's not quite as bad as WWF Wrestlemania on the NES, but it's still a large step in the wrong direction. Every wrestler controls exactly the same (poorly) and the game quickly becomes repetitive and boring. At least you can listen to an 8-bit version of the Mountie's theme, though...I suppose that's a plus in the very least. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/17/2019 Bagasaurus Platform PC Initial Release Date 1988 (NA) Developer Children's Computer Workshop Genre Trivia My Score 2.5/10 Avg. Score 22.40/100 My general rule of thumb for video games aimed at very young children – take my score, bump it up by 3. When you do that with Bagasaurus, you still don’t have yourself a passable game. Not only is the game mind-numbingly easy, even for young children, it controls so poorly that I could easily see parents using this game as punishment. “No, Mommy. I’m not going to clean my room!” “What was that? That’s it, you get in there and play Bagasaurus for 20 minutes!!” I think the world would be a much more polite place if they were all afraid of being forced into a Bagasaurus time-out. But anyway, there are much better games out there for your young kids…many of them are also fun for the adult. I can’t imagine that this game would be fun for either. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/12/2020 Foosball 2012 Platform Playstation Vita Initial Release Date July 24, 2012 (NA) Developer Grip Games Genre Sports - Foosball My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 38.29/100 I think the idea of a video game version of foosball is pretty neat. Unfortunately, even with some decent ideas like special shots, this feels like it's less of a game of skill and more of a game of flicking the right analog stick repeatedly to just shoot the ball whenever you get an opportunity to do so. Sure, you can kind of go slower and plan a little...but you'll likely get the same result as frantically firing. In fact, I feel like I could probably close my eyes and get the exact same result as if I had made an effort to try to play with any sort of plan. I like the concept of Foosball 2012, unfortunately the execution of that concept falls quite a bit flat. Played on: Playstation Vita Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/05/2019 Stack-Up Platform NES Initial Release Date July 26, 1985 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Puzzle My Score 2.5/10 Avg. Score 41.71/100 Stack-Up is the second of two games released to work with R.O.B. the Robot on the NES…and it’s easy to see why Gyromite was the game packed-in with R.O.B. Unlike Gyromite, which has some redeeming qualities, Stack-Up has very few. Stack-Up is more of a puzzle game, with multiple modes. None of the modes are worth your time, to be completely honest. In the modes, you’ll do fun things like send commands to R.O.B. and watch it follow them…write a program for R.O.B., then run it to see if it worked…or the mildly fun “Bingo” mode where you send commands to R.O.B. by jumping on a grid to complete a row, while avoiding enemies that have the ability to undo what you did. Stack-Up is worth hunting down if you’re a collector, but gameplay-wise, it doesn’t “Stack-Up” to Gyromite…or most of the NES library, for that matter. Played on: NES Also known as: Robot Block (Japan)

Date added: 08/14/2022 Fuel Overdose Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date December 21, 2012 (EU) Developer I-FRIQIYA Genre Racing My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 32.50/100 Fuel Overdose, just looking at the trailer and such, looks like a game that I'd like….except all of the positive reviews that litter the end of the trailer are from websites that I have never heard of in my life. That's like if Bubsy 3D was released today, I suffered from a severe head injury and gave it a perfect score, and the trailer touted 3pmoot.com giving Bubsy 3D a ten out of ten score…Ain't nobody knows who we are and we ain't got no credibility to the average person since the average person has no idea that this website exists. After playing the game, I can definitely see why no credible websites gave them a favorable score. Y'know, when I was in college, I actually made my creative writing professor create some rules in his classroom since I was very good at following the rules to give him results that he did not want at all. For example, one paper we had to use a website as a reference to prove our point - I wound up creating a single-page website that I wrote myself and used that as my reference. Zero credibility, but luckily that professor had a sense of humor. I kinda wonder if that's what I-FRIQIYA did for those scores…maybe they just made all those websites. Anyway, Fuel Overdose is a failed attempt to blend the shallow stories found in a typical fighting game with the fights replaced with races…poor races where controlling your car feels like you covered your hands in oil and were asked to hold onto a stick made out of Jell-o. Have you ever tried to hold onto a stick of Jell-o with oily hands? It's actually easier than controlling the cars in this game. Every time, I began wondering if I was getting the hang of the controls…and then I'd try to turn a corner, and I was reminded, "Nope." The racing also includes combat…which is just as awful as the racing. The developers also seemed to know this…which is probably why even if you lose every race, you'll still advance on in the game and can even still see the ending of each character. Honestly, I think the name of this game came from the developers overdosing on sniffing the fumes of the fuel from their vehicle…and the only people that seem to disagree are the websites that provides positive scores for the trailer. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Sharpshooter (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 34.03/100 I guess that Sharpshooter is a game about a cowboy that goes to a carnival where the shooting range is full of haunted stuffed animals. The concept here is simple, move left and right and shoot at the stuff further up the screen than you and avoid anything that winds up down by you on the bottom of the screen. Unfortunately, it's just not an interesting game and you'll likely get the same results if you blindly shoot at everything than if you take your time and try to shoot with skill. This is basically the sequel to Shooting Gallery on the NES Action 52...and while not very good, it's mildly better than the game that came before it. It's not the worst 3rd person shooter ever created, but it's also far, far from being passable in any way shape or form. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/21/2022 Antarctica 88 Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date February 24, 2022 (NA/EU/JP) Developer EpiXR Games Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 33.95/100 I generally like horror games, even when done poorly…and Antarctica 88 is done very poorly. From the terrible controls (specifically when on a snowmobile) to the game-ending glitches, this game is just a mess. When I first started playing, I found myself thinking, "Y'know…this game isn't THAT bad." But by the end, I wished that this game had a physical copy so I could toss it in a garbage disposal. Not only did I encounter glitches with me getting stuck in walls, but I also couldn't figure out how to advance at one point, and wound up watching a YouTube video out of frustration to see what I missed…turns out I didn't miss anything. The game missed giving me a cutscene to advance the story. As a result, I had to start all the way from the beginning again in hopes that the game would actually behave on my second attempt through. Thankfully it did, but the fact that I had to do that to begin with was completely unacceptable. That said, this game does do one thing that I liked - day and night in the game changes in real time. If you play during the day, then the game takes place during the day. If you play at night, it takes place during the night. I didn't really see any real difference between night and day except it's easier to see during the day, but I still thought it was a neat idea…unfortunately, it was a single neat idea smothered by a bunch of bad content. I wanted to like Antarctica 88, I really did, but it's just too buggy and awkward for me to really recommend this to anyone. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/29/2019 AquaPets: 101 Otter Pets Platform PC Initial Release Date June 8, 2011 (NA) Developer SelectSoft Genre Simulation My Score 2.5/10 Avg. Score 21.87/100 Hoo boy, is this game rough. I think a very young child might like this game...Like under the age of five...But otherwise, this game is terrible. If you want a game where an otter gets filthy (while swimming in a crystal-clear pool, mind you) in the span of five minutes, forcing you to clean it again, this is the game for you. I see what they tried to do by speeding up everything and trying to make you manage it...But it doesn't work. Not being able to skip eating/drinking sequences that you've seen multiple times and are entirely too long doesn't help matters, either. The game is also incredibly buggy, with messages popping up long after they should have. My otter, Ape Jr., won a beauty contest...I didn't get a message stating I won until after placing second at the next one. Also, messages telling me that my otter has to go to the bathroom, or is hungry, or is tired when the appropriate "meter" for that was in the green were very common. This game could be worse...But honestly, I can't think of more than a few ways that it would be. The developers must've been otter their minds to make this garbage. Get it? Nevermind. That pun was the best experience I had with this game. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/17/2021 Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date May 14, 2009 (NA) Developer Blazing Lizard Genre Sports - Dodgeball My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 42.86/100 Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball answers an age old question that people have pondered for…well, since this game was released. Unfortunately, that question has nothing to do with pirates or ninjas. The question it answers is if a parent makes their child choose between cleaning their room or playing this game, which will they choose? Vegas odds say the smart bet would be that the child would choose to clean their room and the remainder of any other room in the household they live in…followed by all rooms in the neighbors’ houses if the parent threatens to “reward” them by letting them play this turdfest. I picked up this game knowing full well that it would probably be bad, but I was at least hoping for some cheesy, campy novelty from it. All I got was awful gameplay, bland, stereotypical characters to play as, and a story mode that makes “See Spot Run” seem like a literary masterpiece. Even the additions of zombies and monsters (the other teams you can choose players from) doesn’t add a single ounce of reason for anyone to play this. If you like pirates, ninjas, zombies, monsters, or dodgeball…then avoid this game. It’ll make you dislike each and every one of ‘em. Played on: Wii Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/07/2022 Fight Club Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date November 16, 2004 (NA) Developer Genuine Games Genre Fighting My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 38.73/100 The first rule of Fight Club? Don't play Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club? Don't play Fight Club……actually, looking at this list, rules 1-46 and 48-93 are all "don't play Fight Club." What's rule number 47? Use the soap that was made in the film to wash the mouths of anyone that actually suggests playing this. If you can't tell, I'm not a fan. I have not seen the movie Fight Club in probably 15-20 years, so I honestly can't tell you if the Story mode in this game closely follows the story of the film…but it's essentially a glorified arcade mode in your typical fighting game. Fight Club has an arcade mode too, which really makes that observation stand out even more. Here's the difference between the two modes - story mode has short cutscenes before and after each fight and the opponents are the same each time. Arcade mode only has an ending cutscene for the fighter you chose, and the opponents are random. There is an online mode, too…so if you wanted to suffer with other people when this game was released, you could do that as well. Game modes aside, the real meat of any fighting game is the combat…and that's where Fight Club fails the most. Not only is the combat awkward and clunky, it's just not fun. As a wrestling fan, I do get mild enjoyment giving my opponent suplexes, powerbombs, death valley drivers, etc…But trying to execute those moves properly sometimes just feels like a chore. Honestly, if you're a diehard fan of the film, you may find slightly more enjoyment in this game than I did…but with how poorly it was made, I have a feeling that even the biggest fans of the movie won't find much here to like. So, with all of that said, I recommend just following rules 1-46 and 48-93 of Fight Club - simply do not play it. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Force One (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 34.33/100 Force One is one of the many, generic, boring Action 52 shooters. You control a generic-looking space ship and fire at generic-looking enemy space ships….and then rinse and repeat for nine levels. In the early levels, Force One is an incredibly dull, uneventful game. By the final level, everything is much more chaotic, but the game still manages to feel dull and bland at that point, too. It takes skill to make a game feel both chaotic and bland at the same time. Active Enterprises managed to do it here. I can't imagine anyone willingly wanting to play Force One for more than a few seconds. I'm pretty sure that this game got its name because you'd likely have to Force someOne to play this at that point. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/18/2022 WWF King of the Ring Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date September 1993 (NA) Developer Eastridge Technology Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 42.82/100 I had WWF King of the Ring on the Game Boy when I was a child…I played it a lot. If I hadn't owned it when I was a young'un, however, I doubt I would have ever spent nearly as much time in it later on in life. I played it because I had it, which is something that can be said by most folks about some bad games that they grew up with. You played what you had. That said, WWF King of the Ring isn't very good at all. You can play as an assortment of wrestlers who all play exactly the same, including "You," which is a generic white wrestler that you're supposed to pretend is you…because everyone is a generic white guy. Well, in my case, I suppose it fit since I am a generic white fellow, but it still seems like an odd choice to throw that into the game without any ability to alter You's appearance. Why not through another member of the WWF roster into the game instead? Everyone has the same move set, so it's not like you'd have to animate a finishing move or anything. Anyway, if you just want to play a game where you awkwardly punch and kick your opponent, hip toss them, and then defy gravity by jumping into the air and floating down for an elbow drop, then WWF King of the Ring may be up your alley. For the rest of us, one match will likely be enough before you decide to move on and play something more enjoyable. Played on: Game Boy Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/14/2022 Enjoy Your Massage! Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date August 9, 2010 (NA) Developer Microforum Genre Action My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 31.38/100 When one thinks of the motion controls of the Wii, and the possibilities in the types of gameplay it created, if you were to be told that someone made a massage game, you probably wouldn't really blink an eye. After all, games like Trauma Center emulates performing surgery, so why not have a game that emulates massage therapy? Unfortunately, Enjoy Your Massage! is a game that would essentially be exactly the same if it didn't have any motion controls at all…and with or without motion controls, it's pretty lame. Basically, you've got an assortment of lady folk that come in and need massages. Your job is to perform massages by simply playing a game of Simon. Yes, the toy with the colored lights and the bleeping tones that does a pattern and expects you to repeat it. That's this game…except instead of colored lights, you've got sections on a young woman's back and instead of bleeping tones, you've got notes from a piano. I'm not sure if you're aware, but a woman's back is like a touch-tone telephone, each section of the back creates a different tone. Essentially, if you've got a note sheet handy, you could probably play Mozart's Symphony No. 25 once you know which parts of the back play which notes…See? You thought this was just a list of games. I'm giving you real information here. Next time you have a romantic night with your significant other, play some back piano, then let me know how it goes. Anyway, I wouldn't bother with this game…it's a massage that you won't enjoy…well, unless you like Simon, that is. Played on: Wii Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Ooze (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Platformer My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 34.33/100 Ooze was a game on the original, NES Action 52…and Active Enterprises liked it so much that they gave it a sequel here. Except instead of calling it Ooze II, they just called it Ooze…Like we're supposed to forget that they ever made one before this. In fairness, I think most people that played the original Ooze bashed their head against the nearest wall in hopes that a head injury would remove all memories of playing it…So maybe they figured they could get away with the lack of a name change. Anyway, this version of Ooze is better than the original, but it's still pretty awful. In order to advance in the game, expect to sit and wait…a lot. Since you can't shoot in mid-air, you'll have to sit and wait for moving platforms to reach you, while also avoiding enemies that you can't shoot since they're too high for your bullets to hit, but still low enough to give you issues. Ooze could have been decent with a little bit of polish…but it's honestly an awful, boring experience. I think the game originally had an L at the beginning of the title…because if you play it, you Looze. Yup, I'm fine with ending this review with that. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/09/2022 Hanna Barbera's Turbo Toons Platform Super NES Initial Release Date 1994 (EU) Developer Empire Interactive Genre Racing My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 38.38/100 At first glance, Hanna Barbera's Turbo Toons, a European exclusive game, looks like Super Off-Road, but with beloved Hanna Barbera characters instead of vehicles. If the idea of controlling Huckleberry Hound in a foot race against other favorites like Yogi Bear or Quick Draw McGraw sounds fun to you, unfortunately, Empire Interactive made sure that it wouldn't be. The races tend to be boring and bland. On top of that, the controls seem broken at first…not necessarily because they are, but because since this looks like Super Off-Road, you would expect that it would control like Super Off-Road. It does not at all. Instead, to control the cartoon characters in this game, you need to move the buttons in the actual direction that you want them to go…this seems like it would be obvious to figure out, but again, games like Super Off-Road, RC Pro-Am, and even Rock N Roll Racing all have a distinct control style, and with this visually looking like it's trying to clone those games, it's easy to imagine the controls would be the same, then think that something's broken while you struggle to get Hong Kong Phooey to turn a corner properly. Once you get the controls down, the game is pretty dull, as I mentioned earlier. By the time that this game came out, there were already a bunch of really good racing games (including Super Mario Kart, if you wanted a more cartoony style of racing) so unless you're obsessed with Hanna Barbera cartoons and want to control Top Cat in a foot race, I'd recommend staying away from Turbo Toons. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/02/2022 The Terminator Platform NES Initial Release Date December 1992 (NA) Developer Radical Entertainment Genre Platformer My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 39.86/100 The Terminator starts off mildly okay…You control Kyle Reese from the film. You're in the future. You've got a gun. You're performing some awkward platforming between shooting your gun. Then you eventually wind up in the present day in search for Sarah Connor…without a gun. So then you're punching and kicking between awkward platforming for the rest of the game. The shooting aspects added a very mild hint of fun to the otherwise cringe-worthy platforming…taking that away from the rest of the game really hurts it. One could say that it actually terminates any hint of fun that you might find. See what I did there? Because the game's name is The Terminator…and the fun was terminated. Man, I'm clever. Anyway, this just simply is not a good game. The later levels feel less like a challenge and more like a chore…the developers probably figured that both words begin with "ch" and end with an "e," so it was close enough. When you're not trying not to scream from the awful platforming, you're stuck playing horrendous vehicular stages. How awful are these stages? You'll be wishing you could go back to the poor platforming levels…as awful as the platforming levels are, they are definitely the lesser of two evils. If you have the opportunity to play the Terminator, though, just decline and run away as fast as you can in the opposite direction. There's no need to experience either one of those two evils if you go that route. You can send me cash as a thank you later. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/15/2021 Bikini Karate Babes Platform PC Initial Release Date 2002 (NA/JP) Developer Creative Edge Software Genre Fighting My Score 2.5/10 Avg. Score 23.40/100 After downloading Bikini Karate Babes 3 for Android, it made me curious if I had lost my opportunity to play the other two games, which I had assumed were also for Android. To my surprise, I discovered that Bikini Karate Babes is actually a series that has been around since 2002, with the first two games being released on PC. Unfortunately, since I was unable to find anywhere where those games were on sale, I had to search around a bit until I was able to find a playable copy. Then I had to find a PC that it would work on since it crashes on Windows 10. After getting everything all straightened out, I finally got to play it…and it’s pretty bad. Amusingly bad, mind you, but bad all the same. Much like the current game out on the Android store, the game looks impressive. It transitions pretty seamlessly between the fighting and closer-up, higher-quality video cutscenes. Also like the third game in the series, visual aspects aside, this is a pretty poor fighting game. It’s not difficult at all to get perfect rounds by simply pressing a single key the entire fight. And while some of the special moves are head-scratchingly bizarre and amusing (like a lady that shoots jets of fire from her bosoms) it’s still not a fun enough of a game where I was willing to put too much time into it to see what every woman on the roster can do. I don’t consider this to be quite as bad as I’ve seen some critics say…but that still doesn’t mean that it’s very good. It requires a bit of effort if anyone wants to play it these days, requiring someone to both track down a copy of the game as well as an operating system capable of running it… and it’s simply not worth the effort required. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/02/2019 WCW Nitro Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date 1997 (NA) Developer Inland Productions Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 2.5/10 Avg. Score 40.36/100 Why? THQ had published some really good wrestling games for the N64, and WCW vs. The World on the Playstation was good as well...But then they follow that up with this? What a mess. The game looks decent in screenshots, but that's about all I can say that's good about it. Once the game is in motion it looks clunky and robotic, it controls poorly, and the gameplay is about as dull as dull can be. This is one of the worst wrestling games that I've ever played. It’s almost as if WCW Nitro was foreshadowing for WCW itself – a once great wrestling franchise turned into something that nobody wanted. I'd highly suggest staying away. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/25/2019 Starevil (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 29.36/100 This is a top-down, vertical-scrolling shooter that is just so very, very bland. The controls do work, but in such a way that you don’t quite feel like you’re in control. The graphics make it look like you’re playing a game based in a world made of cheap, knock-off legos. The AI on this game is terrible. In most scrolling shooters, you have to avoid the enemy. In this game, the enemy often avoids you. Some ships swerve diagonally...But often times, these swerves are away from you. The ships also like to fly through the scenery in places that you can’t get to. What’s the point of a scrolling shooter when you can’t fire at the enemies? They don’t even fire back at you...So aside from the obstacles in the scenery itself, you’re not really trying to avoid any danger. On top of that, the levels aren’t long...within 30 seconds or so, you’ll see that the level has looped before your eyes. I suppose you’ve gotta loop stuff to pack 52 games in one cart. My final gripe is the boss fights. Sometimes they just don’t appear. The second time I played through, for example, no boss fight. Just an endless batch of ships due to a lovely glitch. To put it simply, this game’s a mess. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/13/2022 Beverly Hills Cop Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date 2006 (EU) Developer Atomic Planet Entertainment Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 2.5/10 Avg. Score 28.80/100 I am not a big pop culture guy…aside from pro wrestling and video games, I honestly have no clue about most pop culture stuff…and even then, I have more knowledge of the past than I do of the present. That said, I don't remember Hollywood ever making a Beverly Hills Cop reboot, and a Google search on that topic also came up empty. That leads me to believe that Blast! Entertainment, a European publisher that bought a ton of licenses to make a bunch of awful games, bought the Beverly Hills Cop license, and when they found out that Eddie Murphy's appearance was not part of that license, they made a generic-looking bald fellow the star of the game…but he's still referred to as Axel, so I guess Mr. Murphy shaved himself bald between the last movie in the film franchise and this game. Once you get past that confusion, you get thrust right into the awful, awful gameplay that Beverly Hills Cop provides. Most levels are a mixture of talking to guards, with your responses being determined by you stopping a spinning wheel (yes, really), stealth modes where the level ends if spotted, and action modes where you just attempt to shoot at stuff. The shooting is awful. You can have the crosshairs on an enemy's forehead, and it will still take about 14 bullets to take them down…but sometimes if you shoot their shoulder, they drop in a single shot. While this is annoying, it goes both ways. The enemy has difficulty hitting you much of the time - specifically when you're crouching. I literally had an enemy run up to me and was a step or two away, firing away with their gun, and I maybe got hit by one or two of their 30 bullets fired while I shot back. In stealth modes, it IS possible to silence anyone that sees you, but you'll need to be lucky with your shot - if it takes more than one bullet, you've probably failed to keep them quiet. In combat, the AI is also completely broken. It's not uncommon to fire at an unaware enemy, then watch them walk into a wall and just stay there, allowing you to have an easy target. Despite the fact that there are almost no good qualities to this game, it somehow kept my interest enough to see it through to the end. That being said, I do not recommend this game at all…it's definitely a Beverly Hills Flop. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/10/2019 Way of the Warrior Platform Panasonic 3DO Initial Release Date May 26, 1995 (JP) Developer Naughty Dog Genre Fighting My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 40.45/100 These days, when you hear that Naughty Dog developed a game, you're thinking quality like the early Crash Bandicoot titles, the Uncharted games, and the Last of Us...Way of the Warrior is about as far away from quality as you can get without wanting to stab yourself in the eyes to ensure that you can never play the game again. This is basically just a Mortal Kombat clone...Minus any sort of quality. The fighting was sub-par for its time and it has aged horribly since. The end result is a trainwreck of a fighting game and a good reminder to gamers everywhere that new developers may have a few low points, but it doesn't mean that they won't eventually deliver a fantastic game, or in Naughty Dog's case, several fantastic games...This wasn't even close to being one of the aforementioned games. Played on: 3DO Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/21/2019 Taxi 2: Le Jeu Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date November 30, 2000 (EU) Developer Blue Sphere Games Genre Racing My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 38.39/100 Taxi 2: Le Jeu would be better named Taxi 2: Le Caca…But anyway, Taxi 2 seems to be yet another example of the movie-to-game stereotype where most video games licensed after a movie should be flushed down “les toilettes” where the “caca” belongs. Basically, you’re racing the clock in this game, speeding down narrow roads and trying to avoid traffic…the problem is that the controls aren’t exactly tight…and if you happen to hit something and spin out, be prepared for the car to not move for a second or two as you change from forward to reverse and vice versa. The game also looks a generation behind in the graphics department, with blocky cars that look like they were modeled after cardboard boxes – a far cry from other racing games on the Dreamcast where the vehicles look gorgeous. Stereotypically, the French like to stick their noses in the air at others…I’m pretty sure that it’s not because they’re snobs, but because they’ve got this game in their hands and they’re trying to get their noses as far away from the stench as possible. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/13/2019 Bishoujo Sexy Derby Platform Nintendo Famicom Disk System Initial Release Date 1988 (JP) Developer Super Pig Genre Sports - Horse Racing My Score 2.5/10 Avg. Score 33.67/100 There are plenty of strip poker video games available in the history of gaming, but this is the first (and probably only) strip horse race game. Basically, you get a picture of a girl (the pig is a girl in a pig costume) and after you get 1000 points, the girl sheds some clothing. Get another 1000 points, and more clothing goes. Eventually, you're left with a pixelated, nude lady. The races are won by hitting the "A" button rapidly. That's it. Just mash that button as fast as you can, and you've won. So, beating this really wasn't much of a challenge...or fun for that matter...and I was kind of hoping that for comical value, selecting the pig would result in it putting ON clothes after you win races...but nope, it's revealed that it's a naked, turquoise-haired chick in a pig costume. It's worth checking out for how weird it is...but that's about it. Played on: Famicom Disk System Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/26/2020 Xtreme Club Racing Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date May 3, 2019 (NA/EU) Developer Jorge Biedma Azuar Genre Racing My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 30.83/100 I got Xtreme Club Racing for very cheap on sale on the Nintendo store…I think it was $1 or $2. No offense to the developers, but even at that discounted price, I feel like I paid for what I got. It just isn’t very fun. You race against two other vehicles, while collecting cash and such to upgrade your car, rinse and repeat. The tracks aren’t traditional “rounded” courses with laps, but rather point A to point B style…which does help this game a bit because the races are much shorter due to this track-style. I get the feeling that if the races were longer, that would hurt this game even more. Even with the short race length, the races feel bland and uneventful. It doesn’t help that you’re stuck going through checkpoints to prevent the race timer from ending, meaning you can’t really search for shortcuts or anything interesting…you’re kinda just stuck on the same path that you took the previous time you raced on that track. I want to like Xtreme Club Racing, but I just don’t care for it. If you’re obsessed with racing games, you may find something to enjoy here. It wasn’t for me, though. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2019 Manchester Beat (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Platformer My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 27.28/100 Ever want to hear an annoying tune play every time you jump? Me neither. Apparently the developers of this game did, though. Manchester Beat is another poor platformer. I guess you’re supposed to be distracted by the jumping music so that you don’t realize that the game controls poorly. But, she does…or he does…it does. Whatever gender the game is, it’s bad. On top of that, there’s interesting glitches...Like how you can’t walk through the music note blocks in the beginning...and then later in the level, you suddenly can. Or like how falling into a pit can allow you to jump into the ground and walk underneath all the danger above. I really don’t have a whole lot else to say about Manchester Beat except don’t play it…go slam your forehead into some piano keys. It’ll sound better and provide you with more fun. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/29/2021 Mortal Kombat 4 Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date December 1998 (NA) Developer Digital Eclipse Genre Fighting My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 39.98/100 It's games like the Game Boy Color version of Mortal Kombat 4 that made me shy away from handheld gaming for a long time. One would expect that a handheld game with the same name as a game found on a console would be a portable version of that game, within reason. Games like Street Fighter Alpha have proven that even fighters on 32-bit consoles can be successfully translated to an 8-bit handheld...Mortal Kombat 4 miserably fails at this. Mortal Kombat 4 on the consoles in itself wasn't really a great game, but it looks like the Citizen Kane of fighting games in comparison to the handheld version of MK4. Everything is sloppy and broken...Almost like the developers performed a fatality on it during development. Instead of “GET OVER HERE,” I’ll probably be asking it to stay away from me going forward. Played on: Game Boy Color Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 Real Men Wear Pink HD Platform Ouya Initial Release Date January 3, 2014 (NA) Developer Time Killer Games Genre Platformer My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 36.89/100 When I booted up Real Men Wear Pink, I immediately groaned. I recognized the intro, the art-style…the guy who made Man Boobs Are Candy Corn made this. I expected the worst, and almost called off playing this. But, I gave it a shot anyway…and a miracle happened!! It’s not as bad as the other Time Killer Games title that I played on the Ouya. It’s still awful, mind you, but at least this game is playable. The controls, while not great, are improved from the Candy Corn game. The level design is also slightly better. It’s like the developer learned their lesson…except that this game was released before the Candy Corn game. So not only did they not learn their lesson, their games got worse as time went on. Good golly. Anyway, if you absolutely must play one of this developer’s awful games, this is the best one that I’ve played. Though honestly, if it says Time Killer Games anywhere near the game, I’d probably just avoid it just to be safe. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/06/2020 The Flintstones: Bedrock Racing Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date October 2, 2007 (EU) Developer Coyote Console Genre Racing My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 44.80/100 Yabba-dabba-don't play this. I'd leave my comment just as that, but I suppose I could explain myself. Bedrock Racing looks okay in screenshots, but when you play it, you quickly discover that everything is kind of bland. The racing is boring with horrible rubber-banding - you could dominate the entire race, but that doesn't mean that the computer won't speed past you at some point. The computer is also dumb. They like to drive right in front of you in turns and the like, causing a mess for both you and them. You're also expected to collect items while you race, which kind of speaks for how fun the races are on their own - they've gotta add a task for you to do during the race to keep things mildly entertaining. This might be a good game for toddlers, maybe call it "Baby's First Racing Game," but everyone else is almost guaranteed to quit from boredom after only a few races. I wish I had some flint stones so I could set the copy I played on fire. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Appleseed (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 34.63/100 Appleseed is similar to another game in the Genesis version of Action 52, that game being Alfredo. The games have a completely different look from each other, but it's the came concept. In Appleseed, you're an old man carrying a basket and your goal is to grab as many apples as you can…the catch being that since the old man doesn't want to be reminded of his age, he only wants red apples. If those green Granny Smith apples wind up in the basket, he remembers that he's an ol' grandpa like the apple that he caught and the whole basket winds up being completely ruined, making you start over. The only real difference between this game and Alfredo in terms of gameplay is that the items to catch in Alfredo are larger and easier to see for the most part. In Appleseed, the apples are a bit smaller and the green apples tend to blend in a bit with the backgrounds. Anyway, Appleseed is okay in comparison to other Action 52 games, but it's not anything really worth playing. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/13/2022 Miami Vice Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date December 3, 2004 (EU) Developer Atomic Planet Entertainment Genre Adventure My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 39.02/100 Atomic Planet Entertainment didn't exclusively do terrible, licensed games, but that's what I know them for - in fact, I have never played a passable game from them, to be honest. That doesn't mean that they never made one, but if they have, I haven't played it. Anyway, to go with the "terrible, licensed games" label that I've stuck on them, they made a game based on the Miami Vice television show…about two decades after it was popular. I'm guessing that the idea was to make it due to the tremendous success of Grand Theft Auto's romp through the 80's in Vice City…but rather than create a sandbox-style gameplay to try to emulate the success of Grand Theft Auto, Atomic Planet Entertainment instead, seemingly decided to emulate survival horror gameplay…minus the horror. Well, unless you count the horror of thinking that you may have to play more of this game. Basically, most of the trademarks of early survival horror games are here, including fixed camera angles that change when you enter a certain area and the basic controls of move, aim/shoot, and an action button to do anything else. This approach probably wouldn't be awful if it was done well, but it's honestly not. The combat is usually boring, and when it's not boring, it's frustrating…at no point is it ever fun. Exploring the levels is equally dull and there's not really anything that makes you feel like you want to push on and continue to play. This just isn't a good game…and I think the biggest vice of Miami Vice is that it was allowed to be released to store shelves at all. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/02/2019 Easter Bunny's Big Day Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date April 1, 2003 (NA) Developer Seven Computerized Creations Genre Action My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 33.60/100 While it probably isn’t surprising, with minimal effort, I beat Easter Bunny’s Big Day…and I've learned that the Easter Bunny has a friend that helps him called Robo Bunny. Even at my age, this game is teaching me things. But anyway, I think VERY young children might enjoy this game (all I saw was 2 kinds of mini-games and a TON of jigsaw puzzles) but even younger kids might get bored here pretty quickly since they’ll likely plow through the game with minimal effort, just like I did. I'd recommend just going out and buying a physical jigsaw puzzle for your child instead - your kid will have more of a challenge to help their brain grow and you won't have to ever look at that awful, egg-shaped Robo Bunny...a win-win situation. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/26/2019 Haunted Halls of Wentworth (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 30.78/100 When folks think of famous women in video games, they think of Samus Aran in Metroid, Lara Croft in Tomb Raider, Chun Li in Street Fighter, and Haunted Halls Lass in Haunted Halls of Wentworth. Alright, maybe not that last one. It is nice to see a female lead character in Haunted Halls, but that’s almost the only praise I can give this game. The game controls poorly, the animation is choppy, and it’s just an overall mess. You sometimes have to backtrack in order to kill an enemy because they’re out of your reach, only to find that while backtracking another enemy has appeared to give you a nice, cheap death. But, I can say that the soundtrack for this game is one of my favorites in the Action 52 cart...Good luck staying alive long enough to hear much of it, though. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/11/2019 Windy X Windam Platform Nintendo DS Initial Release Date July 31, 2008 (JP) Developer Success Genre Fighting My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 38.19/100 Windy X Windam...I believe that must be the brand name of a vacuum cleaner in Japan because this game sucks. Clever, eh? No?...Well, let's continue. Windy X Windham is a fighting game that plays so horribly, that upon winning several rounds without the slightest bit of difficulty, I refused to look at the screen as I played...And I still won. This is the first game that I've played that I literally did not look down at the screen from beginning to end of arcade mode, except to look at the outcome of matches when I heard a round end, and I still beat the game simply by blindly mashing buttons...And this is with controls that aren't very responsive, mind you. That said, Windy X Windam does have some mildly redeeming qualities (like the use of both screens during the fight) that prevent me from giving it an even lower score, but with an AI this poor, you'll be bored within minutes when you realize that you aren't getting a whole lot of resistance from the computer and that even a blind man (or woman, this game doesn't discriminate) would be doing just as good as you are...It kind of takes most of the fun away, know what I mean? Played on: Nintendo DS Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/31/2019 Crazy Shuffle (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 31.81/100 Normally, I’d say that this game was called Crazy Shuffle because it was crazy that a game this bad made it into the shuffle of games in this compilation...But considering the other games found in Action 52, Crazy Shuffle seems like a nice fit. Apparently, the point of crazy shuffle is that you’re a leaf that shoots insects...And you have to shoot at specific bugs before you can advance a level...But you usually can’t tell by appearance. Oh, and you’ll die if you touch a flower…You seem to be a leaf allergic to pollen. It controls fairly well in comparison to some of the other games, but it’s still not all that great...You’ll often accidentally fly into a flower for an instant death. The game also becomes boring very quickly. It’s also pretty easy...All you really have to do is stay in one location behind some leaves and fire in one direction and you’ll likely advance a level. There isn’t really much else to say...Crazy Shuffle is just another underwhelming title in this underwhelming compilation. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/25/2021 Santa Claus Saves the Earth Platform Nintendo Game Boy Advance Initial Release Date 2002 (EU) Developer Ivolgamus Genre Action My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 39.96/100 Santa Claus Saves the Earth, eh? More like Santa Claus Shaves the Earth …with a rusty blade….and it causes an infection and everyone winds up with polio or whatever the devil kids get when getting cut with rusty implements these days. I wasn’t really expecting much from this game, in all honesty. Can anyone think of a good Christmas-themed game? I’m not talking about games that take place during Christmas time like Parasite Eve, I’m talking games specifically designed to play during the holidays to help get you in the festive Christmas spirit. I’m sure there’s one or two that I can’t think of off the top of my head, but Santa Claus Saves the Earth certainly isn’t one of them. Basically, in this game, Santa is put in prison by an evil fairy and has to make his way out so he can deliver presents…But once he’s out of prison, then he has to traverse various other levels and such before he’s totally free. It’s not a very fun game. The controls feel delayed and awkward. The graphics are bland and basic. It’s just not very good at all. If given the choice between playing this and having my chestnuts roasting on an open fire, I would strongly consider the second option - I know that regardless of my choice, I’ll be tortured, but having third degree burns on my groinal area may be slightly less painful than trying to play this for more than a few minutes. Played on: Game Boy Advance Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/28/2022 Demon Attack Platform Magnavox Odyssey2 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer Imagic Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 34.16/100 Not every game on the Magnavox Odyssey2 is bad, but when you see an awful port like this one, it's easy to see why Atari was the video game leader for as long as it was. This version of Demon Attack wouldn't really be considered bad on its own, but when you compare it to other shooters of the time, including the Atari 2600 version of the same game, this isn't very good. At first glance, it also looks dull - there aren't a ton of enemies on the screen to avoid fire from. On the Atari 2600 version, there are only three enemies on the screen at a time as well, but the game is much more interesting visually that you don't notice it as much. This version is still challenging, though, but seemingly because of poor design than anything else. Unlike most 3rd person shooters, including the Atari 2600 version of this game, when you fire in Demon Attack, your bullet is always parallel with your ship. So let's say you shoot, then move to the right, the bullet is also going to move to the right. If you're shooting at a ship almost at your level, you're essentially putting yourself in harm's way in order to potentially shoot it down. You can't fire and quickly move to dodge enemy fire because your bullet will also move. So, you're stuck there, out in the open, just to take a shot. This "moving bullet" concept felt awkward and I never really got used to it or grew to like it in any way. Based on what I've seen when compiling the average scores, it doesn't look like I'm alone in feeling that way. If you want to play a fun version of Demon Attack, get the Atari 2600 version. It came out a year earlier and it's much, much better. Played on: Odyssey2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/29/2024 Psybadek Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date October 31, 1998 (NA) Developer Psygnosis Genre Racing My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 41.98/100 Who in the world thought that this would be a good game to put out? Sweet muffins, aside from having a title that sounds like the noise you make when you vomit, the gameplay is absolutely wretched. And it's sponsored heavily by Vans, a popular shoe brand back in the 90's…and I believe that they're still around today, despite the embarrassment of being part of this. I imagine that Vans didn't put too much money into this game or it would have been better…and if they did, they should have insisted on getting their money back. Psybadek is basically a hoverboard game that controls very poorly…and it's not just enough that you have to struggle with the controls during each level, but rather than allow you to pick each level from a menu, you have to physically ride your hoverboard (or hoverdek as the game calls them) to the stage icon. When you struggle just to get to the icon to start the next stage, that's not a very good sign for the gameplay once the stage starts. Psybadek isn't just a bad racing game, either. Different levels may have non-racing tasks, like shooting penguins…because those smarmy tuxedo-wearing birds need some caps popped in their hineys, I guess. But anyway, Psybadek is just simply a poor game. If you spend the time to get used to the controls, you're simply not rewarded with any good gameplay…at its best, Psybadek is mediocre. At its worst, playing Psybadek will make you question where you went wrong in your life. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/10/2020 Monster Jam: Maximum Destruction Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date June 13, 2002 (NA) Developer Ubisoft Genre Action My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 47.70/100 Monster Jam: Maximum Destruction is the genius idea of taking monster trucks and putting them in Twisted Metal-like gameplay. If you can’t tell, the use of the word “genius” was meant to be as sarcastic as humanly possible. So many games using the Monster Jam license refuse to actually simulate what you’d see if you went to a monster truck show at your local arena and instead try to create games that would appeal to a larger audience, rather than the monster truck fans that would just like the ability to take the role of the drivers they see in the arenas. The problem with that is, in their effort to appeal to a larger audience, they put out trash like Maximum Destruction. If you want to play a car combat game, I have not played a worse one than this…so, you can pretty much pick any other car combat game ever made and you’ll probably have made a better choice than playing this. If you love the Monster Jam license, you may find mild enjoyment in seeing familiar trucks in the game…but, everyone else should stay away. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2019 Robbie and the Robots (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 27.28/100 The first level of Robbie and the Robots is pathetically easy...Just run and shoot. Nothing will touch you and you’ll kill everything. The second level, thankfully, makes things more challenging by adding holes to fall into...But unfortunately, it almost makes it too difficult since there are robots on the walls firing at you. It’s hard to avoid the bullets and make the jumps you need to make at the same time...Too hard. If the developers had just evened out the difficulty, this game might actually be fun...But instead it goes from insanely easy to frustratingly hard. As it is, it’s alright in comparison to other Action 52 games....But it’s still pretty awful compared to nearly every other game out there. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/26/2022 Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date November 15, 2000 (NA) Developer Locomotive Corporation Genre Fighting My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 48.53/100 I had some Transformers when I was a wee lad, but I never really watched the original 80s cartoon, let alone any of the spinoffs that followed. That said, due to my lack of Transformers knowledge, I had no expectations going into my first time playing this. Then I saw it was a fighting game and my first thought was, "Well, this should be interesting. Maybe it'll be like Bloody Roar with the Transformers transforming in mid-battle like they do in Eighting's solid fighter…Maybe this will be solid." Good golly, was I wrong. Yes, each fighter can transform in battle..in fact, they can transform into three different forms - robot, beast, vehicle. Not one single form is fun to play. Essentially, you're changing forms frequently during battle like a clunky game of rock, paper, scissors…and you'll be tempted to take those scissors to cut off your thumbs so you'll never be able to play again. The controls are clunky and awkward, the combat is extremely boring (most fights I found I could just transform into the vehicle and drive around in circles around my opponent, firing randomly until I connected enough times for them to be defeated), the game looks and sounds just as boring as the gameplay, and it honestly feels like the old stereotype of a bad, licensed video game. If you're familiar with Transformers Beast Wars, you may get a kick out of seeing familiar faces in video game form, but everyone else will likely be Beast Bored when playing this. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: Transformers: Beast Wars Metals 64 (Japan)

Date added: 04/01/2022 Sky Avenger (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 35.36/100 In Sky Avenger, you control a helicopter as you fly above the same abandoned village that was being bombed in Bombs Away, another game on the Genesis Action 52. And while you don't see any bombs dropping in this game, if the two are supposed to be connected in some way, perhaps the bombs were being dropped by the blimps and various other aircraft that you're supposed to shoot down in Sky Avenger. The odd decision of using the same backgrounds from Bombs Away results in the helicopter coming across as an RC helicopter rather than a real one. This helicopter is small enough to fly into the door of one of the abandoned houses. Further making me question if this helicopter is a toy or not is the firepower of the helicopter…it kind of looks like those old Looney Tunes arrows with a suction cup on the end instead of an arrow head. But those are destructive suction cups, as any enemy aircraft they hit explodes. Anyway, Sky Avenger is one of the better scrolling shooters on Action 52, but it's still not very good. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/29/2022 Vs. Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date November 30, 1997 (NA) Developer Polygon Magic Genre Fighting My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 42.84/100 The 1990's saw some very solid 3D fighting games get released…unfortunately, Vs. was not one of them. Not only is there a lack of any real substance in terms of game modes (it seems like this was designed to be more of a game to play against friends, then a game that would give you a good single player experience) but the actual combat itself feels off. If you're making a fighting game, and the fighting mechanics don't work well, then you've already failed. If the mechanics don't work well AND you failed to provide any worthwhile gameplay modes, well, then you, sir, have just made a disaster of a game. I'd say "sir or ma'am" in that last sentence, but let's be realistic, a woman wouldn't put out a game this poorly. The reason I have so many female friends is that I'm very vocal about the fact that lady folk don't make mistakes…and Vs. being released onto store shelves was a very big mistake. In fact, one of the songs in the game's soundtrack has a chorus line of, "Is anybody out there?" Likely because the developers were legitimately asking if anyone was still playing the game by the time that line first gets uttered in a fight…my guess is that the answer to that question is, "Probably not." Vs. had a somewhat interesting concept to it…with more effort put into the fighting engine and a few worthwhile modes tossed in to keep you coming back, this might be worth playing. Unfortunately, as it is, Vs. isn't worth playing at all…unless poor fighting games amuse you, then play away. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/02/2022 Back to the Future Platform NES Initial Release Date September 1989 (NA) Developer Beam Software Genre Action My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 37.30/100 Back to the Future is a childhood game of mine that I've put far too many hours into due to that fact. It isn't the worst game that I've ever played...But that certainly doesn't make it good. The concept is simple - collect clocks as you traverse streets, avoiding obstacles in the way, so that the picture of your family doesn't fade away...At least that's what's supposed to happen...The problem is that while a life is supposed to end when the picture is empty, sometimes you'll randomly die regardless of if a picture is still there or not. Between boring levels, you'll get to play poorly-made mini games, like the diner where you toss milkshakes at bullies before they get to you. If you don't pass the mini game, you get a bonus score...But then have to play the previous street all over again and again (with different color schemes each time) until you win. Well, kind of…in an extremely frustrating move, if you do happen to reach the final level, where you must hit the correct speed to drive your car and arrive back in the present…well, you have one chance. If you fail, you get to start all the way in the beginning of the game. So, if you suffered through the entire game, you need to complete that final stage in a single try, otherwise this game will force you to do it all over again. It took me a few decades to finally beat this game…but in all honesty, the only reward for beating it that I'd wish for would be to travel back in time so I could set fire to Beam Software's building while this game was being developed. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/25/2021 Jurassic: The Hunted Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date November 3, 2009 (NA) Developer Cauldron Ltd. Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 41.11/100 Jurassic: The Hunted is…well, trash. If you look at the cover, it looks awful. Once you begin to play, it feels awful. It’s just an absolute mess all around. Basically, in Jurassic: The Hunted, you’re a guy who comes across as a complete jerk (all of the characters in this game are completely unlikable, to be honest) that winds up being pulled into some dimensional thing that dinosaurs have also been pulled into…so, naturally, you have to kill the dinosaurs all off. It’s basically a mindless shooter…how it manages to feel dull when you’re blowing up giant reptiles is beyond me, but they managed to do it. Aside from simply shooting, out-of-place moments happen as well, like suddenly deciding that a pre-made, mini fortress is a nice place to make your way into and defend…and then when you exit, you’re suddenly transported to a new area with no rhyme or reason behind it. What’s more fun is when you’re not allowed to “leave” the fortress until the dinosaurs stop attacking…then a bug causes them to no longer attack, but since the game doesn’t recognize it, you’re stuck in a small little area with menacing music playing in the background while absolutely nothing happens. When I got to the second fortress to defend, the game froze and crashed the PS3. So, not only is the game dull and uneventful, but it’s buggier than an ant farm. I can deal with bugs and glitches as long as I have fun…but when the game already feels like a chore, the bugs and glitches only make me loathe the time spent playing it even more. Whoever made this is a big, fat jurassic….minus the jur and ic. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/28/2021 Chuck E. Cheese's Party Games Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date August 2, 2010 (NA) Developer UFO Interactive Genre Action My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 37.60/100 Chuck E. Cheese’s Party Games is a collection of mini games that might provide brief moments of nostalgia if you remember ever visiting a Chuck E. Cheese as a kid. Many of the classic games that I remember as a child make an appearance here, and I must admit, that it made me smile. Now, with all that mushy stuff out of the way – this game isn’t very good at all. You’ve got limited tokens to play games. The way to earn more tokens is to make a bunch of pizzas within a time limit. Then go back to playing games. If you get bored with the games you have, to can spin a wheel and hope that it lands on a space to provide you with a new game…over and over and over and over and over and over again. And yes, you earn tickets, and yes, most of the “items” that you can purchase require you to spend way too much time suffering through this mess to be worth it. Party Games is not a good collection of mini games at all. You may see a smile appear on your face briefly at times as fond memories enter your mind…but that smile will likely fade as soon as you return to reality and realize that you’re playing this instead of standing in the children’s casino of your youth. Played on: Wii Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/16/2021 Porsche Challenge Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date April 1997 (EU) Developer Team Soho Genre Racing My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 51.57/100 What. A. Dump. A riddle for you: How do you know that a racing game has poor controls? Give up? When the AI has just as much difficulty keeping their cars under control as you do. I could not control these cars well for the life of me...Swerving all over the place. Then I noticed that the computer was swerving all over, too, and I didn't feel so bad. This is just not very fun. If you have the patience to master driving the cars without them getting all wobbly on you, you're not even given a whole lot of content. It’s like the developers said, “Good job. You overcame our poor controls and are clearly hungry for content…here’s a pea." There are many, many better racing games on the Playstation for you to play instead of this. I highly recommend popping one of those games into your console and forgetting that this one ever existed. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/05/2022 Strip Fighter II Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date 1993 (JP) Developer Games Express Genre Fighting - Adult My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 43.72/100 I didn't bother to really look into it to verify, but I'm fairly certain that there is no Strip Fighter I and that Strip Fighter II is only named as such in an effort to play off of the popularity of Street Fighter II when this game was released. But, with my luck, since I made no effort to look into it, there's probably a Strip Fighter I somewhere and it was the greatest game in the history of games. But, even if that was the case, Strip Fighter II is definitely a game where absolutely nobody will claim that it's the greatest game in the history of games. It's not even the best fighting game…or all-female fighting game…or adult-themed (sort of) game….or even the best game with the word "Strip" in the title. If you can't tell, it's not very good. Strip Fighter II is a very basic, very bland, very forgettable fighting game that only had one selling point - nudity. By playing through the game, you will find yourself looking at a pixelated rendition of a scantily-clad lady…eventually followed by a pixelated rendition of that lady sans clothing. There are six ladies in total - both to fight as and to see in little/no clothing. While the gameplay is awful, the graphics are actually quite good here - not just the still shots of the models that pervs likely bought the game for, but the stages and the fighters are all done well, too. If the quality of the gameplay matched the quality of the visuals, this would have been a pretty solid game. Unfortunately, they're not equal, and good graphics don't make a great game. With poor controls, zero depth to the fighting, and the developer's obvious focus on being pervy instead of focusing on making a good game and adding the perv-o stuff later, Strip Fighter II just is not worth anyone's time unless you're like me and try to find and play bizarre games…and even then, there's nothing here to keep you coming back for more after your played through it once. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/25/2019 Pac-Man Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date March 1982 (NA) Developer Atari Genre Action My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 45.14/100 A lot of folks point to Pac-Man on the Atari 2600 as a game that started the downward spiral that was known as the video game crash of '83. I've heard some folks say that it was the worst game they've ever played. It's not THAT bad, but it's also not very good at all. The main issue with this poor port of the great arcade game is the ghosts. The ghosts are always flickering on the screen (each ghost appears in a different frame, which is why you'll never see an Atari 2600 screenshot with all four ghosts on it, unless it's been modified), which would be fine, except it's not always easy to tell if the ghosts are still edible after eating a power pellet, which can result in pretty cheap deaths. Pac-Man also only faces one direction at all times, which is a bit weird. Much of these irritating qualities of the game were due to the fact that Atari rushed designer Tod Frye to finish the project rather than let him put enough time into it to make a quality product. It's unrealistic to expect a perfect port of the arcade original on the Atari 2600 hardware, but it's not unrealistic to expect a game of better quality than this. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/31/2019 Imaginstruments Platform Sony Playstation Vita Initial Release Date January 9, 2013 (EU/AU) Developer Catalyst Genre Music My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 36.52/100 Bleh. Imaginstruments is a music creation game. It's not a very good one, either. It looks deep enough, and maybe if you spend hours upon hours with it you'll find some good that I couldn't find, but from what I've seen, this is a music creation game with some neat options to toy with, but ultimately, one that fails to deliver as a quality, portable music creator. That said, I’m not really a music fan so maybe I’m expecting too much out of this and it’s fine as it is. If you’re a music fan, give it a try and you may be more impressed than I was….which honestly won’t take too much since I wasn’t impressed at all by this game. Played on: Playstation Vita Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/25/2022 Sneakers Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date February 22, 2002 (JP) Developer Microsoft Game Studios Genre Action My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 33.46/100 Sneakers gets a bad reputation…and despite my score on here, it's not a COMPLETELY awful game. I actually enjoy the main aspect of the game to a degree. Basically, for the majority of the game, you control a group of mice as you explore areas, looking for rats as you explore. The game itself Is 3D, but the majority of time is spent on a 2D plane with you picking directions to run in when you hit a fork in the trail. You basically have to explore every nook and cranny of each location to find every rat hanging around. It kind of feels like you're a mouse in a maze, trying to make your way out…except instead of cheese waiting for you at the exit, you've got a big, ol' turd of a fighting sequence. Yup…from time to time, the game goes from 2.5D exploration to one of the absolute worst 3D fighting games you'll ever play. And you can't avoid or skip these fights. In fact, if you find all mice, you still have to wander around and try to figure out where these fights take place so you can brawl with the rats and eventually get to the boss of the level which is a longer, more tedious version of the exact same fights that you did earlier in the level. Overall, the main content of Sneakers isn't the worst thing in the world…it's boring for anyone older than 5 years old, and for most people, completing one level will probably be more than enough, but you likely won't hate it. Unfortunately, the fighting portions are something that you'll probably hate…or at the very least groan whenever you need to participate in one. Y'know, Sneakers was a Toys R Us exclusive release…it makes you wonder if being the exclusive distributor of Sneakers was one of the decisions that led to all of those stores going out of business. Played on: Xbox Also known as: Nezmix (Japan)

Date added: 08/06/2019 Beat 'Em & Eat 'Em Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1982 (NA) Developer Mystique Genre Action My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 35.13/100 I don't really know where to start with this game...Nor do I have any idea how the people at Mystique/Playaround came up with this stuff. But anyway, Beat 'Em & Eat 'Em has you controlling two naked women on the street while a naked fellow on a rooftop, with his dingaling hanging out over the roof ledge, shoots his semen down to the street. Your goal is to catch the semen in the mouths of the naked lady folk. If any touches the street, it's game over. If they catch it all during the course of the level, they look at you and smile. It's rather disturbing. Perverted aspects aside, the game itself is mildly entertaining (I like to pretend that the ladies on the street are dairy enthusiasts and the guy up top has pulled an udder from a cow and is sending milk down below….what? I’m from Wisconsin) and it may be the best Mystique game that I've played...But that's not really saying a whole lot. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Magic Bean (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 35.51/100 The original Action 52 on the NES had quite a few bizarre games. For the most part, they were awful, but I still appreciated their weirdness. The Genesis Action 52 lacked a lot of strange stuff, so to me, Magic Bean was a welcome addition. As you'd expect, it's not a very good game, but when you're controlling a fellow, who I'd imagine would be named Jack, who climbs a beanstalk to a castle in the clouds, while giant shoes, coffee cups, horseshoes, and various other items fall from the sky, I can't help but enjoy how odd it all is. As you may expect, the goal is to climb the beanstalk and avoid the falling items. It's not hard, it's often boring, but it's also probably one of the better games across both Action 52 cartridges. This bean isn't THAT magical, though - it's still short of being passable. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/17/2019 4 Nin uchi Mahjong Platform NES Initial Release Date November 2, 1984 (JP) Developer Hudson Genre Casino My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 41.71/100 4 Nin uchi Mahjong is a pretty disappointing and basic game of mahjong that was never released outside of Japan. If you don’t know the rules of mahjong, then you’ll be completely lost. If you do, unfortunately, you’ll be treated to a slower-than-normal paced game. Not only is this game slower than if you’d play a physical game of mahjong, but it’s uninteresting to look at and listen to as well. The sound is nearly non-existent, with only minor sound effects enhancing the game – no background music. The display on the screen is overly basic without a whole lot of variety, which could easily be forgiven if the gameplay itself was more interesting than the presentation...Unfortunately, it’s not. There are better options available on the Famicom if you’d like to play a game of mahjong…but if you’re a mahjong fanatic, I suppose you may find something to like here. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2022 Santa Claws Platform PC Initial Release Date December 13, 2019 (NA) Developer Adam DeLease Genre Adventure My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 39.11/100 Santa Claws is one of the easiest, quickest games to beat…and it's almost as easy to beat if you're naughty as it is if you're nice. To see both endings and mop up all achievements in the game, you're probably looking at about 15 minutes needed, tops. To see the good ending, simply go to bed. To see the naughty ending, you've gotta eat Santa's cookies. The lights in the house will go out, then an out-of-place, pixelated, gray-skinned Santa will eventually find you and pull you outside. From there, your goal is to navigate a maze, with the goal of following the light in the sky…which will eventually lead you to a Christmas tree and a pile of gifts. While navigating the maze, you need to avoid ol' Santa Claws….which is pretty easily done. Unfortunately, despite the 15 minute playtime of Santa Claws, to see everything, this game STILL manages to feel old by the time you reach the end of those 15 minutes. It's almost like Adam DeLease wanted to make a video game version of coal for everyone to play. Even with a low price tag, I really can't recommend Santa Claws. There just isn't really anything here worth going out of your way to play…and I'd even argue that even if this game is placed in front of you, and you're not going out of your way at all, it still may not be worth playing. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/17/2019 Urban Champion Platform NES Initial Release Date November 14, 1984 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Fighting My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 43.63/100 Urban Champion is one of the most boring fighting games that I've ever played. It's basically a game of rock, paper, scissors called quick punch, heavy punch, block. Sure, there's stuff like people trying to drop flower pots on your head and police driving by to send both fighters to their neutral "corners," but even those additions to the game (which are welcome) don’t do a whole lot to make the gameplay any less boring. After about five minutes, perhaps less, you’ll probably have had your fill of this game. I think the only way you'd enjoy Urban Champion for a longer period is if you become a bourbon champion...'Cause being drunk might make this game somewhat amusing. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/24/2019 Ice Hockey Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1981 (NA) Developer Activision Genre Sports - Hockey My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 40.50/100 Ice Hockey is a mess. Plain and simple. It should have probably been more of a game of Pong, but with hockey players instead of paddles…maybe with an option to “freeze” your opponent if you bump into them to simulate checking or something to that nature…But Ice Hockey isn’t anything like that. Ice Hockey ends up being dang close to unplayable. I like the simplicity of several of Activision's Atari sports games, but this game is not one of those games where the simplicity makes it charming and fun. It deserves to be put in the penalty box...and by "penalty box" I mean trash can. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/25/2019 G-Force Fighters (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 32.53/100 Have you ever wanted to just hit a button repeatedly while staring at a screen? Well, then G-Force is for you! This side-scrolling shooter is so incredibly boring and terrible. You can actually just position your ship in one spot and then hit the fire button. By doing this, you can blaze through all four levels in a matter of two minutes. That’s right. You can beat this game in two minutes. What happens when you move around and try to make the game entertaining? Frustration. It becomes less of a shooter and more of an ‘dodge the enemies’ simulation. These ships never fire back at you, either. They’re kamakazes, I guess. They just want to ram their ships into yours. On top of the awful gameplay, the graphics are lame-o and the controls work, but just don’t feel tight. It’s better a better scrolling shooter on the Action 52 cart than Starevil...But not by a whole lot. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 G Fighter (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 35.51/100 I think that G Fighter is supposed to be the sequel to the NES Action 52's G-Force Fighters…except it's visually less interesting than the original game, in my opinion. I'll give it some credit, you can't just sit in one place for the entire game like in G-Force Fighters….but I literally sat in the same place for over a minute with zero combat required. The only reason that I had to move is that enemies can appear from both from the left and the right, and after that 60+ seconds of doing nothing, a ship appeared from the left, behind me, forcing me to move. Basically, you can easily win here by simply staying in a single spot on screen, moving and shooting when needed. So, yes, this is a very slight step up from the game that came before it, in terms of gameplay, but it's still not very good. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/15/2022 The Lost World: Jurassic Park Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date August 31, 1997 (NA) Developer Dreamworks Interactive Genre Action My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 50.23/100 I beat The Lost World: Jurassic Park about four years ago, and in the last four years, I spent much of that time trying to forget much of this game. Okay, so it's not THAT bad, but this still it not a very fun game. The concept sounds solid enough - control various dinosaurs, and sometimes humans, and make your way through various side-scrolling levels by either pummeling, shooting, or eating everything in your path. So where does that gameplay concept go wrong? Well, pretty much everywhere it could. The controls feel delayed and wonky, which in itself is annoying, but the endless spawning of enemies mixed with those delayed and wonky controls results in a game that's not difficult because it's a challenging game, but because it was simply designed and put together poorly. Even if you're insane like I am and continue to play until you get used to the delays enough to advance on in each level, be prepared to be bored…while the levels aren't necessarily long, there are too many of them, in my opinion. With me not bothering to hunt down DNA collectibles (which are hidden in the levels), it took me several hours to complete this game. By the end, I just wanted it to be over…and not even the mildly entertaining final battle made me glad that I tortured myself by playing this. If you happen to find Lost World, avoid it or you'll find yourself wishing that it had remained lost. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/19/2019 Dying: Reborn VR Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date February 28, 2017 (NA) Developer Nekcom Genre Adventure My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 42.15/100 Dying: Reborn VR is actually sold separately than Dying: Reborn…and there’s a reason or that – the VR version is essentially a glorified demo. If attached to the regular game as a bonus, that would be fine, but for folks like me that expected the full game to make use of the Playstation VR that I barely touch, it was a big disappointment (and very confusing) when the game skipped ahead a few chapters with no story covered to let the player understand what was going on. If you played through the regular game, you’d be fine. I never have. I was left annoyed that I wasted money on something that was not as advertised. For what’s here, it’s done okay…but I think just about everyone will be annoyed when the game that isn’t labeled as incomplete downloads to their console as incomplete. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Man at Arms (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 35.66/100 Man at Arms is technically a 3rd person shooter…but fans of mobile games today might consider this a very crude tower defense game. Basically, in Man at Arms, you're an archer at the top of a tower. Your goal is to shoot any oncoming enemies with arrows…that's it. It's not necessarily awful…but since there's not really a lot of variety in the gameplay, I have a feeling that most folks will feel like they've had their fill just a level or two in. If anyone really expected any quality from an Active Enterprises game, this game may have been better called Up in Arms, since that's what players of this game would be. But it's an Active Enterprises game…just about anyone that plays it, is likely fully aware of the boredom that awaits them. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/02/2023 Rival Turf! Platform Super NES Initial Release Date March 27, 1992 (JP) Developer Jaleco Entertainment Genre Brawler My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 46.24/100 The star of Rival Turf! has the name of Jack Flak…JACK FLAK. Or you can play as a police officer…the only police officer that wears all red that I've ever seen, Oozie Nelson….because this cop just oozes mediocrity. Anyway, Rival Turf! is a side-scrolling brawler that feels like a very poor version of Final Fight. Like some rookie developers copied the Final Fight formula, changed some sprites, and unleashed it onto an unsuspecting world like the irresponsible people that they are. Aside from being about as fun to play has having a donkey deliver a back-kick directly into your jimmy dean, even if the game played well, it still would be held down by EXTREMELY repetitious level design. Rival Turf!, known as Rushing Beat in Japan, was somehow still popular enough to get TWO sequels. How in the world did that happen? I enjoy brawlers, to a degree, and I have a very difficult time finding much to compliment this game for. Looking at some user reviews online, it doesn't look like I'm the only one, either. Anyway, if you want to play a good 16-bit brawler, you've got plenty of better choices than Rival Turf! That's probably how it got it's name. Rather than brawl on their turf, you'll have more fun brawling on the turf of another game. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Rushing Beat (Japan)

Date added: 07/16/2019 Wild Woody Platform Sega CD Initial Release Date 1995 (NA) Developer Sega Genre Platformer My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 36.98/100 When Wild Woody first began loading, I thought to myself, "This looks kind of fun...a wise-cracking pencil...why didn't this take off?" Then I began to play...and I found myself wishing that Woody could use that eraser on his hiney to remove the memories of this game from my mind. The terrible platforming is hindered further by awkward controls and an even more awkward "combat" system that should feel like Mario stomping on enemies, but instead feels like Mario having a stroke while stomping on enemies, followed by Mario rubbing his rear end on those same enemies. Unless you're dying to play a platformer as a pencil, I'd recommend staying away from this game…And to think, a tree was chopped down to make that stupid pencil… Played on: Sega CD Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/25/2019 ESPN Xtreme Games Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date 1995 (NA) Developer Sony Interactive Studios Genre Racing My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 48.91/100 ESPN Xtreme Games, 1Xtreme, Xtremely Terrible, whatever you want to call this game, it's not very good. Basically, it's a poor racing game where you're on bikes, skateboards, etc. instead of in cars, and every character controls like they've got about two hundred pounds of lead strapped to them since they don't seem to turn so easily. I guess adding the ability to punch and kick the other racers was a priority over actually making the game good. This feels like a really bad Road Rash clone. I highly suggest staying away from this awful game that somehow sold enough to not only become a Greatest Hit, but also spawn a couple of sequels. Played on: Playstation Also known as: 1Xtreme (NA Greatest Hits), ESPN Street Race (Japan)

Date added: 07/21/2019 Baby Jo: The Super Hero Platform Turbografx-CD Initial Release Date August 28, 1992 (JP) Developer Loriciels Genre Platformer My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 46.18/100 Baby Jo: The Super Hero is a pretty terrible platformer. Have you ever seen a baby walk for the first time? You know how slow they are since they’re trying to keep their balance and understand how their legs work? That’s the pace of Baby Jo in this game…slow, plodding, boring. That isn’t to say that the game lacks personality – it has a ton of it. You can tell that the developers loved Looney Tunes, because they tried to make Baby Jo feel like you were playing a platformer set in a cartoon world where refrigerators may drop from trees, as well as flowers that are harmless…until you step on them, then they get angry and spit seeds at you. There’s a lot of interesting ideas in Baby Jo…it’s just a shame that the gameplay itself is really dull. Still, with its personality, it may keep you playing longer than you likely would otherwise. Played on: Turbografx-CD Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Mousetrap (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 35.66/100 Mousetrap is a simple (and pretty easy) game where your goal is to collect all of the cheese laying around the level while avoiding any cats that appear. Even on the final stage, it's not very difficult, honestly. Since there's no timer, all you have to do is take your time and you should be able to pick everything up without an issue. The only real problem that you may run into is that cats can appear from anywhere on the right and left edges of the screen, so if there's cheese over in those areas, there's a chance that a cat may appear as you attempt to pick up the cheese, leading to a cheap death. Otherwise, it's not too bad. There is another, near-identical game to Mousetrap on the Action 52 cartridge, named Spidey, but thanks to the color scheme that makes everything easy to see, this is the better of the two games, in my opinion. I doubt Mousetrap is a game that many folks will play over and over again, but for what it's worth, despite its low difficulty, it's not awful. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/14/2022 Sexy Poker Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date August 3, 2009 (NA) Developer Gameloft Genre Casino My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 34.07/100 Well here's a game that I didn't expect - a licensed strip poker game on a Nintendo console. Before any parents freak out about how their children may have potentially played a nudie game nearly fifteen years ago, relax. There's no nudity here. It's just drawings of lady folk in provocative positions, and you "win" when you're able to reduce the ladies to their undergarments. The way the game works is that each woman has a specific amount of cash to gamble with. If you can clear out her money, she "cashes in" some of her clothing for another $200 to use for their gambling addiction. This continues until the only clothing left to lose would result in her being arrested for indecent exposure. If you think that this game is so shallow that it only contains strip poker, then you are very wrong. In fact, you should apologize to the developers for assuming such an awful thing. Shame on you….There's strip blackjack here, too. The strip blackjack plays the same as strip poker, just modified slightly for the different card game that you're playing. Honestly, this is a waste of time to play. Perverted folks will probably be mad that they don't see nude cartoons. People that want to play poker, would probably just rather play it with real cards. I can't really see any reason for anyone to want to play this or why anyone would enjoy this. I've played worse casino games, to be honest, but that still doesn't make this anything worthwhile. Played on: Wii Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/11/2020 Twisted Metal 4 Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date October 31, 1999 (NA) Developer 989 Studios Genre Action My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 50.75/100 Continuing the trend set by Twisted Metal 3, 989 Studios further damaged the franchise by putting out the terrible Twisted Metal 4. First off, the controls...what happened to the controls? They've gotten worse. When you have to back up and go forward repeatedly in an attempt to line up to pick up a single health pickup, there’s something wrong. I appreciate them getting rid of the tank controls, but I’d gladly have them back over this mess. Was that part of Rob Zombie's deal? He goes into the game as a playable character, but he demanded that the controls be modified to an inferior configuration? Or maybe the deal was for all of the new characters to be bland and unlikable so Mr. Zombie would stand out. They succeeded on that end. Oh, and you can create your own vehicle, too...Kind of. The creation mode is limited and not really worthwhile...And honestly, would we even need to create our own vehicle if the ones supplied in the game were vehicles that you’d want to play as like previous games in the series? I won't even get into the poor story. This is just a horrible entry in the Twisted Metal series. The worst. I can't recommend avoiding this enough. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/24/2020 Kasumi Ninja Platform Atari Jaguar Initial Release Date 1994 (NA) Developer Atari Genre Fighting My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 37.59/100 Kasumi Ninja was one of the many fighting games to spring up with the success of Mortal Kombat. Taking a similar approach to everything from graphics to the gameplay itself, Kasumi Ninja tries to emulate the popular fighter…but it fails in pretty much every aspect. To Atari’s credit, most of the fighters are unique-looking, but they all essentially play the same. The most memorable aspect of the game is actually one of Angus’ moves, in which the stereotypical, red-headed Scotsman lifts his kilt and shoots a fireball from his crotch…a move that’s about as tasteless (though, admittedly comical) as this game is useless. The only positive I can give it is the unique arcade/story mode where you unlock players to play in that very tournament as you continue on – so essentially, you could play as a different character in every single round. However, that one positive is outweighed by a big ol’ pile of negatives. While it’s not the worst fighter I’ve ever played, it’s not worth playing unless your goal is to play every fighting game that was ever created. Played on: Jaguar Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/27/2019 Megalonia (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 30.36/100 This side-scrolling shooter actually looks like it’d have some personality when you see the graphics. They’re not as bland as most other games in the Action 52 collection. However, it doesn’t really have much else going for it. The music is absolutely annoying, for starters. It’s a sequence of notes just looped...Which would be fine if it was catchy...But it’s high-pitched and irritating. Next, Megalonia has the G-Force syndrome. If you want, you can easily advance through the levels by positioning your ship in one spot and mashing the fire button. Unlike G-Force, though, you can take damage this way since the enemies do occasionally fire at you...That and sometimes the game doesn’t register when you hit an enemy...So, they might ram into you. It’s also got the Starevil boss fight glitch. The first time I reached the end of the first level, I had to reset the game because the boss decided it didn’t want to show up. Overall, if Action 52 was a high school, Megalonia would be that really attractive, but stupid girl; she’s one of the prettiest in the school, but aside from looks, she doesn’t have a whole lot going for her. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/11/2023 Fight Crab Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date August 20, 2020 (JP) Developer Catappa Games Genre Fighting My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 49.57/100 Look, I love bizarre games, but I'm also able to give fair reviews. I put several hours into Fight Crab. I beat the game. I enjoyed how strange it was. All of that said, this is not a very well-made game by any stretch of the imagination. The physics are awful, the gameplay is repetitive and awkward, the graphics are outdated, and it's simply not a good game at all. Fight Crab is a game that relies on the novelty of playing an awkward game where you can beat up other crustaceans with loafs of bread, medieval maces, light sabers, or even your bare claws. If you play long enough you may even battle one of them that happens to be riding a seal while they fight you. The problem is that the novelty will likely wear off quickly for most folks, so most players won't see the glory of a crab battling while atop a seal. If this was ten years or so ago, when a bizarre indie title with awkward controls was more rare, I might say more good things about Crab Fight…but it seems like it's the norm these days to find a really strange game that plays poorly and was seemingly only published to lure in folks, like me, who just want to play a game like this for the novelty of it, and are already expecting it to be poor. Anyway, if the novelty of fighting as a crab against other aquatic life sounds fun to you, then it may be worth giving Fight Crab a shot…just don't expect a lot of quality from it. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/20/2021 Bubble Bath Babes Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Panesian Genre Puzzle My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 38.33/100 Bubble Bath Babes is an awkward-feeling puzzle game...Instead of blocks falling down the screen like in Tetris, bubbles are floating up the screen. Adding to the awkwardness are the shapes of the bubble formations...They really don't link together very well, adding unnecessary difficulty to the game…sometimes. When you get 3 or 4 bubble clusters in a row where every bubble is the same color, meaning it instantly pops when in place, it’s ridiculously easy. The goal of this game is kind of odd - I’m not sure if you need to reach a certain score or pop a certain number of bubbles in order to advance to the next level, but it seems kind of random when a level ends. You can also collect the letters to spell out “MAGIC,” but like how the levels end, I’m not entirely sure what good it does. I initially thought that it helped clear out the screen, but I had the “MAGIC” bubble pop up when I hadn’t finished spelling the word out yet, so I’ve got no idea. And honestly, the game isn’t fun enough where I plan to play it long enough to figure it out. Maybe that's where the "Riddle of the Magic Bubble" that Mermaids of Atlantis subtitle comes from? Anyway, as you advance in levels, you see lady folk love clothing…which seems like a strange reward when there’s a topless mermaid at the bottom of the screen for the entire game...but if you’re playing an awful puzzle game to be rewarded with an 8-bit, pixelated naked woman, then you may not care enough about logic for that to seem out of place for you. If you absolutely must play this game, I recommend Mermaids of Atlantis instead. It lacks the naked women, but adds some minor features to make it the better overall package. Played on: NES Also known as: Soap Panic (Asia)

Date added: 09/11/2019 Street Fighter: The Movie Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date August 10, 1995 (NA) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 41.49/100 This is a video game based on a movie based on a video game…I have no idea what Capcom was thinking here - they made a Street Fighter game without using the Street Fighter gameplay that people would expect. The button inputs that you're familiar with still perform the same type of moves that you're intending, but the smooth gameplay is gone and the game instead feels like a simulation of how playing a normal Street Fighter game after being diagnosed with carpal tunnel, arthritis in the fingers, and rickets would be...Rickets really has no effect on the controls, it's more of a "kick you when you're down" thing, which playing this game is enough of a low blow where I guess I didn't need it. My apologies. Anyway, this is a mess on all levels and further proof that good licensed games are very hard to come by. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Street Fighter: Real Battle on Film (Japan)

Date added: 07/28/2019 Underground (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 33.94/100 Underground is another interesting game that could have been good, but was held back by awful flaws that almost make it unplayable. The game plays fine and controls fine...In fact, this would probably have been a blast to play....Except for the random enemies. Oh, Action 52 loves their random enemies. The problem here is that you need to get to the end of the level...However, some of the platforms you have to reach are very small...And it’s hard enough to get by them when one enemy is patrolling up there, but when two or more are randomly running around, it can be impossible to advance on. Oh, and the enemies patrolling aren’t your only worry…much like random enemies, Action 52 loves making inanimate objects deadly. See those harmless mushrooms sitting there? Walk into them and you’re dead. Ironically enough, the first level seemed to be the hardest one to get past, too. I had little to no trouble after the first level. Overall, this would have been a pretty fun game....But the random enemies often lead to very cheap, unavoidable deaths. Another botch by Action 52. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/17/2021 Ford Racing Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date February 16, 2001 (EU) Developer Toolbox Design Genre Racing My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 51.51/100 Ford Racing, eh? More like Bored Racing. I think Ford Racing was supposed to be a Gran Turismo-ish rip off, but only with Ford cars instead of vehicles from various car manufacturers...Instead it's a pretty poor racing game that is nowhere near the quality of Gran Turismo. In fact, I should slap myself for mentioning the two in the same sentence...I still might just slap myself anyway. Slapping myself across the jaw multiple times would be much, much more fun than playing this game. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2019 Beeps and Blips (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 28.47/100 The saddest part about this game is that it actually seems as if the developers actually tried to make it good. It has some neat ideas in it, but ultimately, it’s like most of the other Action 52 shooters; awful. Shooting is terrible due to awful controls...You’ll have to click the direction that you want to fire twice before you’ll actually start shooting in that direction. On top of that, most of the enemies are of no real threat. Some of them will fire at you, but it’s easily dodged. Your only real threat is accidentally running into one while you try to fire at another one. Though, in later stages the enemies do become more ruthless and a few will actually follow you around, which is a nice surprise of a challenge. The one good idea they had was the ‘1up’ bars you collect. By collecting these, your ship can take more hits before dying. While they’re really only needed due to the poor controls in firing at other ships, the fact that the developers actually tried to add a little depth to this title impresses me. Keep in mind, this still isn’t a good game...But that little attempt at innovation and the enemies in the later stages that actually pose as a challenge help prevent it from being absolutely awful. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/14/2023 Barbie: Super Sports Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date December 30, 1999 (NA) Developer Runecraft Genre Sports - Extreme Sports My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 42.73/100 You know what's not super? Barbie's attempts at rollerblading and snowboarding. Her forays into those two sports in this game are pretty underwhelming. It's almost like the developers had the mindset of, "Girls don't like sports, so who cares how boring we make this game!" But if that is, indeed, the case, then why would they make a game like this at all? More likely, the developers really thought that young girls would enjoy playing virtual versions of these two sports, but said developers just weren't very good at making the virtual versions anywhere near as fun to play as real life. That makes me suggest, to any parents out there, considering getting this game for their child, just get them the equipment to participate in the actual versions of these sports rather than force them to play this…unless their grades are bad at school or they threw pickles all over the windows after lunch and got pickles removed from the cafeteria for a while…….not that I would know anything about that, personally….anyway, Super Sports is a super punishment if your child has done something wrong and you want to teach them a lesson through boredom. Otherwise, there are much better options to give your child to play on the Playstation than this game. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Barbie: Sports Extreme (Europe)

Date added: 09/30/2022 Sonic Unleashed Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date December 9, 2008 (NA/SA) Developer Sonic Team Genre Action My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 54.95/100 I seem to be on the low-end of the spectrum when it comes to my opinion of Sonic Unleashed…I've actually seen people give this game some ridiculously high scores, and I'm fairly certain that those people did not pass the D.A.R.E. program in grade school. I absolutely hated Sonic Unleashed when it first came out. Now, almost 15 years later, I've revisited to see if its absence from my life had made my heart grow fonder…and I dislike it just as much now as I did then. The game starts out promising enough, a decent, high-speed Sonic stage, which is what most fans of the blue hedgehog want…and then Sonic turns into a werehog. You see, a werewolf is half wolf and half man…a werehog is half wolf, half hedgehog, and all garbage. The levels with Sonic in werehog form are painfully slow-paced, incredibly tedious, and very well could be a cure for insomnia. I, personally, have insomnia, and those levels nearly had me passed out by the time I reached the end. Don't get me wrong, the high-speed, normal Sonic levels aren't exactly infallible game design…they're mildly fun while they last, but they are definitely not fun enough to force myself to suffer through a werehog level just so I can play another, new regular Sonic stage….Especially when the werehog levels take three times as long to complete as a normal Sonic level. Honestly, I like supernatural stuff. I like werewolves. When I first heard about this game, it had my interest….but it's just so poorly made that I have never been able to bring myself to stick with it long enough to complete it. A few werehog levels in and I just give up. The regular Sonic levels are decent, which helps this game bump higher up on the list than I'd otherwise put it, but honestly, I can't recommend this game at all. It's simply not good, and Sonic Team needed to not just keep the leash on Sonic Unleashed, but they probably should've thrown this game in a cage, chained a concrete block to it, and dropped it in a random location in the ocean. Then we could've called it Sonic Unbeached…since that concrete block would prevent it from ever washing up on a beach and boring us to death again. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: Sonic World Adventure (Japan)

Date added: 06/18/2020 Puppies 3D Platform Nintendo 3DS Initial Release Date November 8, 2011 (NA) Developer MTO Genre Simulation My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 39.11/100 Puppies 3D is a shining example of how you can have two very similar titles, but the way the games are developed can prove to be the difference from a game being good or bad. From what I've seen and played, anything Puppies 3D does, Nintendogs does it much, much better...From gameplay, to the graphics, to the game soundtrack, to even the animations of the dogs...Nintendogs is SO much better than this game. For example, the dogs in Nintendogs are loaded with personality. When I watch the dogs in that game, I can’t help but smile as memories of the pets from my past flood into my mind...The dogs in Puppies 3D are more like robots, lacking much personality, and is the equivalent of reminding me about the time I peed my pants in grade school…Err, if I had peed my pants in grade school….Which I didn’t…..Don’t judge me. Anyway, I've played worse simulations before, but that still doesn't make this game worth anybody's time. If you have access to Nintendogs, get that instead. It has more content and the digital animals inside are much more likely to remind you of their real-life counterparts than the bland, robotic pups found here. Played on: Nintendo 3DS Also known as: Puppies World 3D (Europe/Australia), Kawaii Koinu 3D (Japan)

Date added: 12/18/2023 Slot Racers Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1978 (NA) Developer Atari Genre Atari My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 45.70/100 This game's title is a bit misleading - despite it having the word "racers" in the title, it's not actually a racing game at all. This two-player-only game feels like a mixture of a maze game mixed with Combat. The end result has you shooting a bullet and simultaneously trying to use your vehicle to wrangle your opponent into the bullet that you fired and also trying to avoid the bullet that they fired while they attempt to do that same thing to you. It sounds way more fun in concept than it ends up being in execution. The game tends to move at a snail's pace, so a game that should feel like frantic fun feels more like you managed to get pregnant and pop the baby out all in the span of time it takes to finish a round. I know after the five minute game I played that felt more like nine months, I pointed at the cartridge, completely bored, and yelled out, "YOU DID THIS TO ME!!" I had my lawyer serve Slot Racers with divorce papers shortly afterward. I should have listened to my mother - that game was nothing but trouble. If you'd like to see what may be the very first car combat game, then Slot Racers may be worth a quick look. Otherwise, I'd recommend speeding through the intersection when you see this yellow light of a game…otherwise, you'll be stuck sitting at a red light of boredom for much longer than you'd probably like to. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: Maze (Sears)

Date added: 08/01/2019 Lollipops (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Platformer My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 37.05/100 I was amazed with Lollipop...While it definitely isn’t a very good platformer, it’s playable; a big step forward for Active Enterprises. The controls are slightly better than some of the other platforming games in Action 52, which helps a lot. As far as the theme goes, you’re some dude wielding a comically large lollipop as a weapon as you battle candy and gum that have apparently grown angry that you chose the lollipop over them. Other than that, I really can’t say much that hasn’t been said with the other platforming games. This game is more of the same in regards to other platformers on the Action 52 cart, but it’s a little bit better. It’s playable, but still very far from good. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/12/2022 King Kong Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1982 (NA) Developer Tigervision Genre Platformer My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 51.63/100 It's somewhat ironic that Nintendo's giant gorilla game Donkey Kong, which was obviously inspired by King Kong, in turn, inspired the video game known as King Kong. Unfortunately, while the film King Kong (the original) is well-loved by many, and it may have helped inspire one of Nintendo's most beloved characters, the video game adaption is awful. As I mentioned, this game was clearly designed to be a Donkey Kong rip-off, but with none of the charm or enjoyability. Basically, if you want to climb to the top of the same, dull stage over and over and over again, with enemies getting faster and faster with each completion, then you may like King Kong…but unlike Donkey Kong, where I'd gladly repeat one of the stages in that game over and over because it was designed well, the stage in King Kong just feels bland…And one time reaching the top would have been plenty for me. The only real interesting difference between the two games is the ability to invert the enemies on the screen…in other words, send King Kong from the top of the level to the floor. It's interesting, but I can't really say that it adds anything to the gameplay as a whole, though. Anyway, if you're a fan of Donkey Kong and like playing similar games, you may find mild enjoyment in King Kong…just about everyone else will wish that all of the carts of this game were thrown off the top of the Empire State Building - once they hit the concrete, we wouldn't ever have to play it ever again. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/20/2021 Mermaids of Atlantis: The Riddle of the Magic Bubble Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Panesian Genre Puzzle My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 46.46/100 Mermaids of Atlantis is almost an identical game to Bubble Bath Babes, except without nudity and with a child-friendly story that plays out between levels. This game also has some minor improvements, like the ability to start out on later levels, higher difficulties, etc. This version of the game also seems to fix the problem of getting multiple bubble clusters that are all the same color, which happened a lot in Bubble Bath Babes, but didn’t seem to happen nearly as frequently here. As a result, the difficulty is a bit higher here, which is kind of odd. The child-friendly game has a higher difficulty than the adult-oriented game. You’d imagine that it’d be the other way around, but this was the second release of the game (Bubble Bath Babes was released earlier in the same year) so tweaks to improve the gameplay should be expected. I don’t really feel like repeating everything that I mentioned in Bubble Bath Babes, so if you want details of the gameplay, scroll up a little to the Bubble Bath Babes entry - while this is an improvement on Bubble Bath Babes, it’s not so much of one that I imagine that a ton of games will find their way between these two on this list. That said, as I mentioned in the Bubble Bath Babes comment, if you absolutely must play this game for some reason, Mermaids of Atlantis is the version that I’d recommend. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/29/2021 WCW Mayhem Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date May 10, 2000 (NA) Developer 2n Productions Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 45.19/100 Maybe I'm missing something - most reviewers seemed to enjoy this game when it came out...I'm not seeing it. WCW Mayhem is a sloppy wrestling game. It has some neat ideas to make it stand out, like the ability to take the brawl to the backstage area, and an arcade-like fighting engine with over-the-top moves like the spinning piledriver you may have seen Zangief use in the Street Fighter games...However, these ideas don't make up for the sloppy fighting that takes place between the bells. I'll probably revisit this game again down the road to make sure I didn't miss something that the reviewers back in 2000 saw, but for now, I consider this to be a very poor wrestling title. Played on: Game Boy Color Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2019 Lazer League (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd-Person Shooter My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 28.42/100 Booooo-ring. I’d love to say that Lazer League is in a league of its own, but it’s not. It’s just as boring and tedious as most of the other scrolling shooters in Action 52. The only threats you have are running into a ship and running out of ammo since you can only fire one shot at a time. If you miss, you can’t shoot again until your lazer leaves the other end of the screen. It’s quite annoying. If any of the enemies fired back at you or posed a threat (aside from the boss fights, which are still ridiculously easy), then this game would be a lot less painful to play...But as it is, it’s just another boring, challenge-less shooter. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/10/2023 Lethal Weapon Platform NES Initial Release Date April 1993 (NA) Developer Eurocom Genre Brawler My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 45.53/100 Lethal Weapon, eh? Nothing recaptures the magic of the film like a poor brawler. Actually, I never saw the film, but even if it was a poor movie, I've got a sneaking suspicion that this game may be worse. Afterall, if a knife was thrown in the film, I bet it looked cool. If a knife is thrown in the game, it travels a good foot and a half before it hits the ground...So unless your enemy is essentially in punching range, your knife won't reach them. Yes, that's the strength of the throwing arm of the guy that you're supposed to save the day with. That's like cutting someone's fingers off and asking them to enter a turn-dial phone dialing competition…it's not necessarily impossible, but that's quite a handicap to overcome. Now that I think of it, watching a turn-dial phone dialing competition would probably be much, much more exciting than playing this game. Lethal Weapon technically isn't the worst game adaptation of a movie ever made, but it's still one of the reasons that most games based off of a film have the stereotype of being horrible. Heck, if I'd rather watch someone dial on a rotary phone than play this, that should tell you that I either love rotary phones or I dislike this game…hint, the later part of that sentence is the more accurate answer. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/17/2021 The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date November 30, 1999 (NA) Developer Sinister Games Genre Racing My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 52.47/100 I've never seen an episode of the Dukes of Hazzard in my life...So, I didn't have any nostalgia or anything when I played Racing for Home. Essentially, this is a game where you race the clock...often while being followed by a police car. I found myself confused about the fact that the narrator claimed that my car was the fastest one around, yet the police had absolutely no problem not only catching up to me, but getting past me to attempt roadblocks. The courses that you race on themselves are also incredibly boring and tedious. After you race one, you feel like you've raced them all. If you're a fan of the show, you may find more value than me here...But after playing this, I don't get why that cop wants the Duke boys, he'll just be bored out of his mind attempting to catch them. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/15/2023 Bronkie the Bronchiasaurus Platform Super NES Initial Release Date September 1995 (NA) Developer WaveQuest Genre Platformer My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 46.97/100 I'm all for educational stuff in video games…if the game doesn't suffer from including it. In the case of Bronkie…well, the gameplay suffered even before the educational stuff was tossed in. The premise of the game is cute - meteors hit a dinosaur town, causing large dust clouds, causing much of the population to develop asthma. Bronkie, the dinosaur that you control in this game, is one of those folks that found themselves with asthma. Bronkie is also a bronchiasaurus, not to be confused with a brachiosaurus…which makes sense since he lacks the body type of a brachiosaurus. As you travel around to find parts required to build a wind machine to blow the dust problems to some other poor, unsuspecting town, you'll be forced to answer asthma trivia questions while you avoid stuff like cigarette smoke, which isn't very good for a dinosaur suffering from asthma. Supposedly, a study was done that found that of all the kids that played this game, urgent care and emergency room visits of them went down forty percent….unfortunately, the possibility of them suffering from depression went up to one hundred percent after playing this as well. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/10/2022 Circus Caper Platform NES Initial Release Date August 8, 1989 (JP) Developer Advance Communication Company Genre Platformer My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 51.73/100 Circus Caper is a poor platformer with a poor story - so poor that the box art and the game itself differ on it. The box art says that Tim and Judy go to a circus tent, but can only afford a single ticket. In the game, they have the funds for two tickets, but there is only one ticket still available and the show is otherwise sold out. That tells me that even the guy tasked with writing the description on the back of the box thought that this game was so poor that he didn't even bother playing it. Unfortunately, I'm not as smart as the guy who wrote the description on the back of the Circus Caper box…I actually played all the way through this dump. Circus Caper does have some decent ideas here, and it does require some minor thinking, so it's not just mindless platforming…but much of it is not executed very well. It's kinda like if you wrote a really interesting story, then had someone smear turds all over what you wrote, then expect people to appreciate your writing skills. The ideas in the stuff you wrote may be good, but you're still expecting people to deal with the stench of the turds in order to read your story…and most people will run away after the first whiff, whether they've read much of the story of not, but you may have a few that will plug their nose and try their best to give reading the story a shot. The frustration comes when the story wasn't good enough to be worth the stench. Circus Caper isn't a game that's worth the stench - there are some positives here, but not nearly enough to offset the negatives. If you absolutely love old, 2D platformers, you may find suffering through this to be worthwhile. Everyone else will likely find this platformer under the big top to be more of a big flop. Played on: NES Also known as: Moeru! Oniisan (Japan)

Date added: 05/31/2022 Mr. Bean Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date November 29, 2007 (AU) Developer Beyond Reality Genre Platformer My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 38.73/100 I went into playing Mr. Bean knowing full well that it would likely be an awful game…but I was hoping that it would at least be amusingly awful. Unfortunately, while it's not technically awful, there also isn't a whole lot here that's enjoyable. I'll start with the little good that there is - if you're a fan of the Mr. Bean-style of comedy, the cutscenes will be something that you enjoy…but there also probably won't be enough of those cutscenes to make you feel like you want to keep playing if you're over the age of five. With that out of the way, let's start complaining. Initially, Mr. Bean seems like it's a simplistic, but passable platformer…and then the first level keeps going...and going…and going…and going. The platforming itself isn't bad, but the levels WAY overstay their welcome. There isn't enough variety in each level to justify the length, so each level just feels extremely tedious…especially when you realize that most levels are the same, just with mild changes. I didn't expect Mr. Bean to be good, but I was still hoping for some enjoyment from it…and it COULD have delivered that with shorter levels. But as it is, Mr. Bean will feel like a very tedious game before the first level is even completed…and even more so once you start the second level and realize that you're in for more of the same if you continue on. If you laugh at Mr. Bean, stick with the TV shows. If you want a Mr. Bean-licensed sleep aid, then this video game will fill that void in your life. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 The Boss (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 38.70/100 Boss was one of the better games on the NES Action 52, though it still wasn't very good. On the Genesis Action 52, Active Enterprises decided to make a sequel by adding the word "The" to the title. In fairness, The Boss is a better game than Boss was, but it's also different. Now climbing ladders to walk along four different areas of the stage, your goal is to collect all of the dollar bills that you can find while shooting any of the reptile/amphibian mobsters and police officers that wander back and forth on the scaffolding and streets while you do so. It's not awful, but it's also not very difficult, so the game feels boring at times. Still, when it comes to playable games on an Action 52 cartridge, beggars can't be choosers. I wouldn't call this a passable game, but it's closer to being one than 90% of other games in Active Enterprises' awful compilation cartridges. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/10/2022 Jim Henson's Muppet Adventure: Chaos at the Carnival Platform NES Initial Release Date November 1990 (NA) Developer Mind's Eye Genre Action My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 43.92/100 This game is a classic example of why I try to revisit games prior to adding them to this list rather than simply throw them on here based on memory. I remember my parents renting this when I was a kid. I remember enjoying it. However, the gameplay is absolutely nothing like I remember. I thought I remembered it being a decent platformer…but aside from the final level, it's not a platformer....and the entirety of the game isn't decent, either. It's a mixture of various gameplay types, honestly. River Ride is a game with Kermit in a raft and your goal is to avoid all obstacles while making your way to the end of the level. Car Course is an awkward-controlling level where you control Animal, riding a bumper car and attempt to avoid all obstacles, making your way to the end. Space Ride is a scrolling shooter with the controls of Asteroids, where you control Gonzo flying a spaceship. Amazing Maze has you control Fozzie as he walks around in milkshake mazes to collect items, over and over and over again. If you manage to get past all of those seemingly never-ending levels, you get rewarded with an incredibly awkward platforming level called "Dr. Grump," that ends with Kermit having to battle the evil doctor in order to save Miss Piggy. This game is a neat concept of having each level be a different genre of game…the problem is that by trying to provide a little bit of everything, absolutely none of it is good. This game would have benefitted from the developers focusing on one genre and tweaking it, I think. Anyway, Chaos at the Carnival is more like Farting at the Fair - it simply stinks. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/17/2021 Hannah Montana: The Movie Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date April 7, 2009 (NA) Developer n-Space Genre Adventure My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 35.13/100 I've never seen an episode of the show, never watched the movie, none of that, so I played this game without any expectations. That said, I was surprised to see that Hannah Montana actually had potential to be a good game, and I'm sure that if you put this game in front of a five-year-old that doesn't know any better, they'll likely love it...But it falls short of being a decent game to everyone else on so many levels. You can play a boring fetch-quest action game where you’re pointed to any and all objectives - no need to try to figure anything out, your hand is held the whole way. The other parts of the game are the concert scenes, which you can pass with a score of 0. Yes, zero. I literally laid the controller down for an entire song and watched the screen tell me "Great job!" There is no challenge here, there's plenty of bugs, including one that prevents the game from advancing near the end of the game...it's just bad. It could have been decent with some tweaks to the difficulty to make it at least a little challenging to the youngsters that play it, or even for older folks that may want to revisit this down the road to remember their childhood but actually want a challenge...Unfortunately, it's a turd fest that tells you that you're the best person who ever lived because you put the controller down to take a dump while you were supposed to be putting on a concert for your fans. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/29/2020 Garfield Kart Platform PC Initial Release Date October 16, 2015 (NA) Developer Gravity Genre Racing My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 45.51/100 Garfield Kart is a pretty sub-par mascot kart game. The visuals are okay, and fans of Garfield will likely enjoy the cast of characters…but those are really the only compliments that I can give this game. Once the racing starts, this game is bleh…or would that be lagasg-bleh?…Because Garfield eats lasagna…Nevermind. Anyway, I think very small children might enjoy this racer…But if those same kids have played any of the Mario Kart games before, they’ll probably be just as disappointed with this game as everyone else likely would be. I wasn’t expecting a masterpiece with Garfield Kart, but considering the publisher or developer purchased the rights to use the Garfield license, I was at least hoping that a passable game would be the result. Unfortunately, Garfield Kart falls short of those hopes. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/03/2019 WWE 2K20 Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date October 22, 2019 (NA) Developer Visual Concepts Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 34.28/100 I really tried to give WWE 2K20 a chance…When it was first released, it was so full of bugs that things like referees freezing and not making a count, opponents freezing and being unable to interact with, and the game just crashing outright were not uncommon. So, when I had enough, I waited for an update. The first update has come and gone…and as I type this, the game is frozen on a loading screen…for the sixth time since updating. I really wanted to like this game…as a loyal fan of wrestling (regardless of promotion, I want them all to succeed) even if I had known ahead of time that this was a mess, I would have bought it. And despite the glitches, I’m still enjoying it to a degree because I’m a wrestling fan…But this is just bad. To top it off, the control scheme was changed up this year…but only half of it. The changes are head-scratchers as well…Reversals are now the triangle button? To perform a finisher, you have to press x AND square at the same time? The changes just feel awkward and since the previous control scheme was solid, I have no idea why they thought that changing it was a good idea. I don’t have room to complain about everything else, but there’s plenty to dislike here. Fans are abandoning the WWE at a pretty solid rate at this point in time…the promotion’s poor decisions are starting to come back to haunt them. It looks like Visual Concepts tried to emulate WWE in their rookie effort for the franchise, right down to the mistakes. 08/13/2020 Update: With WWE Battlegrounds coming out soon, I decided to give WWE 2K20 another chance...after sitting through a 12.003GB update download, I was hoping that issues were fixed. Nope. First match, a Royal Rumble, saw two participants freeze, preventing the match from ending. A few matches later, same glitch during an Elimination Chamber match. Roughly 30 minutes after that, the whole game crashed and I called it quits. 12GB of updates...for a game just as glitchy and hard to play as it was on release day. I was hoping to bump 2K20 up the list a little, but it gets to stay where it is and think about what its done. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/30/2022 Athena Platform NES Initial Release Date June 5, 1987 (JP) Developer Micronics Genre Action My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 38.60/100 Honestly, I really want to like Athena. The basic concept of the game actually sounds like it'll be pretty fun - as you traverse various worlds, you collect a bunch of different weapon types and armor, as well as occasional power-ups that give you wings to fly or a mermaid body to swim, to help you navigate the world, dig through all the pesky dirt that blocks your path, and defeat any enemy or end-of-level boss that gets in your way. Unfortunately, good intentions don't always wind up with good results. While the idea behind Athena may be good, the execution is less than enjoyable. The hit detection, in particular, is absolutely horrendous. Also worth noting is that while it's nice to have various weapons to use, it can be frustrating when you've got a weapon that you like and that is working really well…then you defeat an enemy that found their way right next to you, and they drop their weapon as you move forward. Now you've lost your sword that throws fire because you walked into the shovel that the previous enemy dropped…and unlike in games like Castlevania where you drop your previous weapon and can pick it back up if you desire, in Athena, once you pick up another weapon, your previous weapon is lost until you can find another enemy to drop one. I actually died in a boss fight from that during my playthrough - I had arrows in the ice world, wound up getting a sword right before the boss fight, and the sword seemingly did zero damage to the boss. I spent over 10 minutes hacking away at the boss with no results, before finally just allowing it to kill me so I could start over and try to collect a different weapon to attack with. Spoiler: I needed the arrows. I've heard that the arcade version of Athena is much better, and I'd like to give it a try one day because I do think that the concept of Athena has potential…but that potential is definitely not found here. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/03/2020 Monster Jam: Battlegrounds Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date July 14, 2015 (NA) Developer Team6 Studios Genre Racing My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 40.09/100 When one thinks of what would make a monster truck game fun, you’d probably think to simulate what you’d see during a monster truck rally held in an arena or stadium…If you’re Team6 Game Studios, however, you’d think “Why do all that? People who like monster trucks don’t want to pretend that they’re drivers themselves…they want to treat the monster trucks like they’re dirt bikes and do stunts with awful controls!!” Monster Jam Battlegrounds is basically split into 3 parts – 2 of the parts are basically just side-scrolling challenges. The last part is actually competing in arenas…with some of the most horrific controls that I’ve ever experienced. Doing good in an arena race? Well, after you hit that hill or ran over a car, you’ve spun out of control off the track for a DQ. I really don’t understand why Monster Jam Battlegrounds couldn’t just attempt to give players a full-fledged monster truck simulation…Ironically, the bits in the arena are the worst part of the game due to the controls. The rest of the game is mildly fun, but it also gets old quickly. When it comes to this game, Monster is definitely not my Jam, yo. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/01/2019 Evil Empire (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 38.95/100 Evil Empire is yet another game in Action 52 that actually had promise, but falls flat. It’s actually pretty fun. You just climb up and down ladders, going from platform to platform shooting at enemies. It’s simple and fun. However, it suffers from a major flaw that has bogged down a few other games in this compilation as well; random spawning of enemies. Some platforms in the game are so small that if an enemy spawns on it, your only option is to climb the ladder up to your death. These cheap deaths are somewhat frequent and really hinder what could have been a pretty fun experience. That said, Evil Empire is still one of the best games on the Action 52 cartridge and worth a try if you’re willing to deal with the forced suicides they make you commit. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/11/2021 Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date February 26, 2009 (NA) Developer Vicious Cycle Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 50.17/100 Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard.is a game that I was hoping would be a so-bad-it’s-good experience. Instead, I got a bad game with a poor attempt at humor, which I’m assuming is mostly there to make up for the gameplay, which is very rough. In fairness, the humor isn’t ALWAYS awful - every now and then, a joke would make me chuckle. However, by and large, most humor attempts in this game made me want to roll my eyes, eject the disc, and throw the disc like a frisbee at the nearest elderly person I see, just so I can hopefully get arrested and thrown in jail for assault, which in turn, would prevent me from having to play this game until I’m once again a free man...Just imagine me holding up a roll of Mentos and smiling to the camera with me behind bars, successfully getting myself out of playing this game. Oh, and don’t forget the cops outside the cell giving me that, “I saw what you did there” smirk. The freshmaker. Anyway, mix the poor humor with the poor gameplay, and I just could not bring myself to stick with this game. I tried, but ultimately after two hours, without an end seemingly in sight, I just gave up on it. And no, I don’t think that Mr. Hazard will be making a return to my PS3 at any point. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: Eat Lead: Matt Hazard no Gyakushuu (Japan)

Date added: 04/01/2022 Sidewinder (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 39.73/100 Sidewinder seems to be Active Enterprises' attempt to make their own version of After Burner. The problem here is that After Burner is fun and Sidewinder, well, isn’t. Look at a clock for eight seconds. It feels longer than it sounds…now, imagine that you're playing a game where you're controlling a fighter jet where the goal is to blow up enemy jets and any missiles that may be fired at you…and you sometimes have to sit and stare at the screen for eight seconds between anything happening. Well, that doesn't seem like a logical way to design a 3rd person shooter, does it? Why, that logic seems sideways…And that's likely how they decided to name this game Sidewinder. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/30/2022 Alphabet Zoo Platform Colecovision Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer Spinnaker Software Genre Action My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 49.25/100 I'm all for using video games as a tool to learn...So long as it's fun. Afterall, it's called a video GAME, right? What's the point of a game if it doesn't result in fun? Unfortunately some companies in gaming history didn't see things that way - Spinnaker Software being one of them. There's too many negatives linked to this game to list in a single paragraph, honestly, but I'll name a few. From the single-maze design, which only changes if you change the "game mode," to letters respawning consistently to your advantage, to the boring speed, this is a game of boredom and disappointment rather than knowledge and fun. I'll just say it's bad...The only thing that your child will learn from playing this is that it's a bad game...And that's knowledge that nobody needs to obtain first-hand. Plus, this game is called Alphabet Zoo, right? Since when do you see submarines in a zoo? And if I'm really supposed to learn, why am I only required to pick up the first letter of the image I see? Bah humbug. This game should instead be "Alphabet Boo" because if anyone tried to get me to play it again, I'd boo them out of the building. Played on: Colecovision Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/23/2023 Girl Zone Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date July 29, 2005 (EU) Developer Mere Mortals Genre Action My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 46.80/100 I'm not the kind of person to try to look too deeply into things to find a way to get offended…but Girl Zone is seemingly so sexist that it's hard not to see some of the stuff included and go, "Wow…either these developers are oblivious or they grew up in the 1920's." Basically, Girl Zone is a bunch of mini games designed specifically for girls. There's absolutely nothing wrong with creating a game for little girls…but Girl Zone is essentially a collection of mini games that range from harmless, like finding animals hidden on the screen, to stereotypical, like numerous games where your goal is to dress yourself and then be judged for it…yes, this game let young girls know that they better make their appearances look good or they'll fail. Another head-scratcher of a mini game is the one where you're expected to clean…essentially, it's just finding objects in the room, but I'd imagine that a mini-game designed towards young girls labeled as cleaning may ruffle the feathers of some feminists. If that was the goal, I'm surprised they didn't include a mini game of washing dishes or sweeping the floor. Anyway, if you can get past all of the questionable decisions and such, this is a basic young child game, with very little to keep adults coming back for more, but it may be enough to entertain a five year old, which I believe was the goal. I can't necessarily say that I'd recommend Girl Zone - there are better children's games out there, and specifically, better children's games focused towards girls. You'd best do like the title says and zone this one out. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/03/2021 Boombots Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date October 31, 1999 (NA) Developer The Neverhood Genre Fighting My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 50.18/100 The general gaming public seems to like Boombots way more than I do...You can see by the big gap between my rating and the average rating. No offense to those who enjoy this game...but Boombots is pretty rough, in my opinion. The cutscenes are in gorgeous claymation and the storyline and characters all seem charmingly bizarre...and if the quality of a game was based on that, I’d probably be scoring this higher. However, gameplay is what makes or breaks a game and Boombots has a horrid combat system for a fighting game. I just don’t find any enjoyment in it. It was a good idea and a good effort...but the end result is just a mess, in my opinion. I recommend staying away from this game, but based on what I see from others, you may completely disagree with me and enjoy it. To each their own, I suppose. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/07/2019 Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date February 10, 1989 (JP) Developer Sega Genre Platformer My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 50.06/100 Alex Kidd games seem to either be really good or really bad…and unfortunately, Alex Kidd’s 16-bit debut falls into the bad category. I’d kind of like to know what went through the developers’ minds when they made this game. “You know, the controls are bad, the levels are bland, and this is not up to par with the better Alex Kidd games. How are we going to fix this?” Then a genius raised his hands and said, “Rock, paper, scissors…for money” Thus, instead of correcting any issues with the gameplay, the game instead then revolved around collecting money by killing animals, destroying cars, etc. then betting that money on games of rock, paper, scissors like some horrible gambling addict. They should have renamed this Alex Troubledyoungmann because that ain’t how no kidd is supposed to act. This ain’t how no game is supposed to play, neither. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: Alex Kidd: Tenkuu Majou (Japan)

Date added: 07/04/2019 Virry VR: Wild Encounters Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date April 24, 2018 (NA) Developer Fountain Digital Labs Limited Genre Educational My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 29.2/100 Virry VR: Wild Encounters is fascinating to me for two reasons…Firstly, I love animals, so the idea of essentially a VR safari is pretty neat. The second thing that fascinates me is that the game is obviously aimed towards children. Why is that fascinating? Because it says right on the Playstation VR box that it is not recommended that a child under the age of 12 use the VR headset…and how simplistic this game is and the tone of the narrator, this is clearly aimed towards very young children, possibly 4-6 year range. The fascinating, ironic aspect is that the game was designed for an audience that probably isn’t using the VR headset. However, like I mentioned before, I like animals. Ignoring the narrator and the tone of the game, I found it relaxing simply letting the videos play and imagining that I was there in the wild with ‘em…even if the height of the camera was often so low to the ground that it made animals look waaaay bigger than they actually are in real life….well, for an adult…again, perhaps it was sitting at a child’s level of sight so it would seem more realistic to them. Anyway, if you want a short, relaxing game for your Playstation VR, Wild Encounters may fit the bill….as long as you’re willing to be talked to like a child along the way. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/18/2019 Toilet Kids Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date March 6, 1992 (JP) Developer Bits Laboratory Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 3.0/10 Avg. Score 34.38/100 It would be so easy to make a turd joke in regards to Toilet Kids…It’s a really easy, lazy way to describe this game, so I was trying to decide if I wanted to even go there. Then I realized that lazy is a nice way to describe me, and this game should be flushed the porcelain throne that it’s named after, so I don’t see a need to take the high road. Toilet Kids is basically a poor version of Xevious…a really poor version. Urine poor, as the kids would say when they’re not trying to be vulgar. Urine also goes in the toilet, not just steaming piles of poo, so that feels like a pretty accurate description. The game was published by Media Rings…which is probably because they created such a mess in the media loo that it left a brown ring. It was developed by Bits Laboratory, which is probably why this game is annoying as those little floaty bits of poo that won’t flush down no matter how many times you try. Alright, I think I got all of the toilet references out of my system…And since I’m done, I can’t think of a better material to wipe with than this game. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/02/2021 Popeye: Rush for Spinach Platform Nintendo Game Boy Advance Initial Release Date April 24, 2005 (NA) Developer Magic Pockets Genre Racing My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 49.85/100 Popeye: Rush for Spinach is a unique blend of racing game and platformer. The game is basically a foot race between Popeye, Bluto, Olive Oyl, and Wimpy as you try to jump over obstacles, take advantage or power-ups like skateboards, cars, and (of course) spinach, and get to the finish line before your opponents. The game is moderately fun the first time you play...But competing in a race once will likely be more than enough for most people...I can't see too many people playing this and craving more foot race action...Especially if Bluto wins and you watch him drop his pants and show off his boxers in celebration – and yes, sadly that does actually happen in the game. Played on: Game Boy Advance Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/10/2022 Land of the Dead: Road to Fiddler's Green Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date October 26, 2005 (NA) Developer Brainbox Games Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 49.85/100 What happens when you take a bare-bones first-person shooter, with bare-bones graphics and bare-bones controls, and add some zombies to it? Well, my friend, you've got yourself the recipe for Land of the Dead: Road to Fiddler's Green. The fact that it has the Land of the Dead name in the title is probably the only reason that this game made any green at all…I think someone instead was playing a fiddle in the corner while the developers wept in guilt at what they unleashed onto an unsuspecting world….or would that be a violin? Bah, this game don't deserve no violin. They're stuck with the fiddle. Anyway, while I'm being harsh on it, and reviewers of the time were actually even harsher on it with their scores than I am with mine, this game does seem to have a bit of a cult following, it seems. I don't see a lot of negative user reviews…unless you count mine, since I ain't no professional reviewer. I have no idea what these people see in this game to justify scores in the 8's and 9's out of 10, but those people are out there…perhaps the zombies ate the wrinkly gray matter in their noggins? Anyway, I wasn't a fan. I don't think that most people would be…but if the idea of a first-person shooter with the Night of the Living Dead franchise name attached to it appeals to you, then maybe give it a try. You may find more enjoyment in it than I did. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/30/2020 Sex Vixens from Space Platform PC Initial Release Date 1988 (NA) Developer Free Spirit Software Genre Adventure My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 43.50/100 Wow…as somebody that loves horrible, cheesy movies, this game delivers in an over-the-top, laughable story…unfortunately, that’s probably the most praise that I can give it. Sex Vixens from Space is a text-based adventure game that was released back in 1988…and aside from the comically awful story, there honestly isn’t a reason to play this. Aside from the story, gaining access to disturbing-looking, 8-bit pictures of topless lady folk is your “reward” for making your way through this short game…and by short I mean, it may take you some time to figure out what exactly to do, but once you know what you’re doing, and if you skip reading the story, you can probably finish the game in about 5 minutes. Unfortunately, there are much better adventure games out there, so while I’d love to say that this game is b-movie entertainment quality, I simply can’t. Brad Stallion, the game’s hero, should have been treated like what happens to the animal that shares his last name when they break their legs…unfortunately, he’d have a few more adventures following this awful debut. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/12/2019 Ballz: The Director's Cut Platform Panasonic 3DO Initial Release Date September 14, 1995 (JP) Developer PF Magic Genre Fighting My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 50.37/100 Ballz is a fighting game that is about as fun as…well, getting kicked in the ballz. For any female readers that are unaware of what that feels like, imagine intense, crippling pain that shoots through your entire body followed by an annoying pain that lingers on. That’s kinda like playing this game…it’s painful as you play, and the effects linger on when you’re done. As much as I feel that the fighting is poor, I will give PF Magic credit for giving a bunch of balls linked together personality. Unfortunately, you can give each character all of the personality in the world and it still can’t hide the fact that when it comes to fighting games of the time, Ballz was near the bottom of the barrel. Played on: 3DO Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/09/2019 Automobili Lamborghini Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date November 30, 1997 (NA) Developer Titus Software Genre Racing My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 50.14/100 Did you ever want to play a racing game with uncomfortably twitchy controls, an AI so dumb that it frequently hits a wall from not remembering to turn (or maybe the AI struggles with the same twitchy controls?), and a timer set so that you could be winning the race when you see the "Game Over" screen? Or did you want to be unable to catch up to the leader because you the game prevents you from hitting the gas, causing you to “glide” into checkpoints, allowing the rest of the pack to pass you by as you struggle to simply not run out of time? Well, then this Titus turd is for you! Playing Automobili Lamborghini is about as fun as resting your face on a cheese grater in the middle of an earthquake. On the plus side, the environments are nice to look at (the car models, not so much)...So you can torture your friends by having them play while you admire the view. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: Automobili Lamborghini: Super Speed Race 64 (Japan)

Date added: 12/15/2021 Bikini Karate Babes 3 Platform Android Initial Release Date April 25, 2017 (NA) Developer BKB Studios Genre Fighting My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 40.27/100 Every now and then, I get bored and browse the Android app store to see if there are any unique/weird games that I can download. I just so happened to be doing that very thing when I discovered a game that sounded so awesomely bad that I immediately downloaded it. “There is no way that this is any good,” I thought to myself as I watched it download to my phone. And while I was right, it’s not a good game, it’s also not quite as bad as I expected it to be. Basically, in Bikini Karate Babes 3, you control one of the ladies that battle in their two piece swimsuits. Instead of creating character models, the developers actually use video footage instead. The end result is actually somewhat impressive from a visual standpoint - the animations and everything are smooth, too. What isn’t smooth are the controls, as whether it’s fighting or trying to skip the start of battle, end of battle, or replay scenes, the controls don’t always seem to register. Thankfully, the difficulty here is virtually non-existent, so even with controls that don't always respond, you'll still find ways to win. I actually played it one-handed so I could nab screenshots for this list and still wound up with multiple perfect fights. Ultimately, what you get here is an experience that kind of emulates the women found in the game - nice to look at, but they likely have no idea how to really fight. Where these games show that the developers can make a nice-looking game, but likely have no idea how to make a good one. I’ve played worse, but that still doesn’t make this very good. Played on: Android Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/28/2019 WWF In Your House Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date October 31, 1996 (NA) Developer Sculptured Software Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 47.03/100 Sculptured Software never heard of the phrase "less is more." After the surprising success of WWF Wrestlemania the Arcade Game, instead of sticking with the formula that worked, they decided that the game needed even less wrestling and more of a cheesy fighting game feel...And by making those changes, they created an absolutely horrible experience. To make matters worse, the gameplay wasn't as smooth as Wrestlemania was, nor did the controls feel as tight. To top it all off, in the age of memory cards where players were beginning to expect more content in their games, In Your House was very much lacking. The game was awful and was a number of steps backward from the game it was the sequel to. It's games like In Your House that eventually led to consumers not trusting Acclaim for publishing quality products, which in turn, lead to their eventual demise as a company...In my opinion, anyway. Played on: Playstation, Saturn Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/25/2019 Silver Sword (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 35.44/100 I’m not quite sure what this game was supposed to be. When you first start to play it, you think, “Oh! A Zelda rip-off! Maybe this’ll be somewhat decent!” Then after a few seconds you realize that it’s nothing like Zelda and that you had gotten your hopes up. Silver Sword is basically a scrolling shooter without the scrolling. You control when you advance up the screen...Which is kind of a shame. Had they turned this into a scrolling shooter, it probably would have been fun. Afterall, unlike Starevil and G-Force, the enemies in Silver Sword will actually shoot at you and try to kill you. For that, I give it credit. There’s actually a challenge here. What I don’t understand is that eventhough this is not a scrolling shooter, you can still die from touching the scenery. For example, I died from walking into a tree. Granted, I understand that trees are vicious, murdering beasts...But c’mon. And one final gripe before I go, why is this dude’s sword black when the title is called ‘Silver Sword’? Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/30/2020 Pinocchio Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date October 1996 (NA) Developer Black Pearl Genre Platformer My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 52.99/100 I don’t seem to like Pinocchio as much as everyone else…I just don’t get what everyone else gets, I suppose. Pinocchio is a VERY slow platformer that just feels awkward…like the developers focused more on making smooth animations to make this feel like a mini cartoon, than working on accurate hit detection. Doing Pinocchio’s little spin kick, I attempted it roughly 5 times, completely passing through an enemy on the screen while doing so, before FINALLY connecting on attempt number 6. Meanwhile, hopping over chimneys on a rooftop, some smoke that puffed out happened to touch Pinocchio’s heels, instantly causing damage. The overwhelmingly slow speed, poor hit detection, and overall boring level design make the good animations feel pointless and useless. I might go back and give this another try down the road – maybe I’m missing something that everyone else sees, but for now, I consider Pinocchio to be a very poor platformer. Played on: Game Boy Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/14/2023 Barbie: Race & Ride Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date November 9, 1999 (EU) Developer Runecraft Genre Action My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 48.95/100 If you picked up Barbie: Race & Ride thinking that you'd be getting a masterpiece of an equestrian showcase game…well, you may want to see a doctor about the concussion that you sustained. Essentially, Barbie: Race & Ride is a game that is part first-person, awkward horse riding and part mini games for very young children. I'll start with the horse riding - I'll never understand why so many games aimed towards young children are so awkward to play. One would imagine that developers would want these games to control smoother and easier for young kids, not awkward and uncomfortable. Unfortunately, that's how the horse riding controls. It's really not good or fun riding your horse in this game. During your ride, you'll be told to stop and inspect things, which results in little mini games. These games are fine for a young child and make up for the horse riding a little bit. The narrator does a good job of making the game as a whole feel like a television show for pre-kindergarten kids…but while that aspect is fine, I can definitely see children getting frustrated enough by the horse riding parts where they wouldn't want to play this anymore. Honestly, all they really had to do here was make it a 3rd-person horse riding game…even making it as simplistic as putting the horse riding on a 2D plane. At least then, the controls wouldn't, in theory, be as wonky. But anyway, for what it is, Barbie: Race & Ride has its pros and cons…unfortunately, the cons outweigh the pros. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Barbie: Aventure Equestre (Europe)

Date added: 09/16/2019 Clay Fighter 63 1/3 Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date October 23, 1997 (NA) Developer Interplay Genre Fighting My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 49.76/100 I liked the first Clay Fighter. It was flawed, but I appreciated the unique art direction and sense of humor it had...Then Clay Fighter 2 came out, with more humor, but the gameplay felt like a little bit of a step down. Then came Clay Fighter 63 1/3...The humor has worn thin and the gameplay seems like it had continued to go backwards rather than move forward. A tubby, sumo-wrestler Santa Claus (who has a combo attack with his stomach flab that looks disturbingly like he’s slapping around his opponent with his yule log, if you catch my drift) and cameos from Earthworm Jim and Boogerman aren't nearly enough to save this fighting game from being more than a pile of dung. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Daytona (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Racing My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 39.88/100 With a name like Daytona, one would imagine that this game would be a NASCAR rip-off. Nope. Instead it feels more like an Outrun rip-off…but on a race track, and without any of the charm. Instead of driving stock cars, you're driving a yellow sports car. Your goal is to race around the track, trying to not slide off of the road into trees during turns, and trying not to slam into the rear-ends of the countless red vehicles that sprinkle the course. Like most of Active Enterprises games that I've played, the enemies (the red vehicles) seem to be randomly generated rather than strategically placed in the level. The result is that sometimes you'll have all three lanes containing cars to avoid and your options are to slow down until the vehicles leave the screen, which seems to make them disappear entirely, then speed up and continue on…OR the other option would be to slam into one of the vehicles in front of you, hit the power button, eject the cartridge, and put a better game in your Genesis instead. I think most folks will go for the second option. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/15/2022 C: The Contra Adventure Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date August 31, 1998 (NA) Developer Appaloosa Interactive Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 47.97/100 At first glance, C: The Contra Adventure looks to be a side-scrolling shooter like the series was in its 8-bit glory days, but with fancier graphics…Oh, but looks can be deceiving, my friends. The first and final levels aside, the vast majority of this game takes place in awful, 3D levels. The initial side-scrolling level, while fun, is also pretty easy in comparison to other titles that have the Contra name. That gets remedied with the 3D levels later on…except those levels never seem difficult because the game is challenging, but rather they seem difficult because of clunky 3D controls, poor camera angles, and the occasional difficulty in lining up a shot while firing at the various enemies in the level. Honestly, if Konami had simply made this game a 1st person shooter, and basically made it a Doom rip-off, but with various Contra power-ups that the series is known for, I think this game could have had potential to be a much better game…unfortunately, instead Contra's foray into 3D wound up like so many other franchises that tried to make the jump from 2D to 3D - it was ultimately a failure. I wish it was at least somewhat decent so if I was giving it a letter grade, I could give it a C, like the title suggests. Unfortunately, it's more like an F…and it's an adventure that you'll probably be glad that you didn't go on. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/01/2022 WCW: The Main Event Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date February 1994 (NA) Developer Beam Software Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 54.48/100 I wanted to like this wrestling title. The roster alone brings back memories of watching pre-Hogan WCW as a young-un. Let's start with the good. Graphically, the game looks pretty good for a Game Boy game. The game also sports a unique aspect to choose how you want your matches to be played. You can do standard one-fall matches, or make them best of 3 or 5. The real neat aspect, though, is essentially an Ironman match mode, where the goal is to get the most number of falls in the time limit of your choosing. The last positive that I'll mention is the simplicity to execute finishing holds. To perform your finisher, it's a simple press of the select button, which is essential to use if you plan on tackling the harder difficulties. How about the bad? Well, the game plays like an absolute mess and winning and losing often feels like it's based more on luck than skill. In fact, playing it kind of "Stings" get it? Sting's on the cover...So it Stings. Eh, forget it. It also has a very questionable way to present Ron Simmons in the game. Simmons, an African American fellow, basically looks like he's the photo negative of everyone else in the game. Instead of light skin with a dark outline, he's got dark skin with a light outline. Simmons, a former WCW World Heavyweight champion, 100% should be in this game, but there had to have been a better way to present him than that. Anyway, the good ideas and features presented here don't mean anything if the game itself is poor…and unfortunately, the Main Event is a pretty poor wrestling game. It's not just bad, it's Johnny B. Badd. Played on: Game Boy Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/21/2019 Fruit'y Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date October 23, 2015 (EU) Developer Retroguru Genre Puzzle My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 45.00/100 Fruit’y was released relatively recently…well, in comparison to other games released on the Dreamcast, that is. It’s a puzzle game where your goal is to manipulate the left side of the screen to match the right side of the screen. It’s not necessarily a bad concept…but it’s also very slow and very boring. I made it through 20 or 30 levels, then wanted a nap due to boredom…and there are 120 levels in total, so I didn’t get too awful far before feeling like I was ready to move on to something else. That said, Fruit’y isn’t my cup of tea, but I do like to support and give exposure to independent developers, so if you’d like a copy of Fruit’y for yourself (it’s free) head over to www.retroguru.com and head to their downloads section to download this and other games for various platforms. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/27/2019 French Baker (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 34.94/100 If it weren’t for the insane amount of cheap deaths this game provides, it would actually be pretty fun. Basically, you’re a French Baker and you throw wisks at various baked goods like donuts and file cabinets...What? The French are talented bakers. It’s similar to the other action games in Action 52…And it probably would be decent, then the cheap deaths begin to ruin it. Whenever you kill an enemy, another one will randomly appear on the screen...And there’s a decent chance that it’ll spawn right where you’re standing for an instant death. This could have easily been remedied and would have made it a halfway enjoyable game. Graphics-wise the game is pretty lacking. It looks terribly basic, but since the gameplay is mildly fun, it would be pretty easy to overlook that if other aspects weren’t equally as bad as the glitchy graphics. As it is, it’s not absolutely terrible, but those cheap deaths will definitely get on your nerves. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/21/2020 Samurai Ghost Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date April 7, 1992 (JP) Developer Now Production Genre Brawler My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 49.08/100 Samurai Ghost is a side-scrolling brawler with awful hit detection and iffy controls. When you make a side-scrolling brawler with poor hit detection and iffy controls, you’ve pretty much already ruined the game. Poor gameplay aside, you control a red-headed ghost that happens to be a samurai. This ginger ghost doesn’t look terrible, though he does remind me of the dude in the painting from Ghostbusters II if that dude had red hair…Not so much on the cover, but in-game...I dunno, maybe that’s just me. But anyway, complaints aside, I do enjoy the various enemy types that you’ll attempt to slash through as you make your way through the levels…it’s just a shame that I think most people will happily give up on this game before they see too many of ‘em. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: Genpei Toumaden: Kannoni (Japan)

Date added: 07/27/2019 Atmos Quake (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 35.11/100 Yet another top-down, vertical-scrolling shooter on the Action 52 cart. You’re shooting at stuff. There’s obstacles in the way. The enemies don’t move. Blah, blah, blah. There really isn’t much to say here. It’s basically like the other vertical-scrolling shooters on this cartridge. The only difference here is that, like Thrusters, the enemies fire at you but do so very poorly that you probably won’t even realize they’re shooting unless you actually look for it. Otherwise, this game is what seems to be the standard fare in Action 52 scrolling shooters. It’s just more of the same. It’s not really even worth a look if you’ve played any of the other scrolling shooters on the cart already…Unless you’ve suffered a head injury and can’t get enough of the other shooters in Action 52, in which case, go ahead and enjoy…And you should probably see a doctor in case you’ve been concussed. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/28/2021 Gynophobia Platform PC Initial Release Date October 24, 2014 (NA) Developer Gua Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 40.03/100 Gynophobia isn’t a terrible game, but it’s also not a very good one. The concept is interesting enough - you’re a fellow with a few phobias, like fears of spiders and women...I bet Spiderwoman would give him a heart attack. The game is a 1st person shooter, with the levels presented in a creative way. The first level is the PC game that the character has loaded on his computer. The second level is a dream/nightmare that he’s having during a nap, etc. While how you get to each level is interesting, I found the levels themselves to be boring and mostly mindless. I was also fairly annoyed by the lack of checkpoints...I missed a jump in the nightmare level (honestly, I didn’t know I had to jump since I thought a bridge had been created to exit the level) and I wound up falling into a pit of spikes and had to start the entire level from the beginning. Since I didn’t really enjoy playing through that level to begin with, it really made me consider quitting the game since I didn’t want to play through a level that I didn’t really find fun all over again. If you’re a big fan of shooters and/or horror games, Gynophobia may be worth checking out and you may be able to look past some of its flaws. Everyone else should probably stay away. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Action 52 Challenge (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 40.03/100 I'll just say this - I really, really like the concept of Action 52 Challenge. Basically, it's the final level of every game compiled in Action 52. The goal is to beat the final level in every game, in a random order, so that you can call yourself the Action 52 Gamemaster. As much as I like this concept…it's ultimately a poor game because, well, you're playing the final stages of a bunch of awful games. Even if the concept for Action 52 Challenge is a well-thought, neat idea, you're still stuck playing a bunch of awful games and a handful of bad, but not awful games. It's like being told to bob for apples when the bucket has three apples in in it, along with forty-nine turds. Even if you love apples, the turds may ruin the experience for you. If Action 52 had even been a compilation of just 52 passable games…not great, not good, but just passable, I think that this would be much more fun than it is. Unfortunately, as it stands, Action 52 Challenge is a good idea that results in the player trying to play through one awful level from every awful game on the cartridge. I'm sad to say that it's a challenge that you should not accept. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/26/2022 Destrega Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date September 23, 1998 (JP) Developer Omega Force Genre Fighting My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 56.79/100 I've always been intrigued by Destrega. I've owned it for a while, knew nothing about it, and avoided anything that would tell me what to expect. I wanted to play this with me seeing and experiencing everything for the very first time…And it was not worth the wait, to be honest. Basically, Destrega is a fighting game published by KOEI, a publisher known primarily for releasing historical strategy games. Destrega is not based on any sort of historical story, nor is it very strategic. Basically, in Destrega, you're in a 3D stage battling against another opponent. If you're in close range of your opponent, you can brawl a bit, but the majority of the combat is likely going to be at a distance, hurling projectiles at each other, and trying to duck behind walls and hills to avoid said projectiles. The combat feels clunky and it never really feels exciting in any way. There is a nice story mode here, though…well, kind of nice, anyway...somewhat nice….slightly nice. The graphics are fantastic…and that's pretty much the only nice thing. The voice acting is laughably terrible. The story moves at a snail's pace, and it’s a perfect example of how something can have acting and a story so terrible that it makes you laugh, but STILL fails to be so-bad-it's-good. For every moment I chuckled, there were probably five moments where I groaned or said out loud to myself, "When is this going to be over?" Ultimately, Destrega is a fantastic-looking game, but with shoddy gameplay and an awful story, this game feels like it was released from prison, rather than released on store shelves. Instead of Destrega, a better name would have been Desappointment. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/19/2021 Hakai Oh: King of Crusher Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date November 12, 1998 (JP) Developer FAB Communications Genre Brawler My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 41.28/100 Hakai Ou: King of Crusher is probably the strangest brawler that you'll ever play. Not because you get bitten by some mutant bat thing that makes you go into a blind rage, but because your blind rage is focused on…destroying inanimate objects. Basically, you want to destroy everything in your path. Is there a television in your way? Destroy it. Dinner table? Destroy it. Telephone pole? Destroy it. Car? Destroy it. As you advance in the game, you transform into a monster that destroys larger things...But unfortunately, the controls can be frustratingly bad and beating up inanimate objects means that they don't fight back, so things get boring pretty quickly. Eventually, you'll come across police officers that shoot at you, but I couldn't figure out a way to beat them up, so apparently, after you take down a wooden fence with kicks and punches, you're supposed to run away instead of eliminating the people that are hurting you. Like I said at the start, if it’s not an inanimate object, then you’ve got no issue with it…even if it’s firing live rounds into you. It's confusing logic…but maybe I just didn’t get far enough into the game to see animate objects get what’s coming to ‘em. Anyway, I guess this game is fun for a couple of minutes just for the novelty, but with poor design and poor controls, even a couple of minutes might be too long for some. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2019 Boss (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 33.04/100 You play as a frog/lizard/guy with green skin and you shoot other frogs/lizards/guys with green skin while trying to avoid bombs being dropped by giant hands sticking out of windows. That pretty much sums it up. The controls feel bad, but they’re do-able. The worst part of the game, though, are the gaps. You’ll get gaps from time to time where you’re running for a few seconds with absolutely nothing happening. If this was a really intense game and you needed a breather, that’d be fine...But this is a lame and tame game...These gaps just make it worse. Still, though, even with these faults the game is one of the better Action 52 titles...But that really isn’t much of a compliment. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/01/2021 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Platform NES Initial Release Date April 8, 1988 (JP) Developer Advance Communication Company Genre Action My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 34.83/100 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was a game that a childhood friend of mine had. Back in those days, my friends and I would borrow our games to each other. I got conned into borrowing this game and not only never really knew how to play it, I never really even cared to figure out how to play it. I simply did not find it fun as a young’un. Then I decided to add the game to this list and figured now was the time to not only figure out the game, but see it through to the end. Basically, in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, you’ve got two types of gameplay – as Dr. Jekyll, you simply want to make your way to the end of the level, from left to right, by avoiding anything that will hurt you or raise your stress level. If your stress bar is drained, though, then you enter the other type of gameplay. As Mr. Hyde, you make your way through alternate versions of the levels, from right to left, with the goal of killing any and all monsters that get in your way. Killing those monsters, calms you down and eventually you’ll transform back into Dr. Jekyll. The goal is to get the doctor to church for his wedding. The key to success is bouncing back and forth between Jekyll and Hyde, making your way to the church with both characters. While I like the concept, the execution is still not great. The gameplay never really feels fun…just tedious. The fact that the controls don’t always feel smooth doesn’t help, either. I’m glad I saw this game through to the end after all these years, but I don’t think I’ll ever find myself revisiting it again. Played on: NES Also known as: Jekyll Hakase no Houma ga Toki (Japan)

Date added: 09/01/2019 Shaq-Fu Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1994 (NA/EU) Developer Delphine Software Genre Fighting My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 46.45/100 Shaq-Fu is notoriously bad...But not as bad as its reputation suggests. There are definitely worse fighting games out there...Heck, there are worse fighting games on every platform that Shaq-Fu was released on. That doesn't take away from the fact that Shaq-Fu is, indeed, bad...But I just point that out because Shaq-Fu DOES have some redeeming qualities like an interesting roster, nice graphics, and a creative take on the traditional arcade mode (labeled story mode here). Unfortunately, where it counts, the combat, it falls short. The end result is a fighting game that most people play for the novelty, and nothing more. Played on: Sega Genesis, Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/01/2019 The Adventures of Dr. Franken Platform Super NES Initial Release Date December 1993 (NA) Developer MotiveTime, Ltd. Genre Platformer My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 49.46/100 The Adventures of Dr. Franken is one of those games that I remember being way better than it actually is - gimme a break, I was a child when I last played it. Anyway, Dr. Franken looks kind of neat graphically with some large characters and some interesting designs of those characters...But you can't judge a book by its cover and Dr. Franken is just a disappointing game. The controls feel awkward and the hit detection is off to name a few of the major issues found here. Children may like it anyway, like I did when I was a lad, but most adults will probably quickly move on to something better. Dr. Franken clearly did not get his PHD in quality. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/19/2020 Bubble Bobble Evolution Platform Playstation Portable Initial Release Date August 31, 2006 (JP) Developer Digital Whip Genre Action My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 46.85/100 What a mess. I love Bubble Bobble...However, I do not care for this game in any way. Yes, bubbles are being blown, enemies are trapped in bubbles, and you pop the bubbles. Technically, the main concept of the original game is there…But that’s where the similarities stop. The well-designed levels of the original Bubble Bobble are replaced with boring layouts...and the art design is equally boring. A few new ideas are tried here, but none of them do anything to make this game worthwhile. Even if you love Bubble Bobble, this is not worth a minute of your time. There’s a theory that as cultures and species evolve, they eventually hit a technological high where they have the ability to destroy themselves…It’s quite a shame that this game did not hit that evolution point. Played on: PSP Also known as: Bubble Bobble: Magical Tower Daisakusen!! (Japan)

Date added: 04/01/2022 Darksyne (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 40.03/100 Have you ever wanted to mix the awkward controls of Asteroid with the powered-up firepower of most scrolling shooters…all while in a confined space with limited maneuverability? Well, then Darksyne is for you. I, personally, have never really been a fan of Asteroids…mostly due to the control scheme. That said, in Asteroids, I can tolerate the controls since you're in an open area and if you fly into the side of the screen, you simply wind up elsewhere on screen. In Darksyne, though, if you fly into the side of the screen, you're dead. In fact, I've noticed that if I hit the gas too hard, it's pretty much instant death. So, in order to advance in the game, I had to just tap the gas as light as possible so I could just creep along the levels to shoot away and destroy the enemies on screen. That results in this being a pretty slow-paced, dull 3rd-person shooter. I appreciate that Active Enterprises attempted something different here…but in my opinion, it simply doesn't work well. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 Bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonnerronn tuonnthunntrovarrhounawns kawntoohoohoordenenthurnuk Platform Ouya Initial Release Date June 27, 2013 (NA) Developer Terry Cavanagh Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 47.09/100 I like most of Terry Cavanagh’s games. But this one is like a cruel joke. Despite the awful, long name that does not fit well in the format of this list, this game is also not a very good 1st person shooter. Add to the fact that I’m not generally a fan of 1st person shooters as it is, and I just couldn't find a whole lot to like about this game. As a fan of Terry Cavanagh’s work, I wanted to enjoy this, but I just simply didn’t. I'm convinced that the title of the name came from Mr. Cavanagh bashing his forehead against a keyboard out of boredom after playing his own, then un-named game. After seeing all of the letters sprawled across the screen, he felt that Bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonnerronn tuonnthunntrovarrhounawns kawntoohoohoordenenthurnuk was a fantastic name for this game. I’ll stick to his other, solid games instead of this one, thank you. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/18/2023 5 Star Wrestling: ReGenesis Platform Playstation 4 Initial Release Date January 19, 2016 (NA) Developer Serious Parody Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 43.12/100 The original 5 Star Wrestling was flawed, but it did have some good ideas. I wanted to like it…I really did, but it just simply didn't have enough content. Fast forward to ReGenesis…and I like it even less, unfortunately. As a fan of traditional professional wrestling, I appreciate the gameplay mechanics with the focus on breaking down body parts to conquer your opponent, and more selling of moves than your average wrestling games…but unfortunately, unlike much of modern professional wrestling, there's so much focus on the in-ring that the rest of the product suffers. Decent in-ring action is fine, but decent in-ring action and absolutely nothing else….well, that's why amateur wrestling does not have the audience that professional wrestling has. A larger roster would have helped…even the current roster plus a create-a-wrestler mode to increase the roster ourselves. A story mode of some sort could have also helped…or even a simulation mode…ANYTHING would have made me put extra time in this game. Instead, it's just "play matches and complete tasks"….and while the in-ring isn't bad, it's not good enough to save a game without any content. I said that the previous game should only be called 5 Star Wrestling if it's rated on a 10 star scale. With no major improvements and a lack of content, ReGenesis, unfortunately, doesn't even rate that high. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/03/2022 Taz Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer Atari Genre Action My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 52.02/100 I want to like Taz, but it's just too repetitive and boring of a game for me to really enjoy it too much. The goal in Taz is simple - controlling Taz, who is constantly in his spinning tornado form, you move around various levels on a single screen with the goal of collecting various food items, like hamburgers or root beer floats, while simultaneously dodging and avoiding dynamite. Both the foot and the dynamite scroll left and right on the screen, so essentially, you can simply sit in one spot on the screen and only move when dynamite starts scrolling your way. Even if you decide to be aggressive to get a high score more quickly, the same simply feels like you're just doing the same thing over and over and over….kinda like how Taz is just spinning over and over and over in this game. In Europe, this is actually an Asterix game, but regardless of if you play Taz or Asterix, it plays the same, and gets old just as quickly either way. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/31/2019 Cry Baby (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 38.76/100 This is a bit of an odd game...You control a giant baby that pees on people to kill them. Some may argue that the child is squeezing milk out of a bottle to kill folks, but I disagree. It looks like he’s peeing. Anyway, the point it to pee on people and fires by climbing up and down furniture to get to the enemies. Be carful though. While the baby has the ability to climb three stories, if you’re not level with the ground when you try to dismount the furnature, you die. This super human infant can climb like a pro, but a 12 inch fall from the drawer of a dresser is just too much to handle. Overall, this game isn’t really bad...It’s just dull and boring. This is yet another Action 52 game that could have been decent had it been given some polish...But it wasn’t, and thus, you should stay away. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/26/2022 Burning Fight Platform Neo Geo Initial Release Date August 9, 1991 (NA/JP) Developer SNK Genre Brawler My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 50.99.27/100 Sometimes, even when the difficulty is designed to be really high to make you keep popping quarters in the machine, a really well-made arcade game will keep you coming back for more and more punishment simply because despite the difficulty, it's a fun game. Unfortunately, Burning Fight is not one of those games. Released on the Neo-Geo and in arcades, Burning Fight is a brawler that's not only frustratingly difficult at times, but it's also not very fun. The combat is dull and bland. When you're doing well, you'll likely find yourself getting bored because you're just mashing the attack buttons, backing away when the computer attempts to attack, then mashing away at the buttons again. When you're not doing well, you may find yourself getting frustrated - I literally got juggled to death, from full health to zero health, multiple times during my playthrough. When this happens, you can't defend yourself since you're hit before you have an opportunity to move. It doesn't feel like you died from lack of skill when this happens, it feels like you died from the game being cheap. On a positive side, it's always fun destroying feeling like you're a bull in a china shop and Burning Fight has little side areas for you to enter where the goal is to destroy absolutely everything inside - including a china shop, where you knock over shelves of fine china. The game also sports some nice graphics. However, with the boring gameplay, weird hit detection, and cheap difficulty, Burning Fight just isn't very fun. They make ointments to soothe burns. The ointment I'd suggest for Burning Fight is an ointment called, "Don't play this." Played on: Neo-Geo Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/26/2022 V.I.P. Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date April 1, 2001 (NA) Developer Ubisoft Shanghai Genre Action My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 42.18/100 I think anyone who sees V.I.P. automatically thinks to themselves, "This has got to be an awful game." And don't get me wrong, it's not good…but it's not nearly as awful as most folks think it would be. Essentially, in V.I.P., you control several characters from the television show, including Pamela Anderson herself, as they shoot and brawl their way through several stages to battle a final boss that, no lie, Pamela Anderson completely destroys in a fist fight, while carrying a purse and wearing high heels, with you only having to mash the X button, so you just get to sit back and watch the gal knock out a feller twice her size with ease as the conclusion of the game. If you think that's ridiculous, there's also a stage where the goal is to have Pamela Anderson shove open a door that has three men pushing against it…and she doesn't just get the door open, she sends those three guys flying. That's a strong lady. Anyway, this isn't the action-based game that you might expect…it's essentially a rhythm game without any music of beats to play to. Basically, commands pop up on screen, and your job is to hit all the buttons in the correct order to deal out some hand-to-hand combat. Miss too many times and the enemy will start to pummel you instead and it'll be game over. Stages with guns are basically just light gun levels, but without a light gun - instead you just move the cursor in front of the enemies and shoot. The gameplay technically works…it's just boring and it feels pretty repetitive by the time you make your way to the end of the game. I do feel like this game could have been somewhat decent if it had more variety, but for what it is, you've got a slightly below-par game...And I selfishly wish that Superwoman Pamela Anderson would pummel each member of the development team like she did the final boss of the game. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/02/2019 WWF King of the Ring Platform NES Initial Release Date November 1993 (NA) Developer Eastridge Technology Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 45.44/100 This is it? This is the wrestling game that we got in 1993 from the WWF? WWF Royal Rumble had been released on SNES by now, complete with finishers, and this game boasted a roster where everyone could punch, kick, stomp, drop an elbow, bodyslam, hiptoss, and suplex their opponents...and nothing more. No finishers. No unique moves for each wrestler. It's just bad. To the game's credit, while it may leave a lot to be desired, at least it controls pretty well. But decent controls with no content will still leave you with plenty to be desired. With plenty of other, better options for 8-bit grappling, this is definitely not the king of any ring…unless you count the ring of dirt left around a bathtub after someone that went swimming in turds likely left behind. This can be the king of that ‘cause it probably stinks like this disappointment of a game. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/15/2021 Swords Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date September 20, 2010 (NA) Developer Panic Button Genre Fighting My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 44.24/100 Swords is a fighting game about people wielding….um, swords. There’s a story mode…and then there’s a versus mode…and then there’s a ‘put the CD back in the case and never play this game again’ mode. I think Swords tries to be like Punch-Out!! but with swords, but it fails pretty miserably. The game requires almost no skill for every fight in the game…until you get to the final battle, in which case if you slacked off for the rest of the game, you’ll be in for a rude awakening. The game urges you to block attacks, but until the final battle, it’s never necessary. Simply wait for your opponent to be about to attack, then swing your sword. Repeat. It’s pretty dull. Worse are the mini-games sprinkled between each fight. I don’t want to play Fruit Ninja with bowling balls. I don’t want to chop pyramids into logs. I bought a game about fighting, so let me fight, golly darn dang it. Anyway, Swords, like a lot of motion-based games on the Wii, just simply isn’t very good. You may find some mild amusement in it initially, but with a lack of content, even people that enjoy the gameplay probably won’t be playing this for very long before moving onto something better. Played on: Wii Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/10/2019 Dick Vitale’s “Awesome, Baby!” College Hoops Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1994 (NA) Developer Time Warner Interactive Genre Sports - Basketball My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 48.93/100 This game shouldn't be called Dick Vitale's "Awesome, Baby!" College Hoops it should be called Dick Vitale's "Full Court Shots Land 80% of the Time!" College Hoops. After hitting the wrong button and accidentally shooting my first full-court shot, I was amazed that it landed. After hitting several more full-court “buckets”, as the kids would say, and then missing a 2-point jump shot, I just shook my head. It's also worth mentioning that this is a 3D basketball game on the Genesis. While that sounds impressive, it's very choppy, the gameplay logic (like mentioned above) is head scratching, and the game as a whole is just poor. If you want to play some basketball, I'd stick with the NBA Live games or NBA Jam. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/12/2021 Idol Promotion: Yumie Suzuki Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date May 31, 1996 (JP) Developer Allumer Genre Strategy My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 50.56/100 Idol Promotion is a game that basically simulates you managing/promoting an idol. Basically, Japanese idols are young'uns that are promoted due to their cuteness. They tend to be stars and are generally role models to other youngsters, and in a creepy aspect, it seems like a lot of older, lonely guys also idolize them since the idols generally act nice to everyone. I think those fellows think of idols as the female folk that will actually smile to them and the like. Innocent enough in theory, but when you’re a 40-something year-old man obsessed with an idol still in high school, you’re kind of entering creepster territory, know what I mean? Anyway, you're managing an idol in Idol Promotion, an idol named Yumie Suzuki, to be exact...and it's incredibly simplistic and boring. Unless you're obsessed with the idol scene in Japan, or with Yumie Suzuki in particular I suppose, and want to try your hand at promoting your own idol to see how it works, there's pretty much no reason to play this. Other simulation games may not be as cute as this one is, but they'll likely be much more fun and much less basic. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/26/2022 Spirits & Spells Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date May 30, 2003 (EU) Developer DreamCatcher Interactive Genre Platformer My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 52.20/100 Spirits & Spells, known as Castleween in Europe, is a platformer that manages to both be boring and frustrating at the same time. The concept of the game seems solid enough - you control two children in Halloween costumes, Alicia in a witch costume and Greg in a devil costume, with each child having their own unique abilities. These abilities force you to swap between the kids in each level in order to advance. Sounds okay so far? Well, the concept seems fine, but the actual execution of the concept is where the problems begin popping up. Once you get past the nice little introduction to the game, you immediately get disappointed as you realize that you're stuck playing a generic version of what a child of Crash Bandicoot and Klonoa would look like…and like some children of famous parents, Spirits & Spells grew depressed knowing that it could never reach the success of its mom and pop, so it turned to a life of depression…and by playing this, it transfers some of that depression onto you. Well, I felt depressed shortly into playing it, anyway. If you want to play a boring, bland platformer with some Halloween visuals, then Spirits & Spells is for you. If you want to play something entertaining that won't put you to sleep, then you'll probably want to avoid Spirits & Spells like you avoided the house in the neighborhood that gave trick-or-treaters dental supplies when you were a kid. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: Castleween (Europe), Mahou no Pumpkin (Japan)

Date added: 04/21/2020 Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date April 9, 2009 (NA) Developer Tarsier Studios Genre Fighting My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 57.14/100 I remembered Rag Doll Kung-Fu being an awful fighting game. After revisiting it for this list for the first time since it was released, I completely stand by my memories. The only real fun in Rag Doll Kung-Fu is in multiplayer…and that’s because everyone has to deal with the same awkward controls as everyone else, which can lead to some laughs. However, if you decide to play solo, the controls go from being comical to annoying…which is fine, I guess, because aside from tutorial mode, there isn’t really much to do if you’re playing by yourself. Regardless, while it may provide a few laughs with friends the first time you play it, it’s likely not going to be one that is played more than once before everyone agrees that moving on to something more fun would be more ideal. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/05/2022 Speedway Racing Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date February 14, 2020 (EU/NA) Developer Super PowerUp Games Genre Racing My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 42.33/100 Hoo boy, Speedway Racing. Where do I start? I suppose I'll start with some positives. That's always the polite thing to do, right? Speedway Racing has decent-looking graphics and I enjoy the parodies of business logos that adorn the various vehicles that you can race with….and that's all the good that I can say when attempting to fairly review this game. The game's controls are iffy, it's loaded with glitches, and lacks anything that would keep most sane people for playing for more than five minutes. I'm not sane, however, and while Speedway Racing is an absolutely terrible game, I found some sort of bizarre enjoyment in playing it. The glitches actually enhanced this game for me in the way that poor acting enhances a cheesy movie - it gave me stuff to chuckle at and it made me continue to play in order to see how much worse it could get. Granted, I doubt most folks will find the same enjoyment in this game that I did, but I felt like I needed to point out that this is probably the best so-bad-it's-good racing game that I think that I've ever played…Even if most folks will simply see it as bad and find zero enjoyment in it. So, if you're looking for a good game with Speedway Racing, you'll be very disappointed. If you can get this game on sale for cheap, though, and find strange enjoyment in playing poor, glitchy games, you may actually find yourself having a good time here. But again, I think that group is definitely in the minority and most folks will make a pitstop to the system storage to delete this game from their Switch shortly after trying it. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Alfredo (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 40.92/100 Hey! Alfredo's back!! After starring in his own platformer in the original, NES version of Action 52, Active Enterprises decided to give their Italian chef another game, while removing the platforming bits. Honestly, given Active Enterprises' record with platforming games, that was probably a wise move. Anyway, in this game, apparently Alfredo has gone vegan, since meat is the enemy. Controlling Alfredo, you're holding a pot and you're by a large cauldron filled with, what I'm assuming is meat sauce. Various types of noodle and meat leap from the cauldron. Your goal is to catch the noodles in your pot while avoiding the meat. If meat even touches you, you die a horrible death. Which is odd, because the sausages that escape from their boiling prison look surprisingly happy. In fairness, tomatoes kill you as well, if you also attempt to catch those…but I prefer to think of Alfredo as a chef with a meat phobia and noodles are the only thing that can calm him down. This isn't the worst game in the world, and it's decent for an Action 52 game, but I can't imagine too many folks would put too much time into this game. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2023 Fears to Fathom: Home Alone Platform PC Initial Release Date July 2, 2021 (NA) Developer Rayll Genre Adventure My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 52.72/100 I was expecting to like Fears to Fathom: Home Alone….so I was pretty disappointed when I didn't like it very much. The concept of Fears to Fathom is that you're a young teenager, left home alone for the weekend. You wake up in the middle of the night that night, noticing that some guy is poking around the house, looking through the windows and ringing the doorbell. Apparently your mother also suffers from insomnia and is staying across the street from your house….I guess…because she'll send you a picture from across the street showing a strange man standing in front of the door asking you who that man is. I didn’t bother finishing this game because I just wasn't enjoying it, honestly. Between the text messages, that you can type in a reply for, but apparently can't send, and the story that just felt slow and boring, it just didn't hold my attention. I'll probably revisit this game down the road since I did purchase the other games in the Fears to Fathom series, and if playing all the way through changes my mind, I'll adjust where it places on this list…but for now, I'm really not a fan at all. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/11/2023 Jackie Chan in Fists of Fire Platform Arcade Initial Release Date 1995 (W) Developer Kaneko Genre Fighting My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 52.36/100 I'm not quite sure what to say about Jackie Chan's arcade fighting game. It seems to go a little overboard with Jackie Chan - every boss fight is a variation of Jackie Chan from one of his several movies. It also seems to go overboard to protect Mr. Chan as defeating him (which can be a pain due to fighting than can feel cheap), Jackie just drops to a knee. You can't play as any of the Jackie Chan variations, either. He's purely there to serve as boss fights and provide a name to this game. Like he's just taking it easy on you to see how much you've improved. The other fighters, who seem to be mostly actors from Jackie Chan films, don't get the same treatment. They can get knocked out, and sometimes they even get, well, murdered. The non-Jackie Chan fights feel like a sloppy Mortal Kombat, complete with the opportunity to "Finish them." The fighting feels choppy, and lacks any real excitement…I kicked my opponent towards the screen and "broke" the screen, and almost fell asleep while doing so. How dull does a fighting game have to be to have scenarios like that and still fail to feel exciting? Anyway, if you find yourself in a position to play Fists of Fire, it may be worth playing as a curiosity, but I highly doubt that anyone will consider this to be one of their favorite games. If they do, you can probably call them a "liar, liar fists of fire!" Played on: Arcade Also known as: Jackie Chan: The Kung-Fu Master (North America)

Date added: 09/02/2020 The Simpsons: Bart vs. The Space Mutants Platform NES Initial Release Date February 1991 (NA) Developer Imagineering Inc. Genre Platformer My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 49.96/100 I was never really a fan of Bart vs. The Space Mutants. I played it a little as a kid, never really got too far…and just kinda gave up on it. Well, revisiting it for this list, I’ve played through to the end…and while I slightly appreciate it more, I’m still not really a fan. The platforming and the boss fights can both be annoying due to controls that could’ve been much tighter, and the final level can be mildly aggravating as well, especially with the need to hunt down Maggie for the final piece to end the level. In the end, I wouldn’t put Bart vs. The Space Mutants in the worst-tier of video games, but I also wouldn’t call it a “passable” game by any means…it’s stuck in that middle ground, where it’s not bad or good enough to be memorable…it’s just kinda there. If you’re a Simpsons fanatic, you may find some fun here…but personally, much like the television show itself, I’m just simply not a fan. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/07/2020 Street Dance Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date October 20, 2006 (EU) Developer Oxygen Interactive Genre Music My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 48.50/100 Street Dance never made it outside of Europe or Australia, and that’s probably a good thing for the rest of the world. Street Dance isn’t an awful music game per se…but it’s very bland. Unlike games like Dance Dance Revolution, Oxygen Interactive didn’t exactly pick songs that make you wanna jump up and cut a rug. I think the songs are popular since I’ve heard some of them and I’m not really a music person, but again, I think Baby Beluga by Raffi is a good song, but that doesn’t mean I’m gonna start doing the tango (or whatever the devil moves that kids use these days) when I hear it. If you like the artists featured in this game, you might like Street Dance a bit more than I did…but like I mentioned earlier, I’m not a music guy, so I found myself playing boring gameplay while listening to music that didn’t really do anything for me. There are plenty of better options out there if you want a music game on your Playstation 2. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Skirmish (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Strategy My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 41.07/100 Skirmish is an Action 52, two-player-only war strategy game. Both you and your amigo are armed with a number of soldiers and military vehicles, and your goal is to make use of all of them to defeat your opponent, while also being mindful of the environment on each stage that you play on. This is nowhere near the quality of strategy games like Military Madness, mind you, but Action 52 could have easily just put a basic game of chess on here and left it at that. Instead they tried something different, which I appreciate. The downside is that if they had put a basic game of chess on here, I'd argue that it may be a better quality game than what we got here. It's a little too simplistic to be fun. I appreciate the effort, but sometimes less is more. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 Look Into the Light Platform Ouya Initial Release Date October 30, 2013 (NA) Developer EyeSix Games Genre Adventure My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 37.89/100 Look into the Light was a game that seemed to have promise, and I wanted to like it…but it’s another game that fell victim to poor controls. The game itself is simple – make your way to the light source. If the light goes out of your view for too long, you die. Sounds interesting enough, right? Unfortunately, thanks to the awful controls, keeping the light in your sights becomes way more of a chore than it otherwise would be. For example, let’s say that you jumped to a platform and quickly move to face the light before attempting your next jump. After your fingers lift off of the controls, you’ll notice that the screen will continue to drift for a few seconds with you not touching anything. Then you’ll try to correct the movement because you can’t let the light out of your sights and it instantly registers, but goes back to drifting once you let go again. Considering that even if everything worked right, I get the sense that the game would become boring pretty quickly, adding the messy controls doesn’t help things much. Instead of looking into the light, I think I’d rather turn this game off and take a nap. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/12/2020 FrightShow Fighter Platform PC Initial Release Date November 14, 2016 (NA) Developer 3 Fright Genre Fighting My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 44.61/100 FrightShow Fighter caught my eye because of the art direction…and once the game started, I instantly fell in love with how everything looked. Unfortunately, that’s all the praise I can really give this fighter. FrightShow Fighter is not a smooth fighting game…at all. I think the developers knew this and might have tried to even that out by making the game laughably easy. I beat the first version of arcade mode on normal with no difficulty. So, I went for hard mode on the second and third versions of arcade mode. Aside from the fact that the AI attacks slightly more aggressively, it was just as easy as normal was. In fact, when I battled the “hidden” final boss in the third arcade mode, I got a perfect victory in round one and took a whopping single hit in round two on my way to victory. I like the art direction of FreakShow Fighter. I like the playable characters. Unfortunately, the gameplay is as charming as neither. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/19/2020 WWF Rage in the Cage Platform Sega CD Initial Release Date June 24, 1994 (JP) Developer Sculptured Software Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 49.82/100 Expanding the playable roster to 20 wrestlers (the most ever in a WWF game up to that point) sounds like it would be naturally have a Royal Rumble mode to accommodate all of the extra people...It was in the Sega Genesis version WWF Royal Rumble (released around the same time as WWF Rage in the Cage) and in the SNES version as well (released in 1993, the year before this released) so, it's a head-scratcher why that mode is not included. Also missing are tag team matches of any kind - which, again, is puzzling due to the inclusion of the Nasty Boys and the Headshrinkers who weren't really known as singles wrestlers. Apparently all of those modes needed to be taken out to make room for a match with no count-outs and no ref (and no weapons at ringside to bludgeon your opponent with, making the mode feel like it has no point) and also for the match that the game is named after - a steel cage match. Unfortunately, aside from having to climb out of the cage to win, and not being able to brawl on the outside of the ring, it plays just like the other matches in the game. WWF Rage in the Cage is a nice novelty, but it's flawed with a bunch of terrible decisions in terms of gameplay options. This could have been the crowning jewel of Acclaim's 2D wrestling games...instead it's one of their worst. Played on: Sega CD Also known as: WWF Mania Tour (Japan)

Date added: 10/31/2019 Bits and Pieces (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Platformer My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 33.18/100 Bits and Pieces is one of the better platformer games in Action 52...But that’s not saying much. In this game you control someone that looks like Grandpa Munster (though I’m guessing it’s supposed to be a Frankenstein’s monster-type creature…because he was made from bits and pieces…get it?) and you jump over Universal Monster look-alikes like Mummys, Creatures from the Black Lagoon, and werewolves that appear to be wearing diapers. You have no attacks at your disposal...All you do is jump over them or on top of them. The old random problem is back...But not quite as bad as in other games...Sometimes so many random enemies will appear that it’s impossible to jump over them all. However, since one hit doesn’t kill you, it’s not as annoying as it is in other Action 52 monstrosities. This is another game that could have been made fun with minor adjustments...But alas, it’s garbage…it just smells slightly better than most of the other trash on this cart. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/13/2020 Home Improvement Platform Super NES Initial Release Date November 1994 (NA) Developer Imagineering Inc. Genre Platformer My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 45.55/100 Wanna play a video game where comedian Tim Allen shoots at dinosaurs with a nail gun? Yeah, with a sales pitch like that, I do too. Unfortunately, as cool as that sounds, when you start to play Home Improvement, you quickly realize that shooting dinosaurs with nail guns isn't nearly as fun as one would imagine. The clunky controls here heavily bog down the overall experience, which is unfortunate since the absurdity of everything found here had potential for this to be a cult classic. Instead, it’s just a mess of a game based off of a popular television show for its time. If you want more fun involving Home Improvement, just walk around your house narrating everything that you do with Tim Allen’s caveman grunts…it lacks dinosaurs, but it’s still quite a bit more enjoyable than playing this. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/19/2022 Ghost House Platform Sega Master System Initial Release Date April 21, 1986 (JP) Developer Sega Genre Action My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 50.51/100 The concept of Ghost House is simple…find keys to unlock the coffins of vampires, then kill 'em. One could argue, if the vampires are already locked in their coffins, are they really causing any issues? Eh, it doesn't matter. The main character doesn't like things with pointy teeth…or ghosts or mummies or bats…or meatball-looking creatures that breathe fire…This fella kills 'em all. The big problem here is that the game's controls feel a bit clunky, and as a result, this game isn't really fun and it's more difficult than it would be if the controls were a bit smoother and the hit detection was a bit better. Slaying the vampires once they awaken, for example, is ridiculously frustrating most of the time…especially when you FINALLY put that undead jerk down, just for him to revive himself (which happens on occasion in this game) and you get to fight him all over again while he shoves you into pits of lava and other enemies that decide they want in on the fight. Complaints aside, I'd be lying if I said that I didn't have at least a little fun with this game. If the controls and hit detection were better, I think I would have really enjoyed Ghost House. Unfortunately, that's not the case, though. Even with the mild enjoyment I found here, I feel like once the vampires are freed from their coffins, we should wrangle up every copy of this game and lock them in the coffin in the place of the vampire. I'd rather risk having some fangs in my neck over having to play too much more of this game. Played on: Sega Master System Also known as: Chapolim x Dracula Um Duelo Assustador (South America)

Date added: 10/31/2023 Paranormal Platform PC Initial Release Date August 19, 2012 (NA) - Early access Developer MattCohen Genre Adventure My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 52.12/100 Paranormal, according to its store page on Steam, is an early access release game…The problem is that it's been in early release for 11 years at this point, so I'm assuming that we've got is what the final product is or will be. This game is essentially a virtual haunted house….interact with things, see creepy stuff…that kind of experience. The game attempts a few jump scares, which is lazy horror in my opinion, but doesn't really do them well. I never felt uneasy or nervous at any point in this game. Whenever something "creepy" popped up, I always walked right over to it and observed. Sometimes it's a broken window, or bloody-looking writing appearing on a wall, but it's never really frightening in any way. Still, though, if you're looking for a short horror game that's entirely about exploration in a small house, then you may find mild enjoyment in Paranormal. I just wouldn't expect it to be too good. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/12/2022 Loons: The Fight for Fame Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date September 15, 2002 (NA) Developer Warthog Genre Fighting My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 44.11/100 As a former animation student, many of my teachers liked me for no other reason than that in classes full of students only wanting to draw and create anime, all I wanted to draw and create was Loony Tunes-style mayhem with anvils dropping on the heads of various cartoony characters. To this day, while I don't watch a whole lot of television, I'll happily sit down and watch some of the classics with my favorite cartoon characters from my childhood. That said, I REALLY wanted to like this game since it, essentially, is supposed to be a video game where you control one of a (sadly limited - when will Pete Puma get some love?!) cast of Loony Tunes favorites and then proceed to drop anvils on the heads of the other characters, electrocute them with a cloud of lightning, smash 'em with mallets, and pretty much any other zany, over-the-top violence that you'd expect from a typical Loony Tunes cartoon. Unfortunately, the developer managed to make all of the chaos and mayhem of a Looney Tunes cartoon absolutely boring. There are moments where the game is fun and it shows personality…unfortunately, more often than not, it just feels like a slower, much more dull Super Smash Bros. rip-off. Loons has some good ideas in here and if a company ever decides to revisit this concept, there's potential for a good game here…Unfortunately, all of that potential was lost in Warthog's execution of making this game. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/02/2022 Silver Surfer Platform NES Initial Release Date November 1990 (NA) Developer Software Creations Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 44.61/100 Silver Surfer is an odd game to review…on one hand, the actual shooter part of the gameplay is pretty basic and easy. In fact, once you power up Silver Surfer and increase the fire rate, the shooter part of the game can be ridiculously easy at times. On the other hand, this game can be frustratingly difficult due to a mixture of poor level design, odd color scheme choices, and the developer’s inability to convey to the player which parts of each level are safe to fly through and which parts instantly kill you. Don’t get me wrong, some areas, it’s easy to figure out - the final level in particular has walls covered in spikes…it’s pretty obvious that you don’t want to fly into the spike walls. However, when you’re flying past a house, without any issues, but then fly past a cauldron sitting on a balcony on that same house, and instantly die…well, that’s something that makes you wanna headbutt a barn owl if you happen to have any barn owls nearby. As you play, you get paranoid whenever you see anything in the background on the screen, because you’ll find that you’re not always sure if it’s safe to fly past it or not. Anyway, Silver Surfer probably wouldn’t be an awful game…but the frustrating aspect of the level design mixed with the pretty dull shooting aspects when you’re not fighting with the scenery just results in a sub par game. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/28/2019 Simple 2000 Series Vol. 61: The Oneechanbara Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date August 26, 2005 (JP) Developer Tamsoft Genre Brawler My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 48.51/100 I've always liked the cheesy, B-movie aspects of the Onechanbara games, but the problem with them has often been how repetitive they are. This, the first game in the series, is no exception - in fact, I'd argue that it's the worst in the franchise in terms of repetitive gameplay. It has enough charming oddness in it to keep you playing longer than you'd probably want to otherwise, but this is still game that can get very boring very quickly. I want to like it more than I do...But I just can't justify it. Thankfully, later games in the series get at least a little better. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: Zombie Zone (EU)

Date added: 04/01/2022 Star Ball (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Pinball My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 41.07/100 If you played the original Action 52 on the NES and thought to yourself, "Y'know, this terrible compilation would be better with a terrible pinball game included," then Active Enterprises had you covered when they released the Genesis Action 52. Star Ball is their attempt at pinball, and it's not very good. The paddles seem to have parts of them where if the ball touches that area of the paddle, it goes right through instead of bouncing off of it. This can lead to plenty of lost balls. Now while that would normally be frustrating, I actually think that it's a benefit here - when you lose enough balls, the game's over and you no longer have to play this poor attempt at pinball. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/11/2019 Simple 1500 Series Hello Kitty Vol. 01: Hello Kitty Bowling Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date August 30, 2001 (JP) Developer Tamsoft Genre Sports - Bowling My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 42.24/100 The first game in the Hello Kitty Simple 1500 series was Hello Kitty Bowling, and it was not very good. Bowling games are generally pretty straightforward - it doesn't take very much to create a competent one. Somewhere along the way, though, Tamsoft lost its ability to create a worthwhile bowling game. It tries hard enough with a challenge mode to go along with the standard bowling mode, but when the actual bowling parts are flawed, the rest of the game becomes flawed as well. Unfortunately, Hello Kitty Bowling is a very poor start to the Hello Kitty version of the Simple 1500 games. Unless you're a diehard Hello Kitty fan that absolutely must have everything with the Hello Kitty name on it, I'd avoid this game. It's a gutter ball. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/28/2019 Volleyball Platform NES Initial Release Date March 1987 (NA) Developer Nintendo Genre Sports - Volleyball My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 64.78/100 Volleyball was one of the basic, generic sports games that found its way to the console early in its life. Unfortunately, it wasn’t very good. Like in the NES version of Soccer, you pick a country to play as, but you can choose a team of men or women, with each having a slightly different look. Now, I don’t know my volleyball history, so maybe back in 1987 Tunisia was a major force in competitive volleyball…But for someone that knows very little about the history of the sport, it seems like an oddball choice of a country to play as. I like it, mind you. I like having at least one country that’s different from the norm, but even enjoying the addition of Tunisia, I do not enjoy the controls. They take a while to get used to…long enough where I’m sure most folks will have asked a friend to serve the cartridge up to them so they could spike it right into a dumpster before they feel comfortable with them. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/03/2019 Battle Monsters Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date June 2, 1995 (JP) Developer Scarab Genre Fighting My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 46.04/100 The game title is basically what you do here; battle monsters. However, this terrible fighting game has a unique twist – instead of the main focus being on the fighting on screen, your focus will be on fighting the boredom in your mind. I was hoping that this would at least be enjoyable in a cheesy way, but it's not. It looks like a Mortal Kombat rip-off, and it plays like trying to play Mortal Kombat with broken fingers. The credit that I will give it is that the levels are pretty unique in terms of their design – it’s not just the standard, flat, side-to-side fighting stages. Some stages actually span several platforms high. That single compliment aside, there’s not really too much more I can say about this game in terms of positive feedback. I've played worse before, but this was still very bad. Played on: Saturn Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/31/2019 Rocket Jockey (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 39.90/100 Another boring side-scrolling shooter on the Action 52 cart, Rocket Jockey is a little better than some of the others simply because the difficulty was raised a little. Not much, mind you, but enough to let you know that they somewhat tried. Most of the enemies are like the Action 52 scrolling shooter norm; they move in a straight line and don’t shoot, and you rarely see more than one enemy on the screen at a time. However, the enemies that are sitting on rockets, like your character, will swoop in and try to hit you AND fire at you, as well. It adds a little bit of a challenge to the game...But, since the majority of the enemies you’re shooting at are basically harmless, it’s still a rather boring game. Overall, it’s just mediocre. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/09/2022 2Xtreme Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date October 31, 1996 (NA) Developer Sony Interactive Studios America Genre Racing My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 50.45/100 2Xtreme is the sequel to ESPN Xtreme Games, which was later renamed 1Xtreme to make the fact that it was the first game in this "meh" series a little more obvious. In 2Xtreme, it's pretty much more of the same from what was found in the first game, but with new variations in how you race to the finish line. In 1Xtreme, you could compete in skateboard, roller blade, mountain bike, and street luge races. In this sequel, those races have mildly changed. By mildly, I mean the street luge has gone bye-bye and snowboarding has made its way into the game instead. The premise of the game, like the original, is to simply race your way to the finish line, while also performing tricks, knocking down other racers, and how many gates you managed to squeeze through along your route to the finish line. If the controls were smoother, and the tracks designed a little better, this probably wouldn’t have been a terrible game…but as it is, it's simply not very good. I definitely wouldn't put it on a list of the worst games ever made, but I still find it to be short of passable, and an overall disappointment for anyone wanting to play either an extreme sports game or a racing game…since this is a game that wears a lot of hats, but was 2Xtreme to actually be good at any of them. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Street Games '97 (Japan)

Date added: 07/08/2020 Bad Boys: Miami Takedown Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date February 2004 (EU) Developer Blitz Games Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 46.90/100 If you're a male, playing Bad Boys will make you a sad boy. If you're a female, playing Bad Boys will make you glad that you lack the ability to be a sad boy without surgery. If you're transgender...well, I'm not educated enough on the transgender stuff to make a joke and be confident that it applies...But I included them for equality and such, so just imagine that I made a joke and absolutely hit it out of the park. Anyway, if playing a terrible third-person shooter with awful controls, awful graphics, and an awful premise sounds like a fun time for you, I'm sure they can hook up this game for you in your padded room. How many dang doors does someone need to kick in during the course of a video game? We’ve got walking simulators...Bad Boys may be the innovator of kicking in doors simulators. I’m sure some folks will find something to like here, even if it’s the comical voice acting where they didn’t even attempt to find people that sound like the actors from the film…As for me, when you shoot your way through an arcade, I kept wishing I was playing one of those games instead. They should call it Bad Boys: Miami TakeFROWN. Played on: Playstation 2, Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/21/2024 Godzilla: Monster of Monsters! Platform NES Initial Release Date December 9, 1988 (JP) Developer Compile Genre Action My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 56.84/100 When people talk about the two NES Godzilla games, this is generally the one that is talked about more favorably. But, I kind of think that's because most folks haven't taken the time to actually see both games to the end. In my opinion, this is the weaker of the two games, unfortunately. I say unfortunately because if the combat wasn't so iffy and if the side-scrolling levels weren't so repetitive and bland, I think I'd agree with the majority of people. I partially mentioned it in the previous sentences, but in Godzilla: Monster of Monsters!, you play on a grid, like in a turn-based strategy game. Controlling both Godzilla and Mothra, you move a set number of spaces. If you happen to move to a space near a monster, then you'll enter a one-on-one battle with that monster. If nobody is there, though, then you enter a side-scrolling area with the apparent goal to destroy everything, but by the middle of the game, I simply found myself avoiding most fights and simply doing my best to reach the exit as quickly as possible. The side scrolling areas are necessary to play, even if they weren't forced on you, because they are the only way to replenish your health after fights with the monsters, and they also help both Godzilla and Mothra level up and become more powerful, making later stages and fights a little easier to complete. Anyway, I want to like this game…I like the concept of the game…I just don't really like the final product. I'm fairly certain that the folks in the Godzilla movies aren't running from Godzilla himself, but rather from this game cartridge after they were told that they'd have to complete yet another side-scrolling level. I'd run, too. Played on: NES Also known as: Godzilla: King of Monsters (Japan)

Date added: 12/06/2023 Superman Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date December 1992 (NA/EU) Developer Thinking Rabbit Genre Action My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 48.90/100 For such an invincible superhero, video game adaptions sure seem to be kryptonite to Superman, don't they? They're rarely an enjoyable experience to play through. Unfortunately, Superman on the Genesis follows that trend. In this poor brawler, you make your way through each stage to beat up a bad guy, then repeat the process all over again. Between the awkward brawling and the poor level designs, playing this game feels less like you're the Man of Steel and more like you're slipping on a banana peel….those descriptions rhymed, which is why I used them. I had more fun spending a few seconds coming up with that poor line than I did playing through most of this game. Later on in the game, where it plays more like a scrolling shooter with Superman flying through the air, is a bit more fun than the rest of the game and brings the overall score up a bit in my eyes…but I have a hard time believing that most folks would stick with this game enough to get that far. It's a shame that most Superman games aren't very good…and it's even more of a shame that this Genesis exclusive fits into that group. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: Superman: The Man of Steel (Europe)

Date added: 10/31/2019 Jigsaw (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 34.18/100 Considering that it’s part of the Action 52 cartridge, Jigsaw is surprisingly not completely terrible. It has the normal flaws one would expect from an Action 52 game, like glitches, poor control, and random enemies...But it’s somewhat playable…at least in comparison to other games found within Action 52. In fact, I think it was the inspiration for the Super NES not-so-classic Home Improvement game….for no other reason that both games involve shooting nail guns. But anyway, it looks bland and plays bad...But it’s still better than most of the other fecal matter that you’ll find in Action 52. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/22/2022 Championship Bowling Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date March 1, 2006 (NA) Developer Black Market Games Genre Sports - Bowling My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 43.70/100 If Black Market Games actually believed that this game was worthy of holding a championship of some sort, I'm fairly certain that they did not pass the D.A.R.E. program in grade school. Unless they decided that this was a boring, sub-par game and that it was the champion of boring, sub-par bowling games…in that case, while arguments could be made for other games in the genre to hold the crown, at least they'd have somewhat of an argument. Anyway, in Championship Bowling, you control an assortment of characters, none of which are really likeable - though I did get a mild kick out of bowling as a grandma, and bowl in various odd bowling alleys. The problem with the bowling alleys is that they're all the same, just different backgrounds to look at. Since this game is already more arcade than simulation, why not add some stuff to the alley to make things interesting in some of the weirder levels? Bumps in the lane, random debris, something to make the game interesting. Instead, this is a game that looks like an arcade game, that plays like a simulation, and is so dull that I was ready to be done before the ninth frame had even arrived on my first game. If you're obsessed with bowling, you may find something to like here. The rest of us should probably stay away from Championship Bowling. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/06/2019 Lawnmower Game 3: Horror Platform PC Initial Release Date October 10, 2018 (NA) Developer Tero Lunkka Genre Action My Score 3.5/10 Avg. Score 34.4/100 Hooo boy, what have we got here? Lawnmower Game 3: Horror (the 3rd of 4 in the series) is a game where you’re apparently a veterinarian version of Dr. Kevorkian as you attempt to mow the poorly-growing grass in three different levels. The catch? Well, every nearby animal has no desire to live and will hurl themselves into your lawnmower to end their own lives, which obviously is going to destroy your lawnmower and prevent you from cutting more grass. The premise makes me think that this would have been a fun Atari 2600 game as it’s a simple concept that does not need great graphics for it to be executed well. Unfortunately, with delayed controls and apparently the need for high-end processing power (not sure if it’s my computer or the game just naturally lags that badly) this game is not executed well and is pretty much terrible. Still a step up from their Horror Fish Simulator game, though…in comparison to that minnow, this one is a whopper. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/25/2019 Firebreathers (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 36.44/100 Honestly, this game should be more fun than it is. You and a friend are supposed to battle head-to-head as dragons trying to drain each others’ health by shooting fireballs at each other. Granted, since you’re battling another human being, it can be a little fun...However, when you start to fly downward in an attempt to hit your target and your dragon is still firing to the left, it almost becomes more frustrating than anything else. The only comfort that you really have in the game is that your friend is having the exact same control problems as you, which makes it an even match...I just wish it could have been an even match with tight, accurate controls. This game could have been so much fun...But alas, Action 52 dropped the ball. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/30/2020 Jordan vs. Bird: One on One Platform NES Initial Release Date August 1989 (NA) Developer Rare Ltd. Genre Sports - Basketball My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 52.88/100 When I was a kid, I always liked Larry Bird. When I played basketball in real life, I always had difficulty hitting shots near the hoop. If you got me in three-point range, though, I’d sink ‘em most of the time. Seeing that Larry Bird was known for hitting those long shots, I instantly became a fan. Then there’s Michael Jordan who oozed so much charisma that even people that knew nothing about basketball knew who he was. The two had a friendly rivalry, and this game reflects that. Unfortunately, it’s not very good. It’s 1-on-1 basketball with awkward controls and a poor AI. If you’re playing against a friend, it’s not as bad…But solo, it's not very fun at all. I’ve played worse basketball games, but that still doesn’t make Jordan vs. Bird any good. If this game was that classic McDonald’s commercial, I’d be bouncing the cartridge off the wall, off the toilet seat, off my hiney, nothing but garbage bin. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/26/2019 Thrusters (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 40.19/100 Yet another top-down, vertical-scrolling shooter, Thrusters has some of the stuff that I complained about some of the others not having, like enemies that fire back, but none of it is particularly done well. The enemies do fire back, but not necessarily at you. For some reason, their ships can only seem to fire diagonally, so if you’re directly beneath them, you’ve got nothing to worry about. Also, most of the ships themselves don’t move except straight down. They’re all easy targets. The only thing preventing this game from being a complete bore-fest are the obstacles. There are obstacles you must dodge as you blast away the ships...Unfortunately, they sometimes blend in pretty well with the background. They’re easy to see, but they’re also easy to forget about. It’s another scrolling shooter Action 52 has failed at...Even if it has failed less than some of the others. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/16/2022 The Flintstones: Bedrock Bowling Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date August 18, 2000 (EU) Developer Adrenalin Interactive Genre Action My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 53.76/100 In the Flintstones cartoon, if memory serves me right, Fred and Barney are actually part of a bowling league. So, when I saw a game titled, "The Flinstones: Bedrock Bowling," my first thought was, "Well that makes perfect sense." Then I played this game…and Adrenaline Interactive did not do what made perfect sense. Instead of creating an actual bowling game, they instead created this game, which feels more like a snails-paced racing game with no other racers, where you happen to try to knock over pins as you move through the course. You've also got to knock over enough birds before hitting the halfway point, otherwise you'll be unable to knock all pins down and record a strike. The game technically does what it aims to do, but the slow gameplay mixed with the fact that this is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a bowling game…it just results in a game that does not feel like it provides what one would imagine a game with "bowling" in the title would provide. I honestly can't recommend this game to anyone except for maybe very young children, who will probably like the cartoon characters and colorful stages…to everyone else, this is pretty much a gutter ball. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/02/2020 Hashteroids Platform Android Initial Release Date July 1, 2014 (NA) Developer Denny's Inc. Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 50.53/100 Denny’s would like you have you believe that Hashteroids was named as such after the hashbrowns that you can purchase and consume in their various restaurant locations…that’s false. It’s actually called Hashteroids because the developers were clearly high when making the game. The least enjoyable of the Denny’s Atari Remix trilogy is mostly hampered by poor touch controls. The physics in Asteroids already takes a little bit to get used to, but toss in the touch controls and you’ll find yourself getting blown to smithereens by the giant, asteroid-sized chunks of hashbrowns floating your way pretty frequently. I’d rename this game Hash-avoids. Yes, I added a pun to a game title that was already a pun. It earned it. Played on: Android Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/17/2020 Exertainment Mountain Bike Rally Platform Super NES Initial Release Date November 1994 (NA) Developer Radical Entertainment Genre Racing My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 53.19/100 For those not in the know, the Exertainment games were created for what I consider to be one of the neatest video game peripherals ever made - an exercise bike. The bike acted as a controller and attached itself to your Super NES, allowing you to lose weight while enjoying some games. I've only come across one once...and the $800 price tag was a tad too rich for my blood. That said, if I ever get to try this game out with the bike, my opinion on this game may change....But for now, Mountain Bike Rally (also known as Cannondale Cup prior to Life Fitness getting its mits on it) is a below-par racing game that really requires no skill. Sure, the playable characters are interesting, and you can brawl with the other racers like in Road Rash, but in the end, it doesn’t matter who you choose or what you do during a race. I literally just pressed the button to accelerate down and didn't bother turning - the game does the turning for you. The game isn't horrible, but it's not good, either. The exercise bike may make things a little more fun, but if you're stuck with a standard controller, don't bother. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Cannondale Cup (Original release)

Date added: 02/07/2021 NFL Platform NES Initial Release Date September 1989 (NA) Developer Atlus Genre Sports - Football My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 48.76/100 NFL is a game about…can you guess? No, not Nacho Fries Larry, the guy who hangs out at Taco Bell begging for nacho fries to be a permanent menu item at the fast food chain. It’s a game about the National Football League, meaning that you get access to licensed teams and such…and it’s still not a great option on the NES if you want to throw some virtual pigskin around. Unsurprisingly, it was released by LJN, a company that had a pretty bad reputation of getting movie or television show licenses to pump out sub-par games that sell based on name value of the license. There are only a handful of exceptions to that rule, and NFL is not one of them. While it’s not the worst football game I’ve ever played, it’s very bland. Still, if you wanted licensed teams in 1989 on the NES, this was your only option. Two years later, this game didn’t even have that advantage any more as Tecmo Super Bowl was released with fantastic gameplay along with licensed teams. If you need to play an 8-bit licensed football game for some reason, then do yourself a favor and avoid NFL - just stick with Tecmo Super Bowl. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Billy Bob (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 44.25/100 I was initially VERY disappointed with the concept of Billy Bob. Billy Bob on the NES version of Action 52 was a poor attempt at Prince of Persia-type gameplay, but when I saw that there was a game called Billy Bob on the Genesis Action 52 cart, I was hoping that Active Enterprises had taken a second stab at that style of gameplay, and hopefully had better results this time around. Instead, this time around they completely ditched the gameplay of the original Billy Bob and turned this into a single-screen 1st person shooter…essentially a light gun game without any light gun compatibility. That said, despite my disappointment in the direction of the game, it's not an awful shooting game. It's not a game that anyone is going to be raving about, mind you, but for what it is, it's not terrible…and when you're on a cartridge full of awful games, not being terrible makes you one of the best options on the cart. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/30/2023 Monster Jam: Steel Titans Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date June 25, 2019 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Rainbow Studios Genre Racing My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 51.73/100 I'll start out by being blunt - Monster Jam: Steel Titans attempts to create what I want in a monster truck game, but at the same time it also fails at doing so in a fun way that makes you want to continue playing. Some of the more modern Monster Jam games have been less about monster tucks and more about popping the Monster Jam license onto clones of other games, like the Trials series. Steel Titans gets away from that and tries to create a game for monster truck fans instead of creating a game for non-fans that happens to have monster trucks in it. The end result, unfortunately, is only fun for a little bit before things get repetitive and the gameplay becomes both frustrating and boring at the same time. The only real good coming out of me playing this game is that it makes me hopeful that the Monster Jam license will eventually get a good monster truck game down the road…because this one wasn't it. Steel Titans 2 looks like it was significantly more liked, so maybe I'll have to give that one a try down the road as well - hopefully they corrected some or all of the issues here. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/12/2022 Snoopy and the Red Baron Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer Atari Genre 3rd Persn Shooter My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 60.13/100 While Atari made this game, it was released in 1983 where video game quality control was lacking, and the flood of poor games led to the video game crash that nearly killed the favorite past time that many of us share today. As a result, it's hard to tell if Snoopy and the Red Baron would be a good game, or just a licensed game, developed in a month in an effort to make a quick buck. After playing, I'm going to learn more in the second direction. While not a terrible game, Snoopy and the Red Baron falls short of being passable. Essentially, the game is just Snoopy vs. The Red Baron….repeatedly. The Baron loops around Snoopy, and you, controlling the beloved dog, are tasked to shoot the Baron down. Initially, it's not bad…but it gets old really quickly. In most other shooters on the Atari 2600, you've got multiple targets to go after, which makes up for their predictable patterns. In this game, you've got one target that moves in a predictable pattern, so the fun simply doesn't last. It does contain one neat aspect, which is that Snoopy's flying dog house takes damage, which indicates to you when you're about to soar to your flying, fire-filled doom….Well that was dark for a peanuts review. Anyway, if you love Peanuts and don't mind repetitive, simplistic shooting, you may find some mild fun here. The rest of us can probably stay away. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2021 Bram Stoker's Dracula Platform Super NES Initial Release Date September 1993 (NA) Developer Psygnosis Genre Action My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 41.33/100 This Halloween season, I’ve been on a Bram Stoker’s Dracula kick. I’ve beaten the NES and Sega CD games with the same name, and both of them were entirely different experiences...and to my surprise, after playing the SNES version, I found that this one is also a completely different game. The Super NES version of Bram Stoker’s Dracula is a side-scrolling action game..a not-so-great side-scrolling action game. I’m assuming that it was intended to be thought of as a Castlevania clone, but with a sword instead of a whip...even some of the end-level bosses seem to be pulled from the Castlevania franchise, but they don’t look nearly as cool in my opinion. The end-level bosses are mildly fun, but the actual levels are very bland and unexciting - in early levels you can literally just press the forward button and mash the attack button and be fine. In later levels, you can use the same tactic, but instead of continuously pressing forward, just stopping before the enemies while still mashing the button. It’s not very enjoyable gameplay, if you can’t tell from that description. Anyway, this is better than the Sega CD Bram Stoker’s Dracula, but not as good as the NES one...so it’s kinda like the cream center of an Oreo that nobody really wanted. Unless you want to see what each of the Bram Stoker’s Dracula games are like out there, I can’t really recommend this to anyone. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/28/2021 Wally Bear and the No! Gang Platform NES Initial Release Date 1992 (NA) Developer American Game Cartridges Genre Platformer My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 41.99/100 Wally Bear and the No! Gang is about Wally Bear skateboarding across levels while coming across various friends that are in scenarios where they should say, “No!” Among these scenarios are being asked to do drugs, getting into cars with strangers, and stealing…and ironically, not one of those scenarios involves playing this game, which is another situation where if someone asks you to play, you should just say, “No!” If you look at Wally Bear, specifically during the ending sequence, the art director somehow thought it would be a good idea to make Wally Bear look like a 50-year old Grandpa wearing those hip, happenin’ 90’s clothes. If you want to tell kids to say no to bad influences, nothing will have a higher success rate than an old fart pretending to be a young kid. This game also presented me with a quote that I enjoy using - “Remember, even grown-ups shouldn’t drink and drive.” First off, how many children are drinking and driving for that to be mentioned in this game…are there people that really think, “Well, yeah, it’s definitely bad for kids to drink and drive….but I’m an adult, so it’s fine.” Speaking of drinking, I should probably mention the gameplay…it’s not nearly as bad as I expected it to be. Levels range from ridiculously easy to difficult enough where you may consider taking a candy bar from a stranger to get in their car just so you can get as far away from this game as possible. Overall, this isn’t the worst game ever made by far, but it’s still not very good. If you want a game to make fun of, Wally Bear gives you plenty of material…otherwise, like I stated earlier, I’d listen to the old, hipster coot and just say, "No!” Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/14/2023 Resident Evil: Survivor Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date January 27, 2000 (JP) Developer TOSE Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 50.60/100 Resident Evil: Survivor is an attempt to make a first-person Resident Evil game…and it's really not very good, in all honesty. Graphically, the game is impressive for its time, but in the gameplay department, this game is dull and uneventful. This game is a good example of why it took me so long to really appreciate first-person shooters - like most games in the genre that I had played when I was young, Resident Evil: Survivor gets repetitive very, very quickly. I'd argue that this game would have been better as a light gun, rail shooter like House of the Dead…I think it would have been MUCH better, honestly. And as far as I can tell from the manual and box art, this game doesn't have light gun support, oddly enough. I didn't try using one to confirm, mind you, but I'd imagine that if it was supported, it would be mentioned in one of those two places. But anyway, if you can't tell from my previous comments, this is the weakest game using the Resident Evil name on the original Playstation. I'm glad I played through it just so that I can say that I've played through all four games, but unlike the three original, numbered releases, which I do plan to go back and play through from time to time, I doubt that I'll ever had the urge to return to this game at any point down the road. It was a good experiment with a poor result. And if you think I'm being unfair with my review, I seem to actually be generous with my thoughts about the game when I look at the average scores that this game got from both critics and gamers alike. Anyway, if you're curious what an early, first-person Resident Evil would look like, then Resident Evil: Survivor may be worth a look…it'll likely make you appreciate the two newest games in the franchise, which are also first-person, so much more. Played on: Playstation Also known as: BioHazard: Gun Survivor (Japan)

Date added: 07/15/2020 Betty Boop's Double Shift Platform Nintendo DS Initial Release Date October 19, 2007 (NA) Developer DSI Games Genre Action My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 49.04/100 Betty Boop’s Double Shift is better than I thought it would be, but it’s still not very good. Essentially, you play the role of Betty Boop as you serve tables each night and wrap the night up by singing a song. The parts of the game where you’re serving tables isn’t horrible…you’re basically waiting for customers to signal for you to come over, then provide them with what they ask for. Sometimes it’s as simple as turning on some music or bringing them candy, while other times it’s taking an order and waiting for it to be fulfilled to serve it back to them. The game starts out with only two tables, which is boring, but the more money you make, the more upgrades the jazz club gets, which involves more tables for more guests. At the end of each night, you go to a music mini game which is pointless and awful. You’ll see notes on the top screen, then you simply match them on the bottom screen – there is absolutely zero need to match them in rhythm to be successful. This isn’t one of the worst games that I’ve played like I expected, but it’s still not very good and can’t I really recommend it to anyone unless they’re obsessed with Betty Boop…and since I don’t think her cartoons air on television anymore, I’d imagine that’s a pretty small audience. Played on: Nintendo DS Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2020 Power Drill Massacre Platform PC Initial Release Date 2015 (NA) Developer Puppet Combo Genre Adventure My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 41.87/100 Power Drill Massacre is a fairly popular game created by Puppet Combo. I can see why it’s popular, but at the same time, it’s a very flawed game. I probably shouldn’t be too harsh since the game is labeled as “Early Access,” but since it was released in 2015, one would have to wonder if the remainder of the game will ever come, though when you purchase it, it does say that you will receive a key for the complete game when it gets released on Steam, so who knows? If it is, indeed, early access, then I’ll update this when the full game is released. For now, though, the controls are extremely awkward. Tank controls while having free movement of the camera with your mouse (which is extremely sensitive) can easily cause you to get disoriented. It feels unnatural. You can switch to a controller setup if you want, and while it controls much better that way, it still doesn’t feel great. I like the rest of the game for the most part…but the controls just ruin much of the experience, unfortunately. All that said, if you’re a horror fan, you’ll probably find enough here to keep playing. Everyone else will probably spend a few minutes playing and move onto something else. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/25/2022 Tommy Moe's Winter Extreme: Skiing & Snowboarding Platform Super NES Initial Release Date April 28, 1994 (EU) Developer Loriciels Genre Sports - Skiing/Snowboarding My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 61.29/100 If Tommy Moe's Winter Extreme: Skiing and Snowboarding played better, I'd consider it a hidden gem in the Super NES library…unfortunately, I can't. Like the title suggests, you can participate in various skiing and snowboarding events in this game. I, personally, found them all to be rather dull and uneventful. The "freestyle" mode, however, is what would have made this game stand out if it had controlled and played better. Essentially, freestyle mode is a game of Outrun, but you're controlling someone on a snowboard or on skis gliding down various mountain paths instead of controlling a red convertible down various highways. Your goal is to make it down the mountain, hitting checkpoints, and branching off in a direction of your choice after a while. Despite my dislike of the controls, freestyle mode kept me coming back to play more. If everything had been more polished, I'd definitely recommend this game. Unfortunately, it's not…so unless the novelty of a snowboarder version of Outrun intrigues you, I'd skip Tommy Moe's game with a long title and play something better. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Val d'Isere Championship (Europe), Ski Paradise with Snowboard (Japan)

Date added: 10/28/2019 Simple 2000 Series Vol. 80: The Oneechanpuruu Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date June 23, 2005 (JP) Developer Tamsoft Genre Brawler My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 50.26/100 The second game in the Onechanbara franchise is The Oneechanpuruu, which is not much of an improvement on the first. A few new additions, like a new character (who seems to prefer slicing off zombie limbs while wearing only a bikini) help prevent repetition from setting in by just a tad when comparing this game to the original...but it's basically the same bland, boring gameplay from the first game, unfortunately. Again, the B-movie aspects and story do help the game a little, and I enjoyed playing it, but not enough to make this a game that I would recommend. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: Zombie Hunters (EU)

Date added: 08/19/2019 Donkey Kong: Barrel Blast Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date June 28, 2007 (JP) Developer Paon Corporation Genre Racing My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 52.49/100 To be honest with you, I like the concept of DK: Barrel Blast...Sounds like an interesting concept and it tries something new. I always appreciate attempts at something new. Unfortunately, this attempt ended in a mess. Barrel Blast requires the player to rapidly move their wiimotes like they were beating on a drum. This is the whole control scheme. Move the controllers fast to go fast and get up to speed. To turn left, shake the left controller. To go right, shake the right controller. The problem here, like with many of the games I've complained about on the Wii, the motion controls aren't always accurate...So when your entire control scheme revolves around the motion controls, you're setting yourself up for disaster...And unfortunately, that's exactly what happened here. Interesting concept, poor results. Played on: Wii Also known as: Donkey Kong Taru Jet Race (Japan), Donkey Kong: Jet Race (Europe)

Date added: 10/26/2019 Swamp Thing Platform NES Initial Release Date December 1992 (NA) Developer Imagineering Genre Platformer My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 48.22/100 While it's not exactly the brawler that one might expect from a Swamp Thing game (in fact, it's basically a platformer with very poor controls for attacking) it does have its own charm to it that you might discover if you stick with it. However, with awful, awkward controls I don't think too many will stick with it...especially since level 2 is that horrid factory level - one of my least favorite levels in video game history. In fact, if you can beat the factory, it's pretty much smooth sailing through the rest of the game, in my opinion. Swamp thing could definitely be worse, but with the plentiful selection of good, quality platformers on the NES, Swamp Thing should have probably sunk back into the marsh he came from...because he came from a marsh you know - so many trees in the game! He should be named Marsh Thing....The more you know. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/13/2019 Crayon Shin-Chan: Puzzle Daimaou no Nazo Platform Panasonic 3DO Initial Release Date March 10, 1995 (JP) Developer TOSE Genre Puzzle My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 57.11/100 I'm not a huge fan of this game, which is a confusingly-made Puyo Puyo clone. I say it's confusingly made because I had a hard time figuring out if the power-ups I received were due to luck or if I got specific power-ups for doing specific matches. It's also EXTREMELY slow-paced. I nearly gave up during the first puzzle match - not because I was losing (I stuck with it and won) but because I was just plain getting bored. Perhaps it’s purposely slow so this can be an introduction to puzzle games for very young children? Maybe. Anyway, if you're amused at all by the gameplay found here, then turn this game off, find a copy of Puyo Puyo on your console of choice and get ready to enjoy how this style of puzzle game should be done. Played on: 3DO Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/29/2019 Angry Sperm Platform Apple iPhone/iPod Touch Initial Release Date November 24, 2010 (NA) Developer SideMaster Genre Action My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 47.60/100 Angry Sperm is a game that's clearly trying to get folks to download it based off of the popularity of Angry Birds...And I'm not just talking about the name, take a look at the icons. Go ahead and Google the Angry Birds icon and then take a look at Angry Sperm's. But anyway, the gameplay is completely different from that of Angry Birds. In Angry Sperm, you tilt the iPhone to guide an adorable egg away from the swarms of angry sperm trying to impregnate said egg. Its gameplay is solid, but unfortunately, there really isn't much to do here except try to beat your high score and collect various fetus stamps, which show you what kind of baby was born when the sperm finally get at the egg. If there was more to the game, I'd probably rank it higher...But after playing it once or twice, there's no real reason to continue playing. Played on: iPhone Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/29/2021 3D Ultra Pinball: Thrillride Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date December 2000 (NA) Developer Left Field Productions Genre Pinball My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 56.70/100 3D Ultra Pinball: Thrillride lies to you. The game is not a thrillride. It's not 3D. The only thing ultra about it is that it's an ultra shill for Hershey products. It’s an ultra shillride. The only honest thing about the title is that it's a pinball game...Though not a particularly good one. The gameplay is boring, without a whole lot of interesting tidbits going on other than you simply trying to prevent your ball from falling beneath the bumpers. This isn’t the absolute worst video pinball game that I’ve ever played, but there's better alternatives on the Game Boy Color for your pinball needs. I wouldn't even bother with this one unless you're a pinball nut and absolutely must play every pinball game that you find. Played on: Game Boy Color Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 Highway Rally Platform Ouya Initial Release Date March 24, 2013 (NA) Developer SPIL GAMES Genre Racing My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 46.46/100 Highway Rally is a racing game with an okay concept, but unfortunately, it suffers from poor execution. Basically, your goal is to go from the starting point to the finish line as quickly as possible. Instead of racing other vehicles, you’re simply racing time (and a ghost car so you know if you’re fast enough to earn a bronze, silver, or gold medal for that course) and doing your best to pick up cash and boosts while also avoiding obstacles along the way. The layout of some of the courses is pretty rough – often coming across as feeling cheap (largely thanks to the controls not being the smoothest) instead of difficult. But, if you play it for a while, Highway Rally does have a certain charm to it that may keep you coming back for more…just probably not a whole lot more. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/21/2020 Deadly Arts Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date March 26, 1998 (JP) Developer KCEO Genre Fighting My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 51.92/100 Deadly Arts (known as G.A.S.P!! everywhere in the world aside from North America) was an interesting, but sub-par fighter developed and published by Konami. The visual style of the G.A.S.P!! versions was kinda neat, but it was very dumbed-down in the North American release making it look rather generic…the fighting, however, remained unchanged and is just as unenjoyable regardless of which region of the game you’re playing it in. Sure, it’s a graphically impressive game for its time, but graphics don’t mean anything if the gameplay isn’t solid…and as much as I’d like to praise Deadly Arts, the gameplay just simply is not solid. It kind of stinks…like Deadly Farts, which likely make people G.A.S.P!! Yup, I went there. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: G.A.S.P!!: Fighter's NEXTream (Japan/Europe)

Date added: 02/15/2023 Meat Sauce Madness Platform Android Initial Release Date July 4, 2021 (NA) Developer Alley Cat Studios Genre Platformer My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 52.95/100 Mike Jones is better known to wrestling fans as Virgil, the bodyguard for "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase back in the 80's and early 90's. Mr. Jones likes meat sauce and breadsticks…a lot. He's a constant supporter of Olive Garden and their never-ending breadsticks. He's also…well, a little off his rocker, as the kids would say. So it shouldn't shock anyone that somehow a game was made starring Mr. Jones in his pursuit to find Italian food and play electric guitar…and no, I don't know where the guitar fits in, either. He was a West Texas Redneck at one point in his career, but an electric guitar doesn't really fit in with that. Anyway, due to copyrights, Mr. Jones isn't Virgil in this game. Instead, he has resurrected the gimmick that he first found success in the business with - Soul Train Jones. The problem is that if this game was created to get some buys off of the popularity of Virgil, "Wrestling Superstar," then unless they're a fan that grew up in Memphis in the 80s to see Soul Train Jones in action, or they're enough of a fan of wrestling to seek out its history…or if they're Virgil's number one fan, I guess….unless any of the previous statements are true, then I'm willing to wager that absolutely nobody has any idea that this game stars the former bodyguard of the Million Dollar Man. Anyway, Meat Sauce Madness is a side-scrolling platformer with Soul Train Jones constantly in movement. It's not a difficult (or even a very fun) game, but I'm sure there's an audience for this style of gameplay out there - there's plenty of games like it on mobile phone app stores, so I'm assuming there's a reason for that. Anyway, Virgil's first starring role in a game isn't absolutely terrible, but I don't know if it's really worth playing. I do believe that "Virg" gets a cut of the profits when you purchase this game, though. So, if you want to support Mr. Jones to help with medical bills and such from his years in the ring, it may be worth purchasing the game for that reason alone. Played on: Android Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/22/2020 AAAHH! Real Monsters Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date September 15, 1995 (NA) Developer Realtime Associates Genre Platformer My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 56.05/100 AAAHH!!! Real Monsters, like most Nickelodeon-themed games, falls short of being passable. This seems to be an attempt to recreate the magic of the Lost Vikings, with the player able to switch between the monsters as you play...the problem is that most of it seems pretty pointless. In fact, everything gets extremely repetitive as you continue on through the game, which may have been avoided had the switching dynamic felt like it fit in more organically instead of feeling like it was specifically designed to make use of switching between them or using teamwork activities...but anyway, as it is, AAAHH!!! Real Monsters would have probably had a more accurate name if it was called YAAAWWN!!! Real Letdown…..I’ll show myself out. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/19/2022 Shin Nippon Pro Wrestling '94: Battlefield in Tokyo Dome Platform Turbografx-CD Initial Release Date November 25, 1994 (JP) Developer Fujicom Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 48.24/100 New Japan Pro Wrestling released two games with this name back in 1994. One was on the Super NES, developed by Varie, and one was on the TurboGrafx-CD, developed by Fujicom. One might imagine that the CD-based storage for the TurboGrafx-CD version would result in a bigger, better game…Unfortunately, and oddly, it feels like the opposite. It almost feels like rather than use that extra storage to add features and create a better game, some stuff was removed to be able to fit CD-quality audio in the game. In another head-scratching move, the SNES version uses real NJPW music, though limited in quality due to the hardware. This version, with the CD-quality audio, features all original music…yes, they added good-quality music, but failed to license the real music for the game. Anyway, complaints aside, the in-ring action isn't awful…rather than mash buttons, the game is timing-based. Once you get used to how everything works, it's not awful…but it can feel pretty dull. It can also become frustrating as the computer, possibly due to poor programming, will spam moves on you. If you're down near the turnbuckle, for example, the computer will likely repeatedly climb the ropes and jump off onto you until you manage to get to your feet. Overall, this is a similar game to the SNES version with the same name, but aside from the audio quality in this game, the SNES version is superior in pretty much every other way. Perhaps if Varie had handled this game like they did with the SNES version everything would be better, but Fujicom's attempt simply falls flat. Played on: Turbografx-CD Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/12/2019 Mad Dog McCree Platform Panasonic 3DO Initial Release Date 1994 (NA) Developer American Laser Games Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 53.10/100 Mad Dog McCree is actually pretty fun when you’ve got a light gun to work with, like in the arcade. The 3DO version of the game, however, is played by moving a cursor to where you want to shoot...which moves at a snail’s pace. Considering that you need to move that cursor to the lower left corner of the screen to reload, then back towards the center to continue firing away, it’s easy to run into issues as you play. But still, the charm of Mad Dog McCree is its poorly-acted movie scenes, which are ported over very nicely from the arcade…unfortunately, the lack of a light gun ultimately ruins this cult classic’s port on the 3DO. Played on: 3DO Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/28/2019 Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date September 20, 2005 (NA) Developer EA Canada Genre Fighting My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 51.95/100 What an ironic title - imperfect is exactly what it is. Marvel Nemesis is kinda like that really good-looking girl from high school that had an I.Q. that happened to be the same number as her age - amazingly gorgeous, but has absolutely nothing else going for her. That's Marvel Nemesis. The graphics are still gorgeous to this day and were among the best ever seen when it first came out on store shelves...But if Electronic Arts had spent as much time focusing on gameplay and making the game fun as they did making the game look beautiful, then this probably would have easily been one of the best games of its console generation instead of one of the worst. Marvel Nemesis is a sometimes-brawler, sometimes-fighter, that is good at neither. At times, it feels like the brother of Power Stone...If Power Stone's brother was dropped on the head a bunch as a child. This really had so much potential to be good, and I've honestly played worse...But this is still so bad and so, so disappointing…it’s much like the title suggests - very much imperfect. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/27/2019 Space Dreams (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 36.78/100 Space Dreams is yet ANOTHER top-down vertical-scrolling shooter on the Action 52. This one has a more unique look as you’re controlling a pacifier as you shoot children’s toys like teddy bears, dolls…and giant safety pins, which makes me believe that Valerie from the wonderful film Killer Workout/Aerobicide is the antagonist in this game trying to murder you…what? I’m trying to find a way to make this game likeable. Anyway, unlike some other Action 52 shooters, the enemies do shoot at you in this one, and not diagonally, either...They shoot straight down. However, when and if they shoot is random...So, you could be on the other end of the screen and see a teddy bear shoot straight down. Likewise, since the shooting is random, you could be busy blasting everything in sight, then move over in hopes to blast a doll at the last second only to get there just as a random shot is triggered. Then you’re dead. A doll killed you. As far as graphics go, they’re not good but they are kinda unique from any other game on the cart, so I’ll give them credit for that. Overall, Space Dreams is alright...But I just wish one of these scrolling shooters in Action 52 actually had enemies that tried to fire at you rather than just randomly spew out bullets. This is an alright, yet boring, addition to the compilation. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/23/2022 RLH: Run Like Hell Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date April 9, 2003 (NA) Developer Digital Mayhem Genre Action My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 53.48/100 I never read reviews for this game, I just remember seeing ads for it, thinking that it sounded interesting…and now twenty years later, I've finally played it…and I think I could have waited longer, honestly. Run Like Hell stars a character that is pretty much unlikeable right from the beginning. Why should I run in an effort to save a character I don't like? Instead of Run Like Hell, this should be named Stand In One Place - I got far more satisfaction watching him get maimed by the monsters in this game than I did from attempting to play in any way. Unlikeable character aside, this simply isn't a good game. The controls never seem to feel right, you'll fight with the camera a lot, and the gameplay itself never feels fun or exciting like the name may suggest…it just feels dull and bland. I wish I could say more favorable things about Run Like Hell, but unfortunately, I can't without causing my nose to grow. I did change my mind, though. While they should have changed the name, it shouldn't have been to what I suggested earlier. They should have kept the original title, but added four more words at the end of it…Away From This Game. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2022 Christmas Horror Platform PC Initial Release Date December 3, 2021 (NA) Developer Purple Thunder Games Genre Adventure My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 47.28/100 Ever since I was a little kid, I always enjoyed writing stories in school about an evil Santa Claus. I've always enjoyed the concept of an evil Santa. Christmas Horror is essentially my evil Santa writings come to life…but without the comedy that I often included. Christmas Horror also isn't as horrifying as the game's title suggests. Basically, you're a kid on Santa's naughty list, so he kidnaps you and locks you in a cell in his basement. Your goal is to escape your cell and eventually escape the house. Once you emerge from the basement, you'll discover that Santa Claus doesn't really use many lights - the electric bills are through the roof at the North Pole, I guess. So, you'll be walking around with a flashlight, which is honestly the only real uneasy feeling that you may get while playing this. If Santa spots your flashlight and comes after you, when he catches you, he'll club you over the head with a giant candy cane and throw you back in the cell….well, usually. There are weird bugs in the game where Santa will just walk over near you and stand there. He won't do anything. He'll just stand there, and look around like he's paranoid. Eventually, if you walk up to him, then he'll finally club you. While these awkward "staredowns" are nice for trying to snap a screenshot, they're annoying when you're actually attempting to play the game. If a game of hide and seek with a violent Santa sounds like a fun idea, you may find mild enjoyment in Christmas Horror. For everyone else, though, I can't say that I'd really recommend this one. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/07/2019 Last Battle Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date July 1, 1989 (JP) Developer Sega Genre Brawler My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 49.90/100 Last Battle is basically a game in the series that would later be known in North America as Fist of the North Star…and I could be mistaken, but I think that this is the first game in the series to make it over here to the West. If I’m correct in that statement, then this was not much of a way to make a debut. Last Battle is a brawler that plays similar to Altered Beast, but it’s not as smooth and not as interesting. The only thing that I really liked was that after each level, you can choose your path…but honestly, with the quality of this game not being all that good, that’s like being able to choose which sand paper you want to wipe your hiney with after you drop a deuce in the toilet. Regardless of your choice, it’s probably not going to be a fun time. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: Hokuto no Ken: Shin Seikimatsu Kyuuseishu Densetsu (Japan)

Date added: 10/19/2019 Casper Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date August 31, 1996 (NA) Developer Funcom Genre Adventure My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 51.63/100 Casper is a friendlly ghost, right? If he's so friendly, then why do I feel so sad and disappointed after playing his game? Surely if Casper were to star in a game this bad aimed towards children, then he's more of a smiling, hateful ghost than anything, right? Friendly my hiney. Anyway, Casper is a sub-par game that looks like it could have and should have been better than what it is...But it's not. The gameplay is slow and plodding…which isn’t always a bad thing, but when “boring” is another term to describe a game, slow and plodding don’t work real well with that description. With a little more meat to the gameplay, I feel like this would have been a passable game, for what it is, it was a pretty big letdown. It’s ironic that Casper's a ghost, 'cause after playing this game, he's dead to me. Yeah, I'll end it on that. Played on: Playstation, 3DO Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 Giana Sisters Platform Ouya Initial Release Date June 28, 2013 (NA) Developer Kaasa Solution Genre Platformer My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 58.56/100 In the 80’s, there was a Super Mario Bros. clone called the Great Giana Sisters. Fast forward a few decades and the Giana Sisters came back…but without Great in the title. I think that’s because the developers knew that what they published didn’t really fit that description too well. To put it bluntly, Giana Sisters is a slow, boring take on the Super Mario Bros. formula, but instead of controlling an Italian plumber, you control…I think an Italian girl (is Giana an Italian name?) who is unemployed, either that or her employment status was left out. You can gain power ups that allow you to throw fireballs, jumping on most enemies defeats them, and you’ll even be breaking bricks by jumping up at them as you traverse through the levels…Unfortunately, it’s all pretty slow-paced and boring. Giana Sisters may be a good game for very young children to play – it’s extremely easy and the colorful graphics may keep them entertained. For anyone over the age of 6, though, boredom may set in really quickly. Giana Sisters is just short of passable, in my opinion. If there was a little more creativity in the level designs, maybe it wouldn’t feel as dull…but as it stands, it just feels like a cheap rip-off of a very well-known game. Played on: Ouya, iPhone Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/16/2021 Cabal Platform NES Initial Release Date June 1990 (NA) Developer Rare Ltd. Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 58.88/100 In Cabal, you face an army called D.R.A.T. I wanted to give this game a score of a million and two out of ten just because of that fact...But then I played it for a while and decided to settle with four and a half out of ten instead. The controls aren't exactly user friendly...I often found myself fighting with the game, not knowing why I had such a difficult time shooting enemies and getting my crosshairs on them. If the NES controller had dual analog sticks, it might relieve this game of some of the more frustrating aspects...But it doesn't, thus Cabal is a bit of a stinker...a stinker with an awesomely-named army for you to murder and a very comical dance celebration, with equally comical music, when you succeed in said murders. I’ve never seen so much joy from seeing someone bleed to death. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/08/2023 Takin' it to the Hoop Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date December 1, 1989 (JP) Developer Aicom Genre Sports - Basketball My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 54.15/100 Takin' it to the Hoop, or the less-cool-sounding "USA Basketball" that this game was titled in Japan, probably isn't as bad of a basketball game as you'd expect it to be. The box art of the game alone looks like zero effort was put into putting this game out onto store shelves. Quick side note to publishers - if armpit hair is features on the box art for your game, most people will expect the game to stink as badly as the odors coming from said armpit. Back to the game. Despite the generic box art, Takin' it to the Hoop does have some entertaining qualities to it - free throws and slam dunks are accompanied by a different screen than the standard court-side view, for example. The game also contains eight (unlicensed) teams to play as, and the gameplay itself isn't awful, though it make take some time to get used to everything. Shooting the ball, for example, requires you to hit the shoot button twice - once makes the player jump and the second button press makes him shoot. If your timing is off, and it will be when you start, you'll likely get penalized for traveling…especially if you were in motion when you jumped up for the shot. I can't imagine a lot of folks will stick around long enough to get used to how the game plays, though. While Takin' it to the Hoop wasn't the absolute train wreck that I had expected it to be, it's still not a game that I'd consider to be passable. It was an okay effort, but I feel like tis game needed a little more polish before being tossed onto store shelves. If you're a basketball fan, you may find something to like here. Everyone else will likely be Takin' it to the Trash shortly after playing. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: USA Pro Basketball (Japan)

Date added: 04/03/2020 Truck Racer Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date October 16, 2013 (EU) Developer Kylotonn Genre Racing My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 52.11/100 Truck Racer is a game where you can race semi trucks against each other where nudging the wall is like slamming on the brakes, fellow racers can ram into you and find themselves lodged within your truck allowing neither of you to go anywhere, and your “nitro boosts” seem to not do anything except make the number on the speedometer go up even though the truck doesn’t seem to gain any ground on the competition. The tracks are fine and all, and despite those complaints above, the computer seems to suffer from them just like you do, so it doesn’t always feel cheap…But it can be incredibly frustrating when you’re leading the race, and a car that you just lapped somehow rams into you from behind, lodging themselves into you mere feet from the finish line, and by the time you’re able to break free, you manage to place 5th instead. I’ve played worse racing games before, but that still doesn’t make Truck Racer any good. If you get the chance to play it, I really wouldn’t bother…or in trucker terms, 10-4, don’t bother. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2019 Cheetah Men (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Brawler My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 38.70/100 Cheetah Men or Action Gamemaster (I guess the developers couldn’t decide on a name so they used both) is the grand finale of Action 52...It starts with a cut-scene intro that you can’t skip and then the game begins...And it begins poorly. The controls are bad, the animation is bad, and the gameplay is boring. As you advance, though, the game gets better....Not a lot better, but a little better. The game also recycles enemies from the fifty-one other games you may or may not have played, so you get to beat up those once invincible Sadam Husseins that bothered you in Storm Over the Desert along the way, so that’s kinda neat. Cheetah Men obviously had a lot of attention put on it...Which is why I can’t understand how it’s still as bad as it is. Granted, it’s easily one of the top five games in Action 52...But if you’ve read the comments for each game, that’s not saying a whole lot. Cheetah Men was obviously the pride and joy of the folks who made Action 52...With that being said, I think it’s safe to assume that the developers who made these games have no pride and have never experienced joy. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/17/2020 Porky Pig's Haunted Holiday Platform Super NES Initial Release Date October 1995 (NA) Developer Phoenix Interactive Genre Platformer My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 56.89/100 Porky Pig's Haunted Holiday isn't what it sounds like...Any "holiday" like this needs to be abolished and wiped from the calendar…unless by “holiday” they mean vacation, in which case, I’d rather go back to work. This game is incredibly boring with zero difficulty for people patient enough to observe their surroundings before making sudden movements...And that includes the boss fights, which are some of the easiest that I've ever experienced. I understand that the game was likely designed for children, but I can’t imagine that any child above, maybe, a 2nd grade level would be entertained enough by the lack of challenge here. The levels are bland and boring, the soundtrack is equally bland and boring, the visuals actually aren’t bad at all, but the game as a whole is just a disappointment. It’s like the developers took a page out of Porky Pig’s book and stuttered their way through creating this game. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/21/2019 Mortal Kombat Gold Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date August 31, 1999 (NA) Developer Eurocom Genre Fighting My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 56.04/100 When it first released, the original Mortal Kombat instantly became a hit. While not as pick-up-and-play as Street Fighter was, the violence brought eyes to the product and the personality of the game and characters kept people coming back. Fast forward 7 years and Mortal Kombat Gold was released with largely the same gameplay, with just minor additions...and it showed that the series needed a change. If you were a Mortal Kombat nut and loved the original controls, you’d be right at home here…for everyone else, the game felt like it was behind the times. The inclusion of weapons to brandish and team mode helps a little, but not enough to make this worth playing for anyone but the most hardcore Mortal Kombat fans. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/21/2020 Knack Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date November 15, 2013 (NA) Developer SCE Japan Genre Brawler My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 55.35/100 I wanted to like Knack...At first glance, I thought it was going to basically be Katamari Damacy, except instead of rolling a ball around, you'd be beating up enemies and absorbing materials into Knack, the character you play as. Nope. Instead, Knack is just a boring, barely passable brawler with occasional interesting moments when Knack grows to tremendous sizes...But not interesting enough to make playing this a fun time. Children seem to like repetition when they're at certain ages, so this might be a decent game for them, but I have a feeling that a lot of older players will get very bored very quickly with this launch title that had so much potential to be so much more enjoyable than it actually ended up being. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/26/2019 Dam Busters (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 41.69/100 Dam Busters is a decent little top-down action title. Much like Operation Full Moon, it’s sub-par to other NES games, but in comparison to the other Action 52 titles, Dam Busters is pretty sweet. You control a beaver that throws what appears to be dice at other, evil beavers. The evil beavers also have dice, though, and don’t hesitate to throw dice your way, too. This would be welcome if it weren’t for the fact that your movement is severely limited most of the time due to roads and trails that you’re unable to leave...So, if a ton of dice are being thrown your way, you have no chance of dodging it because of this confinement. It’s the cheap deaths that arise from this problem that really bogs the game down...Otherwise, it may have gotten a respectable score. The only other issue I had with this game was the poor graphics. While they do look good in comparison to some of the other Action 52 games, they’re pretty awful for an NES game that came out in 1991...I’d say they’re more on par for a game that came out in 1986. But those gripes aside, this is one of the better Action 52 titles and worth checking out if you’re forced to play Action 52. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 Memrrtiks, Suashem Platform Ouya Initial Release Date June 27, 2013 (NA) Developer Terry Cavanagh Genre Action My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 48.13/100 Memrrtiks, Suashem is another very simplistic game from Terry Cavanagh. It’s similar in concept to Super Hexagon – the game itself probably won’t last more than a few seconds and your goal is to simply survive long enough to get a high score, then go back and attempt to beat that score. Unlike Super Hexagon, though, Memrrtiks, Suashem (sometimes I think Mr. Cavanagh was on the sauce when he named some of these games) isn’t quite as visually pleasing. In fact, the bizarre color scheme looks like a quilt that someone’s grandmother would have made if that grandmother only had three and a half fingers, one eye, and eyelashes hanging over the good eye like moss on a tree…I’m just imagining the moss lashes blocking her view…maybe I’m on the sauce without knowing it, too. Did someone spike my chocolate milk? Anyway, The odd color scheme doesn’t make it very easy to see what exactly is going on, so it really takes away from the game as a whole. Overall, if you liked Super Hexagon, you may appreciate this game as well, but I think most folks will agree, this is nowhere near the quality of Mr. Cavanagh’s more-simply-named game. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/25/2020 Drive for Life Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date 2005 (NA) Developer Climax Studios Genre Racing My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 61.45/100 Drive for Life is a racing game with a little bit of potential wrapped inside a bunch of horsehockey. If you’ve never played it before, here’s the premise – Volvo paid for a video game to be created like an interactive commercial, but the commercial was designed to make you hate Volvo and not want to buy their cars. I don’t think it was intentionally made that way, mind you, but that certainly was the end result. There are three vehicles to choose from. Each vehicle has a test to pass. If you pass the test, then you can participate in a race. That’s the whole interactive part of the game. The part of the game that looks the most interesting to play, the Safety Center, appears to be a mode where you crash vehicles…in reality, it’s just numerous videos of real-life safety test crashes from various angles to show you just how safe Volvos are. The racing parts are mildly fun, but aren’t nearly enough to save this shameless interactive advertisement. Using a game to advertise your product is fine…but dang it, at least make me want to buy your product. All Volvo did with this game was make me dislike their company and make me never want one of their vehicles in real life. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/07/2021 Touchdown Fever Platform NES Initial Release Date November 11, 1988 (JP) Developer SNK Genre Sports - Football My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 53.95/100 Touchdown Fever in the arcades wasn’t great. It was okay for football fans, but it lacked a lot of substance and the weird slow-then-fast movements of the players took a lot of getting used to. This 8-bit port of that game on the NES is even more awkward. I get that people don’t instantly move at top speed – it does take a second to gain that speed. However, in Touchdown Fever that speed transition is exaggerated to the point that if you’ve never played the game before, you may think that your controller is acting up until you realize that it’s just the running physics of the game. I focus on the running physics because that’s much of the game – you can pass the ball, but the interception rate seems to be pretty high. In other words, there’s a good chance that you’ll be doing mostly running plays. Anyway, SNK’s attempt at 8-bit football isn’t awful, but it’s also not passable. Anyone who was impressed by SNK’s efforts with the excellent Baseball Stars and is expecting similar excellence on the gridiron, you’ll be very disappointed. Played on: NES Also known as: American Football: Touch Down Fever (Japan)

Date added: 10/10/2022 Grabbed by the Ghoulies Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date October 21, 2003 (NA) Developer Rare, Ltd. Genre Adventure My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 59.44/100 When Rare was acquired by Microsoft, a lot of people thought that it was a game changer. Rare had a lot of success on the Super NES and Nintendo 64 creating popular games for Nintendo like Donkey Kong Country and Banjo-Kazooie and a lot of people expected the same results for Microsoft…and this was what Rare came out of the gate with. Grabbed by the Ghoulies, for me, served as a reminder that while Rare had built up a good reputation leading into their Xbox debut, they were also the developer that put out countless forgettable-to-awful games in the 8-bit era. In fairness, it looks like some people actually think fondly of this game - while you won't find many folks calling this a great game, you will find some that say that they enjoy it. I was not one of those people….at all. Grabbed by the Ghoulies gives you a very linear game, that's incredibly easy, but it's also slower than a sleepwalking snail covered in molasses. I fell asleep with my finger pressing forward on the joystick and I woke up 8 hours later to find that I the character on screen had only taken 6 steps. Okay, so that's exaggerating a bit. The gameplay movements aren't necessarily slow…it's more the pace of the game. I played for about two hours and was completely ready for this game to be over…then looked up the average completion time, which was 6.5 hours, and I went, "Nope. I did not give permission for these Ghoulies to grab me and I will call the authorities if they continue to try." Aside from the bland gameplay, the game is filled with poor attempts at humor and one of the absolute worst "theme songs" in gaming history…and the worst part is that even though it's bad, it'll still probably get stuck in your head. I hear it now…but that could be because I lost some sanity playing this. Anyway, I did not care for Grabbed by the Ghoulies, if you couldn't tell, but I can see small children finding amusement in it. So, if you want your child to play a creepy (for kids) game for Halloween, then this may be a decent choice. Other than the kids, though, I really can't recommend this to anyone. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/18/2023 Ex-Mutants Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1992 (NA) Developer Malibu Genre Action My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 57.65/100 The Ex-Mutant comic books were kind of a unique concept…With Marvel's X-Men being a popular comic book about mutants living amongst normal people, the Ex-Mutants is a not-nearly-as-popular comic book about normal people living amongst mutants. Normal people being superior to people with mutant abilities, eh? That's kinda like someone saying that an empty candy bar wrapper is superior to the wrapper with the candy bar still in it, isn't it? Anyway, Ex-Mutants, aside from the weird concept of the comic book, just isn't a very good game. Controlling either a fella or a lady, whose names I didn't bother memorizing, your goal is to make your way through various stages of bland action until you battle the final boss, whom I also did not bother memorizing, and then you watch my favorite part of the game…the credits. I'm slightly exaggerating….slightly. Ex-Mutants isn't THAT terrible, but it really isn't anything worth playing unless you're one of the few folks that loved the comic book series and would love to play a video game adaption of the comic book. I'd imagine that playing this may actually cause some of them to become Ex-Fans. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Depth Charge (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 45.29/100 Depth Charge is an interesting 3rd-person shooter. Instead of shooting left-and-right like a horizontal scrolling shooter, or shooting up from the bottom of the screen, like many early shooters, in Depth Charge you control a boat at the top of the screen and you're actually attacking from the top of the screen, aiming downward, with your attacks focused on submarines that are floating beneath you. Instead of firing bullets, though, you're dropping mines. It's not an awful game when there's actually something happening on the screen…but like similar Action 52 games, you'll have several second gaps where you've got absolutely nothing to do because no submarines are making their way onto the screen. Ironically, despite its name, there's not really a lot of depth here. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/17/2022 Dr. HELLO Platform Sega Master System Initial Release Date December 2, 1992 (KO) Developer Gam*Boy Genre Puzzle My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 52.13/100 Dr. HELLO was a Korean-developed game for the Sega Master System where the developers just went crazy with ripping off copyrighted items. The most obvious rip-off is that Dr. HELLO is just Dr. Mario, but with inferior graphics and on a Sega console. The box art adds even more copyrights infringed on, with various Dragon Quest enemies plastered on the game's cover and Dr. Wily from Mega Man on the spine of the box…the developer is even called Gam*Boy, which looks suspiciously like Game Boy, the popular handheld that was one of the initial homes of Dr. Mario. On a quick side note, I do like how on the back of Korean box art, they actually list the release date on them…that's usually a pain to discover (if you even can) on obscure games like this one. Anyway, all of that ripping off wouldn't be so bad if the gameplay was just as solid (or preferably better) than Dr. Mario…but it doesn't feel like it is. Controls feel delayed at times, and the game as a whole simply feels like Dr. Mario was ported over to the Master System, with some of it lost in translation between the consoles. If you lack access to any consoles or handhelds that have the official Dr. Mario game, but somehow have a Master System capable of playing Korean games, then Dr. HELLO may be a worthwhile experience. If you've played Dr. Mario or have access to anything that will let you play Dr. Mario, then Dr. HELLO will likely provide an initial laugh as you compare the games, but a minute or two into playing, you'll find yourself wishing that you were flipping and strategically placing pills in the game with the Italian plumber doctor instead. Played on: Sega Master System Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 Air Pressure Platform Ouya Initial Release Date July 23, 2013 (NA) Developer bentosmile Genre Adventure - Visual Novel My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 52.54/100 I like Air Pressure, but it's extremely short...Like beat it in three minutes, see all scenarios play out in ten minutes short. It's a visual novel, so it's nice to see that style of game get made here in North America (that genre is pretty big in Japan) even if it is extremely short and limited in content. It's worth checking out if you've never experienced a visual novel, so you can see what they're like without having to devote a ton of time into it. Otherwise, this is an okay, just shy of passable, and very, very short potential intro into the genre that is largely ignored outside of Japan. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/14/2022 Bellator: MMA Onslaught Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date July 3, 2012 (NA) Developer Kung Fu Factory Genre Fighting My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 51.43/100 Supposedly this was nominated by Neoseeker to be the Best Sports Game and Best Fighting Game at E3 one year…That makes me glad that I don't get any information of any kind from Neoseeker. The only thing that Bellator: MMA Onslaught is the best at is it's the best Bellator game…because there has never been another one since. If this was a good game that had success, you'd imagine it would have gotten a sequel in the last decade, eh? Anyway, Bellator is basically a poor clone of the original Ultimate Fighting Championship game. I saw a poor clone because the gameplay really isn't anything special. If it was the only MMA game ever released, I'd probably be a little more lenient with my score…but several solid MMA games have been released before and since, and Bellator's bland combat simply doesn't match up with those other games well. Besides the combat, the game modes are also lacking. Essentially, they're the same modes as found in the original UFC games…released over a decade before this game came out. Even if the combat was the greatest ever seen in an MMA game, there's not enough content to keep anyone entertained for more than a few minutes at most. Bellator: MMA Onslaught isn't the worst fighting game or even the worst MMA game ever made, but it still lacks gameplay and content to be a passable game. Instead of an Onslaught, this is more of a Yawnslaught. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/04/2021 Zoocube Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date May 5, 2002 (NA) Developer PuzzleKings Genre Puzzle My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 62.31/100 Zoocube is a game that I’ve looked at for a long time, but never actually played. Then I played it…and I kinda wish I had continued that non-play streak. When it was a mystery, it was so much cooler than what it actually is. For those not in the know, Zoocube is a game where blocks representing animals float from various areas of the screen towards a cube in the middle. Your goal is to rotate that cube so that the animal block lands on a side of the cube that you want. Then, keep rotating the cube until you can match three animal blocks to make them disappear, and to also make a decapitated animal head appear…almost like it’s giving you a decapitated thank you. As the rounds get faster, it feels like you’re in one of those rubix cube solution contests, just spinning the cube around, hoping to get the solution that you’re aiming for. As an animal lover, I was hoping to really enjoy Zoocube. Instead, I’ve discovered that I’m very thankful that since its release into the wild retail shelves, Zoocube has basically become extinct. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/16/2024 My Name is Mayo 2 Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date November 17, 2020 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Green Lava Studios Genre Action My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 53.00/100 While the first My Name is Mayo was not necessarily a good game, per say, I enjoyed it for the creativity from the developer by using the trophies/achievements to tell a story as they unlock. My Name is Mayo 2 is kind of more of the same. While I wouldn't call it a passable game, it's still got a charm to it like the first one did, and some of the images found as you play through this game are a bit more detailed. So, while this is still a game where you're basically just mashing a button, then changing menus, you can tell that Green Lava Studios put MUCH more effort into this than some of the other "easy trophy/achievement" games out there. Anyway, if you found mild amusement in the first My Name is Mayo, you'll likely find the same amount of amusement here. If you wished the on-screen finger would come out of the screen and poke your eyes out so you wouldn't have to play anymore, then your feelings won't change when playing this one. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2023 Squirrel Stapler Platform PC Initial Release Date September 11, 2023 (NA) Developer David Szymanski Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 54.90/100 The description of Squirrel Stapler on Steam is simple - "Hunt squirrels, staple them to a corpse, and meet god." And that's really what this game is, with the addition of finding documents and exploring the little forest surrounding your cabin. If you've read other entries on this list, then you're probably aware that I've got a soft spot for bizarre games…and the main goal of stapling squirrels to a corpse is up there amongst the more bizarre concepts I've seen in a game. Unfortunately, Squirrel Stapler isn't very good. Hunting squirrels, the primary focus of the gameplay, feels tedious and boring. I found myself not really wanting to continue to the end by the second day (your goal is to complete five days) but I was also curious to see what awaited me if I managed to complete my hunting and stapling tasks, so I pushed through. Unfortunately, I wasn't really rewarded for my suffering. For what it is, Squirrel Stapler is a so-so, short game that fans of the bizarre will likely find some mild enjoyment in. For everyone else, though, it'll be an awful first-person shooter with a bit of a demented theme to it. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/14/2023 Barbie: Explorer Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date April 9, 2001 (EU) Developer Runecraft Genre Platformer My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 58.38/100 Barbie: Explorer is kinda like a less-charming, less-enjoyable, less-playable….well, less-everything Crash Bandicoot. Similar to the original Crash games, you're essentially moving up and down the screen and platforming along the way, while collecting hearts and gems. That concept on its own is perfectly fine…and if this game had more time and effort put into it, it may have actually been fun. Unfortunately, just about everything here from the poor controls, to the awkward movements of Barbie, to some awful camera angle changes at wrong times, to very bland level designs…it's all bad. It's kind of insulting, actually. This game was designed for girls…either the designers were just trying to make a quick buck off the Barbie license or they really thought that girls wouldn't be able to tell when a game is poor or not…neither option is the most desirable attitude for a game developer to have. Anyway, despite my gripes, this game actually does have minor depth to it as far as stereotypical Barbie games go. If you're a Barbie fanatic and willing to deal with poor gameplay, then you might find some mild enjoyment here. Anyone else that gives it a shot will likely be exploring for another game to play instead. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Barbie: Aventuriere (Europe)

Date added: 10/21/2020 Ghost Manor Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date 1992 (NA) Developer ICOM Simulations Genre Platformer My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 55.10/100 Ghost Manor is an okay platformer on the TurboGrafx-16. By okay, I mean not very good…but still mildly enjoyable. I enjoy the graphical look and style of the game…to a degree, I even enjoy the level design. What I don’t enjoy is how the game controls. Platforming can often feel less like fun and more like a chore required to see more of the game. Not only that, but despite my praise of the graphical look, the platforms often blend in with the backgrounds…so you may not know exactly where to go. I found myself just shrugging and thinking, “Oh well, lets try it,” and just jumping towards things that I thought could possibly be platforms. Sometimes I was right. Sometimes I found myself falling like a bungie jumper without a cord. Anyway, Ghost Manor isn’t the worst platformer I’ve ever played, but I definitely wouldn’t call it passable, either. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/04/2022 3-D Tetris Platform Nintendo Virtual Boy Initial Release Date March 22, 1996 (NA) Developer T&E Soft Genre Puzzle My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 58.42/100 3-D Tetris is named as such because there are three words that start with D that can be used to describe it - dull, drab, and dismal. The goal, as you might expect, is to drop blocks down into a transparent rectangular cube, with the blocks disappearing when you fill up every space within a level of that cube. While an okay enough of a concept, 3-D Tetris just doesn't execute it very well, in my opinion. The 3D aspect makes this game annoying as it's not always easy to gauge if a block is going to wind up where you want it to…and in certain modes, the next shape is given hair and a face, which covers up what kind of block it is, which makes trying to plan a move ahead something that isn't always possible. I'm assuming to make up for these shortcomings, T&E Soft made this game move at a snail's pace…even when you reach the more difficult levels…if you don't fall asleep from boredom before getting that far. 3-D Tetris isn't the worst puzzle game that I've ever played, but it's still not very good. It's definitely not worth taking the risk of getting the red-light headaches that the Virtual Boy had a reputation of dishing out. 3-D Tetris should be placed in the fourth D…the dumpster. A 2D Tetris would have been much, much better than this. Played on: Arcade Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/19/2019 Paradise Platform Arcade Initial Release Date Unknown Developer Yun Sung Genre Action My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 55.79/100 Paradise is basically Qix…but with topless lady folk and a mild twist on the formula. Instead of trying to clear the entire board, you’re really only trying to clear the silhouette of the lady in the background. As you unveil her, she’s a green tint…probably because like the Hulk when he becomes enraged, she’s angry that you’re playing this game. Once you get the specified percentage of her revealed, all of the enemies on the screen die and you get rewarded with the green photo becoming a color photo. Also worth mentioning are the bizarre bonus games that pop up…like match the convict’s foot print. How matching the footprints of criminals ties into this game is beyond me…unless of course, you consider that it’s a crime that this was released instead of something that relied more on gameplay and less on boobs…in which case, match those footprints away, amigo. In fairness, this is still one of the better adult-oriented games that I’ve played…but that really isn’t saying much. Played on: Arcade Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/28/2022 Beetlejuice Platform NES Initial Release Date May 1991 (NA) Developer Rare, Ltd. Genre Platformer My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 42.54/100 You wanna know why I don't generally trust video games based off of television shows or movies? Because more often than not, it seems, I find myself wanting to like a game because I liked the movie or tv show…and it disappoints me like a child that fails to make me a millionaire. I didn't have you start working in sweatshops at age five just so you can be making minimum wage, Giuseppe. Get out there and make something of yourself on the Tik Toks or whatever the young'uns flock to these days. Anyway, Beetlejuice is the equivalent to my fictional son Giuseppe…it tries to make me happy, like Giuseppe tries to make me money, and both have mild success but ultimately fail at what they set out to do. This game has its moments where I think it would have been a decent game had Rare put more time into it. The concept is somewhat neat - platform around as the ghost with the most. The only real offense that you have (aside from stomping and jumping on the heads of some creatures) comes in the form of "scares" where you are able to transform into a creature, like a skeleton that throws bones, which you can purchase at stores found in various parts of the game. You need to either whoop a lot of baddies to stock up on scares, or be very careful when you decide to use them. Especially in later levels, it's not difficult to run out of scares when you need them the most. When you're not platforming, you're wandering around in a top-down perspective, like a not-fun Legend of Zelda. While Beetlejuice definitely isn't the world platformer I've ever played, I really liked the ideas found here, which made me even more disappointed that this game wound up as poorly as it is…and y'know, I've only said the name of the game twice in this paragraph. Maybe if I say it a third time, it'll make this game go away so I don't have to play it again…..Beetlejuice. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/12/2022 Kabuki Warriors Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date November 19, 2001 (NA) Developer Light Weight Genre Fighting My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 44.03/100 I seem to like Kabuki Warriors a little more than the average person. That's not to say that I think Kabuki Warriors is a good game - it's not - but I appreciate its ideas, even if its execution and the gameplay feels like it’s a bit lacking. Basically, instead of your standard arcade mode, where you battle a set number of fighters, the number of fighters you battle in Kabuki Warriors depends on your skill. Depending on how well you fight, the audience may throw money at you. Collect enough money and you can bypass stages and finish the game much faster. Likewise, the game starts out with you only having access to some very generic fighters. You've got a team of three and you face a team of three, but all one-on-one fights. So, if you win two straight matches against the computer, your third fighter never actually fights. The fighters that you defeat, you can choose to recruit to replace a fighter currently on your team. If you play the game right, by the time you reach the end, instead of generic fighter vs. generic fighter, the teams of both yourself and the computer will likely have a much more colorful cast of fighters. Unfortunately, despite that being a unique, mildly fun concept, it's not necessarily done well. It feels like far too much of that mode (Tour mode) is controlling and battling against generic, boring fighters. Playing through that mode only took me 30 minutes, but it felt a bit longer than that. Generic fighters aside, Kabuki Warriors has another flaw…the gameplay is not very good. I've played worse fighting games before, but that still doesn't make the action in Kabuki Warriors any less boring. If the novelty of playing as a Kabuki fighting on a stage in front of a crowd sounds interesting to you, you might find some mild enjoyment here. Everyone else, however, will likely give up on the game long before Tour mode comes to an end. Played on: Xbox Also known as: Zan Kabuki (Japan)

Date added: 11/07/2023 AEW Fight Forever Platform Sony Playstation 5 Initial Release Date June 29, 2023 (W) Developer Yuke's Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 55.24/100 How I feel about AEW Fight Forever is how I feel about AEW as a whole. I want to like it…but after giving it a chance and spending some time with it, I realize that it's not for me. AEW Fight Forever's gameplay is supposedly based off of WWF No Mercy…but this doesn't feel like No Mercy to me. It feels more like when Yuke's made their version of No Mercy gameplay on Nintendo's Gamecube 20 years ago. It's not terrible, but it's not as timeless as No Mercy…instead, it's gameplay that shows its age. WWE games, developed by Yuke's, had gotten better over the last 20 years and the number of wrestlers in the ring has increased as well. AEW Fight Forever's gameplay is so far in the past that it doesn't just play mechanically like a 20-year-old wrestling game, other aspects seem stuck in the past as well. Four wrestlers are allowed in the ring at a time at most. AEW is a promotion with two separate pairs of six-man tag team titles and you can't have those kinds of matches in this game. You can, however, have a bland deathmatch and the casino battle royale (AEW's gambling addiction-inspired spin on the Royal Rumble)…and honestly, after 20 years of gameplay with six or more wrestlers allowed in the ring at a time, a battle royal with only four people in the ring at once just isn't as fun as it was a few decades ago. I also hated the story mode…I HAVE to join the Inner Circle? I thought that was one of the worst groups in wrestling history…and even if I decline the offer to join, I'm forced in anyway? You're given choices like they will actually mean something and then you find out that your choices amount to nothing. You'll go where the game says you'll go. I'm not even going to go into the minigames…you wasted space in this game to put pointless mini games that I can't imagine too many folks will invest a lot of time in, when you could have, and should have, either beefed up your roster with more talent or include more match types since boredom sets in pretty quickly with this game. Or fix the bugs…When I go to the ring with a record of 7 and 3, and after my victory, my record jumps up to 10 and 1, there's something wrong. I really wanted to like Fight Forever, just like I really wanted to like AEW's television show, Dynamite. But much like Dynamite, I found myself not wanting anything to do with this game after spending a few hours with it. AEW recently, but briefly, managed to finally make me want to watch its product with AEW Collision. Maybe if they can improve on Fight Forever by getting rid of the useless aspects, focusing on the in-ring action, and delivering with enough good modes and match types to keep you coming back for more, then their video games may win me over too….or it may end up like Collision did after a few weeks - it'll draw me in, just to push me away further than before. Played on: Playstation 5 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/25/2021 Human Cannonball Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1978 (NA) Developer Atari Genre Action My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 59.95/100 I always wanted to be a Human Cannonball…in some ways, I was when I was younger. I never got shot from a cannon, but I shot myself off of rooftops like a cannonball, flipping and landing on my back without any padding. If anyone reading this doesn’t know me personally, yes, that is sadly true. If anyone reading this does know me personally, well…you’ve probably seen the videos. Anyway, Human Cannonball on the Atari 2600 is okay, but it lacks anything to really keep you coming back for more...the premise is that you want to adjust the angle that the cannon is going to fire at, based on the velocity that the cannon will spew out the person inside. Once airborn, you want to move what is apparently supposed to be a bunch of padding or a giant, frosted wedding cake…whatever it is, I assume it’s soft and safe…but you want to move that left or right and try to catch the person that you just fired out of the cannon. That’s pretty much the whole game. It’s amusing for maybe a minute or two, but there really isn’t much to it, so I can’t imagine too many folks would come back for more. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/26/2020 The Addams Family: Pugsley's Scavenger Hunt Platform NES Initial Release Date 1992 (EU) Developer Enigma Variations Genre Platformer My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 53.93/100 Pugsley’s Scavenger Hunt is the NES game that followed the Addams Family. It feels like a dumbed-down version of the Genesis Addams Family game, except with you controlling Pugsley instead of Gomez. Several of the same environments and several of the same enemies from the Genesis game doesn’t help when the controls and gameplay feel worse. Maybe that’s why it’s incredibly easy to find 1-ups as you bounce from platform to platform around each level. Because of the abundance of extra lives, it pretty much removes any amount of difficulty…Honestly, wouldn’t it have been easier to simply make it a game with infinite continues when you’re going to allow me to rack up more lives than I’ll probably use during the course of the game? But anyway, I’ve played worse platformers than Pugsley’s Scavenger Hunt, but this still isn’t a passable game. In my opinion, of all the Addam’s Family games on the NES, this one is the bottom of the barrel. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/29/2020 Simple 2000 Series Vol. 64: The Splatter Action Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date October 14, 2004 (JP) Developer Vingt-et-un Systems Genre Brawler My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 56.54/100 I think that if a little more development time was put into The Splatter Action (Splatter Master in Europe) to improve on various aspects of the gameplay, it would be a surprisingly good game. That said, it's still better than I thought it would be. Basically, it feels like a Splatterhouse rip-off with the gore, but with more free-range in the levels that kind of reminded me of blander versions of some levels found in Battletoads. It's also kinda cutesy, which I kind of like since it makes the blood almost seem out of place, but in a good kind of way. Unfortunately, the game does not play the best. The brawling is pretty bland...though the chainsaw does add a little, it still doesn't do enough to prevent the levels from feeling repetitive up to the boss fights. This game had potential and some nice personality to it, unfortunately, it will most likely disappoint most folks that give it a try. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: Splatter Master (Europe)

Date added: 07/09/2022 Marvel Super Heroes in War of the Gems Platform Super NES Initial Release Date November 18, 1996 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Brawler My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 63.09/100 War of the Gems is a game that I always wanted when I was younger. It's understandable why when you looked at screenshots in magazines back when it was released - it's a very good-looking game. Unfortunately, in life you find out that good-looking people sometimes aren't the best quality of people, and the same can be said about video games. Marvel Super Heroes in War of the Gems is a beautiful model with a brain the size of a pea and the personality of a cheese grater. Visually, it looks like a great game. Unfortunately, once the gameplay begins, you begin to see it for what it is - a very awful, very simplistic brawler. You can choose who you want to play as before each level, which is nice. You can switch between Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America, Wolverine, and the Hulk across the various levels, so you can actually play as everyone in a single playthrough instead of having to devote yourself to five playthroughs to play as everyone. Aside from that positive, and the look of the game, it's pretty much downhill from there. The combat itself is about as boring as it can get. When you look in the options and see that the controls consist of one button to attack and one button to jump, that's a clue of what you're getting yourself into when you play. Yes, there are combos and some special moves to pull out…but none of them are really spectacular or do anything to add to the experience. Anyway, War of the Gems had potential to be a decent game, and maybe it's because this was released after Capcom had already moved most of its focus to the Saturn and Playstation, but it feels like Capcom (who had put out several really good brawlers previously on the Super NES) may have just quickly thrown something together to fulfill a contract obligation or something, because they'd proven in the past that they knew how to make a really good, enjoyable brawler…unfortunately, this is definitely not one of them. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/21/2020 Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms Platform Nintendo Game Boy Advance Initial Release Date November 23, 2002 (NA) Developer 3d6 Games Genre Brawler My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 90.52/100 Altered Beast was an okay game back when it was released, but it also suffered from some poor-feeling controls. A few decades later, and Altered Beast gets itself a sequel on the Game Boy Advance and while the game looks pretty nice, the control issues are still there. The game has other aspects that actually make it feel like a step back from the original Altered Beast...Like how levels seem to last forever before you're able to collect enough orbs to transform into a beast. This VERY basic brawler has no exciting aspects to the gameplay to justify the length of the bland levels...The boss fights are fun, but not fun enough to make the journey to them worthwhile. Want to play Altered Beast? Get the original. Played on: Game Boy Advance Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Star Duel (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 45.44/100 Star Duel is another mandatory two-player game on the Genesis Action 52 game cartridge. This one isn't awful, though. Both players control a triangular space ship and the goal is to shoot at the other player's ship. The catch is that both ships control like the ship in Asteroids, so unless you're an Asteroids master, this isn't exactly a pick-up-and-play control scheme. This can result in some good times, as both you and your friends fly past each other and frantically attempt to turn around and fly towards each other again to line up some shots to blow each other's ships to smithereens. This is basically just feels like a slightly faster-paced Space War from the Atari 2600, honestly. That's not necessarily bad…but it is kind of sad that one of the better games that Active Enterprises ever made was a rip off of a game from over a decade earlier. Still, if you've got a friend up for some space battles, this isn't a terrible game to play. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/11/2022 Dynamite Dux Platform Sega Master System Initial Release Date 1989 (EU) Developer Sega Genre Brawler My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 60.50/100 I generally like brawlers. I generally like cartoons. I generally like odd and bizarre games. Dynamite Dux checks all of those off, so I should love this game…unfortunately, I just simply don't. If you attempt to complete this game like most side-scrolling brawlers by defeating all enemies that cross your path, the game can feel tedious and dull pretty quickly…seemingly, the developers knew this and made it so that you don't really have to pummel many of your opponents…you can just mosey on by and walk past them if you wish. The duck that you take control of to maim the other cartoon animals, has the ability to deliver a very powerful punch if you hold down the attack button. While it's not necessary to use to complete the game, it does make completing the game easier and take less time to do. Aside from the super duck punch, and assorted weaponry that you'll come across to temporarily use, the combat can become very monotonous by the end of the game…and no cartoony aspect, colorful graphics, or bizarre concept can make up for that, unfortunately. I wish I could say a bunch of good things about Dynamite Dux, but unfortunately, the good here is only minimal. If you want an easy brawler with a different look than most other brawlers, then you may like Dynamite Dux, but everyone else should probably stay the Dux away from this. Played on: Sega Master System Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/26/2022 Rampage: Total Destruction Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date April 24, 2006 (NA) Developer Pipeworks Software, Inc. Genre Action My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 59.41/100 I've always had a little bit of a soft spot in my heart for the Rampage games…but at the same time, they've never really hooked me, either. Afterall, destroying buildings and such as a giant monster is fun and all, but traditionally, the series never managed to change the gameplay up enough to prevent me from getting bored after only a few minutes. Unfortunately, Total Destruction didn't fix that for me…in fact, in some ways, it's worse. It's odd to say that since Total Destruction introduces a big, ol' selection of new characters to destroy buildings with…but each character largely plays the same. Same goes with the levels…some of the details may be a little different from city to city, but most of the buildings start looking the same after playing for a while. Another downside is that the developers attempted to give the player more movement in this game in comparison to other games in the series…unfortunately, this actually hurt the game more than helps it. Things that were relatively simple to do in previous games, like pick folks up to eat 'em, can be frustrating to do in Total Destruction. Even with all of its flaws, though, if you want a mindless game to pass 5-10 minutes of time, then Rampage: Total Destruction isn't an awful choice…if you want something to pass more than 5-10 minutes in one sitting, though, I would definitely pick something else instead. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/23/2024 Fighting Angels Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date June 24, 2004 (JP) Developer Tamsoft Genre Fighting My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 58.48/100 I really should hate Fighting Angels…I really should. But this game is just so dang bizarre that I can't help but find enjoyment in it. Fighting Angels was a game released in Europe and Japan and features an assortment of bikini-clad gals battling it out in a sub-par fighting game. In a "that seems backwards" way, all of the fighters start out in bikinis…beating the game with a character gives you a new costume for them, which means that they're wearing more clothing. So, unlike most pervy games, where the goal is to win so the characters remove clothing, you're actually playing this game in an effort to get some more clothing on these poor, freezing women. What makes me really enjoy this game more than I should, though, is how ridiculous the fighting is. Sure, you can do a complete fight where it's just fist against fist…but for an unexplained reason, weapons randomly get tossed into the ring. So, you may be taking the whooping of a lifetime from your opponent, but if you happen to get your hands on the machine gun that was just tossed into the ring, you can really turn the tide of the fight. Bizarre, ridiculous aspects aside, the fighting in this game really isn't very good. The only thing that kept me playing was to see what absurd thing was going to happen next. Anyway, if you can put up with sub-par gameplay for some odd entertainment, then you may find some enjoyment in Fighting Angels. Everyone else, though, may struggle to find any enjoyment here. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: Simple 2000 Series Vol. 55: The Catfight: Joneko Densetsu (Japan)

Date added: 03/25/2022 Robocop Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date July 24, 2003 (NA) Developer Titus Software Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 43.85/100 Y'know, I want to like Robocop. I want it to be a bad, cheesy, but ultimately entertaining experience…kind of like the movies that this game was inspired by. In some ways, it succeeds…I found myself playing this WAY longer than I anticipated. Unfortunately, the negatives here bog the game down quite a bit. While not necessarily a difficult game, it can feel VERY tedious. Making that tedious feeling even worse, there aren't any checkpoints…and each level takes a while to complete. I honestly didn't time them, but they FEEL like they take an hour or two to complete…so having to start one from the beginning after dying made me groan. Also annoying are the enemies themselves. A red triangle will appear on screen to point in the direction an enemy is when they're shooting holes in you…but at least half of the time when you turn around in that direction, there's no enemy there or there is one, but nowhere near where the triangle made you believe. I get that enemies can move in a game…but most of the enemies in Robocop seem to stay pretty stationary - they don't move that far of a distance very quickly. So either it's poor design, or the developers made all enemies in this game like killers in a slasher film, where they move at a snail's pace when you're looking at them, but seemingly sprint like an Olympian from Kenya when you look the other direction. Anyway, Robocop isn't the worst game in the world, but unfortunately, it falls short of being a so-bad-it's-good game, and it's instead just a bad game that you may find mild enjoyment in. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/28/2021 Chuck E. Cheese's Sports Games Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date March 3, 2011 (NA) Developer UFO Interactive Genre Sports My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 54.74/100 Chuck E. Cheese’s Sports Games is a HUGE jump up from the rat’s previous game that was supposed to simulate playing in the Chuck E. Cheese restaurant. While I liked the concept of the previous game a lot, the execution of the game just fell flat. Instead of being a simulation of visiting everyone’s favorite rat-infested child casino, this is more of a Wii Sports rip-off. The result is still flawed, but much better than the previous game. Some games like bowling, are mildly fun, but seem to require zero skill…I nearly got a 300 game on my first attempt at playing. Then games like baseball, tennis, and hockey are pretty boring. The other sports, which also include fishing, kart racing, water gun shooting, and a mystery game that I didn’t care enough to unlock, aren’t great…maybe the mystery game is, but looking at the other games in the compilation, I wouldn’t bet on it. The only game that I’d be willing to pop this in again to play is mini golf, which is done fairly well. If they had released Chuck E. Cheese Mini Golf, and just created more mini golf courses and such, I think they’d have a decent game on their hands. Anyway, Sports Games is a major improvement on Party Games, but it’s still not really anything worth going out of your way to play. Played on: Wii Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/05/2021 Big Mutha Truckers Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date August 16, 2003 (NA) Developer Eutechnyx Genre Racing My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 62.53/100 Big Mutha Truckers…isn’t that great, honestly. It tries. It has some interesting aspects, and it’s not nearly as awful as I expected it to be, but it’s just shy of being good. Basically, Big Mutha Truckers takes some aspects from Sega’s 18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker, but attempts to improve upon them by adding additional hazards while driving and the ability to purchase items between races…Unfortunately, those things aren’t able to stop repetition from creeping in. You’ve got 60 days to make as much money as you can by driving cargo to destinations…after just a few trips into those 60 days, the repetition of doing almost the same thing over and over sets in. At that point, only the most dedicated will likely continue to play. I actually enjoyed the first few days of racing with Big Mutha Truckers, and I think most others will as well…But if you plan on sitting through this game for the long haul, just be prepared to do what feels like the same task over and over again for 60 races to get there. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/21/2020 Monster Pro Wrestling Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date November 22, 1991 (JP) Developer Lenar Genre Strategy - Wrestling My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 53.91/100 It's Halloween season…which means I needed to find a wrestling game appropriate for the time of year. What? I’m a professional wrestling fan. Anyway, Monster Puroresu (also known as Monster Pro Wrestling) gave me what I was looking for on the TurboGrafx-16…Actually, I suppose I should call it the PC Engine like they do in Japan, where this game was an exclusive. Monster Puroresu is more of a rock, paper, scissors style strategy than traditional wrestling game. Maybe rock, paper, scissors isn’t a good description…it’s more like picking an action, putting a blindfold on, then throwing a dart at a dartboard. While you do gain points to assign to attributes like in an RPG, unless your stats are far greater than your opponents, it basically just comes down to luck whether you win or not. The highly animated facial expressions remind me of American pro wrestling more so than the Japanese style, but it definitely adds some personality to a game that would otherwise be pretty lame. The assorted moves (like ramming your opponents head into the ring post to cause a gusher) are fun to see, but the luck-based gameplay does get old fairly quickly. As a wrestling fan, I enjoyed my time with this odd game, but I can’t imagine that anyone aside from wrestling fans would find a whole lot to like here. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: Monster Puroresu

Date added: 10/25/2019 Texas Chainsaw Massacre Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer VSS Genre Action My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 48.68/100 Halloween, despite it not being a masterpiece, is one of my guilty pleasures on the Atari 2600. The other game that Wizard Video published was another horror-themed title, but I don’t feel it’s quite up to the same quality. Unlike in Halloween, where you’re fleeing from Michael Myers, in Texas Chainsaw Massacre you’re playing as Leatherface and it’s your goal to murder as many people as possible with your chainsaw that looks like a rotating key. The game can be mildly fun as you have a limited amount of fuel for your chainsaw – you run out and you’ll get kicked in the rear and it’s game over. Even if the chainsaw is simply sitting idle, fuel is being used, and if you happen to run into any obstacles, and you will (if your toes touch a wheelchair, it counts as running into it) you’ve gotta chainsaw your way through them to continue stalking your victims. On a comical note, Wizard Video put in a high-pitched tone when your victims appear on the screen, which I’m pretty sure is to emulate them screaming in terror. Anyway, despite the controversial goal in the game, it’s the Atari 2600 – there’s nothing really gruesome about anything that you see. For what it is, Texas Chainsaw Massacre can be mildly fun, but it’s still not all that great. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/28/2019 Backyard Wrestling: Don't Try This at Home Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date October 9, 2003 (NA) Developer Paradox Entertainment Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 49.37/100 Ahh, geez…where do I start? Backyard Wrestling has a subtitle of “Don’t Try This at Home.” I think the game is warning you of what’s in store if you decide to play. Basically, in Backyard Wrestling you essentially have a level full of stuff do climb, throw your opponent off of, throw at your opponent, and put your opponent through…which sounds pretty fun. The problem is that the computer can be pretty cheap (including non-stop throwing of items that apparently have homing capabilities), and even on the lowest difficulty setting in talk show mode, you’re pretty much leaving yourself open for your opponent to juggle you to death unless you stick to basic punches and kicks…or climb a ledge and repeatedly throw your opponent off of it. If you just play basic matches and don’t care if you win or lose, however, that’s when this game is at its best and you find yourself experimenting with everything…unfortunately, even after unlocking everything, there just isn’t enough to do here to keep most folks playing for long. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/28/2019 4PM Platform PC Initial Release Date July 9, 2014 (NA) Developer 4PM GAME Genre Adventure My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 46.94/100 4PM is a very short game that's essentially an interactive short story...Unfortunately, the controls kinda stink. They're not terrible, but they just don't feel right when you play...almost awkward. But anyway, 4PM tackles both suicide and alcoholism in its story, and while it’s not a deep story, it is somewhat interesting to see how the two come together in the way that they do...it's not quite how you'd imagine they would. Anyway, if you've got 25 minutes to kill and you're looking for a quick game to complete, this would be a decent choice. It's not great by any means, but you could do a whole lot worse than this. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/28/2019 Title Match Pro Wrestling Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1987 (NA) Developer Imagineering Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 59.91/100 I think the best way to describe Title Match Pro Wrestling is that it's basically a thumb-wrestling match in video form. It is extremely basic, but when playing with a friend it can actually be kind of fun - kind of like thumb wrestling - very basic, not deep at all, but can be enjoyable for a few minutes when playing with a someone to trade smack talk with. When the game first released, there were already a few good wrestling games on the market, so this game didn't make much of a splash, but had it been released in the late 70's when the Atari launched, it may have gained some popularity. Either way, if you love wrestling games, Title Match Pro Wrestling is worth a shot if you've got a friend around to play with...But even then, you might get bored after a few bouts. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/20/2019 World Series Baseball 2K1 Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date July 17, 2000 (NA) Developer Wow Entertainment Genre Sports - Baseball My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 53.95/100 I absolutely loved the World Series Baseball games on the Saturn. I thought that they were the best 3D baseball games I had ever played. So, it made sense that I was excited for the franchise to debut on the Dreamcast…Unfortunately, it didn’t really come close to meeting my expectations….at all. A lack of game modes is only the beginning of all of the problems found here. An awkward pitching system further hampers the game, as does the automatic fielding that doesn’t always play like you would – they may not jump at the fence to steal a home run or dive to catch a ball…and they’ll seemingly often drop it when they do make the effort to catch the ball. The automatic fielding should have been an option, not a mandatory thing. The graphics were absolutely amazing for their time, but as most folks understand when it comes to video games, graphics don’t make a game good. While this wasn’t the absolute worst baseball game that I’ve played, it was far from the best and not an acceptable experience for the baseball fans anticipating its release. To end on a bad baseball pun, Wow Entertainment struck out with this one. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/24/2022 Magic Darts Platform NES Initial Release Date April 26, 1991 (JP) Developer Romstar Genre Sports - Darts My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 57.11/100 Magic Darts, eh? What's so magical about these darts? The fact that the gameplay doesn't really make a whole lot of sense? The fact that the game itself doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense? I wonder if Romstar believed that they had developed a great game here. If they did, then maybe I'll call this game Magic Farts, because for thinking that, then I would know that they're full of hot air. Anyway, despite those opening comments, Magic Darts isn't THAT bad…but it is pretty pointless. Basically, in Magic Darts you can play by yourself, against the computer, or against friends, in a small variety of dart games. You can be boring and play as a human, or you can be cool and play as a chimpanzee or an alien. The gameplay is odd, and can be frustrating. Using meters like a typical golf game, you don't actually see any crosshairs on the dart board, so you're pretty much just guessing at where the meters will result in the dart landing. Sometimes you're correct, other times you're way off. When playing with friends, it can be mildly amusing since everyone is dealing with the same gameplay. When playing alone, it sometimes feels broken. Honestly, for the price that this game likely came out at, you could have bought a cheap dart board and played a real game of darts, and probably have more fun in doing so. Aside from the "special" throws that some of the odd characters have, there's not really anything magical about this game…except that Romstar somehow cast a spell to convince a few people to buy their game. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/20/2020 Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date November 11, 1996 (NA) Developer Midway Genre Sports - Hockey My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 62.83/100 Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey seems to be Midway's attempt at creating an NBA Jam-like hockey game, resulting in a fast-paced, high-scoring game of hockey. Unfortunately, while that sounds great, it's lacking one major element of hockey - checking. One would imagine that in an arcadey version of hockey, checking would be a focus of the game, and in over-the-top ways like NBA Jam’s slam dunks, rather than something that is almost non-existent. I appreciate what was attempted here, but I feel like the attempt fell short of something great...and in many ways, it even fell short of being good. I think the three D’s stand for dumb, disappointment, and…uh…diarrhea….because I want to runs away from this game…Good enough. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 Just Rain Platform Ouya Initial Release Date July 3, 2013 (NA) Developer Robysoft Genre Other My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 50.27/100 Just Rain is…well, exactly what the title suggests. Essentially, the screen shows rain falling. You can increase or decrease the rain that falls or dictate the direction that the wind blows…and, well, that’s pretty much it. Unless there’s a way to unlock something else that I was unable to find, I just described the entire game for you. Just Rain is something different, and it's also very relaxing, so I appreciate it for that, but unless you just want ambient rain noise in the background along with visuals of rain when/if you glance up at the television, I don’t really see a reason for most folks to get this. It’s not bad…just different, and I think the audience that appreciates it will be fairly low. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/09/2022 Fighting Force Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date October 31, 1997 (NA) Developer Core Design Ltd. Genre Brawler My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 57.64/100 When I first played Fighting Force, I played it at my friends' house. They had just gotten a Playstation and 3D games were still a bit of a novelty for us. For the most part, we enjoyed our time pummeling enemies and making our way through to the end…but it didn't take very long for the novelty to wear off. Fast forward about a year later and I now owned a Playstation, and I picked up Fighting Force as a rental…and the 3D novelty had completely worn off by that time, and I absolutely regretted spending my money to rent this game for a weekend. Revisiting it for this list, I'm honestly still not a fan, but I do see some good here. While it's nowhere near the quality of games like Final Fight or Streets of rage, this is still a mildly entertaining brawler…the problem is that, especially in single player when to lack the aid of a pal pummeling enemies alongside of you, half of the battle is with both the controls and the camera, not with the enemies on screen. Hey! You picked up a shotgun! Try lining up your enemy and shooting….and you missed. Maybe try moving a little to the side and lining it up again….and now the camera no longer has the enemy in sight and now they're cracked your teeth with a crowbar, you've dropped the gun, and you've gotta start from square one. It was nice to see Core Design attempt to bring 2D, side-scrolling brawlers into a 3D world…but unfortunately, that attempt largely failed. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Metal Fist (Japan)

Date added: 09/28/2019 Space War Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1978 (NA) Developer Atari Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 57.06/100 Space War, at first glance, seems like Atari recycled one of their launch games, Combat, but set it in space...However, without the variety that Combat has in terms of various vehicles and play types, Space War gets repetitive pretty quickly. If this was recycled (which it may be, considering the Sears version of the game is actually called “Space Combat”) then it lost much in the recycling process. It almost feels like a downgrade from Combat. Had Space War come out first and Combat came out a year later, I wouldn't be so critical, as I would assume that Space War set the stage for the superior game. Unfortunately, it was the other way around. There wasn't any reason to play Space War instead of Combat unless you wanted some outer space gravity physics...But if you wanted that, you could always just play Asteroids, which is another game that did it better. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: Space Combat (Sears)

Date added: 08/12/2019 Iggy's Reckin' Balls Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date July 31, 1998 (NA) Developer Iguana Entertainment Genre Racing My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 61.59/100 Iggy's Reckin' Balls is an easy way to "reck" a good time. Actually, this game isn't THAT bad, but I still wanted to use that joke. Anyway, this game basically has you controlling a ball and you race against other balls on a course with some mild platforming involved. The game isn't horrible at first, but it gets really old really quickly. If you've got a friend or three to play against, it's not so bad, but if you're playing solo against the poor AI, don't expect do have a whole lot of fun here. They really dropped the Reckin’ Ball in that aspect...get it? Man, making groan-inducing comments here is the most fun that Iggy has provided me. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: Iggy-kun no Bura Bura Poyon (Japan)

Date added: 07/13/2019 Little Deviants Platform Playstation Vita Initial Release Date December 17, 2011 (JP) Developer Bigbig Studios Genre Action My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 52.97/100 One of the levels in Little Deviants feels kind of like the iPhone Super Monkey Ball with touch controls rather than tilt controls...Which sounds neat when you take into consideration that the touch controls used are both the touch screen on the back of the handheld, so when you touch the back of the Vita, the ground in that location raises up, causing the Little Deviant to move in the direction you desire. That's supposed to be the case, anyway...But it's loaded with problems that turn a game that should be a fun, innovative way to show off features of the handheld into a frustrating experience. Unfortunately, that's how the majority of this game (which is actually more of an interactive demo of stuff you can do with the system than a game) feels. It does have some entertaining moments, but to get there, be ready to not have a whole lot of fun along the way. Unless you got the First Edition Vita bundle, which came packaged with the game, I recommend that you stay away from this one. Played on: Playstation Vita Also known as: Suwari Makuru! (Japan)

Date added: 02/11/2020 The Wonderful End of the World Platform PC Initial Release Date January 25, 2008 (NA) Developer Dejobaan Games Genre Action My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 50.17/100 If you don't know anything about the Wonderful End of the World, think Katamari Damacy, but without much of the charm and personality that made that franchise so popular. If you were desperate for a Katamari-style game on PC, back when this game was released, your only real (legal) option was this game…However, with Katamari Damacy Reroll making its way onto Steam about a year ago, that’s no longer the case. Even with no competition, though, Wonderful End of the World was still a bland version of the Namco-published series, and even diehard fans of that style of gameplay will likely find themselves getting bored before this short game is finished…I beat it in a little under an hour and a half and by that time, I was completely ready to move onto something else. It’s not the worst thing I’ve ever played by any means, but when you’ve got the option to play a Katamari game or this, I can’t imagine why you would pick this instead. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/11/2019 Star Wars: Masters of Teras Kasi Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date October 31, 1997 (NA) Developer LucasArts Genre Fighting My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 56.12/100 I remember playing the demo of this game at my friend's house shortly after he got his Playstation. We all thought it was bad. I saved my complete judgment for when I played the full game. Fast forward 15 years later and I finally got around to playing it...And it wasn’t quite as bad as I remember the demo being...But it still wasn’t any good. Basically, you fight as various Star Wars characters and you have an option to switch between using your weapon or fighting in hand-to-hand combat...Which sounds neat, but it just is not done well here. Plus, Darth Vader, the game's final boss, is a bit of a jerk. I didn't think that someone with apparent asthma as bad as him could fight so well. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/28/2021 The King of Rally: Paris - Moscow - Peking Platform Super NES Initial Release Date December 28, 1992 (JP) Developer Kaze Genre Racing My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 55.80/100 The King of Rally is an interesting game…it’s not necessarily bad, but it’s also not great. In this racing game, there really isn’t a lot of action in terms of other racers. You’ll come across some other vehicles every now and then, but for the most part you’ll probably be the only one on the screen. Also, somewhat odd is the lack of an automatic transmission option. It actually works for this game, though. Since there isn’t much to do aside from turn when the game tells you to turn, changing gears when needed does provide you with a little bit of gameplay…unfortunately, not enough to keep this from feeling kinda dull by the time you wrap up your first race. I like the unique perspective when driving the car and the overall idea behind it, but I have a feeling that only hardcore fans of the racing genre will find enough here to keep coming back for more. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/02/2022 Dino Crisis 3 Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date June 26, 2003 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Action My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 50.02/100 Put a non-space movie franchise in space, and I'll probably love it. Jason X, Leprechaun in Space…it always results in cheesy entertainment that I enjoy. I was hoping for a similar outcome for Dino Crisis in space…unfortunately, this isn't the so-bad-it's good quality that I was hoping for. The biggest complaint I have with Dino Crisis 3 are the camera angles. These angles worked fine in the original, where the action wasn't nearly as fast-paced and you weren't required to do any platforming. In this game, however, you are expected to perform various platform jumping and participate in a lot of fast-paced combat…often seeing the world around you from a camera angle that makes it difficult to use depth perception in platforming and sometimes impossible to see enemies in combat until they've already landed a cheap shot. The camera angle changes can also disorient you pretty easily. You may be walking into a room where the camera is directly behind you, and upon entering that room, the camera angle changes to directly in front of you. Since you're likely pressing forward still on the analog stick, the character you control will then turn around and head right back into the room you came from…this annoying aspect of the cameras can also plague the platforming. You'll have a jump all lined up, and mid-jump the camera angle changes, sending you in a completely different direction than intended. The enemy variety is poor and the enemy presence in a room is often random…so you may get disoriented due to the ever-changing camera angles and head back through a door that you had just come from, and even if you cleared the room of enemies before, the room may be full of 'em all over again. This makes exploring a chore, and often frustrating due to the fact that the camera makes it so, so easy to get lost. Even if you've figured out that a door you need to access isn't too far away from you, after a few camera changes, you'll likely be pulling that map up all over again to see if you're still heading the right way. Complaining aside, when you're not fighting the camera, the action can be fun (though, it gets old by the end of the game) and the story is the cheese-fest that I hoped it would be, complete with fantastic graphics and corny voice-acting. I really wanted to like Dino Crisis 3…and for what it's worth, even with my frustrations, I did see it through to the end…but I honestly don't know if I can recommend this game to anyone. Children say, "Third is the turd," for a reason, you know. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/12/2019 Foes of Ali Platform Panasonic 3DO Initial Release Date 1995 (NA) Developer Gray Matter Genre Fighting My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 55.77/100 I want to like Foes of Ali…but the gameplay makes it hard. Foes of Ali was a boxing game released by Electronic Arts exclusively for the 3DO. The ideas are solid – allow players to reenact historic fights in boxing history with a decent-sized roster of fighters to play as. I’m not even really a fan of boxing, but I always like sports games that are based off of history. In that aspect, I love this game. Unfortunately, like I mentioned at the start, the gameplay is where Foes of Ali tanks. I get that real boxing is the “sweet science” where you need to be strategic. If real boxing is the sweet science, then Foes of Ali is the putrid poo…I’m aware that poo isn’t a field of study like science is...but it should be. Anyway, the boxing is slow and plodding and does not handle well. On the other hand, if you decide to let the computer control both boxers and decide to watch, you’ll see a bit more excitement. Overall, if you love boxing and its history, you’ll probably find enough here to enjoy. For the rest of us, there are better alternatives on easier-to-acquire consoles. Played on: 3DO Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/05/2019 Running Wild Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date September 30, 1998 (NA) Developer Blue Shift Genre Racing My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 63.11/100 I’ve always liked the concept of Running Wild - a racing game sans vehicles, where a bunch of anthropomorphic animals sprint their way to the finish line. Unfortunately, this racing game isn't that great. The controls are iffy, the tracks are mostly boring, and once you've played through the game, there isn't much reason to go back and do it again. There are much better racing games on the original Playstation to play, but if you've played through the Gran Turismos, Need for Speeds, Test Drives, etc, and want a different racing game to hold you over for an hour or so, then I guess it couldn't hurt to give Running Wild a chance. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/27/2022 WWE 2K22 Platform Sony Playstation 5 Initial Release Date March 8, 2022 (W) Developer Visual Concepts Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 60.25/100 A lot of folks gave a decent amount of praise to WWE 2K22, calling it one of the best games in the series…while I found some enjoyment with my time playing WWE 2K22, it's far from one of the best games in the series, in my opinion. I'd even say that it's not anywhere as good as 2K19, honestly. The gameplay, while mildly improved over 2K20, is also bogged down by a control scheme that feels like a step back from the solid controls that Yuke's had perfected for the series previously. Yuke's controls felt natural and simple…2K22 takes many actions that required a single button press and requires you to hold down one button while pressing another…rather than feeling like you can just jump in and play, you'll likely find yourself pausing the game and looking at the controls to try to figure out how to do something that you did with ease just a game or two earlier in the series. The BIG issue with WWE 2K22 is how buggy it is. 2K20 was such a buggy mess that 2K Games decided to take a year off to regroup and give us this…In my first 10 hours of gameplay, I had the game completely crash on me no less than 25-30 times. Sometimes while making changes in the returning Universe mode, wiping out all of the work I did before I had an opportunity to save. Sometimes doing something as simple as picking an arena to compete in an exhibition match in. That's just on the Playstation 5 version. The PC version I purchased so I could play some 3D 'rasslin' on the go (Fire Pro World is still my go-to for PC wrestling, but sometimes I like a change of pace)…and the game doesn't recognize my controller, keyboard, or mouse. Looking online, there's a list of at least 10 possible solutions to fix this issue…not a single one worked for me. Looking at Steam comments, I'm not the only one this happened to, either. So until Visual Concepts releases a patch to correct this issue, they've essentially launched this game as unplayable for a percentage of their customers. Kind of an embarrassing way to "redeem" yourself after how awful the previous game was. Anyway, 2K22 introduces some new modes, some new physics to the matches, and as I mentioned, continues with the controls I loathed from 2K20, but with some changes. The end result is a much better game than 2K20 was, but still a far cry from some of the better games with WWE/WWF in the title. If patches fix some of the issues, I'll follow up with an updated score. But for right now, WWE 2K22 is just not a passable game, in my opinion. If you don't mind dealing with bugs, crashes, and learning an inferior control scheme to previous games, then you'll find some fun here…that is, if you're even able to play it. Played on: Playstation 5, Playstation 4, PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/30/2023 Radical Psycho Machine Racing Platform Super NES Initial Release Date November 1991 (NA) Developer Silicon & Synapse Genre Racing My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 56.89/100 I absolutely love Rock N Roll Racing. It's one of my favorite racing games of all-time. This game was the game that came before it…and it's obvious that much of the presentation and many of the ideas found here were tweaked, perfected, and carried over to Rock N Roll Racing. Unfortunately, while this could be considered a prototype for a fantastic racing game that would come out a few years later, it's not a very good game in itself. The game takes a while to get used to the controls, for example. Even if you've spent hours upon hours playing Rock N Roll Racing, you'll likely wind up crashing into walls a bit in the early levels. I think part of it is that if you're used to the speed and responsiveness of Rock N Roll Racing, you'll find your timing off when you attempt to take turns in this game. Aside from controls, the game just feels boring. Even in the later levels, when the track designs are more complex and the computer opponents are more difficult, the racing often feels dull. I really wish that I could say more positive things about Radical Psycho Machine Racing, but I just can't. However, this game is the perfect example of a developer putting out a game that's not great, but has promise…then getting it right the second time around. Silicon & Synapse (know known as Blizzard) may have created a sub-par racing game here, but it laid the ground work for one of the greatest racing games ever made to follow in its footsteps just a few years later. Played on: Super NES Also known as: RPM Racing

Date added: 04/30/2022 George Foreman's KO Boxing Platform NES Initial Release Date December 1992 (NA) Developer Beam Software Genre Fighting - Boxing My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 55.35/100 George Foreman's KO Boxing is both not as good as I had hoped it might be and worse than I feared it could be. That's not to say that this game will place amongst the absolute worst games I've ever played, but it's instead one of those games that's good enough to not be remembered for how bad it is, but bad enough where there aren't really a lot of people who enjoy it or talk about it. Anyway, George Foreman looks like it has potential when you power it on - it looks similar to Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! with George Forman's back being seen on the bottom of the screen while you control his punches as he battles various opponents, all with a little color and flavor added to their personality in the bio before the fight…but most of them have zero color or personality during the fight itself. Once the fight begins, the similarities to Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! come to an end, unfortunately. Your opponents don't have weaknesses to discover and exploit like in Mike Tyson's fantastic game. Instead, your goal is to simply dodge and attack while building up boxing gloves in the lower center of the screen. Those gloves allow you to press select and deliver a heavy shot to your opponent…which is nice since most attacks only remove a sliver of health from your opponent. The opponent can dodge these heavy shots, though, so you'll have to use them strategically if you plan to make it through to the end and make Foreman the champion of the world again. Overall, this just simply isn't a good game…coming out years after the near-perfect Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!, this may be closer to a more realistic boxing game compared to Nintendo's version of boxing, but it's still not very fun. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/24/2019 Masters of the Universe: The Power of He-Man Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer Mattel Genre Action My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 49.96/100 Masters of the Universe: The Power of He-Man is a little hybrid of genres with a blend of third-person shooter segments in your ship and action-based segments on foot. While that sounds like a solid formula for a good Atari 2600 game, and it is for a few games on that console, neither one is done particularly well in this instance. Regardless of that, I somehow found myself playing this for long after I should have stopped anyway. Maybe it's because this game has the power of Grayskull...Either that, or I'm just a glutton for punishment. Either way, this is ultimately a game that just falls short of being passable. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/09/2020 Mighty No. 9 Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date June 21, 2016 (JP/NA) Developer Inti Creates Genre Platformer My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 60.60/100 Mighty No. 9 was highly anticipated…It was basically expected to be a new Mega Man game, but without the Mega Man license. Unfortunately, instead of simply sticking with the beloved Mega Man formula, Mighty No. 9 tried some new things…and while I usually applaud the effort to bring something new to the table…I don’t really feel like most of it worked. Granted, if they hadn’t done anything new, there’d be critics too, so I guess they were better off just taking the chance, even if it didn’t really work. Anyway, the end result is a pretty bland game and a huge disappointment to Mega Man fans everywhere…It’s passable, but that’s about all the praise that I feel I can give it. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 Don't Eat Soap! Platform Ouya Initial Release Date August 6, 2013 (NA) Developer Hamster Republic Productions Genre Action My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 50.72/100 Don't Eat Soap! is a poorly made Bubble Bobble clone. Like in Bubble Bobble, your goal is to spit bubbles at your enemies, which then imprison your enemies into the bubbles that you spit out...Unlike Bubble Bobble, how you pop the bubbles seems to be totally random. I can jump into a bubble repeatedly and it won't pop. I jump at the next one and it pops without a problem. It's quite annoying and leads to plenty of cheap deaths when the enemies burst out of their bubble prisons as you're struggling to pop them. I like the intro to the game, explaining why Bob the Hamster can spit bubbles out, but a good intro can't save a poor game...and unfortunately, Don't Eat Soap! is a pretty poor game. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/19/2023 Marvel's Avengers Platform Sony Playstation 5 Initial Release Date September 4, 2020 (NA/AU) Developer Nixxes Software Genre Action My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 55.02/100 Despite not following the movies, I really enjoyed the Guardians of the Galaxy game. So, since the Avengers are also a group of heroes, and Square Enix (who still make me think of RPGs) published it, I figured that I'd give this game a try….and I regretted it pretty early in. It seems like Nixxes Software tried to make something here…but I can try being a good writer, too, but that doesn't mean I am…..hey, wait a minute. Anyway, I didn't play through this game. I'll say that up front - I maybe put 2-3 hours into it and decided that I didn't want to come back after that. Essentially, you fight waves of enemies, then move on to fight another wave of enemies. Special moves can only be used in set intervals, you much of the fighting is boring brawling. And I do mean boring. The graphics are nice and the audio was fine….but the actual gameplay felt like a chore to continue on with, even with multiple characters to play as. The action just feels slow, plodding, and repetitive. I was hoping a solid RPG like Guardians of the Galaxy when I started this game up, and what I got was a poor brawler disguised as an RPG, without a whole lot of substance to keep me coming back for more. Played on: Playstation 5 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/29/2019 JFK Reloaded Platform PC Initial Release Date November 21, 2004 (NA) Developer Traffic Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 53.18/100 JFK Reloaded is a controversial game, as it puts you in the shoes of Lee Harvey Oswald and has you attempt to re-create the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Supposedly, it was made as a way to simulate the assassination to see if the official documentation of his death was correct or not. But anyway, the game can be mildly amusing for maybe five minutes...but after playing the same scene over and over and over again, it gets old very, very quickly. The subject matter may also offend some folks...I don’t offended too easily, so I don't fit into that group, but I’d certainly understand why someone would be offended here. I did enjoy the audio quite a bit in this game - using actual audio was a nice touch...But, again, the gameplay is mostly lacking. History nuts might think this is worth checking out, since it can be a little fun testing out all the theories out there to see how they work out...but considering the time you'll play the game probably won't be much longer than the amount of time it takes to install and uninstall the game from your computer, it's probably not gonna be worth it for most folks. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/13/2023 Dancing Furby Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date December 24, 1999 (JP) Developer TOSE Genre Music My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 56.93/100 Back in the late 90's, there was a craze sweeping the United States. Furby. For those too young to know, Furby was an odd creature that kinda looked like a chicken and a mouse had a baby. The toy could talk and did some pretty novel things that I can't really name 'cause I didn't have one and I don't care enough to research it, but for a few years, it was the hottest toy to get at Christmas time. It was the first time I had heard of people fighting at stores, with parents brawling for the last one so they could give it to their kids. Apparently, that craze was not just in the United States, though, as the Game Boy Color saw a Furby game that was released exclusively in Japan. It looks like this game can actually work hand-in-hand with an actual Furby if you've got one laying around, and it primarily focuses on, like the name suggests, making Furby dance. Essentially, this is a basic rhythm game where you press the correct buttons at the correct time…except it's not quite as smooth as other games in the genre. While I consider Dancing Furby to be just short of passable as a game, if there are still any Furby fanatics out there, I'm sure they'll find something to love here. So, if you're one of them, it may be worth trying to track a copy down to see for yourself. Played on: Game Boy Color Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/28/2023 Ninja Crusaders Platform NES Initial Release Date December 14, 1990 (JP) Developer NMK Genre Action My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 61.26/100 I really want to like Ninja Crusaders - it has some neat ideas here. I'll start with the positives. First, controlling a ninja while battling aliens that have taken over Earth, you will find various power-ups on each stage that will allow you to change up your weapon. The key to surviving this game is basically to play through it, and have an idea of what power-up will work best on each boss or stage. Sometimes you might want something that lets you attack from afar, with throwing stars. Other times, you may want a stronger, up-close attack with a katana. Beyond the weapon effectiveness, each weapon also gives you the power to transform into an animal, which is yet another thing to consider when picking up power-ups in each level. Grabbing the same power-up that you've already got equipped gives you an extra life, which adds a little more strategy to the game as well - do you switch to a weapon that may be more effective in an upcoming boss fight, or intentionally skip it in hopes that you may be able to pick up an extra life along the way by keeping the current weapon that you have? Now that I've pointed out what I like about the game, I've got to point out why it placed so low on this list - how the game actually plays. The controls are iffy and the hit detection is disappointing, so actually playing this game feels like a chore, even with some of the neat ideas tossed in. Later stages in the game feel very difficult…but more so because of the controls than the actual level design or anything else in the game. Still, Ninja Crusaders may be worth a quick look…just don't expect this ninja game to play anywhere near as smoothly as the Ninja Gaiden games. If you need to play a ninja game on the NES, I'd stick with that series instead. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/01/2020 Kakuto Chojin: Back Alley Brutal Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date April 12, 2005 (NA) Developer DreamFactory Genre Fighting My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 55.08/100 Kakuto Chojin isn't that bad of a fighter control-wise. It feels pretty smooth during the action and it looks pretty nice...My issue is with the difficulty...Or lack thereof. I had to set the game to Extreme, the hardest difficulty the game has to offer, to have any sort of competitive match with the computer. In fact, when on the the two easiest settings, I frequently got "perfects" when not even looking at the screen during the entire fight. When matches are that lop-sided, there's something seriously wrong with your AI. That aside, Kakuto Chojin is so-so. I like a lot of the character and level designs, though one could also argue that they’re kind of bland compared to other fighters. Overall, I want to like this game...But the odd AI and bland gameplay options leave me thinking that this game could have and should have been so much better than what it is – a sub-par fighter. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/23/2020 The Pirates of Dark Water Platform Super NES Initial Release Date May 1994 (NA) Developer Sunsoft Genre Brawler My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 61.36/100 When I was a kid, I remember watching the Pirates of Dark Water cartoon every week. Since then, however, I don’t think I ever gave the franchise a single thought. Popping this in, I couldn’t remember character names, personalities…I couldn’t remember a thing aside from the name of the show. Now that I’ve played it a bit, I can say that if the cartoon is like the game, it’s easy to see why I couldn’t remember…because this game shows promise in the initial few minutes, but grows old and repetitive in a hurry. As I write this, I have the game on pause, on the 4th level…I’m only halfway through the game and I’m not sure if I want to force my way through to the end. The combat in this brawler is interesting enough…you have weak attacks, strong attacks, and a special move that damages every enemy in range but also damages your health a tad. So, there’s a decent variety in your moveset…however, the enemies are mostly slow and the levels seem to just go on without end, so even with a good variety of attacks at your disposal, when you face wave after wave of the same enemies (though, they do actually toss unique enemies in every now and then, to be fair) you’ll likely find yourself getting bored pretty quickly. If you like brawlers, you might like this game…just be aware of the repetition if you plan on making your way to the end. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/14/2023 Clock Tower II: The Struggle Within Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date March 12, 1998 (JP) Developer Human Entertainment Genre Adventure My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 54.34/100 I loved the original Clock Tower (the Japan exclusive, not the game released in North America) and unfortunately, it seems like the franchise just went downhill from there. The second Clock Tower game (released just as "Clock Tower" here in North America on the original Playstation) was passable, in my opinion, but lacked much of the quality that the first Clock Tower game had. This game, which was treated as a side-series in Japan and was not given a number, falls below the passable range, in my opinion. Not only does The Struggle Within have absolutely nothing to do with the first two Clock Tower games, it also lacks, in my opinion, in terms of story in comparison to the first two games. The gameplay itself also feels very, very, very tedious at points. The final chapter, specifically, felt like an absolute chore to complete. I'm patient, and I can find enjoyment in point-and-click adventures…but this just simply is not a good game, and much as I'd like it to be. It doesn't improve on any of the flaws of its predecessor, and by having to constantly retreat to specific areas to defend yourself against enemies, it came very close to making me not care enough to try to finish the game at all - that was MY struggle within. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Clock Tower: Ghost Head (Japan)

Date added: 02/10/2022 Caveman Games Platform NES Initial Release Date October 1990 (NA) Developer Data East Genre Sports - Olympics My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 55.88/100 Have you ever wanted to play a track and field game, but have it take place back in the Stone Age? Well, then Caveman Games…well, it's still probably not for you, to be honest. Caveman Games is known as Caveman Ugh-lympics on other platforms…and it's probably because most folks that play it say, "Ugh," when presented with the possibility that they may need to play another event. Anyway, Data East tries to incorporate humor and such in this game, and while it mostly fails, I appreciate the effort to try to publish something unique…unfortunately, the comedy isn't the only thing that fails. Much of the gameplay is sub par as well, to be honest. I do feel like if the game had just a little more polish to it it could have been a passable game…but as it is, it falls just short of that. Overall, I don't think that Caveman Games is as bad as a lot of others seem to think…that said, I also don't think it's very good. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/19/2022 Back in 1995 Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date May 23, 2019 (JP) Developer Throw the Warped Code Out Genre Adventure My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 50.53/100 I love Playstation One-era horror. I always will. I'm not the only one that loves it, either. A quick glance at itch.io and you'll find plenty of people inspired by horror games of that era. Some developers have created some really good, unique games in that vein…and I really wish that Back in 1995 was one of them. Sadly, it's not. Instead of making a game like, say, Puppet Combo, and create a retro game with some newer ideas and concepts tossed in, Back in 1995 is the result of a retro game being created that doesn't really add anything new and seemingly makes no effort to improve on anything from the retro games of old…even if some of those games haven't aged so well. It's almost like the developer attempted to make a game like the original Resident Evil, without having an understanding why any of it worked…kinda like someone trying to make a log cabin out of hot dog links - the basic concept is there, but without the correct building materials, the end result will leave something to be desired. That's not to say that I didn't find mild enjoyment here - this could have been much, much worse than it is. Unfortunately, it's still not good, and there are plenty of games that were developed "back in 1995" that I would love to go back and play instead of popping this game back in again. Played on: Nintendo Switch, Playstation Vita Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/29/2022 G.I. Joe: Cobra Strike Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer Parker Bros. Genre Action My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 58.02/100 G.I. Joe: Cobra Strike is essentially a game of multi-tasking in an effort to reach a high score. One goal is to shoot at the giant cobra slithering around the top of the screen. The second goal is to move a shield back and forth on the middle of the screen to protect the folks walking around on the bottom of the screen as the cobra fires down at them. The trick is to figure out when to attack and when to protect - sometimes the folks walking will be nowhere near where the cobra attacks, in which case you can focus completely on attacking. Othertimes, you'll have a perfect shot, but may choose to ignore it in order to save the folks below. In theory, it's actually a pretty interesting concept. Unfortunately, it's not exactly the smoothest game to control. Sometimes it seems like you've got the shield perfectly in place…and nope, the cobra's attack finds its way to murder someone below anyway. Likewise, you'll attack and it looks like it hit, but the game doesn't register that it does. But still, complaints aside, while I wouldn't really call it a passable game, it's still mildly fun for a few minutes…and on the Atari 2600, a few minutes is of fun is generally what the goal was from the developers. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: Action Man: Action Force (Europe)

Date added: 07/28/2019 Lassie Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date October 26, 2007 (EU) Developer EM Studios Genre Action My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 50.92/100 Lassie is a bit of a mess, I’m afraid. Everyone’s favorite border collie from the 1950’s got a video game in 2007, and I’m not sure why. In 2005, a Lassie movie was made…but that doesn’t really explain why it took two years before this got released. Anyway, Lassie is a game that starts out very dramatically with dark, menacing music…and I found that it was way more fun making Lassie bark to the level’s music than it was to do what I was supposed to do, which was look for Lassie’s puppies that have been scattered everywhere. Why are they scattered everywhere? Because Lassie is a lush and took her eyes off her pups to have a night alone with the bottle…Since Lassie does pretty much everything in this game from sheep herding, to riding a sled down a steep hill, to platforming around a neighborhood, it’s hard to imagine that her puppies would be stolen if she wasn’t boozed up, so that's what I choose to believe. Anyway, this European exclusive is welcome to always stay there…unless I move to Europe eventually…in which case, it can go somewhere else. This game stinks so much like a dog’s rear end that Lassie would likely walk over and sniff it…Then go back to barking menacing music if I have my way. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/11/2023 Robocop 2 Platform NES Initial Release Date April 2, 1991 (JP) Developer Painting by Numbers Genre Action My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 56.76/100 The first Robocop game was okay, but not really anything special, so it made sense that the second one would take a different approach. in this game your goal isn't to simply shoot and beat up everything in sight. Instead, you just want to shoot and beat up some things in sight. The other folks need to be arrested - and this game is strict about that. Simply shooting everyone will result in game over. You need to arrest who you can, and you need to arrest a specific amount of people in each stage to succeed. That's not the only thing that decides if you successfully complete a level, either. Like in the second Robocop movie, there's a Nuke problem in Detroit, and it's your job to collect it. Much like arrests, if you don't collect a specified amount, then you don't actually complete the level. If you fail collecting enough, though, you'll be sent to a second-chance stage. This stage is essentially a shooting gallery. If you pass, you can still advance to the next level. If you fail, then you're punished by being forced to play the previous level all over again. The game is okay for what it is, and it's nice that something new was tried with this sequel, but being forced to collect arrests and Nuke in each stage instead of having it set as an option does get old by the end. Still, if you're a Robocop fan, this isn't an awful game to play. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/05/2019 WWF Super Wrestlemania Platform Super NES Initial Release Date March 1992 (NA) Developer Sculptured Software Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 58.95/100 I loved WWF Super Wrestlemania as a kid...And quite frankly, I could lose a few minutes here and there with it still today...But that's more due to the fact that I'm a wrestling nut than it is that this game is good by any means. In Super Wrestlemania, the controls are solid enough, but what hurts the game is the lack of match options (singles, tag, and elimination tag are your only options here) since a tournament-style road to the title would have been nice. Also hurting the game is that every single wrestler plays exactly the same. There are no finishing moves, so Earthquake has the same move set as Randy Savage. Despite the decent controls and easy-to-play design, there's nothing here to keep the average player around for more than a match or two before they move onto something better. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/24/2019 Paint Park Platform Sony Playstation Vita Initial Release Date April 18, 2012 (NA) Developer Sony CEA Genre Other My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 50.27/100 Paint Park is the Vita's answer to the PC game Kid Pix or the SNES Mario Paint...Except with a very minimal amount of options that you have to create stuff with. The lack of tools and such is replaced with the ability to share pictures with friends, have contests where people vote on your creations, etc. With the lack of tools and options for your creations, the fun probably won't last too awful long...But if you like to doodle when you're bored, this can still be an amusing little game to play every now and then when you're looking for something to pass the time, but the “sequel” Paint Park Plus is the better option if you’re looking to turn your Vita into a digital sketch pad. Played on: Playstation Vita Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/15/2023 Kung-Fu Heroes Platform NES Initial Release Date June 20, 1986 (JP) Developer Culture Brain Genre Action My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 55.07/100 Kung-Fu Heroes is pretty rough, honestly…though, it didn't have to be that way. I see the potential for a very fun game here…but the odd hit detection makes this game very frustrating to play, especially in the later levels. I'll put some focus on the positives, though - there is a pretty good-sized enemy variety in Kung-Fu Heroes, with each one needing different tactics to take down. There are also various power-ups and weapon types to wield, preventing the game from feeling too repetitive. The game also doesn't expect you to defeat every enemy that appears in front of you - while you can defeat larger, tougher enemies like the dragon or uni-gon, you're encouraged to run from them instead to better your chances for survival. Of course, if everything played a little smoother, that would also better your chances of survival. Overall, while I don't really recommend Kung-Fu Heroes, there is a decent game hidden past the sub-par controls and hit detection. If you've got the patience to get used to everything, you may find yourself being a fan. Unfortunately, I don't think most will have the patience to discover the positives after they spend some time dealing with the negatives. Played on: NES Also known as: Super Chinese (Japan)

Date added: 02/06/2022 Nakajima Satoru Kanshuu F-1 Grand Prix Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date December 20, 1991 (JP) Developer Varie Genre Racing My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 60.27/100 A little history lesson for folks like me that know nothing about racing in general. Satoru Nakajima was the first full-time Japanese driver in the history of Formula One racing. He never actually won an F-1 championship, but he won several Japanese Formula Two titles. If you have no idea what that means, that's okay. I don't either. We'll just assume that Wikipedia knows what that means since that's where I got that info from. Anyway, to keep going with firsts, along with Nakajima being the first full-time Japanese driver, I believe that this was his first video game to be released with his name in the title as well. Basically, this game allows players to re-live the 1991 Formula One series (which, ironically, I think was Nakajima's last) with many of the notable drivers from that season included. Unfortunately, unless you're a Formula One fanatic, I don't know if you'll enjoy much here. The top-down racing perspective would probably be fine if this was a slower-paced game or if the tracks had fewer turns…but considering this game is designed to emulate actual tracks, and most of them aren't oval-shaped, and the speed can get pretty high, it can take a while to get used to everything so that you aren't crashing into walls or sliding into grassy areas when you were supposed to turn. Perhaps, positioning the camera a little higher up in the air and allowing the player to see more of the track could have gone a long way in that regard - the way it currently is, turns often sneak up on you…especially if you aren't familiar with the track. I think Formula One fans may like what this game has to offer, but I think the rest of us would rather play something else. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/15/2023 Sonic Shuffle Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date November 13, 2000 (NA) Developer Sega Genre Party My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 59.02/100 I've always liked Sega, but also always felt like Nintendo was superior. Games like Sonic Shuffle are the reason why. Nintendo found great success with its Mario Party franchise, so Sega took that formula and did a pretty blatant rip-off of Nintendo's franchise….you don't see the number one company rip-off the number two company as much as you'd see number two rip off number one…know what I mean? The other thing I tend to notice is that when a game is a rip-off of another game, it's almost always guaranteed to be worse than the game that it's trying to emulate. Sonic Shuffle definitely falls into that category. Sonic Shuffle wouldn't be so bad if its mini games were anywhere near as fun as the games found in Mario Party…but for the most part, they're not. At all. That’s not to say that you won't enjoy this game - it seems to be a game that people either love or hate. Some even consider it to be one of the best party games ever made…I'm not part of that group by any means. I don't think that Sonic Shuffle is quite as bad as some people say, but I also feel like it falls short of being a passable game. Party games are supposed to be fun, but this one feels more like a party pooper. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/02/2022 Puss 'n Boots: Pero's Great Adventure Platform NES Initial Release Date June 1990 (NA) Developer Shouei Genre Platformer My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 56.36/100 When I was a kid, I rented Puss 'n Boots from the local video store. I absolutely loved it. Years later, I searched for a copy, and insisted to people that it was really good. Then I finally managed to track it down and play it again when I was in my 20's…and Pero's Great Adventure really wasn't that great. Don't get me wrong, Puss 'n Boots has some neat ideas. Each level, for example, is completely different from the next. Some levels even have Pero driving a vehicle like a hot air balloon, submarine, or even a jumping car. Some of the boss fights are mildly interesting, too. I also enjoy how you've got three weapons at your disposal in most levels - a gun, a bomb, and a boomerang. Depending on the enemy, you can switch to a different weapon to put them away a little easier. Unfortunately, despite all of the good I mentioned, when it comes down to it, a game is only as good as its gameplay…and while the gimmicks of the vehicles and level variety were enough to hide the gameplay flaws when I was a kid, as I got older and wanted good, solid gameplay…well, Puss 'n Boots just doesn't deliver. The game's controls feel awkward, but even with the awkward controls, everything is so easy that you'll likely have no issues seeing the credits within thirty minutes of when you started. I like Puss 'n Boots for the nostalgia of when I was a kid, but at the same time, it's not a passable game. If you can look past the controls and the very short length, Pero's Great Adventure may provide you with some mild fun, but there are definitely better options if you're looking for an NES platformer to play. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Go Bonkers (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 46.33/100 Go Bonkers is a somewhat wise decision for Active Enterprises to put in the first slot of Action 52. If you've played the NES version of Action 52, and you play Go Bonkers, you'd think that the Genesis version of Action 52 actually has a chance to not be half bad. Then again, if you compare Go Bonkers to other games on the Genesis, Action 52 still doesn't look like much of a winner. That said, Go Bonkers is a decent action game where your goal is to take out tiles that happen to be the same color of your ball…the catch being that if you change the color of your ball at the wrong time, you may find yourself stuck and forced to die in order to try again. It's a decent game, though it can feel incredibly slow-paced at times…and while the goal is to clear the screen to see the background, there seems to only be one background - an Egyptian tomb…Because nothing makes me want to Go Bonkers like a deceased pharaoh. This is better than nearly all of the Genesis Action 52 games (and nearly all of the NES Action 52 games as well, for that matter), but it's still not that great. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/11/2024 Up 'N Down Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1984 (NA) Developer Sega Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 65.23/100 Up 'N Down was a hit in the arcades, enough so that it got a port on Atari's popular home console. It's one of the more crude-looking games on the console, in my opinion, but the idea of Up 'N Down is that you're driving a car with the ability to jump. Your goal is to hop between two roads while speeding up, slowing down, and hopping over vehicles to avoid traffic while also trying your best to not run yourself off the road with a mis-timed jump that sends you hurling into the non-paved area around you. It's not a simple game of avoiding passive cars, though. There are vehicles in the game that try to crash into you…maybe to cash in on insurance claims? And aside from avoiding all the vehicular mayhem, you'll be trying to pick up items like flags and balloons to boost up your score. It takes a while to get used to everything here, but once you do, it's not a terrible game. While this isn't necessarily a great port of the arcade original, and it's not much of a looker, even by Atari 2600 standards, Up 'N Down is a passable game that manages to capture enough of the gameplay of the original to make it worth owning for fans of that game. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/01/2020 WWE Wrestlemania 21 Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date April 20, 2005 (NA) Developer Studio Gigante Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 55.09/100 WWE Wrestlemania 21 should have and could have been so much better than what it was. A rushed development sent an extremely buggy game out to the market in an age where patches were only available on PC. If you’re able to ignore the bugs, which is sometimes pretty hard, the in-ring action is actually better than the other WWE games on the Xbox…however in a confusing move, the women on the roster ONLY have bra and panty match attire and no wrestling gear, with Lita seemingly the only exception – even Jazz is wearing a dress and high-heels. It’s like the developers thought that the only time anyone would play a women’s match, it would be the match where the goal is to rip the clothing off of the other. Despite that bonehead decision, another positive for the time, was the ability to play the game on Xbox Live against other players. While that is commonplace today, it was a very noteworthy feature for a wrestling game back in 2005. If you’re a wrestling fanatic willing to look past all of the glitches, you’ll likely find some fun here. I did. Everyone else, though, will likely think that the 21 in Wrestlemania 21 stands for the IQ needed to think that this game is worth playing….and for the record, my IQ is 22, thank you. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/11/2020 MLB Inside Pitch 2003 Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date May 20, 2003 (NA) Developer Microsoft Game Studios Genre Sports - Baseball My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 58.69/100 MLB Inside Pitch 2003 was Microsoft’s attempt to further expand its reach in the sports market, alongside NFL Fever and NBA Inside Drive. However, unlike the titles just mentioned, Inside Pitch just isn’t very good. The game just does not feel fluid. The timing to swing your bat, in particular, just doesn’t feel right…like you’re swinging way too early and should be getting a strike instead of a home run. That said, if you stick with it, you can adapt to everything and you’ll find an okay baseball game here. It’s not passable, mind you, but if you’re a baseball nut and this is the only game that you’re allowed to play, there is enough good here where I think that you find at least something to enjoy….but at the same time, if you’re given the option to play this or another baseball game, it’s probably likely that you’ll pick the other game every time. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/21/2020 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date September 10, 2009 (NA) Developer Ubisoft Singapore Genre Brawler My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 58.39/100 Because nobody asked for it, Ubisoft remade the beloved brawler Turtles in Time. If they had simply taken the original game, and updated the graphics, then that would have been perfectly fine. Unfortunately, they did some messing with the formula a hair. Not a ton, mind you, but enough to make this clearly inferior to the original. The game just doesn’t play the same, so while it’s technically a better-looking experience, that’s really the only positive that can be said here. If this were a unique game, I’d probably say that fans of brawlers might find some fun here…but since it’s a remake, I’ll just say don’t bother. Go play the original. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/01/2022 anywhereVR Platform Playstation 4 Initial Release Date December 8, 2016 (JP) Developer Sony Music Entertainment Genre Other My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 50.54/100 Have you ever wanted to have a relaxing day of sitting near a peaceful stream in Japan, with a mountain in the background? If that sounds pleasant, then you may like anywhereVR. Essentially, this "game" was simply designed to let you get away and enjoy some peace and quiet in a beautiful environment without having to leave your house. Also, in a neat, but possibly counter-productive feature, you can download an app that will allow you to transmit your smart phone to the television. Back when I originally nabbed screenshots for this years ago, I played WWE Super Card on my phone in-game while gazing at a mountain. While this is neat, I'd imagine that most folks that would want to get away to a beautiful, peaceful environment to take a break from constant emails, texts, and other distractions that cell phones provide…so essentially, this game allows you to stress yourself out while relaxing you at the same time. Also, while it would be a lot of work, I would have loved the ability to walk along paths, getting closer to the mountain…I'd find that to be much more relaxing than basically being stuck to one location and being able to spin 360 degrees around me. But, that's a minor gripe. If you want a relaxing experience on your Playstation 4, and you've got the Playstation VR headset, anywhereVR isn't an awful experience…there just simply isn't much too it, unless you want to play on your phone in a virtual world. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/29/2024 Fighting Network RINGS Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date August 7, 1997 (JP) Developer Naxat Soft Genre Fighting My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 58.03/100 Back in the 80's and 90's, a fad in Japanese professional wrestling was promotions that presented "shoot" fighting…without the shoot. For those not in the know with wrestling lingo, a "shoot fight" is a legit match. In the old days, if two wrestlers agreed to shoot, then the wrestling contest would be legitimate. In Japan, for a while, a few "shoot" promotions popped up where the winners were still predetermined, but the wrestling went back to the basics from before it became more entertainment and less sport. RINGS was one of those promotions, featuring Akira Maeda, one of the more popular Japanese professional wrestlers of his time. I've only seen a handful of RINGS footage, so I can't comment too much about their promotion, but what I have seen, I've enjoyed, and it made me excited when I saw that a RINGS game had been created for the original Playstation. Unfortunately, once the bell rang, much of that excitement went away. Before I get there, I'll explain how to win a match in RINGS. If you knock your opponent down four times, you win by TKO. You can also win via knockout or submission. If in a submission hold, you can make your way to the ropes to break the hold. If you do this twice, then those two breaks will become one knockdown. So it's possible to win matches by simply performing double-leg takedowns and applying submission holds non-stop. Either the opponent will run out of "down" points and be TKO'ed or you'll eventually make them tap out. That's part of the problem with this game, though. It's pretty easy to just spam moves over and over and over until you win. If you try to play the game legitimately, it's still not too enjoyable. It's slow-paced, and while there are a variety of moves, many of them feel like the same thing you've been doing, but with a different animation to get there. If matches went faster, then that might help with the feeling of repetitiveness quite a bit…but they often take a little while before you're able to put your opponent away. I really wanted to like RINGS, but this game is one network that I've removed myself from. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 Moonlight Walks Platform Ouya Initial Release Date July 9, 2013 (NA) Developer American Bishoujo Genre Adventure - Visual Novel My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 55.33/100 Moonlight Walks is a very short visual novel that was exclusive to the Ouya. By very short, I mean like 5 minutes to play through a scenario. The story it presents is fairly interesting, but also not very original – the concept of the story has been done before and as soon as you start to see it lean that way, the story as a whole becomes pretty predictable. That said, I did like it slightly better than another Ouya-exclusive visual novel that I played, Air Pressure. Like Air Pressure, this is also a decent game to play to see if you like visual novels. If you find yourself getting restless or bored before this 5 minute story reaches its end, then maybe this genre isn’t for you. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/23/2023 Jello Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date 2006 (EU) Developer Phoenix Games Genre Puzzle My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 65.00/100 I had absolutely no idea what to expect with Jello. I assumed it would be a puzzle game - I cant imagine that there'd be many other genres that a game based around gelatin could fit in. I was right. I also assumed that it would be absolutely terrible…and I wasn't completely right there. Jello is a matching puzzle game where the goal is to move a cursor over the pieces of gelatin that you want to remove, with two pieces of the same color next to each other being the minimum amount of points, and more pieces of the same color next to each other meaning a bigger and bigger combo. It's not a bad game in concept…but there's also not really much of a challenge here. And because of the lack of challenge, and because much of the game takes place in timed stages, Jello can feel very tedious after you've spent more than a few minutes with it. Another complaint is some of the poor color choices. If you're unlucky enough to be colorblind, even just partially, and you wind up on a stage with pink and purple gelatin, good luck matching everything. Anyway, Jello isn't the worst puzzle game that I've ever played…and technically, it doesn't play poorly…it's just easy, slow-paced, and dull. There are better puzzle games to play than Jello out there, but there are plenty of worse one out there as well. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/10/2022 Widget Platform NES Initial Release Date November 1992 (NA) Developer Graphic Research Genre Platformer My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 51.73/100 I'm fairly certain that I was one of the only children in the United States that loved Widget the World Watcher, a Saturday morning cartoon that starred a purple alien that could shape-shift into various forms, with the goal of protecting nature from pollution and poachers such. While most of my friends relied on Captain Planet for their nature-saving messages, I liked Widget and later, the Toxic Crusaders - more on that cartoon in a different entry. That said, as a fan of Widget, I naturally wanted the NES game when it came out. I remember renting it from my local rental store a few times as a kid and loving it every time. Unfortunately, revisiting it for this list, Widget is a game that I had fond memories as from childhood, but it simply isn't a good game. The concept sounds solid enough - platform your way through various levels, shape-shifting as you go. The problem is that the shape-shifting is rarely necessary to advance on in the game…so it feels like a fairly boring platformer, with the occasional need to transform into something like a dolphin or a mouse. The fact that the controls don't particularly feel smooth, and that the game has quite a few bugs and glitches, doesn't help matters, either. There's also the minor gripe of Widget often saving animals from poachers and such in the cartoon, but many of the enemies that you're shooting in this game are…well, animals. In his 8-bit form, Widget is actually a world destroyer, not a world watcher, it seems. Anyway, while it's not the worst platformer I've played by any stretch of the imagination, Widget still fails to be passable. While I wish I could give it a better score and place on this list due to fond childhood memories of the cartoon, I just simply can't. Widget may be good at saving nature in the cartoon, but he failed to save me from boredom in this game. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/09/2021 Space Raiders Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date January 9. 2003 (JP) Developer Taito Corporation Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 59.10/100 I want to like Space Raiders more than I should…if you’ve never played it, Space Raiders is basically just a modern version of Space Invaders. That’s about it. You’ve got various enemies on the top of the screen shooting at you while you’re able to move left and right to shoot up at them – basic Space Invaders gameplay. You do have grenades at your disposal, the ability to roll out of danger, powerups to collect, and the option to sacrifice grenades for a temporary firepower boost – all of these new features definitely add to the gameplay in a positive way. Unfortunately, new features or not, it’s essentially just the same game that first gained popularity roughly 25 years earlier. Of the three characters, I only played through the story of one, and while I enjoyed myself at first, by the time the end of the game was coming near, I really just wanted it to be over. If you like classic arcade-style shooters but want to see it with a more modern coat of paint, then you’ll likely appreciate Space Raiders more than the average gamer…Unfortunately, even the extra features and fancy coat of paint can’t hide the fact that video games had evolved significantly over the quarter of a century since Space Invaders first took arcades by storm, and while this provides some nice nostalgia, the gameplay just simply feels aged and dated. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/02/2022 The Incredible Crash Dummies Platform NES Initial Release Date September 23. 1993 (EU) Developer Software Creations Genre Platformer My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 55.74/100 The Incredible Crash Dummies is a video game that was based on a cartoon series that was based off of a series of commercials that promoted safety belt usage. Yup, a bunch of popular safety belt commercials led people to believe that it would make a good children's Saturday morning cartoon. While I never got into it, personally, I had friends that loved it. Of course, in the 80's and 90's, if there was a Saturday morning cartoon, then it almost always resulted in that cartoon having a video game counterpart. Thus, this game was born. The Incredible Crash Dummies is a platformer where the basic premise is that you'll take turns between levels in playing decent levels as a legged dummy, and annoying levels as a wheeled dummy. The wheeled dummy levels wouldn't be so terrible, but they control awkwardly and the physics don't quite feel right in them. If you take a big enough of a hit, you may also lose your head…and when you do, the controls are reversed. So, if you're already struggling with the odd wheeled dummy controls, you're in for a lot more fun. Once you get used to everything, the game as a whole isn't terrible…but there's enough bad here for me to consider the game as a whole to just be slightly below passable. You can definitely play worse platformers on the NES, and fans of the cartoon series may find something to enjoy here, but I feel like the majority of players will play this for a few minutes, then move on to something better. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/27/2021 Baseball Stars Professional Platform Neo Geo Initial Release Date July 1, 1991 (NA/JP) Developer SNK Genre Sports - Baseball My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 60.13/100 The original Baseball Stars on the NES was absolutely fantastic, especially for its time. SNK attempted to capitalize on its success by creating a coin-op baseball game and calling it Baseball Stars Professional. While not technically a bad game, to call this game the professional version of the NES original is laughable. The only thing that is an improvement in this game over the 8-bit original is the graphical presentation. This game looks fantastic. Unfortunately, that’s where the improvements end. The game doesn’t seem to control as well as the original, which may be by design. Again, this was designed for arcades, so it’s to the developer’s benefit that you lose so you pop more quarters in. But when the computer hits the ball to the shortstop and I have to take two steps to get to the ball, then toss it into first to see the runner safe at first base by a decent margin…when earlier in the inning I saw the computer do the exact same play, but with me being out at first as the end result, it gets pretty frustrating. I get that different players may move at different speeds, but similar scenarios seem to happen frequently in this game. Also hurting this game is a lack of game modes. It’s just an exhibition game or a tournament. In the arcade, that’s understandable. But if you got this for the Neo Geo, then you may be underwhelmed by your options. While baseball fans may find enough here to find enjoyment in this game, it feels like a big step down from the 8-bit baseball classic that it was named after. SNK improved on everything here when they created the arcade version of Baseball Stars 2, but for what this is, it’s a passable experience…unfortunately, it’s nothing more than that. Played on: Neo-Geo Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/16/2024 Mr. Massagy Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date April 4, 2017 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Green Lava Studios Genre Adevnture - Visual Novel My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 57.89/100 Green Lava Studios tends to put out bizarre, but not necessarily good, games. Mr. Massagy was their attempt at creating a visual novel/dating simulator. It's not terrible, honestly, and it has enough personality to make up for its flaws to a degree, but it's still just short of being a passable game. Anyway, the point of the game is to take women out on dates and try to get them to give you a massage. That's why you're Mr. Massagy - you like a massage….and you remove the e and add a y to it because you love it so much. Anyway, you've got an assortment of dates to interact with, including the infamous jar of mayonnaise from My Name is Mayo, but not so many that this game overstays its welcome. If there was a little more to the gameplay, I'd consider it to be in the passable range, but for what it is, Mr. Massagy is a mildly fun, not-quite-passable dating simulator that you can pick up for a pretty low price, even when it's not on sale. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/25/2022 Daze Before Christmas Platform Super NES Initial Release Date November 1994 (EU) Developer Funcom Genre Platformer My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 61.70/100 While I had played this European-exclusive platformer in the past, it never really caught my interest long enough to motivate me to see it through to the end. But, since it's the time for the holiday spirit, I decided to show how festive I could be by playing through every single stage so I could give it a proper review when adding it to this list. While it's not an awful platformer, the Daze Before Christmas does have one, giant flaw that will likely frustrate many players - the game requires you to sometimes take "leaps of faith" because you can't really see what's underneath you, but you know that you need to head in that direction. So, your options are walk off the edge of a platform and hope that there's another platform waiting for you, or jump and hope that you guess the jump distance correct to land on a platform that you can't see. Other times, both options are wrong and you need to sit and wait for a moving platform to appear on screen for you to jump onto. It's a pain and feels like poor game design. Would it really have been that difficult to lower the camera a tad so you can see any platforming that needs to be done beneath you? Santa's jolly, obese belly would fit fine in the center of the screen, after all. When you're not blindly jumping off of platforms, your goal appears to be gift-wrapping the various evil toys that attack you so that you can give said evil toys to children for Christmas….because attacking the demonic toys turns them into gifts that you drop down the chimneys of good girls and boys between levels. Santa can also turn into a devilish version of himself where he destroys the toys instead of gift-wrapping them…Seems like the devilish version cares more about the kids than the jolly Santa, doesn't it? Anyway the Daze Before Christmas isn't a great platformer…I'd call it just shy of being passable. There are plenty of worse platformers that you could choose, but unless you're desperate for a Christmas-themed game for your Super NES or Genesis, you have plenty of better options available. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/18/2022 Street Fighter II Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date August 11, 1995 (JP) Developer Sun L Genre Fighting My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 66.15/100 Back in 1995, the idea of having a portable Street Fighter game that you could play while sitting on the ol' porcelain throne was something that just about everyone that played video games wanted. So, when the Game Boy version of Capcom's beloved fighting game was released, it was kind of disappointing with what we got. Instead of the near-perfect fighting game that we were hoping for, we got a barely-passable fighter that's merely a shell of its console and arcade big brothers. It looks about as good as an 8-bit Street Fighter II could look, which is nice, but unfortunately the gameplay just isn’t up to par with the visuals. Also, once the action begins, you begin to realize that you've got some nice visuals with animations containing a very low number of frames to make everything look choppy. The combat somewhat feels sluggish (due to the animations, I feel) and it's also way easier than it should be - when I can get two perfect victories over M. Bison in the final battle of arcade mode, something doesn't quite feel right. The game is also missing three fighters - E. Honda, Dhalsim, and Vega. They were removed due to limitations in the hardware…but still, their absence is very much noticed. But anyway, despite those flaws, in '95 beggars couldn't be choosers, and I'm sure that the folks that played this version of Street Fighter II still managed to find moderate fun in it. Played on: Game Boy Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/07/2022 BMX XXX Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date November 15, 2002 (NA) Developer Z-Axis, LTd. Genre Sports - BMX My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 56.18/100 Wow. What a mess. Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2 was a really fun alternative to the Tony Hawk franchise...And then Acclaim decided to follow it up with this trash, which Dave Mirra made sure that his name was not on. Unfortunately, the thing that makes BMX XXX stand out is that there are some females in the game with naked breasts as well as video footage of multiple, topless stippers. Well, in the Xbox and Gamecube versions anyway, the PS2 version has all that nudity edited out. Controversy is like free advertising, so if BMX XXX was actually a good game, then it probably would have been pretty successful. Well, the problem is that if this is the same engine from the Dave Mirra games, they modified it or something...Everything feels like it's not as tight as in the previous games that Z-Axis made. I also don't remember those games being buggy like this one is. It's not absolutely terrible, but it does feel like a step back. On a somewhat positive note, the timed stages are gone and the timer is replaced with a health bar. You can continue to play in a level so long as your health bar doesn't empty out. If this was a better game, I'd like that change a whole lot more...I found myself intentionally getting hit by cars or botching tricks just for laughs. I found I'd rather do that than exit to the main menu...it makes me feel like someone else is sharing my pain. Unfortunately, aside from the overall gameplay that took a step back, this game tries so hard to be "edgy" that it's obnoxious. Yeah, I get that hotdogs are called wieners…and that male genitalia is also called a wiener…I laughed about that in first grade. When much of your "comedy" is what grade schoolers say during recess, it's not edgy. The other stuff, with strippers, hookers, and the like, also does absolutely nothing to add to the game. I'd imagine that it turns off more people than it attracts. Games like Grand Theft Auto can get away with it because they focus on a quality game first, then add in all the adult content afterward. BMX XXX feels like it took the opposite route - it focused so much on the adult aspects that the game quality suffered. Still, since this was modeled after a decent game, it's not as bad as it could have been…but unless you really feel like you need to play a game with a topless woman jumping a BMX bike off some dirt ramps, I'd stay away from BMX XXX. Played on: Playstation 2, Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/24/2019 WWF Raw Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date February 11, 2002 (NA) Developer Anchor Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 60.04/100 WWF Raw is a passable wrestling game that looks way better than it plays. I remember being jealous of Xbox owners when this game first came out because it looked amazing...Then I played it and realized that I wasn't missing much. Then again, the game had Haku in it...I've always been a pretty big Haku mark. But anyway, nice visuals aside, the gameplay in the ring is pretty sloppy and choppy...Hey, that rhymed. I’m like a regular K-Kwik/R-Truth who also happens to be in the game. Anyway, like I said, the game is passable, but only the hardcore wrestling fans (or people who only have an Xbox) will likely find much to love here...Aside from Haku. Everyone should enjoy Haku. Played on: Xbox, PC Also known as: WWE Raw (All releases after initial U.S. release)

Date added: 09/24/2019 Lost Luggage Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1982 (NA) Developer Apollo Genre Action My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 56.54/100 Lost Luggage basically puts you in the roll of picking up luggage hurled out of a UFO. Why? I don't know. Maybe the guys collecting the luggage cheated on their girlfriends on the UFO, the ladies found out, locked the fellas out of the flying saucer, and hurled their belongings out of the windows...which you then needed to catch. What? It sounded like a plausible story in my head. Anyway, the very low difficulty causes this game get very boring very quickly. It's not necessarily a horrible game by any means...but without a whole lot of challenge here, after more than a minute or two of gameplay, you'll probably be looking for something else to pop in your Atari VCS. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/17/2019 Alf's U.S. Geography Platform PC Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Vision Software Genre Trivia My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 59.73/100 Have you ever wanted to know more about United States geography but felt like you needed a smart-mouthed alien that wears Hawaiian shirts and eats cats to teach you for it to stick? Well, lucky for you, Vision Software created such a game in 1993 – Alf’s U.S. Geography. Since in the late 80’s and early 90’s, schools were actually purchasing educational games in bulk for their students to use, I suppose it made sense to make a video game like this. What didn’t make sense was to use a television character whose show got cancelled three years prior. But, maybe that’s how they were able to get the license. Anyway, Alf’s U.S. Geography is a decent little trivia game…but that’s about it. Unless you’re Alf crazy, there’s not really a reason to play this, in my opinion. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/19/2020 Pain Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date November 29, 2007 (NA) Developer Idol Minds Genre Action My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 60.75/100 Pain was one of the first digital-only games that I purchased on the Playstation Network. It looked like stupid, mindless fun…and it was. The goal in Pain is to launch your character of choice into an area, trying to create combos and cause as much destruction as you possibly can…which, much like the name of the game, generally involves in the character being put through plenty of pain in the process. It’s a fun way to kill 5 minutes here and there, but ultimately, the game lacks enough substance to keep most folks coming back for more. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/31/2022 Trojan Platform NES Initial Release Date December 24, 1986 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 63.26/100 Trojan was Capcom's attempt to port one of their arcade games to the NES…and honestly, they didn't do an awful job. The NES version is still inferior to the arcade original, mind you, but it could have been worse. Obviously, the game took a graphical hit during the conversion to 8-bits. The other noticeable difference to me was that the controls feel less responsive than the arcade controls felt. Maybe it's my imagination, and they're not so unresponsive that that game is unplayable…but it just doesn't feel as smooth as the original game to me. The difficulty also felt like it was toned down in this port. Trojan still has enough difficulty to make you work for the credits, but it doesn't feel nearly as unforgiving as the arcade game did. That can be a positive or a negative, depending on your perspective. For the most part, though, I thought this port of Trojan was okay. I didn't love it or hate it…it's passable for what it is, and true enough to the original arcade game that I think most fans from the arcade would have been happy to have a port that they could play at home. Played on: NES Also known as: Tatakai no Banka (Japan)

Date added: 08/25/2019 Kyle Petty's No Fear Racing Platform Super NES Initial Release Date April 1995 (NA) Developer Leland Interactive Media Genre Racing My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 65.28/100 The only thing that this game fears is the ability to surpass being just a passable game, am I right? But seriously, the game is okay. It's nothing special. It has puzzling aspects like announcing, and the ability to change your number on your vehicle (you only have a handful of numbers to choose from, unfortunately). What makes that puzzling is that the number on everyone's car, regardless of the number you chose, is 00. The announcer will use the number you selected, but it's still an odd design choice. I can't imagine that simply having different numbers on each car would be too terribly difficult or take up too much space. But anyway, Kyle Petty's No Fear Racing is a passable racing game, but not much more than that. For NASCAR fans at the time, though, beggars couldn’t be choosers and it was one of the better options for the time. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Circuit USA (Japan)

Date added: 09/24/2019 M.A.D. Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1982 (NA) Developer Western Technologies Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 61.19/100 M.A.D. (it stands for Missile and Attack Defense) feels like a different take on the Missile Command formula. The big difference is that instead of dealing with missiles, in M.A.D. you have to deal with kamikaze pilots of planes and helicopters. The aircraft enter the screen and turn white if they're about to nose-dive into the buildings below. You're also not armed with explosives, but bullets and you've got to try and carefully aim for the suicide aircraft as they try to take everything out. It's not a horrible game, but it does feel like an inferior (but still mildly fun) knock-off of Missile Command rather than a good, unique game. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/03/2019 The Weeping Doll Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date October 27, 2016 (W) Developer TianShe Media Genre Adventure My Score 4.0/10 Avg. Score 35.23/100 The Weeping Doll is one of those games where I know that it’s technically not “good,” but I like it anyway. Essentially, the Weeping Doll is a VR adventure/horror game with controls that seem to go against what you’d expect VR to be. You know, VR being virtual reality…however, despite being in 1st person view, you do not move around in first person view. Instead, you point-and-click your way through the house using a silhouette of the character you play as the mouse that you’re pointing and clicking with. I’m assuming that it was done this way to avoid motion sickness? Regardless of the reason, it takes a bit of getting used to. However, once you’re used to it, the game isn’t THAT bad…though, it’s also not all that good, either. If you like horror games, you may find this game to be a guilty pleasure like I do…but there’s also a good chance that after a few minutes of playing, you’ll be so upset with your time spent that you’ll be weeping just like the doll in the title of the game. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/03/2019 K-1: The Arena Fighters Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date August 9, 1996 (JP) Developer Daft Genre Fighting - MMA My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 37.26/100 K-1 The Arena Fighters is not a good game...the controls feel delayed, the characters feel robotic, the computer can go from ridiculously easy to frustratingly cheap within a single fight, and there's not much here to keep you coming back for more if you manage to adapt to the previous complaints. That said, I still moderately enjoyed my time here...even with the game being as bad as it is, there's just something about knocking your opponent out after they whiffed with a punch or a kick. If the mechanics of the game had been tweaked to make everything play smoothly, this would have been a blast...instead it feels more like trying to get a marionette to box another marionette - absolutely terrible, but once you get used to controlling it, there may be at least a little fun to be had here. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Fighting Illusion: K-1 Grand Prix (Japan)

Date added: 04/15/2019 Pen Pen Trilcelon Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date November 27, 1998 (JP) Developer General Entertainment Genre Racing My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 59.69/100 I’m all for quirky, different games…However, while Pen Pen Trilcelon is definitely quirky and different, it’s also not very good. Essentially, you choose from a bunch of aquatic and/or arctic animals that happen to be triathletes. Then you participate in a three-part race where you run, swim, and slide. Depending on the course that you select, the three could be in different order. The slide and swim sections require you to paddle and the running sections require you to jump and/or slide into your opponents. It’s not necessarily horrible racing action, but it does get boring pretty quickly…especially since aside from playing to unlock all of the costume pieces, there isn’t a whole lot of reason to continue playing after you’ve completed all of the courses. As far a gimmicky racers go, I’ve played worse, but this still isn’t passable, especially when you’ve got plenty of other, solid racing games to choose from on the Dreamcast. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: Pen Pen (Europe)

Date added: 09/29/2021 Jerry Rice & Nitus' Dog Football Platform PC Initial Release Date August 16, 2011 (NA) Developer Judo Baby Genre Sports - Football My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 56.67/100 Jerry Rice and Nitus’ Dog Football is such a ridiculous game that I can’t help but love it. The concept of dog football is that the quarterback is a cartoony, over-the-top person and their teammates are two different dog breeds. You play football like normal. The dogs run in formations and you pass the ball or chew toy to a dog and let them run towards the endzone. As you advance to the endzone, you may obtain points. After getting a touchdown, you can either run or pass to add all of those points to your score or kick the ball to add half of those points to your score. It’s a nice little twist that makes it a little more different from the real sport…well, aside from replacing players with dogs, that is. Despite my initial praise for it, keep in mind, this game is not very good. In fact, the controls can be very annoying at times…but it’s such an oddball concept for a game that I can overlook that and enjoy myself here. Plus, I love dogs, so seeing dogs acting like how dogs would in the game just makes me smile. Dog Football is a nice novelty game for people that enjoy playing bizarre stuff, but if you’re looking for a good, quality game, unfortunately, you won’t find it here. Played on: PC, Wii Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/15/2019 Tetris 4D Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date December 23, 1998 (JP) Developer Bullet Proof Software Genre Puzzle My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 58.51/100 I wish I could say mostly favorable things about Tetris 4D, but unfortunately I can’t. Numerous little annoyances plague the game. One example is rotating blocks – in other Tetris games, if you have the block pressed against the wall and rotate, the block will rotate. In Tetris 4D, you have to pull the block away from the wall, rotate, then push back to the wall. And speaking of rotating, there seems to be a delay when rotating blocks at times, which isn’t a huge deal when you’ve got everything under control, but once the blocks start piling up, it makes you feel like you’ve got an unnecessary handicap. Complaints out of the way, Tetris 4D does have an interesting art-style that makes it stand out, and “battle mode” to play if you’ve got a friend or two (unfortunately, no option to play against the computer), but the little annoyances do add up enough where a lot of people will just throw their arms up and migrate to a different version of Tetris instead. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/10/2020 Monster 4x4: Masters of Metal Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date November 25, 2003 (NA) Developer Ubisoft Genre Racing My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 55.74/100 Monster 4x4, to my surprise, is actually a Monster Jam licensed game. When I first heard of this game, I actually thought it was a generic monster truck game…which is ironic, because after playing it, I still think it’s a generic monster truck game. Botta bing! Anyway, Monster 4x4 is a combination of mildly fun arena levels and checkpoint-style racing in non-arena environments. It’s not a particularly horrible game, but it’s also not particularly good, either. It’s just a bland game that happens to have the Monster Jam license…and unfortunately, that license has such a poor track record with its games, that this is still one of the better games holding that license that I’ve played. If you’re a fan of Monster Jam, you might find some enjoyment here, but everyone else will likely be ready to play something else after a few minutes of playing. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/24/2019 Katamari Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date June 30, 2013 (NA) Developer Rabbit 2600 Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 58.00/100 A programmer by the name of Rabbit 2600 created a Katamari game for the 2600 which isn't necessarily bad - it's just boring. Fans of the series will probably find enjoyment in the novelty of playing an Atari VCS version of one of their favorite video game franchises for a little while, but boredom will probably settle in sooner rather than later. Basically, Katamari is split into two parts - rolling up random objects, which requires zero skill and where much of the boredom comes from since nothing happens when you pick them up, and then after a little bit of that, you get thrust before the King of the Cosmos as he shoots lightning bolts at you and you have to avoid them. Rabbit 2600 did a good job with what he had to work with, you just get the feeling that the limitations of the hardware it was made for holds this game back a bit. It's passable, but if you're not a fan of the Katamari games, you probably won't find much to enjoy here. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/03/2019 PixelJunk VR: Dead Hungry Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date October 25, 2017 (JP) Developer Q-Games Genre Action My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 51.22/100 Dead Hungry would probably be an enjoyable game…if it worked a little better, that is. The goal is to frantically make food for zombies in your food truck before they get tired of waiting and eat you instead. In 1st person VR, you cook the food, then hurl the food at the zombies coming towards you. This would all be so much better except for one problem – the controls aren’t very good. Granted, maybe I wasn’t far enough away (or maybe too far?) and as such, the controls got goofy…I don’t know. I just know that I have had zero issues with controlling other VR games and plenty with this one. If you can get past the controls, the other roadblock preventing fun is repetition – the food selection doesn’t change, nor does much of the scenery. Aside from the increase in challenge, if you’ve played one level, you’ve basically played them all. Still, Dead Hungry is decent enough to pop in for 5-10 minutes to kill some time. Unfortunately, that’s also about all you need to pretty much to see everything that the game has to offer. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/22/2023 Zombie Nation Platform NES Initial Release Date December 14, 1990 (NA) Developer KAZe Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 60.37/100 I've played Zombie Nation a few times, but never actually completed it until recently when playing it to add it to this list. While I appreciate the weirdness of playing a scrolling shooter as a decapitated head of a samurai's ghost that spits out bullets…I've never been able to get past the fact that he looks like the dude in the painting in Ghostbusters II. Anyway, Zombie Nation has some entertaining bosses to battle against - the Statue of Liberty transformed into Medusa's head is always the first thing I think of when I think of this game. The levels themselves, though, aren't quite as memorable…the gameplay between boss fights gets very repetitive by the time you reach the end of the game. Sure, playing a scrolling shooter as a giant head, that shoots stuff and eats people that fall out of buildings, can be fun for a while…but ultimately, repetition will set in and despite some screens full of action, the game still manages to find a way to be a little boring at times, as odd as it sounds. Just short of passable, Zombie Nation is game that’s easy to recognize if you've ever played it before…but if the gameplay was tweaked a tad, it could've been remembered as something more than just "that shooter with the giant, flying head." Played on: NES Also known as: Abarenbou Tengu (Japan)

Date added: 01/27/2022 Jesse "The Body" Ventura Wrestling Superstars Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1992 (Planned date - Unreleased) Developer Human Entertainment Genre Wrestling My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 51.28/100 Jesse “The Body” Ventura Wrestling Superstars never actually saw a release in North America, like it was planned. Ads had been put out in magazines…but ultimately, it just never happened. At the time that The Body had signed the deal for this game, I believe Ventura was employed by the WWF (now WWE) and despite being classified as an independent contractor rather than an employee, the ol’ WWF did not like the fact that Mr. Ventura had made a business deal of his own without including them…plus, the WWF had a deal with Nintendo to release their games, so they didn’t think it looked good to have one of their stars appear on on Sega’s console…which, oddly enough, WWF games started appearing on Sega’s consoles shortly after this anyway. Ventura supposedly left the WWF in part due to the fact that he refused to back out of this game. Then he went to WCW, and I believe that they had similar feelings about the situation…and somehow or another the game was completely scrapped for a North American release. The game available is a prototype, but it’s playable. Essentially, the game was repackaged, improved upon, and had the difficulty ramped up, then was released in Japan under the name Thunder Pro Wrestling Retsuden. The reason I have them under separate entries is because despite many of the visuals being identical, the gameplay is very different between the two. If it had been released as-is, this still would have been a solid wrestling game for us fans in North America who never got a game in the Fire Pro series until 2001. But, compared to wrestling games available in Japan at the time, including Thunder Pro, Jesse Ventura’s variation of the game kinda falls flat. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/25/2019 Asphalt: Injection Platform Sony Playstation Vita Initial Release Date December 17, 2011 (JP) Developer Ubisoft Genre Racing My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 53.64/100 Asphalt: Injection isn't the greatest racing game I've ever played...In fact, the game feels kind of bland at times...But it's also got enough redeeming qualities to make it a worthwhile play if you like racing games. I'm a huge fan of shortcuts to discover in racing games, and I like that shortcuts are here...But from what I've seen, they're not really hard to discover. The game also includes an "auto screenshot" feature that snaps a screenshot during important parts of a race, which includes the camera snapping your reaction to the part. I had fun purposely making dumb faces while I raced just so I could enjoy my lame mug on a screenshot – kinda like when you ride a rollercoaster and you know that you’re passing the camera. Anyway, this is your average racing game...Nothing makes it bad, but nothing makes it stand out as being really good, either. If you like racers, it might be worth a purchase, otherwise you might wanna get the demo or a friend's copy to give it a try first. Played on: Playstation Vita Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/25/2019 Operation Full Moon (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 45.82/100 While still sub-par compared to most games, in comparison to other games on the Action 52 cart Operation Full Moon would have been up for game of the century consideration. It’s a standard vertical-scrolling shooter. No power-ups or anything...BUT the enemy does fire back at you. This gives the game some challenge and make it feel like a halfway decent game. But, there are some problems here...The first time you play, you’ll likely die a few times just because you try to drive over something that will kill you. Some of the hazards aren’t clearly labeled as such, and because of that, you could die a few times prior to figuring it all out. Next are the graphics. While they’re good in comparison to some other games in Action 52, they’re still pretty bland...And they don’t really change from level to level aside from the color. But those things aside, the controls are tight and the gameplay can be fun for a while. But, like I said at the beginning, while it’s very good compared to most other games in Action 52, it’s still sub-par when you compare it to other games on the NES. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/02/2020 Centipup Platform Android Initial Release Date July 1, 2014 (NA) Developer Denny's Inc. Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 59.67/100 If you’ve ever played Centipede and thought that the game would be better if the segments of centipede in the game were actually pancake puppies from Denny’s, well then Denny’s was already ahead of you. Centipup is a reimagined version of Centipede with touch controls that leave something to be desired. It’s not terrible, but it also doesn’t do the arcade original of Centipede any justice. Also, in a puzzling move, while much of the game has been modified to show breakfast foods (I’m guessing to make you hungry), the spiders were still left in untouched…Well, not exactly untouched. But they still look like spiders instead of…whatever it is that they’re supposed to be. Nothing says Denny’s breakfast like shooting at balls of fried pancake dough while a spider scurries across your plate, I guess. Played on: Android Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/24/2021 Wario Land: Shake It! Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date July 24, 2008 (JP) Developer Good-Feel Genre Platformer My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 67.26/100 When I bought Wario Land: Shake It!, it hadn't been out long, and yet it was still very, very cheap as a used game. That had me a little worried about the game's quality, but since it was a 2D platformer on a console long, long after 3D games took over the market, curiosity got the better of me. After playing it, it's really not a bad game as much as various aspects of it just feel like a chore instead of something fun...Most notably, the shaking. I can imagine a young boy playing this game while covered in a blanket, his parents seeing it, and then making him pause the game so they can give him the talk about the birds and the bees. Yes, that was an adult joke. And no, he would probably never “Shake It” again after that traumatizing experience. Kinda like me playing this game for Every Game Played – I played it to get screenshots, and will likely never revisit it again. Played on: Wii Also known as: Wario Land Shake (Japan), Wario Land: The Shake Dimension (Europe/Australia)

Date added: 02/10/2023 American Gladiators Platform NES Initial Release Date October 1991 (NA) Developer Incredible Technologies Genre Sports - Other My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 56.87/100 I have always been a huge fan of American Gladiators. I watched it religiously as a kid, and as an adult, I've gone out of my way to not just watch every episode of the series (old and new) but I've also searched out all of the spinoffs from other countries. That said, I've always wanted to like the American Gladiators games…unfortunately, the developers sometimes made that a difficult task. The NES version of American Gladiators isn't as awful as it could have been, but the developers did take some creative liberties with the events that you can play. As a result, this 8-bit American Gladiators feels more like a collection of arcade mini games with an American Gladiators theme than a video game version of the show. It's not as bad as some people make it out to be…it's just very short and unnecessarily difficult at times. Human Cannonball, in particular, can be frustrating until you figure out how exactly to get past the final gladiator. Anyway, if you liked the TV show you'll probably find it neat to see the 8-bit versions of the original Gladiators and find some mild enjoyment here. If you don't already have a reason to attempt to like this game, though, then the game itself likely won't give you any reason to try. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/28/2019 Spacechase Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1981 (NA) Developer Apollo Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 54.13/100 Spacechase, in my opinion, is one of the more visually pleasing Atari 2600 games. I suppose I'm just a fan of the rotating planet background. But anyway, this is just a basic shooter...But it never really becomes anything special. Basically, you need to shoot ships. Ships appear on the screen in waves of four and they move back and forth, firing at you along the way. That's it. Sure, the ships get faster and faster...But that's not enough to make this game worthwhile when you've got other games like Space Invaders available on the system that do this formula bigger and better...They just may not look as pretty. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/25/2021 Horror Stories Platform Playstation 4 Initial Release Date October 22, 2019 (NA) Developer RandomSpin Genre Action My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 59.89/100 No lie, I specifically purchased Horror Stories because I thought it was going to be one of those awful, poorly-made 3D games, that you can find on the Android and Apple stores, that were designed for smart phones, but somehow found their way onto consoles and the like. I bought it for the sole purpose of ripping it apart and being able to add another really bad game to the bottom of this list. When I started the game for the first time and saw the title screen, I figured that I was right and this would be awful. Then I played it, and...I was wrong on a few levels. First, this isn’t a poorly-made 3D game, it’s a so-so 2D game. Second, like I just mentioned, this isn’t awful. It’s not great by any stretch of the imagination, mind you, but this is so much better than I expected it to be. Basically, the goal here is to collect various items in the level. When you pick up an item, an object flashes. Your goal is to go to the flashing object with the item in hand, and MacGyver the flashing object into a trap by using said item. While you do this, there is a killer walking around. The goal is to set all the traps and let the killer walk into them without being seen. If the killer walks into enough traps, they die, and you advance to the next stage. It’s not great, but it could definitely help you pass the time better than what I thought this would be. I got it for a dollar, and I think I got my money’s worth. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/11/2019 Happy Jogging in Hawaii Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date November 29, 2001 (JP) Developer Twilight Express Genre Fitness My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 52.78/100 Jogging in Hawaii can be an interesting experience or a tedious, boring one depending on how you play the game. If you've got the walking peripheral that allows the game to read you walking/jogging/running in place, then this game is kind of neat, with branching pathways on the walking trails to help keep things from feeling too repetitive. If you don't have the peripheral, however, and are stuck using a controller, you're basically just stuck rotating an analog stick repeatedly and occasionally selecting a direction when the path branches, which is just plain boring. If you've got the peripheral, it's a passable fitness game that keeps track of stats and all that fun stuff...Without the peripheral, it'll likely be one of the most boring games that you've ever played. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/25/2019 WWE Summerslam Slingshot Platform Apple iPhone/iPod Touch Initial Release Date July 13, 2011 (NA) Developer World Wrestling Entertainment Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 59.73/100 Back when Angry Birds was taking the world by storm, World Wrestling Entertainment took notice and in an attempt to help promote their upcoming Summerslam pay-per-view in Los Angeles, released WWE Summerslam Slingshot. As you may have guessed, this is an Angry Birds clone…but not done nearly as well or with nearly as much personality. Basically, you slingshot Randy Orton and John Cena into various other WWE wrestlers like Edge, Big Show, Kane, Kofi Kingston, and others. It’s not a terrible game, but it’s really not that good. I’m not sure how much help the game was to raise pay-per-view buyrates, but if you wanted a passable time-killer to waste five minutes while you wait for a bus or drop a deuce, you could do worse than this game. Played on: iPhone Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/07/2022 Boku no Tennis Jinsei Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date September 20, 2001 (JP) Developer Bimboosoft Genre Sports - Tennis My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 58.95/100 This game is pretty bland, especially considering that the incredible Virtua Tennis was released a year before this game and is still superior to it in every way. Basically, Boku no Tennis Jinsei has some super-deformed characters to play as, or you can create your own super-deformed character and build up their stats in a career mode of sorts. That may sound kind of neat, but unfortunately once the action on the court begins, it's not a particularly fun experience. Again, had Virtua Tennis not been released a year before this game, then maybe I'd be a little more forgiving of its shortcomings….but since Virtua Tennis raised the bar for tennis games, I can't honestly say that this game reaches that bar in any way. It's not the worst rendition of tennis that I've played before, but this Japanese import is still just shy of me considering it a passable game. If you're obsessed with tennis and don't mind taking a step down from better games in the genre to play this, you may find some fun here. Everyone else is probably better off passing on this one. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/28/2019 Spikeout: Battle Street Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date March 24, 2005 (JP) Developer Dimps Corporation Genre Action - Brawler My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 57.73/100 Spikeout: Battle Street is a so-so, 3D brawler. It's playable and all, and the controls are done well, but it just gets repetitive pretty quick. Even with a decent variety of attacks and weapons to use, the game just gets old after a few minutes of playing. Back when it was released, it was also dubbed as the “first real-time online multiplayer brawler.” While the concept of playing with friends at home and/or strangers online is interesting, it still doesn’t help the repetition found here much. If you're a fan of brawlers and don't find them to be repetitive, the controls and such are pretty solid here, so you'll likely have a good time. This is a game that's fun in small doses, but play for too long and the repetition will make you grow to resent the fact that you're playing it. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 1st Video Game (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Sports - Ping Pong My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 50.84/100 This is it! This may be the best game that Active Enterprises ever made! And it's a complete rip-off of Pong, right down to the black and white color scheme. But that's okay, because it results in something on an Action 52 cartridge that you can play with a friend and not feel like you'll have to apologize for months afterward about. I'll even forgive Active Enterprises for thinking that Pong was the first video game made…it wasn't, but good golly, I'm just so thrilled that Active Enterprises put something that I can play on one of their cartridges, that doesn't make me want to shove my face into a high-speed metal fan, that I simply don't know what to say. I mean I'll stick with the original Pong over this so that I don't accidentally play something else on Action 52, but I'm trying to look on the bright side of things here, dang it. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/25/2020 Q*bert Rebooted Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date February 17, 2015 (NA) Developer LOOT Entertainment Genre Puzzle My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 62.23/100 Q*Bert Rebooted is an okay attempt at resurrecting the foul-mouthed, orange turkey baster. It’s not really good, but it’s passable. Basically, it’s a very toned-down version of the classic arcade game…the further you go into the game, the more the game gets tricky, but it never feels too difficult. You’re more likely to quit out of boredom than frustration, though. All that said, I think this game may appeal to young children, but for most of us older folks, I can’t imagine too many folks will love this game, even though it does also include the original arcade version. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/02/2022 Hatris Platform NES Initial Release Date April 1992 (NA) Developer Bullet Proof Software Genre Puzzle My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 61.23/100 When you create the most popular puzzle game of all time, what do you do? Create more puzzle games in an effort to unsuccessfully top it, of course. Hatris was one of the puzzle games that Alexey Pajitnov created after the success of Tetris...And much like his other puzzle games, Hatris is nowhere near the quality of Pajitnov's original creation. That's not a dig at Mr. Pahitnov, either. His original game was flawless in its simplicity. No puzzle game has ever topped it, and it's likely that no puzzle game ever will. But, Pajitnov tried anyway. The concept of Hatris is not quite like Tetris, like the name would imply…Basically, you've got an assortment of craniums lining the bottom of the screen and you've got to place hats in sets of two on the heads. Match-up multiple hats to make them disappear, and continue the process until the hats hit the top of the screen. Like in Tetris, if the hats reach the top of the screen, it's game over. All in all, Hatris is alright for a puzzle game, to be completely honest, but as I stated above, it's nowhere near the quality of Tetris. But, if you're a big fan of matching puzzle games and looking for something different, then Hatris isn't all that bad. If you're looking for a must-play puzzle game to pass the time…well, this wouldn't really be something to hang your hat on….pun intended. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/19/2021 Magus Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date February 25, 2014 (NA) Developer Black Tower Studios Genre Action My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 40.71/100 My first thought when playing Magus was, “Hoo boy! This is gonna be rough.” In Magus, you control the most uninteresting, bland-looking main character in the history of video games, and using awkward controls, you play through various levels until you defeat everyone (man, creature, or god) that gets in your way. The movements of the characters are equally as awkward as the controls. As you see enemies enter the screen, you’ll think that they should be in their underwear and that the levels are made of hard wood flooring, as they slide in front of you like they’re about to lip sync the song “Old Time Rock and Roll.” Then you beat them up with magic…repeatedly. That said, Magus has a “so-bad-it’s-good” charm to it that ultimately won me over by the end. Let me be clear, Magus is NOT a good game…but it’s so ridiculous that I couldn’t help but enjoy my time with it enough to put in the extra work required to get a Platinum trophy. I can’t necessarily recommend Magus, but I’m sure that there are others out there that were, or will be, won over by the game like I was. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/10/2019 Electroplankton Platform Nintendo DS Initial Release Date April 7, 2005 (JP) Developer Indies Zero Genre Music My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 68.39/100 Electroplankton is hard to score. On one hand, I really like the concept here and creating music with the plankton is pretty fun...The giant downside, of course, is the lack of any ability to save. It kind of boggles my mind that a save feature was never implemented into this game so that you could share your musical creations with others...I have a hard time justifying a decent score for this game without that seemingly obvious feature included. Instead it's fun while it lasts, but once you realize that none of the work that you're putting into constructing a song is going to last beyond when you turn the system off, it kind of derails your creativity and makes it hard to feel motivated to keep coming back. As I noted earlier, if it had a save feature, my score would go way up...But it's such an essential and obvious feature to have that I couldn't help but feel like I had to dock the score pretty heavily. If you like unique music games, definitely check this game out...Just don't create a musical masterpiece and expect to have it forever. Played on: Nintendo DS Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/27/2019 Skiing Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1980 (NA) Developer Activision Genre Sports - Skiing My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 65.18/100 I've never been skiing, but I imagine that if I did go, I'd fly down the frost-covered mountain and glide right into a big, ol' pine tree. In the Atari 2600 version of Skiing, big accidents like smashing into a pine tree don't happen...Nor does any sense of speed. It's a pretty mild crawl down to the bottom of the hill. Makes me wonder if the athletes in this game are skiing down snow mountains or glue mountains…They have glue mountains somewhere. Don’t worry about it. Anyway, while the game lacks a lot excitement, the gameplay is still passable, allowing Atari 2600 owners an opportunity to ride the slopes without the risk of being clotheslined by a tree branch, even if that means that much of the excitement is lost. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/29/2019 Baseball Platform NES Initial Release Date October 7, 1983 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Sports - Baseball My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 57.15/100 Baseball is Nintendo's original attempt at a baseball game...And it's okay for its time, but that's about all it is. There’s no special modes…it’s simply a game where you choose a team (based on what color scheme you want, honestly) then play a game against either a friend or the computer. Playing against a friend is where it shines the most…but it shines more like a night light than anything else, which is fine…but it’s not going to “wow” anyone. If you’re interested in a bare-bones baseball game with so-so controls and minimal options, then Baseball delivers. At the time of its initial release, this was a decent game….however, it did not take long at all before other baseball games made this base hit look more like it made it to first from being hit by the pitch. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/25/2019 Illuminator (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Action My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 42.86/100 While it needs polish, Illuminator is actually pretty fun. The premise is simple, you want the lights on and other folks want the lights off...And you’re willing to kill each other to make sure you have your way. With the lights on, you can see everything. With the lights off, with the exception of ladders, floors, lighting fixtures, and your brick-shaped bullets, which glow in the dark apparently, you can’t see a thing. This makes it kind of a frantic fun...However, when you’ve climbed to upper levels and a light switch has been flipped, it’s very hard to make it back down since the ladders don’t extend very far past the ground for you to place your shadow in front of. When this happens, you’ve gotta use your bullets to kind of see where your position is, then take a few steps and fire again until it looks like you’re above a ladder. It’s an annoying trial and error process that could have easily been remedied. The graphics aren’t great, but they’re alright. The controls are pretty well done. Overall, it’s one of the best games on the Action 52 cart...Unfortunately, that doesn’t say a whole heckuva lot. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/10/2019 Dominique Pamplemousse in It's All Over Once The Fat Lady Sings! Platform PC Initial Release Date February 4, 2014 (NA) Developer Deirdra Kiai Productions Genre Adventure My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 53.77/100 Musicals annoy me. No idea why, but they do. Dominique Pamplemousse is basically a point-and-click musical...And you can't skip the singing. Musical irritations aside, this is about as basic as you can get with a point-and-click adventure. Sure, the stop-motion clay animation is a nice touch, and the musical aspect makes it unique...But neither one hides the fact this this is basic and incredibly easy...I don't think it will take most people much more than an hour to beat. I'm considering it passable 'cause I think kids may love it...but I don't think many adults will be back for more after the credits roll. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/24/2022 Black & Bruised Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date January 26, 2003 (NA) Developer Digital Fiction Genre Fighting - Boxing My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 63.41/100 If you pick up Black & Bruised with the thoughts that you're getting a 3D version of Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!, then you're going to be extremely disappointed. Heck, even if you pick up Black and Bruised thinking that you'll get a game as good as Ready 2 Rumble Boxing, you may find yourself being a bit disappointed, too. Black & Bruised is an attempt to create an over-the-top, arcade-style boxing game…in that regard, it succeeds, I guess. Black & Bruised makes Ready 2 Rumble Boxing feel like a boxing simulator in comparison. Instead of punching, blocking, dodging, and maybe a special punch to throw tossed in, Black & Bruised instead throws in power-ups in an effort to make the fights interesting. A boxer may cause fire damage with their punches when a power-up is triggered, for example. Now, while over-the-top aspects to boxing doesn't sound like it's that bad of a concept, and it's not, this game just doesn't execute it the best. The controls when fighting don't always feel the most responsive and as a result, some fights can cause a lot of frustration. It's not all bad, though. The "Boxer's Life" mode, for example, provides interesting challenges and a simple story for each boxer. It's a nice, welcome edition to the game that, in my opinion, helps nudge Black & Bruised over into the "passable" category despite the other aspects of the game that drag it down. If rentals were around, I'd suggest this game as a rental…but since I'm not aware of any retro rental services, I'll just say that if you like boxing, and can get this for cheap, then it may be worth picking up. If not, I'd just avoid it. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2020 Irritating Stick Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date March 19, 1998 (JP) Developer Saurus Genre Action My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 58.34/100 Irritating Stick will be for most people like the title implies - irritating. There's not much to do here...basically, imagine a video game version of the board game Operation...touch the sides and get zapped...except instead of pulling body parts out of an unlucky fellow on an operating table, you're moving a stick through a maze in the fastest way possible. That's it. If it wasn't for the fact that you can play with seven other folks, which greatly increases the fun and replay value, I probably wouldn't recommend this. But, with multiplayer included, this game is a passable game to pull out when you've got a group of friends over...then you can all be irritated together...in a fun way. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Denryuu IraIra Bou Returns (Japan)

Date added: 05/22/2020 Victory Run Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date December 28, 1987 (JP) Developer Hudson Genre Racing My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 62.07/100 Victory Run was Hudson’s attempt at the racing formula found in Sega’s OutRun. The end result isn’t great, but it is fairly interesting. Basically, you have points to distribute at the start of the game that can go to tires, engine, etc. Then, you drive down a road trying to avoid traffic within a specific time limit. In a head-scratching decision, bumping into cars seems to slow you down a bit, but bumping into motorcycles sends you flying like a kernel of corn popping into a piece of popcorn. I’d imagine with you being in a vehicle and a motorcyclist being on a…well, motorcycle…that they would be the ones flying all over the screen. I guess not. Anyway, Victory Run has some novel ideas and the racing is mildly fun, but the game as a whole never manages to be anything beyond simply passable. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: Victory Run: Eikou no 13,000KM (Japan)

Date added: 07/08/2020 State of Emergency Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date February 12, 2002 (NA) Developer VIS Entertainment Genre Brawler My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 64.10/100 State of Emergency gets very repetitive very quickly...But, that said, you've gotta hand it to VIS Entertainment - the number of people and interactive environments in this game was absolutely mind-blowing at the time. Unfortunately, while it was fun at first, it didn't take long for the novelty to wear off and then you were left with a sub-par, 3D brawler. In small doses, State of Emergency can still be fun, though...Even more so when you’ve got a friend nearby to compete over high scores with…But this isn’t a game that most people will spend more than 30 minutes or so playing before they’re ready to move onto something better. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/05/2020 Ampu-Tea Platform PC Initial Release Date November 3, 2013 (NA) Developer ProjectorGames Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 54.92/100 Ampu-Tea is a bit of an odd game…the fun isn’t in succeeding in Ampu-Tea. In fact, it’s the opposite. The fun in Ampu-Tea is failing miserably, and watching everything get destroyed do to your inability to control the arm well enough to make a proper cup of tea. And by proper, I mean, doing everything in the correct order…if you’re going to make a cup of tea, you shouldn’t be doing it like some sort of savage. Unfortunately, I think the initial enjoyment of watching everything get destroyed won’t last long for most folks before they get frustrated and move onto something else. For those that stick with it, and actually make a proper cup of tea, there is a nice sense of accomplishment…and to celebrate, you can destroy everything on the table again. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2022 Mind's Eye (Action 52) Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Puzzle My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 50.84/100 Mind's Eye, eh? This is basically just Minesweeper. Granted, Minesweeper itself isn't a bad game, and back in 1993, Windows PCs weren't as popular as they would eventually become…so while a lot of us may think that the addition of Minesweeper on here is kinda ridiculous, there is a fairly good chance that folks that got a copy of Action 52 when it released, this may be the first time that they played this game. It's a smart move, in my opinion, for Active Enterprises to include this on their Genesis Action 52 cartridge. Mind's Eye probably doesn't take up much space on the cart, and the gameplay can be somewhat addicting in its simplicity. Overall, Mind's Eye isn't a unique or original game, but that's probably why it's one of the better games on Action 52. It's a solid port of a solid puzzle game. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/01/2022 Truck Racing Championship Platform Playstation 4 Initial Release Date July 18, 2019 (EU/AU) Developer N-RACING Genre Racing My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 57.44/100 Y'know, back when Gran Turismo first released, I thought it was a fun novelty to have to earn driver's licenses to participate in certain races. Unfortunately, with Truck Racing Championship, that novelty is a couple of decades old and I groaned when I saw that it was required here. When I FINALLY completed all license objectives, I was hoping that I could just race against other trucks. Of course not. Several solo races against the clock were required first Practice, Qualifying, then because I was stupid enough to do well in qualifying, I was required to do ANOTHER solo race for the Super Pole. Then, I was FINALLY able to share the track with other vehicles. It took roughly an hour from booting the game up for the first time to when I finally got to race against other trucks. That's ridiculous. The gameplay itself is okay, but nothing too special…fans of faster-paced, arcade-style racing probably won't enjoy this too much. Fans of the sport of truck racing who are looking for a simulation to play will likely appreciate it much, much more…but I imagine that's a pretty niche audience. Unfortunately, I don't fit into that audience. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: FIA Truck Racing Championship (Europe, Australia, Japan)

Date added: 12/25/2022 Wayne Gretzky and the NHLPA All-Stars Platform Super NES Initial Release Date December 1995 (NA) Developer Sculptured Software Genre Sports - Hockey My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 61.25/100 Wayne Gretzky and the NHLPA All-Stars, thanks to the NHLPA license, was able to get real names of players on this game…Unfortunately, only having the NHLPA license means that the team names and logos aren't present. It does, however, have a few international teams…So, if you want to play as the USSR, you can…Even though the USSR dissolved in late 1991 and this game was released in late 1995. Anyway, unlike EA's NHL games where the action takes place up and down the screen, this game goes left to right. The end result is decent, but nowhere near as good or easy to play as EA's hockey efforts. Still, if you want a passable hockey game on the SNES, Wayne Gretzky and the NHLPA All-Stars isn't bad (at least not in my opinion - some people seem to really dislike this game, though)…just don't use it as a geographical history lesson, since the developers apparently weren't really aware of any major geographical changes that had happened in the world since they had last been in school. With proper player names, however, I suppose you could look back and use it as a hockey history lesson. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/03/2023 Space Invaders Platform Bandai Wonderswan Initial Release Date May 13, 1999 (JP) Developer SunSoft Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 66.08/100 Space Invaders on the Wonderswan is essentially just Space Invaders on everything else…but portable. That's it…..but two sentences next to the screenshot wouldn't really look aesthetically pleasing on this list, do they? I suppose I can put a little detail in here. This portable version of Space Invaders plays just fine. There's not really anything wrong with it aside from the fact that this is a port of a game that came out two decades earlier, with minimal additions included. As such, I have a difficult time justifying giving this game a better score, even if the gameplay itself doesn't technically have any faults to it. If you like Space Invaders and want a solid port to carry around with you, Space Invaders is an okay choice…but if you're hoping for some evolution or innovation to a twenty-year-old game, you may find yourself pretty disappointed here. Played on: Wonderswan Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/29/2023 Toy Story Platform Super NES Initial Release Date December 1995 (NA) Developer Traveller's Tales Genre Platformer My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 64.07/100 While working on my old website, I once had someone tell me that Toy Story was a 10 out of 10 game…I hadn't played it, but I remember asking them to revisit it again since I had games I loved as a child, too…but revisiting them revealed that they weren't quite as good as I remembered them to be. They revisited, and the score dropped a bit - I think to an 8 out of 10, but I could be mistaken. Anyway, now that I've finally sat down and played through Toy Story, I, personally, feel like it's more in the 6 out of 10 range. That's not bad, mind you, I consider 6 to be passable…but I just don't see Toy Story being anything more than that. I'll start with some positives, Toy Story is gorgeous for its time. Using the same technology as Rare did for Donkey Kong Country, Toy Story is visually stunning. However, once you get past how the game looks, you'll find a pretty basic game here. The platforming, in particular, is a bit bland. The RC car levels feel dull. The first-person level where you rescue the green aliens from inside of a crane machine felt mildly promising, but it only lasts for a single level. I think that's part of the problem here - Traveller's Tales attempts making several levels play like different genres, and while all of them are okay, none of them are great. Maybe if they just stuck with platforming and focused all of their energy into tweaking that gameplay, this would have been a much better game. For what it is, Toy Story is still an okay game, and it's a treat for the eyes if you want a good-looking 16-bit game, but unless you absolutely love the film and are willing to look past its flaws, I can't say that this is a game that everyone will enjoy. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/15/2023 Wacky Races Platform NES Initial Release Date December 25, 1991 (JP) Developer Atlus Genre Platformer My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 65.88/100 When I see a game with the Wacky Races characters on the cover, my immediate thought is going to be, "racing game." Atlus, however, decided to make it a platformer. I love Atlus, but c'mon. A Rad Racer-style racing game with Wacky Races characters would have been neat, I think. That said, this platformer isn't too bad once you get past the initial disappointment that you won't be racing with or against your favorites from the cartoon. You control Muttley, everyone's favorite cackling dog, as he attempts to help his partner in crime, Dick Dastardly, so the duo can find a way to win the wacky races…that you don't actually end up racing in. As I mentioned, the platforming here isn't bad, but it also fails to really innovate anything - it's just a standard platformer without anything, aside from the Hanna Barbara license, to really make it stand out from other platformers at the time. If you're a fan of 8-bit, 2D platformers, you'll likely enjoy Wacky Races for what it is, but if you're looking for something unique, you may walk away disappointed. Played on: NES Also known as: Chiki Chiki Machine Mou Race (Japan)

Date added: 05/09/2022 Ninja: Shadow of Darkness Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date September 30, 1998 (NA) Developer Core Design Ltd. Genre Brawler My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 59.51/100 Ninja: Shadow of Darkness was on one of the first demo discs I had for the Playstation. I remember playing it, and while I didn't think it was a good game, per se, I still found enjoyment in it all the same. Fast forward a few decades, and I finally sat down and took the time required to play this game through from beginning to end…and my initial thought of it still seems to be pretty accurate. Basically, Ninja: Shadow of Darkness is a 3D brawler, but it's set in an odd camera angle where it's not technically an isometric view, but it kinda feels like it's an isometric view. It's hard to describe unless you experience it. Anyway, this view means that the beat 'em up gameplay can feel awkward at times…especially when you're required to do any form of platforming or traversing on thin strips of solid ground. The game can also be frustratingly difficult due to a combination of the odd viewpoints, the constant barrage of enemies that WILL swarm around you if given the chance, and the constant traps that lay waiting for you. The traps alone are likely to cause game over screens more than anything else, I'd be willing to bet, since the brawling and the viewpoints can be overcome with some patience. The traps, however, are often trial and error, so unless you know what to expect, you'll likely lose plenty of lives. All of that said, Ninja still held my interest enough to keep me playing through to the end. I consider this game to be just short of passable, though. If you want to play a game with a cheesy story and don't mind dealing with sub-par gameplay to see it all, then you may find Ninja: Shadow of Darkness to be a guilty pleasure like I do. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 The Amazing Frog Platform Ouya Initial Release Date June 11, 2013 (NA) Developer FAYJU Genre Action My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 63.81/100 The Amazing Frog is terrible...But terrible in a good, cheesy way. Terrible in a way where if it was a movie, you’d enjoy watching it just make fun of the trainwreck that it is…but at the same time, it does actually have some decent ideas tossed in. Anyway, Amazing Frog is like of like Pain on the Playstation Network, except you get to walk and roam around instead of getting hurled out of a slingshot. The controls weren't the best, the camera kinda stunk, and yet...I couldn't stop playing when it was first released. Now that I’ve played it with updates and such added to it, I can say that things have improved quite a bit over the initial release…but it’s still pretty bad, and yes, still bad in an entertaining way…Though they did include an ability to make your way into outer space. Controlling clumsy frogs in space make it a game worth playing on its own. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/03/2020 5 Star Wrestling Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date March 17, 2015 (NA) Developer Serious Parody Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 50.90/100 5 Star Wrestling was an interesting experiment. While the game has plenty of good ideas, unfortunately, much of it is flawed. The lack of any real type of game mode, in particular, hurts the game a bit. Instead, you’re expected to complete challenges to earn money…With the money, you can unlock alternate costumes, new arenas, and new match types…Yes, you’re expected to grind through the bare-bones game simply to get enough money to unlock a new match type. Still, there’s still some good here if you’re a wrestling fan. Once you’re used to the controls, the gameplay, while clunky, is good enough where you may find yourself playing more matches than you intended…Unfortunately, the number of matches needed to play to unlock stuff that would make you coming back for more is probably too great for most folks. It’s a nice idea, a nice concept, but ultimately, the name ‘5 Star Wrestling’ is only accurate if it’s graded on a 10 star scale. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/24/2019 Hangman Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1978 (NA) Developer Atari Genre Trivia My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 66.17/100 Wrong title. No man gets hung in this game. If you fail, you see a monkey hanging from a pole by its arm. It should be called Hangmonkey, not Hangman. I doubt a stick figure man hanging by its neck would be something that parents would've been up in arms about back in the 70's...But then again, I’m of the belief that people are just as offended by things today as they were decades ago...The internet as just made it easier to be more vocal about it. Anyway, non-gaming opinions aside, Hangman is an okay game, but like many games in the early Atari VCS library, it's actually more fun to grab a friend and participate in the actual pen-and-paper game of Hangman than it is to play a video game version of it. But if you dropped the cash to play it on your television, it’s a passable experience. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/04/2019 Nekketsu Oyako Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date December 3, 1994 (JP) Developer TechnoSoft Genre Brawler My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 63.58/100 Nekketsu Oyako is a side-scrolling brawler, similar to Final Fight or Streets of Rage...but not as good as either series. Basically, you fight your way through the levels with a lot of repetitive enemies and eventually fight a boss at the end of the stage. In terms of brawlers, I feel like this one is WAY easier than average. I made my way through each level with relative ease...even beating some bosses without taking more than one or two hits. One boss was even juggled to death by me on accident thanks to the boomerang weapon, which I happened to throw at just the right time to make the boss juggle on it repeatedly, removing the remainder of his energy (over half of it) in the process. Anyway, if you like brawlers, you'll probably enjoy your time here...it's not a horrible game, but repetition of the enemies (the levels themselves are quite varied, in fairness) and iffy controls will turn some away. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/31/2019 Fish Dude Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date October 5, 1990 (JP) Developer Salio Genre Action My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 75.51/100 Fish Dude is a unique title. You control a fish. You need to eat a specific number of smaller fish to complete the level. The catch is that there are numerous hazards in your way, like bigger fish trying to eat you or octopuses that’ll invert the color scheme if you touch them…or even birds that'll swoop you up if you dive out of the water to avoid something else chasing you. It's not the best-designed game in the world, but it can be mildly fun in small doses. I'm not really sure why the title is "Fish Dude" though...Unless it's the abbreviated form of "I'm playing a game with fish, dude...And I'm already bored with it." That’s probably not the legitimate reason for the name…but it’s my list, my rules. That’s what it stands for, dang it. Played on: Game Boy Also known as: Uoozu (Japan)

Date added: 12/02/2023 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters Platform Super NES Initial Release Date December 3, 1993 (JP) Developer Konami Genre Fighting My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 67.44/100 The SNES version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament fighters has the largest roster of fighters in comparison to the game on other consoles…though, that may not be a fair comparison because the Genesis and NES versions of the game are completely different. Konami didn't just port the game to all three consoles, they released three different games that play differently and have different stories and fighters. But anyway, the SNES version boasts the largest roster with folks from the comic books, the animated series, and even some unique characters for the game. The fighting is passable for what it is, but it does feel like your average Street Fighter clone - passable, but nothing special beyond the TMNT license. If you like fighting games and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, then you may find something to like here. Otherwise, I think most folks will fight a few rounds and then be ready to move onto something a little better. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Warriors (Japan), Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles: Tournament Fighters (Europe)

Date added: 09/10/2019 NFL Xtreme Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date June 30, 1998 (NA) Developer 989 Sports Genre Sports - Football My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 63.41/100 NFL Xtreme was 989 Studios' attempt at creating a football game with hard hits, plenty of trash talk and celebrations, and laxed rules. They were successful...But they forgot one thing - making it fun to play. The controls are kind of clunky, which doesn't help matters, but even looking past that, even with all of the mentioned additions to the game, this just feels like a regular football game. It doesn't feel very Xtreme. Less than three months after this game was released, NFL Blitz came out and showed everyone how this type of football game was supposed to be done...And the way that NFL Xtreme did arcade-style, laxed-rules football was definitely not it. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/18/2023 WWE Battlegrounds Platform Playstation 4 Initial Release Date September 18, 2020 (W) Developer Saber Interactive Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 52.11/100 Back in 2019, Visual Concepts took over the WWE 2K franchise and it was an absolute disaster of a game. While Visual Concepts took a year off from the franchise to try to sort out their mess (which still didn't turn out that well, in my opinion), 2K Games had Saber Interactive develop a WWE game that, I think, was supposed to be a spiritual sequel to WWE All-Stars, a mostly-liked arcade-style wrestling game released roughly a decade earlier. Unfortunately, Battlegrounds just isn't very fun. From the frustrating aspect of the vast majority of wrestlers being locked at the start of the game, to a lack of enjoyable modes to make playing enough to unlock everyone being a complete bore. Story mode, while amusing at first, overstays its welcome, in my opinion. And the matches themselves aren't as pick-up-and-play simple as one might expect from an arcade-style game - I get the sense that this game was made to appeal to non-wrestling fans and/or casual fans, so why not make this game so simplistic that you can just pick it up and play without any need for tutorials? To me, Battlegrounds is in an awkward place of being too complicated for non-fans, and too simplistic for wrestling fans….so unless you fall somewhere in the middle, you'll probably be disappointed here. Still, even with my complaints, Battlegrounds is technically a passable game, and due to the glitches and the variety of issues with the 2K franchise games that sandwich Battlegrounds, it was still actually the best new WWE game for a few years. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/22/2023 A Nightmare on Elm Street Platform NES Initial Release Date October 1990 (NA) Developer Rare Ltd. Genre Platformer My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 62.34/100 I absolutely hated A Nightmare on Elm Street in the past…going back and revisiting the game, and beating it for the first time in about a decade, I feel like I was too harsh on it. My main gripe about the game was that the Freddy Krueger battles were far too easy. I picture him to be about as intimidating as Sponge Bob Square Pants…I call him Prune Face Claw Hands. Okay, I don't call him that, but I could. In comparison, Jason in the NES Friday the 13th seems almost invincible….well, at least until you learn how to battle him. Freddy is pretty much a piece of cake if you've got patience and don't just rush in and attack. Despite my issues with Freddy's difficulty, the platforming in this game, which is the majority of the game, is done fairly well. Your goal is to platform through levels, collect Freddy's bones, fight a piece of Freddy, then find the next area and repeat the process. While doing this, you'll grow drowsy unless you find coffee or radios to keep you awake. If your awake meter fully depletes, though, you'll find yourself in a nightmare version of the area that you're in. If you fail to wake yourself up from the nightmare land fast enough, you'll find yourself in a fight with Freddy. The final stage is a little more challenging in terms of platforming, but even a boss rush at the end doesn't really make the final battle feel too awful challenging. All of that said, I do think that people like this game a bit more than I do…and people seem to dislike Friday the 13th a bit more than I do. If I had to choose between one of the LJN horror movie games, I'd go with Friday the 13th, but if you're rather play a platformer with Prune Face Claw Hands, you'll probably be in the majority with that decision. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/01/2023 Drug Wars Platform Panasonic 3DO Initial Release Date 1994 (NA) Developer American Laser Games Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 50.65/100 Drug Wars is another video-based light gun game, similar to Mad Dog McCree, complete with the cheesy acting that made Mad Dog McCree so memorable. That said, if you hated Mad Dog McCree, and its hokey, terrible acting, then you'll probably dislike Drug Wars just as much. Each level is essentially you bursting into a scene and shooting anyone that points a gun your way. There are some memorable moments to find here…mostly over-the-top ridiculous stuff, but with the corny acting found here, one may expect the content of the game to be equally corny and entertaining. For example, seeing a fellow on a jet ski wielding a big ol' machine gun…that doesn't seem practical, but hey, it's entertaining. Anyway, if a light gun shooter with cheesy live-acting sounds like it'd be entertaining to you, then you'll probably find something to enjoy with Drug Wars. If you're not a fan of the cheese, then you likely won't be thrilled participating in this war on drugs. Played on: 3DO Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/12/2021 Tekken Advance Platform Nintendo Game Boy Advance Initial Release Date December 21, 2001 (JP) Developer Eighting Genre Fighting My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 68.48/100 Tekken Advance is closer to a Tekken console game than one might imagine with it being on a 16-bit handheld. The action is still 3D and plays mostly the same, but minor changes are made due to the lack of buttons on the Game Boy Advance in comparison to a console controller. Along with this impressive accomplishment, the game has both an arcade mode and a tag arcade mode, where you battle with teams of three fighters, tagging in and out as needed. Unfortunately, after the arcade fun runs out, there's not much keeping you here...And a lack of arcade mode endings may take away a lot of potential replay value for some. Overall, it's a really well done effort to bring a 3D fighter to a 16-bit handheld...But aside from that novelty, the game itself is simply passable and most folks will grow bored with it shortly after playing. Played on: Game Boy Advance Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/02/2020 Revenge of the Bird King Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date December 27, 2018 (NA) Developer Mighty Rabbit Studios Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 60.72/100 Revenge of the Bird King isn’t what I expected…a platformer/shooter where you grow plants that sprout guns and switch between shooting and slashing depending on the enemy or environment type. It’s an interesting game with an interesting concept…But it just lacked something to keep me playing. I can’t really put my finger on what that something is, either. I just know that the idea of planting seeds to sprout gun plants so you can shoot stuff up as a bird sounds really neat, and when you actually play, it’s not nearly as neat as you thought it would have been. Part of the reason may be the somewhat awkward controls, which you do get used to after a while, but still just don’t feel natural like other games where you can just pick it up and play. Anyway, Revenge of the Bird King is still a passable game, it just isn’t a whole lot more than that. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/28/2019 ESPN SpeedWorld Platform Super NES Initial Release Date June 14, 1994 (NA) Developer Sony Imagesoft Genre Racing My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 61.03/100 I've never been a huge NASCAR fellow, but two of my closest friends are obsessed with the sport. So, when growing up, it was fairly common to go to their house and find this game plugged in. ESPN Speedworld isn't exactly a NASCAR fan's dream come true, but back then you only had a handful of options in terms of stock car games, and it was the best of the bunch on consoles. It's just barely passable due to some iffy controls and gameplay that is often anything but exciting and fun...But, this game holds a special place in the hearts of my friends. I think if you're a NASCAR fan, this game may be a guilty pleasure of yours as well, flaws and all. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/23/2019 Legend Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date December 1998 (EU) Developer Toka Genre Action - Brawler My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 58.19/100 Legend is a 3D brawler that was only released in Europe...that alone made me think that this game would be trash. Most 3D brawlers wind up being pretty bad, and no offense to the folks in Europe, but there aren't many good Europe-exclusive releases on consoles from this timeframe (that I've played, anyway). Surprisingly, however, it's an okay game...though, very much on the easy side. Legend feels very much like what a 3D Golden Axe would have felt like...just with controls that aren't quite as smooth as one would hope for. Legend also has an " auto lock-on" option which usually helps in the brawling...but sometimes, it doesn't work properly, leaving you open as you begin attacking the wall behind you or a chest instead of an enemy. But complaints aside, this could have been a whole lot worse. Fans of brawlers will certainly find at least a few things to like here. Despite my complaints, it’s still probably the best 3D brawler for its time. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/11/2023 Robocop Platform NES Initial Release Date August 25, 1989 (JP) Developer SAS Sakata Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 62.45/100 Fun fact - despite my love of awful, b-movie cheesiness, I had never seen a Robocop movie until this year…and I liked them enough to feel the need to play through the trilogy on the NES. The first Robocop game has you punching and shooting various enemies as you slowly make your way through each stage. You've got two health bars to worry about here, too. One is your real health bar, which only decreases when you get hit. The other is your battery bar, which will slowly drain over time and that you much find new batteries to replenish it. The game does a decent job of recreating the movie….well, about as well as a side-scrolling, 8-bit action game could do back in the days where the gore from the films would not be tolerated in the game. All of that said, I feel like Robocop is a passable game, but not really anything more than that. It's worth checking out if you're a fan of the first film, but otherwise, you've got plenty of other, better options to play on the NES. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/25/2019 Clay Fighter 2: Judgment Clay Platform Super NES Initial Release Date January 1995 (NA) Developer Interplay Genre Fighting My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 61.80/100 The original Clay Fighter was a favorite of mine when I was a wee lad. Always a fan of cartoons where anvils get dropped on heads and such, Clay Fighter was essentially the fighting game equivalent of that, though it wasn’t without its flaws. Clay Fighter 2 should have been a big favorite of mine…but it never quite captured my imagination like the first one did. Only three characters from the original carried over, so favorites like Blue Suede Goo and Ickybod Clay were replaced with head-scratchers like Nanaman and Octoface. While the graphics had improved and the tournament option from Clay Fighter: Tournament Edition carried over, there’s not much else to make Clay Fighter 2 worthwhile and it even seemed to take a mild step backwards in the gameplay department in comparison to the first game. C2, as it’s dubbed, is still a passable fighter, but this would later become a trend for the franchise, as the next game (and last) would take more steps backward, making everyone wish that Interplay would have called it quits after the original. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/16/2024 Hole io Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date December 24, 2023 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Voodoo Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 60.43/100 Have you ever wanted to play Katamari Damacy, but against other folks? Hole io kind of gives you that…kind of. Instead of rolling a ball around to collect items, in Hole io, you move around a hole and attempt to drop items into the hole. The more items that go in the hole, the larger the hole gets. Eventually, you'll go from street lights to skyscrapers. While doing this, you also need to avoid other players, who can make you fall into their holes, and vice versa. The goal is to become the biggest hole of all and take in as much of the environment as you can within the time limit. It's not perfect by any means, but it can be a mildly amusing way to pass the time if you have a few minutes to kill. It's also got a pretty low price tag, so I'd say that you'll likely get your money's worth here, especially if you've got some friends to play against - nothing like seeing who the biggest hole is…especially when there's no a in front of the hole. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/10/2019 WWE Wrestlemania X8 Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date June 9, 2002 (NA) Developer Yuke's Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 67.86/100 I absolutely hated WWE Wrestlemania X8 when I first played it. In fact, I sold my copy within a few weeks and never bothered to re-add it to my collection until nearly a decade later. However, after recently playing it again, I definitely see plenty of flaws like a shallow combat engine, choppy animation, a poor control scheme, and the fact that it's lacking the themes of several members of the game's roster....But despite the flaws, I don't see why I hated it so much back when it was released. Anyway, it's a passable wrestling experience, but not a whole lot more than that. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/07/2019 Air-Sea Battle Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1977 (NA) Developer Atari Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 59.07/100 Air-Sea Battle is a multi-player game where your goal is to shoot down more stuff than your friend. Planes, helicopters, fish, and smiley faces fly past (it is "Air-Sea" in the title, afterall...not sure where in the oceans or clouds the creators saw vicious, murderous smiley faces that needed to be shot down, though) and your job is to shoot 'em down. It's mildly fun at first, but the fun wears thin after a while…not even trash talk exchanged between friends can help the enjoyment last more than just a few minutes. A single player option could have added some replay value, but for what it is, it's passable, but only just barely. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: Target Fun (Sears)

Date added: 05/16/2019 Mahjong Platform NES Initial Release Date August 27, 1983 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Board - Casino My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 60.4/100 There were two mahjong games in the early days of the Famicom. The first one released was Mahjong and the other one was 4 Nin Uchi Mahjong. At first glance, you may think that Mahjong would be inferior since it’s 1-on-1 mahjong action instead of playing in a group of 4, however this is a little bit of an improvement (though not a huge one) over the other early mahjong game on the Famicom. Like 4 Nin Uchi, the game seems somewhat lifeless due to a lack of audio aside from the intro jingle and a few bleeps and bloops, however the graphics are much better…likely due to the fact that everything can be larger when displaying a 1-on-1 game. The other benefit of a 1-on-1 game (and a time limit placed on tile selection) is that the speed is much faster. Overall, Mahjong is not a terrible video game translation of mahjong by any means, but it does leave a little to be desired. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/22/2020 Dark Deception Platform PC Initial Release Date September 26, 2018 (NA) Developer Glowstick Entertainment Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 60.22/100 If you’ve ever played Pac-Man and thought, “You know what this game needs? A first-person perspective, jump scares, and…an old woman that dresses like a trollop” then Darkest Deception is for you. In Darkest Deception, your goal is to collect all of the crystals on a level while a bunch of monsters chase you…In Pac-Man terms, the crystals are the pellets and the monsters are the ghosts. Obtain all of the crystals and you’re victorious. The monsters get you? And you die. There’s some strategy involved, but for the most part, this is just a new entry in the maze-game genre that Pac-Man made famous and a genre that seemingly died out when the video game crash happened in the early 80’s. I found the game to be okay…it’s not awful, but I also didn’t really enjoy this as much as I thought that I would have. Chapter 1 is free to play (with later chapters needing to be purchased) so if you have Steam, it won’t cost you anything to get your own opinion of the game. Mine is simply, "Meh." Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/17/2024 Ghost Lion Platform NES Initial Release Date July 14, 1989 (NA) Developer Kemco Genre RPG My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 60.93/100 I both love and hate Ghost Lion…or Legend of Ghost Lion according to the title screen. The main reason for my dislike of the game is the random battles. In Ghost Lion, you do not gain experience points or level up from fighting battles. The only thing you get is money…mostly used to buy healing items that you wouldn't need if you didn't have to fight so many random battles. It's not easy to run away from battles, either. In my last playthrough, I never had a single battle where I was able to run away on the first attempt. Sometimes I got lucky and I ran away on my second try….but usually I would try a few times, then realize it would just be faster (and I'd take less damage) from just sucking it up and actually participate in the dang random battles. If you're wondering how you level up in Ghost Lion if battles have nothing to do with it, then I hope you enjoy exploring. Because that's how you level up - exploring dungeons and finding "fragments of hope" in treasure chests, which will level you up. And exploring can be a pain due to the frequency of the eventually pointless random battles - when you finish the game, you'll almost definitely have more money than you'll know what to do with. Outside of that complaint, I like some of the ideas here…like the character you control, Maria, always starts out each battle by herself, but you can summon allies to help you during battle. That means the fight may start as Maria versus three enemies, but after a few turns it could turn into Maria and several allies versus three enemies instead. It's a neat concept, but due to the frequency of random battles, it does get old having to call upon allies during most battles…I found myself just wishing I could just keep hitting the confirm button during fights and save the strategy for actual boss battles. Anyway, Ghost Lion has some charm to it, and I don't completely hate it….but there's enough negatives here where simply I can't consider this a passable game or RPG. Played on: NES Also known as: White Lion Densetsu: Pyramid no Kanata ni (Japan), Legend of Ghost Lion (Title Screen)

Date added: 02/08/2023 Power Golf Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date May 25, 1989 (JP) Developer Hudson Genre Sports - Golf My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 64.21/100 No, this game is not a Nigerian wrestler named Golf…how many people got that one? Nobody? Alright, I'll move on. Power Golf is a passable golf game on the TurboGrafx-16. Unless you're a golf fanatic, it doesn't really do much to stand out from other golf games…well, aside from the fact that Power Golf is REAL! Well, the box says so anyway. According to the box, "The traps are real, the water is real, the ball is real. And your score is real. So real, you'll save green tees and a tip for the caddy!" If you're using real money to tip the caddy in this game, then Power Golf many be the first video game with micro transactions….I'm sorry, REAL micro transactions. But back to being serious, Power Golf is fine for what it is - 18 holes of golf with some interesting courses to play on. It won't likely wow you or make you think that this is the greatest golf game ever made, but if you're a fan of golf, you should enjoy your time here. For everyone else, the boredom may be the most real aspect of the game…see what I did there, Hudson? Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/22/2020 Final Fight 2 Platform Super NES Initial Release Date May 22, 1993 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Brawler My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 66.63/100 I liked Final Fight a lot. Then Final Fight 2 came out as a Super NES exclusive...and I don't like that one so much. Final Fight 2 sounds like it’s going to be great – brawling around Asia and Europe instead of different areas of Metro City…but you quickly realize that with the exception of the bosses, every single character you beat up in the first level are the only characters that you beat up throughout the entire game. Needless to say, this game gets repetitive very quickly. Likewise, it doesn’t even seem to add much to the original Final Fight formula…perhaps better animations and such, but even with mild improvements like that, this feels very much inferior to the original Final Fight, even the flawed SNES version. Capcom turned the series around a bit with the really good third entry into the Final Fight series, but this second entry isn't really worth your time unless you're obsessed with brawlers and/or want to play every game in the Final Fight franchise. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/23/2020 Numblast Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date June 18, 2009 (JP) Developer SCEI Genre Puzzle My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 62.99/100 Numblast is another Playstation Network game that I hadn’t played in over a decade before revisiting it for this list. Basically, Numblast is a match four puzzle game, with the catch being that four in a row won’t make the blocks disappear. You need to have all four in a box formation, then they’ll disappear. As you play, random blocks lose their color, and if you attempt to rotate four blocks that are sans color, you’ll be unable to. This essentially means that the goal is to keep matching these blocks so that they get replaced by blocks you can rotate. The game concept is fine, but it’s a VERY slow game. My first run for this list was 13 minutes long and I was already kinda bored about 5 minutes in. Anyway, if you like puzzle games, Numblast is unique enough to give it a try…but I don’t think most folks would put this on their “greatest puzzle games ever made” list. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: Qruton (Japan)

Date added: 07/13/2024 TNA iMPACT! Platform Xbox 360 Initial Release Date September 8, 2008 (NA) Developer Midway Studios - Los Angeles Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 59.39/100 TNA (Total Non-stop Action) Wrestling is a shell of what it once was as I write this. For a while, it was seen as the closest thing to a WWE alternative in the United States…then it changed its name to Impact Wrestling in an effort to get away from the awful TNA pun that it had originally been named for, and under new ownership, it kinda sunk right into the ground. Impact Wrestling changed its name back to TNA Wrestling, for reasons that are beyond me, in 2024 and the promotion that was once the closest competition to the WWE is now partnering with their developmental brand, NXT, with TNA wrestlers and NXT wrestlers sometimes making appearances on the other company's shows. Anyway, with that rambling out of the way, TNA iMPACT!, like TNA's path to present day, is a bit of a letdown. It looks promising…the introduction when you first put the disc in is really well done…and then you start up your first match and…well, everything goes downhill from there. While playable, the wrestling simply isn't that fun…it's a nice novelty to brawl in a six-sided ring instead of a standard four-sided ring…but that novelty only lasts for a match or two before it gets old. The story mode isn't that great, either…but it did result in the Suicide character in-game becoming a real-life character on TNA television, usually portrayed by Christopher Daniels. Anyway, TNA iMPACT, to me, was like the real TNA programming - I really wanted to like it so that I could have a real alternative to the WWE's programming…but they'd usually find a way to make me disappointed that I gave them a chance. Played on: Xbox 360, Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/19/2019 Castlevania Judgment Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date November 18, 2008 (NA) Developer Eighting Genre Fighting My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 56.84/100 I want to like Castlevania Judgment. The game looks beautiful and it's got some really interesting ideas tossed in with the fighting...The issue is that the execution of it all falls a bit flat. Sure the game is fun to watch, and to a point, it's even kind of fun to play...But the fun doesn't last. The easy-to-exploit fighting system saps away at much of the replay value, making things feel repetitive much faster than it normally should. It’s also possible to complete the game one-handed…In order to get screenshots for this list, I wanted to see if I could get any good shots by sacrificing my ability to move around…Then I quickly found out that with no strategy, I could simply shake the Wiimote around like an old man shaking his fist at the dang neighbor kids playing on his lawn, and I was still not only winning all of my matches, but also picking up perfect victories here and there. In the end, Castlevania Judgment is a good try, but it ultimately falls short. Played on: Wii Also known as: Akumajou Dracula Judgment (Japan)

Date added: 07/07/2022 Monster Truck Championship Platform Sony Playstation 5 Initial Release Date March 11, 2021 (EU/AU) Developer Maximum Games Genre Racing My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 60.07/100 My guard was up a little for Monster Truck Championship…a game being developed by a company I had never heard of before will kinda do that to do. However, since this game is what I always wanted the Monster Jam licensed games to be, an actual simulation of a monster truck show, I was excited to play it anyway and I was hopeful that it would be good. Now that I've popped it in the PS5 and hit the power button, I can honestly say that I was both justified in having my guard up…but I was also somewhat justified in being hopeful that the end result would be good - it's passable. I suppose I should explain. First, this really is a monster truck simulation. You can work your way through a career where you build your own monster truck as you attempt to reach superstardom in the monster truck world. It's exactly what I always wanted the Monster Jam games to be…minus the Monster Jam license and established, and known, monster trucks. The downside is, while the content is what I want, the gameplay isn't quite as tight as I'd like it to be. It's not uncommon to completely lose control of your truck. I've never driven a monster truck, so that lack of control may actually be 100% accurate…but if it is, it makes for a lousy way to play a video game. Also, despite the career mode, there really wasn't a lot to keep me coming back for more here…Perhaps some extra modes with a more arcade-style approach to compliment the simulation of the rest of the game could have helped. Anyway, despite my complaints, Monster Truck Championship is still a passable game. If you've always wanted a monster truck simulation, then even with its flaws, you'll probably find something to like here. Played on: Playstation 5 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/03/2021 Gubble Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date September 17, 1998 (JP) Developer Goo! Genre Puzzle My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 58.04/100 Gubble is a puzzling puzzle game (see what I did there?) in that you control a purple dude in a green floating contraption that needs to connect his floating contraption to various tools to undo screws, nails, bolts, etc. from the levels that he traverses. In a sense, it feels like a not-as-fun Pac-Man - like Pac-Man's pellets, when all screws, bolts, nails, or whatever else are removed, the level ends. If the game's levels were all as simplistic as the initial levels, I'd be giving this game a very low score, but the more you play, the more challenging it gets, which allows it to reach "passable" status in my eyes. That said, Gubble never really feels "fun," it just feels like something to pass time when you've got nothing better to play or do. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/20/2020 Dead By Daylight Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date June 20, 2017 (NA) Developer 505 Games Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 59.81/100 Dead By Daylight isn’t the kind of game that I generally enjoy…multiplayer only deathmatch-style gameplay. Dead By Daylight is also not an exception to that rule. The concept of the game is simple enough – play as a killer or play as a survivor amongst a group of survivors. The goal of the killer is to injure a survivor and impale them on a hook. If they stay on the hook long enough, they become a sacrifice and they will no longer be available to help the others. When all survivors are sacrificed, the killer wins. On the survivor side of things, it’s your goal to help each other repair generators to get an exit door to open up, then make your way through it. This isn’t necessarily a bad game, it just isn’t great. To compare them, I’d rather play Friday the 13th, which is a technically inferior game, but it’s more fun overall in my opinion. That said, I’m sure plenty of people will like Dead By Daylight if they give it a try. I don’t hate it by any means…but I’m just simply not a fan. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/06/2023 Chester Cheetah: Too Cool to Fool Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date February 1993 (NA) Developer Kaneko Genre Platformer My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 59.59/100 I guess that Kaneko thought that only the fictitious Chester Cheetah was too cool to fool in regards to this being a great platformer. They didn’t think that the rest of us were cool enough to see that this is merely a passable game, and absolutely nothing beyond that. Essentially, Tool Cool to Fool is a bland platformer that really could have had any character tossed into the main protagonist role and it'd be the same - there's not really many references to Cheeto's snacks, which is where Mr. Cheetah originates from, in case someone happens to be reading this from a country that lacks cheese-flavored corn snacks. And by not many references…I mean I don't recall seeing a single one, aside from the fact that it stars Chester Cheetah and that the lives look like the "Cheetos Paws" snacks, that ironically stopped being produced the same year that this game came out. The story has you attempting to escape the zoo that you're cooped up in by collecting motorcycle parts throughout the zoo so that you can assemble them all to create a means to escape from the zoo and the evil zookeeper Mean Eugene. Anyway, Too Cool to Fool isn't as bad as one would imagine it could be, but with a lack of imagination in level design, and a lack of levels in general, this game just can't be considered anything other than merely passable. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/23/2019 Crackpots Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date May 16, 1983 (NA) Developer Activision Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 62.30/100 So, you've got a bunch of spiders running around...and a bunch of flowerpots laying around...Sounds like you've got a great weapon to eliminate those pesky arachnids, huh? The folks that made Crackpots thought so, as your goal is to hurl flowerpots at spiders in order to kill them and gain a high score. Or maybe they're crabs? The box art makes it seem like they should be caterpillars. Or maybe they’re the video game debut of those face crab thingies from Half-Life…Well, whatever they are, they’re weak against those flowerpots that you seemingly have an unlimited supply of. Crackpots is decent but not great. I'd imagine throwing real flower pots at stuff would be much more fun than this so-so game. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/16/2019 Barkley: Shut Up and Jam! Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Accolade Genre Sports - Basketball My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 63.16/100 Barkley: Shut Up and Jam! was seemingly Accolade's attempt at competing with NBA Jam...and despite the various locations that you play in, rather than the standard basketball arenas of NBA Jam, it ultimately lacks the personality to really compete with the more well-known and arguably much more popular NBA Jam. On top of that, the controls are noticeably less tight. And while it’s not related to the gameplay, why Accolade thought that a picture of Charles Barkley that looks like he’s pushing out a stubborn turd would be a good fit for the game’s cover is beyond me. Awful boxart aside, Barkley: Shut Up and Jam! is a passable street basketball game, but nowhere near being a suitable substitute for NBA Jam if you’ve got access to that superior arcade-style hoops experience. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/29/2019 Xenophobe Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1990 (NA) Developer Atari Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 62.26/100 Xenophobe is kind of hard for me to review - on one hand, it's very technically impressive for the hardware that it's on. On the other hand, I never really ever saw the appeal of Xenophobe as a game. It seems to be a love it or hate it game, with some folks swearing up and down that it's great while others insist that it stinks. I'm in the middle - I don't hate it, I just don't get the appeal. That said, this is very impressive from the technical aspects of the system, and a rare game to boot, which makes it desirable for collectors, but unless you enjoy of Xenophobe on other platforms, I don't think that the Atari 2600 will convert you into being a fan. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/13/2019 Godzilla Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date July 14, 2015 (NA) Developer Natsume Atari, Inc. Genre Brawler My Score 4.5/10 Avg. Score 42.54/100 Godzilla was critically hated...And I'll have to agree - this is not a good game. Yet, for some reason, I still was strangely compelled to continue playing it. Basically, if you've played Grand Theft Auto, and have flown a helicopter in that game, you know how to control Godzilla. It's extremely awkward. I’ve beaten the game a few times and spent a few weeks playing this game and I still had some trouble maneuvering Godzilla around. That said, the controls do force you to move Godzilla around like the lumbering giant that he is in the films, which I suppose adds a bit to experience in a way...But more-so if you're watching rather than controlling the monster yourself. A former co-worker of mine put it best, this game is more fun to watch than it is to play, so if you're interested in this game, I'd recommend finding someone dumb like me that willingly continues to play this game while you sit back and enjoy the destruction without having to be frustrated by questionable controls. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: Godzilla VS (Japan)

Date added: 07/13/2019 Major League Baseball Platform Mattel Intellivision Initial Release Date 1980 (NA) Developer Mattel Genre Sports - Baseball My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 63.38/100 I’m torn on Major League Baseball…on one hand, it seems more advanced than a baseball game for its time should have been. On the other hand, it’s not as easy to pick up and play as a result. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t take too long to get used to things, and the fact that the controls are a little more complicated mean that the game as a whole has a little more to it...but most folks won’t be picking this up for the first time and immediately understand how everything works. It’s also multi-player only, which means unless you’ve got a friend around (or want to try to use both controllers at once to play against yourself) you’re pretty much out of luck. If you do have a friend around, however, and are willing to get used to the controls, you’ve actually got a game that lives up to the title – I don’t think any other baseball game released up to that point was as authentic to the sport as Major League Baseball was. Played on: Intellivision Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/28/2019 Streemerz (Action 52) Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Active Enterprises Genre Platformer My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 47.78/100 This game caught me completely off-guard. While it’s no masterpiece, it’s actually quite fun. Basically, you’re some birthday clown (I’m guessing) that climbs stuff using a streamer. It sounds dumb, but it’s not bad. Unfortunately, it’s also got some negative stuff preventing it from being as fun as it could be. First off, items kill. That’s right. When you play a game and see a bag of money, or any other inanimate object for that matter, it’s simply instinct for you to walk over and collect it. Do that here and you’ll get a green frown face. Yup, try to collect items in Streemerz, and you’ll likely die from picking up a bag of money – sometimes a bag of money that you can’t avoid from picking up. Also, like most other games in Action 52, there is no pattern in the movement of enemies...So, they just walk around randomly. This would be fine if you had a weapon, but you can’t attack anything in this game. Instead, you need to try and sneak by with your streamer...Which is sometimes impossible considering the random nature of their movements, or the random placements of those deadly, dangerous items. This often makes advancing to the next level based more on luck than skill. Overall, Streemerz is one of the best games on Action 52, but it still has plenty of faults. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/04/2019 The Pringles Game Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 2009 (NA) Developer ?? Genre Platformer My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 59.47/100 I totally expected this homebrew game to be terrible, but it's surprisingly not that bad. In fact, with some more work, The Pringles Game would have been pretty dang good. As it currently is, with 12 levels across 3 worlds (all themed after Pringles flavors), it's actually pretty fun...unfortunately, the fun doesn't last. It took me maybe 5 minutes total to complete every level…and that may be me overestimating the time. With more content, I can only imagine that this could have been a really solid game. Instead, it's impressive for what it is, but merely passable and feels more like a demo for what it could be rather than a finished product. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/30/2024 Hydlide Platform NES Initial Release Date March 18, 1986 (JP) Developer T&E Soft Genre RPG My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 54.0/100 I was among the many that thought that this game was a big, ol' pile of donkey dung…but for fairness sake, I decided to put some time into and give it one more try before adding it to this list…and I'm glad I did. Hydlide isn't that bad once you learn how to play….the problem is how directionless it is. In typical RPGs of the time, it's not always obvious where you should be heading next, but in Hydlide, I found myself having absolutely no clue. I wound up referring to a guide when I got stuck, and upon reviewing the guide in full after I completed the game, I guess I found some bonus things that I thought were important, but actually weren't. But anyway, once you get the hang of this game, and if you know where to go, then it's not very long at all. It took me almost two hours, but if I hadn't spent so much time wandering around trying to figure out what to do next, I would have finished in a fraction of that time…though, by me spending as long as I did, I also found myself powered-up enough to not have too much of an issue taking care of the final boss. Anyway, if you're willing to put some time into learning how to play it, Hydlide gives you a decent, but flawed, RPG. It's not perfect, but it's far from being as terrible as so many people think that it is. Played on: NES Also known as: Hydlide Special (Japan)

Date added: 10/31/2023 Iron Lung Platform PC Initial Release Date March 10, 2022 (NA) Developer David Szymanski Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 67.63/100 I'll start out by saying that I like it when games feel unique…but sometimes, even that isn't enough to make me like it. Iron Lung is a unique game…but ultimately one that I didn't care for. Listed as a horror game, it didn't really feel like one to me. Nearly the whole game is looking at a radar, and changing coordinates as you head to places located on a map. If you get close to a wall, then the radar lets you know and you need to change course or you'll crash. Once you get to a location, your goal is to take a picture of that location, making sure that you're in the correct coordinates prior to taking the picture - X, Y, and Fi/Theta…For those that don't know, X would be left to right, Y would be forward and backward, and Fi/Theta (called A in this game) is basically the rotation of the vessel that you're controlling. I think most people seem to like this game more than me, and it's not technically a bad game, but I just couldn't get into it. It's a short game, but 20 minutes in, I was considering just moving on to something else. If Iron Lung looks interesting to you, by all means, you should give it a try…it just wasn't my cup of tea. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/26/2021 Wii Music Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date October 16, 2008 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Music My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 62.13/100 Wii Music has a nice concept to it and all - use the Wii Mote and motion controls to simulate playing various instruments and/or conduct an orchestra through a song. The problem is, unless you’re a music fanatic, there simply isn’t a lot here to keep you coming back for more…And I’ll even guess that even if you love music, there still isn’t much here for you. To make matters worse, you’re essentially hit with tutorial after tutorial as you play, which by the fifth one I was groaning and wishing that Sebastian Tute would go toot his own horn for knowing how this game works somewhere else and just leave me to my awful music making skills. If the tutorials don’t drive you to smash the air guitar that you’re playing, and you make it through them, your rewards are various songs…from video game themes to classical music, as well as some more modern songs and such. Since I’m not a big music person, most of these songs being unlocked didn’t really motivate me to play any more. And despite Tute’s suggestion that I try to get creative with when I play a song to make it my own, every time I attempted to change up a song even a smidge, it resulted in Tute telling me that I didn’t do very well. It happened enough where I wanted to stick the Wii Mote up Sebastian’s tute hole. Anyway, Wii Music isn’t awful by any means, but for me at least, it lacks any reason to keep coming back for more…unless you really like tutorials. Played on: Wii Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/12/2020 Off-Peak Platform PC Initial Release Date October 21, 2016 (NA) Developer Cosmo D Studios Genre Adventure My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 60.03/100 Off-Peak is a weird game to comment on. It’s a free game on Steam…but it almost feels like it’s a demo rather than a game. The purpose of the game seems to be to establish how odd the setting is in Off-Peak. There’s only one real goal here – just collect ticket pieces to create a complete train ticket. Along the way, you listen to and talk to many of the folks in and around the train station, as well as take in all of the bizarre scenery. The entire experience lasts roughly 20-30 minutes for a single playthrough. Maybe you can get another 20-30 minutes out of it if you want to collect all achievements. If you’re limited on time but are looking to kill 30 minutes, Off-Peak may be a good game to download. It’s free, so even if you’re not a fan, at least you didn’t lose any money on it. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/30/2021 Psychic Force Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date October 4, 1996 (JP) Developer Taito Corporation Genre Fighting My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 66.30/100 Psychic Force isn't a bad fighting game...it just takes some getting used to. In Psychic Force, the fighters never have their feet on the ground, they just fly around. The end result often feels more like a close-quarters shooter than a fighting game, as you'll likely be hurling projectiles at your opponent way more often than punching or kicking...it makes for interesting fighting for a while...But this fellow found himself wanting to play a fighting game where the combatants have both feet on the ground before I saw the credits roll here. Psychic Force is a nice novelty and worth checking out if you're lucky enough to find a copy...Just be aware that the novelty wears off quickly. If you’re determined to give this style of fighter a try, though, I’d import the sequel instead. Psychic Force 2 may have only been released in Japan, but it improves on everything found here to create a decent fighter. Still, this one is passable, but many of the more traditional fighting games on the Playstation are much, much better than this one. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/10/2019 The Ren & Stimpy Show Presents: Stimpy's Invention Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Blue Sky Software Genre Platformer My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 63.14/100 I remember Stimpy's Invention because I was invited to a friend's going-away party in 5th grade...When I got there it was all girls and myself. So, since I didn't feel like playing the Girl Talk boardgame, I was allowed to play their Genesis, which had this game in it. I proceeded to beat the game and horrify the owners since they had never been able to...either that or I just had really bad gas or something to frighten them…I can't remember. Anyway, Stimpy's Invention is an awkward platformer that has a certain charm to it, but ultimately, it's not very good. If you like bizarre games, or are a fan of the Ren and Stimpy Show, then you may find some enjoyment here. Everyone else will likely not be a fan. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/04/2020 Qix Platform NES Initial Release Date January 1991 (NA) Developer Novotrade Genre Action My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 67.31/100 Qix is a fairly simple game. Basically, you move around a black rectangle, and try to “claim” territory within the rectangle. When you’re able to get that territory, it transforms the black space into a colorful pattern within the area that you claimed. The catch is that you’ve got obstacles traveling around the border that can end your turn as well as obstacles within the black space that if they touch the line that you’re creating in an effort to obtain territory, your turn can end as well. The end result sounds simple, but takes a bit of strategy and luck to be successful. It’s a decent game, and some may find some mild enjoyment in Qix, but I’ve honestly never heard of anyone listing Qix, or any variation of this game, on their “greatest games of all-time” list…So, I might as well include it on this list that covers ‘em all. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/25/2019 Night Driver Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1980 (NA) Developer Atari Genre Racing My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 63.08/100 Night Driver takes some getting used to. I crashed all the time when I first began to play...But after a few minutes of trying, I got better and better...Eventually, before I knew it, I was completing the course without crashing once. That said, it's still not all that great of a game. Basically, take a game like OutRun, only include an obstacle every once and a while…put a tree and/or house in the black background every now and then, and remove most aspects of charm or fun. For its time, it was kind of cool, but the better racing game in the early days of the Atari 2600 was definitely Indy 500 - that game was pretty good for its time. Night Driver is simply passable. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/29/2019 Demigod Platform PC Initial Release Date April 14, 2009 (NA) Developer Gas Powered Games Genre Strategy My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 68.59/100 Demigod is mildly fun at first, especially if playing against a friend...But after a game or two in single player mode, you'll likely feel like you could let the game play itself and get the same outcome since your computer allies do a majority of the work for you. However, you can buy power-ups during the battles that basically make you an unstoppable wrecking machine...But honestly, by the time I got to that point, I was already bored to the degree where nothing short of a demigod in the form of a platypus wearing a neon green tutu, singing like Dean Martin was going to make me feel that this game was entertaining. That said, it's not absolutely terrible...But unless you're a diehard real-time strategy nut that must play everything in the genre, I'd avoid this game. There are plenty of other, higher quality games in the genre to play. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/06/2023 Musya: The Classic Japanese Tale of Horror Platform Super NES Initial Release Date April 21, 1992 (JP) Developer Jorudan Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 58.44/100 I feel like Musya, which is apparently a classic Japanese tale of horror according to its title on the box, isn't as good as it could have been or should have been. The biggest issues are how the game controls and how repetitive it can get. While you can get used to the controls if you play for a while, Musya does not feel like a game that most folks will be able to pick up and play without some frustration coming along with the gameplay - specifically the hit detection and the platforming aspects. Unfortunately, after you start getting used to how the game plays and you advance through the levels, it does start to feel a little repetitive. The high difficulty for the game should help prevent the repetitive feel, but unfortunately, it often adds to it since you'll find yourself replaying areas a bunch if you're attempting to see the credits roll. Complaints aside, I do consider Musya to be passable, though only just barely. The big positive, in my eyes, is the number of creatures from Japanese folklore found in this game is nice to see - as a fan of mythological creatures and cryptids, I enjoyed seeing so many of them represented in this game. While the gameplay felt a bit repetitive, it definitely wasn't due to the variety of creatures that you battle, since there are plenty. While I appreciate the large variety of enemies, I feel like if the developers had put as much effort and detail into the gameplay as they did with the creature designs, this would have been a must-play game on the SNES. As it is, I feel like only a small audience will appreciate it for what it is. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Gousou Shinrai Densetsu: Musya (Japan)

Date added: 07/21/2020 Tap Belly Platform Apple iPhone/iPod Touch Initial Release Date December 23, 2011 (NA) Developer iCreaLabs Genre Music My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 60.53/100 Tap Belly is an interesting game. It's a rhythm-based game with lady folk belly dancing in the background. It features actual video footage of dancing ladies, including audio clips of them trash talking or complimenting you depending on how well you do during the game. The gameplay isn't horrible, but it's probably far too simple to entertain most people for long. Basically, you'll see dots scroll down the screen and it's your job to hit the assigned areas on the right and left ends of the screen when said dots enter the area. It's a so-so game, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend trying to find a copy of the game to play. But if you like odd games like I do, it might be worth tracking down just to experience the novelty of it. Played on: iPhone Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/01/2022 Adventure Island Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date February 1992 (NA) Developer Hudson Genre Platformer My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 66.93/100 This portable Adventure Island game is passable, offering the dinosaur pals, hammers, and skateboards of Adventure Island II on the NES in portable, monochromatic form. While it's not technically a bad platformer by any stretch of the imagination, the game can feel a bit boring at times for no reason other than the fact that it is INCREDIBLY easy. I played through the game without losing a single life and only losing a dinosaur pal or my skateboard a handful of times during the playthrough as well. The bosses, including the final boss, feel like jokes, especially if you're wielding the hammer during the fight. You can just mash the button to throw hammers, dodge one or two projectiles that the boss tosses at you, then mash the button again and you've usually beaten the boss in less than ten seconds. Still, despite the very low difficulty, there is enough here to keep fans of 2D platformers happy for at least a little while. But it may not impress too many other folks. Played on: Game Boy Also known as: Takahashi Meijin no Bouken Jima II (Japan)

Date added: 10/08/2021 Dracula: The Resurrection Platform PC Initial Release Date June 14, 2000 (NA) Developer Canal+ Multimedia Genre Adventure My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 61.11/100 I first played through Dracula: The Resurrection on the original Playstation. I thought it was an okay game, but I also thought of it as a guilty pleasure – a so-so game that I enjoyed more than I probably should have. Now that I’ve played through the PC version as well, I can confidently say that my feelings on this game largely remain the same. It’s a standard point-and-click adventure game that takes about 90-120 minutes to complete when you know what to do and where to go. But if you’re fan of the concept of Dracula, then you’ll probably enjoy it more than the average person like I did…the one main issue that I can complain about with this game, though, is that it feels less like a standalone game and more like the story that’s simply setting up the next game in the trilogy. That complaint aside, this is still a passable point-and-click adventure, but I don’t think it will blow anyone away. Played on: PC, Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/18/2020 Kid Kool and the Quest for the Seven Wonder Herbs Platform NES Initial Release Date July 22, 1988 (JP) Developer Vic Tokai Genre Platformer My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 54.78/100 Kid Kool is a game that I had growing up that I always had a love-hate relationship with. I always liked the game as a whole because it was so different from that other games that I played, but I also hated it because the game’s physics are so different from most other games that it takes getting used to before you can really advance too far in the first level, let alone advance through the entire game. I get the sense that most people playing this won’t have the patience for the love-hate relationship that I have with Kid Kool and it’ll mostly be hate, followed by them moving on to something else. But, back in the late 80’s/early 90’s, all you had as a kid were the small library of games that you had and you tried your best to find enjoyment in them. That said, once you do get used to the unique physics and gameplay the game is actually kind of fun. Your goal is to race to the end of the game as quickly as possible to deliver some herbs (that you pick up after defeating the boss of each level) to the sick king. If you’re too slow, he perishes. The timer on the upper corner of the screen lets you know where you’re at with the time, and the sky actually changes color based on that time, giving you another visual clue. Anyway, if you stick with Kid Kool, you’ll find a unique platformer that has some upside to it…but as I said earlier, I’m thinking that it’s more likely that most folks will give up on it long before seeing any upside. Played on: NES Also known as: Kakefu Kimi no Jump Tengoku: Speed Jigoku (Japan)

Date added: 07/04/2021 Polarity Platform Ouya Initial Release Date June 21, 2013 (NA) Developer Bluebutton Games Genre Puzzle - Action My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 52.79/100 Polarity is kinda like the poor man’s Portal. It’s a first-person puzzle game where you need to change your polarity to pass certain gates, allow you to navigate certain platforms, etc. It’s not awful, honestly. It’s passable for what it is. But anyone that has played Portal before will likely draw comparisons almost immediately…and unlike Portal, which oozed personality, Polarity is pretty dull in comparison. Again, it’s not an awful game by any means, and if you enjoy action-based puzzle gameplay, you’ll likely find enough to like here to stick with it to the end, but it’ll also likely remind most players of a game that they’d rather be playing instead. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/17/2022 TransBot Platform Sega Master System Initial Release Date December 22, 1985 (JP) Developer Sega Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 61.96/100 TransBot is a mildly fun, unique scrolling shooter that has you control a spaceship (like most scrolling shooters), but when you obtain a power-up icon, various letters on the top of the screen cycle, and depending on when you press a button to stop the cycling, your ship may transform into one of several different forms, along with different firepower. Initially, the game seems like it's a never-ending loop where the goal is to simply get as high of a score as you can. Buuut, if you happen to be in the correct form, with the correct weapon, at the correct time, you'll actually come across a hidden opening that takes you beneath the surface of the planet where you eventually face the game's one boss. Once you beat the boss, you loop through the game again. If you plan to beat TransBot, I highly recommend attempting to get to that boss as soon as possible, because enemies do not wait to get harder until after the boss is defeated. They get harder with each loop, even if you never found your way to the lair of the boss bot. That means if you don't figure out what weapon you need to have until the fourth or fifth loop, then you're going to have a more difficult time simply making your way to the boss once you get underground. Though, in fairness, TransBot is one of the easier scrolling shooters I've played, so even if you so several loops in, you still may not have too much trouble finding a way to emerge victorious. I wouldn't call TransBot must-play, but I don't think too many shooter fans that play this will feel disappointed that they did. Played on: Sega Master System Also known as: Astro Flash (Japan), Nuclear Creature (South America)

Date added: 10/10/2020 Juggernaut Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date November 19, 1998 (JP) Developer Will Genre Adventure My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 66.19/100 I always had a soft spot for Juggernaut. I would play a little bit of it, then move onto something else, but I just enjoyed the overall concept for the story of the game. Revisiting it for this list, I’ve finally played through until the end…and unfortunately, doing so took away some of my enjoyment of the game…and oddly enough, it also made me appreciate it more. I suppose I should explain – the beginning part of the game (which I had never gotten completely past until beating it prior to adding it to this list) is interesting at first, as you eventually give up your body and simply become a soul wandering around in a mansion. The mansion has shells of bodies, both adult and child, with doors that only one or the other can enter. This is a neat concept at first, until you realize that you are CONSTANTLY backtracking to switch from adult body to child body to soul…it gets very annoying before you’re done. On the plus side, when you finish with exploring the mansion, your reward is a Creepshow-like set of mini stories to advance through, most of which are amusing little stories in their own right. The “real” ending to the game is a neat little bonus with some extra insight on some of the story, too. Overall, as much as I enjoy the bizarre aspects of Juggernaut, I still feel like it falls just short of being passable. If the game was more of the short stories and less of the repetitive backtracking required in the beginning, I’d probably like it a bit more…but for what it is, I’m glad I played through it…but I don’t think I plan on playing through it again. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Juggernaut: Senritsu no Tobira (Japan)

Date added: 07/01/2020 WWF Superstars Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date April 1991 (NA) Developer Rare Ltd. Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 65.08/100 Maybe it's 'cause I grew up with turds like WWF King of the Ring and WWF Raw for the Game Boy, but WWF Superstars really isn't that horrible of a handheld wrestling title...Particularly for its time. The move sets are limited and all, but everything plays smoothly. The only thing really holding this game back is repetition. There are only five playable wrestlers, and each one basically has the same move set with very minor differences...And the game options aren't really varied, either...So within ten minutes of playing the game, you've pretty much experienced all it has to offer. But, it plays well and compared to other wrestling games of its time (especially in North America) it's a pretty decent title. It’s a shame that this was Rare’s last WWF game because this first game in the WWF franchise on the Game Boy wound up being the best. If future games had been built off of what was found here, I imagine that we would have had some very solid wrestling games on the handheld for the next few years instead of everything going downhill. Played on: Game Boy Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/22/2019 Perfect Strangers: The Video Game Platform PC Initial Release Date 2013 (NA) Developer Joda Advergaming Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 60.27/100 This sixty-second-long game is an example of how style over substance can actually work. The length of the game saves it, I think, as the gameplay is extremely basic and leaves plenty to be desired, but it gets the job done for the minute it takes to reach the end. But the environments are the real reason to play this. They are awesome, especially if you remember this television show from decades ago. I do. I’m old. Anyway, the right and left arrow keys move you left and right and the spacebar makes Balki jump. Your goal is to collect every star in order to make Cousin Larry's dream come true - the dream being whatever you type in. So, if you wanted to have a forehead like Mr. Belvedere, collect the stars and it'll come true...So says Balki. Anyway, it's a nice, short game worth playing just to see how awesome the environments were designed. Fans of the show will likely love it. I sure did. You can play it for free at: nothingsgonnastopmenow.com/ Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/26/2020 Bomberman Kart Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date December 20, 2001 (JP) Developer Racjin Genre Racing My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 63.90/100 Bomberman Kart is a so-so kart racing game that also included a so-so classic Bomberman game. When it comes to the kart racing half, the tracks are somewhat interesting, and the graphics are nice, but the gameplay itself is kinda dull. It’s still passable, mind you, but this is not going to make you forget that games like Mario Kart exist by any stretch of the imagination. The addition of classic-style Bomberman deathmatches are a nice surprise. While the deathmatches themselves mimic the quality of the kart racing (passable, but not great) the fact that it’s there makes this an alright party game where you can attempt to blow up friends while driving go-karts and then switch over to trying to blow up friends while traveling by foot. Just don’t expect to be wowed by either game mode. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/04/2022 The Adventures of Dino Riki Platform NES Initial Release Date February 10, 1987 (JP) Developer Hudson Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 60.87/100 The Adventures of Dino Riki is a game that I liked a lot as a child because I liked dinosaurs. Now that I'm older, the Adventures of Dino Riki is a game I appreciate because I've come to realize that the game is actually named after the man with the most luxurious long hair in all of puroresu history, Riki Choshu. In fact, if you can find the hidden tiles in the level, the little caveman you control will transform into Riki Choshu, and essentially become a big ol' wrecking machine. Of course, it's entirely possible to make your way through the entire game and never catch a glimpse of Mr. Choshu…the tiles are hidden, afterall…But as a wrestling nut, I still appreciate that it's in the game to begin with. All that out of the way, while I personally enjoy the game, it does get repetitive by the time you reach the end of the fourth and final level. Essentially, Dino Riki is a vertical scrolling shooter, but with awkward platforming elements tossed in, just because Hudson wanted to mess with us. The platforming isn't bad once you get the hang of it, but I could easily see newcomers getting frustrated when they come across the platforming for the first time. Overall, Dino Riki isn't a bad game, but I also can't imagine that too many folks would put it amongst their absolute favorite games of all-time. It's a passable shooter, and that's about all. Unless someone from Ishin Gundan is reading this, in which case, this is the greatest game I've ever played and it's actually in the number one spot…dang, typos. Played on: NES Also known as: Shinjinrui: The New Type (Japan)

Date added: 12/26/2021 Domino Rally Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date June 21, 2007 (JP) Developer RED Entertainment Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 60.85/100 I absolutely love the quirkiness of Domino Rally – it’s got the oddball Japanese comedy that I enjoy so much. Unfortunately, that’s mostly just the cut scenes. Once the gameplay starts there’s a little bit of personality, but I couldn’t help but feel I was playing a so-so game just so I could watch another enjoyable cutscene. The concept of Domino Rally is that you’re walking on various objects. If you shake the Wiimote in rhythm with your walking, you’ll gain points which are used to create “dominos” where there is nothing for you to walk on. The goal is to use those dominos sparingly and focus on the actual objects, picking up memories along the way, and helping out the person in distress from the cutscene that played before the level. It takes some getting used to, but once you’ve got it, it is a mildly enjoyable game…plus, I also give it credit for being unique. I honestly can’t say that I’ve played anything else quite like it. If you’re up for playing something unique and enjoy bizarre, oddball Japanese humor like I do, then Domino Rally may be a good game to try. Played on: Wii Also known as: Go! Go! Minon (Japan), Minon: Everyday Hero (Europe)

Date added: 02/14/2022 Pucca's Kisses Game Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date February 4, 2011 (EU) Developer Bigben Interactive Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 59.75/100 Pucca's Kisses Game is a charming little action game that has you aiding a love-struck young lady, Pucca, who wants nothing more than to lay smooches all over Garu, a ninja who wants absolutely nothing to do with her and will avoid her at all costs. She assumes that he's just playing hard to get and pursues him level after level, planting lip locks on him after successfully completing a level. Your task is to do various things, using the Wii Mote, to help her catch her love. If this would have been a launch title for the Wii, it would have actually been a decent game to show players the basics of what you can do with the Wii's motion controls. Unfortunately, since it came later in the console's life, it came at a time where the novelty of motion controls had pretty much run its course. This is still an entertaining experience, though. The developers described this game as an interactive cartoon…and in a way, it does kind of feel like one. Pucca's unrelenting pursuit of the horrified Garu reminds me of Pepe LePew's stalking of the lady folk that he fancied in his old Looney Tunes - a bunch of zany stuff happens, but ultimately, nothing gets in the way of true love. I recommend checking this game out if it sounds at all interesting to you - it's not the greatest game ever made, but it's entertaining enough to feel like a nice surprise if you've never experienced playing it before. Played on: Wii Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/15/2023 Garbage Pail Kids: The Game Platform Android Initial Release Date May 21, 2019 (NA) Developer Jago Studios Genre Strategy My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 66.29/100 Garbage Pail Kids: The Game is a decent little strategy card game. Basically, the gist of it is that you have a deck of Garbage Pail Kids cards, and the ability to win or purchase cards to add to that deck, then you challenge someone, pitting your cards against theirs in a turn-based RPG-style battle. The game contains most of the fan-favorite Garbage Pail Kids from the past, so if you collected these cards when you were a child (or even as an adult) you'll likely get some nostalgia from collecting them here. It also may be neat for fans of the cards to see the novelty of the characters on the card deliver animated attacks instead of simply sitting there stationary. The fights are pretty basic - figure out the weakness(es) of your opponent and exploit them if you have the people in your party to do so. The game is completely free, but like most mobile games, it does have a store where you can use real money to purchase cards or items to give you an edge. If you're up for the challenge, though, you should be able to make your way through to the end without spending a dime if you're patient enough to get there the old fashioned way of leveling up and earning new cards. While this isn't the greatest game ever made, it can be a decent game to play to pass the time while on the bus or sitting on the can. You do require an internet connection, though. So if you plan on playing this on a plane or in a sewer, you'll need to be sure that you've got access to wifi to be able to do so…if there even is such a thing as sewer wifi. Played on: Android Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/21/2024 Godzilla 2: War of the Monsters Platform NES Initial Release Date February 1992 (NA) Developer Toho Genre Strategy My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 60.23/100 A lot of people REALLY hate this game. Honestly, I wasn't a big fan of it at first, either. I basically forced myself to play through it due to it being listed as a monthly challenge over at the Completionator website. Nobody took the challenge, so I went ahead and took a stab at it. While I found myself not really enjoying this game at first, as I advanced on to some of the later levels, I really grew to appreciate this game for what it was. For those who don't know, Godzilla 2 gets rid of the side-scrolling action and one-on-one fights of the first game and instead focuses on being a turn-based strategy game. The early levels are basic and help you get used to how everything works….the later levels are much more interesting with a few gimmicks tossed in, like aside from simply attacking the enemy, you'll be transporting parts from one area to another so a weapon can be built to help your attack. Speaking of attacking, Godzilla 2 uses an interesting system. Like most turn-based games, you select what attack you'd like to attempt….but then your attack is all up to luck after that. Why? Well because after picking your attack, you play a round of slots, of course. If you hit the jackpot, you can do massive damage to the monsters attacking the city….if you get a poor roll of the slots, then you'll likely miss your attack, depending on which attack you chose. Anyway, between having a fairly high difficulty, a very slow pace, and not-so-interesting early levels, it's easy to see why so many people don't like this game. But, I feel like the later levels help make up for that, making this a passable turn-based strategy game. If you like turn-based strategy games and always wanted to send a tank after Godzilla or use fighter jets to defend Mothra's nest to obtain her loyalty, then give Godzilla 2 a chance…you may end up appreciating it for what it is like I did. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/15/2021 Bikini Karate Babes 2: Warriors of Elysia Platform PC Initial Release Date June 21, 2011 (NA) Developer Creative Edge Software Genre Fighting My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 54.94/100 Say what you will about the original Bikini Karate Babes, but despite how awful it was, it was impressive in terms of how it used video footage to create a fighting game. About 9 years later, a sequel came out - Bikini Karate Babes 2: Warriors of Elysia. While the gameplay doesn’t improve much, the game does include several new fighters to go alongside returning combatants as well as several game modes…I’d dare say that if the combat was better that this would actually be a solid game with plenty of options and modes to keep you coming back for more. I found myself continuously playing through the arcade mode, not because I necessarily enjoyed it, but because I would notice new modes and fighters waiting for me after the credits rolled each time, and I wanted to know how much was packed into this game. And I’ll admit, it grew on me by the time I was done playing…and admittedly, part of that was discovering that Dina Al-Sabah (a former fitness model and seemingly an all-around good, intelligent human being) whom I’ve had a bit of a crush on for most of my life, plays a character in the game. But anyway, Warriors of Elysia is the best game in the franchise, in my opinion…Even if that’s comparable to being the nicest guy in prison. Warriors of Elysia may not be a great (or even passable) fighting game, but I was able to find some enjoyment in it. If you’ve got to play a game in the series, this is the one I’d recommend, if you can track down a copy, that is. Played on: PC Also known as: Bikini Karate 2: Elysia no Josenshi (Japan)

Date added: 04/07/2020 Last Rebellion Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date January 28, 2010 (JP) Developer Hit Maker Genre RPG My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 54.55/100 If you look on Metacritic, Last Rebellion looks like an absolutely terrible game with both critics and players taking a big ol’ verbal dump on the experience. While Last Rebellion will likely never find its way onto anyone’s “Top Games of All-Time” list, I still enjoy it all the same. The interesting combat is complex enough where I don’t really have room to describe it here in detail, but while it’s unique and mildly fun, the combat can also be extremely frustrating until you get the hang of it – where I’m guessing most of the hate towards this game comes from. But anyway, if you’re looking for a quick (probably about 10 hours to platinum the game) unique RPG, then Last Rebellion is worth a look. If you’re not really big into JRPGs as it is, then you should probably stay away. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/03/2019 Knuckle Bash Platform Arcade Initial Release Date March 1993 (NA) Developer Toaplan Genre Brawler My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 63.33/100 Being a huge professional wrestling fan, as well as a Final Fight fan, this was a very pleasant surprise to find. Knuckle Bash is basically a mix between a fighting game and a side-scrolling beat-em-up, but all of the characters are professional wrestlers. The controls aren't smooth, and the action isn't always exciting, but I enjoyed myself enough to see the game through to the end. The ability to "recruit" some of your opponents as you go, increasing your selection of playable characters is a pretty neat idea, too. Knuckle Bash will probably never make someone's "best games of all-time" list, but I really enjoyed it for what it is. Played on: Arcade Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/08/2019 My Name is Mayo Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date November 8, 2016 (NA) Developer Green Lava Studios Genre Action My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 59.04/100 My Name is Mayo, at first glance, is simply a game where you repeatedly press a button on the PS4 and Vita versions or click the mouse on the PC version…But if that was the case, this would be much lower on this list. Instead, My Name is Mayo finds an innovative use of trophies/achievements that actually makes this game worth playing, in my opinion. Basically, by reading the trophy names as you unlock them, you get several mini stories involving the mayonnaise jar. This game is unique and different…and while I praise it, let’s face it – once you play through this game once (which takes about 30 minutes) you’ll likely never touch it again. It’s nice to play as a novelty, but repeatedly hitting a button or clicking a mouse is hard to justify as getting a better spot on this list…no matter how charming it happens to be. Played on: Playstation 4, Playstation Vita, PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2019 Halloween Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer MicroGraphicImage Genre Action My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 57.19/100 Halloween is not a bad representation of horror films, considering the hardware it runs on. The goal in the game is to find children in the house, take them by the hand, and walk them to safety while trying to avoid Michael Myers as he randomly appears with a giant knife in an attempt to stab you. Some rooms have flickering lights, resulting you in not being able to see exactly where Myers is...But that's ultimately the only danger you face. You can even pick up a knife of your own and use it to make Myers run away for a while. Unfortunately, the very slow pace and general ease that it is to avoid death hinder the game as a whole, especially once the repetition kicks in, but it's still not a terrible game to pick up and play every now and then, just don’t expect to spend too much time with it. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/05/2019 Soccer Platform NES Initial Release Date April 9, 1985 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Sports - Soccer My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 58.24/100 Of all the sports games that accompanied the North American launch of the NES, Soccer may be the easiest. Within the first minute of the game, it’s not hard to be up 4 or 5 to nothing when playing against the computer. Stealing the ball is effortless and when kicking the ball towards the goal, you’ll probably only have the ball blocked maybe 1 out of every 3 shots…if even that. When playing against a friend, it’s quite a bit better, especially since you control the goalie as well as the players on the field, so it can lead to some fun, frantic moments. Unfortunately, due to how easy it is, it gets very dull very fast when playing alone. An intelligent computer opponent would have gone a long way in making this decent multiplayer game a decent single player game…But as it is, if you play this alone, you’ll probably be disappointed. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/25/2021 Contrast Platform Playstation 4 Initial Release Date November 15, 2013 (NA) Developer Compulsion Games Genre Adventure My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 61.90/100 I like the idea of Contrast. I like the setting and the story. I like the concept of the game as a whole. I don't like how mundane it feels by the end. The gameplay element of using shadows to jump around to otherwise unreachable areas is a neat idea and it should have opened up the game to provide a lot of creative and unique situations for the player...But it never seems to do that. It just becomes routine and boring. Toss in some very obvious puzzles and this game ultimately results in a very underwhelming experience. Contrast is still passable due to its positives, but only barely so due to its negatives. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/21/2019 Army of Darkness Defense Platform Apple iPhone/iPod Touch Initial Release Date May 12, 2011 (NA) Developer Backflip Studios Genre Strategy My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 66.79/100 I said it way back when I beat the game and I'll say it again. I love this game, but I'm pretty confident that it's due to audio clips taken from the Army of Darkness film rather than the actual gameplay. The gameplay is so-so, but if it wasn't an Army of Darkness game with audio from the movie, I really don't think I'd enjoy this game even close to as much as I did. Unless you’re a fanatic of the defense genre of games, you’ll likely feel the same way I did…unless you’re not a fan of the Evil Dead movies, in which case you may not really enjoy it at all. So, if you liked Army of Darkness, try this game. If you didn't, you might not find enough here to make playing it worth your while unless you absolutely love defense games. Played on: iPhone Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/30/2023 Wheel of Fortune Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date November 7, 2017 (NA) Developer Ubisoft Genre Trivia My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 60.37/100 When I was younger and watched TV regularly, Wheel of Fortune was one of the shows that I enjoyed watching. However, I honestly don't think I've seen an episode in 20 years. So, fast forward to me playing this video game adaptation of the hit TV game show, and either this game took some liberties and changed stuff up or the show itself has implemented these changes and the game reflects that. I'm too lazy to look it up to figure it out, but none of the changes really bothered me…they just caught me a little off-guard. The game itself is okay. It's not anything special, but like many of these game show-based video games, they're perfect for killing a few minutes if you're waiting for friends to come over or looking for something to do while waiting on the cooking timer for dinner. It's a perfect game for casual gamers, or even non-gamers that just like the Wheel of Fortune television show. If you're a video game fanatic, like myself, you'll probably still find some enjoyment here as well…you just may not find enough content here to keep you coming back for more unless you're a Wheel of Fortune super fan that absolutely has to solve every puzzle that the game has to offer. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/23/2020 Eat Them! Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date December 21, 2010 (NA) Developer FluffyLogic Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 66.26/100 I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I played Eat Them! I’m not even completely sure how the game popped up in my Playstation Store downloads page. It may have been available for Playstation Plus members, or it may have just been a game that was cheap that I decided to pick up and review down the road. Anyway, after installing Eat Them! and seeing that it was a game where you control a giant monster and demolish a city, it had my interest. Unfortunately, kinda like my opinion on the original Rampage, while Eat Them! is fun in small doses, it gets repetitive very quickly. Smash stuff up, eat humans, smash more stuff up, eat more humans, time limit expires. That’s the gist of it. There are other mission types as well, like races, destroying specific parts of the city, etc. but nothing really breaks the repetition enough to make this more than just a so-so game. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/29/2019 Street Fighter Platform Arcade Initial Release Date August 1987 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 59.59/100 For those unaware, the Street Fighter franchise didn’t exactly burst onto the scene with a great game...On the contrary, the original Street Fighter is just a barely passable experience that most fighting fans today would likely stick their noses in the air at. Though, I fairness, if the controls were a bit tighter, I do kind of enjoy how matches can potentially end in one or two hits if you’re able to pull them off without your opponent blocking. It’s kind of neat uppercutting my opponent to victory just as they’re lunging at me with an attempted move of their own. Anyway, with only one playable character, Ryu, the original Street Fighter didn’t really have much need to replay the game upon beating it. Only diehard Street Fighter fans wanting to the origin of the series should bother with this game...Though, for those who do play through, expect to see some familiar faces amongst the never-seen-again fighters while you fight around the world. Played on: Arcade Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/28/2022 Mafia Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date March 9, 2004 (NA) Developer Illusion Softworks Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 70.18/100 Mafia is one of those games where I always think it looks interesting, and I expect to have fun, then I play it…and all expectations go out the window. A few hours later, I've moved on to something else. Since I've done pretty good in sticking with games lately so I can beat them before adding them to this list, I decided to give Mafia another try…and ultimately, it resulted in the same result. I honestly want to like Mafia…I really, really do. I like history, and having a Grand Theft Auto-inspired game set in the 1930's sounds fantastic to me every time I hear it. Unfortunately, despite some good voice acting and a mildly interesting story, Mafia is mostly marred by the attempt to make traversing the world more realistic. By that, I mean that you are expected to obey traffic lights and drive the speed limit…while this is a neat novelty at first, eventually, I just wanted to get to where I needed to go without having to worry about a police car suddenly blaring its siren at me when I'm a few feet away from starting the next mission because I was driving faster than I was supposed to be going. The controls also aren't the best…Mafia was originally designed for PC, and while I never played the PC version, I get the feeling that some of the controls were lost in translation when converting them from keyboard and mouse to controller on the console versions…because this game simply does not play smooth. Eventually, I do plan to tough it out and stick with Mafia until the end, and when I do, I may modify its position on this list…but for now, Mafia continues to be the game where I get excited to play, and within a few hours, the excitement is completely gone. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/16/2019 The Park Platform PC Initial Release Date October 27, 2015 (NA) Developer Funcom Genre Adventure My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 62.02/100 The Park is a game that attempts to use psychological horror to scare the player instead of enemies…and it doesn’t really work. The concept of walking around in a seemingly abandoned amusement park sounds fun…but there isn’t a ton to explore here, unfortunately. In fact, the game is very short. You can explore most of the game and still finish in a little over an hour. If The Park had more meat to it, it also could have devoted more time to fleshing out the story and establishing Lorraine, the main character, to players. As it was, I felt the story was kind of weak ‘cause I didn’t know enough about Lorraine or her son to really care what happened to them. In the end, The Park seems to be a psychological horror game based on mental illness…and while it’s passable, it’s not much more than that. If you want a similar game that actually makes you care about the main character, I’d recommend The Town of Light over The Park. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/05/2022 C3 Racing: Car Constructors Championship Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date 1998 (EU) Developer Eutechnyx Genre Racing My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 64.53/100 I want to like C3 Racing. But my main complaint about the game is the controls…they're terrible. If you have an original Playstation controller, you can press X to hit the gas and use the d-pads to steer…the problem is that the d-pads don't give you much control, so your turns don't register as well as they would if you use an analog controller. If you switch to an analog controller, though, you no longer have an option to use X as the button for gas. You're stuck using either the right or left analog stick, depending on the controller layout you choose. Press up for gas, push down for the brakes. While it's a neat novelty at first, I quickly found myself wanting to just be able to use the analog stick for steering and buttons for the gas and brakes. Another odd design decision - you can respawn your vehicle whenever you want, and if you happen to flip your car over, it may respawn automatically…but, if you drive your vehicle off of a ledge and into a river, your race is over. No respawn. That doesn't really make sense to me…If my vehicle flipped over, my race would be over too, right? So why respawn in that instance, but game over in the other? Anyway, when I wasn’t wishing that I could change up the controls or questioning their respawning logic, C3 Racing was a pretty enjoyable racing game. It contains plenty of interesting, unique tracks and a few modes and unlockable vehicles to keep you busy for a while. C3 Racing isn't a bad game at all, but some of the gameplay decisions may prevent you from putting more time into it than you may otherwise would have - that was definitely the case for me. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Max Power Racing (Europe - Later Release)

Date added: 08/06/2019 Lakers versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1990 (NA) Developer Electronic Arts Genre Sports - Basketball My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 66.93/100 The early 90's is when Electronic Arts began becoming the sports-game juggernaut that it has become today, and Lakers versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs is basically the beginning of the NBA Live franchise. While it only contained a few teams from the playoffs and not every team in the NBA, it allowed EA to bring an attention to detail to each player…different heights, different speeds, different looks. It’s impressive, and may not have been possible had they included every player in the NBA. The gameplay is passable, as is the overall experience, but it helped lay the groundwork for the better basketball games that Electronic Arts released in the next few years. For that it may be worth checking out for basketball fans that would like to see how NBA Live got its start. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/05/2019 Pinball Platform NES Initial Release Date February 2, 1984 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Pinball My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 64.27/100 Pinball was Nintendo’s attempt at…can you guess? A digital pinball game. It wasn’t the first video game attempt at Pinball, but it was probably the best for its time. Honestly, though, that isn’t exactly saying a lot. Pinball is passable and all, but the problem with it (like all previous video game variations of pinball) is that the fun just does not last. With only one table, and not much to that table, most people will be ready to move on to another game after playing for about five to ten minutes. As I said, the game is passable…there’s nothing technically wrong here…it’s just very limited. If you absolutely must play a video game version of pinball instead of playing on a real pinball machine, Pinball is okay…But better options appeared later on in the life of the NES. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/21/2022 Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date July 10, 2020 (W) Developer TOYBOX Genre Adventure My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 51.85/100 While it was flawed, I absolutely fell in love with the original Deadly Premonition and gladly looked past those flaws to play through it on various platforms. As years went by, I wound up not being the only one in love with that game and it managed to get a pretty sizeable cult following…enough where a sequel was eventually announced and developed. To say that I was over the moon about that announcement was an understatement. I can actually remember where I was when I first heard that Deadly Premonition was getting a sequel, which is huge since I can barely remember what I ate for dinner last night - yes, I was that thrilled with the announcement. I was hoping that the sequel would be similar to the original game, but with plenty of improvements so that the series could get the praise that I always wanted it to get…unfortunately, while I like Deadly Premonition 2, that just isn't the case. Instead of simply taking the formula of Deadly Premonition, tweaking and improving on all of the game's faults, and inserting a new story, it feels like TOYBOX tried to reinvent the wheel instead…and it feels like they removed much of what made the original game so charming in the process. There's still a few quirky characters and side quests here, and the game manages to be genuinely funny while also providing the player with a dark, warped story at the same time…but this game just feels inferior to the original in nearly every way. I'm happy that we got another story with FBI agent Francis York Morgan, and the story itself is good and made playing through the game worthwhile for me…and I'll likely play through this game again at some point…but unfortunately, I just can't recommend Deadly Premonition 2 unless you're a big fan of the original game and don't mind dealing with some poor gameplay mechanics in order to see a good story. I do hope a Deadly Premonition 3 comes out at some point, and I really hope that TOYBOX can learn from its mistakes and give this series some gameplay to match its fantastic storytelling. It's just a shame that this wasn't the game to do that. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/09/2022 King of Fighters: NeoWave Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date March 30, 2006 (JP) Developer SNK Playmore Genre Fighting My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 63.57/100 While I'll probably always prefer the Street Fighter series to King of Fighters, I won't deny that I do love me some King of Fighters from time to time. That said, if you're only glancing at the game's visuals, NeoWave looks like you're playing an early Playstation One game on the Xbox. While I find pixelated, 2D graphics to be charming, when this game came out, it looked extremely dated. They obviously did not attempt to put NeoGraphics in NeoWave. Another gripe is the sheer number of loading screens that you'll encounter. One would imagine, with the graphical presentation found here, that loading times would be minimal…if you imagined that, then you're imagining things. But those complaints aside, once the fighting begins, NeoWave is a very solid fighting game that fans of the genre will likely spend plenty of time playing. While some fans of King of Fighters insist that it's better than Street Fighter, I can't imagine that any of them would use NeoWave as an example to try to prove their point. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/25/2021 WWE Legends of Wrestlemania Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date March 19, 2009 (AU) Developer Yuke's Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 67.73/100 WWE Legends of Wrestlemania was my first platinum trophy on the Playstation 3. Not only was it my first platinum, but I got it in less than 24 hours…it would have been even shorter if not for a need to go to sleep. In over a decade since then, I’ve never touched the game again…until pulling it out of storage to review it for this list, that is. I remember that when I had finished getting the platinum trophy, I was really sick of this game, which is a large reason why I never touched it again…But playing it in moderation to nab screenshots for this list, it’s not nearly as bad as I remember…unfortunately, it’s still not good. Basically, WWE LoW is a dumbed-down WWE Smackdown vs. Raw with fewer buttons to use and plenty of on-screen command prompts to hit. If that sounds bad, it is. Legends of Wrestlemania isn’t without a few bright spots, though. Various clips and montages can be found to watch before reliving or rewriting history that fans of the WWF (before they became WWE) will likely enjoy. The big bright spot, though, are the managers. The managers interact and interfere like no other wrestling game before or since. Whether it be Mr. Fuji throwing salt in the eyes of his man’s opponent or Paul Bearer raising the urn high to rejuvenate the Undertaker after he took an opponent’s finishing move, it all adds to the experience and is an aspect that I wish would find its way into a future wrestling title, regardless of who makes it. All that said, even with those bright spots, I can’t imagine that most folks would stick around to play this for long. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/20/2020 Blair Witch Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date December 3, 2019 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Bloober Team Genre Adventure My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 59.90/100 Fun fact #1: I love horror movies. Fun fact #2: I’ve never seen any of the Blair Witch movies…eventhough I own the first one in a sealed, unopened DVD. That said, I was actually looking forward to playing Blair Witch on Playstation 4…So much that I actually pre-ordered it. The end result has some good in it, but also plenty of bad…the final hour or so, in particular, made me groan and just wish it was over. But anyway, in Blair Witch, you take the role of a man with some mental issues who is also accompanied by Bullet, a dog, who will probably make you do way more smiling than you’re supposed to do in a horror game. Most of the first part of the game involves you telling Bullet to find something, then following him until you find it. The second part of the game is mostly you just repeating the same screens over and over and over until you’re ready to just scream at the developers, “I get it! Let’s go on to the next area already!!” Seriously, those aspects of the second part of game could have been a quarter of the length and still have been just as effective. But anyway, Blair Witch is an okay licensed game. I don’t know the Blair Witch lore, so aside from an obvious acknowledgement to the first film, if there were other references, they went over my head. If you love the Blair Witch story, then you might appreciate this game more than I did. Even still, this wasn’t an awful horror game…unfortunately, I also think that it’s just slightly short of passable. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/28/2019 Simple 2000 Series Vol. 90: The Oneechanbara 2 Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date December 22, 2005 (JP) Developer Tamsoft Genre Brawler My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 59.81/100 The third game in the Onechanbara series (released over a six month period, mind you) is actually called The Oneechanbara 2, and it's actually a decent improvement over the previous games. Yeah, it still gets repetitive after a while, but with multiple characters to play as and the same, charming B-movie storytelling, the repetitive gameplay is much more tolerable. Also, while it doesn't have an effect on the gameplay, it's interesting to note that blood color strangely changed from red to purple for this game. Apparently, when a bad zombie game becomes better than the previous games, its blood gets some blue mixed in with the red. Maybe because you can’t spell violent without violet? Anyway, this game was a nice step forward in the series. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/03/2019 Sewer Shark Platform Sega CD Initial Release Date October 15, 1992 (NA) Developer Digital Pictures Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 63.87/100 Sewer Shark was a passable game when "interactive movies" looked like they were the thing of the future when it came to video games...they weren't. However, Sewer Shark is mildly entertaining for what it is - shooting enemies as they appear on the screen with a video playing in the background to make it appear like you're flying through a tunnel. While it's not the greatest game ever made by any means, it was okay for what it tried to be. If you want to see a decent way to integrate FMV into a game, Sewer Shark manages to do it. Played on: Sega CD Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/16/2019 Aerowings Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date March 4, 1999 (JP) Developer CRI Genre Action - Flight Simulator My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 63.48/100 AeroWings was a flight simulator for the Dreamcast, and it does what it sets out to do…but that’s about it. While most of the scenery is beautifully created, AeroWings does get pretty dull pretty quickly. On top of that, since this is a flight simulator, this isn’t exactly a pick-up-and-play game. You have to learn how to control your aircraft, which some players just simply won’t have the patience for when they discover that the closest thing to “action” that this game provides is rotating the plane to squeeze through a hole in a canyon. Once you get used to everything, AeroWings provides a pretty relaxing experience…but also a pretty uneventful one. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: Aero Dancing featuring Blue Impulse (Japan)

Date added: 07/07/2022 Tour de France 2021 Platform Sony Playstation 5 Initial Release Date July 1, 2021 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Cyanide Genre Racing My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 59.57/100 I have never, ever watched a Tour de France. I honestly don't think I ever will. However, for whatever reason, the concept of playing a video game where you're competing in the Tour de France made me intrigued, though admittedly, I didn't really expect much. After playing for a few hours, I'm actually somewhat surprised at the quality of the game. Cyanide clearly put a lot of time and effort into this game from a graphical standpoint and did a good job of figuring out how to transfer the struggles of being in a Tour de France to a video game form. Unfortunately, in the translation to a video game, a little too much of the realism was kept, in my opinion. Unless you are a die-hard Tour de France fan, and want everything as realistic as possible, you'll probably find yourself getting bored as you play this game. A standard race takes FOREVER…I'm not exaggerating when I believe that my first race took around 30-40 minutes. That would be fine if you were doing other things to stay occupied…But, you're not. You're just doing the same things over…and over….and over. I led the majority of that race without an issue…by the end, I had found myself so bored and wanting the race to end, that I wound up multitasking and working on other things while playing the game, which made me drop down a bit in the field…but hey, at least I wasn't bored out of my mind for the last 10 minutes. I understand the desire to make things realistic if you have a passion for something you're making a video game on. However, in the case of Tour de France 2021, the audience that would appreciate that passion is probably pretty low. With shorter races, and/or a little more to do during the race so they don't just drag on, I feel like this game could have a broader appeal for gamers. For now, though, it's a passable game that you really may only enjoy if you love the Tour de France. Played on: Playstation 5 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 Caos Trigger: Golem Platform Ouya Initial Release Date December 30, 2014 (NA) Developer DustyCat Media Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 62.13/100 Caos Trigger: Golem, by all accounts, should have been one of my absolute favorite games on the Ouya. Seemingly inspired by the fantastic Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Caos Trigger initially appears to be a solid tribute to that game. The game looks beautiful and the levels seem to be designed well, it even looks like it’s got some of its own ideas so it’s not just a Symphony of the Night clone. Then the gameplay begins, and poor controls bog the entire game down. The character you control doesn’t move very smoothly and there’s a bit of a delay from when you press the attack button to when she actually attacks. When facing weaker enemies, that’s annoying, but not a major issue. Once you begin to face tougher enemies, it becomes a big problem. I wanted to like Caos Trigger, I really did. Unfortunately, sub-par controls bog down a game that otherwise seemed to be well made. If you stick with it and get used to the delays and such, this is a passible game…but I get the sense that after a few minutes with these controls, most folks will give up before figuring that out. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/09/2022 Mind Zero Platform Sony Playstation Vita Initial Release Date August 1, 2013 (JP) Developer Zerodiv Genre RPG My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 59.35/100 I was looking forward to Mind Zero when it came out. Then slightly before the game launched, I started seeing reviews for it…and they were mostly giving the game a "bleh" reaction. Most folks weren't blasting it, but I also wasn't seeing too much praise. That didn't necessarily bother me. Reviews are opinions, so I still thought that I'd find some enjoyment in the game…unfortunately, I didn't, really. Mind Zero is a game that starts out fairly dull…and it never really stops being dull. I found myself wanting to like this game and wanting to play more…but when I did play more, it often felt like it was a drag. I actually used this game to help me fall asleep for a while because it honestly could make me want to take a nap at times. I still don't think it's an awful game, mind you. It's passable…but I don't think that anyone will ever say that Mind Zero is their favorite game of all-time. If they do, I may have to question their sanity…or perhaps their mind has hit zero. See what I did there? Played on: Playstation Vita Also known as: Mind = Zero (Japan/Korea)

Date added: 07/13/2019 Las Vegas Poker & Blackjack Platform Mattel Intellivision Initial Release Date 1979 (NA) Developer Mattel Genre Casino My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 63.03/100 I usually don’t really care for casino games…but dang it, Las Vegas Poker & Blackjack has some personality to it…well, as much personality as one could have in the early days of video games, anyway. Unlike the casino games on the Atari, this one on the Intellivision actually has a dealer shown on the screen. He’s not just static, either. Subtle movements they may be, he does have some animation to him. The color choices also make this game much more interesting to look at than, say, Blackjack on the Atari 2600 that was released only a year earlier. The Intellivision’s controller also allows for the player to put in customized bet amounts. Overall, despite my usual boredom with casino games, especially early ones, Las Vegas Poker & Blackjack is actually well done and worth checking out if you’d like to gamble a bit without spending any actual money. Played on: Intellivision Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/17/2019 Bassmasters 2000 Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date December 31, 1999 (NA) Developer Mass Media Genre Sports - Fishing My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 72.22/100 Bassmasters 2000 is a decent fishing game with a couple of modes and challenges with the intent to keep you playing longer than you probably plan to. It didn’t really work on me…much like real fishing, I found myself wishing I was doing something else. That said, this isn’t a bad game, and fans of the fishing game genre will probably enjoy their time here. It's not quite up to the quality of fishing games like Sega Bass Fishing (which also appeals to non-fishing fans due to its arcade-style gameplay), but it's still a solid video game version of the sport that's worth checking out if you're a fan of the genre, want a less-arcadey take on fishing, and own an N64. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/29/2019 Venture Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1982 (NA) Developer Coleco Genre Adventure My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 62.51/100 I think Venture was Coleco's attempt at creating a better adventure game than Atari's Adventure. It didn't work. Not even close, actually. While Venture is a decent game by all accounts and often remembered fondly, it lacks the quality and sense of exploration that Adventure had. Perhaps that’s because this was designed for the arcades while Atari’s Adventure was designed specifically for home console? Perhaps. Anyway, Venture is not horrible, like I said, and worth playing if you get a chance, but if you can only play one adventure game on the Atari 2600, skip this game and play the game that the genre was essentially named after - Adventure. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/31/2019 Zombie Tycoon II: Brainhov's Revenge Platform Sony Playstation Vita Initial Release Date April 30, 2013 (NA) Developer Frima Studio Genre Strategy My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 63.03/100 I've never really been a fan of real-time strategy games, so fans of the genre may enjoy Zombie Tycoon II more than I did. But, I still felt like this was a passable game. I liked the personality shown in the game by all of the characters, from the fleeing humans to the zombies themselves. The gameplay itself is pretty straightforward and easy to understand...But also kind of bland. If you're not much of an RTS fan, then there's nothing here that'll convert you into one, except for maybe the personality shown in the characters. If you are an RTS fan, you’ll likely find more fun here than I was able to. Played on: Playstation Vita Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/30/2023 BlaZeon: The Bio-Cyborg Challenge Platform Super NES Initial Release Date July 24, 1992 (JP) Developer AI Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 66.13/100 I really want to like BlaZeon….I really, really want to like it. But, as you can see from where it stands on this list, The Bio-Cyborg Challenge makes itself difficult to like. I'll start with the positive of the game, then work my way towards why it wound up being ranked way down here. What I like about BlaZeon is its originality. You start out with a ship that has two different weapons available at your disposal. One weapon is a standard gun to shoot your enemies down with. The other weapon is a rocket that can passivate certain enemies and turn them blue. If you fly into these blue enemies, you transform into their ship, obtaining their firepower as well. Gaining these abilities is essential for survival if you intend to see this game to its final boss. Likewise, having an idea of what kind of firepower works best against certain bosses also helps, allowing you to pick and choose which enemy ships to possess. That said, a game where you absorb ships to use their firepower sounds awesome, so where does if falter? The speed. A slower-paced 3rd person shooter isn't always a bad thing….but a 3rd person shooter that's so slow that you can literally have an empty screen for long stretches of time while you sit and wait for something to fire at, that's pretty bad. If BlaZeon's stage action matched the action during boss fights, it would be a very solid game…but when you have the urge to take a nap on your way to each boss fight, that's just poor game design. Even with a neat concept of absorbing enemy firepower, the often absurdly slow gameplay simply brings this game down. I still feel like BlaZeon is a passable game…but it should have been so much more. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/07/2022 Aqua Aqua Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date November 2, 2000 (JP) Developer Zed Two Limited Genre Puzzle My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 70.20/100 Aqua Aqua is basically the sequel to the unique Dreamcast and Nintendo 64 puzzle game Wetrix…and in their effort to improve on the formula of the original game, it feels like they took a bit of a step backward, in my opinion. If you're not familiar with the concept, in this game, you'll have arrows drop from the top of the screen. These arrows will lower or raise the land. Eventually, other stuff drops down as well, like bombs, meteors, and, of course, water. The goal is to form lakes with the land and fill them with water…but if too much water drips out from your lakes, it's game over. It sounds simple in theory, but the odd isometric viewpoint can sometimes make It difficult to line the arrows up correctly to actually create a lake, and not a lake with a hole on the side for everything to leak out. The amount of time that you have to line everything up, especially in later levels, isn't very forgiving, either. If you stick with it long enough to get the hang of everything, it can become slightly more fun…and the multiplayer mode does help it a bit, too…but I get the feeling that most players simply won't stick around long enough for Aqua Aqua to grow on them. If you're looking for a unique puzzle game, I'd stick with the original Wetrix rather than this game…but if you love Wetrix to death and want more, then Aqua Aqua may be a game that you're able to find some enjoyment in. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: AquaAqua (Japan), Aqua Aqua: Wetrix 2 (Europe)

Date added: 05/02/2022 Dinotopia: The Sunstone Odyssey Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date August 5, 2003 (NA) Developer Vicious Cycle Genre Brawler My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 56.38/100 How in the world did Dinotopia: The Sunstone Odyssey get a Teen rating? The box simply says "Violence" as the culprit, but the violence here is pretty mild, so I'm not buying that. Could it be the large-chested lady folk that roam the villages? I wouldn't buy that either, because save for a few cutscenes, you never really get too close of a view of these ladies. Why am I so determined to figure out why this game was rated Teen, you ask? Simple. I cannot see anyone over the age of maybe 8 or 9 enjoying this game. The reason is that Dinotopia was seemingly designed for young children. The repetitive nature of the game, mixed with how incredibly easy it is, and, well most children love dinosaurs…so there you go. All of that said, This game did get bad critic reviews, but it's honestly not an awful game. It's passable…it's just boring if you happen to have an age in the double digits. The combat, while not perfect, works for what it is. The graphics are actually really well done, too. I get the feeling that most adults will not stick with this game through to the end. However, if you ignore the rating of this game and give it to a young child, I bet they will absolutely love this game from beginning to end. Overall, this isn't a must-buy game by and stretch of the imagination, and it could be better, but for what it is, it's not awful…it's just a little too repetitive for older players. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/15/2020 The Graveyard Platform PC Initial Release Date March 21, 2008 (NA) Developer Tale of Tales Genre Adventure My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 57.35/100 The Graveyard is another one of those really short, artistic games. I appreciate it for what it is, but in terms of gameplay, it's not much to be impressed by. Walk to a bench, sit down, listen to a nice little song, walk out of cemetery, game over. Of course, you might die while on the bench, too...But I don't think you need to do anything specific to trigger that, it’s just a possibility. Anyway, this is an okay little game, but like many, similar artistic-style games, it's over in about 5-10 minutes and there isn't much of a reason to pick it up again after that. It's still worth experiencing at least once, though, especially if you appreciate something other than the norm in your video gaming experience. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/26/2021 American Horseshoes Platform Arcade Initial Release Date 1990 (NA) Developer Taito Genre Sports - Horseshoes My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 65.30/100 American Horseshoes is, as far as I know, the only stand-alone video game version of horseshoes that you can play. The problem is that it's INCREDIBLY easy once you know what you're doing. It may take a few games, but once you figure out what you're doing, you'll be getting ringers every single shot...Unless, of course, you want to have fun and interact with the environment by hitting people and objects with intentionally poor throws. In fact, with how easy the game is, interacting with the environment may be the main reason to keep anyone coming back for more. Throwing the horseshoe into the environment on purpose can usually result in some comedy. Comedy that’s probably much-needed if you’re getting bored from dominating the game. American Horseshoes isn't horrible, mind you, and it can be fun for short spurts, but the lack of a difficulty really bogs down what could have been a uniquely enjoyable game. Played on: Arcade Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/26/2022 Octodad Platform PC Initial Release Date 2010 (NA) Developer DePaul University Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 62.23/100 Oftentimes, poor controls result in a poor game. But rules were made to be broken and Octodad is a game that actually benefits from being a nightmare to control...In fact, I don't think that I'd get anywhere near the same amount of enjoyment out of this game if it controlled like a dream. Its controls are absolutely horrible and I wouldn't have it any other way. In Octodad, you are an octopus that has fooled a family into believing that you are their human father or husband. Being an octopus, you awkwardly move around, knocking things over and generally just making a mess of things...It somehow manages to create slapstick comedy out of your unintentional mess making. A sequel was made that landed on PC and consoles subtitled, "Dadliest Catch." If you're a fan of that game, it may be worth downloading the original game to see how it all started - it was, and always has been free. The original website where this game was available to download now links directly to the paid sequel, which you can definitely purchase to support the developers. However, thanks to the fine website known as itch.io, the developers have found a space on the web to toss the original game up, still free of charge, just like it always was. If you'd like to give it a shot, you can find it here. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/17/2024 Stupid Invaders Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date May 18, 2001 (EU) Developer Xilam Genre Adventure My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 66.01/100 Like the title suggests, this is a pretty stupid game. Not an awful game…it's passable…but stupid all the same. For those who haven't played it, Stupid Invaders is a point-and-click adventure starring the cast of the animated show, Space Goofs. Now, I've never seen an episode of Space Goofs, but I know it was on "Fox Kids" on Saturday mornings here in the United States during its brief run…I can't imagine that the jokes and imagery that you experience in this game are something that would have made it on a children's cartoon….but I suppose you never know, it they hid it cleverly enough for parents to get while going over kids heads, it may have happened. Maybe one day I'll sit down and watch the shows and figure it out for myself. But anyway, I mention the children's cartoon because this is a pretty adult game….an adult game for adults that like fart jokes and the like. There's no nudity here, but plenty of hints at explicit stuff as you progress through the game. So, if that's your kind of humor, you may be in heaven playing this. I found a few jokes or scenarios in the game to be funny…but much of it, I rolled my eyes at, unfortunately. Outside of the humor, this is your basic point-and-click adventure game that doesn't really do anything wrong, but also doesn't really do anything to stand out. So, if you enjoy point-and-click adventure games, you'll likely find some enjoyment playing this game….just be prepared for some bad humor along the way. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/03/2020 Fire Pro Wrestling Platform Xbox 360 Initial Release Date September 21, 2012 (NA) Developer Spike Chunsoft Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 54.49/100 I have mixed feelings on Fire Pro Wrestling. On one hand, it’s technically not an awful game. The in-ring action, while slow and sometimes tedious, is still passable. Also, since you control your own avatar, brawling against your friends is mildly fun as well. But then I look at the other hand…and see the name of a franchise that I love, known for its insane amount of customization, that appealed to hardcore wrestling fans…and I see that name on a game where “tickling” is a move. Many folks, like myself wanted a sequel to Fire Pro Wrestling Returns (which we eventually got a decade later) and instead we got this. It’s generally shunned in the Fire Pro community. But, as I said, it’s not necessarily a bad game…but it’s a wrestling game that tries to appeal to non-wrestling fans. That’s not necessarily a formula for success since it ignored its rabid fanbase in an attempt to get new fans that didn’t really show up. Unlike some other Xbox Live games from the 360, Fire Pro Wrestling was never made compatible with Xbox One, so if it looks like a game that you want to try, you’ll have to wipe the dust off of your Xbox 360 to do so. Played on: Xbox 360 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/06/2024 Bulls vs. Lakers and the NBA Playoffs Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1991 (EU) Developer Electronic Arts Genre Sports - Basketball My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 69.36/100 In a much wiser decision than the previous year, EA decided to name this game after the two teams that actually met in the NBA Finals, rather than two teams that simply had a rivalry. It also helps that this finals was pretty famous for the time - I remember hearing about it when I was a young'un and didn't really know anything about basketball. It basically started a near-decade of dominance for the Chicago Bulls. Anyway, another wise decision by EA is to increase the replay value of the game by increasing the playable teams from the final eight in the previous game to the final sixteen in this game. It's still not as nice as having all twenty-seven teams from the league, especially if your home team didn't make the cut, but it's still progress. The gameplay was tweaked a little bit here too, and the inclusion of an instant replay and a slicker presentation helps things a bit as well. While not as polished as later games in this franchise, which would later become NBA Live, Bulls vs. Lakers can still serve as a nice trip down memory lane for fans of the sport's history. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: NBA Pro Basketball: Bulls vs Lakers and the NBA Playoffs (Japan)

Date added: 11/28/2023 North & South Platform NES Initial Release Date September 21, 1990 (JP) Developer Kemco Genre Strategy My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 67.17/100 North & South is an odd game for me to review…On one hand, it's fun while it lasts…on the other hand, it feels like it's way too short. Essentially, North & South is a strategy game based on the United States Civil War. You can choose to play as either the North or South as you attempt to win the war for your side. The game provides a few options - do you want a straight-on battle with no neutral threats? Or do you want the threat of weather or Native Americans around to add the need for a little more strategy? You can also choose which year to jump in at - 1861, 1862, 1863, or 1864. Supposedly 1865 was left out due to how lop-sided the war was at that point…which, in my opinion, would be the perfect reason to include it. It would provide an easy year for newcomers to play as the north or a very difficult year for veterans to play as the south. Anyway, the game plays like a typical strategy game - move your soldiers to an available spot on the map. If the enemy is on that spot, you'll go into a battle. In North & South, these battles are controlled by the player - you can switch between the types of soldier in an effort to mow down the enemy and take over that position on the map. Once all enemy soldiers have been removed from the map, the game is over and you've won. It's not a bad game, but many of the battles are too easy to win by simply attacking the enemy head-on. If the computer intelligence was a little better and if there were more scenarios to play, then I would have liked North & South much more than I did. But for what it is, it's still a passable strategy game and a good choice for folks not familiar with that game genre. Played on: NES Also known as: North & South: Wakuwaku Nanboku Sensou (Japan)

Date added: 12/25/2019 Outlaw Golf: 9 More Holes of X-Mas Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date 2003 (NA) Developer Simon & Schuster Genre Sports - Golf My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 60.07/100 Outlaw Golf was a decent game of golf with a snarky announcer and some poor (and a few good) attempts at comedy. 9 More Holes of X-Mas is basically more of the same, but with winter environments (and the 9 holes included are new), Christmas attire for the golfers, and elves with high-pitched voices as the crowd. If you like golfing games, this isn’t a bad one at all. However, if you played the original Outlaw Golf to the point where you have had enough, unless you’re a Christmas fanatic, you probably won’t have much of a reason to play through this version of the game…or 9 Holes of X-mas, which is basically the same game, but with 9 different holes and different playable characters at the start. Since it’s basically the same game, it’ll basically get the same comment…just edited. What? I’m lazy. Anyway, if you absolutely need a Christmas-themed golf game, this is decent, but otherwise I’d just stick with the original Outlaw Golf or any other golf game you enjoy, for that matter. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/25/2019 Outlaw Golf: 9 Holes of X-Mas Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date December 13, 2002 (NA) Developer Simon & Schuster Genre Sports - Golf My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 60.04/100 Outlaw Golf was a decent game of golf with a snarky announcer and some poor (and a few good) attempts at comedy. 9 Holes of X-Mas is basically more of the same, but with winter environments (and the 9 holes included are new), Christmas attire for the golfers, and elves with high-pitched voices as the crowd. If you like golfing games, this isn’t a bad one at all. However, if you played the original Outlaw Golf to the point where you have had enough, unless you’re a Christmas fanatic, you probably won’t have much of a reason to play through this version of the game…or 9 More Holes of X-mas, which is basically the same game, but with 9 different holes and different playable characters at the start. Since it’s basically the same game, it’ll basically get the same comment…just edited. What? I'm lazy. Anyway, if you absolutely need a Christmas-themed golf game, this is decent, but otherwise I’d just stick with the original Outlaw Golf or any other golf game you enjoy, for that matter. Played on: Xbox Also known as: Outlaw Golf: Holiday Golf (I think - I don't have the Holiday Golf disc to verify)

Date added: 10/25/2020 Death Flush Platform PC Initial Release Date 2020 (NA) Developer Impostersyndrome Genre Adventure My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 54.13/100 Death Flush is a game that was created in about a month by Impostersyndrome for the Haunted PS1 Summer of Screams contest over at itch.io. As a result, it’s not exactly polished. But when you take into consideration that this was created in roughly a month, it’s actually quite impressive. Impostersyndrome did a very solid job of blending comedy and horror together, creating a game that is both genuinely funny at times as well as creating moments that make you feel a little uneasy. The premise of the game is that you’re a lad that saw his grandfather murdered by the Toilet Seat Killer…named as such because his weapon of choice is a toilet seat that he apparently stabs his victims with. Since you saw that, you have a fear of going to the bathroom…and sure enough, once you go to relieve yourself, you find yourself locked in and unable to escape. Inspired by Nightmare on Elm Street and Silent Hill, Death Flush isn’t the greatest game that you’ll ever play, but for the time spent working on it before Impostersyndrome uploaded it for the world to play (for free) it’s pretty impressive. If you like a good blend of humor, horror, and bizarre dream-like scenery, then you’ll probably find something to like in this short, 20-30 minute game. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/18/2020 Commando Platform NES Initial Release Date September 27, 1986 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 65.33/100 Commando was always a game that I enjoyed, but felt it fell short of being a classic. Now that I’ve played through the game from beginning to end for the first time, my opinion of Commando has actually gone down rather than up. Most folks will likely have fun playing through the various stages in level 1. However, then they’ll get to level 2 and realize that aside from a color palette swap and slightly faster enemies, everything looks really familiar. Rinse and repeat for levels 3 and 4 (though secret passages to discover do add a little replay value) and you’ve got a game that’s kind of fun at first, but really dragging by the time you reach the end. I still think that Commando is a passable game, and it can be fun in moderation, but a lack of diversity in level design and enemies really hurt it in my opinion. Played on: NES Also known as: Senjou no Ookami (Japan)

Date added: 05/10/2020 Hustle Kings Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date December 22, 2009 (EU/AU) Developer VooFoo Studios Genre Sports - Billiards My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 69.30/100 I don’t really understand the appeal of Hustle Kings. Giving it a 6.5 out of 10, I’m a bit below the average reviewer in terms of score. My biggest gripe is the computer AI. On the easiest setting, the first game I played was me breaking the rack, then the computer taking over and literally hitting EVERY SINGLE SHOT. Yes, playing against the computer on easy, the only turn I got was my first turn, breaking. Other games against the computer weren’t THAT bad, but I never saw the computer AI miss more than two shots in a single game. I like a challenge, but the computer is genuinely a pool hustler, and that ain’t fun. I also have issues with the physics, the poor point of view, how some tables/arenas colors blend together so it’s not always easy seeing the pockets…I just don’t understand the appeal of this game. Like I said, my score seems to be in the minority, so plenty of people liked Hustle Kings…I just don’t happen to be one of them. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: Hustler King (Japan)

Date added: 07/22/2022 Deathrow: Underground Team Combat Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date October 18, 2002 (EU) Developer Southend Interactive Genre Sports - Other My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 70.15/100 Y'know…Deathrow is nothing like I thought it would be. I expected it to be a fighting game…and I guess part of it is to a degree. Deathrow is a made-up sport of the future where it's basically like hockey without states. You control a member of a team, and try to score goals on the opposing team. When you don't have the disc (like the ball in soccer or puck in hockey), you're free to pummel away at your opponents. The goal of the game is to either have the most number of goals scored by the end of the game or to injure enough players on the other team where they have to forfeit. I've never seen the second option work, though. I literally focused on a player from the start of a period, and stood there punching and kicking them until their energy bar was empty, then continued to punch and kick until the period was over…no injury. Maybe I had an option turned off in the settings, but it was head-scratching to me that the fellow wasn't at least taken out of that specific game with an empty health bar, injury or not. Anyway, if you're playing this game solo, it's honestly not that fun. The gameplay is kind of awkward…whether you're attempting to play it like a sports game or play it like a brawler, it doesn't excel at either genre. However, if you've got some extra controllers and some friends, you'll probably find some mild enjoyment here. All in all, I actually like the concept of Deathrow and I wish I could say better things about it…and it did seem to have a solid fanbase, despite its flaws…but I simply can't recommend this to anyone except sports game fanatics that just want to play a game about a fictional sport, and don't mind if it's just barely passable. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/22/2024 Teddy Boy Platform Sega Master System Initial Release Date October 20. 1985 (JP) Developer Sega Genre Platformer My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 60.97/100 I like Teddy Boy….but like a lot of early 8-bit games, developers hadn't heard of the phrase, "Less is more." While this game can be fun for a few levels, by the time you reach level 50, and the levels finally begin to loop again, you'll be singing the Teddy Boy Blues….which is probably why that's it's name in Japan. Anyway, in this game, your goal is to defeat all of the monsters in the level within the time limit, which appear out of giant dice that count down how many enemies remain inside. After defeating the monsters, they become miniaturized, according to the manual. You then need to make your way over and pick those miniaturized enemies. If you chose not to, or if you have difficulty making your way over to pick them up in a few seconds, then those miniature monsters turn into an "eyeball bug," again, according to the manual, and that bug will fly down to the timer at the bottom of the screen and take a bite out of it, reducing the amount of time you have left to clear the level. This can be frustrating…I have died having defeated all enemies, but when trying to pick up that last miniature monster, it turned into a bug and ate up the last of the timer. That frustration, and the repetition of the unique, but oddly similar 50 levels, puts a damper on an otherwise good game. The enemy variety keeps things interesting for a while, as different enemies require different strategies to defeat, and the actual gameplay is done well and feels nice and smooth. I genuinely enjoy Teddy Boy, but with its faults, I find it difficult to give it a better score than what you see here. If you think a simple platformer with run-and-gun gameplay sounds interesting, then I'd still recommend giving Teddy Boy a chance…it's a fun game to play for a few minutes to pass the time…I just don't think too many will stick around to complete all 50 levels…let alone the levels that loop afterward. Played on: Sega Master System Also known as: Teddy Boy Blues (Japan), Geraldinho (South America)

Date added: 09/02/2020 The Three Stooges Platform NES Initial Release Date October 1989 (NA) Developer Beam Software Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 63.49/100 Roughly a decade before Mario Party was released, the Three Stooges was essentially a single-player version of the same game, but with fewer mini games included. The goal is to raise enough money for an orphanage before the end of the month, with each turn taking a day. Basically, there’s a meter on the top of the screen. You need to press a button to get the meter to stop. If you wait too long, it’ll stop on its own, which in the later days of the month, will likely lead to an early game over. Depending on where you land, you may get free money, lose money, get closer to a game over screen, or be asked to play a mini game. The mini games are fairly fun…however, since there’s only a handful of mini game variations and 30 days to earn money, expect to play many of the games several times during a single playthrough. With a little more mini game variety, I would probably have ranked the Three Stooges quite a big higher. As it is, though, it’s still a passable experience, especially if you’re a big fan of the Stooges like I am. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/02/2020 Twisted Metal III Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date October 31, 1998 (NA) Developer 989 Studios Genre Action My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 67.14/100 It was a sad day when 989 Studios took over the Twisted Metal franchise. The quality began to go down with this game, number 3 in the series. While I appreciate and really enjoy the corny endings, getting there can feel like a chore with gameplay that felt like it went down the hopper at 989's command. The levels also feel bland and uninspired in comparison to the previous game and the AI seems more like it's cheap than smart. That's not to say that this game can't be fun - it can be, and it's probably the best game in the series that 989 Studios developed, but it was also a steep decline from the excellent, previous game in the series. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/24/2022 Captain Comic Platform NES Initial Release Date 1989 (NA) Developer Color Dreams Genre Platformer My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 62.03/100 Captain Comic, (or the Adventures of Captain Comic, according to the title screen) was the sole unlicensed NES game that I had growing up. I picked it up at a toy liquidation store (it may have even been called Toy Liquidation, I can't remember) and while it wasn't the best game in the world by any stretch of the imagination, it was better than I had expected it to be. I'd pop the game in on and off over the years, but was never actually able to beat it…though, to be fair, aside from when I first got it, I'm not entirely sure that I actually made much of an effort to beat it. Well, the effort was made for this list, and I'm glad to say that after a few decades, Captain Comic is a beaten game. For those of you who have never played it, the concept behind Captain Comic is that it's essentially an open-world game in that you wander around and try to locate specific items. To get said items, you'll need to also locate a few power-ups that will allow you to reach previously inaccessible areas, like boots that make you jump higher, for example. Collect all of the items and you've beaten the game. In terms of gameplay, it's not awful. The controls could have definitely been tweaked, and it's annoying when you're attempting to jump and the Captain decides to just walk into a pit instead. That said, Captain Comic is one of the better Color Dreams-published games..in fact, I'd go so far as to say that it is THE best that Color Dreams ever put out…which isn't saying much, I know, but it's a statement that I think most folks could agree with. It's probably not going to make anyone's "Top 10 NES Games" list, but if an exploration-based platformer sounds interesting to you, you may find something to like here. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/01/2021 Splatterhouse Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date November 23, 2010 (NA) Developer Namco Bandai Games Genre Action - Brawler My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 65.90/100 I had originally played Splatterhouse back when it was first released in 2010, but I never finished it. For whatever reason, I got stuck on one of the later levels and eventually moved on to other games and never got back to it. Oddly enough, attempting another playthrough now, to nab screenshots for this list, I had absolutely no issues getting past the area I had so much difficulty with before. Anyway, Splatterhouse was a decent effort to convert the 2D brawler franchise into three dimensions. Unfortunately, it still suffers from what a lot of brawlers suffer from – repetition. That’s not to say that Splatterhouse is bad. It’s not. It just may not be a game for everyone – specifically if you don’t have any nostalgia for the original games. But, if you were a fan, then you’ll likely enjoy splattering enemies all over the place in 3D just like you enjoyed it in 2D. Plus, as an added bonus, the original three games are available as unlockables. So, even if you’re a fan and find that the 3D gameplay isn’t to your liking, you can go back and play the classic trilogy and still feel like you’ve gotten your money’s worth. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/19/2022 Goat Simulator Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date August 11, 2015 (NA) Developer Coffee Stain Studios Genre Adventure My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 59.26/100 When I first saw Goat Simulator, I thought to myself, "This has got to be awful….I can't wait to play it." I wasn't disappointed. While Goat Simulator isn't a good example of what a good game is, it is an excellent example of what a so-bad-it's-good game is. Goat Simulator has everything that you see in a terrible game - awkward controls, glitches galore, it's a complete mess. But, Goat Simulator is also loaded with personality, and is so bizarre that you feel like you want to push through the poor aspects to see everything that there is to see. If you're like me, you'll lose a few hours, then think to yourself, "How in the world did I just lose track of time playing a game that's so broken?.....Oh, is that a jet pack that I can put on the goat?.....I guess I can play a little more." Based on the success of Goat Simulator, I think a lot of people felt the same way that I did. Get past the bad or broken aspects of the game, and you'll likely find yourself enjoying your time here. Whether it be discovering a castle inside a playground piece, headbutting a boulder down to stop a hillbilly from doing donuts in a field, or spending more time than you should trying to learn how to ride a bicycle as a goat, there's plenty to discover in this game to keep you coming back for more. As long as you don't go into this expecting a masterpiece, I think most folks will find at least a little enjoyment here. Played on: Playstation 4, PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/26/2020 Spelunker Platform NES Initial Release Date December 6, 1985 (JP) Developer TOSE Genre Platformer My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 61.23/100 Spelunker was always a game I both liked and got frustrated with whenever I played it. I enjoy the simplistic platforming that has you collecting keys and valuables as you make your way down the level. I don’t like how easy it is to die…not necessarily from obstacles, but because you were “too high” when you jumped from a rope to a platform…or because you hit left or right while on the rope, even when just slightly off the ground, and that also results in death. Maneuvering around the levels is challenging enough, but because the developers are sadists, they thought it would be nice to add in ghosts as well, so while you’re trying to avoid all the traps, you’ve got the angry spirits of those that died before you chasing you around too. When Spelunker was originally released in 1983, it was a pretty good game and one of the first platformers that wasn’t just a single screen for each level. However, by the time it released on the NES in North America in 1987, it was already showing its age. If you like platformers and want a challenge, you may grow fond of Spelunker like I have…but I imagine most folks will give up on Spelunker shortly after starting, unfortunately. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/15/2019 Panty Party Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date April 25, 2019 (NA/JP) Developer AnimuGame Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 55.33/100 If you a hear that a game is called Panty Party, you probably immediately think that it’s a game for perverts. Well, it’s actually not. Panty Party is one of the most bizarre games that I’ve ever played – and if anyone knows me, they know that the more bizarre a game is, the more I’m going to take notice of it. Panty Party is basically a deathmatch game where you are…a pair of panties…fighting other pairs of panties. You shoot, slash, and blow-up enemy panties on your way to victory. If you meet certain tasks in story mode, you’ll unlock more pairs of undergarments to battle with, each with their own abilities and skills. The battles with the underhanded underwear aren’t particularly spectacular, and the gameplay could definitely be tweaked a bit, but for what it is, this really isn’t a horrible game. If you gravitate towards bizarre games like I do, this is worth checking out. If you’re looking for a perverted experience, you won’t find it here - just a goofy premise and harmless entertainment. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/06/2019 Legends of Wrestling Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date May 27, 2002 (NA) Developer Acclaim Studios Salt Lake City Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 62.39/100 After losing the WWF license to THQ and after ECW went bankrupt, Acclaim was left without a wrestling promotion to make games for, so they decided to create a game with wrestling legends. They also opted to create a new style of gameplay rather than sticking with their WWF Warzone formula that had aged badly in a short period of time...Unfortunately, the new gameplay style still wasn't very good. In fact, the rest of the game (including the story mode where you travel the territories like in the old days) is well done, but it's the actual in-ring gameplay that holds this back from being a truly good, enjoyable experience. Also baffling is how it's a game about the Legends of Wrestling, but instead of being authentic, Acclaim opted to give everyone fancy schmancy new moves - moves that weren't even invented in the heyday of most grapplers in the game. If you're a big wrestling fan, there's enough here for you to appreciate the good and overlook the bad. For everyone else, this is probably a game that you should stay away from. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/23/2019 Grand Theft Auto Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date December 1997 (EU) Developer DMA Design Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 65.94/100 The first time I saw anything about Grand Theft Auto was when watching the news with my parents - this game was used as an example of the "continued use of violence in your children's video games." This, of course, was said despite the fact that video games had been getting a larger and larger adult audience around this time. I remember seeing a car do a burnout on a corpse and leave a bloody tire trail...and thinking, "that's neat...but how does it play?" I later found out and was underwhelmed. That's not to say that the original GTA is a bad game, but the awkward controls take a bit of time to get used to, and exploring the city isn't as fun as later games in the series would make it. Grand Theft Auto is a passable start in the franchise's history, but one you can probably skip unless you absolutely must see how the series got its start. Played on: Playstation, PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/21/2019 Mortal Kombat Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date September 13, 1993 (NA) Developer Probe Software Genre Fighting My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 69.65/100 Mortal Kombat is a classic example of a game that was considered good when it was released, but has not aged well. With that said, I wasn't a fan of the original Mortal Kombat, even as a youngster. I eventually grew to appreciate the game for what it is, a so-so fighter that doesn't really do enough good to make it a really great game, but also a game that set the groundwork for one of the most popular fighting game franchises of all-time. The sequel, which is better in just about every way, is what solidified that Mortal Kombat would be a mainstay in the fighting genre for years to come. Played on: Sega Genesis, Super NES, Arcade Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/22/2023 Ghoul School Platform NES Initial Release Date March 1992 (NA) Developer Imagineering Inc. Genre Adventure My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 63.56/100 On one hand, I really enjoy Ghoul School - it's essentially a Metroid-style adventure game that takes place inside a school over-run with ghoulish creatures. On the other hand, the controls and hit detection in this game can feel VERY rough at times, and as a result, it bogs the whole experience down. The story of the game is pretty ridiculous, as Spike, the "hero" of the game, finds a skull in a cemetery and does the reasonable thing and takes that skull home with him, and then to his high school the next day for anatomy class, The school's name, by the way, is Cool High. Anyway, the teacher, apparently not concerned with how a student got a human skull, asked to keep it to study. The skull then transforms the school into a haven for the undead. How does Spike get involved? Well, the school dance is coming up and he likes a lass that was kidnapped and last seem being dragged into the school. Even though the lass he likes already agreed to go to the dance with another lad, Spike decides to go rescue her anyway in hopes that he can ask her out….to the dance that won't happen as long as the ghouls are still populating Cool High. Anyway, like I mentioned at the start, the game plays a little like Metroid in that your goal is to wander around the school, checking classrooms and hallways to discover items that will eventually allow you to reach new areas or defeat otherwise difficult-to-dispatch enemies. Unfortunately, like I mentioned earlier, the poor hit rate and iffy controls do bog down a game that would otherwise be pretty solid. Not enough to completely ruin it, though. Ghoul School is still a passable action-adventure game, but it could have been better if it had just been tweaked a little more before release. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/13/2019 Bone: Out From Boneville Platform PC Initial Release Date September 15, 2005 (NA) Developer Telltale Games Genre Adventure My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 63.62/100 Telltale Games got plenty of attention after releasing the absolutely fantastic first season of the Walking Dead. Before creating 2012's potential game of the year, however, Telltale made several other point-and-click titles, like Bone: Out From Boneville. While not nearly as good as some of Telltale's other games, Out From Boneville is still solid and pretty nice to look at to boot. I think this game would be perfect for children, as I think most adults will be underwhelmed. That said, Telltale still did a good job of creating the world and characters that you see during this brief adventure. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/01/2021 Bram Stoker's Dracula Platform NES Initial Release Date September 1993 (NA) Developer Psygnosis Genre Platformer My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 59.72/100 Bram Stocker’s Dracula hit movie theatres and when it came time to make a video game adaptation, Psygnosis went with…a platformer? While it doesn’t necessarily work in regards to letting the player live out the movie in pixelated form, the game is still a passable platformer. I wouldn’t really say it’s beyond passable, in all honesty, though. Dracula is also one of those games that provides different difficulty levels but you can’t actually beat it unless you play the hardest difficulty level. And honestly, aside from the fact that there are extra levels with the higher the difficulty you choose, the gameplay itself between all of the difficulties is largely the same, with only minor differences from what I could tell. The game also hides the final boss, and with a time limit put on the level, if you’re unable to find it, you’re basically rewarded for getting to the end of the game by having to start over if you’re unable to find ol’ Dracula. I, myself, happened to find him with about ninety seconds left in the timer, on my last life, on complete accident. I don’t think I would have bothered starting over had I not come across ol’ Dracula much later. The final fight is also pretty easy in comparison to other aspects of the game. Anyway, Bram Stoker’s Dracula isn’t a terrible game, but if you want to play a platformer, you’ve got a LOT more choices that at much better than this game. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/22/2019 Dead in the Water Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date February 28, 1999 (NA) Developer Player 1 Genre Racing My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 60.77/100 Dead in the Water has been a game that I've always liked...but I've also always been frustrated by it. The game is basically split into two modes - racing and car combat. The car combat part is pretty fun and handles like Twisted Metal or Vigilante 8, but with water physics tossed in. The racing can be fun, too...but unfortunately, it also handles like Twisted Metal or Vigilante 8, which takes a while to get used to...and even when you are used to it, expect to find yourself getting stuck in corners at least once every other race. Anyway, while I think that the game is just merely passable, it does have enough personality that I wish a sequel had come along to (hopefully) improve upon what we have here to make something really enjoyable. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/05/2019 Robotrek Platform Super NES Initial Release Date July 8, 1994 (JP) Developer Quintet Genre RPG My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 67.61/100 I want to like Robotrek more than I actually do like it…Robotrek (known as Slap Stick in Japan, which should give you an idea of the tone of the game) has some charming characters and a pretty charming story which has made this a game that a lot of people that have played it think of fondly. Unfortunately, the combat is very boring…especially once you get the hang of how to adjust the stats of your robots correctly – you can become nearly unstoppable. Another downside is the lack of a need to explore – aside from a single side quest, there’s not really anything to find outside of the main story. This is probably fine to some, but folks that like to wander from the main story in RPGs may be a little disappointed. Overall, Robotrek is a very charming game that will likely endear itself to some, but I feel like most people won’t have the patience in the combat to see it through to the end. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Slap Stick (Japan)

Date added: 04/14/2019 Aqua GT Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date December 22, 2000 (EU) Developer EastPoint Genre Racing My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 59.06/100 Aqua GT is much better than I expected it to be, in all honesty. I saw that it never released anywhere outside of Europe on the Dreamcast, and no offense to any European readers, but that is not usually a good sign. But I played it anyway, and while it’s nowhere near the quality of Hydro Thunder, it isn’t horrible, either. Basically, in Aqua GT you race boats…and that’s about it. Nothing fancy, no frills, just plain ol’ racing on the water in boats….and unfortunately, that’s what hurts this game in the end. The racing itself is kind of underwhelming, but a few features and modes could have potentially made the game a little more bearable to play. Ultimately, the game is just short of passable, in my opinion, but I’ve played way worse than this as well. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2019 Super Bomberman R Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date March 3, 2017 (W) Developer Konami Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 64.19/100 I'm a Bomberman fan. Most recently, I absolutely loved Bomberman Ultra on the Playstation 3, so I was hoping for more of the same here from Super Bomberman R...Unfortunately, what I got was a major disappointment. Whether it be the weak online battles, the unlikeable levels, or the boring story mode, Super Bomberman R never made me feel like I was having any fun. Don't get me wrong, Super Bomberman R is a passable game...But with great games in the past like Saturn Bomberman and Bomberman Online...this just felt like a giant step backward in the Bomberman series in this fan’s eyes. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/29/2019 Yahtzee Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 2000 (NA) Developer Russell Babylon Genre Board My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 65.87/100 It's Yahtzee. You've played Yahtzee, right? Same thing here. The only difference is that there's a glitch where the left-most dice shows up as two dice when the game only registers it as one. Otherwise, it's the same basic deal...My only real question is why Atari never tried to put out a version of this themselves. It's simple, easy, and probably would have sold quite a bit if released in the late 70's/early 80's. Instead, it got created unofficially in 2000. Eh, at least we got it eventually, I suppose. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/09/2020 Battle Arena Toshinden Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date January 1, 1995 (JP) Developer Tamsoft Genre Fighting My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 67.95/100 Battle Arena Toshinden is a so-so fighting game. It was one of the first 3D fighters, so perfection shouldn't be expected, but with Virtua Fighter 2 already out in arcades about two months before this game had been released and with the bar set very high with that excellent game, Battle Arena Toshinden just pales in comparison and feels a bit disappointing. It's still a passable fighting game, mind you, and if you love fighting games, you’ll find some enjoyment here…but with better 3D fighting games available when it was released, and more available shortly after it was released, the first Toshinden game is also an easy 3D fighter to forget. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Toshinden (Japan)

Date added: 10/02/2019 Dynowarz: The Destruction of Spondylus Platform NES Initial Release Date April 1990 (NA) Developer Advance Communication Company Genre Action My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 57.87/100 Dynowarz isn't necessarily a difficult game...as long as you hit and run, you'll be fine. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, so to speak. Anyway, when you play through Dynowarz, the game will seemingly end abruptly. The final level is just like every other level, beating a mechanical dinosaur, then destroying the Mother Brain-like boss at the end of each level. No big boss fight to end the game in a bang...just the same formula to end the game in a wimper, unfortunately. I loved this game as a kid, rented it a bunch from the local video store, and I like to use it as an example of how childhood games can seem awesome as a kid, but when you get older and understand what makes a good game, it's not quite what you remember. Dynowarz isn’t the worst game I’ve played, but I’d also say that it’s just shy of being a passable one. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/22/2020 The Addams Family Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1994 (NA) Developer Ocean Genre Platformer My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 61.30/100 The Addams Family on Sega Genesis looks nicer, but plays worse and just feels like an overall inferior game to the Nintendo Entertainment System game of the same name. Aside from the fact that you control Gomez Addams, the games are actually very different. Where The NES Addams Family, released in 1992, felt like an adventure game with some platforming aspects, the Genesis Addams Family, released in 1994, feels more like a pure platformer. And despite what one might think a difficulty level might be coming from a movie-based game, likely aimed towards more casual players, it’s actually very difficult at times. I do appreciate the difficulty of the game, and some of the platforming can be fun…but I’ll repeat what I mentioned at the beginning – I just simply feel like it wasn’t as good as what we got a year earlier on the NES. It’s still okay if you like platformers, or the Addams Family, but most folks could probably pass on this. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/18/2023 Jawbreaker Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1982 (NA) Developer Tigervision Genre Tigervision My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 68.82/100 Honestly, Jawbreaker isn't a terrible game…it just feels like a poor clone of an excellent game. Like many video games of the early 80's, Jawbreaker is an attempt to emulate the success of Pac-Man, but by presenting a twist to the formula. In Jawbreaker, instead of having a maze-like stage to traverse in to collect pellets and power-ups, Jawbreaker's stages are pretty much just multiple levels with breaks in each level to allow you to move up and down in an effort to avoid the enemies on stage. The pellets here are supposed to be candy bars, and the enemies are "happy faces" because you should ALWAYS hate any happy face you see…what are those jerks smiling about anyway? Anyway, the gameplay itself is okay for what it is. It's not rotten or anything, it's just passable and not really anything more than that. If you're a fan of games similar to Pac-Man, then you may appreciate Jawbreaker for what it is. If Pac-Man isn't your cup of tea, then Jawbreaker probably won't be able to win you over, either. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/09/2022 Alien Storm Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date June 28, 1991 (NA) Developer Sega Genre Brawler My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 67.19/100 If you're looking at Alien Storm and trying to figure out what exactly the gameplay is like, then imagine Golden Axe, but with robots and aliens instead of dwarves and goblins. Sounds good, right? Well, what if I told you that while it seems to play similar to Golden Axe, it lacks absolutely any of the personality that made Golden Axe such a beloved title? Unfortunately, that's where Alien Storm struggles. While it's technically a decent brawler in the gameplay department, like Golden Axe, unfortunately Alien Storm lacks pretty heavily in the personality department...that's likely why Golden Axe is still fondly remembered today, yet Alien Storm is mostly forgotten about. If you're into brawlers, and don't mind a game having a bland personality as long as it plays decently, then Alien Storm may still be worth checking out. If you're looking for some personality to push you through the repetitive gameplay of your typical brawler, then you can probably pass. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/04/2021 Mario Sports Superstars Platform Nintendo 3DS Initial Release Date March 10, 2017 (EU) Developer Camelot Software Genre Sports My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 64.86/100 Mario Sports Superstars is a head-scratcher of a game…Basically, it’s five sports games in one…But two of the five sports games included already have their own series – Mario Golf and Mario Tennis…So including a bare-bones version of both games seems like a bit of an odd choice. The other three games are okay. Baseball is much like how the Mario Baseball games were – solid, but not enough content. Soccer is the same way, it’s fine for what it is, but there just isn’t enough content to keep you coming back for more. The last game, horse racing, is the weakest game in the bunch. It’s interesting because it’s a sport so different from the others, but it’s just not nearly as fun as the others…plus, there’s a lack of content to prevent it from being any more than what it is. Overall, Mario Sports Superstars is an okay game if you have OCD and you want a variety of bare-bones sports games in a single package to switch to on a whim. If you want substance to go with your sports, you’re better off looking elsewhere. Played on: Nintendo 3DS Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/30/2021 Captain Quazar Platform Panasonic 3DO Initial Release Date 1995 (NA) Developer 3DO Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 72.03/100 Captain Quazar is an okay shooter with a unique, isometric view that acts both as a nice, unique, visual experience as well as a frustrating-to-line-up-a-shot shooting fest. For its time it seemed to be fairly well-received, but I just simply could never really get into it. The main reason is that while there isn’t technically a lot of awful things here, there also isn’t a lot of good things. In fact there’s not really anything above par, in my opinion, aside from some pretty nifty cutscenes. Captain Quazar just does what it needs to do in order to be average and/or passable. There's not necessarily anything wrong with that, either. If you'd like to play a quirky little shooter with an isometric view, Captain Quazar isn't awful…just don’t expect the greatest game ever made. Played on: 3DO Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/02/2019 Highway 2000 Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date December 15, 1995 (JP) Developer Genki Genre Racing My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 67.13/100 Highway 2000 is an impressive-looking racer for the Saturn that tends to be a bit difficult…not necessarily because it’s meant to be, but because it takes a while to get used to the controls, and you’ll likely be crashing into walls pretty frequently until then. That said, you will gradually start to see yourself make more and more progress towards winning a race, which is kinda fun…But I can’t help but feel like most people will have given up on this game before that happens. Overall, Highway 2000 is a passable game, but if it played as well as it looked, it’d be quite a bit higher on this list. Played on: Saturn Also known as: Wangan Dead Heat (Japan)

Date added: 06/28/2022 Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date March 18, 2003 (NA) Developer Studio Gigante Genre Fighting My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 63.07/100 Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus is one of those games that I enjoy more than my score may suggest. In fact, I'd like to give it a higher score than I did…I just don't feel like I can raise the score and feel like I'm still giving it a deserving grade. I'm a fan of the ability to damage limbs (or have your limbs damaged) during the fight. I even like the "Quest" mode that was put in place of the traditional "Arcade" mode…but unfortunately, the combat itself sometimes feels like it leaves something to be desired. Tao Feng essentially plays like a crude version of the modern Mortal Kombat games…which I suppose makes sense since the box states that it's "from the co-creator of 'Mortal Komnat'"...it's playable, but it doesn't feel like you're playing a top-notch fighting game. It simply feels like you're playing a fighting game with interesting ideas thrown into a barely passable fighting engine. If you're a fighting game fanatic, you'll likely find something to like here like I did…Everyone else, though, is probably better off staying away from the Fist of the Lotus. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 American Dream Platform Ouya Initial Release Date June 28, 2013 (NA) Developer Terry Cavanagh Genre Strategy My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 60.53/100 American Dream is such a basic, stupid game…but I still played through until the end anyway. Then realized that I hadn’t bought any furniture or anything for my house, so played through again for a second time right afterward, just to see if anything changed. I’m glad I did. Anyway, I’m getting ahead of myself. In American Dream, your goal is to earn a million dollars on the stock market. Not a typical stock market, but a stock market where you invest in celebrities. By trading stocks, you can decide to invest that money back into the stock market or invest it into your home. It’s entirely possible to get to the end without investing in your house…but if you do so, you’re missing out on the insanity. Bibles that double as furniture catalogs to order from and key parties with very poorly-drawn renditions of what happened at said parties (where you’re always told what stocks would be soaring to new heights for the next week) are what’s in store for you. Because that’s the American Dream, I guess. But anyway, this game is okay but it’s honestly not that great, but it works for what it is and I was entertained enough by it to play through a few times, so I’ve bumped it up a bit on this list to reflect that. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/16/2021 Bad Dudes Platform NES Initial Release Date July 14, 1989 (JP) Developer Data East Genre Brawler My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 59.22/100 I feel like a comma should be inserted between the words of the title of this game because it's Bad, Dudes. With poor collision detection, choppy graphics and movements, and just overall poor gameplay, I really should be scoring this lower than I did. The redeeming quality of Bad Dudes is that it's almost like a B-movie - so bad that it's good. The corny and downright bad aspects of the game can sometimes be charming and enhance the experience as a result. Is Bad Dudes the best game ever made? Not even close...but its charm does make it a passable experience for anyone looking for a good brawler to play. Played on: NES Also known as: Dragon Ninja (Japan), Bad Dudes vs. Dragon Ninja (Europe)

Date added: 06/29/2020 Regular Human Basketball Platform PC Initial Release Date August 1, 2018 (NA) Developer Powerhoof Genre Sports - Basketball My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 65.44/100 In Regular Human Basketball, you play as…regular humans, I suppose? As the match starts, a giant basketball drops from the ceiling. You then take control of your regular human and run away from the ball, towards your giant robot dressed up like a basketball player. Once inside the robot, you jump around and hit the switches to control the movements and such of the robot in an effort to grab ahold of the giant ball and put it in the hoop on the opposite end of the court. Everything is pretty awkward, but since this is a two-player game only (as of this writing, anyway) the awkward aspects actually help make it a fun, goofy experience to play when you’ve got a friend over. You can play online as well…but there’s just something better about physically being in the same room and laughing along with someone struggling just as much as you are. Ultimately, I did find my experience here fun, and the more I got used to how to control the robots, the less awkward it felt…but with a lack of modes and such, I have a difficult time placing it any higher on this list. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/14/2019 WWF Super Wrestlemania Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1992 (NA) Developer Sculptured Software Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 64.43/100 WWF Super Wrestlemania may share the same name as the SNES version of Super Wrestlemania, but it's a different and better game. The Genesis version has exclusive wrestlers like Papa Shango, Ultimate Warrior, and the British Bulldog, as well as finishing moves for each wrestler, something sorely lacking in the SNES version. Unfortunately, like the Super NES game of the same name, all of the wrestlers have the exact same move set (aside from their finisher) which makes this get old pretty quickly. The gameplay is still extremely basic, and lock-ups basically come down to mashing buttons, but if you're a wrestling fan, like I am, then you'll likely have fun here regardless. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/21/2019 Heavy Metal Geomatrix Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date July 12, 2001 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 62.88/100 The first time I played Heavy Metal Geomatrix, I was a bit disappointed…actually, that’s an understatement. I hated this game. As I've played it on and off over the years, I've come to appreciate it a bit more. Basically, think 3D fighting similar to (but not nearly as good as) Power Stone, but throw in a lot of guns, explosions, and handicap matches you've pretty much got this game. Aside from the basic combat, there is also Chaosmatrix mode, which is basically a bunch of missions to complete, but it’s not all that addicting or fun to be honest. If you’re looking for something different in your fighting games, Heavy Metal Geomatrix may be worth checking out, but I think most folks that play this will quickly move on to one of the Dreamcast’s many other, better fighters. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/27/2019 Revenge of the Beefsteak Tomatoes Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer 20th Century Fox Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 63.29/100 Revenge of the Beefsteak Tomatoes, I guess, was 20th Century Fox's attempt to cash in on Attack of the Killer Tomatoes...maybe? I know sequels to the Killer Tomato film were put out by 20th Century Fox, so maybe they just hadn't obtained the license to use the name yet. If they did have the license, why Beefsteak instead of Killer? Maybe 20th Century Fox were predicting some sort of bovine gang of murderers that were going to terrorize the country. I dunno. I do know, however, this this is a decent little action game that could be better, but is still decent for what it is. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/14/2019 ECW Hardcore Revolution Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date February 29, 2000 (NA) Developer Acclaim Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 46.53/100 ECW Hardcore Revolution came right off the heels of Acclaim's success with WWF Attitude. After losing the WWF license to THQ, Acclaim picked up the rights to ECW. Rather than attempt something new, Acclaim stuck with the same formula that they used in their WWF games, which was fine in previous years, but it was already showing signs of aging poorly by the year 2000, when Hardcore Revolution came out. With THQ's great, smooth-playing WWF games on both the Playstation and Nintendo 64, Acclaim's wrestling engine felt dated, clunky, and overly-complicated. Hardcore Revolution suffered greatly from this. Hardcore Revolution isn't an abomination or anything, but even with the ECW coat of paint, it was a case of just more of the same if you'd already played WWF Warzone and WWF Attitude. If you're an ECW nut, this may be worth picking up, otherwise there are better wrestling options on the Dreamcast. Played on: Dreamcast, Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/14/2020 Dinner Date Platform PC Initial Release Date November 17, 2010 (NA) Developer Stout Games Genre Adventure My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 59.97/100 Dinner Date is a game that's more like a somewhat interactive short story than anything else. It's well done to a point...But there really isn't much interactive stuff to do, and you're basically left just moving your head to look at stuff as you listen to the paranoia build of the character that you control. I think it's an interesting game, but there's not enough here to justify playing it again after your initial 20-minute playthrough has completed. It's a decent one-time-play game, I suppose, especially for people (like me) that enjoy games that are not the norm, but I can’t imagine that anyone would go bonkers for this title. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/24/2019 18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date October 12, 2000 (JP) Developer CRI Genre Racing My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 63.14/100 18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker is kind of like the not-as-fun love child of OutRun and Crazy Taxi. It plays like a not-as-fun OutRun and it has the presentation of a not-as-fun Crazy Taxi. Basically, you drive a semi-truck, hauling various things like vehicles, logs, or just a trailer, and you need to not only make it to checkpoints before time runs out, but also try to beat rival semi drivers to the finish line while you plow into special vehicles that give you bonus time. It sounds exciting…but unfortunately, it’s pretty slow-paced racing and the novelty wears off fairly quickly. The game also features bonus rounds of exciting action like…parking. But anyway, there is some fun to be had with 18 Wheeler…unfortunately, the fun only lasts about as many minutes as the trucks in this game have wheels. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/15/2019 Lifeless Planet Platform PC Initial Release Date March 6, 2014 (NA) Developer Stage 2 Studios Genre Adventure My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 63.05/100 I was really looking forward to playing Lifeless Planet...and while I still think that it's a passable game, I did walk away from playing it disappointed. The concept is neat and all, but there was far too little exploration for my tastes...especially considering that the game takes place on a mysterious planet. It's also a tad too long - for the last hour or so I was thinking that I just wanted to finish this and be done. Lastly, the controls can be frustrating when platforming - and the animations get a little jerky at times, which doesn't help much, either. That said, this is still an interesting game and while I got bored with the gameplay after a while, there are plenty of different areas to traverse, so I never got bored with the scenery. It's not a masterpiece by any means, but it's still passable and might be worth looking into if the idea of an adventure game with some platforming elements interests you. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/04/2019 Gyromite Platform NES Initial Release Date August 13, 1985 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 66.15/100 The Nintendo Entertainment System quickly resurrected the video game market with some high-quality games with some innovations (like the light gun and later the power pad) mixed in. Gyromite is a game that makes use of one of those innovations – R.O.B. the Robot. R.O.B. the Robot was a peripheral that has become fairly well-known due to the Smash Bros. franchise, but for years it was a forgotten piece of Nintendo history…mainly because aside from Gyromite and one other game (Stack Up) R.O.B. is not compatible with any other game. Anyway, using R.O.B. can be challenging in Gyromite…R.O.B. can move in a sluggish manner, which can add some challenge to the game…but if you get annoyed by your obscure, robotic partner, you can always plug another controller into the second port and either do R.O.B.’s job yourself or have a friend do the work for you for some decent multi-player action. All in all, Gyromite is a passable game with two different modes to play, and the options to play alone, with a robot, or with a friend. Gyromite may be mostly forgotten, but folks that give it a chance may be pleasantly surprised. Played on: NES Also known as: Robot Gyro

Date added: 10/31/2020 Babysitter Bloodbath Platform PC Initial Release Date December 2013 (NA) Developer Pig Farmer Games Genre Adventure My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 50.80/100 Babysitter Bloodbath was the first game (I think) from Puppet Combo (known as Pig Farmer Games back then) and it was originally going to be a video game adaptation of Halloween. Copyrights and such put an end to that, but the game largely remains similar to what it was supposed to be, just with new characters and models. It’s a pretty rough game around the edges, in particular, using a mouse and keyboard for the 90’s survival horror tank control scheme just doesn’t feel right. I got comfortable enough with it to wander around the house, but that’s about it. Built-in controller support would have been nice, but using a program to map keyboard keys to a controller can help make up for that if this sounds like a worthwhile game to you. The game is very short – maybe 30-60 minutes at most, but it’s an okay rookie effort and it helped set the stage for other, better horror titles that have been released by Puppet Combo since. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/06/2024 Bulls versus Blazers and the NBA Playoffs Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date February 1993 (NA) Developer Electronic Arts Genre Sports - Basketball My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 69.15/100 Focusing on the 1992 season, this EA-published game of hoops once again allows players to play as the sixteen teams that made it to the NBA playoffs…and once again left out fans of any teams that failed to make the cut. This game didn't feel like a vast improvement on anything from Bulls vs. Lakers…but it does have minor tweaks and adjustments to the gameplay to make things play, feel, and look smoother. They did also include some unique shot animations for certain players, like Michael Jordan, to help make the stars of the league at the time really feel like stars. Fans of basketball history can probably find some enjoyment here, but for everyone else, especially fans who missed out on being able to play as their local team for the previous few EA basketball games, it may be best to skip these games and head right to the NBA Live franchise instead. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: NBA Playoffs: Bulls vs Blazers (Japan)

Date added: 07/11/2022 Rival Schools: United by Fate Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date July 30, 1998 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 74.63/100 Originally, I was going to give Rival Schools a single entry on this list…but while I was writing up the description for the game, I wound up convincing myself that it should actually split into two. So, this entry Is for the first Disc of Rival Schools, which is essentially a direct port of the arcade version of the game, with a few tweaks added due to it being on a console. As a fighting game, it's simply okay. It's not really anything to go out of your way to play unless you absolutely love Capcom fighting games and feel like you absolutely want to play every single one released. The combat isn't nearly as smooth as other Capcom fighters, which hurts it a bit, but it does have some interesting aspects to the gameplay. A big one is that you pick a team of two fighters, but unlike most team-based fighters, you can only swap between fighters after each round. However, during the fight, you can do special double-team moves where your second fighter makes an appearance to help with a big move to do extra damage. It's an okay game as a novelty, but as I said earlier, unless you're a Cacom fighting game fanatic, you can probably pass on this game. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Shiritsu Justice Gakuen: Legion of Heroes (Japan)

Date added: 04/21/2020 Burn Zombie Burn Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date March 26, 2009 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Doublesix Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 70.75/100 Burn Zombie Burn is an odd game…it seems like it should naturally be a twin-stick shooter…but instead it’s a single-stick shooter, and it suffers as a result. Basically, your goal is to run around and shoot at stuff. The problem is that you can only fire in the direction that you’re facing. When you’re surrounded by swarms of zombies, the ability to stand in one place and fire your weapon in 360 degrees would be nice. But anyway, once you get past the odd design choice, Burn Zombie Burn is a mildly fun 3rd-person shooter. It’s not great, but if you’re bored and want to kill (pun intended) a few minutes, Burn Zombie Burn will likely do the trick. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/01/2020 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fall of the Foot Clan Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date August 3, 1990 (JP) Developer Konami Genre Brawler My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 68.82/100 Fall of the Foot Clan was the first Game Boy game for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. It’s passable...I suppose I should write more than that, eh? Fall of the Foot Clan is basically a side-scrolling brawler…and while it’s passable, it’s not necessarily a very good one. The level backgrounds mostly stay interesting, the graphics look pretty good for the most part…but the gameplay gets stale very quickly. It’s kind of like the NES classic Kung Fu, but with some minor platforming and such involved…but for the most part, it’s press the attack button in front of you and press the attack button behind you to eliminate the enemies from both directions. The levels are also longer than in Kung Fu, so the simplistic combat gets tedious a bit faster. That said, Fall of the Foot Clan is still a passable game. If you’re a fan of the Turtles and/or don’t mind some repetitious gameplay, you may find at least something to enjoy here. Played on: Game Boy Also known as: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Japan), Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles: Fall of the Foot Clan (Europe)

Date added: 08/03/2024 Beavis & Butt-head Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1994 (NA) Developer Radical Entertainment Genre Adventure My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 69.00/100 This honestly wasn't as bad as I was expecting it to be. Beavis & Butt-head is a cartoon that first appeared in the 90's, that caused parents to be in an uproar because their children were attempting some of the stuff they saw on the show…because these parents were not doing their parenting job and teaching their children what to do and what not to do….the easy solution is to blame everyone else (like cartoons and video games) and not make any attempt to adjust your behavior so history can repeat itself. Anyway, that little rant out of the way, eventually the cartoon made its way to video game form. The Genesis version of the game is essentially a point-and-click adventure game without the pointing and clicking. The story is that the two pals got tickets for a Gwar concert, but the tickets were chewed up in a lawnmower and the pieces were spread all over town. Your goal is to roam around the neighborhood in an attempt to recover your ticket pieces, tape them together, and attend the concert…or if you have extra patience, make it on stage during the concert. The key word is patience - without it, you will not last long in this game. Eliminating enemies takes patience. Figuring out where the ticket pieces are and how to get them takes patience. Reading this review probably also requires patience….and since I don't have much space left, I'll wrap it up. If an action-based point-and-click-style adventure game sounds fun to you, then give Beavis & Butt-head a shot. It's not perfect, but you may find yourself enjoying it like I did. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/10/2022 Demolition Herby Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer Telesys Genre Action My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 69.80/100 Alright. Telesys wins the award for the greatest name of a video game ever made. Unfortunately, while the gameplay isn't awful, it's not as award-worthy as its name. Basically, Demolition Herby is a variation of the gameplay found in Qix. Instead of making your own shapes while avoiding enemies, you're simply just following the roads, with the goal of covering all four roads around a patch of land covered in what I imagine to be blue grass. So, the game takes place in Kentucky, I assume. But anyway, if you're able to cover all four corners of the road with red, then the blue grass turns black. So, I'm guessing that you set the roads on fire, and the grass gets burned to the ground. Your goal is to turn all the grass black while avoiding other vehicles traversing the same roads as you, putting out the fires that you leave behind. Aside from the fact that you can crash into cars, and that there's a movie called Herbie, about a talking car, the title doesn't really match the gameplay…unless it's a demonic car driving on its own, demolishing all plantlife in its path?....Well, what do you know, I made it make sense. Anyway, this is a passable Atari 2600 game, but there are better choices on the console to pass the time. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/24/2020 Among the Sleep Platform PC Initial Release Date May 29, 2014 (NA) Developer Krillbite Studio Genre Adventure My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 64.25/100 Among the Sleep looked amazing to me when I saw the previews...it looked like an interesting new take on survival horror – playing as a toddler. Now, while I enjoyed Among the Sleep and I think that it's passable for what it is, I also feel like it could have been so much more. The only time that I really felt any sort of unease in the game was in the opening moments when I opened the present and found nothing inside...and I thought for sure that the teddy bear was going to kill me, I had nowhere to hide, and controlling a small child, had no way to defend myself...But shortly after that, most sense of danger went away for the remainder of the game, aside from a few moments here and there at the end. Due to that, the game felt like it was dragging a bit at times. I’m glad I played through Among the Sleep, but I’m not sure if I’d go back and play it again. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/21/2019 Malibu Bikini Volleyball Platform Atari Lynx Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Atari Genre Sports - Volleyball My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 57.33/100 BMalibu Bikini Volleyball is basically what it says it is…a volleyball game with bikini-clad ladies (and dudes in swimming trunks and baseball hats)…and that’s about it. This is a no-frills volleyball game. You’re basically just moving around, bumping and spiking the ball…and that’s about it. Score 15 points and you win…then the screen changes to a “Winners” screen, where the beach folk pose during a sunset. A screen that I was annoyingly unable to exit without resetting the system. Anyway, Malibu Bikini Volleyball is a passable volleyball game for what it is…but nothing more than that. Played on: Lynx Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/22/2021 Shadow Madness Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date April 30, 1999 (NA) Developer Crave Genre RPG My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 64.76/100 Shadow Madness receives unfair criticism from people who write it off as terrible due to its graphics or claim that it tries to be Final Fantasy VII due to a mildly similar art style - which at no point in the game would one make the comparison between those two games, beyond the somewhat-similar battle character design, had they actually played it. That said, it's a passable, decent RPG with its share of faults (like having to swap disks repeatedly) but it has plenty of personality to help overcome some of those faults. I don’t think that anyone will ever claim that Shadow Madness is the greatest RPG ever made, but I’m sure that the quirkiness of the game’s humor will likely make up for the shortcomings for many that play it. If you're not a fan of RPGs, this isn't a game that will turn you into one...But if you like RPGs, you'll probably wind up finding something to enjoy here. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/12/2023 8 Eyes Platform NES Initial Release Date September 27, 1988 (JP) Developer Thinking Rabbit Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 60.81/100 8 Eyes can be a pretty difficult game, but a few years ago I sat down and made myself get good enough at it where I could beat it. After spending several hours with this game, I grew to appreciate it much more than I had prior to putting so much time into it, but I still don't find it to be more than simply passable. 8 Eyes is one of those hit-and-run games, where you can't just stand toe-to-toe with most enemies, you've got to hit, back off, and then hit again otherwise you'll find yourself pushing up daisies very quickly...Which can lead to some tedious, boring gameplay. But, the ability (and necessity) to use a falcon to attack and open switches does add some fun to the experience…and since the falcon can be killed, it adds some strategy to when and where to use your feathered friend so that you've got him handy when you need him. Anyway, 8 Eyes isn't horrible, but in my opinion, it's also just an eyelash (pun intended) away from being something really good. For what it is, it's simply passable. Played on: NES Also known as: 8 Eye's (Japan)

Date added: 10/21/2022 Ghost Manor Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer Xonox Genre Action My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 64.11/100 Ghost Manor, at first glance seems like a pretty awful, pointless game. The first screen (of five, which was pretty impressive on the Atari 2600 back in 1983) has you controlling either a boy or a girl in a graveyard with a ghost or a skeleton roaming around. One would imagine that the goal would be to avoid the creepy creatures, but nope. In this screen, you want to run right into them to score points. Walk into them enough and you're moved onto the next screen, where if you use the same tactic, you'll be dead quickly and starting from the beginning. On the second screen, you're basically playing a 3rd-person shooter, shooting at the various enemies on the screen while trying to avoid a crazed, murderous mummy who happens to be swinging an axe at you. From there, you'll advance on and eventually battle ol' Dracula. Ghost Manor isn't a bad game at all, but the difficulty (you only have one life, then it's game over) may be a turn-off for some, especially on the more difficult settings. While having five screens is a nice novelty, as well, I feel like if most of the screens had been eliminated and they focused more on the 3rd-person shooter screen that you find yourself in after the graveyard, then you'd have an excellent game on your hands. Still, if you want a solid horror game on the Atari 2600 with some nice technical aspects, then Ghost Manor is a pretty solid choice. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/28/2019 Simple 2000 Series Vol. 101: The Oneechanpon: The Oneechan 2 Special Edition Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date June 29, 2006 (JP) Developer Tamsoft Genre Brawler My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 60.40/100 In an effort to create the game with the longest name on this list (not really, but it makes this list sound important), Tamsoft released the fourth game in the Onechanbara series as Simple 2000 Series Vol. 101: The Oneechanpon: The Oneechan 2 Special Edition. It's essentially the same game as Oneechanbara 2, but with more characters added in to join in on the fun. There's not enough new content or improvements here for me to justify raising the score any higher than I did, but the extra stuff added to the still-passable game makes it the game to pick if you want to import some B-movie, zombie hack-n-slash action for your Playstation 2. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: Zombie Hunters 2 (EU)

Date added: 10/26/2019 I Love Softball Platform NES Initial Release Date December 19, 1989 (JP) Developer Marionette Genre Sports - Softball My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 67.28/100 I Love Softball: The Japanese Famicom game that prominently features the rear-end of a Japanese woman in short shorts on the cover. It makes you wonder if the developer, Marionette, really loved softball or if they just loved the outfits that Japanese women apparently wear when playing the sport. But anyway, I Love Softball is your standard baseball game - nothing more, nothing less. Aside from the way that a softball is thrown, which generally results in way more balls being thrown than strikes in this game, the only things that make it stand out is that this is an all-female sports game and the anus-focused cover I mentioned at the beginning of this paragraph. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/23/2019 Acid Drop Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1992 (EU) Developer Salu Genre Puzzle My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 60.33/100 Acid Drop is one of the many puzzle games that appeared after the massive success of Tetris. The big difference between Acid Drop and all of those other puzzle games is that Acid Drop was on the Atari 2600...in 1992…about 10 years after the popularity of that system had hit its peak. Acid Drop is pretty much mostly like Columns in that you've got blocks of multiple colors and your goal is to match-up three of each color. It’s actually a very solid Atari 2600 game…unfortunately, as a result of being released on the Atari 2600 (especially since it was released in the 90’s and only in Europe) not too many have experienced it...or even heard of it, for that matter. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/25/2019 The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date September 30, 2005 (EU) Developer TOSE Genre Brawler My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 64.93/100 If Oogie’s Revenge had been released before God of War instead of several months after, it might have been received a bit better…Unfortunately, since it has similar gameplay, but completely inferior, it comes across as a passable (but not more than that) God of War clone that uses a movie license to get attention. If you’re obsessed with the Nightmare Before Christmas movie, then you’ve still got a passable game here and you’ll likely love the fact that this follows the events of the movie, giving you a new story with the characters you love. If you’re not obsessed with the film, so can still do worse than playing this game…the problem is that you can also do a whole lot better. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 EnbornX Platform Ouya Initial Release Date July 23, 2013 (NA) Developer Lantansia Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 70.53/100 First-off, this game is called EnbornX…but the “cover art” makes it look like EndornX. Despite the cover art appearance, when I highlight this game on the Ouya, it comes up as EnbornX and when looking up its information, all of that came up under that title, too. Maybe whoever designed the art didn’t get the memo? Anyway, I want to call EnbornX a scrolling shooter…but it’s not, really. Instead of the typical scrolling shooter where you blast your way through hordes of enemies to get to a boss as the end of the level, this game just put you right into the boss fight, with each level being a different boss. The game itself is incredibly easy. Even when the screen looks like a typical bullet hell game, it’s usually not too hard to avoid death – specifically, I found that much of the time I found that if I found a bullet-free spot, I could sit there for most of the battle, not move, and hold down the fire button to slowly make my way to victory. That said, EnbornX is still decent. If you’re a fan of scrolling shooters but just want to cut right to the boss fights and forget all the hoopla beforehand, this may be a game that you appreciate. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/18/2019 Duke Nukem Platform PC Initial Release Date July 1, 1991 (NA) Developer 3d Realms Genre Platformer My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 70.64/100 Duke Nukem’s (or "Nukum" as the PC-Sig published box art calls him) video game debut wasn’t really like how most folks know the edgy character now. It wasn’t in a 1st-person shooter setting and Mr. Nukem didn’t even have a potty mouth…it was just an average platformer with a pretty generic-looking good guy. That’s not to say that the original Duke Nukem was bad – it wasn’t by any means. However, back in 1991, if you looked at just about any popular platformer found on a console, it was leaps and bounds better than this game. Still, Duke Nukem had enough charm to it that a sequel was made…and another….and another. There are better platformers out there than Duke Nukem, but you could do a whole lot worse than play this to kill some time. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/02/2020 Asphalt 9: Legends Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date October 8, 2019 (NA/EU) Developer Gameloft Genre Racing My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 67.79/100 Asphalt 9: Legends is, as of this writing, the latest game in the Asphalt franchise. The Asphalt games, for those who have never played one, are generally stunning graphically, and are usually fun short-term, but lack much substance to really keep you coming back for more. This game is no exception to that rule. Available on the Switch for free (like many smart phone games, it has in-game purchases that you can make), Asphalt 9 is an okay game to download if you want some arcade-style racing every now and then without you having to spend a dime. However, this isn’t exactly a deep racing game and the main thing to remember is that this is free-to-play. In other words, don’t be surprised if levels suddenly get too difficult to win in without upgrading your cars. If you don’t have the supplies to upgrade them, your options are to grind races until you’re bored, or throw money at the game to possibly get what you need. Some racing fanatics may love this game…I liked it enough to spend a few days playing it, but I never felt like I enjoyed it enough where I felt like I would have been willing to pay for the game. If you want a free game to pass time, Asphalt 9 does the trick, but there are better racers available if you really want to zoom around a racetrack on the go. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/24/2020 Attack of the Mutant Penguins Platform Atari Jaguar Initial Release Date December 20, 1995 (EU) Developer Sunrise Games Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 66.88/100 With a name like Attack of the Mutant Penguins, I wanted it to be the greatest video game ever made, but I expected it to be one of the worst. In reality, it’s more in the middle – a passable game with some personality to it, but repetitious gameplay that can get rather boring as the game goes on. With a goal of bludgeoning aliens that have taken the form of penguins (because they picked up Earth’s television signals, but could only tune into a wildlife program and they thought that penguins were its inhabitants, thus the reason for disguising themselves as them…true story, the back of the game’s box says so) with bats and pans, or setting them ablaze with other weaponry the game would be a bit more fun if there was more variety to everything involved. Instead, the formula of opening up chests to spell out your weapon (bat or pan) in order to start whoopin’ penguin hiney, then whoopin’ said penguin hiney once the word is spelled, gets old kinda quickly. I’m oversimplifying it in my description here, as there’s a tad more to the gameplay, but that’s the gist of it. Attack of the Mutant Penguins is a passable game, but not much more…which sadly enough, still makes it one of the better Jaguar titles. Played on: Jaguar Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/28/2022 Evil Dead: The Game Platform Sony Playstation 5 Initial Release Date May 13, 2022 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Saber Interactive Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 66.07/100 Since I'm a huge fan of the films, when I saw that a new Evil Dead game coming out, I was thrilled….and then I saw that it was a multiplayer game and much of my excitement disappeared. With a title like Evil Dead: The Game, I was hoping for a video game version of the original film…or even better, all three films together with a little story between each movie to tie it all in together. Instead, Evil Dead: The Game provides players with team-based exploration and combat in an effort to collect the Necronomicon and banish the evil in the stage. While I was disappointed by the concept, I'll admit that I still found myself playing this game much longer than I had initially planned after starting. I did NOT, however, play this game online…and it seems like the only way for trophies to pop are for you to play online. Playing with and against AI participants does not count, it seems. And not just for trophies, but it also doesn't seem to count towards experience to level up the playable characters. Despite those annoyances, the combat doesn't feel right. In fact, it can be downright annoying at times. The same can be said about the camera, truthfully. Despite those flaws, and my disappointment in the direction of the game, I did still enjoy my time here to a degree. I would have enjoyed it much more if there were more single player options and if single player was treated as more than a simple area to "train yourself" to compete online against people….without the ability to gain experience to train your characters while you train yourself, to boot. With its flaws noted, I'd consider Evil Dead: The Game passable, but absolutely nothing more than that. If you're into online multiplayer stuff, you'll likely dig it a bit more than I did. Played on: Playstation 5 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/04/2023 The Convenience Store Platform PC Initial Release Date February 18, 2020 (NA) Developer Chilla's Art Genre Adventure My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 66.78/100 I want to like the Convenience Store more than I actually enjoyed it when playing. Now, I'm all for slow-paced, atmospheric games. I also like games where there is no combat - just wander around, solve puzzles, and watch the story unfold. I sometimes look for games specifically with those qualities…and toss in an element of horror and I'm definitely on board. The Convenience Store, though, to me was a tad too slow and the horror element within lacked the ability to make me uneasy, let alone scare me. I found myself making Mystery Science Theater 3000-like jokes while I wandered around the small town and convenience store - especially towards the end. Still, I like the concept of the game, and despite the fact that I was somewhat disappointed with my experience, I still found the Convenience Store to still be passable and it has made me interested in the developer to see what other creations have come from his mind. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/09/2022 Athletic World Platform NES Initial Release Date November 12, 1986 (JP) Developer Human Entertainment Genre Fitness My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 62.60/100 Athletic World is yet another Bandai-published Power Pad game…but it’s also the first one that was made for the 'Pad…and honestly, it shows. Titled Family Trainer: Athletic World in Japan, this is the first game in the Family Trainer series, which includes several Japan-exclusive titles as well as a few games that got published out here in the West, like World Class Track Meet/Stadium Events, Dance Aerobics, and Super Team Games. With this being the first game in the series, it’s not awful, but every other game in the Family Trainer series that was released in North America surpasses it. Athletic World has some traditional track and field races, like hurdles, but the real fun is in some of the more obscure races, like the Animal Trail where your goal is to not just run in place, but to also position your character on screen as needed to avoid the animals that run along the track with you. Another favorite of mine is the Dark Tunnel, which looks like a pyramid with a few steep hills to run up, where you need to really pick up the pace if you want to make it up without tumbling back down. Overall, Athletic World is a passable rookie effort, but unless you’re looking to collect every Power Pad game released in the West, you’re probably better off getting one of the other, better games for that peripheral. Played on: NES Also known as: Family Trainer: Athletic World (Japan)

Date added: 07/12/2020 Germinator Platform Playstation Vita Initial Release Date March 5, 2013 (NA) Developer Creat Studios Genre Puzzle My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 63.15/100 Are you one of those people that love the Bust-A-Move (aka Puzzle Bobble) games, but have been waiting for them to really change up the formula a bit? Well, then give Germinator a try. The gameplay is similar to Bust-A-Move with you firing germs instead of bubbles in an attempt to match stuff up, but Germinator is more than just a Bust-A-Move clone. By shooting the same colored germ at a germ on the screen, the germs combine as one and grow. If other same-colored germs on the screen happen to touch the germ as it grows, they'll be absorbed into it as well, causing the germ to get bigger and bigger...Potentially, you could will the entire screen with a single germ if the situation allows it. It's not perfect, but it's still a solid puzzle game that Bust-A-Move fans longing for something new will likely appreciate. Played on: Playstation Vita Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/21/2021 Wolfchild Platform Sega CD Initial Release Date January 18, 1993 (NA) Developer Core Design Ltd. Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 66.13/100 Wolfchild is one of those games where I first play it and think, “This could actually be pretty good.” And after playing a little bit, I continue to believe it...But then I sit myself down to attempt to beat it, and while it’s not technically a bad game, per se, I find myself just wanting for it to be over. Wolfchild has a neat concept of being a jacked-up fellow that punches people and monsters, but when he powers up enough, he becomes a werewolf-type guy that can shoot various types of fireballs at enemies. As you can imagine, in later stages, you can basically be dead in the water if you lose the ability to fire projectiles, but as long as you’re patient and keep the ability to shoot from afar, Wolfchild isn’t an impossible task to overcome. Unfortunately, as I mentioned initially, it does get very boring. I feel like Core Design decided to amp up the difficulty in an attempt to hide how boring the game becomes in later levels. If you’re trying really hard not to die, maybe you won’t notice that each level is essentially the same thing just with different visuals and different bosses at the end. But anyway, for what it is, it’s passable. It’s not a poor game, but it’s not really a good one, either. Played on: Sega CD, Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/29/2021 D+Pad Hero Platform NES Initial Release Date 2009 (W) Developer Kent Hansen & Andreas Pedersen Genre Music My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 68.13/100 D+Pad Hero is an attempt to bring the fun and enjoyment of the Guitar Hero games to the NES…but without a guitar peripheral. It technically succeeds at what it tries to do, but it does take quite a bit of getting used to as the gameplay just doesn’t feel natural at first. If you’ve ever played games like Dance Dance Revolution with a controller instead of the dance pad, you’ll see that those games, while not as fun with a controller, still feel somewhat natural with how the controller gameplay was set up. D+Pad Hero just feels odd to me, but you do get used to it if you play long enough. Basically, you need to hit the prompts that appear on screen. They’ll be up, down, left, or right and they’ll go over the A and B buttons. Your task is to hold the direction on the d-pad of the arrow while hitting the button that the arrow floats over at the same time. Again, you’ll get used to it over time, but as simple as it seems, it won’t be a pick-up-and-play game for most folks, they’ll need to practice. D+Pad Hero did an okay job transferring this style of music game to 8 bits…but they learned from this game and improved on just about everything found here in the sequel. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/21/2021 Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy City Platform Super NES Initial Release Date November 1994 (NA) Developer Electronic Arts Genre Platformer My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 64.38/100 I honestly thought that Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy City would be much, much worse than it actually is. It’s honestly a passable game…not a great game, mind you, but passable. In Chaos in the Windy City, you play as Michael Jordan who traverses levels throwing various types of basketballs at an assortment of enemies, solving very minor puzzles, and shooting hoops…because basketball hoops mysteriously decorate the levels. I suppose having basketball hoops is pretty chaotic – it really is chaos in the Windy City. Anyway, if you’re looking for a different kind of platformer, this game may be worth checking out. It’s not anywhere near the quality of, say, Super Mario World, but it’ll probably hold your attention anyway if you’re a fan of the genre. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/15/2023 Amazing Katamari Damacy Platform Android Initial Release Date August 19, 2016 (AU) Developer Bandai Namco Games Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 68.33/100 Amazing Katamari Damacy is one of those "run" mobile games, where the Prince is rolling his ball, constantly running, and your goal is to roll up the small objects while avoiding big objects and other hazards. It's not terrible in itself, and I'm always happy to have something Katamari-related to play on my phone, but the whole running game concept, in my opinion, gets old rather quickly. There are things to unlock and do here to add a little to the replayability of the game, but it wasn't enough to keep me coming back until I returned to it recently to review it for this list. On a positive note, this game IS offline. So, if you're looking for a game to play while sitting on an airplane and have no access to an internet connection, Amazing Katamari Damacy will play just fine. Plus, the novelty of rolling up objects does add another layer of strategy to a genre that is usually just "run and avoid objects." Anyway, despite it feeling a bit repetitive, the gameplay itself is smooth and controls well, so if you're a fan of the running-style games that are all over the mobile game market, then Amazing Katamari Damacy may be a game that you find a lot of enjoyment in. If you're a fan of the Katamari series, you may find some mild enjoyment here, but I think you'll ultimately be like me and wish that you were playing a real Katamari game instead of this one. And please note: this game has been removed from the Google Play store, so if you want to play it and don't already have it installed on your phone, you'll need to acquire it by other means. Played on: Android Also known as: Amazing Katamari Damacy: Endless Cosmic Roller (Australia)

Date added: 10/28/2021 No One Lives Under the Lighthouse Platform PC Initial Release Date April 21, 2020 (NA) Developer Sowoke Entertainment Bureau Genre Adventure My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 62.54/100 No One Lives Under the Lighthouse is both a game that I see some nice positives in, but it's also a game with seemingly an equal number of negatives. I like the Playstation One-era graphics and the art style. I like some of the storytelling. I don’t like that it feels like a glorified tower defense game at times...a genre that I really don’t like at all. Basically, your goal is to get the light tower working each night. Between each successful time of turning the light tower on, you wake up and have to figure out what will be needed for when night falls and you have to get it working again. The tower defense feeling comes from feeling like I need to keep the light tower running while avoiding the deadly creatures that the light is supposed to repel. Ultimately, I stopped playing this after about an hour and haven’t bothered to go back to finish it. Maybe one day I’ll go back and try to make it all the way through again, and if my thoughts and feelings on the game change, I will adjust its placement accordingly on this list, if needed. But for now, I think it’s a so-so game that some may like, but it’s just not my cup of tea. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/07/2022 Castlevania: The Adventure Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date October 27, 1989 (JP) Developer Konami Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 64.53/100 I'm sure if you've followed this list since I first started it a few years ago, or if you've scanned near the top of this list before reading this entry, you'll see that I'm generally a fan of the Castlevania series. If it has "Castlevania" in the name, I'm probably going to enjoy it. That said, Castlevania: The Adventure is probably one of the games in the franchise that I've played that I like the least. That's not to say that this is a bad game, per se, but it's not really anything better than "average." It does an okay job of bringing the classic Castlevania formula to the handheld, and it looks like Castlevania, but it lacks much of the quality…specifically, in the gameplay department. The first level is pretty dull and the last level isn't as difficult as it is unforgiving and frustrating, with some platforming that requires pinpoint accuracy with the penalty of death if you fail. If you manage to get through the awful platforming, you're rewarded with a sub-par final boss battle with Dracula that is underwhelming and extremely easy when compared to the platforming that you had to conquer to get there. While this isn't a terrible game, I still wouldn't really recommend it to anyone except die-hard Castlevania fans that want to play absolutely every game in the franchise…and even then, you may not really enjoy it much when you compare it to other games in the series. Played on: Game Boy Also known as: Dracula Densetsu (Japan)

Date added: 02/28/2021 Pizza Delivery Boy Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date March 18, 2010 (NA) Developer Attractive Games Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 58.31/100 I honestly expected Pizza Delivery Boy to be MUCH worse than it actually is. Actually, let me rephrase that – half of the game is just as bad as I thought it would be and the other half has a charming “bad, but still fun” quality to it. Basically, your job in Pizza Delivery Boy is to make pizzas…but in an awful memory-based way. You see a picture of the pizza, then you’re expected to make the pizza, putting specific toppings in the EXACT spots on the pizza that you saw on the screen before you started. I have a bad memory as it is, but having to pour tomato sauce and sprinkle cheese on the pizza before trying to remember where a dang mushroom was supposed to be placed on the pizza was very annoying. I did get better with each pizza, but that still didn’t make it fun. When you finish making the pizzas, that’s where the fun begins – cruising around town and delivering pizzas. Delivering pizzas is like crazy taxi; bring the pizzas to the green pillars that you see before the timer runs out. On days that you’re not working for the pizza place, you’re able to freely roam around the town, plowing into things and just having fun, before eventually taking on mini-missions for townsfolk, like delivering groceries. Overall, Pizza Delivery Boy was a surprising game that has become a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine for the Wii – it’s not a great game, but it can be fun in small doses. Played on: Wii Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2023 Night at the Gates of Hell Platform PC Initial Release Date September 14, 2022 (NA) Developer Black Eyed Priest Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 71.71/100 I genuinely enjoy the small group of developers that go out of their way to create cheesy horror games. The end result isn't always what I'd personally like, but I generally enjoy them all the same. Night at the Gates of Hell is one of those games that I enjoyed, but I likely would have enjoyed it more if it wasn't a first-person shooter. Let's start with what I like, though. The characters and parts of the story are absolutely absurd. From the hokey opening chapter to the creepy might-be-a-child Charles that still breast feeds, there's so many bizarre, absurd parts of the game that I can't help but enjoy it. I also like how many different environments that there are here - many of these Playstation One-era horror inspired games have this many areas to play in, so it's a little bit of a novelty. The downside, in my opinion, and like I mentioned, is the first-person shooter gameplay. Like one would imagine in a game full of zombies, you can only kill zombies with headshots. The problem is that even when it appears that I've aimed the gun perfectly at their head, it doesn't guarantee that you'll land the shot. I think the developers realized this, so they created a system where you can pick up knives as you explore. If a zombie grabs you, and you have a knife, then you stab the zombie in the ear, they die, and you survive. So if you fire a few rounds and fail to dispose of the zombie coming at you, as long as you have a knife in your inventory, you're still safe. Because of the awkward firing mechanics, the final chapter, which is surviving a few waves of zombies flooding in, was a bit of a groaner. Complaints aside, the positives outweighed the negatives for me. There are plenty of other, similar games that I like better, but Night at the Gates of Hell was still charming enough to me to enjoy it all the same. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/03/2022 Kangaroo Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer Atari Genre Platformer My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 74.13/100 Kangaroo seems to be Atari's attempt to create a Donkey Kong clone. Basically, in Kangaroo, you play as a mother kangaroo (hence the name, apparently) who needs to climb and jump her way up to the top of the stage where her little joey is waiting to be rescued. During her ascent to the top of the screen, the mother kangaroo will need to avoid obstacles like what I think are bullets(?) that move horizontally across the top of the screen, then drop straight down towards you as soon as you pass under them. Also, there are what I think are monkeys that populate the screen, and throw stuff at you. Unlike in Donkey Kong, though, you can fight back at will - no need to locate a hammer to attack. So, if you get close enough to one of those little primates, you can punch 'em in the face and knock them out. Overall, this isn't an awful clone…and I kinda wish they would have called this Kongaroo instead due to the similarities, but it's nowhere near the quality of game that Nintendo's ape stars in. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/25/2022 Totaled! Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date July 29, 2002 (NA) Developer Rage Software Genre Racing My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 61.48/100 Totaled! is one of those games where you enjoy it, you continue to play it, but at the same time, you know it could be so much better than what it is. Basically, this is a game where you're mostly competing in demolition derbies, with a different goal to shoot for in each level. One stage may be a simple demolition derby where the last one standing wins. The other may be a timed derby where the person with the most wrecks at the end of the time limit wins. This game shines during the more traditional demo derby events. Unfortunately, there are also other events where the goal is to make your way through checkpoints and finish a number of laps in time or you're in a stage with only one other competitor and you need to wreck them within a time limit….these stages, while not necessarily bad concepts, really highlight the negatives of the game, like the poor controls and odd collision physics…if you go sideways into anything, wall, car, strut, be prepared to be stuck to it like glue for a few seconds before you're able to break free. While you'll be stuck like glue to cars in a regular demolition derby as well, the chaos of the event helps hide it a little better…especially when other cars may plow into you, detaching you from where you were stuck. When you're stalking a single car and need to wreck them within a time limit, it gets very frustrating when you miss plowing into them, rub against a wall, and spend the next 5-10 seconds backing away from the wall so you can continue your pursuit. Anyway, even with its flaws, when Totaled! shines, it's a very fun game. Unfortunately, other parts of the game will likely make you want to turn off your Xbox and move onto something else. Played on: Xbox Also known as: Crash (Europe)

Date added: 08/01/2022 Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid Platform Playstation 4 Initial Release Date April 2, 2019 (NA) Developer nWay Genre Fighting My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 67.06/100 I'm not really a Power Rangers fan…I don't dislike them…but I just never really got into it. That being said, I had absolutely no idea what was going on in this game story-wise. I'm assuming that all of the characters here are well-known by Power Rangers fans, but as an outsider looking in, I was completely lost with this story. I didn't know why there were multiple Rangers, and I couldn't tell if one set of Rangers were evil or if they were just like an alternate version of the originals and this was some sort of parallel dimension deal…but I'm assuming that Power Ranger fans will likely be MUCH less lost than me with the story. Anyway, when you're not watching the story unfold, you're playing a fairly basic fighting game. While not necessarily a bad game, Battle for the Grid can become infuriating at times when the computer decides to just randomly juggle you to death. I eventually groaned during the story mode when I realized that I had to battle certain characters because I knew I was in for a juggle-fest. I also don't get the questionable decision to have you control characters in story mode that are going to lose. I was one my way to getting a perfect victory over a guy, then before I can land the final blow, the fight cuts out and the cut scene says that I can't beat them? Well yeah, if the opponent has the ability to end the fight with a cut scene whenever they want, I guess I can't technically beat them. Why not have us control the guy who "can't be beat" so the narrative makes a little more sense, eh? Anyway, despite my gripes, this is still a decent game. I imagine that Power Ranger fans will probably really like what is offered here, while the rest of us may be able to get an hour or two of enjoyment out of the game before we move onto something else. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/26/2020 The Addams Family Platform NES Initial Release Date January 1992 (NA) Developer Ocean Genre Platformer My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 64.14/100 I don’t think I ever gave the Addams Family on the NES a fair chance. In fact, even when I revisited it for this list, I fully expected it to find a place on the back end here. Even as I initially played, I kinda groaned. Then I played it some more and I actually grew to appreciate the game for what it is – it’s a platformer with adventure game elements tossed in. Essentially, instead of the game divided into “levels,” the game itself is one giant level, with certain areas blocked off until you collect items or fulfill requirements like rescuing family members. It also encourages players to pick up absolutely every item they find, as you need at least one million dollars to reach the end of the game, and you can’t get that without picking up nearly every valuable in and around the mansion. It’s not the greatest game of all-time mind you, but playing through it is a fun, decent experience. The Genesis would see an Addams Family game a few years later that looked prettier and had a much higher focus on platforming, but in my opinion, this version is the best version of a game titled as “The Addams Family” that I’ve happened to play. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/07/2020 Saw Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date October 6, 2009 (NA) Developer Zombie Studios Genre Adventure My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 61.17/100 Saw is a game based on the movies with the same name. It’s not an awful horror game, but it’s also not exactly a good one. Revisiting it for this list to remind myself of the gameplay, I didn’t necessarily dislike the hour or two that I spent revisiting it, but I also didn’t feel the need to play it through to the end again. The mini games can be mildly fun, and the atmosphere of the game is done fairly well…but it’s a game that all but the most hardcore Saw fans will play once, and then move on to something better. It’s passable for what it is, it’s a decent game based off of a movie license, but that’s about all I can really say about it. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/26/2020 Spelunker HD Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date March 26, 2009 (JP) Developer Tozai Games Genre Platformer My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 64.87/100 Spelunker HD is kinda hard for me to score…on one hand, I appreciate the very retro gameplay. On the other hand, it’s extremely annoying when you die 2 seconds into your first play because you tried to walk off of the lift onto a platform, but not jumping over the tiny gap that you’d imagine you could step over caused you to die. Likewise, jumping from a ladder to the ground, if you’re too high up, you’re dead. Get pooped on by a bat? Death. Halfway across the screen from a bomb explosion? Too close. Death. I appreciate that they made the game similar to the original Spelunker, but when there’s nearly a 30-year gap between the original and this game, that’s a lot of progress that’s been made in how video games are made, SOME of it could have been put into the gameplay. Once you get used to it all, the game can be fun…but even then, it feels like it could be so much better if they had refined it all a bit more rather than simply duplicating what was popular back in 1983 and adding multiplayer. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: Minna de Spelunker (Japan)

Date added: 07/20/2020 WWE Tap Mania Platform Android Initial Release Date April 20, 2017 (NA) Developer Sega Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 70.50/100 I usually try to re-play games before adding them to this list, but unfortunately, that’s no longer possible for WWE Tap Mania. While the app is still on my phone, the game’s servers have shut down, so there’s no way to connect and revisit it. So, with that out of the way, please bear with me as unlike other, similar games on this list, I’ve never actually written about it in the past…so all I have to go by is my poor memory. Anyway, WWE Tap Mania was the WWE version of those “idle tapper” games where you could basically do something else and tap your fingers on the phone screen to aid the computer, who was doing most of the work for you. Tap Mania was better than most of those types of games that I’ve played, as there was actually some strategy here, and while you can definitely let the game play itself, should you decide that you wanted to pay attention to the game, there was enough here to keep you occupied. Collecting a “stable” of wrestlers to fight along side you was fun if you’re a wrestling fan and while this was FAR from the greatest game of all-time, it was a decent little game to play on the go…in other words, well-suited for a smart phone format. Played on: Android Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/28/2020 World of Tennis: Roaring 20s Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date June 30, 2020 (NA/EU) Developer Helium9 Games Genre Sports - Tennis My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 60.57/100 When I first played World of Tennis: Roaring 20s, I fully expected it to be absolutely terrible…But I was looking forward to it anyway because I’m fascinated by the world back in the early 1900’s and earlier. That said, this isn’t a great game by any means, but it’s also not awful. The gameplay is so-so. It’s not Virtua Tennis by any stretch of the imagination in terms of quality, but if you’re a tennis fanatic, you’ll probably find something to enjoy here. If you’re looking for an old-timey feel, you probably won’t find a fun to like here, unfortunately. There isn’t much about this game to make you feel like it takes place roughly one hundred years ago. While I welcome the diversity in the characters, let’s face it – one hundred years ago, that diversity just wouldn’t be allowed at most country clubs. So, while it’s definitely nice to see, it further pulls you away from believing that you’re playing as someone from the 1920’s. That said, this is a free-to-play game, so I’m complaining about stuff that didn’t cost me a dime. There are in-game purchases available, but none are required to play the game. Overall, the Roaring 20’s feels more like a whimper, but with it being free, if you have the space on your Switch, and a mild enjoyment of tennis, you may enjoy this game more than you might think. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: Tennis 1920s

Date added: 03/15/2024 Shove It!...The Warehouse Game Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date January 30, 1990 (JP) Developer NCS Genre Puzzle My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 70.08/100 Shove It! is a game in the Soukoban franchise…and despite most folks in North American never hearing of the franchise before, we've actually gotten a few games in the series ported over here in the west…though, they generally had different names. Shove It! was the name of this one…because the Genesis had attitude, brother. Anyway, the concept of Shove It! is that you work in a warehouse and you've got to shove boxes into specific locations…and there's 160 levels of box-pushing. The end goal is to save up enough money to buy a fancy car to impress some shallow, money-hungry chick…and it's likely that a car is needed because the fellow pushing the boxes is named Stevedore. I can't imagine someone named Stevedore could get an attractive lady without the help of a fancy car…more likely, Stevedore will end up with a lady named Glennifer if you don't push those boxes, mister. And for those wondering, stevedore is actually a word that means a person employed to load and unload cargo from ships. His parents must have been psychic to name him that, considering the job he would later have. Anyway, I mentioned earlier that there's 160 levels…you don't need to play them all to beat the game. You've got 10 levels on each stage, and you can select any of the 10 levels to play. I found that if I started on the 8th level on each stage, by the time I completed the 10th level, I'd be moving on to the next stage. Still, though, even only playing through 20-30 levels to reach the ending, I was getting pretty bored by the time I saw Stevedore in his fancy car. That's not to say that this game is bad…I just found it to be tedious after a while. Still, if you're a fan of action-based puzzle games, you may find enjoyment in Shove It! If you're like me, you'll enjoy it for a little while, then feel like you'd rather be doing something else. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: Shijou Saidai no Soukoban (Japan)

Date added: 12/25/2023 Father Christmas Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date December 8, 1995 (JP) Developer Gaga Genre Trivia My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 63.40/100 I'm not sure if I've ever really seen an edutainment game based around Christmas…well, except for this game, Father Christmas. It's based off of the book of the same name with Raymond Briggs…which later got a cartoon based off of the story (included on the disc, which you can watch in its entirety, though in Japanese)…and then eventually got this Japanese-exclusive video game based off of it. The game mostly involves geography lessons by looking at letters mailed to Santa from his missing dog and cat, and trying to determine where they came from. Find the correct location enough times (I didn't keep track - maybe 15-20 times?) then Santa gets reunited with his furry friends. The game is almost entirely in Japanese, so unless you've got an understanding of the language, or got Google Translate handy on your phone, finding Santa's pets can be a bit difficult - not impossible, though. Pictures are included in the letters, so if you recognize where the image may come from, you can head in that direction on the globe. Find the correct location, and you'll have another postcard to analyze and find where it came from. There's plenty of locations and the postcards are random, so if you enjoy geography trivia, this can keep you occupied for a while. Anyway, Father Christmas is an okay edutainment game that's less about the holiday season and more about the fact that the jolly, ol' pudgy guy can travel the world with his flying reindeer, making him a good focus for geography questions. Still, the Father Christmas cartoon being included is a nice touch, so it's not a total loss if you've got a copy and want to use it to gain some holiday cheer. Played on: Saturn Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/11/2023 Robocop 3 Platform NES Initial Release Date August 1992 (NA) Developer Probe Entertainment Genre Action My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 64.72/100 The first two Robocop games on the NES were okay, but they weren't great by any means. Robocop 3 is, in my opinion, the best of the bunch, but it also fails to be great. It does have some good ideas and gameplay elements added in, though. Introducing the ability to shoot diagonally, also new are the inclusion of multiple health bars, with each one for a different part of Robocop's body. The neat thing about these health bars is that if one of your health bars drop far enough, it will have an effect on Robocop. If Robocop's legs take too much damage, then Robocop will have trouble moving. If Robocop's arms get damaged, then his aiming is affected. This game also includes some gadgets to obtain, like the jetpack seen in the movie…and while it's neat to include that jetpack, it's essentially useless in this game and feels like it was just tossed in so that it would be there rather than because they had an actual purpose for it being there. Overall, though, Robocop 3 likely won't end up on anyone's "greatest games of all-time" list, but it's still the best of the 8-bit Robocop trilogy on the NES, in my opinion. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/03/2022 Remothered: Broken Porcelain Platform Playstation 4 Initial Release Date October 13, 2020 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Stormind Games Genre Adventure My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 58.93/100 Y'know, I really liked Remothered: Tormented Fathers. It wasn't perfect, but I enjoyed the twisted story that it presented. As a result, I was really looking forward to when I'd have time to sit down and play the sequel, Broken Porcelain…and while I wouldn't necessarily say that I'm disappointed in Broken Porcelain, I definitely did not enjoy it as much as I had enjoyed Tormented Fathers. Much of Broken Porcelain takes place before the events in Tormented Fathers, explaining even more of the backstory and attempting to make everything even more twisted…but that's kind of the problem. I felt like Tormented Fathers was a pretty good story with twisted stuff sprinkled in. Broken Porcelain, to me, felt like it was more about making things twisted, and attempting to tell a story between it all. Gameplay-wise, Broken Porcelain is essentially a game of hide and seek, like Tormented Fathers was, but with more tricks at your disposal to distract enemies so you can sneak past them without being noticed. So, if you've played the first game, you'll pretty much know what to expect. Broken Porcelain honestly is not a bad game, though I've only played after the game was patched. I heard that it was absolutely littered with bugs at launch. But, I enjoyed my time playing it. I'll likely play it again. However, despite some minor gameplay tweaks and features added, I feel like this was a step back from Tormented Fathers. Still, if you liked the original, you'll probably find enough to like here to make playing through worthwhile. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/30/2021 International Track and Field Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date May 31, 1996 (JP) Developer TKCET Genre Sports - Olympics My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 74.98/100 Like most track and field games, if you plan on playing International Track & Field, expect your fingers to go numb from mashing buttons...and some of the events are kind of unforgiving, so you might meet some frustrations to go along with the eventual carpal tunnel that you’ll likely get along the way. But when playing with a friend or two, this can actually be very fun. Unfortunately, when playing solo, you might find yourself wondering why you're sitting in a room mashing buttons when you could be playing something that won't potentially break your controller from the button-mashing abuse. Likewise, if you live with your parents, wrap yourself with a blanket on a cold winter’s day, and your parents walk in and see you playing this, it may look like you’re doing something that you may go blind from. But still, this is a pretty enjoyable game in the genre and worth giving a shot if you happen to find a copy. If you’re not a fan of the button-mashing gameplay of most track and field games, though, you likely won’t find a whole lot to enjoy here. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Hyper Olympics in Atlanta (Japan)

Date added: 08/03/2022 Ultimate Fighter Platform Super NES Initial Release Date July 31, 1992 (JP) Developer Culture Brain Genre Brawler My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 65.26/100 I got Ultimate Fighter from the Wind Lake Street Fair when I was a young'un - an event that happened once a year in our little village where one, long road next to the highway that passed through our village essentially became a flea market. It was something I looked forward to every year, though I rarely had the funds to purchase what I wanted. It was there that I first saw Ultimate Fighter, being sold, for cheap, by a video rental store that had rented out a space in the fair to clear out old games and movies to make room for new stuff in their store. I picked it up, and despite some flaws, I grew to really enjoy it. For those not in the know, which I wasn't when I bought it, Ultimate Fighter is actually the sequel to Flying Warriors on the NES, and it's basically a unique brawler with multiple modes. The main mode is your standard brawler, but with two differences. First, with most brawlers, you have a bit of room above and below you to walk around and maneuver. Not Ultimate Fighter. In this game, it's a straight line. There's not really any room for avoiding attacks except for backing way from the enemy or ducking/jumping away from certain attacks. The second different part of the main mode are the boss fights - all boss fights, and there are several in each level, turn into a one-on-one fighting game with mildly awkward combat. If you find yourself struggling with that mode, you can try animation mode - which is the same game and same story, but all standard enemies go down with much less of a fight, and you have the option to let the computer take control for the boss fight so you can sit back and watch, or you can battle against the boss in turn-based combat similar to what you'd find in an RPG. If you've got a friend, you can also battle against them in one-on-one combat in another mode, using most of the characters found within the game. While the gameplay definitely could have been tweaked to make things better, for what it is, Ultimate Fighter is passable, and all of the extra modes are a nice little bonus. If you'd like to play a unique brawler, and don't mind working with controls that aren't necessarily smooth or tight, then you'll probably find something to like here like I did. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Hiryu no Ken S: Golden Fighter (Japan)

Date added: 10/16/2019 Friday the 13th: The Game Platform PC Initial Release Date May 25, 2017 (NA) Developer IIIFonic Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 61.72/100 Friday the 13th: The Game can be both fun and frustrating. It’s fun because it’s basically a deadly, deathmatch game of hide and seek with you taking the role of Jason, the seeker, or the camp counselors, the hiders. It’s good fun stalking the counselors or trying to find effective hiding spots to flee from Jason. The frustrating aspects come from the bugs. This game can be extremely buggy. In the single-player mode, I’ve had a few times where I had to quit the game because a counselor froze when trying to hide under a bed, making them impossible to kill. The bugs don’t end there either, you can find plenty of bugs from the multiplayer games when you do a simple Google search. Thankfully, IIIFonic has fixed some of the issues with patches…but as of this writing, several glitches still remain. Still, even with the glitches, the game is still mostly fun. If the developers had spent more time tweaking everything and polishing it up a bit, it could have been so much better. Played on: PC, Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/15/2019 WWE 2K15 Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date November 18, 2014 (NA) Developer Yuke's Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 57.74/100 WWE 2K15 would have likely been touted as the greatest wrestling game ever made by critics...if it was released ten years prior to its initial release date. Unfortunately, after years of building up the creation and customization options, about two thirds of it had all been removed in WWE 2K15. Considering that much of the fun of modern wrestling games involves all of the customizing you can do, that's a pretty big blow. The gameplay itself has been mildly improved, but not nearly enough to justify the removal of the gameplay aspects that the majority of the game's fanbase wants and enjoys. WWE 2K15 is still passable, but fans are much better off sticking with pretty much any other game before or since in the franchise instead. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/22/2019 Amagon Platform NES Initial Release Date December 2, 1988 (JP) Developer Aicom Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 60.07/100 Amagon is a decent action game that is, well, just bizarre. The majority of the game, you're some army dude with a gun and a limited number of bullets. What happens if you run out of bullets? Well, you use the gun as a melee weapon, of course. But that’s not bizarre. The bizarre aspect is when you collect a certain power-up and then hit the Select button. The military fellow transforms into some bodybuilder that uppercuts anything and everything in sight. It's an odd title, and a playable title, but repetition kind of hurts it in the long run. If the levels were more varied, I think it would've gone a long way towards making this a pretty good game instead of simply a passable one. Still, you can definitely do worse if you’re looking for an action game to play on the NES. Played on: NES Also known as: Totsuzen! Macho Man (Japan)

Date added: 07/13/2020 Retro City Rampage Platform Playstation Vita Initial Release Date October 9, 2012 (NA) Developer Vblank Entertainment Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 71.47/100 Retro City Rampage is kind of a tough game to rate for me. It's a playable title, but some of the gameplay, like shooting with a gun, isn't exactly polished. That said, all of the nostalgia and references to stuff from the 80's, will likely be enough of a reason for a lot of "80's kids" to keep playing in order to see what pops up next. It's also mildly fun, like the first two Grand Theft Auto titles, to just wander around in a vehicle with no real objective in mind. Adding it all together, I think it's a worthwhile game to play, even with its just-passable game design…but if you don't have a nostalgia for the 80's, you may not enjoy the game quite as much as I do. Played on: Playstation Vita Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/04/2021 Tom and Jerry in War of the Whiskers Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date January 4, 2003 (NA) Developer VIS Entertainment Genre Fighting My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 66.21/100 As a former animation student who preferred to work in the hand-drawn style, and liked to create the mayhem found in cartoons like Looney Tunes and Tom & Jerry, War of the Whiskers is a game that I want to like. I like the environments and how interactive they all can be. I like the art direction of the game – it often looks like you’re playing a cartoon fight. I like more than I thought I would, honestly…this isn’t a horrible fighting game. Unfortunately, while I like it more than I thought I would, I also don’t like it as much as I want to. The character selection increases as you play the game, but unless you’re a Tom & Jerry nut, many of the unlockable characters will be underwhelming. Maybe I’m just bitter because Droopy, one of my all-time favorite cartoon characters, and another MGM cartoon character like Tom & Jerry, isn’t in the game. Granted, there aren’t a ton of MGM cartoon characters that everyone would recognize, but it still would have been nice to see. Gripes aside, this is a so-so fighting game. It’s not bad by any means, but I can’t imagine that anyone would pass up Street Fighter to play this, either. If you’ve ever wanted to control some of the mayhem in a Tom & Jerry cartoon, however, then War of the Whiskers is worth checking out. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/24/2022 Venus Senki Platform NES Initial Release Date October 14, 1989 (JP) Developer Human Entertainment Genre Strategy My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 66.85/100 I wish I could praise Venus Senki more than I'm about to…I like to praise innovative games that try something different. In this case, Venus Sennki mixes the turn-based strategy of a game like Military Madness with 3rd-person rail shooter gameplay of a game like 3-D World Runner, and little bits of top-down shooter gameplay tossed in for good measure. Initially, this combination is fun….but boy, does this game drag as you get further into it. Basically, the majority of the game is a turn-based strategy game like Military Madness or Advance Wars - move your military forces on the grid while your opponent does the same. When the units get close enough, you may begin combat. Combat will either be a little cinematic scene at the bottom of the screen, or you may be taken to a 3rd-person rail shooter level where you're riding a bike and shooting at enemies both in the air and on the ground. The shooter areas are typically easy, which does not help matters when things begin to drag later on. Eventually, you'll come across what I'd consider boss fights, and when you battle them, you'll switch to a top-down shooter for those. Overall, I like the ideas here - switching to a shooter stage for some of the battles makes you feel like the battle is more about skill than luck, for example. But unfortunately, there just isn't enough here to prevent repetition from creeping in after a while. I guess that this game is based off of an anime, so if you're a fan of that anime, you may like this a bit more. Likewise, if you're a turn-based strategy fanatic, then you'll likely enjoy yourself here. I think just about everyone else will have had their fill after just a few battles. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/06/2024 Super Godzilla Platform Super NES Initial Release Date December 22, 1993 (JP) Developer Advance Communication Company Genre Action My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 67.94/100 Super Godzilla is an odd game. On one hand, I really want to praise it and tell everyone that it's worth playing….on the other hand, there are aspects of the game that make it hard for me to recommend it to anyone other than fans of the Godzilla films. I'll start with the positives. Super Godzilla is a unique game where you're basically focused mostly on the grid at the bottom of the screen. Your goal is to find your target and/or discover how to pinpoint where they are and how to take them down. You can get hints by stepping on certain spots, or you can obtain energy. Likewise, by stepping on certain spots, you my wind up walking into a building, demolishing the building and reducing Godzilla's health. At the end of the level, you'll battle an opponent in a one-on-one 2D fight. The goal of the fight is to hit your opponent while your gauge is full, then back off and stop the slot machine-like power wheel on the power that you want to use. If they hit you while that wheel is spinning, you've lost your chance to use that power and you'll have to try again….so it's a lot of hitting and moving. Eventually, you'll encounter random battles as you move around the grid…but I honestly found it a whole lot easier to simply walk Godzilla right into them to end the battles quickly. Godzilla takes damage doing it this way, but you usually have plenty of opportunities to heal up before you need to battle a more formidable foe. The combat, while unique, is one of the flaws in this game…the fighting is clunky and simply feels like a chore. Movement on the grid takes getting used to as well - you'll likely walk into a few buildings on accident by the end of the game simply because you pressed a directional button too soon, turning Godzilla before you meant to. Traversing the grid can be very tedious as well. It would be nice if someone could teach Godzilla how to run. Still, though, even with its flaws, Super Godzilla feels like a passable game due to how unique it is. I feel like if this game concept was tweaked a bit and improved upon, it could have been a really good game….but for what it is, Godzilla fans may enjoy their time here…but I doubt that too many others will. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Chou-Godzilla (Japan)

Date added: 01/22/2022 Klax Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date August 10, 1990 (JP) Developer Tengen Genre Puzzle My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 74.70/100 Klax is a unique 3D puzzle game that Tengen pretty much released on just about any console, handheld, or computer that would allow them to publish it on. It's not a horrible puzzle game by any means, but many people compared it to Tetris...And there aren't many puzzle games that can be compared to Tetris and still look great coming out of the discussion. If you look at Klax without any comparisons, though, it’s not an awful puzzle game at all. The concept of Klax is that you watch tiles “roll” their way towards you and drop down to a little platform that you control. You can store multiple tiles on the platform, but eventually you’ll have to drop them down below, where to goal is to match three or more of the same color. If you are unable to get the platform over to the tile to catch it before it falls, then then you lose a life. Lose too many lives, and it’s game over. Likewise, like many match-3 puzzle games, once the area where you’re stacking tiles is full, that’s also a game over scenario. Klax can feel a bit repetitive after a while, but for the most part it's a decent puzzle game worth a try from fans of the puzzle genre. Played on: Turbografx-16, NES, Genesis, Master System, Game Boy, Lynx Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/30/2019 Love Platform PC Initial Release Date February 7, 2014 (NA) Developer Fred Wood Genre Platformer My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 65.27/100 Love is another one of those tough-as-nails platformers where you'll probably die a ton as you play, but for some reason you continue to play anyway because it's still fun. It has retro graphics 'cause that seems to be the "in" thing right now...and that's really all I have to say about Love as a whole. I guess I can add that it took me about 18 minutes to beat (according to Steam's play time counter, anyway), so it's an okay game to just pop in when you've got a few minutes to kill. It's not great, but it's still decent and usually has a low price tag making it a very worthwhile purchase. If you like tough platformers, Love may be worth checking out…if you don’t, then I doubt that you’ll love Love. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/02/2022 Paperboy Platform NES Initial Release Date December 1988 (NA) Developer Tengen Genre Action My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 64.63/100 Paperboy is one of those games where it seemed like people either absolutely loved it or they absolutely hated it when I was growing up. I, like most things, fell more in the middle…and I can honestly say that I fall into that category still today. For those who have never played Paperboy, the concept is simple - you control a kid riding his bike, throwing newspapers at the houses of folks in the neighborhood. The goal is to accurately throw the papers at doorsteps and mailboxes, while avoiding hazards and trying your best to not throw any newspapers through anyone's windows, to keep your customers happy and potentially earn new customers along the way. If you're not accurate, you'll find most of your customers cancel their subscriptions. If they all abandon you, then the newspaper no longer has a need to hire you since there's nobody to deliver papers to…thus, game over. Ultimately, you want to make it to the end of a week without losing all of your customers to see the ending, with the Paperboy himself making the front page of the very newspaper that he delivers. I've always appreciated Paperboy for what it is, though, I've also never been a huge fan at the same time. If you're like me, though, you'll likely find Paperboy as a mildly enjoyable way to kill a few minutes here and there…especially when you're not trying to win the game as much as you're just trying to purposely break windows and hit any living creature you pass with whatever newspapers you happen to be carrying on you. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/06/2019 Death Jr. Platform Playstation Portable Initial Release Date August 16, 2005 (NA) Developer Backbone Entertainment Genre Platformer My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 64.03/100 I’ve always wanted to like Death Jr. I wanted to tell everyone that this was the best platformer in years and that it made the PSP a must-buy handheld...But I couldn't. The characters in Death Jr. are all well-written and likable...but unfortunately, the gameplay itself is barely passable. I'm not the only one that had high hopes for this game - supposedly, Konami was already trying to market a cartoon out of the game and had a few sequels already in the plans. Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to like this game, I found myself putting it down out of boredom and never returning to it...And that seemed to be the case for many people, as it didn't take very long for the Death Jr. franchise to fade away. Played on: PSP Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/30/2019 Burger Burger: Hamburger Simulation Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date November 27, 1997 (JP) Developer Rytmix Genre Strategy My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 69.78/100 Burger Burger: Hamburger Simulation has always been a game that interested me. Prior to playing, I didn't know what exactly it was simulating. Eating a hamburger? Creating hamburgers? Well, Burger Burger is basically like one of those "tycoon" games where you open up a hamburger restaurant, create the menu and prices, invent new food items to sell, etc. and try to lure in customers while competing fast food chains do the same. I've never been big into these kinds of games, but for what it’s worth, I enjoyed my time inventing new dishes and watching how the public reacted to them. It's a decent and charming little strategy game. If you like these kind of games, you’ll probably like this one as well…but I don’t think it’ll convert anyone into loving the genre. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/21/2019 Ghosts N Goblins: Gold Knights Platform Apple iPhone/iPod Touch Initial Release Date November 10, 2009 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Platformer My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 69.44/100 Ghosts 'N Goblins: Gold Knights is a decent, portable GnG experience...Albeit an easy one. The game is solid and enjoyable while it lasts, but the ending may leave a sour taste in some folks' mouths...It's basically just a lead-in to Gold Knights 2. That being said, it's not a bad game by any means, but it also feels like Ghosts 'N Goblins for kids, as the difficulty really can feel WAY too easy at times. But, if you've always wanted to say that you've beaten a Ghosts 'N Goblins game, this is a great way to be able to make that claim without too much difficulty…it just doesn’t feel as satisfying as the other games in the series. Played on: iPhone Also known as: Makai-Mura: Kishi Retsuden (Japan)

Date added: 02/06/2023 Grand Theft Auto Advance Platform Nintendo Game Boy Advance Initial Release Date October 26, 2004 (NA) Developer Digital Eclipse Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 69.01/100 Grand Theft Auto has become a mega franchise in video games…but until the series went 3D, it wasn't exactly known for quality. The early games could be fun, mind you, but they were far from classics. Grand Theft Auto on the Game Boy Advance (or Grand Theft Auto Advance as the title screen says, and what I've chosen to call it for this list) returns the series to its 2D roots, and much like the original games, it's nowhere near as fun as its 3D cousins, but it has its fun moments anyway. If you've played the original Grand Theft Auto games, then you pretty much know what to expect already here - complete missions in an open world, with a top-down perspective. In my opinion, though, some of the more awkward controls from the original games have been tweaked a bit for this entry in the series, so while it may be inferior graphically to those games, I found it to be better in actual gameplay. The game itself, however, is limited a bit by the hardware. It's hard to create an open-world GTA game in 16-bits in small enough of a size to fit on a standard GBA cartridge, I'd imagine. Anyway, if you find the 2D GTA games to be charming, then you'll likely find plenty to like here. If you struggled to get into the 2D games, then even with the improved aspects, you'll likely still struggle to enjoy this 2D romp through Liberty City. Played on: Game Boy Advance Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/18/2019 Tank! Tank! Tank! Platform Nintendo Wii U Initial Release Date November 18, 2012 (NA) Developer Namco Bandai Games Genre Action My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 51.72/100 Of all the Wii U launch titles, this was probably the one I was most interested in. Controlling little tanks as they try to destroy gigantic, mechanical monsters sounded like it could have been a ton of fun...And it can be at times. But the controls aren't very good. I felt like I was fighting the controls more than I was the monsters for much of my time playing…especially since tilting the controller moves where you aim…so if you’re relaxing sideways in a chair as you play, the camera may keep moving to the right as you try to line up a shot. Unfortunately, that can’t be turned off, either. Another negative is how you unlock levels...You can't simply beat a level to advance to the next one. After beating each level, you get a medal. You need medals to unlock levels. To get to level 8, you need 15 medals. That means you have to go back and complete previous levels again in order to simply move on. Some levels are fun...Others aren't...But even the levels that I enjoyed, I grew tired of after playing multiple times to simply move on in the game. I really think this game had a ton of potential, but the weak controls and repetition required to simply move on in the game hurts it a bit. Like I said earlier, the game can be fun and at times it can shine...But never too brightly. It’s a guilty pleasure of mine, but not one that I can recommend. Played on: Wii U Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/15/2023 Splatterhouse 3 Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date March 18, 1993 (NA) Developer Now Production Genre Brawler My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 70.06/100 I like Splatterhouse 3, but it can be pretty difficult. Not because the game itself is difficult, but because of the time limits placed on the game that force you into putting yourself in harm's way more often than you probably would otherwise. You still control Rick, you're still working with a talking mask, but now you can transform into a hulking tank of a man to deal extra damage for limited amounts of time. You're also not brawling in a standard side-scrolling environment much of the time - you're often given multiple choices for what direction you should be heading in. I mentioned the time limit earlier, selecting the correct path is essential in completing the game and getting the best ending. That's not to say that it's game over if the time limit runs out - you just might see a bad fate for someone that Rick cares about if you don't make it to them in time. While I do enjoy this concept a lot, Splatterhouse 3 still feels like a step down from the previous games due to the fact that there are only a handful of environments to brawl in and only a handful of undead things to pummel, with many of them being the same model but with different colors. The game mechanics of getting multiple endings and memorizing a path to take rather than just brawling to the end of the level is definitely a big plus, but the repetitive nature of the brawler genre, mixed with the extra repetition added due to lack of enemy and environment designs, just drags Splatterhouse 3 down. That's not to say that you won't find fun here - a lot of people think that this is the best game in the series. Unfortunately, I don't happen to be one of them. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: Splatterhuse Part 3 (Japan)

Date added: 09/23/2019 Dodge 'Em Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1978 (NA) Developer Atari Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 64.71/100 Dodge 'Em may remind some of Pac-Man, except instead of being a yellow circle thing dodging ghosts, you're an old-timey car dodging another old-timey car…and this was released two years before everyone’s favorite yellow ghost eater entered arcades. The goal is to switch lanes and collect the pellets in each lane without crashing head-first into the other car, which seems to want to crash into you. They’re probably drunk…or “high on the drugs” as the kids say….either that or want to crash into you for insurance money. Anyway, the end result is a fast-paced, hectic game of chance and a wee bit of strategy. It's not absolutely great, but it's a decent game for the early days of the Atari 2600. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: Dodger Cars (Sears)

Date added: 07/28/2019 Clay Fighter: Tournament Edition Platform Super NES Initial Release Date May 1994 (NA) Developer Visual Concepts Genre Fighting My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 71.39/100 It only took Interplay about six months before re-releasing Clay Fighter on the Super NES as a "Tournament Edition." The tournament mode, as well as slightly-tweaked gameplay, help make this the definitive Clay Fighter game, if one must choose a game in the series to play. For those that haven’t played it, Clay Fighter basically plays like Street Fighter, except everything isn’t quite as tweaked to perfection like Capcom’s flagship fighter. It also has Claymation-like visuals (which is why it’s called Clay Fighter) and a pretty cartoony theme to it. It's still not up to the standards of fighters like Street Fighter II or even Mortal Kombat II, but it's a nice, quirky little game that makes up for in personality that it may lack in game mechanics. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/14/2019 Super Mario Land Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date April 21, 1989 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 75.51/100 Super Mario Land is kind of hard for me to rate. On one hand, I like the level themes and the fact that some levels transform into scrolling shooters, with Mario behind the wheel of a vehicle of some sort. What I don't love is how awkwardly Mario moves and how many of the platforming levels feel as if you’re just repeating the same part of the stage over and over and over again. After you get used to the weird physics of Mario’s movements, it's not terrible to deal with, but Super Mario Bros.-like physics would have made this game so much better than what it is…as would a little more variety in the level designs. It's still a decent game, but it’s also nowhere near the quality of its console big brothers. Played on: Game Boy Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/28/2020 Trog! Platform NES Initial Release Date October 1991 (NA) Developer Visual Concepts Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 71.82/100 Trog was basically a return to a genre that had seemed to fade away when the Atari 2600, Colecovision, and Intellivision consoles were discontinued – the maze genre. Pac-Man is the most famous and successful of this genre, but the simplicity of collecting items in a maze, while avoiding enemies, was very popular in the early days of video games. Trog does a decent job of recreating that. At first glance, it plays like Pac-Man…collect the eggs through the level, then continue to the next stage. If you get a pineapple power-up, you transform into a t-rex and can eat the cavemen in your way. Other power-ups give you beneficial or harmful side-effects, depending on the item. Trog has the addition of hazards as well. Take a wrong turn, and you may wind up in a tar pit or a hole. It adds a little more strategy to the game aside from simply avoiding enemies and picking up eggs. While not nearly at the level of Pac-Man, Trog is still a decent maze-style action game and it’s worth checking out if you’re a fan of that style of gameplay. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/05/2019 Altered Beast Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date November 27, 1988 (JP) Developer Sega Genre Action - Brawler My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 65.16/100 While I've always loved the concept of Altered Beast, I've never really been a fan of the execution. Over the years, I've come to appreciate it more...but even with that appreciation, let's face it, the controls do feel a little off and the brawling gets very repetitive very quickly...But, then you transform into one of several beasts and the feeling of repetition feels a little delayed. While I've never been a huge fan of Altered Beast, there's no question that it was a system-seller for the Genesis in the beginning (as well as a near-perfect port of the Arcade version) and that it's a game that many folks have very fond memories of. Played on: Genesis, Arcade Also known as: Juuouki (Japan)

Date added: 10/25/2019 Beauty Dentist Platform Apple iPhone/iPod Touch Initial Release Date January 10, 2013 (NA) Developer Stacie Vargas Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 67.73/100 Beauty Dentist is basically the dental version of a game like Trauma Center - except instead of heart surgeries, you're doing dental procedures. The game as a whole works alright, but the touch screen controls kind of hurt it, as you can't always see what you're doing when your finger is getting in the way. That said, it's an interesting little game that will likely appeal to fans of Trauma Center, so long as they're alright with this game not quite being at the same level of quality. Unfortunately, I didn’t see it with a quick check of iTunes, so unless you’re able to find a site that archived it, or visit my house where I still have it on my old iPod Touch, this game appears to be lost to time. Played on: iPhone Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/12/2020 Caesar's Palace Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date October 31, 1997 (NA) Developer Interplay Genre Casino My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 64.67/100 If you’ve been reading along on this list up to this point, you probably know my stance on most casino games. If you haven’t put it together, or if you simply didn’t read every single entry, I’ll briefly explain it – I like casinos as mini games in larger games, but not as stand-alone titles. The thrill of gambling is lost when you don’t really have anything to lose. In an RPG, for example, you may be gambling in an attempt to increase your funds to buy equipment, so losing instead of winning is a big deal. In a stand alone game like Caesar’s Palace, gambling loses much of the excitement since it doesn’t feel like you’re gambling with money, you just gambling with points and you can easily start over at any time and have a full bank again. That said, out of all the casino games that I’ve played, Caesar’s Palace is definitely the best. There are plenty of games to play, so even without the “thrill” of gambling, as I mentioned, it still may keep you entertained longer than you’d expect. By no means would I include this in a “greatest games of all-time” list, but it’s still a very solid title in its own right. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/25/2019 Mouse Trap Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1982 (NA) Developer James Wickstead Design Associates Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 69.45/100 Mouse Trap was Coleco's answer to the popularity of Pac-Man. It plays like Pac-Man except in Mouse Trap, you control a mouse. Instead of obtaining power pellets that instantly allow you to eat ghosts, the mouse can pick up power-ups and stock up on them, to use when needed. When used, these power ups transform the mouse into a giant dog head, which scares the cats into hiding. It's a decent Pac-Man clone, and much better than the 2600 port of Pac-Man, but nowhere near the quality of the arcade version of the game that the yellow Namco mascot stars in. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/28/2019 Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date May 26, 2017 (W) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 69.07/100 I was really excited for Ultra Street Fighter II...and while I'm not necessarily disappointed with what this game delivered, it shows how far we've come in terms of what we expect out of game content. If Ultra Street Fighter II was released back in '95 or '96, this would have been absolutely amazing. Unfortunately, a fighting game without a lot of modes beyond an "Arcade mode" these days is kind of a disappointment. Also, the two new characters to the Street Fighter II games, Evil Ryu and Violent Ken, aren't new characters in terms of other games...and since they're just alternate versions of characters already in the game, I felt that they were a letdown. Including a few characters from the first Street Fighter, Street Fighter III or IV, the Alpha and EX series...anything else would have been more exciting for this player. But anyway, lack of modes aside, the actual combat is just as enjoyable as it always was, so if nothing else, Ultra Street Fighter II provides a nice trip down memory lane. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/01/2018 Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date August 15, 2017 (NA) Developer VRWERX Genre Adventure My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 48.00/100 The folks that made Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul must be the kind of people that jump and wet themselves at the slightest sound in a dark room...Because that's what the majority of the "scares" in this game are....just ambient noises. Ambent noises CAN be used to get some psychological scares out of people. The early Silent Hill games were effective at this...but Paranormal Activity is not. You would imagine that a game (that when starting up has a legal agreement for you to approve before you play, stating that they are not liable for heart attacks from being scared so badly) would actually be scary...but the only thing scary about it is trying not to throw up when you change the movement settings when playing in VR. If you like horror-based games like I do, you still may find some fun here for the short time that the game lasts...Just be prepared that it's not very good. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/15/2020 Naughty Bear Platform Apple iPhone/iPod Touch Initial Release Date September 23, 2010 (NA) Developer 505 Games Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 57.53/100 I like the Naughty Bear games. They have plenty of flaws, but that doesn't prevent me from taking pleasure in the suffering of those adorably animated teddy bears. So, when I saw that the iPhone version wasn't like the console versions of the game, with stealthy, "kill 'em all" gameplay, I was disappointed...Especially when it appeared to be a poor Pac-Man rip-off. Then I started to play it...And was surprised. It's a good Pac-Man rip-off...A good Pac-Man rip-off that also combines the setting traps and killing bears aspect of the console Naughty Bear games...And it works pretty dang well. I still prefer the console versions but when it comes to the overall game, and not my preference, the iPhone Naughty Bear may be the most solid game in the franchise...and ironically, it's still my least favorite. Played on: iPhone Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/03/2019 Girl Fight Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date September 24, 2013 (NA) Developer Kung Fu Factory Genre Fighting My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 50.91/100 Girl Fight is interesting because while the game is called Girl Fight, it’s actually a game about...girls fighting. Okay, so it’s not that interesting. Anyway, I got Girl Fight because it was on sale on the Playstation Store for dirt cheap and I thought it was going to be terrible, but in a fun, “let’s make fun of it as I play” way. To my surprise, it actually wasn’t THAT bad. Sure, there is much to be desired in the way of modes and such, but when the fighting begins, it’s not too shabby…in fact, it’s surprisingly solid to a degree, with interesting specials that you can choose from that help separate it from some other fighters. Also, amazingly, with a name like Girl Fight, and "box art" like it has with two of the fighters seemingly in a loving embrace, one would expect this to be filled with sexist images of women, when in reality, that isn’t really the case. Sure, there are bikini pics and such to unlock as extras if you so desire, but the costumes of the characters themselves are much less revealing than, say, the Dead or Alive franchise would be. Is Girl Fight a good game? Not really. But it’s far better than I thought it would be and good enough for a fighting game fanatic, like myself, to spend a few hours playing without getting too bored. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/18/2019 Blockout Platform Atari Lynx Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Karen Development Group Genre Puzzle My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 73.38/100 Blockout isn’t a bad puzzle game by any means, but it takes a different mindset to enjoy it. While at first glance, this looks like Tetris in 3D, I would compare it more to a rubix cube. While the concept is the same as Tetris (fill up a level to make it disappear like how you would fill a row in Tetris) the pace is much, much slower which makes the gameplay all about thought rather than reaction time. Much like a rubix cube, you spin and rotate the puzzle pieces in every direction and use the grid on the screen to determine where you want to drop the piece of the puzzle while colors help you determine the depth you’re dealing with. It does take a little while to get used to playing Blockout, but once you do, you’ll find a unique, thought-provoking puzzle game that is great if you just want to sit back, relax, and exercise your brain for a little while. Played on: Lynx Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/23/2020 Stunt Racer 64 Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date October 1, 2000 (NA) Developer Boss Game Studios Genre Racing My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 68.76/100 Stunt Racer 64 is an interesting concept for a racing game…but the execution just isn’t quite at the level it needs to be to make this anything more than being simply average. The cars and tracks all look nice and interesting…but once the racing starts, you quickly realize that even with the ability to do “stunts,” the gameplay isn’t nearly as interesting as the rest of the game is. It’s also worth noting that despite the game’s name of Stunt Racer 64, the tracks aren’t exactly designed to provide the player with a constant flow of stunt opportunities. If they were, the frantic pace and need to land each trick might be just what this game needed to step up and be a more enjoyable experience. As it is, it’s okay. It’s not an awful game by any means, but the N64 has a good library of quality racing games, and I just can’t say that I’d put this one on that list. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/27/2023 Thrill Kill Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date Unreleased Developer Paradox Development Genre Fighting My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 71.80/100 Thrill Kill was pretty much complete when it was cancelled. Despite the fact that it was never officially released on store shelves, thanks to the ol' internet, the game eventually found its way online for people to download and play. While Thrill Kill was known for its gruesome violence, it actually has some decent gameplay concepts tossed in outside of the Mature-rated content. Unlike most fighters, where it's one-on-one fighting with the winner being the one that manages to win two out of three rounds, Thrill Kill is actually a four-way brawl where each round occurs as one fighter gets eliminated. In other words, round one starts with four fighters, round two has three fighters, and the third round is a one-on-one fight between the two surviving fighters. While the fighting mechanics themselves aren't anything to write home about, the flaws of the fighting are somewhat hidden by the fact that you've got four people brawling on the screen at once. The frantic nature, especially when someone has filled up their power meter to execute their "Thrill Kill" and have to stalk one of the three other opponents to knock them out of the fight, helps mask the fact that the fighting engine is simplistic and somewhat sloppy. Another downside is a lack of playable characters. With eight characters to start, and three that you can unlock, it's not uncommon that you'll see at least one character in nearly every fight when playing through arcade mode. Multiple outfits for each character doesn't really hide the fact that your opponents get repetitive very quickly. More fighters could have helped with that. Still, it's hard to be too harsh on Thrill Kill since it never actually got released, so who knows how much more the developers would have improved on everything prior to when it may have hit stores shelves. In the state that it's in, Thrill Kill is worth checking out if you're a fan of 3D fighting games. It's not perfect, it can definitely be improved upon, but it's worth playing, even if it's just for the novelty of it. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/15/2021 Dewy's Adventure Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date July 26, 2007 (NA) Developer Konami Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 69.08/100 Dewy’s Adventure is a so-so game where your goal is to hold the Wiimote flat, then tilt it front and back, or side to side, to control a little drop of water named Dewy. There’s a little more to it – Dewy can jump and attack and increase/decrease his temperature for different attacks, but all movements are controlled by tilting the Wiimote. As a result, the game can feel pretty frustrating at times…especially if you happen to be sitting in a chair that can rock when you play. Anyway, once you get used to the controls, they’re not awful…but the gameplay still isn’t anything special and it tends to get pretty boring pretty quickly. If you want an action game for your Wii that makes use of the motion controls, then you may enjoy Dewy’s Adventure. I think it’s passable for what it is, but there are several other games in the Wii library that I’d put in front of this one instead. Played on: Wii Also known as: Dewy's Adventure: Suishou Dewy no Daibouken!! (Japan)

Date added: 02/10/2023 Tetris 2 Platform NES Initial Release Date September 21, 1993 (JP) Developer TOSE Genre Puzzle My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 65.70/100 Tetris has been considered by many to be a perfect video game. It's just as fun today as it was back when it was released, and its simplicity and easy-to-understand gameplay can even hook people that don't normally play video games. Tetris 2, also known as Tetris Flash in Japan, was an attempt to reinvent the wheel…and while it's not necessarily a bad game, it's also a game that feels like an un-needed mixture of two established games rather than a new, unique experience. For those who have never played it, Tetris 2 is basically a combination of Tetris and Dr. Mario. You have multiple colored blocks on the screen and the goal is to clear them all out. Unlike Dr. Mario, where you're given dual-colored pills to accomplish this task, Tetris 2 is a little more complicated. The blocks that you're given in Tetris 2 vary in shape and size. Dr. Mario fanatics may welcome this change as it gives more challenge, but for most others it'll likely result in frustration as you attempt to awkwardly make these odd shapes fit where you need them. Tetris 2 seems to have its share of fans, and I don't necessarily dislike it, but I'd much rather play the original Tetris or Dr. Mario than this hybrid of the two. I've got a feeling that I sit with the majority with that thought. Played on: NES Also known as: Tetris Flash (Japan)

Date added: 04/03/2019 Floigan Bros.: Episode 1 Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date July 30, 2001 (NA) Developer Visual Concepts Genre Adventure My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 65.5/100 This was actually the first episode of what was scheduled to be....more than one (I don't know how many) that followed the crazy antics of the Floigan Bros. When it first came out it was praised at how much it felt like being an interactive cartoon, and with all of its personality, it still feels that way to a degree. Interacting with Moigle is both amusing and a necessary aspect of the game. However, the gameplay does get a little tedious after a while. It's probably a perfect game for young'uns and it has its moments where some adults may enjoy their time with this game as well. Unfortunately, the game as a whole is only passable, and despite how full of personality the game is, most players may find themselves getting bored shortly into the story. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/25/2020 Mad Riders Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date May 29, 2012 (NA) Developer Techland Genre Racing My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 66.15/100 Mad Riders looks kinda like a generic ATV racing game…then you play it and realize that…well, it’s a generic ATV racing game. That’s not to say that Mad Riders can’t be fun in small doses, but I don’t really see it being the kind of racing game that racing fanatics line up in droves to play. There are also some interesting aspects to the game, like the need to collect specific power ups that allow you to unlock shortcuts during the race…The shortcuts aren’t accessible otherwise, so it adds a little strategy to the race, which is nice. However, for the most part, this is a pretty average racing game. It’s not bad by any means, but there are also plenty of better options out there. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/22/2020 Battle Royale Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date 1990 (NA) Developer Incredible Technologies Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 56.09/100 Battle Royale is one of those old-timey-style games that was simple, basic, and fun if you had a group of friends, but got old pretty quickly if you planned to just play it alone. The gist of the game is simple – you’re in the ring with four other grapplers. You want to beat ‘em up so you can pick ‘em up and throw ‘em out of the ring. That’s a lot of ‘ems. To add another neat, but small layer, you aren’t allowed to simply select the wrestler that you want to play as…you control a manager and must brawl with four other managers on your way down to choosing which client that you wish to represent. With a group of friends, it’s good, trash-talking fun. By yourself, it’s a novelty that grows old rather quickly. Unfortunately, unless you imported games from Japan, this was really your only option for a wrestling experience on the TurboGrafx-16. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/16/2019 Typing of the Date Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date September 27, 2001 (JP) Developer Hudson Soft Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 64.18/100 Did you like the concept of Typing of the Dead, but didn't want all of the horror and gore? Hudson had you covered if you lived in Japan, with Typing of the Date...a date simulator mixed with a little bit of the typing frenzy found in Typing of the Dead. The pace here is slower by design because instead of simply typing what appears on screen, you’re given three options as to how you will respond to your date, and you have to read and reply quickly. Make the wrong reply and even if your typing is great, you may not get the results that you want. The end result is a unique dating simulator that is passable and worth checking out, especially if you’re into that genre of game, but everyone else may find it a little too plodding for their tastes….especially if they can’t read Japanese to understand the story. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/13/2019 The Daedalus Encounter Platform Panasonic 3DO Initial Release Date November 10, 1995 (JP) Developer PalmSoft Genre Adventure My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 67.61/100 The Daedalus Encounter is an interactive movie starring Tia Carrere from Wayne's World, Wayne's World II, and assorted other pieces of film and television that I've never seen. She does a decent enough of a job acting, but everything else around her is so cheesy, that the game comes across as a bit of a joke anyway. The concept here is that you need to watch the video that plays and then do what they tell you to do, basically. It sounds boring, but it's not bad. The videos you watch are entertaining enough to put up with between the gameplay bits...There just aren't enough gameplay bits for my personal liking. Keep in mind, this is coming from someone that doesn’t mind the number of cutscenes and movies in most Metal Gear Solid games. It's still a decent experience and all, but watching a movie and occasionally performing a task probably isn't something for everybody. Played on: 3DO Also known as: Daedalus Episode 1: Nanpasen no Alien (Japan)

Date added: 07/11/2022 X-Men: Mutant Academy Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date July 11, 2000 (NA) Developer Paradox Entertainment Genre Fighting My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 72.55/100 X-Men: Mutant Academy is a decent fighting game starring various characters from Marvel's popular X-Men, both heroes and villains. Essentially, it's a 2D fighting game, but with some 3D models and changing camera angles to somewhat make it feel like it's more than simply a 2D fighter. While most people think of Street Fighter when it comes to 2D combat, X-Men: Mutant Academy is actually a 2D game that has a control scheme that feels more like Tekken…and while it works fine for what it is, it still feels inferior to the type of controls found in games like Street Fighter or King of Fighters…especially when those controls are placed in a 2D setting. Looking at the cosmetic aspects of the game, Mutant Academy is very impressive looking, and is one of the better-looking fighting games on the Playstation. Between the colorful level designs, which all look different from each other, and the very well-done character designs, this is just a very nice game to look at while you use your mutant powers to smash your opponent's brains into goo. Another disappointment is the lack of any story for the arcade mode. In a fighting game based off of comic book characters, one would think that adding a story wouldn't be too difficult…but that's just a minor gripe. Most fighting fans play fighting games for the gameplay, not the story. Anyway, if you like the X-Men, and you like fighting games, you'll find something to like here…just don't expect this to be the greatest fighting game of all-time. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/18/2020 Mystery Quest Platform NES Initial Release Date April 1989 (NA) Developer Carry Lab Genre Platformer My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 66.53/100 Mystery Quest was another obscure game that I owned as a young’un. I was never able to beat it as a child, but I did manage to beat it before adding it to this list. I remember being stuck in one specific part as a kid. Revisiting it now, I wasn’t stuck, I was actually headed in the right direction…I just didn’t realize how precise my jumps needed to be in order to advance in certain parts of the game. In Mystery Quest, you roam around in a side-scrolling overworld (and underworld) until you come across a castle. Then you enter the castle, find the required items, leave, then find the next castle and repeat the process until the needed items have been found in all four castles. The castles have a lot of breakable walls, floors, and ceilings, and some break with your magic while others break by jumping into them…so, you’ll usually need to experiment to make it through the maze of each castle. Overall, Mystery Quest is a decent little game. It’s not perfect, but if you want a platformer that makes you think a little bit, then Mystery Quest might be a nice little surprise if you give it a chance. Played on: NES Also known as: Hao-Kun no Fushigi na Tabi (Japan)

Date added: 12/28/2019 WWE Raw 2 Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date September 16, 2003 (NA) Developer Anchor Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 65.57/100 I wish I could say some good things about WWE Raw 2…but there just isn’t much to say. It’s better than WWF Raw was, the Career mode is pretty well done, but that’s about it. The in-ring action still isn’t great, the computer is frustrating to battle against (how many pin attempts do I have to kick out of before they attempt a move?), and the CPU logic is extremely confusing even when watching the computer battle itself….I literally watched a 2-hour-long 6-man battle royal because even though it was an elimination match, the computer kept breaking up pinfall attempts. I can’t even imagine what kind of nightmare it would have been had I been trying to play that match instead of watching it. Complaints aside, this is still passable, and I found myself enjoying the Career mode for the most part…unfortunately, once the bell rang and I had to start grappling, some of the fun went away. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/07/2019 Street Racer Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1978 (NA) Developer Atari Genre Racing My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 65.83/100 Street Racer is a pretty simple game, and like most early Atari 2600 games, it’s designed for a multi-player experience…Essentially, your goal is to move left and right to dodge obstacles that appear on the screen, gaining a point each time you pass one. It’s kind of a game of tortoise vs. hare, depending on who is playing who. I say that because you can either simply move left and right to avoid the obstacles at the slow pace, or you can press the button on the joystick to essentially put the pedal to the metal and go at high speed. If the person going at high speed is constantly crashing, it is definitely possible for the “tortoise” going at the slow pace to easily get a better score. Likewise, if the “hare” going fast dodges most of the obstacles, they will leave the tortoise left coughing up the dust that it left behind. The extra modes are different enough from each other to help add to the replay value as well. It’s a decent game to pull out when you’ve got a friend or two over to kill a few minutes. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: Speedway II (Sears)

Date added: 10/15/2020 Personal Nightmare Platform PC Initial Release Date 1989 (NA) Developer Horrorsoft Genre Adventure My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 56.29/100 Personal Nightmare is a mix of point-and-click adventure and horror that reminds me a bit of Chiller on the NES in terms of amusing death sequences and such...But, like many point-and-click adventure games, despite the amusement, you'll probably need a guide to make your way through it with seemingly nonsensical things to do...Mind you, they all make sense in the long run, but during your initial playthrough, you'll have no idea why you'd need secateurs...And then later find out that you've gotta cut the fingers off of a corpse to get a book. I also like some of the demented aspects in the game, like finding the diary of a child, and upon opening it, you discover that the kid covered his parents in petrol when they were sleeping and lit them ablaze. The ending is kinda corny, and there's not enough horror here to live up to the fact that it considers itself to be a horror game...But, if you're into point-and-click adventures, Personal Nightmare might be worth looking into. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/10/2019 Super Star Wars Platform Super NES Initial Release Date November 30, 1992 (NA) Developer Sculptured Software Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 76.26/100 Super Star Wars marks JVC's second attempt at publishing the Star Wars franchise. Their original attempt on the NES, with Beam Software as the developer, wasn't really anything to write home about...But JVC got a new developer in the form of Sculptured Software for their Super NES attempt at the beloved movie trilogy and they published a fairly decent game here. It's not great by any means, but it's decent. I still prefer the Japan-only, Namco-published Star Wars game on the NES to this one, but this is still a solid title and worth playing if you're a Star Wars nut...or even if you're not. I'm not, and I enjoyed my time with this title. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/18/2019 Blue Lightning Platform Atari Lynx Initial Release Date 1989 (NA) Developer Epyx Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 75.71/100 I generally am not a huge fan of most flight simulator-style action games. I can’t really explain why, they just aren’t really my cup of tea. Blue Lightning, however, is one of the few that I don’t mind. The controls are solid and the graphics are pretty good for their time, especially on a handheld. Whether you’re shooting down planes with bullets or firing missiles at stuff on the ground, everything is pretty easy to do. The only real downside is that it doesn’t last long. With only 9 missions, if you’ve got the skill you can probably complete this game in less than an hour. But still, it’s fun enough where if you just want to lose a few minutes at the bus station while waiting for your ride, impressing everyone with your Atari Lynx and playing this game isn’t a bad choice. Played on: Lynx Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/27/2020 WWE Universe Platform Android Initial Release Date May 31, 2019 (NA) Developer Glu Games Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 65.39/100 WWE Universe is both better and worse than I expected. It’s better in the fact that it looks quite nice, they’ve got a HUGE roster of wrestlers old and new, and the simplistic gameplay works great for a mobile smart phone game. It’s worse in the fact that the game is promoted as building a roster of talent, which made me think that it would be some sort of “book the show” style of game, which it isn’t at all. It also becomes extremely annoying with how aggressive some of the “purchase something” pop-ups are. Also, if you happen to get lucky enough to get your hands on a limited wrestler, they do not “level up” like normal wrestlers – you essentially have to pay to get special items to level them up. It’s very disappointing once you figure that aspect out. Still, for what it is, it’s not terrible. If you’re a wrestling fanatic and have been waiting for years to get pre-made digital versions of Afa and Sika in a video game, this may be your only chance to have the Wild Samoans take it to the teams of today. Played on: Android Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/05/2020 Army Men 3D Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date March 9, 1999 (NA) Developer 3DO Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 69.59/100 Army Men 3D is okay…it’s a neat concept with decent execution, but it’s nothing special. This was the first Army Men game on the Playstation, and with the number of sequels that followed in a short span of time, I expected this to be really good. They’d only make that many games in the series if this was so good that the demand for sequels was there, right? Well, Army Men 3D did sell enough to become a Greatest Hit, but as far as I know, that was the only game in the franchise to have that honor. That said, Army Men 3D isn’t terrible by any means, but it also boggles my mind why 3DO put so much stock into this franchise. With a so-so single player experience and only a slightly better multiplayer experience, Army Men 3D is a good game to pick up for cheap if you enjoy 3rd Person shooters, but that’s really the only praise I can give it. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/25/2020 Ecco Jr. Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date August 15, 1995 (NA) Developer Novotrade Genre Action My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 66.87/100 This is one of the better "little kid" games that I've played. It's basically just a repetitive hide-and-seek style game while you swim around as Sega's delightful dolphin or one of two of his other pals. Like the normal Ecco games, ignoring the game itself and just swimming around in the levels, taking in the environments and looking at the various sea life, is a nice, relaxing experience...And it's even mildly fun doing the repetitive tasks. The downside is that Ecco Jr. lacks an ending. Your reward for beating the game is a level where you can swim around with your marine friends until you feel like calling it quits. It's not a horrible game to pop in when you're bored for a few minutes to relax, but if you've got young kids, they'll probably adore this game. I know I would have if I had this game as a young’un. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/21/2019 Death Worm Platform Apple iPhone/iPod Touch Initial Release Date November 6, 2010 (NA) Developer PlayCreek Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 70.81/100 Death Worm was a game I honestly expected very little from...Even after I began to play it, I wasn't all that impressed. Then, the few minutes I planned on playing in order to capture screenshots turned into an hour or two. I was hooked. Death Worm simply puts you in control of a worm as you eat, murder, and destroy everything around you. There's nothing about Death Worm that will win it any awards, but that doesn't mean it isn't fun. If controlling a giant worm and causing chaos sounds fun to you, this game might be right up your alley. Played on: iPhone Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/02/2022 Bases Loaded Platform NES Initial Release Date June 26, 1987 (JP) Developer TOSE Genre Sports - Baseball My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 74.43/100 For when it was released, Bases Loaded wasn't terrible, but it wasn't exactly the best baseball game available, either. R.B.I. Baseball had released in Japan about a year earlier, and that game is a bit better in just about every regard, honestly. Bases Loaded DOES stand out, though, when compared to other baseball games of the time. Unfortunately, that has nothing to do with gameplay. What makes Bases Loaded stand out is the unique point of view when batting and pitching. Rather than have those actions take place from the perspective of the umpire behind the batter, the camera is moved about 180 degrees from that position and when batting and pitching, you'll be doing so from the perspective of behind the pitcher. While camera perspective seems like an odd thing to point out, it really does make Bases Loaded stand out amongst other baseball games of the time. Unfortunately, as I mentioned, that's really the only thing to make it stand out. The gameplay, while not bad, is simply average. Average or not, though, it did set the foundation of a baseball franchise that lasted for nearly a decade, so you've gotta give it credit for that. Played on: NES Also known as: Moero!! Pro Yakyuu (Japan)

Date added: 10/04/2023 Dagon by H.P. Lovecraft Platform PC Initial Release Date September 24, 2021 (NA) Developer Bit Golem Genre Adventure - Visual Novel My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 72.75/100 I'll start by saying that I'm familiar with H.P. Lovecraft's stuff, but I've never read any of them. Not a single one. I suppose I can cross Dagon off the list then? Dagon is basically a visual novel with very minor interactions. Basically after each statement is spoken, you click the mouse to go to the next statement. Every now and then, you'll see other things to click your mouse on and you can get more information about a certain topic. Aside from that, the gameplay consists of you sitting back, listening to the narrator, and looking at the scenery that the developers created to give you a visual with what you're hearing. H.P. Lovecraft's writing is pretty well known for using an extensive vocabulary, so if you don't know many words larger than five letters, you may want a dictionary handy. Still, if you're looking for a relaxing game to play that requires almost no effort, has an interesting story that is narrated, and may improve your vocabulary in the process, then Dagon may be right up your alley. The fact that it's free, may make it worth checking out regardless. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/03/2024 Sylvester and Tweety in Cagey Capers Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date August 1994 (NA) Developer Alexandria Genre Platformer My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 70.57/100 I really want to like this game more than I do…I love Looney Tunes. I went to school for animation with the hopes of creating cartoons with zany characters having anvils dropped on their heads, so games like this are game that I automatically want to love…but sometimes, with games like this, the developers make it hard to like it. Cagey Capers, in concept is solid. Controlling Sylvester the cat, your goal is to chase down Tweety through the level and eventually catch the bobble-headed bird. This can be fun, and would be fun through the game, if it wasn't for controls that don't always make you feel like you're in control. Some of the platforming here requires you to be pretty precise…and that can feel unnecessarily difficult in this game…especially since miscalculating a leap from one platform to the next could result in you dropping down to the start of the level. The good of this game, however, is in the characters in the game, their animations, and the arsenal of weaponry that Sylvester has at his fingertips to allow him to catch that feathered fiend. Sometimes it can feel like you're interacting with a real cartoon…until the controls bring you back to reality. I like this game for what it is, and I think it's good enough to be passable, but if the controls had been fixed before release, I think this could have been a very, very good platformer….instead of just a barely passable one. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/11/2022 Rival Schools: United by Fate - Evolution Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date July 30, 1998 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 75.71/100 As I mentioned in the regular Rival Schools entry, originally, I was going to leave it as just a single entry…but this game, which is the second disc if you have a physical copy of Rival Schools, is actually a slightly better, slightly different game. So, I decided to give them separate entries. This game, Rival Schools: United by Fate - Evolution, is slightly better, as I mentioned, which doesn't make it too much of an evolution. Anyway, Evolution includes some extra fighters (which seem to basically be clones of other fighters, but with a different name/skin) and a few extra gameplay modes. Aside from those additions, the game seems to have gotten a slight graphical upgrade over the original game, along with some minor gameplay tweaks. Overall, the extra features found in Evolution, along with the other mild improvements makes this the better option if you want to play a variation of the original Rival Schools. However, even with that in mind, I still stick with my comments on the original Rival Schools entry on this list - it's not an awful fighter, but unless you're a Capcom fighting game fanatic, you can probably pass on this game. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Shiritsu Justice Gakuen: Legion of Heroes (Japan)

Date added: 11/04/2022 Mario's Tennis Platform Nintendo Virtual Boy Initial Release Date July 21, 1995 (JP) Developer TOSE Genre Sports - Tennis My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 70.13/100 Many of the Virtual Boy games published by Nintendo weren't actually developed by Nintendo. which includes Mario's Tennis, a tennis game starring most of the cast of Super Mario Kart, with only Bowser being left out in the cold. It was also the first Mario-themed tennis game to be released. It was a solid effort, with good gameplay and the novelty of playing as several Nintendo characters on the court, similar to how the previously mentioned Mario Kart was with putting the same characters in go-karts. Nintendo chose to pack this game in with the Virtual Boys released in North America, which was a solid choice since it was fun to play, but also lacked too many modes…which likely helped prevent people from playing this specific game long enough to get the red-light headaches. It's fun for a game or two, then you're likely to put the Virtual Boy down and find something else to do. A lack of multiplayer does hurt the game a little bit…but honestly, I don't think the Virtual Boy lived long enough for it to see a peripheral released to allow multiplayer games between two Virtual Boys anyway, so that complaint is a minor one. For what it's worth, Mario's Tennis is one of the better games on the Virtual Boy. While it's far from perfect, it can still provide you with a decent amount of fun, even if you're not normally a tennis fan otherwise. Played on: Arcade Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/23/2022 Spy vs. Spy Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date April 6, 2005 (NA) Developer Vicious Cycle Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 64.22/100 If you ever read MAD Magazine (do they even make that any more?) as a kid, then you've probably seen the Spy vs. Spy battles between the White Spy and the Black Spy, with the spies taking turns maiming each other with over-the-top Looney Tunes-like violence. While there had been video game variations of Spy vs. Spy before, this was the first time bringing them into a 3D world. This game of Spy vs. Spy is basically multiplayer, capture the flag deathmatch gameplay…except there are multiple flags and your goal is get all of them at once, then escape the level. Instead of the simple "grab the flag," concept, each level in Spy vs. Spy requires players to figure out how exactly to each to each item before they can grab it. While attempting to figure it out, you'll also have to avoid three other players attempting to make your spy's body go limp and cause an angel to float from the corpse…yes, joining the White and Black spies are the Red and Blue spies. So at its best, this is actually Spy vs. Spy vs. Spy vs. Spy. I'm not a huge fan of the deathmatch gameplay, but as a former animation student and big fan of over-the-top cartoon violence, if you're going to convince me to play a multiplayer deathmatch game, this is the kind of thing to get me wanting to play. If you just want to play a single-player mode, though, this game has that covered a well. While not nearly as fun as the deathmatch mode, it's still a solid little game that helps also serve as a tutorial to sharpen your skills for when you battle against your friends. Spy vs. Spy isn't exactly the greatest game ever made, but it's passable for what it is. If Looney Tunes-style deathmatch gameplay sounds like something you'd enjoy, then give Spy vs. Spy a chance - you may find it to be a guilty pleasure like I do. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/15/2020 Airlock Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1982 (NA) Developer Data Age Genre Platformer My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 58.33/100 Airlock is a very quick, very simple game…but it’s not bad for its time. Essentially, you control a person trying to escape a sinking ship by moving up each level and closing the airlocks as you go in order to avoid drowning. The strange part is that when you win, four of the five ship segments are likely filled with water, yet somehow your sea vessel stays afloat with you celebrating on top. If you die on the first level, only one segment is filled with water, but everything sinks. Video game logic, everyone. Anyway, Airlock is an okay game to kill five minutes or so…but once you get the hang of what to do and how you time your jumps, you can literally hold your breath for the entire playthrough, which aside from the game’s setting, may actually be how this game got its name. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/11/2019 Cool Boarders Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date August 30, 1996 (JP) Developer UEP Systems Genre Sports - Snowboarding My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 66.35/100 When it first came out, Cool Boarders was a unique, fun snowboarding game with a solid difficulty that wasn't too easy or too hard. While it hasn't exactly aged well over the years in terms of looks, the gameplay, while still showing a little bit of age, is still decent. It's not the best snowboarding game ever made (though an argument could be made that its sequel may hold that title) but the original Cool Boarders still a very good game. If you're looking for a solid snowboarding game, you could do a lot worse than the game that started the Cool Boarders franchise. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/12/2019 Donkey Kong 3 Platform NES Initial Release Date July 4, 1984 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 64.27/100 Donkey Kong was a classic. Donkey Kong Jr. took the series in a different, but fun, direction. Donkey Kong 3…well, it’s passable...but, one has to question how a game concept was created about a bug exterminator shooting bug repellant up the pooper of a giant gorilla…and what group agreed that the concept was a good idea. Anyway, apparently Mario didn’t want any part of that madness, so taking his place is Stanley. As far as I’m aware, this is Stanley’s only video game appearance…so Stanley’s entire video game career is about spraying chemicals up an endangered animal’s hiney. All that aside, once the game starts, it’s a passable game that is essentially a platformer mixed with a shooter. The focus is shooting DK to move him up the screen, but you’ll also have to shoot any of the bugs that fly down towards you as well. It’s not great, but it’s not horrible…or at the very least, not as horrible as the concept sounds. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/11/2019 Bomberman Platform NES Initial Release Date December 19, 1985 (JP) Developer Hudson Genre Action My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 66.33/100 While Bomberman has evolved over time to become a fun, often fast-paced party game where friends try to blow each other up with explosives, the original Bomberman title was a bit slower and more methodical. Along with the slow speed, the enemies are also pretty slow in the smarts department, if you get my drift. It’s not difficult to corner an enemy to bomb them – even when they have escape routes that they can use. It’s generally more difficult to find an exit before the time limit expires…especially if you aren’t lucky enough to find power-ups that make it easier to bomb stuff, like the ability to use multiple bombs at once and increasing the range of the blast. That said, this is still a decent game, and it obviously gained a decent following when it was released given the countless sequels that have spawned from this title. Later games in the series are better, but if you’re curious about the origins of Bomberman, you probably won’t regret spending your time with the original game in the franchise. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/28/2019 Math Gran Prix Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1982 (NA) Developer Atari Genre Racing - Education My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 68.54/100 Math Gran Prix would have been a game that I loved when I was a kid if I had owned it. I was fond of educational games with a twist to them, and Math Grand Prix was essentially a board game where instead of rolling dice to advance, you just solved basic math problems. It's a very basic game, but considering the target audience, it didn't need to be really fancy. It lacks enough variety for me to give it a higher score, but it's still a quality game in the education genre, and one that would have been worth playing if you were a young’un back when the game was initially released. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/28/2020 All-Star Fruit Racing Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date July 13, 2018 (EU) Developer 3DClouds Genre Racing My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 62.77/100 All-Star Fruit Racing is an all-female racing game. Why? I’d love to drive in a car throwing giant blueberries at people and I’m a guy. Why can’t I be included? This game is sexist!!!...Well, it kind of is, just not in that way. Honestly, when a game is marketed towards female gamers, it’s like it’s gotta be a dress-up game or involve food. I know plenty of lady folk that like games like the Legend of Zelda and such. Good games don’t need a gender-focused gimmick to be enjoyed by everyone. Anyway, now that I’ve gotten off my soapbox, All-Star Fruit Racing really isn’t that bad. I honestly expected that this game would wind up on the bottom end of this list…or top end, since it counts down…you know what I mean. But, this really isn’t a bad game. Nobody will confuse it for Mario Kart, mind you, and some of the tracks feel kind of bland design-wise, but for the most part, the racing is mildly fun and the visuals aren’t too shabby, either. Overall, it’s a decent racing game on the Switch, and any fan of racing games will likely find at least some mild enjoyment here if they give it a chance. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/17/2022 Vigilante 8 Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date June 1, 1998 (NA) Developer Luxoflux, Inc. Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 74.99/100 I never really got into Vigilante 8. It always seemed to me like it was a Twisted Metal rip-off more than an alternative game in the car combat genre. It's not bad or anything…it just always felt like I'd rather pop one of the first two Twisted Metal games in my Playstation than this game. Basically, in Vigilante 8, instead of the game being a battle royal of misfits, like in Sony's car combat series, it's more like a team of misfits versus another team of misfits affair…well, in story, anyway. I found most of the playable characters to be pretty boring. I really had no interest in playing through with every character to see their story unfold - most of them just looked boring, in my opinion. In contrast, the characters in Twisted Metal were so varied and interesting, I generally looked forward to playing as everyone in those games - even during some of the lower-quality entries in the franchise. The game mostly plays like Twisted Metal as well, further making it feel like a game trying to copy what was successful instead of feeling like a game that brought any worthwhile new ideas to the concept of car combat. Now, don't get me wrong, like I said at the beginning, this isn't a bad game, and it's nice that since this was released on the Nintendo 64 as well, that Nintendo fans could experience some car combat on their console, but as someone that spent plenty of hours with the Twisted Metal games, Vigilante 8 just fails to duplicate the overall experience of when the Twisted Metal games were at their best. Still, if you enjoy car combat games, I'm sure you'll find something to like here. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/12/2019 Mario Bros. Platform NES Initial Release Date September 9, 1983 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 69.99/100 Before Super Mario Bros. made Mario and Luigi household names and iconic video game characters, they starred in Mario Bros., a simple, one-screen platformer. Basically, the goal is to eliminate all enemies on the screen by either hitting the ground beneath them or using the POW block to flip them over. Once flipped over, you want to kick them into the water below. If you take too long, fireballs will appear and float around the screen. The game boasts 100 levels, though honestly, if you’ve played 15-20 of them, you’ve played them all. There’s no speed change as you advance (that I noticed anyway) and the enemies that appear and their patterns seem to just repeat themselves as you play. All in all, Mario Bros. is a decent game, but it pales in comparison to nearly ever other game that the two brothers have found themselves in since. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/24/2019 Fatal Run Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1990 (NA) Developer Sculptured Software Genre Racing My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 70.70/100 Fatal Run is a decently-made racing game that, unfortunately, was a few years behind both in terms of gameplay and the hardware that it was on. Games like OutRun and Rad Racer, with similar gameplay, had already been out for years when Fatal Run came out and both were superior games. That said, it IS impressive that this game is on the Atari 2600, and had it been released back in the late 70's or early 80's, it would have been amazing for its time...Unfortunately, that's not the case, and Fatal Run was just too little, too late. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/05/2019 Wild Gunman Platform NES Initial Release Date February 8, 1984 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre 1st Person Shooter - Light Gun My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 70.92/100 Of the three North American NES launch light gun games, Wild Gunman probably had the most personality out of the three. However, despite the personality, it probably had the least amount of substance. Unlike Duck Hunt with moving targets, or Hogan’s Alley with a unique extra mode to add replay value, Wild Gunman is 66.6% about old Western duels and 33.3% about the old pop-a-mole games, but with bullets and outlaws instead of mallets and moles. It’s not a bad game by any stretch and if you’re looking for a game to pass 10 minutes, Wild Gunman is an excellent choice. However, if you plan on playing for more than 10 minutes, Wild Gunman’s welcome may wear itself thin pretty quickly. It’s a passable light gun game, but the weakest of the NES launch trilogy. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/23/2022 Barbie Super Model Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1992 (NA) Developer Tahoe Software Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 57.16/100 Yes, a grown adult male played Barbie Super Model just to add it to this list. DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT?! That’s what I thought. Just gotta puff your chest out a little and you can be a grown man playing Barbie games all you want. Anyway, this game actually surprised me. I was expecting it to be absolutely awful, but it’s actually a passable game. Granted, this is designed for young children to play, so it’s not a masterpiece, but I definitely believe that if you popped this in for a young’un today, they’d enjoy it just as much as children likely enjoyed it when it was released. The concept here is simple - traverse forward in a level, picking up a shopping bag along the way. That takes you to a mini-game where you see Barbie on the cover of a magazine and your goal is to memorize her look and then duplicate it. Once that’s complete, you continue forward until you hit the end of the level (which is actually the middle) where you practice your moves on the runway. Once you’ve got that memorized, you head backwards in the level, back where you came from and pick up a camera along the way. That will take you to a make-up mini-game, which is the same as the other mini game except the focus is on her face and hair, not the whole outfit. After that mini-game is complete, you finish making your way to the end of the level where you perform the runway moves that you had practiced at the midway point. I honestly can’t find a lot of flaws here. Yes, it’s easy and repetitive since it was made for kids, but this is also a surprisingly, overall decent game. Adults won’t really find much to enjoy if they play this game, but it’s still a very well-made game for children just old enough to play video games, and possibly even a little older than that. Tahoe Software did a good job here. Played on: Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/15/2023 Frame Gride Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date July 15, 1999 (JP) Developer From Software Genre Fighting My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 71.39/100 I've never been real big on the mech games…I can play them, and I can appreciate them for what they are, but I don't think I'd ever go out of my way to play one, to be honest. Frame Gride did have my interest for a bit, though, as I was absolutely blown away by the graphics it had for the time. Honestly, it still looks pretty nice today, considering the hardware it was running on. But unfortunately, great graphics can only get you so far. That's not to say that Frame Gride is a bad game. It's not. And if the idea of a free-roaming 3D fighter where you control giant mechs sounds good to you, you may enjoy this game a bit more than I did. The fact that I'm not really interested in mechs, combined with the fact that I'd prefer a traditional 2D fighting game over a 3D fighter any day of the week, just resulted in me thinking that this game was simply so-so. Still, if you're a fan of From Software's recent games like Elden Ring, then it may be worth checking out some of their earlier titles like this fella right here. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/26/2021 Tetrisphere Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date August 11, 1997 (NA) Developer H2O Interactive Genre Puzzle My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 75.91/100 Tetrisphere is kinda like a matching puzzle game mixed together with a rubix cube...but in a sphere. Basically, instead of dropping blocks into the sphere, your goal is to shift the location of pieces to make them disappear until you reach the center of the sphere where a living creature is hiding. Yes, some jerk stuck a creature in a sphere with no air holes…is this one of them Pokeballs or something? How do they breathe in there without any airholes? I suppose it’s probably a robot here, but what about those poor creatures in Pokemon? Someone should contact PETA. Anyway, back to Tetrisphere and away from animal abuse, there are a variety of modes here to keep fans of the game busy, coming back for more. If you like puzzle games, and find yourself enjoying Tetrisphere, then you’ll have plenty to keep you busy. Unfortunately, I just never got hooked. It’s an okay puzzle game, but not my cup of tea. It’s still worth checking out if you’re a fan of the genre, though. You may find yourself liking it more than I did. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/12/2024 Kero Kero Keroppi no Daibouken Platform NES Initial Release Date March 29, 1991 (JP) Developer Pax Softonica Genre Puzzle My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 64.21/100 I discovered Kero Kero Keroppi no Daibouken earlier this year when I completed Kero Kero King on February 28th. Then I realized that this was a leap year, and I wanted to find a quick-ish frog game that I could complete on the 29th, since I felt like I had finished Kero Kero King a day earlier than I should have. Dumb, I know, but that dumb thinking led me to this game, a decent little puzzle game that I would say is a perfect action puzzle game for young children except for one small problem - the difficulty. That's not to say that the game as a whole is difficult. It's not. The majority of the game is extremely easy, with some levels being as simple as walking a set path to your destination without leaving the trail. However, there are a handful of stages where the game jumps from a level being a piece of cake to a level where you're choking on the cake and waiting for someone to come save you with the heimlich. These difficult stages are probably good for a young child's growth, but they feel out of place considering how simple the other stages are. Anyway, if you're looking for a decent action puzzle game, Kero Kero Keroppi no Daibouken isn't bad…just be prepared for a mixture of mind-numbingly easy and frustratingly difficult puzzles without too many of them falling in the "just right" difficulty range. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/05/2022 Radikal Bikers Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date July 1999 (EU) Developer Bit Managers Genre Racing My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 68.41/100 Radikal Bikers is one of those games that had a worldwide arcade release, but when it got ported to the Playstation, for some reason, it never found its way outside of Europe. It's kind of a shame, because Radikal Bikers honestly isn't awful. Essentially, in this game you're a pizza delivery driver on an Italian scooter. Your goal is to make it to the finish line to deliver your pizza before the computer (who is also carrying a pizza and driving an Italian scooter) delivers their pizza first. Apparently these people order pizzas from two different stores and tell them "whoever gets here fastest gets my money, and the other one is out of luck." Anyway, as you race against your rival, you can pick up power-ups to boost your speed temporarily or give you the ability to kick traffic out of your way…which makes the kicked vehicle explode…I guess burning cars are a way to keep the pizza hot prior to delivery? While this is all mildly fun, there just isn't a ton of content here. You've got different characters to race with and a few different areas (from Italy, France, the UK, and the United States) but after an hour or two, you'll likely be feeling like you've already seen everything that there is to see here. Still, Radikal Bikers is a mildly fun experience and if you can track down a copy, it can be a nice way to pass a few minutes without having to pop quarters in an arcade cabinet. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/14/2022 Bang Bang Racing Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date June 5, 2012 (NA) Developer Digital Reality Genre Racing My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 69.51/100 Bang Bang Racing, at first glance, looks like a racing game that I would absolutely love. It has a perspective from up top, like many of the retro racing games I love, and it has unique tracks to race on with plenty of shortcuts and alternate routes to take advantage of, like many of the arcade racing games I love. Unfortunately, while I enjoy Bang Bang Racing to a degree, it's proof to the rule that just because you love two things, it doesn't mean they go together. I love chocolate and comfortable shoes, but if I combined the two, I'd have a pretty big mess. The downside to the perspective that the game has and the hidden shortcuts is that you don't have to discover them…they're pretty obvious, oftentimes even having tire marks to essentially spell it out for you that you're looking at a shortcut. The fun in having hidden shortcuts in a racing game is that they're hidden, and you find it just by goofing around in the game. When they're obvious, it's not really a hidden shortcut…it's a faster alternate route at that point. That's a minor gripe, though. I'm also not really a fan of the controls. They feel too loose, so the result is that it takes a while to feel like you really control the car. The controls feeling a bit loose and sloppy isn't just about staying on the track - the computer cars act so odd that you need tighter controls to simply avoid them otherwise you'll probably see yourself in a pileup during a turn. Control complaints aside, Bang Bang Racing is still a decent racing game. It's got enough positives that I think most racing fans will enjoy it, but not enough to fully make up for some of its negatives. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/23/2024 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Fighting Edition Platform Super NES Initial Release Date September 1995 (NA) Developer Natsume Genre Fighting My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 73.20/100 Honestly, I expected Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Fighting Edition to be quite a bit worse than it actually is. I expected a clunky, awkward fighting game and instead a got an unremarkable, but not necessarily bad fighting game. I've never seen a single episode of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, truth be told, so I have no idea who any of these characters are, or if they're popular with the Power Ranger fanbase. I just know that it has an average-sized roster of fighters for games of its time, it has average fighting gameplay, and it just feels like an average game all around. That's really the only major complaint I have - it's so average that nothing really stands out. Take the Power Ranger license away and you'd have a decent fighting game that's not awful, but is nowhere near the quality of games like Street Fighter II. So, if you're a fan of the Power Rangers, then you'll probably be happy with this game as it is. If you're not a fan of the Rangers, you probably won't be upset that you gave this game a try, but you may be wishing that you were playing a better fighting game instead. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/10/2019 Touch the Dead Platform Nintendo DS Initial Release Date May 16, 2007 (NA) Developer DREAM ON STUDIO Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 66.22/100 Touch the Dead is a fun (and difficult) rail shooter where you shoot up zombies while frantically re-loading in hopes that you can survive long enough to continue shooting down the undead around you before they undead you...I don't know if undead works as a verb. Oh well, it does for this comment. It's my comment and I'll do as I please, dang it. Anyway, Touch the Dead is surprisingly good, but also has a pretty high difficulty to it, so it may frustrate some players...I'm not particularly good at it myself, but I still enjoy the high difficulty attached to it - if I ever beat it I'll feel like I accomplished something nerdy that I can brag about. Played on: Nintendo DS Also known as: Dead 'n' Furious (Europe)

Date added: 03/06/2022 Street Fighter EX Plus Alpha Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date July 17, 1997 (JP) Developer Arika Genre Fighting My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 75.30/100 If you go into this game ready to compare it to the 2D Street Fighter games, you'll probably hate it. If you go into it willing to judge it as its own game, it's not so bad. Street Fighter EX Plus Alpha was the series' first foray into the realm of 3D, and the result was a slower-paced Street Fighter game along with some interesting (and also some lame) new characters to toss in along with some old favorites like Ryu, Ken, and Chun Li. EX Plus Alpha definitely could have been better, but for what it is, it's really not too shabby. If you're looking for a decent fighting game to play on the original Playstation, then you'll probably find something to enjoy here. If you only want to play the best of the best fighting games, then unfortunately, Street Fighter EX Plus Alpha does not belong in that category. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 Deep Dungeons of Doom Platform Ouya Initial Release Date March 24, 2013 (NA) Developer Bossa Studios Genre RPG My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 67.57/100 Deep Dungeons of Doom is an okay little RPG, but it’s not overly great by any means. If Curtis Iaukea was screaming play-by-play of the game at my while I played, I would probably think this was the greatest game of all-time…But unfortunately, there’s no King Curtis in this Dungeon of Doom. Anyway, back to the game - you start off controlling a Crusader and make your way through a dungeon, battling one opponent after another in 1-on-1, turn-based combat. It almost feels like a rhythm game, as you have to wait for the time gauge to fill for the attack and defense icons in order to use them. So, if you time it right, like in a rhythm game, you’ll have more opportunities to attack and/or defend, in theory. But anyway, as you enter more dungeons, you can acquire more folks for your party, but the battles still remain a solo activity regardless. I found myself really enjoying this game at first…then the more I played, the more bored I got. Yes, enemies provide different tactics and patterns later, but it still essentially remains the same thing dungeon after dungeon. I still enjoy this game, and I may go back and play it a little bit every now and then, but after 30 minutes of play, I’ll probably be ready to move onto something else again. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/21/2023 Bugs Bunny Birthday Blowout Platform NES Initial Release Date August 3, 1990 (JP) Developer Kenco Genre Platformer My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 67.76/100 Bugs Bunny Birthday Blowout was one of the games I received as a young child, ironically for my birthday. As a Looney Tunes fanatic young'un, I immediately fell in love with this game, even though it's a bit too easy. By too easy, I mean it's very likely that you'll rack up over 90 extra lives before you reach the end of this game thanks to the whack-a-mole mini game that pops up between stages. Why a whack-a-mole mini game in a game starring Bugs Bunny? Well, because in this game ol' Bugs is armed with a large mallet, of course. As you may your way through the levels, you'll find yourself against plenty of non-Looney Tunes enemies (like my personal favorite, a walking box of soap) that populate said levels, with a Looney Tunes character waiting for you at the end of the level, trying to prevent you from advancing on. The gameplay isn't quite as smooth and the controls aren't quite as tight as I wish they were, but they're not awful and it doesn't take long to adapt to them. Overall, Birthday Blowout could have been a better game with little tweaks here and there, but it's fine for what it is and it's a decent little platformer if you come across it - just don't expect much of a challenge. Played on: NES Also known as: Happy Birthday Bugs (Japan), The Bugs Bunny Blowout (Europe)

Date added: 10/05/2022 Simple 2000 Series Vol. 95: The Zombie vs. Kyuukyuusha Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date February 9, 2006 (JP) Developer Vingt-et-un Systems Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 60.78/100 As soon as I saw this game, I immediately thought that this absolutely had to be a so-bad-it's-good game. With a name like "The Zombie vs. Kyuukyuusha," there's nothing else it could be. Basically, kyuukyuusha, in Japanese, means ambulance. And like the title suggests, you're driving an ambulance in a zombie apocalypse. The goal is simple - plow through zombies as frequently as you can to build up combos, stopping to pick up survivors along the way. Picking up survivors is similar to Crazy Taxi, but without time limits. The only real time that you'll want to speed to the hospital after picking up a survivor is if a zombie manages to latch on to your ambulance - in that instance, the zombie will hack away at the health meter for the ambulance until it's game over. While this all sounds like it's be fun, this is often a pretty slow-paced game, and often uneventful. Also, due to the limitations of the Playstation 2 (and due to the fact that the Simple 2000 games were essentially bargain bin games) there aren't a lot of zombies out on the streets, so stringing together combos for mowing them down feels like it has much more to do with luck, regarding where and when the zombies spawn, than it has to do with skill. If this game had been released a generation later, games like Dead Rising show that these streets could have been absolutely littered with the undead, which would have made this game much more action-packed. This game, known as Zombie Virus in Europe, isn't very good…but it's a guilty pleasure of mine anyway. I think if someone tried to bring this concept to present-day consoles, and tweaked the Crazy Taxi-like aspects of picking up survivors, you may actually have a really, really fun game on your hands. But for what this game is, it's mildly fun…it just may be a bit on the boring side for some. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: Zombie Virus (Europe)

Date added: 09/19/2022 Alien Syndrome Platform Sega Master System Initial Release Date October 18, 1987 (JP) Developer Sega Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 68.47/100 Alien Syndrome wasn't a smash hit at the arcades for Sega, but it was definitely successful enough for it to be ported to pretty much every platform of the time, even finding its way over to the NES, thanks to Tengen. For those who haven't played, Alien Syndrome is basically a top-down, 3rd person shooter. Your goal is to find your way through each stage (7 in total) and find the exit, but not before finding and freeing the hostages in the level. Yes, rather than simply murder them, the aliens just took them hostage…kind of merciful of them, don't you think? As you run and gun through each stage, you'll come across various alien types and all that fun stuff. The levels can feel a bit tedious, though, even with the various alien types to shoot at. Playing with a friend can help that aspect a little bit, but even then, you'll probably be completely ready for the game to end by the time you reach the final level. Still, Alien Syndrome can still feel fun for a while, and the folks that stick with it will find some entertaining boss fights at the end of each level. Alien Syndrome isn't the greatest game ever made, but it's a decent game for fans of 3rd person shooters…just be aware that you'll likely be ready for the game to end before the game itself is ready to end. Played on: Sega Master System Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/30/2019 Ridge Racer Revolution Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date December 3, 1995 (JP) Developer Namco Genre Racing My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 73.86/100 Ridge Racer Revolution is slightly bigger and slightly better than the original Ridge Racer, but very much feels like the same game. That's not necessarily a bad thing, mind you, as the original Ridge Racer was a very solid racing title...But when you've got "Revolution" in the title, it kind of makes someone expect more than a game that just feels like an enhanced version of the original. That said, this is still a good, solid racing game, and if you're a fan of the series and don't own the original Ridge Racer, then this one is worth getting. If you do, then unless you're absolutely obsessed with the game and desperate for more, I'd skip this one and more on to the next games in the series. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/31/2019 Time Stalkers Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date September 15, 1999 (JP) Developer Climax Entertainment Genre RPG My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 51.98/100 Time Stalkers has an interesting premise - chunks of various worlds disappear and reappear in some strange realm, lumped together with each other. Your goal is to figure out why, protect the people living on those chunks of land, and find a way to get everyone back from where they came from while exploring dungeons and beating bosses....Unfortunately, the gameplay isn't nearly as interesting as the story. Very basic dungeon crawling mixed with equally basic turn-based battles creates a game that already begins to feel dull within the first hour of playing. Nothing is technically "bad" here, it's all passable....but without much meat to the combat or exploration, I can't imagine that too many folks would stick with this game until the end. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: Climax Landers (Japan)

Date added: 07/17/2020 Ikari Warriors Platform NES Initial Release Date November 26, 1986 (JP) Developer Micronics Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 62.78/100 Forget Contra, Ikari Warriors is probably the hardest run-and-gun style game that I’ve beaten. Instead of being side-scrolling like the Konami classic, Ikari Warriors is a vertical-scrolling run-and-gun game. The soldier you control usually walks at a snails pace, you have limited bullets and grenades, and sometimes the graphics make it difficult to see enemy bullets on the screen…so attempting to complete all of the huge levels in Ikari Warriors, in my opinion, is even more of a daunting task than shooting your way through the short-in-comparison levels of Contra. That said, I keep making the comparison between Contra and Ikari Warriors, but in terms of gameplay quality, I think Contra is far superior. Ikari Warriors, however, is still a decent game, and one that has itself a solid fanbase. If you’re a fan of tough-as-nails shooters from the 8-bit era, then you’ll likely enjoy your time with Ikari Warriors. Played on: NES Also known as: Ikari (Japan)

Date added: 02/13/2023 Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors' Dreams Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date 1999 (NA) Developer Crawfish Interactive Genre Fighting My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 72.48/100 When you compare the Game Boy Color version of Street Fighter Alpha to fighting games of today, it looks pretty terrible...But surprisingly enough, it plays pretty dang well. You'll only find the basics here, in terms of modes, arcade mode and training mode, but for a plain, ol' Game Boy Color game, I don't think most folks could expect too much more. Honestly, I expected this to be a pretty poor, bare-bones fighter, but instead I got a game that played pretty smoothly and while it's nowhere near the quality of the console or arcade games with the same name, it was a pretty solid fighting game back in the 90's when you wanted a fighting game to play on the go. It's not perfect, but for the hardware it was designed for, it may be one of the best options on the Game Boy Color is you're looking to kick some heads in. Played on: Game Boy Color Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/03/2022 Star Wars: The Arcade Game Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer Parker Bros. Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 73.30/100 I'm not a Star Wars fan. I tried to be in middle school, but it just ultimately couldn't hold my interest. That said, certain video games based off of the Star Wars franchise aren't too shabby, and the Star Wars Arcade game Is one of them. Surprisingly enough, this Atari 2600 port of the game isn't too bad in its own right. Renamed on the Atari as Star Wars: The Arcade Game, while it's not a perfect port (this IS the Atari 2600, afterall) it does a decent job of bringing the cockpit-point-of-view shooter of the arcade game to your living room. It even has a fairly impressive-for-its-time 3rd area that you fly through even being designed to look like a crude 3D environment. Anyway, if you like the arcade game, and don't mind a simplified version of that, then you'll likely enjoy this game. Likewise if you just want a solid shooter on the Atari 2600, this game might be up your alley as well. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/25/2020 WWF Royal Rumble Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date September 15, 1993 (NA) Developer Sculptured Software Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 68.58/100 WWF Royal Rumble, whether it be on Genesis or Super NES, was always a favorite of mine as a kid. Admittedly, though, I preferred the Genesis version for its talent roster. The Royal Rumble was always my favorite pay-per-view of the year, so being able to play a Rumble match in a game was a dream come true. This is one of the more solid, early WWF Acclaim titles...Unfortunately, it's still not that great, especially when compared to the wrestling games that the folks in the Land of the Rising Sun got during this time period. All wrestlers have the same move sets, aside from finishing moves, which makes this game get repetitive rather quickly...But still, the inclusion of the Royal Rumble match, which is pretty fun (and complete with stats at the end based on your performance) is enough to make this a worthwhile game for wrestling fans...Though non-wrestling fans may not find a whole lot to like here. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/21/2020 Zombie Apocalypse Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date September 14, 2009 (EU) Developer Nihilistic Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 72.92/100 Zombie Apocalypse is kinda like Geometry Wars, but with geometrical shapes replaced with zombies and the beautiful lighting effects replaced with dreary, dark landscapes of a post-pandemic world. It’s not as solid as Geometry Wars, but Zombie Apocalypse is a surprisingly solid twin-stick shooter. I say surprisingly solid because even back when it was released, I remember hearing almost nothing about the game and until returning to it for this list, I had completely forgotten all about it myself. Anyway, like many twin-stick shooters, Zombie Apocalypse starts out slow, but gradually gets more chaotic as each level progresses. Various zombie types, like knife-throwing grannies and bearhugging construction workers help keep the shooting from becoming boring, as do the survivors that you need to try to protect until a helicopter flies by to save them. Overall, this is a solid game. If you like twin-stick shooters you could do much worse than Zombie Apocalypse. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/28/2022 Gremlins 2: The New Batch Platform NES Initial Release Date October 1990 (NA) Developer SunSoft Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 73.95/100 At first glance, Gremlins 2: The New Batch looks a bit like the Zelda games, but starring a furry li'l mogwai instead of a feller in elf clothing. However, except for the similar top-down perspective, the games aren't really too similar. The Legend of Zelda is about exploration and using your brain to make your way to the end. Gremlins 2 doesn't really have a lot of exploration and it's far more about action than anything else….and some platforming. I've never liked platforming in games with a top-down perspective. I've always just thought that it feels awkward…and it does here, too. Though, in honesty, I took complete advantage of the pits in later levels of the game since you can collect and purchase balloons that not only save you from the pits, but it makes you invincible for a while, so you can advance on a bit in a level without fear of losing any health aside from what was lost from the initial pit fall. Overall, Gremlins 2 does deliver a decent experience. It's not great, but it's fine for what it is. The action can be fun, especially the boss fights, but you can find better alternatives on the NES if you try looking as well. But, for a game based off of a movie, Gremlins 2 could have been much, much worse. If you're a fan of the Gremlins films, or just want to play a decent action game as a mogwai, then you may find some enjoyment in The New Batch like I did. Played on: NES Also known as: Gremlins 2: Shinshu Tanjou (Japan)

Date added: 07/22/2019 Bus Driver Platform PC Initial Release Date March 22, 2007 (NA) Developer SCS Software Genre Action My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 66.39/100 Bus Driver is a decent simulation of driving a bus. You drive to your stops and pick-up/drop off passengers, all while obeying traffic laws, and driving safely so you're not scaring your passengers. From school buses to city buses, there's plenty to drive in...And while it's fun, it does get kind of old after a while. Obeying traffic laws and all that fun stuff is enjoyable at first, but after a while, it begins to feel repetitive. After an hour or so, I was left wishing that this game played more like Crazy Taxi, where traffic laws went out the window and off-road shortcuts were the norm. But, for what it is, Bus Driver is still a pretty fun game...But if you want some real, chaotic fun involving picking up and dropping off passengers, go play some Crazy Taxi. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/26/2022 Kenseiden Platform Sega Master System Initial Release Date June 2, 1988 (JP) Developer Sega Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 72.58/100 Kenseiden kind of has a classic Castlevania feel to it….except set in Japan instead of Europe, with you controlling a samurai slashing through various creatures from Japanese folklore. Much like Castlevania, it's not a game that most people are going to beat in their first attempt. The slow movement speed of that character that you control along with the fact that you're pushed back a good amount when you get hit, can often lead to you getting knocked back into a pit for an instant death. Most fans of the classic Castlevania games are used to these things, but I could easily see them annoying newcomers…and I'd argue that Kenseiden's controls aren't quite as smooth as Castlevania's, which may add to the frustration. On the plus side, Kenseiden does add a little to the formula to prevent itself from simply being a Castlevania clone. The main addition is that defeating each boss gives you a new ability, like being able to jump higher or block projectile attacks. While this is a neat concept for the most part, it is possible to find yourself missing needed abilities in later levels, because progression in the game isn't linear, so aside from being neat, it can also be a bit of a pain ..then you're forced to backtrack and hope that you find the level with the ability you need in it so you can advance on. Flaws aside, though, Kenseiden isn't a terrible game and fans of the Castlevania franchise will likely like what they find here. Unfortunately, the quality never quite reaches the quality of Konami's beloved franchise, though. Played on: Sega Master System Also known as: Hwarang-ui Geom (Korea)

Date added: 08/19/2022 Godzilla Platform Turbografx-CD Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Alfa System Genre Fighting My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 68.27/100 I'm a Godzilla fan. Games or movies, it doesn’t matter…I just enjoy that big, ol' reptile and his gigantic friends and enemies. This game, one of the few games released in North America for the TurboGrafx-CD, and while it's definitely flawed, it's still a game that I think any Godzilla fan would find some enjoyment in anyway. Essentially, the premise of the game is that you control Godzilla, participating in one-on-one battles against various enemies from his various films. Oddly enough, one of the more popular characters in the film, Mothra, is absent here. But most other favorites like Mechagodzilla and King Ghidorah are present, with a cast of 15 enemies total to beat up on in the story (arcade) mode. The combat, however, isn't perfect by any means. It can take some getting used to, but once you've got it down, it can be mildly enjoyable to perform various special moves to your opponents and watch them go down in defeat. The other downside to the combat is that in the single player mode, Godzilla is your only option. You're unable to control the other monsters and play through the story mode. If you want to control the other monsters, however, and you've got a friend that's ready to brawl, you can control them there. It's not the same as being able to use them in single player, but at least it's something. While nobody will ever confuse Godzilla for being one of the greatest fighting games ever made, it does enough where most Godzilla fans will be happy with the experience. If you're not a Godzilla fan, however, you probably won't play this for too long before moving on to something else. Played on: Turbografx-CD Also known as: Godzilla: Bakutou Retsuden (Japan)

Date added: 10/08/2021 Narcosis Platform PC Initial Release Date March 28, 2017 (NA) Developer Honor Code, Inc. Genre Adventure My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 70.30/100 Narcosis seems like a perfect game for me. I like horror games. I like underwater scenery. I get both in one package here. And for the most part, I did enjoy this game, but I can also definitely see why some folks may not like it. First, if you hate “walking simulators,” much of the game could fit into that category. Likewise if you want a lot of action and blowing stuff up, you also won’t find any of that here. Narcosis is all about atmosphere and story, with gameplay kind of taking a back seat. Like I mentioned before, it’s not for everyone, but if you’re okay with a slower-paced game with a dark, underwater world to explore, then you’ll probably like it like I did. If you’re hoping for a survival horror game with an option to shoot your way out of hairy situations, then you may wind up disappointed here. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/15/2020 Naughty Bear Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date June 25, 2010 (NA) Developer Artificial Mind and Movement Genre Action My Score 5.0/10 Avg. Score 54.18/100 Don't get me wrong, Naughty Bear has a ton of flaws - the biggest one being that the controls don't work until you install a game update...so if you lack an internet connection, you're stuck with broken controls. But even with this game's flaws...I absolutely love it. It's just mindless fun. It’s my PS3 guilty pleasure. Basically, this is a slasher movie hidden behind adorable teddy bears and scenery, and you’re Jason Bearhees…yup, that’s the best pun I’ve got. Sorry if it was un-bearable. Anyway, I almost get sadistic joy in murdering my fellow teddy bears in horrific ways...Especially with the gentle, child show-like narrator voice telling me to kill or “defluff” them all. Imagine the game Manhunt, but with adorable teddy bears in the place of the gritty psychopaths of that game, and you've kind of got an idea of what to expect here. It's not a great game by any means, but I do find it quite fun from time to time. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/14/2019 Xevious Platform NES Initial Release Date November 8, 1984 (JP) Developer Namco Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 64.37/100 Xevious is an okay scrolling shooter that has an aspect to the gameplay that makes it a bit unique…not only do you shoot at enemies in the sky, but you also have to shoot at enemies on the ground. Sometimes it’s only one or the other, but the game really gets chaotic when you have to shoot both at once. Shooting enemies in the sky is normal shooter action. Shooting enemies on the ground requires more timing and strategy, since you have to line up your crosshairs slightly away from the enemy then fire and wait for the bomb to drop, and hope that you hit. While it’s a nice novelty at first, the gameplay does feel repetitive after a while and only the most diehard scrolling shooter fans will likely stick around for more than 10 minutes at a time. If you’d like to play one of the more innovative scrolling shooters for its time, Xevious is worth checking out…just don’t expect for the thrills to last very long. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/28/2019 WWF Wrestlemania Challenge Platform NES Initial Release Date November 1990 (NA) Developer Rare Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 64.78/100 WWF Wrestlemania Challenge was a huge step-up from Rare's previous attempt at a wrestling game with WWF Wrestlemania. Each wrestler is unique, with their own move sets and finishers, and different match types (singles, tag team, and Survivor Series six-man tag) ensure that you've got a decent amount of replay value here. The downside is that the computer seems to spend much of its time running away from you, resulting you chasing them until they run into one of your moves...Which is rather boring. Even when the computer isn't running away, the gameplay is passable, but not great. This is probably the best WWF game available on the NES, but it still doesn't come close to matching the quality of the early NES title - Pro Wrestling. Best WWF game on the NES, but definitely not the best wrestling game. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/03/2019 The Order: 1886 Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date February 20, 2015 (W) Developer Ready at Dawn Genre Action My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 62.93/100 I've seen a lot of mixed reviews about The Order - some love it, some hate it. I can see both sides. The story telling is good, the graphics and voice acting are fantastic, and the setting is unique and different. I don't really consider it to be the "interactive movie" that people complaining about it claim it to be. There are definitely slow spots in the game, but there's plenty of action as well. My only real gripe with The Order: 1886 is that it was clearly made with sequels planned down the road - the game ends when the story really just seems to be getting started. When/if more games get made, I'm assuming it'll be neat to work through the story one game at a time, but right now it's kind of irritating with the game ending with so many loose ends. Anyway, The Order isn't for everyone, but it's not bad either. Could it be better? Sure. But it could also be much, much worse. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/05/2024 Final Fight Revenge Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date March 30, 2000 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 65.74/100 Final Fight: Revenge came out in Japan a few years after Sega had already stopped supporting the Saturn in North America. In fact, I believe it may have been the last "official" release for the Saturn, though I'd have to double-check to verify that. Anyway, rather than give players a new Final Fight brawler, Capcom decided to give fans a 3D fighting game, with Final Fight characters duking it out. The end result is…well, underwhelming. It's not a bad fighting game by any means, but with Capcom's reputation for putting out great fighting games, especially back when this game came out, it simply doesn't live up to what you might hope it would be. Still, if you're a fan of the Final Fight franchise, you may find some enjoyment brawling it out with popular characters from the games. Again, the gameplay itself isn't awful by any means…but it's pretty basic, and it may take a little bit to get used to how everything works - it's not as pick-up-and-play as some fighters, like Street Fighter II. Anyway, if you decide to import this game, it's actually fully in English, so it's import-friendly for non-Japanese speaking players. If you enjoy fighting games and/or the Final Fight franchise, this is worth tracking down for the novelty of it. Otherwise, I wouldn't really recommend it over any of the other, excellent fighting games on the Saturn. Played on: Saturn Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/27/2021 Lotus Turbo Challenge Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1992 (NA) Developer Gremlin Interactive Genre Racing My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 67.93/100 If you've never played Lotus Turbo Challenge, imagine Rad Racer in 16-bits. It’s not just Rad Racer in 16-bit, though. The main difference is that in Rad Racer, you’re basically just avoiding other vehicles as you race to the finish line. In Lotus Turbo Challenge, you don’t just have other vehicles on the road that you have to maneuver around, but you also have various obstacles littering the road...like logs, rocks, and puddles. The end result is pretty enjoyable - it's not perfect, but it's a nice spin on the formula. If you're looking for a racing game on the Genesis, this one is a decent one to try, though I can’t imagine that it will have most folks coming back over and over for more. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/14/2020 Lucha Libre AAA: Heroes del Ring Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date October 12, 2010 (NA) Developer Immersion Software & Graphics Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 61.21/100 I'll be honest with you, I mostly enjoyed my time with this game...But, in fairness, when it comes to professional wrestling games, I'll almost always enjoy myself. That said, Lucha Libre AAA is a very neat game for fans of lucha libre and the AAA promotion in Mexico, but it's not exactly the best game in the world. First off, there's not much to do here. If you're dedicated enough, I'm sure that you could beat everything in the game, unlock all wrestlers, and get all achievements/trophies within a single day. I had both story modes beaten and all characters unlocked in the span of roughly five hours. Aside from the not-so-overwhelming amount of content, this game is loaded with bugs and glitches. Another complaint I have is the speed. Lucha is a high-flying, fast, agility-based form of professional wrestling...So why is this such a slow, methodical game? And while I understand certain limitations are put on the game, which prevents these things, but a lucha libre game without options for trios or atomicos matches just seems incomplete. All that said, if you know who El Zorro, Chessman, El Elegido and Dr. Wagner Jr. are, then you'll likely find enjoyment here anyway. If you have no interest in lucha libre, then this will just seem like a below-par wrestling title that is moderately fun, but nowhere near the quality of THQ's WWE games from the same time. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/16/2019 Devil World Platform NES Initial Release Date October 5, 1984 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Action My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 68.5/100 Devil World is the only Miyamoto game to never make it to North America – basically, Nintendo of America’s strict ban on any religious content made it so that North America would be the only region that would not see this game released in…and while it can be kind of fun at first, we honestly didn’t miss out on too much. Each round consists of 3 stages – a Pac-Man-like stage where you collect pellets, a stage where you collect four bibles and place them into each of the four slots in the devil hole, and lastly, a bonus stage where you can rack up points and (if you’re lucky) extra lives. Devil World is fun...but at times it can also be very cheap. The game may spawn you in a location for guaranteed death. While you somewhat have control over when you “hatch” out of your respawn egg, you don’t have control where you hatch out. I also had the game lock me into a spot behind the very edge of a corner of a wall as I was trying to squeeze through during a scroll. 99% past the wall, still death. Overall, for an early Famicom game, it’s not bad, but it wasn’t long before Miyamoto made plenty of other games that put this one to shame. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/18/2019 Nightmare Creatures Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date September 30, 1997 (NA) Developer Kalisto Genre Brawler My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 72.59/100 Nightmare Creatures is basically a 3D brawler, and in the days of the original Playstation, most attempts at 3D brawlers wound up pretty unimpressive. Nightmare Creatures was one of the better ones, but it definitely wasn’t without its faults. The camera, in particular, often got in the way and led to my demise more than a few times when playing. The game also used the tank controls found in the early Resident Evil games, which is fine for those slower-paced horror games, but they feel a tad awkward for a faster-paced brawler like Nightmare Creatures. Those complaints aside, it’s not a terrible game and it garnered enough of a fanbase where it got a sequel…it’s just not a game that you should go out of your way to play. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/18/2019 Dr. Luigi Platform Nintendo Wii U Initial Release Date December 31, 2013 (NA) Developer Arika Genre Puzzle My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 66.33/100 Dr. Luigi was part of the Luigi 25th Anniversary celebration that Nintendo had a few years ago. The concept is pretty simple, really. You know how Dr. Mario works? Dr. Luigi is the same with one small catch – the pills are all L-shaped…Because Luigi is the doctor. Good thing this wasn’t the Wario 25th Anniversary or this would be an absolute mess. Anyway, the L-shaped pills both make the game easier and harder at the same time. Easier because it’s not too difficult to take out a lot of viruses without much issue since two of the three colored blocks in the L-pills are the same color. It’s harder because sometimes it’s impossible to avoid having a block of the wrong color landing on a virus. Overall, Dr. Luigi isn’t a terrible puzzle game, but it’s just merely passable. It’s an interesting new take on an old puzzle game…and that’s about it. Played on: Wii U Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/18/2019 Alien Crush Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date September 14, 1988 (JP) Developer Compile Genre Pinball My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 74.93/100 Alien Crush was a decent first-effort by Compile to make a pinball game on the TurboGrafx-16. The physics were okay and the one playable board wasn't bad...But it wasn't really anything special, either, despite the secret rooms to discover that lead to mini boss fight-like events. The board is fairly interesting to look at, but the gameplay itself leaves a little bit to be desired, though it’s also not bad by any means…just average. Compile later created Devil's Crush, improving on pretty much every element of this game...But for what it is, this is still an okay choice if you’ve got a craving for a decent game of pinball, but it definitely wouldn’t be my first choice. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/11/2024 OutRun Europa Platform Sega Master System Initial Release Date 1991 (EU/SA) Developer Sega Genre Racing My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 69.04/100 On one hand, I like the shake-up of the OutRun formula here…on the other hand, I like the original OutRun formula, so I would have been perfectly happy having that. In OutRun Europa, your goal is to avoid police officers while also tracking down a criminal…who is apparently more criminal than you. Either that or you're an undercover cop and nobody notified your police buddies. Anyway, what makes this game different from other OutRun games is that your vehicle changes with each level, and you get a little cutscene between levels as well. Starting out with a motorcycle, you'll eventually be driving cars and boats as well. All of that is fine…but since you now have some minor goals as you drive, like during the final boss fight, it feels a little odd that if you die, it's game over without any continues. Yup, you could play for an hour, reach the final boss, fail, and your reward is to start from the beginning. That's not necessarily uncommon back in the 80's and early 90's, but most games didn't just give you a single life to complete the game with, like OutRun Europa does. Still, though, despite its flaws, I did find myself enjoying this game for the most part. While they tried to reinvent the wheel a bit with this game, the core OutRun gameplay is still here, so that's always good enough for me to find a little enjoyment in it. Played on: Sega Master System Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/21/2021 Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Platform Sega CD Initial Release Date 1994 (NA) Developer Bits Studios Genre Adventure My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 60.85/100 Unlike Bram Stoker’s Dracula on Sega CD, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein did not receive a stand-alone release. In my opinion, that’s a crying shame because of the two games in that Sega CD bundle, Frankenstein is definitely the winner of the pair. While Bram Stoker’s Dracula was a very poor side-scrolling brawler, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was instead the equivalent of a point and click adventure, but minus the pointing and clicking. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not like Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a must-play game that makes it worth tracking down a Sega CD for - it’s not. But it is a passable adventure game that has enough charm to it where fans of the genre will likely enjoy it...Oh! And there’s a lot of awful fighting in it. The fighting, while a neat idea, is executed poorly and actually drags the game down instead of helping it, in my opinion. But, I will admit, that the absurdity of Victor Von Frankenstein (and his wife, for that matter) knowing martial arts and attempting to beat the tar out of the monster he created does amuse me a little more than it should. Anyway, if you get a chance to give this game a try, go for it. You may find it to be a guilty pleasure like I did. Played on: Sega CD Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/21/2019 Tokyo Xtreme Racer Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date June 24, 1999 (JP) Developer Genki Genre Racing My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 72.75/100 Tokyo Xtreme Racer is almost like a hybrid between a fighting game and a racing game. The concept of the game is to drive around the highways of Tokyo and challenge people to street races. Once in the race, two health bars pop up on the top of the screen - one for you and one for your opponent. Whoever is ahead in the race is fine, but whoever is behind constantly has their health bar drain. The loser is the one who has an empty health bar first. It's a neat concept and fun game, but doing the same thing over and over again gets repetitive. If there were more modes or options in the game, I'd give it a higher score, but for what it is, it's still well worth a look from any street racing fanatics out there. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: Shutoko Battle (Japan), Tokyo Highway Challenge (Europe)

Date added: 07/11/2020 Sorcery Saga: The Curse of the Great Curry God Platform Sony Playstation Vita Initial Release Date March 28, 2013 (JP) Developer Zerodiv Genre RPG My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 68.59/100 Sorcery Saga is a rogue-like dungeon crawler where your main objective is to obtain ingredients for a curry dish to help a small business curry restaurant fight off the conglomerate curry restaurant that has recently entered town. Sound goofy? Well this game is. The dungeon crawling is all turn-based in that nothing moves until you move...It can be helpful when you stumble into a "monster house" and need a few seconds to figure out the best exit strategy, since they won't start chasing you until you've moved. Overall, it's a pretty decent game...And honestly, any game that has a special edition that supplies you with a plate, fork, and bib is an alright game in my book. That said, though, this definitely isn’t for everyone, but if you like strange games like I do, you’ll likely find that the game is charming enough to overlook its shortcomings. Played on: Playstation Vita Also known as: Sei Madou Monogatari (Japan)

Date added: 04/12/2019 WWF Royal Rumble Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date August 1, 2000 (NA) Developer Yuke's Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 58.09/100 WWF Royal Rumble in the arcade was decent, but not great. When a port was announced for the Dreamcast, a lot of wrestling fans were hoping for some new content...unfortunately, there was none. This is just a straight port of the arcade game. You have the options of playing singles mode, which is basically an arcade mode from most fighting games, and Royal Rumble mode, which is just a Royal Rumble match...where you'll see the same wrestlers over and over because the game's roster does not have 30 wrestlers to fill those spots. On the plus side, though, this game does allow nine wrestlers in the ring at a time, which allows for some fun, hectic moments. The gameplay itself is not the best - my main complaint is that there is no lock-on, so if you're trying to back away while throwing a punch or perform a grapple, you're going to turn your back to your opponent. Likewise, it's not always the easiest to line-up a punch or grapple when trying to catch an opponent off-guard, too. It can take a while to get used to it...But unfortunately, with a lack of modes (which was acceptable for an arcade game - but not a wrestling home console game at this time, where the norm was season modes with storylines and create-a-wrestler options) this game ultimately falls flat. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/15/2019 Popeye no Eigo Asobi Platform NES Initial Release Date July 28, 1984 (JP) Developer Hudson Genre Platformer - Education My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 70.58/100 I liked Donkey Kong Jr. Math a lot…and I don’t generally like math. So imagine how happy I was to see another education-ish game that was released early on in the lifecycle of the NES…unfortunately, this was only released in Japan. Popeye no Eigo Asobi seemingly was used in the Land of the Rising Sun to teach people how to write English. It can be used both ways, though. A word is shown in Japanese, and your goal is to select English letters to spell that word out in the English language. For folks that don’t read Japanese, you can basically think of this as a game of hangman, but instead of an image of a person hanging by a noose (children’s games can be morbid, can’t they?) you’ve got Bluto trying to punch a bag into the face of a baby. Preventing a child from getting injured is your goal here. Anyway, if you want to learn to read basic Japanese words (or basic English words if you’re reading this in Google Translate), then this is a neat little educational game to play. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/29/2019 Z-Tack Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer Bomb Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 60.76/100 I thought for sure that Z-Tack would be terrible. The name sounds dumb. The box art looks dumb. But the gameplay is anything but dumb. While not mind-blowingly great, Z-Tack is a decent third-person shooter where the screen is basically tilted 180 degrees compared to most shooters at the time since you're shooting down instead of up. If there was a bit more variety, I probably would have given the game a higher score, but unfortunately, despite the initial fun, Z-Tack does get very repetitive very quickly. It's still worth checking out if you're ever lucky enough to come across a copy. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 Hero's Adventure Platform Ouya Initial Release Date July 2, 2013 (NA) Developer Terry Cavanagh Genre RPG My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 60.44/100 Another dark story from Terry Cavanagh. This game starts out innocent enough and within the first minute, you might think that you're going on a whimsical little adventure as a little boy entering a forest near his house...Until you find the boy's "secret area" in the woods, and everything suddenly doesn't seem as jolly. It's a very short game with a very liner path (I haven't seen any alternate things to do, anyway) that you can probably beat in less than five minutes. But it's still entertaining enough for it to be worth a play through, especially if you're looking for a nice way to kill five minutes. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2020 Nun Massacre Platform PC Initial Release Date September 30, 2018 (NA) Developer Puppet Combo Genre Adventure My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 62.11/100 Nun Massacre is another Puppet Combo horror game, and while it’s not a technical masterpiece in terms of gameplay, it definitely does its job in terms of horror. The premise of Nun Massacre is that after finding a road blocked, you climb up and find your way into a boarding school…where you get locked in. Your goal is to slowly sneak through the school…but stalking the hallways is a bloodthirsty nun wielding a kitchen knife. The use of sound really makes you uneasy…static is an indication that she’s nearby, and if she spots you, you’ll have plenty of unpleasant noise to deal with until you lose her or meet your end. When attempting to avoid the nun, you can hide under beds or in vents…but if she sees you hide, she’ll flip the bed over and start stabbing away. If she sees you enter a vent, she’ll follow you in. Heck, sometimes she’ll go into hiding herself, just waiting for you to come nearby so she can strike. Nun Massacre isn’t a perfect game by any means, but it succeeds in terms of creating an uneasy, creepy atmosphere. If you like horror games, you’ll likely find plenty to like here, flaws and all. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/11/2024 Bermuda Triangle Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1982 (NA) Developer Data Age Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 70.29/100 In Bermuda Triangle, you control a one-man sub and your goal is to pick up as much treasure and artifacts as you can before you get killed by squid, sharks, drones, mines, bombs, or enemy ships. According to the manual, when exploring in your mini sub, you discover a city at the bottom of the ocean, which is where all of the treasures and artifacts come from. There are four game modes in Bermuda Triangle, two single-player modes and two two-player modes. The only real difference between these modes is when a laser beam starts firing at you…after 10,000 points have been collected or immediately when you start the game…both for one or two players. Anyway, for what it is, Bermuda Triangle is a decent little game. I also appreciate the little backstory provided in the manual that allows your imagination to fill in gaps that the graphics were unable to provide back then. It's nice to know why I'm in the ocean shooting up the wildlife. Anyway, while Bermuda Triangle isn't one of the must-buy titles on the Atari 2600, it's still a pretty solid scrolling shooter worth checking out if you're a fan of the genre. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/13/2023 Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date September 13, 2018 (W) Developer Square Enix Genre RPG My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 69.77/100 I played through Final Fantasy XV earlier this year and liked it enough where I decided to give the Pocket Version a try shortly afterward. While the Pocket Edition isn't bad, it's also not quite what I had expected. When SquareEnix made Dragon Quest XI, they also created a "Pocket Edition," though it wasn't named that, which was basically the entire game, but in a retro setting. I expected the same here, and instead what I got was a very cut-down version of Final Fantasy XV that included the key moments of the story, but lacked much of what made me a fan of the non-pocket version. That's not to say that this game is useless - I think if people are intimidated by Final Fantasy XV on consoles, this pocket version is much more simplified and may work as a decent way to ease them into the main game. If the roles are reversed, though, and you're attempting to play through this after completing the console version, then you'll probably be a bit underwhelmed like I was. The Pocket Edition of Final Fantasy XV isn't an awful game at all, but it lacks enough substance to be any better than a so-so game. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/04/2022 Sqoon Platform NES Initial Release Date June 26, 1986 (JP) Developer Home Data Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 64.63/100 Sqoon is a pretty unique game…It's a side-scrolling shooter that takes place under water. You've got two weapons to shoot - your typical, shoot-forward weapon and a torpedo-like weapon that shoots downward at an angle. You'll need to use both (sometimes at the same time) to survive in Sqoon. The standard weapon is self-explanatory if you've ever played a scrolling shooter…and like most scrolling shooter, the standard fire power isn't gonna help you a ton. However, powering up your weapon isn't as easy as other games in the genre. Instead of just shooting special enemies to gain new firepower, you instead need to use the torpedoes and attack the bases at the ocean floor. Doing so will free humans (being held captive by those vile Neptunians under the sea) and if you're able to collect nine of those humans, a rescue ship will appear at the top of the screen. Go up to the ship and give it all nine of the people that you rescued and it will drop an item that powers up your gun. But that's not all…while this is a neat way to power-up, it's also absolutely necessary to save as many people as possible if you want to survive. Not just because it boosts your fire power, but because your submarine loses fuel as you play. Run out of fuel and you lose a life. Saving people not only gives you the firepower power-up, but it refills your fuel. Sqoon can be brutally difficult at times because of how precise you must be to be in the same place to save as many people as possible (and also to shoot the sharks that don't harm you, but will reduce the number of people you can rescue if you keep 'em around) because even if you're a killing machine, dodging enemies and shooting everything in your path, if you lack fuel, you'll lose a life and your fire power along with it. Basically, Sqoon is a game about saving people. Your goal is to rescue humans constantly, and the only reason that you need to shoot things is to clear a path to be able to save folks. Anyway, if you're looking for a unique, challenging shooter, then Sqoon is well worth checking out. If you're not a fan of high-difficulty games, then you may want to keep away. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/07/2019 WWE Wrestlemania XIX Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date September 8, 2003 (NA) Developer Yuke's Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 71.76/100 I really want to give Wrestlemania XIX a better score and place on this list...And not just because I attended the event that the game is named after. Some of the game is excellent. The in-ring action greatly improved from that found in Wrestlemania X8...But in a head-scratching decision from THQ, there is no story mode/career mode/title mode or anything like that for you to play. In its place is the terrible "Revenge" mode, which if not for the solid action that takes place in the ring, would have totally ruined this game. Revenge mode is sometimes a brawler, sometimes a platformer, sometimes a wrestling game, and always a pain in the hiney...Where you unlock generic wrestlers that you'll probably never use. Thankfully, there are plenty of match types to choose from to give you at least a little bit of replayability. If you're just fine playing exhibition matches all day long, then WWE Wrestlemania XIX will be right up your alley. If you're looking for an engaging story or season mode, you'll be heavily disappointed. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/14/2023 Clock Tower Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date December 13, 1996 (JP) Developer Human Entertainment Genre Adventure My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 69.46/100 I've always wanted to play through this game, but since this is a direct sequel to the Japanese-exclusive Clock Tower on the Super Famicom, I wanted to play that game first. Now that I've played through both, I can honestly say that while I don't dislike Clock Tower, I do wish it was more like the original game. In the original game, you control a young girl named Jennifer as she wanders around in a mansion, trying to survive while a demonic child with a giant pair of scissors stalks and terrorizes her. This game takes place after those events, in a city, and now someone is dressing up as Scissorman (the name given to the demonic child) and committing murders around town. Taking the role of Jennifer once again (or Helen, her roommate) you set out to try to figure out who is performing these murders and why. While it's not awful as far as point-and-click adventures go, I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as the original game. I think part of that is that the blocky, early 3D graphics aren't as charming as the 2D pixels from the original game. The other part is that I found the original story to be better than this one. But all of that said, I did still enjoy Clock Tower to a degree, but while I consider the original game to be one of my favorites on the Super Famicom/Super NES, I sadly can't say that this one is anywhere near one of my favorites on the original Playstation. If you really enjoy the original game, like I do, then playing this is a decent way to continue the story…otherwise, I can't really recommend playing this unless you really enjoy point-and-click adventures in general. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Clock Tower 2 (Japan)

Date added: 12/14/2020 Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest Platform Super NES Initial Release Date October 5, 1992 (NA) Developer Squaresoft Genre RPG My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 68.13/100 Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest, known as Final Fantasy USA in Japan, is a so-so RPG that’s probably best suited for newcomers to the RPG genre since it’s not too long by RPG standards and it’s also pretty easy. It has some interesting aspects…like your party is never more than two people at a time, there’s not really any sort of equipment management needed, and the ability to change your weapon on the fly – including during combat. I actually like most of the unique aspects of this game, but the simplicity of both the gameplay and story will likely be a turnoff for a lot of RPG fans. Despite that, I enjoyed my time playing through Mystic Quest for the most part. It’s probably not going to wind up on anyone’s list of top 10 favorite RPGs of all-time, but it’s passable and a solid entry-level game for anyone that wants to give JRPG’s a chance but may be a little intimidated and want to experience a bare-bones version to ween themselves onto something more difficult (and critically acclaimed) later on. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Final Fantasy USA: Mystic Quest (Japan), Mystic Quest Legend (Europe)

Date added: 05/28/2021 NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date December 13, 2007 (JP) Developer Sonic Team Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 71.38/100 NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams isn't a horrible game, it's just a game that had high expectations placed on it…and it failed to meet those expectations by a pretty wide margin. I was hoping for a new spin on the classic formula that made the original so fun…and it just felt like an attempt to emulate aspects of the original instead. It's still a passable experience, mind you, and it’s still fun, but it’s not the great sequel to the Saturn classic that many fans of the original were hoping for. That said, this isn’t awful by any stretch and you may appreciate it a tad more if you don't have the original to compare it to. Played on: Wii Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/02/2022 Mach Rider Platform NES Initial Release Date November 21, 1985 (JP) Developer Hal Laboratories Genre Racing My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 67.35/100 Mach Rider is a decent early NES racing game that seems to have been largely forgotten about to time. It has gameplay similar to Spy Hunter, where you can shoot and ram yourself into other vehicles on the road in an effort to destroy them…but instead of a top-down perspective, your viewpoint is settled behind the bike you control. While this is pretty standard for most racing games today, it was a pretty unique perspective for its time. The racing itself is fun, but it can be pretty difficult at times. I managed to “complete” Fighting mode twice (as far as I can tell, it has no end - just a continuous 10-level loop) but I feel like I owed much of that to luck - oftentimes, especially when making your way through turns in the road, obstacles can just pop right out at you, resulting in you either crashing into the obstacle or sneaking through, depending on the luck of where your bike happened to be as you hit the turn. The shooting does bring some strategy to that as well - if you’re speeding towards an obstacle and you notice in time, you can usually shoot it and avoid crashing. I say usually, because some obstacles, like rocks, seem to be indestructible. You also need to be careful with that ammo because you only have a limited amount per track…so are you going to save that ammo and only use it when needed or are you going to aggressively attack the other racers and hope that you’re not out of ammo when you need it? If the courses in the normal game aren’t enough for you, you can also create your own tracks to race on as well. Overall, Mach Rider is fun for what it is, but I wouldn’t put it in the upper echelon of NES racing games…but, if you want a challenge, or simply want to just build your own tracks to race on, then Mach Rider still may be worth checking out. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/17/2022 D Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date December 1, 1995 (JP) Developer WARP Genre Adventure My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 70.29/100 Y'know, the irony of D, for me anyway, is that I always wanted to play it, but then I'd see three discs. Then I'd think to myself, "I'm gonna have to set aside a lot of time for this…let's play it another time." Then another time would never come…well, until now. I set aside several hours to play D through to the end, just to see the credits roll after two of those several hours. Yup, D is a three-disc game that does not take very long to play. It's essentially a cinematic point-and-click adventure game…meaning, you tell the game which direction to go, then watch a several second video that shows you moving, then pick another direction so you can watch another video, then interact with an item and watch another video, this time of you interacting with said item. Despite being on a timer (take too long, and it's game over), this is a very slow-paced game, which makes it a nice horror game for folks to play if you simply want to relax and not be frightened while playing a horror-themed video game. D may be too slow-paced and too lacking in action for some, but it's a decent choice for fans of point-and-click games that have an idea of what they're getting themselves into. D likely won't wow you, but it's fine for what it is. If I was a teacher, I'd give it a C rather than a D. Played on: Playstation Also known as: D no Shokutaku (Japan)

Date added: 07/26/2020 Nippon Marathon Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date December 17, 2018 (W) Developer Onion Soup Genre Racing My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 65.00/100 If you’ve been reading along with each entry in this list, then you probably know that I tend to favor bizarre games, even if they aren’t always the best. Nippon Marathon initially seemed like it would be a game where I would enjoy the characters and story, but that’s it. To my surprise, Nippon Marathon is actually pretty fun – especially if you jump into the multiplayer. Basically, you’re in a foot race, but the winner isn’t necessarily the first one to cross the finish line – it’s the one who racked up the most popularity points during the course of the race. The ragdoll physics and interesting obstacles help add some comedy factor, as do the Mario Kart-like powerups that you can pick up during the race and the mini-games that interrupt the race from time to time. If you venture into the story mode, you’re introduced to an orange lobster farmer, a talking dog, a woman that dresses like a narwhal, and an old man with a split personality that wears a Japanese school girl outfit…needless to say, with a bunch of characters like that, I fell in love with this game. It’s not perfect, but if you give it a chance, it may steal a few hours from your life – especially if you’ve got a group of friends to race against. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/09/2022 King of Fighters: Maximum Impact - Maniax Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date June 23, 2005 (JP) Developer SNK Playmore Genre Fighting My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 68.71/100 King of Fighters: Maximum Impact - Maniax isn't a bad game or anything, but like several games in the franchise - it's fun if you enjoy fighting games, but it's also not an overly great game that'll keep you coming back for more. Basically, I'd just call Maniax an average, but not great game. It's got average, but not great graphics. It's got average, but not great gameplay. It's got average, but not great spelling ability…they put an X in the place of CS when they tried to spell maniacs. But anyway, if you like fighting games, then you'll find something to like here…but on the same token, if you're a fan of fighting games, you have better options available for you on the console than Maximum Impact - Maniax as well. Buuut, if you've played games like Soul Calibur II and Dead or Alive 3 to death and you're looking for another passable fighting game to steal some hours away from your life, then this game isn't an awful choice. Likewise, if you're a fan of the 2D King of Fighters and want to experience the franchise in 3D, Maximum Impact - Maniax is worth checking out just for the novelty…it feels like a step back in gameplay from most of the 2D games in the series, but it's not bad. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/30/2020 Spriggan Mark 2: Re-Terraform Project Platform Turbografx-CD Initial Release Date May 1, 1992 (NA) Developer Compile Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 72.93/100 Spriggan Mark 2 is the sequel to Seirei Senshi Spriggan, and in the vein of games like Castlevania II and Zelda II, the sequel is pretty different from the original game, but not necessarily in a way that makes it better. The first difference that fans of the original will notice is that it’s a horizontal-scrolling shooter instead of a vertical-scrolling shooter like the first game was. Second, the power-up system that made the original Spriggan so fun is gone, making it play a bit more like a traditional shooter, though after level 3 you do get to pick from some upgraded weapon arrays. Lastly, in a move uncommon for scrolling shooters, the game heavily revolves around a story…so much that sometimes the action will completely stop in order for a discussion to take place. While this is a nice novelty, it is annoying when the game pauses for a conversation, then when you think you’re pressing a button to get more text, the game resumes, leaving you open to attacks. Anyway, overall, I feel like Spriggan Mark 2 was a step back…but I give it an A for effort and I always applaud when developers try something new. This isn’t a bad shooter by any means, but it falls short of being great, in my opinion. Played on: Turbografx-CD Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/14/2020 You Must Build A Boat Platform PC Initial Release Date June 4, 2015 (NA) Developer EightyEight Games Genre Puzzle My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 71.30/100 I built a boat! I didn't have a choice, by the sound of the game's title...but it was still enjoyable. You Must Build a Boat is the sequel to 10000000, one of my favorite indie PC games that I've played, so I definitely looked forward to playing this. I wasn't necessarily disappointed by my experience here, as this is a different game, so you need to expect some changes to be made...I just feel like some of the changes took away from the original game rather than added to it...Like you can't just continuously enter the dungeons to grind, once you beat something, you're forced to move on. There were times where I got to the next area and was completely overwhelmed because I hadn't played enough in the previous levels to get my character strong enough for the later levels. That said, this was still fun, I’m glad I played it, but I would recommend 10000000 over this. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/13/2019 Dance Aerobics Platform NES Initial Release Date February 26, 1987 (JP) Developer Human Entertainment Genre Fitness My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 65.85/100 Dance Aerobics is actually pretty fun if you give it a chance...This was in my house the entirety of my childhood and I refused to play it once because I thought it was a "girl's" game. Fast forward a few years and I play games designed for "little girls" so I can make some jokes and get a laugh, and I thought I'd get some laughs out of playing this. Instead, I got an aerobic workout and some surprisingly entertaining mini games. In the "Pad Antics" area, you can turn your power pad into a piano or partake in a game of Simon Says. While not incredibly deep of an experience, Dance Aerobics is still a decent little game and worth having in your library if you own a power pad. Played on: NES Also known as: Family Trainer: Aerobics Studio (Japan)

Date added: 11/01/2019 Rampage Platform Arcade Initial Release Date August 4, 1984 (NA) Developer Bally/Midway Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 66.90/100 I like giant monster movies like Godzilla, where a giant monster terrorizes a city and topples buildings over. Rampage aimed to bring that experience to people in the arcades as you take control of one of three giant monsters, and potentially team up with two friends, to demolish all buildings and vehicles that get in your way, while eating a person hanging out of a building or two along the way. While Rampage can be mildly fun for a while, especially with friends, once the novelty of destroying various cities wears off, you start to notice the flaws. When playing solo, in particular, the repetition kicks in a long time before you even get near the goal of destroying New York City. But, in short bursts, Rampage can still be fun if you’ve got some pals to cause some chaos with. It still remains a game that many fondly remember as well. Played on: Arcade, NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/02/2022 Wings of Wor Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date January 25, 1991 (JP) Developer Dreamworks Games Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 74.71/100 Wings of Wor is a neat little side-scrolling shooter where instead of a spaceship or airplane, you're instead controlling a winged person named Wor, who hails from the planet Iccus…which is a planet full of flying folks, from what the manual tells you. Anyway, obviously, Wor isn't going to spit bullets out of his mouth (or fart them from his rear, for that matter) so instead, Wor can shoot out bolts of energy and can "control the magical forces of nature." Maybe he IS farting bullets…after all, when you've gotta drop a deuce, the kids say that "nature calls." Anyway, the plot of the game is that your planet was taken over by an evil, mutated virus that has transformed many of your fellow Iccusites into mutants that you obviously have to destroy. Somehow this virus made its way to the center of Iccus and your goal is to get there and "Destroy the Destroyer." The manual goes so deep into the story of this game that this paragraph describing the game is actually longer than the text allocated to informing you why you need to butcher the mutated people of your planet…that's kind of troubling, no? Gameplay-wise, Wings of Wor is fairly standard stuff…shoot things, grab items to modify your firing pattern or increase speed, repeat. Anyway, Wings of Wor is an okay scrolling shooter. It's not overly great, but it's solid enough where fans of the genre will likely stick with it to the end. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: Gynoug (Japan, Europe, South America)

Date added: 09/12/2021 Hot Potato! Platform Nintendo Game Boy Advance Initial Release Date June 29, 2001 (EU) Developer Pukka Games Genre Puzzle My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 70.70/100 Hot Potato! is a unique little puzzle game that's almost like an inverted, scrolling Dr. Mario. You've got colored "potatoes" in the streets and your job is to match the correct colored potatoes together to eliminate 'em. Since you're constantly moving up the street, you've got to act fast in order to avoid getting pinched between a group of 'taters and the bottom of the screen. It's a fun, unique puzzle game that deserves a little recognition, in my opinion, and it's a decent choice if you're looking for a quality puzzle game on your GBA. Played on: Game Boy Advance Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/03/2021 Killer Loop Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date October 31, 1999 (NA) Developer VCC Entertainment Genre Racing My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 71.87/100 Killer Loop is an interesting racing game, as it allows you to strafe from side to side as you race. That unique strafing aspect along with some strategy, forcing the player to decide between ensuring that their vehicle stays at top speed or sacrificing some speed to pick up some firepower, makes Killer Loop a very different and very worthwhile racing game to play. The only thing really hurting it is the lack of modes to play...and that the strafing, while interesting, does kind of result in some awkward times on the track until you get used to it. If you're into arcade-style, futuristic racing games, this is well worth checking out. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/19/2022 Ace of Seafood Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date November 9, 2017 (W) Developer Nussoft Genre Action My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 66.13/100 I originally wanted to play Ace of Seafood because it looked like an awful, but bizarre game, and it'd fit right in with some of the other awful, bizarre games that appear on this list. While this game Is definitely bizarre, and the controls aren't very good at all, I still found myself having a difficult time putting this dang game down. Let's start with the bizarre - in Ace of Seafood, you control various aquatic lifeforms as they swim around, bite stuff, and shoot lasers out of their bodies. Your goal is to attack any signs of life that you can find. They'll either simply provide you sustenance, or you'll absorb their genes allowing you to add them to your school of fish to use as you continue to terrorize the sea. Essentially, you're a gangster fish, putting a whoopin' on other fish in an attempt to recruit more aquatic life for your gang. Your ultimate goal is to find various reefs (gang turf) and defeat the creatures guarding it so you can take it over and claim it as your own territory where you can save and warp to at any point going forward. If that sounds fun, it actually is…unfortunately, the controls and camera are pretty awful, so while you may find some fun here, it comes with some frustration. Overall, though, I actually really enjoyed Ace of Seafood…but to give an honest review, it honestly is not a game that I think your average gamer will enjoy. But, if you're not the average person and you like bizarre games with plenty of exploration and you don't mind dealing with poor cameras and controls, then you may find as much fun with this game as I did. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/26/2020 Spelunker II: Yuushahe no Chousen Platform NES Initial Release Date September 18, 1987 (JP) Developer Now Production Genre Adventure My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 71.40/100 Spelunker was an unforgiving platformer, so when it came time for a sequel, Spelunker II obviously became an action-adventure game…Wait, what? It actually works pretty well. Once you get past the fact that this game switched genres from platformer to adventure game, you’ll realize that it kept the same basic goals – collect treasure, get keys, unlock the doors. Throw in the need for exploration, the inclusion of boss battles, and three playable characters, and you’ve got a good sequel. The big plus found here is some adjustments were made to make the game less unforgiving. For example, you can jump off of ledges and ladders without worrying about instant death in this game. The difficulty as a whole has been dumbed down considerably, but not enough to make it feel like a cakewalk. Unfortunately, Spelunker II never made it out of Japan, but if you’re lucky enough to get a copy to play, you’ll find a pretty enjoyable adventure game with plenty of exploration. It’s not perfect by any means, but it’s solid and much, much less frustrating than the original was. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/14/2019 Jet Moto Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date October 31, 1996 (NA) Developer SingleTrac Genre Racing My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 71.98/100 Jet Moto certainly wasn't the first game to have product placements in it...But there weren't many before it where it was so blatant. Jet Moto has various product advertisements plastered on billboards and even on the vehicles themselves. Once you get past all the ads, you've got a decent jet ski-ish racing game that spans across various terrains...and while it's not as good as Nintendo 64's Wave Race 64, it certainly gave Playstation owners a decent jet ski racing game that they could call their own. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/11/2019 Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits Platform Nintendo DS Initial Release Date November 30, 2004 (NA) Developer Namco Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 73.40/100 Ever since I first played a Mr. Driller game back in 2000, I've been addicted to the adorable, football-shape-headed, drilling machine's games. There’s just something I really enjoy about these games that mix the gameplay of Dig Dug with the gameplay of Tetris. That said, Drill Spirits is largely more of the same of previous Mr. Driller games, but with multiple characters to play as, each with their own unique abilities. The new characters are nice, and they do help bring some mildly new gameplay to the table, but they don’t add enough to make it feel like you’re not just playing more of the same in regards to previous Mr. Driller games. If you're a Mr. Driller fan like I am, that probably won't matter. You'll still love this game. If you're looking for something more, however, then Drill Spirits may leave you a little disappointed. Played on: Nintendo DS Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/27/2023 Clock Tower 3 Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date December 12, 2002 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Adventure My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 70.73/100 As I played through the Clock Tower games in order, I really had very, very low expectations for this one. The first Clock Tower game was good…then the next one was okay….and the one after that wasn't very good…so if Clock Tower 3 was to continue the trend, this was going to be a pretty awful game. But it's not that bad. Clock Tower 3 sheds the point-and-click aspects of the previous games, but manages to still keep the same general gameplay intact. By that I mean, this game is basically a constant game of being chased by killers and finding hiding spots to avoid them or other spots that will allow you to temporarily put them down. Making this game different, though, aside from removing the point-and-click control scheme, is that you'll be participating in boss fights where the goal is to destroy the killer that has been stalking you through each level. While the boss fights aren't terrible, to be they seemed out of place…the game tries to explain why you can't just take out the boss in the beginning of the level so you can explore and solve puzzles in peace, but I still found myself making fun of the situations in boss fights by mockingly saying, "She's had all she can stands and she can't stands no more." Another complaint is how often you get chased in this game. I electrocuted one of the killers…and roughly 40 seconds later, I'm back to running for my life again. Being chased is with no nearby way to defend yourself is an easy way to create panic in the player….but doing it so often made me dumb to the panic and by the end it was really just making me roll my eyes. Still, though, I mostly enjoyed my time playing Clock Tower 3. It's not perfect by any stretch, but it was a decent re-imagining of the Clock Tower series, and quite possibly, my second favorite of the bunch, only behind the excellent original game. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/07/2020 WCW World Championship Wrestling Platform NES Initial Release Date December 9, 1989 (JP) Developer Nichibutsu Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 69.16/100 Superstar Pro Wrestling, while not the greatest game ever made by any stretch, was one of my favorite wrestling imports from Japan, and World Championship Wrestling is basically the same game, but different wrestlers…well, aside from Hawk and Animal, who appear in both games. It has a very interesting game mechanic of changing your moveset before each match. Each wrestler has different moves to choose from, though some of them don’t necessarily make sense…for example, Eddie Gilbert has an option to use a lifting chokehold as a move. As awesome as Eddie Gilbert was, at 5’10” tall and 222 pounds, he was not overpowering his opponents like that. Anyway, if you manage to beat everyone, you’ll find yourself the WCW Minor champion, forcing you to battle everyone again. After making your way around a second time, you’ll face the World champion, the WCW Master…In Superstar Pro Wrestling this final challenger is Andre the Giant. In World Championship Wrestling, it is the WCW Master...who is basically just Andre the Giant with a mask…Giant Machine, if you will. While World Championship Wrestling isn’t as polished as the NES classic Pro Wrestling, it’s still the best licensed wrestling game that was released on Nintendo’s 8-bit console in my opinion. Played on: NES Also known as: Superstar Pro Wrestling (Japan)

Date added: 02/02/2020 Toki Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date November 21, 2018 (EU) Developer Microids Genre Platformer My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 68.45/100 I’m a fan of the original Toki. Playing a platformer while controlling an ape that spits stuff at enemies always seemed like a formula for guaranteed success to me. Unfortunately, despite the fact that I do like the games, I would never really consider any of them all-time classics. So, I was hoping that when the Toki franchise was resurrected for the Switch that I’d finally be able to put a Toki game on this list amongst other gaming icons where that wonderful chimp deserves to be. Unfortunately, this game is much like the other Toki games – decent, but not great. The biggest thing holding this game down is the lack of a save feature. I understand that they were trying to emulate how games were back in the 80’s…but if someone wants to play without saving then at least provide an OPTION to save. That way folks that want to refuse to save can do so while the rest of us who want to play a bit on the toilet, then step away for a while, or even play another game, before continuing on our journey can do so. That said, Toki is an okay nod to games of the past, but aside from the well-done graphics, it fails to do a whole lot to make it a good game in the present. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/07/2021 Far Cry 4 Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date November 18, 2014 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Ubisoft Montreal Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 76.75/100 When I first gave Far Cry 3 a chance, I didn’t think that I’d like it…little did I know that I would wind up really enjoying it. Revisiting it for this list, I got hooked and played the game from beginning to end all over again. Fast forward a few years from my initial time playing Far Cry 3 and we’ve got Far Cry 4…and I just couldn’t get hooked. Revisiting it again for this list, nothing has changed. There isn’t necessarily anything technically wrong with Far Cry 4, the unpredictable aspects of the wildlife around you is still there and still fun…but for whatever reason, I just had a hard time finding nearly as much enjoyment here as I found in the game in the franchise that came before it. That said, I still found some fun here…just not enough to convince me to play through to the end. Maybe one day. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/27/2021 OutRun 2019 Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date March 26, 1993 (JP) Developer SIMS Genre Racing My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 68.92/100 OutRun 2019 is basically a futuristic OutRun…well, it was futuristic when it was released, but since the game takes place in 2019, it’s actually an old-timey racer now. Anyway, one of the few differences between this game and the original OutRun is that 2019 shifts gears automatically, with the last gear being a turbo boost with flames shooting from the back of your vehicle. Collisions are also a little more forgiving - while your car can still spin out or tumble off of a bridge, sometimes hitting objects simply slows you down instead of bringing you to a complete stop. The game also doesn’t end when you reach the goal – you simply move onto another round. If you enjoyed the original OutRun, you'll likely find something to like here. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/24/2022 Tatsu no Ko Fighter Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date October 20, 1989 (JP) Developer Advance Communication Company Genre Platformer My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 70.89/100 I like games with bizarre aspects to them, so I have to admit that part of me loves a game that has you platforming as a cartoony farmer while various creatures and cryptids attack, and before each boss fight, said cartoony farmer transforms into a more-realistic-looking tough guy hunk, sans shirt, to use his soup bone fists to pummel his enemies into submission...before turning back into the cartoony farmer for the next level. It's such a bizarre concept, that I can't help but enjoy it. And if you don't think he turns into a hunk, tell that to one of the bosses you fight. She loves the shirtless farmer so much that her main attack is blowing kisses at him. Once you get past all the bizarre aspects that admittedly would have made me a fan whether this game was any good or not, the gameplay itself does hold the game back a little…not enough to make it awful, but I can definitely see some folks rage quitting at certain points. The combat itself isn't too difficult and most enemies do not deliver much damage, so once you max out your health bar, you likely won't die too often from the combat. You will, however, die from platforming. A lot. Both due to controls that don't feel quite as tight as you may like, and due to the fact that if anything hits you, you get pushed back, sometimes to your death. The developer also had a sense of humor and wanted to annoy the player by putting a pit right in front of you at the start of the level, so if you're not paying attention and you attempt to move forward, you're met with death less than a second after the level actually loads. Admittedly, that did get a chuckle out of me…and yes, I did die a couple of times from that trick. Anyway, as long as you're patient and don't try to rush through, it's really not that difficult of a game compared to some other games of its time…though even with patience, the platforming can make you pull your hair out at times. Anyway, if you like oddball games and don't mind sometimes-frustrating 2D platforming, then you may like this Japanese exclusive like I did. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/10/2020 Monster Jam Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date November 13, 2007 (NA) Developer Torus Games Genre Racing My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 66.53/100 Monster Jam isn’t exactly what I expected. I expected, and even hoped, for a Monster Jam simulation – a simulation of what you would see if you paid tickets to go to a monster truck show. What this game provides, however, is something that I didn’t know that I wanted…a standard racing game with destructible environments and monster trucks to plow through everything in your path. Monster Jam isn’t a perfect racing game by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s definitely an entertaining racing game. At the very least, it’s entertaining enough for it to be a guilty pleasure of mine. Monster Jam may not have been what I wanted, but it’s much better than I expected. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/18/2019 Nintendo Land Platform Nintendo Wii U Initial Release Date November 18, 2012 (NA) Developer Nintendo Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 73.93/100 Nintendo Land is a compilation of mini games that shows off all the features of the Wii U, similar to how Wii Sports did the same for the original Wii. The games found within are varied in quality. Games like Pikmin Adventure, Balloon Trip Breeze, and Octopus Dance are pretty dang fun and addicting. Others, like Captain Falcon's Twister Race and Takamaru's Ninja Castle aren't horrible...But not all that fun, either. Playing games earns coins, which you can use to play another mini game to unlock items that range from ornaments to decorate the theme park to more interactive things like a music player or a switch to change the time of day at the park. As a whole, this is a worthwhile purchase. The good games make up for any stinkers and it'll help you familiarize yourself with the features of what the Wii U can do. Played on: Wii U Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/22/2021 Pete Rose Baseball Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date March 1988 (NA) Developer Imagineering Inc. Genre Sports - Baseball My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 76.75/100 Pete Rose Baseball is a pretty impressive baseball game considering the hardware that it runs on. It’s an impressive game regardless of genre, honestly. Graphically speaking, it’s one of the best-looking games on the console. Graphics mean nothing if the gameplay isn’t there, though…Fortunately, the gameplay is really good for the limitations of the console, too. When pitching, you can throw different kinds and speeds of pitches. When batting, you can adjust where on the plate that you’ll be at when you swing. When a ball gets hit into the field, every player is controlled individually and you can switch between each fielder…which is awkward due to the controller limitations, but still impressive. If this game had come out in the early 80’s when the Atari 2600 was king, I’d consider it one of the greatest baseball games of all-time. Unfortunately, when this came out in 1988, R.B.I. Baseball had already been out for nearly a year and a half on the NES, with better gameplay and more features. Anyway, Pete Rose Baseball is a good game for the console that it’s on, I’d even gamble that it’s the best sports game on the Atari 2600. Gambling about it being the best overall baseball game for its time? That’s not a bet that I’d take. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/13/2019 Friday the 13th Platform NES Initial Release Date February, 1989 (NA) Developer Atlus Genre Adventure My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 60.39/100 This game isn't quite as bad as its reputation makes it out to be. It's not a great game, mind you, but it's one of those games where the more you play it, the more you grow to appreciate it. I have grown to appreciate it more and more each time that I’ve played it over the years. The particular aspect of the game that I enjoy is how you feel like you're growing stronger as the game goes on. The first time you battle Jason, you barely do any damage and may not even survive the encounter. The more you play, you'll learn his attack patterns and obtain more powerful weapons that help you take larger chunks of his life away or a nifty sweater that reduces the damage that the dude in the hockey mask can give to you. You may also memorize paths in the forests giving yourself shortcuts to prevent Jason from killing or the paths in the caves to battle Jason’s mother herself. Discovering all of this does require patience, but when you've worked your way through to the end of the game, it feels like an accomplishment you can pat yourself on the back over. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/16/2019 Cruis'n USA Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date December 3, 1996 (NA) Developer Williams Genre Racing My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 65.81/100 The first time that I played Cruis’n USA was at the bowling alley that I was part of a league at. After bowling, I’d pop in a few quarters and get behind the wheel of this racer. Fast forward a few years and I finally got to play the home version on the N64…and while it’s still an enjoyable experience, it does miss something in translation without the steering wheel and gas pedal controlling the action. In fact, the game’s controls can sometimes feel a little too sensitive at times, which does hold it back a bit. That said, it’s still an enjoyable racing game and a nice score for Nintendo, which managed to get it as an exclusive for the Nintendo 64 to add to the system’s impressive list of enjoyable racing games. I just can’t help that with a little more time towards tweaking the controls and maybe even adding some extra options, this could have been a system seller instead of a decent bonus if you already owned an N64. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/09/2020 Maid of Sker Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date July 28, 2020 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Wales Interactive Ltd. Genre Adventure My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 67.67/100 I like Maid of Sker, I think most fans of the horror genre of games will like Maid of Sker…but it does have its faults. Maid of Sker feels like a little bit of a throwback to horror games of the past, with more of an emphasis on psychological horror and being unable to defend yourself and less of an emphasis on jump scares and having the ability to eliminate most enemies in your path. In Maid of Sker, you take the role of a composer, who visits a seemingly abandoned hotel in an effort to save his love from the horrors that await there. Since you’re a lover, you ain’t no fighter, so much of the game is stealth-based. The controls can take a little bit to get used to, but they’re not awful once you’ve got it. Another mild complaint is that sometimes it’s not obvious what to do next…so you’ll find yourself wandering around in hopes that you’ll eventually stumble across something that will advance the story. Despite those, and other issues, I did get the sense as I played that Maid of Sker has the potential to become a cult favorite amongst survival horror fans as time passes. I enjoyed my time with this game, I think most fans of the genre will as well, but there are also better options out there if you want a current-gen horror experience. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/13/2019 Faerie Solitaire Platform PC Initial Release Date March 30, 2009 (NA) Developer Subsoap Genre Board My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 69.44/100 This game sounded weird to me, so obviously I had it on my radar as something I wanted to play. A Steam Winter Sale had allowed me to do so at a discounted price. According to Steam's timer, it took me about 10.8 hours to make my way through the main story mode, so I got about 11 hours of gameplay for around $2 - not too shabby, eh? Anyway, Faerie Solitaire is aimed towards casual gamers more so than the hardcore, but it's still enjoyable if you just want a relaxing game to pass a few minutes of your time here and there. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/20/2019 WWE 2K17 Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date October 11, 2016 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Yuke's Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 69.28/100 WWE 2K17 is a decent wrestling game, but it feels like a step back from the previous year. The giant roster is a welcome addition, but the gameplay feels like its lacking in comparison to 2K16. Likewise, WWE Universe mode gets a facelift, with show intros and such...which sounds cool until you realize that show intros are basically glorified load screens that you're unable to skip...WWE Universe mode as a whole doesn't feel nearly as user-friendly as it has in the past. Overall, this is an okay game if you're a diehard wrestling fan like myself...Otherwise, you're better off just sticking with the superior WWE 2K16 instead. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/20/2019 Splatterhouse Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date April 3, 1990 (JP) Developer Namco Genre Action - Brawler My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 71.94/100 The first Splatterhouse is passable as a brawler, but aside from the gore (which is nothing today, but it had some folks up in arms back when it was first released) it's not really anything special. It's not horrible, mind you, but better brawlers like Double Dragon had come along before this release, making the gameplay feel a little behind the times. The positives are that there are plenty of weapons to use and sometimes you’ve got multiple paths towards the end of the level, but when you break it all down, the game plays like what people expected from brawlers from years prior, not what was expected from brawlers from the then present. The novelty of gore hid that a little bit back when it was released, but it shows today. You definitely can find brawlers much worse than the original Splatterhouse, but this is one of those games that may not be as good as you remember it being when you were a kid. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/04/2019 Golf Platform NES Initial Release Date May 1, 1984 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Sports - Golf My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 69.01/100 In the early days of video games, Golf was actually pretty impressive. It featured several holes to play on, with varying wind directions and various clubs to choose from. It’s a great game if you know a bit about golf…for the rest of us, trying to decide the best club to swing for specific shots feels like pulling a number out of a hat and going with it to see what happens. That minor gripe aside, Golf was, potentially, the best sports game for the North American launch of the NES and while it was eventually surpassed by other golf games on the system, Golf was still very solid for its time…and honestly, while the NES has better options for the sport, Golf still isn’t that bad even to this day. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/12/2019 Donkey Konga Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date December 12, 2003 (JP) Developer Namco Genre Music My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 74.09/100 While it's not overwhelmingly fun or even all that innovative, Donkey Konga is still a solid music game for Gamecube owners. The bongos are a fun peripheral to use and they help give the game a little bit of a unique, and simplistic experience. Unfortunately, while Donkey Konga is fun initially , there's not enough here to ensure that the fun lasts much longer than maybe an hour or two at most, which drags the experience down a little...But it's still fun while it lasts and well worth checking out if you're a fan of music games, especially music games with musical instrument peripherals. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/30/2019 Clu Clu Land Platform NES Initial Release Date November 22, 1984 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Action My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 73.47/100 Clu Clu Land is a different kind of game. As you move around a screen, you can't turn in any direction, but you can stick your arm out, grab a pole, and swing in whatever direction you want to head to. Along the way, you've got to discover hidden gold coins in the level and avoid any enemies or traps that may be around. This isn't really a pick-up and play sort of game as the swinging aspects take a little time to get used to, especially when trying to swing around in a panic, but once you get used to everything, you're left with a solid, passable game and a solid, passable North American launch title for Nintendo's debut in the Western home video game world. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/31/2019 Biker Mice From Mars Platform Super NES Initial Release Date December 1994 (NA) Developer Konami Genre Racing My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 75.68/100 Biker Mice from Mars is a decent isometric racer brought to you by Snickers. True story. The racer select screen has the racers drive around on a platform that has the snickers logo on it...You can buy a Snickers bar for $2500 in the race shop…Heck, when Limburger wins a race, he's holding a Snicker bar and states, "Even winners need something to satisfy their hunger." That's product placement to the extreme. That said, the controls of this game don't feel all that great, but the racing action and track variety make up for that resulting in a racing title that's about average but not much more than that…and it’s one that leaves you wanting to run to the grocery store for a Snickers bar. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/24/2019 The Earth Dies Screaming Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer Sirius Software Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 68.41/100 The Earth Dies Screaming is a little-known, movie-based video game. Yes, this is a game published in 1983 based off of a movie that was released in 1964…one of the few games based off of a movie from a few decades prior. It’s not too bad, either. Basically, the game has you in the cockpit of some spacecraft as you try to shoot down enemy ships while also avoiding their fire. It's not perfect by any means, but back in '83, this was actually fairly well done for its genre. If you're into cockpit-perspective, 1st person shooters, then the Earth Dies Screaming might be worth checking out. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/25/2019 Mega Jump Platform Apple iPhone/iPod Touch Initial Release Date May 5, 2010 (NA) Developer Get Set Games Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 72.38/100 Mega Jump was a very simple game...Tilt the iPhone/iPod Touch left and right to move the character, and try to collect stars and assorted power-ups to continuously move up the screen...that makes it a "mega jump." Fall and it's game over. For such a simple game, it can be quite addicting and it's a game that usually only lasts for a few minutes per play, which makes it perfect for a mobile game. It was also a good game for casual players as it's easy to pick u p and play and it was very easy to figure out what you needed to do. Best of all? It was free...And they updated it pretty regularly. You can get better games on the iPhone, but at its price, Mega Jump was definitely worth giving a try. It also spawned a few sequels, one of which Mega Jump Infinite, is still available on the iTunes store. Played on: iPhone Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/21/2019 Ready 2 Rumble Boxing Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date September 8, 1999 (NA) Developer Midway Genre Fighting - Boxing My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 74.92/100 Ready 2 Rumble Boxing aimed to bring back the addictive, arcade-y fun of legendary boxing titles Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! (which had been sorely missed since Super Punch-Out!! was released, 5 years prior), but in three dimensions. While Ready 2 Rumble Boxing falls way short of that goal, it does show promise. With lots of goofy, zany characters and decent boxing action, Ready 2 Rumble was still a refreshing change of pace from more traditional boxing titles. I think the thing that holds this game back is that it doesn’t go far enough into the ridiculous side of things when the bell rings. It mostly feels like a traditional boxing game, just with goofy characters…though each character does have their own punching style and attacks. A little more craziness may have gone a long way. That said, if you like boxing games, Ready 2 Rumble is a decent alternative…it just feels more like a jab than a knockout blow. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/27/2019 Ridge Racer Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date December 3, 1994 (JP) Developer Namco Genre Racing My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.42/100 Ridge Racer really only had one track to race on, with alternate routes on that track, depending on the race...But gosh darn it, it was a blast to play when it first released. Later games in the Ridge Racer series really refined the gameplay into a very solid racing franchise that could hold its own against many of the top racing games that would later come down the pike, but the original Ridge Racer, which was pretty much a direct, near-perfect port of the Arcade version of the game, was a great showcase for how powerful the Playstation was and how fun the games could be. Played on: Playstation, Arcade Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/20/2020 Candy Crush Saga Platform Apple iPhone/iPod Touch Initial Release Date November 14, 2012 (NA) Developer King.com Genre Puzzle My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 65.11/100 Before Candy Crush Saga became a mega-hit, I was one of the first folks playing it. While I found it to be fun, I didn’t think for one second that it would become anywhere near as popular as it became. Candy Crush Saga is a decent puzzle game, but its major flaw is that the levels are always randomized…in other words, it is entirely possible that the level spawns in such a way where you’re unable to win…over…and over…and over….until you get lucky and it spawns in a way where you complete it in half the turns required. Generally speaking, this is poor level design. Financially speaking, it’s probably genius level design because I imagine it resulted in plenty of folks pouring money into this free-to-play game in an effort to get past a level they were stuck at. I never bothered to play the other games that came from the womb of this one, so I can’t speak on them, but Candy Crush Saga is a decent puzzle game, with a few neat ideas…but that’s about it. It’s not nearly as bad as some people say, but it’s also nowhere near the quality level of Tetris. If you enjoy puzzle games, you may be hooked, though. There’s a reason that an overwhelmingly large number of people who do not play console games have put countless hours into this one, after all. Played on: iPhone Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/18/2021 Ghost Blade HD Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date October 24, 2019 (W) Developer HUCAST Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 72.54/100 Ghost Blade HD is a decent vertical scrolling shooter, which is the HD version of the Dreamcast game that was released in 2015. It’s not great, but it’s decent. It’s not going to convert anyone into being a fan of the genre. But if you like this type of game, there’s enough here to keep you occupied for a while. Basically, Ghost Blade HD is a bullet-hell shooter…though, it’s a little on the easy side. That doesn’t mean that you’ll easily make it through the game on your first try, mind you…but I did make it to the final boss before I ran out of lives and was unable to continue. And honestly, I think I could probably make my way through it with another attempt now that I’ve got a better handle on how the game plays. I own the Dreamcast version and played that after this just to verify that it’s the same game…and from what I can tell, someone feel free to correct me if I’m wrong, the HD version is the same game, but with a fresh coat of paint and a few minor additions like in-game trophies/achievements. I kind of prefer the look of the original - HD graphics are nice and all, but sometimes I think the grittier, jagged look of older graphics fits a game better…this is a game where I think the older graphics fit better, so an option to revert to those graphics would have been nice. Looks aside, the minor additions to the game does make me give Ghost Blade HD the nod over the original. Anyway, if you like the genre, you’ll probably like Ghost Blade HD. If you’re a scrolling shooter snob, though, you’ll probably be underwhelmed with what Ghost Blade HD delivers. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/21/2023 Syd of Valis Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date February 14, 1992 (JP) Developer I.S.C. Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 70.45/100 Renovation Products picked a strange order to release the Valis games on the Genesis. First, they released Valis III. After a few months, they released the original Valis. Then, just to mess with everyone, a few months later, instead of releasing a port of Valis II, they released Syd of Valis, which was almost a parody of Valis II. So, they technically did release the first three Valis games, I suppose. Anyway, Syd of Valis replaces the serious story of Valis II and the graphical appearance of the previous games with a goofier variation of the story and a very cutesy look with super deformed characters and cartoony-style reactions from some of the characters in the game. Aside from those aspects, this game also includes a system where Yuko can obtain outfits to change into that modify her stats, which is a nice addition. Despite not really being like the other Valis games, Syd of Valis is still a pretty solid and entertaining action game in its own right, and since it's so different from the other games, I feel like even if you've never played a Valis game before, you may find some enjoyment here. If you have, and you don't like it when games veer from a formula, though, you may not enjoy this alternate version of Valis II as much as I did. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: SD Valis (Japan)

Date added: 02/03/2023 Final Lap 2000 Platform Bandai Wonderswan Initial Release Date March 23, 2000 (JP) Developer Soft Machine Genre Racing My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 70.03/100 Final Lap 2000 is a decent little racing game for the Japan-exclusive Wonderswan handheld. Essentially it's an updated, improved upon, and expanded sequel to the 1988 arcade and NES game 'Final Lap,' and despite being on a monochromatic handheld instead of on a color-filled console, it's got plenty of content to keep portable racing fans coming back for more. And y'know, considering that the Wonderswan is a black-and-white handheld, this game really is quite the looker. Soft Machine did a good job to find a way to make a monochromatic game as visually detailed as possible. Graphics don't matter if the game is awful, though, but Final Lap 2000 delivers well in the gameplay department as well. Keep in mind, this game isn't likely going to wind up in anyone's list of "best racing games of all-time" but it's absolutely fine for what it is, and it's a pretty solid racing game to play while waiting for a bus or sitting on a porcelain throne. Played on: Wonderswan Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/29/2022 WCW Mayhem Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date September 23, 1999 (NA) Developer Kodiak Interactive Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 70.93/100 1999 was essentially the beginning of the end for WCW. Poor booking and financial decisions were beginning to turn a company that had surpassed Vince McMahon's WWF as the number one wrestling promotion in the world, into a company that would be a shell of what it once was within two years and bought by McMahon for less money than many lottery winners receive. On the plus side, though, Electronic Arts took over the WCW license in the video game world and after fans suffering through WCW Nitro and WCW/nWo Thunder, WCW Mayhem made it appear that while the WCW television product was headed downhill, at least the video games appeared to be headed back in the right direction again. While not as good as the Aki games published by THQ, WCW Mayhem is a decent game in its own right. With a huge roster of over 50 WCW wrestlers, from the well known like Hulk Hogan to the obscure like Lizmark Jr., there's plenty of variety in the action - you won't be seeing the exact same opponents over and over again. The gameplay itself, while decent (and MUCH better than Nitro or Thunder), is still a step back from Aki's WCW games from a few years earlier. Still, though, most wrestling fanatics will be able to get past the flaws and enjoy this game for what it is. Plus, as I mentioned earlier, Lizmark Jr. is in this game…and so is Bobby Eaton. Any game where I can have a Bobby Eaton vs. Lizmark Jr. match in it is automatically worth playing. That's just a well-established rule. Played on: Playstation, Nintendo 64 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/29/2021 Carpet Shark Platform NES Initial Release Date January 25, 2021 (W) Developer Fista Productions Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 70.27/100 Carpet Shark is a simple game, but a nice throwback to the old days where a game could be easy to play, would allow you to pass time for a few minutes, and had a premise where you’re fairly certain that the person who came up with the concept was under the influence of some sort of chemicals. In Carpet Shark, you control a shark that lives in a carpet, and your goal is to eat anyone that attempts walk across said carpet until the time runs out, then move on to the next round. You need to actually attack – simply dodging all obstacles until the timer runs out isn’t an option since the shark’s health is always being reduced and the only way to restore it is by eating any poor sap that steps upon your home. The game can feel cheap at times, though, say if you’re trying to eat a person but don’t time opening your mouth just right, you’ll take damage instead of gain health. I guess it’s the carpet shark variation of biting your tongue when chewing on food, but it can be annoying until you get your timing down. But, for the most part, Carpet Shark is a solid, simple title. It’s not the greatest game ever made, but it successfully takes a simple concept and an oddball idea, and turns it into a solid game that any fan of video games from the 80’s will likely enjoy. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/11/2021 Archer Maclean's Mercury Platform Playstation Portable Initial Release Date April 6, 2005 (NA) Developer Awesome Studios Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 73.37/100 Imagine games like Marble Madness or Super Monkey Ball, but with a puddle of liquid, and you've got Mercury. In Mercury, you've not only got to try to not fall off the edge of a level, but you've got to use edges to split your blob into two, change the color of the blob to enter color-specific doors, combine two colored blobs to make a new color, and make sure that enough of your blob is left by the time you make it to the goal. The end result isn’t perfect by any means, but it’s still a decent little action puzzle game. If you enjoyed the games mentioned in the opening of this paragraph, then you’ll likely find something to enjoy here as well. Played on: PSP Also known as: [Hg] Hydrium (Japan/Korea)

Date added: 05/14/2022 Kid Niki: Radical Ninja Platform NES Initial Release Date 1987 (JP) Developer TOSE Genre Platformer My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 67.84/100 If you can't tell from the title, Kid Niki is a ninja that also happens to be radical. Radical as in, "Excellent! Radical, dude!" Anyway, I think that the person that named this game believed that "radical" and "showoff" meant the same thing. I say that because Kid Niki has a sword to slash his way through the levels, like a lot of protagonists in side-scrolling games of the 80's had. The difference here is that Kid Niki doesn't really slash anything…He just twirls the sword in a circle and hopes that the dumb enemies of the game walk into the twirling death fan that he created. And of course, the enemies gladly shove their faces into the fan. Anyway, if you're patient, Kid Niki is an EXTREMELY easy game. Thankfully, most of the boss fights do require a little bit of strategy (and most of them have plenty of personality) so it helps offset the boredom that some of the levels may cause due to how easy they are. If you're a fan of 2D platforming, you'll find enough here to feel like playing though the game was worth your time. If you're nota fan of 2D platforming, then you'll likely struggle trying to figure out why this ninja claims to be so radical. Played on: NES Also known as: Kaiketsu Yancha Maru (Japan)

Date added: 06/06/2024 NBA Showdown '94 Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date June 21, 1994 (NA) Developer Electronic Arts Genre Sports - Basketball My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 75.62/100 NBA Showdown '94 was EA's last basketball game before transitioning to the NBA Live franchise. It was also their last 16-bit basketball game to have a point of view from the sidelines with players moving left and right to their respective hoop - NBA Live switched to an isometric point of view. It went out with bang, too. The previous games were titles one team versus another team and the NBA Playoffs. Ditching that name, NBA Showdown FINALLY had all 27 NBA teams represented, as well as the option to play a full, 82 game season. New stats, and the ability to create your own custom team just add to an already enjoyable experience. If you're not a fan of NBA Live's isometric viewpoint, but still want a solid game of basketball for your Genesis, then NBA Showdown '94 is a pretty solid choice. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: NBA Pro Basketball '94 (Japan), NBA Showdown (Europe)

Date added: 07/11/2022 Asuka 120% Special BURNING Fest. Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date March 29, 1996 (JP) Developer Fill-In Cafe Genre Fighting My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.56/100 Waaaay lower down on the list, if you decided to skim through each entry on your way here, are the Bikini Karate Babe games, a series of all-girl fighting games that aren't really known for their quality. Well, before those games existed, over in Japan, the Asuka series supplied players with all-female fighting games…and most of them are actually good. This game is the fifth game in the series (and the only one I've played as of this writing) and while it's no Street Fighter, it's still a good, solid fighter. Aside from a decent fighting engine, which allows you to perform long juggles of your opponents as you get better at the game, the best part of the game, in my opinion, is the cast of characters found here. While all of the girls are based off of various types of gal that you'd find in a school - various sports-based girls, a cheerleader, a dancer, and various other students…but each one is over-the-top. One of my favorites of the gals, for example, is Karina, a student that is accompanied by, and fights with, a frog. Said frog seemingly sets itself on fire at command and hurls itself at Karina's opponents. It's that kind of personality, in my opinion, more so than the fact that this is an all-female fighting game, that helps this game stand out against other fighting games of the time. If you've never had an opportunity to play this game, but like 2D fighting games, then I recommend tracking down a copy - I bet that you'll enjoy it. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/21/2024 King Kong 2: Ikari no Megaton Punch Platform NES Initial Release Date December 18, 1986 (JP) Developer Konami Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 66.79/100 When I saw that Konami had released a King Kong game on the Famicom in Japan, I didn't expect it to be a top-down action game where you control King Kong and just punch everything in sight. I also definitely did not expect it to be like a labyrinth as I played. Basically, in King Kong 2, your goal is to destroy everything on the screen in an attempt to find power-ups and/or a door. The doors will either warp you to elsewhere in your current level, to another level all together, or to a boss fight. After finding the boss in each level, you'll get a key. Getting all keys is necessary to reach the end of the game and save Lady Kong…whom King Kong likes to state that he loves whenever he collects a key. The end result is an entertaining game, but also one that can be incredibly frustrating if you've got a poor memory and/or if you're not willing to draw out a map of each stage as you move from screen to screen - you'll literally be jumping from level to level the first time you play, so having a record of what warp is where can make everything much easier when you have al the keys and attempt to head to the final stage. The biggest downside to this game, aside from how easy it is to get lost, is that King Kong really only has the ability to punch enemies…technically, he can throw boulders as well, but your ammo is limited and you'll likely be punching most of the time either because you used up all of your boulders or you're saving them for an upcoming boss fight. But anyway, the downside of punching is because of the odd hit detection that sometimes pops up in this game, as well as the number of projectiles that you'll encounter - you'll likely find yourself constantly hopping around in an effort to avoid a constant barrage of projectiles in some of the stages. Despite its flaws, though, King Kong 2 is a solid, early Famicom action game. If you'd like to control King Kong in a top-down perspective while smashing various things, while navigating one, giant maze, then King Kong 2: Ikari no Megaton Punch may be for you. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/24/2022 Kuon Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date April 1, 2004 (JP) Developer From Software Genre Adventure My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 70.17/100 If you've been visiting this list for a while now, of even if you're browsing through it for the first time right now, then you can probably see that I'm a fan of horror games. So, it's probably no surprise that when I saw Kuon at a used game store long ago, I picked it up without having any idea what I was getting myself into. The fact that it was horror was enough for me. At first glance, I honestly was not expecting much. I expected it to be a budget horror game, honestly…so it sat on my shelf for years and years until I finally decided to blow the dust off of the case and play Kuon for this list. While it's not the best horror game I've ever played, I can say that by the end, Kuon had made me a fan. Essentially, you follow the story of two women exploring the same area…which is part of why my score is low as it is, which I'll explain in a second…and during the course of the game, you'll see that these two seemingly similar women are quite a bit different as you get deeper into the story. The story itself is somewhat interesting, but the story also requires you to backtrack. A lot. Not only are you backtracking a lot when controlling one of the women, but you'll be doing back tracking in the same area when controlling the other woman as well. It really made that aspect of the game stand out, unfortunately. The combat also isn't exactly well-done. You can get by with it, and if it was never necessary to fight, I wouldn't mind it as much…but since you'll sometimes find yourself in situations where you have to fight to survive, the combat should be better. Despite those complaints, though, I am actually a fan of Kuon. I found it to be an enjoyable bargain bin game. Unfortunately, while this was available for dirt cheap shortly after it was released, a low print count has made the price of this game skyrocket in recent years…so if you plan to buy a copy, it'll set you back several hundred dollars. While I enjoyed Kuon, I can't say that I enjoyed it enough to drop that kind of cash down to play it. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/06/2020 Beautiful Katamari Platform Xbox 360 Initial Release Date October 16, 2007 (NA) Developer Now Production Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 74.46/100 I like Beautiful Katamari…I like any Katamari game, honestly. But just because I like it doesn’t mean that it’s an excellent game. If Beautiful Katamari had been the first game in the series, then this would be great. Unfortunately, it’s the fourth….or sixth, if you count the two mobile games in the series that came out in 2006 and 2007. And with very few exceptions, there isn’t a whole lot here to make it much different from any other game in the franchise. If you’re like me and don’t care, then you’ll probably like Beautiful Katamari just as much as I did. If you liked the previous games but were hoping for something new or innovative, you’ll likely be disappointed. Aside from online battles, which admittedly were fun, and HD graphics (which is probably why this is “Beautiful” Katamari) there just simply isn’t enough new content to make this game feel like anyone but the most devoted Katamari fans would play from beginning to end. Played on: Xbox 360 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/26/2020 Fester's Quest Platform NES Initial Release Date September 1989 (NA) Developer Sunsoft Genre Adventure My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 60.96/100 Fester's Quest is basically an Addams Family take on the Legend of Zelda formula with guns and aliens in the place of swords and whatever you'd classify Zelda enemies as...Anyway, while the game isn't horrible, there are plenty of flaws to overcome. The controls aren't the best and the difficulty is a bit high because of it. Two hits and you're dead. You can continue but you'll start all the way at the beginning, meaning that you'll have to travel all the way back to where you were in order to continue on. It's an annoyance that doesn't seem necessary. Sure, it lets you continue with all of your items, making getting back a little easier, but it's still a major pain...especially when lining up an enemy for an attack isn't always the easiest thing to do. But overall, Fester's Quest is passable and a little better than a lot of people give it credit for. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/14/2020 Wonder Boy Platform Sega Master System Initial Release Date March 22, 1987 (JP) Developer West One Genre Platformer My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 71.19/100 Hitting North American shores about a year before Adventure Island on the NES, Wonder Boy is largely the same game with different enemies and a slightly different (and some may argue better) look. There are some level design differences, but for the most part the games are very similar. With good reason, too…they were made by the same developer. It also should be said that while it hit North American shores first, the Famicom’s Takahashi Meijin no Bouken Jima (Japan’s version of Adventure Island) actually hit store shelves in the land of the rising sun six months before Wonder Boy. That part makes sense in that the overall graphical presentation is better on the Master System’s Wonder Boy…but it’s also confusing because I, personally, prefer the level design in Adventure Island and feel like the changes made in Wonder Boy took away from the game rather than added to it. With all of that out of the way, I do feel like Adventure Island is the better of the two games, but both games are solid, and if you’ve only got a Master System nearby, you’ll definitely find fun with Wonder Boy if you enjoy platformers. Played on: Sega Master System Also known as: Super Wonder Boy (Japan)

Date added: 07/06/2020 WWF Smackdown!: Just Bring It Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date November 16, 2001 (EU) Developer Yuke's Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 72.41/100 WWF Smackdown 2 is my favorite game in the franchise, so I had high hopes for Smackdown 3, and when Just Bring It came out with an updated roster, heavily improved create-a-wrestler, and the ability to have up to 8 wrestlers in the ring at once (this is the only game that allowed that many in the ring at once in the series until the 2K games recently brought it back) I thought it had to be better than Smackdown! 2 was. It wasn't. In fact, I consider Just Bring It to be one of the worst games in the series. While not a bad game, per say, it's just a disappointment for fans of the original two Smackdowns...The big knock on it is the story mode, which is nowhere near as fun as the season modes in the previous two games. That said, it's still playable, and I still played it non-stop when it first came out, but I'm a wrestling nerd, so I enjoy almost any wrestling game thrown in front of me. If you're the same way, you'll enjoy yourself here. Otherwise, if you're looking for the best wrestling game ever made, this isn't it. Go look elsewhere. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: Exciting Pro Wrestling 3 (Japan)

Date added: 10/17/2022 Muppet Monster Adventure Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date October 20, 2000 (EU) Developer Magenta Software Genre Platformer My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 70.38/100 Muppet Monster Adventure managed to both be better than I thought it was going to be, yet disappointing at the same time. If Muppet Monster Adventure had tried to make a completely unique template for a game, I do think it would have been pretty awful. Instead of creating a unique experience, however, Muppet Monster Adventure is basically a Spyro the Dragon clone with the ability to transform in order to access areas in each level. Most of the enemies act like they were in a Spyro game, and much like in Spyro, you've got different attack methods and what works against some won't work against others. The level designs even seem to be inspired by Insomniac's purple dragon games. Unfortunately, like most clones, Muppet Monster Adventure fails to be as good or charming as the original…that's where my disappointment in the game lays, honestly. On the positive side, while it is disappointing to feel like you're playing an inferior Spyro game when you could be playing one of the original trilogy instead, this still isn't a terrible game. While it sometimes felt a little dull and easy for me, I have a feeling that young children would absolutely love this game, and since it stars Muppet characters that they're likely familiar with, I betcha it'd be a big hit if you had a young'un play it. As for us adults, if you're a Muppet fanatic that would love to play as Robin the frog and battle against various monster-versions of your favorites…like Kermonster (Kermit) or Noseferatu (Gonzo) then this game will provide you with a decent experience. Everyone else would be better off playing one of the better 3D platformers on the Playstation, including the games starring the purple dragon that inspired this one. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/05/2019 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Platform NES Initial Release Date May 12, 1989 (JP) Developer Konami Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 67.96/100 I've heard a lot of people say that this game is hard. Maybe it's because this was the first game I owned for the NES (aside from the Mario/Duck Hunt/Track Meet cart), and thus, have plenty of time put into it, but I have very little trouble getting through this game. The underwater dam area that everyone complains about is actually my favorite part of the game. I actually enjoy making my way through the electrified plant life and disarming the bombs. Then again, I am a bit of an odd duck. The only real frustration that I experience is the minor platforming aspects – they’re rough. There aren’t many things more frustrating than poor platforming that punishes you when you fail by traversing through a level with enemies that have respawned all over again. But anyway, the other NES TMNT games are better overall games by all means, but this one ain't too shabby, either. Give it a try if you're a fan of them turtle mutants. If you can push through the frustrations, you may actually enjoy your time here. Played on: NES Also known as: Gekikame Ninja Den (Japan), Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles (Europe)

Date added: 04/16/2019 Marvel vs. Capcom Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date March 25, 1999 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 76.01/100 With the success of X-Men vs. Street Fighter, Capcom decided to up the ante and pit the entire Marvel universe against the entire Capcom universe. As a result, we got to see Mega Man uppercut War Machine, Zangief give a spinning piledriver to the Hulk, and Spider-Man make sure that the web on Morrigan's leggings wasn't the only web that she was stuck in. It wasn't the most balanced fighting game available (which sometimes results in frustrating action that feels cheap) and there are several other 2D fighters on the Dreamcast that are a much better choice to play, but Marvel vs. Capcom was still fun, and really, that's what counts the most. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/30/2020 Danny Sullivan's Indy Heat Platform NES Initial Release Date August 1992 (NA) Developer Rare Ltd. Genre Racing My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 75.43/100 Danny Sullivan’s Indy Heat is okay…the problem is that it was released after Super Off Road, and it’s basically the same game…just with indy cars instead of off road trucks. It’s still fun, though, so that’s a plus. The single player experience is okay, but it doesn’t take very long to race on every track and begin the loop around the country all over again. The real fun is when you’re able to play against friends, as often times the races can end with a photo finish. There’s not many things as satisfying in a multiplayer game as refusing to make a pit stop on the final lap, and using your last bits of turbo to push your car, which is set on fire, past the finish line a whisker ahead of the second place with their pristine, freshly-pitted vehicle. If you enjoy Super Off-Road, you’ll probably like Danny Sullivan’s Indy Heat, so long as you aren’t expecting a lot of evolution in terms of the gameplay. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/15/2019 Sega Swirl Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date 2000 (NA) Developer Tremor Entertainment Genre Puzzle My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 74.17/100 Sega released its puzzle game Sega Swirl both on the Web Browser 2.0 disk and in the Sega Smashpack and was one of the first games that I ever played online….over dial-up internet connection. The concept is simple – any swirls of the same color next to each other can be “popped.” The more of them next to each other, the bigger the combo and score. If you pop a single swirl, not touching any like-colored swirls, you lose points. The goal is to clear the screen of all swirls. There are a few modes that you can play solo, but unless you’re a puzzle game fanatic, they’ll probably get old quick. Where this game really shines is the multi-player. When you think you’ve had your fill of single player gameplay, invite some friends over and it becomes a pretty addicting party game that adds plenty of replay value. Not too shabby for a game that never sold as a standalone title on the Dreamcast. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/12/2022 Blood Wake Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date December 25, 2001 (NA) Developer Stormfront Studios Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 70.20/100 Have you ever wanted to just drive a boat around in a video game and shoot at stuff…and then drive another boat and shoot more stuff? Well, then you might like Blood Wake, because that's essentially all that it is. Since that concept doesn't really appeal to me, and because I never really heard much about Blood Wake before playing, I wasn't expecting much. That said, Blood Wake is not a bad game at all. I'm not saying that it's the greatest game I've ever played or anything, but it's definitely not a bad game at all. The boats control fine (for the most part - you're still fighting wave physics) and the shooting, while not perfect by any means, isn't awful, either. Now that I'm describing it all, I guess I understand why I never really heard anything about this game before - it's not really good enough where everyone talks about it, but it's also not bad enough where everyone complains about it. It's a decent game…not really anything more or less. If you like games with shooting and boats, then you'll find plenty to like here. If you just like action games in general, then Blood Wake still may be a game that you can find some enjoyment in. Like I mentioned, I did not really expect much, but it surprised me and exceeded my expectations. I'll never put Blood Wake on a list of my favorite games of all-time, but I still found some enjoyment in it regardless. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/12/2022 Hot Wheels Unleashed Platform Sony Playstation 5 Initial Release Date September 27, 2021 (W) Developer Milestone S.r.l Genre Racing My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 72.42/100 Hot Wheels Unleashed is better than I expected it to be - I honestly didn't expect anything worthwhile when I first popped it in. I figured I'd play it for a while, write a review, and add it to the list. Two hours later, I found myself racing more frequently simply to save up cash to buy blind boxes to get more Hot Wheels cars in my garage…and then interest eventually died out when I kept getting duplicates of vehicles I already had and I realized that most of the Hot Wheels I had as a kid were not going to make an appearance in the game. I get that in this day and age, some folks want the newfangled graphics and such, but honestly, if a Hot Wheels game were made with most, if not all, of the Hot Wheels cars released from their first car produced to the one that just got put on store shelves last week, that would be pretty fantastic. Obviously, for a car roster that large, you'd probably need more basic graphics than what's found here, but the nostalgia from old-timers like me, would make that sacrifice worth it. Anyway, the racing itself in Hot Wheels Unleashed is decent. It's not overly great, but it's good enough to keep you playing. If Unleashed provided me with more nostalgia, I probably would have kept playing, honestly. It was once I realized that I wouldn't be getting much more nostalgia that my desire to keep playing ended. But, if you want a decent racing game with the Hot Wheels license, then Unleashed isn't a bad choice by any means. Played on: Playstation 5 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/22/2021 Porky's Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer Dunhill Electronic Media Corp Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 68.87/100 Fun fact: I’ve never seen Porky’s. I don’t really have any desire to, either. All I know about the movie is what I’ve seen on commercials on old wrestling footage that I’ve got access to - a bunch of pervs looking at ladies through holes in the wall. The Atari 2600 video game based on the movie isn’t too terrible. The game starts out like Frogger. Try to cross the street without being hit by traffic or pedestrians. Eventually, you wind up in the sewer. The goal down there is to pole vault from side to side, picking up rungs to build a ladder. Once the ladder is complete, you climb it and enter a shower room with a lady showering in the center of the room. The goal is to climb to the top of the room without the shower lady seeing you, and push the object located at the top of the room down to the sewer, then climbing back up and out of the room to enter another Frogger sequence. The goal is to repeat the process until all objects have been collected, eventually leading to an attempt to blow up Porky’s. It’s really not bad at all considering the hardware and the time it was released. I imagine that if I had any nostalgia or fond memories of the Porky’s movie, I’d like it even more. But even without any knowledge of the movie, I still found Porky’s to be a solid, enjoyable game. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/07/2020 Dead Island Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date September 6, 2011 (NA) Developer Techland Genre Adventure My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 70.60/100 When I first saw Dead Island, I was at a friend’s house and he was playing it. While I’ve always liked horror-themed games, it just didn’t look appealing to me. The gameplay looked choppy and clunky, the exploration didn’t look interesting, and it just didn’t really seem like something that I’d enjoy…So, I never played it until I decided to finally cave in and add it to this list. After playing it, my initial observations were correct to a degree…but I still couldn’t help myself from getting a bit smitten with Dead Island by the time I decided to move on to something else. Finding some of the quirky characters is what made me enjoy the game more than anything else. That said, while the gameplay isn’t perfect by any means, once you get the hang of it, it’s not awful. Will Dead Island ever make a list of my top 100 favorite games? Probably not, but I can appreciate it for what it is – a decent, but not great, game where you can hit a giant zombie in the face with a nailed baseball bat while watching the beauty of the tide rolling in. That’s gotta count for something. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/25/2019 Wuz up b? Produce: Street Dancer Platform Bandai Wonderswan Initial Release Date April 27, 2000 (JP) Developer Fortyfive Genre Music My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 68.56/100 Wuz up b? Produce: Street Dancer (also known as Wasabi Produce: Street Dancer) is a very basic music game that isn’t too different from other games in the genre. If you’ve played a music game before, you know the drill…a dancer is on the top of the screen, and it’s up to your actions whether they bust out some freaky fresh fly moves…or stumble and look like me on the dance floor. While they dance up top, you’re focused on the bottom part of the screen where button inputs of left, right, up, down, A, and B appear on the screen. It’s up to you to press the appropriate button when the scrolling line passes over it. If you’re craving a portable music experience, then Street Dancer may fit the bill…However, don’t expect anything other than just your basic, average music game. It’s not bad – just average. Played on: Wonderswan Also known as: Wasabi Produce: Street Dancer

Date added: 06/23/2020 WWF Raw Platform Super NES Initial Release Date November 1994 (NA) Developer Sculptured Software Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 66.98/100 WWF Raw adds to the mildy successful formula of WWF Royal Rumble by differentiating each wrestler not just by their finishing holds, but also by their basic movesets, so each wrestler feels slightly different to play as. Also added is the first female wrestler in a WWF game, the late Luna Vachon, so if you prefer to beat up men as a lady, you can do that as well. Lastly, some secret moves for each wrestler have been added as well - very arcade-y, unrealistic moves, but they're in the game should you feel the need to unleash them. Despite those additions, and a few new game modes, this is still basically the same game that Acclaim had been putting out since Super Wrestlemania...but this is the best version of that style of game. It was passable for its time, and it hasn't aged as poorly as one might think, but North American wrestling games have come a very long way since this game. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/09/2021 Bleach GC: Tasogare Ni Mamieru Shinigami Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date December 8, 2005 (JP) Developer Polygon Magic Genre Fighting My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 71.19/100 I don’t watch anime…in fact, I don’t really like anime. I have friends that adore it, but it just simply isn’t for me. Give me the chaos of anvils dropping on the heads of talking animals found in Looney Tunes over any anime any day. I say that because Bleach is an anime, and I haven’t seen anything from it outside of what was found within this game. I feel the need to mention that because I want to stress that if you’re a fan of Bleach, then you’ll likely enjoy this game more than I did. The game looks gorgeous and the story mode will likely be a major plus for any fans of the series – since I know nothing about Bleach, I don’t know if these scenes are brief recreations of stuff that happened in the anime or brand new stories…but they’re likely to be a plus to fans of the series either way. When the action starts, the fighting is simply average, though. There’s nothing wrong with it…but it’s also not Street Fighter II-level of not wanting to put the controller down. It’s more of a, “I’m glad I played that, but I’m ready to move on to something else” feeling. But anyway, I found Bleach to be a nice-looking, but so-so game, but fans of the anime may like it a whole lot more than I did. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/27/2023 Gorf Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1982 (NA) Developer Roklan Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 72.07/100 Gorf, to put it simply, is basically Space Invaders…but with slightly more variety, and released two and a half years after Space Invaders. In other words, there were two and a half years of opportunity to think of ways to improve on the shooter formula, and Roklan, the developer, simply added a few more stages to the game, with each stage also seemingly inspired by another game. Around the same time that Gorf was released in the arcades, Galaga hit the arcades as well, and showed how much improvement could be done to Space Invaders' successful formula. But anyway, while I criticize Gorf for its lack of originality, the game itself isn't bad…it just feels like a bootleg 4-in-1 game cartridge, with each level being a different game. The levels all play fine and you'll likely have fun with Gorf…but you'll also be reminded of the games that inspired Gorf, and may find yourself wishing that you were playing them instead. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/05/2022 Explosive Racing Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date December 1997 (EU) Developer Toka Genre Racing My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 69.05/100 Explosive Racing was a pleasant surprise for me. Toka, the developers behind some awful games, including Soul Fighter on the Dreamcast, developed this game…and it's honestly not bad. There are only five tracks to race on (ten if you count the mirror versions of each track) but each track is unique and completely different from the others. If you have an analog controller, it makes use of the awful "right analog up for gas, right analog down for brakes" controls, but it can thankfully be changed in the options. You'd be amazed at how much easier a game can be with solid controls - I could not place higher than sixth in a race with the default controls. My very first three races with analog steering and the X button for gas, I wound up in first place, followed by a second place finish for the next two races. That's not to say that this is an easy game - it's not. There are various hazards in ach level that can take you from first place to fifth place in a matter of seconds, but with better controls, it's a whole lot easier to regain some positions than it would be otherwise. Also making it easier to regain positions is when you learn the physics of the game - they're weird. If you scrape along a wall, you lose speed and other vehicles will pass you. If you turn too hard, you'll lose speed and other vehicles will pass you. BUT, if you just slightly turn, and hit a wall at the right angle at full speed, you bounce off and lose little to no speed in the process. Anyway, if you want a solid arcade-style racing game to pop in from time to time, and don't mind a lack of content, then Explosive Racing is a good game to pick up. Played on: Playstation Also known as: X.Racing (Japan)

Date added: 02/14/2020 I Love You Colonel Sanders: A Finger Lickin' Good Dating Simulator Platform PC Initial Release Date September 24, 2019 (NA) Developer Psyop Genre Adventure My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 62.35/100 I Love You Colonel Sanders: A Finger Lickin’ Good Dating Simulator is a free game available on Steam that, as you might expect, shamelessly promotes KFC by putting you in the role of somebody madly in love with a dreamy-looking, young Colonel Sanders as you both attend a three-day culinary school taught by a talking dog. Being a fan of bizarre games, I immediately knew that I needed to play this game when it was announced. The game is pretty short, taking roughly an hour to complete, but it stays entertaining the whole time and ends before the over-the-top presentation of Colonel Sanders as a complete stud muffin overstays its welcome. Considering that this is a free game, you could do a whole lot worse than playing this…of course, if it’s Valentine’s Day, you’ve got an hour to kill, and a bucket of KFC chicken nearby, I can’t think of a more appropriate way to spend your time than playing this. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/30/2022 King of the Monsters Platform Neo Geo Initial Release Date July 1, 1991 (NA/JP) Developer SNK Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 68.56/100 It doesn't necessarily look like it, but King of the Monsters is actually a glorified professional wrestling game with wrestlers replaced by giant monsters and the wrestling ring replaced with cities surrounded by electric barriers that act as ring ropes. The goal is to beat up your opponent(s), often with wrestling moves, and use the city to your advantage as you do. The victor isn’t determined by the first one to deplete their opponent of energy. Instead, it’s decided by pummeling your opponent until they’re down on the ground, then you need to cover them and keep them down for a three count…you know, standard professional wrestling rules. It's not a perfect game by any means, and sometimes the matches overstay their welcome a bit, but King of the Monsters can be an enjoyable experience for fans of wrestling games and fans of giant monster films alike. If you're a fan of both, well, then this game will likely find a place in your heart…Especially if the idea of a giant beetle giving a mud monster an atomic drop sounds like it would be a good time. Played on: Neo-Geo, Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/18/2019 Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date February 7, 2008 (NA) Developer Tamsoft Genre Brawler My Score 5.5/10 Avg. Score 61.78/100 Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers is a guilty pleasure of mine, as I love cheesy B-movies and the Onechanbara games are essentially the video game version of a B-movie. The game is even pretty fun when you first play it. The problem with Bikini Zombie Slayers lies with the repetition. Despite some minor changes in environments and various different enemies to dismember, it generally just feels like you’re doing the same thing over and over and over again. Add in some motion controls that don't always work as they should and you may find yourself looking like you’re trying to swat away a bunch of phantom flies as you try to perform combos to do-away with all of them dang zombies and their kin. Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers, like most games in the series, is a game that's fun in small doses here and there, but a game that ultimately fails at being passable. Played on: Wii Also known as: Oneechanbara Revolution (Japan)

Date added: 09/25/2019 Oink! Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date December 27, 1982 (NA) Developer Activision Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 72.76/100 What a disturbing game. Oink! puts you in the roll of the three little pigs from the fable where the wolf blows their houses down...Except in Oink!, instead of blowing their houses down, the wolf has a tongue like a frog and uses his tongue to demolish your house one brick at a time...While he does this, you need to try to patch up the holes. If he breaks down enough of the wall with his disturbingly long tongue, the wolf will then try to lasso you with his mouth-based anatomy and drag you to your death. Honestly, being French-kissed to death by a wolf sounds like something that Mystique would have put out, not Activision. Overall, it's a decent game and not a bad one to pick up if you're looking to expand your Atari 2600 collection, disturbing imagery and all. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/07/2021 RetroMania Wrestling Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date March 30, 2021 (NA/EU) Developer Retrosoft Studios Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 72.94/100 I’m a huge fan of WWF Wrestlefest. It’s one of the only arcade cabinets that I’d like to own at some point. So, when I heard that RetroMania Wrestling was not only attempting to recreate the fun of Wrestlefest, but it was given the nod to be considered the “official” sequel to it, it definitely had my interest. After putting a few hours into RetroMania Wrestling, I do enjoy it...but it’s not without its faults. First, the ragtag roster is odd...it technically has a wrestler or two for everyone...but the roster as a whole feels like it’s hit or miss. As someone that loves wrestling from the 70’s and 80’s, being able to play as Austin Idol and Nikita Koloff is awesome...but having them on the same roster as the Blue World Order feels out of place. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a bWo fan, and it seems that they’re still taking over, but I feel like the game would be more enjoyable as a whole if they stuck with a specific theme for the roster (and maybe included various different rosters as DLC)...that way you’d have an entire roster of 80’s wrestlers, ECW wrestlers, current Indy stars, etc. It may just be me, but the selected roster just doesn’t seem to mesh. That gripe aside, the story mode isn’t playable with all wrestlers...just Johnny Retro (John Morrison). If you don’t wanna play as Mr. Retro, well, then tough luck. You’re stuck with him. The gameplay itself also feels like it’s lacking...yes, it’s very much like Wrestlefest, and there are some positive modifications made to it, but I feel like more could have been done to make it feel like its own game instead of it simply being a tribute to an arcade wrestling game that many of us love. That said, if you like wrestling and want to support developers giving us alternative wrestling games aside from the stuff with the WWE logo stamped on it, then RetroMania Wrestling will still provide you with a mostly enjoyable experience...it’s just probably not going to lure too many casual wrestling fans in. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/26/2022 Cruis'n World Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date June 25, 1998 (EU) Developer Eurocom Genre Racing My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 71.33/100 Back in the 90's, it seemed like Cruis'n USA and/or Cruis'n World arcade cabinets could be found at just about any bowling alley or pizza parlor that contained arcade games. Eventually, Cruis'n USA found its way ported to the Nintendo 64, and while it was passable, it honestly wasn't nearly as fun playing it on Nintendo's console than it was playing it in the arcade. Cruis'n World looked to fix that by not only porting the arcade game over, but adding new features and modes in an attempt to make the console version superior. For the most part, I feel like Eurocom succeeded with that. While using an actual steering wheel to control your vehicle is always a fun novelty at the arcade, the extra stuff found here makes up for that. Cruis'n World isn't necessarily a racing game that you'll fall in love with, but if you're looking for a fun racer where you pretty much just select your track, your vehicle, and drive, then Cruis'n World may be a game you enjoy. If you want a deeper racing experience, then you may find yourself a little disappointed here. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/26/2022 Evoland Platform PC Initial Release Date April 4, 2013 (NA) Developer Shiro Games Genre RPG My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 66.22/100 Mix the 2D Legend of Zelda games with Final Fantasy with a hint of Diablo and you've got Evoland. It's a really charming game that takes you through the basic, technical history of RPGs and action adventure games. It's fun and a nice ride down memory lane, but when you peel away the neat concept, you're left with a very basic game that probably won't have you wanting to come back for more. If you're not swayed by the concept of working through various eras in video games, then you probably also won't be wowed or won over by the gameplay. Likewise if you're looking for a deep experience, you won't find it here. On the other hand, if the concept of playing through various RPG styles sounds awesome to you, or if you've played most RPG classics and you'd like a little nostalgia, then you'll likely be happy to deal with the issues and simplicity that this game provides as you work your way through to the end of this short, but somewhat charming game. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/22/2022 Danger Zone Platform Playstation 4 Initial Release Date May 30, 2017 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Three Fields Entertainment Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 69.11/100 Danger Zone takes the concept of causing as much destruction as possible in a single run that was found in Pain on PS3, but removes the catapult and ragdoll human and replaces it with various vehicles…and improves on the formula as a whole. Where Pain's chaos mostly took place in only a handful of levels but the levels were very large and open for discoveries, Danger Zone instead gives you much smaller stages, but at the benefit of providing many more of them. Also, instead of it feeling more like a sandbox-style game where you just goof around for a high score, like in Pain, in Danger Zone, the levels almost feel like an action-based puzzle game - you have to figure out the best route to take, the correct accelerations, etc. to wind up with the highest score possible - and you can only advance on to later levels if your score is high enough. Despite my praise, there are some negative here, though. Load times can be pretty bad at times…they weren't enough to stop me from playing, but they were sometimes long enough that I found myself multi-tasking and doing other things while I waited for things to load. I'll lump the end of the level pause as a load time - at the end of the level, there's a delay before the results pop up. I've sat there waiting for results for a while on a few occasions. I know some if it is that they're simulating more stuff happening…but if all vehicles have stopped moving and you're just simulating a traffic cone that's twirling in place just in case IT hits something, it can be a bit annoying. Overall, Danger Zone is a decent game - I seem to like it a little more than the average player, but I think if you give it a chance, you'll at least find a little bit of enjoyment in it before you move on to something else. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/05/2019 Kung Fu Platform NES Initial Release Date June 21, 1985 (JP) Developer Irem Genre Brawler My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 65.2/100 Until revisiting this game for this website, I was never a big fan of Kung Fu. I have friends that would sing the praises of this game, but I simply chalked that up to nostalgia…heck, when I was a kid, I thought Puss ‘N’ Boots was one of the greatest platformers that I had ever played. I always found Kung Fu to be repetitive and boring. Revisiting this game with an open mind, I’m finally seeing some of the brilliance that my friends saw. While Kung Fu is definitely a very basic brawler, some of the repetition is removed due to the various enemy types that you encounter as well as the speed in which you need to attack to prevent damage from being taken – if you’re too slow, you’ll be swarmed and it’ll be game over. Despite the repetition, the speed of the game helps keep things somewhat exciting. I still don’t feel like Kung Fu is a great game, but it was a decent North American launch title for the NES that helped lay the ground work for beloved brawler franchises that would be created later like Streets of Rage, Final Fight, and Golden Axe. Played on: NES Also known as: Spartan X (Japan)

Date added: 05/26/2020 Dark Cloud Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date December 14, 2000 (JP) Developer Level 5 Genre Adventure My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 76.27/100 When I first played Dark Cloud, waaaaay back when it initially released on the Playstation 2, I was simply not a fan. I thought it was passable, but that’s it. Revisiting the game for this list was the first time I had played it since 2001. This time, I actually found myself appreciating Dark Cloud for what it is – a game that tries something different, meshing dungeon crawling, fishing, and town building into a flawed, but fun experience. I still don’t exactly consider it to be among the elite games on the PS2, the combat in particular isn’t exactly the greatest, but it’s still a solid game to play if you’re into dungeon crawlers or even just appreciate games that attempt new things instead of simply sticking with a known formula. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/25/2019 WWF Wrestlemania the Arcade Game Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date October 18, 1995 (NA) Developer Sculptured Software Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 71.84/100 At first glance, Wrestlemania the Arcade Game looks like a terrible idea. A wrestling game with Mortal Kombat-like controls and over-the-top, ridiculous moves doesn't have any right to be fun, right? Wrong. This was a very good blend of loose professional wrestling rules mixed with a regular fighting game. The end result wasn't the greatest game ever by any means, but it was easily a game that non-wrestling fans could pick up and enjoy just as much as wrestling fans would. The Playstation and Saturn editions are recommended versions due to the inclusion of two more wrestlers to select (Yokozuna and Bam Bam Bigelow) but even the versions found on the 16-bit consoles aren’t too shabby. Played on: Playstation, Saturn, Super NES, Genesis, Arcade Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/01/2024 South Park: Snow Day! Platform Sony Playstation 5 Initial Release Date March 26, 2024 (W) Developer Question Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 62.87/100 Like most people that played this, South Park: Snow Day! Is not what I wanted. After the success of The Stick of Truth and The Fractured But Whole, many of us were hoping for (and expecting) another very good RPG…Instead what we got with South Park: Snow Day! Is a decent rogue-like. I'll stress the word "decent" in that sentence…this isn't a bad game. I feel like most of the hate towards Snow Day is that it's not the RPG that most of us wanted. However, it's a perfectly fine game for what it is. It's nothing that I'd really go out of my way to play again, but I found myself enjoying the majority of my playthrough and I ultimately found the decision to make this a rouge-like to be a good one. Snow Day! isn't perfect, and fans of longer games may be disappointed with the length of this game, but I felt like Question did a solid job of creating a rogue-like work within the South Park universe….unfortunately, I fear that most folks won't give this game a fair chance due to the change in genres that nobody was really wishing for. Played on: Playstation 5 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/20/2021 The Little Mermaid Platform NES Initial Release Date July 1991 (NA) Developer Capcom Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 72.54/100 In the early 90’s, Capcom developed a bunch of Disney games on the NES, with all of them seemingly ranging from good to great. The Little Mermaid, in my opinion, falls more in the good category. It may not be as popular of a game as Duck Tales or Chip 'N Dale's Rescue Rangers, but it's a good game all the same. While it’s not a platformer like the two games I just mentioned, the Little Mermaid is an interesting action title that allows the player to swim around the stages, avoiding enemies (or capturing them in bubbles to launch them at other enemies), collecting items to become stronger and increase your point count at the end of each level, and participate in boss fights at the end of each stage. The item collecting itself can feel both frustrating and fun - you often have more than one chest to open, and only one shell or boulder to open them with. Pick the wrong chest and you’ll find it empty. Pick the right chest and you may increase the distance or power of your attack, allowing you to capture larger enemies to use as weapons as the game advances. Anyway, the Little Mermaid is a fun little game that may not be quite as good as some of the other Capcom-made Disney games, or as popular, but it's still a solid title and it may be a pleasant surprise for folks that give it a chance. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/17/2022 Robo Pit Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date January 13, 1996 (JP) Developer Altron Genre Fighting My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.62/100 Y'know, I've had Robo Pit for a long time, but never really put a lot of time into it. Well, not until tackling it for this list, anyway. Now that I've not only put time into it, but actually saw it through to the end, I can honestly say that Robo Pit has created a soft spot in my heart for itself. The concept here is pretty simple - create a robot, complete with weapons on its right and left arms, then fight with your robot, slowly climbing the ranks until you reach the number one rank…and then the number zero ranked robot appears to give you the biggest fight yet. But, the fights have more at stake than rankings. If you win, you can take one of your opponent's weapons to claim as your own. However, if you lose, they can do the same to you. Knowing that you could lose a strong weapon is often on your mind as you climb the ranks - will you go one rank at a time for a longer, but safer journey? Or will you jump ahead, battling more difficult robots at higher rankings to jump to the number one position as fast as possible? While the concept is fun and all, the combat isn't as refined as one may like. Ranged attacks seem to have difficulty landing unless you're right on top of the opponent or if you can manage to corner them somehow. Close combat hit detection takes a while to get used to as well - until you do, the combat can be frustrating. The other potential negative is that you start at rank 100. In other words, you've got a LONG journey if you plan to see this game to the end. If the combat was amazing, that wouldn't be a problem…but with the combat being so-so, 100 rankings seems to be a bit much. Overall, Robo Pit is a decent, unique fighting game, but I have a feeling that the majority of players, whether they enjoy this game or not, won't be willing to play this game long enough to see their robot reach the number one rank. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/25/2019 Blue Stinger Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date March 25, 1999 (JP) Developer Climax Entertainment Genre Adventure - Survival Horror My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 66.83/100 Blue Stinger was Activision’s attempt at survival horror…and it’s rather uneventful and lacking in any horror aside from the fact that mutated creatures continuously attack you…mutated creatures that aren’t very difficult to kill and that drop money, for you to buy ammunition and items that replenish your health so that it’s near impossible for most creatures to pose any threat to you. While it’s not necessarily a “bad” game, and I did enjoy myself to a degree, I don’t think many people would place this in their favorite survival horror games of all-time list unless they really like Christmas (the game takes place on Christmas Eve and Day) or want all the bad voice acting from the original Resident Evil titles without any of the thrills. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/25/2019 Fire Pro Wrestling for Wonderswan Platform Bandai Wonderswan Initial Release Date August 31, 2000 (JP) Developer Shimada Kikaku Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 70.23/100 I believe that this was Fire Pro’s debut on a handheld, and it wasn’t bad…however, in my opinion, this was a case where a large roster of wrestlers (which the Fire Pro games had become known for) wasn’t really necessary. I say that because with the Wonderswan being a black-and-white handheld, much of the roster looked exactly the same. If this had been released on the Wonderswan Color instead, I feel like it would have made a world of difference. That said, once the bell rings, you get some solid action, though it’s a bit easy by Fire Pro standards, which may make this a decent game for beginners of the series. The Fire Pro Wrestling games on the Game Boy Advance are superior to this one in just about every way possible, but if all you have is a Wonderswan, this is still a decent, portable wrestling game. Played on: Wonderswan Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/26/2020 Tiny Toon Adventures Platform NES Initial Release Date December 20, 1991 (JP) Developer Konami Genre Platformer My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 70.28/100 Tiny Toon Adventures is a decent platformer with a unique gameplay element in that while you play much of the game as Buster Bunny, you can also choose who you can transform into when obtaining a certain power-up - Plucky, Dizzy, or Furball, each with their own special abilities. Much of the cast from the beloved cartoon makes appearances, which is a nice little bonus for fans of the show. The main problem I have with the game is the not-so-imaginative level design...They're kind of bland, in all honesty. But, bland or not, they're still fun...Just not must-play fun, if you catch my drift. Fans of the show may enjoy their time here, but other players, maybe not as much. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/20/2020 The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date August 30, 2019 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Supermassive Games Genre Adventure My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 68.38/100 Having played Until Dawn recently to add it to this list, I remembered that the developers had created another game with the same style of gameplay – the Man of Medan. So, I popped it in the PS4 and got myself ready in hopes that I’d love it as much as I loved Until Dawn…except I don’t. Don’t get me wrong, I do like Man of Medan. I’ll likely play it again down the road but the story has a slow start, and just as it seems to be picking up steam…the credits roll. It’s kind of disappointing, especially since Man of Medan is half the length of Until Dawn was, so you may be expecting to only be halfway through the story once you see an ending. Anyway that disappointment aside, I’m still a fan of this game. If you liked Until Dawn, but would like to see the setting of the horror take place on a ghost ship instead of a haunted house, then you’ll probably like Man of Medan. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/28/2019 Stunt Race FX Platform Super NES Initial Release Date June 4, 1994 (JP) Developer Argonaut Games Genre Racing My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 74.83/100 The graphics don’t look like anything special today, but back when this game was released, my friends and I were in awe of the 3D models in this racer. It was more than just a pretty face, though, the racing itself was fairly solid and the tracks were all loaded with personality, making this an entertaining experience all the way through. And while it lacks a bunch of modes, it does use a battery save to record all times, allowing you and your friends to compete over who has the fastest laps. That in itself, kept my friends and I playing this far longer than we otherwise would have when we were kids. There are better racing games on the SNES, but Stunt Race FX is still a decent choice when looking for a racing title, especially if you’re alright with it having a little bit of a cartoony feel to it. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Wild Trax (Japan)

Date added: 04/13/2019 WWF Attitude Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date November 10, 1999 (NA) Developer Acclaim Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 63.34/100 When it initially released on the N64 and Playstation, WWF Attitude was actually somewhat good. While not exactly a pick-up-and-play game, once you understood how everything worked, it was definitely enjoyable. The career mode was fantastic for its time and the creation options were unrivaled, with the best create-a-wrestler at the time of its release and the ability to create arenas and pay-per-views. That said, when it released on the Dreamcast, about half of a year had passed…and in that short time, WWF Attitude did not age well. New wrestling games came out or were coming out with better, smoother gameplay (some of them containing WWF wrestlers) and Acclaim answered with a simple port of the game with little to no enhancements on the much more powerful Dreamcast. At its original release, Attitude was considered to be very good. A mere five months later, it already felt outdated. This is still the best wrestling game released in North America for the Dreamcast…but if you want a better wrestling experience on Sega’s last console, import just about any wrestling game that released exclusively in the Land of the Rising Sun. Played on: Dreamcast, Playstation, Nintendo 64 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/13/2020 Silent Hill: Book of Memories Platform Playstation Vita Initial Release Date October 16, 2012 (NA) Developer WayForward Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 64.19/100 Silent Hill: Book of Memories made a lot of Silent Hill fans pout and trash the game even though most of them had never played it, simply because it took the series to a new genre...Ah, the internet. Anyway, Book of Memories is a hack-n-slash dungeon crawler with Silent Hill characters showing up like Pyramid Head and the Mailman. It's actually pretty well done. As you kill enemies, there are two different colored types of blood they leave behind. Each color represents "blood" and "light" in relation to your "karma" or alignment. If you collect enough of one color to fill your karma meter to one side or the other, enemies of the same alignment will actually attack other enemies in the room instead of you. It's a neat little concept to incorporate into all the hacking and slashing. But anyway, I recommend giving this game a chance. It doesn't poo-poo on the Silent Hill franchise like a lot of folks think - it's a one-off game to the side that isn't part of the lore of the series. There's nothing wrong with that, in my opinion. Played on: Playstation Vita Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/08/2020 Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom Platform NES Initial Release Date May 27, 1988 (JP) Developer Hudson Genre Adventure My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 72.48/100 Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom is the only video game that I ever played that has the distinction of being beaten while on the toilet at work. True story. I had put some NES games on my PSP at the time, and played this during breaks and lunch. Near the end of the game, I had to drop a deuce, as the kids say, and watched the credits roll before I was done. That wonderful story out of the way, Princess Tomato is an average point-and-click adventure game that may be more charming than many others in the genre due to the bizarre setting and characters. It’s not bad at all, but it’s also not a game that most people will want to go out of their way to play…unless, like me, they like bizarre games and a game named “Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom” catches their eye. It should also be said that one of my absolute least favorite video game characters of all-time, Percy the Persimmon, calls this game his home. But even that bumbling fool’s presence can’t completely taint the charm of this game. If you like point-and-click adventures, you’ll probably enjoy your journey through the Salad Kingdom. If you don’t already like the genre, however, there probably isn’t anything here to convert you into a fan. Played on: NES Also known as: Salad no Kuni no Tomato Hime (Japan)

Date added: 04/13/2019 Wacky Races Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date June 26, 2000 (NA) Developer Infogrames Sheffield Genre Racing My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 73.00/100 When it comes to kart-style racing games, Dreamcast owners had the choice between Looney Tunes: Space Race and Wacky Races, both published by Infogrames. Space Race is pretty much mayhem where Wacky Races is often more of a competitive race with occasional weapon distractions. Depending on your preference, you may prefer one over the other. I’ve grown to appreciate Space Race more over time, but back when the Dreamcast was in its prime, I preferred Wacky Races. Being a fan of the Wacky Races cartoon, it was neat to relive it to a degree with this game. These days, however, much like my preference of Warner Bros. cartoons over Hannah Barbara cartoons, I can’t help but prefer the chaos of Space Race over the calm-in-comparison Wacky Races. It’s still good, though, and well worth checking out if you’re a fan of racing games, particularly kart-style racers. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/02/2020 Take Out Platform Android Initial Release Date July 1, 2014 (NA) Developer Denny's Inc. Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 78.60/100 Take Out is the only game really worth playing on Denny’s Atari Remix. If you ever played Breakout and thought to yourself, “This game needs breakfast foods like eggs and bacon,” then Take Out will be right up your alley. What makes Take Out the best game of the Denny’s-inspired mini compilation is that touch controls work pretty well with this style of game. The end result, while not the greatest game ever made by any stretch of the imagination, is an unexpectedly solid gameplay experience. Better yet is that there’s no need for wi-fi, allowing you to play a decent game wherever you are, regardless of if you’ve got any access to the internet. Played on: Android Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/29/2023 E.V.O.: Search for Eden Platform Super NES Initial Release Date December 21, 1992 (JP) Developer Almanic Corp. Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 74.16/100 I've always liked E.V.O….I first beat it in college roughly 20 years ago, and despite how much I liked it, I never returned to it until recently to review it for this list. The premise in Search for Eden is a unique one - you start off playing as a fish in the year 500,000,000 BC. As you defeat enemies, you gain experience points that allow you to evolve different parts of your body - like more ferocious teeth to increase damage, fins to make you swim faster, or scales to improve your defense. Eventually, you'll evolve into an amphibian and make your way onto land, then eventually a reptile to survive against dinosaurs, and finally a mammal, to survive the harsh winters of the Ice Age. While the game takes place over the span of millions of years, it only takes a handful of hours to beat, making it feel somewhat underwhelming considering how much time supposedly passes from beginning to end. The combat is action-based, and can feel a little awkward at times, but is mostly fine for what it is. A little more focus on the combat would have been nice, since you may be spending time grinding to get enough experience to evolve a specific body part….but you'll also get used to the combat as it is from doing that as well. Anyway, it's not a perfect game, but I've always liked the concept of E.V.O: Search for Eden. If the idea of playing through millions of years to evolve yourself into the top life-form on the planet sounds neat to you, then give E.V.O. a try, you may find yourself liking it like I did. Played on: Super NES Also known as: 46 Okunen Monogatari - Harukanaru Eden e (Japan)

Date added: 05/14/2022 King's Knight Platform NES Initial Release Date September 18, 1986 (JP) Developer Bits Laboratory Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 61.04/100 King's Knight is another one of my childhood favorites…and I'm kind of surprised to see that it's got a fairly bad reputation with folks, as I tallied up the average score for it. It's not a bad game by any means, so I wonder if the bad scores are a combination of Square fans angry about it not being an RPG and/or the fact that the final level is guaranteed death until you can figure out what you need to do…unfortunately, once you figure out what you need to, you need to restart the game from the beginning. I understand the frustrations since I had them myself, as a kid. Anyway, King's Knight is a vertical-scrolling shooter where you play as a knight, a wizard, a monster, and a thief, and the survivors of each level combine as one force in the final level of the game where you have to use the skills and powers of each one to make it to the end and defeat the final boss dragon. To beat the game, as I mentioned earlier, you have to know where certain items are hidden in each level and collect them for each character - otherwise even if all four survive to the final level, you'll end up with everyone dead. This need to explore is actually something that I really enjoy about this game. Sure, there are better shooters available, and the annoyance of not having any chance to beat the game without collecting specific items in each level and making sure that all four characters survive may bother some, but King's Knight is a solid shooter that has a charm to it that makes it stand out amongst other scrolling shooters for me. It's not the best, but it's still a solid shooter if you're a fan of the genre. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/17/2022 Dark Messiah Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date June 11, 1998 (JP) Developer Atlus Genre Adventure My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 72.59/100 Dark Messiah, known as Hellnight in Europe, is a unique take on the survival horror genre from Atlus. In this game, you're stalked by a creature throughout the game, but you don't have any means to attack. Your only option is to run away. You can slow the creature down, either by having the person accompanying you do something…or if you don't like that person, you can simply use them as a human shield and sacrifice their life so that you can get away. There are only so many allies that you can recruit, though, so that second option should be avoided unless you've got no other alternative. The game takes place in a first-person perspective, as you explore various areas in the game. When you enter rooms, the game feels more like a point-and-click adventure, as you select people or objects and either talk to the people or examine/use the objects. The gameplay I just described is done pretty well, and is a nice, unique take on a horror game. Another neat aspect of the game is that if you enjoy it, it has some reasons to play through multiple times. As I mentioned, you can recruit a handful of characters to aid you during the game, but the catch is that only one can join you at a time. Depending on the character that is with you, you'll get different dialogue and a slightly different story/ending. There are also some branching paths, where depending on your choice, you may have more or less work to do to advance on in the game. So if you enjoyed the game on your first playthrough, playing through it again will likely result in a slightly different experience. I've given this game a bit of praise, but it's not a perfect game by any means - the hide-and-seek aspect of running away from the monster, while interesting, gets annoying after a while - much of the game takes place in narrow halls, so you can't run past the monster without dying or losing an ally, which means you'll have to backtrack often to run away while saving your ally…and specifically in the later part of the game, where much of it is like a maze, that backtracking can feel a bit frustrating. But, for what it is, Dark Messiah is still an enjoyable game, if you're a fan of horror games. If you love survival horror games, and want something less like Resident Evil and a little more unique (especially for its time), then give this game a shot - I bet you'll like it. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Hellnight (Europe)

Date added: 02/06/2022 Mario Andretti Racing Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1994 (NA/EU) Developer Stormfront Studios Genre Racing My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 72.53/100 I have some friends that know absolutely everything about automobiles and racing that there is to know…but I do not share that knowledge. I pick up stuff here and there, though, so I know the name Mario Andretti…and I know he's a race car driver…and that's basically all I know. Doing mild research so I don't sound like a dummy (or as much of one, at the very least), I found that Mr. Andretti raced several different vehicle types…which makes sense why this game has three different styles of racing - Indy cars, Sprint Cars, and Stock Cars. You can adjust various aspects to tweak performance and (hopefully) help you win, like tires, engines, and even pit crews. The majority of the racing is pretty fun, but in an odd design, computer-controlled vehicles seem to spin out or wreck in front of you for no reason other than to provide an obstacle for you to avoid. Granted, wrecks happen in racing, but sometimes it seems like cars in this game simply spin out for no reason other than to get in your way. Anyway, if you're looking for a racing game on the Genesis, you could do worse than playing Mario Andretti Racing…unfortunately, you could also do better. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/10/2019 Kirby: Canvas Curse Platform Nintendo DS Initial Release Date March 24, 2005 (NA) Developer HAL Laboratories Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 81.20/100 Kirby Canvas Curse is another early Nintendo DS game that feels like it was specifically made to show off touch-screen gaming possibilities. In this case, it's done very well, with the game being exclusively controlled via the touch screen. It was one of the first games to show how well done a touch screen game could be, as it took advantage of the unique capabilities of the DS to deliver an experience that you couldn't have previously had on any other gaming system. That said, I never really got into Canvas Curse much, myself. I appreciate and admire the unique gameplay – I always like it when developers try something new – but it just wasn’t for me. Still, this is still well done for what it is, and I can definitely see people liking it a lot more than I do. Played on: Nintendo DS Also known as: Touch! Kirby (Japan), Kirby: Power Paintbrush (Europe)

Date added: 05/21/2020 Book Worm Platform Nintendo Game Boy Advance Initial Release Date February 25, 2003 (NA) Developer PopCap Genre Puzzle My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.01/100 Mixing a matching puzzle game with a crossword puzzle sounds about as fun as watching paint dry...but if watching paint dry was as fun as this, I'd be sitting in front of freshly-painted walls all the time. Now that I think of it, I probably did in my youth…breathing in paint fumes would explain a lot about me. Anyway, Book Worm is a well-done puzzle game that may actually be a nice educational tool as well. It's rare that something regarding education in a video game results in fun, but Book Worm does it wonderfully and successfully. Sure, there are better puzzle games out there, but if you want a fun, unique take on the puzzle game formula, give Book Worm a try. I think you'll likely be pleasantly surprised much like I was. Played on: Game Boy Advance Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/21/2023 Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Platform NES Initial Release Date September 1989 (NA) Developer Rare Ltd. Genre Adventure My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 66.34/100 Until this year, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? was one of the few video games that I owned as a child that I had never beaten. I made my way to Judge Doom on plenty of occasions, but I just never could beat that dang jerk. It's a jarring battle, honestly. Most of Roger Rabbit is fairly easy - while the locations of items that you need to collect are randomly placed in the game's world, it's really not hard to reach Judge Doom if you've got patience. I suppose I should go into more detail - most of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? has you talking to people; exploring the various locations found in the game; and searching drawers, mouse holes, and garbage cans for items. Every now and then, you'll need to run away from weasels and/or successfully tell them jokes if they happen to catch your buddy, Roger Rabbit. Once you make your way to the warehouse that Judge Doom resides in, however, you're met with one of the more annoyingly difficult boss fights that you may ever come across. And if you manage to beat the doomster, and if you don't act quick enough immediately after the fight, you'll die and get to start the fight all over again. And if you do manage to get past it all, you're rewarded with a very, very weak ending of blue text on a black background….with white text underneath it telling you, "THE END." Overall, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? really isn't a bad game at all if you don't mind a slower-paced game, and if you're able to look past the frustrations that Judge Doom will likely give you…and if your dream is to play a child-friendly game where you can punch old women in the face (sometimes accidentally) while looking for items, then I suppose that this game has you covered as well, as long as you're aware that you're a "horrid man" for doing so, just like the old ladies will tell you. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/09/2022 Playstation All-Stars: Battle Royale Platform Sony Playstation Vita Initial Release Date November 20, 2012 (NA) Developer Bluepoint Games Genre Fighting My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 70.23/100 Playstation All-Stars: Battle Royale's biggest flaw, according to many that criticize it, is that it's not Super Smash Bros. They're right, it's not. And they're also right that the Smash Bros. games are better. But, that doesn't mean that this game can't be decent in its own right. It's kind of like the kart racing genre - Mario Kart is widely considered the best, but there's a few other kart games worth your time as well. Playstation All-Stars: Battle Royale does some of the things that Super Smash Bros. does right. For example, you have plenty of nostalgic stages to fight in and characters to play as. Unfortunately, the fighting isn't quite as refined as in Nintendo's famed fighter…specifically in how balanced (or unbalanced) some of the fighters are. But, if you stick with it, and get the hang of how everything works, Playstation All-Stars: Battle Royale is a decent fighting game that most fans of the genre will enjoy…just don't go in expecting it to be up to par with most of the Super Smash Bros. games, and you likely won't be disappointed. Played on: Playstation Vita, Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/14/2022 The Typing of the Dead: Overkill Platform PC Initial Release Date October 29, 2013 (NA) Developer Modern Dream Genre 1st Person Shooter - Education My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 72.44/100 I was always a big fan of the original Typing of the Dead on the Dreamcast, so when I saw that a new Typing of the Dead game was released about a decade ago, I had to get it. Typing of the Dead: Overkill is full of adult language and seems to go out of its way to offend and/or disgust you at times...So, if you're easily offended, this probably isn't the game for you. For the most part, I found it all to be comical - the way it's done, you can tell that the creators knew it was all cheap, b-movie humor and material, but they happily tossed it in anyway. As a b-movie junkie, I appreciated it for the most part. Anyway, for those not in the know about the gameplay, Typing of the Dead: Overkill is basically a rail shooter, except instead of shooting, you type what you see on screen. So instead of shooting bullets, you're typing words and phrases. It's an entertaining game, it's fun, and you might even learn to be a better at typing by playing this. It's also probably the only time you'll learn to do something with this many F-bombs dropped…and I'd be willing to guess that it's the only game that could be considered educational (since it helps you learn to type) with that sort of language, as well. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/14/2020 Adventure Island Platform NES Initial Release Date September 12, 1986 (JP) Developer West One Genre Platformer My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 71.64/100 I don’t know if there are heated debates online about which game is better, Wonder Boy of Adventure Island, but if there are, you can throw me on the Adventure Island side of that discussion. While they’re largely the same game, and while Wonder Boy looks better graphically, I prefer the slight differences in level design in Adventure Island to the levels found in Wonder Boy. Adventure Island seems to have weaker graphics because it seems to have more enemies and obstacles in your path on the screen at a time…just a theory on my part. All of that said, while I prefer Adventure Island, if I felt like taking an adventure where I could eat fruit, throw hammers, and ride a skateboard, it also wouldn’t bother me if I wound up playing Wonder Boy instead. Both games are solid…I just happen to prefer this one better. Played on: NES Also known as: Takahashi Meijin no Bouken Jima (Japan), Adventure Island Classic (Europe)

Date added: 04/15/2020 Naughty Bear: Panic in Paradise Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date October 8, 2012 (NA) Developer Behaviour Interactive Genre Action My Score 6.0/10 Avg. Score 59.06/100 When the original Naughty Bear was released, I fell in love with it, despite how poorly the game was made. With awful reviews, I was convinced that my original romp was the only time I’d ever get to kill Daddles…but then a miracle happened – Panic in Paradise, a sequel to the original Naughty Bear, was released. Not only could I murder Daddles again (and a huge variety of his pals, new and old) but I could do it in an island paradise. Further emphasizing stealth, Panic in Paradise allows you to steal the clothes of the other bears so that, in some cases, you can walk amongst them without alerting anyone that you’re actually there to paint the town white….the bears don’t bleed, they just lose stuffing, so the town gets painted white instead of red…Anyway, Panic in Paradise is an improvement on the original in pretty much every way and well worth downloading if you enjoyed the corny violence of the original like I did. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/05/2019 Gargoyle's Quest II: The Demon Darkness Platform NES Initial Release Date July 17, 1992 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Adventure My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 74.85/100 Gargoyle’s Quest II kinda fell short of my expectations. The problem with this sequel to the original Gargoyle’s Quest is that it largely feels like the same game as the Game Boy original…right down to characters and even the final few lines of the ending. The only real differences are the graphics (which are in color, and much nicer to look at) and the lack of random battles on the world map. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing for a game to mimic the game that came before it, but I found the original Gargoyle’s Quest a little more interesting, even though the sequel does allow a little more room for exploration. Overall, Gargoyle’s Quest II is still a decent game and worth playing, but if you’ve played through the original, you may walk away a little disappointed if you expected this to be bigger and better. Played on: NES Also known as: Red Arremer II (Japan)

Date added: 07/04/2019 Silent Hill: Downpour Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date March 13, 2012 (NA) Developer Vatra Genre Adventure - Survival Horror My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 69.51/100 I have mixed feelings about Silent Hill: Downpour. Essentially, Downpour was an attempt to make Silent Hill more “open world” with side missions and such to discover and complete, or you could skip them all and just stick with the story. I like it more than a lot of critics seemed to, but I also came across plenty of glitches during my time playing it...some were helpful like the glitch that causes enemies to flee from you, and others irritating like the glitch I got that left a path locked in the subway after I had unlocked all routes. Also, I've got to add that I’m really not a fan of the "void" enemy. Whenever I had to deal with those sections, I just groaned. The void is not stressful or scary…just annoying. All that aside, I do enjoy this game as a whole...But I can't help but feel like it could have been better, and it feels like the franchise went out with a whimper rather than a bang. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/15/2019 Nuts & Milk Platform NES Initial Release Date July 28, 1984 (JP) Developer Hudson Genre Platformer My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 70.58/100 Nuts & Milk is a pretty entertaining platformer that surprisingly never left Japan. Basically, your goal in the game is to collect all of the fruit in the level. When you do, your gal pal appears outside of a house and you then need to traverse the rest of the level to get to her while avoiding enemies along the way. The game itself is actually pretty fun…unfortunately, the controls aren’t always as tight as you’d like them to be. In fact, if you’re too close to an edge, and try to jump, you’ll likely have to back up a step before you’re actually able to. In later levels, this can quickly cause a cheap death. Anyway, for what it is, Nuts & Milk is a decent platformer. With tighter controls it could’ve been a must-play game instead of a play-it-if-you’ve-got-it game. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/05/2019 Tennis Platform NES Initial Release Date January 14, 1984 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Sports - Tennis My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 67.27/100 Tennis was a very simple tennis game that was part of the North American launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was a decent video game version of the sport with the options for both Singles and Doubles play. The controls are smooth, though they don’t always feel as responsive as you’d like – the hit detection takes getting used to - but they do the job well enough. The games various difficulty levels help you adapt to the controls and move to faster-paced games at your leisure. Much like the evolution of Pong to this game, future video game adaptions of tennis would continue to evolve and improve, but for its time, Tennis was a pretty solid experience for folks that picked up the NES on launch day. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/18/2019 Alien vs. Predator Platform Atari Jaguar Initial Release Date October 20, 1994 (NA) Developer Rebellion Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 77.54/100 Alien vs. Predator on the Jaguar always got a lot of hype, and some of it was warranted. Essentially, this is your basic 1st person shooter of the time, but with the twist of being to play as three different characters (Alien, Predator, or Marine) and each character has their own skills, goals and tactics to use in the game. It’s a neat concept, and when it was released back in 1994, it’s easy to see why it got the hype it did. However, like many early 1st person shooters, it hasn’t aged that well. Even for the time, some of the aspects, like hit detection, seem to be flawed at times, but not enough to completely take away from the game. Overall, if you want a solid, early 90’s, 1st person shooter with the unique concept of three characters with different gameplay styles, Alien vs. Predator is worth checking out…It just may not be worth purchasing a Jaguar console to do so. Played on: Jaguar Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/18/2019 Fire Pro Wrestling: Combination Tag Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date June 22, 1989 (JP) Developer Human Entertainment Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 71.17/100 This is where it all started. It’s no secret that one of my favorite video game franchises is the Fire Pro Wrestling franchise, and the franchise saw its initial release on the TurboGrafx-16 console under the name Fire Pro Wrestling: Combination Tag. Masato Masuda took the basic template from when he created Pro Wrestling on the NES and tweaked it in an effort to make a more realistic professional wrestling experience. The result was nowhere near as easy to pick up and play like his first game, but once you got past the learning curve, you could see the potential for something truly great. With generic versions of popular wrestlers in the Land of the Rising Sun at the time, like Antonio Inoki, Riki Choshu, Stan Hansen, Bad News Allen, Mil Mascaras, the Road Warriors, and more, it allowed players to create matches with some big names without having to pay license fees for their likeness, something that would become a staple in the series. The game also had more than simple singles matches, as you had the option between singles, tag, or a 5-on-5 elimination-style gauntlet where teams of 5 battle it out in singles matches in an attempt to eliminate their opponents from their team. Later games improved on this game in every way, but Combination Tag was still a very solid first entry in a cult-favorite gaming franchise that still has a small, rabid following to this day. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/01/2018 Monster in My Pocket Platform NES Initial Release Date January 1992 (NA) Developer Konami Genre Brawler My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 72.88/100 Monster in My Pocket has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid. Being a kid that loved mythology, the paranormal, folklore, etc., I absolutely loved the toys...eventhough I never had many of them. Then Konami developed and published this game, and I rented (remember those days?) it the instant I saw it, and I fell in love again. Now that I'm older and (maybe) wiser, I still enjoy this game for the nostalgia, but I can also see some of its flaws. It's not a bad game by any means, but it's also not in the top 10 of greatest games ever made like young'un me may have thought. If you want a decent mix action with a minor bit of platforming tossed in...or if you ever thought it would be neat to fight bigfoot in a freezer next to some frozen peas, then Monster in My Pocket is definitely worth giving a shot. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/21/2019 Cleopatra Fortune Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date June 21, 2001 (JP) Developer Altron Genre Puzzle My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 67.33/100 Cleopatra Fortune is an odd puzzle game that plays kind of like Tetris in that blocks fall from the sky and stack on top of each other. The catch here is that instead of matching blocks, you want to instead entomb the sarcophaguses and gems that fall with the blocks, which gives you points and clears up the level, allowing you for more room for burying more mummy caskets. You’re also able, like Tetris, to line the blocks up in a row to eliminate them. The real fun, much like in some other puzzle games, is when you get the hang of the game enough to be able to stack everything up so that when you finally entomb everything that it creates a chain reaction resulting in a nice, long combo. It's a decent puzzle game that might be worth checking out if you find the concept interesting. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/10/2020 Inferno Pool Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date May 28, 2009 (EU/AU) Developer Dark Energy Digital Genre Sports - Billiards My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 69.30/100 Inferno Pool, in my opinion, is part of one of the head-scratchers I have in regards to comparing two similar games…Released just a few months before Hustle Kings, I feel like Inferno Pool is superior. I’m in the minority. No, it’s not as pretty as Hustle Kings in the graphics department, but it’s more fun…well, at least to the guy writing this. The AI here can be difficult, depending on the setting you choose, but it feels fair, especially when compared to the Hustle Kings AI. Also, the mode the game was named after, Inferno Pool, is actually pretty fun and feels like the billiards version of a head-to-head puzzle game where matching blocks makes blocks appear in your opponent’s screen, except billiard balls appear here. The game can also be played single player, where you’re trying to see how long you can last sinking balls before the maximum number of balls are on the table and it’s game over. Hustle Kings may have gotten all the love, but for digital billiards during the last console generation, Inferno Pool gets my vote for the best that I’ve played. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/19/2020 Ridge Racer 3D Platform Nintendo 3DS Initial Release Date February 26, 2011 (JP) Developer Namco Bandai Games Genre Racing My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 73.80/100 I've been a huge fan of the Ridge Racer series since I first played a demo for R4: Ridge Racer Type 4, which hooked me so much that I wound up buying the game...However, I also haven't played a game from the series since that got me as hooked as R4 did. Ridge Racer 3D wasn't a game that de-throned R4 as my favorite from the series by any stretch of the imagination, but it's still a good, solid racing game for the 3DS. If you like racing games, there’s plenty to like here, as well as some familiar tracks for longtime fans of the Ridge Racer series. Drifting around corners is fun and can ultimately result in you winning or losing a race unless you make the effort to master it. Anyway, if you want a racing game, but don't like banana peels on the track that make your car spin out, but would rather wobble back and forth as you try to balance your vehicle during an attempted drift gone wrong…in other words, if you want to lose from your own mistakes rather than the actions of others, then Ridge Racer 3D may be the 3DS game for you. Played on: Nintendo 3DS Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/02/2022 PGA Tour Golf Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1991 (NA/EU) Developer Sterling Silver Software Genre Sports - Golf My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 73.77/100 PGA Tour Golf isn't just a solid video game of golf, it's also a licensed, solid video game of golf. That means that aside from having "PGA" in the title, three of the four courses in the game are officially licensed courses. Florida's TPC Sawgrass, Potomac's TPC Avenel, and La Quinta's PGA West Stadium are all licensed, with the fourth course, Sterling Shores, being a fictional course exclusive to the game. The courses aren't the only licensed content, though, as the names of sixty real-life professional golfers appear on the leaderboards during the tournaments. If you were a golf nut back when this was released in 1991, you'd be in heaven. If you're a golf nut right now and enjoy the history of the sport, then you've got a solid golf game full of names from three decades ago. Anyway, PGA Tour Golf isn't the greatest golf game ever made, and it's not perfect, but for golf purists that want more realistic simulation of the sport, then PGA Tour Golf is a solid choice. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/06/2019 Me & My Katamari Platform Playstation Portable Initial Release Date December 22, 2005 (JP) Developer Namco Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 79.83/100 Me & My Katamari marked the first handheld release for the Katamari franchise. It can take a little getting used to as the game uses the D-Pad and △, □, O, and X buttons to move around rather than two analog sticks. However, once you've grown accustomed to the new controls, you'll quickly be addicted to rolling stuff up like you were in the previous entries. An added bonus is the tremendous 8-bit, side scrolling level you unlock at the end of the game, which shows that Katamari Damacy can be fun in both 2D and 3D. Better handheld Katamari games have come out since Me & My Katamari, but if you’re a fan of the Katamari franchise, it won’t really matter to you. Whether you’re making stars, planets, or islands like in this game, rolling stuff up is always fun. Played on: PSP Also known as: Boku no Watashi no Katamari Damacy (Japan)

Date added: 07/05/2020 Test Drive 4 Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date September 30, 1997 (NA) Developer Pitbull Syndicate Genre Racing My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 72.33/100 Test Drive 4 is kind of an odd game as I think the controls were designed to be more like a simulation, but the game itself is more in line with arcade racing games, as you’re trying to beat both your opponents and the timer, while also avoiding traffic and environmental hazards. The police can be aggravating, especially as you’re learning the ropes with the game – you’ve finally gotten out of last place, just to hit a car, have everyone pass you, and just as you get back up to speed….a cop pulls you over to a dead stop. It’s like the game enjoys kicking you while you’re down. But, stick with it, and you’ll find yourself getting better and the game becomes mildly enjoyable. I enjoyed Test Drive 5 a bit more than this game, but Test Drive 4 was still a decent racing title for its time in its own right. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/11/2020 UFC Tapout Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date February 17, 2002 (NA) Developer DreamFactory Genre Fighting - MMA My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 74.03/100 UFC Tapout is a solid fighting game that suffers from one major drawback – it feels a little too much like Ultimate Fighting Championship on the Dreamcast and not enough like a full-fledged sequel. That said, you’ve got more fighters here with some weight classes specified, but once the fight begins, it’s the same as it was before. Matches may go the distance to a judge’s decision, or in the case of one of my fights, may result in Dan Severn taking down the opponent at the bell, applying a submission, and having the ref call it off before a single punch is thrown. If you never played the original UFC game on the Dreamcast, then you’ll likely really enjoy your time here, especially if you’re into MMA. If you already had your MMA fill on the Dreamcast, however, there isn’t much reason to get this game. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/11/2024 Dead Angle Platform Sega Master System Initial Release Date 1989 (EU/SA) Developer Sega Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 73.85/100 Known as Gang Hunter in Europe (because you're hunting gangs) and Lead Angle in Japan (because you're leading a geometry class…I guess?), this game is better known as Dead Angle here in North America….because….umm….geometry is dead to us here? Anyway, in Dead Angle, your job is to mow down a bunch of criminals, eventually taking down the bosses at the end of each level. The game isn't simply about shooting, though, you also have the ability to move and duck out of the way, which is necessary if you hope to survive. Taking place in the 1930's, I'm assuming, Dead Angle does an okay job of bringing you an 8-bit version of a rogue cop trying to clean up the streets of the criminal gang activity…his style. Oh, and it helps that Robert King, the big boss of the mob, stole your girlfriend, to give you that extra motivation. Overall, Dead Angle isn't perfect by any means, but it's a solid little shooter that takes roughly 20-25 minutes to beat. So, if you're looking for a decent way to kill a little time while you wait for dinner to cook or for your girlfriend to figure out what dress she wants to wear before she gets kidnapped by the mob, then Dead Angle, might fit that role of "time killer" pretty well. Played on: Sega Master System Also known as: Gang Hunter (Europe- Arcade), Lead Angle (Japan - Arcade)

Date added: 11/21/2023 Valis Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date December 27, 1991 (JP) Developer Riot Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 74.37/100 The Genesis version of Valis is basically a port of a game that came out about five years prior on various other systems, and it came out on the Genesis, specifically, a few months after Valis III hit the system. Anyway, if you've never played a Valis game, here's the plot - a female Japanese high school student named Yuko has a perfectly balanced heart, which means that she's automatically the greatest warrior that ever existed. As a reward for being so great, she's given the sword of Valis and is instructed to use it against the evil General Rogles. The gameplay itself is okay…so-so hack 'n' slash gameplay with mild platforming aspects. The part that makes it stand out a little is that Yuko can power up her sword so that she can shoot projectiles, and she can also obtain magic spells after defeating bosses, to further increase her arsenal before heading into the final battle. I feel like if the gameplay got a little more polish, then Valis would be a must-play game of the 16-bit era….but still, for what it is, it has managed to get enough of a cult following that the Valis games have managed to all be re-released on modern consoles for a new generation of players to enjoy. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: Mugen Senshi Valis (Japan)

Date added: 02/28/2021 Wrecking Crew '98 Platform Super NES Initial Release Date January 1, 1998 (JP) Developer Pax Softonica Genre Puzzle My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 75.55/100 Wrecking Crew ’98 isn’t what I expected it would be. I expected gameplay similar to the original Wrecking Crew (which is also included on the cartridge) but what I got instead was an action-based puzzle game. Basically, Wrecking Crew ’98 is a match-3 puzzle game where you control Mario, hitting metal blocks with your hammer to either reveal a colored block or destroy a colored block to drop that column down. On the left side of the screen are levers on each row that you can hit to rotate the specific row that the lever is on. Using the methods above, your goal is to match up 3 or more of the same color. At the same time, you’ve got an opponent on the other half of the screen doing the same thing, with matches from both you and your opponent causing blocks and enemies to appear on the other side of the screen. The first person that has a column reach the top of the screen loses. It’s not an awful puzzle game, but I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t wish this was more like the original. That said, if you want a unique 16-bit puzzle game, then Wrecking Crew ’98 may be worth importing. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/23/2020 Fire Pro Wrestling: 2nd Bout Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date August 30, 1991 (JP) Developer Human Entertainment Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 73.81/100 Fire Pro Wrestling 2nd Bout provides several improvements over Combination Tag. Smoother animations, more moves, more game modes, and a new roster of real-life talent with generic names to avoid copyrights all made this a superior game to the first game in the Fire Pro franchise. Despite these additions and minor improvements, the critics in Japan didn’t feel like this game delivered in regards to innovation as much as they had expected it to. Even with a lack of innovation compared to Combination Tag, however, 2nd Bout was a very solid wrestling game, and quite possibly was one of the best console wrestling titles that you could find at the time. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/16/2020 Fishdom Platform Nintendo DS Initial Release Date July 5, 2011 (NA) Developer Playrix Entertainment Genre Puzzle My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 73.23/100 I was completely unaware that Fishdom was a franchise, and this was the first game. I first played Fishdom on Android a few years ago…wanted a puzzle game and saw plenty of ads for Fishdom, so I figured, “Why not?” I was surprised that the game I downloaded was actually pretty good. So, thinking that Fishdom on the Nintendo DS was the same game, I picked it up. While the DS version of Fishdom isn’t bad at all, you can definitely see how far the series has come from this game to what you can find on smart phones today. There isn’t much here in the means of presentation (although the money you obtain by playing can be used to populate and decorate the aquarium on the upper screen) so if you want your games to look amazing, you’ll likely be disappointed here. The aquarium mentioned in the previous sentence looks okay, but your focus will usually be on the lower screen with the pixelated puzzle pieces. Anyway, the gameplay itself is decent enough where if you give it a try, and enjoy puzzle games, you’ll likely find plenty to enjoy here. Likewise, if you’re a fan of Candy Crush Saga, many of the ideas and gameplay mechanics from that game were found here in Fishdom first. Played on: Nintendo DS Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/14/2022 Ooga Booga Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date September 13, 2001 (NA) Developer Visual Concepts Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 76.22/100 Released roughly a year after the Playstation 2 hit stores shelves, and already after Sega had announced that Dreamcast consoles would no longer be produced, Ooga Booga was a decent multiplayer game released very late into the life of Sega's final console. Essentially, you can partake in three different modes against up to three other friends and/or computer-controlled opponents, and back when this launched, you could play these modes online. The modes consist of a four-way brawl, a variation of brawl involving a wild boar, and "boar polo" where everyone rides a boar as you try to score the most goals before time runs out. The levels range from being incredibly tiny to being mildly large…but since there's really only four people in a stage at a time, I found the larger stages to be dull at times. The most fun seems to be in the chaos of a small stage with everyone crammed inside. The big downside, in my opinion anyway, is a lack of a single player mode. Yes, you can play against three computer-controlled opponents in any of the modes…but an actual single player mode (preferably to unlock additional content) could have gone a long way to adding some replay value here. Still, though, if you've got some friends to play with, Ooga Booga can be a good time. If you plan to play it solo, though, it's got a very limited shelf life. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/07/2019 Indy 500 Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1977 (NA) Developer Atari Genre Racing My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 72.63/100 Indy 500 was a special game when it was released as a launch title with the Atari VCS. It was special because it got packaged with its own, unique controllers for playing the game with. The game itself was mildly fun, and like most multiplayer Atari games of the time, the goal is to get more laps (points) in a race than your opponent. Whoever has the most laps at the end is the winner. Then you can claim to be the winner of the Indy 500 and get sponsorship deals from your local, toddler-owned lemonade stand. Also a plus, Indy 500 includes other modes like a game where the players both race to get to the red dot that pops up on the screen, race tracks on ice, and the welcome option to do a solo race, with the goal of making as many laps as possible with a 60 second time limit. The extra modes just add to an already solid game for its time. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: Race (Sears)

Date added: 01/11/2020 NBA Inside Drive 2002 Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date January 21, 2002 (NA) Developer High Voltage Software Genre Sports - Basketball My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.51/100 NBA Inside Drive 2002 was a solid rookie effort to create a basketball game on the Xbox by High Voltage Software, resulting in a passable game. It wasn’t great, but it was a solid first attempt. The gameplay was solid, but could use some tweaking. The modes were fine, but it could have used more (like some sort of Dynasty mode instead of just one single season, then done). The commentary doesn’t take long to get repetitive, either. But despite all of those faults, Inside Drive 2002 was still fun and a decent alternative to the other NBA games out there. Unfortunately, with quality competition like NBA Live 2002 and NBA 2K2, it wasn’t hard for Inside Drive 2002 to be easily forgotten. Still, this was a good first effort that showed that High Voltage Software’s vision of an NBA game had some promise. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 Beast Boxing Turbo Platform Ouya Initial Release Date June 27, 2013 (NA) Developer Goodhustle Studios Genre Fighting - Boxing My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 70.67/100 Beast Boxing Turbo is a solid boxing title for the Ouya. Not only is it visually impressive, but the gameplay itself isn’t too shabby, either. In this game, you’re a human that is pretending to be a monster so that you can enter a boxing tournament for monsters. When the fights begin, they take a lot of inspiration from the Punch-Out!! games, with colorful, unique characters with their own patterns and attacks for you to pay attention to and exploit. It’s not as good as Nintendo’s boxing franchise, mind you, and I don’t think anyone will ever call it the greatest boxing game ever made, but it’s a decent game of pugilism that I think most people will find that they at least have a little bit of fun with. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/11/2023 WBSC eBaseball: Power Pros Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date February 8, 2023 (JP) Developer Konami Genre Sports - Baseball My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 71.07/100 I'm torn about WBSC eBaseball: Power Pros. On one hand, playing this game gives me very fond memories of playing baseball games back when I was a child. On the other hand, I'm never a fan when games focus primarily on online playing and very little on a single-player experience. I'll start with the positives - Power Pros plays like baseball games from a few decades ago…in a good way. It makes the game easy to pick up and play for most players. The gameplay is very simplistic and easy to understand…and if you're struggling with it, there is a tutorial here to help you through. If you're fond of baseball games of old, then you'll likely enjoy your time here. If the simplistic gameplay isn't your liking, there are other control schemes that can add a little more complexity to your gameplay. The downside, though, is the online focus. Due to that focus, there's a severe lack of modes. If you're like me, and avoid most online gameplay like a plague, then you'll be extremely limited in what you can do here. Even if you do go online, there aren't too many options here, so unless you really enjoy playing against other players, there may not be much to keep you coming back for a long time. Still, the gameplay here is done well enough where it can be fun to pop in and play a game or two when you're trying to kill some time before friends come over or during a lunch period at work. If this was treated like a full-blown game with plenty of modes, then this had the potential to be an excellent baseball game…but, it's fine for what it is, all the same. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: WBSC eBASEBALL: Powerful Pro Yakyuu (Japan)

Date added: 04/22/2024 Cloud Master Platform Sega Master System Initial Release Date August 1989 (NA) Developer Opera House Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 76.08/100 Cloud Master is a pretty solid scrolling shooter with a unique art design that manages to be both simple and often beautiful at the same time. One of the things that sets this game apart from other scrolling shooters is that doors will appear in the level - entering the doors, you're able to select a power-up to use. While this sounds like a great thing, you do need to use the doors strategically…if you've already got a weapon that's working really well in the current stage, it's possible that by entering the door, you'll wind up stuck with a weapon that doesn't work quite as well…or even worse, a weapon that may make a boss fight more difficult. Aside from those doors, and the art style, there isn't really a whole lot else that really makes this game stand out from other scrolling shooters of the time. That's not necessarily a bad thing - it doesn't do anything bad enough to make it stand out, either. Anyway, if you're looking for a solid scrolling shooter for its time, you could do a whole lot worse than Cloud Master. I grew to enjoy it. I think if you give it a chance, you likely will as well. Played on: Sega Master System Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/07/2022 Beetlejuice Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date January 1992 (NA) Developer Rare, Ltd. Genre Platformer My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 74.59/100 Beetlejuice on the Game Boy is an entirely different game from Beetlejuice on the NES…and in most ways, it's a better game, honestly. Unlike the NES game, that had some neat concepts mixed with not-so-neat gameplay, the Game Boy game is actually fairly solid with a good variety to the levels and goals within the levels. It's also pretty nice visually for the handheld as well, with some nice backgrounds and nice, large character designs. Honestly, I would have loved to see this game make its way to the NES. It looks and plays nice on the Game Boy, but the extra power and color of the NES would have only enhanced the experience. The only thing that really holds this game back, in my opinion, is that it's rather slow-paced and while the gameplay is varied from level to level, some levels do feel somewhat dull compared to others. Those complaints aside, this honestly isn't a bad game at all. It's not going to wow most folks, but it's perfectly fine for what it is. If you're a fan of Beetlejuice (particularly the animated television series, which this game is based off of) and you were disappointed by the NES game of the same name, then give this portable Beetlejuice a try. It's not the greatest platformer of all-time, but it'll likely provide you some enjoyment anyway. Played on: Game Boy Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/27/2022 Destruction All-Stars Platform Sony Playstation 5 Initial Release Date February 1, 2021 (JP/AU) Developer Lucid Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 64.78/100 At first glance, Destruction All-Stars doesn't necessarily look like something that I'd go out of my way to play. The fact that the majority of the game revolves around online multiplayer (with NO local multiplayer support) is enough to make me cringe and not really want to play it. But, I got it for free with Playstation Plus, so I figured I'd give it a shot anyway. While the lack of local multiplayer is a major disappointment, and always a VERY stupid move, in my opinion…especially in these days where most consoles support multiple controllers without a multitap - I'm no programmer, but I can't imagine that it'd be too difficult to offer an offline multiplayer mode for these kinds of games. But anyway, despite that gripe, and Destruction All-Stars is definitely not the only game guilty of ignoring local multiplayer, this is actually a pretty fun game. It takes a little bit to get used to, but once you've got the hang of it, you'll probably find plenty to enjoy in this bizarre hybrid of platforming and driving around. I honestly didn't spend a lot of time online, I mostly stuck to the offline single player mode, but I enjoyed my time playing it for the most part. If you've got a PS5 and you're a Playstation Plus subscriber, it won't cost you a dime to give this game a try. For everyone else, if you want a unique multiplayer game to play online with plenty of personality, then Destruction All-Stars may be a good game to try. Played on: Playstation 5 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/30/2020 Jimmy Connor's Tennis Platform NES Initial Release Date November 1993 (NA) Developer NMS Software Genre Sports - Tennis My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 76.82/100 Jimmy Connor’s Tennis is probably the best game of tennis that you can get on the NES. It’s better than “Tennis” that was published in the early days of the NES, but not by a huge amount. The big thing in this game is that you can control the velocity that you hit the ball with by holding down the button. The catch is that when holding down the button, you can’t move. So, if you want to send a power shot back, you need to anticipate where the opponent will send the ball and get there early enough to be able to power-up your swing. It's a solid game, and any fan of tennis will likely enjoy their time here. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/15/2024 Golden Axe II Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date December 26, 1991 (NA) Developer Sega Genre Brawler My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 79.19/100 Golden Axe II is basically the exact same game, but with a few minor tweaks to improve on the original formula. While that sounds like I'm knocking it, I'm not. The original Golden Axe was a blast, so some gameplay tweaks to make it better and graphical tweaks to make it prettier are very much welcome. Unfortunately, this is mostly the same cast of characters as before as well...enemies and playable characters. There are a few exceptions, of course, but a tad more new content would have been welcome. For that reason, I believe, this game is a little polarizing where some people enjoy it and other people really dislike it. I don't think it's that bad, honestly, and the actual gameplay is fun enough to allow me to look past the other flaws. But, if you wanted some completely new visuals and heavily improved gameplay, I could definitely understand why you'd be disappointed with the second Golden Axe. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/01/2021 Clive Barker's Jericho Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date October 23, 2007 (NA) Developer Mercury Steam Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 68.35/100 Clive Barker’s Jericho is an interesting take on the 1st-person shooter formula. For the majority of the game, you’re part of a squad, switching between squad members as you advance on in the story. There are six squad members in total, each with their own unique weapons and abilities. This is a neat concept, but I feel like the game would have benefitted from the squad being maybe three people instead, with a strong emphasis on all three skills…instead of what this game is, which is six members with such a minor emphasis on the skills that when you need a specific skill, you may forget which character has the skill that you need…or possibly even forget that such a skill exists on the team, for that matter. That minor gripe aside, Jericho is still decent while it lasts. I don’t think too many people would rave about it, but fans of shooters and/or horror games will likely find something to enjoy here. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/09/2022 SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date September 28, 2004 (NA) Developer SNK Playmore Genre Fighting My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 66.47/100 SVC Chaos was SNK's attempt at the crossover fighting between Capcom and SNK…That's why their name is first in the title this time. I actually enjoy this game more than most - I consider it to be pretty close to Capcom vs. SNK in terms of quality, but when tallying up scores for this game I was kind of surprised to find that I'm in the minority in thinking that - this game just simply was not well-received by most folks, it seems. Complaints range from complaints that are pretty gripes like "they re-used sprites from previous games," when I'm fairly sure that they didn't, to complaints that are a little more valid, like how the controls don't always feel like they're responding to how you're inputting them. To me, there's more good here than bad, though. SVC Chaos isn't a fighting game that was going to set the world on fire - the gimmick of SNK fighters battling Capcom fighters had been done, by Capcom, for a few years before this game came out, so any excitement about seeing Earthquake versus Sagat from fans of both publishers had probably died down quite a bit by the time this game reached store shelves. Still, though, if you're interested in seeing various fighters from games from both publishers, but with a fighting style with an SNK twist to it, SVC Chaos is worth checking out, in my opinion…even if my opinion seems to be in the minority here. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/31/2022 Mega Man 5 Platform NES Initial Release Date December 4, 1992 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Platformer My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 78.79/100 While Capcom's blue robot was still popular by the fifth entry in the franchise, it was this entry that really made it seem like Capcom was running out of ideas for the series. While not a bad game in a vacuum, Mega Man 5 may be one of the least innovative games in the whole franchise. Aside from the robot bosses, there's not really anything new here. Fight eight robots. Beat the "final castle" levels. Find out that there's another "final castle" set of levels. Do a boss rush before the final battle. Nearly everything done here had already been done in previous games…and much of it was better the first time around, in my opinion. The only real new addition is BEAT, the bird. If you collect the letters MEGA MAN V, with one letter found in each of the 8 robot boss stages, you'll unlock BEAT. Essentially he's used like any other weapon…he's just better for hitting hard-to-reach enemies…but getting him is optional and not really needed to complete the game. That said, if you've never played a Mega Man game before, and played this game first, you'd likely fall in love. The gameplay is still as solid as ever…but for those of us who had played every other previous game in the series, this very much felt like a rehash of previous games…a fun rehash, but a rehash all the same. Played on: NES Also known as: RockMan 5: Blues no Wana!? (Japan)

Date added: 09/03/2020 Blue Dragon Platform Xbox 360 Initial Release Date December 7, 2006 (JP) Developer Mistwalker Genre RPG My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 77.57/100 Blue Dragon was a game that I couldn’t wait to play when it first came out. As a huge fan of turn-based RPG’s, seeing that Blue Dragon was going to be a traditional-style RPG with turn-based combat, I was already onboard. Toss in the fact that the creator of the Final Fantasy series was making it with his new development team and the composer for most of the Final Fantasy games was on board to make the soundtrack, I figured that there was no way that it could be a stinker. While it definitely wasn’t a stinker, it also wasn’t nearly as fantastic as I thought it would be. Blue Dragon is definitely a decent RPG, but I feel like it was more of an RPG for beginners than anything else. That’s not to say that more experienced players of RPGs won’t find anything to like here, but I think many of them will grow bored before the game ends…I personally felt like the game was getting a bit tedious by the end. I am glad that I played through Blue Dragon, though. It has more positives than negatives, and it also contains one of my favorite boss fight songs in all of video games. If it starts with a hair metal scream, it gets an automatic thumbs up from me. Played on: Xbox 360 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/20/2020 Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day! Platform Nintendo DS Initial Release Date May 19, 2005 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Education My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 78.39/100 What's your Brain Age? Playing an emulator to get the screenshots for this game, I got 80 years old. I blame it on both that a mouse was used instead of a stylus and that my writing style made the game think that my incomplete 4 was actually a 7, giving me wrong answers. Checking back at my physical copy, my real Brain Age is 21, so that's not too shabby for a 37 year old geezer. Anyway, Brain Age actually makes learning kind of fun by turning it into a timed game where you can play in an attempt to beat your records and the like. None of the activities take long (unless you're bad at sudoku) so they're perfect for on-the-go gaming...And this game is a perfect counter-argument whenever someone tells you that video games will rot your brain. “Oh, they rot my brain, eh? Well look at this graph of my mental growth that was created by the severed, pixelated head of a Japanese dude named Dr. Kawashima…what?” Played on: Nintendo DS Also known as: Touhoku Daigaku Mirai Kagaku Gijutsu Kyoudou Kenkyuu Center: Kawashima Ryuuta Kyouju Kanshuu - Nou o Kitaeru Otona no DS Training (Japan), Dr Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain? (Europe/Australia), Meail Meail DS Dunoe Training (Korea)

Date added: 01/16/2021 AirGrave Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date November 29, 1996 (JP) Developer Santos Genre 3rd-Person Shooter My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 73.88/100 AirGrave is a neat, scrolling shooter that blends the traditional third-person shooter gameplay with a lock on system that kind of reminds me of the Panzer Dragoon games. Basically, if you tap the button to fire, you shoot bullets like normal. Hold down the fire button and a window of sorts appears on the screen. Anything in that window gets marked as a target, so once you let go of the fire button, the marked targets get a bunch of missiles exploding in their faces…or grills, as the kids say. It's a neat concept, but the overall game could be better. As it is, though, it's still very solid and fun to play every now and then. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/11/2020 Congo Bongo Platform Arcade Initial Release Date February 1983 (NA) Developer Sega Genre Platformer My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 86.50/100 Several years after Congo Bongo was released, Sega created Alex Kidd and later Sonic the Hedgehog to battle Nintendo’s beloved plumber. Congo Bongo, however, was Sega’s attempt at taking down Nintendo’s first star, Donkey Kong. Congo Bongo is a bit different in design, but the goal is the same as Nintendo’s classic game – avoid obstacles and reach the top where the big ape awaits. The big difference here is instead of it being a side-scrolling platformer, Congo Bongo is actually an isometric platformer, giving the illusion of 3D to the player. While the novel concept was unique, and fun once you got the hang of it, that was the catch – you had to get the hang of it. Donkey Kong was pick-up and play. The isometric view required some getting used to, and I believe that was partially why, while successful, it never reached the popularity of Nintendo’s primate game. Played on: Arcade, Atari 2600, Colecovision Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/01/2021 Frankenstein: The Monster Returns Platform NES Initial Release Date July 1991 (NA) Developer TOSE Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 64.15/100 In Frankenstein: The Monster Returns, you play as some guy in a knight suit who is trying to track down Frankenstein (well, Frankenstein’s monster, anyway) because ol’ bolt neck suddenly got super intelligent and used his smarts to steal the knight’s girlfriend. In fact, Frankenstein: The Monster Returns is a cinematic game, where you’ll get little novelty cutscenes between each level to advance the story. In terms of gameplay, you start out on your journey with nothing, but upon beating certain enemies, you may obtain weapons. But, look out - one hit and you drop your weapon...Which is a real pain when you're in, say a sewer, and your weapon drops in the water and you're forced to fight a water dragon boss fight that you weren't expecting and all you've got are your fists…and that’s just in the first level. Eventually, you’ll obtain swords that never drop, which help a bit, but losing the more powerful, projectile weapons after being hit remains a pain until the credits roll. That said, if the game controlled a little better, it would have been a better game as a whole, but for what it is, it's a surprisingly decent game. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/27/2022 Oh My God! Platform Arcade Initial Release Date 1993 (JP) Developer Atlus Genre Puzzle My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 73.96/100 It's no real secret amongst my video game playing pals, but I've always been a fan of Atlus and the games they put out. Specifically with the Megami Tensei games, they never seemed to shy away from religious overtones if it helped with a story. That said, I'm not exactly sure if tossing religious aspects in here (you'll see a god-like fellow in a cut-scene shortly after you drop a quarter in) had any real impact on this game, aside from giving it it's title and the comical aspect of a group of people saying, "Oh my god!" when you hit the game over screen. Basically, Oh My God! is a match-3 puzzle game similar to Columns, in a way, where you can match colors vertically, horizontally, and diagonally. What makes it unique is that the dropping blocks come in the form of a snake. Move left, and only the first block will move left, with the rest continuing downward. It's awkward at first, but once you get the hang of it, it's actually pretty fun - and you can set up some pretty big combos because of the unique way that you can alter the dropping blocks. If this sounds interesting to you, unfortunately, this is one of the rarest games around. There are only four known versions of this game's circuit boards owned by collectors, and there are zero known instances of an assembled, functional Oh My God! arcade cabinet. Still, thanks to how emulation helps archive forgotten games of the past, you can play this game via emulators like MAME, regardless of its rarity. If you're a fan of match-three puzzles games, you may want to give Oh My God! a chance. It takes a little bit to get used to it, but once you do, it's a pretty solid puzzle game. Played on: Arcade Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/29/2022 Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date November 16, 2008 (NA) Developer Midway Genre Fighting My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 73.07/100 Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe was the first Mortal Kombat game to be released on PS3 and Xbox 360, and while it’s not necessarily a bad game, it largely felt like a rehash of the PS2/XB Mortal Kombat games, but with fewer features. Obviously, the big selling point here is for fans of DC Comics, who can see many of their favorites battling against favorites from Mortal Kombat. The novelty of that combination will likely give you a few hours of entertainment, but unfortunately, once you’ve made your way through the story modes, there isn’t a whole lot left to do as far as single-player modes go. So unless you’re willing to battle through Arcade mode repeatedly or if you’ve got friends to play against locally or online, there isn’t much to keep you coming back for more. That said, the story mode is very well done - it’s split into two separate stories, one for Mortal Kombat and one for the DC Universe. When playing both of them, you quickly realize that you’re playing the same story, but from a different perspective, and playing one story fills in some gaps from the other story. It’s not the greatest storytelling in the world, but it entertained me all the same. Overall, if you’re a fan of the PS2/XB Mortal Kombat games, you’ll still enjoy this one. If you had your fill of those games, unless you’re a DC Universe superfan, you probably won’t find a whole lot to make you feel like playing this would be worthwhile. Played on: Playstation 3, Xbox 360 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/16/2022 Pac-In-Time Platform Super NES Initial Release Date December 1994 (EU) Developer Atreid Concept SA Genre Platformer My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 69.10/100 I don't think I ever really gave Pac-In-Time a fair shot in the past. I think I picked it up, played for a few minutes, got bored and moved on. Now that I've put some more time into it, I can say that while Pac-In-Time isn't exactly a must-play platformer, it's a decent one for what it is. The goal of Pac-In-Time is to control Pac-Man as he platforms his way through various levels, collecting all of the pellets before being able to open the door to leave. To collect the pellets, you can obtain powers by jumping through hoops, literally, and depending on the color of the hoop, you'll get a different power. On hoop will allow Pac-Man to throw fireballs while another will give Pac-Man a grappling hook so he can attach to ceilings above him and swing around like Tarzan and others provide other skills or powers, like swinging a large hammer or being able to swim underwater. You've got to use these powers to make your way to the end of each level, which helps prevent this platform from getting too dull. The downside, of course, is the need to collect all pellets in a level to advance. While it makes sense given that's how you complete a level in the original Pac-Man, if you're throwing away the rest of the Pac-Man formula to make this game, maybe you could disregard that part as well - making your way to the end of the level to find that you missed a single pellet and have to now go backwards and try to figure out where you missed it isn't fun. Collecting all pellets as an optional goal that you could get rewarded for would be nice, but collecting them all as a requirement to advance on isn't. Overall, though, if you like 2D platformers, I think you'll find something to like here if you give Pac-In-Time a chance. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/16/2022 Yo! Noid Platform NES Initial Release Date March 16, 1990 (JP) Developer Now Production Genre Platformer My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 70.99/100 What happens when you want to release a decent ninja game from Japan and bring it to North America? Why, you replace the ninja with the mascot of a popular pizza chain, that's what. While it's questionable logic, Yo! Noid is still a decent little platformer...and like any game based off of a pizza delivery company should have, it features plenty of pizza-eating contests. Those contests are actually a nice little strategy mini-game to play between levels. While it sounds odd, it actually adds some depth to the gameplay - while you make your way through each level, you need to pick up as many power-ups as you can find otherwise you'll find yourself on the losing end of each contest…and if you lose the contest, you lose a life, so taking your time to collect absolutely every item is the key to victory…but even with that help, poor strategy will still make It possible to lose. But anyway, Yo! Noid is a passable platformer and worth checking out if you want some late-80's/early-90's nostalgia...well, if you remember the Domino's Noid commercials, that is. If you don't remember them (or you're too young) then it's just a decent platformer that may be worth checking out if you're a fan of 2D platformers. Played on: NES Also known as: Kamen no Ninja Hanamaru (Japan)

Date added: 08/06/2020 Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner - Soul Hackers Platform Nintendo 3DS Initial Release Date August 30, 2012 (JP) Developer Atlus Genre RPG My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 70.99/100 The Megami Tensei franchise may be my favorite franchise in video games. Persona 2: Eternal Punishment on the original Playstation was my introduction to the franchise and I never looked back after that. That being said, if you’re a fan of more modern Shin Megami Tensei games, you may not like Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers – although demon summoning and fusion is here, the battle system is very different from what modern fans of the Megami Tensei series are used to. Instead of exploiting weaknesses, the combat is more about improving your relationship with your demon allies so you can give orders in battle and they’ll listen. This can be done over time, by selecting actions that the demons like, or it can be done faster by bribing your demons with items. The game’s higher difficulty may also turn some people away. If you stick with it, though, you’ll find a decent story full of plenty of demons for you to summon – several of which you won’t find in any of the other Megami Tensei games released in North America. It’s not the best game in the series by any means, but it’s decent…and Megami Tensei fanatics like myself will probably adore it anyway. Played on: Nintendo 3DS Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2023 Rewind or Die Platform PC Initial Release Date April 14, 2023 (NA) Developer Comp-3 Interactive Genre Adventure My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 73.21/100 My very first job was behind the cash register at the local video rental store, and I have fond memories of visiting all of the local video stores around while they lasted. So, when I saw Rewind or Die, it instantly got my attention. I'll start by saying that it's not for everyone. With the exception of the final part of the game, there is ZERO combat. It's exploring, running away, or exploring while running away. The first part of the game takes place in the rental store, and may be a bit slow-paced for some…and then you'll eventually find yourself in a meat factory, trying your best to escape from a deranged killer named Slaw who wears a pig mask. The worst parts of the game, in my opinion, are the chase sequences. To me, it felt awkward holding down the left shift key while running…couldn't there be an option where tapping the shift key locks you into running until you tap it again? Same with crouching - though that isn't used for long periods like running can be. The story is also kind of flawed…the "big reveal" at the end of the game is given away at the beginning of the game if you're able to discover a secret room. Awkward that I found that room before a police officer visited the rental store and the putz I controlled didn't tell the officer. Anyway, this isn't a perfect game by any means, but if you like retro-style horror gameplay based off of cheesy, 80's horror movies, then you may find some enjoyment in Rewind or Die like I did. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2021 Puyo Puyo Da! Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date December 16, 1999 (JP) Developer Compile Genre Music My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 72.23/100 Puyo Puyo has been my favorite puzzle franchise for a long time, and I still remember over a decade ago when I got my hands on a copy of Puyo Puyo Da! I was looking forward to some more glob-popping puzzle action, but what I got was a…music game? Despite the initial disappointment, I soon found myself enjoying how Compile managed to take popular aspects of the Puyo Puyo games, like the head-to-head competition, and merged it in with aspects of a rhythm game. That isn’t to say that this game is flawless, mind you. The lack of game modes hurts this game a bit – basically you’ve got an “arcade” mode where you challenge the computer for several rounds, and you’ve got a two-player mode where you can battle against a friend. That’s it, unfortunately. Puyo Puyo Da! is fun while it lasts, but there just isn’t enough content to keep you coming back for more. If you’re a fan of music games or even a fan of the Puyo Puyo games and want to see some characters from there in a different game genre, then Puyo Puyo Da! is worth checking out. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/20/2020 Super Fire Pro Wrestling Platform Super NES Initial Release Date December 20, 1991 (JP) Developer Human Entertainment Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 74.18/100 Super Fire Pro Wrestling is the first of the Fire Pro games on the Super NES, and it's an okay entry in what I consider to be the best wrestling game franchise of all time. It lacks a lot of the polish that later games in the series would have, but when compared to other wrestling games of the time...Like the SNES version of Super Wrestlemania, for example...It's much more enjoyable than just about any other wrestling game that was available on the SNES around that time. It's not without its flaws, but wrestling fans (especially those familiar with puroresu of this time period) will likely be able to look past them to enjoy the wrestling experience found here. Besides, I don't think any other game back then would allow you to have a match between Bad News Brown and Jushin Liger....That's gotta count for something, right? Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/03/2020 Hover Platform PC Initial Release Date August 24, 1995 (NA) Developer Microsoft Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 71.95/100 I couldn’t remember the name of Hover for the life of me, but I did remember having fun as a young’un with this game that, along with Solitaire and Mine Sweeper, came installed on the first windows computer my family had – a Windows 95 PC. This was the first PC game that I ever played and it’s actually pretty fun considering that it was free. Essentially, you control a bumper car and your goal is to collect all of the computer’s blue flags while the computer tries to collect all of your red flags. First one to get the required number of flags wins. There are powerups and such to collect, but Hover is a pretty simple game that was basically designed as an interactive tech demo to display what Windows 95 PCs were capable of. While it’s no masterpiece, it’s still pretty fun for what it was, and it was a nice trip down memory lane to play it again to refresh my memory and nab screenshots for this list. And for those wondering, yes, it still plays perfectly fine on Windows 10. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/15/2020 Minnesota Fats: Pool Legend Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date 1995 (NA) Developer Data East Genre Sports - Billiards My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 76.44/100 Minnesota Fats is the greatest video game in the history of all things historical….at least I wish it was. This Saturn gem has video cutscenes so poorly acted that I instantly fell in love with them. “Watch it, don’t break the door!!” is a quote from one of the very first movies in the story mode and it brings a smile to my face every time that I see it. Unfortunately, once the fun cutscenes end and the gameplay starts, you’re left with a pretty basic game of pool. It’s not bad or anything, mind you, but it lacks anything to really make it stand out as anything other than average. If you want awesomely cheesy movies to go along with your video game billiards, then Minnesota Fats is an awesome choice. If you want the best gameplay ever seen in a billiards video game, however, you may want to explore other options. Played on: Saturn Also known as: Side Pocket 2: Densetsu no Hustler (Japan)

Date added: 07/04/2021 Knightmare Tower Platform Ouya Initial Release Date June 28, 2013 (NA) Developer Juicy Beast Studio Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 74.00/100 For those that don’t know, the Ouya is an Android device. As a result, a lot of games designed for mobile devices like cell phones or tablets found their way onto the Ouya, which I believe had a large part in the console’s downfall. Knightmare Tower was clearly designed for mobile devices. The gameplay is similar to several games on the Android and Apple storefronts, like Mega Jump which is elsewhere on this list. Your goal is to get as high into the tower as possible while basically bouncing off of enemies, slicing them in half in the process. The end result isn’t bad, and there’s a pretty good chance that anyone that plays this will likely play this game a bit longer than they had anticipated, because it is addicting, but I also felt like it is better fit for mobile devices than a television screen. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/17/2022 Astro Warrior Platform Sega Master System Initial Release Date December 14, 1986 (JP) Developer Sega Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 76.58/100 I'm not gonna lie. I thought Astro Warrior would be absolutely terrible. The name is corny, and screenshots don't really make the game look all that impressive...It just looks like a clone of every other scrolling space shooter out there. Well, it kind of is, but not in a bad way. Astro Warrior clones most of the good aspects of scrolling space shooters of the time, and not a whole lot of the bad. The end result is a decent, Master System-exclusive scrolling shooter that's an easy-to-find, and cheap game to add to your shelf if you plan to build an SMS collection…and it’s a cheap, easy-to-find game that's also fun to play if you’re a fan of the genre. Played on: Sega Master System Also known as: Sapo Xule: S.O.S. Lagoa Poluida (South America)

Date added: 11/02/2022 Pro Yakyuu: Family Stadium '87 Platform NES Initial Release Date December 22, 1987 (JP) Developer Namco Genre Sports - Baseball My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 74.48/100 The original R.B.I. Baseball was released in Japan under the name of Pro Yakyuu Family Stadium, so it'd be easy for one to assume that this game is just the Japanese version of R.B.I. Baseball 2. It's not, however, but you could make an argument that this is the REAL R.B.I. Baseball 2, I suppose. Basically, while Namco continued their Pro Yakyuu Family Stadium baseball games, Tengen waited a few years, tinkered with the code a little bit, and developed their own baseball games in North America, using the R.B.I. Baseball name, that never saw release in Japan. So, there's your little history lesson. Anyway, this game is very much like the original R.B.I. Baseball/Pro Yakyuu Family Stadium. Graphically, it looks the same…and honestly gameplay-wise, it mostly plays the same. The only real, notable difference between this game and the original Pro Yakyuu Family Stadium is that the rosters of the Japanese baseball teams represented in the game have been updated. Essentially, it's like modern sports games that toss a "new" game on the shelf every year with updated rosters often being the only real difference from year to year. Anyway, if you're a fan of the Japanese baseball league and want to play as classic players from 35 years ago, then you may find some enjoyment here. If you already have access to the original game in the franchise, though, then there's not really a reason to pick this one up, even if, gameplay-wise, it's just as good as the original was. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/24/2022 Zone of the Enders Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date March 1, 2001 (NA) Developer KCEJ Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 74.82/100 When I went to add Zone of the Enders to this list, I told myself that I was going to make myself work through it until the credits rolled, since I never have before…and I failed. I did, however, get further in the game than I ever had previously before I took a break to play something else and never made my way back. My history with Zone of the Enders probably mirrors the history of many with it - I bought it when the game first launched, not for the game, but for the demo disc of Metal Gear Solid 2 that came packed in with it. I then proceeded to play that demo disc repeatedly, while Zone of the Enders only got tossed in my PS2 a handful of times. That's not to say that Zone of the Enders is a bad game. It's not…it's just not going to be for everyone. Zone of the Enders, for me anyway, feels like a repetitive brawler for much of the game - a gorgeous repetitive brawler, mind you, but repetitive all the same. Rather than look forward to wanting to see how the story unfolds and to see what upcoming boss fights may be like, I found myself having to talk myself into continuing to play. After a few hours, I just didn't really have a desire to keep going. Initially, though, Zone of the Enders can be fun when you get used to everything, and as you unlock more aspects to the mech that you're zooming round in, it gets a little more fun for a while…but for me, the fun just didn't last. Still, I'll give it a try again down the road, I'm sure. Maybe it can hook me next time. Zone of the Enders has a cult fanbase that loves the games in the series…but for now, I still just think of this as the free game that came with the Metal Gear Solid 2 demo I paid $50 for back in 2001. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: Z.O.E.: Zone of the Enders (Japan)

Date added: 02/03/2023 Kaze no Klonoa: Moonlight Museum Platform Bandai Wonderswan Initial Release Date May 20, 1999 (JP) Developer Namco Genre Platformer My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 77.93/100 Kaze no Klonoa: Moonlight Museum is one of the only Klonoa games to not make its way to North America. But, honestly, if I was going to pick one in the series to leave behind, this would be the one. That's not to say that Moonlight Museum is bad. It's not bad at all. But compared to the other Klonoa platformers, it falls a little short. If you're familiar with the Game Boy Advance Klonoa games, then you kind of have an idea of what to find here….well, except from one major thing missing - the boss fights. With the lack of boss fights, all you've really got are some decent puzzles to solve and some so-so platforming to perform. This also may be the easiest game in the series…which is saying something sine the Klonoa games aren't exactly known as impossible-to-beat games. But, despite its weaknesses, Moonlight Museum does still provide you with a decent, portable platformer. If you're a Klonoa fanatic, this is still worth a play. If you're not one, but like platformers, then if you get a chance to play Moonlight Museum, you may like it. If you don't get a chance to play it, you're not really missing anything that you'd regret not playing. Played on: Wonderswan Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/18/2023 X-Men Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA/EU/SA) Developer Western Technologies, Inc. Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.41/100 I was so happy when I first played X-Men and saw that Nightcrawler (quite possibly my favorite X-Man growing up) was a playable character. Sure, Cyclops had laser beams, Wolverine had big claws, and Gambit had exploding cards...But Nightcrawler could turn himself into a fart cloud to damage enemies. How cool is that? Aside from the playable characters, you could also summon various allies to come and help you out in a pinch, so there are plenty of characters represented here for fans of the comic books. The story of the game is kinda goofy - you're in the X-Men training room, but a virus was installed to create actual dangerous situations instead of virtual dangerous situations…and, of course, Magneto is behind it all. But anyway, X-Men is a decent action game that I put plenty of time into when I was a young'un and one I like to go back to every now and then when I want to re-live parts of my youth…or when I want to beat enemies with a fart cloud left by an Englishman that looks like a blue demon. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/04/2019 Gargoyle's Quest: Ghosts 'n Goblins Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date May 2, 1990 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Adventure My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 78.47/100 Gargoyle’s Quest is a strange game to try to classify. On one hand, many of its levels feel like a platformer. One another hand, your attacks are only fireballs, so it kinda feels like a shooter. On yet another hand, you collect items to advance like you would in an adventure game. On even another hand, you’re fighting in random battles and talking to random folks in town like you would in an RPG. You’ve gotta be dang Shiva of Hindu folklore to have enough hands to describe all of the genres that this game smushes together. Of course, the obvious downside to have so many genres spliced together is that Gargoyle’s Quest is decent at everything but great at nothing. It’s a good game, and it’s awesome that it’s so unique, but unfortunately, unless the blend of genres interests you, there’s not really any other reason to play this game. Played on: Game Boy Also known as: Red Arremer: Makai-Mura Gaiden (Japan)

Date added: 08/18/2019 Wii Sports Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date November 19, 2006 (NA) Developer Nintendo Genre Sports My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 73.59/100 Wii Sports came packaged with the Wii when the system launched in 2006 to show off how the motion controls could be used...And while the game itself can be a lot of fun, especially when playing with friends or family, it also showed how inaccurate the motion controls could be right out of the gate. The game is good enough to be passable, and it's definitely fun in the right setting...But it's also got a lot of flaws and issues with it to prevent it from being a truly great game. Still, due to the massive success of the Wii, and since the Wii appealed to folks that normally would not play video games, Wii Sports may be one of the most-played video games of all time. Played on: Wii Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/15/2023 Imperium Platform Super NES Initial Release Date November 1992 (NA) Developer Jorudan Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.68/100 I like a good ol' scrolling, 3rd person shooter. I like them even more when they're unique in some fashion. So, when I first discovered Imperium, I grew fond of it pretty quickly. In Imperium, instead of racking up points as you blast enemy aircraft, you're racking up experience points for your weapon. If you get hit, the weapon that you're firing drops down a level and the only way to regain your lost firepower is to shoot down more enemies without getting hit. You'll unlock different weapons to switch between as well, so if one weapon's power is drained during a boss fight, you can switch to a different, high-powered weapon. Taking place in the distant future of 2027, you can also adjust the game speed, so even if you've conquered the game at a slower pace, you can ramp up the speed to increase the difficulty and really test your skills. While Imperium isn't perfect, it's still well worth checking out if you're a fan of scrolling shooters. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Kidou Soukou Dion (Japan)

Date added: 08/13/2019 Aquanaut's Holiday Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date June 30, 1995 (JP) Developer Artdink Genre Adventure My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 64.69/100 Before the term "walking simulator" was coined, that's basically what Aquanaut's Holiday was…except with swimming instead of walking. A swimulator, if you will. Basically, you just explore the ocean depths and enjoy the wildlife that swims beneath the surface of the water. The area is so vast to explore that you could swim around for hours and likely not stumble upon the same area again unless you're specifically trying to. There's also an option, if you must do something aside from explore or you need to have some sort of goal to accomplish, to build your own coral reef, which adds some minor challenge to the otherwise relaxing game. If you like exploring in games and don't necessarily feel like you've gotta be meeting goals or doing tasks in order to have fun, then Aquanaut's Holiday will be a real treat for you...Everyone else will probably get bored after a few minutes. I like it though, and on this list, that's all the matters, isn't it? Played on: Playstation Also known as: Aquanaut no Kyuujitsu (Japan)

Date added: 12/09/2018 Power Blade Platform NES Initial Release Date March 1991 (NA) Developer Natsume Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 71.73/100 Power Blade is a decent side-scrolling action game. I kind of think of it as a mix between Mega Man and Castlevania, but not quite as good as either one. It has the stage selection and robot-filled levels of Mega Man, gameplay similar to Castlevania with a boomerang instead of a whip, and an interesting, unique feature of having to track down and talk to an ally in each level that will give you the keycard to fight the boss. Without the keycard, the door to the boss won't open...so you have to explore the levels as you go unless you want to get to the end of the level, then backtrack...Which I've had to do. But anyway, if you want a solid, side-scrolling action game with elements of exploration tossed in, Power Blade is worth checking out. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/08/2019 Cho Aniki: Kyuukyoku Muteki Ginga Saikyou Otoko Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date December 29, 1995 (JP) Developer Pre Stage Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 65.48/100 I enjoy this game mostly for just the bizarre aspects of it. It's such a weird, almost disturbing title full of moments where you just scratch your head to try to figure out what you just witnessed. Like where the stage boss has a cannon-like thing between his legs where a bald-headed person stretches out (which really resembles the body part between the legs of the male folk) to try to attack you. It's not an overly great shooter by any means, but it's solid (and pretty dang difficult)...And if you're a fan of the bizarre like I am, you'll probably fall in love with this game like I did. Thanks to MonkeyPaw Games, the game was released in the North American and European Playstation Stores on Playstation 3, so people all around the world could finally experience the disturbing joys of Cho Aniki. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/15/2019 ChuChu Rocket! Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date November 11, 1999 (JP) Developer Sonic Team Genre Puzzle My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 78.23/100 I will be completely honest with everyone reading this…up until when I recently revisited this game in order to add it to this list, I never understood the appeal of ChuChu Rocket. Yes, it was different. Yes, it was interesting…But I just thought it was so dull. Now that we’re two decades removed from its release, I finally see what all the hoopla was about. Better late than never, right? Anyway, the idea of the game is that you want to get mice into a rocket ship by placing arrow tiles on the ground to force them into a specific direction. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, as you play, eventually cat-like creatures appear on screen too. If they enter a rocket or catch a mouse, it’s game over. The game has a few pre-loaded levels, but the real appeal was to create your own and share them online, as well as download the levels of others, essentially making the replay value infinite. Multiplayer was also well done, which could be done with friends in front of the television with you or online - another solid online feature added in. In the early days of console internet gaming, ChuChu Rocket! was definitely one of the best examples of how to successfully implement internet features into a game. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/18/2019 F-1 Race Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date November 9, 1990 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Racing My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 73.54/100 F-1 Race was a decent racing game and probably worth a purchase if you owned a Game Boy as it was…But here in North America, there was another reason to buy this game – the four-player adapter that came with it, allowing four friends to link up and play together. F-1 Race, as I said was a decent racing game, but once you hooked up that adapter, it went from decent to very fun. Since everyone was a cord’s length away, this game produced plenty of trash talk as well, with players racing to come up with ways to gloat when they won. Playing solo, the game is still solid enough to keep you coming back with its fourteen tracks and tough-but-fair difficulty. Played on: Game Boy Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/29/2022 Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date February 23, 1999 (NA) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 77.15/100 Setting up what would eventually become Marvel vs. Capcom, Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter was an okay fighting game for its time. Nothing overly fantastic or anything, mind you, but it was a good, solid fighting game that let players not just control some of their favorite Street Fighter characters, but also control come of their favorite Marvel super heroes and super villains. If you've played Street Fighter, you basically get the gist here. The notable difference in this game is that you can pick a partner, with said partner being able to interfere in the fighting to damage your opponent at times. In modes like the arcade mode, the partner is simply there to attack. In other modes, you can do more traditional tagging in and out between the two fighters. Also aside from the standard arcade mode (which sees you battle a stupidly strong Cyber Akuma at the end, requiring skill to beat even at the lowest difficulty) there are a few other modes to play as well, like Crossover mode, which changes out our characters as you advance on, keeping the fights interesting. Going back to Cyber Akuma, while I appreciate the fact that defeating him feels like an accomplishment, it's also frustrating when you make your way through the rest of the game without any issues, then unexpectedly get massacred by Cyber Akuma on your first attempt. Despite that lack of balance, I didn't get as frustrated battling him as I've gotten in other fighting games with over-powered final bosses. Anyway, if you're looking for a perfect port of the arcade game, this isn't it. But, Capcom added enough console-exclusive content to make up for that, in my opinion, making this a fighting game worth checking out if your a fan of either the Marvel universe or the Street Fighter games. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter EX Edition (Japan)

Date added: 12/19/2021 Mutant Football League Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date January 19, 2018 (NA) Developer Digital Dreams Entertainment Genre Sports - Football My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 70.48/100 I was a huge fan of Mutant League Football when I was a kid, so when I heard that its spiritual successor, Mutant Football League, was coming out, I was really excited for it. Y’see, I’m not much of a football guy. I don’t watch sports in general because I find it to be as boring as sitting on the sidelines when playing said sports - I like to participate in them, not watch them. Football, however, has been something that I’ve never really been a huge fan of for the most part. I don’t really enjoy playing it in real life, and with only a few exceptions, I don’t really like playing it in video game form, either. That’s why I enjoyed Mutant League Football on the Sega Genesis - it was football, but it had explosions, trash talking, and parodies of real athletes in monster form. Mutant Football League mostly succeeds in bringing everything that was enjoyable about that 16-bit gridiron game into a 3D environment. And unfortunately, that’s pretty much all they did. Unless you get the Dynasty DLC, this is basically a football game released in 2018 that only has features from a football game released 25 years earlier. A mode where you create your own player and follow their career in the league could have gone a long way in adding replay value to this game. Also, in an effort to be “edgy” with the comments of some players, the developers put some very stupid commentary in this game, mixed in with all of the attempts at humor. I think I got a chuckle out of one joke - the rest I either had no reaction to or I rolled my eyes at. Complaints aside, if you loved playing football with skeletons on the Sega Genesis, you’ll probably enjoy playing it on the new consoles now as well. Just be aware, there’s not a whole lot here to keep you coming back for more. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/09/2019 Metal Gear Acid Platform Playstation Portable Initial Release Date December 16, 2004 (JP) Developer Konami Genre Strategy My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.18/100 When the PSP was announced, a lot of folks (myself included) were hoping for a portable game in the Metal Gear franchise…We got Metal Gear Acid, which while not bad by any means, is not what most of us wanted. Instead of stealth-based action, we got stealth-based, turn-based strategy where movements and actions are based on cards that are drawn. Oddly enough, even with the different gameplay, the end result doesn’t necessarily feel like it feels out of place in the Metal Gear franchise. The story definitely fits what Metal Gear fans are used to. The gameplay, while wildly different from what fans were used to, when you get right down to it, is basically just a different take on the Metal Gear formula that we’re all used to – use stealth, avoid killing people, get to your goal. Unfortunately, Metal Gear Acid as a whole is unable to reach the greatness of other games in the franchise. It’s still a solid, portable strategy game…but Metal Gear fans would have to wait a few years before the style of game that they hoped for was released on their PSPs. Played on: PSP Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/24/2022 Ivan "Ironman" Stewart's Super Off Road Platform NES Initial Release Date April 1990 (NA) Developer Rare Genre Racing My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 73.41/100 I'm not a racing guy. I have no idea who Ivan Stewart is. I don't know why he's called "Ironman." I just know that his game provided my friends and I some quality times when we were kids. Playing with three friends (and sometimes four), Super Off-Road was always fun...But recently playing it by myself to get screenshots, the fun isn't quite there in single player. Basically, each race track is a single screen and once the race starts...well, the controls aren't exactly the best. To make matters worse, the color scheme isn’t always beneficial to you when you race, as you may cut a corner sharply thinking you’ll squeeze in past the other racers, only to find out that a piece of the wall is roughly the same color as the track and you drove right into it. That kind of thing doesn’t happen all the time, but it definitely happens enough to be annoying. Oddly enough, while it’s annoying when playing single player, that almost enhances the multi-player with everyone laughing and having a good time while bumping into walls, as well as other cars, while the trash talking begins. Between races, you get cash to make your truck better with upgrades…and midway through, the strategy of which upgrades to buy first becomes useless as everyone has everything… but beyond that minor bit of strategy, this is a pretty basic racing game. It's passable, and with a group of four, it can be pretty fun, but it may not be a game for everyone. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/04/2023 Summer of '58 Platform PC Initial Release Date July 21, 2021 (NA) Developer EMIKA_GAMES Genre Adventure My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 69.41/100 Reading reviews on Steam, where so many people raved about how scary this game was, I was fully prepared for Summer of '58 to scare me….and it got one small jump scare out of me where I flinched…but that's about it. The atmosphere of the game wasn't really scary, in my opinion…it was a lot of stuff that horror fans have probably seen before in other games. Creating horror is like creating jokes - the more you're exposed to something, the less effective it is. The first time you hear a joke, it's funny. The twelfth time you've heard a variation of the same joke, it loses much of the humor. Horror is the same way. That doesn't mean that folks newer to horror games/movies won't get creeped out here - they likely will. I'm just used to much of it, so I wasn't really affected too much, unless it was the cheap jump scare of a loud noise accompanied by a sudden image popping up on screen…but that's a cheap way to get reactions out of people since it requires no skill to create. All that said, the developers did do a good job with Summer of '58 overall, despite my disappointment in the scares. They managed to make a game that lasts roughly an hour or two that mostly takes place in a very small house with a hallway and four rooms - a classroom, bathroom, bedroom, and main room. They also told a decent story that made me curious where everything was going to lead to….even if it ended in a less-than-memorable fashion. Overall, though, I enjoyed my time with Summer of '58. It's may not be as scary as it was hyped to be by other players, but it's a decent, short horror game all the same. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/03/2019 Virtua Fighter Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date November 22, 1994 (JP) Developer Sega AM2 Genre Fighting My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 78.18/100 Virtua Fighter, being one of the very first 3D fighting games, looks pretty terrible by today’s standards…The gameplay, however, has not aged as much as its visuals. With only three buttons, punch, kick, and defend, one would think that Virtua Fighter would be easy to play, but lacks depth. If you would think that, you would be wrong. Virtua Fighter is the definition of easy to play, difficult to master. With each fighter playing very differently from each other, not only do you have to change your strategy based on who you’re controlling, but also based on who you’re facing. The first Virtua Fighter isn’t perfect…but it laid the ground work for future games that followed, including it’s near-perfect sequel. Played on: Saturn, Genesis, Arcade Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/25/2019 Tekken Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date March 31, 1995 (JP) Developer Namco Genre Fighting My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 76.29/100 When Tekken came out, it was a good fighting game. It wasn't great, but it was good. What made it stand out was that it was 3D at a time where 2D fighting games ruled the market. It was a bit of a novelty…but the key was that it was a good novelty. With smooth controls, an interesting cast of fighters, and being one of the first titles available on the soon-to-be mega successful Playstation all helped ensure that this game would get plenty of sales to warrant a sequel. If you're a Tekken fan, it's still moderately fun to go back and play this game to see just how far the series has come and to see what laid the groundwork for all future games in the franchise. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/26/2022 Basketball Nightmare Platform Sega Master System Initial Release Date 1989 (EU/SA) Developer Sega Genre Sports - Basketball My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 69.09/100 All I had to do was see the name "Basketball Nightmare" and I was already sold on it. I didn't care if it was bad or good…I just wanted it to be monsters playing basketball. I wasn't disappointed. For those not in the know, which is probably everyone outside of Europe and South America, where this game was exclusively released, in Basketball Nightmare, you control a team of people and play basketball against a team of monsters. It kind of plays like NBA Jam, but instead of the spectacular double-somersault slam dunks, Basketball Nightmare instead plays a short cinematic when you dunk the ball. The controls are pretty simple and easy to pick up and play. If you've ever played NBA Jam or any of the many games that tried to clone it, then you'll likely know exactly what to expect here. One major downside to the game is that it can feel cheap at times. Until you really get the hang of everything and get a feel for how the computer plays, be prepared to have the ball stolen from you…a lot. Once I got the hang of it, I was able to prevent the ball stealing enough to see this game through to the end, and also found a way to steal the ball from the computer fairly often as well. Basketball Nightmare isn't a must-buy game, but it is fun for what it is. If you're a sports game fanatic, but also want to get into the Halloween spirit, then Basketball Nightmare may be a great game to pop in and play since you'll get a solid representation of both worlds. Played on: Sega Master System Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/28/2023 Mega Man 6 Platform NES Initial Release Date November 5, 1993 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Platformer My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 77.99/100 Mega Man 5 felt like a small step back in the Mega Man franchise, to me at least. While it wasn't a bad game by any means, it felt like Capcom had run out of innovative ideas for the franchise. So, it's kind of surprising that Mega Man 6 came out….especially since it didn't release at all in Europe and Nintendo had to publish it in North America instead of Capcom since Capcom was already shifting its focus from the NES to the SNES. I'm glad that we did get it in North America, though, because while I wouldn't put Mega Man 6 up with the best games in the series, it did feel like a step up from Mega Man 5. Each stage in the game has two routes that you can take, so this game feels a little less linear than some of the previous games. There are also Rush adapters that you can obtain that allow you to power up Mega Man, allowing him to fly or destroy large blocks, until the power meter depletes. Aside from those additions, this basically feels like your typical Mega Man game, so while I feel like it's a step forward from Mega Man 5, it's only a small step forward. If you've played through the first five Mega Man games and feel like you've had your fill, Mega Man 6 isn't really going to provide you with too much to entice you to come back for more. Played on: NES Also known as: RockMan 6: Shijou Saidai no Tatakai!! (Japan)

Date added: 08/05/2020 Frog Fractions Platform PC Initial Release Date October 24, 2012 (NA) Developer Twinbeard Studios Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 71.47/100 I labeled Frog Fractions as an 'action' game...But it has parts of the game that are action, bullet-hell shooter, text adventure, economy simulator, and a few others all rolled into one bizarre little package. The game takes about 30-60 minutes to beat and is well worth the time and effort to do so. This is the game that I would make if I were a game developer...Really odd, and all over the place...But still entertaining. It's free to play and can be found at twinbeardstudios.com/frog-fractions if you’ve still got the ability to play a flash game in your browser. If you don’t, no worries, Twinbeard recently put the game up for free on Steam. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/21/2021 Dr. Mario 64 Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date April 8, 2001 (NA) Developer Newcom Genre Puzzle My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 76.38/100 I was never a huge Dr. Mario fan. I like it just fine. It’s a solid puzzle game. But, if given the option of Dr. Mario or an assortment of other puzzle games, Dr. Mario probably wouldn’t be at the top of my list. That said, I did enjoy Dr. Mario 64 quite a bit. The extra modes added make this a worthwhile game to play for fans of the original. Whether you’re going head-to-head with a friend, playing the new story mode where you go head-to-head against computer opponents, or the various other modes, you’ll probably find something to like here. That said, if you didn’t like the gameplay of the original Dr. Mario, you probably still won’t like it here. In other words, it still may be a bitter pill to swallow. See what I did there? Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/21/2023 Valis III Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date March 22, 1991 (JP) Developer Nippon Telenet Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.56/100 Valis III basically has the same basic gameplay as the first Valis, but with a few extra aspects tossed into the gameplay - the biggest one being that Yuko isn't the only playable character this time around. Joining the sword-wielding high school student warrior is her staff-wielding sister Valua and a whip-wielding maiden warrior from the Dark World, Cham. Each character plays differently, and with their own strengths and weaknesses, so to survive in Valis III, you'll need to swap characters for the appropriate situation. Outside of the gameplay, the story of the game has the trio of heroes try to save Dreamland from a vile king named Glames, who is the ruler of the Dark World that I mentioned earlier. If you've played the previous games, you'll know that Yuko carries the legendary sword, Valis. In this game, Glames carries an evil sword named Leethus. Anyway, Valis III does improve on the formula of the original Valis here, which makes it even more confusing as to why the decision was made to release this game BEFORE the original on the Genesis. But anyway, if you liked the original Valis, you'll likely enjoy this game as well. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/27/2019 Destruction Derby Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date October, 1995 (EU) Developer Reflections Interactive Genre Racing My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 73.22/100 The first Destruction Derby, though flawed, was a breath of fresh air for racing titles at the time. Rather than simply trying to finish in first place, the goal in Destruction Derby is to instead try to rack up as many points as possible by making your opponents spin out or deal enough damage where they’re completely knocked out of the race. If that sounds like a demolition derby, well, it kind of is…But if you want the fun of a demo derby without the constraints of doing laps on a track, they’ve got you covered there, too. Destruction Derby has aged surprisingly well and is still pretty fun today. The game's sequel really improved on just about everything found here, in my opinion, but for its time, the original Destruction Derby wasn't that bad at all. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/18/2020 Ape Quest Platform Playstation Portable Initial Release Date January 10, 2008 (NA) Developer Shift Genre RPG My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 78.39/100 I like the Ape Escape games, I like RPGs, so naturally, I also like Ape Quest. In this little-known download-only (in English, a physical copy was released in Japan) game for the PSP, you play as one of the loveable, lighted-helmet-wearing apes, who happens to also be a prince that eats every banana in sight…even bananas that when eaten, will break a seal allowing great evil to enter the kingdom. The game is pretty straightforward. There are pathways, so you select a path and the prince walks that path. Sometimes he stops walking because he found money or an item, other times he stops walking because of a random battle. What makes Ape Quest stand out, though is that while some random battles are traditionally turn-based battles seen in many RPGs, the other random “battles” are actually mini games where if you’re successful, you gain experience points just like if you had clonked a skeleton in the face with a mallet. It’s a very easy game, which takes away from it a tad, but it’s also loaded with plenty of personality, which makes up for it a bit. If you like the humor found in the Ape Escape games, but want it in a unique RPG format, then Ape Quest is a game that you’ll probably enjoy. Played on: PSP Also known as: Saru Get You: Pipo Saru Senki (Japan)

Date added: 06/11/2022 Black Belt Platform Sega Master System Initial Release Date July 20, 1986 (JP) Developer Sega Genre Brawler My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 70.43/100 I don't really know much about Hokuto no Ken/Fist of the North Star series…I've played a few games in it, but I've never really felt the need to go out of my way to play any of them. Black Belt was the second game in the franchise, released on the Sega Master System and the Atari 5200 consoles. Essentially, it's just a side-scrolling brawler, with end-level boss fights that resemble a crude version of a traditional one-on-one fighting game. The amusing thing about those boss fights is how the hero doesn't seem to be content with simply defeating his foe, but he pummels them with dozens of punches before finally stopping and letting them drop to the ground in defeat. The downside of these boss fights is that it doesn't always feel like your attacks register, so when you lose it feels like you lost in a cheap way rather than because you lacked the skill to win. On the upside, the side-scrolling brawling that leads up to the boss fights are solid…well, compared to other brawlers at the time, that is. If you’re a fan of early side-scrolling brawlers like Kung Fu, then you'll likely enjoy Black Belt. Likewise, if you're a fan of Hokuto no Ken/Fist of the North Star, it may be worth playing this simply to see what some of the early games in the franchise were like. Played on: Sega Master System Also known as: Hokuto no Ken (Japan)

Date added: 01/30/2023 Joe & Mac Platform Super NES Initial Release Date JDecember 6, 1991 (JP) Developer Data East Genre Platformer My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 72.53/100 I don't think that too many people would put Joe & Mac in the same conversation as Super Mario World, but it's a decent little platformer in its own right. Controlling either Joe (green hair) or Mac (blue hair), your goal is to traverse to the other end of the level that you started from, and then battle some sort of prehistoric boss fight at the end of each level, and get embraced by some sort of cave hussy after the boss is defeated. Honestly, Joe & Mac is simply just a good game. It's nothing that's going to blow you away, though. It feels like a game that does what it needs to in order to make a good game, but doesn't really go above and beyond in any aspect to really make it memorable. The game controls just fine, some of the enemies are well-designed and nice to look at…the level design and boss fights might have benefited from a little more creativity, but as I said before, it's fine for what it is. If you've played through just about every critically acclaimed 2D platformer and are looking for something else, then give Joe & Mac a try. It's probably not going to wow you, but I'm sure you'll find something to enjoy here regardless. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Joe & Mac: Tatakae Genshijin (Japan), Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja (Europe)

Date added: 12/04/2023 Bust-A-Move 2: Arcade Edition Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date July 26, 1996 (JP) Developer Taito Genre Puzzle My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 77.10/100 The original Bust-A-Move was a very solid take on the puzzle genre - unlike most matching puzzle games at the time, where objects would fall from the top of the screen and drop down to the bottom, Bust-A-Move had you firing colored bubbles from the bottom of the screen, up to the top of the screen, with the ability (and requirement at times) to bounce the bubbles off of the walls on the side to plant those bubbles in spots that you may not be able to reach by firing straight-on. This sequel continues in that tradition, but also adds in new modes to keep the formula from feeling too repetitive. I, personally, didn’t feel like the new modes really added enough to warrant a sequel, but considering the original game was good enough on its own, I also cant really complain that a follow-up game was made to capitalize on its success. Even with me saying that, Bust-A-Move 2 is still a pretty solid puzzle game and well worth playing if you're a fan of the genre. If you loved the original, you'll likely be thrilled with all of the content found here. If you're like me, where you enjoyed it, but wasn't over-the-moon about the original, then you'll likely feel roughly the same about this sequel. Played on: Saturn Also known as: Puzzle Bobble 2X (Japan)

Date added: 07/30/2024 Felix the Cat Platform NES Initial Release Date October 1992 (NA) Developer Shimada Kikaku Genre Platformer My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.92/100 Felix the Cat was a cartoon character that originated in 1919, during the silent film era of movies. In the 50's, he was given a "magic bag of tricks" to use, and that's kinda where this game begins. When this game was released in 1992, though, I somehow knew of Felix despite there not being a Felix cartoon on Saturday mornings…my guess is that reruns aired somewhere….anyway, Felix the Cat is a decent little platformer that has a three-level power up system, that allows Felix to use different attacks in each attack level, so long as he doesn't get hit by an enemy or die. The interesting aspect is that the power-ups are often specific to certain stages...Like you may be Felix with his magic bag of tricks in one level, Felix riding hot-air balloons in the next, and Felix piloting a submarine in the next, with each one having different power-ups as you traverse through the stage. Unfortunately, when you get to boss fights, they're usually absurdly easy...Especially if you found your way to the end of the level with the highest power-up That said, if you're a fan of 2D platformers, Felix is a mostly enjoyable game. It's not exactly on the same level as everyone's favorite Italian plumber, but it's still a nice, solid platformer that I think any fan of the genre will find some enjoyment in. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/12/2019 Shower With Your Dad Simulator 2015 Platform PC Initial Release Date September 2, 2015 (NA) Developer marbenx Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 69.25/100 Shower With Your Dad Simulator 2015 is one of those games where I saw it…thought it would be incredibly horrible and incredibly stupid…and noticed that it was $0.99 when not on sale and thought, “Why the heck not?” I’m glad I took a chance on it because not only is Shower With Your Dad Simulator 2015 surprisingly good, not only is it just as warped and stupid as I thought (and hoped) it would be, but it’s got plenty of easter eggs to find…like suddenly transforming into a point-and-click adventure game. Is this a game that someone will claim is the greatest game of all time? Maybe if they weren’t a D.A.R.E. kid and are high on drugs. But this doesn’t need to be the greatest game of all time. It’s a good, entertaining, really stupid time killer that is exactly what every video game should strive to be - fun. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/13/2019 Astrosmash Platform Mattel Intellivision Initial Release Date 1981 (NA) Developer Mattel Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 73.38/100 Astrosmash, initially, is pretty boring. It seems pointless. Everything moves slowly, you keep racking up lives…it seems ridiculous that anyone would like this. But if you stick with it, and continue to get points, you’ll see the background color change…and everything gets a little faster. Then it changes again, and it gets faster…and then you get homing missiles coming at you…then suddenly, instead of just shooting stuff, every now and then a ship that shoots back shows up on the screen. By the time you reach 100,000 points, you’ll be glad that you racked so many lives up earlier in the game because you’ll be losing them like crazy. It’s kind of like a game of Tetris, honestly…a slow build to pure chaos the longer you play. Unfortunately, the slow build does take a little too long, and I don’t think a lot of people these days would have the patience to sit with this game long enough for it to get exciting. Still, for what it is, and for its time, it’s not bad…I just can’t help but feel like it could be better. Played on: Intellivision Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/28/2019 1080° Snowboarding Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date December 28, 1998 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Sports - Snowboarding My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 77.99/100 1080 Snowboarding was a really good snowboarding game back when it was originally released, and all these years later, it's still an enjoyable experience. The only real downside is the lack of courses to race on...There's six and then you're pretty much done unless you have some friends that are interested in some multiplayer snowboard video game action. But, lack of replay value aside, 1080 Snowboarding still remains in the discussion for best snowboarding game of all-time, though I personally would have a few others ahead of it in that discussion. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/28/2020 Double Dragon Platform NES Initial Release Date April 8, 1988 (JP) Developer Technos Genre Brawler My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 74.50/100 I remember that when I was a young’un, there were debates amongst some of the neighborhood friends over which game was better – Double Dragon or Ninja Gaiden. I was always on the Ninja Gaiden side while the majority preferred Double Dragon. My stance hasn’t changed over the years at all, but I have grown to appreciate Double Dragon a little more over time. In this side-scrolling brawler, you can play solo or with a friend, brawling through various areas, beating up the villains, and sometimes even stealing their weapons to use against them. The action might be a little too slow-paced for some, and while the addition of weapons and a decent variety of enemies help make things feel less repetitive to a degree, the slow pace of the game does make this game feel like it just drags…especially if you’re playing all by your lonesome. All that said, it may not be my cup of tea, but Double Dragon is still one of the best games in the early days of the brawler genre and it has a pretty large fanbase. If you like brawlers and don’t mind a slower pace, then you may grow to love Double Dragon just like many of my friends did when we were wee lads. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/17/2022 Quartet Platform Sega Master System Initial Release Date January 18, 1987 (JP) Developer Sega Genre Platformer My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 71.21/100 According to the game's box, "If you hate aliens, you'll love Quartet!" I don't understand why a selling point on anything should be, "If you hate that thing, than you'll love this product!!" I hate onions. I think everyone does subliminally - that's why being around chopped onions makes people cry…but even if someone invented a device that would make onions taste like brownies, if they used the phrase, "If you hate onions, then you'll love the Brownion 500," then I don't think it would sell as well as simply saying, "Hey…this makes onions taste like brownies." Now that I've wasted half of my review space complaining about the box, let's talk about Quartet! Quartet is basically a hybrid of a platformer and a shooter, where some of the game you're hopping from platform to platform, blasting away at enemies along the way. You'll eventually find jetpacks that will allow you to fly through the levels, making it feel a little more like a scrolling shooter. If you get hit, then the jetpack stays in the air and you fall to the ground. If you can reach the jetpack again, you can return to the skies, but if it's out of reach, then you'll be making your way through the game by foot until you're able to come across another jetpack. Along the way, there are also stars to collect, hidden in each level. Without collecting those stars, you will be unable to enter the final level, and will be looped backwards until you are able to find the stars you need. Overall, Quartet was a pleasant surprise for me. I enjoyed my time with it for the most part, and because it called the Sega Master System home, I feel like this is a solid game that fell under the radars of a lot of folks. If you want a good, enjoyable game from the first few years of the 8-bit generation, then Quartet may fit that description for you. Played on: Sega Master System Also known as: Double Target: Cynthia no Nemuri (Japan)

Date added: 04/13/2019 Capcom vs. SNK Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date September 6, 2000 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 77.51/100 Capcom vs. SNK covers kind of a wide range, doesn't it? A better name for this game would have been Street Fighter vs. King of Fighters since, minus a couple of characters, pretty much every playable character is from one of the two franchises. That minor complaint aside, Capcom created a nice fighting game that provided a dream match for fans of fighting games, pitting characters from two of the best 2D fighting game franchise against each other...or teaming them up, depending on how you play, I suppose. If you're a fan of either fighting franchise, this is definitely worth checking out. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/30/2020 Radar Mission Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date October 23, 1990 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Strategy My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 77.88/100 I didn’t have many Game Boy games as a wee lad, but one of the few I had was Radar Mission. At first glance, it’s a simple clone of the board game Battleship. However, by the time you complete the first level, it’ll be clear that while Battleship was clearly the inspiration for this game, Radar Mission brings some aspects to the table of its own. For example, if a battle goes long enough, you may see the enemy (or yourself) launch a jet. Aircraft moves on the board instead of staying stationary giving you a new layer of strategy when considering where to fire. Radar Mission isn’t perfect, but it’s fantastic for a handheld title. Countless hours of my childhood were spent playing this game while sitting on a toilet, sinking a different kind of battleship, if you catch my drift. Played on: Game Boy Also known as: Kaisen Game: Radar Mission (Japan)

Date added: 05/23/2024 Super Tetris 3 Platform Super NES Initial Release Date December 16, 1994 (JP) Developer TOSE Genre Puzzle My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 74.68/100 I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for puzzle games like Tetris…sometimes, even when the formula is basic and bland, or when gimmicks are added that sometimes hinder the gameplay rather than enhance it. For a game like Tetris, that was basically near perfect when it was originally released, every time a "sequel" was made, it never felt like it was as good as the original, simple, pure Tetris. Super Tetris 3 falls into that category. While not a bad game by any means, Super Tetris 3 isn't as good as the original Tetris, in my opinion. Introduced in this game are some new shapes that will drop from the ceiling…which is nice if you want a challenge, but it also presents a new issue - in the original Tetris, the puzzle pieces fit together like a mosaic, so when you saw the game over screen, you felt like you just didn't align things properly. In this game, that's not quite the case, so sometimes you feel like your success comes down to luck rather than skill. There are also challenges to complete in this game, so if that standard style of gameplay isn't your cup of tea, you can always try to solve the puzzles in those challenges…they're quite explosive. Anyway, while I don't think Super Tetris 3 is at the level of the original Tetris, or some of the other, great match-3 puzzle games, it's still a decent game overall, and I think most puzzle fans will find something to enjoy here. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/26/2022 Metal Slug 4 Platform Neo Geo Initial Release Date June 12, 2002 (NA/JP) Developer BrezzaSoft Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 78.03/100 The first three Metal Slug games were really good…and while Metal Slug 4 isn't bad, it's kind of boring in comparison to the first three. Sure, it's always fun to see a screen full of enemy bodies sent flying in the air from explosions, and it was even mildly comical to see abominable snowmen that could turn you into a Frosty-type snowman with their breath…breath so potent that it locks on to you and follows you around like a homing missile…But there simply isn't enough new here to really make this feel like a must-play game. Fans of the series will likely play through and be glad that they did, just to see the credits roll, but when you've got better games earlier in the franchise, I can't see too many folks revisiting this too often if they're already beaten it once. Again, though, this isn't a bad game…it's just an average game…in a series where the previous games were good to great. Played on: Neo-Geo Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/16/2019 Twinkle Star Sprites Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date March 23, 2000 (JP) Developer SNK Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 77.93/100 I like it when two seemingly unrelated genres combine together to create a new style of game, and that’s what happened with Twinkle Star Sprites, a game that mixes the frantic action of a 3rd-person, scrolling shooter with the head-to-head aspect of puzzle games like Puyo Puyo. The end result has players shooting down enemies on their side of the screen, which sends attacks over to the opponent’s side of the screen, or sometimes even a boss for them to battle. There’s something very satisfying about the enemy sending a wave of attacks your way while you shoot them all down and send them right back at ‘em. I can easily see some people avoid this game because of its cutesy appearance, but if you’re looking for a unique multiplayer game (the single player is almost as fun) and into scrolling shooters, Twinkle Star Sprites will definitely deliver. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/15/2022 Power Move Pro Wrestling Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date 1997 (NA/EU) Developer Future Amusement Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 74.64/100 Power Move Pro Wrestling is actually a Westernized version of Shin Nippon Pro Wrestling: Toukon Retsuden, a New Japan Pro Wrestling game. Once you know that, you can look at the characters and movesets in Power Move Pro Wrestling and say, oh yeah...that's supposed to be Scott Norton, that's supposed to be Masa Chono, etc. Anyway, a lot of stuff was redone in this game and a few features were taken out from the Japanese version making this inferior to the game it was cloned from, but if you don't know that going in, it's still a solid wrestling game without the stuff missing from the Japanese version....Plus, if you choose Malibu Mike Swanson, you get to hear the ring announcer refer to him as, "Power Move Pro Wrestling's all-time deeeeewd" and that, my friends, is worth the price of this game all on its own. If you've got the ability to import Toukon Retsuden (or its two sequels - the 4th game was a Dreamcast exclusive) on the Playstation, then I'd go that route instead of playing this game. However, if you lack the ability to play imports, or just want to hear about how much of an all-time deeeewd Malibu Mike Swanson is, then Power Move Pro Wrestling is still good enough to satisfy a quick wrestling craving. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/05/2019 NHL 2K Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date February 9, 2000 (NA) Developer Black Box Genre Sports - Hockey My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 76.67/100 NHL 2K wasn't quite as impressive as NFL 2K or NBA 2K were, but it was still a solid, entertaining game of hockey for the Dreamcast. This is really the only sports game that I feel that Sega didn't surpass Electronic Arts in when it comes to the early titles in the Dreamcast library...And again, it's not a bad game by any means, and it's quite fun...it just isn't a sports game that'll blow anyone out of the water, like some other Dreamcast sports games did. Playing today, purists may still enjoy going back and playing as players that have since retired, but folks that just want to skate around and knock people over may be underwhelmed by the checking physics in comparison to hockey games of today. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/20/2019 WWE 2K18 Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date October 13, 2017 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Yuke's Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 70.62/100 WWE 2K18 corrected some of the backwards steps that Yuke’s took in 2K17 and added some new features. Eight wrestlers could be in the ring at the same time, allowing players to do some traditional Survivor Series matches or have more entertaining Royal Rumbles. A backstage area was introduced allowing players to have a decent-sized location to explore during falls count anywhere matches. The career mode was pretty enjoyable, the creation tools got some new features (including the ability to create a custom match type), and the game boasted the largest roster of any other game in the history of the series. Unfortunately, despite all of the improvements, it still felt largely like the same game that WWE fans had been getting for the past two decades. If you’re okay with more of the same, I feel like WWE 2K18 is a step up from the previous year, but largely the same as other games in the series as a whole…Just stay away from the Switch version. Played on: Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/06/2019 John Madden Football Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1990 (NA) Developer Park Place Productions Genre Sports - Football My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.27/100 I've never been a huge football fan. I probably never will be, either. I just find the sport to be really boring. That said, the first Madden game, John Madden Football, is still a very enjoyable experience. It may seem crude these days, but for its time, it was quite good. Rumor has it that While not quite the same quality as Tecmo's football outings, it's still a very solid start for the franchise that (like it or not…I learn towards not) has pretty much has had a monopoly on the sport in the world of video games for the last 15 years. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: Pro Football (Japan), John Madden American Football (Europe)

Date added: 01/27/2020 Bullet Hell Monday Platform Android Initial Release Date 2019 (NA) Developer MASAYUKI ITO Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.71/100 Bullet Hell Monday is a decent bullet hell, vertical-scrolling shooter. It’s not great, and when a bullet hell shooter is controlled via touch-screens it probably never can be since your finger partially blocks your vision, which isn’t something you want to deal with when trying to weave in-and-out between bullets, lasers, and various other types of fire power. That said, this is a pretty well-made game. The ability to purchase various power-ups between levels is a nice touch, as is the unique way to progress through the game – you don’t automatically go to the next level, and you can replay levels as often as you want. Each level has a bunch of goals to aim for. If you don’t clear them all on your first try, you can replay until you get them all…or simply move on to the next level if you don’t care. I also like that it does not require an internet connection to play, so if I don’t wanna pay for wifi on a flight, I know I’ve got at least one game that I can pull up on the phone to play. Played on: Android Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/19/2020 Five Nights at Freddy's Platform PC Initial Release Date August 8, 2014 (NA) Developer animdude Genre Strategy My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 76.71/100 Five Nights at Freddy’s took the world by storm when it was released…in roughly a year and a half, the game had spawned a few sequels and put out plenty of merchandise. There’s a reason, too – it’s pretty fun for such a simple concept. Your goal is to prevent the animatronic animals, at Chuck E. Cheese rip-off Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, who become murderous at night, from entering your security guard room and ripping you limb from limb…The strategy comes in the form of working cameras, lights, and doors to figure out where these robotic ruffians are and keep them away from you. Unfortunately, they all run on battery power…so if you constantly keep yourself protected, the battery will guarantee to run out before dawn. So, you’ve got to leave yourself vulnerable for part of the night if you plan to survive. If that’s not enough to get you on edge, the sound is done extremely well in terms of both giving you an idea of what’s coming as well as bringing your stress level up. While most of your scares will come from jump scares, the audio in the game helps you feel uneasy before any jumps start happening. Keep in mind, Five Nights at Freddy’s isn’t perfect, but it was created well enough, and simple enough, where even casual gamers couldn’t help but try to survive the five nights. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/29/2019 Winter Games Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1987 (NA) Developer Epyx Genre Sports - Olympics My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.03/100 Epyx brought its popular Winter Games to the Atari 2600 when Atari made the attempt to resurrect its dead system. The end result actually wasn't bad at all – in fact it was pretty impressive considering the platform that the game was released on. A variety of winter olympic events like skiing and bobsledding are packed into the Atari cart and help make the game have more replay value than it would otherwise. It's one of the better sports games on the Atari VCS. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/18/2019 NASCAR Racing Platform PC Initial Release Date 1994 (NA) Developer Papyrus Genre Racing My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.66/100 NASCAR Racing, for its time, was a pretty amazing game for fans of the sport. Heck, I wasn’t even a fan of the sport and I still really enjoyed it. I didn’t necessarily like the control-scheme (Up arrow to hit the gas…bleh), but once I got used to it, it wasn’t too bad. The real fun of the game, for me anyway, was the relays. Was there a wreck? Well, pause the game and get a replay of the action. This option is standard for most sports games today, but back in 1994, it was a neat novelty. Toss in a large assortment of drivers and tracks and you’ve got a game that I’m pretty sure most NASCAR fans will love. It didn’t get a bunch of sequels for nothing, afterall. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/30/2024 Deja Vu: A Nightmare Comes True Platform NES Initial Release Date November 22, 1988 (JP) Developer Kemco Genre Adventure My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 78.40/100 In Deja Vu, you wake up without any memories and your goal in the game is to figure out where you are, regain your memories, and, eventually, clear your name….well, clear it after figuring out what exactly it is. During the course of your journey in this point-and-click adventure, you'll take a bunch of taxi rides while investigating everything to piece your story together. Along the way, you may run into a mugger on the street, alligators in the sewers, or a four-hundred pound woman bound and gagged in the trunk of a vehicle…I feel like the weight of the woman is exaggerated due to the amount of room remaining in the trunk when you open it…either that or they tossed her in the trunk of a car that takes up two lanes. Anyway, I made my way through the game in roughly 3 hours. I'm sure it could be faster if you know what you're doing, or longer if you get side-tracked playing slots for cab money or just enjoy wandering around and checking every inch that the game allows. It's a game with a nice length that ends before it overstays its welcome, and a decent story that may push most folks to continue playing in order to see it through to the end. If you like point-and-click adventure games, Deja Vu is a decent choice if you're looking for one in 8-bits. Played on: NES Also known as: Deja Vu: Akumu wa Hontou ni Yattekita (Japan)

Date added: 12/09/2022 Mutant League Hockey Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1994 (NA/EU/SA) Developer Electronic Arts Genre Sports - Hockey My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 72.77/100 After Mutant League Football, hockey seemed like a natural choice for a sport that could be filled with death and destruction...and while it works, it seems like a violent, mutant-based sporting contest on ice doesn't work quite as well as football did. In hockey, it's a bit too easy to avoid the puck completely and simply focus on obliterating the other team...The end result is that you don't technically have to attempt to score at all during the game and you can still win fairly easily due to the other team not having enough players. I was hoping that this would essentially be like NHL 94, but with mutants and over-the-top violence and mayhem…instead it's simply just a passable hockey game with a little bit of the over-the-top violence and mayhem tossed in for good measure. Still, though, hockey fans will likely find something to like here. Mutant League Hockey isn't awful by any stretch, but it fails to capture the imagination quite like Mutant League Football did. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/28/2024 Psycho Dream Platform Super NES Initial Release Date December 11, 1992 (JP) Developer Riot Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 70.73/100 Psycho Dream is a unique hybrid of a side-scrolling hack-n-slash with minor platforming elements tossed in along with a power-up system that you'd typically find in a scrolling shooter. The power-up system, like how it affects the game in a scrolling shooter, can make traversing levels and completing boss fights either fairly easy or frustratingly difficult, depending on how powered-up you are. If you happen to get hit enough times while fully powered, you'll revert back to your original powers, and especially in later levels, it can take a lot of time and patience to get yourself back into fighting form without dying first…and there is only one life here, so when you die, it's game over. That high difficulty may turn off a lot of players, which is a shame because Psycho Dream has some of the more beautiful visuals available on the Super Famicom, and the boss fights are mostly entertaining, if you can survive them. Psycho Dream isn't perfect, though…some iffy hit detection at times can be annoying when you're slashing through things in an effort to power-up. Some areas in the game also require a LOT of patience. Rushing through will almost certainly result in death. That's fine, but those particular areas feel a bit boring…I'm not saying they should throw enemies in there to increase the difficulty further, but if I've got waves of fire shooting out of the floor and ceiling that I need to avoid, it's not fun hacking away at something, one hit every few seconds, when it takes multiple hits….especially when you've got over half a dozen of them in front of you. But anyway, if you're looking for a challenge and want to see some pretty nice SNES visuals, then Psycho Dream may be a game that you grow fond of. I sure did. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/05/2022 Batman Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date October 12, 1990 (JP) Developer Sunsoft Genre Puzzle My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 71.62/100 When I first saw that the TurboGrafx-16 had a Batman game that was only released in Japan, it made me curious - Batman is popular in the United States, so why wouldn't they have released it here? Shortly after playing, I figured it out. While Batman isn't a bad game, it is not what most players would expect, and I've got a hunch that if it had released in the West, it wouldn't have gotten too good of a response. Essentially, in this game, you control Batman (obviously) but this is an action-based puzzle game. Yes, there are enemies, and you can hit 'em with your batarang and walk into them to send them flying away while they spin uncontrollably…don't ask me, that's how Sunsoft made it. However, aside from the final level, which is not a puzzle at all, but a battle against the Joker, you'll likely only be attacking if you have to in order to get past an enemy blocking your path, while ignoring just about anything else on the screen. The puzzle aspect isn't complicated, either. You just need to find certain areas to do a task. In one level, you may be cleaning up all of the graffiti in a stage. The next level may have you planting bombs or cutting loose balloons…and much of it really does not feel like Batman. It almost feels like Sunsoft had this game already made, and they just tacked the Batman skin on it with hopes that the Batman name might move some units. But anyway, while it's not a game that most folks would expect, or maybe even want when they play a Batman game, it's fine for what it is and fans of action-based puzzle games will likely find something to enjoy here. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/28/2019 WWF Warzone Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date April 17, 1998 (NA) Developer Iguana West Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.60/100 WWF Warzone, for its time, was a very, very good wrestling game...Well, as far as wrestling titles released in North America go. I like to compare its fighting engine to the original Mortal Kombat games; the concept of executing moves is basically the same, but it hasn't particularly aged well. This was a HUGE step up from Acclaim’s other wrestling titles, though. In-ring action aside, WWF Warzone had the deepest Create-A-Wrestler option ever seen in a North American-released wrestling game up to that point, with a ton of options to start and more that get unlocked as you play. It allowed players to make a bunch of wrestlers that didn’t make the game, or their own original creations. This option was so popular that the sequel WWF Attitude vastly improved it, and Create-A-Wrestler has pretty much become a staple of the professional wrestling genre of games ever since. While the gameplay doesn’t hold up as well today, anyone who remembers WWF Warzone fondly will likely be able to go back and enjoy their time with it to this day. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/24/2019 Project Gotham Racing Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date November 14, 2001 (NA) Developer Bizarre Creations Genre Racing My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.74/100 Project Gotham Racing is an okay beginning to the franchise (unless you count MSR on Dreamcast as part of the series). It wasn't perfect, but it was enjoyable enough to warrant a sequel...And the sequel improved on just about everything. But, if you're curious how the PGR franchise got its roots, the original game isn't something that you'll regret playing...Unless you've got Project Gotham Racing 2 right next to you as you play, in which case, you should probably switch games in your Xbox. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/23/2020 Folklore Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date June 21, 2007 (JP) Developer Game Republic Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 74.69/100 I’ve always wanted to really like Folklore…and in some aspects I do. Unfortunately, it has a few flaws that prevent me from holding it in high regard. For those unfamiliar, Folklore is set in a small town of Doolin and you play as two characters, Ellen and Keats, in an effort to solve a mystery that happened 17 years prior. While the story is kind of interesting, the gameplay is what makes this game dull at times. Similar to Kirby games, Ellen and Keats can absorb their enemies. When they do so, they can “summon” them to use their abilities in battle. While this sounds neat, the combat is often boring and bland. The lack of a lock-on system doesn’t help, either. The boss fights are kinda fun, though, and collecting pages of a picture book to expose what you should be doing in the battle is a neat idea. There’s more good than bad in Folklore, but I can’t help but feel that many others will feel like I did and start to grow tired of the combat early on, but trudge through the game, just to see where the story leads. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: FolksSoul: Ushinawareta Denshou (Japan)

Date added: 03/27/2022 MLB The Show 21 Platform Sony Playstation 5 Initial Release Date April 16, 2021 (W) Developer SCEA San Diego Studios Genre Sports - Baseball My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 73.52/100 I played MLB The Show 21 twice…I spent about 70 hours playing it on the Playstation 4, then late last year when I managed to get ahold of a PS5, I found that it was free to upgrade, so then I put another 40 or so hours into it. I wound up beating Road to the Show mode (winning the World Series) twice, both times as a two-way player. I also put plenty of time into the Diamond Dynasty mode again…but even with new baseball legends debuting in the mode alongside returning legends, I just didn't get into it quite like I did last year. In fact, while I still enjoyed the game as a whole, it felt like it was a mild step down from the year before - more of the same. What we got more of is good, mind you, and fans of baseball will find plenty to like here, but I kinda feel like I've got to dock it a little for lack of innovation. They'll have to make a pretty drastic change to the series for me to feel like I should start bumping the score back up instead of down a little again next year. And no, removing the entire announce team and introducing a new one is not the kind of drastic change I'm talking about. Played on: Playstation 5, Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/14/2024 El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date April 28, 2011 (JP) Developer Ignition Entertainment Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 71.58/100 The first thing that you'll notice when playing El Shaddai is that its visual style isn't really like any other game. It's very unique, and at times, it's very neat to watch. The story itself is also unique, and pretty bizarre at times…not necessarily good, mind you, but pretty bizarre and unique all the same. If you've been following this list for a while, you'll probably notice that I tend to enjoy games the more bizarre they tend to be. So, for me, this game started out very promising…unfortunately, the gameplay doesn't match up to the visuals or the bizarre aspects of the story. Once the gameplay starts, this is mostly a pretty mindless hack and slash game, with minor platforming elements tossed in. Yes, there is strategy in regards to trying to find the correct weapon to battle the correct enemy - but for the most part, I found the combat to be very bland…so bland that by the end, I was just wanting it to be over with. I completed it in around 6.5 hours, and that was more than enough for me. That's not to say that this is a bad game. It's not. And I did enjoy my time playing in the beginning…but there just wasn't enough here to keep me fully engaged until the end. Still, if you like brawlers, or just enjoy bizarre storytelling, then you may find some enjoyment in El Shaddai…I just wish it had enough variety in the gameplay to keep me enjoying it all the way until I saw the credits roll. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/21/2019 Ai Cho Aniki Platform Turbografx-CD Initial Release Date February 24, 1995 (JP) Developer Bits Laboratory Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 73.67/100 Cho Aniki’s debut game on the TurboGrafx-CD was an enjoyable, but average shooter with bizarre imagery to help the game stand out. The second game in the series to find its way onto the TurboGrafx-CD console decided to go in a different direction than its predecessor. It’s still a side-scrolling, third-person shooter with bizarre imagery. The twist here is that you now control Samson and/or Adon, the two scantily-clad bodybuilders from the first game that would sometimes aid you. They don’t fly like Superman, they float and flex their pecs while unleashing not just simple bullets, but various firepower based on Street Fighter-ish button combos. The standard attack, of course, is a white ball of light that shoots from the crotch of our heroic, ripped, bodybuilders and acts as a homing missile towards the nearest target…Because that’s how REAL men fight evil. There is also a button to spin our statuesque heroes which helps them avoid taking damage, which adds some strategy to an already interesting game. Ai Cho Aniki also takes a new approach with lives. There are no lives, just a timer at the top of the screen. If you lose your health, you lose an entire hourglass. If you take too long, you lose another hourglass. Lose all hourglasses and it’s game over. This game does take a little while to get used to…but once you do, you’ll likely appreciate it for what it is. Played on: Turbografx-CD Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/29/2020 Name This Game Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1982 (NA) Developer James Wickstead Design Associates Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 72.16/100 Name This Game was a game that players were supposed to name in an attempt to win $10,000. Unfortunately, U.S. Games went out of business before a winner could be decided. Anyway, despite the odd name, Name This Game is actually pretty fun. There’s more going on during the game than most others during its time. You’ve got a giant octopus that keeps reaching for your treasure down below. You need to shoot its arms so they retract. At the same time, sharks will continuously appear on screen. So, while retracting the tentacles, you’re also trying to eliminate the shark threat. If that’s not enough, you have limited oxygen. You’ve got a buddy in a boat at the top of the screen and he occasionally drops a line down to you so you can breathe. It’s a decent shooter for the time and it’s still a pretty fun way to kill a few minutes today. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: Octopus (Europe)

Date added: 02/13/2022 John Madden Football '92 Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1992 (NA) Developer Park Place Productions Genre Sports - Football My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.76/100 The original John Madden Football was a solid football game, but it was also basic in terms of what fans of the franchise would later come to expect. The improvements in this second game in the franchise include the inclusion of instant replays, more plays to select, and the chance for player to get injured…complete with an ambulance driving onto the field to pick up the injured player. Also new is that all 28 teams in the NFL in 1991 are represented in this game - the original game only included the 16 best teams for that year. Since the game lacks any licensing (aside from the use of Madden, of course) it does not include team names, player names, or team logos…but with the color schemes, city names, and player numbers, if you're a football fanatic, you can pretty much figure out who's who without 'em. The other thing that this game contributed is the fact that I believe it started the annual sports game releases from EA that continues to this day. Overall, this was a solid continuation of the groundwork created with the first game, resulting in a better game of football than the original…and basically cementing the Madden franchise as the go-to football game for most football fans, a title that it still holds today. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/16/2019 Kirby's Dream Land Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date April 27, 1992 (JP) Developer HAL Laboratories Genre Platformer My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.92/100 The first Kirby game I played was Kirby's Adventure on the NES, so when I went back and played the original game on Game Boy, I'll admit, I was a little disappointed with the lack of being able to absorb new abilities. That said, if you actually stick with this game and play through to the end, you're rewarded with a charming platformer and a very solid Game Boy game. At the very least, it’s good enough to spawn several more Kirby games, making the pink cream puff one of Nintendo’s most beloved characters. If you this adventure a little too easy, you can always hit up, select, and A at the same time on the title screen, which allows you to play the game on a much harder difficulty, giving you a little more bang for your buck. Played on: Game Boy Also known as: Hoshi no Kirby (Japan)

Date added: 06/19/2020 Mario Kart 7 Platform Nintendo 3DS Initial Release Date December 1, 2011 (JP) Developer Retro Studios Genre Racing My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.63/100 Mario Kart 7 introduced a new aspect to the Mario Kart formula in an effort to change things up a little…and it honestly didn’t really do much for me. That change was adding a glider to the kart, so on some of the new tracks, you’d find yourself driving off of a high ledge or up a ramp and the glider would come out and you’d glide your way along the until you landed and returned to normal racing. It’s okay and all, don’t get me wrong, but it felt like an addition that was simply made to distract players from the fact that not a lot had changed from the previous game to this one. The new tracks aren’t any more fun than the classic tracks that make no use of the gliders. That said, it’s still Mario Kart. It’s still fun. You’ll still likely lose hours to playing it…But I, personally, think this is towards the bottom in terms of the Mario Kart franchise…but considering most games in the series are very good, being towards the bottom still means being better than just about any other non-Mario-related kart game out there. Played on: Nintendo 3DS Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/07/2019 Tommy Lasorda Baseball Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date April 22, 1989 (JP) Developer Sega Genre Sports - Baseball My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 77.60/100 I'll be honest - I was not expecting much here, and I wound up being very pleasantly surprised. Tommy Lasorda Baseball has smooth gameplay and nice visuals and for the most part is a very fun, easy-to-play game of digital baseball...unfortunately, it lacks licensing, so no real teams...But hey, the Milwaukee Brewers pretty much had their logo unchanged in here, so for me being from there, that's pretty sweet. Anyway, if you're just looking for a solid, old-school baseball game on your Sega Genesis that you can pop in and play without all the bells and whistles of games from the sport today, then Tommy Lasorda Baseball is a very solid option. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: Super League (Japan & Europe)

Date added: 05/25/2019 Killer Instinct Platform PC Initial Release Date September 27, 2017 (NA) Developer Double Helix Games Genre Fighting My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 74.13/100 I was a huge fan of the original Killer Instinct. I mastered most of the combos, repeatedly beat the game, and even had the code memorized to play as Eyedol. Fast forward over 20 years and I found myself playing Killer Instinct all over again with the old crew and several new names and plenty of combos to go around…unfortunately, not much has evolved over the past 20 years in terms of Killer Instinct’s gameplay, so aside from graphical improvements, more playable characters (including being able to play as Eyedol without a code), and unlockables from fulfilling challenges, there’s not anything groundbreaking here. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, mind you, Killer Instinct will definitely keep fans of fighting games entertained for a while, but I don’t think anyone has gone out and said that this was the greatest fighting game ever created, either. It’s worth picking up for fans of the original Killer Instinct, but if that game didn’t impress you, I can’t imagine that this one would, either. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/08/2023 Hit the Ice Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date September 20, 1991 (JP) Developer Taito Genre Sports - Hockey My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.04/100 When Hit the Ice hit store shelves, it was a time where video games were becoming less simplistic and more complicated. The gameplay was often more complicated, the number of buttons and inputs increased for many games, and for many people, like one of my cousins, that lack of simplicity became a turn-off that pretty much ended their video game past time. I think that's why a lot of those folks now have simple games on their smart phones - they enjoy video games, but just want something quick and easy to play without having to memorize buttons or tasks to do. Anyway, with that ramble out of the way, Hit the Ice very much feels like a throwback to a few years prior in the gameplay department. With simplistic controls to allow you to punch, pass, or shoot. It vaguely feels like a more simplistic NBA Jam, in a sense - it's 2-on-2 hockey (or 3-on-3 if you count the goalies) and while it lacks turbo boosts, being on fire, or licensed NHL teams or players, it's an enjoyable arcade-style hockey game where you'll spend half of your time trying to steal the puck away from your opponent, and the other half trying to score. While not quite as polished or enjoyable as NBA Jam, Hit the Ice is still a solid sports game in its own right, and I think most fans of simplistic, arcade-style video games will find something to like here. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/23/2022 Brute Force Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date May 27, 2003 (NA) Developer Digital Anvil Genre 3rd-Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 76.47/100 I've never really been a huge fan of games like this - I often find them to be repetitive, even when they're not bad. Brute Force is a game that isn't bad at all, but I just plain get bored if I play it for more than a few minutes at a time. Perhaps if I played it with friends, it'd be better, but I'm basically just scoring it for the solo campaign. In Brute Force, you control one of four characters. You can switch on the fly…kind of. Whatever characters that you're not controlling will still be out in the battlefield fighting alongside you. So, if one of them dies, and you attempt to switch to them, well, it ain't happening. I give credit to Digital Anvil for creating a bunch of interesting, unique levels and different enemies to shoot at…but even with that variety, I still found it to feel pretty repetitive. Overall, Brute Force isn't a bad game by any means. IF this is the kind of game you'll like, you'll probably find plenty to enjoy here…but it's not a game that's going to convert anyone to enjoy this genre. Or should I say, it won't be able to "Force" them. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/04/2020 Astyanax Platform NES Initial Release Date December 21, 1989 (JP) Developer Jaleco Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 73.27/100 I never really gave Astyanax enough credit. I’ve made myself play all the way through the game for this list, and doing so has raised my opinion of Astyanax quite a bit. Astyanax seems kinda difficult at first…but it’s honestly not that bad once you realize that the real difficulty of the game is the platforming aspects since you sometimes bounce backward when hit by an enemy, which can result in you falling to your death. Once you get enemy locations and patterns down, though, you’ll find yourself advancing on and watching cutscenes between the levels, which was a novelty for the time. The story is kinda corny (Thorndog is my new favorite villain name) but for its time, it was fine. The actual gameplay is similar to Castlevania, attacking enemies as you advance on in the level, which each level ending with a boss. Impressive for this game is that the bosses aren’t recycled (aside from the grand finale before the last fight) with each boss fight and mini boss fight being unique from the others. Overall, Astyanax isn’t the greatest game on the NES by a long shot, but it’s a decent action game and if you like games like Castlevania, you may find enough to like here to see it through to the end. Played on: NES Also known as: The Lord of King (Japan)

Date added: 10/09/2020 Alien: Isolation Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date October 7, 2014 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Creative Assembly Genre Adventure My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.87/100 Alien: Isolation was a game that I played a little bit back when it was released, but never stuck with it until the end until revisiting it for this list. Now that I’ve completed it, I can tell you that I both really like and really dislike this game. As a fan of stealth-based gameplay, the concept of Alien: Isolation appealed to me – survival horror where you’re being hunted by an enemy that you can’t kill. You don’t want to even engage in any unnecessary combat against any other enemies in the game because something like a gunshot could be all it takes for the alien to figure out where you are and start coming for you. Likewise, if you’ve got a bunch of enemies blocking your path, making some noise and going into hiding can summon the alien to remove those pests for you. The downside of the game is that the hide-and-seek gameplay does begin to get a bit old after a while. It can sometimes be annoying when you just want to get to your next objective, but instead wind up sitting under a table for two minutes waiting for a safe moment to continue on. Fortunately, there’s more good here than bad, and the hide-and-seek gameplay, while it does overstay its welcome a tad, is still fun for much of the game. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/16/2019 Sega Tetris Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date November 23, 2000 (JP) Developer Wow Entertainment Genre Puzzle My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 76.98/100 Tetris 4D came out on the Dreamcast in 1998…and was pretty underwhelming, to be honest. Sega fixed that two years later, releasing Sega Tetris. The main mode is the basic Tetris that we all know and love, but with the difficulty ramped up a tad, and lots of colorful backgrounds that change as you play. But that’s not all, you can also play against another player (or the computer) in a fun battle where matches of 2 force the opponent to fuses two pieces together, 3 force the opponent to place a horizontal line with one, single hole in it, and a Tetris simply brings four rows up from the bottom, reducing the space between where the pieces fall and where the nearest blocks are. This game also had online play available when it was released, with the ability to battle against players from around the globe. While Sega Tetris isn’t a groundbreaking game by any means, the visuals are different and the core gameplay is solid. If you’re a fan of puzzle games, it’s worth checking out. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/29/2021 Blade Buster Platform NES Initial Release Date March 3, 2012 (W) Developer High Level Challenge Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 72.40/100 Blade Buster is, admittedly, a game that I had never heard of until shortly before adding it to this list. Since I was adding a few other homebrew NES games, I figured I’d do a search of others to see if I could find a gem. Blade Buster fit the bill pretty nicely. Blade Buster is a bullet hell, vertical-scrolling shooter that is tough as nails, but also very visually impressive for the hardware that it runs on. While I’m not the greatest scrolling shooter player by any means, I’ve always enjoyed the genre, so finding this game was a very pleasant surprise. I don’t think that Blade Buster will go down as the greatest scrolling shooter of all-time by any stretch of the imagination, but for what it is, it’s a very solid shooter that definitely holds its own when putting it beside some of the better shooters that the NES has to offer. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/23/2022 Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date October 24, 2005 (NA) Developer Headfirst Productions Genre Adventure My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 76.97/100 I don't really know a lot about Lovecraftian stuff. I never read his books, and aside from the fact that Cthulhu is portrayed as having a squid face, I honestly have no idea what it is, if it's good/evil/neutral or whatever. I say that because without having any of that knowledge, I still enjoyed Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth, for the most part. I enjoyed the story found here, and that kept me playing…but some of the gameplay bogged the game down a hair for me. I've got a sneaking suspicion that the gameplay may be better in the PC version and just wasn't translated to a controller well…A specific scene that I'm thinking of has you closing and locking doors quickly as you attempt to make an escape, which is incredibly awkward and somewhat frustrating to do with the controller, but may be quite a bit easier with a mouse controlling the cursor. Another downside is that some of the checkpoints are pretty far apart from each other, so you may be repeating some tedious tasks over and over again if you wind up dying or losing your sanity and…well dying. Aside from some rough edges like that, though, I mostly enjoyed Dark Corners of the Earth. I like games with stealth gameplay, and this game has plenty of that, along with some nightmarish visuals and a pretty good story to boot. So, if a stealth-based horror game with plenty of story sounds interesting to you, I'd give Dark Corners of the Earth a shot. It's not a perfect game, but it's still quite solid and even with its flaws, I think it'll win most folks over that give it a chance. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/31/2022 Tube Slider Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date April 17, 2003 (NA) Developer Nd Cube Genre Racing My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 74.75/100 I had never heard of Tube Slider (that I can remember, anyway) before playing it for this list…and I have to say that I am mostly pleasantly surprised by what I experienced. Honestly, the name "Tube Slider" and the generic-looking box art make it pretty easy to overlook this game and assume it's nothing special. Once you pop it in the Gamecube and play a few races, though, you'll find a pretty solid futuristic racer. The first thing that you'll likely notice is that this game is actually quite gorgeous. The tracks lacks roads, but instead you race in tubes and these tubes often have windows in them allowing you to see the world outside of the track, and they're usually a treat to look at…well, when you’ve got enough of a lead to sit back and enjoy the view, that is. The next thing that you'll find out rather quickly is that, like I mentioned and like the name title suggests, the tracks are just giant tubes that you're racing in…so, instead of a flat road that you're racing on, you can actually race along every angle of the tube. While it's fun to do that, it can also be a bit disorienting at times. Likewise, it does take a little while to get used to how everything controls, so that, mixed with the tube aspect, may run some people off when they try this game for the first time. Likewise, I see a few people claim that this game is very difficult and that the computer opponents are brutal to race against…I honestly did not have any problems with difficulty. In fact in several races, I not only won, but by the time the checkered flag waved, I had a very convincing lead over the rest of the pack. I actually wanted a little MORE difficulty out of the game in those instances, honestly. Anyway, Tube Slider isn't perfect - the controls in particular take a bit to get used to - but it's a good racing game that you may not have heard of before. If you like futuristic racers and happen to stumble across a copy, definitely pick it up. I bet you'll be glad you did. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 Oiche Mhaith Platform Ouya Initial Release Date June 27, 2013 (NA) Developer Terry Cavanagh Genre Adventure My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 76.33/100 This game is not suitable for the kiddies – plenty of very colorful language and a very dark theme are contained in this interesting adventure game created by talented indie developer Terry Cavanagh. Basically, you play as a young girl who is verbally abused (severely so) by her mother and father. You do the tasks they ask and watch the story get darker with each task. It's a very short, ten or fifteen minute game, but one that's well worth your time to experience. Just don't expect this to be a happy, jolly experience. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/18/2020 Nintendogs + Cats: Golden Retriever & New Friends Platform Nintendo 3DS Initial Release Date February 26, 2011 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Simulation My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 74.51/100 I hold the first Nintendogs games close to my heart. I was away in college when it came out, and my dog was not allowed to live with me in the school-sponsored apartment complex I lived in. So, while on the weekends I got to see my pup, I wasn't so lucky on the weekdays, which is where the original Nintendogs games came in. This sequel is just as good in my opinion, but aside from the addition of cats, there isn't much else new. That still didn't stop me from logging several hours into this game, though. Revisiting this game for this list, I immediately found myself smiling as I had forgotten that I had named a dog on my cartridge after my dog who had passed a few years ago. He was alive when I had originally played the game, but I had found a puppy that reminded me of him…so I called him Booger, which was my nickname for my real dog. Once the screen loaded and I saw that golden retriever puppy, I smiled. Then he started jumping around, barking and playing…it just made me smile and my memories were flooded with thoughts of that dog that I loved as if he were my own son. That’s where Nintendogs and Cats stands out in comparison to other pet simulators – these animals ooze personality like real pets would. Of course, owning a real pet is the best option, but if you’re unable to have a pet, but would love a dog or cat, this may be the next best thing for you. As far as pet sims go (and a TON of them have popped up since the original Nintendogs) this series remains at the top of the heap…though due to lack of originality, I feel like this version is slightly inferior to the original Nintendogs. Unless you’re a cat lover or really like to use the 3D aspects of the 3DS, I’d stick with the original. Played on: Nintendo 3DS Also known as: Nintendogs + Cats: Shiba & New Friends (Japan/Korea)

Date added: 02/06/2022 Super Skidmarks Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1995 (EU) Developer Acid Genre Racing My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.40/100 From early games like Micro Machines to more modern games like the Dirt franchise, I almost always really enjoy racing games from Codemasters. So, when I discovered this racing game, which never made its way to North America, it immediately had me interested. Essentially, Super Skidmarks seems to be Codemasters' attempt at publishing its own variation of the Super Off-Road formula…but with a zoomed-in viewpoint, following the vehicles on the screen, instead of a zoomed-out viewpoint that sees the entire track like in the Super Off-Road games. Another difference is that you've got your choice of six different vehicles to race as (including a cow on wheels, like the box art suggests) instead of being stuck with just one set of wheels. There are also various environments and tracks to compete on, many of which are littered with various obstacles to prevent the racing from being too easy. The neatest part of this game, in my opinion, is that Codemasters, knowing that games like these are best played with multiple players, released this game in their J-cart cartridge. For those that don't know, a J-cart is a cartridge with two additional controller ports in it, essentially allowing players to races against three friends without any need to purchase a multitap. Super Skidmarks may not be the best racing game that Codemasters published, but it's good for what it is - entertaining, multiplayer racing. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/22/2021 Chase the Chuckwagon Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer Spectravision Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 66.40/100 Chase the Chuckwagon is a surprisingly decent, rare game for the Atari 2600. I say surprisingly decent because the game was only available via mail order through Purina dog food. Basically, in the 70’s and 80’s, Purina had commericals that involved a dog chasing a tiny chuckwagon…the goal of this game is to essentially recreate those commercials. You control a dog, and you need to navigate a maze to get to the chuckwagon at the top of the screen before a timer runs out. While navigating the maze, you have a seemingly random object that changes on the level that bounces around. If you get hit by that object, then you’re frozen for a different amount of time, depending on the level. There’s also a man (a dogcatcher maybe?) wandering the maze to try to prevent you from reaching your goal. After successfully reaching your goal, you enter a quick mini game where you want to stop the falling dog food bowl level with the dog so he can eat. Doing so gets you bonus points. The levels have enough variety to them where this doesn’t get boring as quickly as you’d think. Also, in later levels, with the penalty of being hit by objects being more severe, it’s entirely possible that if you get hit once that you’ll likely be frozen in place long enough to be hit repeatedly and unable to move until the timer reaches zero, so the challenge ramps up as you reach the later levels. Chase the Chuckwagon isn’t the greatest game ever made, but it’s a solid game for the console and worth checking out if you’re a fan of the early days of video games. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/05/2022 Maniac Pro Wrestling: Ashita e no Tatakai Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date May 25, 1990 (JP) Developer Hudson Genre Strategy - Wrestling My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 78.10/100 Maniac Pro Wrestling was Hudson's stab at making a professional wrestling game. Rather than stick with the normal, action-based fighting gameplay that most wrestling games have, Hudson decided to make Maniac Pro Wrestling a strategy game instead, similar to MicroLeague Wrestling, which had been released several years earlier…but, minus the WWF license, of course. During the course of the match, you choose an option of what to do in the match. If you make the correct choices, eventually you'll whittle down the health of your opponent and eventually find yourself the victor. While it's not a poorly-made game, the matches do tend to go on a bit long much of the time. It also could have also benefitted from some different wrestler designs. While they're made well, they follow the trend of other games of the time by just providing you with generic versions of popular wrestlers of the time. I get why they did it, but when so many other wrestling games were doing the same thing already, changing up the roster probably would have made it stand out even more than the gameplay already caused it to. Overall, Maniac Pro Wrestling is actually a very well-made game. Nearly everything about it is something that a wrestling fan would enjoy (if you can read Japanese or are able to translate - there's no English here) but the strategy-based gameplay may also be a turn-off for folks that want a faster-paced, action-oriented game. If you're a wrestling fan and find yourself able to get your hands on a copy, you'll probably be glad you did. But this is a pretty niche game, and despite it's quality, it will only have a small, niche audience that plays it more than once or twice before moving onto something else. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/07/2021 Pac-Man 99 Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date April 7, 2021 (NA/EU) Developer Bandai Namco Games Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 74.06/100 Joining the list of retro multiplayer battles that has been appearing on the Switch, like Tetris 99 and Super Mario Bros. 35, Bandai Namco has put out Pac-Man 99, and while it’s not an awful game by any means at all, it is the weakest entry of the three, in my opinion. Basically, like the other games mentioned, you focus on the action in the middle of the screen and how you play has an effect on the other players, and vice versa. Pac-Man 99, though, has more modifications to the gameplay than the other two games mentioned. Basically, your goal, like in regular Pac-Man, is to eat up all the pellets, and when needed, eat the larger pellets so you can eat the ghosts that are trying to get to you. In Pac-Man 99, the food items that pop up don’t provide bonus points, but it resets the pellets on the stage. Also, “ghost” Pac-Men will appear on the screen with white ones slowing you down and the red ones providing death. Overall, this is a solid game, especially since it’s free for Nintendo Online subscribers, but if you already played and enjoyed the two other, similar games released on the Switch, this one may be a little disappointing. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/12/2023 Whomp 'Em Platform NES Initial Release Date December 7, 1990 (JP) Developer Jaleco Entertainment Genre Platformer My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 76.52/100 When I was a kid, I knew of Whomp'Em as "that Mega Man game with the Indian." As time has gone on, I've gone back and revisited Whomp 'Em and it's not quite the quality of Mega Man, like I remember it being when I was a wee lad, but it does share a few similarities, like the ability to choose what level you want to play, and obtaining skills from the bosses in each area that you use to exploit the weaknesses or other bosses...But none of it is done quite as well as Capcom's series with the blue robot. That's not to say that Whomp 'Em isn't good, though. It's a solid platformer in its own right, but since it's so similar to Mega Man, it's hard to not compare the two…and when you compare the two, Whomp 'Em will always appear as inferior. Anyway, if you love Mega Man and are willing to settle for an experience not quite as good as what you'd get from that series, then Whomp 'Em might be a game that you'll grow to enjoy, kinda like I always have. Played on: NES Also known as: Saiyuuki World 2: Tenjoukai no Majin (Japan)

Date added: 10/31/2022 Christmas Massacre Platform PC Initial Release Date December 17, 2021 (NA) Developer puppet combo Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 77.19/100 I'm a big fan of puppet combo and their games. Not only do I appreciate the blend of retro gameplay and VHS horror movie aspects, but he has an odd sense of humor that I really appreciate. For example, in Christmas Massacre, you control a demented lad who is obsessed with Christmas, and takes orders from the talking Christmas tree that resides in his house. And, of course, the Christmas tree wants you to kill. Essentially, Christmas Massacre is a 3D version of Hotline Miami, but set during the holidays, in a small town, and with fewer levels. While it's not a masterpiece by any stretch, I can't deny that I didn't enjoy myself quite a bit with the stealth-based slasher gameplay - not only do you need to use stealth, but you need to move quickly. Especially in later levels, like the movie theater, if you're not quick, people will find your handiwork and flee the area, resulting in a failed level. Again, this gameplay isn't flawless, but it's fun for what it is, and for the amount on the price tag attached to it. Plus, if you're a fan of warped, dark humor, you'll find even more to like here. I do wish that there were more levels and challenges to increase the overall playtime of the game, but for what it is, Christmas Massacre is a decent little action game that fans of old slasher films, and a little dark humor, will likely find at least a little enjoyment in. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/17/2023 Gamera 2000 Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date April 25, 1997 (JP) Developer Digital Frontier Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 77.73/100 When I started to play a Gamera game, the last genre that I thought it would be was a third-person rail shooter...But that's what Gamera 2000 is. In this game, you control an aircraft or a vehicle and shoot your way through the levels in very similar fashion to the Panzer Dragoon games. The only difference being that your lock-on attacks result in Gamera (who is always flying by your side) attacking your enemies with its atomic breath rather than you using any extra firepower from your ship, or dragon in the case of Panzer Dragoon. And similar to Panzer Dragoon, it's a very solid rail shooter, though not quite as polished. The Gamera gimmick adds some fun to the overall experience, with cheesy cutscenes and bad acting shown between each level. If you're a fan of the Gamera films or of rail shooters, Gamera 2000 is a decent game to get your hands on. Even if you just like cheesy acting, you may enjoy Gamera 2000 - I play it every few years for that aspect alone. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/10/2022 Door Door Platform NES Initial Release Date July 18, 1985 (JP) Developer ChunSoft Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 72.62/100 I've always liked Door Door. This is a game that never saw release out of Japan, and it's one of those well-designed games that's simple and easy to understand, but difficult to master. Essentially, in Door Door, you control a polite white blob wearing a baseball cap with what appears to be various sea creatures stalking you in each level. Since you're so polite, your goal is to open doors for your enemies, so they'll walk into a room, then close the doors on them to lock them in the room that they entered. Okay, so it's not about being polite, but I still like to pretend that I'm opening doors for elderly lady squids when I play...I just choose to ignore the locking the elderly lady squids in the room part. Once all enemies have been locked in a room, you advance to the next level. See? Like I said, it's a simple, easy-to-understand concept…once the game begins, though, you'll quickly see that this game isn't quite as easy as it seems. Overall, I really like Door Door and I'm pretty sure if you like action games that make you use that muscle between your ears, you'll enjoy it just as much as I did. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/24/2020 Journey to the Savage Planet Platform Playstation 4 Initial Release Date January 28, 2020 (AU/EU/NA) Developer Typhoon Studios Genre Adventure My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 74.14/100 Journey to the Savage Planet gives me mixed feelings…on one hand, this is the kind of game that I like to play – weird with plenty of exploration. On the other hand, how many poop and butt jokes does a game really need? And this is coming from someone that enjoys poop and butt jokes. That said, the game’s humor will very likely turn some people off and even the folks that find some of the jokes funny (throw me in that category) will likely groan or roll their eyes at the rest of their attempts at humor. All that out of the way, the gameplay itself is solid…if you like to explore in your games, then this game will likely be right up your alley. In fact, you could probably call it a poor man’s Metroid Prime, complete with the Metroidvania formula in a 1st-person perspective. I say poor man’s Metroid Prime because while it’s still a good game, it just lacks the overall quality and polish of the 3D Metroid titles. If Metroidvania-style exploration mixed with obnoxious humor (that’s actually the description in one of the game’s trophies, so they knew what they were doing) sounds like something you’d enjoy, then give Journey to the Savage Planet a try. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/01/2021 Giga Wing Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date November 11, 1999 (JP) Developer Takumi Corporation Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 69.02/100 A lot of reviewers were hard on this game when it came out, and aside from the graphics seeming like they were a generation behind, I'm not really seeing the problems that they saw. Actually, I really enjoyed my time with Giga Wing. Is it flawless? Nope. Is it original? Not really, aside from the bar at the bottom that, when filled, allows you to reflect bullets back at the enemy. Is it fun? Indeed, it is. I’m assuming that some die-hard scrolling shooter fans may dislike this game because it basically has unlimited continues, which allows even the worst scrolling shooter players to complete the game if they stick with it. I liked Giga Wing, personally. That said, I could understand why other fans of scrolling shooters wouldn’t like it, too. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/25/2019 Batman: The Video Game Platform NES Initial Release Date December 22, 1989 (JP) Developer Sunsoft Genre Platformer My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 77.61/100 Batman: The Video Game is absolutely brutal. I think I’d put it up there in the top 5 most difficult games that I’ve ever beaten. If this was simply a side-scrolling brawler/shooter, that’d be one thing…but toss in the need for accurate platforming and wall-jumping, sometimes while avoiding enemy fire, and you’ve got a pretty rough time ahead of you if you plan on facing the Joker at the end of the 5 levels. Even with its difficulty, though, it manages to stay fun…frustrating, but fun. With various weapons at your disposal, you need to use the right weapons against the right enemies if you want to survive past the first level, which helps keep the gameplay from feeling repetitive between the platforming. If you like Batman, want a challenge, and own an NES, Batman: The Video Game is a solid choice. Played on: NES Also known as: Batman (Japan)

Date added: 08/06/2019 NHL Hockey Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Park Place Productions Genre Sports - Hockey My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.50/100 This is where my favorite sports franchise began. Since NHLPA Hockey '93 gets all the headlines for all of its improvements, a lot of folks either forget or don't know how good the original game was. Sure, the sequel improved on everything, but the base that NHL Hockey formed to help make NHLPA Hockey '93 as great as it was can be found here. NHL Hockey includes nearly everything that you would want in a hockey game, including the ability to hit a well-timed check to lay out a member of the opposing team just as they’re about to shoot the puck towards your goal. It’ll put a smile on your face to see them sprawled out on the ice as you take control of the puck and try to score. It's just a shame that NHL Hockey will seem to forever live in the shadow of the game that came after it, because it’s a solid game in its own right. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: Pro Hockey (Japan), EA Hockey (Europe)

Date added: 07/05/2019 WWF Smackdown! Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date March 2, 2000 (NA) Developer Yuke's Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.68/100 After WWF Attitude was released, the WWF ended their relationship with Acclaim and partnered up with THQ, which honestly had me a little worried considering that the last two WCW games that they put out (Nitro and Thunder) were pretty terrible. The result of their new partnership (thanks to Yuke’s coming in as developer) was WWF Smackdown! a huge step-up in terms of gameplay from the Acclaim games, resulting in a much smoother execution of moves and faster overall in-ring gameplay. The season mode was also pretty well done...In fact, everything in Smackdown! was done really well with the sole exception being a very, very limited create-a-player mode…where you have four slots to make people…with nearly no options for customization. But that aside, this was still a very impressive debut for the WWF Smackdown! series, which younger readers may not know, was the series that the WWE 2K games spawned from. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Exciting Pro Wrestling (Japan)

Date added: 04/04/2019 Power Stone Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date February 25, 1999 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 77.57/100 I was never big into Power Stone. When it first came out, I liked the idea of a 3D environment containing a fighting game...but I just never got into this game or its sequel. 20 years later I've finally grown to appreciate it a little more...but I still prefer most of the other fighting games on the Dreamcast over this. That said, Power Stone is still a decent fighting game, but it's not as easy to pick up and play as other Capcom fighters. It requires a bit of strategy, not just for out-thinking your opponent, but to also out-manuever them in order to pick up all the power stones on the stage to power-up your fighter and unleash harder-hitting moves. It's not for everyone, but it's still worth checking out if you're a fan of the fighting genre. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/17/2022 Fantasy Zone Platform Sega Master System Initial Release Date June 15, 1986 (JP) Developer Sega Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 78.12/100 Fantasy Zone is a unique scrolling shooter in that you control what direction the screen scrolls in...And you can change the direction at any time. It's a neat idea, but it can kind of disorient you if you swap directions without meaning to...which most likely will happen, especially while you’re trying to get used to everything. Another neat idea are bright, colorful backgrounds, which weren’t the norm for the scrolling shooter genre at the time...But the colorful backgrounds also has its drawbacks, as enemies and bullets often blend in with the backgrounds, which can sometimes lead to cheap deaths. But still, even with its flaws, Fantasy Zone is still a solid game and worth a look for fans of scrolling shooters. Played on: Sega Master System Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/13/2019 Graveyard Keeper Platform PC Initial Release Date August 15, 2018 (NA) Developer Lazy Bear Games Genre Adventure My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 73.60/100 After seeing the success of Stardew Valley, Lazy Bear Games decided to try their hand at a similar style of game…but with very dark humor. Graveyard Keeper was the result. Tasked with taking care of a local graveyard, your goal isn’t just to clean the dump up and make it look nice…interacting with the townsfolk, and juggling other tasks is just as important. The fun in the game comes from how dark it is. Example: The graveyard is full...well, the corpses brought to you have meat on them. Go to a crafting table with some meat, paper, and a stamp, and you’ve got some packaged meat to sell to the townsfolk for some extra cash in your pocket. Even the most demented moments in the game are accompanied by some sort of humor, making you feel okay for selling corpse meat to the local tavern because you’re lazy and want to purchase a warp stone to warp from location to location. It’s not the greatest game ever made by any means, but I really liked it. If you have a warped sense of humor like I do, you might like it too. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/27/2019 Dr. Mario Platform NES Initial Release Date July 27. 1990 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Puzzle My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.21/100 With the massive success of Tetris, Nintendo made an effort to create a puzzle game of their own. The end result was Dr. Mario, a game that encourages children to pop pills to kill the nasty-looking germs that live inside them. Okay, maybe that's not true...Let me have a little fun here, will ya? Anyway, Dr. Mario is an okay game. It's a very slow, methodical game where you're almost guaranteed to have unwanted colors wind up on viruses due to the random nature of the pills popping out. The strategy comes in overcoming the seemingly mandatory misplacements in order to conquer each level anyway. It’s a game that can be frustrating at times, but it’s also a game that I’ve grown to appreciate more over time. Overall, Dr. Mario is a solid puzzle game, but nowhere near the quality of several other games in the genre. Played on: NES, Game Boy Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/06/2023 Forgotten Worlds Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date November 17, 1989 (NA) Developer Sega Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 74.28/100 Forgotten Worlds was actually developed by Capcom in the arcade, but on the Genesis version that I'm reviewing, Sega took the reigns during development, similar to the Strider conversion that made its way to the console from arcades. Much like with Strider, Sega did a pretty good job with the conversion, too, especially since the Genesis controller doesn't exactly emulate the arcade controls well. If you've never played Forgotten Worlds before, imagine a scrolling shooter where you can rotate your character and fire in all directions like in Asteroids….but without the propulsion physics found in Asteroids. It's a solid shooter that you can pick up and play, but with the rotating aspect, it does take a little time to really feel like you're mastering the game. If you want a scrolling shooter that's not quite like the typical shooter that you'd come across, then Forgotten Worlds is a good choice. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/08/2020 Mister Mosquito Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date June 21, 2001 (JP) Developer Zoom Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 70.02/100 Mister Mosquito was a pleasant surprise when I first played it. Basically, you play as Mister Mosquito, seen in the box art, and you terrorize a Japanese family by making them all itchy from your bites. The goal is to be stealthy so that they don't know that you're around and when sucking blood, you want to be as discreet as possible to avoid attention and getting squished. Mister Mosquito isn't perfect. It's not even great. But it's good and for a game that came out in North America at a discounted price, good is much more than one might expect. In Japan, Mister Mosquito (known as Ka there) was popular enough to get a sequel. Unfortunately, it never got that popularity here. But, if you want a unique action game with a decent sense of humor, then Mister Mosquito is well worth checking out. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: Ka (Japan), Mr. Moskeeto (Europe)

Date added: 10/31/2021 Nosferatu Platform Super NES Initial Release Date October 7, 1994 (JP) Developer Seta Corporation Genre Platformer My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 73.73/100 Nosferatu is a game that I always really liked, but never really played beyond the second stage until devoting more time to it for this list. Now that I’ve played through to the end, I can honestly say that while I still really like the game, this game is ridiculously tough as you make your way through. Except for the end-of stage fights - aside from Nosferatu himself, I didn’t really have any difficulty with those fights...and even Nosferatu wasn’t too difficult in comparison to some of the levels that you needed to traverse to get there. A few levels actually require EXACT precision in certain spots otherwise you’re probably going to die. In fact, some of those spots look to be impossible to pass through when you come across them, until you realize that there isn’t any other way to the end of the level. Add to the fact that the levels are timed, so you can’t exactly take your sweet time figuring things out, and you’ve got a very challenging game if you intend to try to see it through to the end. Still, until it gets frustratingly difficult, Nosferatu is a mostly enjoyable game that is worth giving a chance, especially if you wanted a twist on the Prince of Persia formula and have it take place within more dark and twisted scenery. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/02/2019 Rage Racer Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date December 3, 1996 (JP) Developer Namco Genre Racing My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.66/100 The third Ridge Racer game, Rage Racer, was the best of the bunch...until a few years later when R4 came out, that is. Pretty much everything from the graphics to the controls are tweaked a bit from the previous two releases to make this a pretty enjoyable overall experience, and in my opinion, it made this the best racing game on the Playstation up until this game’s release. Building on this game’s foundation, Ridge Racer Type 4 became one of the greatest racing games ever made. If you want to experience one of the lesser-talked-about roots of the Ridge Racer series or just want to play a solid racing game, Rage Racer is a good choice for Playstation owners. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/17/2020 Super Fire Pro Wrestling 2 Platform Super NES Initial Release Date December 25, 1992 (JP) Developer Human Entertainment Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.10/100 While not celebrated in the same fashion as it is here in the West, Christmas of 1992 was a glorious Christmas day for the wrestling fans of Japan, for that was the day that Super Fire Pro Wrestling 2 appeared on store shelves. An improvement on the first Super Fire Pro Wrestling game in nearly every way, SFPW 2 was a big step towards the Fire Pro franchise being the professional wrestling game juggernaut that it eventually became. With a new roster of wrestlers, new dream matches were possible – I still kinda mark out about the possibility of seeing Terry Gordy and Steve Williams battle Big Van Vader and Bam Bam Bigelow in a hard-hitting tag match. While the series still hadn’t reached its full potential yet, the second of the Super Fire Pro games showed that the potential was definitely there and they were creeping towards it. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/09/2022 Lumines: Electronic Symphony Platform Sony Playstation Vita Initial Release Date February 15, 2012 (NA) Developer Q Entertainment Genre Puzzle My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.68/100 The Lumines that folks fell in love with on the PSP came back in fine form on the Vita as Lumines: Electronic Symphony. In addition to the addicting puzzle gameplay, the Vita also supplies you with some really stunning visuals, making this a game that's almost as fun to watch as it is to play. If you play it with a Playstation TV (am I the only one that bought one of those?), you really can display it so others can watch and listen as you play, too. The only real downside that I found in this game is that it seems to lack enough content to keep Lumines veterans coming back for more. If you've already had your fill of the original Lumines, Electronic Symphony probably won't push you to want to play more….But for Lumines fanatics who can never get enough, and for folks new to the Lumines franchise, Electronic Symphony is still a very good game and well worth tracking down if you're got a Playstation Vita (or Playstation TV - cheap plug for it….even though it's been discontinued for years now) and would like a very good puzzle game to pass the time on an airplane, at a bus stop, or on the can. Played on: Playstation Vita Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/02/2019 The King of Fighters '94 Platform Neo Geo Initial Release Date October 1, 1994 (NA/JP) Developer SNK Genre Fighting My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.27/100 Street Fighter II was an absolute masterpiece that was such a success that several other companies attempted to get in on the fighting game fad. One of the most successful fighting game franchises to spawn during that time was the King of Fighters, and it all started here. Unlike most fighting games that were simply 1-on-1 affairs with the goal to win 2 out of 3 rounds, King of Fighters ’94 provided a different take on the genre – 3-on-3 teams with no rounds, but instead the goal is to eliminate each member of the opposing team. Once all members of a team have been eliminated in 1-on-1 fights, you advance to the next round. While not quite as smooth as fluid as Capcom’s flagship fighter, King of Fighters ’94 was still an amazing fighting game for its time. Played on: Neo-Geo Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/03/2019 NFL 2K Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date September 9, 1999 (NA) Developer Visual Concepts Genre Sports - Football My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.75/100 NFL 2K was a Dreamcast launch title that immediately made it clear to football fanatic Sega fans that Madden wasn't needed on this system. In fact, NFL 2K, in my opinion, was a Madden killer of sorts. I've never been a big football guy, but I was genuinely hooked on NFL 2K, something that I can't say about any Madden title after the series went 3D. NFL 2K let every Dreamcast owner know that while they weren't going to get any Madden games, Sega was going to do their best to make sure that they got something better instead. They definitely delivered with this release. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/03/2019 Virtua Fighter 3tb Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date November 27, 1998 (JP) Developer Genki Genre Fighting My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 73.94/100 I was never a huge fan of the first Virtua Fighter....then I fell in love with Virtua Fighter 2....then Virtua Fighter 3tb came out...and I had to wait until Virtua fighter 4 came out to fall back in love with the series again. Virtua Fighter 3tb isn't necessarily a bad game by any means...but aside from nicer graphics and a "Team Mode" added ("tb" stands for team battle, for those wondering) there's not much new here to get excited about...especially since the inclusion of an "evade" button and modified jumping physics seemingly took away from the action instead of adding to it. If you're a fan of the series, Virtua Fighter 3tb is still worth checking out...But with better fighting games on the Dreamcast, it's easy to see why this game is often forgotten about. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/03/2019 Dance Dance Revolution: Club Version - Dreamcast Edition Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date April 27, 2000 (JP) Developer Konami Genre Music My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 75.0/100 I like the Dance Dance Revolution games. Always have, and this one has one of the longer names in the franchise...Dance Dance Revolution: Club Version - Dreamcast Edition. Anyway, like I said, I enjoy DDR games in general, and while I also enjoyed this game, it felt very lacking in comparison to some other games in the series. Basically, you've got a set number of songs to "dance" to, and then you can also play with the alternate versions...but there isn't much else....at least not that I could find. The end result is a decent DDR game, but if you had your fill with any other game in the series, there's absolutely nothing here that would bring you back for more. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/05/2021 Marvel Ultimate Alliance Platform Xbox 360 Initial Release Date October 24, 2006 (NA) Developer Raven Software Genre Brawler My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.92/100 Marvel Ultimate Alliance was the first game that I owned when I purchased a Playstation 3, but I spent more time playing it on the Xbox 360 than I did on PS3, oddly enough. Marvel Ultimate Alliance is an action RPG/brawler that kind of reminds me of Gauntlet…but with superheroes and super powers. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, mind you…but it also makes the game feel very repetitive when you play solo. If you’re a comic book fanatic, then you’ll probably love this game way more than I did, since you’ll see plenty of heroes and villains from the Marvel Universe. You’re also free to make your ultimate team of your favorite characters…or your “ultimate alliance,” so to speak. If you just wanna play as the Fantastic Four, you can do that. If you wanna make a team of Storm, Deadpool, Spider-Man, and Thing, you can do that as well. Ultimate Alliance isn’t exactly the ultimate comic book game, but it’s still a neat little brawler that’s pretty entertaining if you were kind of into comic books as a kid, and that entertainment is likely enhanced if you still are into them today. Played on: Xbox 360, Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/19/2023 FIFA 22 Platform Sony Playstation 5 Initial Release Date September 27, 2021 (W) Developer EA Canada Genre Sports - Soccer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 70.80/100 I really do not follow soccer at all. I played a little in high school - I was quite the goalie back in my day - but aside from that, and games like FIFA 22, my soccer knowledge is very, very limited. That said, I did enjoy my time with FIFA 22. The gameplay is fantastic. It's easy to make your way around the field and do whatever you want to do like pass, shoot, etc. The AI is also quite good, I didn't feel like the computer-controlled teams were so easy that I would guarantee wins against them, but I also didn't feel like they would destroy me, either. I'm not sure if I'm just not great at soccer games or what, but the difficulty felt like it was on par with my skills - a game could go either way, and that's when I have fun with sports games. I didn't mess around with too many different modes in FIFA 22 - most of my time was playing single games or playing in the career mode, but I did enjoy the time I spent in career mode. I was a little surprised by the user reviews on Metacritic when I was calculating the average score for this game - as of this writing, it was 3.0 out of 10. I, personally, found this to be a really well-made sports game…but as I said, I'm not a soccer/football fanatic. Maybe if you love that sport, you may have a different opinion on this game. If you're like me, though, and just pop in to play most sports game franchises every few years, you may find something to like here like I did. Played on: Playstation 5 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/25/2019 Dead or Alive: Xtreme Beach Volleyball Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date January 22, 2003 (NA) Developer Team Ninja Genre Sports - Volleyball My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 73.49/100 The original Dead or Alive: Xtreme Beach Volleyball is definitely a game made for the perverted...But it's also a decent game for folks just looking for something different to play. At first glance, it just seems like a volleyball game full of scantily-clad, full-chested lady folk...And a large portion of the game is that, but all the little extra things in the game to experience from exploring Zack's Island help make this a game that you might play out of curiosity, into one that you just spent a few hours playing without any intention of doing so. In particular, I had quite a bit of fun winning most of my fortune in the casino (who needs to play volleyball, anyway?) and the minigames aren’t too shabby, either. The game is definitely aimed at pervos, but there's enough good quality here to make it worth a look for people simply looking for a solid, different game, too. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/19/2019 F-Zero: Maximum Velocity Platform Nintendo Game Boy Advance Initial Release Date March 21, 2001 (JP) Developer Nd Cube Genre Racing My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.15/100 If you liked the original F-Zero on the Super NES, then you'll feel right at home with Maximum Velocity. Some folks may need to get used to how the game controls a bit, as the vehicles do slide around a little, but once you get the hang of when to let off the gas, hit the brakes, etc. you'll be having a blast with this futuristic racer. With a few secret cars to unlock, the game also provides some replay value to keep you coming back for more. This is a solid racing title not just for the Game Boy Advance, but it stands up well against most racing games from any 16-bit console as well. The only real downside is that the original is better in nearly every way. Played on: Game Boy Advance Also known as: F-Zero (Japan)

Date added: 09/23/2019 Love Love Truck Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date June 24, 1999 (JP) Developer TYO Genre Action My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 70.90/100 When I bought Love Love Truck, I knew absolutely nothing about it...as ridiculous as it sounds, I just liked the box art. That box art mixed with the title of the game - I knew it had to be something weird. I like weird games. Love Love Truck is everything I hoped it would be - and it's the kind of Japanese game that I like...so weird that it would have never been released in North America. Basically, in Love Love Truck you pick two folks, one male and one female, and they get placed in a minecart. The minecart goes through five courses and during those five courses, it's up to you to grab items to make the pair fall in love. The pair I picked both liked food - the female, fruit (melons in particular) and the male, hamburgers. The fruit just needed to be picked up, but the burgers needed to be assembled, but in a correct order...so it's more than simply grabbing everything you can. Aside from picking up stuff, you also need to make fast choices to go left or right as well as avoid obstacles. Overall, it's actually a pretty well-made, but short game. I'm glad I have it in my library, but unless you like bizarre games as much as I do, you may not be as enthralled with it as I am. It took me roughly 45 minutes to beat the game with one “couple”, so after that, most folks will probably be done. But, if you're interested in playing a weird, obscure Playstation One title, Love Love Truck fits that description. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/16/2020 Daytona USA Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date April 1, 1995 (JP) Developer Sega AM2 Genre Racing My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 74.67/100 While not awful, Sega’s first attempt to port the arcade classic Daytona USA to the Saturn had plenty of flaws and missing features – pop ups and glitching, a slow frame rate, and no multiplayer options. Another complaint that it was a pure port without anything added to it to give it replayability in a household setting…I guess the “Saturn Mode” would be that, but it’s essentially Arcade Mode, but you’re driving a car with a slightly different paint job. That said, Daytona USA is still very playable. If you want the basic gameplay of the arcade original and some cheesy vocals to go along with your music, but don’t mind dealing with the flaws and missing features, then Daytona USA is a solid racer to go with. Played on: Saturn Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/01/2018 Illusion of Gaia Platform Super NES Initial Release Date November 21, 1990 (JP) Developer Quintet Genre Adventure My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 75.80/100 I just recently played through Illusion of Gaia for the first time...and I'm not nearly as enthralled with it as some people are. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my time with it for the most part...but that's about it. When I beat the game, I didn't have the urge to play it again and I wasn't thinking about how cool the story was....I was just content to move on to something else. That said, Illusion of Gaia is still a good game...it mixes top-down, Legend of Zelda-style hack and slash, with aspects of an RPG and some interesting puzzles along the way. The game does have some personality to it as well, which is where I'm guessing much of the love comes from...as well as some humor that, at times, can get kind of dark and twisted. While I may not be a huge fan, I cannot deny that this is a well-made game for its time and I can understand why so many folks love it...I just can't be placed in that category with them. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Gaia Gensouki (Japan), Illusion of Time (Europe)

Date added: 09/05/2024 Last Bronx Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date August 1, 1997 (JP) Developer Sega Genre Fighting My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 79.23/100 I saw someone online claim that Last Bronx was Sega's version of SoulCalibur…not to be mean, but I believe the person who stated that may not have graduated the D.A.R.E. program at their grade school as a young'un. Last Bronx is not a bad fighting game at all, but it's no SoulCalibur…and until that comment was made, I never even considered the two games to really be alike in any way. I guess because like in SoulCalibur, the fighters in this game have weapons? I have no idea. But anyway, Last Bronx plays more like other Sega fighting games, like Fighting Vipers, though one could argue that visually, it may be the most stunning of the bunch…minus the clipping/blinking that happens fairly often. The story of the game revolves around rival gangs in Tokyo…and the characters that you brawl as may make you believe that the gangs in Tokyo are similar to the gangs found in the movie The Warriors. Anyway, once the fighting begins, you're given a decent, but not overly great, fighting game. I, personally, would pick Fighting Vipers or Virtua Fighter 2 over Last Bronx, but if you're a fighting fan and have an opportunity to play Last Bronx, I'd definitely recommend giving it a try - it's still good fun for what it is. Played on: Saturn Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/24/2022 Siren Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date November 6, 2003 (JP) Developer SCE Japan Studio Genre Adventure My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 74.41/100 Siren was a pretty unique game when it was initially released…and honestly, I'll still say that it's pretty unique roughly twenty years later. Rather than simply controlling one character, or even two during the course of the game, in Siren, you control ten different characters throughout the game's story…a story that jumps all over the place, honestly. It's an artistic way to tell the story, and it's effective in only letting the players see certain aspects of the story at a time…but it can also make things a bit confusing. If all of these inter-twining stories were presented in chronological order, it's already a lot to keep track of…but with the story segments bouncing around and the time of the stories also bouncing around, you can get lost. Granted, once you've beaten the game, it will all make better sense, and what doesn't make sense can be cleared up a bit by going through the chapter selection screen and replaying levels, sometimes to open up another branch in the story. The gameplay here is pretty basic, but not bad. The goal, like most survival horror games, is to try to avoid combat whenever possible. You'll be able to use psychic powers to see the world around you through the eyes of others, tuning into each character almost like tuning into a radio station with a dial. This helps you figure out where enemies are, as well as paths that they walk, allowing you to either avoid that area altogether or get good timing to pass through without being spotted. When combat does occur, it's not great, but it works. I don't know if Siren will be for everyone, but I enjoyed my time playing it. I think if you're a fan of horror games that require stealth, you'll likely find Siren to be pretty enjoyable, too. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: Forbidden Siren (EU/AU)

Date added: 05/05/2019 Ice Climber Platform NES Initial Release Date January 30, 1985 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 70.39/100 Ice Climber wasn't all that well known until both the male and female Ice Climber from the game appeared as playable characters in Super Smash Bros. Melee on the Gamecube. And while this isn't the greatest game ever made by any stretch, it's still good and deserving of the attention it received after Melee gave it a little boost in popularity. If you've never played it, basically, you just hop your way upwards, breaking ice and either avoiding or attacking enemies along the way...The you reach a bonus round where you collect a bunch of vegetables. Climbing ice for vegetables – makes sense. It was a solid concept for a solid game. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/30/2020 DuckTales: Remastered Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date August 13, 2013 (NA) Developer WayForward Genre Platformer My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 77.09/100 I adore the original NES Duck Tales, so when this remake was first announced, I was running around screaming for joy like some sort of crazed maniac that had one too many Red Bulls. This isn't an exact port of the NES game, but an "enhanced" version, so to speak. There are cut scenes, and due to the story, some aspects of the NES original are ignored and replaced with new stuff in this game. There's also a new level to open the game and a new level at the end of the game that replaces the return to Transylvania. My main complaint is that when they re-designed the levels and added new tasks, they took away what made the original level design great. The Amazon had a branching path and you could take either way to get to the end - in this version, you've got to go through both paths before you can advance on. These additions will be minor to most people, but they bothered me. It's also worth noting that the controls aren't up to par, either...They just don't feel as tight as they should be. But for what it is, it's a quality remake and the length of the game (maybe around 2 1/2 to 3 hours) is much longer than the 20 minutes or so that the NES original takes to beat...So, while the controls aren't quite on par and the re-designed levels take away some of the magic of the original, the enhanced graphics, extra levels, added story, and remixed soundtrack all make this a worthwhile game to play for both fans of the original NES game and folks who have never played the 8-bit classic as well. Played on: Playstation 3, PC, Wii U Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/27/2021 3 Count Bout Platform Neo Geo Initial Release Date April 23, 1993 (JP) Developer SNK Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 72.03/100 3 Count Bout is an entertaining, but ridiculously difficult arcade-style wrestling game. SNK clearly wanted arcade visitors to keep popping those quarters in this machine. The game is probably best described as SNK’s Fatal Fury fighting games mixed with the button-mashing grappling of the 16-bit WWF games. I don’t say this very often, but 3 Count Bout is the style of game where it’s more difficult to play with a controller than it is to play with an old-fashioned arcade joystick. With all of the button mashing, I found that if I try to play this with a controller, I simply cannot win grapples in the later levels. When I happen to play this at my local arcade, however, I find myself able to get much farther. If you can get past the difficulty, this game is much more than simply competing in the ring. After you win your first match, you’ll find yourself in a parking garage in a Last Man Standing brawl, where the goal is to use various weapons (including the poor owner of one of the cars being destroyed during the match) to keep your opponent down for a 10 count. With how varied and interesting the gameplay, presentation, and wrestlers are, if you’re a fan of professional wrestling, and can deal with the difficulty found here, you’ll be rewarded with a unique, enjoyable experience. Played on: Neo-Geo Also known as: Fire Suplex (Japan)

Date added: 03/21/2021 Kessen Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date MArch 4, 2000 (JP) Developer KOEI Genre Strategy My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.48/100 Kessen could probably be called a cinematic strategy game since half of the fun of playing the game is giving orders, then changing the cameras so that you can watch the battles unfold. Depending on if you’re alright with being a spectator through much of the fight, giving orders when needed, or not will likely be what will make or break this game for you. If you want to be more hands-on controlling the action, then you’ll likely get frustrated with the lack of opportunities to do so. Kessen isn’t a perfect game by any means, and the length of some battles may not be for everyone, but if the idea of participating in giant battles based on historical events take place sounds neat to you, give Kessen a try. Later games in the series improve on the formula found here, but for what it is, the original Kessen isn't too shabby. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/25/2020 Phantasmagoria Platform PC Initial Release Date July 31, 1995 (NA) Developer Sierra Entertainment Genre Adventure My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 70.41/100 Phantasmagoria is a game that I had heard about but never played prior to adding it to this list. Now that I’ve played through it from beginning to end, I guess I understand what all the hubbub was about. While the vast majority of the game is absolutely harmless, the intro movie shows a scene with the married couple that the story revolves around having a romantic time in bed. Nothing graphic, but enough to get noticed. About halfway in, there’s what I think is supposed to be a rape scene…but it more looks like the husband having a stroke, with both folks fully clothed, than anything else. In the final chapter, there’s some pretty graphic scenes of violence…like b-movie, over-the-top, cheesy horror film gore. I can’t imagine too many parents would be thrilled to see their child witness a swinging guillotine slice through the head of someone. But anyway, take the controversial aspects away, and what you have is a solid point-and-click adventure game. It’s a good game on its own, but if it didn’t have the controversy surrounding it, I’m not sure if it’s a game that people would still be talking about a quarter of a century after its initial release. Played on: PC Also known as: Roberta Williams' Phantasmagoria, Phantasm (Saturn - Japan)

Date added: 10/10/2020 Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date March 22, 1996 (NA) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 72.67/100 Darkstalkers was a decent fighting game brought to you by the company that dominated the 2D fighting market – Capcom. The game is like your standard fighting game with a roster of characters that battle it out, leading up to the final fight against a powerful boss. The thing that made Darkstalkers stand out was that its roster was entirely made up of various monsters…from a mummy, a werewolf, a sasquatch, vampires…pretty much any type of popular monster can be found represented here. Once the action starts, it plays like most 2D Capcom fighters – nice and smooth. The only thing really holding Darkstalkers back is a lack of modes…though, in fairness, when this game was released, most fighting games only consisted of an arcade mode and a versus mode, so Darkstalkers is pretty much par for the course of the time. If you like Capcom’s 2D fighting games, but want to brawl as a cat lady or a sea creature instead of a martial artist, then you may enjoy your time with Darkstalkers. If you’ve played Street Fighter II and that didn’t convert you into a fan of fighting games, then Darkstalkers probably won’t convert you either. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Vampire: The Night Warriors (Japan)

Date added: 07/09/2019 Mario Party Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date December 18, 1998 (JP) Developer Hudson Genre Board My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.66/100 The original Mario Party was a genuinely fun and enjoyable experience that mixed a board game with various mini-games to make this an absolute blast to play with a few friends. Sure, Nintendo has since flooded their consoles with waaaaaay too many Mario Party games, but honestly, that flood would never have happened if this original wasn't as fun as it is. If you haven't played it, gather up some friends and give it a try. You’ll likely be glad you invited them to this party. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/29/2021 Madballs in...Babo: Invasion Platform PC Initial Release Date September 17, 2009 (NA) Developer Playbrains Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.20/100 When I was a kid, I absolutely loved Madballs. I only had two (the mummy and the baseball) but I always enjoyed them enough where I wanted them all. About a decade or so ago, Madballs made a comeback with the toys returning to store shelves. Around that time, this game was released. I bought it simply because of the nostalgic factor of Madballs being a toy that I enjoyed, but I put off playing it because I was afraid that it wouldn’t be very good – a lot of licensed games aren’t. After finally sitting down and playing it, I can honestly say that Madballs in…Babo: Invasion is not a bad game at all. It feels kind of like a combination of twin-stick shooter and Marble Madness – shooting at enemies while rolling around the levels. It’s not a contender for greatest game of all-time or anything, but it’s a solid choice if you’re looking for a decent game to pass the time every now and then. I know that I’ll be returning to it as time goes on. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/28/2019 NFL Fever 2002 Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date November 14, 2001 (NA) Developer Microsoft Game Studios Genre Sports - Football My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 78.97/100 While not as popular as Madden, I enjoyed NFL Fever quite a bit more than Madden…but not as much as the NFL 2K games. NFL Fever is a bit more simplistic, and seems to be a bit more forgiving in terms of interceptions that can make some other football games frustrating to play. Keep in mind, I am not a football fan and I don’t play a ton of games from the sport, so maybe there are plenty of football games with a forgiving interception rate and I just haven’t played them…that said, I still found this to be a fairly enjoyable experience. Anyway, while this isn’t a mind-blowingly great game, it’s still a solid one and well worth checking out if you’re a fan of the sport and own an Xbox. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/29/2020 Kool-Aid Man Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer Mattel Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 77.91/100 Kool-Aid Man is a game where you play as an actual pitcher of Kool-Aid…I think. This pitcher is jealous of the pool of Kool-Aid beneath it because despite the fact that it’s a pitcher, everyone wants to pull out straws and drink from the pool instead…I think because they’re a cult, so they have to drink the Kool-Aid together. Anyway, as an angry Kool-Aid pitcher, your job is to attack the folks (the Thirsties) with straws. If you touch anyone before their straw is out, though, you get juggled around like a pinball…unless you can pick up a power-up, in which case you transform from a plain ol’ pitcher to Kool-Aid Man for a few seconds. While you can’t burst through walls in this form, you don’t have to worry about being juggled all over the screen. All in all, Kool-Aid Man really wasn’t a bad game for its time and it can be mildly enjoyable today if you’re a fan of old arcade-style gameplay. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/16/2020 The House of the Dead Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date March 26, 1998 (JP) Developer Tantalus Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 74.36/100 The original House of the Dead was a big hit in arcades, and the Saturn version is just as fun. Unlike some other of their arcade ports for the Saturn (see Daytona USA) the arcade version of House of the Dead does not equate to lack of replayability at home. In fact, with various paths to discover and traverse through, there’s a good chance that your journey to the final boss won’t be exactly the same each time. If you’re a fan of the game, like I am, those various paths may be enough of a reason to experiment with your playthroughs so you can experience everything that this game has to offer. The game is very playable with a controller, but unless you’ve got where every enemy is going to be memorized, moving the cursor to your target is sometimes all the time that the enemies on screen need to deal out damage. A light gun, assuming that you have good aim, is definitely the better option. While not a perfect arcade port by any means, this is still a solid attempt to bring House of the Dead home…and unless you own the arcade cabinet or happen to know where one is accessible, it’s probably your best option for playing this game. Played on: Saturn Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/12/2019 F1 Race Platform NES Initial Release Date November 2, 1984 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Racing My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 71.36/100 The first racing game on the Famicom/Nintendo Entertainment System, beating Excitebike by 28 days, was F1 Race. The title is a little misleading because while the game has cars modeled after vehicles that you’d see in an F1 race, the gameplay is a bit different. Rather than place first…or in the top three...or in the top ten, your goal is to simply make it to the finish line before the timer runs out. The catch? Your vehicle is the flimsiest hunk o’ junk in the race. One bump into another car and you (and only you) explode. A little extreme, isn’t it? But anyway, this is still a decent racing game, despite it not quite being what you might expect…then again, sometimes not getting what you expect can be a pleasant surprise. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/28/2019 Star Fox Platform Super NES Initial Release Date February 21, 1993 (JP) Developer Argonaut Games Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 78.65/100 While nowhere as good as Star Fox 64 or other rail shooters like Panzer Dragoon, Star Fox is still worth playing for the fact that this 3D gameplay, as crude as it is, is playing on the 16-bit Super NES at a time where most home console games were 2D. While everything looks blocky and basic today, this was incredible for its time. Unfortunately, the gameplay wasn't quite as amazing as the 3D effects. While still a solid game, most people these days, especially youngsters used to fancy, life-like graphics, probably won't find much here to appeal to them. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Starwing (Europe)

Date added: 05/12/2019 Donkey Kong Jr. Math Platform NES Initial Release Date December 12, 1983 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer - Education My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 62.1/100 I’ve never understood the hate for Donkey Kong Jr. Math. Yes, it’s an educational game. That aside, this is actually pretty fun. Playing against a friend in a frantic race to solve math problems can be a fun party game…yes, solving math problems can actually lead to fun with friends when presented as a platformer where you climb vines to get to the numbers you want. If you give it a chance, that is. The bulk of enjoyment comes from the head-to-head battles against another human being – there’s no human vs. computer option, unfortunately. The last mode is various exercises in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. If this mode was the entire game, I’d understand the low scores a little more…it’s a glorified math quiz. The main mode, however, does require some skill along with quick thinking to make it pretty enjoyable. I may be in the minority with my favorable score, but I still believe that DK Jr. Math is one of the greatest educational games ever created. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/15/2024 Mortal Kombat 3 Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date October 13, 1995 (NA) Developer Sculptured Software Genre Fighting My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.41/100 To many people, the second Mortal Kombat was the peak of the franchise. Mortal Kombat 3 wasn't too shabby, either, but for every improvement, it feels like they took a step back in another area. The cast of characters is larger and a new combo system was introduced, but aside from the combo system, it doesn't feel like the gameplay was tweaked very much….and while the cast of characters is larger, the developers decided, for some reason, to not include one of the most popular characters in the franchise, Scorpion, as a playable character. I've actually seen people loathe this game purely based on that fact that Scorpion isn't here….which I find absolutely ridiculous, but I can also say that I find the decision to leave him out to be very puzzling. Anyway, to me, Mortal Kombat 3 just feels like a continuation of Mortal Kombat II…no real drastic changes in gameplay to really make it any better or worse than the previous game. So, unless you just want to perform fatalities with a few new characters, you may find this game fairly dull if you've already gotten sick of Mortal Kombat II. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/29/2023 World Series Baseball Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date 1995 (NA) Developer Sega Genre Sports - Baseball My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.68/100 While World Series Baseball seems pretty primitive when compared to a game like MLB: The Show today, it wasn't bad at all for its time. The gameplay was solid, and I remember as a kid, wishing I had a Saturn for no reason other than being able to play the Home Run Derby on this game. I remember visiting a friend's house and all we did was play the Home Run Derby. It was a fun novelty as a kid. Outside of the Home Run Derby, though, World Series Baseball is just a basic baseball game. With only four different stadiums to play in, you'll likely be disappointed if your home-team's stadium isn't one of the four included. Also, graphically, World Series Baseball is a little rough around the edges. Still, if you grew up in the 80's and 90's, and want to play a decent baseball game loaded with names that you likely remember from the past, then World Series Baseball is a good pick. It's not the best baseball game of its era, but it's the first in a very solid trilogy of baseball games for the Saturn, laying the groundwork for better games to follow. Played on: Saturn Also known as: Hideo Nomo World Series Baseball (Japan)

Date added: 10/03/2022 Layers of Fear Platform Playstation 4 Initial Release Date Februrary 16, 2016 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Bloober Team Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 75.79/100 Layers of Fear is basically a haunted house simulator. There are some puzzles to be solved, sure, but most of the game just involves the player following a path while the game attempts to scare you during your travel. I guess you could classify it as a haunted house walking simulator. This game is more about the story told and the atmosphere created than any real sort of action that you'd traditionally see in a horror game. While I find it fun to take my time in most games and search through every nook and cranny, I can easily see why some people may not enjoy their time in Layers of Fear if they were expecting something a little more action-packed. While I like Layers of Fear, it definitely isn't perfect. My biggest complaint is that the size of an area to trigger the icon to pick up or interact with items is sometimes ridiculously small...Aside from that annoyance, though, Layers of Fear was enjoyable enough where did return and walk through the house a few times since. Layers of Fear isn't for everyone, but I think that most folks that play it will find something to like here. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/06/2020 Street Fighter V: Champion Edition Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date February 14, 2020 (W) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 77.08/100 Street Fighter V: Champion Edition is fun…when you’re not forced to sit through “Supported by” ads between every dang fight in arcade mode. Seriously. I paid for this game, why are these on by default? Yes, you can turn them off, but it’s still annoying that when you initially play the game, you’re bombarded with ads between EVERY fight. Ads aside, the game is fun, especially for longtime fans of the series, with the arcade mode split up into six different variations – each one based on a different version of the series – Street Fighter I-V and Alpha. There are also plenty of story modes, including short stories for each character as well as one, long story featuring most of the characters in the game. The game also seems to focus heavily on online battles, but thankfully for people like me, there are plenty of offline options to keep you brawling for hours upon hours. It’s not the best in the Street Fighter series, but it’s a solid entry than fans of the franchise will likely enjoy. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/27/2019 Pepsi Invaders Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer Atari Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 76.3/100 Pepsi Invaders (or "Coke Wins!" in some circles) is essentially just Space Invaders reprogrammed. The only major difference, aside from the visual aspect, is that Space Invaders had gameplay with limited lives, but unlimited time to play. Pepsi Invaders goes the opposite route, as you've got unlimited lives, but you're limited to a three-minute time limit...Which, I think helps the game rather than hurts it, as you're frantically trying to beat the score you got in the previous three-minute run. Copies today can go for over $2,000 USD, as they are very rare and were only released at an 1983 sales convention where 125 CocaCola sales executives were given a copy. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: Coke Wins!

Date added: 10/12/2020 Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle Platform PC Initial Release Date April 12, 2018 (NA) Developer Blue Wizard Digital Genre Puzzle My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 76.76/100 Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle is an interesting puzzle game that mixes the violence of the Friday the 13th movies with cutesy graphics and strategic, puzzle-based gameplay. Basically, you control Jason Vorhees, while the decapitated head of Pamela Vorhees instructs you to eliminate campers, prison inmates, cruise ship guests, or an assortment of other victims. The controls are simple – use the arrow keys to move up, down, left, or right on each stage. When you move, you continue to move until you hit a wall or object on the stage…or, of course, when you need to stab someone in the throat with a frozen fish. Killer Puzzle is actually pretty well done, the cutsey graphics are charming, and make the extreme violence seem comical. It’s free to play on most platforms, but it’s done well enough where it’s worth paying for if there is no free-to-play option. I’ve put most of my time into the Steam version, but I also put a little time into the Android version and either way, you’ve got a solid puzzle game – especially if you’re looking for a way to exercise your brain during the Halloween season. Played on: PC, Android Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/20/2019 Rad Racer Platform NES Initial Release Date August 7, 1987 (JP) Developer Squaresoft Genre Racing My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.38/100 Ever since I was little, I've always been a fan of Rad Racer. In fact, I've always been partial to racing games like this and OutRun, where you have to reach your goal in a certain time limit while dodging traffic, and Rad Racer was my first introduction to this style of game. To this day, I enjoy popping this in for a few minutes when I'm bored, as it's a good way to kill a small block of time. As a bonus, if you’ve got a pair of 3D glasses handy, you can also hit the Select button and the game’s display will switch allowing you to enjoy this racing title in three dimensions. Talk about a rad racing game, eh? Played on: NES Also known as: Highway Star (Japan)

Date added: 08/29/2019 Mario Kart 64 Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date December 14, 1996 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Racing My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 83.08/100 I like Mario Kart 64, but I feel that it's definitely my least favorite game in the franchise. I don’t even have to hesitate to say that, either. In my eyes, it lacked the charm of the original, and many of the courses that you race on just feel bland in comparison to other games in the series both before and after its release. That's not to say that this is a bad game - it's a very good, solid racing game - it' just happens to be my least favorite in the series...and looking at the quality of the other Mario Kart games, that's nothing to be ashamed of. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/16/2022 Pizza Pop! Platform NES Initial Release Date January 7, 1992 (JP) Developer Arc System Works Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.80/100 When I first popped Pizza Pop! in, I wasn't really sure what to expect. It wound up being a nice, short platformer that I'm glad I took a few minutes to play through. The goal in Pizza Pop! is that you've taken a pizza delivery job to save up money to buy your galfriend a ring. Each level, you platform your way to the end of the stage to deliver your pizza, where a boss is waiting to try to take it away from you. The bosses are all unique and fun to battle, though I will admit, I lost a few lives to the timer before a light bulb finally turned on in my head and I realized how to defeat the final boss. Thankfully, this isn't too difficult of a game, so I had enough lives stockpiled to be able to sacrifice a few. Aside from the boss fights, the platforming itself is fairly basic. If this was a longer game (it took me roughly 30 minutes to beat) it may be too basic, but since the game doesn't last too long, you're not hopping through levels long enough for it to feel too repetitive before the credits roll. If you like platformers, then give Pizza Pop! a try. It's not the best, most innovative platformer ever made, but it's fun for what it is. When you're playing a game, that's really the important part, isn't it? Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/15/2020 Costume Quest 2 Platform PC Initial Release Date October 7, 2014 (NA) Developer Double Fine Productions Genre RPG My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.16/100 I was a huge fan of the original Costume Quest and had been hoping for a sequel ever since playing the first game. And after that sequel was made, I can say that while I like Costume Quest 2, the original just had more charm to it...And more difficulty. You don't heal after battles in Costume Quest 2 - you have to do minor backtracking to a healing fountain...And yet, this game is still much, much easier than the original...but, it's not a bad game by any means...it's just not quite as good as the original was, in my opinion. If you were a fan of the original, you'll probably still enjoy this like I did...If you didn't like the original, you probably won't be a big fan of the second game in the series, either. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/30/2022 Tetris Effect Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date November 9, 2018 (W) Developer Enhance Games Genre Puzzle My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.36/100 My initial thought when playing the Journey mode of Tetris Effect was, "Well, this is an artistic look for Tetris…but it mostly plays the same as the original." After a few levels into Journey mode, I then thought, "This feels like Lumines, but with Tetris…and it's not as good." I suppose I should explain that. If I put regular ol' Tetris up against Lumines, I'd probably pick Tetris every time. However, in Tetris Effect, the music, the background, and even the way the puzzle pieces look all change as you play and advance on, similar to Lumines. While it's a nice novelty at first, I found that I was not a fan of much of the music…Call me an old fogey, but I wanted to call the developers on the phone and tell them to turn that dang racket down. I'm sure some folks will like the tunes, but a lot of them definitely weren't for me. Tetris Effect also stole the idea of backgrounds and puzzle block appearances changing like they do in Lumines…which is fine, but the issue is that the developers of Tetris Effect saw that it was a neat visual, but didn't seem to understand how to pull it off here - there are times where the background and the color/shape of the puzzle blocks blend in together so well that you've got absolutely no idea where anything is, which can lead to frustrating mistakes. Anyway, if you like Tetris and want to play it with fancier graphics, and even in VR, then even with its flaws, you'll enjoy Tetris Effect. If you're content just playing the original Tetris and don't need any of the fancy bells and whistles, then you probably find a whole lot here to make you want to give it a try. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/02/2019 Echo Night Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date August 13, 1998 (NA) Developer From Software Genre Adventure My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 71.84/100 Echo Night is kind of a point-and-click adventure, but with the ability to walk around freely...Imagine a first-person style of gameplay found in the Telltale Walking Dead games, and you've kind of got it. The downside to the game is how it controls...After playing through from beginning to end, I still felt uncomfortable with how to look up and down, a necessary aspect of the game. On top of that, the story, while interesting and different, is not particularly good. It kind of feels like a B-movie, which I love, but others may groan when playing. As far as horror goes, you spend most of the game on a haunted cruise ship, turning lights on as you enter each hallway or room, since bad ghosts avoid the light (but good ghosts have no problem in it, I guess). It's really not very scary, though sometimes you will find yourself frantically looking for a light switch or an exit to the room that you're in to prevent yourself from being murdered by a malicious ghost that appears. Overall, Echo Night is a decent game - not great, but far from bad. If you're a fan of point-and-click adventure games or games with a horror theme to them, I'd definitely recommend that you check this out. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/19/2019 The Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle Platform NES Initial Release Date August 1989 (NA) Developer Kemco Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 73.93/100 Maybe it’s because I wanted a Looney Tunes platformer (which I eventually got with Bugs Bunny Birthday Blowout) but I never liked Crazy Castle as a kid. This is a good example of my tastes changing over time, ‘cause I can see the good qualities of Crazy Castle now. The Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle is a game similar to several arcade games of years gone by, like Mappy, where the goal is to collect all of a specific item (carrots, here) while avoiding enemies along the way. The generic enemy to avoid is Sylvester, who has various color schemes. Eventually, other Looney Tunes favorites join the party like Wile E. Coyote, Yosemite Sam, and Donald Duck. Half of the fun is putting yourself in the shoes of Bugs Bunny and standing next to a safe, just waiting for a poor victim to walk underneath to push it onto. If you’re looking for a nice little action game that requires a little strategy, full of Looney Tunes characters, then The Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle is a decent game to pop in and play. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/21/2022 Frankenstein's Monster Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer Data Age Genre Platformer My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 73.93/100 For a game that doesn't seem to be well-known from the early days of video games, Frankenstein's Monster sure is quite impressive. It almost feels like a single-screen, horror-themed game of Pitfall, with climbing and jumping both being part of the formula, and while the gameplay itself isn't quite on par with Activision's fantastic platformer, Frankenstein's Monster is still solid fun in its own right. As odd as it sound, though, Frankenstein's Monster may be the first game where dying is almost as enjoyable as trying to survive. The reason being that if you fail as you play, Frankenstein's Monster may break loose and sprint towards the screen - an impressive technical feat for the time, though many younger folks may see it today and not think anything of it. If you decide to try to avoid the monster, then the goal is to grab a block at the end of the level then return up to the monster, where you'll switch to a second screen and have to avoid a swarm of green bats to reach the monster and place that block by him. You'll want to repeat this process until you've enclosed the monster in the blocks. There's a catch, though, you're on a time limit. If you're not fast enough, you'll see that monster break free and come towards the screen. Anyway, I'd highly recommend this game as a horror-themed title on the Atari 2600. It's not only one of the better horror games, it's one of the better games period. It's very well done. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/09/2022 The Legend of Dragoon Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date December 2, 1999 (JP) Developer SCE Japan Studio Genre RPG My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.53/100 When Legend of Dragoon was first released, I played through it from beginning to end and absolutely loved it. On my old website, I had given it a 9.5 out of 10. Yes, I liked it that much. Revisiting it for this list, my opinion of this game has dropped a bit, as I now consider it more of an 8.0 out of 10. Still a solid game overall, but nowhere near as great as I once thought it was. Legend of Dragoon, for those unaware, is a standard RPG with a fighting system that was pretty unique for its time - instead of simply picking the attack command and letting the animation execute it, you're supposed to hit timed button presses at certain intervals to increase the damage that you dish out, as well as learn new combos to unleash on enemies later on. I know some people really liked that aspect of the combat when it came out - I, however, was always someone that just wanted the item to equip on my characters that automatically executed the button presses so I could play the turn-based combat like a more traditional RPG. The item system is also pretty annoying. You've got 255 slots for equipment (which you almost certainly won't fill by the time the game is over) but only 32 slots for other items…like healing items or offensive items. You'll fill up those 32 slots very quickly and will probably spend the rest of the game annoyed that your item slots are full when attempting to open chests or collect items at the end of a battle. Along with those gripes, I also feel like the story doesn't really get interesting until the end of disc 3 or beginning of disc 4…and even then, it's not great. I absolutely loved this game 20 years ago…and this time playing through, I considered just moving onto something else by the end of disc 2. I still like this game for the most part, and I think if you're a fan of RPGs, you may enjoy it…but it's nowhere near as good as I thought it was back when it originally released. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/13/2021 Wreckfest Platform Sony Playstation 5 Initial Release Date June 1, 2021 (NA) Developer Bugbear Genre Racing My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 77.05/100 I have had my eye on Wreckfest for a long time - ever since it went up for early access on Steam. I liked how it looked like a spiritual successor to the Destruction Derby games that I enjoyed so much on the original Playstation. However, since I try not to spend a lot on digital games since they’re essentially an extended rental, and Wreckfest never went on a large enough of a sale for me to pull the trigger on purchasing it, I wound up waiting…until Sony made it free for Playstation Plus members on PS5…and then I got a PS5. Part of me wishes that I hadn’t waited, because this really does feel like the spiritual successor to Destruction Derby that I wanted. There are demolition derbies, various vehicle types to race and crash, and plenty of regular racing, but with a much rougher atmosphere than most racing games. I love carnage in racing games, and this has plenty of it. Wreckfest isn’t without its faults, though. Various races are locked, and it can be frustrating when you have to exit out, go to the shop, buy a vehicle, then go back…and sometimes find out that the car you bought, that you thought would get you in the race, still won’t let you in the race. An automated setting would be better…select the race and maybe a pop-up saying that you don’t have the correct vehicle in your garage and asking if you’d like to head to the store, taking you to the exact vehicle needed? Just a thought - it’d avoid all that menu backtracking and potential confusion. By and large, though, Wreckfest is a solid game for folks like me that love to break stuff when we race. The name says that it’s a festival of wrecks, afterall. Played on: Playstation 5 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2023 Puppet Master: The Game Platform PC Initial Release Date March 1, 2023 (NA) - Early Access Developer October Games Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 78.43/100 I'm a big fan of the Puppet Master movies. I own the majority of them on DVD, and I consider Puppet Master vs. Demonic Toys to be my favorite Christmas movie to play during the holiday season. So, I was immediately filled with joy and excitement when I saw that an officially-licensed Puppet Master game would be released….and then immediately disappointed when I saw that it was yet another horror movie franchise that was turned into an online multiplayer game. I'm not a big fan of online multiplayer games…I'm not competitive by nature, I just enjoy playing games for fun. Way too many folks online are overly competitive to the point where it simply isn't fun for me. That said, the online community here isn't bad…but I still preferred to spend most of my time playing the offline, single-player mode. Unfortunately, there's not really much to the offline mode. You can level up your characters and get used to how everything plays, but the base game only has three offline levels to play in. Also, the gameplay itself is okay, but it could definitely be improved upon. The good news is that this game still appears to be in the beta stage, so it may only get better. As it is, it's still passable. With some luck, the developers will smooth out the gameplay, add some more levels, and I sincerely hope that some single-player modes get added. Fans of the Puppet Master movies will likely still find enough here to enjoy to continue playing. If you've never seen a Puppet Master movie before, you may not really find much of a reason to continue playing after a game or two. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/28/2022 Monster Party Platform NES Initial Release Date June 1989 (NA) Developer Human Entertainment Genre Platformer My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 72.42/100 Before I even start commenting on Monster Party, I want it to be known that in the interest of fairness to other games, I am waiving the rule I created when I started making this list. That rule was that any game what had me fighting a giant, breaded shrimp was to automatically be placed in the number one position - no questions asked. So yes, if I wasn't such a rebel to break my own rules, then Monster Party would be placed in the number one position. If the previous sentences didn't get the point across, Monster Party is a very, very odd game. And I absolutely love it for that fact. Aside from the giant shrimp, who calls you "baby" before the fight, you'll battle other oddities like a minotaur that tells you to, "Moove it," a mummy whose legs have fallen asleep, and Royce…a caterpillar laying on a bed, waiting for you to enter his room so you can fight him. Plus, you've also got a plethora of other creatures and monsters to battle along the way. The only thing really holding this game back is that the levels kinda lack imagination…entering all of the doorways that you come across to meet all of the odd mini bosses is fun, but having good level design to accompany those doors would have made this game amazing. The controls and hit detection also take a little getting used to - they're not perfect. But even with its flaws, Human Entertainment made a very entertaining platformer that manages to make up for many of its shortcomings with its personality. I may have broken my rule to cause Monster Party to not be number one on this list, but a game this bizarre very well could be number one in my heart. Played on: NES Also known as: Parody World Monster Party (Japan)

Date added: 10/22/2020 Splatterhouse 2 Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date August 4, 1992 (JP) Developer Now Production Genre Brawler My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 74.87/100 Splatterhouse 2 seems extremely easy and boring at first...And at times it can be. However, as you get near the end of the game, especially at the frustrating final stretch of boss fights, this can become a pretty difficult game. You'll need some pretty quick reflexes unless you're planning on using a lot of continues along your road to the ending. That said, this game is better than the original Splatterhouse in just about every way – better graphics, better audio, better story - but still falls a little short in regards to well-known, well-loved brawlers like Final Fight and Streets of Rage. If you enjoy the horror-themed setting of the game, though, then that probably won’t even matter to you. If you’re looking for a side-scrolling brawler to play for Halloween, then Splatterhouse 2 isn’t a bad pick. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: Splatterhouse Part 2 (Japan)

Date added: 08/24/2019 Wii Fit Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date December 1, 2007 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Fitness My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 76.40/100 I want to put Wii Fit at number one just because it let me see how clueless parents in the country were when they sued Nintendo because Wii Fit had the audacity to call their chubby children fat. Sadly, that’s a true statement. That being said, Wii Fit isn't 100% accurate with its "fatty" claims, as the game is unable to determine muscle mass in their calculations, they simply look at height, weight, and age and determine where you stand on the average....But I'm willing to bet that the vast majority of those children weren't bodybuilders. And if they were, and they are that upset, it was probably from ‘roid rage and not this game. Steroids make you emotional, you know. Anyway, Wii Fit isn't a perfect game by any means, but it mostly does what it sets out to do, which is make the player perform exercises while motivating them to return the following day for more. Unlocking exercises helps prevent the game feel repetitive and also decreases the likelihood of the player getting bored from repetition. If you're willing to be mildly active while you play a game, you may find Wii Fit to be a good game for you. Played on: Wii Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/27/2022 Thunder Pro Wrestling Retsuden Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date March 27, 1992 (JP) Developer Human Entertainment Genre Wrestling My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.48/100 Thunder Pro Wrestling Retsuden was basically an attempt to bring the Fire Pro Wrestling games to the Genesis/Mega Drive…but without them being Fire Pro Wrestling. So Human Entertainment removed Fire and put another element in its place and made some minor tweaks to make it less Fire and more Thunder. The gameplay here is similar to Fire Pro Wrestling in that people who simply mash buttons probably won’t be winning too many matches. Thunder Pro Wrestling isn’t anything like the WWF Genesis games where the winner of a grapple is determined by who gets carpal tunnel from mashing buttons first. Instead, it’s all about timing. If your timing is good, your move is successful. If it’s bad, then your opponent is gonna likely hurl you across the ring instead. Like the Fire Pro games, Thunder Pro has a roster full of unlicensed, re-named, but pretty-clear-who-they-are wrestlers, allowing players to have the Jushin Liger vs. Bam Bam Bigelow match that they had always dreamed of. This game was supposed to be released in North America as Jesse “The Body” Ventura’s Wrestling Superstars (found elsewhere on this list) but that game, despite sharing nearly all of the visuals here, is much more simplistic and far more easier, so I’ve decided to split them up into two separate games for this list. Anyway, if you want a challenge and much more strategic and rewarding gameplay, then stick with Thunder Pro. If you don’t care about any of that and you just want to win all of your matches within a minute or two, then track down the Jesse Ventura variation. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/28/2021 Bloodwash Platform PC Initial Release Date September 16, 2021 (NA) Developer Black Eyed Priest Genre Adventure My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 81.78/100 When I first saw Bloodwash, my first thought was, “There is absolutely no way that I will dislike this game.” Thankfully, I was correct. That said, Bloodwash isn’t a perfect game and it will likely turn some players off...mainly if you lack patience and/or you don’t enjoy exploring/investigating the world around you, you will likely feel as if you’re bored out of your mind for the first two thirds of the game. The reason being that you’re doing you’re laundry - and the washing machine and dryer both have timers and you can’t advance the story along until each machine has finished its job. I personally liked that because I tend to wander around and explore anyway. By the time I felt that I had seen everything there was to see, each machine had already finished. The concept of a serial killer stalking a laundromat on the edge of town is an interesting concept and really feels like it could have been an entertaining, cheesy, 80’s slacker flick. I really liked Bloodwash. If you like horror games, have patience, and are willing to look past some of the negatives here, then you’ll probably like it as much as I did. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/11/2019 Wizards & Warriors Platform NES Initial Release Date December 1987 (NA) Developer Rare Genre Platformer My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 76.45/100 Until the last few years, I was never a fan of the Wizards & Warriors games...The idea of having a guy with a sword who can barely swing it, and mostly only kills enemies by jumping into them with their non-swinging sword...It just didn't make sense to me, nor was it fun. But, one day I gave this game the ol' college try and it won me over. Once I began to realize that it was more of a platformer than an action game, I was less focused on trying to slash at things and more focused on jumping on platforms and trying to discover treasure (one of which is a boomerang-like throwing dagger that was a nice substitute for not swinging a sword). The game gets insanely difficult towards the end...mostly in the final area where I feel I got myself through it due to luck more than anything else. But anyway, despite my initial complaints about the game, after playing through from beginning to end, I've come to appreciate Wizards & Warriors for how different it is. It's a game I now look at rather fondly. Played on: NES Also known as: Densetsu no Kishi Elrond (Japan)

Date added: 07/30/2019 Pepsiman Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date March 4, 1999 (JP) Developer Kid Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.54/100 In a world where cell phones have games like Pepsiman all over their online stores, it's easy to dismiss this Japanese import as being boring. However, keep in mind that years before any of those games existed, Pepsiman was doing it in style. Basically, in Pepsiman, you control Pepsiman by moving him left and right on the screen and jumping or sliding when it's necessary to do so. The character runs at all times, so you've got to react quickly - similar to the non-stop running, falling, etc. games found on iTunes of Google Play today. It's an over-saturated market now, but back in 1999, this was original and fun...And it has some nice product placement in it to boot. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/17/2020 Castlevania II: Simon's Quest Platform NES Initial Release Date December 1988 (NA) Developer Konami Genre Adventure My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 71.25/100 The first Castlevania is often fondly remembered by the folks that have played it. The second game in the series, however, doesn’t nearly get the same amount of praise. Simon’s Quest mixes some adventure and RPG elements in with the platforming and action of the original Castlevania. Instead of exploring Dracula’s castle, the majority of the game is exploring the nearby towns and mansions to collect various body parts of Dracula. Why? So you can slay the vampire, of course. Learning the directions to go takes patience, exploration, and the willingness to talk to the townsfolk while also trying to figure out which townsfolk are lying and which ones are telling the truth. The side-scrolling action is decent, but the boss fights are pretty disappointing…in fact, Death, the first of the 3 boss fights in the game, can be completely skipped if you want – just walk underneath him and continue on to the next room. Even if you decide to fight, he’s pretty pathetic and easy to defeat. All of the boss fights are, including the showdown with Dracula. Anyway, boss fights aside, this is still a decent game in the Castlevania franchise. It’s no Symphony of the Night, but it’s fine for what it is and I applaud it for trying something new. If you’re a Castlevania fan with some patience, you may appreciate this game as well. Played on: NES Also known as: Dracula II: Noroi no Fuuin (Japan)

Date added: 08/01/2024 MLB The Show 24 Platform Sony Playstation 5 Initial Release Date March 15, 2024 (W) Developer Sony Interactive Entertainment San Diego Studio Genre Sports - Baseball My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 73.47/100 MLB The Show 24 has shown that there are a lot of very insecure, psychotic males out there. This is actually getting VERY bad reviews from players because there's an option to play as a woman in this game….let me repeat that. There's an OPTION to play as a woman in this game. One more time for the slow folks - there's an O-P-T-I-O-N to play as a woman in this game. I, personally, chose you play as a fella, because that's what I am…and through my entire playthrough of Road to the Show, that's all I saw. I didn't see a flood of female talent showing up and setting records left and right. So women in the game isn't shoved down your throat by any stretch of the imagination, meaning that the "audacity" for the developers to include women as an option for a playable character is apparently enough for a bunch of whiny men to be all up in arms and trash this game. Sometimes I really don't understand folks these days. Anyway, in terms of the actual game, MLB The Show 24 is mostly more of the same this year. If you want to play as a woman and make history in this fictional MLB setting, you can. If you don't want to, then you can choose to play as a male like always, too. If you want to throw a fit about a fictional MLB league that resides in a video game because you lack any sort of sense or any sort of life, well, I suppose you can do that, too. The rest of us, though, will continue to enjoy a solid, but otherwise uneventful baseball game. Played on: Playstation 5 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/05/2022 Shadow Hearts Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date June 28, 2001 (JP) Developer Sacnoth Genre RPG My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 77.75/100 I really liked Koudelka. It wasn't a perfect game by any stretch, but I appreciated the attempt at mixing the survival horror and RPG genres. Shadow Hearts was the sequel, and it dropped the survival horror aspects to focus more on being an RPG. While focusing on the RPG aspects, Sacnoth also decided to change-up the turn-based combat. Instead of the slower-paced, move-around-the-battlefield combat, Shadow Hearts introduced a more stationary combat with use of a wheel to determine if your attacks hit, miss, or deliver extra damage. It's similar to a golf or bowling game, where the goal is to stop the spinning line where you want it. Some people will like this change, as it makes the combat a little more interactive, so you're not just selecting the attack command, watching the attack and repeating until the fight is over - specifically during the random battles. But, personally, I kinda like selecting my attacks, letting everything play out (sometimes while I multitask and do other things) and not having to worry about doing anything else until it's time to select my attacks again. My preference aside, this isn't a bad style of turn-based combat at all. As for the story, eventually, you'll discover the connection that this game has to Koudelka, with some neat little things to discover for fans of the original game, but also with everything explained well enough that you don't need to have played Koudelka to understand what's going on here. Shadow Hearts isn't the greatest RPG ever made by any stretch, but if you'd prefer to have some mild horror themes in your RPG, Shadow Hearts may provide you with what you're looking for. If you're looking for a continuation of survival horror mixed with RPG like in Koudelka, you may be slightly disappointed. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/25/2020 Murder House Platform PC Initial Release Date October 22, 2020 (NA) Developer Puppet Combo Genre Adventure My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 74.40/100 I’ve got mixed feelings on Murder House. On one hand, I absolutely love it. The game plays and feels like the survival horror games that you’d find on the original Playstation, complete with tank controls. On top of that, it’s presented as an actual VHS b-movie. When I say that it’s presented as a movie, I don’t just mean filters to make it appear as one, either. Everything from the intro before playing the game to the game title filling the screen when the intro credits roll, it just puts a smile on your face if you’re a fan of 80’s horror. But then…there’s the bad aspects. It’s not difficult to get the camera in a position that makes it near impossible to see…and since you can’t freely move the camera, you’re stuck not seeing anything until you’re able to move to a location where the camera angle changes. The camera also becomes your enemy whenever you encounter the Easter Ripper, as even during the final encounter with him, you can find yourself struggling to not just see where he is in relation to you, but sometimes it’s hard to find yourself on the screen when the camera changes as well. Lastly, when you die, the game crashes. It also crashes if you try to quit in game or beat the game – basically, any time the game attempts to return to the main menu. It’s an issue the developer knows about and plans to fix, but it’s still mildly annoying to have to completely exit and re-enter the game if you die. Anyway, complaints aside, while the game is a very nice throwback, it also feels a little dated due to the fact that it emulates. I appreciate what it tried to do, and I really like it for the most part…but it also has some room for improvement. If Puppet Combo can take the positives here and improve on the negatives, I think they could create something amazing with their next game. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/19/2019 New Super Mario Bros. Wii Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date November 11, 2009 (AU) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 83.31/100 Like New Super Mario Bros. on the Nintendo DS, New Super Mario Bros. Wii (creative name) fails to capture the greatness of the NES Mario games, but it's still a very solid and enjoyable experience whether you're playing with three other friends or simply going solo. I feel like it was a step up from the first entry in the “New” series on the DS, but unfortunately, the new powerups aren’t very interesting or memorable. Until playing the game for a few levels for screenshots, I couldn’t even remember what they were…and I played through the game in its entirety back when it was released. If you want a solid platformer, then New Super Mario Bros. Wii delivers. If you want a memorable platformer that you’ll look back on fondly, then this game will likely fall just short of that. Played on: Wii Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/12/2019 Rusty Lake Hotel Platform PC Initial Release Date January 29, 2016 (NA) Developer Rusty Lake Genre Adventure My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 68.50/100 I like bizarre things and I have a warped sense of humor, so it really did not take much for me to want to play Rusty Lake Hotel. Basically, you watch five guests (all different animals) arrive at a hotel. Each night, you visit one in their bedroom and solve puzzles that ultimately lead to them being killed and served to the other guests the following day at dinner. The game lasts maybe 2 hours on your first playthrough, but I imagine that someone could beat this game in about 20 minutes if they already know all of the puzzle solutions. This is fun while it lasts, especially if you have a warped sense of humor like I do…but unfortunately, it doesn't last long. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/09/2019 Britney's Dance Beat Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date May 8, 2002 (NA) Developer Metro Graphics Genre Music My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 67.66/100 I'll be totally honest with you - I thought that this game would be absolutely terrible. I was wrong. Not only is it not terrible, it's actually pretty good. The rhythm-based dance-off concept is fun while playing alone, but a blast when playing with others. Fans of Britney Spears will be rewarded with "backstage passes" that allow you to watch interactive videos, were you can pan the camera around kind of like if you were watching a show from backstage. I’m not much of a music fan, so that didn’t do much for me, but I can see why music fans may find that to be a neat thing. Unfortunately, aside from what I mentioned, there's not a ton else to do here. If there were more modes, I would have given it a higher score, since the lack of modes does significantly decrease replayability. However, for what it is, it's a surprisingly solid music game for the Playstation 2 library of any fan of the genre and/or Ms. Spears. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/23/2020 Verdict Guilty Platform PC Initial Release Date March 16, 2016 (NA) Developer Retro Army Limited Genre Fighting My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.06/100 Verdict Guilty is a fighting game with an interesting concept of attempting to handcuff your opponent before delivering the final blow in order to detain them. Attempting to handcuff the other person in the battle adds a unique layer of strategy to the fight…unfortunately, aside from certain fights in the story mode, the handcuffing does not seem to be mandatory, so unless you simply want to gloat about being able to handcuff your opponent prior to flicking them in the nose or whatever the final blow was, it comes across as more of a gimmick than a needed gameplay mechanic. Aside from that, another interesting addition to the fighting is that each special move counts as ammunition. If you use up your ammo, you have to reload. It makes you be more strategic than you might be in other fighting games because the last thing you want is to be stuck reloading when the opponent is one hit away from victory. This also helps prevent moves from being spammed to victory. It’s no Street Fighter, but for the $5 price tag, you definitely get more than your money’s worth here. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/23/2024 Parodius Platform Super NES Initial Release Date July 3, 1992 (JP) Developer Konami Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.45/100 Parodius, known as Parodius Da! In Japan, was never released in North America, but Europe was lucky enough to see it reach their shores. Basically, Parodius is a scrolling shooter parody of Konami's own scrolling shooter franchise, Gradius, and due to that, it plays very much like Gradius does….except you can't control an octopus or penguin while you shoot down the large assortment of colorful enemies and bosses that you'll be attacking. You've got four "ships" to choose from, each with their own powers, and like in Gradius, your goal is collect power-ups that some enemies drop to power-up various aspects, like speed, your missiles, shields, etc. Beware of the !? Power-up, though. That actually removes all power-ups and puts you back to square one…useful, I suppose, if you want to show off and beat the game with as little power-ups as possible. Anyway, I've always really enjoyed the goofiness of the Parodius series…it's mostly just Gradius with more color and personality. For folks like me, emulating the gameplay of a very solid shooter and jamming it full of personality is all you really need to make this a worthwhile scrolling shooter to pop in every now and then. The gameplay may not be original, but the content sure is. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Parodius Da!: Shinwa kara Owarai he (Japan)

Date added: 07/25/2019 Twisted Metal Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date November 5, 1995 (NA) Developer SingleTrac Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 76.73/100 Twisted Metal is basically the game that created the car combat genre that has seemingly gone extinct in recent years, and it was a good addition to the early Playstation lineup. For those not in the know, basically, you pick a vehicle and then drive around levels in car vs. car battle royals, shooting various weaponry at your opponents until you're the last car standing. The end result is a frantic, fun experience that launched one of the Playstation's most beloved franchises, and a game that inspired multiple developers to try their hand at creating a game for the newly-created car combat genre. The second game in the franchise improved on the formula to near perfection, but we never would have had that game had this one not come along and laid the groundwork for it. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/18/2020 Akumajou Special: Boku Dracula-kun Platform NES Initial Release Date October 19, 1990 (JP) Developer Konami Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.50/100 Akumajou Special is basically a Castlevania game made in a more child-friendly style. As a result, it's got less action and more platforming than your usual Castlevania game...Not to mention, much more comedy. It's also a very solid game, but in my opinion, its difficulty is often (but not always) so easy that it almost takes away from the enjoyment one can have from the game. The only difficult aspect of the game, in my opinion, is the fact that when you get hit, you stumble backwards. As a result, many deaths can feel frustratingly cheap at times. As long as you take your time and don’t get hasty with your movements, it probably won’t take too many attempts to see this game to the end, though. Anyway, Akumajou Special still a worthwhile game to play. I prefer many of the other Castlevania games to this one, but Kid Dracula’s adventure on the Famicom is still a solid experience. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/22/2019 Super House of Dead Ninjas Platform PC Initial Release Date February 18, 2013 (NA) Developer Megadev Genre Platformer My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 79.23/100 Toss Castlevania and Mr. Driller in a blender and you've got yourselves a nice Super House of Dead Ninjas milkshake. Mmmmm, mmmmm. The premise of this game is that you start at the roof of a castle. You want to work your way down to the bottom as fast as possible while killing enemies and collecting items. You're on a timer (like Mr. Driller's oxygen level) and T-shirt icons refill the time (like the oxygen capsules in Mr. Driller) but the combat and everything else very much feels like Castlevania, but at a much faster pace. The only downside is that while it’s a good mash-up of gaming styles, it doesn’t quite reach the quality of either game mentioned. Still, it's pretty fun for what it is. If you haven't played it yet, give it a try. If you like the early Castlevanias, you may like this game as well. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/24/2019 OutRun 2 Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date October 1, 2004 (EU) Developer Sumo Digital Genre Racing My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 78.12/100 Call me crazy, but when I got my Xbox, I didn't buy it because of Halo or Fable...I bought it because of OutRun 2. I am a HUGE fan of the original OutRun. I have very fond memories of playing the arcade version. So, when I saw a sequel of sorts was an Xbox exclusive, I wanted it badly. That said, it's everything I wanted it to be...Unfortunately, it wasn't anything more than that. That's not to say it was a bad game by any means, but I basically just wanted a game like the one I played in the arcades, and this was like that...But aside from the beautiful graphics and scenery, it wasn't much more than that. Sure, aside from the standard mode, there are other modes where you try to fulfill objectives while you race your way to the finish, but all of the modes are minor (but welcome) tweaks on the normal gameplay. Again, as someone that loves OutRun, that's fine by me for my tastes, but to review it objectively, it really doesn't make it much more than a game that's simply on par with any other good, but average, game out there, regardless of how much I enjoy it. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/09/2019 WCW vs. nWo: World Tour Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date November 30, 1997 (NA) Developer Aki Corp. Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.89/100 WCW vs. NWO: World Tour was kind of like a wake-up call to most North American, wrestling-fan gamers. Most wrestling games appearing in North America up to this point weren't exactly must-have titles. World Tour changed that just as the wrestling boom was starting to hit the United States and Canada in the mid-to-late 90's. Aki's wrestling title also pretty much laid the ground work for most 3D wrestling games that followed on the N64. Games developed later by Aki improved on just about every aspect of this gem, but even today, the original is still fun to play. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: Virtual Pro Wrestling 64 (Japan)

Date added: 01/05/2021 Viva Pinata Platform Xbox 360 Initial Release Date November 9, 2006 (NA) Developer Rare Genre Strategy My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.41/100 Viva Pinata may be a very simple strategy game, but I enjoyed my time with it a lot. Not only does each pinata look absolutely beautiful, each one is loaded with personality. The simplistic nature of the game might be better suited for an iPhone game with touch controls and a more casual audience, but I honestly think that Rare did a pretty good job with this title. If you like non-stop action, then this game may not be your cup of tea, but if you want a nice, relaxing game to play, this is a nice one to pop into your Xbox 360 to enjoy. Revisiting it again for this list, I found myself losing a few hours to this relaxing game all over again. Played on: Xbox 360, Xbox One Also known as: Atsumare! Pinata (Japan)

Date added: 12/01/2018 Zombies Ate My Neighbors Platform Super NES Initial Release Date September 1993 (NA) Developer LucasArts Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.56/100 Until a few weeks ago, I never reallly played much of Zombies Ate My Neighbors. I was always ingrigued...always interested...but some reason or another, I always wound up playing something else instead. Well, now that I've played it, I have sort of a mixed reaction - I definitely see why some people love this game so much....but despite that, I don't really think that it's as good as some folks make it out to be. Known as simply "Zombies" in Europe, most of the fun seems to come from the game's personality rather than the gameplay, which is fine mind you, but the levels and enemies do get a bit repetitious by the end, even with multiple weapon types to use at your disposal. Overall, Zombies Ate My Neighbors is an okay game, but comes up a little short of being great. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Zombies (Europe)

Date added: 07/21/2019 Cho Aniki Platform Turbografx-CD Initial Release Date December 25, 1992 (JP) Developer NCS Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.53/100 The first Cho Aniki game, in my opinion, may be the best of the bunch. For those that aren’t familiar with the series, the Cho Aniki games are (usually) side-scrolling, third-person shooters with some of the most bizarre imagery and enemies that you’ll ever find in the genre…often innuendo-based. The games are also usually loaded with scantily-clad, oiled-up male bodybuilders…because it’s the most macho game series in the history of mankind. I am drawn to bizarre things, so it’s only natural that I would eventually discover and fall in love with the Cho Aniki franchise. This first game is probably the most forgiving game in the series (on Easy mode, anyway) and it’s a solid, but average, scrolling shooter. Like all games in the series, don’t expect much innovation in terms of gameplay, just expect a good shooter with unique, very strange visuals. Initially released exclusively for the TurboGrafx-CD/Turbo Duo in Japan, it did eventually see a re-release on Nintendo’s Wii Virtual Console service that also saw the game published outside of the Land of the Rising Sun. Played on: Turbografx-CD Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/18/2021 Fortnite Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date June 12, 2018 (NA/EU) Developer Epic Games Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 75.62/100 I don’t really get the appeal of Fortnite, to be honest. I mean, it’s not a bad game or anything…I just don’t get how it became the big hit that it has become. Maybe because it’s a free game and once folks get invested, the game has already sunk its claws into ‘em? I dunno. I do know that I played for a few hours, won a game or two, lost a bunch, and I did enjoy myself for the most part…but after a few hours, I never felt the need to revisit this game and play it again. That’s kind of how I feel about the battle royale genre as a whole - I tend to have a little fun, but not enough to keep me coming back for more. Anyway, in Fortnite, you’re crafting, participating in combat, and surviving all in one. As I said, it’s not bad by any means…I just don’t see it as being on a list of the best games ever made. However, my opinion aside, one could definitely argue that Fortnite has had an influence in video games since it launched, as a buffet of battle royal games have appeared over the last few years in an effort to emulate this game’s success. Even if you’re like me and this isn’t your cup of tea, you’ve at least gotta hand it to Fortnite’s developers for that. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/12/2024 Hammerin' Harry 2: Dan the Red Strikes Back Platform NES Initial Release Date October 22, 1993 (JP) Developer Micronics Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.26/100 Hammerin' Harry 2: Dan the Red Strikes Back, known as Daiku no Gen-San: Akage no Dan no Gyakushuu in Japan, is a solid platformer that, until recently, never saw an official release outside of Japanese shores. Hammerin' Harry 2 is a typical sequel - nothing too groundbreaking is introduced here, but if you enjoyed the first game, you'll probably find something to enjoy here, too. One aspect of the game, and I haven't figured out if I consider it to be a pro or con yet, is that the game is roughly double the length of the original game. The reason I can't decide if I think that's a good or bad thing is that the original game required you to play through two times back-to-back to get the true ending, but the game was so short, that you could do both back-to-back playthroughs in less than an hour. Hammerin' Harry 2 also makes you play through twice to get the true ending, but in the time it takes to get through your first playthrough in this game, you probably could have already gotten the true ending in the original game. That does make the game feel like it drags a little bit towards the end, when you're revisiting areas that you saw an hour prior. While I would have loved two hours of fresh gameplay, one hour of fresh gameplay followed by a replay of that hour just felt like it was a bit too much for me - great games can get away with that. Hammerin' Harry 2, while a very charming game, is just good, not great. Anyway, if you want a decent platformer for the NES that you may not have played before, then it may be worth looking into Hammerin' Harry 2. Played on: NES Also known as: Daiku no Gen-San: Akage no Dan no Gyakushuu (Japan)

Date added: 08/30/2019 The Path Platform PC Initial Release Date March 18, 2009 (NA) Developer Tale of Tales Genre Adventure My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 76.66/100 The Path is basically a game of reverse psychology using the basic tale of Little Red Riding Hood. If you do as your told, and head to grandmother’s house while avoiding the wolf, you’ll likely find yourself bored. If you disobey the game, wander off the path, and allow the wolf to catch you, you start to advance to the next chapter and unravel the stories of each of the girls taking the role of Little Red Riding Hood. It’s a pretty slow-paced game that’s heavy on exploration, so if that sounds like it appeals to you, then you may enjoy it much like I did. If you need constant action and/or a game telling you what exactly to do next, then you may not be as enthralled with The Path as I was. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/15/2023 Castlevania: Bloodlines Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date March 17, 1994 (NA) Developer Konami Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.39/100 Castlevania: Bloodlines was kind of a letdown when it came out...it's not as good as its 16-bit brother, Super Castlevania IV...it's also not as good as its 8-bit bro, Castlevania III...so, it seemed like a step back in a sense. That said, if all video game franchises had a "step back" like Castlevania: Bloodlines, they'd be pretty well off. While it lacks the quality of many pre-Symphony of the Night Castlevanias, Bloodlines is still a very good game in its own right. With the option of playing through as one of two characters, Bloodlines offers some variety to the gameplay. In comparison to other games on the Genesis, Bloodlines also has very above average graphics and sound. Castlevania: Bloodlines also feels a little easier than some other games in the series, so it may be a decent game for folks attempting to get into the franchise. Anyway, Bloodlines is worth giving a try...if nothing else, you'll likely think of it as a fun Castlevania game that's just slightly watered down in comparison to the other non-Metroidvania, 2D games in the franchise. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: Vampire Killer (Japan), Castlevania: The New Generation (Europe)

Date added: 08/03/2019 Fire Pro Gaiden: Blazing Tornado Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date August 25, 1995 (JP) Developer Human Entertainment Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 76.92/100 Fire Pro Gaiden is like an arcade version of the Fire Pro franchise. It lacks the giant roster that Fire Pro franchise was eventually known for, but with that extra space, delivers a much more graphically impressive experience. Also, all of the characters are original creations, not likenesses of real wrestlers with changed names to avoid copyrights. The over-the-top moves might turn off Fire Pro purists, as might the easier-to-pick-up difficulty…even though button mashers will likely still find this game frustratingly difficult. But, quite frankly, the game is a blast to play. The only thing holding it back from placing higher on the list is a lack of game modes...But the game is solid enough to keep fans of fighting and/or wrestling games coming back for more anyway. Played on: Saturn Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/06/2019 Columns Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date June 29, 1990 (NA) Developer Sega Genre Puzzle My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 74.14/100 Columns is one of my favorite puzzle games...And it all started when I accidentally set myself up for a combo that seemed to go on for forever right before my game was about to end. There’s just something about stacking gems up, avoiding the obvious match-three scenarios, and strategically planning out a monster combo that is so satisfying…and of course, like I mentioned earlier, if it happens by accident, that’s pretty nice as well. Anyway, since that time, Columns is a game that I like popping in every now and then to kill a few minutes and just relax. It's not as good as Tetris, and I don't love it as much as the Puyo Puyo series, but it's a good, solid puzzle game in its own right that stands the test of time pretty well. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: Shapes and Columns (South America)

Date added: 08/11/2019 Pokemon Go Platform Android Initial Release Date July 5, 2016 (NA) Developer Niantic Labs Genre RPG My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 75.74/100 Pokemon Go, when initially released, was okay...it allowed you to walk around and find Pokemon in the real world and catch 'em...but that was about it. After the novelty wore of, there wasn't much left to do. Thanks to updates and such, Pokemon Go has evolved into a genuinely fun experience. While it's no means a perfect game, battling your Pokemon against other people is fun, taking over and defending gyms is equally enjoyable, and since they keep adding Pokemon to catch and evolve, it always feels like there's something new. If you haven't hopped on the bandwagon yet (even a 50-year-old woman I once worked with plays this game) or if you just tried it at first and never came back, Pokemon Go is well worth checking out...especially since it's free. Played on: Android Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/30/2022 Heavy Burger Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date April 27, 2021 (AU) Developer 612 Entertainment Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.38/100 Someone at 612 Entertainment had puffed on a bunch of the ol' funny grass and decided to make a game combining some of Data East's greatest retro games. Merging aspects of Bad Dudes, BurgerTime, Heavy Barrel, Karate Champ, Lock N Chase, and even the pool game, Side Pocket, the result was Heavy Burge…a game that winds up being more fun than it probably should be. In Heavy Burger, you take the role of Peter Pepper, the lovable chef from BurgerTime…except instead of wielding pepper shakers to slow down his foes, in Heavy Burger, Mr. Pepper is a chef attempting to create his favorite dish - mayhem. And the recipe is wielding shotguns, laser rifles, machine guns, etc. and to shoot until his targets' remains while playing a unique game of tug of war against the computer or your friends. The goal is to basically nab a bag of cash on the screen, then head to the opposite side of the screen, which will move you to another arcade machine/screen, with the ultimate goal of getting to the last screen (the Bad Dudes arcade machine) and into the door of the bank to deposit that bag of cash. If you get shot, you drop the cash, so you need to stay alive while you run and gun to the bank. Anyway, Heavy Burger isn't the greatest game ever made, but I enjoy it for what it is - a solid, unique game, loaded with plenty of nostalgia for fans of Data East and their retro game library. If you haven't given it a shot yet, give it a try. If you remember any of the games mentioned at the beginning of this paragraph, you'll likely find something to enjoy here. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/11/2024 Shinobi Platform Sega Master System Initial Release Date June 19, 1988 (JP) Developer Sega Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.15/100 When I was younger, I never understood why anyone would like Shinobi. Being used to playing games like Ninja Gaiden, where you're controlling a ninja that moves smoothly across the screen and performs various ninja -like things, once I tried playing Shinobi, I was kinda shocked. The game is very slow-paced, you don't really move a lot like a ninja, unless you're playing as a ninja that just took some sleep aid medication. So, going from a faster-paced ninja game to this can take a little getting used to. Once you do, however, and you take the time to learn the game and make your way through it, you'll start to see why this game was so popular. The levels themselves, while slow in pace, aren't short in action. They're also designed pretty well. When you reach the end and start up the boss battles, that's when the real fun begins, in my opinion. Each boss is unique and challenging, making you really feel like you're accomplishing something by the time you finally witness the ending of the game. As far as Ninja games go, I've never felt like Shinobi ever matched the quality of Ninja Gaiden, but now that I've seen the game from beginning to end, I can honestly say that I understand why it was one of Sega's most popular franchises. Played on: Sega Master System Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/04/2023 Golden Axe: The Duel Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date September 29, 1995 (JP) Developer Sega Genre Fighting My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.36/100 As far as scrolling brawlers go, I consider the Golden Axe games to be near the top of the list, but in the mid-90's, there was a 2D fighting game craze that had taken the video game world by storm, so Sega decided to take its fantasy-based brawler franchise and create a fighting game with many of the characters found within. This wasn't the first brawler franchise to make an attempt at entering the 2D fighting arena, but in my opinion, it may be the best of the ones that did. The gameplay is solid, the visuals are pleasing to the eye, the characters all have a nice variety to them that helps keep the gameplay feeling fresh, and it's a very, very solid overall fighting game. In fact, this game is so well done that if it hadn't been released on the Sega Saturn, I'd have to believe that it would have gotten a bigger fanbase that may have eventually led to another 2D fighter. Unfortunately, that wasn't meant to be, so Golden Axe: The Duel is instead a stand alone fighting game in the Golden Axe franchise, but as I mentioned earlier, it's very likely the very best stand alone fighting game to ever spin off from a scrolling brawler franchise. In that competition, Golden Axe would get the golden medal. Played on: Saturn Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/17/2021 Road Rash: Jailbreak Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date February 1, 2000 (NA) Developer EA Redwood Shores Genre Racing My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 76.13/100 I'll be honest - I thought that this would be the worst of the Road Rash series...I saw it as a last-ditch effort to make some money off of the franchise that seemed to be going away. I was dead wrong. Road Rash: Jailbreak, wound up being my favorite of the bunch. It’s the pick of the litter, so to speak. It mixes my favorite aspects of the original Road Rash with my favorite aspects of Road Rash 3D and it results in a surprisingly good game. If you're a fan of the Road Rash franchise and haven't played this yet, find a copy. You might be pleasantly surprised like I was. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/09/2022 World Class Track Meet Platform NES Initial Release Date December 23, 1986 (JP) Developer Sonata Genre Fitness My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.70/100 This game was originally released by Bandai as Stadium Events, to be used with their Family Fitness Mat peripheral. Shortly after hitting store shelves, however, Nintendo bought the rights to this game and the Family Fitness Mat. The Mat got rebranded as the Power Pad and Stadium Events took the new name of World Class Track Meet. When I got my first video game console as a wee lad, I got the NES bundle with the Zapper and Power Pad, with the 3-in-1 cartridge of Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt/World Class Track Meet included. I put the most hours on that cart into Super Mario Bros., but the game I played the most after that was World Class Track Meet. I was the only person in my family that could get past Rabbit and I eventually sped past Cheetah and beat the game to the awe of nobody. While this is a very basic track and field game, consisting of running, jumping hurdles, and doing long jumps, I always had fun with it and enjoyed playing it from time to time. Revisiting it again for this list, after the first note of the game’s title music played, a smile formed on my face. And I’m proud to say that even at my age, and my increased waistline, I can still put Cheetah in his place like I did 30 years ago. Played on: NES Also known as: Family Fun Fitness: Stadium Events (USA/Europe), Family Trainer 2: Running Stadium (Japan)

Date added: 03/04/2021 Ribbit King Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date July 11, 2003 (JP) Developer Infinity Genre Sports - Golf My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 74.55/100 Every time I put this game in, I wind up losing a bunch of hours due to its unique humor and gameplay…I really should revisit it more often than I do. Anyway, Ribbit King is a unique take on golf involving mallets instead of golf clubs and frogs instead of balls...It's called frolf, for those keeping track at home. And yes, that’s actually what they call it. Known as Kero King in Japan, this was the first entry of the franchise to make it to the shores of North America, and unfortunately, the only entry as well. It's good, comedic fun and the story mode has some nice gags in the cut scenes as well. If I wore pants when playing video games, it would have charmed my pants off. Wait, that doesn’t sound right…I was wearing pants when I played, but they were charmed right off after knocking the frog into a few holes…That sounds worse. I should start over…but my delete key isn’t working. It charmed my delete key off. Drat. Anyway, if you like golf, but would enjoy a comedic, unique take on the sport, then Ribbit King is a great game to play. It's not perfect, but it’s still enjoyable. I highly recommend it if you enjoy humor in your video games. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: Kero Kero King DX (Japan)

Date added: 03/05/2020 Mortal Kombat 11 Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date April 23, 2019 (NA/EU/AU) Developer NeatherRealm Studios Genre Fighting My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 74.38/100 Since I don’t really look into gaming news (I like to be surprised) or participate in any video game forums, I was kinda shocked to see so much hate towards Mortal Kombat 11. I don’t know the reasons for the hate, didn’t care enough to look them up…but a 3.3 out of 10 user rating on Metacritic? Really? Mortal Kombat 11 is not a perfect game by any means, but it’s also very far from bad. In fact, my only real complaint about the game is that it doesn’t feel like it has evolved much from Mortal Kombat X. Since I liked Mortal Kombat X (and XL) a lot, I still really enjoyed my time here, despite the lack of much new. Story mode, like previous games in the series is interesting, and the krypt pushed me to keep playing so I could get enough coins and other currency explore more and more of the island. Overall, it’s mildly disappointing for being mostly more of the same, but on the same hand, as a fan of the franchise (but not one that logs hours upon hours of the game online enough to get sick of it) I still found the formula from the last several games to still be plenty enjoyable this time around as well. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/08/2022 Mega Man Legends Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date December 18, 1997 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.20/100 Mega Man Legends is one of those early 3D games that was solid for its time, but it hasn't really aged the best. It's a good game hindered a bit by the camera, which is pretty common when revisiting older 3D games. Anyway, unlike the traditional Mega Man games, which are primarily run-and-gun platform games, Mega Man Legends is more of an adventure game, with RPG elements tossed in, along with some shooting action. Likewise, where the 2D Mega Man games are almost all action, Mega Man Legends reduces the action to add in exploration elements along with side-quests and mini-games - many of which take place in "safe" areas with no enemies. Once you get down into the underground areas, however, you'll get into much more action and the gameplay picks up a bit. The combat feels a bit awkward at first, largely due to the camera, but thanks to a lock-on system, you should be able to survive long enough to get used to the ins and outs of combat for when you need 'em later on in the game. Most people probably aren't going to be wowed by Mega Man Legends, but the novelty of seeing everyone's favorite blue robot in 3D may be enough to get them to give this game a chance. If you stick with it, you'll find a good 3D adventure game. It's never going to be called the greatest game of all time, but it's solid for what it is and if you decide to stick with it to the end, you'll likely be glad that you did. Played on: Playstation Also known as: RockMan DASH: Hagane no Boukenshin (Japan), Mega Man 64 (Nintendo 64)

Date added: 11/15/2023 Looney Tunes B-Ball Platform Super NES Initial Release Date February 1995 (NA) Developer Sculptured Software Genre Sports - Basketball My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.05/100 First, I just want to dedicate this entry to Buddy Alan, aka Dino, a friend of mine that passed away a few years ago. Looney Tunes B-Ball was his favorite game. While I never fully understood that, I could never deny that this was a very good basketball game. Looney Tunes B-Ball takes the arcade-style basketball of NBA Jam, but adds the cartoony wackiness of Looney Tunes to the mix. You can control the wackiness, though. If you're a dullard and just want to play a plain basketball game, you can do that. If you want obstacles and power-ups littering the court, though, you can ramp that wackiness up and enjoy. If you're looking to play this expecting a 16-bit Space Jam, though, you may be disappointed a little - this game was released a few years before the Looney Tunes crew played some b-ball on the big screen. But if you ever thought that Elmer Fudd looked like a pudgy, white Michael Jordan and wanted to start hunting baskets with him, then Looney Tunes B-Ball will likely be right up your alley. If you're a fan of Looney Tunes or basketball, I think you can't really go wrong with Looney Tunes B-Ball. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Looney Tunes Basketball (Europe)

Date added: 10/08/2021 Neverending Nightmares Platform PC Developer September 26, 2014 (NA) Developer Infitap Games Genre Adventure My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 65.94/100 I like Neverending Nightmares a lot. More than my score of the game would suggest. I love the unique visual style and the way that the game successfully manages to create an uneasy feeling with the player despite the fact that the visuals are basically a 2D, black and white cartoon. Unfortunately, part of creating that uneasy atmosphere is having a whole lot of nothing happening in the game but walking around, observing the environment, and listening to all the noises around you. As a result, I think that the “walking simulator” aspects of the game will turn off some players. I, personally, have no problems with long periods of just walking around in games, but even I uttered at one point, “Man, they weren’t kidding about never ending.” It made me a little anxious to simply wrap up the game. I still really liked Neverending Nightmares as a whole, and I’ll likely play through it again at some point, but I think I may split it up into playing a little at a time next time – one, long playthrough felt a little too repetitive. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/16/2021 Team Buddies Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date September 15, 2000 (EU) Developer Camden Studio Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.51/100 Team Buddies has gotten a bit of a cult following over the years. It didn’t exactly receive glowing reviews way back when it was released, and it had a limited print count, so it flew under the radar of most folks. Over the last several years, however, not only has this game gotten itself some popularity, but the value of a physical copy of the game has sky-rocketed. If you’re not familiar with Team Buddies, the game is kind of like a real-time strategy game meshed with a 3rd-person shooter with the goal usually being to find crates and carry them back to your base to build stuff, like weapons and vehicles, that can be used to obliterate your opponent…all while they’re doing the same thing in an effort to obliterate you. The overall package isn’t something that I’d call an all-time great game…but gather a few friends around and Team Buddies will definitely provide you with plenty of hours of entertainment. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/25/2019 Frobisher Says! Platform Sony Playstation Vita Initial Release Date May 2, 2012 (EU) Developer Honeyslug Ltd. Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 74.10/100 Frobisher Says! is a Wario Ware-like free game on the Playstation Network. In my opinion, adding a bunch of new mini games to this release and tossing it onto a game card, this would have been a MUCH better game to show off all of the Vita's fancy features than Little Deviants was. That said, for a free game, you're still likely to get plenty of enjoyment of this title...Especially if you're a fan of the odd like I am. If you’re anything like me, you’ll also find yourself saying “Frobisher Says…” before everything you do for days after playing this. What? Saying, “Frobisher Says!...Make the toast!!” then putting bread in a toaster and pushing down on the knob to start the toaster just means that this game has led me to find minigames in my every day life. Played on: Playstation Vita Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/07/2020 Mighty Final Fight Platform NES Initial Release Date June 11, 1993 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Brawler My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.65/100 Mighty Final Fight was an 8-bit take on the 16-bit Final Fight games. The big difference between this game and its 16-bit big brothers, aside from the obvious graphical difference, is the RPG-like leveling up that happens as you progress, making the character that you control stronger as you defeat more and more enemies. Overall, the graphical style is charming, however because the characters are all smaller, much of the screen is empty during most of the game. It makes it very obvious that there aren’t many enemies on the screen at once…which, honestly, might be a blessing due to the difficulty of the game. While the cutesy, 8-bit graphics look like they’re aimed more towards children, this is the most difficult game in the franchise, in my opinion…but not so difficult that it feels cheap or impossible to beat. If you’re a fan of side-scrolling brawlers, then you’ll probably enjoy your time here…likewise, if you always wanted to beat up an 8-bit version of Abigail, this’ll be the game for you. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/08/2020 Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date September 26, 2000 (NA) Developer Z-Axis, Ltd. Genre Sports - BMX My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 77.95/100 With the wild success of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, Acclaim looked to capitalize by introducing its own version of that style of game, but with BMX bikes instead of skateboards. The end result, while not near the quality of the Tony Hawk games, was still very solid and fun to play in its own right. It's also worth noting that bailing from your bike and trying to take the worst possible fall was a favorite pastime of my friends and I for years. When you can spend hours doing absolutely nothing that you're supposed to be doing and still have fun, that's the sign of a quality game in my book. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/11/2020 Sine Mora Platform Sony Playstation Vita Initial Release Date November 20, 2012 (NA) Developer Grasshopper Manufacture Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.42/100 Sine Mora is not what I had expected. I had the game on my Vita for a while before I finally played it, and I just knew it as the game with the icon with a rose on it. I dunno what I expected, really, but it wasn't a game that's kind of like a side-scrolling Star Fox. That's what Sine Mora is, too...a side-scrolling, third-person shooter with animals piloting ships. Okay, so the only real similarity is animals piloting ships, but Sine Mora is still a solid game in its own right, especially if you’re a fan of scrolling shooters. If you're into side-scrolling shooters from the days of old, but want some beautiful, modern graphics thrown in, you should definitely check Sine Mora out. Played on: Playstation Vita Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/30/2024 Conquest of the Crystal Palace Platform NES Initial Release Date August 24, 1990 (JP) Developer Quest Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 77.79/100 I did not expect much out of Conquest of the Crystal Palace, to be honest. I knew very little about it, and as a result, while I didn't necessarily expect it to be bad, I also didn't really expect it to be anything more than passable. I was proven wrong. Conquest of the Crystal Palace is actually a really solid platformer and it has a few aspects of its gameplay that help it stand out. The first thing is the ability to select a power-up at the start of the game. You've got three power-up options - flight (can jump higher), life (more health), or spirit (can throw fireballs). This allows playthroughs to feel slightly different depending on what you choose at the start. Another unique aspect is your dog companion, who can be called out and help you in battle. He's got a health bar, too, so it's wise you only call him out when needed and keep an eye on his health so that both you and your canine compadre survive to see the credits roll. Despite my compliments, there are a few things that prevent this game from being better than what it is…my main complaint is the jumping mechanics, which seem to penalize your jump if you attempt to attack in mid-air. It takes quite a bit of getting used to, since attacking an enemy may make you fall short of your landing target and simply jumping leaves you open to enemy attacks. But anyway, if you like platformers from the 8-bit era and have never given Conquest of the Crystal Palace a chance, I recommend doing so. It's not a must-play game, but it's a very well-made platformer with enough unique aspects to it to make it well worth your while. Played on: NES Also known as: Maten Douji (Japan)

Date added: 06/23/2020 Harvest Moon Platform Super NES Initial Release Date August 9, 1996 (JP) Developer Amccus Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.19/100 Released at the very end of the Super Nintendo’s life cycle, the original Harvest Moon seemingly fell under the radar of most gamers who had already moved on to the next generation of gaming consoles. Aside from the timing of its release, the other handicap that Harvest Moon had was its content. You didn’t play as a solider or a racecar driver, or a martial arts expert…you played as a farmer, who raised crops, took care of farm animals, and made efforts to get married to one of the local girls in town. Rather than be a game that would get your adrenaline going, Harvest Moon was a game where you could sit back and relax – there weren’t many games out there like it. Fast forward to present day, and Harvest Moon kind of laid the groundwork for more modern games like Stardew Valley and Graveyard Keeper, and it spawned a franchise that still gets games released to this day with a loyal fan following keeping the Harvest Moon series alive and well. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Bokujou Monogatari (Japan)

Date added: 12/01/2018 Koudelka Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date November 30, 1999 (NA) Developer Sacnoth Genre RPG My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 71.27/100 Koudelka is a unique blend of survival horror-style gameplay with random, turn-based battles and a leveling up system found in most RPGs. The end result is a game that is simply average at both and not great at either...which in itself isn't a horrible thing since there really isn't another game out there like it. Koudelka has an interesting story to help push you through the game, and fans of the Shadow Hearts games should take note that they spawned from this title. In fact, Roger Bacon even plays a role in this game. But anyway, if the concept of a survival horror RPG sounds interesting to you, give it a try. If you're a fan of either genre, I think there's a decent chance that you'll enjoy your time here, if for no other reason than the novelty. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/05/2019 Sonic Adventure Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date December 23, 1998 (JP) Developer Sonic Team Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 83.28/100 Sonic Adventure wasn't terrible for its time, honestly. In fact, it was actually pretty fun to wander around as Sonic and the gang in a 3D environment, and that first level is pretty memorable with the killer whales hurling themselves out of the water as Sonic sprints towards the goal. Sure, the camera wasn't great and many of the levels lacked the speed of the first level...but that aside, I actually really enjoyed the varied gameplay mechanics of each playable character. The game hasn't aged particularly well (though the Chao mini game is still as charming as ever) but it can still be pretty fun if you're into nostalgia and/or the history of the Sonic franchise. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/18/2020 Mario Kart Tour Platform Android Initial Release Date September 25, 2019 (NA/JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Racing My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 70.66/100 When Nintendo announced a Mario Kart game for mobile phones, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect…Then the game was released and I was hooked pretty quickly. The controls, while not perfect, are solid when compared to other touch-screen controls, and designed for someone to play with one hand. So, if playing on a bus or train where you should probably have one hand on a safety rail, you’re good to go. Another positive is that while the game is free to play, you do not have to spend a dime to race. If you’re highly competitive, you may feel like to need to spend money to get the best stuff, but for most of us normal folk, you can easily enjoy your time here without spending anything at all. The benefit of spending money is that races are usually determined by points rather than time. If you get enough points, you’ll get the maximum amount of stars, which allow you to unlock new levels. Every few weeks, the levels reset and you’ll have new tracks to race on and some new characters (or variants of existing characters) to try to obtain. Some of them are completely new characters or tracks that I’d love to see in a console Mario Kart game, while others are old favorites. Is Mario Kart Tour a perfect game? Absolutely not. But for what it is, and for the platform that it’s on, I think it’s a pretty solid racer that any fan of the franchise should install on their smart phone. Played on: Android Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/21/2021 Dance Dance Revolution: Disney Dancing Museum Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date November 30, 2000 (JP) Developer KCEK Genre Music My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.38/100 Dance Dance Revolution: Disney Dancing Museum may have one of the longest names in the DDR franchise. This Japan-only, Nintendo 64-only entry into the series has various remixes of Disney songs for you to prance around on a mat to and Disney characters dancing on the screen to watch. You can prance on the DDR dance mat, can't you? Prance Prance Revolution sounds just as legit as Dance Dance Revolution…maybe the word Dance would sell better than the word Prance. Anyway, it's a solid entry in the DDR series and a bit of a novelty if you're a fan of both Dance Dance Revolution and Disney. It’s also well worth checking out if you’re just simply a fan of music games in general. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/13/2022 John Madden Football '93 Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1992 (NA) Developer Looking Glass Studios Genre Sports - Football My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 79.09/100 The original John Madden Football laid the groundwork for later games in the franchise. John Madden Football '92 improved on just about everything in the formula. The third game in the series, John Madden Football '93 continues the trend with more improvements to further tweak everything and cater to fans of watching burly men throw an oddly-shaped pigskin ball around. While the game includes a few new features, there are three that are the most notable. First, is that despite being named after a football commentator, the first two games lacked any commentary. That's solved in Madden '93. Granted, the commentary is basically just a sound clip sprinkled here and there, but it's still a nice touch. Another notable addition is the inclusion of classic teams - eight teams that the developers determined were the best ever. The last notable addition is that the password system of the previous games is retired and progress is now recorded with a battery save feature. Unfortunately, the game still lacks any NFL or player licensing…but EA would remedy some of that with the next annual game in the franchise. Played on: Sega Genesis, Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 DubWars Platform Ouya Initial Release Date June 28, 2013 (NA) Developer Helium Interactive Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.56/100 DubWars was the game that made me want an Ouya. A friend of mine got one at launch and mentioned this game and I instantly loved the concept. Basically, dub step music plays in the background. The beats of the song are when you shoot. You have no control over your firepower (aside from the direction that you fire), it's all dependent on the song...If you've got a span of time with no beats, then you've got no ammo and you've gotta dodge all incoming enemies. It's really quite a neat concept. However, after playing it, I like it a lot, but the awkward-feeling controls hold it back a tad. For a twin-stick shooter, and one that I'm using two analog sticks to play with, the on-screen movements sure aren't smooth. Sometimes it feels like when you rotate the analog sticks, you’re moving in squares instead of circles. But despite the awkward controls, DubWars is still fun and interesting and well worth checking out if the mixture of music and shooter sound interesting to you. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/11/2020 Plants vs. Zombies Platform Sony Playstation Vita Initial Release Date February 21, 2012 (NA) Developer PopCap Genre Strategy My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.38/100 Plants vs. Zombies is really the only game that I've experienced, so far, in the tower defense genre that I actually really enjoy. It’s the exception to the rule in a genre that I usually have zero interest in playing. The game spews out personality and it's always a treat when a new plant or zombie makes an appearance just so you can see what they do. I prefer the Vita version of the game to the PS3 version, which are the only two versions that I’ve played, due to the luxury of the touch-screen controls (I don't say that often) but honestly, regardless of which platform you pick this game up on, it’s still a solid addition to anyone’s game library. Played on: Playstation Vita Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/11/2020 Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date November 16, 2002 (NA) Developer Midway Genre Fighting My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.62/100 I was mildly a fan of Mortal Kombat II when I was a kid, but that’s about it in terms of being a Mortal Kombat fanboy. So it goes without question, I wasn't too excited about Deadly Alliance...But then I played it and instantly fell in love. The abilities to swap between three fighting styles on the fly during the fight and even lodge weapons in your opponent to make them bleed out and slowly lose health for the rest of the battle were awesome new gameplay mechanics for a fighting game. The Krypt's luck-based way of unlocking stuff kept me playing this game much, much longer than I normally would have and the Konquest mode was a neat addition as well. More recent Mortal Kombat games have improved on the fighting and added better extras and modes, but for its time, Deadly Alliance was a must-have fighting game. It transformed me from a casual Mortal Kombat fan to someone that looks forward to each new release even to this day. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/10/2020 Under Night In-Birth Exe: Late Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date July 24, 2014 (JP) Developer French-Bread Genre Fighting My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 76.69/100 Under Night In-Birth Exe: Late is an average fighting game from Aksys. It’s not over-the-top fantastic, but it’s still pretty good. I found myself playing through the arcade mode repeatedly, trying to see which fighter was my favorite from the cast. The game is easy to pick up and play without any sort of real knowledge of what to do. As long as you’re a veteran of most other 2D fighting games, you’ll probably be juggling your opponents and laying out 30-plus hit combos in no time. I also feel like this may be the easiest fighting game that I’ve played from Aksys, so if you’d like to see what all the hoopla about Aksys fighting games is about, this might be a good entry-level fighter to start with. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/19/2021 Racing Lagoon Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date June 10, 1999 (JP) Developer SquareSoft Genre Racing My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.30/100 Racing Lagoon is basically SquareSoft's attempt at a racing RPG, and it's mostly successful. Knowledge of the Japanese language is necessary to fully understand the story, but from what I could piece together from the few hours I played, you're basically a street racer working your way up the ladder...It could be deeper than that, and probably is, but understanding it or not doesn't really have an effect on how well the game plays, which is pretty good. The game isn't as solid racing-wise as Gran Turismo or Ridge Racer Type 4, but it's still very solid and the RPG-like leveling up and customization options help enhance the experience further. Racing Lagoon isn't a perfect blend of racing and RPG genres, but it's still a very good one and well worth looking into if that blend sounds interesting at all to you. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/16/2019 Mappy Platform NES Initial Release Date July 15, 1983 (JP) Developer Namco Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.5/100 The concept of Mappy is simple - you control a mouse in a police outfit that jumps from trampolines and avoids cats while opening doors and collecting items. Collect all the items, and you've completed the level. It’s more difficult than it sounds, and it takes some getting used to, but once you’ve got the hang of it, it’s pretty easy to lose track of time and get lost playing as the trampoline-bouncing mouse cop. Mappy never made it out of Japan on the NES/Famicom, and that disappoints me. It's a simple, addicting game and I think North American audiences would have adored it just as much as Japanese audiences did. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/17/2021 Rayman: Raving Rabbids Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date November 14, 2006 (NA) Developer Ubisoft Montpellier Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 77.42/100 I’m pretty late to the Rayman: Raving Rabbids party. When it was initially released, I heard good things about it, but really had no desire to play it. I figured when it went down in price, I’d pick it up cheap and see what all the hoopla was about. I didn’t think that I’d be waiting almost a decade and a half. Playing it for the first time to add it to this list, Raving Rabbids still holds up pretty well today. It’s not a masterpiece, mind you, but considering it was one of the Wii’s first titles, it does a very good job of showing off all of the motion sensor capabilities. The rabbids are also some pretty comical characters…almost Looney Tunes-ish in their psychotic tendencies while remaining humorous and almost endearing at the same time. Single player is entertaining enough, but toss in multiplayer so you can enjoy the madness with friends, and you’ve got a really solid game that shows off all the potential that the Wii had. Played on: Wii Also known as: Rabbids Party (Japan)

Date added: 07/07/2022 Maneater Platform Sony Playstation 5 Initial Release Date July 1, 2021 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Blindside Interactive Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 74.82/100 Ever since I first saw Maneater, I was intrigued and wanted to play it. Now that a few years have passed and I've finally gotten a chance to play it, I can honestly say that it's not really anything like I expected it to be…which is probably a good thing. I expected Maneater to be a game where you just swim around as a shark and terrorize people, which would have been fun, but it also would have likely gotten old quickly. In Maneater, however, while there are segments where you terrorize folks, the game is much more about evolving your shark into ridiculous forms, essentially giving your shark super powers, while also eating and attacking any and all aquatic life that gets in front of you. The evolving (while ridiculous) feels fun since you start out as a tiny little shark that has to avoid alligators otherwise you'll be a snack…after getting stronger and larger, you can come back and take out the alligators without much of a problem. You'll go from eating small fish to attacking and consuming sperm whales in the course of the game…that's a pretty big jump by the time the credits roll. Maneater isn't without flaws, though. I had the game completely crash on me multiple times as I played through. The controls also feel a bit awkward…using the shoulder buttons for most of the gameplay sure feels like a guaranteed way to give someone carpal tunnel. My last complaint is the announcer and the "comedy" that he provides. Most of it is eye-rolling material that made me want to put the game on mute…well, for me, anyway. I'm assuming there's an audience for that out there or they wouldn't toss it in the game. Anyway, if you want to play an enjoyable, but flawed, game where you evolve a baby shark into an unstoppable beast, then give Maneater a try. I bet you'll probably find at least a little enjoyment in it. Played on: Playstation 5 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/24/2024 Raiden Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date November 22, 1991 (JP) Developer Hudson Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 79.10/100 Raiden is one of the more popular scrolling shooter franchises. I like Raiden, personally, but I'd honestly place it lower than many other popular shooters. Like many scrolling shooters, the key to surviving Raiden is not losing a life. Losing a life, results in you losing your power-ups, and especially in the later levels, losing your power-ups can be pretty difficult to recover from. Not impossible, mind you, but definitely difficult. The big thing that can help with that attempt to recover are the bombs. Using a bomb takes up a large portion of the screen and it nullifies any bullets that hit it, so as long as you've got a bomb available, you can use it as a temporary shield when things get tough. The bombs can also cause massive damage, so you're faced with the decision to save the bombs for offensive or defensive means. Toss in some giant, enjoyable boss fights and the old-school level system of looping back around after the first eight stages are completed, and if you've got a solid, vertical-scrolling shooter. As I said at the beginning, I prefer several shooters over Raiden, but considering that the series is still seeing games released today, it definitely has a fanbase that has allowed Raiden to outlive many of the other scrolling shooter franchises. If you're a fan of scrolling shooters and haven't played Raiden, definitely give it a try - you'll probably enjoy it. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/18/2024 WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2007 Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date November 10, 2006 (EU) Developer Yuke's Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.34/100 After a pretty successful year with WWE Smackdown! vs. Raw 2006, and producing my guilty pleasure of playing Texas Hold 'Em between matches on the PSP version, Yuke's put out the next installment of their WWE franchise. This edition of the series was the first game on the then next-gen consoles, appearing on the Xbox 360 (it was cancelled for PS3) and it also saw the end of its run as Exciting Pro Wrestling in Japan, adopting the WWE name from this game forward in the land of the rising sun. The positive of this game are the re-vamped ladder matches, just in time for Money in the Bank to debut, as well as improved tables matches. Another solid season mode is included, as well as a better GM mode. The downside, however, to some were the new analog controls, which weren't bad…but they definitely took some time getting used to if you'd been playing the series since the beginning. Despite the improvements and changes, though, WWE Smackdown (they dropped the ! This year) vs. Raw 2007 didn't feel like a huge step forward from the previous games. Unless you'd like the first WWE wrestling game released in the Xbox 360/PS3/Wii era, there's not a reason to really own this if you own the previous games…unless you're a wrestling nut, then you'll still find plenty to enjoy. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/29/2020 Tapper Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer Bally/Midway Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.86/100 When it came to Atari 2600 games, there weren’t a lot of arcade games where the gameplay could be transferred to console without it feeling like it was dumbed down. Tapper is one of the few games that, while it’s not nearly as pretty as what you’d see in the arcade, is just as fun. In Tapper, you play as a bartender. Your goal is to toss mugs of beer down the countertops on screen to the customers lining up. If the customers reach you, you lose a life. If you throw an extra mug and it crashes to the ground, you lose a life. It’s very simple, but in later levels it can get very frantic and very fun. Tapper isn’t a game that you’ll spend hours upon hours playing, but it can be a pretty fun game to pull out when you want to kill five to ten minutes. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/02/2022 Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee! Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date April 16, 2003 (NA) Developer Pipeworks Software Genre Fighting My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 71.48/100 This is basically the game that many Godzilla fans had been waiting for. Games like King of the Monsters allowed players to control a giant monster and battle other giant monsters in a city setting. Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee! not only allows players to control licensed monsters from the Godzilla movies, but it allows them to do battle in a 3D environment. You can play in the Adventure mode (basically your standard Arcade mode in your average fighting game) and battle against various computer-controlled opponents one-on-one, leading up to an eventual battle against Mecha Godzilla, or you can gather up three friends (or three computer opponents if you don't have any friends) to compete in a four-way brawl for supremacy. The combat isn't the deepest fighting that you'll experience, but it's fine for what it is and it does leave room for some strategy. This game was released on the Gamecube first in 2002, but the Xbox version did have DLC available in the form of new monsters and new arenas, which gives it a bit of a nod from me…even if that DLC is no longer available anywhere as far as I'm aware. Anyway, if you're a fan of Godzilla and want to participate in city-destroying brawls, then Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee! may be a game that you enjoy. Played on: Xbox, Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/22/2019 10000000 Platform PC Initial Release Date January 15, 2013 (NA) Developer EightyEight Games LTD Genre Puzzle My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 73.42/100 10,000,000 was the first game released in 2013 to really hook me. I'm a sucker for most puzzle games, and when you toss in mild RPG elements, that just added to the longevity of the game for me. 10,000,000 manages to incorporate RPG elements into the game and still make it totally different from Puzzle Quest, which is probably the best known puzzle game/RPG around. Basically, you've got a guy running in a dungeon up at the top of the screen. How fast you are at matching up the squares on the bottom area of the screen, the longer he'll survive up top. Matching blocks control physical attacks, magical attacks, opening chests and doors, building up shields, etc. If you can survive in the dungeon long enough to earn 10,000,000 points, you're allowed to leave. I wish it was 10,000,000,000 points instead so the fun could have lasted longer...But I suppose that wouldn't match the name quite as well, now would it? Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/04/2022 Panic Bomber Platform Nintendo Virtual Boy Initial Release Date July 21, 1995 (JP) Developer Raizing Genre Puzzle My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.67/100 Panic Bomber, in my opinion, is one of the better Virtual Boy games…one that I'd be willing to deal with headaches to play….well, sometimes willing to deal with them, anyway. For those not in the know, Panic Bomber is essentially a Bomberman-themed, match-three, dropping block game. The puzzle game that it's probably the most similar to, that I can think of anyway, is Columns. The blocks you match can be vertical, horizontal, or diagonal (like in Columns) and that will not just result in blocks disappearing, but it will also provide you with bombs. Eventually, a bomb will sometimes drop from the top of the screen, as well. When that happens, it will detonate all bombs in your inventory to fill up the screen of your computer-controlled component on the other half of the screen. It's pretty well-done and can be quite addicting the more you play. If a link cable had been released for the Virtual Boy, and this game had multiplayer support, I don't think it would have saved the Virtual Boy, but I'd imagine that this fast-paced puzzle game was fun enough where it may have extended the life of the Virtual Boy, at the very least. If you happen to come across a Virtual Boy and this game, it's well worth playing…just be sure to stock up on some Excedrin ahead of time, 'cause this game will likely keep you playing long enough for the famed Virtual Boy headaches to make an appearance. Played on: Arcade Also known as: Tobidase! Panibomb (Japan)

Date added: 07/19/2019 Fire Pro Wrestling Platform Nintendo Game Boy Advance Initial Release Date March 21, 2001 (JP) Developer KCEK Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.47/100 When the Game Boy Advance launched in North America, professional wrestling was coming off of one of its hottest periods in history. What better way to compliment the launch lineup for a fresh new handheld, one of the best launch lineups of any system in my opinion, than with a professional wrestling game? Even better, a professional wrestling game that was part of a long-running, beloved series from Japan that never made it to the United States? Fire Pro Wrestling was unlike any other wrestling game seen in North America – it was a wrestling game for hardcore wrestling fans. It had a steep learning curve, but players that stuck with it were rewarded with, by far, the deepest professional wrestling game that had ever been released in portable form up to that point. For this kid that was about to venture off to college, nothing took more time out of my life for the next year or two than playing this game laying in bed, sitting on the toilet, or just hanging out in another friend’s apartment. I discovered when taking screens for this list, I’m still a huge fan to this day. Played on: Game Boy Advance Also known as: Fire Pro Wrestling A (Japan)

Date added: 04/20/2019 Sega Bass Fishing Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date April 1, 1999 (JP) Developer SIMS Genre Sports - Fishing My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.62/100 There probably aren't a lot of folks out there that think that a fishing game could be fast-paced, exciting, and fun...But Sega Bass Fishing manages to be all three. It's arcade-style fishing without the long, boring periods of not catching a thing and with the stress of trying to capture enough fish (or one, big monster that meets the weight requirements for the level in a single catch) within a set time limit. With three areas to fish in, plus a fourth, secret area where every fish is a beast, there’s enough variety in the environments to prevent things from feeling too awful repetitive. The time limit may be a little unforgiving unless you’re an expert (it’s a port of an arcade game that was designed to get folks to pop quarters in, afterall) but overall, this is a very solid and surprisingly fun game. If you try it, you may wind up like the bass in this game – hooked. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/12/2019 Donkey Kong Jr. Platform NES Initial Release Date July 15, 1983 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 77.13/100 Donkey Kong was a huge success…so how do you make a sequel to it? Have the giant gorilla capture another lady for Mario to save? Nope. This time Mario was the villain. He had captured Donkey Kong and it was up to his son, Donkey Kong Jr., to traverse levels similar to how Mario did in the previous game, but differently…you know, because DK Jr. is a gorilla, so you can do gorilla things like climb vines and poles. While not as beloved as the original game, this has always been a favorite of mine ever since I was a wee lad and rented this from the local video store. It may be part of the reason that I’ve always preferred Luigi over Mario…Luigi never caged someone and tried to kill their son, but that scumbag Mario did. Anyway, if you want a different twist on the Donkey Kong formula, Donkey Kong Jr. is a solid sequel, just not quite as solid as the original. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/13/2019 Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date June 16, 2000 (EU) Developer Appaloosa Interactive Genre Adventure My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 78.68/100 Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future is a great example of the power of the Dreamcast - the game looks absolutely gorgeous. I found that much of my time was spent ignoring what I was supposed to be doing just so I could swim around and enjoy the underwater world created here. Unfortunately, once you start to do what you're supposed to be doing, some of the areas are very easy to get lost in. Without a whole lot of landmarks to go by, getting disoriented in the levels is pretty common...But, like I said, when half the fun is just wandering around and admiring the aquatic scenery (and diving out of the water to perform flips in front of the sunset) getting lost isn't always too upsetting. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/14/2019 Popeye Platform NES Initial Release Date July 15, 1983 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 74.88/100 After the success of Donkey Kong, Nintendo took a Popeye license and made a game that looks kind of similar, but plays differently. Essentially, in Popeye, your goal is to collect various things that Olive Oyl drops down to you, like hearts, musical notes, and letters. The catch? Bluto is also on the screen and he wants to drop something of his own – a knuckle sandwich. Thankfully, if in a pinch, you can always have Popeye pick up some spinach, which allows our favorite sailor give a culinary delight with his own digits to that big-bellied bully. It's a solid arcade-style game and well worth trying if you want to kill some time. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/25/2021 Enduro Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date February 1983 (NA) Developer Activision Genre Racing My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.75/100 When it comes to racing games on the 2600, Enduro is probably the best overall game of the bunch. Like other racing games of the time where the perspective is behind the rear of the car, your goal in Enduro is to stay on the road as the course twists and turns while also avoiding any and all traffic that comes your way. What makes Enduro so enjoyable is that it takes place over the course of an entire day, with little touches like fog and only seeing tail lights at night tossed in. It’s that originality and uniqueness that really helps Enduro stand out. If you’re into early video games and haven’t given Enduro a chance yet, I highly recommend doing so. It’s a very solid, early racing game. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/11/2019 Gradius Platform NES Initial Release Date April 25, 1986 (JP) Developer Konami Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 76.95/100 Before the term “bullet hell” was coined, there was Gradius, a horizontal scrolling shooter that starts off easy enough, but quickly escalates into navigating through narrow paths while simultaneously dodging bullets and lasers. Unfortunately, the boss fights aren’t nearly as difficult as the levels themselves (or the barrage that happens before them) and most of the bosses are the same boss over and over until you get to the final boss…who doesn’t even fight back. Gradius is also known for its unique power-up system, where you essentially get to choose what power-ups you get first…want to be faster? Go for it. Would you rather have more fire power? Some armor? It’s up to you – you just need to collect the red icons and press the A button when the power-up that you want is selected. This small feature helps add a little strategy and helps Gradius stand out from other shooters of its time. If you’re looking for a tough, scrolling shooter from the 8-bit days of gaming, Gradius is one of the best. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/30/2019 Duck Hunt Platform NES Initial Release Date April 21, 1984 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre 1st Person Shooter - Light Gun My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 73.47/100 Duck Hunt was cutting-edge technology when it was released. Using a light gun to shoot objects on the screen, in the comfort of your own home, was amazing. In the early days of video games, this was like having an arcade machine in your living room. The game itself can get a tad repetitive as you advance through the levels, but with the ducks getting faster and faster each level, it adds some challenge that takes away some of the boredom that repetition generally causes. The game also includes a mode where you shoot clay pigeons if you don't feel like getting laughed at by a bullet-proof dog every time you miss. Light gun games have evolved greatly since the days of Duck Hunt, but this is still a decent little shooter to play today. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/05/2019 Hogan's Alley Platform NES Initial Release Date June 12, 1984 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre 1st Person Shooter - Light Gun My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 77.29/100 While Duck Hunt is probably the most well-known light gun game on the NES, another game made use of the NES Zapper during the North American NES launch and it’s not too shabby in its own right – Hogan’s Alley. Unlike Duck Hunt, where the goal is to just shoot everything that moves, in Hogan’s Alley you’ve got targets that you don’t want to hit and you’ve got only a second or two to figure out which targets need to be shot and which ones should be free of bullet holes. The game has three modes, the first is like a shooting range where three targets appear and you shoot the correct ones. The second mode is similar, except it’s in a city setting and the targets may disappear behind walls. The third mode is different, and my opinion, what makes this game worth playing – Trick Shooting – where barrels come flying from the right side of the screen and your goal is to shoot the barrels to keep them airborne as you try to make them land in specific areas, with each area providing a different amount of points. If Duck Hunt is the only light gun game that you’ve played on the NES, Hogan’s Alley is worth a look as well – it provides a different, but equally enjoyable experience if you’re tired of that evil dog laughing at you. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/24/2021 Boom Blox Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date May 6, 2008 (NA) Developer EA LA Genre Puzzle My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.25/100 Boom Blox is kind of like Jenga...If Jenga was loaded with personality. Then again, if you've watched any of the Steven Spielberg cartoons like Tiny Toon Adventures, Freakazoid, Animaniacs, etc. then it's not surprising that a game presented by Spielberg, such as this one, is almost as entertaining to experience as those cartoons. I'd be willing to go out on a limb and state that this is one of the most entertaining puzzle games that I've played as far as sheer personality goes. To compare it to a more well-known release, Boom Blox kind of plays like a 3D Angry Birds. So, if you like throwing stuff to make things topple and collapse, Boom Blox may be the Wii game for you. Played on: Wii Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/07/2021 MLB The Show 20 Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date March 13, 2020 (NA/EU/AU) Developer SCEA San Diego Studios Genre Sports - Baseball My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 77.16/100 MLB The Show 20 went on sale a few months ago with the digital copy going for less than $10 and since I usually really enjoy the game, I went for it. While I’m not necessarily disappointed with my time in the game, I did manage to “beat” Road to the Show mode in a new record for myself. I went from AAA to winning the World Series in a total of four seasons, and I was with the Detroit Tigers the whole time, so it’s not like I was in the playoffs each year. I also managed to get the Triple Crown that 4th year. So yeah, it felt a little easier than normal. The game as a whole is well done, and the other modes can be fun when you collect playing cards to create a team where you can toss Ozzie Smith, Babe Ruth, and Robin Yount all on your lineup. I do find myself spending less time with the Show each year, even with the newer modes, but regardless of that, this is still a fantastic baseball game and if you haven’t played the Show in several years, then you’ll definitely find plenty to love here. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/30/2020 Galaga '90 Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date July 15, 1988 (JP) Developer Namco Genre 3rd Person shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.65/100 Galaga ’90, originally released in Japan in 1988, and known as Galaga ’88 over there, starts out looking like a slightly updated version of the original graphics. With better graphics, new enemies, some neat explosion effects for the time that resemble a fireworks show, and the option to actually start with two ships right off the bat if you’d like, it seems like Galaga ’90 is a nice update to the classic game…And then you warp for the first time and find yourself in a decent vertical-scrolling shooter with little breaks in the scrolling to take down a wall of enemies. The original Galaga was near perfect for its time, so while adding to the game is a nice novelty, I have a feeling that a lot of folks that play Galaga ’90 will enjoy their time, but gravitate back towards the original after they’ve had their fill here. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/16/2020 Serial Cleaner Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date November 30, 2017 (NA) Developer iFun4all Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.56/100 Serial Cleaner kind of reminds me of Hotline Miami…except instead of causing all of the mayhem, you’re cleaning up after it. Taking place in the 70’s, you find yourself headed to crime scenes to get rid of dead bodies, collect evidence, and clean up all of the blood. Of course, these crime scenes are usually loaded with police officers that you’ve got to sneak past to complete your mission. There’s no killing or attacking involved, you’ve gotta do this all with your wits. The end result is an unexpectedly enjoyable game (who knew that vacuuming bloody floors would be fun?) that hopefully gets plenty of attention. If you like stealth games, or even just games where you’ve gotta use brains instead of bullets, then Serial Cleaner is definitely worth checking out. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/28/2022 Smithereens! Platform Magnavox Odyssey2 Initial Release Date 1981 (EU) Developer Magnavox Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.63/100 Smithereens is a pretty basic, but also a pretty enjoyable 2-player game. The concept is simple - you and a friend each control a catapult and the first person to destroy the wall in front of the other is the winner. What makes Smithereens is so fun is that you're probably not going to always hit your target, neither is your opponent. But, once you get the hang of how to get your catapult to fire the distance that you desire, you'll also have the option of slowing down your opponent if the battle of wall destruction is neck and neck. If you manage to hit your opponent, there will be a delay before they can shoot again. If you can hit your opponent's catapult, then there's an even longer delay. That kind of dirty tactic can sometimes mean the difference between a victory and a loss. Smithereens probably isn't going to show up on anyone's "Greatest Games of All-Time" list, but for what it is, it's good, solid fun if you've got a friend around (or enough friends to have a Smithereens tournament) and you don't mind slinging trash talk at each other to go with the catapults. Played on: Odyssey2 Also known as: Stone Sling (Europe), Batalha Medieval! (South America)

Date added: 02/16/2020 Quake Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date October 31, 1997 (NA) Developer Lobotomy Software Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.70/100 I have access to it (thanks, Steam) but I haven’t played the PC version of Quake yet. It seems to be the better version from what I hear, so when I get to playing it, Quake may move up the list if I feel like it’s warranted. With that out of the way, Quake starts out kind of unique with walking into doorways to select your difficulty, then portals to start the level that you want…After that, it’s just lots of shooting with very mild puzzles and platforming. It’s pretty fun, and even on the easy difficulty, rookies (like me) will find a little bit of a challenge here, which is a good thing in my book – challenging, but not cheap. I’ll give it an 8 out of 10 on the Richter scale….get it? Quake…..Richter scale……bah, nevermind. Played on: Saturn Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/31/2021 Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date November 16, 2010 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Ubisoft Montreal Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 83.56/100 I absolutely fell in love with Assassin’s Creed II, so when I heard that Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood was a continuation of the story found in that game, I was really looking forward to playing it. Unfortunately, I just wasn’t able to get into this game like I did the second game in the series. It’s not like Brotherhood is bad or fails to bring anything new to the table…it just suffers, in my opinion, because it feels more like DLC or a level add-on to Assassin’s Creed II than a full-fledged game. It was nice to see familiar faces and to get some more of the “modern” story and characters featured…But ultimately, Brotherhood was a little bit of a letdown for me after playing Assassin’s Creed II. I still enjoyed playing Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood…but I found myself wishing that I was playing Assassin’s Creed II again instead. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/26/2022 Pokemon Stadium Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date April 30, 1999 (JP) Developer Hal Laboratories Genre Strategy My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.14/100 If you've never played a Pokemon game, here's the gist of it - walk around, find and catch Pokemon in the wild, make your way to a gym and pit your Pokemon against the head trainer's Pokemon to receive a badge, rinse and repeat until all badges have been obtained. Pokemon Stadium removes all of those aspects except for the final gym battles where you obtain badges, and while it removes the rest of the game, it brings Pokemon into a 3D world, which allowed players to see many of their favorites in three dimensions for the first time. The novelty of seeing a 3D Squirtle is nice enough, but the real draw of Pokemon Stadium was that players who were obsessed with their Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow games on the original Game Boy could pull their Pokemon from those cartridges, using the N64 Transfer Pak, and use them in this game. With the ability to play with three other friends, if they also played the original trio of Pokemon games, they could pull their Pokemon as well, basically allowing you and your pals to battle your Pokemon against each other to see who the better trainer was. If you lack the Pokemon Red, Blue, or Yellow Game Boy cartridges to pull Pokemon from, you can still play with "Rental" Pokemon in the game. It's not nearly as fun to use them, but the game is still somewhat enjoyable when playing with those Rental defaults. This isn't nearly as deep as a traditional Pokemon game, but it was a neat, well-made novelty for its time and most fans of the series will likely enjoy it for what it is. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: Pocket Monsters Stadium 2 (Japan)

Date added: 01/25/2024 Einhander Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date November 20, 1997 (JP) Developer Squaresoft Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 79.38/100 In the late 90's, Squaresoft could seemingly do no wrong. They were known for putting out terrific RPGs, but they also dabbled with other genres and put out some solid games outside of the RPG genre that they made their name on. Einhander is probably the most critically acclaimed non-RPG put out by Square at that time….and while I like Einhander, I can't really say that I agree with most folks on its quality. Einhander is a solid, scrolling shooter, don't get me wrong…but I don't feel like it's quite as great as many make it out to be. Most scrolling shooters have a gimmick, and the gimmick in Einhander is that when you destroy certain enemies, they'll drop a gun that you can fly your ship into to equip. Depending on what ship you select at the start of the game, you may be able to collect multiple guns. When you have a gun equipped, they act as a temporary, specialty weapon that can compliment your regular firepower. While shooting your standard weapon has infinite bullets, the guns you collect all have limited ammo, so it's best to save them for when you need them…but at the same time, taking hits can knock the gun off of your ship, so if you don't use it, you could lose it. It's an interesting dynamic that makes it stand out a bit…but for me, it just didn't feel like enough to warrant the 9 out of 10's many publications gave it or the 10 out of 10's I see a lot of non-critic reviews give it. Einhander is a solid game and if you enjoy scrolling shooters, you'll probably enjoy this one, but I feel like there are better options out there if you feel like shooting stuff on a scrolling screen. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/14/2022 Project Justice Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date December 7, 2000 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.02/100 Rival Schools was a so-so 3D fighting game developed by Capcom. It wasn't bad, but it failed to reach the quality of many other Capcom fighting games had in the past. Still, it found itself popular enough where Capcom created a sequel for it on the Dreamcast…and honestly, with the sequel, they created a very solid 3D fighting game. Tweaking everything from the gameplay to the graphics, Project Justice takes the fighting engine from Rival Schools and makes it a game well worth tracking down if you're a fan of fighters. Keep in mind, though, if you're a button masher, you're probably not going to enjoy this game as much as you'd enjoy a game like Street Fighter. Project Justice is a slower-paced fighting game with an emphasis on being strategic as you fight. You need to block at the right time and also pick the right time to attempt launching a special move. Project Justice can be somewhat unbalanced at times, though. One special move in particular heals you and also re-fills your special meter so you can just spam that attack for the majority of the fight if you have the right timing. That complaint aside, though, Project Justice is a solid 3D fighting game, and if you want a good, slower-paced, strategic, 3D fighter for your Dreamcast, then Project Justice can provide it for you. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: Moero! Justice Gakuen (Japan), Project Justice: Rival Schools 2 (Europe)

Date added: 01/17/2024 Super Dodge-Ball Platform NES Initial Release Date July 26, 1988 (NA) Developer Million Genre Sports - Dodgeball My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.84/100 I've always liked Super Dodge-Ball, but I've always played it in short spurts and never fully tried to complete the game. Now that I've gone through the normal difficulty level, I feel like I've got a better idea about Super Dodge-Ball and where I should place it on this list. On one hand, Super Dodge-Ball is simple fun - try to catch the dodge ball coming in, then do your best to hurl it back without your opponent being able to do the same. Being hit by the ball does damage and if someone is hit enough, they're eliminated from the game. It's done well. The downside, though, is that it does feel repetitive after a while, even when the game gets mildly more difficult as you advance on from location to location. The gyms that you compete in, though, are anything but repetitive. From the United States gym with the Statue of Liberty in the background to the Kenya gym with the stereotypical setting sun with a savanna in the background, and even the Chinese gym with a giant picture of their leader front and center (similar to something you'd expect to see from North Korea today) every single gym is unique and full or personality. If the gameplay and strategy differed as greatly as the gym backgrounds, then I'd be giving this game a much better score…but, unfortunately, the same strategy can be used in every gym and it seems to always work…run to the line, do a special throw, then wait for them to throw the ball back so you can catch it, or hope that one of your teammates on the side can get the ball and pass it back to you to repeat the process. Still, despite how repetitive Super Dodge-Ball can get, it's still a well-made game of dodge ball that is fun enough that it has always had a bit of a cult fanbase ever since it was initially released. Played on: NES Also known as: Nekketsu Koukou Dodge Ball Bu (Japan)

Date added: 06/02/2022 Strider Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date September 29, 1990 (JP) Developer Sega Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.79/100 Taking place in 2048, three entire continents have been wiped out and an evil fellow by the name of Meio, the Grand Master, succeeded in wiping out 80% of living creatures on the planet. Thankfully, there's a small, island called Moralos that acts as a secret training location for the Striders, the last defenders of the Earth…because they knew this would happen, I guess? Anyway, in this game you take control of Hiryu, the youngest man ever to reach the rank of A-class Strider, and hack and lash your way through the small European country of Kazafu, all the way to the Third Moon space station where Meio Is waiting for you. For those keeping track, we've got about 25 years before this calamity awaits us…so, you should probably do something productive until then…like ride a bike, or learn how to cook pasta without it sticking to the bottom of the pot. Or since this is a solid game, you could just sit back and play this instead, battling giant robot gorillas and acrobatic female triplets on your way to saving the world. Anyway, Strider was praised when it came out on the Genesis due to it being pretty true to the arcade original. If you want to enjoy some hack and slash platforming from three decades ago, Strider still has a certain charm to it. Aside from all of the explosions that you'll create, the wacky bosses (some of which were already mentioned) help keep this game entertaining all the way until the credits roll. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: Strider Hiryu (Japan)

Date added: 12/25/2023 Winter Heat Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date November 30, 1997 (NA) Developer Sega Genre Sports - Olympics My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.48/100 Earlier this year, I added Decathlete to this list and gushed over how good it was. Roughly a year later, Winter Heat was released, which was basically the winter variation of Decathlete. Much like in Decathlete, this game has a cast of stereotypical characters to pick from and play as, and much like in Decathlete, Winter Heat is essentially a button-mashing, arcade-style game full of events that you'd find in the winter Olympics…but a very well-made one. There's eleven events here, and while the difficulty in them isn't horrible (I managed to set a "world record" in several events on my first try) some events do require a little practice to truly master. Playing solo can be pretty fun on its own, but the real fun comes from multiplayer. This game supports up to four players, so while button mashing may get old when playing alone, it can be good fun when competing against some pals. The only thing that really prevents me from putting this in the same class as Decathlete is that while the events are fun, they're not quite as fun as the games found in Decathlete, in my opinion. Toss in the fact that Decathlete also came out first, and that also takes a little away from Winter Heat. Still, those are minor gripes. Winter Heat is still a very solid game and well worth checking out if you're a fan of Olympics/track and field games. Played on: Saturn Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/28/2021 Deadly Creatures Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date February 9, 2009 (NA) Developer Rainbow Studios Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.79/100 Deadly Creatures seemingly flew under the radar of a lot of folks, but it delivered a surprisingly solid experience. Controlling a tarantula and/or a scorpion, Deadly Creatures isn't your typical game where the animal that you control is cartoony. Instead, all animals in the game appear realistic and they don't talk or anything that would make them different than what you would see in real life…Yet through body movements and the like, the developers managed to almost make these creepy crawlers show human emotions. It’s odd to make the comment that you can relate to a tarantula or a scorpion, but in this game you honestly can. Beyond that, the gameplay is solid and this is definitely one of the better and unique adventure games not just on the Wii, but of that hardware generation. Deadly Creatures really is a surprisingly good game. If you’ve got the means to play a Wii, track down a copy and see for yourself. Played on: Wii Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/04/2021 Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS Platform Nintendo 3DS Initial Release Date December 1, 2016 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 75.54/100 Super Mario Maker for the Nintendo 3DS is a Mario Maker game for the Nintendo 3DS. Good enough of a description, let’s move on to the next game. Oh, I need to say more? Well, okay….I thought the descriptive title said it all. Basically, the appeal of Super Mario Maker is to create your own Mario levels (which I would have LOVED as a kid, since I used to draw my own levels in a notebook) and share them with others, or don’t make a single thing and just download the genius levels that others created. If you don’t care about either of those things...well, you shouldn’t get the game, honestly. But if you’re going to anyway, there are pre-made levels and challenges for you to complete. Doing so will unlock more parts for you to use when making levels. Overall, Super Mario Maker for the 3DS is a pretty solid game on its own...but add in all of the level creation and level downloading, and you’ve basically got a game that platformer junkies can be hooked on until the servers go down or users stop making content for the game. Played on: Nintendo 3DS Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/19/2019 WWF Superstars Platform Arcade Initial Release Date 1989 (NA) Developer Technos Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 73.79/100 A lot of arcade-playing wrestling fans fondly remember WWF Wrestlefest, but not many seem to remember the game that laid the groundwork for that classic - WWF Superstars. Taking a tag team to the gold is the goal here, and the final challenges before getting gold around your waist are the Mega Bucks; Ted DiBiase and Andre the Giant. Andre is near invincible and DiBiase is a wrestling machine...Making this one of the most difficult boss fights I've played in any game...I literally spent about an hour and a half of continuing before finally outsmarting the duo by getting Andre counted out. But anyway, the wrestling action here is very solid and fun to play. Some difficulty issues with the unforgiving computer (mostly only against the Bucks) may make some folks shy away after playing a few matches, though. WWF Wrestlefest tweaks everything found here and improves upon it, but Superstars ain't no slouch, either. Played on: Arcade Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/12/2022 The House of the Dead 2 Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date March 25, 1999 (JP) Developer AM1 Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.19/100 The House of the Dead was a solid arcade conversion for the Saturn and House of the Dead 2 continued that trend, providing players the fun of shooting up zombies from the comfort of their living room couch. I'll just get this out of the way right now - this may have the absolute worst voice acting that I've ever heard in a video game. Since I find enjoyment in cheesy, bad acting, I got a kick out of it. There's nothing like seeing someone react to a close friend dying by saying, "Noooooooo," in a monotone, non-emotional voice….or someone calmly thanking you for rescuing them when they just had a zombie's bad-breath-filled mouth two inches from their face. Aside from the voice acting, House of the Dead 2 is pretty solid all around. They added a few modes in to compliment the original arcade mode, which seemed to be converted over from the arcade pretty flawlessly. It was a very solid early release for the Dreamcast, and while a light gun makes everything more enjoyable, it's still very playable with a controller, as well. If you're a fan of light gun shooters, then I think you'll be a fan of House of the Dead 2. It's a very solid game - and may very well be one of the last great light gun games to see release on a console. Played on: Dreamcast, Arcade Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/03/2019 MediEvil Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date October 1, 1998 (NA) Developer SCE Studio Cambridge Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 78.17/100 A MediEvil demo was on the demo disk that came with my Playstation. It was timed, but I got good enough at it that I could get up to the fight against the stained glass monster, which was the end of the demo (you never got to fight it) before the time would run out...And I did this repeatedly. Eventually, I got a copy of the game, finally beat the stained glass goon, and got to experience more goodness that this charming game had to offer. It does have its flaws, though...some camera issues hamper things and the hack'n'slash-like combat doesn't always feel like you're in complete control. But, the good does outweigh the bad here. The charm of the game will likely be more than enough of a reason for most people to look past the game's shortcomings. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2023 Downfall Platform PC Initial Release Date February 14, 2016 (EU) Developer Harvester Games Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.46/100 I never played the original Downfall (though I will at some point - it comes packaged with this remake) but I am a HUGE fan of The Cat Lady. Seeing that this game had the same artistic and gameplay style, I instantly wanted to play it. While I don't think that the story or game is as good as The Cat Lady, I still very much enjoyed it. Plus, though I wasn't initially aware of it, the Cat Lady is actually a sequel of this game, so it was nice to get a little more insight into a series that I didn't know existed until this remake got released. Downfall has multiple endings, and it probably won't take very long to beat once you know what you're doing - maybe an hour or two, so I'll likely go back and play it again to see if I can figure out ways to get different endings and see new scenarios. If you like point-and-click adventures and/or very dark, twisted stories, then Downfall is worth checking out. Played on: PC Also known as: Downfall: Redux (Europe)

Date added: 09/22/2019 Super C Platform NES Initial Release Date February 2, 1990 (JP) Developer Konami Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.05/100 In my opinion, Super C is a bit easier than Contra...which isn't to say that it's an easy game - it's not...it's just easier than the original. I thought that most of the bosses, while cool to look at, were a joke to battle. I came into the battle with the boss in the screenshot on the right with no lives left and had absolutely no problem beating it without taking a hit. That seemed to be the way with every level - traversing the level itself was more difficult than the boss fight that met you at the end. Anyway, Super C is a decent shooter if you're a fan of run-and-gun games. The original is better, in my opinion, but Super C still holds its own as a solid title to add to your NES library. Played on: NES Also known as: Super Contra (Japan), Probotector II: Return of the Evil Forces (Europe)

Date added: 06/20/2024 Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date October 14, 1999 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.74/100 I don't know or follow anime or manga...But I know (thanks to Google) that this game is based off of a comic book in Japan. If you're a fan, and you also happen to be a fan of fighting games, then I bet you'll love it. I know nothing about the characters or story...But I do enjoy the "bizarre" aspects of the game, like the characters. Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is a pretty average fighting game with some above-average graphics and enough unique stuff tossed into the story mode to make an average fighting game stand out a bit more than it would otherwise. The story mode is what made me really enjoy and appreciate this game despite have zero knowledge on what the game was based off of. Controlling various fighters against various other fighters, the story mode is essentially a visual novel, with breaks between everything for fighting and/or mini games. The mini games are fun, but a lot of them rely more on luck than any skill, so it can be frustrating to be in a position where you're struggling to advance the story simply because luck isn't on your side. I, personally, found the rest of the game to be charming enough where I never got too frustrated with that, but I could easily see where others might throw their controllers across the room in a rage. Anyway, if you're a fan of the comic books that this game was based off of, you'll likely love it. If you like odd/bizarre games, you'll probably love it, too. Purely as a fighting game, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure isn't great, but all of its personality helps make this a fighter well worth checking out if you're a fan of the genre. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Jojo no Kimyou na Bouken (Japan)

Date added: 05/29/2023 World Series Baseball II Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date July 31, 1996 (NA) Developer Sega Genre Sports - Baseball My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 83.92/100 World Series Baseball on the Saturn was a solid baseball game…not without its flaws, but still good all the same. World Series Baseball II is just as good as its predecessor, but thanks to some tweaks and improvements, it's also a little bit better than the game that came before it. Being a fan of the Milwaukee Brewers and the Toronto Blue Jays, it was a downer to not have either stadium represented in the previous game. Well, that was fixed as now every team has their stadium represented. Also returning is the beloved Home Run Derby mode, for if you want to crush some baseballs, but don't have the time to play a full game. The graphics are very slightly improved, though they still feel a bit behind the times for when it was released. Gameplay-wise, this is essentially the same as the first game, but with some minor tweaks to improve the gameplay a tad. Overall, though, while it does improve on the original game a bit, many of the improvements aren't major enough for me to really give this game a better score than the original…I'll just keep it the same, rather than my usual practice of docking it slightly for not doing enough to improve upon the original. Still, though, like the original game, if you want to play a game full of players that have become legends and/or hall of famers, then World Series Baseball II is a decent choice. Played on: Saturn Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/25/2019 Tecmo Bowl Platform NES Initial Release Date February 1989 (NA) Developer Tecmo Genre Sports - Football My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 83.88/100 Tecmo Bowl, even after all these years, may be the ultimate football game. The simplicity in the gameplay and controls made it easy for anyone to pick up and play, but it's also extremely fun...So once you do start playing, it's hard to stop. I'm not a football fan in the slightest, but I adore Tecmo Bowl. Give me this over a Madden title any time. Everything eventually got tweaked and improved upon for the sequel, Tecmo Super Bowl, but the original was such a solid game, that it tends to be the one best remembered out of all the football games that Tecmo produced over the years. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/25/2019 Ice Hockey Platform NES Initial Release Date March 1988 (NA) Developer Pax Softonica Genre Sports - Hockey My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.15/100 Make a team of four players - choosing either the skinny guy, normal-sized guy, or the fat guy (my favorite being four fat guys - they hit the hardest) and have at it with friends or the computer. Regardless of who you're playing against, Ice Hockey is a blast. The little touch of you also controlling the goalie as you play adds just enough strategy to always keep things interesting. Will you focus on your skaters and try to get the puck, or will you focus on the goalie to make sure you're ready for a potential scoring attempt? Ice Hockey is proof that despite all of the neat new features in many modern sports games, keeping things simple can still be a ton of fun, like in the case of Ice Hockey where over 30 years after its release, it's still a blast to play. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/29/2019 Angry Birds Platform Apple iPhone/iPod Touch Initial Release Date April 20, 2010 (NA/JP) Developer Rovio Entertainment Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.71/100 Say what you want; like it or hate it, the United States (and possibly elsewhere...don't live elsewhere, so I'm not sure how the rest of the world reacts to the game) was Angry Birds crazy…heck, it still is. Walk into a Wal-Mart and you can find Angry Birds stuffed animals...You can find people playing it that have never played a video game before...They had a movie made after this game. A second movie is on the way. It's kind of nuts. But anyway, Angry Birds isn't a perfect game by any means, but it is addicting...And it's pretty easy to see why so many folks have fallen in love with it. It’s good, simplistic fun with charming visuals and plenty of personality. Perfect for a quick five minutes of gaming while waiting for the bus or dropping a deuce. Played on: iPhone, Android Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/11/2022 Star Wars: Battlefront Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date September 20, 2004 (NA) Developer Pandemic Studios Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.38/100 It's not really a secret to the folks that know me…and it's probably not one to folks that have read some of the entries on this list, either…but I am not a big Star Wars fan. I tried to get into it as a kid, but what fascinated me as a child were aliens, and the original Star Wars trilogy didn't have enough of 'em to hold my interest…just a bunch of humans, robots, and a sasquatch-looking feller. That said, Star Wars has had some pretty solid games with its license tacked on, and Battlefront is one of 'em. Aimed towards players that enjoy team-based, capture the flag-style shooters, Star Wars: Battlefront allows you to play as various character types and in locations from the original trilogy of films and the second trilogy that came after it, complete with clips from the films. Star Wars nerds will likely be in heaven here, especially if they're shooter nerds as well. However, the gameplay is solid enough that even folks like me, who really do not have any emotional attachment to the Star Wars franchise at all, will still find enough here to enjoy and come back for more. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/31/2020 Radical Dreamers: Nusumenai Houseki Platform Super NES Initial Release Date 1996 (JP) Developer SquareSoft Genre Adventure My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 79.83/100 I’m fully aware that I’m in the minority over the fact that I prefer Chrono Cross to Chrono Trigger. But I can’t deny that Serge’s journey between parallel worlds captivated me more than Crono’s journey through time. That said, Radical Dreamers was the game in the middle of the two. Released exclusively in Japan for the Super Famicom add-on, Satellaview (which allowed players to download games from a satellite server – it wasn’t very popular), Radical Dreamers is essentially an “unknown” game in the series that many fans don’t even know exists. The fact that it’s a visual novel, a very niche genre, just adds to its obscurity. Anyway, in Radical Dreamers, Lynx has taken over Viper Manor and you take the role of Serge, accompanied by Kid and Magil/Gil (who is Magus from Chrono Trigger in disguise). It’s standard visual novel gameplay, with the RPG-like random battles popping up between screens. I’m no visual novel expert…I’ve only played a few…but the short, interesting story, mild RPG elements, multiple endings, and plenty of easter eggs to discover, all result in a solid experience. If you liked Chrono Cross like I did, and would love some more story with familiar characters, even if the story is brief, then Radical Dreamers is worth tracking down. Unfortunately, with no physical copies ever made, emulation is the only way to play it today. It also has a fantastic English translation, so if your Japanese isn't the greatest, you're covered. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/26/2021 Body Slam Platform Arcade Initial Release Date 1986 (JP) Developer Sega Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 76.49/100 Body Slam was, I believe, the first all-woman’s wrestling game ever made. The game was based off of the All-Japan Women’s promotion in Japan, but changed around for the North American audience. In fact, only Dump Matsumoto’s name remains intact, with the rest of the roster like Bull Nakano and the Crush Gals getting generic names. The gameplay is very simple, yet still fun...And I personally enjoy how the smaller girls bounce right off of the bigger girls unless they hit a move, and how sometimes after even connecting with a move, the bigger girls don’t react. It adds some challenge to the game if you feel like being an underdog. It’s also worth noting that the matches are exclusively tag team matches with three-minute time limits, which sounds limiting, but it works pretty well here as it provides a challenge. But anyway, this is simplistic wrestling fun...And it may also be the first wrestling game to include a kendo stick as a weapon to use. Played on: Arcade Also known as: Dump Matsumoto (Japan)

Date added: 02/16/2020 Daytona USA: Championship Circuit Edition Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date November 25, 1996 (NA) Developer Sega Genre Racing My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 80.36/100 After getting some grumbles from their customers over the original Daytona USA port on Saturn, Sega had the team that converted the excellent Sega Rally Championship try their hand at converting Daytona USA, this time calling it Daytona USA: Championship Circuit Edition. The end result was a mostly superior game. While not completely gone, the glitches were greatly reduced and the slow frame rate that plagued the original port was fixed. Also added was multiplayer mode, which was sorely missed in the first port. To increase replayability, two more tracks were added, bringing the total to five as well as including multiple vehicles to choose, with each one having different stats. The big down side is that by adding these vehicles that all handle differently, the game doesn’t really feel like the arcade game anymore. Another downside (or upside, depending on your tastes) is the change in music. Gone is the cheesy, but catchy, “Roooolllllling Staaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaart!” music, and it’s replaced with generic-sounding music. While Championship Circuit Edition is definitely the better overall package, if you simply want a port of the arcade version of Daytona USA on your Saturn, then you’re better off sticking with the original. Everyone else will likely prefer this version. Played on: Saturn Also known as: Daytona USA: Circuit Edition (Japan)

Date added: 09/24/2019 Gremlins Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1984 (NA) Developer Atari Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 72.15/100 Gremlins is one of those games that is a very pleasant surprise when you play it. Let's face it - a vast majority of licensed games are terrible. Gremlins doesn't fit that bill...In fact, it's very fun. The game is split up into two parts. The first part involves you trying to prevent the Mogwais from getting to some hamburgers that just happen to be all over the ground. If you miss, then they get the burger and transform into a little cocoon. If you have any burgers left after a few rounds of that, you get bonus points, but the burgers transform into cocoons anyway and the second half of the game begins - the cocoons hatch and you need to shoot and kill the gremlins as they make their way down the screen before they can reach you. This combination of two fun styles of gameplay really make this a very worthwhile experience for any Atari 2600 owner...Just a shame that a lot of folks missed out on it due to the video game crash. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/20/2020 Angry Birds: Star Wars Platform Apple iPhone/iPod Touch Initial Release Date November 8, 2012 (NA) Developer Rovio Entertainment Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 80.79/100 Angry Birds Star Wars mixes the best of Angry Birds and the best of Angry Birds Space and mixes the two together with the Star Wars franchise to create the best game in the Angry Birds series that I’ve played. I thought that this game would be Angry Birds "jumping the shark" so to speak, but instead it feels refreshing. With many of the birds (dressed like Star Wars folk) having new abilities, it makes toppling the pigs over feel like something new. I'm not a Star Wars fan by any means…in fact, adding the Star Wars stuff to this game was initially a turn-off, making me not want to play…but I was wrong. I feel like the addition of lightsabers and the like helped breathe some new life into the Angry Birds series – a series that definitely needed new life to survive. Played on: iPhone Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/07/2023 WWE 2K23 Platform Sony Playstation 5 Initial Release Date March 14, 2023 (NA/EU) Developer Visual Concepts Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.89/100 After several years of 2K Games struggling with the license after Yuke's stopped developing their games, they've finally gotten the series back on track with WWE 2K23. While it's still not quite up to par with most of the Yuke's games, in my opinion, and I still HATE the new control scheme, it's still definitely the best post-Yuke's WWE game. When the game first launched, I was a little worried - I encountered a few bugs and the game crashed a few times. After a single update, most of the bugs and crashes were eliminated. Aside from the overall game improvements, WWE 2K23 also introduced two-ring War Games for the first time in a WWE game. Having two rings programmed in the game opens the possibilities for other multi-ring gimmicks for future installments of the game, like battle royals. Whether that becomes a possibility or not is probably unlikely, but it's still something I'll be hoping for. MyFaction feels like it got a bit of a overhaul - I felt more inspired to spend time in that mode than I have in previous games due to some minor changes and an increased focus on keeping things fresh in that mode. You can also play through John Cena's "key moments" in his career if you feel like it, or play through a new story mode focused on the female competitors of the WWE. Overall, it's nice to see Visual Concepts and 2K Games finally deliver with a solid game after all these years. WWE 2K23 isn't groundbreaking, but it improves on nearly every weak point of the previous few games and it makes me look forward to what 2K24 may have to offer. Played on: Playstation 5, PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/22/2022 Hotshot Racing Platform Playstation 4 Initial Release Date September 10, 2020 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Lucky Mountain Games Genre Racing My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.17/100 Hotshot Racing completely took me by surprise. I saw the simplistic art style, and figured that, with the fact that it was digital only (at first - it did eventually get a physical release), this must be a sub-par game put out by amateur developers trying to raise money for a bigger project. I couldn't have been more wrong. Not only is Hotshot Racing a very solid arcade-style racing game, the screenshots don't do the visual aspect of the game justice - it's actually quite nice looking when it's in motion. Essentially, Hotshot Racing feels and plays like a kart racing game, but without the karts and weapons. As a result, not only is it fun, but I reckon that casual gamers that like games like Mario Kart will probably really enjoy this game as well…and like most kart games, I betcha there's a good chance that most hardcore gamers that give it a try will find it to be quite charming, too. The only real downside in this game is that drifting is a tad too loose - if you intend to drift a lot to fill up your boost meter, it's probably going to take a while to get used to how to do it without winding up sideways while the folks you race against speed past you. On the flip side, in games like Mario Kart, it's pretty easy to get drifting down within a race or two. That said, with how fun the racing is otherwise, I don't think it'll be an issue for most folks to want to stick with this long enough to at least get good enough with drifting to be able to use it when they need it. If you want a very solid arcade racing experience, Hotshot Racing is a really good choice. I haven't had this much fun in a modern racing game in quite a while. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/14/2019 Bird Week Platform NES Initial Release Date June 3, 1986 (JP) Developer Lenar Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 77.95/100 Bird Week is an interesting game that was released exclusively for the Famicom in Japan. At first glance, it looks like a simple, relaxing game. However, it’s actually got some challenge to it – particularly if you make it past a few levels. The premise is simple – you’re a bird looking for food for your young’uns. You need to feed the chicks in your nest until they’re strong enough to fly out on their own. The catch? There are plenty of things trying to kill you like hawks, chipmunks, and flying squirrels and the food that you’re trying get (butterflies) aren’t always easy to get since they flutter all over the place. So the seemingly relaxing experience of fluttering around in some beautiful 8-bit scenery can quickly become a chaotic game of survival. It’s a solid, seemingly overlooked game and one of my favorite imports on the Famicom. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/05/2021 Roadkill Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date October 30, 2003 (NA) Developer Terminal Reality Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.40/100 Roadkill is an interesting game. It’s kind of like a mix of Twisted Metal and Grand Theft Auto…so much that it even states that on the back of the game’s case. Basically, you drive around an open world, complete missions, and blow stuff up…all while listening to the various radio stations playing in the background. Much like Grand Theft Auto, it’s fun to simply just drive around and cause a bunch of carnage. When you get tired of that, you can participate in the missions…and if that gets old, you can always have some friends over and enjoy some Twisted Metal-style car combat. All that said, I feel like Roadkill is a solid game, and it’s fun to pop in from time to time just to wander around the game’s world and make random passers-by explode, but it’s shy of being an all-time great. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/10/2019 Slap Happy Rhythm Busters Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date June 29, 2000 (JP) Developer Polygon Magic Genre Fighting My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.65/100 Now here's an interesting hybrid. With games like Bust-A-Groove, we see music games with fighting game elements tossed in. In Slap Happy Rhythm Busters, we've got a fighting game with music game elements tossed in. Basically, Slap Happy Rhythm Busters is a solid, 2D fighting game with a Street Fighter-like power meter. When the meter fills up, you can unleash a super combo of sorts on your opponent. The catch? Upon unleashing the move, you go right into a rhythm-based music mini game and effectiveness of the combo depends how good your rhythm skills are. It's interesting, fun, and a really neat novelty attached to an already solid fighting game. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2020 Power Drill Massacre Arcade Platform PC Initial Release Date 2018 (NA) Developer Puppet Combo Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.40/100 Puppet Combo created a popular game called Power Drill Massacre, which was a 3D survival horror game similar to 90’s survival horror like Resident Evil or Silent Hill. Then they released this gem. Labeled as Power Drill Massacre Arcade, the game looks and plays like an old Atari 2600 game, though I doubt that this game is small enough to fit on an actual Atari 2600 cartridge. For what it is, though, it’s actually brilliant. I can’t imagine survival horror being done much better in this format. It’s essentially a mix of Atari 2600 classics Adventure and Haunted House. The goal in each level is to collect all three keys, find the exit, and avoid the killer that will spawn from doors. In the beginning, the levels are a single screen. As you advance on, levels will span across several screens. Each level basically starts as a blank screen and as you move through, walls appear, making it clear what paths to take. Having the killer chase you into the darkness of an unexplored part of the screen is part of the frantic fun. I always appreciate simple games that get things right. This game is very basic, but it gets everything right for the style of game that it is. I’m a big fan and I really appreciate that Puppet Combo isn’t afraid to attempt horror in different video game styles and doesn’t stick exclusively to PS One-era survival horror. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/03/2019 The Amazing Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin Platform Sega CD Initial Release Date November 3, 1993 (NA) Developer Monkey Business Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.10/100 Sega CD gets a pretty bad rap for some pretty bad games, but not everything on Sega's first CD-based system was bad. Take this game, for instance, arguably the best Spider-Man game at the time it was released, the Amazing Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin allowed players so much freedom to really make you feel like you were controling Spider-Man. Do you want to brawl through the levels or climb the sides of buildings to avoid everything? How about using your web to glide through the level instead? This is one of those games, where it's just fun to play, even if you're not advancing the game any. It's not perfect - combat in particular has some flaws - but this is still quite fun, flaws and all. Played on: Sega CD Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/12/2019 Escape from Monster Manor Platform Panasonic 3DO Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer 3DO Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 76.10/100 Playing this during the time of year when children shout the words, “Tick or Treat!” I fully expected this game to be a trick, but instead I got a treat. Escape from Monster Manor is not at all what I expected. I was expecting a point-and-click adventure like the 7th Guest or maybe some sort of FMV game like Night Trap…Instead, Escape from Monster Manor is a 1st person shooter mixed with minor elements of horror. Stuck in a haunted house, you need to find keys to open up locked doors while killing ghosts and other horror-inspired enemies and ultimately make it to the end of each level. Like many early 1st person shooters, it may feel dated to fans of the genre today, but I still found it to be fun and addicting. It’s just a shame that it was only released on the 3DO, so a lot of folks missed out on a pretty enjoyable game. Played on: 3DO Also known as: Virtual Horror: Norowarate Yakata (Japan)

Date added: 01/30/2022 World Heroes Platform Neo Geo Initial Release Date September 11, 1992 (NA/JP) Developer ADK Genre Fighting My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 74.29/100 I played World Heroes about a decade ago, and while it wasn’t a bad fighting game, I don’t remember it being too great, either. Revisiting it for this list, it’s better than I remember. I thought I remembered World Heroes having choppy controls, like many early fighting games, but I was wrong. The controls here are smooth. While it’s not Street Fighter II in quality, it still provides pretty solid fighting action. What does set World Heroes apart from other fighting games of the time is a second variation of Arcade mode - Death Match mode. This plays just like Arcade mode, except with different stages to battle in - most with hazardous areas to damage your opponent with…or for them to damage you with. Tired of attacking the enemy and them blocking all of your attacks? Well, attack them enough and you may push them into a spiked wall in Death Match mode, putting the hurt on them and temporarily putting an end to your inability to cause any damage. Again, World Heroes likely won’t be considered one of the greatest fighting games by anyone, but it’s still a very solid fighter and well worth checking out if you’re a fan of the genre. Played on: Neo-Geo Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/10/2020 Year Walk Platform PC Initial Release Date March 6. 2014 (NA) Developer Simogo Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.89/100 Year Walk looked stylistic and interesting, so I gave it a shot. I guess this is the PC version of a game that was previously on iDevices and Android. If that's the case, I'll likely be getting the portable versions - I'm a fan. It's not long at all. It took me about an hour and a half to beat and depending on your puzzle solving skills it may take a little shorter or a little longer. But it's definitely worth playing through, especially if you're into adventure games with mild horror elements blended in. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/30/2024 Hammerin' Harry Platform NES Initial Release Date November 15, 1991 (JP) Developer Irem Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.92/100 Hammerin' Harry is one of the few solid games from Japan that saw a European release, but not a North American release….honestly, it was usually the other way around with Europe missing out. We missed out on a doozy here in North America, too, with this one. Hammerin' Harry is part of the long-running Daiku no Gen-San franchise in Japan. This was the first game in the series that was released, and the last one (unless you count a Slot/Pachiko game themed after the franchise) was the first one released in North America, Hammerin' Hero on the PSP. Now with that history lesson out of the way, I should get on with talking about this game, eh? In Hammerin' Harry, you wield a hammer and your goal is to swing that hammer while platforming your way through the various levels in the game until you battle the final boss, a corrupt business man obsessed with money that travels in a flying wheelchair while throwing deadly currency at you in attempt to kill you…and if that sounds bizarre and comical to you, then it gives you an idea of what to expect from the rest of the game leading up to that battle. Like some other platformers of the time, beating the game once doesn't give you a the true ending and a second playthrough is required to see Harry have a truly happy finale, but even with playing through twice, the time it takes to play through is pretty low - it took me roughly 45 minutes. Anyway, if you have a sense of humor and enjoy solid platformers, then you'll likely enjoy Hammerin' Harry for what it is…and the good news for us in North America is that it has FINALLY seen a North American release after all these years thanks to the folks over at Retro-Bit, so if you want an official Hammerin' Harry cartridge for your NES, one is finally available. Played on: NES Also known as: Daiku no Gen-San (Japan)

Date added: 10/27/2023 Manhunt Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date November 18, 2003 (NA) Developer Rockstar North Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.44/100 Before revisiting this game in order to rank it on this list, I really could only remember two things about this game…using plastic bags to take folks down, and Piggsy, the deranged, killer you see in various sutscenes and at the end of the game. After playing through it again, I still like it, but it hasn't necessarily aged as well as one may like. The stealth-based gameplay is as fun as it ever was - stalking victims, while trying to avoid becoming a victim yourself, is the fun basis of the game. Story-wise, you're a fellow that was receiving the death sentence, but due to a fellow pulling some strings, you survived that so you could participate in some demented videos that will likely be sold to troubled folks that like to watch murders on film. You start out following the orders of the guy directing your violence…but eventually, you prove to be a little too good at surviving, so he sends his personal army after you, with everything coming to a head at the director's mansion. The controls do feel a little dated today, though they still work fine. The shock value of Manhunt isn't really there anymore, either. Manhunt was one of the most vulgar, violent, shocking games ever made when it came out…Not so much anymore. While Manhunt doesn't quite pack the punch it once did, it's still enjoyable to play through today. If you're into stealth-based games and wish to be stalked by an overweight fella wearing a pig mask, then you'll likely enjoy what Manhunt has to offer. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/02/2022 R.B.I. Baseball 2 Platform NES Initial Release Date 1990 (NA) Developer Tengen Genre Sports - Baseball My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.48/100 The original R.B.I. Baseball, while a great baseball game, was essentially just Pro Yakyuu Family Stadium, but with rosters and teams swapped from the Japanese baseball league to players and teams from Major League Baseball. After the initial game, though, the Pro Yakyuu Family Stadium and R.B.I. Baseball franchises went their separate ways, with Namco continuing to develop their Pro Yakyuu Family Stadium games and Tengen taking the reigns to develop the R.B.I. Baseball games. With R.B.I. Baseball 2, Tengen took the basic gameplay of the original game, and tweaked it a bit so that it wasn't merely a Tengen-developed version of the same game. With new music, updated graphics to make the players seem more realistic, and more teams (all 26 pro teams from 1989) added to play as and against, R.B.I. Baseball 2 is a better follow-up to the sequel than Japan got, which was essentially the exact same game, but with updated rosters. Also unlike the original game, R.B.I. Baseball 2 was released after Tengen decided that it no longer wanted to pay the Nintendo licensing fees, making this an "unofficial" game released on the NES. Anyway, official or not, R.B.I. Baseball 2 wound up being a very good baseball game that any fan of the sport can likely appreciate…especially if you'd like to play in a league full of the players and stars of the 1989 MLB season. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/31/2022 WWE Smackdown! vs. Raw Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date November 2, 2004 (NA) Developer Yuke's Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.00/100 WWE Smackdown!: Here Comes the Pain is often regarded as the very best game in the Smackdown!/WWE 2K wrestling series. Since WWE Smackdown! vs. Raw was the next game in the franchise, it had a lot of expectations from fans…unfortunately, it quite doesn't match up to the previous game in the series. That's not saying that this is a bad game, it's not…it just doesn't feel like the evolution from Here Comes the Pain that many of us wanted…it just feels like Here Comes the Pain with some added bells and whistles. Introduced in this entry of the franchise are the Create-A-Championship and Create-A-PPV modes, as well as challenges that you can complete to earn money to unlock arenas, legends, alternate outfits, etc. This is also the game that introduced online play to the series. In-ring action got additions of choosing to play with babyface or heel tactics, with a meter that fills up during the bout that allows you to unleash a special move once full. The Royal Rumble mechanics also got improvements with a meter to show how close you are from being tossed from the ring at any given time…though if you're a cruiserweight in the ring against a super heavyweight, the meter doesn't necessarily matter, as you could be tossed by them, even with a full meter. While this game feels like a little bit of a letdown compared to Here Comes the Pain, the new additions do still make this a solid game for wrestling fans. If you liked Here Comes the Pain, and don't mind taking a minor step back for an updated (for 2004) roster and some new features, then you'll still find plenty to like here. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: Exciting Pro Wrestling 6: SmackDown! vs. Raw (Japan)

Date added: 12/28/2021 Mega Man 4 Platform NES Initial Release Date December 6, 1991 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.14/100 Mega Man 4 is not a bad game by any means, but it was definitely the beginning of the decline in the Mega Man franchise. With Mega Man 2 being fantastic, and 3 being nearly as fantastic and with new gameplay features, Mega Man 4 had a lot to live up to. Unfortunately, it failed to reach the quality of the previous two games in the franchise. Most players seem to echo that statement, but there are some folks out there that actually consider this game to be their favorite in the franchise. That goes to show that while it’s largely considered to be the start of the decline of the Mega Man games, it’s still a very good game anyway. The best way to put it is that if Mega Man 4 was the only Mega Man game, it would probably be held in higher regard since it is a solid game. But since it’s the fourth game in the series, and aside from the robot bosses and the fact that this has more levels to play through than any other Mega Man game before it, there really aren’t a lot of new ideas brought to the table, and it causes the otherwise well-made game to feel kind of stale. All that said, Mega Man 4 is probably my least favorite of the 8-bit games in the series, but that’s like being the worst-smelling brownie at a baking contest - everyone will have their own opinion on which one smells the worst, but even the worst one smells pretty dang delicious. Played on: NES Also known as: RockMan 4: Aratanaru Yabou!! (Japan)

Date added: 10/26/2022 Master of Darkness Platform Sega Master System Initial Release Date 1992 (EU) Developer SIMS Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.38/100 Alright, in this same update, Kenseiden was added to this list and I mentioned that it was a Castlevania clone…Well, compared to Master of Darkness, Kenseiden looks like a pretty original game. Master of Darkness takes the gameplay of the original Castlevania (including having Dracula as the main antagonist) and throws in cinematic cutscenes similar to Ninja Gaiden and the end result is a very solid European exclusive released late in the life of the Sega Master System. With various weapons and sub-weapons to arm yourself with, Master of Darkness is a pretty fun experience with minor strategy regarding which weapons to pick up in certain levels and which weapons to avoid. The major flaw in the game, for me, was the cheap deaths. Like in Castlevania, you get knocked back when hit…and in this game, you will find yourself getting frustrated while you attempt to make a basic-looking jump when an enemy will appear out of nowhere to hit you right back into the pit for an instant death. The frustrating areas that have that are thankfully few, but they're enough that you may consider simply quitting and moving onto something else, if you don't lose all of your lives first. Aside from that, there really isn't a lot else to complain about here. I do wish that it had a little more originality to it, but at the same time, the game is made well enough where I think most players will be perfectly fine with this being a well-made Castlevania clone. If you want to play Castlevania on the Master System, then this is about as close as you'd be able to get to that. Played on: Sega Master System Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/13/2023 Dragon Quest Treasures Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date December 9, 2022 (W) Developer TOSE Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 72.98/100 From what I've played, the Dragon Quest offshoots are never the greatest games in the world, nor do they match the quality of games in the regular Dragon Quest series, but they do always seem to be fun for what they are, flaws and all. The concept of Dragon Quest Treasures is that you control two children, with the ability to switch between the two whenever you're back at camp, and the goal is to just explore this new land that you've found yourself in, recruit monsters to join your cause, and dig up as much treasure as you can find. Aside from basic treasure, which is mostly items or statues of characters from previous Dragon Quest games (like a Dhoulmagus statue from Dragon Quest VIII, for example) you're also tasked to obtain specific treasures to advance the game. You'll watch your gang having a hideout in shambles to having a hideout that's so full of treasure that there are literally waterfalls of gold pouring down in various areas. While I definitely enjoyed my time playing Dragon Quest Treasures, I also can't deny that after a dozen hours or so, when I had explored enough to have all areas of the map visible and all railways stations restored, the gameplay did begin to feel a little repetitive. Still, even with the repetition, I still found myself going back and digging for more treasure even after I had beaten the game and saw the credits roll. If you're a fan of the Dragon Quest franchise, and are looking for an enjoyable action RPG that's a little on the easy side, then this is a good game for you. Dragon Quest Treasures won't likely blow anyone away, but I do think that it's charming enough where it could garner a decent-sized fanbase amongst those who give it a chance. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/06/2023 Majyuuou Platform Super NES Initial Release Date August 25, 1995(JP) Developer Eleven Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 74.71/100 Majyuuou, or Majyuo, or Majuu Ou….however you may have seen it translated, was a Japanese-exclusive scrolling shooter that is a bit of a hidden gem, in my opinion. At first glance, it looks very much like it's a Metal Slug clone, but as you progress through the game, you'll quickly realize that this game is different. As you defeat demonic bosses, you'll gradually transform more and more into a demon yourself. By the end of the game, you're no longer a man running around shooting at stuff with a gun, but a demon shooting out magic or glowing oranges or whatever the devil demons throw at people. If you're wondering where the demons come in, your goal is to save your wife and child from Hell, so obviously, you'll meet nastier and nastier demons as to descent down to the depths of that location. While I instantly compared this game to Metal Slug when I played, many people who played it seem to call it "Castlevania with a gun." Majyuuou does have a high difficulty, but for the folks that are willing to adapt and overcome the challenge, they'll find a very good game that somehow never found its way out of Japan. Even in Japan, it's fairly rare, with used copies being sold for 100,000 yen (almost $700 USD) at one point. While I really liked Majyuuou, I don't enjoy it enough to find it to be worth that price tag. If you're a fan of unique action games, though, it's good enough where it may be worth that price tag for you. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Majyuo, Majuu Ou

Date added: 01/19/2021 Moritaka Chisato: Safari Tokyo Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date October 22, 1998 (JP) Developer Oracion Genre Music My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 77.48/100 Moritaka Chisato: Safari Tokyo completely took me by surprise...it's really good. When I saw that it was a game about a musician, I figured it would be the Japanese version of Spice World. Safari Tokyo DOES have the same gameplay as Spice World...in one part of the game, but there's so much more to do with various musical minigames. You can play a somewhat traditional rhythm games where you press the button at the right time...or more unique ones, like where it's essentially a musical game of Simon with several of Chisato Moritaka's hit songs. I had no idea who Ms. Moritaka was before playing this game, and I finished playing this game a fan - it was a pleasant surprise both in discovering this game and discovering her music. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/20/2020 New Super Mario Bros. Platform Nintendo DS Initial Release Date May 15, 2006 (NA) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.63/100 I was really looking forward to New Super Mario Bros. when it was first released. While I thought that the 3D Mario games that had come out were good, I’ve always preferred the 2D, side-scrolling adventures of the plumber more. While I wouldn’t say that I hated New Super Mario Bros. by any means, but it just simply didn’t hook me like the previous 2D Mario games had. I wasn’t sure if that was because I was simply older or just because the original 2D Mario games were just that good that any follow-ups to them would feel like a letdown. Anyway, while it wasn’t necessarily a return to the greatness that those of us who grew up on the NES and SNES were hoping for, New Super Mario Bros. was still a solid platformer with some interesting new power-ups – the most notable being the abilities to become a giant, plowing through everything in your path, and to shrink, allowing you to fit in small places that you wouldn’t be able to otherwise. This was a solid return to 2D platforming for everyone’s favorite plumber, but if you've played through all of Mario's previous 2D classics countless times like I have, then it may fall short of your expectations like it did mine. Played on: Nintendo DS Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/14/2022 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game Platform NES Initial Release Date December 7, 1990 (JP) Developer Konami Genre Brawler My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.60/100 With the success of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the arcade, Konami decided to port it to the NES. Since the NES already had a game with the same name published on the system, the arcade Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles then became Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game...Long explanation for something not important, right? Anyway, this arcade port is quite good. It obviously doesn't look as nice as the arcade version, or play quite as smoothly, but it gets the job done just fine anyway. To make up for those little short comings, the NES version actually adds extra content in the form of new levels, new bosses, and a little more content to the already simple story. A pretty good trade-off to get a version of this game to play at home, I reckon. TMNT 2 is one of the better brawlers on the NES and it's still pretty fun to pummel your way through the levels to this day. Played on: NES Also known as: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Japan), Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles II: The Arcade Game (Europe)

Date added: 01/25/2023 Samurai Shodown Platform Playstation 4 Initial Release Date December 12, 2019 (JP) Developer Safari Games Genre Fighting My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.27/100 Second only to Street Fighter, Samurai Shodown may be my favorite 2D fighting game series. So, in 2020, when I saw that Samurai Shodown was back, I jumped up in the air and clicked my heels together, like a normal person does when they're overjoyed. After playing it, I can honestly say that while Samurai Shodown is a very solid fighting game, it also feels like it's lacking something. It's odd for me to say that, because if this game had been released 20 years ago, I might be praising it as one of the greatest fighting games of all-time. But, 20 years later, when folks expect more content from their games than ever before, Samurai Shodown simply lacked in gameplay modes to keep me coming back for more. The story mode is essentially the traditional arcade mode, with cutscenes tossed in, and it's fine for what it is, but something larger and longer would have been nice. Honestly, though, that's not too major of a complaint because once the fighting itself starts, it's a very good game. Like traditional Samurai Shodown games, each fighter plays completely differently and the game sports a cast of new characters mixed with some old favorites. If you're into online fighting, and don't care about single-player game modes, then you'll likely fall in love with this game. If you're like me and prefer to play games single-player, you'll probably still have some fun…just don't expect it to last too long before you run out of things to do. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: Samurai Spirits (Japan)

Date added: 08/24/2022 TimeSplitters Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date October 23, 2000 (NA) Developer Free Radical Design Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.05/100 TimeSplitters was never a game that caught my interest in any way. Even when it spawned a few sequels, I just never found a whole lot of interest in the series. A friend and I would share our review scores with each other for fun, and TimeSplitters (and the sequel) were some games that he rated highly…so I assumed they were good…but I still never bothered to play any of them. Well, not until a year or so ago when I finally decided to play TimeSplitters for the first time, with the intent to add it to this list. I played all the way through from beginning to end, but for one reason or another, I just never got around to adding it, and eventually forgot about it. While that sounds like a bad sign, I think it was more of a case of me not having two other Playstation 2 games ready to add, since I like to do updates in groups of three of the same console. In fact, I'd have to agree with my pal - while it's not generally my type of game, TimeSplitters is actually very good. Instead of being one, very large area that you gradually explore as you progress in the game, like a town or a city, TimeSplitters instead has you traveling to various times (like the name suggests) so each stage is completely different from the others, from the environments, down to the enemies and even the weapons, in some cases. It's not the greatest first-person shooter by any means, but when it came to console-based shooters of the time, TimeSplitters is a very good choice for fans of the genre. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/19/2022 Laser Ghost Platform Sega Master System Initial Release Date 1991 (EU) Developer Sega Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.34/100 Laser Ghost was a Europe-exclusive title for the Sega Master System, and for folks like me, who live in North America, it's a cryin' shame that it never found its way to these shores. Basically, Laser Ghost is a light gun game, but rather than simply shoot at enemies, Laser Ghost has you using your noggin a little bit as well. The whole goal is to protect the girl walking through the levels by shooting any of the various ghoulies that try to get to her…and there are a variety of enemies here. From ghosts to haunted cars, the enemies and levels are all varied and will likely keep you entertained to the end…or until you see the game over screen. This is a pretty difficult game, which is to be expected from a port of an arcade game - games that are generally made with a high difficulty to get as many quarters from players as possible. But, this is a very solid light gun game and if you're a fan of the genre, you'll likely play enough to overcome that difficulty and eventually make your way to the final boss. Not only is Laser Ghost full of personality, it's one of the better light gun games that I've personally played. If you want a spooky light gun game, and either live in Europe or have access to European imports, then Laser Ghost is well worth checking out. Played on: Sega Master System Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/06/2023 Metal Slug Advance Platform Nintendo Game Boy Advance Initial Release Date November 12, 2004 (EU) Developer Noise Factory Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.38/100 One would imagine that a Metal Slug game with a health bar would be easier to beat than other games in the series where you lose a life with a single shot. Well, I found it to be a little more difficult, honestly. Sure, I could take more shots before dying, but in Metal Slug Advance, once you've lost all of your health, you're starting the level over or at a checkpoint. In the other games, if I ran out of bombs to use against a boss, I had the option to sacrifice a life to get an automatic refill of bombs to attack the big ol' brute with. There's no option to allow myself to be hit to obtain extra firepower here. That's not necessarily a negative, mind you, it's just a change of pace from the standard Metal Slug games. Another change of pace is the ability to save your progress, and the option to collect "cards" of items that you can use to enhance your character, making the difficulty a little more forgiving. While this game does lack some of the charm of the Neo-Geo originals, any fan of the Metal Slug series will likely find enough to like here to warrant playing through it to the end. Played on: Game Boy Advance Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/28/2024 Zen-Nippon Joshi Pro Wrestling Kounin: Fire Pro Joshi All-Star Dream Slam Platform Super NES Initial Release Date July 22, 1994 (JP) Developer Human Entertainment Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.39/100 In 1994, Human Entertainment decided to do a twist with their Fire Pro Wrestling franchise….well, two twists. The first twist was that this game was the first game in the Fire Pro series to actually license the wrestlers rather than create likenesses of wrestlers to avoid copyrights. The second twist was that since that license was done with All-Japan Women, this was also the first all-female game in the Fire Pro Wrestling series. Unfortunately, while those two twists are a nice change, there's not really much here that innovates in the gameplay department. On the plus side, this is still a very good wrestling game for its time, and I've got a soft spot for the fact that my personal favorite joshi wrestler, KAORU, is one of the 25 licensed wrestlers in the game. With other favorites like Akira Hokuto, Manami Toyota, Aja Kong, Kyoko Inoue, Takako Inoue, Bull Nakano, and plenty of others, All-Star Dream Slam has much of the popular roster of lady grapplers that sold out arenas in Japan in the early and mid-90's. If you like the Fire Pro Wrestling games, but also enjoy women's wrestling, you'll get the both of both worlds here. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/01/2022 Kirby's Pinball Land Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date November 27, 1993 (JP) Developer Hal Laboratories Genre Pinball My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 77.80/100 Kirby's Pinball Land is one of my favorite pinball games that I've ever played. You can traverse through three different pinball tables, with boss fights and hidden rooms awaiting you. Each table is designed well enough where it takes a while before you get bored...And when you do get bored, you just have to manipulate Kirby enough in a certain area to trigger a star that will transport you to the table selection screen, where you can enter a new table. Or, of course, you can defeat the boss of that pinball table to return to the same table selection screen. Defeat all of the bosses, and you'll have a bonus, final boss fight against King Dedede. I wish more video pinball games were as fun as this solid addition to the Kirby franchise. If you've never played it, definitely give it a chance. Played on: Game Boy Also known as: Kirby no Pinball (Japan)

Date added: 10/25/2021 Remothered: Tormented Fathers Platform Playstation 4 Initial Release Date July 25, 2018 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Stormind Games Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 75.94/100 Ever since I first saw Remothered: Tormented Fathers, it looked like the kind of game I like to play. Footage reminded me a little of the survival horror games from the olden days that I love, and it also seemed to be dark and twisted enough for me to really enjoy the story being told as well. Now that I’ve finally played it, I can honestly say that it’s not quite what I had expected it to be. I expected a traditional-style survival horror game like Silent Hill, but instead this is essentially a game of hide and seek with you always being the one to hide. The whole game has you trying to be undetected while collecting the needed items to advance the story and eventually escape the house that you’re in. You don’t have the ability to really attack anything - just the abilities to distract and defend yourself. So, hiding is really your only option. It works well, and I never really felt bored while waiting for the right time to sneak through a hallway or up a staircase. The story was also well done, and just as twisted as I hoped it would be. I wouldn’t put it in the upper tier of horror titles, but it’s got a nice, solid position on the tier just below it. Ultimately, though, if you love horror games, then you’ll probably love this game as well. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/12/2020 No Heroes Allowed: No Puzzles Either! Platform Playstation Vita Initial Release Date December 12, 2013 (NA) Developer SCEI Genre Puzzle My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.58/100 There aren’t many puzzle games that hooked me as much as No Heroes Allowed: No Puzzles Either! It’s a very lovable game in many ways with loads of personality that mixes matching puzzle games with RPGs. Your goal is to summon monsters, by matching the appropriate blocks, to defeat and capture heroes. The goal is to try to “catch ‘em all,” to steal a line from a certain popular video game. The graphical presentation is charming with its retro look, and the soundtrack is pretty catchy. The only real downside here is that it’s a free-to-play game…the downside isn’t so much that you HAVE to pay for anything. You absolutely do not…but the game does kind of mock you in a comical way if you choose to not pay a dime. If you DO decide to pay, I believe it’s less than $20 for all of the features and such. I put so much time into the free game that I felt like I needed to invest in it financially…not because I couldn’t advance without paying, you definitely can, but because for a game to give me that much fun for free, I’d like to give them some “COLD HARD CASH,” as the game would say, in return to thank them for the fun that they provided. Played on: Playstation Vita Also known as: Yuusha no Kuse ni Konamaikida. G (Japan)

Date added: 11/30/2021 Guilty Gear Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date May 14, 1998 (JP) Developer Arc System Works Genre Fighting My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.34/100 If you're looking for a quality, 2D fighting game on the Playstation, then Guilty Gear is fantastic. The only thing preventing me from giving it a better score is the lack of game modes. Around the time it came out, fighting games were beginning to move away from only having arcade modes and adding in other modes to keep replayability up. I’d imagine that if this game had been released just two or three years earlier that it would have been getting near-perfect scores from a lot of video game publications. Instead, since it got released when it did, eventhough it did still get solid reviews, it felt like an excellent 2D fighting game that lacked the additional modes that players were beginning to get accustomed to. Other than that, the game looks absolutely gorgeous, it plays smoothly, and is just a very good overall experience. If you like fighting games, you'll likely love Guilty Gear. If you’re not a fan of competing in versus matches against a friend or playing solo in arcade mode, there isn’t much else here to make you want to keep playing here, though. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/24/2022 Chew-Man-Fu Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date March 30, 1990 (JP) Developer Now Production Genre Puzzle My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 77.03/100 I always liked Chew-Man-Fu, but until revisiting it again to add it to this list, I don't think I really appreciated it for how enjoyable it is. Essentially, Chew-Man-Fu is an action-based puzzle game where the goal is to roll four colored balls onto the appropriate space in the level. While doing so, you'll have to avoid all of the various enemies that prowl the stage, along with the skills that each enemy has that'll make achieving your goal difficult. But, you can use the balls to your advantage, using them to defeat the various enemies or to even block them into a section, preventing them from bothering you as you go about your business. You can also destroy the walls in the levels (in later levels, it's required to do so) to create shortcuts and/or find various items hidden in each level. Between each stage, you'll get a sometimes comical comment…like, "These demons have no decency. Their mothers never loved them," or, "Chew's hatchetmen are cutthroat killers but they can't dance like you." When these comments pop up, you'll receive diamonds depending on how skillfully you completed the level. After you receive 30, you can play a mini game for extra lives…and it's not difficult to rack up plenty of lives in these mini games. Aside from the main story, a Kickball mode is included, which is essentially just Pong, and requires two players. There's also an edit mode if you'd like to get creative. Overall, Chew-Man-Fu is just a very solid action-based puzzle game that also has quite a bit of personality tossed in. If you're a fan of puzzle games, you'll likely find an enjoyable experience here. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: Be Ball (Japan)

Date added: 06/30/2022 Last Day of June Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date August 31, 2017 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Ovosonico Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.30/100 I tend to gravitate towards games that look or play differently than the norm, so when I saw Last Day of June, I was intrigued. It appeared to have a romantic story attached to it (which doesn't bother me - games can get as lovey-dovey as they want as long as they're good) and it looked to have an interesting, but beautiful art style…I figured, why not try it. I'm glad I did. While not perfect, Last Day of June is a fun game for the 3-4 hours it'll take for most people to beat it their first time. Essentially, the game starts with you controlling a fellow who is out on a date with his wife/girlfriend…to make describing this easier, I'll just refer to her as his wife. A storm rolls in, a car accident happens, and for the remainder of the game when you control that guy, he'll be rolling around in a wheelchair and you'll realize that his wife died in the wreck. The rest of the game is diving into the past, controlling your neighbors, in an effort to change the events that caused the crash to happen, thus saving his wife in the process...leading to another thing that causes the wreck that you've got to try to undo. It's a solid game that makes you observe the world around you and use your brain a little, but nothing here is too challenging or difficult to figure out after giving it a thought or two. Unfortunately, Last Day of June does have some bugs…the game crashed for me a few times as I played through the story. Thankfully, it auto-saves frequently, so I never lost much progress…but since you can't skip any cutscenes, it can get annoying when you've already seen a long scene and wish to just get back to where you were. But that aside, Last Day of June is still a solid game that I'd recommend to anyone that may find a game about going back in time to save the one you love to be an interesting concept. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/17/2021 Rule of Rose Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date January 19, 2006 (JP) Developer Punchline Genre Adventure My Score 6.5/10 Avg. Score 69.92/100 Punchline has the distinction of creating two of my favorite PS2 games...and both of them have review scores that are much lower than my actual love for the games. Chulip is an absolute favorite of mine, though I feel like I couldn’t give it a higher score than a 7 out of 10. Rule of Rose, though a completely different game in nearly every possible way, follows that trend. As much as I hate to say it, Rule of Rose is very flawed in the gameplay department...Mostly in the way of combat. The combat is clunky and unresponsive. One could argue that since Jennifer, the main character, is a timid young girl that would probably fight similar to how the game controls, the flawed combat is acceptable. If that was the case, I get it, but the unresponsiveness of controls in combat make it feel more like poor coding in development rather than a planned aspect to the game engine. That complaint out of the way, I absolutely love the story found in this game. It's dark and psychological with plenty of little subtle touches...And I absolutely loved the ending. There's a reason that this game has garnered a cult following - what it lacks in gameplay, it makes up for in story. Today, a copy of this game is currently selling for over $500. Even with its flaws, I love this game enough where I feel like it’s worth every penny. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/23/2020 Wrestling Universe: Fire Pro Joshi - Doumu Chou Taisen Platform Turbografx-CD Initial Release Date February 3, 1995 (JP) Developer Human Entertainment Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.88/100 Wrestling Universe: Fire Pro Joshi is a very good wrestling game released for the TurboGrafx-CD. While the game uses various sounds and such that it wouldn’t normally be able to without the CD format, it largely feels like it could have been released on a HuCard or cartridge on another console, with the same result in graphical and gameplay quality. Still, the game itself, which features wrestlers from both All-Japan Women and JWP, allows players to have their own inter-promotional matches with most of the game modes one would expect from a Fire Pro Wrestling game at the time...including an edit mode, allowing players to not just have inter-promotional contests between AJW and JWP, but from any promotion that the player could think to create women from. While the game doesn’t really innovate in any way, it’s still a very solid wrestling game and well worth checking out for fans of joshi or folks that just like solid professional wrestling video games. Played on: Turbografx-CD Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/25/2019 Balloon Fight Platform NES Initial Release Date January 22, 1985 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.07/100 Balloon Fight has two modes of gameplay - one involves you on a single screen, floating around trying to pop the balloons of enemies around you while also trying to prevent your own balloons from being popped. This mode is pretty fun and makes Balloon Fight a worthwhile game for its time in its own right. The second mode is simply called "Balloon Trip" and is a side-scrolling game where you try to last as long as possible and rack up as many points as possible before your balloons pop, you get electrocuted, and/or a giant fish eats you. The addition of this mode really makes Balloon Fight shine, in my opinion. Hello Kitty World would vastly improve on the "Balloon Trip" concept seven years later, but Balloon Fight did a dang good job debuting it to the world. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/10/2019 No One Can Stop Mr. Domino Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date January 8, 1998 (JP) Developer Artdink Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 77.75/100 No One Can Stop Mr. Domino is one of those odd games where you play it out of curiosity just 'cause it looks weird and then find yourself hooked when you realize that it's actually a very well-made game. Basically, in Mr. Domino, you run around a course, dropping dominos in specific spots with the goal being that you trigger environmental stuff that keeps the domino tumble combo going. It's more difficult than it sounds, and that challenge kept me coming back for more. If you've never played this game before, and it sounds interesting to you, give it a try, you may just become smitten with it like I was. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Domino-kun o Tomenaide (Japan)

Date added: 08/22/2019 R.B.I. Baseball Platform NES Initial Release Date December 10, 1986 (JP) Developer Namco Genre Sports - Baseball My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.93/100 R.B.I. Baseball, when it was first released, was probably the best available option if you wanted to play a video game version of baseball. While it seems extremely basic today, it was actually really good for its time. You could only play a single game, solo or against a friend, or, interestingly enough, you could watch the computer battle itself…with real players and teams (though not all of them) baseball fans could enjoy watching simulated games…even if all of the players look like they’re 400 pounds and even the non-white players are white. Visual complaints aside, the inclusion of various stats was fantasti for its time. The gameplay is smooth as silk, and while other baseball games would eventually pass R.B.I. Baseball in terms of quality, back when it was first released back in 1986, nothing could touch this gem. Played on: NES Also known as: Pro Yakyuu Family Stadium (Japan)

Date added: 08/18/2019 NES Remix Platform Nintendo Wii U Initial Release Date December 18, 2013 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Indies Zero Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 75.15/100 When it comes to console gaming, I’ve never really been huge on digital games, but when NES Remix came out on the Wii U, I did not hesitate to pick this up. NES Remix is basically a collection of mini games based around several NES classics. The mini games range from simply testing your skill on the classics to adding fresh new spins. For example, for one challenge, you may simply be asked to run through the first level of Super Mario Bros. as quickly as possible. Another challenge sounds like it’s the same thing, but when you play you realize that the level switches to two colors – black and gray, and enemies can blend into the background if you don’t already know where they are. While not an entirely accurate description, one could think of NES Remix as a retro version of Wario Ware – various mini games that when combined together create some good, solid fun. Played on: Wii U Also known as: Famicom Remix (Japan)

Date added: 08/17/2019 Bloody Roar Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date October 31, 1997 (NA) Developer Eighting Genre Fighting My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.21/100 Fighting game fanatics from all around had always wondered, “What if I could morph my character into a giant boar?” Well, at least that’s what Eighting believed when they created Bloody Roar. Bloody Roar was your basic 3D fighter for its time, but with one catch – the fighters could “power up” and transform into various animals like a gorilla, a rabbit, a wolf, etc. This feature didn’t necessarily enhance the gameplay any, but it did help make it stand out in the 3D fighting genre. The gameplay itself is still solid, though, and worth checking out if you’re a fan of fighting games and think that turning into a lion in the middle of a fight sounds like a fun time. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Bloody Roar: Hyper Beast Duel (Europe), Beastorizer (Arcade)

Date added: 08/04/2019 Mega Man Platform NES Initial Release Date December 17, 1987 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.76/100 Within a few minutes of playing the original Mega Man, defeating Bomb Man, and realizing that I had just obtained the powers of the boss I had just beaten, I fell head over heels for the game. Mega Man's formula is just plain great - wonderfully designed, fun-to-navigate-through levels with an enjoyable boss fight waiting to greet you at the end. The soundtrack quality, which would become a staple of the series, was awesome as well. I’ve never been much of a music person, but I will gladly listen to the soundtrack of any Mega Man game, and it all started here. Later games in the series surpassed this game in terms of perfecting the gameplay mechanics, but the original is still a very solid game in its own right and well worth playing if you’re curious about the origins of everyone’s favorite blue robot. Played on: NES Also known as: RockMan (Japan)

Date added: 08/11/2019 WWE Super Card Platform Android Initial Release Date August 14, 2014 (NA) Developer Cat Daddy Games Genre Strategy My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.69/100 I have been playing WWE Super Card since the game was released in August of 2014...And as I type this, five years later, I'm still playing it on a fairly regular basis. Basically, Super Card is a card-based strategy game. The basic game mode involves you simply picking a card from your deck with the highest stat (or stats) that you see displayed on the screen. Since the game was released five years ago, however, various other game modes with different strategies have been implemented into the game…and the new modes always seem to be added just as the game is starting to feel a bit stale. There have been a few times where I thought I was done with Super Card, and I always end up coming back. When it comes to mobile games, WWE Super Card isn't perfect, but it's still one that will never leave my phone. Played on: Android Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/27/2020 Dance Dance Revolution: 2nd Remix Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date August 26, 1999 (JP) Developer Konami Genre Music My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.95/100 Just four and a half months after Dance Dance Revolution arrived on the Playstation console, 2nd Remix hit the shelves and actually added a little bit in the process. This version features more songs, and a neat option to make them more difficult, should you feel the need. This option, as simple as it sounds, adds a lot of replayability to the game - once you've mastered a song, you essentially have two more versions to master should you want the fun to continue. Today, 2nd Remix would be best considered as stand-alone DLC – some nice additions, but ultimately much of the same that you got from the original game. Still, it does add enough to the original game to make this well worth the purchase if you enjoyed dancing to the first release. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/25/2020 The Pinball Arcade Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date April 10, 2012 (NA) Developer Fairsight Studios Genre Pinball My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.35/100 The Pinball Arcade is a dream game for pinball enthusiasts because it simulates real pinball tables that you may have played at your local pizza parlor, gas station, bowling alley, arcade, etc. Even if you’re not a pinball enthusiast, but just have fond memories of a particular table, this collection may have what you’re looking for. Like, I got to play the Ripley's Believe it or Not pinball machine that I really enjoyed at the local bowling alley 15 years ago. The downside is that while it may be a pretty accurate simulation, it's still nowhere near as fun as playing the real tables. That said, if you don’t have access to the actual tables, this is the next best thing for a traditional pinball experience. Played on: Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Playstation Vita Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/10/2022 Tooth Protectors Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer Diversified Software Development Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.10/100 When the Atari 2600 was at its peak, everyone wanted representation in video game form. Soft drinks, dog food, and in this case, dental products. Johnson & Johnson had this game released for Atari's original console…and surprisingly enough, it's really not bad at all. Actually, it's pretty good. Combining the gameplay of games like Breakout and Space Invaders, the end result is a game that will almost definitely have you playing much longer than you anticipated. Basically, there's a plaque monster floating up at the top of the screen, shooting down stuff to cause tooth decay at the teeth below. Your job is to move back and forth across the teeth and fire that tooth decay stuff back at the monsters sending it down. If you're right underneath and stay still, it gets fired straight back up. If you move as you deflect it, then you send it diagonally off to the side, in hopes that it ricochets off a wall and hits the monster. And if you fail to deflect it? Well, then you'll be protecting a mouth that looks like it belongs to an old man named Cletus. Anyway, if you want a solid mix of two popular, early gameplay styles, then this game is a dental delight that you'll likely find plenty of enjoyment in. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/21/2021 Rumble Roses Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date November 9, 2004 (NA) Developer Yuke's Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.18/100 I really, really, really want to give Rumble Roses a much higher score than I gave it. There are so many great, innovative ideas for wrestling games found here...with the only real issue being that there's a severe lack of game modes to keep you playing for long. The heel/face system is a fantastic idea, giving you heel and face (bad guy and good guy) personas of each character. When you've maxed out the heel or face meter for a character, they can then challenge for the title, giving you a sense like you actually earned an opportunity to fight for the title belt. Mode-wise, there's a short story mode for each character that's like an arcade mode in a fighting game, but beyond that all you can really do is singles matches, mud matches, and title matches. The in-ring action is well done and fun enough where you'll likely play those for a while if you’re a wrestling fan...But fan or not, with a lack of modes, it won't be too long before you move onto another game. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/25/2020 Firewatch Platform PC Initial Release Date February 9, 2016 (NA) Developer Campo Santo Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 77.21/100 Taking place in Wyoming in the year 1989, Firewatch is a game where you take the role of a man that takes a job watching for wildfires in the Wyoming wilderness while sitting atop your tower…But being confined to a watch tower doesn’t sound like the makings of a great game, does it? So, of course, something eventually lures you away from the tower and the events that follow lead to an interesting mystery with plenty of secrets and easter eggs to discover along the way. It’s not action-packed, so a lot of folks might consider this to be a “walking simulator.” However, with the beautiful art style, it’s usually pretty relaxing to walk around in the 80’s Wyoming forest. Firewatch probably isn’t for everyone, but if you like to explore in your games and want a decent story to go along with that exploration, then Firewatch may be right up your alley. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/09/2021 MotorStorm Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date December 14, 2006 (JP) Developer Evolution Studios Genre Racing My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.15/100 Motorstorm was one of the first titles released for the Playstation 3 and it did a decent job of showing off the HD graphical power of the system while also providing a solid, arcade-style, off-road racing experience. There’s actually some strategy to the game, both in selecting your vehicle (when you can) and finding the best route around the course for that vehicle, also requiring strategy is the use of the turbo boosts. You have unlimited turbo boosts – the meter will always fill back up. However, it takes a few seconds to fill back up and if you hold the turbo on for too long, your vehicle will overheat and explode. So, you’ve got to pick your spots to use the turbo boosts and time it right otherwise you may find yourself zooming ahead of the pack in the final stretch, letting off to avoid overheating or trying to push it that results in overheating, and watching everyone pass you by right before the finish line. Motorstorm isn’t the greatest racing game of all-time by any means, but it was fine for what it was – a fun arcade-style racer with an interesting look and interesting game mechanics. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/09/2020 Bust A Groove Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date January 29, 1998 (JP) Developer Metro Genre Music My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.24/100 Bust A Groove is basically a dance-off style music game. You battle a variety of opponents in dancing competitions. Instead of simply hitting a button at the correct time, you're required to also input button combinations, which can lead to some frantic button pressing to get the buttons all pressed in the amount of time allotted between beats. If you hit all of your notes and succeed in performing combos, then you'll do well. Miss everything and your opponent will probably serve you up a healthy helping of "served." Does that sentence make sense? Doesn't matter. Anyway, this is a nice, solid music game and one of the better ones that doesn't involve a peripheral of some sort. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Bust A Move (Japan)

Date added: 02/12/2020 Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date October 21, 1992 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.83/100 The first Super Mario Land was an okay platformer to put on the then-new Game Boy to entice NES owners to purchase a handheld gaming system. Super Mario Land 2 was a decent improvement on that game, and while still lacking in comparison to its console big brothers, it’s a solid handheld platformer. Introducing a carrot as a new power-up, various new enemies, an interesting selection of bosses, and, most notably, the debut of Wario, Super Mario Land 2 was an interesting addition to the Mario franchise. It was also paved the way for Wario to star in his first game, the sequel, Super Mario Land 3. While there are better platformers out there, for its time, on the original Game Boy, this was one of the better, portable platformers that you could play. Played on: Game Boy Also known as: Super Mario Land 2: 6 Tsu no Kinka (Japan)

Date added: 09/28/2019 Spider-Man Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1982 (NA) Developer Parker Bros. Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 75.11/100 Let's face it, as fun as it is to ignore the game and just swing around with Spider-Man's web-shot, the real fun is "accidentally" missing your shot and watching Spidey plummet to his demise. Spider-Man was one of the first games where I had just as much fun just goofing around as I did actually making an effort to play the game the "right way." In all honesty, I still consider it to be one of the best Spider-Man games ever released when you take into consideration the time it was released in and the software it was released on. Other Spider-Man games obviously surpassed this one over time, but dare I say, few had the impact that this one did. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/19/2020 Plague Inc. Platform Android Initial Release Date October 4, 2012 (NA) Developer Ndemic Creations Genre Strategy My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.22/100 With COVID-19 running rampant around the world as I type this, I figured adding this would be somewhat timely. Anyway, I never thought that wiping out the entire planet by spreading and evolving a disease could be so addicting...But Plague Inc. ensured that I spent hours of my life just staring at my smartphone screen, watching a map of the planet slowly turn red as I watch my infection (which I named Pnuenza) cover the world. The unique strategy of making your disease spread without anyone noticing, and then evolving the disease to being fatal once everyone has it is refreshing. If you just make it fatal immediately, airports shut down, borders are closed, and you won't get it spread. If you're sneakier about it, you might be able to make it to the Olympics and watch with glee as the world games spread your plague all over the planet. Of course, people will try to find a cure and you've got to try to prevent that as well, either by ramping up how deadly it is or making it evolve to slow down cure progress. It's such a simple game...And yet, it's extremely addicting. I highly recommend it. Played on: Android Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/30/2021 Killing Time Platform Panasonic 3DO Initial Release Date December 22, 1995 (JP) Developer 3DO Genre 1st-Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 76.18/100 When I played Killing Time prior to writing this in order to nab some screenshots, it was one of those rare games that was quite a bit better than I remembered. Usually, it winds up being the other way around, but Killing Time didn’t age too terribly. Graphically, it looks much more beautiful than I remember with environments that looked absolutely amazing for its time and some neat video clips of people cut in as ghosts. Gameplay-wise, it's not too shabby either. I don't like too many first-person shooters in general, I often find them to be tedious, but Killing Time is one of those rare exceptions due in part to the interesting story the game tells that helps keep you motivated to continue playing. Killing Time is a great game for killing time....See what I did there? I'm a clever fellow. Played on: 3DO Also known as: Tozasarata Tachi (Japan)

Date added: 05/26/2020 Heavy Metal Thunder Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date September 1, 2005 (JP) Developer Media Vision Genre Fighting My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.28/100 Heavy Metal Thunder is a unique robot vs. robot fighting game that was exclusive to Japan. Essentially, the fighting plays like a game of turn-based rock, paper, scissors, except you’ve got 4 options instead of 3. You press up, down, left, or right on the d-pad, along with the circle button to make your selection. If you make the correct selection, you go on the offense. If you make the incorrect selection, you’ll get attacked. If you’re too aggressive, you’ll overheat and won’t even be allowed to make a decision. If you press down on the d-pad, you’ll attempt your super move and you’ll have a few seconds to mash some buttons to fill up a meter. How much you fill the meter up depends on what move gets performed. The computer robots are always quite a bit stronger than your robot is, so making the right choices is key. The unique gameplay is accompanied by a pretty unique look and presentation…Honestly, I’m a pretty big fan of this game. It’s not a groundbreaking fighter by any means, but it’s something different and interesting and once I got a grasp on how to play it, I became a pretty big fan of it. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/05/2022 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date June 16, 2022 (NA/JP/EU) Developer Tribute Games Genre Brawler My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.10/100 If you grew up in the 80's and 90's, then you were probably a fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles…or at the very least, you were aware of what they were. Aside from having a wildly successful cartoon series and toy line, the Turtles also starred in some of the most popular video games of their time. So popular, in fact, that decades later, we've seen the release of Shredder's Revenge, which is essentially a love letter to the TMNT arcade games. While it's not really groundbreaking in any way, it's a solid brawler that plays like how you'd want it to play if you were looking for a video game to fill you with nostalgia from when you were a kid if you played the original TMNT games back when they released. Shredder's Revenge does add a little bit to prevent it from feeling like the original games with a new coat of paint. First, there are items to discover in the levels…it's not much of a challenge to find the items as they're hidden in breakable items, which are pretty easy to spot in each level, but it's nice to have a little side-quest here and there for you to keep an eye on while you pummel your way through each stage. Also new to Shredder's Revenge is the option to brawl through each stage as other characters, like Splinter, April O'Neil, and Casey Jones. These additional characters don't necessarily add much to the gameplay - they all play basically the same. Regardless, though, if you're a fan of the Turtles, it's a nice bonus to be able to beat up the Rat King when playing as Splinter. Shredder's Revenge isn't a game that I'd consider for the running of game of the year, but it provides a nice bit of nostalgia for folks that grew up with those heroes in a half shell…and I'm assuming it's a good game for kids growing up with the current version of the cartoon as well. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/01/2021 Ghostbusters: The Video Game Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date June 16, 2009 (NA) Developer Terminal Reality Genre Action My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.74/100 Until adding it to this list, I had never played Ghostbusters: The Video Game before. I simply thought it was going to be a video game version of the original movie. I didn’t realize that it was a completely new, original story written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. That was a nice surprise. I also liked how the original movie cast returned for much of the voice acting. With all of those nice touches, it pains me to say that while the gameplay isn’t awful by any means, it just feels like it’s lacking something. You’ve got plenty of gadgets to use, but it didn’t feel during my playthrough of the game that there was a need for most of them. As a result, gameplay that could have been varied and interesting, sometimes feels boring and bland. That complaint aside, if you’re a fan of the Ghostbusters films, the good still definitely outweighs the bad here and you’ll probably enjoy the game as a whole. If you’re not a fan of the films, then you may not be as enthralled with it as everyone else. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/14/2022 Golden Light Platform PC Initial Release Date July 10, 2020 (NA) Developer Mr. Pink Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.33/100 It's not really a secret - I really like odd games. The stranger a game is, the more bizarre it is, the more I enjoy it, regardless of actual game quality. Golden Light looked like an odd game…but within the first few minutes of playing, where I'm told to eat an axe that I found laying on the ground, I realized that I was going to really enjoy my time here. While eating your weapons sounds like an odd gameplay choice, it actually works really well. Do you want to stay armed, but maintain low health, or would you rather eat your weapon to regain health, but be defenseless should you run into trouble? When you're not eating your weapons, or letting your weapons eat you, you'll find a pretty enjoyable experience, as you maneuver your way through maze-like levels full of traps and dangerous creatures. Some of those creatures are camouflaged, providing some decent jump scares from time to time, so if jump scares are your "thang," as the kids say, then you'll likely appreciate that. The only thing that really holds Golden Light back from me giving it a better score, in my opinion, is that the combat isn't exactly great. In fact, it leaves a bit to be desired. It's not awful, mind you, but if that combat was tweaked a bit, and the quality matched how bizarre everything in the game is…well, if that happened, you'd have a heck of a game here. But that complaint aside, Golden Light is still a very good game and if you're a fan of odd, bizarre games like I am, then I bet you'll find plenty to like here. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/28/2024 Kirby's Dream Land 3 Platform Super NES Initial Release Date November 27, 1997 (NA) Developer Hal Laboratories Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.61/100 Kirby's Dream Land 3 is a game that manages to be both charming and boring at times. That's not to say that the game as a whole is bad, mind you, but some of the levels just feel like they're bland. And when levels feel bland, then even having more powers to absorb than ever before and impressive graphics still doesn't really help. Not all levels feel that way, though. When you're in certain levels, it can be genuinely fun to search every nook and cranny to see what the level has hiding within. In other levels, I just tried to make my way to the exit as fast as possible, not caring if I collected the star in that level. Like I just mentioned, each stage has a star to find which is obtained by doing certain tasks for the main person in the level. They range from playing a "find the ball under the hat" game, where you need to figure out where an object is located after stuff gets shuffled around, to destruction, like in the Samus level, where the goal is to destroy all Metroids that are loose. The problem is, I never found myself enthralled enough with this game to want to get the stars unless I happened to accomplish that goal on accident. Anyway, I know I'm complaining a lot on this review, but I am a Kirby fan. I appreciate what they tried to do here, and it's not an awful game at all (it's probably perfect for small children), but I guess I expected more from Kirby's first real 16-bit adventure into Dream Land. It's fine for what it is, but nothing that will blow you away. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Hoshi no Kirby 3 (Japan)

Date added: 05/16/2022 Omega Boost Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date April 22, 1999 (JP) Developer Polyphony Digital Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.32/100 Omega Boost is a "free-floating" 3D shooter that plays somewhat similar to rail shooters like Panzer Dragoon - you can lock onto several enemies at once, then unleash a swarm of firepower to send their way. The difference is, like I mentioned in the previous sentence, you're not stuck to a rail. Rather than call this free-roaming, the game describes it as free-floating, and like it suggests, you're able to fly around on the screen to both reposition yourself to shoot as well as to dodge any incoming enemy attacks. But make no mistake about it, since it's "free-floating," you aren't exactly moving around with ease. You're fighting a lack of gravity the whole time, making precise movements somewhat difficult for new players. This is definitely a game where you'll want to practice before making a serious effort to see it through to the end…especially towards the end of the game, if you're unable to maneuver around properly, you'll be seeing a Game Over screen pretty quickly. Anyway, for what it is, Omega Boost is a pretty solid 3rd person shooter, and it's also quite the fetching game to look at, if I do say so myself. If you're looking for a good, nice-looking, third-person shooter, then Omega Boost is a solid choice. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/19/2021 The King of Fighters XIV Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date August 23, 2016 (NA) Developer SNK Corporation Genre Fighting My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.38/100 King of Fighters XIV was hard for me to give a score to. On one hand, the actual fighting is very solid and fun. On the other hand, unless you’re an online fighting fanatic (I’m not) you’ll probably run out of much to do here pretty quickly. The Story mode in King of Fighters XIV is basically a glorified Arcade mode with a cut scene tossed in here and there. In other words, you’ll clear it in about 30-45 minutes. After that, you can do it again and try to clear it with everyone, move on to practice moves in Training mode, play a few other modes like Survival, or call it a day and move onto something else.I did really enjoy King of Fighters XIV and I did play the so-called Story mode a few times simply because I enjoyed the game…but after the second or third playthrough, I was really wishing that there was another single player mode that was a little deeper and lasted longer than Story mode. But, complaints aside if you like fighting games, you’ll probably like King of Fighters XIV…just don’t expect it to hold your interest long unless you plan on competing with others online. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/14/2022 Pokemon Scarlet Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date November 18, 2022 (W) Developer Game Freak Genre RPG My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 70.62/100 I like Pokemon, but I don't play every single game that comes out immediately. In fact, as I type this, I think I've only beaten 5 of the games total so far. So, with that said, I'm not entirely sure what is brand new to Pokemon Violet and Scarlet and what is recycled from previous games. I can say, however, that I thoroughly enjoyed my time playing through them. Having an open world makes it easy to lose yourself and just wander around to see what you're able to discover. Using a Pokemon as a vehicle that you're able to power-up to access more areas is also a nice touch. Pokemon purists may not like some of these changes, one look at Metacritic's user scores for these games show that, but I actually really liked a lot of the newer aspects to the game. Not all of them, but a lot of them. One aspect that I didn't really care for was how to "qualify" to battle a gym leader….just let me fight through a bunch of folks like the previous games. I don't wanna be tasked with a chore just to advance the game. I also felt like the game was way too easy. It takes very minimal effort to make your Pokemon overly powerful to the point where even the final battle requires almost zero effort. Thankfully, though, even with those complaints, I still really enjoyed my time with this game. I don't know if I'd call it these the greatest Pokemon games yet…but they're still solid and well worth checking out if you're a fan of the franchise or even if you're just an RPG fan in general. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: Pocket Monsters Scarlet (Japan)

Date added: 12/14/2022 Pokemon Violet Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date November 18, 2022 (W) Developer Game Freak Genre RPG My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 72.08/100 I like Pokemon, but I don't play every single game that comes out immediately. In fact, as I type this, I think I've only beaten 5 of the games total so far. So, with that said, I'm not entirely sure what is brand new to Pokemon Violet and Scarlet and what is recycled from previous games. I can say, however, that I thoroughly enjoyed my time playing through them. Having an open world makes it easy to lose yourself and just wander around to see what you're able to discover. Using a Pokemon as a vehicle that you're able to power-up to access more areas is also a nice touch. Pokemon purists may not like some of these changes, one look at Metacritic's user scores for these games show that, but I actually really liked a lot of the newer aspects to the game. Not all of them, but a lot of them. One aspect that I didn't really care for was how to "qualify" to battle a gym leader….just let me fight through a bunch of folks like the previous games. I don't wanna be tasked with a chore just to advance the game. I also felt like the game was way too easy. It takes very minimal effort to make your Pokemon overly powerful to the point where even the final battle requires almost zero effort. Thankfully, though, even with those complaints, I still really enjoyed my time with this game. I don't know if I'd call it these the greatest Pokemon games yet…but they're still solid and well worth checking out if you're a fan of the franchise or even if you're just an RPG fan in general. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: Pocket Monsters Violet (Japan)

Date added: 09/08/2023 Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree's Woe and the Blight Below Platform Playstation 4 Initial Release Date December 26, 2015 (JP) Developer Omega Force Genre Brawler My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.08/100 I really should have gotten bored with Dragon Quest Heroes long before I actually did. Generally speaking, I find fun with most brawlers in small doses, but it doesn't usually take long for me to feel like I've had my fill and I'm ready to move onto something else. Dragon Quest Heroes, while it did feel like it was dragging at times, made me enjoy hacking and slashing my way through each level for way longer than I usually would before getting bored. With this being a brawler instead of an RPG (though, it does have RPG elements in it) it may not appeal to some Dragon Quest fans, but the inclusion of characters from various other Dragon Quest games may be enough to get folks who have played all of the main series games to at least give this one a try. To further lure those fans in, an assortment of familiar enemies and songs from the series found their way into this game as well….well, an effort to lure fans in, or a way to not have to create a bunch of new monsters and background music…either one. Anyway, if you're a Dragon Quest fan, and don't mind brawlers, you may find yourself spending way more time with this than you intended, like I did. The World Tree's Woe and the Blight Below isn't the greatest game in the Dragon Quest side-games by any stretch of the imagination, but it's a solid game that I'm sure plenty of folks will be able to find some enjoyment in. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: Dragon Quest Heroes: Yamiryuu to Sekaiju no Shiro (Japan)

Date added: 07/04/2021 Mr. Triangle's Adventure Platform Ouya Initial Release Date June 12, 2015 (NA) Developer Red Triangle Games Genre RPG My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.28/100 Mr. Triangle’s Adventure isn’t a perfect RPG by any means, but it’s a fun one with some pretty neat ideas tossed in. Mr. Triangle is able to steal from enemies…an RPG staple, right? Not quite. In this game, say if you’re battling a giant tomato with sunglasses on, when you steal from the tomato, you actually steal his sunglasses, dropping is hit accuracy. This doesn’t work for all enemies, but during a few fights, your thievery can help you gain the advantage. Likewise, if you’re fighting a cob of corn and use a fire spell on it, a piece of popcorn will appear and start to fight you, or an earth spell turns potatoes into a mashed variation. It’s little things like that which keeps Mr. Triangle’s Adventure entertaining. Plus, when your party consists of a triangle, an ape, an alligator, and a manatee wearing a jetpack (because manatees can’t walk – that’s good logic, there) and you’re battling mostly fruits and vegetables, it’s kind of hard to not be entertained. Thankfully, the game itself is pretty solid as well. It’ll probably never win any awards or anything, but it’s a good, enjoyable RPG while it lasts. If you missed out on the Ouya, it’s on Steam for $0.99. If you enjoy comedy and RPG’s, you’ll get more than your money’s worth here. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/19/2019 BurgerTime Platform Arcade Initial Release Date October 1982 (NA) Developer Data East Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.63/100 BurgerTime was always a favorite of mine…I’m not sure if it’s because I really like hamburgers or simply because the idea of a sunny-side-up egg stalking me up and down ladders in an attempt to murder me sounds like a really good time (probably option number 2, if I’m honest) but I’ve always had fun trying to build as many burgers as possible in this game. The premise is simple – climb up and down ladders, then walk across various burger ingredients. After walking across them, they’ll drop down, which causes others below it to also drop down. If you’re lucky enough to have a murderous food item walking under one of these ingredients, you’ll have murdered the murderer. Continue this process until all hamburgers on the bottom of the screen are completely assembled. Of course, if any of those evil foods get in your way, you can always throw pepper in their eyes and make an escape…if you didn’t already use it all, that is. But anyway, while it wasn’t a mega hit at the arcades like Pac-Man or Donkey Kong, BurgerTime was still one of the more popular arcade games for its time and one of the most fondly remembered ones for the folks that grew up in the 80s. Played on: Arcade, NES, Atari 2600 Also known as: Hamburger (Japan)

Date added: 08/12/2019 Reveal the Deep Platform PC Initial Release Date December 4, 2015 (NA) Developer Lazy Monday Games Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 77.88/100 This was unexpectedly good...really good. Reveal the Deep is usually $1 USD...I got it for half price....and it's well worth the small amount of money that the developer is asking for. While it's short - maybe an hour and a half long total - it is very good while it lasts. It has very minor horror elements to it, but this is mostly about exploration and solving some puzzles via the neat concept of turning the lights on and off to show different paths. It's not complicated, and as I said earlier, it's not very long...but this is a good, cheap game that you could play and complete on a day when you're bored and looking for something a little different....And for this game's price, it could be half as good as it is and still be more than worth every penny. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/11/2020 Parasite Eve II Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date December 16, 1999 (JP) Developer SquareSoft Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.89/100 I hadn’t played Parasite Eve II in roughly 20 years when I revisited it for this list. I’ve played the original Parasite Eve a few times since it was released, but for whatever reason I never revisited its sequel…and I don’t remember having this much of a problem getting through to the end. Parasite Eve II has some difficulty to it. It’s not impossible by any means, but this isn’t a game where you can just blindly go into an area with enemies and start shooting everything like some sort of tank. You need to be somewhat strategic or you’ll find yourself running out of ammo at the wrong time and seeing plenty of Game Over screens. Aside from the difficulty, Parasite Eve II moves away from the RPG formula of the first game and plays much more like an entry in the Resident Evil franchise. There are mild RPG elements here, but this is very much a survival horror/adventure game instead. The result of changing genres may be positive or negative depending on your preferences. I like Parasite Eve II, but I will definitely admit that I enjoy the first game more. If you like survival horror games, or if you simply want to see another story starring Aya Brea, then Parasite Eve II is worth checking out. If you’re hoping for another RPG like the original, you may find yourself being a little disappointed. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/19/2021 Onrush Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date June 5, 2018 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Codemasters Genre Racing My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 76.51/100 I don’t mind racing games, but I generally prefer the more non-realistic racers to the more realistic ones. There are exceptions of course, but by and large, I’ll usually look more forward to an arcadey racing game than I would to a realistic one. So, when Codemasters put Onrush on store shelves, they had me interested. I like most racing games that Codemasters puts out - realistic or otherwise, so I figured that this one had to be right down my alley. I was correct. Onrush isn’t just arcadey, it’s also not your typical racing game. It’s never a race to a finish line. Different races require different objectives to be cleared for you to be declared the winner. Spending more time boosting, spending more time in a moving target, or being the last survivor in a race are all possible goals that you need to complete to be labeled as the victor. There are crashes galore in this game, both involving you and caused by you…in fact, the game is littered with various characters that are only there for you to crash and fill up your boost meter. If all of this chaos sounds like a good time to you, then I think you’ll enjoy Onrush. It’s one of those games where you’ll plan to only play for a few minutes…then a few hours later you’re telling yourself, “Just one more race.” It’s not without flaws, but Onrush is a quality racing game that stands out for being unique. Admittedly, my opinion seems to be higher than most people in regards to this game from what I see, but I’ll stand by my statements here. I really enjoyed my time with Onrush and I think if anyone is looking for a unique, arcade-style racing experience, you’ll likely enjoy it as well. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/18/2023 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date December 21, 1992 (NA) Developer Konami Genre Brawler My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 75.41/100 The Hyperstone Heist may not technically be Turtles in Time…but it honestly does feel like a clone of the most beloved Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game. Sure, it's got a different story and different levels…but it largely feels like the same game. Because of that, if you've already played the previous two TMNT arcade brawlers, this game feels almost like a lazy sequel. That said, if you only had a Sega Genesis as a kid, and had no access to the arcade games, then I could definitely see you absolutely falling in love with this game. It's not technically bad by any stretch - it controls fine and plays well. My only real gripe, as I said, is the lack of much originality. If there were new gameplay mechanics or features, it would have gone a long way. Instead, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist simply feels like a Sega version of Turtles in Time…and honestly, if they were going to clone the game that heavily, I'm not entirely sure why they didn't just port Turtles in Time over and be done with it. Anyway, despite my complaints that made me sound like a broken record, if you like the other 8 and 16-bit Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games, you'll probably like the Hyperstone Heist as well. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist (Europe), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Return of the Shredder (Japan)

Date added: 06/12/2024 Perman: Enban o Torikaese!! Platform NES Initial Release Date December 14, 1990 (JP) Developer Tamtex Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.08/100 Every now and then, I'll see the boxart of a game, and it'll make me decide that I want to give it a try. Perman: Enban o Torikaese!! is one of those games. Between the superhero on the cover, and the Irem logo in the lower left corner (I've found that I enjoy most games published by them), Perman looked like it might be a winner. Then I played it and yup…I'm a fan. Apparently based off of an anime of the time, Perman is a simplistic, yet unique platformer, with enough content to set it apart from other games to make up for any lack of excitement that some of the platforming has. The platforming, while bland at times, controls smoothly, so even the more difficult jumps aren't too bad. While making your way through each stage, you'll also find power-ups to help you out. So, you may only be able to punch to start, but by the end of the stage you may be projecting fireballs from your fists that can destroy parts of the environment. During your travels in each level, you may come across a door that'll take you to a mini-game - either a timed game where you find all of the differences between a pair of pictures, or a whack-a-mole game. These doors are optional, but they definitely help with the boss of each stage, giving you a power-up for the boss battle if you're successful. The bosses, aside from the final boss, are all board game battles. By rolling a die, you can advance on the board, picking up items to heal yourself, landing on spaces to damage the boss, and picking up power-ups that can either harm or help you. Making it to the end of the board gives you a win, but victory (and defeat) can come well before reaching the end of the board if either you or the boss lose all of their health. Anyway, Perman isn't perfect by any means, but if you're looking for a solid, unique platformer, then this game is definitely worth a look. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/10/2022 Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date October 18, 2005 (NA) Developer Wideload Games Inc. Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.20/100 Zombies aren't unique in video games. A lot of games have them. However, there aren't a ton of games that has you control a zombie…let alone games where you're encouraged to attack random people in the game to transform them into members of your own, personal undead army. That's essentially what you do in Stubbs the Zombie, though, a charming game that has you control Stubbs, who very well could be the most charming, likeable zombie in the history of video games. While there is plenty of gore here, it's mixed with some quirky humor and is all the result of a love story between a zombie and his girl. The game itself isn't bad, either. While the gameplay likely won't "wow" you, there's enough here to keep you entertained until you reach the end of the game. Stubbs also seemed to be at a perfect length to me…the credits rolled just as I began to get tired of playing - while I found the game to be fun, there's only so many levels of "turn folks into zombies and reach the end of the level" that one can play before it gets old. Anyway, if the idea of eating the brains of civilians in a fictional 1950's techno city to build up an undead army to help you find the woman you love sounds like a good time to you, then give Stubbs the Zombie a try. If you like a good blend of horror and comedy, then I've got a feeling that you'll find plenty in this game to appreciate. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/18/2019 The Legendary Axe Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date September 23, 1988 (JP) Developer Victor Interactive Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 84.27/100 I didn’t give The Legendary Axe enough credit when I first played it about twenty years ago. My memories of the game were memories of a very clunky side-scrolling brawler with bad hit detection…My memories were wrong. This game is a prime example of why I’m revisiting these games before adding them to the list – not only could my memories be wrong, but my gaming preferences could have definitely changed over time as well. That said, this is a beloved game on the TurboGrafx-16 and I’ve always seen people speak fondly of it…and I honestly never saw the appeal…well, until now. I still don’t think that it’s a be-all, end-all game by any means, but it’s way better than I initially gave it credit for. If you’re looking for a solid, side-scrolling action that’s got some difficulty to it, The Legendary Axe is a solid choice. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: Makyou Densetsu (Japan)

Date added: 09/02/2020 Crystalis Platform NES Initial Release Date April 13, 1990 (JP) Developer SNK Genre RPG My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.67/100 Crystalis is a game that I managed to get complete in box in my very early days of video game collecting…but I never really got into it. To add it to this list, I made myself play through to the end…and while I wouldn’t call it one of the greatest games I ever played, I’m glad that I did play it through to completion because it is very solid. Crystalis is an action-based RPG with some interesting ideas, like multiple swords to wield with some enemies that are immune to one sword but weak to another, and enemies that are completely immune to you, regardless of sword you wield, until you’re able to level up to a certain level. Unfortunately, some of these ideas come with flaws…like I personally found it to be a chore to open the menu and swap swords every few seconds in the later dungeons. A quick-change option would have been fantastic, but the limited buttons on the NES controller likely prevented that from being a possibility. That said, though, the story was interesting and different, and the game as a whole is solid. If you like RPGs, especially RPGs with an action twist to them, then Crystalis will likely be a game that you enjoy. Played on: NES Also known as: God Slayer: Haruka Tenkuu no Sonata (Japan)

Date added: 12/31/2021 Borderlands 2 Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date September 18, 2012 (NA) Developer Gearbox Software Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.29/100 Borderlands 2 is a weird game, in my opinion. It seems to have been more critically liked than the first one…but, I personally liked the first one a lot better. I’ll get one of my biggest issues out of the way first - the dang Claptrap. I loathed the Claptrap in the first game…somehow they managed to make it even more obnoxious and annoying in this game. To make matters worse, they tease in the beginning of the game that they killed the little pest off...and then they just revive him. There’s a trophy for high-fiving a clap trap…needless to say, I will never get 100% trophy completion for this game. That little rant out of the way, and Claptrap aside, I can’t fully put my finger on why, but I just couldn’t get into this game for most of it. The first several hours felt like they dragged on for me. Then I hit a spot in the middle of the game where I was really enjoying everything as a whole and trying to complete every side mission thrown at me…and then by the end, I was back to feeling like the game was dragging and I skipped most of the later game missions just so I could see the credits roll and get this over with. Another complaint is the random deaths I suffered - I literally died from walking on solid ground that the game thought was the edge of a cliff. I also died when walking between two containers…because containers are dangerous? Complaints aside, despite the fact that I didn’t really care for it in comparison to the first game, Borderlands 2 isn’t a bad game. It’s still a solid shooter with mostly solid humor, and some awful humor tossed in (but hey, you can’t win ‘em all when it comes to comedy), and the gameplay that made the first game such a hit. If you liked the original, you’ll find enough here to make this worth playing, too…But you may also wind up like me, and enjoy yourself to a degree, but find yourself rushing to the end just to complete the game. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/21/2019 Golden Axe Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date December 22, 1989 (NA) Developer Sega Genre Brawler My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.41/100 I adore the Golden Axe series. The games in this franchise are among my very favorite brawlers that I've ever played. The first Golden Axe is a strong start to the series, with three playable characters, plenty of brawling, various creatures that you can ride and attack with, magic spells, AND the opportunity to kick annoying gnome-like things by a camp fire while catchy music plays in the background. What other game is it not only acceptable, but encouraged to pick on people smaller than you? It’s okay to pick on them. They have gray beards and wear dunce caps. They’re probably 50-years old and still in the 2nd grade. They deserve what they get. Anyway, later Golden Axe games refine everything, but the original is still a delight to play to this day. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/25/2019 Tomb Raider Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date November 15, 1996 (NA) Developer Core Design Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.71/100 I think Tomb Raider got a lot of sales from the rumor of a nude code...But quite frankly, even if the perverted folk who wanted to look at polygonal female genitalia didn't buy the game, I still would like to think that Tomb Raider would have been a success based on the gameplay alone. While the controls have definitely aged, and they require some getting used to, exploring around and occasionally shooting stuff while controlling a lass with an English accent is still fun to this day. The nude code may have been a hoax, but the genuine love that fans of the franchise have for this game definitely is not. Played on: Playstation, Saturn Also known as: Tomb Raiders (Japan)

Date added: 07/17/2019 Bonk's Adventure Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date December 15, 1989 (JP) Developer Hudson Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.39/100 When I was a kid with an NES, I recall seeing Bonk's Adventure and immediately asking my parents for a TurboGrafx-16. I never got one until years later when I found one in a thrift store, but my neighbors got one, and through them, I got to enjoy this charming game of a caveman headbutting things and eating lots of meat. Bonk is probably the manliest video game character ever now that I think of it. Anyway, this platformer might be a little slow-paced for some, and it may even seem a bit too easy at times, but I still enjoy it today and remember back fondly on my childhood memories of it…Especially the barking dinosaur that you meet early on in the adventure that Bonk goes on. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: PC Genjin (Japan)

Date added: 07/04/2019 Shin Megami Tensei: Synchronicity Prologue Platform PC Initial Release Date October 16, 2017 (JP) Developer ladybug Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 74.53/100 Shin Megami Tensei: Synchronicity Prologue brings the Shin Megami Tensei franchise into Metroidvania territory in this short, but very enjoyable game. It does a great job of mixing the usual traits of a Metroidvania-style game with the elemental weaknesses of a Shin Megami Tensei game with the ability to swap between Jack O’Lantern and Jack Frost on the fly. The best part? Atlus released it for free to help promote Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux. While the “official” download link is not longer active, it’s not hard at all to find the game online with a quick Google search. I highly recommend doing so. The game only lasts 2-3 hours, but if you’re a fan of the Metroidvania formula and looking for something unique added to it, Synchronicity Prologue will probably be just the game for you. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/06/2019 Twisted Metal: Head-On Platform Playstation Portable Initial Release Date March 24, 2005 (NA) Developer Incognito Inc. Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 81.37/100 Twisted Metal: Head-On isn't quite the Twisted Metal Black sequel that many fans wanted, but it's still a solid entry into the series that feels a little more like a return to the less-dark, more-comical roots that the franchise was known for back on the original Playstation. The gameplay isn't quite as tight as Twisted Metal Black's was, but it's still pretty good, making this a nice debut for the series on a handheld, allowing players to enjoy quality car combat on the go. My wishes for a sequel on the Vita never came to fruition, but at least the one handheld outing for the Twisted Metal series was a pretty solid one. Played on: PSP Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/03/2019 Gale Racer Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date December 2, 1994 (JP) Developer Sega Genre Racing My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 73.78/100 Gale Racer is basically a first-person game of OutRun. The concept is similar – race the streets, avoiding traffic, in an effort to get to your goal before the time runs out. Gale Racer differentiates itself from OutRun, not just with the first-person perspective, but instead of checkpoints, you simply reach the end of that portion of the track and get ready for the next racer. There are also unique obstacles and aspects of nature to deal with as well…You may be driving and find a bunch of traffic crossing the street in front of you that you have to try to avoid, or find yourself in a rainstorm and have to work your windshield wipers or find your vision completely obscured. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with my time here, and recommend this game for anyone that wants to experience a solid arcade-style racer on their Saturn. Played on: Saturn Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/20/2019 WWE 2K19 Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date October 5, 2018 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Yuke's Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 74.45/100 The good news – WWE 2K19 did not take a step back with anything in comparison to previous games in the series. The bad news – it didn’t really take any major steps forward, either. Everything has been tweaked and improved upon, sure, but this is still just a more polished version of the same game that WWE fans have been playing for the past decade. That said, I probably put more time into this game than any other WWE game on the Playstation 4. The roster size increased again as well, making it pretty easy to have enough wrestlers to fill out a roster to hold a show every day of the week in WWE Universe mode. My only real complaint is that some of the roster is made up of people that aren’t real and are simply part of the Career mode. I would have rather seen more NXT stars or legends than roster spots taken up by people that most players will never use. That complaint aside, this is a solid wrestling game…but like the last several years, it’s also more of the same. Played on: Playstation 4, PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/16/2019 Number Munchers Platform PC Initial Release Date 1988 (NA) Developer MECC Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.40/100 Like many folks my age, when we were kids, our schools had a few computers and those computers were primarily used to play educational video games. Oregon Trail seems to be the most widely remembered of those games, but you can often get a grin to appear on someone face when you bring up this game as well. Number Munchers makes solving math problems fun by making you frantically find matches to the statement shown at the top of the screen, like multiples of 5, for example. Move too slow or hang around the corners of the screen for too long, and the Troggles appear to make things more difficult. I have not played this game since grade school and half expected my fond memories of this game to be from nostalgia, but it’s actually a very well-designed game that has aged surprisingly well. If you’re looking for an educational game that may improve your math skills while you maneuver past cannibalistic enemies (seriously, the Troggles will eat each other…and parents were worried about us playing Mortal Kombat) then Number Munchers still does a good job today. Played on: PC, Apple II Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/21/2020 Mario Golf Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date June 11, 1999 (JP) Developer Camelot Software Genre Sports - Golf My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.84/100 Mario Golf on the N64 is really good...But oddly enough, it actually pales in comparison to the Game Boy Color game of the same name. Despite being inferior to its 8-bit, handheld sibling, the console version of Mario Golf is still solid and kind of like a throwback to NES classics like the NES Open, except with more characters from the Mario universe. If you happen to have the GBC version of Mario Golf as well, you can link the two games together to share and unlock characters, boosting the replay value of the game up a tad. If you want some goofy, but solid, golfing goodness, Mario Golf is a decent game to play. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: Mario Golf 64 (Japan)

Date added: 02/13/2022 John Madden Football: Championship Edition Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1992 (NA) Developer Looking Glass Studios Genre Sports - Football My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 78.75/100 Back in the 1990's, video rental stores (most notably Blockbuster Video) were on fire. Every now and then, these stores would get exclusive games to rent out that were not available for retail. John Madden Football: Championship Edition is one of those games. Essentially the same game as John Madden Football '93 in terms of gameplay, there's one thing that makes this a different game, and quite possibly a game worth hunting down for anyone that loves football history. Madden '93 introduced 8 classic teams to the roster of modern teams. Championship Edition removes all modern teams, and increases the classic team count to 38 teams in total. So, if you ever wanted to see who would win in a game between the 1985 Chicago Bears and the 1976 Oakland Raiders, you can do that. I'm not a big fan of football, but I do enjoy sports history, so seeing roughly 25 years worth of championship teams represented here makes this one of my favorite 16-bit football games I've ever played...even if it lacks the licensing for me to know who most of the players are. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/12/2022 Counter-Strike Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date November 18, 2003 (NA) Developer Valve Software Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 76.65/100 I never played the PC version of Counter-Strike, so I can't really compare the Xbox version to the PC version…but from what I see when I tallied up the average score, I seem to like the Xbox version a bit more than most people. My only thought is that the low scores likely came from people who played the PC version and found it to be superior…a roommate of mine in college was absolutely obsessed with playing this game on PC, so I definitely see that as a possibility. The PC version on Metacritic is getting a much higher score than this version, as well. Anyway, that said, I don't always like these capture the flag-style deathmatch games, but I like Counter-Strike. It's a solid 1st person shooter that's fun whether you're playing with friends or even if you just decide to play alone against the computer. I found myself saying, "Just one more game," only to ignore what I said and play several more games before powering down my Xbox. Counter-Strike is an excellent game to pop in to kill some time. What it lacked in story, it made up in gameplay…and, of course, the ability to play on Xbox Live against other players online helped add to the replayability back when it was released, as well. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 Cube and Creature Platform Ouya Initial Release Date July 12, 2013 (NA) Developer Evgiz Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.80/100 Cube and Creature is basically just a slower-paced, less weird, and less difficult Super Meat Boy. The concept of the game is mostly the same – traverse through each level as quickly as possible while avoiding spikes and other obstacles/enemies, while also bouncing off of and sliding down walls. The big difference here is that unlike in Super Meat Boy, in Cube and Creature, you actually have little hearts at the top of the screen. So, if you fell into some spikes, you’ll lose a heart. You have to lose all three hearts to start the level over again. While it does largely feel like a Super Meat Boy clone, this game is done well enough, and the story that plays out is interesting enough, where the end result is a very solid game. It’s a shame that this seems to have been only released on the Ouya because it’s quite good and I wish more people could have had the opportunity to play it. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/30/2022 Zanac Platform NES Initial Release Date October 1987 (NA) Developer Compile Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.40/100 Zanac was a pretty unique game for its time. Essentially, the game adapts to how you play and adjusts its difficulty accordingly. If you're just mowing down everything in your path, the difficulty will ramp up to try to match your skill. If you're struggling a bit, then the difficulty comes down a little to compensate for that. On top of that, Zanac allows players to pick up various power-ups along the way. Some enemies deflect your normal firepower, so if you're got the right power-up, you can take them out easily. Whether you use a laser beam, a boomerang-like ball of energy that returns to you, or you just want some defensive help in the form of shields, picking the right power-up for the situation at hand is both fun and essential for survival until the end. Boss fights are timed, but oddly enough, if you fail to defeat the boss in the time limit, you don't die - you just simply move on and you forfeit any bonus to your score that you would have received. Speaking of dying, when your ship blows up, instead of the game stopping and forcing you to return to a checkpoint or to the beginning of the level, instead your ship respawns instantly and you continue on where you left off, which is a pretty welcome feature, though it can also lead to extra lives being lost while you struggle to regain firepower in the madness of some of the later stages…in those instances, I wished that I could start at the beginning of the level, where it was less chaotic and easier to build up my arsenal before being attacked by a big wave. Anyway, for what it is, and for the time it was developed, Zanac was a very good, very innovative scrolling shooter. If you're a fan of the genre, I highly recommend giving it a chance. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/30/2023 Tekken 7 Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date June 1, 2017 (JP) Developer Bandai Namco Games Genre Fighting My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 76.95/100 I've been a fan of the Tekken games for a few decades now, but even with that said, it took me 6 years after this game was released for me to finally make time to sit down and play it. While I enjoyed my time with Tekken 7, I didn't end my time playing it thinking that I wish I would have played it sooner - I was fine that it took me as long as it did to play it. The story mode found here is similar to the story modes found in the Mortal Kombat games, where you'll play as multiple characters across the story, then watch cutscenes between the battles. It's fine for what it is. Aside from that, you've pretty much got standard fighting game stuff here. In an odd choice, though, the quirky modes traditionally found in Tekken games aren't really present here….well, at least not out of the box. A fan favorite mode, Tekken Bowl returns in Tekken 7, but only as paid DLC. Like many modern fighting games, much of the focus seems to lean more towards online fighting and less on single-player offline. I'm not, personally, a fan of that direction, but I get that a lot of folks like to brawl with other players from around the world. Anyway, I don't feel like Tekken 7 is as good as some of the other games in the series, but it's still a solid fighting game and well worth picking up if you're a fan of the genre. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/22/2021 Catherine Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date February 17, 2011 (JP) Developer Atlus Genre Puzzle My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.50/100 When I first heard of Catherine, I knew that it was going to be a quirky game...I just assumed that it was going to be a quirky RPG. Instead, Catherine wound up being a quirky puzzle game. While that was initially a disappointment, after I played through the game, I feel like it’s exactly what it should have been. I wasn’t necessarily hooked by the game’s story, but it did make me invested enough to see it through to the end. And honestly, while the puzzle aspects are fun, I’m not sure if I would have played this game to completion if it wasn’t for the breaks in between each puzzle that allowed the story to continue on. Anyway, if you like action-style puzzle games and/or want a unique story about romance, then give Catherine a try - you’ll likely enjoy it. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/10/2022 Flying Warriors Platform NES Initial Release Date February 1991 (NA) Developer Culture Brain Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.44/100 I had Ultimate Fighter on the Super NES when I was a young'un, but I had no idea that it had a few games that came before it. Flying Warriors was the game that came directly before it, and ironically, it was a North American-exclusive release. Why? Well, I'll give you a little history lesson. The franchise that these games belong to is called Hiryu no Ken. The first game in the series on the NES was known as "Flying Dragon" here in the 'States. After that, two more NES games were released exclusively in Japan - Hiryu no Ken II and Hiryu no Ken III. From what I understand, this game, Flying Warriors, is essentially Hiryu no Ken II and III blended into a single game. I haven't played either of those two games yet to confirm that…but I read it on the internet, so it must be true, right? Anyway, while I like Ultimate Fighter and how unique it is, I've gotta say, Flying Warriors is quite a bit better, while still being pretty unique. Unlike Ultimate Fighter, which is basically a side-scrolling brawler with occasional one-on-one fights tossed in, Flying Warriors is a side-scrolling brawler with occasional rhythm-style one-on-one fights tossed in and two major boss fights that play out with turn-based combat like in a typical JRPG of the time. And if you're wondering what I mean by "rhythm-style one-on-one fights," I mean that like a music/rhythm game, during the fight you will see marks appear on either your body or your opponent's body. You then want to press the appropriate button to attack the mark…kind of like hitting the appropriate button to hit a note in a game like in a music game. And like in a music game, if you just mash buttons to get through, you're going to fail…so you actually have to pay attention and have good timing in order to survive the fights. Flying Warriors also has other little things to help it really seem like a bigger, better game than its sequel, like a leveling up system, currency to collect and stores to use it in, various items that you can use, and a story that spans across a few continents. While it's not perfect, it really is a well-done game, especially since it manages to blend so many unique elements together as well as it does. If you've never played Flying Warriors before, I definitely recommend giving it a shot. If you like playing unique games, then I bet you'll like what you find here. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/17/2023 WipEout Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date September 1995 (EU) Developer Psygnosis Genre Racing My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.98/100 When WipEout was first released, it was very visually impressive. It garnered a good-sized fanbase on its looks alone. Good thing that the racing itself wasn't too shabby, either. Basically, WipEout is a futuristic racer, similar to a game like F-Zero, with you racing in vehicles from the future on tracks that you wouldn't see in a traditional motorsport race. WipEout changes up the formula a little bit, though, by adding Mario Kart-ish power-ups to the mix. So, you may pick up shields, missiles, or nitro boosts during the race to use to your advantage. For the most part, that combination is a good thing. WipEout already does a good job of giving you a sense of speed during the races, so the inclusion of those power-ups also gives you the same sense of panic (and hope) that you feel in a kart racer when you've picked up the power-up you need or you know you're about to be bludgeoned by another racer but you're just inches from the finish line. The down-side of WipEout, for me anyway, has always been how the game controls. I compared WipEout to F-Zero earlier. But F-Zero controls near-perfectly. WipEout, once you get used to the gameplay, doesn't control terribly, but it's not a pick-up-and-play game like F-Zero. You'll likely need to practice a little bit to truly feel comfortable with how the game controls. For a game that was one of the first Playstation One titles, however, WipEout does stand out as one of the better early games on the console. If you want to play a decent futuristic racer on a non-Nintendo console, then the original WipEout likely won't disappoint you. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/20/2021 Wattam Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date December 27, 2019 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Funomena Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 75.37/100 I love you, Wattam. It’s no secret amongst my friends that I love the Katamari Damacy series. That said, I’ve found that I like pretty much anything that comes from the mind of the Katamari creator, Keita Takahashi. Once I discovered that Wattam came from his mind, I instantly became interested in it and once I played it for the first time I fell in love with it immediately. Wattam is loveably bizarre, giving you the insanity of children’s television shows like the Teletubbies, but in a way that’s entertaining for both children and adults. It’s a wonderfully strange adventure through the seasons that may not be the longest game ever made, but it's memorable and a game that you will likely remember long after you see the credits roll. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/31/2019 Persona 4: Dancing All Night Platform Sony Playstation Vita Initial Release Date June 25, 2015 (JP) Developer Atlus Genre Music My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 77.80/100 The gameplay of Persona 4: Dancing All Night is pretty basic music/rhythm gameplay of hitting buttons at the correct time as indicated on the screen. It's fun, but there's nothing there that's groundbreaking. The real meat of the game, though, is the story mode which is essentially a visual novel with occasional breaks in the story for the characters to strut their stuff on the dancing stage. If you fell in love with the characters of Persona 4, then you'll probably be happy to see another story told with them here. Overall, it's an enjoyable experience, but the fact that you can pretty much unlock and do everything in a couple of days means that you may not find much replay value in this unless you are obsessed with both games from this genre and the characters and songs of Persona 4…I was. Played on: Playstation Vita Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/21/2020 Super Princess Peach Platform Nintendo DS Initial Release Date October 20, 2005 (JP) Developer TOSE Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.00/100 I seem to be in the minority, but when it comes to 2D platformers set in the Mario Universe on the Nintendo DS, I prefer Super Princess Peach over New Super Mario Bros. Super Princess Peach may be a little bit slower-paced, but I really enjoy the “vibes” aspect of the game. Basically, there are four moods on the touch screen. As you play the game, you may come across things where changing Princess Peach’s mood is necessary. Whether it be a plant sprout that needs water so you have her cry or a flimsy bridge that you burn down with the flames of her rage, it all brings a unique element to the game that I really enjoy. Aside from that unique gameplay aspect, and some nice touch-screen-based mini games that really allow Super Princess Peach to take advantage of the Nintendo DS medium, I also really like the art direction of the game. It’s similar to what you’d find in a Mario game, with a twist to really make it feel like Super Princess Peach is a game all its own and not just a Super Mario game with Peach thrown in Mario’s place. Critics seemed to think that Super Princess Peach was alright, but nothing special…I’ll disagree. While it’s not the greatest platformer I’ve ever played, it’s still a very solid one. In my opinion, it may be the best 2D platformer available on the DS. Played on: Nintendo DS Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/15/2019 I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream Platform PC Initial Release Date October 31, 1995 (NA) Developer The Dreamer's Guild Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.50/100 The dark story in I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream is fantastic and the five different scenarios you play through (or six if you count the finale) are all unique and interesting in their own right. As far as point-and-click adventures go, this is up there as one of my favorites. My only real wish for the game was that it was a little longer so that we could get better backgrounds on each character. As it is, it's well written, but a little more background could have created more of an emotional attachment (good or bad) to the characters, making each scenario, and the game as a whole, have a little more of an impact. But, as it is, it's fantastic and I highly recommend it to point-and-click adventure fans. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/13/2021 Astro's Playroom Platform Sony Playstation 5 Initial Release Date November 12, 2020 (W) Developer JapanStudio Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.98/100 Astro’s Playroom is a charming platformer that does a masterful job of being both appealing to children and adults alike. Children will likely love the platformer aspects (and honestly, they’re done well enough where most adults probably will enjoy them, too) and if their parents played video games, they’ll appreciate the stroll through memory lane as you uncover various pieces of Playstation history from the original Playstation all the way up to today. The game is designed to show off what the Playstation 5 controller is capable of, but the game doesn’t feel like a tech demo. And while I wasn’t generally a fan of the areas that required the fancy controller aspects, they also weren’t too overbearing. Considering that Astro’s Playroom is installed on the PS5 console (and is a free download if you happen to buy a used PS5 without it already installed) this is a game well worth playing when you get your hands on a PS5 console. It’s not perfect, but it’s very solid, and any fan of 3D platformers or the history of the Playstation consoles will likely find plenty to like here. Played on: Playstation 5 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/01/2018 Fatal Frame Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date December 13, 2001 (JP) Developer Tecmo Genre Adventure My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 78.11/100 When I was younger, I used to get creeped out so much by video games that I couldn't handle playing games like Silent Hill for more than 30 minutes at a time. Those times are long gone, however, and I rarely get creeped out by anything that happens in a game these days. The Fatal Frame series is one of the very few games that can still make me feel uneasy when I play. I adore it for that fact. The original Fatal Frame isn't the best horror game that I've played, and the sequel greatly surpasses it in terms of quality, but it's not bad at all for its time. Unlike most survival horror games, you're not equipped with a gun. You're equipped with a camera, which is the only way to get rid of the evil ghosts that try to kill you. It sounds kind of lame when you think of it, but when you play it, it works pretty well and just adds a bit to the uneasiness. Working your way backward through time is also interesting storytelling and a mildly effective way to have us mostly wander through the same areas through the game without it feeling too repetitive. Later games in the series are technically better games by far, but the original Fatal Frame is still a solid horror game if you base it purely on the scares. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: Zero (Japan), Project Zero (Europe)

Date added: 11/21/2018 Fire Pro Wrestling World Platform PC Initial Release Date July 10, 2017 (NA) Developer ZEX Corporation Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 77.00/100 I had waited nearly a decade for a new Fire Pro Wrestling title after Fire Pro Wrestling Returns was released. As soon as Spike put out a hint regarding this game, I instantly knew my dreams had come true. The early access release showed a lot of promise, but felt like exactly that - early access to an unfinished product. Unfortunately, when the game "officially" released nearly 6 months later, it still felt like an unfinished product. To Spike's credit, they do continuously update the game, and have released DLC modes to play...but I just can't give the game a better score because it feels like the DLC should have been part of the "final product." That said, as I add this to the list, I have spent 326 hours playing this, and I'm sure I'll easily at least double that before my time with this game is finished. So, despite my criticism, I do still love this game to death...even if it does feel kind of like Fire Pro Wrestling Returns 1.5. Played on: PC, Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/12/2019 Lode Runner Platform NES Initial Release Date July 31, 1984 (JP) Developer Hudson Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 74.78/100 The premise of Lode Runner is pretty simple – collect all the gold in a stage. The difficulty comes in the form of various enemies on the screen coming after you, and they’ll pick up gold along the way, too. In order to survive, you‘ve got to climb ladders, crawl along ropes, and dig holes before the last bit of gold is obtained and a ladder appears to take you to the next level. It’s pretty simple, but it can be frantic fun if you begin to get surrounded and have to quickly figure out a way to escape. If the main game begins to bore you, you can always create your own levels in Edit Mode, as well. Lode Runner is rarely talked about in the same breath as some of the classic games of the early-to-mid-80’s, but it’s just as good as many favorites of its time. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/05/2019 Mr. Driller Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date June 25, 2000 (NA) Developer Namco Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.32/100 Oh, Mr. Driller how I love thee. When I first played Mr. Driller, I was working at Funcoland and we had the game hooked up for people to try out. I was on break, so I gave the game a try and instantly became a fan. The odd mixture of Dig Dug-like digging and Tetris-like block matching was a blast to play, and still is today. Later Mr. Driller games have added some more modes and features, but the core gameplay has almost completely stayed the same...and there's a reason for that. I don't think it can get much better than this. Give it a try. I bet you'll be glad that you did. And if you absolutely must have a gimmick attached, feel free to put the Dreamcast microphone to use here and make anyone living with you think you're crazy as you repeatedly yell "DIG!!" to watch Mr. Driller drill at your command. Played on: Dreamcast, Playstation, Arcade Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/02/2020 MDK Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date November 1997 (EU) Developer Neversoft Entertainment Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.65/100 MDK is a seemingly often overlooked game that was released back in 1997. It’s both strange and fun, with graphics that look pretty nice when in motion and a soundtrack that gives it a nice big adventure feel. If you’ve read some of my other comments on this list, you probably know that I really appreciate it when games get bizarre. MDK, while not quite as bizarre as its sequel, is plenty strange in its own right. It’s not just strange, though, it has a unique sense of humor that really adds to the experience, in my opinion…whether it be blowing enemies up with “The World’s Most Interesting Bomb” (which happens to be a bomb so interesting that enemies are drawn to it) or whether it be failing to save the beach in the first level, and upon reaching the end, you’re told, “You failed to save the beach! Many people are dead!...Oh well!” The gameplay itself, while not groundbreaking, is solid and fun…which means you don’t have to trudge through boring gameplay to experience the strange humor that this game has to offer. If you haven’t played MDK yet, I highly recommend doing so. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/13/2019 Looney Tunes Space Race Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date November 11, 2000 (EU) Developer Melbourne House Genre Racing My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.58/100 For a long time, I preferred Wacky Races to Looney Tunes: Space Race and my only explanation is that I think I liked the idea that I was playing an episode of the Wacky Races cartoon, where as Space Race just felt like a kart racer with Looney Tunes characters in it. That said, as time has passed, I’ve grown to appreciate Space Race more and more for what it is – a good kart racer with cel-shaded graphics that makes you feel like you’re watching a real cartoon. On top of that, Looney Tunes staples, like anvils dropping from the sky and bombs to toss at fellow racers are here to add to the authenticity. The only real flaw with Space Race is a flaw that many kart racers suffer from – how cheap the races can be. While it’s fun using all of the weapons, it’s very frustrating when you get hit with every weapon with the finish line in sight and drop from first place to last. But anyway, if you want a quality kart racer on the Dreamcast, Space Race will satisfy you. It’s no Mario Kart, but it’s still very good. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/20/2020 Super Mega Baseball Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date December 16, 2014 (NA) Developer Metalhead Software Genre Sports - Baseball My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.90/100 Super Mega Baseball, at first glance, just looks like a generic baseball game. It’s not. It’s actually really well done. The interesting art design, the unique gameplay mechanics, and solid controls all result in a very well made baseball game. The only thing really holding Super Mega Baseball down is that for a game with “Super Mega” in the title, the number of game modes is underwhelming. Basically, an exhibition game is playable, or a season…that’s it. Still, for what it is, Super Mega Baseball is really good. If you want a solid alternative baseball game on newer consoles, Super Mega Baseball is definitely worth checking out. Played on: Playstation 3, Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/30/2019 Bomberman Online Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date October 30, 2001 (NA) Developer h.a.n.d. Inc. Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.2/100 Saturn Bomberman, in my opinion, is the greatest Bomberman game ever made. Bomberman Online was seemingly the attempt to top it...and while it's a very good game, it doesn't quite get to that level. Like Saturn Bomberman before it, Bomberman Online allowed players to battle against other players both online and locally and while the game is fun, it doesn't do a whole lot aside from having cel-shaded graphics and the ability to make a Bomberwoman to play as to make it feel very different. That's not necessarily a bad thing, mind you, as Bomberman Online is a very solid entry in the franchise, it just lacks enough innovation for it to be very memorable in comparison to other games in the series. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/30/2024 M.U.L.E. Platform NES Initial Release Date September 1990 (NA) Developer Ozark Softscape Genre Strategy My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 76.91/100 I first discovered M.U.L.E. way back when I was in college. I found an NES cart that I had never heard of at a thrift store and I gave it a chance…and I instantly found myself enjoying it after popping it in. If you've never played it, M.U.L.E. Is a pretty simple strategy game where you're left on a planet with three other people and you've got to try to make the best out of the situation by picking a plot of land, then deciding if you want to mine on that land, farm on that land, or use that land to make energy. You do this by using mechanical donkeys known as M.U.L.E.s. You take turns with the three other folks (real people or computer-controlled) and attempt to have the most money when the ship returns to the planet to pick everyone up. Money can be made by selling surplus goods to the store, or you could be more strategic and wait for the demand of other players to be high enough where they'll pay extra to get goods from you instead. Anyway, M.U.L.E. is a pretty simple game, with the ability to have a little strategy in it while you play. It's fun when playing solo, but much better with friends. If you're a fan of strategy games, you'll likely find some enjoyment here, as well. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/21/2019 Jumping Flash! Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date April 28, 1995 (JP) Developer Exact Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.73/100 Jumping Flash! was unique in that it wasn't just a good 3D platformer, it was a good first-person 3D platformer. While the first-person view does hold the game back a bit, in my opinion, it doesn't hold it back enough to prevent this from being a blast to play…it just takes some getting used to. This is a game that's just as fun wandering around the levels and hopping on random platforms as you explore as it is to actually make an attempt to complete each area, which is done by finding all of the jetpods in each area or beating an end-of-area boss. It might look prehistoric for some younger players nowadays, but for its time, it was a unique, colorful, enjoyable experience that still holds up surprisingly well today. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Jumping Flash! Aloha Danshaku Funky Daisakusen no Kan (Japan)

Date added: 04/20/2019 Hydro Thunder Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date September 8, 1999 (JP) Developer Eurocom Genre Racing My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.2/100 I'm a sucker for racing games that don't involve cars. Maybe it's because I've always enjoyed games that stray from the beaten path, or maybe it's because games like Hydro Thunder are just so dang good that it makes me want more. Hydro Thunder takes the fun racing-on-water mechanics of Wave Race 64 and adds some speed and a more arcade-y feel to deliver an awesome experience for both casual and hardcore fans of racing games. It's not an incredibly deep racing experience – it pretty much just involves you racing at tracks until you can finish high enough to unlock new tracks and boats. But that’s all this needed to be – an adaption of the arcade version that keeps all the fun that made folks in the arcade keep popping those coins in the machine, with a few extras added in for good measure. Played on: Dreamcast, Arcade, Nintendo 64 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/14/2022 Vampire Survivors Platform PC Initial Release Date December 17, 2021 (NA) Developer poncle Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.40/100 I saw a description of Vampire Warriors that claimed that "you are the bullet hell," and I feel like that accurately describes the gameplay here. In Vampire Survivors, you essentially control one of several characters, gradually killing various types of the undead, until you can level up and either gain a new skill or improve upon a skill that you've already got. Get enough skills, and you'll have so many projectiles spewing from your character that even when it looks like you've got hundreds of enemies on the screen coming for you, they won't even get close to you due to all of your weapons keeping them at bay. Of course, every run isn't like that, but it's essentially the goal. Unlike similar games, you don't actually control your attacks in Vampire Survivors - you can pretty much just play this game with a single hand. You just need to focus on moving around, all attacks fire automatically. While that may sound like a turn-off for some, honestly, it helps add some strategy to the game…and with more than 20 hours logged into the game, I can honestly say that everything is really well done here. While it's not perfect, it's very good, and I definitely recommend it to anyone that would like to play a twin-stick shooter while only using one stick. I can definitely see myself coming back to this game from time to time in the future. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/21/2019 Triggerheart Exelica Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date February 22, 2007 (JP) Developer Warashi Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 83.2/100 I first played Triggerheart Exelica about ten years ago to review it for the website I had at the time. While I enjoyed it, I hadn’t touched it since, until sitting down to write this entry and rank it amongst other games. I think Triggerheart Exelica could best be described as a beginner’s scrolling shooter. In comparison to most other scrolling shooters, this game is pretty easy (though, it can get rough if you ramp the difficulty up) which makes it perfect for folks new to the genre to get their feet wet before tackling more difficult challenges. That said, with the added gimmick of being able to “steal” enemies to use as a shield and/or weapon makes this game interesting enough to also make it worthwhile for veterans of the genre to play through. It was a solid game that showed that even when it was released in 2007, the Dreamcast still had plenty to offer the video game world. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/17/2023 Yume Koujou: Doki Doki Panic Platform Nintendo Famicom Disk System Initial Release Date July 10, 1987 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 81.57/100 For much of my childhood, Super Mario Bros. 2 was my favorite video game. I played it non-stop as a child and have probably beaten it more times than I'll live in years. I knew just about everything that you could know about that game. Fast forward a decade or two since I last played it and I found while playing Doki Doki Panic, that I still remember most of the game's secrets. If you're wondering why I'm talking about Super Mario Bros. 2, that's because this game, Yume Koujou: Doki Doki Panic, is the game that was modified to become Super Mario Bros. 2 outside of Japan since the game that us Westerners know as "The Lost Levels" was actually Super Mario Bros. 2 in the land of the rising sun. If you play this game, it's odd at how little they actually did to modify this game before transforming it to Super Mario Bros. 2. Obviously, the main characters were changed…and aside from that, only a few other cosmetic changes were made. The music is the same, the level designs are the same, the enemies are the same. The gameplay is slightly different here as you can't choose your character each stage like in Super Mario Bros. 2, but only after you complete each level. So, if you did what I did and used the warp points in levels 1 and 4, you won't actually be able to change your character until you reach level 8. The other big change is the inability to run. Depending on the character that you control, that can make some of the platforming a little difficult since you're not able to get a running start before taking a leap. As someone that has always loved Super Mario Bros. 2, I found enjoyment going back and playing the game that it was cloned from…but for a lot of people, this may feel more like an unfinished prototype compared to the more polished Super Mario Bros. 2. Played on: Famicom Disk System Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/15/2019 Sega GT Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date February 17, 2000 (JP) Developer TOSE Genre Racing My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.45/100 When Sega GT first came out, I swore to my friends that it was better than Gran Turismo. Aside from the fact that I absolutely loved the Dreamcast and was likely looking for reasons to get others to buy one, I’m not really sure why I thought that. Now that two decades have passed, I’ve gone back and played both games recently, and while I no longer insist that Sega GT is better, I still believe that Sega GT is a solid alternative to Sony’s racing money maker. The game itself is very solid and well worth playing for folks obsessed with racing games, but with only a few exceptions, nearly everything comes across as a duplicate of Gran Turismo…which is fine, copying one of the greatest racing games ever made, but the lack of innovation here may be disappointing to veterans of Sony’s fantastic racer. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: Sega GT Homologation Special (Japan)

Date added: 11/26/2018 Katamari Forever Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date July 23, 2009 (JP) Developer Bandai Namco Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.11/100 I'm a sucker for the Katamari games. They could basically put out the exact same game each time, just with different things to roll up and I'd be happy. In Katamari Forever, known as Katamari Damacy Tribute in Japan, they don't do a whole lot more than that to be honest, but that doesn't bother me in the slightest. I'll dock the score a tad for the lack of innovation, but I absolutely adore this game to no end, just like all of the previous games in the series and the games that have come out since. If you have yet to play a Katamari game and own a PS3, do yourself a favor and track this game down. I'm pretty confident that you'll be glad you did. If you have played Katamari games in the past and have had your fill, then you might be okay to skip this. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: Katamari Damacy Tribute (Japan)

Date added: 12/11/2023 Dr. Fetus' Mean Meat Machine Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date June 22, 2023 (W) Developer Team Meat Genre Puzzle My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.67/100 Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine is one of my favorite Genesis games, and the Puyo Puyo games are potentially my favorite games in the puzzle genre. So, when I saw that the folks that made Super Meat Boy were making a puzzle game that mixed the fun of the Puyo Puyo games with the difficulty and constant respawning from Super Meat Boy, I was immediately interested. The end result, while not for everybody, is fine for what it is. Basically, if you're a Puyo Puyo fan looking for more difficulty, then you'll likely appreciate what you find here. Instead of simply matching up globs of meat, you're forced to avoid hazards and sometimes adjust your destination on the fly if, say, the globs that you plan to match suddenly get mowed out of the way by a swinging sawblade. If you're a Puyo Puyo novice, or don’t really want any extra difficulty tossed into your matching puzzle games, then Mean Meat Machine will likely be a bit too much for you. Still, if you're a glutton for punishment and enjoy the Puyo Puyo franchise, then Dr. Fetus' Mean Meat Machine is a solid puzzle game. For everyone else, despite being a well-made game, the difficulty may be enough to repel them away. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/12/2021 Gallop Racer Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date March 17, 1999 (NA) Developer Tecmo Genre Sports - Horse Racing My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.02/100 If you're into horse racing and own a Playstation, this should be a game that you seek out. In Gallop Racer, you pretty much do everything involving the sport - buy horses, compete in races...the only thing missing is a gambling system of some sort. Honestly, that makes sense, too. Gambling on your own races would be pretty shady. That said, I like Gallop Racer because it's something completely different from what Western audiences had been used to - very slow-paced and relaxing...and while more horse racing games have come out in North America since this one, I still enjoy Gallop Racer (known as Gallop Racer 3 in Japan) for bringing the genre to North America...plus, it helps that it's still pretty fun today. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Gallop Racer 3: One and Only Road to Victory (Japan)

Date added: 03/10/2020 Delver Platform PC Initial Release Date September 6, 2013 (NA) Developer Priority Interrupt Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.17/100 I’ve played Delver on and off since it was still in early access. Even back then, I enjoyed my time playing this. Now that it has officially been out for a while, Delver is a bit more polished and a pretty solid overall game. Basically, the goal is to explore dungeons, in first-person view, collecting weapons, armor, and items along the way. The deeper you go, the more dangerous it is. There are no continues. Die and it’s game over and the next time you venture forth, the dungeons will be different from the time prior. The gameplay is solid, though it’s not particularly mind-blowing. If it sounds like a game you might like, I think you’ll probably find some fun here. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/04/2021 Bio Motor Unitron Platform Neo Geo Pocket Color Initial Release Date April 15, 1999 (JP) Developer Yumekobo Genre RPG My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.62/100 Bio Motor Unitron is a unique RPG where your main goal is to simply obtain money through dungeon exploration and winning battles in the arena so that you can upgrade your robot more and more until you have the most powerful robot around. This game can feel kind of bland at times, like when you spend a lot of time the background-less battle screens, and it can also feel repetitive while you're trying to amass enough cash to upgrade your robot, but it's also fun enough where you can shrug off those shortcomings and enjoy this game for what it is...And that's a solid, portable RPG. Played on: Neo Geo Pocket Color Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/29/2024 Crash Bandcoot Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date August 31, 1996 (NA) Developer Naughty Dog Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.21/100 Crash Bandicoot was a unique take on the classic platformer. It created a 3D platformer, but instead of make it free-roaming like most 3D platformers that were popping up at the time, Naughty Dog instead made it more like classic, 2D platformers, but in a 3D environment. Instead of scrolling left to right, most of this game is scrolling front to back, and like in many 2D platformers, the path usually seems linear, but there's still plenty of secrets to discover. I, personally, always found the front to back scrolling to feel a little awkward, but once you're used to it, it's not too terrible. Anyway, Crash Bandicoot was big enough of a hit that Sony somewhat adopted him as the Playstation mascot for a while. Naughty Dog had developed some awful to so-so games prior to Crash Bandicoot, but this game seemed to be the start of Naughty Dog improving as a developer, as each game that followed this one seemed to get better and better. If you want to see a different take on early 3D platformers, and also want to see some of Naughty Dog's earlier games prior to Uncharted or the Last of Us, then Crash Bandicoot is a decent little game to play. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/15/2019 Border Down Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date September 25, 2003 (JP) Developer G. Rev Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.48/100 Border Down was a scrolling, bullet-hell shooter, exclusive to Japan, released after the rest of the world had already stopped making Dreamcast games, in 2003. If you’re wondering where the “Border Down” name came from, it’s essentially how lives are handled in the game. There are three “borders” – green, yellow, and red. If you start in the green border and die, you drop down to the yellow, then to the red. If you die in the red border, it’s game over. Each border is different, so essentially, there are three paths to take within the game…if you’re skilled enough to not die, that is. I personally feel that there are better scrolling shooters to play on the Dreamcast, but if you can’t get enough of scrolling shooter action or would rather play a horizontal scrolling shooter instead of a vertical scrolling shooter, Border Down will provide you with plenty of fun. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/29/2019 Anodyne Platform PC Initial Release Date February 4, 2013 (NA) Developer Analgesic Productions Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 76.66/100 At first glance, Anodyne is a total Zelda rip-off...But after you play for a while, you'll begin to see that past the similarities of Anodyne and the 2D Zelda games, Anodyne has a personality all of its own. Instead of swinging a sword, Young, the protagonist, wields a broom. Using the broom he can sweep up dirt to help aid him during the quest. While that may sound kiddy, don't be mistaken, this is a dark game that's ultimately about facing your inner demons, so to speak. The various level designs are impressive, as is the beautifully-done soundtrack. What may be the most impressive is that this was all done by a bunch of students. When I was in college, all I did was write papers that resulted in the teachers coming up with new rules in what not to do in future papers. I was a trailblazer. I guess making a game like this is more impressive than taking advantage of loopholes in creative writing classes, though. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 Wrestling Revolution Platform Ouya Initial Release Date July 26, 2013 (NA) Developer MDickie Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 81.14/100 This is the same Wrestling Revolution that's found on the iPhone and on Android devices...Except this one can be played on the big screen with a controller. It's just as fun, but despite doing away with the touch screen controls, the controls do get out of whack every once and a while. At least once a match, I seem to be leaning the analog stick to the left, and my wrestler walks right instead. It's not game breaking, but it's still annoying. That said, this was the first wrestling game for the Ouya, and even with some of the bugs and awkward animations, this is still a very solid wrestling game well worth getting if you're a Ouya owner and a wrestling fan. It’s not MDickie’s best work, but it’s still solid. Played on: Ouya, iPhone, Android Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/31/2023 Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date December 1, 2023 (W) Developer Armor Project Genre RPG My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 79.47/100 I really enjoyed The Dark Prince, the latest game in the Dragon Quest Monsters sub-series of games, but I also consider it a case of me being able to look past plenty of flaws to enjoy my time spent here anyway. If you want an idea of how Dragon Quest Monsters plays, think of it as a combination of the Pokemon and Shin Megami Tensei games. Like in those games, your goal is collect various creatures to fight for you, then send them into battle. And like in the Shin Megami Tensei games, you can also fuse monsters together to ensure that your team is always strong enough to battle enemies in each increasingly-difficult area that you enter. That part can be fun. What drags the game down a bit, in my opinion, is both the story and the lack of any real difficulty. The story provides the ability to choose a dialogue options…but not really. It can be frustrating when you pick a choice and the game lets you know that regardless of that choice, you'll be instead doing exactly what the game wants you to do. If you're just going to have a linear path, that's fine, just don't provide dialogue options that make players feel like they're useless. The story itself also felt like it lacked much depth…but in fairness, it feels like gameplay was the number one concern here and the story was a distant second. The gameplay is fine for what it is, but my one complaint is what I mentioned earlier - this game is too easy. Most people will cruise through this game…and once you beat it, then metal slimes pop up more frequently, allowing you to easily max out levels for your monsters to compete online against other trainers who are also maxed out. If you like Dragon Quest side-games, then you'll find enough with the Dark Prince to be happy with your purchase. If you're a fan of Pokemon or Shin Megami Tensei and were hoping for a solid alternative game, you also may find enjoyment here. As long as you don't expect it to be flawless, you'll likely have some fun. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/29/2022 Dance Dance Revolution: Disney Mix Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date November 30, 2000 (JP) Developer Konami Genre Music My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 77.04/100 There are two key features of Dance Dance Revolution: Disney Mix that makes it worth playing, even for DDR veterans. First is the obvious; new songs from various Disney shows and films. Second is a well-done multi-player mode that allows you to essentially have a dance-off against a friend...Of course, you can battle the computer as well, but there's more satisfaction when putting a pal in their place. Then yelling, "You just got served, son!" Then taking off your sock, filling it with a serving of strawberry Jell-o, and slapping that pal in the face with your newly-brandished gel sock, leaving a red mark of disgrace across his bewildered face….What? That's how Walt Disney would have done it if he had played this. Anyway, aside from the two mentioned features, this is still the same DDR that you know and love...Just with a bit of Disney tossed in for good measure. If you're not a fan of Disney, or you were hoping for more new stuff, you may be disappointed. For other DDR fans, though, this is a solid game, definitely worth tracking down. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Dance Dance Revolution: Disney's Rave (Japan), Dancing Stage: Disney Mix (Europe)

Date added: 07/13/2020 Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational Platform Playstation Vita Initial Release Date December 17, 2011 (JP) Developer Clap Hanz Genre Sports - Golf My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.74/100 Golf on the original Game Boy proved that golf was a great sport for portable systems...Mario Golf on Game Boy Color drove that point home even further. Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational isn't quite as good as the GBC Mario Golf was, but it's an extremely well-done golf game that anyone can enjoy, sports fan or not. The courses are varied and look stunning and the cartoony characters contrast with the more realistic-looking scenery in a pretty neat way. The controls are smooth and easy to get used to…it’s just a very well made game. If you want a solid game of golf that even casual gamers can enjoy, you can't really go wrong with Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational…unless you don’t have a Vita…in which case, you should probably get one. Played on: Playstation Vita Also known as: Minna no Golf 6 (Japan), Everybody's Golf (Europe)

Date added: 01/23/2022 Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date November 21, 1990 (JP) Developer Sega Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.19/100 Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse is a solid platformer with a reputation that exceeds the actual game, in my opinion. The game is beloved enough where it has been remade in recent years, and while it's a solid platformer, I just don't get why this game is loved as much as it is...Maybe it’s just nostalgia of playing it as a kid? Maybe it’s because before Sonic sprinted into the hearts of Genesis/Mega Drive owners, Mickey Mouse was seemingly the platforming king on that console? Maybe even because of the low difficulty, it very well may be the first game that a lot of people beat when they were young’uns? Regardless of the reason, this game is adored by many, and while I'm not as enthralled with it as most people seem to be, this IS a very good game and worth checking out if you're looking for a solid, non-Sonic platformer on the Genesis. Played on: Genesis Also known as: I Love Mickey Mouse: Fushigi no Oshiro Daibouken (Japan), Castle of Illusion Estrelando Mickey Mouse (South America)

Date added: 07/29/2022 Spider-Man Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date August 30, 2000 (NA) Developer Neversoft Entertainment Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.78/100 When Spider-Man first came out, I remember a lot of folks just immediately expecting the worst. Traditionally, comic book-based video games weren't very good. Though, in fairness, Spider-Man did probably have one of the better video game track records for comic book characters…but it's still taking a character, comic book character or not, who exclusively had 2D games up to this point, and bringing him into a 3D environment. While the switch from 2D to 3D killed a few franchises at this time, it seemed to breath some life into the possibility of new Spider-Man games. In fact, we still get Spider-Man games released today, and I believe that it's mostly due to the success of Spidey's first 3D adventure. Featuring a decent-sized cast of various heroes and villains from the Marvel comic books, along with voice-acting for each characters and narration of the story by Stan Lee, it gave fans of the comic books plenty of cameo appearances. Not only that, some levels allow you to swing through the city. This is nothing compared to more recent Spider-Man titles, but when it was released, it felt so cool to just swing around and explore the small areas that each level held. Unfortunately, Spider-Man hasn't aged the best. Modern players will probably battle with the camera a bit and the games auto-locking system doesn't always work as well as you may like it to, but it's still a very playable game. If you enjoy Spider-Man and what essentially led to his games being, quite possibly, the most popular, and critically acclaimed, comic book-based video games in history, then give this game a try. Despite the fact that it hasn't aged the best, it's still well worth checking out today. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/13/2023 Mega Man Xtreme Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date October 20, 2000 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 79.44/100 Mega Man Xtreme was known as RockMan X: Cyber Mission in Japan. I feel like calling this game Mega Man X: Cyber Mission would have been a better title here in the West. That title essentially tells you what this game is about - someone has messed with a computer and it's up to ol' X to enter the computer and re-live his battles against some of his foes from previous Mega Man X games. Playing through some of the stages in 8-bits instead of 16-bits is a nice little novelty, and since you've got bosses from various games mixed together, you get to see certain weapons against enemies that you didn't have access to in other games. Once you beat the game, you'll find that you've unlocked more levels and more bosses to battle. Beat the game a second time and all levels and bosses are unlocked, giving you the ability to fully power X up to his highest potential. I really liked Mega Man Xtreme. It was better than I thought it would be, and as I mentioned earlier, it was neat to see the levels and bosses from previous games re-imagined in 8-bits. If you're a Mega Man fan, I think you'll likely enjoy X's cyber mission. Just don't expect all the bells and whistles from the console games - this is still an 8-bit game that had to fit on a cartridge, but I think Capcom did a very good job with the limitations they had. Played on: Game Boy Color Also known as: RockMan X: Cyber Mission (Japan)

Date added: 10/20/2019 No Man's Sky Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date August 9, 2016 (NA) Developer Hello Games Genre Adventure My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 66.78/100 I absolutely love No Man's Sky, it’s one of my favorite games to come out in the last few years and if I purely went on that criteria, I’d have this game easily in the top 100 of this list...but this is a prime example of me loving a game, but not letting that get in the way of a deserving score. No Man's Sky is basically a "walking simulator," which is a good thing in my book. I like those types of games. The problem instead is repetition. The first few planets that you visit are fun and interesting...naming all of the rocks, plantlife, wildlife, locations, planets, and star systems is fun at first, but after a while you'll likely revert to just accepting whatever the name already is for what you discovered. Especially when you try to name an animal "clownshoes" and it's rejected by the profanity filter…Because of the last four letters, I’m assuming. You'll also begin to realize that you're just doing the exact same thing over and over again, just in a different environment. For those reasons, and a few others that I won't list here, I've got to give it a lower score...However, I can easily see No Man's Sky being a game that I'll pop in every now and then just to wander around on a random world...I just don't know if I'll be as obsessed with it as I was when it initially released. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/30/2022 Resistance: Fall of Man Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date November 11, 2006 (JP) Developer Insomniac Games Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 80.67/100 When the Playstation 3 first came out, I was pretty underwhelmed by the launch games. Oddly enough, though, the game that I wanted to play the most was part of a genre that I had yet to really find enjoyment in for the most part. It was a first-person shooter. Why did it catch my eye? Well, as a big fan of Spyro the Dragon and Ratchet & Clank, I was willing to assume that I'd also like a first-person shooter that Insomniac Games released….and I did, but not nearly as much as Insomniac's previous, more child-friendly games, in all honesty. I liked the unique variety of weapons, I liked the story of the single-player campaign, and for the most part I liked this game as a whole. I've also never been an online multiplayer person, but I've heard good things about the online multiplayer in this game, which allowed a whopping 40 players to play at once. That's not to say that this game is perfect, though. While I found it mostly enjoyable, I did get tired of the drab environments after a while - they're beautiful to a degree, but after a while I just found myself wishing for environments with more color…or even just more visually interesting…but the action is also often fast enough where you won't have a ton of time to sit and admire the world around you. Gameplay-wise I also found the computer AI to feel cheap at times…not enough to make me want to quit, but enough to make me annoyed. Overall, though, Resistance was a really good launch title for the PS3 and it still holds up fairly well all these years later. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: Resistance: Jinrui Botsuraku no Hi (Japan)

Date added: 01/09/2022 Super Team Games Platform NES Initial Release Date November 27, 1987 (JP) Developer Sonata Genre Fitness My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 83.71/100 Like most of Bandai’s other Power Pad games, which have you running in place for much of the game, Super Team Games is much of the same, but with some minor welcome changes to prevent it from feeling like the others. For example, have you ever wanted to blow up a giant bubble, climb inside, then sprint across the racetrack as a bubble boy? Bandai had you covered with Super Team Games. The nice thing about Super Team Games, aside from how bizarre it can be, is that it’s not simply a track and field game with weird aspects to it - it feels more like you’re running an obstacle course for a television show. To me, it feels like I’m participating in an event on Takeshi’s Castle (the show that was dubbed over as MXC here in North America) when I play, which is a good thing. You’ll find yourself jumping over logs, bumping a giant beach ball with your stomach, leaping over water pits, dressing up in a crab suit and walking sideways for a while, becoming the aforementioned bubble boy, and…well, simply running at times. A skateboarding mode also makes an appearance, if you don’t feel like running in place. There are also team events (which makes sense, given the title) which has modes like the six-legged race, where you and two other friends have to walk in place in tandem to make it to the finish line. Having five friends over, splitting into two teams, and competing in a six-legged race or twenty is more fun than it sounds. Overall, Super Team Games is a very fun game to pull out from time to time if you’ve got a Power Pad and aren’t afraid of getting a little sweaty while playing video games. Played on: NES Also known as: Family Trainer 7: Famitore Daiundoukai (Japan)

Date added: 10/10/2019 Feel the Magic: XY/XX Platform Nintendo DS Initial Release Date November 16, 2004 (NA) Developer Sonic Team Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.25/100 Feel the Magic: XY/XX is kind of like Sega's answer to Nintendo’s Wario Ware series…or possibly, the better comparison would be Incredible Crisis on the original Playstation. It's basically a bunch of mini games that show off several of the new (well, back in 2004 it was new) features of touch-screen gaming. As you progress through the mini games, you watch a story unfold about love and the like...a nice, bizarre story about a guy that joins a performance group known as the Rub Rabbits in an effort to get the attention of a lady that he’s smitten with. Supposedly Feel the Magic went under the radars of a lot of people when it came out, which is a shame, 'cause it's a very solid, enjoyable game. It probably won't blow anyone away with its gameplay, but with its unique art design and quirky personality, I'm sure it'll win over a large majority of people that give it a try. It’s one of my favorite games to pull out and play on the DS from time to time. Played on: Nintendo DS Also known as: Kimi no Tame Nara Shineru (Japan), Project Rub (Europe/Australia)

Date added: 08/03/2022 Secret of Evermore Platform Super NES Initial Release Date October 1995 (NA) Developer Square USA Genre RPG My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.07/100 In the Secret of Evermore, you play as a boy who follows his dog into an old mansion, which happens to have a laboratory within it. The dog winds up chewing on some cables, and the duo find themselves transported to a world called Evermore. Evermore, has four areas that you'll visit during the course of this game, with the dog transforming in each area to match the location. The combat is very similar to the Secret of Mana (though aside from the combat, the fact that SquareSoft made both, and that both games start with "Secret of" the two games are not related in any way) in that combat is done in real-time, but for your attacks to do any real damage, you'll need to wait for your power bar to fill between attacks. While I appreciate the game for what it is, and I somewhat like some of the humor found within the game, and I'm always fond of tales involving a person and their dog, I just wasn't a huge fan of this game. It's fine for what it is, and I'm glad I played through it, but I just don't think that I'll ever find myself playing through it again. But, if you like the gameplay of the Secret of Mana, want to experience a completely unrelated story with very similar gameplay, and a little humor tossed in, then I think you'll enjoy the Secret of Evermore quite a bit. I'm disappointed to say that this game, while not bad, just simply wasn't for me. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/16/2022 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project Platform NES Initial Release Date December 13, 1991 (JP) Developer Konami Genre Brawler My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 83.60/100 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project is a very long name...But long name aside, this is more of the same in regards to TMNT 2: The Arcade Game. It's a side-scrolling brawler with new enemies to battle, new environments to traverse, mildly improved gameplay and graphics, and just an overall enjoyable time whether you're playing solo or with a friend. If you weren't a big fan of Turtless II: Arcade Game, then you probably won't find much to enjoy in this game, either...But, on the flip side, if you liked the Arcade Game, then you'll likely find even more to love here. In my opinion, it's one of the better brawlers on the NES and well worth tracking down if you're a fan of brawlers. Played on: NES Also known as: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Manhattan Project (Japan)

Date added: 02/17/2024 Cannon Spike Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date November 14, 2000 (NA) Developer Psikyo Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.14/100 Cannon Spike is a bit of a unique game…it's not quite a twin-stick shooter….and it's not necessarily a shooter, either, as you may find yourself brawling through enemies along with the shooting…I guess Cannon Spike is just a Cannon Spike game. I guess? Anyway, in Cannon Spike, you shoot/brawl your way through ten stages that are enclosed areas full of enemies. As you fight your way through each area, especially the later stages, you'll have enough bullets, lasers, and shrapnel flying around that you'll feel like you're playing a bullet hell shooter. Making through all of these stages can be done with a handful of Capcom favorites like Cammy from Street Fighter, Arthur from Ghosts 'N Goblins, and Mega Man from….Mega Man. As much as I like Cannon Spike, it isn't without its faults. The controls do take some time to get used to - I mentioned earlier that this wasn't a twin-stick shooter, but I think if it was, that could have gone a long way in the controls department…even if Psikyo would had to make the second stick the A, B, X, Y buttons, I feel like it would have been a smoother learning curve. Still, once you're used to the controls (like the aspect where you are unable to change the direction that you're firing in until you stop shooting), there's plenty of fun to be had here. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: Gunspike (JP)

Date added: 10/13/2019 Alan Wake Platform Xbox 360 Initial Release Date May 14, 2010 (EU) Developer Remedy Entertainment Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.67/100 Alan Wake is a survival horror game that isn't overly great, but still a very solid Xbox 360 exclusive (in regards to consoles, anyway) title. The idea of using light to repel enemies was a fun aspect that helped add a little suspense to the game. I enjoyed the panic I felt when I was about to die and frantically tried to make it to a light source before the enemies around me finished me off. The story is a little faulty, and I really can’t stand the cop…not in a fun way, but in a “at least give the guy one redeeming quality so I don’t groan whenever his pear-shaped face and broken-glass-glued-onto-a-pinecone attitude make an appearance" way…Yes, that’s a legitimate attitude. I just posted it on the internet, so it’s obviously factual. Anyway, overall this is quite the good horror game, it’s just slightly short of great. Played on: Xbox 360 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/31/2019 Wave Race: Blue Storm Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date September 14, 2001 (NA) Developer NST Genre Racing My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 81.70/100 Wave Race 64 was an amazing racer when it was first released. Fast forward about half of a decade and Wave Race: Blue Storm came out…And while it was a solid game, it honestly felt like more of the same. Yes, it has better graphics. Yes, it has more playable characters. Yes, it has an extra mode or two. Yes, it’s a very good game. However, since it does simply feel like more of the same, it’s also a little bit of a disappointment. A higher difficulty than Wave Race 64 may make playing this worthwhile to people that perfected the Nintendo 64 racer, but on the flip side, it may also turn away people new to the franchise. Overall, Blue Storm is a solid racing game, and worth checking out if you’ve played Wave Race 64…just don’t expect a ton of innovation. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/24/2019 Missile Command Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1981 (NA) Developer Atari Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.28/100 Missile Command was fun in the arcades, and while graphically inferior, the Atari 2600 version brought a very similar experience to your home, without the need for quarters or dealing with joysticks coated with pizza grease from the hands of total strangers. The concept, for those not in the know, or too young to remember, is simple - missiles are coming down from the top of the screen. Your goal is to cause explosions in the air to destroy the missiles before they can destroy anything on the ground - and destroying multiple missiles with a single explosion is the key to surviving the later levels. It's very simple, and it's also still quite fun today. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: Comando de Misseis (South America)

Date added: 10/16/2019 The Town of Light Platform PC Initial Release Date February 26, 2016 (NA) Developer LKA Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 72.63/100 The Town of Light is a unique horror game in that there are no enemies. One would likely imagine that a horror game with no enemies wouldn’t be that scary…the Town of Light is a different kind of scary though. This is psychological horror. You play as Renee, a young woman who was committed to an insane asylum in 1930’s Italy. She talks to herself as you play, and because of that, as she gets anxious and uneasy, it often makes you feel that way as well. The way that this game manipulates you is extremely well done, as you can go from feeling a little paranoid to feeling sympathy toward Renee pretty quickly. Aside from the tremendous setting and storytelling, the Town of Light also gives you an opportunity to see how mental illness can have an effect on someone and as entertaining as the game is, it can also be educational in that regard and possibly even get empathy from the player. I feel like the Town of Light is just a very solid adventure game all around – it’s entertaining, well-made, and sends a good message to the folks that play it. If you want heart-pounding action, you won’t find it here, but if you want a solid story and a unique take on the horror genre, the Town of Light is well worth playing. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/04/2021 New Super Mario Bros. 2 Platform Nintendo 3DS Initial Release Date July 28, 2012 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 78.78/100 When the original New Super Mario Bros. came out, I thought it was okay, but nowhere near the quality of the original 2D Mario games. New Super Mario Bros. Wii, same thing. So, when New Super Mario Bros. 2 was released, I figured I’d give it a shot, but I wasn’t expecting much. While it didn’t reach the level of the original, side-scrolling Mario games, it still provided a very solid 2D platforming experience. With plenty of power-ups to use throughout all of the levels, it kind of reminded me of Super Mario Bros. 3 and how I’d save the abnormal power-ups and use them in levels that I wasn’t supposed to – like completing the final stage while wearing the frog suit. This was probably the first game in the “New” series that gave me nostalgia like that. New Super Mario Bros. U is still the best game in the “New” series, in my opinion, but New Super Mario Bros. 2 is a very solid second place. Played on: Nintendo 3DS Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 Gaurodan Platform Ouya Initial Release Date July 31, 2013 (NA) Developer Locomalito Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.01/100 I like giant monster movies. I like giant monster movies a lot, to be honest. Gaurodan allows you to become the giant monster and destroy cities (and tanks, helicopters, boats, etc.) with the lightning bolts that you spew from your mouth. Basically, you just fly back and forth over the city, until every building is a pile of rubble and all of the helicopters and tanks firing at you are destroyed. The best way to describe it is merging the destruction-goal gameplay and giant monster concept of Rampage with Fantasy Zone, a scrolling shooter where you can scroll the screen left or right. It's a fun game with a decent premise, but it the fun does wear thin after a little while. Still, destroying everything in your path is an enjoyable experience while it lasts. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/04/2019 WWE 2K16 Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date October 27, 2015 (NA) Developer Yuke's Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 75.41/100 WWE 2K16 is one of the better wrestling games to come out in the last several years. It fixes nearly every problem with WWE 2K15, keeps the innovations from 2K15 and makes them better, and brings back most of the older features that fans of the series knew and loved. For the first time in several years, I've found myself not entirely focused on WWE Universe mode, but also enjoying the other modes as well - the in-ring gameplay is the best it has ever been in the history of the Smackdown/WWE 2K game series, and as a result I find myself wanting to actually play matches rather than simply book and simulate them. If you're a wrestling fan, you'll likely love everything that WWE 2K16 offers...If you felt burned by WWE 2K15, then 2K16 is a suitable ointment to heal your pain. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/29/2019 Universal Chaos Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1988 (NA) Developer VSS Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.71/100 Universal Chaos is actually pretty fun...And that kind of surprised me. I’m not entirely sure why, but I expected very little from this game. Basically, you've got a grid on the screen and you control a car that can fire bullets forward. You want to shoot the other cars on the screen while they make an effort to ram into you. The action can get frantic at times, which is really where the game seems to be at its most fun. It’s no Twisted Metal, nor could it be on the hardware it runs on, but for its time, it was very enjoyable. It's still a solid action game today that deserves a spot in any Atari 2600 collector's collection. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/13/2024 Fable II Platform Xbox 360 Initial Release Date October 21, 2008 (NA) Developer Lionhead Studios Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.85/100 I really liked the original Fable, so I was looking forward to Fable II a lot before it came out…and while I didn't hate it, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed with it. Fable II seems to do the opposite of most sequels and rather than taking a step forward, it almost feels like a step backward. Story-wise, the original Fable wasn't exactly an award-winner, but I felt like Fable II was even weaker. It starts out interesting enough, but the path to get to the end, and the end itself, was pretty disappointing. Some of the side quests are fun, but others feel like a chore to complete…honestly, I probably had more fun trying to save up money to buy every property that I could find in an effort to be the landlord of every person in Albion. That's not to say that Fable II is an awful game. It isn't. But I really liked the original Fable and was hoping that this would at the very least be just as good as that one was. Unfortunately, it's not. I don't believe that I'm in the minority for thinking that, either. There's a reason that the original Fable is the only game in the series that has been re-released a few times, after all. Still, if you want to play a decent adventure game with some RPG mechanics, and a furry, foour-legged, canine companion to tag along with you on your quest, then you'll probably find Fable II to be a decent experience. Played on: Xbox 360 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/16/2023 Pokemon Y Platform Nintendo 3DS Initial Release Date October 12, 2013 (W) Developer Game Freak Genre RPG My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 81.79/100 Pokemon X and Y was the first time that a handheld game in the franchise was in full 3D….and despite some other additions/improvements to the gameplay, these games largely remained unchanged from earlier games in the series. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing depends on who you ask. I really enjoyed my time playing through these games, personally, but I also felt like I had played them before already. While that's not always a bad thing, it's hard for me to justify placing these games higher on the list without them changing things up much from previous games in the series. X and Y are definitely not bad games at all, but if you've been "poke'ed" out by the previous games in the franchise, there is absolutely nothing in these games that would make you want to resume hurling balls at wild animals to catch them in an effort to participate in the world's most PG cockfighting tournament ever known to mankind. Actually, with how I just described the franchise, I kinda want to play another game in the series now. It makes me feel like one of those rebellious types. Anyway, if you can't get enough Pokemon, nothing I say would or could prevent you from enjoying this game. If you'd grown tired of the Pokemon franchise and was hoping for something new in X and Y, you'll probably find yourself disappointed. Played on: Nintendo 3DS Also known as: Pocket Monsters Y (Japan)

Date added: 08/16/2023 Pokemon X Platform Nintendo 3DS Initial Release Date October 12, 2013 (W) Developer Game Freak Genre RPG My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 81.85/100 Pokemon X and Y was the first time that a handheld game in the franchise was in full 3D….and despite some other additions/improvements to the gameplay, these games largely remained unchanged from earlier games in the series. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing depends on who you ask. I really enjoyed my time playing through these games, personally, but I also felt like I had played them before already. While that's not always a bad thing, it's hard for me to justify placing these games higher on the list without them changing things up much from previous games in the series. X and Y are definitely not bad games at all, but if you've been "poke'ed" out by the previous games in the franchise, there is absolutely nothing in these games that would make you want to resume hurling balls at wild animals to catch them in an effort to participate in the world's most PG cockfighting tournament ever known to mankind. Actually, with how I just described the franchise, I kinda want to play another game in the series now. It makes me feel like one of those rebellious types. Anyway, if you can't get enough Pokemon, nothing I say would or could prevent you from enjoying this game. If you'd grown tired of the Pokemon franchise and was hoping for something new in X and Y, you'll probably find yourself disappointed. Played on: Nintendo 3DS Also known as: Pocket Monsters X (Japan)

Date added: 03/29/2024 Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date November 2, 1999 (NA) Developer Insomniac Games Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 86.92/100 I've always been a fan of the original Spyro trilogy on the original Playstation…but I'll admit, Ripto's Rage has always been my least favorite of the three. Don't get me wrong, Ripto's Rage is still one of my favorite 3D platformers of the 90's…but I just feel like the game that came before it and after it are better. Much like the original Spyro the Dragon, playing the game like normal is good and fun on its own, but going back and exploring every inch of each beautiful level, and not doing much else aside from running around and admiring what the developers created, is equally as fun as completing the levels like you're supposed to be doing. The reason that I don't care for it quite as much as the other two Spyro games is that I feel like there wasn't enough new gameplay introduced in Ripto's Rage. There definitely is some, but none of it really felt necessary…it didn't really enhance the original gameplay in any way. But, that's just my take, I have seen folks online claim that Spyro 2 improved on a lot of stuff from the original, so it may just be best if you give the game a shot and play it for yourself to decide. Anyway, Spyro 2 may be my least favorite of the three, but it's still a solid game and one of the better platformers of its console generation. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Spyro 2: Gateway to Glimmer (Europe), Spyro X Sparx: Tondemo Tours (Japan)

Date added: 01/24/2022 Street Cop Platform NES Initial Release Date August 31, 1987 (JP) Developer Human Entertainment Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.73/100 Street Cop, until just a few weeks ago, was one of the few games left that I had as a child, but never beat. Revisiting it for this list, I finally managed to make my way through, and I’m glad I did. I’d imagine that a lot of people don’t really know much about Street Cop since it was created specifically for the NES Power Pad…so in this age of emulation, it’s not really a game that people will find and consider to be a hidden gem. But, it really is one, honestly. I’ve always had a fondness for Street Cop because of how unique it is…though, admittedly, my initial reactions to the game when I first got it weren’t really favorable. It’s not due to the game being poor, but instead it was from how the control scheme takes some getting used to before you really feel like you’re actually in control. Plus, I had to clean my room to make room for the Power Pad. That’s never fun. Anyway, in Street Cop, you run in place on the Power Pad to move the police officer and patrol the streets. Other buttons on the pad allow you to move up or down on the screen, turn corners or enter doorways, use your baton, or throw/shoot weapons. For the weapons and the batton, you can also have a controller plugged in to handle that aspect if you wish and just leave the Power Pad for traversing the city. Each level is completed by “arresting” various generic goons, which brings your target out - you then need to pummel them with your baton or use any special items that you have, to arrest them and advance to the next level. I mentioned earlier that the controls take some getting used to, so thankfully, the levels are designed in a way to ease the player into everything…and honestly, even the final level isn’t too difficult. So, if you find yourself having a brain fart and stumbling with the controls, there’s still a chance that you’ll still be able to survive. The most difficult aspect is actually the time limit - each level is limited to ten minutes, but you can collect clocks in the world that will give you another minute each time that you collect one. Especially in the final level, getting those clocks when you find them is necessary to see the credits roll. Street Cop isn’t a game that’s going to find its way on anyone’s top 100 games of all-time list, but it’s a solid, unique game and I’ll always have a fondness for it because of that. Played on: NES Also known as: Family Trainer 6: Manhattan Police (Japan)

Date added: 07/31/2020 Frogger Platform Arcade Initial Release Date June 1981 (JP) Developer Konami Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.23/100 Frogger was one of the more popular arcade games of its day, and has since been immortalized in our culture through the episode of Seinfeld where George doesn’t want his top score to be lost…and I must admit, I’m a bit more fond of that Seinfeld episode than I am of this game. Don’t get me wrong, Frogger was solid for its time, but it just never hooked me like other games of its time, like Donkey Kong. For those who have never played it, the goal of Frogger is to move from the bottom of the screen to the top of the screen and into the little coves at the top of the screen. In the way is a freeway full of traffic and a river full of hazards…like water…because frogs hate water, I guess. But anyway, putting the “avoid the water as a frog” logic aside, the end result is pretty solid. I may not have ever been the biggest fan of Frogger, but I can still appreciate it for what it is – one of the best arcade games ever made, and one that many folks still look back at fondly today. Played on: Arcade, Atari 2600, Colecovision Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/15/2019 Road Rash Platform Panasonic 3DO Initial Release Date January 1, 1994 (NA) Developer Monkey Do Productions Genre Racing My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 85.64/100 I don't remember the exact quote, but I remember reading that the guy in charge of marketing for the 3DO stated that had Road Rash been a launch title, he believed that the 3DO would have been much, much more successful than it was. I don't know if I'd go that far, but Road Rash was pretty amazing for its time...A 3D racing game where players can race on multiple, unique-looking courses while punching rival racers and cops, hitting pedestrians, and avoiding traffic. It was a blast to play, and this entry in the franchise may have been at its best on the 3DO console. Maybe that 3DO marketing guy was onto something afterall. Played on: 3DO Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/03/2019 LSD Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date October 22, 1998 (JP) Developer OutSide Directors Company Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.00/100 LSD is supposed to be a dream simulator - basically, you walk around, in first-person view, and experience dreams...and nightmares. Using today's terms, it could be classified as a walking simulator as there is no real goal here, at least from what I could see, aside from walking around and exploring, trying to trigger events like a girl's head falling off and her walking towards you, or a statue on the fireplace suddenly coming to life and attacking you. You could walk for a while before discovering something unique and interesting, but that's part of the charm, and it lets you take the bizarre dream worlds in. This game definitely isn't for everyone, but I absolutely love it. If you enjoy wandering around, exploring, and really bizarre imagery, then you'll probably love this game, too. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/19/2021 Final Fantasy XIII Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date December 17, 2009 (JP) Developer Square Enix Genre RPG My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.40/100 I originally played Final Fantasy XIII back when it initially released. I think that I put maybe 8-10 hours into it, but just wasn’t able to get into the story and gameplay and I wound up moving on to other games. Now, about a decade later, I decided to give it another chance and this time I played all the way through to the end. Ultimately, I enjoyed Final Fantasy XIII, but I won’t lie – it took me roughly 20 hours of playtime to feel that way. The majority of the game is basically “walk forward and fight enemies until you reach a cutscene, then repeat.” It’s not until the end of the game that you’re really able to explore, and once I reached that point, I really enjoyed playing – it basically doubled my play time. Overall, I think that FF13 is a solid game, and I’ve grown very fond of it…but I’d still rank it in the lower end of games in the series. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/24/2019 Zelda II: The Adventure of Link Platform NES Initial Release Date September 26, 1988 (EU) Developer Nintendo Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.82/100 A lot of people consider the Legend of Zelda games to be RPGs, despite the fact that they lack most RPG characteristics. Zelda II is the exception to the rule, with experience points obtained from enemies that allow Link to level up and even random battles on the world map. A drastic change from the original Zelda formula, Zelda II is often shunned as the black sheep of the franchise, with the majority of the game taking place in side-scrolling towns, dungeons, and arenas for the random battles that you encounter. Black sheep or not, it’s still a very solid game with plenty of secrets to discover, though admittedly, it’s not quite at the same quality of most other games in the franchise. Still, if you get the opportunity to, it’s still a good game worth playing through at least once if you’re a fan of the Zelda series – you may even grow to appreciate it for what it is once you get used to how different it is from what you may expect. Played on: NES Also known as: The Legend of Zelda 2: Link no Bouken (Japan)

Date added: 08/19/2019 Animal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date May 22, 2008 (JP) Developer Success Genre Adventure My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 77.41/100 When I first played Animal Kingdom, I halfway expected a decent game and halfway expected total garbage. To my surprise, it actually had me completely hooked from beginning to end. That's not to say it's one of the greatest games I've ever played, as the game does have its share of flaws, but the game does a very good job of making it fun to be a wildlife photographer. It's a fantastic game for kids, with many facts and tidbits about the various animals, but it's also done well enough that I think most adults will appreciate the game as well. It does move at a slower pace, though, so if you want non-stop action in your video games, this may not be the game for you. If you’re like me, and sometimes just want to unwind with a slow, relaxing game, then Animal Kingdom is a good way to kill some time. Played on: Wii Also known as: Doubutsu Kisoutengai! (Japan), Safar'Wii (Europe)

Date added: 05/09/2022 Philosoma Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date July 28, 1995 (JP) Developer G Artist Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.12/100 I'm a fan of Philosoma and what it tries to do. Basically, Philosoma is a little bit of every kind of third-person shooter that you can think of - vertical scrolling, side scrolling, rail....different perspectives, different angles, shooting ahead and backwards, changing up and leveling up weapons on the fly...It's a beautiful mess of just about everything you can think of from other shooters that you know and love all crammed into one game - and it's even got a story to boot! There are other scrolling shooters out there that do each aspect of this game better…but that aspect is that game's entire game. While Philosoma isn't the best at any of the perspectives or scrolling shooter styles presented in the game, it's still very good at all of them. You won't enter a level with a different perspective and think, "Oh, no. Not one of THESE levels again." Instead, the change up of play styles helps keep this game feeling fresh, right up until the credits roll. This was one of the better early Playstation One games to come out, and in my opinion, it's up there as one of the better games on the console, period. If you like shooters and want a variety of levels that all play differently from one another, then give Philosoma a try. I bet you'll fall head over heels for it like I did. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/28/2021 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date January 31, 2008 (JP) Developer Game Arts Genre Fighting My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 85.92/100 Super Smash Bros. Melee absorbed so much of my time in college, as a group of friends and I would have little Smash Bros. parties on a regular basis. When Brawl came out, I was no longer in college and much more happy to play games in solitude rather than with others. That didn't change how much I enjoyed this title, but it did have an effect on how much I played it. That said, Smash Bros. Brawl didn't really improve on a whole lot from Melee, but that's not necessarily bad. It's still a solid game, but a little more innovation might have lead it to be placed higher on this list. Played on: Wii Also known as: Dairantou Smash Brothers X (Japan)

Date added: 12/18/2023 Dolphin Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date December 27, 1983 (NA) Developer Activision Genre Activision My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.18/100 The box art of Dolphin doesn't really make you sympathize with the aquatic mammal. "They appeared on Earth 49 million years before we did. Their brains are large and complex. Their radar system - more powerful than any known to man. They are dolphins! And now, they need your help." Well, if they're such a fancy-pants animal species than I bet they can do just fine on their own, helping their hoity toity selves. Anyway, box comments aside, I was pleasantly surprised when I played Dolphin. It's a very simple game at first glance - avoid the squid for as long as you can…but the more you play (or if you're not lazy like me and actually read the manual to figure out the proper way to play) you'll realize that there's quite a bit more to the game. You can move left or right, and arrows appear on screen that can either help you speed away from the dastardly squid, or they can push you right into its multiple arms of death. Likewise, if you happen to see a bird flying up at the top of the screen, and if you can get your dolphin to jump out of the water to catch it, if gives your dolphin invincibility and the ability to actually fight back and send the squid off on its merry old way. Anyway, I found myself hooked on Dolphin when I played it. Rather than just play a few rounds to review the game, I found myself returning back to it to play some more and beat my old high score. If you've got an Atari 2600, and can track down a Dolphin cartridge, I definitely recommend picking it up. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/28/2021 Shin Megami Tensei Platform Super NES Initial Release Date October 30, 1992 (JP) Developer Atlus Genre RPG My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.73/100 It’s not really much of a secret that I love the Megami Tensei franchise. When I began collecting import Super NES games, the first two that I nabbed were boxed copies of Shin Megami Tensei and Shin Megami Tensei II. Anyway, I like this game quite a bit…but before I go too much more into it, I’ll be blunt – this is definitely not for everyone. It’s not an RPG for beginners. Navigation can take a while to get used to with the “auto map” rotating depending on the direction that you’re facing, making it pretty easy to get disoriented until you get used to it. Combat can also be either incredibly easy or incredibly hard depending on if you’ve got the right party members with you. It also takes a few hours before the story really gets interesting. Another potential negative would be that if you’re overly sensitive to religious themes, then you may get offended here…specifically since depending on the path that you take to get to the end, you may wind up seeing various Christian characters (and characters from various other religions and mythologies from around the world, for that matter) as either friends or foes. That’s probably why it never saw an official, translated North American release until it was released on iOS 20 years later. But all of that stuff said, I really enjoy this game. It’s not without its flaws, but as a big fan of the franchise, I really enjoyed the first entry in the Shin Megami Tensei series. Later games improve on everything found here, but this game still provides a solid RPG experience for folks that are willing to work a little for it. Played on: Super NES, iPhone Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/03/2019 Speed Devils Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date October 14, 1999 (NA) Developer Ubisoft Montreal Genre Racing My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 81.61/100 Speed Devils is a deceptively good game. I remember the Official Dreamcast Magazine giving it a poor review, then a few issues later admitting they made a mistake, calling their rating for it (3 out of 10) a "blunder" on their end. At first glance, it just looks like your average racer with a pretty coat of paint and (mostly) interesting levels. Each level is hiding shortcuts and hidden routes and you've got turbo boosts (and other upgrades) to use at your disposal...and you can customize the levels prior to racing, like what the weather will be like, what time of day it is, and if it's a regular course or a mirror course. There's just so much to do and discover that any fan of arcade racing can easily lose hours upon hours here. Some folks don't like this game for some reason, but I fail to see what isn't to like here. If you get a chance to play it, give it a shot and find out for yourself. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/09/2022 Kid Chameleon Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date May 28, 1992 (NA) Developer Sega Technical Institute Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 80.40/100 Kid Chameleon is about a Arthur Fonzarelli wannabe with multiple personality disorder...Or at least that's what I tell myself. The story actually has nothing to do with that. But anyway, Kid Chameleon is a solid platformer where the player hs quite the wardrobe. Depending on the outfit that they obtain in the level (similar to Super Mario Bros. - hit a floating block and the power-up suit appears for you to grab) you can transform into various personas, each with their own abilities. Depending on the outfit, you may be able to fly, see hidden blocks in the stage, or hurl axes at your enemies like a dang lunatic. While Kid Chameleon is mostly adored by folks that have played it, I can't help but feel like this game is a bit longer than it needed to be. It took me roughly four hours to see it through from beginning to end, and by the end of those four hours, I was ready to move on to something else. The physics in the game may also be awkward for some at first - it's pretty easy to jump to a platform then slide right off before you're able to really get your footing. In some areas, that can lead to a good amount of frustration. But, for the most part, Kid Chameleon provides some good fun while you transform from level to level. If you want a lengthy, solid, 2D platformer, then Kid Chameleon may be just what you're looking for. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: Chameleon Kid (Japan)

Date added: 04/13/2019 Giant Gram: All-Japan Pro Wrestling 2 Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date June 24, 1999 (JP) Developer Scarab Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.98/100 All Japan's game on the Saturn included a few characters from Virtua Fighter to fight alongside or against various AJPW wrestlers like Giant Baba, Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada, and Kenta Kobashi. Giant Gram does that again with a larger roster and slightly improved in-ring action. The presentation is breathtaking with complete entrances, theme music, ring introductions, crowd chants, etc. It was all designed to look and sound just like a television broadcast and they succeed. The only thing that really holds this back from being a truly great wrestling game are the controls which feel like they lag at times. By no means does it break the game, but it does feel annoying at times. It's still a decent wrestling experience, and worth checking out...Especially if you're a fan of the 90's All Japan product, like I am. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/07/2022 Avenging Spirit Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date November 6, 1992 (JP) Developer C.P. Brain Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 84.77/100 Going from the box art and the game title, Avenging Spirit didn't really appeal to me, in all honesty. "Avenging Spirit" doesn't sound like a game that would get my attention and the generic mobster firing a gun just didn't make me interested. But, as we're told in Kindergarten, you should never judge a book by its cover. When I finally gave Avenging Spirit a chance, it won me over almost immediately. The North American Game Boy box was somewhat misleading. While you do technically control a gun-wielding mobster in the game, you also control ninjas and various other folks to a degree. Essentially, in Avenging Spirit, you control a ghost that has the ability to possess people. You start the game off already possessing the gun-wielding mobster, but any time that you come across another enemy, you can leave the mobster's body and if you're quick enough, you can enter the body of a new enemy to take control of them. With a good variety of enemies to possess, even with some fairly basic platforming gameplay, the game never overstays its welcome as you make your way through each level. Avenging Spirit isn't the greatest game ever made, but I really liked it for what it is. If controlling a cute ghost that possesses folks to shoot, pummel, or stab other folks sounds interesting to you, then give Avenging Ghost a shot. You may enjoy it as much as I did. Played on: Game Boy Also known as: Phantasm (Japan)

Date added: 04/24/2019 Puyo Puyo~n Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date March 4, 1999 (JP) Developer Compile Genre Puzzle My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.8/100 Puyo Puyo~n, also known as Puyo Puyo 4, is pretty tough. Not just pretty tough, but it often feels pretty cheap. I consider myself pretty dang good at Puyo Puyo games. I usually have no difficulty completing them…but this game adds the gimmick of “special moves” to story mode. That, in itself, probably wouldn’t be a pain, but for much of story mode the opponent has special moves and you do not…or their special moves are superior when you do have one to choose. You know when you play a kart game like Mario Kart, and you’re destroying the competition…then that blue shell hits you right before the finish line and you drop from first place to last? It’s a similar situation here. There were a few times where I was completely dominating, then they used a special move, and suddenly I’m seeing a screen that says “Continue?” on it. That frustration aside, this is still a fun, solid puzzle game and worth checking out…especially if you’re up for a challenge. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: Puyo Puyo 4

Date added: 02/15/2020 Virtua Fighter Kids Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date July 26, 1996 (JP) Developer Sega AM2 Genre Fighting My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 81.36/100 Virtua Fighter Kids is a good solid Virtua Fighter game...It basically runs off of the Virtua Fighter 2 engine, plays a little faster, and has a few new modes added in. Oh, and it's also quite adorable as the fighters are all big-headed, super-deformed, adorable, little cuties that, aside from being just so precious, could probably rip your heart out of your chest in an instant. That being said, while not quite as solid of a fighting game as Virtua Fighter 2, in my opinion, Virtua Fighter Kids is still a very solid fighting game, regardless of the cute graphics. It’s also a nice entry-level game for people who want to get into the Virtua Fighter games, but with a slightly lighter difficulty. Played on: Saturn Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/14/2022 Puzzle & Dragons: Nintendo Switch Edition Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date February 19, 2022 (NA) Developer GungHo Genre Puzzle My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 81.50/100 I've known about Japan's love of the Puzzles & Dragons game for a while now. I installed the game on my phone years ago, and honestly never sat down to play it to see what all the hooplah was about. However, after seeing that Puzzles & Dragons not only made its way to the Switch, but that it's on the Switch for very cheap (roughly $5, or less if you catch it on sale), I figured that it was about time that I finally gave it a chance. After putting in several hours, I can honestly say that I understand why Japan fell in love with this game. Puzzles & Dragons is similar to a lot of matching puzzle games - match up the colored blocks to make them disappear and try to line things up to create massive combos. Each time you move a block, though, it takes a turn, allowing the monsters that you're battling to make moves in an effort to wipe out your party. If your party's HP reaches zero, it's game over. The real aspect of this game that makes it interesting and really adds to the strategy is that you're not restricted to only moving a block one spot over. Once you begin moving the block, you can move it as much as you want for whatever time your team specifies - 30 seconds seems to be the norm. By moving the block, you're also shuffling around the blocks around it, allowing you to not just match up the block that you're moving, but you can actually position other blocks to match, or line up blocks in an effort to create a combo - and if your combo is large enough, you can eliminate many of the bosses with a single turn. This aspect of the gameplay is what made everything so addicting for me. I'd get to a difficult boss fight and I'd get destroyed…then I'd try it again and I'd be lucky enough to have the blocks needed for me to position them in a way to get a 15-match combo and absolutely obliterate the boss that I had issues getting past just a few minutes before. If you like puzzle games, then I highly recommend giving Puzzles & Dragons a chance - it's very inexpensive, so what do you have to lose? Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/25/2024 Bushido Blade Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date March 14, 1997 (JP) Developer Light Weight Genre Fighting My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.13/100 Bushido Blade is a unique fighter in that all it takes is one good hit, and the fight is over. Basically, you're a samurai wielding deadly weapons and while you may do some non-lethal cuts to your opponent, much of the time, one good slash is all you need to end the fight and your opponent's life. This leads to really fun fights against friends as you frantically try to see who the first person to get a lethal blow will be. I also like the little details of the game, like how your fighter will be patched up in whatever area your previous opponent may have gotten a shot or two in. Did your opponent graze your leg with their sword? It'll be patched up in the next fight. This isn't like many fighting games, like Street Fighter or King of Fighters. It's slow, methodical, strategic, realistic fighting. Since a single blow could end the fight at any time, rushing in and attacking can often lead to disaster. To succeed, you want to be patient, and try to anticipate your opponent's moves and react accordingly. For that reason, it's very much worth playing. There wasn't another fighting game like it at the time. Is it perfect? Nope. But it's still good, solid fun that most fans of the fighting genre can probably appreciate. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/24/2019 Forza Motorsport Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date May 3, 2005 (NA) Developer Microsoft Game Studios Genre Racing My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 84.48/100 Forza Motorsport was basically Microsoft’s attempt at making a Gran Turismo killer on its Xbox system. In my opinion, it came up short. It does have some interesting ideas, like “leveling up” and a line of sorts on the track (that you can turn off if you want) that helps newer racers get familiar with and perfect racing on the tracks faster. However, while the rest of the game is made really well, it still feels like a Gran Turismo copy. It’s the same basic premise of racing to earn money to buy better cars to get into better races to get better cars to get into better races. For Xbox owners that don’t have access to a Sony system to play Gran Turismo, then Forza Motorsport is a very good alternative, but this rookie attempt still fell short of reaching the greatness of Sony’s top racer. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/08/2020 Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date November 22, 2010 (NA) Developer Rockstar San Diego Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.36/100 I was not a big fan of Undead Nightmare when it first came out. I thought that constantly having to travel from town to town to purge it from zombie attacks over and over was tedious and annoying. Playing through it again for the second time, now a decade after it originally released, I don’t really know why I was so annoyed…except maybe I didn’t fully understand that I could fast-travel from town to town instead of traveling by horse all the time. I actually enjoyed my time with Undead Nightmare with this latest playthrough, from clearing towns of the undead to tracking down and breaking in the four horses of the apocalypse, to discovering all of the cryptid creatures that had been added into the game…like wandering in the woods and suddenly seeing a sasquatch lumbering around…it’s a fun, unique take on the original Red Dead Redemption formula. Especially if you’re looking for a non-traditional horror game to play during the Halloween season. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/27/2023 Boxing Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1980 (NA) Developer Activision Genre Fighting - Boxing My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 79.01/100 Boxing, much like Pong, is a prime example of how games can be so simplistic, and yet provide so much fun. Compared to modern games, there's not really much to Boxing. There's no story mode or elaborate control scheme here. Essentially all you do in boxer is invite a friend over. Then, move the joystick to move your boxer and press the button on the joystick to punch. The goal is to land as many punches as you can within the time limit and hope that your punches landed is greater than the number from your opponent. This is mildly fun playing alone, but an absolute blast when playing with a friend....Especially when the friendly trash talk gets going. A game like Boxing would probably be panned today for its simplicity and lack of content, but for its time, this was quite a fun game, and one of my personal favorites on the Atari 2600. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/19/2023 Horizon: Forbidden West Platform Sony Playstation 5 Initial Release Date February 18, 2022 (W) Developer Guerrilla Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 85.35/100 I absolutely fell in love with Horizon: Zero Dawn, so I was really looking forward to Forbidden West…and while I didn't dislike Forbidden West, I did feel like it was a step back in comparison to the previous game in the series. In theory, it should have been better - it's bigger, with more to do, and an ability to climb much, much more than you could in the previous game. Let's focus on that last part, though. I was initially thrilled to see that we could climb many more environments than in Zero Dawn…but by the end of the game, I was wishing that I could go back to Zero Dawn's climbing mechanics with only specific climbing points that worked well. The problem is that while you can theoretically climb way more environments, the climbing mechanics are so terrible in this game that most people will likely find themselves cursing at the screen while Aloy climbs in a different direction than the controller inputs should direct her. It's not constant, mind you, but it happens enough where you'll likely grew very frustrated before the credits roll. Outside of climbing, Forbidden West isn't awful, but I do feel like it goes on a tad too long. This game is roughly twice the length of Zero Dawn, which would be good if they had to content to fill up that time. Instead, things get pretty repetitive in this game by the end. If the game was about the same length as Zero Dawn, I feel like that would have gone a long way. Anyway, while this was mostly complaints, I did enjoy Forbidden West for the most part. Most of the good from Zero Dawn is found here, so if you enjoyed Aloy's adventure in Zero Dawn, then I think that you'll enjoy her continued story in Forbidden West, but it probably won't be without some frustrations. Played on: Playstation 5 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/09/2020 Guitar Freaks Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date July 29, 1999 (JP) Developer Konami Genre Music My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.16/100 Years before Guitar Hero took North America by storm, Japan already had a music game where you played with a guitar peripheral - that game was Guitar Freaks. Guitar Freaks plays pretty similar to Guitar Hero, which most folks reading this are probably more familiar with, but this game pretty much laid the groundwork for the basics that made RedOctane's guitar game so addicting. If you're one of the few that didn't get burned out with the Guitar Hero game years ago and want something new, it might be worth your while to import this game and its guitar controller. I'm sure you'll like it just as much as the game that so many fell in love with back on the Playstation 2. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/07/2021 Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date August 4, 2020 (W) Developer Mediatonic Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.00/100 Fun story (well for me, anyway) about Fall Guys, as a Playstation Plus member, I had gotten the game for free…but I didn’t realize it. Fast forward a few months and a friend of mine was playing it on Twitch. I figured I’d take a gander and it looked like it was really fun. I considered buying it, then realized that I didn’t have to due to Playstation Plus months ago. I booted it up and have been enjoying it on and off ever since. I’m not great at Fall Guys by any means, I haven’t won a single game yet, but I’d say I’m average – I can usually make it through 3-4 rounds before getting eliminated. But I don’t even care if I’m good or not, this game is just fun. Basically, the concept of Fall Guys is that you’re part of a game show, participating in various events...kinda like American Gladiators without the Gladiators and with dozens of other contestants playing at the same time. Playing in events gives you currency to buy new costumes and such to give a little personality to your character. I generally don’t care for online multiplayer games – people can be jerks. You don’t get a lot of that here from my experience. It’s usually just a bunch of people that simply want to enjoy themselves with some friendly competition. If you got it with Playstation Plus but never gave it a chance, I highly recommend it. If not, and it sounds fun, I’d definitely recommend purchasing it and giving it a go. I bet you’ll be glad that you did. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/09/2019 Alien Hominid Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date November 23, 2004 (NA) Developer The Behemoth Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.99/100 Alien Hominid is a pretty dang good throwback to the 8-bit and 16-bit days of scrolling shooters, with enough of its own personality and charm shining through to make it feel like something new along with feeling like it’s a familiar old friend. This is mostly your standard run-and-gun shooter, but with a few features like charging your shots or burrowing underground to surprise attack your enemy added in to keep the game from feeling like some sort of clone. If you're a fan of older games with challenge, and want some interesting new aspects tossed in, you'll fall in love with Alien Hominid. Get it and enjoy. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/25/2019 WCW vs. The World Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date February 28, 1997 (NA) Developer Aki Corp. Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 76.47/100 While not quite as deep as the N64 WCW wrestling titles that Aki was developing, which makes sense because this was released nearly a year before the first one on the N64, WCW vs. The World was still a very solid wrestling game for Playstation owners and the only real good WCW game that supporters of Sony's system ever got. With plenty of wrestlers to choose from (both authentic stars from WCW and generic wrestlers based off of popular wrestlers from the land of the Rising Sun, as well as a few unlockable wrestlers) wrestling fanatics like myself had plenty to keep us coming back for more. That said, this never really reached the popularity of its N64 brothers, which improved on pretty much every aspect of the gameplay, peaking at Aki’s crown jewel, No Mercy. It's one of the best early PSOne wrestling games, arguably the best for its time in North America, and it still holds up pretty well, in terms of gameplay, today. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/21/2023 Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers Platform NES Initial Release Date June 8, 1990 (JP) Developer Rare Ltd. Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 66.34/100 When folks of my generation think of good Disney games, they generally think of the batch of Capcom platformers that, more often than not, were really, really good. Chip N Dale: Rescue Rangers is one of the more beloved Disney games from this time period. The single player experience is fun enough on is own, but where Rescue Rangers shines is the two-player game. Most multiplayer platformers of the time required players to take turns playing, one at a time, but Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers allows both players to be on the screen at the same time, working together to get through each level. Also separating this from the other Capcom platformers is the ability to pick up items and throw them at enemies, which is necessary not just to survive each stage, but to also survive the boss fights in the game. I've always preferred Duck Tales to Rescue Rangers - both in terms of the television show and the video game - but, I can't deny that Rescue Rangers is still a very solid platformer that a lot of folks look back on fondly. Played on: NES Also known as: Chip to Dale no Daisakusen (Japan)

Date added: 07/13/2024 Battle Fantasia Platform Xbox 360 Initial Release Date March 12, 2008 (AS) Developer Arc System Works Genre Fighting My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 74.11/100 Arc System Works is known for some very good, 2D fighters. Battle Fantasia is one that seems to be forgotten about, though. Here in North America, it was released on the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC…but it only saw a physical release on Microsoft's console. The gameplay is similar to most of Arc System Works' fighting games - nice, solid combat. The big gimmick in this game is the "Heat Up" function, which is necessary to utilize in order to beat the game - the final boss does not take damage unless you are "heated up" while delivering your offense. The fighting itself is slower-paced to some of other Arc System Work's fighters…I kind of compare it to the change in gameplay between Street Fighter II and Street Fighter III. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but depending on the type of fighting game that you prefer, it may be a turn-off. I, personally, love it. The cast of playable fighters are all completely unique and memorable, meaning that if this kind of fighter is for you, you may find yourself gladly working your way through as each character just to see how their stories play out. Anyway, I consider Battle Fantasia to be a pretty under-rated fighting game. It's not an all-time classic, but it's definitely one of the better fighting games of its generation, in my opinion. It may be worth tracking down a copy to find out for yourself. Do keep in mind, though, that while compiling the average score, it do seem to be in the minority for enjoying this game, with some people absolutely hating it, so it's always best to give it a try yourself to see what you think. Played on: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/06/2019 Luigi's Mansion Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date September 14, 2001 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.04/100 I always wanted a game that starred Luigi - but this isn't exactly what I had in mind. Luigi's first starring role was a Ghostbusters-like survival horror game, which wasn't the greatest game ever made by any means, but was still a solid, fun experience. It’s a survival horror game that likely won’t even scare the most timid of children, but that doesn’t matter. The personality of the ghosts and seeing cowardly Luigi explore “his” mansion while trying to locate his missing brother still helps create a fantastic experience. It garnered enough of a following that it has spawned a few sequels. So, while the game that Luigi stars in isn’t the platformer that folks like me thought we wanted, it’s a unique experience that most people who played it are glad we received. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/30/2022 Mr. Do! Platform Colecovision Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer Universal Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 76.23/100 Mr. Do! seemed to be Universal's attempt at Namco's successful Dig Dug formula - dig around and avoid enemies. While some could simply dismiss it as a clone, sometimes the "clones" of games in the early days of video games could result in some entertaining ideas added to an already successful formula. Mr. Do! is one of those games - one could make the case that it surpasses Dig Dug in terms of quality, even if Dig Dug is the better-known title. The big appeal of Mr. Do! is that there isn't a single way to clear a stage - a stage can be completed in multiple ways. You can collect all cherries in a stage or defeat all enemies…you can even wait for all enemies to appear, and eat the item that appears. This makes the enemies more difficult, but defeating the head honcho of the monsters will give you a letter from the word EXTRA. Collect all letters and you've gotten yourself an extra life. There's even an occasional warp point to be found to move you forward. Overall, Mr. Do! is a solid game for its time and well worth checking out. Whether this game is better or Dig Dug comes down to personal preference…but a very solid case could be made for Do! being better than Dug. Played on: Colecovision Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/29/2019 Super Hexagon Platform PC Initial Release Date November 27, 2012 (NA) Developer Terry Cavanagh Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.95/100 Super Hexagon is a game I like to play if I've got about five minutes to kill, but don't want to go on a gaming marathon. The concept is simple - move the triangle left and right and avoid hitting walls. That's it. There's a catch, though. The triangle is on a rotating, hexagon-shaped platform and the walls are closing in on you at a fast pace. Even on easy (which is labeled as 'hard') most people will die before they hit ten seconds on their first try. Like the games of old, the more you play, the better you get and the longer you can last, which not only makes this a fun game in small doses, but it gives you a sense of accomplishment each time you surpass your previous record. It's fun, it's simple, it's cheap...It's worth owning. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/10/2019 NFL Blitz Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date September 12, 1998 (NA) Developer Midway Genre Sports - Football My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 84.31/100 A lot of folks growing up in the mid-90's remember a certain sports game called NBA Jam and how enjoyable that over-the-top, arcade-style basketball game was. Midway's goal with NFL Blitz was to re-create that fun but on the gridiron. While the end result wasn't quite as good as NBA Jam, it still resulted in one of the best football games that I've personally ever played. Some rules are thrown out the window, the need to move 10 yards forward is replaced with the need to move 20 yards forward, and, of course, it isn't an over-the-top Midway sports game if there isn't a flaming ball of some sort during the game. While not quite as universally appealing and simplistic as NBA Jam was, this is still a game that people who aren’t interested in football (like myself) can still sit down and enjoy playing, but football purists may not appreciate it nearly as much. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/18/2020 Ultimate Muscle: Legends vs. New Generation Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date November 22, 2002 (JP) Developer Aki Corp. Genre Wrestling My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 78.24/100 Made before Def Jam Vendetta, Ultimate Muscle has even more over-the-top action. It's also more of a fighting game than a wrestling game (despite being based off of the wrestling cartoon Ultimate Muscle) since your goal is to knock your opponent out rather than go for a three count. With about 20 playable characters, and each one being unique and with a different moveset, and a different story, there's plenty of replay value to be found here. Not to mention, the toy mode where the goal is to collect every action figure using the coins that you obtain from winning battles. It's got enough wrestling action to appeal to wrestling fans, and it's enough like a non-wrestling fighting game to appeal to fans of fighting games...It's right in that sweet spot, making it a game that fans of both genres should try. I personally wish that there were more modes and characters (Toy mode, specifically, makes me wish that some of the characters found there were in this game), but Ultimate Muscle is perfectly fine for what it is. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: Kinnikuman Nisei: Shinsedai Choujin vs Densetsu Choujin (Japan)

Date added: 08/12/2019 Silent Hill: Origins Platform Playstation Portable Initial Release Date November 6, 2007 (NA) Developer Climax Studios Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.04/100 I liked Silent Hill: Origins a lot. As a huge fan of the Silent Hill franchise, it was kinda nice to see how the horrors leading into the first Silent Hill began. Though there were some changes that fans weren’t used to – like every weapon being breakable (except for your fists, a new weapon) and the “nightmare world” being something that you willingly enter via mirrors instead of unexpectedly being thrust into them – the environments were just as creepy as fans of the series have become used to. While this probably won’t be anyone’s favorite game in the Silent Hill franchise, it’s still very solid. It was also amazing to have a good horror game that I could play on the toilet so I could claim that it literally scared the poo out of me. Played on: PSP Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/22/2019 Electronic Super Joy Platform PC Initial Release Date August 23, 2013 (NA) Developer Michael Todd Games Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.64/100 While I've heard a lot of folks say that Electronic Super Joy is really hard, I don't really see the game as difficult...you can restart over and over as many times as it takes to complete an area by familiarizing yourself with the level and coming up with a good strategy to make it through. After a few attempts, what seemed impossible becomes conquerable. What seems difficult becomes easy through repetition. But anyway, Electronic Super Joy is a well-designed platformer with an interesting visual design and a nice sense of humor. If you're into 2D platformers, this is a great game to play…a joy, pun intended. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/29/2023 World Series Baseball '98 Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date July 22, 1997 (NA) Developer Sega Genre Sports - Baseball My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.78/100 The jump from World Series Baseball to World Series Baseball II was minor, but noticeable if you've put time into both games. The jump from World Series Baseball II to World Series Baseball '98 is hard to not see, even if you hadn't played very much of the previous two Saturn games. The first and most obvious change was the graphics - instead of graphics that seemed to be 2D animations on 2D backgrounds, World Series Baseball '98 brings baseball into 3D. While the graphics are a bit choppy for today's standards, they were pretty impressive for the time - especially for the Saturn which was not known for its 3D prowess. The next big improvement is with the pitching and batting. Specifically in batting, instead of simply swinging the bat, you'll either want to guess which quarter of the strike zone that the ball will be thrown in and swing, or follow the ball the best you can to try to hit the ball wherever it gets thrown. Also, if you're just playing to hit the ball and pitch, and don't really feel like playing the outfield or running the bases, well, you've got the option to let the computer control all of that for you if you'd like. While World Series Baseball '98 lacks some of the modes of current baseball games, it was still very good for its time. In fact, if I took a look at every game with the World Series Baseball name and attempted to rank them on a list, this is the game that I may very well put in the number one spot. Played on: Saturn Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/27/2022 Aa Harimanada Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date September 3, 1993 (JP) Developer Megasoft Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.06/100 Aa Harimanada is a game in a genre that, honestly, I’m surprised that there aren’t more games in - sumo wrestling. But this isn’t just a simple simulation of the sport. It’s got some Street Fighter-ish aspects to it, like attacks that are so dangerous that body parts of the offensive wrestler burst into flames before the attack. I’ve also never seen a sumo wrestler with a 30-foot vertical leap, but the hefty athletes in this game are able to. When the fight begins, it seems pretty basic…you can attack with chops, slaps, and kicks to whittle down your opponent’s health, or you can grab ahold of them and attempt to launch them from the sumo ring. Despite the simple concept, there’s minor strategy here to prevent the game from feeling too repetitive as you battle your way through 69 fights in the game’s story mode. From my experience playing through, often times if an opponent is smaller than you, then grabbing ahold of them and throwing them around may work better than trying to land a hit. If they jump around, jump in the air with them and try to throw them in mid-air. If the opponent is larger than you, avoid grapples and stick with strikes and strategic blocking. If you’re facing a similar-sized opponent, then use a mixture of all tactics. Aa Harimanada isn’t the greatest game I’ve ever played, but ever since I first discovered it over a decade ago, I’ve always enjoyed it. If an arcade-style sumo wrestling game sounds interesting to you, give it a try. You may wind up enjoying it, too. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/05/2019 Wrecking Crew Platform NES Initial Release Date June 18, 1985 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 77.70/100 Wrecking Crew has seemingly been lost to time. While I’m sure many folks look back at the game fondly, it seems to rarely be mentioned on lists of the best NES games…And that’s a shame because Wrecking Crew is actually a very solid title. Unfortunately, when it was released in North America at the launch of the NES, everyone would have rather jumped around the Mushroom Kingdom as Mario than wreck a bunch of stuff with a big hammer as Mario. But for the folks that try it, you’ll find a very solid action game with some minor puzzle aspects tossed in. It was more than simply hammering stuff in your way, but it required strategy to continue to advance through the levels. It’s an often overlooked gem that was one of the best games in the early days of the NES. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/11/2024 Kabobber Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date Unreleased Developer Activision Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 85.11/100 You know, I really like Kabobber. It's a shame that it was never actually released. According to the manual, "The object of Kabobber is to catch Princess Buvsky before she reaches the magical Rainbow Energy of Kabobberland. So, it's a kidnapping mission, I guess. Your goal is to "crush" enemies by moving your troops over them…though, I assumed that the enemies were being eaten before reading the manual. Then as your troops dwindle, you can press the red button on the joystick to create baby troops and keep your little army alive and control a group of up to nine troops. While mowing through the enemies, you need to reach Princess Buvsky before she "devours the magical Rainbow Energy field at the end of the grid." Because princesses are gluttons that just eat any energy source available….I guess. If you try to stomp your way through all enemies, you'll likely never catch up to the princess before she fills her belly, but if you march right to the princess, you'll find yourself with a pretty low score, so to really succeed here, you'll need to find a nice balance of stomping and chasing. Anyway, I really like Kabobber because of how unique it is - there's not another game on the Atari 2600 like it, which further makes me depressed that it never saw an official release. If you'd like to play a unique little game on the Atari 2600, then it's definitely worth tracking down the means to play Kabobber…it really is quite good. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/19/2020 Ecco the Dolphin Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date July 29, 1993 (NA) Developer Novotrade Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 81.13/100 Ecco the Dolphin, for me, has always been one of those games where I have just as much fun exploring the environment as I do when I legitimately try to play the game. Swimming around as a dolphin is incredibly fun in the beginning and it’s hard to resist launching yourself out of the water and diving back into the water below. Once you begin to play the game, however, you may run into some frustrations as you’ll find that you’re not always in position to perform a movement or an attack, which can sometimes lead to plenty of damage to everyone’s favorite dolphin (sorry Flipper) and/or plenty of frustration to everyone’s favorite player (you). That was sweet of me to say that, wasn’t it? Anyway, Ecco is one of the most beloved games in the Genesis library. If you give it a try, you’ll likely discover why. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/19/2020 Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date February 22, 1996 (NA) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.67/100 Night Warriors: Darkstalkers’ Revenge is the sequel to the original Darkstalkers game, released exclusively on the Saturn for the home game market, but also released in arcades. It’s a slight step up from the original Darkstalkers game, in my opinion. It feels a little more balanced. Unfortunately, in my opinion, it still falls just short of being as good as Capcom’s more famous fighting franchise, Street Fighter. If you enjoyed the original Darkstalkers, you’ll find more to love here, but if the original game wasn’t your cup of tea, I’m not so sure that Night Warriors would be able to convert you into being a fan. Still, it’s a solid 2D fighting game on a system that had a solid library of really good 2D fighters, so it fits right in. Played on: Saturn Also known as: Vampire Hunter (Japan)

Date added: 02/17/2021 Endless Ocean Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date August 2, 2007 (JP) Developer Arika Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.75/100 Endless Ocean is a game that I always really wanted to play, but never actually owned it until fairly recently. I’ve always found underwater diving games to be nice and relaxing, so I thought Endless Ocean would likely be just that. And it is. The main aspect of Endless Ocean is to simply swim around underwater, observing and interacting with the various wildlife, while also discovering various treasures and artifacts underwater. I absolutely love the gameplay here and find Endless Ocean to be a very relaxing way to unwind after a stressful day at work. Just pop the CD in, and lose myself beneath the waves, searching for any aquatic life that I may not have seen before. If you’re someone that doesn’t need a lot of action in their games to enjoy them, then you may fall in love with Endless Ocean like I did. If you wanna beat people up or shoot their ear lobes off, then you may not enjoy the Endless Ocean experience nearly as much as I did. Played on: Wii Also known as: Forever Blue (Japan)

Date added: 09/05/2024 Fighting Vipers Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date August 30, 1996 (JP) Developer Sega AM2 Genre Fighting My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.33/100 I always really liked Fighting Vipers, and I appreciated what Sega AM2 did to create this game. While at first glance, it seems like a Virtua Fighter clone (the button input style is the same, it's a 3D fighter, and it was created by Sega AM2) it's actually a pretty different experience once you start playing it for a while. The big difference is that the fighters all wear armor in Fighting Vipers. The significance of this is that if you're strategic enough to focus on a single body part, you'll be able to knock the armor from that area off and now you've got a body part exposed that you can attack for extra damage. Another difference is that each fighting area is surrounded by walls, so there's no way to earn a ring-out victory by fooling an over-zealous opponent into sending themselves out of the area. The game as a whole also feels a bit more over-the-top than Virtua Fighter, which feels like a nice change of pace. Anyway, similarities and differences aside, Fighting Vipers was a very solid fighting game on the Saturn, with a cast of playable characters that are totally unique from each other. If you're a fan of Virtua Fighter, but wish it played a little differently, then give Fighting Vipers a chance. I, personally, feel like Virtua Fighter 2 is better, but I also would not be surprised to hear that folks actually find this game to be superior. Played on: Saturn Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/17/2021 Onimusha: Warlords Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date January 25, 2001 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.26/100 Take the early Resident Evil games, toss 'em in a blender with Japanese folklore and you've got yourself Onimusha: Warlords, which I believe was the first PS2 title to hit one million copies sold. It was one of the best early PS2 titles with beautiful scenery and interesting enemy designs mixed with fun gameplay and a nifty story. The only major gripe I've had with the game is that the Resident Evil tank-like controls work fine when the combat isn't exactly fast, like against zombies. In Onimusha, however, there's a lot of sword fighting going on, and the tank controls can be awkward to use when trying to use hit-and-move tactics against some of the enemies. Overall, though, there's a reason this game sold so well - it's really good. If you enjoy the classic Resident Evil games, but want a unique take on the formula, then give Onimusha a try. You’ll likely enjoy it. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2023 Lorelai Platform PC Initial Release Date April 26, 2019 (NA) Developer Harvester Games Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 83.21/100 I'm a pretty big fan of the "Devil Came Through Here" franchise, which includes Downfall and the Cat Lady, so I've been wanting to play Lorelai for a while to see where the next game's story leads. Despite buying it back when it first came out, I've only just now finally gotten around to playing it…and after playing it, I'm annoyed that I waited so long. Lorelai is the same basic gameplay of the other games in the franchise, but with an updated graphical approach that looks both familiar to other games in the series but also completely new. John, the Stepfather in this game, is a fantastic villain - there is absolutely nothing redeemable about him. He is a horrendous monster and you'll spend most of the game just wanting to see him get what's coming to him….unfortunately, when you reach that point, it feels like a bit of a let-down. Still, despite that, I really liked Lorelai. It still isn't on the same level as the Cat Lady, in my opinion, but it's still a very solid adventure game….as long as you have patience, because some parts of the game are a little slow. If you like the other games in the Devil Came Through Here series, though, then you'll probably like Lorelai. If you just want to play a slow-paced, stylistic adventure game, though, you'll probably like Lorelai, too. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/15/2023 The Adventures of Lolo Platform NES Initial Release Date April 1989 (NA) Developer Hal Laboratories Genre Puzzle - Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 81.51/100 Adventures of Lolo is an action-based puzzle game where Lolo, a blue ball of goodness and righteousness has to make his way to the top of a tower to save his beloved Lala...But he has to get there room-by-room and solve the puzzles in each of those rooms in order to get doors to open and advance on. It's not exactly the fastest-paced game on the console, but if you like having to put a little brain-power into your games as you play, then I'm pretty sure that you'll find something to appreciate here. If you just want to mindlessly shoot stuff up or stomp on the heads of poor turtles that never did anything to anybody, then you may be a little disappointed here. I'm a pretty big fan of the game, myself, but I can see why some folks may not like it quite as much. I like later entries in this franchise as well, but I think this first game was the best in the series overall, and one of the better action-based puzzle games that you can find. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/14/2022 Space Channel 5 Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date December 16, 1999 (JP) Developer UGA Genre Music My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 79.49/100 Space Channel 5 is a very unique music game that has the player controlling Ulala as she tries to rid Space Channel 5 of a swarm of aliens that have infested the area....She tries to do this through dance. It's essentially an interactive movie version of the game Simon. If you've read some of my previous entries on this list, you'll likely know that due to my poor memory, I'm not a fan of Simon…but dang it, this game is so charming that it's the exception to that rule. Likewise, I've found that when I'm repeating everything to the beat of the background music, I'm better at it than I normally would be. Anyway, unlike most music games, Space Channel 5 doesn't really give you any prompts on screen when you need to input commands. Instead, you'll see notifications in the corner when the computer is making their moves, then it'll change to let you know that it's your turn. Without notifications, you need to listen to the beat in the background and use that as your way to time your button presses out. Adding a little wrinkle to everything is the need to pay attention to the screen to see who appears. Depending on if you see aliens or humans, you need to shoot or save them…and successfully saving people build up your entourage so that as Ulala walks through the level, it begins to look like she's leading a parade on her way to the end of the level. I wouldn't say that Space Channel 5 is the best music game I've ever played, but it's very good, and it definitely may be one of, if not the most memorable game in the genre. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/16/2023 Bravely Default Platform Nintendo 3DS Initial Release Date October 11, 2012 (JP) Developer Silicon Studio Genre RPG My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.35/100 I really, really wanted to love Bravely Default…and when it was all said and done and I saw the credits roll, I did ultimately enjoy my time playing this game…but it honestly took a long time to get there. First, the game felt like it took forever to get interesting…and once it got interesting, it was almost over. And despite getting interesting, the game's storytelling was a little too heavy on foreshadowing - so much that it spoiled any surprises for this player. I'll also toss out there that they tried to rely a little too much on comedy. While there are some legitimately funny moments in the game, I felt like many of the jokes were eye rollers or complete misses. That's not to say that this is a bad game. The gameplay itself is where Bravely Default shines, with its own take on the Final Fantasy V job system that really helps you customize your party to however you see fit, it can be fun seeing what job combinations work best against certain enemies and bosses. I actually enjoyed grinding levels at the end just to see what new job skills I could learn to take with me into the final few battles. Anyway, all-in-all, Bravely Default is a very good RPG. It's not perfect by any stretch, but fans of older, turn-based RPGs will likely find something to love here. Newer fans, specifically fans of turn-based RPGs, may not be so enamored with it. Played on: Nintendo 3DS Also known as: Bravely Default: Flying Fairy (Japan)

Date added: 02/23/2024 WWE Smackdown! vs. Raw 2006 Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date November 11, 2005 (EU) Developer Yuke's Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 85.11/100 The previous WWE Smackdown! games were fun, but WWE Smackdown! vs. Raw 2006 is probably the game that really created the foundation for the current WWE 2K games today. The gameplay, while still on the arcade side, has a little slower of a pace, with mini games to slow the action down even further, making the matches feel more like actual professional wrestling matches and less like high-speed spot fests. A new momentum system was introduced, allowing players to have the option of using their finishing hold right as they get it, or stowing it so they can use it later in a pinch - weapon finishers also appear here. Also debuting is a stamina system, adding a little strategy to the matches - go full speed, and you'll get exhausted and open yourself up for your opponent to take control. Graphics are improved, the roster size and their movesets are all increased. The create-a-wrestler options are greatly expanded, allowing you to make just about anyone from wrestling history if you're willing to put the time in to do so. Also added is create-a-belt, allowing you to create a title, go online, and defend your championship. In yeat ANOTHER addition, the first version of GM mode is also found here, where you take the role of the General Manager of Raw or Smackdown, draft the wrestlers that you want on your brand, and book the show how you see fit. The PSP version also includes some mini games, so if you want to take a break from in-ring action on the toilet, you can play a game of Texas Hold 'Em instead. Anyway, despite how good this game is, and all of its new features, it's not perfect. Some load times, specifically, can be a bit of a drag, but for the most part, this is one of the better entries in the WWE Smackdown franchise, and well worth playing if you're curious bout how some of the ideas and modes found in WWE 2K got their start. Played on: Playstation 2, Playstation Portable Also known as: Exciting Pro Wrestling 7: SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 (Japan)

Date added: 07/16/2019 Metal Slug Platform Neo Geo Initial Release Date April 24, 1996 (W) Developer SNK Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 85.56/100 I love Metal Slug to no end. While many people point to Contra as their favorite run-and-gun style game, I always point to just about any game in the Metal Slug series. Between the gorgeous 2D sprites, the humor tossed around, the vehicles to hop into, and the level designs...It's just an absolutely tremendous game. It can be brutal to newcomers in the later levels, but it's fun enough where many will keep at it...And when you do, you'll learn enemy patterns and when it's best to use weapons and/or grenades. Later games in the Metal Slug series tweak and improve upon the formula found here, but this awesome first-entry in the series was still a solid first effort and is still well worth playing through even today. Played on: Neo-Geo Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/11/2019 Dragon Warrior Platform NES Initial Release Date May 27, 1986 (JP) Developer ChunSoft Genre RPG My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 74.36/100 Dragon Warrior, while not the first RPG to exist, might be the most influential game in the history of the genre. Today, the game seems extremely basic, with no vehicles to ride and no party to join you in your quest...But when this was released, it was awesome. By today’s standards, many aspects of the game seem tedious like having to manually select an option to open doors, chests, or climb up stairs…but for the folks that remember this game fondly, that’s part of its charm. It’s a short journey (by RPG standards, anyway) but one well worth taking…especially if you want to see the origin of one of the most beloved video game franchises in history. Played on: NES Also known as: Dragon Quest (Japan)

Date added: 07/20/2019 Final Fantasy Platform NES Initial Release Date December 18, 1987 (JP) Developer Squaresoft Genre RPG My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 83.46/100 I like the first Final Fantasy a lot. The story isn't the best, but it doesn't need to be - the gameplay is good. Simplifying the gameplay mechanics found in the Dragon Warrior/Dragon Quest games (like the need to select "open" from a menu to open a box), Final Fantasy made playing an RPG feel a little less tedious with the basic stuff like going up stairways and talking to people. The gameplay itself might get on the nerves of some…a prime example would be after beating a boss, you find an “evil” stone slab behind where you beat a boss in the dungeon…You have to make your way back out, find someone to give you an item to destroy the slab, then return and make your way through the dungeon again. It’s annoying, but hey, I guess it removes the need for some grinding to increase your levels. The game is kind of short by later Final Fantasy standards, but this is still a very solid entry in a game franchise that basically single-handedly transformed Square from a financially-struggling game company into a money-absorbing juggernaut. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 C. Kane Platform Ouya Initial Release Date September 27, 2014 (NA) Developer Super Walrus Games Genre RPG My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.40/100 C. Kane, for me, was one of those games that you turn on, not expecting much, and by the end you’ve decided that if the game had a ring finger, you’d be headed to the local jeweler to find a wedding ring to put on it. For those that haven’t played it, C. Kane is a simplistic RPG that is crammed with weirdness and humor that is loosely inspired by Citizen Kane. Very loosely. The game takes maybe 2-3 hours to beat, depending on if you participate in any side activities…like the bonus dungeon right before the end of the game or if you grind fights for money and/or experience. The grinding itself is unique in this game, too – there are no random battles. Instead, there’s a shark that you can fight repeatedly, with 7 variations of the battle. Beat each variation and you get a prize. The monochromatic color scheme gives the game some character, as does the bizarre-but-catchy soundtrack. The village song is a personal favorite. Anyway, I played this on the Ouya, but if all of this sounds interesting to you, check it out on Steam. It’s free to play on that platform, and just as wonderful. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/29/2021 PaRappa the Rapper Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date December 6, 1996 (JP) Developer NanaOn-Sha Genre Music My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.76/100 Master Onion. That's really all I need to say. From the minute you start playing this quirky game, and see Master Onion, it's hard to not fall in love with it. From there, it just gets better. From the various songs and the multiple characters that help PaRappa sing them, this game is utterly charming from beginning to end. What other game has a “boss battle” where you rap against all of the previous levels’ characters to determine who gets to use a gas station restroom? It may not be the best music game that I've ever played, but it's easily one of the most charming and lovable music games that I’ve ever played through. It’s well worth tracking down a copy if you’ve never played it before…just be prepared, some of PaRappa’s raps may get stuck in your head for days afterwards. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/28/2022 Soul Hackers 2 Platform Sony Playstation 5 Initial Release Date August 24, 2022 (NA) Developer Atlus Genre RPG My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 77.60/100 Y'know. Sometimes I don't like people. Soul Hackers 2 is a very well-made RPG by Atlus designed to give fans of the original Soul Hackers a long-awaited sequel….and because this wasn't anything like the Persona games or anything like the main Shin Megami Tensei games, several fans of those games complained about this one. I honestly get the impression that many of these people would have spoken highly of the game if it had no association to the Megami Tensei franchise….but because it does, and because Soul Hackers is likely the least-known Megami Tensei sub series outside of Japan, you get a lot of people complaining that have no idea what Soul Hackers was. Alright, that rant out of the way, Atlus did a good job with Soul Hackers 2. It contains a very well-written story with likeable characters. It also contains a new spin on the often-praised weakness-based combat system. In Soul Hackers 2, instead of gaining extra turns when you exploit a weakness, you instead begin building up a sabbath. Get the sabbath number high enough and you will do absolutely massive damage to the enemies on the screen with a devastating final move of your turn. The story itself doesn't seem like it would take that long to finish, but if you take the time to do all of the side missions and attempt to complete the demon compendium, you're probably looking at around 50 or more hours for a single playthrough - plenty to keep Soul Hacker fans entertained. Anyway, if you're a fan of the Megami Tensei games and their various sub-series, you'll find plenty to like here. If you're only familiar with the Persona games or the main Shin Megami Tensei games, and expect this to be like those games, then you may find yourself disappointed. I'm a big fan of Soul Hackers 2, and I just hope that people whining about this not being like other games in the Megami Tensei universe doesn't prevent another sequel from being made because I honestly found this game to be quite enjoyable. Played on: Playstation 5 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/05/2021 Deadly Premonition Platform Xbox 360 Initial Release Date February 17, 2010 (NA) Developer Access Games Genre Adventure My Score 7.0/10 Avg. Score 75.00/100 Deadly Premonition is best described as a sandbox-style horror game, where you've got free roam of a quiet, little town known as Greenvale. Despite the fact that I’ve given it a 7 out of 10 (which some will say is still a generous score) Deadly Premonition is one of my absolute favorite games of all-time. If this list was purely on my preference, this would probably be in the top 25. It's just so charming and interesting from beginning to end...It's hard, even with its faults, not to love it. The problem is that it does have faults…a lot of faults, most in the combat department, and that bogs the game down a bit. Playstation 3’s Director’s Cut version of the game seems to be the least buggy of all the releases that I’ve played, but dang it…I love this game so much that I don’t even care about the bugs. A true side story, upon hearing that this game was inspired by Twin Peaks, I went out of my way to find Twin Peaks so I could watch it and see…and it instantly became one of my favorite television shows. Without this game, I probably would have never discovered the joys of that show. Likewise, without that show inspiring a game to be created like Deadly Premonition, I would not know a world with Mr. Francis York Morgan in it…and honestly, a world without York is a world that I do not want to know. Played on: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Nintendo Switch, PC Also known as: Red Seeds Profile (Japan), Deadly Premonition Origins (Switch)

Date added: 05/29/2020 Seirei Senshi Spriggan Platform Turbografx-CD Initial Release Date July 12, 1991 (JP) Developer Compile Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 84.18/100 Seirei Senshi Spriggan is a vertical scrolling shooter that was only released in Japan, only on the TurboGrafx CD, and is the first game in the obscure Spriggan franchise. Like many scrolling shooters, your goal is to avoid enemies and bullets while collecting power-ups and trying to shoot everything down. The thing that makes Seirei Senshi Spriggan interesting and fun is that you’ve got three power-up slots, and the last three that you collected effect your firepower. It’s similar to Gunstar Heroes in that you can collect three blue power-ups to have the “ultimate” blue weapon, or you can have three different colors to have a unique hybrid weapon. Experimenting with the weapons is fun, but in an added layer of strategy, if you’ve already got the weapon combination that you want, you’ll find yourself not just avoiding enemies and their bullets on the screen, but also unwanted power-ups. There are other scrolling shooters that are technically better, but I still hold Seirei Senshi Spriggan in pretty high regard. Played on: Turbografx-CD Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/12/2019 Super Monkey Ball Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date September 14, 2001 (JP) Developer Amusement Vision Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 83.21/100 Super Monkey Ball is another one of those games I'd often play with a group of friends in college. When taking a break from the Smash Bros. parties, we'd often pop Super Monkey Ball in and play the various mini games like monkey bowling. It wasn't until I got out of college and bought this game for myself that I spent a lot of time in the main game, which greatly resembles Marble Madness. The main game alone is very fun, but add in the various mini games that I mentioned and you've got a game that's great for playing alone and just as fun for playing with a group of friends. Super Monkey Ball, in my opinion, is one of those quirky, must-have titles if you happen to own a Gamecube. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/19/2022 Blasphemous Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date September 10, 2019 (NA) Developer The Game Kitchen Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 81.28/100 I had a mild idea of what Blasphemous was when I played it for the first time. What I did not expect was the imagery that I'd be seeing. Blasphemous, to me, is essentially the definition of a mature-rated game. Shortly into the game, you'll see some very graphic images of both gore and mild nudity…sometimes together in the same scene. To offset these images, Blasphemous manages to be absolutely beautiful in other areas, with gorgeous skies and haunting areas to explore. Of course, pretty and controversial imagery don't mean anything if the gameplay isn't there. Thankfully, Blasphemous delivers in that aspect as well. Playing like Castlevania, in a way, Blasphemous has you wandering around a fairly open world…but if you die, you'll be encouraged to return to where you died to absorb the part of you that failed previously. Failure to do so will disable part of your magic bar until you either succeed at recovering that part of you that died or for begging for forgiveness at certain statues….for a price, of course. Blasphemous is the kind of game I like - it's visually unique, the gameplay is difficult (but not impossible), and it's just plain made well. I have not made my way all the way through Blasphemous yet, but I can definitely see this being a game that I play on and off, slowly making my way to the end, and likely enjoying every minute of it. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/15/2019 The King of Fighters R-1 Platform Neo Geo Pocket Initial Release Date October 28, 1998 (JP) Developer SNK Genre Fighting My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 83.32/100 We never got the original Neo Geo Pocket in North America, so we never got to experience this gem of a fighting game exclusive to that handheld. King of Fighters R-1 was probably the best handheld fighting game ever created at the time of its release back in 1998. If you put the black and white graphics aside, the gameplay was so silky smooth that I could have easily seen this on home console – it’s honestly that good…and keep in mind, for most of the 90’s, handheld games weren’t usually known for their quality. King of Fighters R-1 helped set the stage for a few more very good fighting games across both the Neo Geo Pocket and Neo Geo Pocket Color handhelds. It may not be the best of the bunch, but it still remains a solid handheld fighting game even to this day. Played on: Neo Geo Pocket Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/19/2019 Alien Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1982 (NA) Developer 20th Century Fox Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 74.03/100 When you think of the Alien movies, you’d imagine that a video game adaption back in the early 80’s would have been something similar to Space Invaders, or have some sort of shooting involved at least. 20th Century Fox Video Games had a different idea. What game could they emulate that would best fit the tone of the film? They decided on Pac-Man. Yup. Though it was a questionable decision, it was still a very well-made game. This is not an exact Pac-Man clone, mind you. There are two things that set it apart. One, the pellets that allow you to “eat” the aliens only appear on the screen one at a time. You must use one for it to spawn in another location to use again. The second thing that sets it apart is that it clones a second gamewhen you beat each Pac-Man stage – Frogger. You must attempt to make your way through an Alien parade to get to the goal at the end…unfortunately, this part of the game isn’t nearly as fun as the game it emulates. For what it is, Alien is actually really well done. If you’re expecting a shooter, you’ll be disappointed. If you’re simply hoping for a good game, then you’ll likely be glad with the time you spent playing this. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/11/2019 Battle City Platform NES Initial Release Date September 9, 1985 (JP) Developer Namco Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.98/100 Battle City was an early game for the Famicom that surprisingly never released outside of Japan. It’s actually a pretty solid game, but like many early games on the Famicom/Nintendo Entertainment System, it’s also pretty basic. Essentially, in Battle City your goal is to defend your base against all enemy tanks that appear on the screen, destroying them all before they destroy you and/or the base. This in itself can be fun, but little aspects like brick walls that can be destroyed and grassy areas that you can drive through add a little more strategy to the game to make it even better than it otherwise would be. As an added bonus, you can defend the base with a friend in 2 player mode and/or create your own levels to play in. It’s a fantastic game, and it’s a shame that even through one of Nintendo’s Virtual Consoles, it was never brought stateside. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/25/2019 Samba de Amigo Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date April 27, 2000 (JP) Developer Sonic Team Genre Music My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 84.98/100 Samba de Amigo, much like many games on the Dreamcast, provided a unique experience for folks that played it. In later years, games like Guitar Hero made it popular in the West to have controllers modeled after musical instruments…but before that, Samba de Amigo hit North American shores with maracas. Playing a music game with maracas is unique and fun in itself, but the motion sensors within the maracas aren’t only put to use from shaking them, but also from striking poses during the music to make you feel like a cool muchacho or muchacha. The game really only suffered from two things – a lack of modes (though party mode has a ton of replay value if you’re lucky enough to have multiple maracas and enough friends to keep it interesting) and the unfortunate fact that there were not a lot of maraca controllers manufactured in North America…meaning most of us played this game with a Dreamcast controller, and that’s not nearly as fun. If you can get your hands on this game and some maraca controllers, though, and you’re a fan of music games, you won’t be able to help but enjoy yourself here…it may even make you want to randomly strike a pose in your every day life just for fun. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/12/2019 Bust-A-Move Platform Panasonic 3DO Initial Release Date November 22, 1995 (JP) Developer Taito Genre Puzzle My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 81.12/100 I'll just get it out there - I suck at Bust-A-Move. I love the game, but my aim is absolutely terrible. If I get a good shot in, it's due to luck, not skill. But anyway, for those not in the know, Bust-A-Move is like an inverted take on the classic match-three puzzle game formula. Since you're shooting the bubbles up at the ceiling, if you can match three of the same bubble on the roof, it'll bring everything else down with it, adding a little more strategy to the game aside from simply matching colors. The game has spawned a ton of sequels (and knock-offs on the smart phone stores) and very few of them offer a whole lot that's new...That's 'cause the original was so solid that there's not a whole lot that can be done to improve it. Played on: 3DO Also known as: Puzzle Bobble (Japan)

Date added: 03/17/2020 Fallout Platform PC Initial Release Date October 9, 1997 (NA) Developer Black Isle Studios Genre RPG My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 84.65/100 I’m a huge fan of the Fallout franchise after Bethesda took control. Before then, not as much. I’ve never really gotten into this style of RPG. I’m trying to as I type this…expect to see more RPGs like this on this list in the near future…but give me a good, turn-based JRPG and that’ll likely always be my preferred game. The original Fallout has you exploring the Wasteland in a 3rd-person isometric view. As you explore, you’ll discover new locations, get attacked by monsters and marauders, and run into situations where you’ll have to pick a moral choice, with townsfolk reacting to you based on your decisions. Now while I’ve said that this style of RPG has never really been a favorite of mine, Fallout is still done well enough where I still kept coming back to play it again and again. I would always pick exploring the Wasteland 1st-person style over this, but if recent fans of the franchise are interested in seeing where Fallout began, the original is a solid entry in its own right and well worth playing. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/19/2019 Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date June 11, 2008 (NA) Developer BudCat Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.34/100 I love Katamari Damacy. I also happen to enjoy scrolling shooters. What happens when you combine the two? You get Blast Works, a game that was, unfortunately, mostly ignored at retail shelves...I saw it in $10 clearance bins within four months of its release. It's a shame because this innovative title, while rough around the edges, was a neat concept that had never been done before. Basically, as you shoot enemies out of the sky, if you fly into them, you can stick to them and use their firepower. Enemies can shoot them, off, so you’ll find yourself pressing a button to “hide” all of the ships that you’ve added as you maneuver through bullets. It’s entertaining trying to balance your time between using the additional firepower of the enemies that you’ve collected and hiding everything so you can maneuver through swarms of bullets without losing that extra ammo. I was completely addicted to this gem for a while...And really disappointed when it became apparent that it sold poorly. My dream of a Blast Works sequel will likely never become a reality. Played on: Wii Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/06/2019 Fishing Derby Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1980 (NA) Developer Activision Genre Sports - Fishing My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 78.73/100 I really like this game. The concept has you battling against either the computer or a friend in an effort to catch the most fish. Fish deeper down in the water net you more points than shallow fish, but the catch is that there's a shark swimming near the surface that'll eat your fish before you can get the points. So what's your strategy? Spend the time going for the big points knowing that the shark might have made your effort a waste of time or go for the little points and hope that the small numbers eventually add up for the win? It’s such a simple concept, but it works really well. This is quite the fantastic game, and one that I feel gets overlooked far too often when people list off quality Atari 2600 games. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/19/2019 Chip's Challenge Platform Atari Lynx Initial Release Date 1989 (NA) Developer Epyx Genre Puzzle My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 84.18/100 Chip’s Challenge was a very pleasant surprise. I played it for the first time for this list…and honestly, I was expecting it to be near the bottom of the list. Afterall, if it was really good, I would have heard of it before, right? Welp, it’s that good, and nope, I’ve never heard of it before. Chip’s Challenge is an action-based puzzle game where you wander around levels trying to collect integrated circuit chips, then heading for the exit. I’ll admit, since I work in the electronics industry, formerly building circuit boards and now fixing the machines that build the circuit boards, it’s neat to see a game that has some themes from my profession. But even if the main character was a beekeeper trying to collect bees, I’d still find plenty to love here. It’s just a very well-made game. Played on: Lynx Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/25/2019 The Dark Meadow Platform Apple iPhone/iPod Touch Initial Release Date October 6, 2011 (NA) Developer Phosphor Games Studio Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 78.16/100 If you liked Infinity Blade, but wanted more story and exploration (or have an Android device and don’t have access to Infinity Blade), then Dark Meadow is the game for you. Dark Meadow, like Infinity Blade, is a point-and-click adventure game with combat that you control, via the touch-screen, in the style of Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!. While just as visually pleasing as Infinity Blade was, Dark Meadow forgoes the giant opponents in order to provide the player with more of a creepy atmosphere and an emphasis on story just as much as the combat. But, Infinity Blade mostly felt like a finished, polished game...Dark Meadow is littered with bugs and glitches that are sure to annoy some people. That said, if you can deal with the technical issues, Dark Meadow is easily a worthwhile game to play, especially if Punch-Out!! gameplay in a horror setting sounds interesting to you. Played on: iPhone Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/24/2019 Dead or Alive 3 Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date November 14, 2001 (NA) Developer Team Ninja Genre Fighting My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 85.85/100 The first Dead or Alive was a great early 3D fighting game. The second Dead or Alive was one of the must-play fighting games on the Dreamcast that sadly got overshadowed by Soul Calibur. This, the third entry in the series, does tweak the Dead or Alive formula to make it technically a better game than Dead or Alive 2, but unfortunately it doesn’t add too much else to the table aside from some new fighters. Keep in mind, Dead or Alive 3 is definitely still an excellent game, but since it largely feels like an upgraded copy of Dead or Alive 2, if you had your fill of Dead or Alive on the Dreamcast, then aside from the new characters, there probably isn’t much that will keep you coming back for more here. If you’ve never played a previous game in the Dead or Alive series before playing Dead or Alive 3, though, you’ll likely really enjoy your time here. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/15/2020 Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow Platform Nintendo DS Initial Release Date August 25, 2005 (JP) Developer Konami Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 85.20/100 Dawn of Sorrow continues along the path that its Game Boy Advance predecessors had walked along, pretty much copying the successful Symphony of the Night formula. The only noteworthy difference here is the use of the stylus and touch screen…which, unfortunately, turns boss fights into chores. At the end of a boss fight, you have to draw a specific symbol to seal away the enemy. If you screw up or don't draw it fast enough...Or if the system just doesn't register what you drew, the boss regains health and you're stuck continuing on with the battle. The boss difficulties have been dumbed down to accommodate for this, but it's still rather frustrating that you seemingly have to play the fight with the control pad while also holding the stylus in preparation to deal the finishing blow. It's still a very solid game, and for the most part, I do enjoy it quite a bit, but the irritation of fumbling around for your stylus when a boss is near death is enough for me to knock it down a few spots on this list. Played on: Nintendo DS Also known as: Akumajou Dracula: Sougetsu no Juujika (Japan)

Date added: 02/29/2024 Kero Kero King Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date November 2, 2000 (JP) Developer Amedio Genre Sports - Golf My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.44/100 If you've read other entries on here, there's a decent chance that you know that I love bizarre games. Kero Kero King is what I call "charmingly bizarre." It's the first game in the Kero Kero King trilogy (Ribbit King is the only game in the trilogy that was released outside of Japan) and for those who have never heard of it, the goal of the game is to play games of "frolf" (or "kerof" in Japan) against various weird characters. Frolf is basically golf with frogs. Place a frog on one end of a mini seesaw, aim for your destination, then slam the other end of the seesaw with a hammer and watch that froggie fly. The fun (or frustration) of Kero Kero King is that unlike in golf where a ball just stops once it loses momentum, there are various aspects of the courses in Kero Kero King that can keep your frog moving…even when you don't want them to. If a fly is near where the frog stops, the frog will jump over and eat the fly, which may send the frog into water, making them swim away from where they landed, or onto a conveyor belt, making them ride away. Sometimes these movements can benefit you greatly, other times, you'll land right next to the hole, only to find your frog far, far away after it chased a fly or two and found itself taking a ride. Playing against you is a number of bizarre characters, including a zombie frog that loves to dance and, my personal favorite, a murderous, axe-wielding can of tomato juice. These computer-controlled characters feel fair to play against. They make mistakes like you do and they're just as likely to have their frogs taken off-course as you are. So, while you may get frustrated at times, some of that is nullified when you see the computer struggling just like you sometimes do. Anyway, if you're looking for a bizarre game of golf with a cast of weird characters and some solid humor scattered in between each course, then Kero Kero King is a good game to import for your Playstation. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/11/2023 Centipede Platform Arcade Initial Release Date June 1981 (NA) Developer Atari Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 79.64/100 Centipede is like a faster-paced Space Invaders...Except rather than have another shooter taking place in space, Atari went the opposite direction and made a game about pest control in your backyard garden. While the premise doesn't sound as intense as an intergalactic space war, the gameplay is just as intense as any other shooter that you could find in arcades at the time…I'd argue that it was actually more intense. The gameplay also includes some strategy as you try to control the mushroom population that pops up to herd the centipede pieces for easy shooting. It's also worth noting that rather than using a joystick, Centipede used a trackball to move left and right, allowing for more precise movement than you'd find other shooters of its time. While Centipede doesn't seem to be remembered quite as well as other arcade games of the time, it's still one of the better 3rd-person shooters of the time. As a fella that has had heavy allergies from just about all plant life, and has avoided gardens for the last few decades, Centipede showed me how exterminating insects in a leafy garden could be quite a bit of fun. Played on: Arcade Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/12/2022 The Typing of the Dead Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date March 30, 2000 (JP) Developer Smilebit Genre 1st Person Shooter - Education My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 81.90/100 I remember when I worked at Funcoland (remember them?) a man came in and purchased this game and a Dreamcast keyboard for his son. He told me that he could not get his son to remember how to type, but for whatever reason, this game helped what he learned stick. See, parents? Blood and guts CAN be educational and beneficial for young minds. But really, Typing of the Dead is fantastic. It has all of the frantic fun of the House of the Dead, but with the need to type words instead of shoot guns...And some of the stuff that you're asked to type is just wonderful, ridiculous, and just adds to the fun. If you thought that all educational games were dull, boring, and lacking entertainment, then you need to play Typing of the Dead. The Typing of the Dead is well worth the purchase of a Dreamcast keyboard just so you can enjoy this gem, especially if you never learned to use a keyboard efficiently and want an entertaining way to motivate you to get better. Typing of the Dead is basically just a clone of House of the Dead II, with keyboards replacing guns, but I'd argue that it's a rare case of the clone surpassing the original in terms of fun and gameplay. If you've got access to play it, I highly suggest doing so. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/16/2022 Hot Shots Golf Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date July 17, 1997 (JP) Developer Camelot Software Planning Genre Sports - Golf My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 83.04/100 Hot Shots Golf wasn't the first golf game ever made…it wasn't even the first golf game made with an arcade-style to it. It was, however, one of the best golf games that you could find on any console at the time it was released, and it still holds up pretty well today. Known as Everybody's Golf in Europe and Minna no Golf in Japan, which translates to "Golf For Everyone," this really is a golf game that just anybody can pick up and start playing without any issues…which makes the North American name of Hot Shots Golf somewhat confusing - you don't need to be a hot shot gamer to play or enjoy this. I'd argue that until Mario Golf was released two years later, Hot Shots Golf didn't really even have any competition in regards to other golf games…and even then, one could debate that even Nintendo's mighty plumber couldn't topple this game. Since this game released, it has spawned multiple sequels, and some of them improve on many aspects found here, but the original Hot Shots Golf is still very solid and is one of those rare games that can provide both casual and hardcore gamers a very good time….It's Golf For Everyone, afterall. Played on: Playstation, Playstation 3 Also known as: Minna no Golf (Japan), Everybody's Golf (Europe)

Date added: 12/30/2022 Cabbage Patch Kids: Adventures in the Park Platform Colecovision Initial Release Date 1984 (NA) Developer Konami Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 79.77/100 Let's be honest, unless you're a young child obsessed with Cabbage Patch Kids, you would probably take one look at this game and assume that it's going to be awful. However, there's a reason that we're taught when we're children to not to judge a book by its cover. Cabbage Patch Kids: Adventures in the Park is actually a really good platformer for the time. Not only does it control well, but it's fun, too. Basically, each screen has its own obstacles and hazards. Your goal is to get from one end of the screen to the other, over and over. Screens can be as simple as walking from one end to the other or as difficult as requiring absolute precise jumps and luck to get across. In fact, the luck requirement is really my only major issue with this game. Many of the obstacles react randomly. As a result, sometimes you may find yourself trapped with no option but to lose a life. It's not because you did anything wrong, you just happened to take the only path you could and the random aspect of the game just didn't play out in your favor. Minor issues include walking off of short platforms can result in a lost life, same with jumping over a short platform and landing on the ground next to it. But there's far more positives here than negatives. Adventures in the Park is a surprisingly good platformer that's well worth checking out if you're a fan of early video games…or if you're simply a fan of very good platforming games. Played on: Colecovision Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/14/2024 Assassin's Creed III Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date October 30, 2012 (NA) Developer Ubisoft Genre Action My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.63/100 Assassin's Creed III kinda broke the pattern of me not really enjoying the odd-numbered games in the series as much as the even-numbered ones. If you're reading this and find that comment confusing, Assassin's Creed III is actually the fifth game in the main Assassin's Creed story. This game mostly takes place in the United Colonies, prior to the revolutionary war that would eventually create the United States of America. I found the beginning of the game to be somewhat bland, but a story twist early on really made me interested in where the rest of the game was going…unfortunately, though, they didn't keep the momentum and I feel like by the end of the game, most of that interest wore off. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy this game, I did. But, when the end of this game came, I was ready for it…I wasn't really wanting any more. That's why I feel like this kind of broke the pattern of me not enjoying the odd games as much…I think it's probably my favorite amongst the original Assassin's Creed and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (the other odd-numbered games) but I didn't enjoy this nearly as much as Assassin's Creed II or Assassin's Creed: Revelations (the even-numbered games)…so it's just there in the middle. The other little gripe I have is that the controls still aren't fixed, five games into the series…I still found myself climbing onto walls, etc, when I had absolutely no intention to, sometimes alerting guards and forcing me to flee from an area. I do like Assassin's Creed III quite a bit, and it's not a bad game by any means, but despite the new setting and new characters, it does mostly feel the same as the previous games, for better or worse. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/29/2022 Superman Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1978 (NA) Developer Atari Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 75.87/100 When you take everything into consideration, such as limitations of the hardware, the year it was released, etc…Superman isn't an awful game. In fact, I'll even say that it's quite fun once you get the hang of it. The problem is that when Superman was released, Atari owners already had Adventure, which kinda knocked this game down a few pegs since Adventure was more of a pick-up-and-play game and Superman takes a few minutes to figure out if you don't have a manual handy. Essentially, Superman is a game where the goal is to round up criminals and drop them in jail while also repairing the bridge they destroy at the start of the game. You can walk around on the ground as Clark Kent or you can find a phone booth and transform into Superman, which allows you to fly around the large, multi-screen city to pick up the criminals and send them to what the kids call the ol' "Graybar Motel." It can actually be mildly fun flying around as Superman, just wandering around from screen to screen while looking for criminals to pick up..and it's also comical when you pick up Lois Lane (who wanders around some of the screens) and she seem to scream non-stop until you place her back on the ground. It's not quite as simple as just grabbing criminals and transporting them, though. If you run into any kyptonite, you'll drop your target and he'll scurry off, forcing you to track him down again once you've recovered and are able to fly again. Since you'll sometimes find that kryptonite can spawn on top of you when you change screens, you'll sometimes find yourself frustrated. Though that can sometimes also be remedied by using Superman's x-ray vision ability…which lets you see the next screen in the direction that you're heading. It's more useful for tracking down the bad guys than anything else, though. Heck, this game even has a subway system that you can use as a shortcut through the city…in a 1978 video game. Considering that Superman is one of the first adventure games made, it's not a terrible attempt at the genre at all…in fact, it's very well done. Sure, it's not great by today's standards, but for its time, it was a very solid game and it can still provide some fun if you're a fan of playing stuff from the early days of video games. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/09/2021 Mass Effect 3 Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date March 5, 2012 (NA) Developer BioWare Genre RPG My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 83.45/100 Mass Effect 3 was kind of a disappointment to me. On one hand, I enjoyed the story quite a bit...On the other hand, the gameplay and lack of exploration left me wanting more. The choices made within this game also felt meaningless for the most part. It felt more like the “Mass Effect” of your decisions were how events in this game played out based on your decisions in the previous two games. It’s not an awful game by any means, but playing through all three games in the Mass Effect Trilogy in order for this list, I can say that it’s my least favorite of the bunch. That said, I’m a fan of exploration and enjoy more of the RPG-like elements of the games. If you want action, Mass Effect 3 is probably the most action-packed of the trilogy, so I could see an argument for some folks that may consider this one to be their favorite. Still, if you enjoyed the first two games, then the third is still worth playing through to see some familiar faces return and see what the end result is regarding the Reaper threat to the universe. Played on: Playstation 3, Wii U Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/03/2022 Breath of Fire Platform Super NES Initial Release Date April 3, 1993 (NA) Developer Capcom Genre RPG My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 79.43/100 While it's not necessarily the best RPG of its time, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Breath of Fire. I generally like characters that are odd - whether they be odd in personality or odd in appearance, and Breath of Fire provides you with both. From Ryu, the main character that can transform into a dragon, to Gobi, a man with a fish for a head that can transform into a giant fish for you to ride underwater, to Karn, a man that can fuse with party members to create an menacing force in combat, every character is just a tad weird, but in a good way. In particular, Bleu, the cranky woman with the lower body of a snake, is an unlikely hero and a favorite of mine. The story in Breath of Fire isn't groundbreaking - a bad guy destroys your village on his way to attempting to destroy the world, and that starts you on your quest to put an end to it. Much of the gameplay isn't even groundbreaking - the turn-based combat is basically the standard style of the time. However, one mildly enjoyable aspect of the gameplay is changing the party member leading the group. Depending on who's in the front of the pack, you'll have different abilities. Gobi, as I mentioned earlier, can turn into a fish to allow you to travel underwater to areas you can't reach otherwise, Nina can transform into a bird to allow you to do the same kind of travel above water, Ox can punch fruit from trees or break down walls, Bo can shoot his arrow to hunt the wildlife that sometimes appear on the world map and he can also make his way through forested areas, etc. That aspect is a nice touch to an otherwise fairly standard RPG. While Breath of Fire isn't the most groundbreaking game in the world, it's still a solid RPG and a nice game to play if you're a fan of the genre. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Breath of Fire: Ryuu no Senshi (Japan)

Date added: 12/07/2022 Segagaga Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date March 29, 2001 (JP) Developer Sega Genre RPG My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 85.54/100 Segagaga is proof that if you put a smart person in charge of a video game with a very limited budget, you can make magic happen. Segagaga is one of the more bizarre RPGs that you can find on any platform, but it also happens to be an RPG that will fill you from head to toe with nostalgia if you happen to be a Sega fan. Not only are you taking part in an RPG in this game, complete with turn-based battles, but you're also playing a game development simulator at the same time. When not fighting, you'll be developing games like Fantasy Zone to the House of the Dead, and plenty of games in between. When you look at the graphics, it becomes obvious that that's where most of the budget was cut to get this game out on limited funds, but even though it lacks the graphical prowess of most other Dreamcast games of the time, it really works well within the context of this game…I'd argue that if you don't go into this knowing about the budget limit this game had, you'd assume that the graphics were a design choice rather than a budget cut. The only real downside to the game is that it can cost a pretty penny if you happen to find a copy. But, if you're like me and love bizarre games and have a fondness for Sega and its history, then it's worth the price of admission. Segagaga may not be the best RPG or simulator ever made, but it's still very good at both, and I highly recommend it if you're a fan of either genre. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/18/2020 Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti Platform NES Initial Release Date July 31, 1989 (JP) Developer Now Production Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 84.11/100 Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti is a cutsey version of the gory Splatterhouse franchise, released only in Japan on the Famicom system. The cutesy graphics isn’t the only noticeable difference in Wanpaku Graffiti, though. Unlike the side-scrolling brawler gameplay that the other 2D Splatterhouse games are known for, this game is a platformer…with some hack ‘n slashing along the way. Traversing a variety of levels, in Wanpaku Graffiti, not only are there a large assortment of basic enemies, but there’s also a large assortment of bosses and mini bosses to battle against. The first mini boss sets the tone pretty well…a moonwalking vampire that has music that sounds like it’ll be a thrilling night, if you catch my drift. Overall, Wanpaku Graffiti is one of my favorite imports from Japan on the NES/Famicom. It’s a solid, entertaining platformer that I think any fan of the genre can appreciate, whether they’re a Splatterhouse fan or not. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/09/2020 Until Dawn Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date August 25, 2015 (NA) Developer Supermassive Games Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.25/100 I first played Until Dawn about 5 years ago. I only played the opening scene, then put the game aside because (weird logic here) I really liked what I played, but wanted to have some time where I could devote to playing the game in just one or two sittings and just completely get immersed in it. When I finally had the time to do that, I had already moved on to other games. Well, now I’ve finally played through for this list and I’m upset that I hadn’t played it to completion before. All of the main characters make you feel emotions – whether it be anger, sympathy, or even just uneasiness, it helps add a bit to the game when you have to make decisions with those emotions getting in the way to prevent your options from being simply black and white. The story, while not the greatest, really does make you feel like you’re the puppet master, manipulating everyone in a horror film, with how you play the game, and your decisions having a direct effect on who survives and how the story unfolds. As a fan of cheesy, 80’s horror movies, and a fan of Quantic Dream’s “interactive movie” gameplay, Until Dawn is easily one of my favorite games on the Playstation 4. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: Until Dawn: Sangeki no Sansou (Japan)

Date added: 10/14/2019 Tetris 99 Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date February 13, 2019 (NA/EU) Developer Arika Genre Puzzle My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 81.74/100 Tetris 99 is a simple game of Tetris…but with a twist – you’re battling against 98 other players at the same time. Your goal is to match up rows as fast as you can so that you can not only survive the onslaught from other players but dish out your own onslaught. It’s such an addicting premise that it’ll likely have you saying, “Okay, last match,” about 15 matches before you actually put your Switch down. It’s an awesome exclusive to the Nintendo Switch and it’s free for subscribers of Nintendo Switch Online. If you’re not a subscriber to that service? Well, Tetris 99 is easily worth the $20 a year price tag of Nintendo’s online service all on its own. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2019 MLB The Show 19 Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date March 26, 2019 (NA) Developer Sony Interactive Entertainment Genre Sports - Baseball My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 84.64/100 MLB The Show 19 is the first game in the series that I’ve played since MLB 15. It’s not because I dislike the series…it’s just that when I play these games, I tend to get obsessed and play them non-stop. I like stats. The Show provides plenty of that, plus it’s always fun to play Road to the Show and work your way up from the minors to the majors. Since I’ve missed out on about half of a decade’s worth of sequels, I don’t feel like I can really comment on if the series is still the baseball juggernaut that it was or if it’s a series that’s spinning its wheels…But I can say that I really enjoyed my time with this game. I do plan on going back and playing earlier entries in the series in chronological order. When I do, I’ll update the comment here. But for now, I feel that MLB 19 is a solid digital version of America’s Favorite Past Time. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/31/2022 Tekken Tag Tournament Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date March 30, 2000 (JP) Developer Namco Genre Fighting My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 83.21/100 Ridge Racer V was the first game that I bought when I got a Playstation 2. This was number two...And I played the heck out of it. Tekken Tag Tournament is kind of like a side game in the series, with nearly every playable character in previous Tekken games available to play as in tag-team fighting competition. The tag team aspect is fun and adds a new element to the fighting, including the ability to double-team the opponent while you're tagging in and out. Like Tekken 3, there are also bonus modes to unlock, including one of my favorites, Tekken Bowling. Admittedly, I lost a lot of hours back in college bowling in this game…not enough to match the amount of time I was brawling, but it probably comes close. Bowling aside, this was a solid release to hold fans of the franchise over until Tekken 4 was released on store shelves a few years later. Anyway, I highly recommend it fans of fighting games and/or fans of decent and odd bowling games...well, I recommend it to bowling fans after you unlock the bowling mode, that is. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/15/2023 Metropolis Street Racer Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date November 3, 2000 (JP) Developer Bizarre Creations Genre Racing My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.68/100 Metropolis Street Racer, or MSR as the kids would call it, was pretty impressive for its time. Not only was it an enjoyable racing game, but it provided accurate recreations of the cities that you race in - Tokyo, London, and San Francisco. By accurate, I mean, the developers went to these cities and took thousands of photos so that they could recreate what the cities looked like in-game. There wasn't much artistic interpretation here - it was kinda like the video game equivalent of hopping on Google Street View and checking out a town….except faster. Beyond the accurate city race tracks, MSR provided some very solid gameplay mixed with a catchy little sound track provided in radio stations in each country. Bizarre Creations would later use this formula to create the Project Gotham Racing games on Microsoft's Xbox, but between that series, the F1 games that came before them, and even the racing games that they've released in more recent years, some still consider this Dreamcast classic to be the best racer that Bizarre Creations has ever created. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/04/2020 Metal Storm Platform NES Initial Release Date February 1991 (NA) Developer Tamtex Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 83.64/100 Metal Storm was one of those, as Bob Ross would say, "happy little accidents" in regards to my early video game collection. In college, I was buying NES games on eBay. I wanted Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III. To get it at a decent price, I bought it in a lot of 10 games with stuff I didn’t really want in it, including a game that I hadn’t heard of – Metal Storm. I gave it a chance out of curiosity once it arrived, and I quickly realized that I had found a gem that I never knew I wanted. Fast forward almost twenty years (man, I’m old) and Metal Storm is actually a pretty valuable game that can fetch a pretty penny. There’s a reason for it, too. Metal Storm is a very solid shooter mixed with platformer where you can change gravity at will so that you can swap from walking on the ground to walking on the ceiling as needed. The shooter aspect alone is fun and solid, but that addition of changing gravity just adds another layer that makes it very unique. If you’ve never played Metal Storm, track down a copy…or if you don’t wanna shell out all that cash, in the triple digits as I type this, the game was given a limited re-print by Limited Run games in 2019, so you may be able to find yourself one of those for about half the cost of the original release. Played on: NES Also known as: Juuryoku Soukou Metal Storm (Japan)

Date added: 06/27/2020 Dance Dance Revolution Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date April 10, 1999 (JP) Developer Konami Genre Music My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.51/100 The original console version of Dance Dance Revolution was exclusive to Japan...and it brought the awesome fun of embarrassing yourself in the arcade (or having insane skills for some folks) to enjoy at home, with either less or more embarrassment, depending on how nice your friends are. The concept of Dance Dance Revolution is timeless - using a pad as a controller, step on the arrow keys as they pop up on the screen...it vaguely simulates dancing when watching, but it's quite fun and quite a workout when playing. Released 2 years before the version that folks in North America are familiar with, this contains many of the series' fan-favorite songs, like Butterfly. Later games in the series added some mild improvements, but the original is still fantastic in its simplicity and well worth popping in from time to time for a little dancing fun. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/21/2022 Room of Doom Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1982 (NA) Developer CommaVid, Inc. Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 81.10/100 Room of Doom may be one of my favorite 3rd person shooters of the 80s, on any platform. Essentially, this is a game similar to Berzerk or Robotron: 2084 in that, for the most part, you can move freely on the screen and you're shooting around as you go. What got me hooked on Room of Doom is that you're not just shooting at the enemies that try to swarm you, but you're also shooting at the enemies firing at you from behind the walls of each stage. The game starts out slow, but can get pretty frantic pretty quickly. If, for some reason, you're not a fan of how the game plays, no problem. The cartridge actually has 64 variations on the gameplay found here, so if one style isn't your cup of tea, or if you've simply played so much that you've gotten really good at one mode and want a new challenge, Room of Doom can keep you busy for a long, long time. Yes, compared to more modern games, Room of Doom seems pretty basic, but when compared to other home console games at the time, Room of Doom is very enjoyable. I also really like the visual style, as many of the enemies are varied in size, which helps give a game like this, with graphical limits, some personality. Overall, if you like single-screen, third-person shooters that allow you to move freely around the area while you play, Room of Doom is one of the better options from its time. I still find myself losing plenty of time to it today. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/01/2023 Lemmings Platform Panasonic 3DO Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Psygnosis Genre Puzzle My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 80.60/100 I've always liked the animal known as the lemming. As a person who threw himself off of rooftops as a kid, I could relate to the little critters that are known to hurl themselves off of cliffs. Unfortunately, these lemmings aren't adorable, suicidal furballs…they're folks with green hair that aimlessly wander around waiting for you to alter the level to get them to the exit. In a sense, Lemmings is kind of like being a shepherd. Instead of having a sheep dog to wrangle the lemmings up, you've got tools and such at your disposal to ensure that the lemmings make their way to the exit. Figuring out what strategy to take when attempting to get these green fellers to the goal can be nice, relaxing fun. The dark humor that sometimes makes its presence known can also add a bit to the enjoyment. That said, I've always appreciated Lemmings for what it is, and it definitely has a very solid fanbase…but I've never fully gotten invested in this game enough to see my way through all of its dozens of levels. I do like to play Lemmings from time to time, though…even if only to hear those green-topped folks screech, "Oh no!" If you've never given Lemmings a try, but like the idea of a strategic puzzle game with just enough humor tossed in to be charming, then I'd recommend tracking down a copy (it's on MANY platforms) and seeing why this game is so beloved for yourself. Played on: 3DO Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/29/2019 Super Puzzle Platformer Deluxe Platform PC Initial Release Date May 24, 2013 (NA) Developer Adult Swim Games Genre Puzzle My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 79.92/100 Super Puzzle Platformer Deluxe is a unique hybrid of platformer, shooter, and match-3 puzzle games that all blend together surprisingly well. I first played it thinking that it'd be so-so, but nothing special. I wound up getting hooked and lost several hours to this game. I find myself coming back every now and then to enjoy it over the last few years that I first played it. At the time that it came out, I was really enjoying the games that Adult Swim Games were publishing. This one was yet another winner. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/20/2019 Earthworm Jim Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date June 9, 1994 (NA) Developer Shiny Entertainment Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.74/100 You play as an earthworm wearing a special suit that launches cows into the air while shooting guns...And you battle an evil goldfish. That's pretty neat. There was never really a game like Earthworm Jim before it. It’s so weird, yet charming at the same time. It really felt like you were playing something similar to what you’d see in an episode of Looney Tunes with comedy, bizarre scenarios, and mayhem. The controls may take a little getting used to for some, but once you've got them down, and if you love bizarre stuff, then you will absolutely fall in love with Earthworm Jim. A lot of folks did…enough, in fact, to spawn some sequels and even a Saturday morning cartoon here in the ‘States. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/25/2019 Castlevania Puzzle: Encore of the Night Platform Apple iPhone/iPod Touch Initial Release Date July 21, 2010 (NA) Developer Konami Genre Puzzle My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 82.67/100 Mixing Symphony of the Night with a Super Puzzle Fighter-like puzzle game sounds like a really weird concept, but it works...It works really well, actually. I was skeptical of this game, and when I first played it, the touch controls took a little getting used to...But by the time I had completed the game, I was completely hooked. If you like puzzle games, or are just curious as to how Symphony of the Night would work had it been a puzzle game, then Encore of the Night is definitely worth checking out. Unfortunately, like many games listed on here from iTunes, Encore of the Night is no longer listed. Unless you’re able to find a copy of the game archived somewhere, or if you still have it on an old iDevice, you’re out of luck for playing this gem. Played on: iPhone Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/23/2024 Virtua Fighter 4 Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date January 31, 2002 (JP) Developer Sega AM2 Genre Fighting My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 86.21/100 Whenever I would hear debates about the better 3D fighter, Tekken or Virtua Fighter, I was always a very solid supporter of Tekken. Then Virtua Fighter 4 came out, and while it didn't completely win me over, it definitely closed the gap, and its re-release, placed elsewhere on this list, pushed me on over to the other side. I was always a fan of learning how to perform attacks and such in fighting games, but Virtua Fighter 4 made me enjoy learning how to play defensively. What I really enjoyed about the game is that sure, I could win some fights by just mashing buttons, but if I wanted to really be victorious consistently, I needed to improve as a player. I couldn't just act - I needed to observe and react during the fight. Being defensive and learning when the most opportune times to attack are is vital to succeed in this game, especially on the higher difficulties…and just like if you were in a real-life fight, even if you've built up your skills, when you battle someone with similar or greater skills than you, there's still a decent chance that you may taste defeat. It motivates you to continue to get better. Kumite mode in this game does a very good job of establishing that, with the game constantly pitting you against computer-controlled fighters that are roughly the same skill level as you. By winning matches, your rank goes up…when achieving later ranks, it feels like you've accomplished something. It's not as flashy as a story mode, but for fans of the fighting genre, Kumite mode can easily steal hours away from your life while you try to be the best that you can be. If it wasn't for Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution improving on absolutely every aspect of this game, I'd have this game much, much higher on the list. But if you can't get access to a copy of Evolution, playing the original VF4 is still a solid route to go. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/15/2020 M*A*S*H Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer 20th Century Fox Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 74.83/100 M*A*S*H is a surprisingly good game for its time on the Atari 2600. Released in 1983, right as the video game market was seemingly about to become extinct, M*A*S*H is a game where you control a paramedic helicopter, competing against a rival paramedic helicopter and try to pick up passengers to bring back to your hospital with the first one reaching 999 points wins. In the way are trees, bullets, and your rival that seems to be okay with you dying as long as it means they can save everyone else. Every now and then, the action will pause for you to participate in an Operation-like game where you want to pull what I’m assuming are bullets out of a patient’s body, but if you hit the sides as you do so, the mini-game is over. Like most good Atari 2600 games, this is a solid choice if you want to kill 5-10 minutes of time, but it’s not likely a video game that you’ll be putting hours and hours into. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/11/2021 ModNation Racers Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date May 20, 2010 (AU) Developer United Front Games Genre Racing My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 83.95/100 ModNation Racers, at first glance, didn't really look like anything special. It basically looked like a Mario Kart clone with an odd art design...Then when you played, you quickly found out that ModNation Racers was basically the LittleBigPlanet of kart racing games. The tracks and creations that were once found within the game only scratched the surface of the game's content, as you could create and download an infinite number of tracks, racers, and vehicles to enjoy. Unfortunately, as I type this, the servers are no longer online so unless you’ve played this in the past and still have the downloaded content on your PS3, then you’re out of luck with any downloadable content from other creators...unless a community is keeping user-created content alive on a private server somewhere that I’m unaware of. Anyway, ModNation Racers wasn’t a perfect game, but it was still pretty dang good and if kart racers are your thing, you couldn't go wrong with this game. Even with a lack of user-created content, it’s still a solid racer, but admittedly, much of the replay value is now gone. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: ModNation: Mugen no Kart Oukoku (Japan)

Date added: 07/18/2020 Ultimate Ghosts 'N Goblins Platform Playstation Portable Initial Release Date August 13, 2006 (JP) Developer TOSE Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 78.79/100 Ultimate Ghosts ‘N Goblins is one of the easier entries in the franchise, but it’s also one of the most enjoyable games in the series as well. Finding and establishing warp points, gaining new power-ups that provide you with new abilities (some of which are required to pass through certain areas), fighting big bosses, traversing beautiful and varied levels…it’s just a really well done game. The lower difficulty means that more people will get to experience more of the game before they see the game over screen. It also helps allow the player to search for hidden areas in the levels without always having to worry about constantly being in danger of dying. Ultimate Ghosts ‘N Goblins isn’t the best game in the franchise, in my opinion, but it’s still a very solid game and it belongs in the PSP library of anyone that loves classic platformers of old. Played on: PSP Also known as: Goku Makai-Mura (Japan)

Date added: 08/31/2022 Viewtiful Joe Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date June 26, 2003 (NA) Developer Clover Studio Genre Brawler My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 84.16/100 I've always liked Viewtiful Joe for how unique it is - I like games that try something new. Whether it be a unique visual style or unique gameplay elements, I always respect developers willing to think outside the box. Essentially, Viewtiful Joe is a side-scrolling brawler, but not your typical side-scrolling brawler. Viewtiful Joe requires you to use your brain and solve puzzles while brawling, which significantly helps with the issue that a lot of brawlers have - they get repetitive. Viewtiful Joe manages to avoid feeling too repetitive due to the fact that you've got to observe the world around you and act accordingly. For example, one level you'll find yourself in a room with a bomb on the floor and if you platform up a few chandeliers, you'll see a door that you can blow open. You can't carry bombs in this game, so you need to figure out a way to uppercut that bomb up and to the door so that the bomb can create an exit for you. It's not just the puzzles, though. If you treat the combat like a typical, mindless brawler, you're not going to last long. You need to pay attention to the patterns and movements of each enemy to figure out how to defeat them. Wildly punching and kicking only works on a handful of opponents. The rest will take you to a Game Over screen pretty quickly if you're not paying attention and changing up your tactics. If you like scrolling brawlers, but want your gameplay to be less about mindless attacks and more about intelligent combat, then Viewtiful Joe may be a good game to try. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/31/2020 Rollergames Platform Arcade Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Konami Genre Sports - Roller Derby My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 83.86/100 Rollergames is one of my favorite, and lesser-known arcade games. Based off of the popular roller derby show from the 80’s with the same name, Rollergames in the arcade is not like Rollergames on the NES. The NES Rollergames is a brawler like Double Dragon or Battletoads. The Arcade version of Rollergames is an actual roller derby game – as far as I’m aware, the only roller derby game ever made. Konami did a fantastic job of bringing the sport to an interactive digital form, too. While the rules aren’t 100% what real roller derby rules are, it works well here. Basically, you start each quarter by going up a wall, then off a ramp. If you can make it high enough on the wall, you get extra points. If you land far enough away from the ramp, you get more extra points. After landing from the ramp jump, the remainder of the time in the quarter is spent brawling with the others on the roller derby track, with points awarded for each member of the opposing team that you knock out. If the round ends in a tie, then the skaters duke it out in an admittedly poor 1-on-1 fighting game. Overall, though, this is a very enjoyable game…made even more enjoyable by the fact that there isn’t another game of this kind out there. If you like roller derby and always wanted to play it in video game form, Rollergames is a worthwhile game to track down. Played on: Arcade Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/25/2023 Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams... Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date November 22, 1996 (JP) Developer Sonic Team Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 86.87/100 Christmas NiGHTS in some ways is just a demo of the original NiGHTS into Dreams, but with various Christmas scenery, music, and different attire for the characters…well, not always. While it's called "Christmas NiGHTS," depending on the time on the year, you may have completely different imagery. Anyway, this is considered to be a demo because it really only contains the Spring Valley dream level and a boss fight. But the surprises to discover from playing the game at different dates and times, like on April Fool's Day, Reala replaces Nights as the character that you control while flying around, and the "gifts" that you unlock by playing the game, add way more replayability to a glorified demo than you might expect. Some of the gifts are neat novelties that are worth the extra time spent with the game. While there is mild disappointment that this isn't a complete game, that's mostly because, like the original NiGHTS into Dreams, this is excellent while it lasts. Toss in all of the extra goodies and holiday cheer tossed in, and this is an excellent game to bring out every year around Christmas time so you can soar through hoops in the air while Jingle Bells plays in the background. Played on: Saturn Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/26/2020 Tetris Platform NES Initial Release Date November 1989 (NA) Developer Nintendo Genre Puzzle My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.90/100 Let's face it, Tetris is probably the most popular game of the 80's and 90's. Even people who wouldn't normally play a video game found themselves in love with this Russian puzzle game. It's widely believed that Tetris was the major reason for the success of the Game Boy, and while Nintendo's NES version doesn't get a lot of love due to the vastly superior Tengen version of the game on the same system, the Nintendo version is still a very fun and addicting game in its own right. It’s nowhere near the quality of Tengen’s superior version, but it’s still solid enough. To this day, it’s hard to find a puzzle game better than Tetris. It was the first, and it still may be the best...but when it comes to versions of Tetris, Nintendo’s version was prettier, but Tengen’s version had more substance. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/17/2020 Fallout: New Vegas Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date October 19, 2010 (NA) Developer Obsidian Entertainment Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 83.73/100 Fallout 3 was mostly a success for Bethesda, though glitches did hold the game back from being truly great. Two years later, Fallout: New Vegas was released, and while in many ways it surpasses Fallout 3, it also is far more glitchy than the previous game. Instead of choppy frames and freezing (which gets RIDICULOUS near the end of the game – you can’t enter more than 5-6 areas before it starts) this game also introduces occasional times where the game simply crashes the entire console. Still, even with these frustrating glitches, New Vegas is still awesome. Obviously, it gets the score docked and it slips down the list, but the ideas introduced in New Vegas, the setting that feels both entirely different and comfortingly familiar at the same time, and a cast of some of the more memorable characters in the series make this a must-play game if you enjoyed Fallout 3. If the glitches had been reduced instead of increased for New Vegas, it very well could have been my favorite game in the franchise. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/18/2020 Streets of Rage Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date August 2, 1991 (JP) Developer Sega Genre Brawler My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.83/100 I recall having arguments with a friend and co-worker back in college over what brawler was better - Streets of Rage or Final Fight. He insisted Streets of Rage, while I stuck with Final Fight. Since then, I've come to appreciate Sega's brawler a bit more. Granted, I still prefer the Arcade version of Final Fight to Streets of Rage, but the gap has closed considerably. That said, I'm probably in the minority with that opinion - I think the general gaming public prefers Streets of Rage. This was one of Sega's most beloved franchises during the days of the Genesis...And one that I think would be really neat to be revived in a style similar to Rockstar's The Warriors on Xbox and Playstation 2. But, if a revival never happens, the 16-bit brawlers are more than enough to put a smile on the face of any fan of the genre. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: Bare Knuckle: Ikari no Tekken (Japan)

Date added: 12/02/2023 Super Punch Out!! Platform Super NES Initial Release Date October 1994 (NA) Developer Nintendo Genre Fighting - Boxing My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 83.21/100 I love Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! on the NES. I consider it to be near perfect in its simplicity. So, I suppose that it's only natural that I would then be somewhat disappointed in Super Punch-Out!! Don't get me wrong, I enjoy Super Punch-Out!! for what it is and for some of the extra stuff if brings to the table…but at the same time, I found myself wishing that it had an option to do away with all of the extra stuff and just play like the original. Super Punch-Out!! also goes a little overboard with the goofy characters - I felt like every character in the NES game was likeable and unique. In Super Punch-Out!! many of them are still likeable, but many of them are a little too over-the-top for me - if I'm boxing someone, I don't expect them to be able to legally kick me or use weapons. I'm no boxing purist, but I'd like to at least have a reason given to me why these folks are allowed to have that sort of advantage over me. The one thing that I do like is the power meter, which gives you a good visual as to how close you are to be able to land a devastating blow. If the meter is full, you have the opportunity to land some big hits. If you get hit, though, your meter will decrease, so if forces you to play smart rather than just mash buttons. Anyway, despite Super Punch-Out!!'s extra features and such, I'll still pick the NES version over this one every time I'm given the option. That said, I still don't mind going a few rounds in this game every now and then as well. It's still a very good game…it just lacks the charm that Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! had. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/17/2023 Bloody Roar II Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date January 28, 1999 (JP) Developer Eighting/Raizing Genre Fighting My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.27/100 The first Bloody Roar was a fighting game with the neat concept of transforming into a beast during the fight to deal out extra damage and take less damage - with the strategy being that if you time out your transformation poorly that you could find yourself vulnerable to a whoopin' from your opponent. Bloody Roar II takes everything from the original, seemingly improves on it, and brings a faster-pace to the action to make everything a little more frantic and chaotic than the original game. Also new is the inclusion of the Beast Drive, which is essentially a super combo that you can deliver when the meter under your half of the screen fills up. This really was a very impressive 3D fighter back when it was released, so part of me is surprised that Bloody Roar never quite reached the popularity of other 3D fighters of the time like Tekken. I've never looked into sales numbers, so maybe that's the reason? Regardless, the franchise only saw a few more games after this one, but none of them, in my opinion, match the quality of this game. Bloody Roar II very well could be the best game in the franchise. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Bloody Roar 2: Bringer of the New Age (Japan/Europe)

Date added: 08/14/2024 Enslaved: Odyssey to the West Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date October 5, 2010 (NA) Developer Ninja Theory Genre Platformer My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.13/100 Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is one of those games that I thought was really good, but not quite great. Playing through it again for the first time since it was released 13 years ago, I still have the same feelings. The concept of Enslaved is that you control a fellow by the name of Monkey who travels with a charming young lady named Trip, who has enslaved Monkey with a device, ordering him to protect her, and promising to release him once she arrives home safely. Basically, if you know your folklore, this game is loosely based on the "Journey to the West" story…though I don't remember reading anything about giant robots or airships in that tale. Anyway, for the most part in this game, you'll be platforming through beautiful (for their time) environments and watching the relationship between Monkey and Trip grow. If I go too much into the story, I feel like I'll spoil it for anyone that wants to play, but it's got an interesting conclusion when you finally get there. I don't think that this game sold very well originally. I kind of put it in the same boat as Beyond Good & Evil - a very solid game that I'd love to see a sequel for, but lack of sales and interest may prevent it from ever happening. If you like platformers similar to the Uncharted games or the "recent" Tomb Raider games, then you'll probably enjoy your time with Enslaved as well. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/24/2022 Jackie Chan's Action Kung-Fu Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date January 18, 1991 (JP) Developer Now Production Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 77.03/100 Jackie Chan's Action Kung-Fu is a surprisingly good platformer that was originally released on the TurboGrafx-16. I say surprisingly good because back in the 80's and 90's, if a game was licensed, there was a good chance that it was awful - oftentimes companies would license their games, just to make a quick buck off of the name value of the brand they licensed - usually for movies. Every now and then, though, a game would be licensed and it would turn out to be really good. Jackie Chan's Action Kung-Fu is one of those games. This platformer pretty much has it all - beautiful graphics, a nice soundtrack, fun boss fights, and well-designed levels. It's not a perfect game, mind you, but it's definitely one of the better games to see a TurboGrafx-16 release. It was good enough, in fact, that Hudson wound up porting it over to the NES…and despite the downgrade in graphics, the game manages to be just as enjoyable in 8-bits as it is in 16-bits. Anyway, aside from providing solid platforming action, this game also give you the ability to collect "special moves" to use as you see fit. You can see the move that you've got equipped at the bottom of the screen, and the number of moves you have left. Using these moves at the right time, and having the correct move equipped at the right time, can be the key to survival in some of the more difficult areas. Anyway, if you want to play a very good platformer on the TurboGrafx-16 that doesn't involve a big-headed caveman, then give this game with a big-headed Jackie Chan a try. Anyone who intentionally refuses to play this game is a kung-fool. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: Jackie Chan (Japan)

Date added: 10/19/2022 Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date June 25, 2019 (NA/EU) Developer ArtPlay Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 83.67/100 When Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night was funded on Kickstarter, people funded the concept, without fully knowing if the end result would be good or not. Prior to this game's release, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon was given to us and it showed that the developers could effectively create a modern variation of the classic Castlevania games. That gave me hope that they could get the later, metroidvania-style right as well. Now that I've played through from beginning to end, I can honestly say that while I really enjoyed Ritual of the Night, in my opinion is falls short of what I had hoped for. If you ask me what I hoped for, I can't really tell you, to be honest…I guess I just wanted something that felt a little more original. To me, this just felt like a Castlevania game with all of the licensing pulled from it. That's not necessarily a bad thing, mind you…I think my score reflects that…but I would have liked to see a little more originality to make it feel like its own game. As it is, you can't help but compare it to Symphony of the Night, and it's not as good as SotN, in my opinion. Not many games are, in fairness, but a bit more originality may have prevented so many comparisons to be made. In some ways, this feels like a "greatest hits" game with features from various Castlevania games finding their way here, with some feeling like they've been improved and others feeling like they were watered down. But anyway, I'm nitpicking. If you like the metroidvania Castlevania games and don't mind playing another game in that style that doesn't bring too much new to the table, then you'll definitely like Ritual of the Night. If you were hoping for more, like me, I bet you'll still like it anyway. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/21/2020 Animal Crossing: Wild World Platform Nintendo DS Initial Release Date November 23, 2005 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 86.85/100 I loved the original Animal Crossing, and preferred it over this game, but there’s no denying that Wild World proved that Animal Crossing is absolutely fantastic in a format that you can take on the go. The “play a little bit each day” was seemingly created for a portable format. The big downside for Wild World, though, was that it lacked the NES classic games that lured folks like me to the first game in the series to begin with. Hearing that news made me initially pass on Wild World when it was released and I didn’t play it until a few years later, after New Leaf made me obsessed enough with the game that I wanted to play the one game in the series that I hadn’t put much time in. For its time, Wild World was really good, and I believe it was only the second Nintendo-released game that supported wi-fi on the DS. The support is due to being able to visit the towns of other players…and not just visit, you could actually interact and communicate with the folks you visit. This is the game that really started building one of the best communities to interact with in video games – most folks that you’d come across, even then, were kind and respectful, only getting a troublemaker once in a great while. Aside from the online, the animals that you live with have more personality in this game than in the original, making interacting with them a more enjoyable experience as well. Overall, Wild World was technically a better game than the original Animal Crossing in nearly every way…the only reason it’s lower on this list than the original is because of my own personal preference…and maybe ‘cause I’m still a little disappointed that the NES classics never made a return. Played on: Nintendo DS Also known as: Oide yo Doubutsu no Mori (Japan), Nolleooseyo Dongmurui Sup (Korea)

Date added: 01/30/2022 Metal Slug 3 Platform Neo Geo Initial Release Date June 1, 2000 (JP) Developer SNK Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 85.48/100 I consider Metal Slug 2 to be the best game in the Metal Slug series, but Metal Slug 3 is a very close second. It really stepped up to the plate in the variety department, pitting the player against yetis, zombies, giant crabs, and aliens as well as the standard enemy soldiers, making this the wackiest entry in the series at the time of its release. Most importantly, no quality is sacrificed with this wackiness and it actually results in a very nice variety in level designs. In fact, the final level just gets more and more over the top, right up to the very final battle. The only aspect of this game that may turn some people off is the difficulty - it feels as if it was increased a bit from Metal Slug 2, so if you’re playing this in the arcade, expect to pop in a few extra quarters compared to the previous game in the series.. Anyway, if you're into run-and-gun shooters, this game is easily one of the best. Played on: Neo-Geo, Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/31/2023 F-Zero 99 Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date September 14, 2023 (NA/EU) Developer Nintendo Genre Racing My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.53/100 I've enjoyed most of the "99" games that have come out on Nintendo's Switch. My favorite, by far, was instead a "35" game, Super Mario Bros. 35, but I think that F-Zero 99 may have slid right into that number two spot. Like the other "99" games, in F-Zero 99, you're battling against 98 other players in a game of elimination. Unlike the other games, where your goal is purely to survive, in F-Zero 99, your goal isn't just to survive - surviving a race will only get you so far. To really succeed in F-Zero 99, you also have to cross the finish line in first place…or as high as you can get. The gameplay is fantastic and since each race only lasts a few minutes, F-Zero 99 is a perfect game to kill a few minutes at a bus stop or on the can. The only real flaws in the game are the lack of vehicles (you're limited to the four original vehicles from the first F-Zero, though you can unlock paint jobs and such to make them stand out more) and the other flaw would be the players you race against themselves. During the race, the other players are pretty good - nobody really races dirty and it's good clean fun. After the race, when everyone is voting for the next track is where it gets disappointing. I like variety, so I usually vote for more difficult tracks that I haven't unlocked yet….but the vast majority will always pick the easier track, which is also likely the track that most people have. That makes it very frustrating when you're trying to unlock everything, and when you're sick of playing Mute City for the 47th time in a row. Still, though, F-Zero 99's positives outweigh the negatives, and with its free price tag, it's well worth checking out if you own a Switch and subscribe to their online service. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/12/2019 Royal Pro Wrestling: Jikkyou Live!! Platform Panasonic 3DO Initial Release Date February 23, 1996 (JP) Developer Natsume Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 80.44/100 Well, this was quite a pleasant surprise. I honestly did not expect much from Royal Pro Wrestling. It looked so basic and boring...It's anything but that once the action starts. The game has little details that made me fall in love with it. The generic version of the Undertaker in the game (The Underdise Morgan) actually has a Paul Bearer-like manager lurking around at ringside during his matches...And you can attack said manager if you wish. On top of that, the main mode in the game has you battling it out in the region of your choosing – the United States, Mexico, or Japan. The U.S. region in particular made me smile with wrestlers interviewed by a generic Mean Gene prior to the bout. The gameplay is fairly basic, but still enjoyable once you get the hang of things and it has some very, very minor play-by-play which was a nice novelty for its time. There's enough content here to keep most wrestling fans busy for quite a while. If you're a wrestling fan and you own a 3DO, you can't go wrong by importing this gem from Japan. It’s just a shame it never made its way to the ‘States. Played on: 3DO Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/24/2022 Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 Platform NES Initial Release Date July 26, 1988 (JP) Developer Disco Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 80.47/100 It’s no secret to anyone that knew me growing up that I absolutely LOVE Bubble Bobble. It was the first video game I ever played. The stand of Bub and Bob at the local store, advertising Bubble Bobble, is what made me beg my parents for an NES in the first place. So, years later, when I discovered that Rainbow Islands was considered to be Bubble Bobble 2, I was immediately interested. I never actually got to play it until years later, though, when I purchased the Bubble Bobble/Rainbow Islands compilation on the original Playstation…and honestly, I just never got into it or saw the appeal. Basically, in Rainbow Islands, you’re still playing as Bub, and Bob makes appearances as well, but they’re back in their human forms instead of their dinosaur forms. Since they aren’t bubble-blowing lizards anymore, Bub instead shoots rainbows out that he can use to trap enemies, defeat enemies, and/or use them as platforms to reach higher sections in the level. Unlike Bubble Bobble, you do not need to defeat all enemies to advance in each level. All you have to do is continue to climb up until you make it to the next section. After completing four levels, you’ll be faced with a boss fight where your goal is to rainbow them to death. This trend continues for eight levels, and depending on your choices, you may get to play in a ninth level, where you’ll see several familiar faces along with a jingle that fans of Bubble Bobble will all know. After revisiting it for this list, and making my way through to the end, I can admit that I see quite a bit more value in this game than I had seen previously. I’ve grown to appreciate this unique platformer for what it is, which is an enjoyable, solid, unique game…but I’d still rather play Bubble Bobble. Played on: NES, Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/28/2019 Proteus Platform PC Initial Release Date January 30, 2013 (NA) Developer Ed Key & David Kanaga Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 70.76/100 Proteus is an odd game to comment on. There are no enemies, there's no way to die, there's no real goals or objectives in a traditional sense...in Proteus all you do is wander around and take in the scenery and audio. In order to “beat” the game, you need to explore the randomly-generated island that you’re on and find a circle of stones. At night, you’ll be able to “warp” to a different season. Explore all four seasons and you’ll eventually float into the heavens for "victory." It's definitely not for everyone, but since I'm someone who enjoys just aimlessly wandering around, enjoying the scenery in the Elder Scrolls games, I find this to be a very relaxing way to spend 10-20 minutes exploring without having to worry about if something is going to try to kill me. It’s beautiful, relaxing, and one of my favorite games to come out in the last decade. Played on: PC, Playstation 4, Playstation Vita Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/05/2020 Dead Space Platform Xbox 360 Initial Release Date October 13, 2008 (NA) Developer EA Redwood Shores Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 84.40/100 Dead Space is a fun action game...But if you were to classify it purely as a horror game, it disappoints. The scares are predictable and the concept of dismembering your enemies really lessens any remaining scare factor that the monsters in the game have, since you know that you'll be chopping off their limbs shortly after you meet them. If it’s so easy to almost always be fully equipped to dismember any monster that crosses your path, then how does that create any sense of danger or uneasiness? If I hear a creepy noise, I simply load ammo into whatever weapon I have equipped and get ready to blow some limbs off before I continue. Horror disappointments aside, it's still a very fun game and well worth playing through…just don't expect to get the willies when playing it. Played on: Xbox 360, Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/29/2024 Vandal Hearts Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date October 25, 1996 (JP) Developer KCET Genre Strategy My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 86.41/100 While I don't necessarily dislike turn-based, strategy RPGs, I rarely have the desire to play one. Final Fantasy Tactics is probably the game in the genre that I've played the most, but Konami had also put out a pretty solid turn-based strategy game on the Playstation (and Saturn…and PC) called Vandal Hearts…and I have to say, while I'll admit that Final Fantasy Tactics is the better overall game, with better gameplay, I couldn't help but fall in love with Vandal Hearts as I played through it, and I may actually prefer this game over Squaresoft's strategy masterpiece. The most obvious reason that I enjoyed it may sound morbid, but it's the blood. I don't enjoy Vandal Hearts because the game has blood…I enjoy Vandal Hearts because of how outlandishly absurd characters die in the game. When beaten with a physical attack, a character will have a geyser of blood pour out of their body. It's so cartoonish and over-the-top that I can't imagine it would offend anyone, but rather cause them to chuckle like I did. By the end of the game, that simple aspect of the gameplay is likely to be something that you find charming and part of what makes this game so memorable. Aside from the blood, the story found here is quite a bit better than the one in FF Tactics, in my opinion, as well. The combat, while not as deep or refined as FF Tactics, is still good enough to keep you engaged from beginning to end…and the fact that some levels have slightly different goals prevents each battle from feeling too repetitive. Anyway, if you want a very good strategy RPG and you've never given Vandal Hearts a try, I highly recommend going out of your way to do so…just bring a raincoat for those blood geysers. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Vandal Hearts: Ushinawareta Kodai Bunmei (Japan)

Date added: 09/02/2019 The King of Fighters '95 Platform Neo Geo Initial Release Date September 1, 1995 (NA/JP) Developer SNK Genre Fighting My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 81.65/100 King of Fighters '95 is the sequel to King of Fighters '94, and a vast improvement on that game, which was already a pretty solid fighter. With increased speed, smoother controls, and an expanded roster, this game is the one in the series that began to spawn gamers that would swear up and down that King of Fighters is a better fighting game franchise than Street Fighter. I, personally, do not share that opinion, but that doesn't take anything away from this game, which is a very solid fighting game, and definitely one of the best in the genre from the 90's. Played on: Neo-Geo, Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/09/2022 Fear Effect Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date February 24, 2000 (NA) Developer Kronos Digital Entertainment Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 80.06/100 Fear Effect is one of those games that I've had pretty much since it was first released, and only now, nearly a quarter of a century later, have I finally played through it to the end. Fear Effect kind of feels like a hybrid of gaming styles. Much of the gameplay kind of feels like a point-and-click adventure game where instead of pointing-and-clicking, you're controlling the characters via your controller with the famed Resident Evil-style tank control scheme. When firing a weapon, instead of aiming, instead you unholster your weapon and rotate until you see crosshairs at the top of the screen, then press the fire/attack button until your target is down. When not in combat, the rest of the game mostly feels like classic point-and-click adventure stuff - find items that you wouldn't normally grab, and later stumble across situations where you just happen to need them. "I know that I'm here to rescue a woman, but hey, look at this fuse just laying here! I better grab it. You never know if that woman is gonna blow her fuse, so we may need a spare…Get it? Blow her fuse?....Nevermind." Aside from the gameplay, the game is known for two more things. First, the visual presentation. Fear Effect was absolutely, breathtakingly gorgeous when it first released. Even now, playing through it, I'm amazed at how good everything looks considering the hardware it's running on. Then again, in hindsight, cel-shaded graphics typically age well compared to standard polygons, so it shouldn't be too surprising. The other thing that Fear Effect was known for was its sexual content. While no nudity is shown, it is implied, and Hana, one of the main characters, just happens to be in situations where she's running around shooting stuff while only wearing a towel or walking around in a prostitute outfit to sneak past enemies. The two playable male characters never seemed to have an issue finding clothes for some reason. Anyway, if you want a unique take on the survival horror genre, then Fear Effect is worth checking out. If you appreciate games that aren't quite like anything else, then you'll definitely appreciate Fear Effect. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/17/2023 All Night Nippon Super Mario Bros. Platform Nintendo Famicom Disk System Initial Release Date 1986 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 86.45/100 Do you like the original Super Mario Bros….but want to get rid of goombas, piranha plants, and a few others with sprites based on All Night Nippon, a popular radio show that had been airing in Japan since 1967? Of course you probably don't, since you're likely not living in Japan if you're reading this. I think it might have been neat for people in Japan, though, especially if they were a fan of the Super Mario Bros. game and the All Night Nippon radio talk show. From what I can gather All Night Nippon was essentially a radio version of what would have been Johnny Carson here in the United States - a show mostly designed to have celebrities on and discuss stuff with them. That explains why at the end of each castle, you'll rescue a different Japanese celebrity instead of a little toad. When you do make it to the final castle, you'll find Peach in a kimono instead of her traditional dress, just to make things different. The nice thing about this game, though, is the sprites aren't the only difference in this game. It's actually a little bit of a mixture of the original Super Mario Bros. and The Lost Levels, which stages from both games appearing here - though with a much lower difficulty than the Lost Levels was. This game also eliminates two-player mode in favor of being able to select Mario or Luigi, like in the Lost Levels. My only complaint is that it doesn't really innovate anything otherwise I'd likely give it a higher score. But if you're looking for a different Super Mario Bros. experience but don't want the difficulty level of the Lost Levels, then All Night Nippon Super Mario Bros. may be the perfect choice for you. Played on: Famicom Disk System Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/08/2019 Pikmin Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date October 26, 2001 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Strategy My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 85.44/100 This is a charming little strategy game from Nintendo involving a spaceman that landed on a strange planet, and various plant creatures called Pikmin. The spaceman, Captain Olimar, has a limited supply of air and must use the Pikmin he encounters to help him find necessary parts to repair his ship to he can leave and, well, not die. It's a charming game with some beautiful graphics that was one of a kind when it came out. If you haven't tried Pikmin before, I highly suggest doing so. It may not be as popular as games like Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, or the Legend of Zelda, but Pikmin is still one of Miyamoto's greatest creations. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/02/2019 Panzer Dragoon Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date March 10, 1995 (JP) Developer Team Andromeda Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 85.17/100 Panzer Dragoon was the first really good exclusive game for the Saturn. This interesting rail shooter was, and still is, an extremely fun experience that was unlike anything that you'd find on the competition's systems at the time. It was also absolutely beautiful for its time…and while a little blocky, it’s still pretty nice to look at to this day. The second Panzer Dragoon totally blew this game away, and Panzer Dragoon Saga blew them both away like a hurricane having a sneezing fit...But that says more about how great those games are than it says anything bad about Panzer Dragoon; the original is still a pretty great game…it just exists in the shadows of its predecessors. Played on: Saturn Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/24/2022 Silent Hill 3 Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date May 23, 2003 (EU) Developer KCET Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 84.23/100 I've always been a big fan of the Silent Hill games. Even the less-liked games, like Silent Hill: Downpour or Homecoming, I've found at least something to find enjoyment in. Silent Hill 3, however, may be the last of the universally-liked games in the franchise. Playing heavily like the first two games in the series, Silent Hill 3 not only continues shedding light on the disturbing history of the town of Silent Hill, but this game also acts as a direct sequel to the original Silent Hill, in a way, which is nice for fans like myself, who consider the original Silent Hill to be their favorite in the franchise. Anyway, Silent Hill 3 is the first and only time where players control a female character as she explores some creepy environments before eventually finding her way to the disturbing town we all love, Silent Hill. While Silent Hill 3 isn't bad by any means, it also doesn't really introduce a whole lot new to the table in comparison to the first two games. If you're looking for some innovation, you won't find much here. But if you're content with the same solid gameplay, but with a new story attached, then you'll likely really like Silent Hill 3. It doesn't do a whole lot that'll wow you, but what it does do, it does well. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/25/2024 Brave Fencer Musashi Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date July 16, 1998 (JP) Developer Squaresoft Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.95/100 When Brave Fencer Musashi first came out, I remember some video game magazines claimed that it was Squaresoft's attempt at creating a Zelda killer. I never really saw the comparison, to be honest. Maybe if you throw Zelda and Kirby in a blender, and toss in some quirkiness and humor, then maybe you'd have Brave Fencer Musashi. Anyway, Brave Fencer Musashi is a solid adventure game put out by Squaresoft that features action that allows you to both absorb skills from your enemies and unlock elemental skills to help you access new, previously unreachable areas. Those two features alone made this a worthwhile game when it came out…unfortunately, like many 90's 3D games, Musashi hasn't aged quite as well as one may like. Some of the gameplay, combat in particular, feels a little dated…but the quirkiness of the characters and the enjoyable story is just as fun to play through as it always was. Toss in a few side-quests that has you hunting down captured townsfolk, wildlife that helps you increase your health, and action figures of the game's cast of characters and enemies, and you've got a solid game that, despite its age, is still fun to see through to the end, like it was roughly 25 years ago when it first released. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Brave Fencer Musashiden (Japan)

Date added: 07/04/2019 Shin Megami Tensei Online: Imagine Platform PC Initial Release Date March 30, 2007 (JP) Developer Cave Genre RPG My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.13/100 This was the first (and is still only as of this writing) PC-based MMORPG that I've ever played...And I've got to admit, it got me hooked. Simply wandering around and exploring the ruins of Tokyo while battling and conversing with demons was fun...as is the SMT trademark of demon fusions to create bigger and better allies. The community was also pretty friendly. I actually had a very high level character hand me a very-strong-for-my-level weapon early in the game. He wanted to trade, but when I told him that I had nothing of value to give in return, he simply said, "Take it. It's a gift for being new." The game wasn't perfect, and some very annoying glitches could sometimes cause frustration...But overall, I've lost plenty of hours to this game due to the enjoyment it created. Unfortunately, the English version was shut down several years ago, and the Japanese version followed a few years later after nearly a decade of being online. It’s a shame because it truly was an enjoyable game, and the best part was that it was absolutely free of charge. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/03/2019 Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors' Dreams Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date January 25, 1996 (EU) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 86.52/100 The best home version of Street Fighter Alpha, in my opinion, was found on the Saturn. While the Saturn generally had poorer 3D graphics when compared to the Playstation, it seemingly had the advantage as far as 2D games go. The Saturn version of Street Fighter Alpha looked great, played very smoothly, and was just a fantastic fighting game experience. Later games in the Alpha series improved upon and perfected the formula found here, but the first Street Fighter Alpha is still a fantastic game in its own right. If you’re a fan of 2D fighting games, the first entry in the Street Fighter Alpha trilogy is well worth your time. Played on: Saturn, Playstation Also known as: Street Fighter Zero (Japan)

Date added: 09/29/2019 Mari0 Platform PC Initial Release Date 2012 (NA) Developer stabyourself.net Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 85.87/100 If Mari0 was simply a Mario clone with the gun from Portal tossed in as a gimmick, I wouldn't have scored this as high as I did. The thing that makes Mari0 so good is the extra stuff. The fact that you can create your own levels and share them with others is neat in itself...And the levels are created with portal uses in mind. That's not to say that the original Super Mario Bros. isn't fun with the portal gun - watching the Hammer Bros. kill themselves with their own hammers via portals or sending a Bullet Bill through a portal to kill a Goomba is good fun...But, Mari0 shines brightest with the user-created content. The best part? It's free. Head over to stabyourself.net/mari0/ to get yourself a copy. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/16/2022 Devil Dice Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date June 18, 1998 (JP) Developer Shift Genre Puzzle My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.89/100 While I'll always like puzzle games like Tetris, with falling blocks and the goal of trying to match stuff to make more room on the screen, I'll also always have a special place in my heart for more action-based puzzle games. Devil Dice is one of the better action-based puzzle games from the 32/64-bit era, but I've noticed that it seems to get a love it or hate it attitude from the folks that play it. The folks that love it, really seem to love it. The folks that hate it, seem to loathe it with every fiber of their being. My guess is that the difficulty is what drives people away - this isn't a pick-up-and-play game. It takes practice. While a tutorial mode is included in the game, it will still likely take some time to really grasp everything here…but once you do, it's really fun. Devil Dice also includes several modes, so if you feel like you've had your fill with one mode, you can switch modes nd change up the gameplay a little bit. They've even got multiplayer included in here, so if you can get some friends up to speed on how to lay the game, you've got yourself a decent party game in here, too. Devil Dice isn't for everyone. But if you have the patience to figure out how to play this game, I think that you'll likely fall in love with it like I have. Played on: Playstation Also known as: XI [sai] (Japan)

Date added: 08/03/2024 Sonic & Knuckles Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date October 18, 1994 (W) Developer Sonic Team Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.57/100 Sonic & Knuckles wasn't just a new Sonic game, it felt like FOUR new Sonic games. Putting the Sonic & Knuckles cart in your Genesis allows you play Sonic & Knuckles, like it would any other game. The gimmick here, though, is that if you put another Sonic game in Sonic & Knuckles, you've got another "new" game. Put in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 or 3 and you now have Sonic the Hedgehog 2 & Knuckles or Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles, with the ability to play as Knuckles in those games. Unfortunately, while the original Sonic does work, it's not like the other two - instead of being able to play as Knuckles, you're given a seemingly endless number of bonus rounds to play on. Thirty years later, I still think the idea and concept behind Sonic & Knuckles is really neat. Anyway, aside from the cool gimmick, Sonic & Knuckles is also a solid platformer in its own right. It's not as good as some of the other games in the series, but the ability to play as Knuckles isn't like when Tails joined Sonic in previous games - Tails played pretty much like Sonic. Knuckles has some moves, like the ability to glide and climb, that make playing as him feel like a new experience. That not only adds to the replay value of this game, making Sonic and Knuckles playthroughs both feel a little different, it also adds to the replay value of Sonic 2 and 3 if you decide to play through those games with the red echidna. If you like original Sonic trilogy and want a little more life out of them, then Sonic & Knuckles will give that to you, with a brand new adventure to enjoy as well. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/25/2019 NFL 2K1 Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date September 7, 2000 (NA) Developer Visual Concepts Genre Sports - Football My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 88.58/100 NFL 2K was the best 3D football game that I had ever played…and even with me not being a football fan, it kept me playing quite a bit longer than I thought it would. When NFL 2K1 came out, it became the first (and only) football game where I bought it two years in a row…and I’m glad I did. NFL 2K1 surpassed the previous game in every way and made me actually care about football…kind of. I still had no desire to watch it, but I sure enjoyed playing through season after season here. To this day, I still feel like this is the best football game that I’ve ever played…which is pretty impressive since almost two decades have passed since it was released. In other words, there are players in the NFL right now that were not born yet when this game was released. That’s a long time to be number one. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/16/2020 Meteos Platform Nintendo DS Initial Release Date March 10, 2005 (JP) Developer Q Entertainment Genre Puzzle My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 84.76/100 Meteos was, and still is, a great, unique puzzle game. Basically, you use your stylus to slide blocks up or down (and only up and down, no left to right sliding found here) to match three or more of the same color. Doing so causes blocks to blast upwards, sometimes off of the screen, and sometimes just up a little bit and they'll slowly float back down. It’s pretty fun watching the blocks drop down, then noticing that you can align other blocks up so that as soon as the blocks find their way back to the surface, they immediately trigger more matches, blasting them right back into the sky. It's easy to learn, fun to play, and is easily not just one of the best puzzle games on the DS, but on any handheld or console. If you’re looking for a puzzle game on the DS, Meteos is probably your best choice. Played on: Nintendo DS Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/07/2019 Street Fighter II: The World Warrior Platform Super NES Initial Release Date June 10, 1992 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.10/100 The fighting genre was around before Street Fighter II was released...But Street Fighter II opened everyone's eyes that fighting games could actually be fun when done right. And Street Fighter II was definitely done right - it's still just as fun to play today as it was back in 1992. The controls are still silky smooth and the graphics and music are still pretty nice to look at, too. It's a game that's easy to pick up and play, but it takes time to master, making it perfect for newcomers and veterans alike. To this day, Street Fighter II can hold its own against any other fighting game you throw at it. The other Street Fighter II games made minor adjustments to perfect the game and added more characters, but the original is still fantastic. Played on: Super NES, Arcade Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/16/2019 Alex Kidd in Miracle World Platform Sega Master System Initial Release Date November 1, 1986 (JP) Developer Sega Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 83.09/100 Alex Kidd was Sega's answer to Mario that never really caught on. Despite his lack of popularity, Alex Kidd still starred in some pretty solid games, as well as some real stinkers. Alex Kidd in Miracle World was his debut game and it was pretty dang solid. With good level design and enjoyable punch-enemies-and-blocks fun, Alex Kidd should have been a bigger hit than it was...But alas, the games with that Italian plumber starring in them were always just a little bit better. Especially in the controls/physics department. But as it stands, it's still one of the best platformers to grace the Master System that sprawls through several different environments and with several different vehicles…if you played well enough to be able to afford them, that is. Played on: Sega Master System Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2021 Don't Look Back Platform Ouya Initial Release Date June 27, 2013 (NA) Developer Terry Cavanagh Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 84.32/100 This game really surprised me. The design is simple and so is the gameplay, but the game as a whole is amazing. The two boss fights are very nicely done, and all of the platforming in between is difficult, but not so difficult that you won't be able to overcome it after a few attempts. This game is very short – you can probably beat it in 5-10 minutes on your first try, but it's so good that it left me wanting more. This is a must-get if you own a Ouya, but it’s also available on multiple other platforms if you want to play it as well. I highly recommend it. Played on: Ouya Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/19/2020 Bomberman Ultra Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date June 11, 2009 (NA) Developer Hudson Entertainment Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 80.85/100 Bomberman Ultra is one of my favorite games in the Bomberman franchise. It lacks a single player mode (aside from playing deathmatches against AI-controlled opponents) but it sucked more hours of my life away than just about any other game in the series, with the only exception being Saturn Bomberman. I have fond memories playing this game online a decade ago. While I was never particularly good, especially against many of the pros that I was sometimes pitted against, I still managed to erk out some victories here and there. While a single-player mode would have helped the longevity of this being fun, the game was just simply done well enough that even being multi-player only, I found myself putting way more hours into this than I had originally thought I would have. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/20/2019 Super Smash Bros. Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date January 21, 1999 (JP) Developer Hal Laboratories Genre Fighting My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 85.25/100 The original Super Smash Bros. may not have been the most refined or polished fighting game…but gather some friends around the television and it became amazing. A game full of characters from Nintendo’s top franchises like Super Mario, Legend of Zelda, and Pokemon where they pummel the daylights out of each other probably shouldn’t have been this fun…and if it was in the traditional 1 vs. 1 setting, it probably wouldn’t have been. The game shines when it’s 1 vs. 1 vs. 1 vs. 1 in frantic battles against a group of friends. That’s not to say that the single player isn’t good. It is. But without the fantastic multiplayer, I have a feeling that new games in the Smash Bros. franchise would not be still coming out to this day. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: Nintendo All-Star Dairantou Smash Brothers (Japan)

Date added: 02/15/2020 Chopper Command Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1982 (NA) Developer Activision Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.11/100 Chopper Command is one of those Atari games where it’s fun when you’re alone, but it really shines when you play with other people. Though the controls feel awkward at first (I’m guessing to simulate controlling a helicopter), you get the hang of them in short order and will likely start having some fun as you try to shoot down enemy aircraft while also avoiding their weaponry firing at you. Having a friend (or multiple friends) over makes the game a bit more fun, in my opinion, as then the game becomes a battle of everyone trying to beat each other’s high scores. That said, simply competing against yourself is a nice way to kill a few minutes in its own right…and I’ll admit, part of the reason I enjoy playing this game is I tend to yell, “Get to da choppah!!” in a certain Austrian accent when I’m about to play. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/03/2020 Tekken 2 Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date March 29, 1996 (JP) Developer Namco Genre Fighting My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 87.31/100 The first Tekken was one of the first good 3D fighting games, but it had plenty of room for improvement. About a year later, Tekken 2 was released and vastly improved upon the original. With plenty of stuff to unlock within the game, including enough hidden characters to more than double your initial roster that you can choose from, and several different modes to play in, there were a bunch of reasons to keep playing Tekken 2 longer than you may have anticipated before playing it for the first time. The gameplay itself was also tweaked considerably, causing Namco to plaster “The undisputed #1 fighting game on the planet” on the back cover of the game’s CD case. I wouldn’t go that far. I think Saturn's Virtua Fighter 2, released three months earlier, was a better overall game...but for its time, on the original Playstation, one could argue that it may have been the best fighter on that specific system. 2 years later, Tekken 3 would be released and absolutely blow this game out of the water, but for its time, Playstation owners would be hard pressed to find a better fighter than Tekken 2. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/26/2021 Alien vs. Predator Platform Arcade Initial Release Date May 20, 1994 (W) Developer Capcom Genre Brawler My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.94/100 Alien vs. Predator is your basic brawler with some nifty little gimmicks tossed in, like the guns that each playable character has. The guns all pack quite the punch, but if you use them too much, they'll overheat. This forces the player to use them strategically to avoid lengthy cool-down times when they need the fire power most. While the action itself is mostly pretty basic for a brawler, this element with the guns adds a little something extra to the gameplay, making it worth playing for jaded fans of side-scrolling brawlers as well as any fans of either the Alien or Predator movie franchises. Played on: Arcade Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/21/2022 Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date May 24, 2018 (W) Developer Inti Creates Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 81.95/100 When Koji Igarashi, who worked on many Castlevania games, most notably being Symphony of the Night, went to Kickstarter in an effort to bring Castlevania gameplay back to the world, but without the Castlevania name, he was met with overwhelming success with folks throwing money at him like he was half naked and spinning around on a pole while Baby Beluga blared on the club speakers….what? I'm sure Raffi's greatest hits get played at strip joints on a regular basis. Anyway, while fans waited for the game that they had helped fund (Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night) to be released, Mr. Igarashi gave everyone a surprise to hold them over until Ritual of the Night launched. That surprise was Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon. While Ritual of the Night was going to be inspired by Symphony of the Night, Curse of the Moon is clearly inspired by Castlevania III. Instead of Metroidvania gameplay, it's more like classic Castlevania with side-scrolling levels containing bosses waiting for you at the end. And like Castlevania III, in this game you can find companions for you to play as while you make your way through the game, with each companion having their own skills and gameplay style…or you can simply kill them when you find them to give your main character new abilities. Those possibilities alone add a bit of replay value, but add in some branching paths and hidden power-ups to discover, and you've got a very solid retro-style game. I, personally, prefer Castlevania III to this game, but Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon is still a very solid game that any fan of the original, pre-Metroidvania entries in the Castlevania series will enjoy. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/15/2019 Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Slayer Platform Panasonic 3DO Initial Release Date 1994 (NA) Developer Lion Entertainment Inc. Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.33/100 I remember putting this game in for the first time and expecting the worst. Then a neat little introduction occurred, which brought my interest up. Then I started to play and explore around...And before I knew it, I had lost a couple of hours of my life to this game. The beauty of this game is that the game randomizes the dungeons every time you play. That means, every time you start up the game, you're getting a new experience...And with the game boasting that the in-game dungeon generation can create over 4 billion dungeon possibilities, along with various difficulty settings that can also change things up a bit, there's a whole heckuva lot to keep folks coming back to discover more. Played on: 3DO Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/18/2020 Tekken: Dark Resurrection Platform Playstation Portable Initial Release Date July 6, 2006 (JP) Developer Namco Bandai Games Genre Fighting My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 87.26/100 Tekken: Dark Resurrection was a fantastic addition to the PSP library, and can easily be thrown in as a nomination for what the best fighting game on the handheld was. Dark Resurrection has all of the 3D fighting goodness that one would expect from the Tekken franchise, plus the highly addicting ranking system lifted from the Virtua Fighter series, which can keep fighting game fans hooked long after completing arcade mode with the large cast of playable characters. On top of that, other modes, like my personal favorite, Tekken Bowling, can be unlocked as well, making this a fighting game that fans of the series will likely spend hours upon hours playing. It’s still one of my favorite entries in the Tekken franchise to this day. Played on: PSP Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/27/2021 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date February 2, 1994 (JP) Developer Sonic Team Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 68.92/100 Sonic 3 was bigger than Sonic 2, and had improved graphics and an awesome soundtrack...but for some reason, in the eyes of many, it just wasn't quite the caliber of Sonic 2. I fall into that camp. That’s not to say that Sonic 3 isn’t a good game. It’s very good, in fact. It was just as fun as ever to not just speed through the levels, but also slow down a tad to wander and explore them for secrets. However, as good as Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is, it didn't quite have the impact of Sonic 2 on me, despite introducing Knuckles to the series and pretty much paving the way for Sonic & Knuckles to come in and innovate with physical add-on content. So, while Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a very good game, I consider it to be just short or being great. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: Sonic 3 (Europe), Baramdori Sonic 3 (Korea)

Date added: 10/22/2021 Dead Rising 2 Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date September 24, 2010 (EU/AU) Developer Blue Castle Games Genre Brawler My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 80.50/100 I liked the original Dead Rising, but for some reason or another, I just could never get myself fully invested in that title at first...Even though as time went on I eventually fell completely in love with it. I was afraid that Dead Rising 2 would end up with the same results. I was incorrect. I found myself loving just about every minute of this game. The story was pretty fun to follow along, but the beauty of this and the other Dead Rising games is that when you're sick of following the story, you can just run around and mindlessly kill zombies...And be rewarded for your efforts with stat bonuses and the like. The only aspect I missed from the original Dead Rising was the photography gimmick...But Capcom later remedied that with Off the Record. This was the game that got me hooked on the Dead Rising franchise, though, admittedly, after returning to the original later, it became my least favorite out of the original three games. But that’s like being the brownie with the least amount of chocolate in it - it’s still fantastic as it is. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/11/2023 Gauntlet Platform Arcade Initial Release Date October 1985 (NA) Developer Atari Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 80.73/100 If you want a retro game what can stress you out with hordes of enemies flooding the screen to attack you, then look no further than Gauntlet. Likewise, if you want to battle those hordes solo or if you'd like up to three other friends to accompany you in your pain. Taking control of one of four different fantasy characters (a warrior, a valkyrie, a wizard, and an elf) your goal is to find keys and eventually the doors to put those keys in, while shooting at (or throwing objects at) any enemies that get in your way. While it sounds like mindless shooting, Gauntlet does actually have some strategy to it. Enemies come from areas that can be destroyed. If you simply shoot at enemies, they'll simply respawn, so sometimes it's necessary (especially in later levels) to sacrifice some damage to thin out the horde a bit. You also can't just shoot blindly because the food that can restore your health can also be destroyed by your firepower, so you need to be precise with your shooting if you plan to restore your health without popping more quarters in the arcade machine. While Gauntlet wasn't the greatest game ever made when it was released, it was still very solid for what it was. And despite several sequels, including some in 3D, no other game in the series ever seemed to be quite as addicting as the original. Played on: Arcade Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/21/2021 ActRaiser Platform Super NES Initial Release Date December 16, 1990 (JP) Developer Quintet Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.34/100 ActRaiser is a unique title that successfully blends together real-time strategy-ish gameplay on the overworld map along with hack 'n' slash action in the game's main levels. It’s an interesting combination of genres, but Quintet managed to make it work really well here. Battle your way through the side-scrolling levels to clear out the evil in the land and make it habitable for humans to live again. From there, you’ll control a cupid-like character with a top-down view of the world. Helping them build their society until they can seal away the remaining monsters, shooting any troublemakers with your arrows along the way, and you’ll eventually find a way to make it to more side-scrolling action. It can seem a tad difficult for newcomers, but if you stick with it, it’s not anywhere near impossible to make it to the end of the game to see the credits roll. It's also worth noting that to accompany you through this neat hybrid of a game is some of the best music that you'll find on the Super NES. If you haven’t given this game a chance, I highly recommend doing so. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/06/2022 Dino Crisis Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date July 1, 1999 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 86.05/100 After finding success with the first two Resident Evil games, Capcom decided that while survival horror games with slow-moving zombies were nice and all, that a survival horror game with fast-paced dinosaurs might be better. In some ways, they were right. Dino Crisis plays pretty much exactly like the early Resident Evil games, but with the goal of avoiding quick, intelligent dinosaurs rather than slow, mindless zombies. If you're trying to avoid combat to conserve ammo like in Resident Evil, it doesn’t always work. If you exit a room or area while running from a dinosaur, that dinosaur may follow you into the next area, essentially forcing you take down most dinosaurs that you come across either with firepower or sedatives. But, like in Resident Evil, you have limited item slots, so if you don't make your shots count and/or balance your inventory well between healing items and ammunition, you may find yourself out of ammo in bad situations. Some of the puzzles found in Dino Crisis I also found to be a little more clever than those found in the early Resident Evil games, so that's a plus as well. Overall, Dino Crisis was a very well done survival horror game, and I think any fan of the early days of the genre will likely appreciate it for what it basically is - Resident Evil with faster, more intelligent enemies and a little more action. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/16/2023 Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth Platform Nintendo 3DS Initial Release Date June 5, 2014 (JP) Developer Atlus Genre RPG My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 82.59/100 I've always been in love with the Shin Megami Tensei games ever since I first played Persona 2: Eternal Punishment on the original Playstation. Honestly, if you said I could only play one franchise for the rest of my life, these games very well could be the ones I choose. Etrian Odyssey is also a game series I enjoy, though I haven't put nearly as much time into those games as I have into the SMT games. Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth is essentially the characters, personality, and demon summoning/fusing of Persona 3 and Persona 4, mixed with the gameplay and map-creating of the Etrian Odyssey series. The end result doesn't seem to be for everyone, but I absolutely love it. I think if you're a fan of both series, you'll probably like it as well. Unfortunately, this game can be rather difficult at times, and it lacks much of the social aspects that make the more modern Persona games so popular, so I think fans of the Persona series that have never played an Etrian Odyssey game may walk away from this game confused and disappointed. For me, Persona Q is a solid RPG with some enjoyable dungeon crawling, and the opportunity to join a bunch of characters that I enjoy from previous Persona games in another adventure together. If you can get past this game not being what you may expect, and a difficulty higher than you may be used to from Personas 3 through 5, then I think you may really enjoy Persona Q. But, if you want more of the same from your Persona games, you may not be thrilled with what you get here. Played on: Nintendo 3DS Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/20/2020 Nintendogs: Lab & Friends Platform Nintendo DS Initial Release Date April 21, 2005 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Simulation My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.33/100 Nintendogs is not a game that you'll sit and play for hours at a time, but it's not meant to be that way. This is a game that you’ll pop in for ten or fifteen minutes a day to take care of your dog(s), take them for walks, put them in competitions, etc. As a lad that missed his real dog back at his parent's house in a college apartment building that did not allow pets, this was a decent way for me to experience some of the joys of having a dog around without actually having a dog around. It's obviously no replacement for the real thing, but as a dog owner and animal lover, I really grew to love Nintendogs and found my time with it to be very relaxing. The real hook here is in how much personality can be found within the virtual pooches. These are not robotic, lifeless pixels that look like animals, like in many pet simulation games…The dogs found within this game each have their own personalities and act very much like how you’d expect a dog to act. I think most dog lovers would have a hard time not finding this game charming, even if it’s not quite the kind of game that they’d normally play. The 3DS sequel added Cats and has prettier graphics and a 3D gimmick added on, but I still prefer the original when I want to take care of a new pup. Nintendogs may not be in the same breath as the greatest games of all time, but I still hold it close to my heart and it remains a favorite of mine even to this day. Played on: Nintendo DS Also known as: Nintendogs: Shiba & Friends (Japan), Nintendogs: Labrador & Friends (Europe/Korea)

Date added: 04/20/2020 South Park: The Stick of Truth Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date March 4, 2014 (NA) Developer Obsidian Entertainment Genre RPG My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 85.75/100 I think the best way to describe South Park: The Stick of Truth is Paper Mario with mature and offensive content. It plays like the N64 classic, but in the South Park universe with plenty of references to the show and comical moments. Basically, if you're a fan of South Park, you'll enjoy this game. If you're a fan of the Paper Mario gameplay mechanics, you'll probably enjoy this game as well. I have a friend that doesn’t really care for turn-based RPGs, yet even he enjoyed playing this. It's just a good, solid game that is well worth your time should you choose to give it a chance. I had just as much fun playing through it again for this list as I did the first time I played it about half a decade ago. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/25/2019 Indigo Prophecy Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date September 16, 2005 (EU) Developer Quantic Dream Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 84.23/100 When Indigo Prophecy was released, there wasn't really any other game like it. The game starts out very strongly with an extremely interesting story...And unfortunately, that interesting story all falls apart by the end in my opinion, putting an ugly blemish on an otherwise great game. I've met and talked to plenty of people that strongly feel like the later part of the game ruins the game as a whole...I definitely wouldn't go that far, but it is very likely to disappoint most folks - just hopefully not enough to sour them on the game as a whole. Despite that negative, Indigo Prophecy is still worth playing, if you haven't yet, if only because of the unique way it tells a story. It's also worth playing if you enjoyed Heavy Rain, or Quantic Dream’s other titles, and would like to see the game that laid the ground work for that style of gameplay. Played on: Xbox, Playstation 2 Also known as: Fahrenheit (Europe, Australia)

Date added: 09/22/2019 Ghosts 'n Goblins Platform NES Initial Release Date June 13, 1986 (JP) Developer Micronics Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 78.96/100 Ghosts ‘N Goblins really isn’t that long of a game. If you’re able to beat it in a single sitting, you’re looking at maybe 30 minutes to reach the end…the thing is that not many people can get through in a single sitting. Ghosts ‘N Goblins is a very good platformer, but with a reputation of having a difficulty that’s absolutely brutal. Honestly, while it’s still difficult, I feel like most folks make it even more difficult than it’s supposed to be. So many people feel like the best strategy is “rush through and kill everything” when I’ve had my best success with this game with the strategy of “take my time and avoid everything.” Anyway, if playing a difficult platformer where you’ll see plenty of the main character in nothing but his boxers sounds fun to you…well, you’re right, it is. I enjoy it anyway, difficulty and all. Played on: NES Also known as: Makai-Mura (Japan), Ghost 'n Goblins (Europe)

Date added: 07/21/2019 CART World Series Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date September 16, 1997 (NA) Developer SCEA Genre Racing My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 79.20/100 Two of my closest friends are racing freaks...They live and breathe racing, including when it's in video game form. A few years ago, I had a hobby of making video game videos and they loaned this game to me so I could make a gameplay sample for it...Surprisingly, I fell in love with it. I generally like arcade-style racing over the realistic stuff, but Cart World Series is done so well that not only did I keep playing it well after the video was made, I went out and bought my own copy shortly afterward so I could continue to play. If you want a fun-to-play, realistic racing game, CART World Series is a solid choice that you can usually pick up for cheap. It’s well worth the money. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/12/2019 Owlboy Platform PC Initial Release Date November 1, 2016 (NA) Developer D-Pad Studio Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 85.99/100 I played a lot of Owlboy...about a year ago. I got to the "final boss" and found out that there was more to the game...explored a bit, then got caught up in other stuff and never came back. Well, now I've gone back and finished it up. Owlboy is pretty fantastic. It looks like it'll be releasing (or maybe has already released...I have no clue, too lazy to check) on pretty much everything else now - PS4, Switch, etc. There's a reason it's being ported everywhere - it's very good. If you're interested in a game that calls itself a platformer (I’ve labeled it as adventure here) with more flying than platforming and a little bit of Metroidvania thrown in for good measure, then you'll probably enjoy this game. If that stuff doesn't interest you, then maybe get this when it goes on sale - you might be pleasantly surprised. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/17/2019 Sonic the Hedgehog Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date June 23, 1991 (NA/EU) Developer Sonic Team Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 84.95/100 Sonic the Hedgehog was Sega's second attempt to compete with Mario (the first being Alex Kidd back on the Master System) and while the blue hedgehog gained an extremely large following which resulted in "What games are better: Mario or Sonic?" debates in schools around the world, Sonic came very, very close, but was unable to surpass the pudgy plumber in overall popularity. Anyway, Sonic was a major part in the Genesis being Sega's most successful console and also let Nintendo know that they had some serious competition in the market for the first time since the original NES hit store shelves. The game itself is fun as well. The sense of speed as you sprint through the levels mixed with some solid gameplay and level design all added up to equate to a great system seller and a must-play title on the Genesis. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/28/2019 Maximo: Ghosts to Glory Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date December 27, 2001 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 84.01/100 It had been a long wait, but at the end of 2001, the wait was over - a new Ghosts 'N Goblins game had arrived in the form of Maximo: Ghosts to Glory...And it was 3D, to boot. Maximo was a very solid platformer that never really seemed to get the attention it deserved here in North America. The game was never really a big hit sales-wise, despite solid reviews, which brings a tear to my eye because it really was an enjoyable experience. Solid controls, solid platforming and combat, and bits of humor tossed it make it a game well worth playing. Plus, for all the perverted lady folk, the crumbling armor returns, so you may see the protagonist prancing around in nothing but his heart-adorned boxers if you so desire. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: Maximo (Japan/Europe)

Date added: 07/07/2019 Combat Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1977 (NA) Developer Atari Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.53/100 Combat is a simple game, but a blast to play when you've got friends around to compete with. Combat is a multiplayer-only game that sees players try to shoot each other with tanks, jets, and airplanes. The most "kills" at the end is the winner. That variety in vehicles to control, and the noticeable difference in how each one controls helps bring longevity to a game that may otherwise get old quick. On top of that, there are a variety of levels from wide-open arenas, to areas with walls, to clouds to hide behind as a plane, and even levels where bullets bounce off of walls, making everything even more chaotic. In regards to the early Atari 2600 games, Combat still stands tall among the best games of its time. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: Tank Plus (Sears)

Date added: 10/19/2019 The Wolf Among Us Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date November 4, 2014 (NA) Developer Telltale Games Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.37/100 The Wolf Among Us is really good, and the story and setting is pretty cool...But it doesn't even come close to matching all of the emotional feelings that the Walking Dead put you through, which made that such a great game. But, basically, if you're familiar with the Walking Dead's controls, you'll be right at home here, and you'll still be given a good story and interesting characters...But just don't expect it to live up to the quality of Telltale Game's previous adventure game. That said, it's still very good and well worth checking out if you like the way Telltale makes their adventure games and you’re looking for a story setting sans zombies. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/24/2019 Animal Crossing: City Folk Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date November 16, 2008 (NA) Developer Nintendo Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 76.96/100 I absolutely loved the original Animal Crossing, but I was afraid that without the NES titles to unlock, like the original had, that I wouldn't be nearly as smitten with this game as I was the original. I really didn't have anything to fear, as City Folk, with or without the NES titles, was just as addicting as the original had been. It's not action-packed or anything, but it's a great game to pull out and play when you just want to relax. Plopping the disk into my Wii again to get screenshots for this list, I found myself once again losing hours to catching bugs, fishing, talking to my neighbors, and paying off my home debt. While New Leaf eventually overtook this game as the game in the series that I spent the most time with, for several months, City Folk was the main reason that I powered up my Wii on a regular basis. Played on: Wii Also known as: Machi e Ikouyo: Doubutsu no Mori (Japan), Animal Crossing: Let's Go to the City (Europe)

Date added: 10/25/2019 Infinity Blade Platform Apple iPhone/iPod Touch Initial Release Date December 9, 2010 (NA) Developer Chair Entertainment Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 83.46/100 I've heard plenty of people claim that Infinity Blade is nothing special - all graphics and no gameplay. I strongly disagree. Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! is generally beloved by people...And that's essentially what Infinity Blade is - a point-and-click adventure with Punch-Out!!-style combat. The only real downside to the game is how small the in-game world is, though the world is not linear, which can help prevent too much repetition. I also enjoy how when you die, you don't just continue, you start again around 20 years later as the next generation of your lineage enters the castle. It really is a very good, addicting game. It's not perfect, but it's very solid portable game and it very likely could steal hours upon hours away from your life. Played on: iPhone Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/11/2020 Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date November 20, 2003 (NA) Developer Konami Computer Entertainment Hawaii Genre Music My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 80.29/100 Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix was the first home console game in the franchise to have extra songs available to download…and on top of that, I believe it was also the first home console game in the franchise to offer online modes. Those two additions alone made this a worthwhile purchase for fans of the series even if you’d already played every other game in the series before it. Outside of those neat new features, however, this is the same Dance Dance Revolution that had been put out for a few years already at this point – just different songs and imagery. Still, though, with the ability to play against up to 3 other players in a dance-off, upload scores to compare with others around the world, etc. the online options make this one of the most noteworthy games in the history of the series. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/15/2023 Ghouls 'N Ghosts Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date August 3, 1989 (JP) Developer Sega Genre Platformer My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 84.98/100 Ghouls 'n Ghosts is a well done, but difficult platformer. With the inability to change directions in mid-air, you need to be positive that the jump your making is the right move to do. Likewise, with some of the tricky enemies you encounter (mainly the gargoyles) you need to be as precise as possible with your attacks or you'll find yourself down to your heart-ladened drawers in a hurry. That said, those that stick around long enough to master this game are rewarded with beautiful levels, interesting design, and some fun bosses to encounter. Plus, the perverted women out there can live their dream of playing through a game controlling a bearded man in nothing but his underwear…..Now that I think about it, that's not really a game….that's kinda how society works, isn't it? Behind every great man, there's a woman telling him to get off his lazy hiney and take out the trash. Anyway, if you like difficult platformers, Ghouls N Ghosts is good fun and it's one of those games that makes you feel like you accomplished something when you're finally able to see the ending sequence….especially after seeing a hero defeat a demon king wearing nothing but a pair of boxer shorts. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: Dai Makai-Mura (Japan), Daemagyecheon (Korea)

Date added: 10/07/2020 Darksiders Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date January 5, 2010 (NA) Developer Vigil Games Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 81.62/100 Darksiders was a game that I remember that I enjoyed when I played it…but when I went to add it to this list, I realized that I remembered almost nothing about it. All I remembered was what I had originally described the gameplay as – God of War meets Legend of Zelda. Upon revisiting it for this list, that memory remains accurate. The majority of the game feels like a Legend of Zelda game, but once the combat starts, it feels like the hack n slash, brawling gameplay of God of War. The story itself is okay, but it’s nothing special…The character that you play as, War, doesn’t really have much of a personality to him. He’s just kind of a bland “tough guy” without a whole lot of qualities for players to latch on to or relate to. That minor gripe aside, Darksiders is a solid game with solid gameplay that unfortunately lacks enough originality to truly make is great. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/07/2020 WWE Smackdown!: Shut Your Mouth Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date October 31, 2002 (NA) Developer Yuke's Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 83.29/100 Shut Your Mouth was a big step up from Just Bring It in the Smackdown franchise. Not only had the in-ring action all improved, but the season mode aspect was a major step up from the one found in Just Bring It. Also, a plethora of new talent invade this game, making potential match-ups feel very fresh. Honestly, they could have kept the exact same roster from the previous game, but add Shawn Stasiak, and I’d be happy. If you don’t like Planet Stasiak, then I think you’re craziak. Anyway, while it's not quite as good as Smackdown! 2, in my opinion, mostly due to the season mode not quite on par with the one found in Smackdown! 2, the in-ring action is better…and the overall package was a big step towards the amazing game that the next game in the franchise would be. Shut Your Mouth was easily the second best game in the franchise when it came out and, in my opinion, the best wrestling game on the PS2 until Here Comes the Pain came out one year later. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: Exciting Pro Wrestling 4 (Japan)

Date added: 12/29/2021 Dance Dance Revolution: Konamix Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date April 25, 2002 (NA) Developer Konami Genre Music My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 84.39/100 A friend of mine once said that Dance Dance Revolution: Konamix was everything that the original North American release of Dance Dance Revolution should have been. While I can't really argue since the North American releases seemed to be behind the times in what Japan was offering, I don't necessarily feel that Konamix was that drastic of a step up from the American Dance Dance Revolution in terms of actual gameplay. However, it did include various new modes and songs, including several unlockables that pop up as you play, giving you quite a bit more replayability than the original North American release had. Out of the three Dance Dance Revolution games released on the Playstation in North America, this one is definitely the best of the bunch, but not so much better where I think anyone would be disappointed if they play one of the other two instead. Still, if you’re not willing to import the best of the series from Japan, then this is probably the closest that you can get to the peak of the series here in North America. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/17/2024 Fatal Fury: Mark of the Wolves Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date September 27, 2001 (JP) Developer SNK Genre Fighting My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 81.52/100 Just because I'm still a little child at heart, I need to get this out of the way right off the bat - there's a fighter in this game named "Butt." If that's not enough reason to praise this game, I don't know what is. This is a game where you can legitimately claim to have "kicked Butt's butt." Anyway, with that said, Mark of the Wolves is a fantastic 2D fighter that doesn't seem to have been played by nearly enough people. This is one of the best-made SNK fighters that you can find on a console. Beautiful 2D models brawl it out with smooth controls and fun, unique move sets for each character. If I were to complain about anything, it would be the number of game modes, but honestly, back when Mark of the Wolves was released, it's not like most fighting games had a large array of modes to choose from…this complaint is coming from a more modern perspective. The positive of that complaint is that the only reason that I want more modes is because this game plays so well that I want more excuses to play it. Mark of the Wolves isn't a Street Fighter killer by any means, but it's a very good game and one of the better SNK fighters that you can find, in my opinion. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: Garou: Mark of the Wolves (JP)

Date added: 06/20/2024 You Don't Know Jack Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date September 8, 1999 (JP) Developer Starsphere Interactive Genre Trivia My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 86.50/100 I know Jack…the jerk owes me money….but You Don't Know Jack, on the other hand, is an excellent trivia game. While it's very easy for "hardcore" gamers to look at a game like this and think, "There's no way I'd spend more than a few minutes playing that," I think if they sat down and played it, they'd be singing a different tune. You Don't Know Jack, in my opinion, is one of the best party games ever made. You can pop this disc in when you've got friends over, and even though it only supports up to three people to play, it's entertaining enough to watch where the whole gang may be focused on what's going on. Essentially, if you've never played this game, it's a virtual game show….but with zero graphics for the host, players, or audience. Imagine playing Jeopardy with the entire focus on the screens listing the questions, and that's it. As boring as that may sound, it works…and because so little space on the disc is taken up due to graphics, they were able to cram a lot of audio and questions in there, so you could play for hours and hours and not hear a repeat question. The questions themselves are great, too, and they really make you think - it's not a simple "answer trivia" game, the questions require you to use logic to put two and two together. Anyway, when it comes to party games and/or trivia games, I don't know if I've ever played another one better than You Don't Know Jack. If you have access to a copy, give it a try, I bet you'll have as much fun as I have over the years with it. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/25/2020 Gone Home Platform PC Initial Release Date August 15, 2013 (NA) Developer The Fullbright Company Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 77.62/100 Gone Home encourages exploration, as you wander through a house and unravel the mystery of why your parents and sister aren't there to greet you as you return for college. Digging through everything to unravel the mystery is pretty fun, and the simple aspect of turning on and off lights acts both as a neat way to set an uneasy atmosphere and a neat way to remind yourself what rooms you've already visited and explored. I also like how the story ended up being completely different from what I thought it would be. To avoid spoilers, I won’t ruin it here, but I highly recommend checking out this game and discovering it for yourself. It's good stuff. It took me around an hour and fifteen minutes or so to make my way through to the end, though the game can literally be beaten less than a minute if you already know exactly what to do, so if you're looking for a nice, interesting game to pass a little time, Gone Home is a really well-made game worth giving a try. Played on: PC, Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/10/2020 Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date August 16, 1999 (NA) Developer Crystal Dynamics Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 87.72/100 Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver is another one of those original Playstation games where I played the demo so much that I wanted to experience the full game. The Soul Reaver demo I had, however, was a very early stages demo and wound up being a bit different from the final game. Still, when I got the game and began to play, I really enjoyed the story told and the environments that I explored. Seeing a vampire kingdom appear so noble in the beginning of the game, then making it out of the afterworld only to find that centuries had passed and the land you once knew is now in ruins and many of the vampires have become scavenging savages…well, it sets the tone for the game pretty well. Soul Reaver was one of the most popular games on the original Playstation and it still holds up fairly well today. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/18/2020 Final Fight CD Platform Sega CD Initial Release Date April 2, 1993 (JP) Developer A-Wave Genre Brawler My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 87.50/100 Final Fight was always one of my favorite brawlers. While I had friends that claimed that Streets of Rage was better, I always stood by Final Fight and its sequels instead. Over time, I’ve come to appreciate Streets of Rage more, however, I still prefer playing as a wrestling mayor that piledrives anyone that stands in his way when I play a side-scrolling brawler. The Sega CD version of the original Final Fight is the definitive version – even better than the arcade version, in my opinion. It’s the only home console version with all three characters from the arcade (Haggar, Cody, and Guy) available as playable characters AND multiplayer available in one package. While it’s not my favorite game in the Final Fight franchise, the original is still a fantastic brawler. It’s just a shame that the best way to experience this game at home is through an obscure system that few seem to have. Played on: Sega CD Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/12/2022 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date December 6, 2004 (NA) Developer Obsidian Entertainment Genre RPG My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 86.57/100 For whatever reason, I thought I had always heard that the second Knights of the Old Republic was the better one…I'm not sure if I actually heard that or if it's just an assumption I made, but either way, it's wrong. Like I mentioned in the entry for the original Knight of the Old Republic, I'm not a Star Wars fan. At all. But I really, really liked the original game. It wasn't perfect. It had its flaws. But for the most part it was really fun to make my way through. The sequel, while still fun, and while it does make some improvements gameplay-wise from the original, just feels inferior for most of the rest of the game to me. I liked the playable characters more in the first game, I liked the locations more in the first game, and I liked the overall story more in the first game. When you get to the end of the game in Knight of the Old Republic, it feels like you've reached the end. When you get to the end in Knights of the Old Republic II, it almost feels like you missed part of the story to get there. It feels like a long build to an abrupt end. All those gripes aside, I did still really enjoy this game as well for the most part. I'd rather play the original if forced to choose, but I also wouldn't mind playing the two back-to-back again at some point, either. If you played the original Knights of the Old Republic, you may be a little disappointed by the sequel…but if you're like me, despite the disappointment, you'll still enjoy it all the same. I'm not sure if I'll ever be a Star Wars fan, but I am a Knights of the Old Republic fan, and after playing through both games, and seeing that they've both been re-released on modern consoles, I do hope that another game in the series comes out down the road. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/30/2019 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date December 7, 2018 (W) Developer Nintendo Genre Fighting My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 86.89/100 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the first Smash Bros. game that I REALLY got into since Melee back on the Gamecube. The 20+ hour story mode is largely thanks to that. Aside from the large selection of playable fighters, the enormous amount of unlockables will give long-time fans of video games plenty of nostalgia, as well as the ability to have fights that you never thought you'd see...like Kirby taking on Dracula from Castlevania. The only thing really keeping me from gushing over this game is that the gameplay itself feels like it's more of the same from previous games in the franchise. But if you like nostalgia, then you'll find plenty of fond memories as you pummel some of your favorite video game characters along the way. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/03/2019 Overwatch: Origins Edition Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date May 23, 2016 (NA) Developer Blizzard Entertainment Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 84.89/100 Overwatch is fun, and with a large assortment of characters to play as, each with their own unique play styles, the fun can last for quite a while. Unfortunately, it has one glaring hit against it - online only. In other words, you cannot play this locally with your friends - if you want to play this game with friends locally, you'll need to have two televisions, two consoles, two copies of this game, and an internet connection for both setups...and that's just ridiculous. Secondly, with this being online only, you can only play this game as long as their servers are up. In a few years from now, when the game is a bit older, the servers could be shut down and now, with a lack of local, offline multiplayer, your game disc is useless and the game that Blizzard put a lot of time in is no longer playable. I feel this is significant because Overwatch IS that fun, where I can see people still playing this years from now...if the servers allow it, or if an update comes out that allows the game to be played offline, mind you. Overwatch is fantastic in just about every way...but the puzzling lack of local multiplayer in a game that is nothing but multiplayer is just too much to ignore for this fellow. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/27/2023 Demon Attack Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1982 (NA) Developer Imagic Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 83.79/100 Demon Attack was a very solid 3rd person shooter on the Atari 2600 from Imagic. Not only was the action fast, but the visuals were very good for the time as well. It also seemingly had a greater variety of enemies to blast through than your typical Atari 2600 shooter, with most enemies having unique patterns and behavior. Add up all of those positives and this was a shooter that may not have simply been on par with popular Atari 2600 space-themed shooters like Space Invaders or Galaxian, but Demon Attack may have actually surpassed them. Unfortunately, it also was released at a time where the "shoot up stuff in space" concept had been done over and over, and as a result, Demon Attack seemingly got lost in the shuffle. Decades later, it seems like Demon Attack is getting a bit more recognition , and it deserves everything it gets….unless you play the awful Odyssey2 version of Demon Attack, then that version should be chained to a block of cement and thrown to the bottom of a lake. That Atari 2600 version, though? One of the best games on the console. If you like shooters, one could make an argument about it being the best you could find on the 2600. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/19/2020 Street Fighter Alpha 2 Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date September 14, 1996 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.59/100 Almost one year to the date that the abomination known as Street Fighter: The Movie hit store shelves, Street Fighter Alpha 2 arrived to make up for everything. And make up for everything it did, with one of the best Street Fighter games to come out in years. It improved on just about everything found in Street Fighter Alpha, plus added new characters, and controlled so silky smooth that if you were a impressionable lady, you would have thrown your underwear at it mistaking it for some sort of dreamy rock and roll singer...Heck, I wasn't an impressionable lady, and I still threw my underwear at it. Street Fighter Alpha 3 absolutely blew this game out of the water when it came out, but until that time, this was one of the absolute best fighters that you could find on any console. Played on: Saturn, Playstation, Arcade Also known as: Street Fighter Zero 2 (Japan)

Date added: 10/13/2019 Untitled Goose Game Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date September 20, 2019 (W) Developer Game Game Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.75/100 Untitled Goose Game was a game that I picked up fully expecting it to be like Goat Simulator – good for a few laughs, but not much beyond that. Thankfully, I was wrong. Untitled Goose Game is definitely good for a few laughs. Being a jerk to everyone in town seemingly never gets old – my personal favorite is stealing the keys from the groundskeeper in the first area, closing him inside the gate, then turning the sprinkler on when he has no way of getting outside to turn it back off….then strutting around like only a goose can with the keys in hand…er, mouth…just taunting him. Along with the laughs, there are interesting stealth-based puzzles and simple, yet solid graphics and sounds to be found. The game itself is very short – maybe an hour in length when you know what to do, with some extra stuff to do after you beat it – but while it lasts, it is absolutely mesmorizing. I’m hoping that a sequel comes out down the road, because I would absolutely love another small town (or maybe even big city) to terrorize. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/05/2019 The Sporting News Baseball Platform Super NES Initial Release Date June 1995 (NA) Developer Now Production Genre Sports - Baseball My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 82.19/100 I have never before, and likely never will again, put as much time into a sports game in my life as I have the Sporting News Baseball. It never got the attention of other games in the genre, but in the 16-bit era, it was the ultimate baseball game. Everything that a baseball fan could want was in the game – real teams, real players, several modes including a home run derby, and a ton of customizable options, like the ability to create your own players, teams, or even edit the all-star teams to your liking. The gameplay was solid, the soundtrack still echoes in my head today, and when you’re playing a baseball game that allows you to play in a Field of Dreams-inspired field, how can you really go wrong? The Sporting News Baseball is a hidden gem in terms of sports games. I feel that it never really got the attention that it deserved. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/08/2022 Driver Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date June 25, 1999 (EU) Developer Reflections Interactive Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 83.97/100 When Driver was initially released, it was absolutely amazing. It got rave reviews, and just about everyone that played it thought it was excellent. If you have someone play it for the first time today, however, I can't imagine that it would get great reviews. It hasn't really aged well. But, since I like to review games based on their time period, not present day, I'll try to highlight some of the positives from when it was released that still hold up today. The big thing is that you're expected to obey traffic laws. If you're speeding near a cop, they'll come after you. Run a red light within view of a police officer? Yup, you'll be seeing the "cherries and berries" as the kids say. On the same token, most of the missions in this game are timed - if you obey all of the traffic laws, you're not going to complete your missions on time. So, the fun of the game is doing your best to break the law, but not get caught. It turns simple missions of "get from point A to point B" more fun when you're actively scanning your surroundings while you put the pedal to the metal to get to your destination. The fact that you're driving in four different locations also helps prevent some of the similar missions feel like they're getting stale. As I said, though, it hasn't aged too well. I assume that the walls on some of the streets are to prevent you from driving too far off the road, but they often feel awkward and out of place. The driving controls also may take some time getting used to. The random spawning of police officers can sometimes feel cheap, as well…sometimes making it near impossible to avoid them, even if your felony bar is nearly empty. But despite all of that, we can't take away that Driver was excellent when it was originally released. While it hasn't aged well, I bet if you give it a chance, and stick with it to the end, you'll get a better understanding what all the hoolpah was about when Driver hit store shelves. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Driver: Sennyuu! Car Chase Daisakusen (Japan)

Date added: 09/29/2019 Costume Quest Platform PC Initial Release Date October 14, 2011 (NA) Developer Double Fine Productions Genre RPG My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 78.14/100 I adore Costume Quest. I remember playing this for the first time and walking from house to house, ringing doorbells, and instantly feeling nostalgia from when I was a wee lad, with face paint covering my mug while I begged for candy. That nostalgia mixed with a clever story and fantastic, simple-yet-enjoyable gameplay make Costume Quest a must-play, unique RPG. My only real complaint about the game is that it's way too short...But if you're new to turn-based RPGs, the length of this game, as well as some of the simplicity, may make it a good choice to give the genre a try. Played on: PC, Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/15/2020 Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime Platform Nintendo DS Initial Release Date December 1, 2005 (JP) Developer TOSE Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 83.52/100 I, like many people, adore the slime in the Dragon Quest games. How can you not? Look at him on the cover there…all smiley with that little gob of goo popping out of the top of his head like uncombed hair...Adorable. Anyway, Rocket Slime gives the slime his spotlight. You play as a slime (Rocket) and enter giant tanks and fortresses to save your slime townspeople and rid the area of those pesky platypus-lookin' goofballs that ruined everything. The game splits its time from exploring levels, sending rescued townspeople, captured monsters, and supplies back home via the various rail cars scattered in the levels that are always running. Every now and then, you’ll also come across a tank battle, which requires you to constantly try to load up your cannons with ammo, then invade the enemy’s structure after you deplete their health to deal the final blow. It's not the longest game in the world and it's more about action than the RPG stuff you'd expect from a Dragon Quest game, but if you give it a try, I think it's very likely that you'll be hooked just like I was. I was pleasantly surprised by this game way back when it first came out and it’s still one of my favorite games on the DS to this day. Played on: Nintendo DS Also known as: Slime MoriMori Dragon Quest 2: Daisensha to Shippo Dan (Japan)

Date added: 09/08/2023 South Park: The Fractured But Whole Platform Playstation 4 Initial Release Date October 17, 2017 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Ubisoft San Francisco Genre RPG My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 79.77/100 I really enjoyed South Park: The Stick of Truth…but when I saw some of The Fractured But Whole, I honestly expected the worst. The Stick of Truth, to me anyway, basically felt like a Mature-rated Paper Mario. And like Paper Mario, the combat was simple and effective. What I saw of The Fractured But Whole initially, it made me wonder if they had complicated the combat system by making it more like a strategy-RPG. I was mostly wrong. Ubisoft really did a great job in adding another layer of strategy to the combat without making it too complicated for a casual player to understand. Essentially, it's the same combat as The Stick of Truth, but with a grid for you to move your teammates on, allowing you to avoid potential attacks or even land some attacks without being in your opponent's attack range. Aside from the combat, this is more of the same from The Stick of Truth - an entertaining story that's genuinely funny at times, where your goal is to add friends on social media, collect various items, and complete quests to advance the story. If you liked The Stick of Truth, you'll like The Fractured But Whole. If you never played The Stick of Truth, but you like South Park, you'll still probably like this game. It's easy enough for casual players to enjoy, but there's also enough here to keep veteran gamers entertained. It's not a masterpiece, but it's still a very good game, well worth checking out. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/23/2021 Final Fight 3 Platform Super NES Initial Release Date December 22, 1995 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Brawler My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 78.67/100 I’ve always been a fan of the original Final Fight. I remember getting the second game when it went on sale at the local video store when I was a wee lad and enjoying it to a degree, but also feeling like it wasn’t quite as good as the original. Then Final Fight 3 came out, and I fell in love with the franchise all over again. Including special moves to perform once your special gauge fills up, as well as button combinations to perform other moves aside from your basic kicks and punches, Final Fight 3 included a mild layer of Street Fighter-like combat in the action that helped prevent the monotony that many brawlers can put you through. On top of that, the levels have branching paths to them. For instance, in one of the levels there is a bus stop sign. If you break it, you continue brawling down the street. If you leave it standing, a bus will pick you up, allowing you to brawl on the bus instead. Also included is a single-player, two player mode. In other words, if you want to play solo, but don’t have a buddy nearby, you can have a computer AI fight alongside you. Along with all of the stuff mentioned, there are graphical improvements and what may be my favorite soundtrack in the series. Final Fight 3 isn’t the greatest game ever made, but it’s one of my favorite brawlers of time regardless, and it may be the best in the Final Fight franchise. If you’re a fan of beat ‘em ups, then give Final Fight 3 a try. I betcha you’ll like it. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Final Fight Tough (Japan)

Date added: 12/13/2021 Guardians of the Galaxy Platform Sony Playstation 5 Initial Release Date October 26, 2021 (W) Developer Eidos Montreal Genre RPG My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.83/100 I’ll say it right off the bat - I have not seen the Guardians of the Galaxy movies. I’ll go ahead and get some folks mad at me…I haven’t seen a single Marvel Studios movie. Not one. That’s not to say that I dislike Marvel Comics or anything like that - I actually had fond childhood memories of them…But I just struggle to get interested in film adaptations, regardless of how good they are. I somewhat feel the same way about comic book stuff in video game form. So that being said, when I popped Guardians of the Galaxy in the ol’ PS5, I wasn’t really sure who most of the characters were and I wasn’t even sure if I’d enjoy it. After making my way through the game to the end, I can honestly say that while this isn’t a perfect game by any stretch, it’s fun for what it is. I’m tempted to make my way through it a second time on New Game + just to pick up various collectables that I missed on my first run. I’m also curious how differently the story would advance if I wind up making different choices along the way. Oh, and if you’re like me and aren’t familiar with the characters, no worries. This game has you covered with some light backstories and such to help each character grow on you until you enjoy the whole lot of them. Heck, I enjoyed them enough where I halfway want to see one of the movies now…that’s a pretty major win considering I tend to avoid most box office hits. But anyway, if you don’t know anything about Guardians of the Galaxy, you’ll probably like this game anyway. And I’m assuming that if you’re already a fan, that you’ll probably absolutely love this game...Whether you're a fan of the comic books or the movies or not, you want a very solid action RPG, then you can’t really go wrong with this game. Played on: Playstation 5 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/11/2021 Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Platform Playstation Portable Initial Release Date September 13, 2007 (JP) Developer Square Enix Genre RPG My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.94/100 All these years later, I'm still kind of scratching my head at Square Enix's attempt to cash in on the popularity of Final Fantasy VII back when this game was released. People loved the fairly-traditional RPG style of the original game, so to suck them in, they decided to make a series of spinoff games that play absolutely nothing like it? That said, Crisis Core isn't a horrible game, but it does suffer a bit from the repetition bug during battles. Nine times out of ten, you won't need to do anything except use the attack command and maybe dodge an attack here and there. That can lead to some boring battles. However, the story will likely push most fans of Final Fantasy VII forward regardless, just because it is nice to see some extra backstory to a game that many of us hold close to our hearts. Seeing the sword get passed down and reliving some of the flashback scenes from Final Fantasy VII make this a worthwhile game to play for folks who enjoyed the story of FF7, but want a little more background on the history of Final Fantasy VII from before Cloud flipped off the train and bludgeoned some soldiers to death in the opening scene of the Playstation original. Played on: PSP Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/27/2023 Point Blank Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date August 7, 1997 (JP) Developer TOSE Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.71/100 I like games that are bizarre and games that have a sense of humor...Point Blank has both in abundance. Point Blank is a very enjoyable light gun shooting game where you basically participate in a series of minigames. If you fail, you lose a life. Lose all of your lives, game over. Pretty standard stuff, until you play the games and see how unique and fun they all are. And when you're done with all of that, you can play the RPG in the game, where you control the characters by firing your gun in the direction that you want them to go, and random battles are fought by you winning various shooting mini games. There are enough variety in the mini games to prevent Point Blank from getting stale too quickly, and the previously mentioned RPG mode just adds even more hours to the shooting fun to be found here. It's just a really good overall package and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone with a sense of humor and an appreciation of the odd, as well as anyone that enjoys light gun games. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Gunbullet (Japan)

Date added: 02/14/2020 Chulip Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date October 3, 2002 (JP) Developer Punchline Genre Adventure My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 75.15/100 It took five years after its Japanese release before Chulip finally made it to North America...And while it's not the greatest game in the world, for me it was well worth the wait. I absolutely LOVE this game. For those not in the know, Chulip is an adventure game where you're a love-sick boy that wants a girl to love him as much as he loves her. In order to woo her, you must wander around and gain "experience" by kissing random residents of the town. Some you can simply kiss (waiting for the appropriate time, obviously), while others require you to help them in some way, and not always obvious ways, before they'll share a liplock of passion with you. The music alone would have made me fall in love with this game...Like the game itself, the melodies you hear are bizarre but downright charming. However, the Twin Peaks-like small town of quirky residents always gets me hooked to the point that I find myself wanting to know more about each and every person in town. For example, I planned on speeding through this game for this list to nab screenshots…over 20 hours later, having gotten all kisses in the game, I was still wandering around and trying to see if I could discover anything new. Chulip is a pretty slow-paced game, and very likely too slow for some, but if you like the bizarre and have patience for a slow game, you'll likely fall in love with this game as much as I did. A sequel is doubtful, but much like Poor Boy in the game, I can dream. Played on: Playstation 2, Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/17/2019 Pac-Man Platform Arcade Initial Release Date May 1980 (JP) Developer Namco Genre Action My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 90.36/100 A study would have to be done to confirm this, but I'd be willing to bet a decent sum of money that despite other game characters surpassing Namco's yellow mascot over time, including a certain Italian plumber, that Pac-Man is still the most recognizable character in video game history. Heck, back in the day, even the ghosts (Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde) were household names. But anyway, Pac-Man is one of those rare titles that if you have a young kid play it today, they're likely to understand why people loved it back when it was released. That doesn’t happen often, mind you. When given games to play from the early days of video games, they’ll often wonder why anyone would enjoy it. All that said, the AI followed set paths, making this game easy to beat if you've managed to memorize them...But that's honestly the only real flaw that I can think of. Ms. Pac-Man improves on the formula found here to pretty much perfection...But Mr. Pac-Man is still pretty dang great and has aged incredibly well over the near four decades since he originally was released. Played on: Arcade, NES Also known as: Puck-Man (Japan)

Date added: 09/20/2019 Spyro the Dragon Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date September 9, 1998 (NA) Developer Insomniac Games Genre Platformer My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.57/100 In the days before Grand Theft Auto III made wandering around and doing nothing fun, Spyro the Dragon was a game that I have fond memories of just doing nothing in. I remember doing everything I needed to do...And then I would just wander around and explore the well-designed levels. But this game wasn't just about wandering around for me - the game itself is just fun. And as someone who enjoys hunting down and collecting things, rescuing all of the dragons was a blast to do. Year of the Dragon really perfected the Spyro formula, but the original game was a fantastic start to the franchise. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/27/2019 Space Invaders Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1980 (NA) Developer Atari Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 84.88/100 The Atari VCS port of Space Invaders is surprisingly good...I'd even go as far to say that it's a near-perfect port. Obvious graphical limitations aside, the Atari 2600 version of Space Invaders plays just as well as the arcade version, with one big advantage to offset the reduction in visual quality – the ability to play at home, as much as you want, without having to pop quarters into a machine. To be able to enjoy Space Invaders on your couch, without the need to have a pouch of coins nearby...That was a big deal in 1980. This home version of Space Invaders was a big reason for the success of the Atari 2600, and is easily one of the best games available for the console. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/31/2019 Seaman Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date June 16, 2000 (EU) Developer Vivarium Genre Simulation My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 82.3/100 If you're looking for a game that will keep you engaged for hours at a time....Seaman isn't it. However, if you're looking for a game to turn on for a few minutes each day for a unique experience (even 20 years later) then Seaman fits the bill perfectly. Seaman is a game that would seemingly be a perfect fit for a reboot on cell phones - with a built-in microphone and easy access you play for five to ten minutes a day, it just seems like a natural fit. However, back in the days when only business folks had cell phones, and cell phones were ONLY phones, that experience was limited to the Dreamcast...an experience that caused a lot of parents and roommates to question the sanity of the people living with them when they were caught talking to the fish with human faces on their television screens. The voice recognition in the game, while not perfect, was incredibly impressive and remains impressive today. It was such a unique experience (and still is) that Seaman remains one of the most memorable games to be released on Sega's final console. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/04/2021 SNK Gals Fighter Platform Neo Geo Pocket Color Initial Release Date January 27, 2000 (JP) Developer Yumekobo Genre Fighting My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.48/100 SNK Gals Fighters is an all-ladies fighting game with females beating the ever-lovin' snot out of each other in the handheld fighting perfection that SNK was known for. This is one of the best handheld fighting games that I've personally played. The game controls like a dream, the graphics are quite nice for an 8-bit handheld, and you've got the convenience of playing this wherever you feel like playing it...Like on a tree branch, a seat in a city bus, or in a port-a-potty. It was recently re-released on the Switch in its original form, but with fancy borders around the square screen to fill out the Switch’s rectangular display, so a new generation of fans can see the fighting goodness that they missed out on back when the Neo-Geo Pocket Color was still sold in stores. Played on: Neo Geo Pocket Color Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/30/2019 NBA 2K Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date November 10, 1999 (NA) Developer Visual Concepts Genre Sports - Basketball My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.68/100 NBA 2K, along with NFL 2K, made it perfectly clear that Sega's Dreamcast didn't need EA Sports franchises like Madden of NBA Live. In fact, in my personal opinion, both NBA 2K and NFL 2K surpassed the EA Sports titles in just about every way. NBA 2K almost seems like a perfect game of basketball when compared to rival games of the time. It looked gorgeous, and it hasn't aged too terribly, either. It still plays great and has enough customization where you can make the game play the way you want it to play. If you're a basketball nut, you can even watch the computer battle it out, which is actually pretty dang fun to watch as well. It may even lead to you getting frustrated and doing armchair coaching, asking players from the team that you're rooting for why they took that shot when another guy was open....Dang Bucks blowing the playoffs with their poor shooting......Anyway, Sega's sports brand made it clear that sports fans had plenty to get excited about on the Dreamcast, and NBA 2K was leading the charge, in my humble opinion. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/27/2021 Samurai Shodown Platform Neo Geo Initial Release Date August 11, 1993 (NA/JP) Developer SNK Genre Fighting My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 86.90/100 With the success of Street Fighter II, SNK had set out to create a fighting masterpiece of their own. Initial attempts with games like Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting were okay, but nowhere near the quality of Capcom’s classic fighter. Then SNK attempted a new strategy - instead of making a game that looked and felt like a clone of Street Fighter, they created a fighting game that looked, felt, and played differently. The end result was, in my opinion, SNK’s first great fighting game, Samurai Shodown. Set in feudal Japan, and titled with a play on words (hence the lack of the first ‘w” in Shodown), this game adds weapons to each character, blood, and was probably the most tactical fighting game available when it was released - if you simply attack, you’re going to lose. You need to take your time, and be just as focused on your defense as you are on your offense. The gameplay is also set up in such a way where if someone lowers their guard for a moment, even if they have a full health bar and you’re one hit away from defeat, it’s not uncommon to be able to pull off a come-from-behind victory. This can be frustrating when the computer does it to you, but as you get better with the game, you’ll find yourself doing the same to the AI opponent in time as well. You can even disarm your opponent to drastically reduce their ability to harm you, forcing them to either fight with a handicap or attempt to reclaim their weapon. Toss in random power-ups that appear, like food to replenish someone’s health, as well as bombs to damage anyone unlucky enough to be nearby when it blows up, and you’ve also got an element of luck to add to the experience even more. I can’t say enough good things about Samurai Shodown. It really is a fantastic game…and as good as it is, SNK managed to improve on everything here in the sequel to solidify their standing as Capcom’s top competitor in the 2D fighting game market. Played on: Neo-Geo Also known as: Samurai Spirits (Japan)

Date added: 04/15/2019 Giant Gram 2000: All-Japan Pro Wrestling 3 Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date August 10, 2000 (JP) Developer Scarab Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 88.175/100 The first Giant Gram game was a very solid wrestling game…Giant Gram 2000 took all of the good from that game, improved upon it, then added more. On top of that, they updated the roster and also added legends…and me being a professional wrestling historian of sorts, I instantly fell in love with this game because of it. It’s surreal to recreate the Destroyer vs. Rikidozan feud in a video game with characters pre-created in the game. Another bonus for historians or simply fans that appreciate Japanese wrestling history, is a mode where you attempt to recreate classic matches like Giant Baba vs. Stan Hansen or Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada. If you’re looking for a solid, arcade-style professional wrestling game for your Dreamcast, there is no better option than Giant Gram 2000. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/04/2019 Excitebike Platform NES Initial Release Date November 30, 1984 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Racing My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 83.62/100 Super Mario Bros. tends to get all the attention as far as North American launch titles go for the Nintendo Entertainment System, however while that legendary platformer was absolutely the must-play game of the early days of the NES, the launch also had a few other classics with Excitebike being one of the best of the bunch. Excitebike was an excellent game for its time with highly addictive gameplay and an extra mode where players could create their own courses to make it even more addicting. To this day, a lot of folks that played this game when they were kids look back on Excitebike fondly. Thanks to recent services like various versions of Nintendo’s Virtual Console, a younger generation of gamers have discovered the simplistic joys of this wonderful racer. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/24/2019 MadWorld Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date March 10, 2009 (NA) Developer PlatinumGames Genre Brawler My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 81.76/100 MadWorld is yet another really good game that was largely ignored on the Wii. With its stylized black-and-white graphics, and beat-em-up-style action full of gore (which the red blood looks rather nifty with the black and white everything else) it really stands out visually in comparison to other Wii games. But this game isn't all about the Mature rating, it's actually a well-made game and fun to play. There’s something morbidly satisfying about dumping a flaming barrel over someone’s head, impaling them through the barrel with a road sign, then picking them up and hurling them into an incoming train that happens to be covered in spikes. It’s stylish, not bashful about how over-the-top its violence is, and is a fun brawler that is one of the few to create a solid experience in a three-dimensional world. Just a shame that it was largely ignored in stores, ‘cause a sequel seems very unlikely. Played on: Wii Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/06/2023 Sonic Advance Platform Nintendo Game Boy Advance Initial Release Date December 20, 2001 (JP) Developer Sonic Team Genre Platformer My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 84.27/100 I've always liked the Sonic the Hedgehog games, but I never really considered most of them to be amongst my personal favorite games of all-time. Sonic Advance, however, did have a special little place in my heart for a while in the early 2000's. While in college, aside from enjoying this good platformer, I spent a lot of time with the Chao garden, both here and on Sonic Adventure 2 on the Gamecube. As much as the chao garden hooked me, though, it's simply a side mode in this game. Sonic Advance was Sonic's return to 2D after a few "adventures" in 3D, and while it's not quite as good as some of the more beloved 2D Sonic titles, it's still a very good platformer in its own right. As a bonus, you're also able to select who you'd like to play as - Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, or Rose. While these days, you can play just about any Sonic the Hedgehog game on the go, Sonic Advance, in my opinion, may be the best designed-for-portable game in the Sonic franchise. The only real downside to this game is that it is a little shorter than most may like it to be, but sometimes leaving you wanting more is better than giving so much that you're bored before the game ends. Anyway, if you're a fan of the 2D Sonic games on the Sega Genesis, I think you'll probably fin plenty to love here as well. Plus, there's the Chao Garden I mentioned at the beginning - that side game very well could take up more of your time than racing through stages as everyone's favorite blue hedgehog. It certainly did with me. Played on: Game Boy Advance Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/05/2022 Devil May Cry Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date August 23, 2001 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Action My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 86.85/100 Devil May Cry is one of the many, many quality games that have come out over the years where I started to play it, got distracted by another game, and never found my way back to finish it. Well, thanks to this list, and the fact that I'm trying to complete many games before I add them, I can finally say that I've seen Devil May Cry to the end when the credits roll. While Devil May Cry does deserve much of the praise it got, there's one major flaw that holds the game back from me placing it further up this list - the camera. The camera angles can sometimes get in the way of the action, which is otherwise really well done. When you're wandering around, the cameras can be a mild annoyance, but nothing major. When you're low on health and fighting to survive, sometimes the camera angles make you wanna leave a bag of flaming dog poo on the doorsteps of the developers. Camera angles aside, though, Devil May Cry is a very solid action game with fast-paced, fun combat. It feels kind of dated today, mostly due to the camera, but there's still plenty of fun to be had here if you missed out on it when it released and feel like giving it a try today. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/27/2019 Pengo Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1984 (NA) Developer Atari Genre Action My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.53/100 Pengo was one of the last games released for the Atari 2600 until the console's short-lived "rebirth" in the late 80's, which is a shame because it's also one of the best games on the console and it may have helped consumers have a little more faith in the quality of games on the dying console. Pengo basically has you taking the roll of a penguin that shoves blocks of ice at enemies to crush them with various levels to do the crushing on. It’s simple, fun, and even works well with the limitations of the Atari 2600. It's actually really fun and well worth picking up if you're ever lucky enough to spot a copy. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/22/2021 Legend of Legaia Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date October 29, 1998 (JP) Developer Contrail Genre RPG My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.99/100 Fun story - I accidentally bought Legend of Legaia as a teenager when I was intending to purchase Grandia. Yes, my short-term memory is really that bad. Unless I can stow that short-term moment into my long-term memory bank, good luck having me remember. Anyway, the mistake initially made me disappointed, but after playing Legend of Legaia, I was quickly glad that I made a mistake because it allowed me to discover a unique, enjoyable RPG. Noah, the clueless young lady raised by a "wolf," is also one of my favorite characters of all-time. Legend of Legaia isn't perfect, mind you, but its unique combat is enough to let you forgive its few shortcomings. I know that when this game was released, it had a little bit of a cult following, so I can only imagine that over the last two decades that fanbase has only gotten larger. If you get a chance to play it, I definitely recommend giving it a try. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Legaia Densetsu (Japan)

Date added: 11/01/2019 Donkey Kong Country Platform Super NES Initial Release Date November 24, 1994 (EU) Developer Rare Ltd. Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 88.46/100 I remember my cousins coming over one New Year's Eve...they brought over this new Super NES game that had just come out called Donkey Kong Country. I remember popping it in and immediately being wowed by the graphics. I had never seen anything like it before. Then the soundtrack hit, and even with me not being much of a music person, I found the songs, the underwater theme in particular, stuck in my head for weeks. Then we began to play the game, and it was an absolute blast both when playing solo and when teaming up with someone else. Rare had been developing video games for a while before Donkey Kong Country, but arguably, the tie-wearing ape helped establish them as one of the best developers in the world. Sure, later games improved upon the formula found here, but the first DK Country is still a very solid platformer in its own right. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Super Donkey Kong (Japan)

Date added: 10/05/2019 Resident Evil 3: Nemesis Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date September 22, 1999 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 89.01/100 I have mixed feelings about Resident Evil 3. Overall, I think it might be my favorite of the original 3...But while it's probably my favorite, I still think Resident Evil 2 is slightly better overall and the original Resident Evil had more of an impact…leaving poor RE3 lost in the shuffle. Nemesis stalking you through the story adds some tension to the game...but it doesn't take too long to get used to dodging enemies...and once you're used to dodging enemies, if you've got the bullets, it's not too hard to take him down each time you meet (and you get rewards for doing so) which makes him feel like a pest more than a threat. I do like the fact that you're exploring Raccoon City instead of just one, large building...and returning to the police station of Resident Evil 2 for a brief spell is a nice nod to the previous game. Overall, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis is a very solid ending to the original Playstation trilogy, but it failed to make an impact like the previous two games in the series. Played on: Playstation Also known as: BioHazard 3: Last Escape (Japan)

Date added: 01/23/2022 Streets of Rage 2 Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1992 (NA) Developer Sega Genre Brawler My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 88.65/100 From what I've seen, Europe LOVES Streets of Rage 2...so I'm probably getting a lot of people angry with its placement here. Retro Gamer, a magazine based in Europe, allowed its readers to vote to compile a list of the 25 best Genesis (or Mega Drive as it's known as over there) games of all-time a few years back...and this game appeared to have won the number one spot by a pretty large margin. While I don't believe that it's the best game on the system by any stretch (my choice, Gunstar Heroes, came in at number 3), it is a pretty good brawler all the same. In fact, it’s usually in the discussion for best side-scrolling brawler of all-time, with many people insisting that it’s number one. I’d put a few before this game, honestly, but it’s still a solid brawler with a large fan base. If you’ve never played it, give it a try. You may wind up saying I’m an idiot and joining the many that consider this to be not just the best brawler, but one of the best games of any genre (it ranked #18 in Retro Gamer’s “Top 100 Retro Games of All-Time” list, for example). In my opinion, though, it’s a solid brawler that just falls short of being great. Played on: Genesis Also known as: Bare Knuckle II: Shitou no Chinkon Uta (Japan)

Date added: 09/04/2019 FTL: Faster Than Light Platform PC Initial Release Date September 14, 2012 (NA) Developer Subset Games Genre Strategy My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 84.74/100 It took about 10 months of me hearing how good FTL is from various friends before I finally caved in and played it. It just didn't sound like a game for me. When I finally sat down and dedicated some time to playing it, I didn't want to stop. FTL is a real-time strategy-based rougelike that has you traveling through space, fighting other spaceships, fighting enemies that have boarded your ship (or enemies while you board there's), and buying new weapons and power-ups to help you survive the mission at hand. It's simple, but dang it, it's addicting. One of my friends put it best when he said that he got more playtime out of this $10 game than most big-time releases...As of this writing, he's plugged about 164 hours into it. FTL is a great example of how an indy game can be just as good, and even better than, most of the large publishers and developers can make...Even without the fancy, schmancy graphics. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/28/2019 Puyo Puyo Tetris Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date March 3, 2017 (JP) Developer Sonic Team Genre Puzzle My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.69/100 I absolutely LOVE the Puyo Puyo franchise...and I like Tetris, too. I've always been a bit of a puzzle game nerd....However, I didn't realize how lop-sided my skills were between these two games until I played Puyo Puyo Tetris and dominated any levels with Puyo Puyo and struggled to pass levels with head-to-head Tetris. My Tetris skills aren't bad by any means - I won a Tetris tournament a few years ago at a gaming convention in the area...But for whatever reason, I really struggled to pick up wins when forced to play with Tetris blocks...Then the next level would be Puyo Puyo (or a mix) and I would absolutely dominate. Anyway, this is an extremely well done game and I highly recommend it for any puzzle game junkie. The story mode will last you a while, then the multiplayer will keep you coming back for more. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: Puyo Puyo Tetris S (Japan)

Date added: 09/12/2022 Atlantis Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date July 1982 (NA) Developer Imagic Genre 3rd Persn Shooter My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 81.41/100 Atlantis really is a fantastic Atari 2600 shooter. Not only is nice-looking for the time, with its colorful graphics, but the gameplay is also quite solid. Essentially, the goal in Atlantis is to switch between three cannons to fire from as enemy ships soar above the city, attempting to destroy the buildings below…and also attempting to destroy your cannons. Each cannon fires in a different direction, allowing you to shoot diagonally left and right, and a center cannon shoots straight up. Changing up where you're firing from is the key to success here - simply firing from one cannon the whole time won't yield the best results. Once the enemy starts wiping out your cannons, that's when everything gets a bit frantic and hectic….but it's also fun, trying your best to go down with the ship, so to speak, but taking out as much of the enemy with you as you go. Atlantis may fall, but it won't fall alone!! Alright, that's a little too dramatic, but you get what I mean. Atlantis is widely regarded as one of the better shooters on the Atari 2600, and it may be Imagic's best game that they ever developed. If you get the chance to play it, I highly recommend doing so. It was one of the best games available in the early days of video games. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/25/2020 God Hand Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date September 14, 2006 (JP) Developer Clover Studio Genre Brawler My Score 7.5/10 Avg. Score 78.43/100 There’s a reason that God Hand has become a cult classic over the years – it’s insane. I like weird and bizarre stuff and God Hand is nothing but weird and bizarre stuff. From half-pint Power Ranger wannabes to gorilla luchadores to tubby ol’ clowns, the enemies are often memorable. Unfortunately, while many will enjoy how strange the story is, more will likely give up on the game due to the difficulty that it presents…well, sometimes. Some levels are frustratingly hard, while other levels feel like a breeze. Thankfully, there are a ton of checkpoints, so you have opportunities to save often. The combat is pretty basic, but enhanced by the ability to change up all of your attacks. If you know you’re going to be facing a quick enemy, you may want to go with weaker, but quicker attacks. If you’re facing a slow, plodding giant, you can probably get away with stronger, but longer-to-execute attacks. Some attacks break the opponent’s blocking, some send them flying into walls…Experimenting with everything to find the best combination of attacks for your enemy type or play style is pretty fun…and if you run out of funds to purchase attacks, you can always head to the casino at a checkpoint and try to win some. I absolutely love God Hand, but realistically, it’s a so-so game with enough personality and bizarre moments to make you play through the end anyway. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/14/2019 Astro Robo Sasa Platform NES Initial Release Date August 9, 1985 (JP) Developer MTL Genre Action My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 81.11/100 Astro Robo Sasa was one of the first import video games that I fell in love with. It's one of those games where it takes a while to get used to, and until you do, you'll be horrible at it. But, it's also a game where you can notice your progression of mastering the game...You'll noticeably get better the more you play...That feeling of accomplishment was one of the best rewards you could get out of a game back in the 80's, and Astro Robo Sasa provides a great example of it. Stick with the game and you’ll see a good assortment of levels and enemies so it never really feels old. I feel that this is one of the most underappreciated games that was ever released on the Famicom/NES. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/30/2020 Kirby's Dream Land 2 Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date March 21, 1995 (JP) Developer Hal Laboratories Genre Platformer My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.40/100 I enjoyed the original Kirby’s Dream Land, but it wasn’t exactly a must-play game. A year later, Kirby’s Adventure was released on the NES, introducing Kirby’s now-trademark ability of eating enemies to absorb their abilities, and it solidified Kirby as a Nintendo mainstay. Three years after the original Kirby’s Dream Land was released, Kirby’s Dream Land 2 hit store shelves. It included what was introduced in Kirby’s Adventure, including the unique overworld map, but introduced a new feature of its own – some animal friends to ride on your journey. Rick the Hamster, Kine the Fish, and Coo the Owl all play a little differently and have their own variations of the abilities that Kirby absorbs from his gluttonous appetite. The end result is a very solid handheld game, and a game that instantly became one of the best platformers ever released on the Game Boy handheld. If you’re a Kirby fan or simply a fan of platformers in general, this is a game worth tracking down. Played on: Game Boy Also known as: Hoshi no Kirby 2 (Japan)

Date added: 10/13/2019 Left 4 Dead Platform Xbox 360 Initial Release Date November 17, 2008 (NA) Developer Certain Affinity Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 86.54/100 Left 4 Dead is a first-person shooter with a focus on group survival in a zombie-infested city. Your goal, with three other players (whether they be friends, strangers, or the computer) is to have all four group members surviving by the end of each hour-long scenario. The game is fun enough when playing through solo with computer allies, but it really shines when you get three pals to play with you and you can enjoy trying to survive together. There isn't much of a story here - four scenarios about an hour long each - but it's fun enough to play where it doesn't need much of a story to keep you coming back for more. Played on: Xbox 360, PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/18/2020 Tenchu: Stealth Assassins Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date February 26, 1998 (NA) Developer Acquire Genre Action My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.55/100 I was never into ninjas when I was young, so the concept of Tenchu never really appealed to me…that is, until after I had played Metal Gear Solid and really got into the stealth gameplay. Then suddenly, the stealth-based gameplay of being a ninja seemed quite appealing, indeed. Once I began to play Tenchu and silently crept along rooftops and slithered from shadow to shadow, slitting the occasional throat along the way, avoiding detection as I fulfilled assassination contracts, I was hooked. The often gorgeous, Asian environments and wonderful soundtrack just helped add to the experience - an experience that I don't think any other game in the franchise has been able to match since. The tank-like controls may be showing their age these days, but once you manage to get used to them, Tenchu is still as fun as it ever was. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/24/2020 Jazzpunk Platform PC Initial Release Date February 7, 2014 (NA) Developer Necrophone Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 77.76/100 I want to have surgery done so that I'm able to have this game's babies. Jazzpunk is a short li'l adventure game loaded with humor, and plenty of the immature kind, too...You sit on a whoopie cushion in the first few minutes of the game. Not all of the humor is going to click with everyone, but I loved the vast majority of it. The other nice thing about Jazzpunk is that there are plenty of easter eggs to find. If you just play straight through, you can probably beat it in an hour or so, but there's so much extra to discover by just walking around and interacting with things and people that have nothing to do with the story. Enough where you can basically triple or quadruple your play time by looking for it all. I beat the game multiple times just to ensure that I saw everything that this game has to offer...And then again just because I like it enough to do so. It may not be the greatest game ever made, but Jazzpunk is definitely one of my favorites anyway and if this list was PURELY based on my favorites, Jazzpunk would easily be in the top 100. Played on: PC, Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/04/2021 Metal Slug: 1st Mission Platform Neo Geo Pocket Color Initial Release Date May 27. 1999 (JP) Developer Ukiyotei Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 83.96/100 Metal Slug: 1st Mission is a little different in comparison to the other Metal Slug games that came before it. In this handheld entry in the series, there is a health meter. No more one-shot kills in 1st Mission - you can keep playing as long as you have some health left in your meter. Also worth noting are the branching paths. Branching paths weren't new to the series when this game was released, but the number of branching paths in this game really brings up the replay factor. It's not as pretty as previous entries in the series, due to the hardware it's running on, but it's just as fun. Honestly, considering the hardware that it’s running on, it’s still pretty gorgeous. If you own a Neo-Geo Pocket Color, this is definitely a game that you should have in your collection, especially if you’re a fan of the Metal Slug franchise or just run-and-gun gameplay in general. Played on: Neo Geo Pocket Color Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/02/2019 Final Fantasy II Platform Super NES Initial Release Date October 29, 1991 (JP) Developer SquareSoft Genre RPG My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 89.34/100 Final Fantasy II in North America was actually Final Fantasy IV over in Japan…specifically, the version that we got in North America was known as Final Fantasy IV Easytype. The original game was deemed a tad too hard for folks outside of Japan, so we got the easier version. Anyway, this fourth entry in the Final Fantasy series is really the first one to deliver a captivating story to go along with the enjoyable gameplay, in my opinion. Watching Cecil's character develop as the story progresses is a fine example of excellent storytelling in video games. If you can't hunt down a copy for the Super NES, Square Enix has pimped this game out on a ton of platforms since (Playstation One, Nintendo DS, Wii, Android, Steam…just to name a few) so experiencing the story of this game shouldn't be too difficult if you make the effort. The effort will be well worth it. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Final Fantasy IV Easytype (Japan)

Date added: 02/12/2020 Mario Kart: Super Circuit Platform Nintendo Game Boy Advance Initial Release Date July 21, 2001 (JP) Developer Intelligent Systems Genre Racing My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 86.75/100 Mario Kart: Super Circuit came out right before I left home to move halfway across the country for college...And I knew that I needed it for that trip. I was a huge fan of Super Mario Kart, and to have a portable game from the franchise was like a dream come true. There's nothing quite like hurling red koopa shells at the racer in front of you while you sit on the comfort of your toilet. I still look back fondly at proclaiming victory while in the bathroom, in a horrible attempt to mimic Wario’s voice, only to walk out and find my roommate looking at me with a very puzzled face. Playing this fantastic portable racer was well worth making my roommate thinking I was crazy...And I guess I was crazy - crazy over this game. Played on: Game Boy Advance Also known as: Mario Kart Advance (Japan)

Date added: 09/24/2019 Jungle Hunt Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer Atari Genre Platformer My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 83.87/100 Jungle Hunt often gets compared to Activision’s Pitfall!, but I think that folks who make the comparison are simply looking at the boxart or comparing the settings of the game, because both games play very differently from each other. Jungle Hunt is split into three levels - swinging from vine to vine, swimming while avoiding alligators, and running and jumping over what I always assumed to be logs rolling towards you. The controls are tight and the three-level variety, seen in many arcade games at the time, helped prevent this from getting tedious too quickly. Jungle Hunt was an amazing game for its time, still enjoyable today, and one of the best games Atari released near the end of the 2600's original lifespan. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/21/2020 Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance Platform Nintendo Game Boy Advance Initial Release Date June 6, 2002 (JP) Developer KCET Genre Action My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 86.28/100 I've always thought that Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance was a good, fun Castlevania game, but I never found it to be good as Circle of the Moon. I know plenty of others that feel the opposite, though. Regardless of which side of the fence you’re on, though, if you liked Circle of the Moon, Symphony of the Night, or any of the other Metroidvania type Castlevanias, you'll probably like Harmony of Dissonance. It's a very good game, I just happen to think that it's one of the weakest of the Castlevania Metroidvanias that I've personally played...But that's like lining up a bunch of bikini models and pointing out the least attractive one - you're still pointing out someone that is probably well above average. Played on: Game Boy Advance Also known as: Castlevania: Byakuya no Concerto (Japan)

Date added: 06/19/2020 Dead or Alive: Dimensions Platform Nintendo 3DS Initial Release Date May 19, 2011 (JP) Developer Team Ninja Genre Fighting My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.48/100 The last Dead or Alive game that I just could not stop playing, prior to Dimensions being released, was Dead or Alive 2. The games in the series since DoA 2 then have been good, but they just didn't hook me like that fantastic game did...Well, until this little gem came out. The story mode alone makes this one of my favorite games on the 3DS. The mode goes back and follows the story of Kasumi, Ayane, Hayabusa, among others from the first Dead or Alive tournament all the way to the fifth one, which was the most recent game in the series when this one was released. As the story unfolds, the bottom screen shows explanations for keywords and phrases that are used, so even if you’re not a Dead or Alive fanatic, it’s not hard to get caught up and understand the story being told. There are aspects of the actual fighting that I find to be inferior to what's found in other 3DS fighters like Blazblue and Street Fighter IV, because let’s face it, the Dead or Alive fighting formula was great when it was released, but it hasn’t really evolved a whole lot over the years…But lack of evolution in the fighting mechanics aside, when I look at the overall package, this still may be my favorite fighting game on the 3DS handheld. Played on: Nintendo 3DS Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/25/2021 Assassin's Creed Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date November 13, 2007 (NA) Developer Ubisoft Montreal Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 78.79/100 Assassin’s Creed is one of those games that I just never got into…I’d give it a try, play a little bit, then I’d move onto something else. Then I’d try it again, same result. I’m happy to say that I’ve finally stuck with it and played Assassin’s Creed until the credits rolled. While I’m not a fanatic or anything, I did enjoy my time with it for the most part. Since I purposely avoid most video game websites, I had no idea how the story would unfold. The Altair portion of the story was kind of predictable to me…however, the story of Desmond perked my interest quite a bit more. In terms of gameplay, for the most part, Assassin’s Creed is fun. You may get frustrated from time to time when Altair climbs something that you had no intention for him to…especially when it winds up alerting the guards…but for the most part, everything is pretty well done. While I don’t think that I’d put the first Assassin’s Creed in a “Top 100 Games of All-Time” list, it’s still very good, and maybe just the next tier down from that. There’s a reason that series has been going strong for nearly 15 years, and this is the game that laid the groundwork for it all. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/22/2022 Bonk's Revenge Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date July 19, 1991 (JP) Developer Mutech Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 84.45/100 Bonk’s Adventure was a solid game on the TurboGrafx-16…and since I liked dinosaurs as a kid, and because I always liked professional wrestlers that did headbutts (don’t ask me why, I’ve got no idea) I wanted a TurboGrafx system just to play that game. When I finally did play it, what I got was a solid platformer, but one that was also very easy and somewhat slow-paced. Bonk’s Revenge remedied one of my complaints and brought the difficulty up a tad (though, it's still pretty easy), but the pace of the game is still pretty slow. The difficulty change is an odd one, though. While the game as a whole is a little more challenging, they give you three options when starting the game – Practice, Intermediate, and Expert. From what I can tell, the difficulty is exactly the same across all three options. The only difference is the length of the game. Expert is the only mode that lets you play through from beginning to end. But anyway, the puzzling decision to break the game up that way instead of actually having various difficulty levels aside, you’re still headbutting stuff and eating lots of meat, like a real man, and you’re doing so with improved visuals to look at and a nice soundtracking playing in the background. Overall, this is a solid platformer that’s slightly better than the original, in my opinion. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: PC Genjin 2 (Japan)

Date added: 05/23/2022 Max Payne Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date December 12, 2001 (NA) Developer neo Software Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 88.84/100 Max Payne is one of several well-known games that I had never played. I had seen my friend play a few levels on PC when it initially released, but that's the extent of me seeing anything regarding this game. So, about two decades after it initially released, I felt like it was about time to play through it and see what all the hooplah was about 20 years ago. After playing through it, I can honestly say that I'm a pretty big fan of it. The unique storytelling isn't just well-done, but has a vocabulary that lets you know that this isn't just a mindless game about drugs and violence - it's actually a very well-written and thought-out story that intelligent folks can enjoy….and yes, even the dolts who just wanna shoot stuff will likely enjoy themselves here, too. You can skip all of the cutscenes, but I don't know why anyone would want to. They're very well-done. The gameplay itself may take a little getting used to if you're playing this on a console, as it was definitely created with a keyboard and mouse in mind, but once you've got it down, you'll be strafing and doing bullet-time shooting with the best of 'em. Playing Max Payne now makes me regret the fact that I waited 20 years to play it for the first time. If you're like me, and hadn't played it yet, I highly recommend giving it a try. Behind the drugs and violence is a unique, intelligent game that still holds up fairly well today. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/16/2022 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time Platform Super NES Initial Release Date July 24, 1992 (EU) Developer Konami Genre Brawler My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.19/100 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time is a fun, interesting brawler with a unique take on the TMNT universe, having the heroes in a half-shell traverse various time periods in an effort to take down that dastardly Shredder fellow....Not too unique, I suppose given the movie with the similar theme, but still a little unique. Actually, the movie (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Turtles in Time) was released in 1993, so that makes this game, which is numbered 4 instead of 3, more unique since despite the number in the title, it was released in 1992, two years before the lower-numbered movie was, and one year after Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time was released in arcades without a number attached to the name at all. Hoo boy, that's confusing. Anyway, Turtles in Time is one of the better side-scrolling brawlers ever released and still fun to play today. It may not be quite as good as the arcade game that it was a port of, but it's perfectly fine as a solid console port of the game. If you want to play some fantastic side-scrolling brawling as a bunch of shelled reptiles wearing colored bandanas across their eyes, beating up a bunch of masked ninja-looking dudes that like feet and wear various colored attire…well, then Turtles in Time is pretty much the best option that you'd have available. Plus, it's always fun hurling any and all foot-soldiers at the screen whenever you've got an opportunity to do so. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time (Japan), Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles IV: Turtles in Time (Europe)

Date added: 03/24/2024 Bonk 3: Bonk's Big Adventure Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date April 2, 1993 (JP) Developer Hudson Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 79.76/100 I've always enjoyed the Bonk games, but wished that the first two had a tad more substance to them, despite being a fan of them. That's where Bonk 3 steps in. At first glance, the big (pun intended) new addition to the gameplay is just a gimmick - Bonk can eat certain candies to either shrink down to miniscule size or grow to a HUGE size. The reason that this adds to the gameplay is that some stages cannot be completed if you only stick to one form - say you're giant Bonk, there will be times where you cannot advance unless you either find a candy to shrink down or take a hit to shrink back to normal. It's a nice little bit of strategy that isn't much, mind you, but it's enough to prevent the levels from feeling stale before you reach the credits. Another nice addition is the ability to play in two player mode, but with an interesting twist…both players share the same life meter and lives. So, it really encourages you to work together to complete the game. It also adds another layer of strategy…if you play with an inexperienced friend, you run the risk of reaching a game over screen much more easily…but at the same time, if you're able to work together with them, you're also able to deal double damage to enemies and bosses…and if you're an experienced player playing with another experienced player…well, then have fun demolishing everything in your way. As far as the TurboGrafx-16 games in the series go, I feel like Bonk 3 is the best of the bunch…and yes, I'm aware that I'm in the minority with that thought. Anyway, if you like platformers, then track down a copy of Bonk 3 and give it a shot. I bet you'll be glad you did. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: PC Genjin 3 (Japan)

Date added: 06/29/2020 VVVVVV Platform PC Initial Release Date January 11, 2010 (NA) Developer Terry Cavanagh Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.79/100 VVVVVV is a very unique game that is really good. It's a platformer that involves manipulating gravity rather than jumping - bouncing between the floors and the ceilings is your only way around obstacles (usually deadly spikes) in your path. That alone is fun, but VVVVVV doesn't fit the traditional "level-by-level" mold of platformers. Instead of beating levels, the game is an open world for you to explore, similar to a Metroid title. The soundtrack is also pretty awesome. The end result is a game that looks very basic with gameplay that is anything but basic. If you haven’t played it before, but like unique gameplay and/or a Metroid-style of exploration in your games, then I think that you’ll really enjoy what VVVVVV has to offer. Played on: PC, Playstation Vita Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/20/2020 flower Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date February 12, 2009 (W) Developer ThatGameCompany Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 83.49/100 Flower is a very relaxing, very soothing game to play. It doesn't require a lot of skill or know-how to play, which makes it fun for people who have never touched a video game before, and yet it's still just as entertaining to play if you've played hundreds or thousands of games...It's very artistic and beautiful as well, which makes it relaxing just watching someone else play. This is the perfect game to show someone that thinks all video games are about mindless violence and have no artistic value. If you haven't played flower yet, do yourself a favor and play it. It's a short game, but it’s unique and absolutely fantastic. Played on: Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Playstation Vita Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/17/2019 Klonoa: Door to Phantomile Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date December 11, 1997 (JP) Developer Namco Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 84.66/100 Klonoa was a very solid platformer that was unfortunately overlooked by a lot of people...Which is a shame. Klonoa provided a unique platforming experience for fans of platformers, with an ability to pick up enemies and either throw them or use them to perform a double jump to reach normally out-of-reach areas. Door to Phantomile can cost a bit if you search for it online, but if you'd like a graphically updated version, it was also released on the Wii simply as "Klonoa." And, much like Door to Phantomile, the Wii remake was also overlooked by most consumers in North America...which, again, is a shame. Anyway, if you want a really good platformer with plenty of personality, Door to Phantomile is a great game to pick up. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Kaze no Klonoa (Japan)

Date added: 10/20/2019 P.T. Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date August 12, 2014 (NA) Developer 7780s Studio Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 80.97/100 P.T. stands for "Promotional Teaser" or "Playable Teaser" (I've seen it listed as both, so I'll name both) and is often referred to as a demo...But in my opinion, it's not. Demos generally are a demonstration of a game with no end or goal, where P.T. is a complete, albeit short, game and served as a very good promotional tool to get folks ready for the not-to-be Silent Hill game with Hideo Kojima at the helm. It had been a long time since a game created this kind of creepy atmosphere and P.T. got fans really excited for the game dubbed “Silent Hills.” Unfortunately, Konami and Hideo Kojima had a falling out and the game that P.T. was created to hype never came to be. As a Silent Hill fan, I would absolutely have loved to see a new Silent Hill, but this fantastic, short game is a pretty good consolation prize. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/28/2019 Suikoden Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date December 15, 1995 (JP) Developer Konami Genre RPG My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 86.59/100 My, what a difference a couple of decades make…Back when Suikoden was first released, this wonderful RPG was made fun of because its graphics were 2D and pixelated instead of awkward-looking, early 3D models. These days, the look would be called “stylized.” Ultimately, the end result of that visual choice is that Suikoden still looks pretty good today, and games like Final Fantasy VII (which looked amazing back in 1997) have shown us how far we’ve come in terms of 3D graphics. Anyway, Suikoden was one of the first great RPGs to be released for the Playstation. The game is short by RPG standards (20-25 hours for most folks, though if you know what you’re doing, you could probably get all 108 Stars of Destiny in around 15 hours), but the ability to find and recruit 107 other members for your party helps add to the longevity of the game a bit. Most of the later Suikoden games are better than the original in most aspects, but with how solid the original game was, that's more of a compliment to later games in the series than an insult to this game that started it all. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Genso Suikoden (Japan)

Date added: 11/11/2019 Death Stranding Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date November 8, 2019 (NA) Developer Kojima Productions Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.86/100 One of the most polarizing games of all-time...People seem to either love it or hate it. Well, you can put me in the love category. The story told is built up so well....you will struggle in the beginning, but as you play, you unlock new gear and abilities that make everything a little easier. You really appreciate the upgrades because you learn in the first few hours how rough it can be without them. As the game advances, you see more action, get more weapons, get more gear, and the story gets pretty interesting...Honestly, if you have the patience, there's a lot to like here, especially if you're a fan of Kojima's trademark weirdness...The problem is that with the slow start, many players won't have the patience to sit through 30-40 hours of gameplay before everything starts getting really interesting. If you expect Metal Gear or Silent Hills, you'll be disappointed. If you've got an open mind and some patience, you may just find yourself hooked on Death Stranding like I was. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/13/2019 Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date June 29, 2000 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.11/100 Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike wasn’t as well received as Street Fighter II, and that’s kind of a shame because it’s just as good. I think the problem is that unlike the second entry in the Street Fighter franchise, Street Fighter III is seemingly designed for a slower-paced, more methodical, strategic fight – it’s not as easy to mash buttons on your way to victory. In fact, once you begin to master this game, you can pretty much destroy someone that relies on mashing buttons, where in some other fighting games, a button masher may get lucky every now and then. The game also has one of the more interesting rosters in the Street Fighter franchise, in my opinion, with favorites like Ryu, Chun Li, and Ken mixed in with some “normal” characters and some absolutely bizarre ones as well. When it comes to 2D fighters exclusive to the Dreamcast, I may consider Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike to be the best of the bunch. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/02/2019 NHL 94 Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date March 1993 (NA) Developer High Score Productions Genre Sports - Hockey My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.39/100 I've always enjoyed hockey games, dating back to Hat Trick on the Commodore 64, but NHLPA Hockey '93 was different. Not only was it a fantastic game to play, but it kept track of statistics should you pursue to play a season. Oh, and you could fight, too. Nothing made this game seem more cool than when two hockey players hurled their gloves to the ice and engaged in fisticuffs while their teammates gathered 'round to cheer on in approval. NHL ’94 usually gets all of the praise and attention, but NHLPA Hockey ’93 did it first…and one might even argue that it did it better. Played on: Sega Genesis, Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/29/2022 Assassin's Creed: Revelations Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date November 15, 2011 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Ubisoft Montreal Genre Action My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 83.35/100 Assassin’s Creed: Revelations made me fall in love with Assassin’s Creed again. It’s a weird relationship I have with these games. I’ve liked them all to a degree, but it’s like I like one, then love the next one, then go back to liking the one after that. The original Assassin’s Creed was good, but I didn’t love it. I absolutely loved Assassin’s Creed II. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood was okay, but it felt like DLC for the second game rather than a sequel, and now Revelations has brought me back into loving the franchise. Taking place in Constantinople, Ezio returns in this game as an older man to wrap up his trilogy of stories in the franchise. All of the features established in the previous games return, along with a tower defense-style aspect to the game…which thankfully is not a mandatory part of the game aside from the mission to introduce it. I’m not a fan of tower defense games, if you can’t tell. I also enjoyed how they finally found a way to link Ezio and Altair beyond the tiny bit from the second game..likewise, it was nice seeing Altair return to the series as well. In fact, some versions of this game came bundled with the original Assassin’s Creed to help remind/introduce players to Altair and his story. Anyway, I really liked Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, and I’ll gladly pop this game back in to visit Constantinople again from time to time. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/03/2019 Fire Pro Wrestling D Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date March 1, 2001 (JP) Developer S-Neo Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 89.98/100 Fire Pro Wrestling D, until Fire Pro Wrestling R (Fire Pro Wrestling Returns in the West) was made on the PS2, was the ultimate Fire Pro Wrestling game. Scratch that. It may have been the ultimate wrestling game regardless of game series. Like the fantastic previous game in the franchise on the Saturn, Fire Pro D offers the player several match types, including MMA-style shoot fights and exploding barbed wire steel cage matches, and a plethora of wrestlers to play as that are strikingly similar to real wrestlers, but with generic names to avoid copyright issues. Like most games in the series, there's definitely a learning curve to overcome here, but once you overcome it, you would have been very hard pressed to find a deeper wrestling game for its time. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/19/2019 Haunted House Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1981 (NA) Developer Atari Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 86.82/100 Haunted House, quite possibly, was the first attempt at a horror game and considering the platform that is was released on, it’s actually very solid. You’re not going to get many jump scares here, however, you may have some moments of anxiety as you frantically try to avoid the spiders, bats, and ghosts that try to stop you. Your goal is to roam an old mansion and collect all the pieces of an urn, then escape. The catch? It’s dark. You need to use matches to find the pieces…but matches don’t last forever, so if you don’t move fast enough, the light goes out and you’re back in the darkness. Each mode ramps the difficulty up, with the toughest difficulty having plenty of hazards and the walls not visible at all unless you use a match. This is a very solid Atari 2600 game and a must-play game if you want to see the origins of horror video games. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/01/2024 Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Platform Sony Playstation 5 Initial Release Date April 21, 2024 (W) Developer Rabbit & Bear Studios Genre RPG My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 81.50/100 As a long time Suikoden fan, Eiyuden Chronicle is everything that I wanted, plus more. I think for many Suikoden fans, it was a nice throwback to the type of RPG that they missed dearly…unfortunately, this game has also spawned some lunatic fans that somehow believe that because a poop joke was removed from this game in localization that the localization team had a political agenda. Fun fact: an easy way to see if someone lacks an intelligent argument is to watch them try to make it political so focus can be taken away from the lack of logic in their gripe. Anyway, with that rant out of the way, Eiyuden Chronicle is everything I wanted it to be, as I said in the beginning, it feels just like what I would want a modern Suikoden game to be - and yes, that includes the localized story, which is perfectly fine as it is, and it fits right in with previous games in the Suikoden franchise. So much was crammed in this game that it took me roughly 100 hours to do almost everything, and I enjoyed every second of it. This is very much a niche game, though, so if you're not a fan of turn-based JRPGs of old, then you may not enjoy this game very much. I, however, absolutely loved it…I just hope that the insane ramblings of a few insane "fans" don't result in any possible plans for a sequel being scrapped. Played on: Playstation 5 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/11/2020 Mega Man 3 Platform NES Initial Release Date September 28, 1990 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Platformer My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.61/100 Mega Man 2 was great. Mega Man 3 doesn't quite capture the magic of 2, but it's dang close. With a few new features, like the addition of Mega Man's trusty robo-mutt sidekick Rush, a new rival in Proto Man, and the ability for Mega Man to slide around as a way to fit in small spaces and dodge enemy attacks. Heck, even the robot bosses from Mega Man 2 make an appearance in Wily's Castle, letting you try out your nifty new weapons on some beloved old foes. The new additions and surprises are nice and all, and the game is fantastic, but the overall level design in Mega Man 2 was a tad better in my opinion, giving it the nod over 3, even with all the new bells and whistles added in. Played on: NES Also known as: RockMan 3: Dr. Wily no Saigo!? (Japan)

Date added: 11/01/2019 Beetle Adventure Racing Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date February 28, 1999 (NA) Developer Paradigm Entertainment Genre Racing My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.26/100 Beetle Adventure Racing has no business being as good as it is. At first glance it looks at a game that was simply created to advertise the resurrection of the Volkswagon Beetle. It only has one style of car – Volkswagon Beetle – but each vehicle color represents different stats for that car that you control. It seems lame…Then the racing starts. Each of the tracks are huge with plenty of secrets and shortcuts to discover. The size of the tracks would probably be a negative aspect if the racing wasn’t fun, but since there’s plenty to discover as you cruise around, it doesn’t feel repetitive when a single lap can take four or five minutes to complete. Is it the best racing game ever made? Of course not. But it’s very good, and one of the best options if you want a solid racing game on the Nintendo 64. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: HSV Adventure Racing (Australia), As Adventuras do Fusca! (South America)

Date added: 10/21/2019 Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2 Platform Android Initial Release Date January 22, 2018 (JP) Developer Atlus Genre RPG My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 84.65/100 Shin Megami Tensei only had one mobile phone game here in North America prior to this one, and that was a translated version of the original Shin Megami Tensei released only on iTunes. While the original Shin Megami Tensei is great and all, I was curious what could be done with the SMT series on smart phones. Well, they answered my curiosity with this game. Shin Megami Tensei Liberation Dx2 is a new style of Shin Megami Tensei with new characters, new stories, and new stuff to do….but once the combat starts, it’s the same turn-based, weakness-targeted battles that fans of the series love. The game has seemingly endless game modes, as new modes have been added since the game’s initial launch. On top of that, limited-time stories often appear in the game, with some in the past having characters from Bayonetta or Devil May Cry showing up for some interesting cross-overs. Before new modes were introduced, I had already spent over 100 hours playing through the game’s story mode on all three difficulties as well as playing through everything else the game had to offer. This is a very good example of how to make a solid RPG designed for quick, pick-up-and-play gameplay that one would expect on a smart phone. Played on: Android Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/31/2022 Micro Machines Platform NES Initial Release Date 1991 (NA/EU) Developer Codemasters Genre Racing My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 85.16/100 My cousins had Micro Machines when we were growing up and they'd let me borrow this game from time to time. I loved it, and when I re-purchased an NES when I got older, it was one of the very first games that I tracked down so I could finally own it for myself. Now that I'm much, much older, I decided to revisit it for this list…and it was good to not only race past the giant Cheerios on the kitchen table again, but it was good to finally complete a game that I had never been able to beat before. And with the difficulty in the later races, it made me feel like I actually accomplished something by doing so. As much as I enjoy the variety of vehicles to race in (like sports cars, boats, helicopters, and tanks) my least favorite races, by far, were the stages that should have been the most fun - the monster truck bonus stages. Instead of being a bonus stage of carnage, Codemasters thought the most fun you could have with a monster truck was making timed stages that required precise driving. A real bonus stage would have been using said monster truck to drive over and crush the vehicles that you had beaten in the previous three races…but, I suppose complaining about a bonus stage is a pretty minor complaint overall. Micro Machines may have been the best racing game released on the NES, and it helped prove that a game didn't have to have the "Nintendo Seal of Quality" to be an excellent game worth playing. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/08/2020 Street Fighter IV Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date February 12, 2009 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.40/100 When I heard that Capcom was bringing back Street Fighter, but in 3D, I immediately thought of the Street Fighter EX games, which weren't terrible, but they weren't anything to get excited about, either. Then I played it and realized that even though the characters were all in 3D, the fighting still played like it was on a 2D plane...Which resulted in fantastic Street Fighter action that us old fogeys remember from the early 90's, but on a platform that allowed a brand new generation to fall in love with hurling fireballs across the screen at an opponent. The return of several beloved characters from the franchise and the addition of a few new characters as well add to the enjoyment here. This game also got the “Street Fighter II” treatment of getting several variations with everything tweaked and improved upon along the way, but Street Fighter IV was done so well the first time, that many of the gameplay tweaks are barely noticeable. If you’re a fighting fan, Street Fighter IV is still very much worth checking out today. Played on: Playstation 3, Xbox 360, PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/26/2020 Animal Crossing: New Horizons Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date March 20, 2020 (W) Developer Nintendo Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 84.89/100 Animal Crossing: New Horizons tackles one of the criticisms I’ve heard about the series over the years – there’s no real goals. Granted, the goals found in New Horizons are small, just daily tasks that you get rewarded in Nook Miles (a new currency to go with Bells) for doing, but apparently it was enough to get friends of mine who never played much of an Animal Crossing game to get hooked this time around. Along with new tasks, the crafting fad in modern video games makes its debut in New Horizons as well. While crafting is kind of neat at first, I found myself longing for the previous games in the series when my equipment wouldn’t break…though, the vast increase in inventory space (done for holding crafting materials, I assume) is a very welcome addition. New Horizons includes plenty of improvements, like improved personalities and behaviors of the animal residents, tweaked controls, and the most gorgeous graphics seen in the franchise to date…Unfortunately, it also feels like it takes a step back in several ways from New Leaf on the 3DS. I love New Horizons, and I’m nearly in triple-digit hours for time spent with the game, but if I was on a deserted island like in this game, and I could only bring one Animal Crossing game with me, I’d be bringing New Leaf. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/19/2020 Rogue Legacy Platform PC Initial Release Date June 27, 2013 (NA) Developer Cellar Door Games Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 84.61/100 Rogue Legacy is a game that keeps on giving. You'll die at least one hundred times....and you'll still want to keep playing because each time you play, you'll be getting a unique experience. The basic concept is that when you die, you're dead. The next time you play, you're playing as one of the children of the person that died and that child may have beneficial genetics, negative ones, or stuff that really has no impact on the game other than amusement. You play one game where you're near-sighted, another where you've got gigantism, another where you have tourette syndrome...Half the fun is just seeing what attributes the next generation you'll play as will have. It's also worth mentioning that if you can find it while exploring the castle, this game quotes the Wheel of Fish scene from UHF, which automatically makes it better than most games I've ever played. Played on: PC, Playstation Vita, Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/01/2020 Mario's Picross Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date March 14, 1995 (JP) Developer Jupiter Corporation Genre Puzzle My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 85.78/100 Mario's Picross is a puzzle game that challenges your brain a bit more than most other puzzle games. Checking the numbers before each row and column, your goal is to determine which square to fill in and which ones to leave empty. For example, on a 15x15 puzzle, if a row has the number 15 next to it, all of the square in that row get filled in. If it has a pair of 2's next to it, that means that two blocks in a row get filled in in two seperate places on that row. It sounds complicated initially, but once you get it, it's pretty simple. If you can recognize the picture you're making, that can help a little in the process, but otherwise it's all in using the logic of the numbers, and attempting to get the picture made before the time limit expires. It's a great little brain-teaser for Game Boy owners, though the picross games never seemed to become as popular here in North America as they appear to be in Japan. Played on: Game Boy Also known as: Mario no Picross (Japan)

Date added: 10/03/2022 Resident Evil 7: biohazard Platform Playstation 4 Initial Release Date January 24, 2017 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Capcom Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 85.91/100 Resident Evil VII put players in a first-person perspective and also seemed to be mildly inspired by the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, as much of the game has you in a backwoods location attempting to not be killed by various members of a murderous family. While the game definitely brings the franchise closer to the "horror" roots for the first time since Code: Veronica, and while they do a decent job of wrapping everything together towards the end to explain why this is a Resident Evil game, for the vast majority of the game, it just feels like you're playing a good, generic horror game instead. There's nothing wrong with that at all, mind you, but I've noticed that fans of franchises can get kinda moody when sequels aren't exactly like previous games in the series that they like, so I figured I'd give a heads up for those folks if they haven't played this yet since it may deter them from trying it. For the rest of us, though, Capcom put together a very good horror game, bringing the Resident Evil franchise back to the horror roots that it once had. It's not perfect, but it's a very enjoyable experience for anyone that happens to be a fan of horror games. If you haven't given Resident Evil VII a shot yet, I highly recommend doing so. It feels like the odd duck of the Resident Evil franchise to me, but I've always appreciated odd ducks. I think if you play this game, you'll appreciate it as well. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/18/2024 Suikoden III Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date July 11, 2002 (JP) Developer KCET Genre RPG My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.30/100 The first time I played Suikoden III, I didn't hate it, but it felt like a step back from the previous two games. I found the combat to be strange, with six party members, they are split into pairs (front row and back row), and you can't control each individual party member…just one person in each pair. Your choice of which person, but still only one person per turn. However, the more I play Suikoden III, the more I enjoy it. Every time I play it, I like it more and more. In fact, Suikoden III very well could be my personal favorite game in the franchise. I love the fact that you have three main characters, each with their own story which overlaps with the others, plus two more stories to unlock that also overlap. I really like the art style and the music in the game - Alma Kinan village, in particular, has a song that I'm quite fond of. And once I got used to the quirks of the combat system that I mentioned earlier, I grew to really like that, as well - it adds another layer of strategy to the turn-based combat the way that it's done here. That's not to say that I consider Suikoden III to be perfect…it's not. And although it's my personal favorite in the series, I can objectively say that it's not the best game in the Suikoden franchise. Still, though, it's a very good RPG and I think fans of the genre will find plenty to love with this game. And hopefully it will grow on you like it has on me. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/18/2020 Wolfenstein 3D Platform PC Initial Release Date May 5, 1992 (NA) Developer id Software Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 80.94/100 I’ve never really been a huge first-person shooter fan…however, after playing games like Wolfenstein 3D loooong after its release (my first time playing it was today as I place it on this list) I can definitely understand why the genre has become as popular as it is. A year before the ultra-popular Doom was made, id Software released Wolfenstein 3D. A continuation of the Castle Wolfenstein games from the early 80’s, Wolfenstein 3D ditched the basic, 2D graphics of the previous games and thrust players into a 3D environment that was beautiful for its time. It’s not just fun taking out Nazis as you traverse the levels, it’s equally fun exploring the levels in an attempt to find secrets. Id Software’s later first-person shooters would improve upon this formula, but for the time it was released, this game was absolutely amazing and, along with Doom, helped set the stage for first-person shooters being one of the most beloved genres in video game history. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/17/2021 Nier Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date April 22, 2010 (AU) Developer Cavia Inc. Genre Adventure My Score 8.0/10 Avg. Score 79.33/100 Nier is a game that has been sitting on my shelf since shortly after it released, and I just never got around to playing it. Since I was planning on adding some PS3 games to this list again, I decided to give it a try…and I’m really disappointed that I waited this long to play it. Nier isn’t exactly the greatest game ever made, mind you - the gameplay has a few flaws that some may find annoying, like the combat, which often feels kind of bland…But what it lacks in that department, it more than makes up for with quirkiness and personality. For those that have never played it, Nier has you control a father who is doing everything in his power to find a cure for his sick daughter, who has seemingly contracted an incurable disease. This father is eventually joined by a talking book, a foul-mouthed girl that wears lingerie and likes to kick hiney, and a young, magic-wielding skeleton boy. The action-RPG then has you exploring nearby villages, farming, fishing, and beating up local wildlife and/or Shades, the main enemies of the game. I don’t know if Nier is for everyone, but I absolutely loved it. If you like a quirky story, but don’t mind having some dark moments between the quirkiness, then I think that you may love Nier, too. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/21/2020 WCW/nWo: Revenge Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date October 1998 (NA) Developer Aki Corp. Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 87.13/100 The second Aki-developed WCW-themed N64 wrestling game improved vastly on the first, eliminating the generic wrestlers (most of which were based off of real Japanese wrestlers) from WCW vs. NWO: World Tour, and replacing them with more members of the actual WCW roster. While it was neat to have dream matches between WCW wrestlers and generic versions of my favorites from the Land of the Rising Sun, WCW had such a huge roster that it didn’t make sense to include more wrestlers that they actually had under contract. As someone who was a fan of WCW, well most of it anyway, I actually re-visit this N64 wrestling title over the WWF ones most of the time due to the game's roster. I prefer the WWF games to this one in regards to overall experience, but sometimes you want to play a match with Jim Neidhart vs. Fit Finlay at the Starrcade arena, know what I mean? Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/22/2022 Air Zonk Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date November 20, 1992 (JP) Developer RED Entertainment Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 86.96/100 Air Zonk mildly reminds me of the Parodius series - a solid, fun, third person, scrolling shooter with a comical, cartoony touch to it. I like a game that doesn't take itself seriously. Anyway, Air Zonk is the first TurboGrafx-16 game that I ever beat...And I've beaten it more than once. The gameplay is solid, the levels are varied, and each weapon at your disposal is totally unique, both in appearance and in their effects. This is honestly also one of the easier side-scrolling shooters that you may find, meaning that with its cartoony graphics and presentation, it’s a good game to have young’uns start out with since they likely won’t die in the first level. Likewise, if you’ve ever been interested in scrolling shooters, but were turned off by the often-high difficulty found within them, then Air Zonk may be the perfect gateway game to get you used to the genre so you can tackle more difficult games down the road. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: PC Genjin: Punkic Cyborgs (Japan)

Date added: 12/27/2022 Asteroids Platform Arcade Initial Release Date November 1979 (NA) Developer Atari Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 84.53/100 When you compare Asteroids to other successful arcade games of the time, it stands out. As good as Space Invaders was, for example, it still wasn't a very frantic game, save for when the speed ramps up. Asteroids, on the other hand, is pretty much frantic from the moment you shoot your first asteroid. For those living under a rock…or an asteroid…when you shoot an asteroid in Asteroids, the asteroid shatters into several pieces, with said pieces flying in multiple directions. These asteroids and asteroid pieces all move at varying speeds and once they enter one edge of the screen, they reappear on the opposite edge, so until you're able to shoot everything until the asteroids no longer split off into smaller pieces, you're always in danger…oh, and there are UFOs that occasionally pop up to shoot at you as well. If all of that wasn't enough, you're in space, so your ship doesn't move like you might hope. The lack of gravity makes your ship continue to float in the direction that you move for a bit, making it even more frantic as you try to maneuver through all of the asteroid shrapnel to avoid being shot by UFOs. For its time, it was a fantastic game, and due to its simplicity, it's still pretty fun to this day if you're able to find a working cabinet. Played on: Arcade, Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/09/2019 Patapon Platform Playstation Portable Initial Release Date December 20, 2007 (JP) Developer SCE Japan Genre Music My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 86.87/100 Patapon is a unique music/rhythm game that has the basic gameplay elements of a music game, but additional elements of an action-based strategy game, resulting in a very unique, very fun game unlike anything that had come before it. The game has the player memorize various drum beats, with each one controlling the Patapons in a different way. One drum beat instructs them to advance forward, another instructs them to attack...Essentially, you need to look at your surroundings and try to give the correct instructions at the right time or you may lose your opportunity to do what you wanted. It's unique, it's unusual, and it's a fantastic hybrid of genres that any PSP owner should try. Played on: PSP Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/22/2021 Batman: Arkham Asylum Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date August 25, 2009 (NA) Developer Rocksteady Studios Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 88.29/100 Batman: Arkham Asylum was a fantastic game that put Rocksteady Games on the map. In fairness, it essentially felt like someone took a Legend of Zelda game and re-skinned it with Batman characters...obtaining various gadgets to help you get through the various buildings (dungeons), eventually leading up to a battle against the usual main antagonist that hinders your progress, which in Batman’s universe, that’d be ol’ Joker. But the formula works really well here and the end result is a fantastic Batman game that I think anyone would enjoy. If you’re obsessed with Batman, I think you’ll love it. If you know nothing about Batman, I think you’ll like it, too. If you’re like me and know a little bit about Batman and the cast of characters that appear in the comic books, but is by no means an expert, you’ll like it, too. It’s a very solid game and has held up pretty well over the years. If you haven’t played it yet, give it a try. You’ll be glad you did. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/04/2019 Ninja Gaiden Platform NES Initial Release Date December 9, 1988 (JP) Developer Tecmo Genre Action My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.62/100 Ninja Gaiden is fantastic. It’s just plain fun flipping around, clinging to walls, and slashing away at the enemies that attempt to stop you. Some folks complain about its difficulty, which picks up drastically after a few levels, but it's one of those games (like many NES classics) where the more you play, the better you get. Spend a while playing this, learning enemy patterns and mastering every aspect of the game, and you'll soon be on your way to do battle with the final boss. I think the second game in the Ninja Gaiden series is the best, but the original set the stage for that one and is an absolutely wonderful game in its own right. Played on: NES Also known as: Ninja Ryuukenden (Japan), Shadow Warriors (Europe)

Date added: 10/06/2019 NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date November 27, 2002 (NA) Developer Monster Games Inc. Genre Racing My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 86.01/100 I have friends that are obsessed with NASCAR. I gave it a try and just plain am not a fan. That said, I was very surprised at how much I enjoy Dirt to Daytona. My friends claim that it's the best NASCAR game of all-time...And I fully agree. I'll even say that it's one of the best racing games, NASCAR or otherwise, that I've played as well. Being able to work your way up from local dirt tracks to becoming a big enough of a name to compete in NASCAR races is fantastic every bit of the journey. Everything here is just done really well. Fans of NASCAR will love what this game has to offer and folks who aren’t fans, like myself, will also enjoy it if they just like a well-made racing game. If you enjoy racing games and come across Dirt to Daytona, get it. You'll be very glad you did. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/06/2020 Shin Megami Tensei IV Platform Nintendo 3DS Initial Release Date May 23, 2013 (JP) Developer Atlus Genre RPG My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 84.92/100 Shin Megami Tensei IV starts out unlike any other game in the main series. Seemingly taking place in medieval times, and moving from place to place via menus rather than moving a person-shaped cursor around a map…it initially seems like a strange new take on the franchise. Eventually, it all comes together and players are given a more familiar setting to go along with what may be the most unique story in the main series…The story is so unique and generally well-liked that it led to the first sequel in the main series, Shin Megami Tensei: Apocalypse, with a story that continues on from this one. This is also probably the easiest game in the main series, or it can be based on the settings that you choose anyway, which makes it a good place for newcomers to start if they’re interested in trying the main Shin Megami Tensei games out. Likewise, because of the difficulty settings, if you’re a veteran to the series and want a challenge, you can get that here as well. I prefer Nocturne to this game, but Shin Megami Tensei IV is still one of my favorite games on the 3DS, and a very solid entry into one of my favorite franchises in all of video games. Played on: Nintendo 3DS Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/19/2020 The Stanley Parable Platform PC Initial Release Date October 17, 2013 (NA) Developer Davey Wreden Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 85.85/100 The Stanley Parable pretty much instantly became one of my favorite games. The sense of humor found here is quite well done and just exploring around to do pretty much anything but what the narrator says is quite fun. Makes me feel like a rebel...like I should be wearing a leather jacket, smearing grease in my hair, and smoking a pack of cigarettes as I play. But I won’t do that stuff ‘cause I’m too rebellious to act like a rebel. Anyway, this game is tremendous and I hope you'll give it a chance if you haven't already done so. It’s a good, quirky, entertaining game that I think most people will enjoy if they give it a chance. Oh, and if the screenshot to the right looks boring, go play the game. You'll understand. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/11/2022 Psycho Fox Platform Sega Master System Initial Release Date 1989 (EU) Developer Vic Tokai Genre Platformer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 81.03/100 I grew up with Kid Kool on the NES. While it didn't control or play like your typical platformer, I grew to appreciate it for what it was. Psycho Fox was the next game created by Kid Kool's developers, and by pretty much all accounts, it improves on the formula in just about every way. The platforming feels smoother as a whole, as do the controls. Also, while Kid Kool had a bit of an unforgiving learning curve, Psycho Fox's difficulty is reduced in comparison. For example, Kid Kool was essentially defenseless unless he had his McDonald's Fry Guy-like friend with him that he could hurl at enemies. Psycho Fox has a bird taking the place of the Fry Guy, but even if you lose the bird, Psycho Fox has his fists, so you're never really defenseless. Likewise, the end-level game will likely result in you earning more lives than you'll likely need to see this game to the end, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to get used to the design of the game and improve, without the need to start from the very beginning each time. If the unique platformer gameplay of Kid Kool on the NES grabbed your attention, but the learning curve and difficulty turned you away, then get yourself a Sega Master System and give Psycho Fox a try. Vic Tokai improved on the formula and made a very solid, underappreciated platformer here. It may not be on the same level as Super Mario Bros., but Psycho Fox, in my opinion, is still one of the more enjoyable 8-bit platformers of all-time that didn't star a certain Italian plumber. If you think I'm psycho for saying that, well, I am psycho….psycho like a fox. Played on: Sega Master System Also known as: Sapo Xule vs Os Invasores do Brejo (Brazil)

Date added: 09/08/2023 Final Fantasy XV Platform Playstation 4 Initial Release Date November 29, 2016 (W) Developer Square Enix Genre RPG My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 82.67/100 When I first played Final Fantasy XV, back when it initially released, I wasn't really sure what to think about it. On one hand, I didn't find it to be a bad game by any means…in fact, I really enjoyed it to a degree. On the other hand, though, it wasn't what I wanted from a Final Fantasy game. In an attempt to make the Final Fantasy series "more mainstream," Square Enix seems to get further and further away from what made the series so beloved by its original fans with each new entry in the series. While I really like Final Fantasy XV, it honestly doesn't feel like it belongs in the Final Fantasy series. The soundtracks of previous games that you can play while cruising around in the car, while neat, just reminded me of what I wish this game had been instead. Anyway, that complaint aside, I still did end up really liking this game quite a bit by the time it was over. I did lose plenty of hours hunting bounties and simply exploring around on the world map…but I didn't really find the story very appealing and the way that the story plays out made me feel like I missed some major aspects of the story somehow…like how does Gladiolus go from a nice fella to a complete hiney hole later in the game? You see a friend depressed and your response is to act like that? I've heard of tough love, but that's not how it works at all. Anyway, complaints aside, I did still really enjoy this game. I would have preferred a more traditional Final Fantasy game over this, but what Square Enix gave us was still very solid. Unfortunately, from what I can tell by reading reviews to get the average score calculated, in an effort to get more people to become Final Fantasy fans, I think they ran off quite a few fans that they already had. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/07/2020 Far Cry 3 Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date November 29, 2012 (EU/AU) Developer Ubisoft Montreal Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 87.81/100 Far Cry 3 is mildly like the Elder Scrolls or recent Fallout games in that you get to wander around the game's world, sandbox style. Unlike the Bethesda titles listed above, the glitches are few and very far between. Wandering around the beautiful, colorful, tropical islands in Far Cry 3 is a joy...And using stealth and the environments to hide and wipe out enemies without them even knowing you're there is just plain fun...And don't forget the wild animals, who are on nobody's side. My favorite memory from this game is watching a tiger tackle one of my enemies off of a pier, into the water, resulting in both of them drowning...I got to loot the enemy's body and I got a free tiger skin out of the deal as well. Random events like that give you a neat feeling of never knowing what will happen next, resulting in some very fun and entertaining moments whenever you pop the game disk in. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/27/2019 Seaquest Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer Activision Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.43/100 Seaquest is easily one of my favorite Atari 2600 games. The gameplay is simple enough - shoot the fish or enemy subs in your way while saving any scuba divers you see swimming around. This concept alone would be fairly fun, but Seaquest adds in another element that increases the challenge a bit. That element is the need to rise to the surface for oxygen. That one, simple-sounding element adds just enough strategy to an already fun concept to make this an absolutely great game for its time. It’s still pretty fun to play if you want to kill a few minutes today, as well. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/10/2019 Animal Crossing Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date December 14, 2001 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.79/100 I remember visiting friends in Seattle that worked at Nintendo at the time...They asked me if I wanted to purchase anything from the official Nintendo store with their discount. Animal Crossing was one of the titles that I wanted. I remember them coming home that day with the game stating that some of the folks that worked there thought I was a girl and was surprised that a guy wanted to play this game. Well, feel free to call me Pauline because I wanted to play it and I'm glad I did, dang it! Animal Crossing is just a relaxing game to play here and there. There's nothing to kill, no real story to follow...Just wandering around in the game's world and enjoying a virtual life in a town full of talking animals. It's not for everyone, but it's definitely a well-made game with plenty to do for those who get into it. Plus, it's got a bunch of NES classics to discover and play in the game, and that alone was worth me playing the game for. Later games may have refined the formula, but the original Animal Crossing is still a fun one to revisit from time to time. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: Doubutsu no Mori Plus (Japan)

Date added: 12/12/2022 Stray Platform Sony Playstation 5 Initial Release Date July 19, 2022 (W) Developer Annapuma Interactive Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.79/100 I was interested in Stray from the first time I saw anything about it. I like unique games, and controlling a cat that moved and acted like a real cat, while also exploring a futuristic cyberpunk-like city, it all made me even more curious how the game would turn out when it was released. Stray didn't disappoint, either. Exploring the entirety of the city, from the dark, dangerous corners to the brightly-lit, robot-inhabited areas, is enjoyable from beginning to end….as is being a cat. Pawing things off of ledges will probably never get old for me. The actual gameplay of Stray doesn't break any new ground - aside from controlling a cat, you're basically just platforming around, solving puzzles, and doing fetch quests. That's not bad, mind you, but if those things aren't what you particularly enjoy doing in video games, then once the novelty of being a cat wears off, you may wander off to play something different. For what it is, I really enjoyed Stray. I'd, personally, love to see a sequel (even if only a spiritual one) from these developers down the road. I enjoyed their creation and I'm looking forward to whatever they give us next. Played on: Playstation 5 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/13/2019 Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved Platform Xbox 360 Initial Release Date November 22, 2005 (NA) Developer Bizarre Creations Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.07/100 Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved may have been the best game available on the Xbox 360 at launch…and considering it was a digital-only game available on Xbox Live, that was unheard of at the time. One could argue that the Xbox 360 physical launch lineup was pretty underwhelming…and it was, but that still doesn’t take away at how great Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved was. The original Geometry Wars was released in 2003 as a mini game in Project Gotham Racing 2. Retro Evolved took that already solid game and tweaked it with better graphics, better visuals, and tweaked gameplay. If you like twin-stick shooters like Robotron 2048 or Smash TV, then Geometry Wars is likely right up your alley. It’s a game that I still like to play when I need to kill a few minutes…I just need to make sure that I keep my eye on the clock, ‘cause I can also lose hours playing this gem. Played on: Xbox 360, PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2019 Kid Icarus Platform NES Initial Release Date February 15, 1987 (EU) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 84.39/100 If you're playing a game where you might turn into an eggplant with legs at some point, then you're probably playing a worthwhile game, in my opinion. Kid Icarus is an amazing game for the NES with a blend of vertical-scrolling platforming from the bottom of the level to the top, exploring maze-like side-scrolling levels, and scrolling shooters as you fire arrows at enemies - all while also battling bosses, avoiding wizards that can turn you into a purple fruit with legs, and shooting arrows at grim reapers that get waaaay too excited when they spot you. It's one of the more charming (and difficult) games that Nintendo released for the NES, and one well worth playing if you've got access to a copy. Played on: NES Also known as: Hikari Shinwa: Palutena no Kagami (Japan)

Date added: 07/19/2020 Hotline Miami Platform PC Initial Release Date October 23, 2012 (NA) Developer Dennation Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 84.97/100 Hotline Miami got a lot of criticism from people for how it "glorifies violence." I think those folks haven't actually played the game. Yes, this is a very violent title...One look at the bloody axe on the "box art" will tell you that...But the violence is part of the story - it's not there just for the sake of having violence in the game. With that out of the way, Hotline Miami's gameplay reminds me a little bit of Super Meat Boy in that you'll likely die a lot when you play, but upon death, the level restarts again instantly, and the levels don't take too long to complete, so the constant deaths never really get too frustrating. As long as you don't mind a little (okay, a lot) pixelated gore, Hotline Miami is a very solid indie title to get behind. Played on: PC, Playstation Vita Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/09/2018 Octopath Traveler Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date July 12, 2018 (NA) Developer Acquire Genre RPG My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 85.05/100 I wasn't quite sure what to think about Octopath Traveler prior to its release - for those that know me, I never look up information on video games prior to release...I like to be surprised. So when I began playing Octopath Traveler, I wasn't really sure what to expect....The next thing I knew, over 80 hours had gone by and everything in the game, sans the secret final boss, was complete. I grew to love pretty much everything about this game, from the retro-style graphics, to the unique combat style, to the individual characters themselves. The only real disappointment that I found in the game was the lack of a “big finale” that ties the stories of all eight characters together…though, one could argue that the secret final boss kind of does that. Anyway, Octopath Traveler was one of the most pleasant surprises that I played in 2018 and one that I’ll likely be playing through again sometime down the road. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/21/2018 Pro Wrestling Platform NES Initial Release Date March 1987 (NA) Developer Nintendo Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 84.97/100 Masato Masuda, one of the more recognizable developers of what would eventually become Human Entertainment, is known for being a big part of creation of the Fire Pro Wrestling series. Before Fire Pro was ever imagined, however, Masuda created this magnificent gem on the NES simply known as Pro Wrestling. Pro Wrestling is so simplistic, and yet the gameplay is deeper than it appears to be. Each wrestler has their own unique set of moves and a finisher, there are reversals, top-rope dives, dives from the inside of the ring to the outside, brawling on the outside of the ring...And this is all in a wrestling game from 1987, folks. If this game had more modes than just wrestling on a circuit fighting for, and later to defend, the World title, then I can't imagine this game could have been any better than that. But for what it is, it's still really good and a game that I proudly pop in an play on a regular basis even to this day. Played on: NES, Famicom Disk System Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/31/2022 SoulCalibur II Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date March 27, 2003 (NA) Developer Namco Genre Fighting My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 89.30/100 Soul Blade was an excellent fighting game that laid the groundwork for the absolutely amazing SoulCalibur to swoop in and take its place near the very top of the fighting game mountain…with plenty of people saying that it took it's place at the very top. So, Namco had a lot of expectations to live up to when they announced SoulCalibur II. In an interesting move, Namco announced that SoulCalibur II would be released on PS2, Xbox, and Gamecube…each with a unique member of the roster to fight as. Playstation 2 got the least interesting of the bunch with Heihachi from the Tekken franchise added. Xbox got a slightly more interesting Spawn from the Spawn comic book series. Gamecube, however, far and away had the best exclusive character - Link from the Legend of Zelda series. Because of that, I've honestly never even played SoulCalibur II on any other console except the Gamecube…and part of that is not just because Link is in the game, but because Link is actually one of my go-to characters in the game since I find him quite fun to play as. As neat as it is to use Link in a non-Smash Bros. fighting game, and as good of a fighting game that SoulCalibur II is, it doesn't feel like there's a lot of innovation here. It feels like the original SoulCalibur with slightly more stuff…which is not a bad thing by any stretch of the imagination, but it's hard for me to score it too much higher because of that. That said, this is still an excellent fighting game and if you spent hours playing SoulCalibur, then you'll likely spend several more hours playing SoulCalibur II. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/03/2019 Lollipop Chainsaw Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date June 12, 2012 (NA) Developer Grasshopper Manufacture Genre Brawler My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 76.32/100 Oh, Lollipop Chainsaw, how I love thee. For those that know me, I don’t watch movies very often…but when I do, it tends to be low-budget, b-movie horror movies. When Lollipop Chainsaw was first announced, it immediately made me think of something that Troma would release, which was a good thing in my eyes. After all, you’re controlling a high school cheerleader who happens to have the decapitated (but still animated) head of her boyfriend clipped to her belt while she uses a chainsaw to slice and dice through several variations of zombie while expressing to her bodyless boyfriend how much she loves him as the blood splatters around. Little did I know that not only did the story deliver with how bizarre and over-the-top it was, but the gameplay held up as well. I expected a so-bad-it’s-good game, much like the movies I enjoy. Instead, we got a so-bad-it’s-good story with very good gameplay to boot. It’s definitely not a game for children, but if you’re up for some stupid humor, a ridiculous storyline, and some solid, enjoyable gameplay, Lollipop Chainsaw is sure to deliver. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2019 The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date March 17, 2017 (NA) Developer Nicalis Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 83.41/100 As someone who has played (and loved) all iterations of the Binding of Isaac games, Afterbirth+ is the best of the bunch. With enough new stuff to discover like enemies, power-ups, modes, and playable characters, even if you've played the other Binding of Isaac games until you were sick of them, you'll still find plenty of reasons for this game to lure you back to mother's womb. Most of the game will be familiar to veterans of the series, but with enough new content to make it feel like it's not just "more of the same," it's well worth a purchase for anyone familiar with Isaac's tear-filled battle or anyone new to the series alike. Played on: Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/09/2021 WWE Day of Reckoning Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date August 30. 2004 (JP) Developer Yuke's Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 81.72/100 With WWE Day of Reckoning, the Gamecube FINALLY got a good WWE wrestling game. Third time was the charm, it seems. Getting rid of the horrible brawler/platformer/wrestling hybrid main game mode that plagued the otherwise solid WWE Wrestlemania XIX, Day of Reckoning instead replaced it with a fantastic (albeit short) story mode. I remember being absolutely hooked when it was first released, and revisiting the story mode for this list, it brought back some very fond memories. The same, solid in-ring gameplay mechanics from Wrestlemania XIX carry over here, but tweaked with improvements, creating a fantastic overall wrestling game that finally gave Gamecube owners the solid WWE professional wrestling game that they had been wanting. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2019 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date April 28, 2017 (W) Developer Nintendo Genre Racing My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 86.44/100 Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U was one of my favorite entries in the Mario Kart franchise and the best in the series, in my opinion, since Mario Kart DS was released. So, to see it re-released on the Switch, with all DLC already included on the game card and to be able to play it on the go (or on the ol’ ceramic throne) made me quite happy. It was a joy to play through this again, and it'll be fun playing it on my next plane trip...It might even make anti-social me invite the passenger next to me to a two-player game. Look at that! Mario Kart has the potential to make me a social butterfly! Who knew? Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/19/2022 Rocket League Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date July 7, 2015 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Psyonix Genre Sports - Soccer My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 85.77/100 There's an old saying that says, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." That phrase applies to Rocket League for me. When the game initially came out, I played it with some friends and it was okay…but I just really didn't enjoy it that much. Fast forward seven years, and I booted the game back up to nab screenshots so I could add it to this list…and I may be late to the party, but I think I finally see what so many others saw seven years ago. For those not in the know, Rocket League is essentially a game of soccer, but with cars instead of people. As a result, the precise movements that people can do is replaced with limitations that one would expect from driving a vehicle. At first, this is kind of annoying, and may even be frustrating for some…but the more you play, the more you figure out how the car moves, and even the physics of how the ball moves. You may go from just holding the gas down the entire game and hoping for the best, to slowing down and timing your accelerations to help tap the ball into the goal more frequently. The single-player mode is fun, but Rocket League is at its best when you're playing with friends, either locally or online. It took me over half a decade to appreciate this game for what it is, but if the millions who played it religiously are any indication, you'll likely appreciate it much, much faster than I did if you give Rocket League a try. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/06/2024 Axelay Platform Super NES Initial Release Date September 11, 1992 (JP) Developer Konami Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 84.66/100 When it comes to 16-bit, scrolling, 3rd-person shooters, Axelay may be one of the very best. It generally feels like a fair game throughout - difficult, but not so difficult that you can't overcome it with some practice. Shooting through two main types of stages (side-scrolling and vertical-scrolling) you'll see some pretty nifty uses of the Super Nintendo's Mode 7, showing off the graphical power of Nintendo's 16-bit console. You'll also find some nice controls as you navigate through those levels as well as an interesting selection of weaponry to blast away your enemies with. Add in the entertaining boss fights waiting for you at the end of each level, and you've got an excellent scrolling shooter that I think both veterans and rookies to scrolling shooters can find enjoyment in. It really is a fantastic game that is worth trying if you've never given it a chance before. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/25/2020 Mortal Kombat II Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date September 9, 1994 (NA/JP) Developer Probe Entertainment Genre Fighting My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 86.43/100 The first Mortal Kombat was playable, but it mostly just got attention because of the violence and gore, in my opinion. Mortal Kombat II aimed for more attention with more gore, but this time around, they improved on the combat (or is it kombat?) to create a very solid fighting game. It still wasn't Street Fighter-level great, and it hasn’t aged nearly as well as Capcom’s iconic fighter, but it was very, very well done for its time. Mortal Kombat II also very well could be the game that ensured that Mortal Kombat was a franchise that would be around long enough for the series to hit the double-digits in terms of sequels. Many old school Mortal Kombat fans still consider this to be the best game in the franchise. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/21/2020 GoldenEye 007 Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date August 23, 1997 (JP) Developer Rare Ltd. Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 91.12/100 GoldenEye 007 is one of the most beloved N64 games of all-time...And honestly, I never really played much of it until after more than a decade after it was released. I've never really been much of a first-person shooter fan, but GoldenEye has enough to it where you don’t have to be obsessed with first-person shooters to appreciate what this game has to offer. The single player experience is fun alone, but the multi-player is what made this game a classic for so many people. I don't exactly hold it on as high of a pedestal as most people seem to, but I still find it to be a highly enjoyable shooter and the best James Bond game that I’ve played thus far. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/11/2022 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date July 17, 2003 (NA) Developer BioWare Genre RPG My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 90.75/100 I am not a Star Wars fan by any stretch of the imagination. That said, I really liked Knights of the Old Republic. Not only is it a really well-made game, and it would have been with or without the Star Wars license, it also provided me with what I had originally wanted from the original Star Wars movies - plenty of alien types and alien characters. Despite my enjoyment of the game as a whole, though, it's not flawless. Targeting can be extremely frustrating at first…both in battle, and out. Also, despite a decent number of characters to play as in your party, there really isn't a need or reason to use most of them…and I also didn't find most of them to be likeable. But despite those complaints, Knights of the Old Republic is still a very good game. If you're a fan of the Mass Effect games, then give Knights of the Old Republic a try. Many aspects found in BioWare's own space-based franchise came from BioWare's first foray into space with Knights of the Old Republic. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/17/2020 Tetris Attack Platform Super NES Initial Release Date October 27, 1995 (JP) Developer Intelligent Systems Genre Puzzle My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 90.15/100 Tetris Attack really has nothing in common with Tetris aside from the fact that it's a puzzle game. The Tetris name was basically used as a way to boost sales. That being said, the first time I played this game, I hated it. It was too slow-paced for me...But I went back to it a while later and began to appreciate it...And then started to really enjoy it...The next thing I knew I had just wasted multiple hours on this puzzle game in one sitting. Later games in this puzzle franchise have adopted the "Puzzle League" name (alternatively, it’s always been known as "Panel de Pon" in Japan) and included various extra modes, and it even had the Pokemon license at one point, but the original still stands as a very solid puzzle game in its own right, and it’s very much deserving of any praise it gets. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Panel de Pon (Japan)

Date added: 08/05/2019 Breakout Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1978 (NA) Developer Atari Genre Action My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 84.56/100 Pong was a “breakout” hit…get it? ‘Cause Breakout is the name of the game I’m writing about here…sorry. Anyway, Pong was beloved, but it had one flaw – you needed to have a friend around to play it. What if you woke up in the middle of the night after having that reoccurring nightmare about finding pizza in your underwear during gym class? I woul—I mean you wouldn’t want to go back to sleep after suffering through that. Back in ’77 you could try to play Pong against yourself. In ’78 you could play Breakout, which had the frantic fun of Pong, but for a single player, and a twist in the concept to make it somewhat unique while still being familiar to anyone that played it. Breakout is one of those great, simple games, that hasn’t lost anything with age. It’s still a great game to play to kill a few minutes like it was four decades ago when it first hit store shelves. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/04/2019 Dead or Alive Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date September 10, 1997 (JP) Developer Team Ninja Genre Fighting My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.77/100 While fans of 3D fighters debated which was better, Tekken of Virtua Fighter, Tecmo’s Team Ninja swooped in and tossed their bid in for 3D fighting’s top crown with this impressive debut for the popular Dead or Alive fighting franchise. Not only are the graphics of the fighter models impressive for their time, but the gameplay almost feels like a hybrid of Tekken and Virtua Fighter, making it feel like you’re getting some of the best of both worlds. Dead or Alive also implements the ability to not just block combos, but you can break them if you can time your button press right, which is a welcome addition when your opponent just wants to spam you with the same combo over and over again. There are also plenty of secret costumes and options to unlock as you play through the game, ramping the replay value up a bit. Of course, this also introduces what the franchise is famous for – boob physics. The female fighters have boobs that ridiculously flap around like flags in the wind, but you always have the option to turn the physics off which reduces some of the comedy. Overall, Dead or Alive 2 improves on everything found here, but the original is still one of the best 3D fighting games of the 32/64-bit console generation. Played on: Saturn Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/18/2020 Sweet Home Platform NES Initial Release Date December 15, 1989 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre RPG My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.87/100 Of all of the cancelled North American releases for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Sweet Home is the one that I’m the most disappointed about. Sweet Home is a survival horror RPG that’s based off of a Japanese horror movie of the same name. Basically, you control a group of people, each with their own skills, and explore a haunted house. You only control one person at a time and switch between each one at will. As you explore, you’ll enter random turn-based battles. If the person in the battle is having a hard time, they can call for help, with allows you to take control of someone else to rush to their aid to make it a team fight. Aside from the RPG aspects, the rest of the game is very much just top-down, 8-bit survival horror. Sweet Home is absolutely fantastic, and while it was never released outside of Japan, a great fan translation has been made, converting the game to English. If you’re looking for a survival horror game or an RPG that doesn’t really fit the traditional mold of either genre, then definitely check Sweet Home out. I’m a big fan. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/23/2020 Fire Pro Wrestling 3: Legend Bout Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date November 13, 1992 (JP) Developer Human Entertainment Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 85.21/100 Fire Pro Wrestling 2nd Bout was criticized for its lack of innovation, so when Fire Pro Wrestling 3: Legend Bout was released, it looked to make up for it. At first glance it seems like it was the same kind of upgrade as 2nd Bout was to Combination Tag – improved animations, more moves, and an updated roster. However, Legend Bout introduced one major game mode that would not only shape the future for the Fire Pro series, but for nearly all professional wrestling games going forward - Create-A-Wrestler. Absolutely groundbreaking for its time, this mode, allowed players to create themselves, fictional characters, or other professional wrestlers from around the world and insert them into the squared circle. This would have been an amazing feature if all you could edit was looks and moves…but this wasn’t a simple Create-A-Wrestler. You could edit everything from looks and moves, to the wrestler’s attributes and even AI tuning so that the CPU uses the wrestler the way that you intend it to. With the already solid gameplay tweaked to make it the most solid that the franchise had seen, and the inclusion of the groundbreaking Create-A-Wrestler, Legend Bout was the best wrestling game on the TurboGrafx-16 and one of the best wrestling games of the 16-bit era. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/30/2020 Burnout Paradise Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date January 22, 2008 (NA) Developer Criterion Games Genre Racing My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 86.67/100 Burnout Paradise is one of my favorite racing games to come out in over a decade…It’s insane that as I type this it’s been 12 years since the game was first released. In the Elder Scrolls games, I like to spend a lot of time just wandering around to see what I can find. Burnout Paradise allows me to do the same thing, except I’m driving a car instead of marching around with an axe in my hands. When I don’t feel like wandering around, I’m free to participate in various races and such…it’s basically the best of the previous Burnout games, with some freedom to roam around interesting environments, and even plenty of “collectables” to hunt for if you want to add some goals to your wandering. While I do prefer a few other racing games to this one, Burnout Paradise still holds a special place in my heart if for no other reason that I can randomly start up the game, do absolutely nothing to advance the game in any way, and kill a few hours of time anyway…while loving every second of it. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/21/2020 Advance Wars Platform Nintendo Game Boy Advance Initial Release Date September 9, 2001 (NA) Developer Intelligent Systems Genre Strategy My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 90.52/100 Advance Wars brought turn-based strategy to the Game Boy Advance early in its life - and a quality strategy game at that. Playing very similarly to the TurboGrafx-16 classic Military Madness, Advance Wars is a strategy game revolving around taking over your enemy's home base in each battle. Even if you wipe out all of their troops, the battle is not over until you take over their main headquarters. To make things better, if you're tired of battling the computer, you can always grab a link cable and go head-to-head with a friend. Until Final Fantasy Tactics Advance appeared on our GBAs, this was, without question, the best strategy game on the handheld. Played on: Game Boy Advance Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/25/2019 Halo: Combat Evolved Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date November 15, 2001 (NA) Developer Bungie Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 90.38/100 I like Halo...But I don't necessarily think that it deserved all of the hooplah that it got. It's a good, solid, entertaining, first-person shooter and all...But I think the fun that folks had in the multiplayer deathmatches is what skews their perception of the overall package. The game itself is definitely very good, and Halo alone undeniably sold a ton of consoles, but I just fail to see how this game is the perfect 10 that many claim it to be. That said, it's still good enough to be in the upper-tier of Xbox titles, and it was very good for its time, but I just never really saw what the Halo fanatics saw here. I just saw a solid first-person shooter, where they saw the greatest game they had ever played up until that point. Revisiting the game for this list has not changed my mind. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/01/2019 Q*Bert Platform Arcade Initial Release Date October 1982 (NA) Developer Gottlieb Genre Puzzle My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 86.50/100 These days, if you were to say that you were going to make an action-based puzzle game starring an orange creature that looks like a turkey baster with legs that yells profanities when he dies, and you were to tell people that it would be a mega hit, everyone would probably think that you were crazy. Back in the early 80’s, however, that was a formula for incredible success at the arcades. In the early days of gaming, the three most recognizable video game characters were Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, and Q*Bert. For those not in the know, Q*Bert involves you controlling the dirty-mouthed…er, snouted…orange creature while you attempt to switch all of the tiles to a different color. Switch all the tiles, advance to the next level. Get hit by an enemy, you get to see Q*Bert’s potty mouth. It’s a simple game and it’s aged well. It’s not hard to see why this game was a hit. The best part was that the game didn’t need great graphical or processing power to be effective, so even the port to the Atari 2600 captures the fun really well. When it comes to action-based puzzle games, there aren’t too many that do it better than Q*Bert. Played on: Arcade, Atari 2600, NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/22/2019 Resident Evil Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date March 22, 1996 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Adventure My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 87.18/100 Resident Evil wasn't the first survival horror game, but it was definitely the first one to take horror games mainstream. The popularity of Resident Evil was massive when it first released, with gamers falling in love with being scared by a video game. The game itself is pretty fun to play if you judge a game purely on gameplay, but as a fan of B-movies and lame acting, I can't help but love the live-action cut scenes found within the game as well. Fans of the action-based Resident Evil 4 and 5 may not appreciate the slower-paced, tank-control-scheme aspect of the earlier games in the series as much, but if you’re looking for scares, most of the later Resident Evil games can’t hold a candle to the originals. Played on: Playstation Also known as: BioHazard (Japan)

Date added: 07/21/2019 Castlevania Platform NES Initial Release Date May 1987 (NA) Developer Konami Genre Action My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 84.88/100 The original Castlevania may have been surpassed in quality by some of the later games in the series...But it's still a very solid title in its own right. Using a whip to neutralize the large variety of undead enemies that attack you is good fun. The later levels can get a tad difficult - especially when they involve platforming; Castlevania excels in whip-cracking action, not jumping from platform to platform...But everything in this game can be overcome with practice...Even Death...No matter how much of a jerk he is. If you're a fan of the Castlevania series, specifically the pre-Symphony of the Night era of the series, the initial entry is a must-play title that's still fun to this day. Played on: NES Also known as: Akumajou Dracula (Japan)

Date added: 07/13/2019 Rayman Origins Platform Playstation Vita Initial Release Date February 15, 2012 (NA) Developer UBlart Montpellier Genre Platformer My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.52/100 Rayman Origins is absolutely beautiful to look at. But, like in life, beauty means nothing; it's what's inside that counts. Thankfully, it delivers in the gameplay department as well, and it offered Playstation Vita owners a very solid 2D platformer to enjoy at the North American launch. Ironically, when Rayman Origins first hit store shelves, platformers of any kind seemed to be a bit of a dying breed, and the few that did come out were often not very good. Not only did our favorite legless, armless hero return to 2D in spectacular fashion, this game was a perfect reminder that when done right, platformers will always be a welcome edition to anyone’s library, regardless of console type or gaming generation. Played on: Playstation Vita Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/17/2021 Uncharted: Drake's Fortune Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date November 16, 2007 (NA) Developer Naughty Dog Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.00/100 Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune is what made me become a fan of Naughty Dog. I never really got into the Crash Bandicoot or Jak and Daxter games…I always in the camp that preferred Imsomniac’s Spyro the Dragon and Ratchet and Clank games when I wanted some platforming in the PS1 and PS2 days. The PS3 is where I switched sides and preferred Naughty Dog’s Uncharted series over Insomniac’s Resistance series. The main character in the game, Nate, is a charming, likable hero. The rest of the cast is either likeable or dislikable, but always in the direction that the game’s writers want you to lean when thinking about them. The gameplay, while not mind-blowingly great, is solid and the story will keep you playing through to the end. The next entry in the series blows this one away, but the original Uncharted laid the groundwork for the other games in the franchise to follow. And one could argue, it helped lay the groundwork for the masterpiece known as The Last of Us. Anyway, if you never played it before, I definitely recommend giving it a try. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: Uncharted: El Dorado no Hihou (Japan)

Date added: 05/17/2020 Fallout 4 Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date November 10, 2015 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Bethesda Game Studios Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 85.65/100 Fallout 4 continues on the formula found in Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas…and that's about it. There really isn't a ton added to Fallout 4 to make it really stand out among the other games in the series since Bethesda took the helm for the franchise. One could argue that the games are so fun that they didn't really need to do much, and if you say that, you're right...but regardless of how fun it is, I just can't justify a perfect score to a game that essentially feels like DLC for the previous games (same basic gameplay, new city to explore), but with updated graphics and fewer bugs and glitches....even if the result feels like must-play DLC. Make no mistake, I’m a big fan of Fallout 4, but I was hoping for a little more innovation than adding crafting elements into the mix. Innovation or not, though, Bethesda could release the exact same game in new environments with new characters and I would still love every single second of it. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/28/2022 K.C. Munchkin! Platform Magnavox Odyssey2 Initial Release Date 1981 (NA) Developer Magnavox Genre Action My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.75/100 It's easy to sit back and call K.C. Munchkin a Pac-Man clone if you've never played it before. At first glance, it certainly looks like one. Even the concept of the game is the same - eat all of the pellets on the screen, and the larger pellets allow you to eat the colorful ghosts that are trying to stop your progress. The big difference in K.C. Munchkin, and it works really well, is that the whole screen isn't full of pellets. There's only a few pellets on the screen at the start of the level…and they move. The more you eat, the faster the remaining pellets move. So instead of simply trying to figure out a way to eat a screen full of pellets in the most efficient way, you're left trying to catch the last pellet on the screen while simultaneously trying to avoid the ghosts. It can be stressful when you pick a fork in the path in hopes that you can cut off that last pellet, only for it to turn in the opposite direction you predicted and now you're sandwiched by two ghosts closing in…but it's also good fun. If you like the basic concept of Pac-Man but want an interesting twist on the formula that's still fun to play today, then give K.C. Munchkin a chance - it's well worth tracking a Magnavox Odyssey2 down for, in my opinion. Played on: Odyssey2 Also known as: Munchkin (Europe), Come-Come II (South America)

Date added: 06/27/2020 WWF Wrestlemania 2000 Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date October 12, 1999 (EU) Developer Aki Corp. Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.90/100 WWF Wrestlemania 2000 was, at the time, the biggest WWF game ever made. It nearly included the entire roster at the time along with several modes and match types, along with a so-so create-a-wrestler option, allowing players to put themselves (or wrestlers from rival promotions) in the game, increasing the roster even further. It was a great wrestling title that was the continued, upward evolution of the previous WCW Aki-developed games. WWF No Mercy gets most of the attention when it comes to the great N64 wrestling games, but in all honesty, I think I actually prefer WWF Wrestlemania 2000 if for no other reason than the roster. I mean how many wrestling games allow you to have the Blue Meanie and Meat grapple against each other right out of the box? Just one. This guy right here. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/07/2023 Street Fighter 6 Platform Sony Playstation 5 Initial Release Date June 2, 2023 (W) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.12/100 I wasn't really excited for Street Fighter 6. I love the classic Street Fighter games, but with many recent fighting games being so focused on online multiplayer, I have a difficult time getting excited for most new games in the genre. Then World Tour mode was announced…and it got my attention. Then I played it…and the next thing I knew, Street Fighter 6 had stolen WAY more hours of my life away than I ever thought that it would have. Essentially, World Tour mode is a single-player mode where you create your own fighter and brawl with nearly everyone in the world that you encounter. As you explore the city, you'll also be able to find secrets, and discover fighters from the game's roster to mentor you and teach you their style. The story is a little goofy, but I still found myself absolutely enthralled with that mode to the point that I made sure to discover all fighters, secret bosses, and anything else that I could possibly find while exploring the world and knocking out random citizens roaming the scenery. My only real complaint is the simplified control scheme…it feels wrong to have simplified inputs for complicated moves that it used to take time to master. The option is there to turn those controls off and play Street Fighter as it was originally intended, but as a purist, I do dislike the simplification there. That said, if you've always wanted to get into fighting games, but found the button inputs to be too complicated, then you may like how the new control scheme makes even the most complicated moves easy to execute. Outside of the controls, once the fighting begins, Street Fighter 6 is about as excellent as you'd expect from a Street Fighter game. I really enjoyed my time with Street Fighter 6, and I can definitely see myself returning to the World Tour mode over and over again down the road. Played on: Playstation 5 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/02/2019 Twisted Metal 2 Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date October 31, 1996 (NA) Developer SingleTrac Genre Action My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.57/100 Until Twisted Metal: Black came out, this was easily the best game in the Twisted Metal franchise. Everything is just so well done here - the level design, the controls, the secrets to discover, the new characters...it's all just so well done. Twisted Metal basically created the car combat genre, but Twisted Metal 2 set the bar for quality so high that even the next three Twisted Metal games on the Playstation One couldn't come close to reaching it. Up until Twisted Metal: Black came out, and rose the genre to even higher heights, this is what I thought that car combat perfection looked like. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Twisted Metal World Tour (Europe), Twisted Metal EX (Japan)

Date added: 07/28/2019 Wave Race 64 Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date September 27, 1996 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Racing My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.58/100 Oh, that Miyamoto...Everything he touches seems to turn to gold. I like water-based racing games to begin with, but Wave Race 64 isn't just a racing game, as it almost doubles as an obstacle course at the same time, making you weave in and out of buoys in the water while trying to pass your opponents. Ignore the directions of the buoys and you'll find yourself disqualified. It sounds kind of lame, but once you start to play, you'll see that it's done very, very well. Toss in the various water effects, depending on the level you’re racing on (racing on a lake is pretty calm compared to an ocean) and it forces the player to use some minor strategy…like see that small wall? If you can time it right with the waves, you can jump over it and cut a huge corner of the track. Time it wrong, and you’re smashing into the wall and falling way behind. It's still one of the best jet ski racers (or any water-based racing game, for that matter) that you can find, nearly 20 years later. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: Wave Race 64: Kawasaki Jet Ski (Japan)

Date added: 08/02/2019 Killer Instinct Platform Super NES Initial Release Date August 1995 (NA) Developer Rare Genre Fighting My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 84.93/100 Taking a break from their revival of the Donkey Kong franchise, Rare used the graphical technology from those games and applied it to a fighting game that I feel is a little underrated. Killer Instinct is a smooth-playing fighter that stole some ideas from other games (the most blatant being Mortal Kombat) but also innovated as well. The combo system that eventually became commonplace in fighting games first appeared in Killer Instinct. That's not the reason it's such a good game, though. The fighting itself is fun, and the combo system allows for unique-for-the-time combat that involved air juggles that were a blast to execute. It's not the best fighting game ever made, but for its time, it was one of the best around. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/12/2021 WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$ Platform Nintendo Game Boy Advance Initial Release Date March 21, 2003 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Action My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.73/100 When I first played WarioWare, I was amazed. I remember thinking to myself, "They captured the inner workings of my brain and turned it into a video game." The concept of a bunch of minigames that take seconds to play thrown on top of each other doesn't sound like it would be something to keep you coming back for more...But WarioWare, Inc. is so charming, bizarre, and fun, that you're very likely to come back for more time and time again. It’s such an addicting formula that the WarioWare series is still going strong today, with the most recent release happening earlier this year, nearly 20 years after the original first hit store shelves. Played on: Game Boy Advance Also known as: Made in Wario (Japan)

Date added: 06/28/2022 Fable Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date September 14, 2004 (NA) Developer Big Blue Box Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 84.54/100 Yes, Fable didn't quite live up to what it was promised to be…but, honestly, I found that to be forgivable because what we got was pretty dang fun anyway. While not perfect by any stretch, Fable was an addictive, fun, and chock full of personality. I'm not sure if there's another game out there where you can wear the most ridiculous outfit, hairdo, and facial hair that you can come up with…and still have people fall in love with you as a result. Whether you want to be a good hero, a bad hero, or somewhere in the middle, there's plenty to enjoy in this game. While I like later games in the series as well, I have to admit, that I don't feel like any of them come close to providing the enjoyment of the original….Well, unless you count the re-release of this game with the Lost Chapters added in, anyway. If you've never given Fable a chance due to it not living up to the lofty promises that were made in development, I suggest giving it a try. It may not be as good as it could have been, but it's still plenty good as it is. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/07/2020 Borderlands Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date October 20, 2009 (NA) Developer Gearbox Software Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 85.59/100 Borderlands is a first-person shooter that dabbles in aspects that you'd find in an RPG, like leveling up, hit points, and finding loot....lots of loot. Add in some charming cel-shaded graphics and you've got yourself a charming little game that can appeal even to folks who aren't big first-person shooter fans. Also nice are the four characters to play as, with each character specializing in a specific play style. Whether you're into melee attacks, stealth, sniping, or plain ol' run and gun action, the game has you covered. The game also has plenty of humor and personality (though I absolutely loathe the clap traps…some of the most annoying game characters I’ve ever come across) scattered between all the action, making this a very solid overall package that's fun to play co-op with a few friends or even just by your lonesome. Played on: Playstation 3, PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/24/2019 Galaxian Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1983 (NA) Developer Atari Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 83.75/100 Galaxian was a massive hit in arcades, and the Atari 2600 version is one of the few arcade ports on the console that was able to live up to, or at least get close to, the quality of the arcade original. It was a blast to play, and was proof that even as the video game crash was about to happen due to poor quality of games, a few must-buy titles were still being released. Even now, over 35 years later, it still holds up pretty well. If you're a fan of the arcade original, then this version of Galaxian is well worth a purchase. It may not be as pretty as in the arcade, but it’s just as fun. Played on: Atari 2600, NES, Arcade Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/19/2019 Castlevania: Circle of the Moon Platform Nintendo Game Boy Advance Initial Release Date March 21, 2001 (JP) Developer KCEK Genre Action My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.51/100 Castlevania: Circle of the Moon was first first in a long line of Symphony of the Night-inspired Castlevania games that have now become mainstays of Nintendo handhelds. It's the same enjoyable formula found in Symphony of the Night, with a few minor changes, and in portable form - what's not to like about that? Some folks complained about the game when it came out that it was TOO much like Symphony of the Night. I don’t really agree. I feel like the general “metroidvania” style is the same, but the DSS card system (among some other aspects) helps make this separate itself from SotN. In the early days of the Game Boy Advance, this was one of the must-buy titles for the handheld...And even towards the end of the GBA's lifespan and beyond to today, it has maintained that status in my opinion, even if the later games in the GBA Castlevania trilogy may have improved upon and surpassed this game. Played on: Game Boy Advance Also known as: Akumajou Dracula: Circle of the Moon (Japan)

Date added: 08/17/2022 Soul Blade Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date December 20, 1996 (JP) Developer Namco Genre Fighting My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.01/100 Back when the original Playstation was alive and kicking, the 3D fighting games that got the most attention were the games in Namco's Tekken franchise. Then there was Soul Blade, also known as Soul Edge, which some shrugged off as Tekken with weapons. I, being a stupid young'un, was one of those that shrugged the game off and I never really gave it much of a chance. Like I said, I was stupid. Not only was Soul Blade a fantastic fighting game, but when it was released on Playstation, it was actually better than both Tekken and Tekken 2. Only Tekken 3 surpassed Soul Blade's overall quality, and that game came out about a year later. The combat is fantastic and the Weapon mode, where you can obtain new weapons for each character to wield, is a nice alternative to play if you're tired of the traditional arcade mode. This really is an excellent fighting game…and not only did Namco realize that when they created the sequel, SoulCalibur, but they managed to find ways to improve on everything found here without taking a step back anywhere. If you're a fan of the SoulCalibur franchise and want to see where the series began, then hunt down a copy of Soul Blade and give it a try. I bet you'll be glad that you did. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Soul Edge (Japan)

Date added: 04/21/2019 Final Fantasy VII Remake Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date April 10, 2020 (W) Developer Square Enix Genre RPG My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.76/100 Final Fantasy VII Remake was a game that I was kind of looking forward to, but also secretly dreading. I was interested to explore Midgar and get a little deeper into the events that happened there…but as a big fan of the old-school turn-based gameplay, I was not thrilled with the choice to update the battles to be more like Final Fantasy XV’s combat. After playing through the game from beginning to end, I can honestly say that while it’s not perfect, Final Fantasy VII Remake is a fantastic game. I grew to appreciate the combat for what it was by the time the game came to an end. I also was thrilled at some of the little things in the game – in particular, when I played the original waaaay back in the 90’s, I remember wishing I could go to some places during my time in Midgar, and this game lets me explore some of those locations. It should also be said that the story is not identical…as a result, even if you’ve played the original dozens of times, you’ll still experience some things for the first time, including some new characters. Overall, I really liked this game. I still prefer the original, but I’m definitely looking forward to the next installments in this remake to not only explore other areas of the game in 3D, but to also see where this modified story leads to. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/12/2023 Kirby's Adventure Platform NES Initial Release Date March 23, 1993 (JP) Developer Hal Laboratories Genre Platformer My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.58/100 First you draw a circle, then you dot the eyes. Add a great big smile, and presto, it's Kirby! I remember the first time that I played Kirby's Adventure, it took mere seconds for me to become absolutely smitten with it. Controlling the adorable pink cream puff known as Kirby, you quickly learn that this isn't your typical platformer. Not only can Kirby walk and/or fly on stage, but his endless appetite allows you to eat certain enemies and absorb their power. Depending on what you eat, you could gain the ability to spit ice or fire, transform into a tire to roll through enemies, or even obtain a microphone to sing so poorly that all enemies on the screen instantly perish. The level design is really the only thing that I feel holds this game back from being even better than it already is - many levels feel short and uninspired. That gripe aside, though, Kirby's Adventure is still one of my favorite NES games of all-time and it was a treat to play through it again to refresh my memory before adding it to this list. Played on: NES Also known as: Hoshi no Kirby: Yume no Izumi no Monogatari (Japan)

Date added: 11/01/2019 OutRun Platform Arcade Initial Release Date 1986 (NA) Developer Sega Genre Racing My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 86.43/100 OutRun was the first arcade game that I fell in love with. I still remember seeing it for the first time, seeing the steering wheel, and thinking, “I can drive?!” I was probably around 7 or 8 at the time, so being able to believe I was driving was a pretty big deal. Once I started playing, I was amazed at the graphics (home console games hadn’t looked that good yet) and Musical Sound Shower echoed in my head for days after. Today, I still enjoy going back and playing OutRun. With multiple paths to take as you drive, the backgrounds that you see as you weave around traffic while attempting to not crash into road signs are constantly changing, making the game feel fresh. Speaking of crashing, one of the most memorable things of arcade video games in the 80’s was watching the couple in their topless vehicle being thrown from it as the car tumbles and crashes to the side of the road. Better racing games eventually came along in the arcade, but for quite a while, OutRun was the king of arcade racing. Played on: Arcade, Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/23/2021 Saturday Night Slam Masters Platform Super NES Initial Release Date March 30, 1994 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 81.77/100 I LOVE THIS GAME. Yes, I yelled that. I screamed it at the top of my lungs, standing outside Slam Masters' bedroom window while I held a boombox over my head that's playing some sappy song by Michael Bolton or Anthrax or some other romantic-themed musical act. Saturday Night Slam Masters, in my opinion, is the perfect blend of fighting games and wrestling games, giving you great, fluid action that you'd expect from the Street Fighter series mixed with the mayhem you'd expect in a pro wrestling match like weapons and top-rope dives. The end result is a wrestling game that is extremely fun for both wrestling fans and non fans alike. This is easily the best 16-bit wrestling game released in North America, and in my opinion. The Super NES version is the superior version overall, but the Genesis version does allow the player to pick the Scorpion and Jumbo Flapjack to be playable characters in the singles ranks, as well as the ability to play against a friend in a deathmatch. I have played this game regularly since I was a young’un, and I still love it just as much today as I did back then. Played on: Super NES, Genesis, Arcade Also known as: Muscle Bomber: The Body Explosion (Japan)

Date added: 04/19/2020 LittleBigPlanet Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date October 27, 2008 (NA) Developer Media Molecule Genre Platformer My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.34/100 LittleBigPlanet is such an enjoyable game...Not just because it's got a fun and different take on the 2D platformer formula, but because the replay value of the game is near infinite due to the fact that you can download player-made levels (many of which are really, really well done and they’re STILL online as of this writing, surprisingly enough) at your leisure, or even create your own if your creative juices are flowing enough. The controls can feel a bit awkward initially, but after a few levels, you’ll have it down and making your way through levels like a pro. The levels that come with the game are fun, but again, the player-made levels are what will keep you coming back for more. Some of them are absolutely fantastic. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/03/2019 LISA Platform PC Initial Release Date December 15, 2014 (NA) Developer Dingaling Genre RPG My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 83.41/100 I didn't quite know what to expect when I played LISA for the first time...And shortly after starting to play it, I wondered why I hadn't played it sooner. While it's not without its flaws, I absolutely adore this game. It's an RPG with very good humor, plenty of the bizarre, and quite a bit of references to professional wrestling - all things that I love. If you're not a wrestling fan and worried about the wrestling references, don’t worry. Most of them are cleverly inserted that they seem natural to the setting, but if you’re a fan, you’ll get it...stuff like the main character being named Brad Armstrong, Hawaiian shirts "make you feel like you have the whole world in your hands," voices in someone’s head talk to them and the understand, etc. But anyway, it's an RPG that takes about 10 hours to beat, with plenty of hidden characters and locations to discover, adding quite a bit of replay value to go back to try to find them all. I highly recommend this...especially if you've got a bit of a warped sense of humor like I do. It’s so awesome. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/18/2019 New Super Mario Bros. U Platform Nintendo Wii U Initial Release Date November 18, 2012 (NA) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.53/100 I've been waiting for the New Super Mario Bros. series of platformers to deliver an experience like the 2D Mario games that I grew up with. New Super Mario Bros. U doesn't quite reach that level, but it comes closer than any other game in the series before it...Well, in my opinion at least. The previous games in the "New" franchise had me getting bored a few levels in. This game kept me wanting to keep playing...Something I haven't experienced from a 2D Mario game since Super Mario World. The game isn't perfect, mind you, and it still doesn't live up to the quality of the NES and SNES Mario games, but it's better than the previous two games in the "New" series by far, in my opinion. Played on: Wii U Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/07/2019 Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers Platform Super NES Initial Release Date June 25, 1994 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 90.56/100 The first release of Street Fighter II was one of the greatest fighting games of all-time. The second release of Street Fighter II introduced the ability to play as the bosses, increased speed, and everything tweaked to near perfection. The third release on consoles for the Street Fighter II franchise was Super Street Fighter II, which maintains everything great about the previous two games, introduces four brand-new characters (including the lady that may be my favorite fighting game character of all-time, Cammy) and tosses some new modes in the mix to go along with the standard arcade and versus modes. The end result is, quite possibly, the best overall fighting game of the 16-bit era. The only reason that Street Fighter II Turbo is higher in this list is because I feel like it made more of an impact with its release, and as excellent as Super Street Fighter II is, most Street Fighter fans were waiting for a true sequel at the time of its release, instead of more improvements to an already beloved game. Played on: Super NES, Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/05/2020 Left 4 Dead 2 Platform Xbox 360 Initial Release Date November 17, 2009 (NA) Developer Valve Software Genre 1st-Person Shooter My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.46/100 Left 4 Dead 2 takes all of the fun of the original game, adds in a larger variety of zombies and weapons, and tweaked gameplay to create a very good sequel. Unlike the previous game, which was pretty much just purely shooting up zombies while trying to survive with your teammates, Left 4 Dead 2 introduces mild tasks to break up the shooting (for some teammates, anyway) like collecting various gas canisters to fill up a vehicle with gas, which has a teammate grabbing gas canisters while everyone else covers them and makes sure they make it to the car…Why they’d need a full tank of gas to escape a mall littered with flesh-eating zombies, I have no idea. One would imagine that a single gas canister would be enough. Anyway, these tasks aren’t just about breaking up the shooting, but also for really making everyone work as a team. It works really well. Left 4 Dead was a solid team-based shooter. Left 4 Dead 2 was even better. Now that it’s been over a decade, I’d love to see Valve develop a third entry in the series to see what else they can improve upon with this formula. Played on: Xbox 360 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/15/2019 Parasite Eve Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date March 29, 1998 (JP) Developer SquareSoft Genre RPG My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 82.99/100 I remember when I first played Parasite Eve, I thought it was so cool. It felt like I was playing a science fiction movie…I felt like it totally lived up to its billing of a “cinematic RPG.” Over twenty years later and I'm still a pretty big fan. Parasite Eve was an attempt by SquareSoft to toss some survival horror elements into an RPG...and it turned out pretty dang well, in my opinion. While it wasn't necessarily scary, the game created a unique atmosphere...one that made it hard for me to put the controller down not just because I was interested in where the story was going, but also because the unique, turn-based combat was also pretty dang fun. The overall package resulted in a very solid game that I'm still a pretty big fan of to this day. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/18/2019 Tempest 2000 Platform Atari Jaguar Initial Release Date April 1, 1994 (NA) Developer Llamasoft Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 89.29/100 Tempest 2000 is a hidden gem that few seem to know about…mainly because it called ill-fated systems like the Jaguar and Saturn home. Not only does Tempest 2000 have a near-perfect port of the original Tempest arcade game, which would make it worth owning for alone, but it features several modes, an option for multiplayer, and, of course, the Tempest 2000 game itself. The original Tempest was very good. Tempest 2000 improves on the formula to make it great. With new enemies, new power-ups, and upgraded graphics, Tempest 2000 was good, simple fun with enough content crammed into the cartridge/cd to make sure that you’d be coming back for more for quite a while. Played on: Jaguar Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/27/2020 Dance Dance Revolution: 3rd Mix Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date June 1, 2000 (JP) Developer KCET Genre Music My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.56/100 The childhood rhyme of 3rd is a turd does not apply here. In fact, Dance Dance Revolution 3rd Mix is a vast improvement over an already enjoyable DDR 2nd Remix...such an improvement that even if you had mastered most of the songs on the previous games, aside from new songs in 3rd Mix, you also had several new modes and options. The previous games in the series, which were amazing for their time, immediately felt dated by 3rd Mix due to all of its additions. Folks accustomed to the North American version of Dance Dance Revolution will be more familiar with many of the modes found here. Plus, if you've got a Pocketstation, this is one of the few games that you can use it with. Overall, this is easily one of the best music games ever created...and one that I fondly remember from my college years. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/07/2020 SSX Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date October 26, 2000 (JP) Developer EA Sports Big Genre Sports - Snowboarding My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.94/100 For many, Cool Boarders 2 was the pinnacle of snowboarding games as the Playstation era wound down and the Playstation 2 era began. At the Playstation 2 launch, SSX was released and Electronic Arts quickly established the franchise as the new top dog in the snowboarding genre. SSX was a fantastic snowboarding game with beautiful graphics, and a good selection of playable characters to play as and unlockables for them, and some very-well designed courses. The beauty of the courses is how they appear to be pretty straightforward at first…maybe an obvious branching path here and there. The more you play, however, you’ll begin to discover shortcuts to help you out on your race to the bottom of the course. It helps keep things interesting and prevent multiple trips down the same course from feeling too repetitive. SSX was just a fantastic game and one could argue that it might have been the best launch title for the PS2. The best part is that it’s just as fun today as it was when it was released 20 years ago. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: X-treme Racing SSX (Japan)

Date added: 06/02/2021 Metroid Fusion Platform Nintendo Game Boy Advance Initial Release Date November 17, 2002 (NA) Developer Nintendo Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 89.62/100 I remember really, really looking forward to this title...And I'll admit it, I was a little disappointed by it. I wanted a game like Super Metroid, where you could explore around in order to figure out how to advance...Instead, Metroid Fusion is much, much more linear and it almost holds your hand through each area of the game. However, those complaints aside, this is still a pretty fantastic game. The basic gameplay is fun, the story is interesting, and the graphics and audio are very good as well...If not for the hand-holding, linear story/gameplay progression, this probably would have been my favorite game on the Game Boy Advance. But as it is, it's still near the top of the heap. It's a very good game, but a tad short of being on the level of Super Metroid. Played on: Game Boy Advance Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/04/2023 Decathlete Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date 1995 (JP) Developer Sega Genre Sports - Track and Field My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 86.33/100 If Decathlete was released today, it might be mocked for lack of content or simplicity…but for its time, there was no better track and field game around. In fact, I'll even argue that due to a lack of focus on that specific sports genre, that Decathlete, to this day, may be the king of the mountain in regards to track and field games. With a cast of stereotypical-looking athletes, every single playable character looks unique and stands out. The music and the in-game announcer only further add to the game's personality. But this game isn't only about personality - once the gameplay starts, especially if you've got a group of friends to play with, the gameplay is frantic fun. Sure, like most track and field games, Decathlete is mostly a button-mashing contest, but enough variety is included in how the ten events are played that it doesn't get old nearly as fast as you might think it would. Yes, if more content was included, this would be even better, but for what it is, Decathlete is a fantastic port of a fantastic arcade game…and due to how it makes button mashing fun, I'm convinced that if I ever get diagnosed with carpal tunnel, I'll have this game to blame for it. Played on: Saturn Also known as: Athlete Kings (Japan)

Date added: 12/31/2021 Batman: Arkham City Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date October 18, 2011 (NA) Developer Rocksteady Studios Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 90.77/100 After the success of Batman: Arkham Asylum, Rocksteady Games decided to continue on with the formula found there, but expand the world from a small area around an asylum to an entire city. It’s basically the same game as Arkham Asylum, but on a larger scale and with plenty of new villains to join some returning ones. It’s not necessarily a bad thing to deliver more of the same in this case, mind you. I finished Arkham Asylum wishing that there was more, and I got more here. Unfortunately, that’s where Arkham City dropped the ball, in my opinion. When I saw the credit rolls for Arkham Asylum, I wanted to play some more. By the time Arkham City was over, I was ready for it to be over. Even with the inclusion of Catwoman as a playable character (in DLC form) to give a new spin on the gameplay and new areas of the world to explore, I just didn’t have the desire to continue playing this after I completed the final battle like I did with Rocksteady’s initial Batman game. Still, a game doesn't ALWAYS have to leave you wanting more, and Arkham City didn't overstay its welcome for me. Overall, I enjoyed the game as a whole and if you enjoyed kicking the teeth out of bad guys in Arkham Asylum, then you’ll likely feel the same way about Arkham City. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/26/2022 Super Meat Boy Platform PC Initial Release Date November 30, 2010 (NA) Developer Team Meat Genre Platformer My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 85.91/100 Super Meat Boy wasn't the first difficult platformer ever released - but it managed to make platforming that looks and feels impossible fun. They had a few tricks up their sleeves to help with that. The first was to remove the typical screens you'd see when you die in a game, so when you die, you're instantly respawned back into the game. Next, they supplied the player with infinite lives, which leaves plenty of room to experiment in the levels without fear of losing all your progress and having to start over. Those two aspects alone often result in an attitude of, "I'll just try one more time, then I'm going to bed," and one more time often turns into about one hundred more times. The quick respawns and unlimited lives almost makes you feel stubborn…like you've got all the time in the world, so no matter how difficult a level is, you kinda feel motivated to sit there and play until you finally complete a level that looked absolutely impossible when you first laid eyes on it. But, that stuff would mean nothing if the game wasn't fun, and aside from being known for its difficulty, Super Meat Boy is also known for being a really good game. The controls are smooth (they need to be for how precise you have to be in some levels) and the levels are well thought-out and designed. If you're a fan of 2D platformers, you likely will never get bored when playing this. Frustrated at times, perhaps, but never bored. If you've never played Super Meat Boy, but enjoy 2D platformers, then give it a shot. I bet you'll like it. If you like your games on the difficult side, but like the idea of having the forgiveness of infinite lives, then you'll likely absolutely love this game. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/22/2024 Golden Axe Warrior Platform Sega Master System Initial Release Date April 1991 (NA) Developer Sega Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 85.95/100 At first glance, Golden Axe Warrior simply looks like Sega's attempt to publish a Legend of Zelda clone…but while the formula of finding dungeons to explore and unlocking various weapons and tools to help along the way is used here, Golden Axe Warrior does enough things different here where I think fans of the 2D Zelda games will find plenty to like. For that reason, I'm disappointed that this game never received a sequel…I feel like another game would have only improved on everything here, which is already very well done. My only real complaint about the game is that it can be frustrating figuring out where exactly you are in the world at times, and you don't get the "magic balloon," which shows you the world map, until you visit the second to last dungeon. Another, minor, issue is due to the Master System's controller layout more than anything else - in later dungeons, it's mildly annoying to have to open the menu every few seconds to swap between weapons and skills. Again, though, the Master System controllers don't exactly have extra buttons to make that process much easier, and it's more of a minor annoyance than anything that would make me want to stop playing. Overall, Golden Axe Warrior is a very well-made game and it may be one of the best reasons to own a Master System. If you're a fan of the 2D Legend of Zelda games, I don't think that you'll find another game that manages to come as close as being as great as Nintendo's franchise as this one. The Legend of Zelda games still get the nod, in my opinion, but Golden Axe Warrior is a pretty close second. Played on: Sega Master System Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/19/2020 Half-Life Platform PC Initial Release Date November 19, 1998 (NA) Developer Valve Software Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 90.58/100 When Half-Life first came out, it blew away any other first-person shooter that had come before it. It combined fun first-person shooter action with some clever puzzles for some fantastic gameplay...And on top of that, the atmosphere was incredible. The graphics were amazing for their time, the story was interesting, yet still pretty simple...It's just a fantastic overall experience that still holds up well today. This set the stage for the sequel, which many consider to be the best 1st person shooter ever made, and created a rabid fanbase that have been clamoring for a third entry in the series for over a decade. Thankfully, it’s extremely easy to play this gem, it’s available on Steam, often on sale for very cheap. Even after all these years, this is still an enjoyable experience and well worth playing for any fans of the genre. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/17/2023 Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels Platform Nintendo Famicom Disk System Initial Release Date June 3, 1986 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 84.82/100 Known as Super Mario Bros. 2 in Japan, later renamed "The Lost Levels" when being added to the Super Mario All-Stars cart o the Super NES in the west, this game was deemed too difficult for western players, so instead of releasing this game outside of Japan on the NES, instead they opted to modify an easier game, Yume Koujou: Doki Doki Panic, as Super Mario Bros. 2 everywhere else in the world. While Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels is definitely more difficult than the original Super Mario Bros., it's not nearly as difficult as some other games on the NES, so I'm not really sure what the concern was about. Anyway, as someone that grew up with the original Super Mario Bros., I would have loved to have this more difficult version…and I eventually did thanks to Super Mario All-Stars. There's something that really makes you feel like you accomplished something by beating the 8-bit version, though. For those of you who haven't played it, aside from the increased platforming difficulty (including some VERY frustrating stages…7-3, I'm looking at you) The Lost Levels also introduces "poison" mushrooms that harm you rather than power you up. If you reach a warp zone, you're also not guaranteed to advance on in the game…you may come across a warp zone that sends you back to stage 1-1 instead. The game also introduces wind in some stages, which can both help you reach long distances in a jump, or make you overshoot your jump and make you fall to your demise. You can also play as Luigi in a single player game. Why would anyone want deny Mario's lanky brother a chance in the spotlight? This game seems to get a lot of hate from people, and I honestly don't understand why. Unless you hate the original Super Mario Bros., or if you really dislike any sort of challenge to your games, I feel like the Lost Levels is a fantastic platformer…especially if you've played the original Super Mario Bros. to death and want a new variation of that game with extra features to keep things interesting. Played on: Famicom Disk System Also known as: Super Mario Bros. 2 (Japan)

Date added: 01/11/2021 Ridge Racer Platform Playstation Portable Initial Release Date December 12, 2004 (JP) Developer Namco Genre Racing My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.40/100 Though starting with the WiiU this hasn’t been the case, for quite a while there was seemingly a rule - if a new system was being launched, a Ridge Racer game was expected to be part of the launch titles...And for the most part, they usually provided a solid title in the launch line-up. The Ridge Racer games may not have necessarily been the best game of the launch line-up, but it was still usually a very good one. In the case of PSP’s Ridge Racer, it very well may have been the best title at the handheld’s launch and was definitely the best game in the series since Ridge Racer 4, mixing up elements, tracks, and soundtracks from all of the previous Ridge Racer titles to create a game that wasn't just one of the best titles at launch, it remained one of the best games on the handheld for the remainder of the PSP's life cycle. The only game in the series that I, personally, think is better is Ridge Racer 4…but this excellent racing game is a very close second place. Played on: PSP Also known as: Ridge Racers (Japan)

Date added: 01/25/2023 Horizon: Zero Dawn Platform Playstation 4 Initial Release Date February 28, 2017 (NA) Developer Guerrilla Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.25/100 I honestly go out of my way to NOT learn anything about upcoming games. It's something I've done since Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was in development and I decided that I wanted to be surprised with everything I found. Since I felt that it made my experience better when I finally got to play it, I've adopted that strategy ever since. That explanation aside, I knew absolutely nothing about Horizon: Zero Dawn when I popped it in to play a few weeks ago. I feel like with San Andreas, not knowing about anything going in enhanced my experience here. Essentially, this is an open-world game where the goal is to initially attempt to discover the identity of your mother and how you were born, and of course, that leads to an end goal of saving the world. Along the way, you'll battle angry people and giant robots, explore old ruins, and climb a bunch of stuff like a spider monkey. For the most part, Horizon is a very well-made game…though, some of the side quests and such do manage to get a little repetitive right before the credits roll. I liked the story as well - the writers did a good of making Aloy a likeable main character…Though, there were some characters that I wished I had gotten to see more of through the game. Vanasha, in particular, stood out to me as an entertaining and likeable character that I would have liked to see more of in the story. Anyway, I'm really glad that I finally played this game. In one game, Guerrilla managed to make me a fan of the Horizon franchise and I'm already looking forward to getting caught up by playing Forbidden West. If you like open world games, Horizon: Zero Dawn is highly recommended. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/06/2019 Super Smash Bros. Melee Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date November 21, 2001 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Fighting My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 91.15/100 Before I purchased my own Gamecube, a friend in college conned his parents into sending him "book money" which was then spent on a Gamecube. The first title he bought was this game, and we then proceeded to have what he would call "Smash Parties" with a group of our friends. We'd play the game for hours at a time, day after day...And we never really got sick of it, either. While a different group of friends of mine were busy with their Halo parties, I was always playing this gem. The original Super Smash Bros. was a very good game, but Melee tweaked the formula, added plenty of new playable characters, and got people hooked by collecting trophies from various games in Nintendo’s storied past. Other games, like Ultimate on the Switch, may have more meat to them, but no other game in the franchise, in my opinion, made an impact like Melee, which I still think is the best game in the series released thus far. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: Dairantou Smash Brothers DX (Japan)

Date added: 08/31/2019 Grim Fandango Remastered Platform Sony Playstation Vita Initial Release Date January 27, 2015 (NA) Developer Double Fine Productions Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 86.07/100 Grim Fandango Remastered is an extremely entertaining game and well worth playing through, but like other LucasArts adventure games, the Monkey Island series in particular, it may be fun and enjoyable, but that doesn't mean that the puzzles make a whole lotta sense. But, no matter, it's hard not to like Manny, the game's main character, as well as many of the other personalities in the game - nearly all of them are charming in their own way. If you never got a chance to experience the original, this remaster is well worth the purchase. If you’ve played the original to death, pun intended, there’s not a whole lot new here aside from a graphical facelift. But, dare I say, that’s simply because the original game was excellent when it was released, and it remains a very solid point-and-click-style adventure game today. Played on: Playstation Vita, Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/26/2018 Katamari Damacy Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date March 18, 2004 (JP) Developer Now Production Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 86.95/100 Katamari Damacy was such a unique game when it came out. I remember picking up Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas at the store, seeing this game with its bizarre cover art and low price tag, and buying it along with San Andreas. Mid-way through playing San Andreas, I decided to give this game a try....I never got back to the Grand Theft Auto title. Katamari Damacy absolutely hooked me with the simple gameplay mechanic of rolling up anything and everything in sight. Few things in gaming are as satisfying as rolling up enough thumbtacks and caramel candies to make your katamari large enough to roll up that jerk mouse that sent you flying across the level earlier...then eventually rolling up the house that contained the mouse. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/01/2018 F-Zero Platform Super NES Initial Release Date November 21, 1990 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Racing My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 86.60/100 Until Rock N Roll Racing came out, this was the racing game that stole much of my childhood. I have no idea how many times I've beaten this game, but it's got to be close to 50. With each of the four drivers handling differently from each other, it added some slight, but much-appreciated variety and a reason for people to continue playing the game after initially beating it with a different character. It's one of the best racing games of the 16-bit era, and considering I just played through all the cups again about two months ago, I feel like it still holds up fairly well today. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/14/2019 Virtua Tennis Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date September 8, 2000 (EU) Developer Hitmaker Genre Sports - Tennis My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.43/100 One wouldn’t guess it at first glance, but in my opinion, Virtua Tennis is easily one of the greatest sports games ever made...And it's up there as one of the best Dreamcast games regardless of genre. Virtua Tennis brought back the simplistic joys of Pong, tweaking the tennis game formula to near perfection in the process. Not only is the action extremely fluid and easy to play, but World Tour mode and the mini games found within is a great addition as well, adding hours of gameplay to an already great game. To this day, nearly two decades later, I don’t know if another tennis game can top this one. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: Sega Professional Tennis: Power Smash (Japan)

Date added: 07/21/2019 Adventure Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date 1979 (NA) Developer Atari Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.68/100 Adventure is basically the game that started the "adventure" genre. It laid down the groundwork for games like the Legend of Zelda to come along and improve upon. Playing Adventure today, you'll be able to see the similarities between this game and the 2D Zelda titles pretty easily. Adventure was fantastic back when it was released, and it's still pretty fun today. It's also got an awesome cheesiness factor to it since you're controlling a dot and fighting dragons that look like seahorses. Good, quick, simple fun. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/11/2019 Metroid Platform NES Initial Release Date August 15, 1987 (NA) Developer Nintendo Genre Adventure My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 91.58/100 Metroid was amazing when it originally released. Traversing through various locations of a planet with an emphasis on exploration rather than a linear path, discovering multiple power-ups, battling a large variety of bosses and enemies...this game was huge. Then you battle your way through the game, defeat the Mother Brain, and watch on in awe as you realize that the cool, intergalactic tough guy that just destroyed the end boss is really a cool, intergalactic tough girl...And then you're rewarded with the ability to play through a second time, but this time sans your spacesuit and with all of your power-ups still intact. Super Metroid improved on this game to near perfection, but for its time, the original Metroid was still absolutely incredible. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/17/2024 Bully Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date October 17, 2006 (NA) Developer Rockstar Vancouver Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 86.69/100 Whenever I like to point at how clueless anti-video game politicians are, I use Bully as the example. So many politicians and news outlets claimed that Bully was a horrific game where the sole goal was to bully other students…I even remember at least one claiming it lets you terrorize everyone just short of starting a school shooting. I remember hearing my grandparents asking me about it since it was on the news and they were concerned. The fact of the matter is that in Bully, if you choose to bully students, you will get in trouble for it. The goal of the game is, instead, to stop other groups of students from bullying others…and yes, sometimes that involves you throwing punches, but other times it involves throwing eggs, making people slip on banana peels or marbles, using a slingshot, using itching powder or stink bombs, and doing a lot of stereotypical, mostly harmless, kid stuff. You take control of Jimmy, who essentially is a kid who would much rather keep to himself and not bother anyone, but has no problem fighting back when pushed to it, and eventually finds himself confronting each social group in the school, and eventually gaining their respect…usually with Jimmy taking over each group and demanding that they stop picking on the other kids. Along the way, you'll meet an assortment of colorful characters, and unlock surrounding towns to explore, all while attending (or skipping) classes - though going to class does have its benefits. If you want to play a light-hearted game, that still happens to have a little bit of an edge to it, then Bully is a good choice. I'm always happy to return to this game and trick folks into slipping on marbles when they chase me all over again. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: Canis Canem Edit (Europe)

Date added: 03/30/2019 Crazy Taxi Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date January 24, 2000 (NA) Developer Hitmaker Genre Action My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 86.75/100 Crazy Taxi was a blast in the arcades, and while you can't sit in a booth with a steering wheel and a gas pedal while playing this at home, maneuvering around the city using a controller is nearly as fun. Crazy Taxi is arcade-style gameplay at its most fun, with a premise that doesn't sound like it would be too enjoyable - drive people around location to location as quickly as possible. I was never all that great at this game (I don't think I ever got better than a class A licence) but that never prevented me from enjoying it one bit. Played on: Dreamcast, Playstation 2, Gamecube, PC, Android, iPhone Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/03/2020 Dead Rising Platform Xbox 360 Initial Release Date August 8, 2006 (NA) Developer Capcom Genre Brawler My Score 8.5/10 Avg. Score 84.69/100 Good ol’ Dead Rising. When I first played Dead Rising at my friends’ parents house, I thought it was an okay game that was less about the gameplay and more about the impressive number of zombies that could be on the screen at once – the gameplay wasn’t as impressive as the technical aspects…kinda like how State of Emergency was on the PS2. But then I eventually got myself a copy of the game and began to play…and I completely fell in love with all of the bizarre characters and B-movie story, and eventually, I fell in love with the gameplay as well. Now, almost 15 years later, it remains one of my favorite games of all-time…in fact, when I intended to just play for an hour or so to nab screenshots for this list, I found myself beating the game all over again instead. It’s able to hook me that easily. Dead Rising 2 is probably a better game overall, and definitely more interesting with the ability to craft unique weapons, but the original game still holds a special place in my heart and is a game that I gladly pull out to play every now and then simply because putting traffic cones on the heads of zombies, then plowing them all over with a bowling ball is just good, clean fun. Played on: Xbox 360, Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/30/2019 Dead or Alive 2 Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date February 29, 2000 (NA) Developer Team Ninja Genre Fighting My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.3/100 Dead or Alive 2 was one of the more sought-after games on the Dreamcast when it was released. Years after the death of the console, a used copy of Dead or Alive 2 was still fetching around $30 or so, which isn't too shabby, especially considering other games had released in the series including an updated port on Playstation 2. However, regardless of what it costs, this is a must-play game for fighting enthusiasts. The boob physics may be what gives this series (especially later games) most of its attention, but at its core, Dead or Alive 2 is a very solid fighting game. In my personal opinion, this is the pinnacle of the Dead or Alive series, with improvements in every aspect of the original game. If not for Soul Calibur, Dead or Alive 2 would have been considered the best 3D fighter on the Dreamcast. But second place ain't too shabby, either. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/31/2019 The Outer Worlds Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date October 25, 2019 (NA) Developer Obsidian Entertainment Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 86.75/100 The Outer Worlds, in my opinion, is best described as Fallout meets Mass Effect. More action than Fallout, but more exploration than Mass Effect. I really enjoyed it. Just as I was beginning to get bored of the same ol’ scenery, the game came to an end…Which both made me happy that the game did not overstay its welcome, but also disappointed because I was still enjoying the game, I just wanted some more planets to roam around on. Also unique is that this is an outer space game with zero intelligent alien life. Yes, there are creatures and plant life that are not from Earth, but no aliens. Just humans trying to survive in a galaxy alone. It’s a unique take on the space setting, and it works well within the story of the game. If you want a good blend of exploration and action mixed together along with some good humor from time to time, then The Outer Worlds is likely a game that you’ll really enjoy. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/05/2020 WWF Smackdown! 2: Know Your Role Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date November 21, 2000 (NA) Developer Yuke's Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 88.90/100 Oh, man...The hours that I've spent with this game. Call me crazy, but while everyone was going on and on about WWF No Mercy, I actually preferred the simplicity and fast, arcadey pace of WWF Smackdown! 2. While the gameplay isn't nearly as deep as WWF No Mercy, the never-ending Season mode helps make up for it in my eyes. I recently just started playing it again and got hooked just like I did twenty years ago. If I were to review the games side by side, WWF No Mercy is technically the better game. If I were to just go by my own personal preference, I'm that crazy guy that puts this ahead of the N64 classic. It's not a perfect wrestling game, but it's still dang good. In North America, you couldn’t get a better wrestling game, while the sport was at its peak in popularity, than Smackdown! 2. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Exciting Pro Wrestling 2 (Japan)

Date added: 09/29/2021 Spelunky 2 Platform PC Initial Release Date September 29, 2020 (NA) Developer Mossmouth Genre Platformer My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 85.80/100 If you’ve been following this list since I originally published it, then you’ve probably seen where Spelunky sits on this list and what I think about that game. So, it’s probably no surprise that I was really looking forward to playing Spelunky 2. After putting roughly 10 hours into the game so far, I can honestly say that while I like Spelunky 2, I can’t help but feel like it falls short of the quality of the original. For me, it feels like Spelunky 2 tried to improve on everything so much that it attempted to re-invent the wheel. The changes and additions aren’t awful by any means, and some of them are very welcome, but one of the things that made the original Spelunky so great was how simple it was. By moving away from some of that simplicity, it kind of feels like it lost a little bit of its quality. That’s just a minor complaint, though. Spelunky 2 is still an excellent game, and I’m sure that I’ll put just as many hours into this game as I did the original over time. If you’re looking for a solid, difficult platformer that will keep you coming back for more, regardless of how many times you fail, then much like the original, Spelunky 2 is a very solid choice. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/10/2022 Bank Heist Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date July 1983 (NA) Developer 20th Century Fox Genre Action My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.92/100 Every now and then, I'll play an older, obscure video game that seems to be lost to time, and it will make me wonder how in the world I've never played it before. Bank Heist is one of those games. While the gameplay is very simplistic by today's standards, in my opinion, Bank Heist can hold its own against any other game on the Atari VCS console and definitely be in the conversation of the absolute best games on the console. It's easy to look past it, though. Being released around the video game crash, where a lot of awful games hit the market, it's hard to blame anyone for thinking that this would be another one of the bad ones. Oh, but it's not. In Bank Heist, the goal is to drive your car around the Pac-Man-like maze screen, picking up bags of cash that you find laying around. Each time you pick up a bag of cash, a police car arrives on the screen to chase you down, complete with a siren sound. Eventually, money will no longer appear on screen, and the only way to get it to appear again is to start getting rid of those dang cops. Good thing that your car can drop unlimited dynamite. But, you need to time it correctly to lose the coppers chasing your tail. It's just a very well-done game that I think any fan of early video games will appreciate. If my heart was a bag of money, this game may have just picked it up. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/08/2020 Dragon Warrior II Platform NES Initial Release Date January 26, 1987 (JP) Developer ChunSoft Genre RPG My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 85.76/100 The first Dragon Warrior was a good, albeit short, RPG that wasn't the first in the genre, but was the first huge success in the genre by far, especially in Japan. Dragon Warrior II really improves on the first Dragon Warrior in nearly every way with a deeper story, more gameplay mechanics introduced, and plenty of new enemies to battle against. It also introduces a party system, so you can smush the slimes with some allies you meet on your quest instead of having to fight everyone all by your lonesome. In addition to that, this second entry in the beloved Dragon Quest franchise introduces vehicles to the series in the form of a boat you can use to sail around in. It’s a very well-made RPG that improves on the successful formula of the original in just about every way, but be warned, especially towards the end, this game can be absolutely brutal in a hard-as-nails way. If you don't have the patience to grind levels and save up money to purchase much-needed equipment, then this may not be the game for you...But for my personal tastes, I'm a pretty huge fan. Played on: NES Also known as: Dragon Quest II: Akuryou no Kamigami

Date added: 02/18/2020 Donkey Kong Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date June 14, 1994 (JP) Developer Pax Softonica Genre Platformer My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 89.41/100 The best thing about Donkey Kong was playing the game and thinking, "Oh, a portable port of the original Donkey Kong...that's neat." Then passing the initial few levels and realizing that the original Donkey Kong levels are just a lead in to a much bigger game that is absolutely fantastic for a handheld platformer. It's got the same basic gameplay of the original Donkey Kong, but with some added features and the like to make it feel like a game all of its own. This is one of the best Game Boy games made, easily in the top 10 discussion...And they even made it so that it looks all fancy when played on a Super Game Boy. Ain't that great? Played on: Game Boy Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/23/2022 Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher's Bay Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date June 1, 2004 (NA) Developer Starbreeze Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.83/100 I've never been a big first-person shooter fan…I've warmed up to the genre a little bit thanks to games like BioShock and Half Life 2, but oftentimes I find them to be repetitive and boring. Okay, I just shot a bunch of folks…now what? Oh, shoot more folks, but with a different gun? But it's the same thing, with a slight difference. What is this? Groundhog Day? Yes, I made a Groundhog Day movie reference when talking about a video game based on the Chronicles of Riddick films. I betcha that's never been done before. Anyway, I mentioned all of that above because despite good reviews, I avoided Escape from Butcher Bay for a long time simply because I assumed that it was another mindless first-person shooter that would make me bored shortly after playing. Now that I've played it, I can honestly say that I was a complete fool for thinking that. Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay is fantastic. It's not your stereotypical first-person shooter with bullets constantly flying. Escape from Butcher Bay is more like Half Life 2, in my opinion, with plenty of times in the game where you're not shooting at stuff, but taking in the environment, atmosphere, and story. Granted, there's plenty of shooting as well, but the gaps between the shooting help prevent the game from feeling repetitive before the credits roll. This game does a good job of storytelling and making you feel like when you are shooting stuff, you're doing it for a reason. While first-person shooters still aren't my first choice if I'm going to play a game, Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay managed to win me over shortly into playing the game for the first time and it never lost me after that. If you've never played this game before, but like first-person shooters, or even just good, solid games, then definitely hunt down a copy of this. I bet you'll be glad that you did. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/14/2020 Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars Platform Super NES Initial Release Date March 9, 1996 (JP) Developer Squaresoft Genre RPG My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 90.04/100 Super Mario RPG was a joint-effort by Squaresoft and Nintendo, and it was the last Square-developed game to appear on a Nintendo game system in North America until Final Fantasy Tactics Advance was published on the Game Boy Advance roughly 7 years later. It was also the game that laid the groundwork of what would become the Paper Mario franchise. In Super Mario RPG, you control everyone’s favorite Italian plumber as he explores isometric levels (that become frustrating at points – isometric platforming isn’t fun) and participates in turn-based, JRPG combat, where hitting the button at the right time during an attack deals extra damage. The story is filled with humor, along with a party that contains faces both new and familiar…who knew that Bowser was actually a pretty decent guy after all those kidnappings and such? Anyway, if you want a very solid RPG with a story that doesn’t take itself seriously, then Super Mario RPG is worth checking out. I personally enjoy what Nintendo did with this formula in their first Paper Mario game a little more, but Super Mario RPG is still a very close second. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/06/2020 Forza Motorsport 2 Platform Xbox 360 Initial Release Date May 4, 2007 (JP) Developer Turn 10 Genre Racing My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.31/100 The original Forza Motorsport was a solid little racing game for the original Xbox that showed that Microsoft had the ability to compete with Gran Turismo over which racing simulator was the best. Forza Motorsport 2, released on the Xbox 360, improved on the foundation created with the original and delivered one of my favorite racing games of that console generation. The racing itself is solid, the graphics looked beautiful for their time, and the overall package of the game is just well done. What got me hooked more than anything else, though, was the ability to “hire” a driver to race for you. By doing this, you give up a portion of the race winnings, but then you get to sit back and enjoy the race. For me, there wasn’t many things more fun in my time with the game than finding a car that was roughly the same specs as every car in a race, getting the lowest-level driver to drive the car for me, then watch how everything played out. It was fun to just feel like a racing team owner, cheering on my car and hoping that we could pull off the victory. I found out, after spending several extra hours with this game for the list than I had planned to, that I still enjoy cheering on my cars in the races just as much as I did back when this game was originally released. Played on: Xbox 360 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/18/2021 Shin Megami Tensei V Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date November 11, 2021 (JP) Developer Atlus Genre RPG My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 86.73/100 I’ve always loved the Shin Megami Tensei franchise. I’ve played nearly every game in the series multiple times over. That said, while I don’t mind the “blue triangle” traversing of the world map in previous games, I’ve always wanted to wander around in the ruined Tokyos of past games so I could see what the landscape looks like prior to the creation of a new world. Shin Megami Tensei V finally gives that to me. Getting rid of classic dungeons, for the most part, the entirety of Tokyo is your dungeon in SMT V. There’s plenty to discover as you wander around, from various side quests to finding all 200 Miman hidden throughout the game. This open world is accompanied by an interesting, unique story - one that may be my favorite in the main series. My only real complaint about the game is that it feels like it just kind of ends out of nowhere…when it ends, it almost feels like you missed a bunch of potential stories before the last few battles. That said, I still enjoyed this enough where I immediately started a second playthrough and I know full well that like other games in the Shin Megami Tensei franchise, I’ll be returning to this game many, many times as the years go on. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/05/2020 Cuphead Platform PC Initial Release Date September 29, 2017 (NA) Developer Studio MDHR Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.46/100 As a former animation student, and seemingly one of the only folks not doing anime or 3D animation in my school at the time (I’ve always liked to see anvils drop on the heads of folks), Cuphead is definitely the kind of animation that I’ve always liked and it had my attention from the moment it was initially announced. Its beautiful, retro animation looks would be absolutely nothing without solid gameplay, though, and Cuphead delivers there as well. Most levels tend to be boss fights, with some being side-scrolling shooters, but all of them are extremely well designed…and much like the graphics are a nod to animations of the past, the gameplay is a nod to video games of the past with difficult gameplay that sees you improve with each attempt to take down a boss. There’s a great sense of accomplishment when you take down a boss without taking any damage, especially if you barely lasted 30 seconds against that same boss the first time you fought it. I’d love to see a sequel to Cuphead down the road – it’s a fantastic game in every sense of the word. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/03/2019 Sega Rally Championship Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date December 28, 1995 (NA) Developer Sega Genre Racing My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.56/100 I loved the two "Sega Sports" racing games released on the Saturn; Daytona USA and Sega Rally Championship. But, if forced to choose between the two, Sega Rally Championship gets the slight nod over Daytona simply because I prefer playing rally-style racing games over NASCAR-style racing games. I also enjoy racing games with an arcade feel, and this rally racer has that, which easily makes it one of my favorite racing games of all-time. It’s a shame that the Saturn never really caught on because games like this gem have seemed to get lost to time. If you don’t need all the frills and modes of current racing games, and just want a fun, solid, experience that you would find in a racing game at your local arcade, then I highly recommend hunting down a copy of Sega Rally Championship. Played on: Saturn Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/25/2019 NBA 2K1 Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date November 1, 2000 (NA) Developer Visual Concepts Genre Sports - Basketball My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 88.51/100 I absolutely loved NBA 2K. I didn’t think it could get any better…then Visual Concepts decided to tweak everything to near perfection and add new modes, and I stood corrected. Not only does the gameplay feel smoother and more authentic (it’s also more authentic to watch – when it was first released I used to watch CPU vs. CPU games as I did other things) but they added plenty of NBA legends to the game as well as a unique (for the time) Street Ball mode, where you can play 2-on-2 all the way to 5-on-5 matches on street courts, in street clothes. While Street Ball mode simply feels like a gimmick and likely won’t add much replay value to most folks playing, when everything in the game is so solid and well done, getting extra modes like that is just icing on the cake. The first NBA 2K game made me a fan that year. NBA 2K1 turned me into a loyal fan of the franchise – loyalty that has lasted two decades. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/29/2019 The Cat Lady Platform PC Initial Release Date December 7, 2012 (NA) Developer Harvester Games Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.73/100 I absolutely LOVE this game. The Cat Lady starts out as a very, very dark game - any game where you're required to chop your arm off to advance on is probably pretty dark. However, the Cat Lady isn't just dark. With some light-hearted moments tossed in with the twisted stuff, I fell in love with the game's story. It's not without its faults - I still don't get where the stranger that visits Susan's apartment exactly fits into the story, he seemed out of place to me...But otherwise, I really enjoyed experiencing Susan Ashworth's story. With a great art design that helps it stick out as much as the story, and great controls, the Cat Lady is easily one of the best point-and-click adventure games that I have ever played. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/22/2020 R-Type Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date 1989 (NA) Developer Irem Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.95/100 R-Type is one of the most beloved side-scrolling shooters of all-time. For years, unless you went to an arcade to play the original, the best experience of the game was found on the TurboGrafx-16. R-Type is a game that rewards perfection with power-ups to boost up your fire power, essentially making you able to destroy enemies with ease…However, make a mistake and you’re back to plain ol’ firepower, forcing you to scratch and claw your way back to your previous, destructive state, which gets increasingly difficult to do the later on you get in the game. R-Type is also fondly remembered by many for the third level in the game, where you eventually realize the entire stage is actually one big boss fight with a giant ship. While other scrolling shooters have come along and possibly surpassed R-Type over the years, for its time, this gem was absolutely amazing. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/06/2020 Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse Platform Nintendo 3DS Initial Release Date February 10. 2016 (JP) Developer Atlus Genre RPG My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 85.43/100 Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse is why I like to go out of my way to NOT learn about upcoming games - I thought Apocalypse was simply a re-release of SMT4, with extra features, which as a fan of SMT IV, I was perfectly fine with...After putting the game in my 3DS, I received a wonderful surprise to find that this was actually a sequel. Not only is Apocalypse a sequel, but it improves on just about every aspect of a game that was already really good. Anyway, if you liked Shin Megami Tensei IV, there's plenty to like here as well, with nods to the previous game, and a continuation of the story found there...If you've never played Shin Megami Tensei IV, that's okay, the game's story stands enough on its own where the knowledge of events in SMT4 isn't necessarily required (though it does enhance the story a bit). Anyway, if you're looking for a solid, portable RPG for your 3DS, Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse, in my opinion, is either near or at the top of that list. Played on: Nintendo 3DS Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/17/2022 Aztec Adventure Platform Sega Master System Initial Release Date September 20, 1987 (JP) Developer Sega Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 80.88/100 Aztec Adventure has always been a game that I wish was more well-known than it seems to be. At first glance, it just appears to be an adventure game with admittedly iffy combat. But the more you play, the more you see the brilliance found here. Each level has an enemy, or several, that is your primary target to vanquish. To reach them, you’ll use various items to traverse the level…like if plants block your path, you can toss fire at them. It’ll make Smokey Bear sad, but it’ll help you advance on. Also unique is how you obtain allies - do you see various enemies on your way and don’t want to fight them all? Try tossing some money bags at them and they may just join you in your quest. The game isn’t without its faults. The combat leaves much to be desired and when you’ve bought some companions, they don’t always follow you around as accurately as you may be hoping for. Even with its faults, though, Aztec Adventure is unique enough and brings enough to the table where it’s well worth checking out. Played on: Sega Master System Also known as: Nazca '88: The Golden Road to Paradise (Japan)

Date added: 01/09/2021 Mass Effect 2 Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date January 17, 2011 (NA) Developer BioWare Genre RPG My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 89.41/100 The original Mass Effect was more of an adventure-style game with an emphasis on exploration and interacting with people. Mass Effect 2 still has some of that, but a much larger emphasis is placed on action this time around. The end result isn't bad, but I don't feel like it's as solid as the original. If games with more action is your jam, as the kids say, then you may have the opposite opinion of me and prefer this game to the original. It all depends on your preference, I suppose. I will say that the choices in Mass Effect 2 do feel like they have greater consequences than they did in the first game, though…and the choices aren’t always easy to make. Anyway, Mass Effect 2 is still a very good game, and well worth playing if you enjoyed the original to see where the story goes. From what I’ve seen, this is the game that most folks point to as their favorite in the trilogy, and while I do enjoy the first one a little more, I can definitely see why so many people consider this to be the best in the franchise. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/12/2022 Resident Evil - Code: Veronica Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date February 3, 2000 (JP) Developer NexTech Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.59/100 I've always been someone that enjoys the bizarre. The more odd something is, the more likely I am to find enjoyment in it. Likewise, I also enjoy horror games, especially when the story is somewhat cheesy. Resident Evil - Code: Veronica delivers on all ends. Not only did the story provide some of the most bizarre moments in the Resident Evil series up to that time, but it's also delightfully cheesy. I will say, though, that like many, I really disliked Steve Burnside. I'm convinced that between how the character is written down to the English voice actor for the character, Steve HAD to be designed for the player to dislike him…even if it also looks like they try to make you like him at the end…that attempt failed on me, though. Gameplay-wise, if you've played the first three Resident Evil games, you'll know what to expect here…so while Code: Veronica innovated a bit in terms of Resident Evil stories, it didn't really innovate a whole lot in terms of Resident Evil gameplay. But, fans of the original games, like myself, were just fine with that. Anyway, if you enjoyed the original three Resident Evil games, but would like a little more over-the-top, bizarre story tossed in to compliment the already-established gameplay, then Code: Veronica is a game that you'll likely fall in love with like I did. Played on: Dreamcast Also known as: BioHazard: Code Veronica

Date added: 10/06/2023 Clock Tower Platform Super NES Initial Release Date September 14, 1995 (JP) Developer Human Entertainment Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.63/100 For the most part, people don't generally consider point-and-click adventure games to be amongst the greatest games of all-time, but a few have managed to break through that barrier. In my opinion, Clock Tower is one of them. The survival horror aspect is really what makes this game shine, in my opinion. In most point-and-click adventure games, you want to inspect everything to find items and such that you need in order to solve puzzles…in Clock Tower, you quickly find that inspecting everything can potentially put you in danger. It gives you an uneasy feeling as you play…you'll see something to inspect and you'll question whether you should or not. If I inspect that shower curtain, will I find something that will help me escape the mansion or will I find a demented child wielding a giant pair of scissors trying to murder me? When being chased, it also adds a different element of panic than you'll find in other games. In most games, you can simply press a button to attack or run away…in Clock Tower, you sometimes have to maneuver the mouse pointer to specific areas in a short amount of time to survive. And if you panic and click in the wrong area, you could find yourself trapped and viewing a Game Over screen. Everything in this game is just done so well…you wouldn't think that a 2D point-and-click adventure would do a better job of giving you anxiety than the 3D survival horror games that were released around this same time period, but it does. Add in all of the multiple endings to discover and you've got a fantastic game for its time that has plenty of replay value. If you're a fan of horror games, this Japanese-exclusive classic is definitely worth checking out. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/31/2020 WWF Wrestlefest Platform Arcade Initial Release Date 1991 (NA) Developer Technos Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 91.81/100 If you're a wrestling fan and you've never played WWF Wrestlefest, you need to go out of your way and find a cabinet. In 1991, this game was so incredibly, and deceptively, deep for a wrestling title. There are reversals, finishing moves, double-team moves...And the controls are so simple and easy to pick-up-and-play that anyone can do the features mentioned above with very little effort. Techno’s second time in the WWF ring has the tag team mode returning from WWF Superstars, but the real charm to this game is the Royal Rumble mode, which allows multiple players to participate in the popular timed battle royal. I don’t know how many quarters I’ve lost to this game over the years, but I’m sure it’s enough where I could’ve bought my own cabinet by now. Played on: Arcade Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/20/2019 Ape Escape Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date May 31, 1999 (NA) Developer SCE Japan Studio Genre Platformer My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 89.40/100 Ape Escape has always been one of my favorite 3D platformers that I’d ever played. It’s also in my memory as the first game (along with Crazy Taxi on the Dreamcast) that I ordered online…So long ago that I had to order the games, mail a money order to the store, then they sent the games to me. Boy, have things changed. That same phrase was uttered when Ape Escape burst onto the scene with its control scheme that was so unique for the time, and much like buying stuff online, it’s so common today. Requiring a Dual Shock controller, Ape Escape was almost entirely controlled by the analog sticks. The left analog stick controlled movement and the right analog stick controlled the actions of whatever item you had equipped. It was a solid control setup, and along with tapping the shoulder buttons to jump or center the camera behind you, it was a perfect advertisement for the potential of the Dual Shock controller’s capabilities…a design that went nearly unchanged for three of Sony’s console generations. Playing it again for this list, I found myself with the urge to capture every single ape like I did way back when the game originally released, an urge that I happily gave into. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/24/2024 Neutopia Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date November 17, 1989 (JP) Developer Hudson Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 85.33/100 At first glance, Neutopia is simply a clone of the original Legend of Zelda…so obviously so that the world and even the enemies all seem to be simple re-hashes of what you'd find in Nintendo's beloved game. After you complete the second dungeon, though, Neutopia takes a turn and while the gameplay remains the same, you start to realize that Neutopia isn't a simple clone of Zelda - it actually has some of its own ideas. Instead of exploring one, large world, in Neutopia, you'll explore several, smaller worlds. Also, along with many of the standard Zelda tools and equipment (though some are changed - the crystal ball in each dungeon is like the compass in the Legend of Zelda), Neutopia also includes some of its own, like the fire wand that casts fire spells. But even with some of its own unique aspects, it's still hard to not compare this game to the Legend of Zelda since it was so obviously inspired by it. Even in comparison, though, I feel like it holds up pretty well. If you were a kid that only had a TurboGrafx-16, but wanted to play the Legend of Zelda, Neutopia was a pretty good consolation prize. It plays well, it has more personality than the original Zelda did due to the comments of random people that you encounter, and it's just a very well-done game overall. If you like Link's first 8-bit adventure, then you'll probably find plenty to like about Neutopia. If you weren't a fan, however, there may not be enough new things here to make you like this game over Nintendo's iconic franchise. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: Neutopia: Frey no Shou (Japan)

Date added: 07/16/2019 Lumines Platform Playstation Portable Initial Release Date December 12, 2004 (JP) Developer Q Entertainment Genre Puzzle My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.41/100 Lumines is a different kind of block-falling puzzle game. Instead of simply matching up block to destroy them, in Lumines, you must match them up and then wait for a line on the screen to move past them before they disappear. Lumines also tosses in the neat little aspect of creating music as you play...Move the blocks, destroy blocks...They all add to the music of each level. This also isn't a fast puzzle game by any means; you can probably look forward to a 20-30 minute game the first few times you play and longer than that the better you get. It doesn't normally feel frantic like games like Tetris provide (unless you’re like me and immediately try building towards mega combos, which can sometimes come back to bite you in the hiney)...It's a relaxing experience that's well worth experiencing. It may have been the last, great, unique block-drop puzzle game made. Played on: PSP Also known as: Lumines: Oto to Hikari no Denshoku Puzzle (Japan)

Date added: 07/22/2022 The Warriors Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date October 17, 2005 (NA) Developer Rockstar Toronto Genre Brawler My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 86.04/100 I hadn't played the Warriors since it first came out in 2005. I remembered enjoying it, but that's about it. Playing it again now, 17 years later, I forgot how good of a job that Rockstar Toronto did with this game. Back then, it was surprising to see a major game publisher like Rockstar announce that it was going to publish a video game based off of a movie that debuted in movie theatres about a quarter of a century prior. But, since the Warriors had a bit of a cult following, it was mostly welcome news. When this game was released, fans of the movie were not disappointed. Not only did Rockstar Toronto completely capture the look and feel of the movie and successfully translate it to video game form, they did a masterful job with the story - giving players a few hours of backstory leading up to the events from the film, allowing more zany gangs from the film to get some time in the spotlight. Once the events from the film start, a few extra bits are added in, but for the most part, it's essentially an interactive version of what you saw on the big screen. Anyway, recreating the look, feel, and atmosphere of the film is great and all, but how does it play? Honestly, the Warriors was one of the best examples of how to bring the classic 2D brawlers into 3D. While not perfect, at the time, there wasn't a better 3D brawler available. And to offset the repetition that plagues many brawlers, the Warriors plops you in large levels, with the need to make use of your brain as well as your fists. Whether it be hiding in the shadows from police, stealing car stereos, throwing up graffiti, or even robbing a random stranger clueless enough to be wandering the streets at night, there's plenty more to do than simply beat up rival gang members. If you like the film, but never played the game, I highly recommend tracking down a copy. If you don't, then don't be surprised if you find me sitting in a car outside your home, with bottles on all of my fingers clanging together, taunting you to come out and plaaaaay. Played on: Xbox, Playstation Portable, Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/07/2022 Rez Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date November 22, 2001 (JP) Developer UGA Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.35/100 Rez was unique in a variety of ways…its visual style, for example, made Rez unique all by itself. However, the most notable and memorable aspect of Rez, for me anyway, is that it managed to blend the gameplay of a rail shooter with a music game to create a game that was almost as fun to watch as it was to actually play. And if you do play it, while it initially appears to be complicated, it's actually very simple. Aim and shoot. That's it. Yup, UGA used a visual style, soundtrack, and game concept that was very unique for the time, but decided to keep it basic and simple with the actual gameplay. And it works well. It's essentially Panzer Dragoon, but set in a colorful, gorgeous cyber world. One could argue that the gameplay could have or should have been modified a bit to really make this game a completely unique experience…while I agree to a point, since everything else about Rez made it stand out, I felt like it was a nice touch to have the gameplay be something familiar so the game could be easy to pick up and play without having to think too much. They can just sit back, relax, and enjoy without having to figure out how to play. Though, if you're looking for something more complicated in the gameplay department, I could understand if you didn't think as highly of Rez as many of us do. If Rez sounds like something you'd enjoy, then definitely give it a shot. Some games have tried to emulate Rez to a degree since it was released, but not a single one has been able to surpass the original in my opinion. Played on: Dreamcast, Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/20/2019 Contra Platform NES Initial Release Date February 9, 1988 (JP) Developer Konami Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 89.48/100 Contra is notoriously difficult...Until you begin to notice and memorize patterns of the enemies, that is. After you catch wind of the patterns, it's not too bad. But anyway, the run-and-gun gameplay is a blast still to this day and the variety of weapons helps make each playthrough a little different...Unless you're the guy that sticks only with the spray gun like my neighbor. That jerk always grabbed the power-up before I could, so I always got stuck with the laser. Anyway, if you want a great third-person shooter for the NES, Contra is one of the best you can get. Played on: NES Also known as: Probotector (Europe)

Date added: 11/06/2020 Mass Effect Platform Xbox 360 Initial Release Date November 16, 2007 (AU) Developer BioWare Genre RPG My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 89.11/100 Mass Effect started out kind of rocky with me. When I first played through it, I thought it was so-so...And eventually got bored and moved on to another game. I played it again a year or so later and really found myself enjoying it a lot, for whatever reason, and I made my way through to the end. That second time was enough to motivate me to completely play through the game a few times again since then, including another time for this list, and each time I enjoy it all the same. Exploring random planets can be both interesting and frustrating, depending on the terrain that your odd-to-control vehicle is traversing. The exploration also isn’t usually action-packed, so since it’s completely optional, I can see many players skipping it altogether and just sticking with the story. Anyway, the first Mass Effect is still my favorite in terms of gameplay, story, and exploration. The second Mass Effect’s emphasis on more action is probably more appealing to the mainstream gaming audience, but I still prefer the original. Played on: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/16/2019 Donkey Kong Platform Arcade Initial Release Date July 1981 (NA/JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 89.98/100 Fun fact – Donkey Kong’s strange name came from Shigeru Miyamoto using a Japanese-English dictionary to find different words to use for the term “stubborn gorilla.” And much like a stubborn gorilla (some folks call me “ape,” you know) I find myself frolicking over to this gem every time I visit my local arcade…or any arcade that has this masterpiece available to play, for that matter. Donkey Kong is probably most famous for introducing two of the most iconic video game characters of all-time – Donkey Kong and Mario. However, just as importantly, it was the first great platformer to ever be released and it, perhaps, was the main reason for Nintendo gaining the momentum towards it becoming the powerhouse it would be in just a few short years. The Colecovision’s port of Donkey Kong helped give that console some traction in sales, and in Japan, Nintendo used a port of Donkey Kong to help sell their brand-new Famicom system, and while both ports are well done, there’s still just something about popping some quarters in a machine, trying to grip a joystick covered in pizza grease, and entering your initials when you’ve broken into the top scores of the area. Like most great games from the past, Donkey Kong is still just as fun to play today as it was back when it was released nearly four decades ago. Played on: Arcade, NES, Colecovision Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/18/2019 Devil's Crush Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date July 20, 1990 (JP) Developer Compile Genre Pinball My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.84/100 Devil's Crush very well might be my favorite video game pinball game. Even to this day, I still enjoy pulling Devil's Crush out and playing a few rounds. The game is technically only one table, but the ball physics are done so well and the environments and challenges are done equally well...Even with just one table, this is a fantastic game. Even when playing this game again to refresh my memory for this list, it managed to hook me yet again and I found myself losing over an hour to this gem. I thought Alien Crush was a decent pinball game, but Devil's Crush is a great one. It’s not even just a great pinball game, honestly…it’s just a great video game, regardless of genre. Played on: Turbografx-16, Genesis Also known as: Devil Crash (Japan), Dragon's Fury (Genesis - NA/EU)

Date added: 07/29/2019 Chaos Rings Platform Apple iPhone/iPod Touch Initial Release Date April 20, 2010 (NA/JP) Developer Media Vision Genre RPG My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.70/100 Chaos Rings isn't the deepest RPG that I’ve ever played...And the gameplay isn't necessarily anything new, either. Then what exactly makes Chaos Rings so good in my eyes? The story. I've heard some folks say they hated the story. I'm not one of those people. I found it really interesting and totally different from anything else I'd personally seen before. I played it to 100% completion and loved every single second of it, then played through it again on Android…then again on Playstation Vita. I never seemed to get sick of it. I've enjoyed a decent number of iPhone/Android games but in my opinion, Chaos Rings is easily one of my favorites on the smart phone platforms. Played on: iPhone, Android, Playstation Vita Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/08/2020 Red Dead Redemption Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date May 18, 2010 (NA) Developer Rockstar San Diego Genre Action My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 91.36/100 If you're reading this and haven't played Red Dead Redemption yet, you need to...if for no other reason than to experience the world that Rockstar created. I don't think I have ever been sucked into an atmosphere like I did with this game. Playing through this title really felt like you were in the old west...There is never really a safe moment, either. Whether it be bandits, law enforcement, or even the various wildlife, you can think that you're doing great, and then quickly find yourself pushing up daisies. The story is also very, very good. You really feel emotions towards the characters by the end...Whether you like them or hate them, the emotion is there, which is the key to a great story. To top it all off, the gameplay is on par with all of the stuff I mentioned above. And like the Grand Theft Auto series, it's just as fun wandering around, doing nothing, as it is playing the actual game. I can't recommend this game enough - it really is that good. The recent sequel improves on everything here to make an already great game even better, but the original is still very solid and well worth playing if the setting sounds even vaguely interesting to you. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/20/2021 Cyberpunk 2077 Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date December 10, 2020 (W) Developer CD Projekt Red Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 74.76/100 I’ll be completely honest, Cyberpunk 2077 is one of my favorite games of all-time. In my initial playthrough, I logged in over 100 hours. When I completed it, I immediately started a second playthrough, logging in another 97 hours in that one. I WANTED to start a third playthrough again immediately after that, but decided to move on to other games since I hadn’t updated this list in a while…or getting much of anything done outside of playing this game, for that matter. I fell in love with Night City, its inhabitants, everything. Yes, the game has bugs, but I never once came across a bug that prevented me from enjoying the game at all. If the game crashed, no big deal. The autosave feature saves so frequently that I never had to retrace my tracks for longer than 5 minutes. Every other glitch or bug was minor and had absolutely no effect on how much I loved this game…and once you play this game and see how ambitious it is, it’s not hard to see how all the glitches and bugs slipped through the cracks…and I’m convinced that some of them aren’t bugs or glitches, but limitations of the hardware. Anyone that says that the game is unplayable either hasn’t actually played the game or hasn’t played other similar-sized open world titles like the Fallout or Elder Scrolls games, which are also littered with bugs and glitches similar to this game, but didn’t receive nearly the amount of hate that this game got. That said, I absolutely adore this game to no end. If they don’t fix another bug or glitch, I’ll still love it…but the good thing is that they still are fixing stuff, and the game will only get better with time. With glitches, I’m still giving this game a 9 out of 10…If it had been glitch-free, then I wouldn’t even hesitate to give it a perfect 10. Played on: Playstation 4, PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/01/2019 Super Mario Kart Platform Super NES Initial Release Date August 27, 1992 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Racing My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 90.07/100 Super Mario Kart was a seemingly innocent Mario-themed kart racing game that created an absolute monster of a franchise. Super Mario Kart was such a wonderfully designed racer that absolutely everyone seemed to love it – hardcore gamers, casual gamers, and even people who don’t really play video games…They all seem to love Super Mario Kart. Each racer has their own style of power-ups, like banana peels, fireballs, or eggs, along with power-ups that are universal among all players like koopa shells, speed boost mushrooms, and invincibility stars. This means that you could start the final lap in last place, but with some fancy driving and tactical use of your power-ups, you could still finish 1st…likewise, you could also drop from 1st to dead last. This chaos is both what makes Mario Kart fun and frustrating. Later games in the franchise may have tweaked the formula, but the original still remains a fantastic racing game to this day. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/28/2019 Yars' Revenge Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date May 1982 (NA) Developer Atari Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.68/100 Yars' Revenge is a unique little shooter that only spans one screen, and because of that, feels kind of repetitive...But so dang addicting that the repetition doesn't affect it much. You control a Yar, which is the fly-lookin' thing, and you want to destroy the shield in front of the Quotile hiding behind it, avoiding the deadly swirl and using the Ion shield (the multi-colored stripe on the screen) to shield yourself from the Quotile's regular, homing fire. After destroying the Quotile by using the Zorlon Cannon (flying into the Quotile and pressing the fire button), you get a screen-sized explosion...Followed by another Quotile to destroy. The difficulty increases as you survive, which does help a bit with the repetition...But as I stated earlier, the game is good enough (and the segments are short enough) where the repetition doesn’t really hurt it overall. In my opinion, it’s one of the best games of its generation. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/18/2022 Pokemon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date September 12, 1998 (JP) Developer Game Freak Genre RPG My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 89.04/100 Until playing it for this list, I had never played Pokemon Yellow. The best way to probably look at Pokemon Yellow is that it seems to be a tweaked version of Red and Blue, with popular Pokemon (like Pikachu) being a little easier to obtain than in the other games (with the yellow, electric rodent being your starter Pokemon) and the fact that while this is a game for the original Game Boy, if you pop it in a Game Boy Color or Super Game Boy, the game does suddenly have a little color to it. Also new is that Pikachu follows you around because the little guy thinks he's too good to stay in a Pokeball like everyone else. Pikachu following you doesn't really do anything except provide a few extra moments, the ability to see how happy your pikachu is, and the inevitable times where pikachu gets in your way when you want to turn back and go the opposite direction that you were walking. Thankfully, it's a momentary pause and the game allows you to walk "through" pikachu to get to where you're intending to go, but it can still be mildly annoying when you just wanna get somewhere and you keep bumping into the little guy. Aside from those differences, this is essentially the same game as the originals, which do feel a little dated compared to recent releases, but is still a very solid game today. If you've enjoyed the originals, but want to play them again with some color on the screen and some of the Pokemon shuffled around a little, then you'll probably love this game. Played on: Game Boy Also known as: Pocket Monsters Pikachu (Japan)

Date added: 03/08/2020 Pokemon Red Version Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date February 27, 1996 (JP) Developer Game Freak Genre RPG My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 89.09/100 Pokemon: Red Version is the first Pokemon game that I beat...And that was back in 2011, long after Pokemon-mania took over the world. So I was late to the Pokemon party, wanna fight about it? Anyway, this game, along with Blue, was a fantastic first game in the series. This unique RPG with a "Gotta catch 'em all" gimmick is highly addictive, especially for folks that naturally want to collect everything within a game. I definitely fit into that category. I found myself wandering around areas for hours just to run into a rare pokemon to nab for myself, which I found to be both relaxing and then rewarding when my target finally appeared. The games have evolved quite a bit since the days of the originals, but that doesn't make this game any less fun today. Played on: Game Boy Also known as: Pocket Monsters Aka (Japan)

Date added: 03/08/2020 Pokemon Blue Version Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date October 15, 1996 (JP) Developer Game Freak Genre RPG My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 89.36/100 Not really sure what to say that I haven't already said in the post above with Pokemon: Red Version. The differences between the two are minuscule - mostly just percentages of how often certain Pokemon appear and areas. But the great thing about Pokemon games is that despite the fact that they come out in pairs, they're usually fun enough to play both games from beginning to end, and you still probably won't get bored...And, since you can trade with friends, you're not necessarily stuck doing all the work if you want to catch 'em all. By the way, like I said, the differences between Red and Blue are minute – honestly, the only reason Blue is above Red in this list is because I adore Squirtle in any form. Looking at some of the “user reviews” that I use to calculate the average score, I think many people feel the same way. Played on: Game Boy Also known as: Pocket Monsters Ao (Japan)

Date added: 06/22/2020 NBA Jam Platform Super NES Initial Release Date March 1994 (NA) Developer Iguana Entertainment Genre Sports - Basketball My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.27/100 When I was younger, I didn't know anyone from basketball, aside from maybe Michael Jordan...But after plugging NBA Jam into my Super NES, I was hooked and I knew the names of this roster to go along with Mr. Jordan from playing this game so often both by myself and with friends...Which doesn’t really translate into me knowing much about basketball, but hey, it's a start, right? For me, every game always broke down into me hogging the ball so I could get myself on fire and/or constantly slam dunking the ball in hopes for getting that ever-so-splendid backboard shatter. Other games have come out over the years attempting to recreate the magic of this arcade-style sports game, but I may have to argue that none of them have managed to do it any better than NBA Jam. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/22/2021 Final Fantasy VIII Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date February 11, 1999 (JP) Developer SquareSoft Genre RPG My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 88.97/100 As time passes, and each time I play Final Fantasy VIII, I enjoy the game more and more. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy it when it came out...I did, but I was never a big fan of the story. I considered this to be all about the gameplay. Having to draw spells from enemies and allocate spells to your stats was a unique system, and one that I personally enjoy. I also enjoyed how everything levels up with you. You can literally get to level 99 within a few hours of grinding in the forests and beaches once you first hit the world map since the monsters, leveling up with you and getting tougher as you do, consistently offer plenty of experience. It is worth noting that the things that I just mentioned about enjoying are the same things that some folks absolutely hate about the game...But I like 'em, so there. Over time it looks like more and more people have appreciated this game for what it is, though, which led to SquareEnix re-releasing the game not too long ago. It may not be the best game in the franchise…but it doesn’t need to be. It’s still a fantastic RPG, it has my favorite mini-game-within-a-game of all-time (I can spend hours just playing the card game, ignoring the story), and it’s got my favorite soundtrack of all the Final Fantasy games. So, it may not be the best, but it’s still pretty dang good. Played on: Playstation, PC, Playstation Portable, Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/25/2021 Pitfall! Platform Atari 2600 Initial Release Date April 20, 1982 (NA) Developer Activision Genre Platformer My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.08/100 Super Mario Bros. took the platformer genre to a whole new level, but prior to that chunky Italian plumber setting the world on fire on the Nintendo Entertainment System, Activision released a multi-screen platformer of its own that was absolutely fantastic for its time – Pitfall! Whether it be hopping over snakes, bouncing across alligator heads, or swinging on a vine across gaping holes within the Earth, it’s always fun in Pitfall! Plus, it has an exclamation point at the end of the name, so if I end a sentence with its name, it sounds like I’m really excited to talk about it. That’s good marketing strategy, I guess. But anyway, if you’re into 2D platformers, new or old, and you’ve never played Pitfall! before, do yourself a favor and give it a whirl. Even today, nearly 40 years later, it still holds its own as a solid platformer. Played on: Atari 2600 Also known as: Dschungel Boy (Europe)

Date added: 05/17/2020 Fallout 3 Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date October 28, 2008 (NA) Developer Bethesda Game Studios Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.83/100 When Bethesda got their hands on the Fallout franchise, a lot of folks were concerned that converting the isometric, turn-based RPG into an Elder Scrolls-like adventure game would spell disaster…or at the very least, it would lose the charm of the originals. The end result silenced most critics. Fallout 3 instantly became a big favorite of many who played it, myself included. Unfortunately, despite how good the game is, it’s also pretty buggy. It’s not uncommon to have the entire game start to get choppy or completely freeze altogether. That said, while I love Fallout 3, it does slip a bit on this list due to all of the glitches that you’ve got to deal with in order to play through to the end…but make no mistake, even with the glitches, most folks will still gladly find their way to the end of the game. Played on: Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Xbox One Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/18/2020 Animal Crossing: New Leaf Platform Nintendo 3DS Initial Release Date November 8, 2012 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.67/100 When you take a glance at the 3DS activity log and notice that you've put over 150 hours into this game, and you're still not done playing, it's doing something right. New Leaf isn't a long RPG with a great story to push you through those hours...It's just a life simulation where you interact with your neighbors, water flowers, dig up fossils, catch bugs, go fishing, and partake in selling and buying items....That's about it. But it's done very well, with new things seemingly popping up every time you might start to feel like it's all getting a tad old. New Leaf was the best game in the series at the time it was released…and after a few months of playing New Horizons on a daily basis, I still feel like New Leaf holds the number one spot. I can still go back, plug the 3DS card into my handheld, and experience just about everything that the game has to offer – with the only real exception being the street pass part since you don’t see too many folks walking around with a 3DS these days. New Horizons, however, seems to have much of its content in updates (from seasonal stuff, the art section of the museum, visitors, etc.)…so if I were to revisit it in 5-10 years, there’s no telling if I could still experience everything that the game has to offer. Plus, I have yet to see Kapp’n in New Horizons but I get to see that wonderful kappa sing his beautiful songs pretty much daily in New Leaf….that makes New Leaf superior alone. As they say, the Kapp’n makes it happen. Played on: Nintendo 3DS Also known as: Tobidase Doubutsu no Mori (Japan), Twieonawayo Dongmul-ui Sup (Korea)

Date added: 05/29/2020 Metal Slug 2 Platform Neo Geo Initial Release Date April 2, 1998 (NA/JP) Developer SNK Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 86.85/100 Metal Slug 2 is, in my opinion, the best game in the Metal Slug series. While that’s my opinion, I have a feeling that I’m not alone in that opinion - this game was so popular that a re-mixed version of Metal Slug 2 was released under the name Metal Slug X. Anyway, this is my idea of run-and-gun heaven. You’ve got fun and challenging gameplay, beautiful graphics, bits of humor tossed in, branching pathways, a good assortment of weapons and rides to obtain...It's really everything I'd want all in one neat little package. Plus, you can ride on a camel with guns mounted on its side to blow up everything in your path...If gun-equipped camels don’t automatically make a game great, then I don't know what does. Played on: Neo-Geo Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/21/2021 Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date February 20, 2003 (JP) Developer Atlus Genre RPG My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 85.78/100 Persona 2 was my introduction to the Shin Megami Tensei universe, but Nocturne was the game that solidified the fact that Megami Tensei would become one of my favorite game franchises. From a gameplay standpoint, Nocturne really knocks everything out of the park...From the fun aspect of exploiting the weakness of your enemies in combat, to having conversations with demons in an attempt to get them to join you, to fusing your demon allies to create stronger demons to team with...It's all just done so well. The end result is a game that I played obsessively until I had obtained every demon and seen every inch of every aspect that this game has to offer…and I did that on more than one occasion...I love it that much. With a remake coming out on the Switch, Playstation 4, and Steam soon, a new generation of SMT fans brought in by the newer Persona games can experience this fantastic game as well. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne (Japan), Shin Megami Tensei: Lucifer's Call (Europe)

Date added: 09/23/2019 Resident Evil 2 Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date January 21, 1998 (NA) Developer Capcom Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 90.44/100 The second game in the Resident Evil series does a much better job of making players feel uneasy than the first game...twitching corpses make you frequently second-guess if you actually managed to kill that zombie or not, just to name one example. Just about everything else was improved as well, from the graphics to the puzzles…even the voice acting is better, which admittedly, I was slightly disappointed that it wasn’t on par with the entertainingly terrible voice acting of the first game. Most people consider this the best Resident Evil game of the slower-paced, early half of the series. It’s not hard to see why. Even with the outdated tank controls, it still remains a solid game to this day. Played on: Playstation Also known as: BioHazard 2 (Japan)

Date added: 04/14/2020 Grand Theft Auto IV Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date April 29, 2008 (NA) Developer Rockstar Games Genre Action My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 91.88/100 Grand Theft Auto IV was an extremely anticipated game when it came out...And while I loved the characters, story, and game as a whole...In some respects it felt like a step back, specifically from San Andreas and all of the features introduced in that game. Granted, it wouldn't have made a whole lot of sense to take over the city and buy into businesses due to how the story of GTA 4 plays out. The story isn’t about taking over – it’s about merely surviving. Anyway, once you get past the fact that this lacks some popular features from the previous games, GTA 4 lives up to any and all hype it received. Purely from a story perspective, Grand Theft Auto IV It’s a fantastic game that hasn’t aged as poorly as some of the other games in the franchise have, and Niko Bellic is one of the most genuinely likeable characters I’ve seen in a video game. If you haven't played it yet, give it a try. It's an easy game to lose several hours in, even if you’re not doing any missions and just simply creating havoc and chaos in the streets…or my favorite, slamming on the e-brake and sliding into waves of oncoming traffic. I call it Bellic bowling…and as Niko says, “I’m pretty good at bowling.” Played on: Playstation 3, PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/09/2020 WWE Smackdown!: Here Comes the Pain Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date October 27, 2003 (NA) Developer Yuke's Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 89.32/100 For a long time, I preferred Smackdown! 2 to Here Comes the Pain…But after playing Here Comes the Pain again for this list, I think I’ve finally joined everyone else in calling Here Comes the Pain the best game in the Smackdown/2K franchise. Introducing so many features that fans are used to in the recent WWE 2K games, Here Comes the Pain’s gameplay was fantastic for its time. Not only that, it also has one of the best Season modes in the history of the franchise. Want to take Ultimo Dragon all the way to the top and win the WWE World Heavyweight title? Well, you can do that. This is also the game that introduced a feature that would become a regular fixture of all future WWE games – the inclusion of legends. Sure, you could always create them yourself in previous games, but having Yuke’s create them guaranteed that their mannerisms and such would make it into the game, making everything feel more authentic. To this day, people still rave about this game, and with good reason. It’s absolutely excellent and one of the greatest wrestling games ever created. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: Exciting Pro Wrestling 5 (Japan)

Date added: 02/21/2021 Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Platform Super NES Initial Release Date November 21, 1995 (JP) Developer Rare Ltd. Genre Platformer My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 90.94/100 Donkey Kong Country 2 saw big, ol' DK tossed out in favor of bringing in some girlish charm in the form of Dixie Kong. The result was, quite possibly, the best game in the Donkey Kong Country series. The fantastic levels were both beautiful to look at and well-designed, often requiring teamwork between the Diddy and Dixie to obtain the secrets found in each stage. The music was just as good, maybe better than the music found in the first game, as well. Just about every aspect of the original Donkey Kong Country was improved here in some fashion or another. Donkey Kong Country was a very good game and it turned a lot of heads. Diddy's Kong Quest was a great game and it’s still beloved and fondly remembered as one of the best platformers of the 16-bit era still to this day. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Super Donkey Kong 2: Dixie & Diddy (Japan)

Date added: 08/19/2022 Castlevania: Rondo of Blood Platform Turbografx-CD Initial Release Date October 29, 1993 (JP) Developer Konami Genre Action My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 89.87/100 Not released outside of Japan for over 15 years, Rondo of Blood was probably most known as the game that leads directly into Symphony of the Night, with the game's end being the first thing you play when starting SotN. By the time that it had finally been officially released in North America, via Wii's Virtual Console service, it had gained heavy praise by everyone who had played it…and with good reason - it's fantastic. Known as Akumajou Dracula X: Chi no Rondo in Japan, this was the tenth entry in the Castlevania series, and it featured all of the fantastic whip-wielding action that you might imagine. The nine stages are full of secrets to discover and plenty of excellent action. Along with the gameplay, the game is gorgeous and the CD-quality soundtrack is equally enjoyable. The game also includes minor cutscenes, sort of similar in quality to the NES Ninja Gaiden games, where it's a brief break between areas to add a little story to the action. Another neat addition is that there are hostages in the castle to find and rescue. One of them, Maria, will actually join you if you manage to rescue her. Since controlling her is completely different than controlling Richter (whom you control from the start of the game) it adds another layer to the gameplay and controlling her is just as fun as controlling Richter. Some folks are not fans of Rondo of Blood, for reasons that I honestly don't understand, but the vast majority of people who play this entry in the Castlevania franchise seem to absolutely love it. If you give it a shot, I betcha that you'll probably like it, too. Played on: Turbografx-CD Also known as: Akumajou Dracula X: Chi no Rondo (Japan)

Date added: 02/07/2021 Tecmo Super Bowl Platform NES Initial Release Date December 13, 1991 (JP) Developer Tecmo Genre Sports - Football My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 94.81/100 Tecmo Bowl was absolutely awesome when it came out, but it lacked official NFL teams...Then Tecmo Super Bowl came out and changed that AND improved on the already great Tecmo Bowl formula in the process. With the NFL license, and several new modes, Tecmo Super Bowl created what I still consider to be the perfect football game. It may be an 8-bit game with 2D graphics, but I still haven't played a 3D football game that has given me as much enjoyment when I played as Tecmo Super Bowl has...Heck, I’m not even a football fan, but Tecmo Super Bowl made me lose hours upon hours playing a virtual simulation of the sport anyway. I’ll never be a big fan of watching people throw a pigskin ball around a field, but I’ll always be a fan of playing it in video game form with Tecmo Super Bowl. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/28/2020 Super Mario Bros. 35 Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date October 1, 2020 (W) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 88.91/100 I didn’t know what to expect when I first heard of Super Mario Bros. 35. I thought it was going to be like a modified version of the original Super Mario Bros. with new levels and such…and in a way, I was right. What I didn’t expect was for it to quickly become one of my favorite games that I’ve ever played. Super Mario 35 is the platforming variation of Tetris 99. In Tetris 99, you play Tetris, battling against 98 other people with your matches “attacking” the other players. In Super Mario 35, you’re playing variations on the original Super Mario Bros. formula, battling against 34 other people, and as you defeat enemies, it causes them to respawn in an opponent’s screen. By pressing the X button, if you have the coins to do so, you can also get power-ups…so if you took a hit and lost your ability to toss fireballs with a bunch of enemies in front of you that are immune to the ol’ double-stomp to the head, you can press the X button and see if you luck out. Often times, you’ll be rewarded with a star, allowing you to plow through those enemies and hopefully get to a point where you can find a fire flower to get back into tip-top shape. I absolutely love this game. I had said before that Tetris 99 was worth the $20 per year that Nintendo wants for their online services. Nintendo could double that prices, include Super Mario Bros. 35 in the deal, and I’d still feel like I was getting one heckuva deal. Glancing at critic reviews, this is a game where my opinion seems to differ quite a bit from the average reviewer, but I absolutely love this game and would definitely place it within the top 5 on the console. It’s a crime that the current plan is to shut the servers for this game down on March 31, 2021 because I have been playing this nearly non-stop since its release and I could easily see this as a game that I would regularly return to play over and over and over again for years to come. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/16/2022 Star Ocean Platform Super NES Initial Release Date July 19, 1996 (JP) Developer Tri-Ace Genre RPG My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.66/100 Back when Star Ocean: The Second Story was released on the original Playstation, I absolutely fell in love with it. Since it was called "The Second Story," I assumed that there was a game that came before it…but back in those days, when the internet was in its infancy and I didn't have access to it, it wouldn't be until years later when I would be able to find out that the original Star Ocean existed…and was exclusively released in Japan. Me not knowing enough Japanese to understand the story didn't stop me from eventually purchasing a Super Famicom and an assortment of games, with Star Ocean included. For those that have never played the original Star Ocean on the Super Famicom, it really is an impressive game. Not only are there multiple characters to recruit and plenty of secrets to discover, but the skill system brings in a whole different layer of strategy to the game. Today, a crafting system is commonplace in many games, but back in 1996, Star Ocean was one of the only games where you could craft items, practice alchemy, do blacksmith work on your weapons, and even cook food to create better items than what you could find at a shop in most of the towns. The skills system could also be used to increase the stats of each character…and in some ways, if you focus on the right skills to upgrade, the game can actually get easier as you advance on in the game, instead of harder. All of that customization, along with the recruitable characters who may or may not join you, results in a game that you could play through over and over, change up your strategy, and essentially get a different game each time. It's also worth noting that the audio and visuals are top-notch for the Super Famicom as well. We eventually got this game ported outside of Japan in the form of Star Ocean: The First Departure on the Playstation Portable, but to really see how good this game was back when it originally released, I'd really recommend giving the Super Famicom original a try. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/27/2023 Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date November 27, 2003 (JP) Developer Tecmo Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.39/100 Fatal Frame II is an odd game because, depending who you ask, you'll either hear that it improved on the first game or it was a step back from the first game. I fall more into the "improved on" category, personally. The game's atmosphere, which was great in the first game, felt like it was enhanced here - I felt more uneasy playing this game than I had playing the first game, so I feel like the psychological aspect of horror in this game was improved a bit. I'm not one that usually feels uneasy playing horror games, so getting any reaction from me is a victory. Aside from that, the area to explore feels larger than the original game…and as someone that loves to explore, I appreciated that aspect, too. Toss in some new modes, and a ghost list to push completionists like me to try to hunt down every single ghost in the game, and there's plenty to keep players coming back to the village found within this game over and over and over again. I really, really liked Fatal Frame II. It may be the best game in the franchise, in my opinion. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: Zero: Akai Chou (Japan), Project Zero II: Crimson Butterfly (Europe)

Date added: 06/04/2022 Little Nemo the Dream Master Platform NES Initial Release Date September 1990 (NA) Developer Capcom Genre Platformer My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 85.17/100 Little Nemo the Dream Master is one of my favorite games from my childhood…In fact, besides Super Mario Bros. 2, it very well may have been my favorite game that I owned growing up. It's a fantastic platformer where you control a young lad named Nemo. This lad likely got diabetes as he grew older because he seemingly has an endless supply of candy in his pockets. Using this candy, if he hurls three of them at certain animals that slowly pace back and forth, they'll fall asleep, blow snot bubbles from their nose, and once you walk into them, you'll either transform into a variation of the creature or shrink and ride on the back of the creature, with every creature having unique abilities. The frog can jump high and float on water. The hornet can fly and shoot stinger projectiles from its hiney hole. The rat…for whatever reason can climb on the sides of walls and also provides you with a hammer so you can bop enemies on the cranium as you ride the back of the rodent. Pressing the Select button allows you go back to normal, which is essential in some stages where you need to switch to a different animal friend. Once you get to the final level, and its three stages, the Select button allows you to switch to a weapon that you need for the only boss fights of the game - all seven levels prior require you to find keys in order to advance on to the next stage. Little Nemo isn't the longest game, but it's incredibly fun while it lasts. I've beaten it countless times when I was younger and it was just as fun to play through it again today as it was back when I first played it. If you've never tried it before, and like platformers, I highly recommend giving it a chance - it plays like a dream. Pun intended. Played on: NES Also known as: Nemo: Pajama Hero (Japan)

Date added: 10/31/2021 Super Castlevania IV Platform Super NES Initial Release Date October 31, 1991 (JP) Developer Konami Genre Action My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.12/100 Super Castlevania IV is a beautiful game, especially for one that came out so early in the SNES life cycle. It also has some very nice and interesting level design to go along with the pretty graphics. Top it all off with some of the most solid gameplay in the series, including fancier usage of the infamous whip, and you've got an extremely solid entry in this long-running franchise. If you’re someone that enjoys the level-by-level gameplay of the classic games, then Super Castlevania is considered by many to be at the top of that list. If you prefer the Symphony of the Night-style exploration of Dracula’s castle, then this is still a very solid action game worth checking out, but you just may not be as enthralled with it as the rest of us are. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Akumajou Dracula 9Japan)

Date added: 02/16/2021 Baseball Stars Platform NES Initial Release Date May 19, 1989 (JP) Developer SNK Genre Sports - Baseball My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 90.19/100 Baseball Stars doesn't have an MLB license. It doesn't feature star baseball players of the time. What it lacks in name value, it makes up for in everything else that you could imagine. Baseball Stars was, by far, the deepest baseball game ever created when it came out in '89. Create a team if you want, hire and fire players, take a rookie and develop them into one of the star players of the league...Or if you're content just playing a game of baseball and don't want to worry about any of that stuff, Baseball Stars hit the gameplay and controls out of the park, too. For its time, Baseball Stars could not be touched. Over three decades later, it still holds its own as a great baseball game. Played on: NES Also known as: Baseball Star: Mezase Sankanou (Japan)

Date added: 01/21/2021 F-Zero X Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date July 14, 1998 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Racing My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 88.01/100 I adore F-Zero on the SNES, so when I saw that a sequel was made for the N64 and the playable characters went from four to a whopping thirty-one, with the generic diver opponents replaced with drivers with names, I was quite pumped. Unfortunately, I didn’t have an N64 when it was released, so I had to wait a few years before I could finally play it. When I finally did, I wasn't disappointed at all. The fun, but flat-as-paper tracks of the original were replaced with tracks that twist and turn, making an already enjoyable experience much more enjoyable. Plus, there’s a unique satisfaction to spinning your car around to damage your opponents and send them flying. To this day, F-Zero X is still one of my favorite racing games that I've ever played…and in my opinion, it’s the absolute pinnacle of the franchise. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/03/2019 NiGHTS into Dreams... Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date July 5, 1996 (JP) Developer Sonic Team Genre Action My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.84/100 Sonic Team is best known for creating Sonic the Hedgehog games. However, some argue that NiGHTS into Dreams is the best game that Sonic Team ever created. I don't necessarily agree with that, but I definitely agree that NiGHTS is easily in Sonic Team’s top five games that they developed. There's just something enjoyable about soaring through the air, picking up power-ups, and taking part in large boss fights. In fact, there are times that I like to just pop this in simply so I can soar around, ignoring the goals and time limits, just to explore the beautiful worlds so I can see everything that this game has to offer. It’s just a really well-made game that remains just as enjoyable today as it was when it was initially released. Played on: Saturn Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/14/2019 Doom Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date November 16, 1995 (NA) Developer Midway Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.64/100 Let’s face it – first-person shooters likely would not have become nearly as popular as they’ve become if it weren’t for some of the early first-person shooters…and Doom is probably on the top of that list. What made Doom so good wasn’t the gore that got it much of its attention, Doom was so much more than blood and guts. The atmosphere is done well, with various areas of levels with almost no lighting, which unlike many shooters where you simply barge in and shoot, it will make you come across a dark room and almost hesitate because you don’t know what might be lurking inside. Doom also has plenty of secrets to discover for those brave enough to look for them, which adds to the replay value. And speaking of replay value, even without the exploration aspects, Doom remains fun simply because it was made well. Great design, great controls for its time, and an interesting assortment of enemies to shoot in the face. It was made so well, that even if you did happen to find absolutely everything in the game, there’s a good chance that you’d still pop this in to play it even more. While the controls have aged, Doom as a whole has aged well and is still fun to play today, regardless if you’re playing for nostalgia or just curious what first-person shooters used to play like back in the early 90s. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/28/2019 Bubble Bobble Platform NES Initial Release Date November 1988 (NA) Developer Taito Genre Action My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.84/100 I remember walking around at a Wal-Mart as a small kid with my mom and grandma and seeing a huge display for Bubble Bobble. In reality, it was probably just a few cardboard stands, but to a six-year old kid, it was huge...I remember wanting an NES so that I could play this game. A year or two later, I got my wish and Bubble Bobble became the first game that I ever got to play. It lived up to my expectations and to this day, Bubble Bobble remains one of my favorite games to pop in and play from time to time. With more than 100 levels to play through, a harder mode called Super Bubble Bobble to discover, and multiple endings to see, this was just an absolutely amazing game to play when it came out. I highly recommend it. Played on: NES, Arcade, Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/23/2021 Rock 'N Roll Racing Platform Super NES Initial Release Date June 4, 1993 (NA) Developer Silicon & Synapse Genre Racing My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.28/100 When it comes to racing games, there aren't many titles that I've put as many hours into as I have with this gem. I've beaten the game countless times, on all difficulty settings, and every time it has been an absolute joy. I went to play it a bit to nab some screenshots for this list, and found myself playing it for a few hours all over again. With the solid, enjoyable, isometric-style racing found in RC Pro-Am and a variety of weapons and power-ups to purchase and make the races a little more exciting, Rock N Roll Racing is a racing game that will likely appeal to the Mario Kart audience that doesn't want to play a realistic racing title, while also appealing to fans of any racing game that is good, solid fun. If you haven't played Rock N Roll Racing yet, do it...And thank me in the form of an envelope full of cash. Played on: Super NES, Genesis, Game Boy Advance Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/29/2019 Fire Pro Wrestling Returns Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date September 15, 2005 (JP) Developer S-Neo Genre Fighting - Wrestling My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 86.71/100 Much like how top, non-WWE wrestling promotions (like CHIKARA, ROH, PWG, NJPW, AEW, etc.) fly under the radar of most casual wrestling fans, Fire Pro Wrestling Returns flew under the radar of most casual wrestling fan gamers, who flocked to the better-known and better-looking WWE Smackdown vs. Raw games of the time. If you're a fan of independent wrestling or can name the current IWGP champion or think of lucha libre when you hear the term "Octagon" instead of geometry or MMA, then Fire Pro Wrestling Returns is the wrestling game for you…though they’ve got that MMA stuff covered here, too….thankfully no math, though. The steep learning curve hides a very nice wrestling engine created to simulate a match with a methodical pacing. Taking it even further, the computer AI can be modified to extreme levels, for each individual wrestler (of which you can have over 800 on a single game save), down to how often each move is used, making it a tremendous simulator as well, allowing players to watch dream matches. There really isn't enough space for me to type everything about this game...It looks like it's a couple generations behind graphically...But as far as customization and innovation goes, it's easily a few generations ahead. Fire Pro Wrestling World is a good sequel, and I’m really glad Fire Pro fanatics like myself got it…but Fire Pro Wrestling Returns still remains a step above it. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: Fi-Pro Returns (Japan)

Date added: 08/06/2019 LocoRoco Platform Playstation Portable Initial Release Date June 23, 2006 (EU) Developer SCE Japan Genre Platformer My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.54/100 After not playing LocoRoco for a few years, I couldn't remember much about it other than that it was weird, had a unique control scheme, and that I really enjoyed my time with it. After playing it again to refresh my memory for this list, I forgot how good it was. Most games when I go back and play to refresh my memory, I only play for ten to fifteen minutes so the memories come back to me, I can snap some screenshots, then move on. LocoRoco had me hooked for hours all over again. This wonderful, unique platformer is easily one of my favorite games and everything from its unique control scheme to the simplistic graphics that just oozed personality is done really well. In my opinion, this is one of the absolute must-buy titles on the PSP. Played on: PSP Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/31/2019 Military Madness Platform Turbografx-16 Initial Release Date February 9, 1989 (JP) Developer Hudson Genre Strategy My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 88.90/100 Military Madness was probably the best turn-based strategy game to be published in North America for nearly ten years, up until Final Fantasy Tactics was released on the original Playstation. It doesn't have a whole lot of story of it, but the gameplay is fun enough where it really doesn't need one. The gameplay involves battles like Advance Wars, with different vehicles and armies doing different damage on different terrain...Except Military Madness takes place on the Moon. Which is ironic, because from 1989 to 1998, it pretty much eclipsed any other turn-based strategy game found on a North American console…You know, the moon covers the sun during an eclipse….so it eclipsed them…..I’ll show myself out. Played on: Turbografx-16 Also known as: Nectaris (Japan)

Date added: 07/09/2020 Guitar Hero Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date November 7, 2005 (NA) Developer Harmonix Music Systems Genre Music My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.82/100 Japan had Guitar Freaks, with a guitar controller, for years before Guitar Hero introduced North Americans to a similar concept. Harmonix took that concept and added a bunch of well-known, popular, licensed songs, as well as a few cosmetic aspects to make it look like you were actually playing on a stage in front of a crowd. While I bet that Harmonix knew they'd have a hit on their hands while making this simple, yet great music game, I don't think that they had any idea how insanely popular the series would become. Before Activision got their grubby paws on the franchise and oversaturated the market, like they like to do with games for whatever reason, the original Guitar Hero was absolutely fantastic. If you're one of the few that have never played a Guitar Hero game, do yourself a favor and give it a go. You'll quickly understand why it was all the rage a few years back. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/01/2020 Jade Empire Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date April 12, 2005 (NA) Developer BioWare Genre Adventure My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 89.06/100 When I first played Jade Empire, I honestly did not expect much out of it...And the next thing I knew, I had put about nine hours into the game in a single sitting, not wanting to put the controller down. For those not familiar with the style of the game, think about the first Mass Effect's gameplay, but based in a fictional China's past. It's not a completely accurate comparison, mind you, but it gives you a mild idea of what to expect here…both games were made by BioWare, afterall, so there are definitely similarities. Aside from the fantastic gameplay, which focuses on you learning various martial arts styles to take down your foes, and switching between them during the heat of battle, the environments and soundtrack are both beautiful. While it doesn’t seem likely, I would love to see a sequel down the road. If they made everything look that good 15 years ago, I can only imagine what kind of beauty BioWare could create using the hardware of today. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 01/29/2022 Tomb Raider Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date March 5, 2013 (NA/EU/AU) Developer Nixxes Software Genre Adventure My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 88.43/100 I originally played this game when it was released on PS4 as the “Definitive Edition.” I absolutely loved it. I decided to play the original version that was released on PS3 to add it to this list…and I fell in love with it all over again. Tomb Raider successfully blends aspects of the original Tomb Raider games with minor aspects of the Legend of Zelda and more modern games like Uncharted, which itself was likely inspired by the original Tomb Raider games. The end result is a fantastic game that tells the origins of Lara Croft and her first adventure as a young lady. During the journey, you’ll come across new items that give you access to new areas (similar to the Zelda games) and find plenty of hidden objects and items. You’ll also gain experience by collecting those items and/or defeating enemies, which can be used to purchase new abilities and skills. You can also find items that allow you to upgrade your weapons. Upon getting to the end of this game, I didn’t want it to be over, so I found myself going back to each area and collecting everything and maxing out my experience so that I could unlock all abilities and complete all upgrades…There aren’t a lot of games where I’ll look for any excuse to keep the game from ending, but this is one of them. The original Tomb Raider was a good game, but ten years later, it hadn’t really aged well. As we get close to ten years after this game was released, it’s still just as fun today as it was when it was released in 2013. Played on: Playstation 3, Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/02/2019 NHLPA Hockey '93 Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1992 (NA) Developer Park Place Productions Genre Sports - Hockey My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 88.80/100 I've always enjoyed hockey games, dating back to Hat Trick on the Commodore 64, but NHLPA Hockey '93 was different. Not only was it a fantastic game to play, but it kept track of statistics should you pursue to play a season. Oh, and you could fight, too. Nothing made this game seem more cool than when two hockey players hurled their gloves to the ice and engaged in fisticuffs while their teammates gathered 'round to cheer on in approval. NHL ’94 usually gets all of the praise and attention, but NHLPA Hockey ’93 did it first…and one might even argue that it did it better. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/22/2019 Phantasy Star II Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date March 21, 1989 (JP) Developer Sega Genre RPG My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 87.88/100 Phantasy Star was a great RPG for the Sega Master System. Phantasy Star II tried to blow it away with improvements in every way imaginable, and a really good story to boot, which involves an unexpected farewell for a party member years before Aeris in Final Fantasy VII had ever been created. It's a fantastic old-style RPG with turn-based combat and plenty of grinding involved for leveling up and saving up money, well worth playing for any fan of RPGs. But, if you're spoiled by more modern RPGs, or just simply dislike needing to grind, you may not appreciate it as much as I do. For its time, there weren't many RPGs better. I prefer the original slightly over this game, but not by much. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: Phantasy Star II: Kaerazaru Toki no Owari ni (Japan)

Date added: 05/12/2022 Psychonauts Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date April 20, 2005 (NA) Developer Double Fine Productions Genre Platformer My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.50/100 Psychonauts, as excellent as it was, was another game, like Klonoa and Beyond Good & Evil, that despite critical praise, just never really seemed to be embraced by the general public in terms of sales. Over time, with this game being re-released on various platforms, it eventually got enough of a following for a few more games in the franchise to be published, but it really is a cryin' shame that this wasn't loved by everyone from the first day it was released. Psychonauts delivered a fantastic and memorable experience that creates one of my favorite 3D platformers that I've ever played. I generally get bored with a lot of 3D platformers and find myself not completing the game, but Psychonauts didn't just keep my playing through to the end, but it left me wanting more. The characters, the art style, and the story are all just as charming as the majority of the level designs. Psychonauts is also a game that attempts at being funny and actually succeeds the vast majority of the time, unlike a lot of games whose attempts at humor often result in groans or eye rolls. Psychonauts isn't perfect, but it's a fantastic game worth tracking down if you find a copy. If you haven't played it yet, give it a chance. I bet you'll fall in love with this game like most people who've played it already have. Played on: Xbox, Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/09/2022 Final Fantasy V Platform Super NES Initial Release Date December 6, 1992 (JP) Developer SquareSoft Genre RPG My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 86.87/100 Whenever I see debates about the best Final Fantasy games, I often see this game left out in the cold. I've never fully understood why, either. I've seen some people point out the difficulty of this game…the problem is that it's not necessarily difficult as much as you just need to know the weaknesses of the enemies. One of the early boss fights in the game will likely seem impossible to get past…until you figure out his weak point and exploit it. Then the impossible boss is suddenly not so difficult after all. Final Fantasy V's story also feels like a backstep from Final Fantasy IV's…but that is more than made up in the gameplay, in my opinion. Aside from the fantastic job class system, which lets you customize your party as you see fit, from battle to battle, this game has a LOT to explore. Three different worlds, plus the ability to go underwater and explore the oceans of two of those worlds…there's a lot of places and side quests to discover that you aren't required to find to complete the game, but they're there if you want to find them, and they often give you worthwhile rewards for completing them. While this game doesn't usually seem to get recognition that it deserves, its influence has been seen in many other games since its release - the most obvious being the job class system returning in Final Fantasy Tactics a few years later. If you've got the patience to discover weak points of your enemies, enjoy exploring, and like the idea of being able to customize your party for however you want to play, then I highly recommend tracking down a copy of Final Fantasy V and giving it a try. Played on: Super NES, Playstation (Final Fantasy Anthology) Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/07/2021 Metroid Dread Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date October 8, 2021 (W) Developer Nintendo Genre Adventure My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 89.45/100 Super Metroid is one of my favorite games of all-time. It is flawless, in my opinion. Ever since that 16-bit Samus adventure, I’ve been wanting another 2D Metroid that could match the quality of that game. Metroid Fusion on the Game Boy Advance was good, but it wasn’t near as good as Super Metroid...So when Dread was announced, I was hoping that it could come close to the quality of the SNES classic. Now that I’ve played through to the end, I can say that I think it’s a better game than Metroid Fusion was, but it still fails to reach the lofty heights of Super Metroid. I compare it to both games because, essentially, it IS both games in the same package. The world itself very much feels like Super Metroid, with the path forward not always obvious and requiring the player to sometimes search for it in order to advance. Within the world are various robots that you can’t destroy with normal means, so you’re stuck playing hide and seek in some areas, kind of like Metroid Fusion. I feel like the hide and seek portions take away from the game as a whole, but not enough to hurt it too much. Overall, this is a fantastic game and well worth checking out for fans of the 2D Metroid games - it’s not as great as Super Metroid, but I feel like it’s got a nice, comfy place as the second-best 2D Metroid game ever created. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/31/2024 Pokemon Gold Version Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date November 21, 1999 (JP) Developer Game Freak Genre RPG My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 89.76/100 The first generation of Pokemon games were a massive hit, so it was seemingly inevitable that some sequels would be made, which is where Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Silver came in. Introducing 100 new Pokemon to go along with thePokemon from the first games, your goal is to essentially battle in each gym to eventually make it to Pokemon league and become champion….while disbanding a re-formed Team Rocket along the way. While the first Pokemon games were very good for their time, Gold and Silver only adds to the experience. With a real-time date/time system, if you play the game during the day, you'll encounter different Pokemon than if you were to play at night. Another new mechanic allows Pokemon to hold items to either increase stats or alow them to do things in battle like automatically heal when their health is low. You can also trade "phone numbers" with some trainers that you battle in-game, who will call you to challenge you to another fight and/or give you clues as to which Pokemon are roaming the area that the trainer resides in. Also added are roaming Pokemon and shiny Pokemon. Roaming Pokemon are powerful Pokemon that change their locations frequently and you've gotta track them down to get them. The shiny Pokemon are VERY rare Pokemon that sport a different color than their non-shiny bretheren. In this game, you've got a chance to catch one as part of the story, but finding one in the wild is a pretty rare treat. Two new Pokemon types were also added - steel and dark. Breeding Pokemon debuted here as well, along with the ability to trade Pokemon from the first generation games into this game. Game Freak really packed this game with so much new stuff while still maintaining the simplicity and ease of play of the original games. Pokemon Gold and Silver aren't perfect, but they may be the very best Pokemon games ever created. Played on: Game Boy Color Also known as: Pocket Monsters Kin (Japan), Pocket Monsters Geum (Korea)

Date added: 05/31/2024 Pokemon Silver Version Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date November 21, 1999 (JP) Developer Game Freak Genre RPG My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 89.71/100 The first generation of Pokemon games were a massive hit, so it was seemingly inevitable that some sequels would be made, which is where Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Silver came in. Introducing 100 new Pokemon to go along with thePokemon from the first games, your goal is to essentially battle in each gym to eventually make it to Pokemon league and become champion….while disbanding a re-formed Team Rocket along the way. While the first Pokemon games were very good for their time, Gold and Silver only adds to the experience. With a real-time date/time system, if you play the game during the day, you'll encounter different Pokemon than if you were to play at night. Another new mechanic allows Pokemon to hold items to either increase stats or alow them to do things in battle like automatically heal when their health is low. You can also trade "phone numbers" with some trainers that you battle in-game, who will call you to challenge you to another fight and/or give you clues as to which Pokemon are roaming the area that the trainer resides in. Also added are roaming Pokemon and shiny Pokemon. Roaming Pokemon are powerful Pokemon that change their locations frequently and you've gotta track them down to get them. The shiny Pokemon are VERY rare Pokemon that sport a different color than their non-shiny bretheren. In this game, you've got a chance to catch one as part of the story, but finding one in the wild is a pretty rare treat. Two new Pokemon types were also added - steel and dark. Breeding Pokemon debuted here as well, along with the ability to trade Pokemon from the first generation games into this game. Game Freak really packed this game with so much new stuff while still maintaining the simplicity and ease of play of the original games. Pokemon Gold and Silver aren't perfect, but they may be the very best Pokemon games ever created. Played on: Game Boy Color Also known as: Pocket Monsters Gin (Japan), Pocket Monsters Eun (Korea)

Date added: 05/31/2024 Pokemon Crystal Version Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date December 14, 2000 (JP) Developer Game Freak Genre RPG My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 88.86/100 Pokemon Crystal was released about a year after Gold and Silver hit store shelves and is largely the same game. It includes everything that was new from Gold and Silver (see those entries for all of those features - there's a lot of 'em), plus it adds some more to the game as well. First off, Pokemon Crystal allows you, if you wish, to play as a girl instead of a boy. Makes sense, since Pokemon seems to be liked by the female folk just as much as the male folk. It also adds in some extra story elements, some animated sprites during battles, a new Battle Tower arena, and various minor fixes and improvements. Also, while it wasn't utilized outside of Japan, Pokemon Crystal also supported the Mobile System GB, which was an adapter and paid online service that connected cell phones to the Game Boy to allow players to battle against and trade with other players online. While all of the additions and improvements really make Pokemon Crystal the definitive game, compared to Gold and Silver, they're also not enough to make anyone you already had Gold and Silver feel like they need to go out of their way to purchase this one….well, unless like the Pokemon themselves, you've gotta buy 'em all. If you've never played Gold or Silver, or if you just want to play through and catch Pokemon as a female character, then Pokemon Crystal likely won't disappoint you. And honestly, with its tweaks and improvements over Gold and Silver, it may be the single best Pokemon game ever created. Played on: Game Boy Color Also known as: Pocket Monsters Crystal Version (Japan)

Date added: 03/17/2024 We Love Katamari Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date July 7, 2005 (JP) Developer Now Production Genre Action My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.12/100 We Love Katamari was the sequel to Katamari Damacy, which attempted to add more to the original formula….and it does so successfully, to be honest. We Love Katamari is generally considered to be the best game of the series due to that fact. We Love Katamari, for some, is the game that walked that fine line of improving on the original and adding new content, while avoiding feeling like you were playing the exact same game as before…which as much as I love every game in the series, later games did mostly feel like. Generally speaking, the feeling about We Love Katamari was that it managed to keep everything intact that fans loved about Katamari Damacy, while also improving on various gameplay aspects and including enough new content to make a game that people loved a game that people seemed to universally love even more. Other games in the series seemed to be put out simply to cash in on the success of the franchise, but We Love Katamari truly felt like a love letter to the fans that supported the first game. And We Love Katamari was a perfect title. You can count me among the We…because I absolutely love Katamari, and this game in particular. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: Minna Daisuki Katamari Damacy (Japan)

Date added: 12/29/2023 Contra III: The Alien Wars Platform Super NES Initial Release Date February 28, 1992 (JP) Developer Konami Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.50/100 Contra III: The Alien Wards very well may be the best, in my opinion, in the Contra franchise. It doesn't really innovate anything in any way, but it simply tweaked the formula found in previous games and added a fresh, 16-bit coat of paint. The most noticeable tweak was the difficulty - this game is still plenty difficult, but once you get the hang of everything, and with a little patience, you can essentially give yourself unlimited lives by just finding a "safe" area and firing away at the enemies as your points (and eventually extra lives) start racking up to your content. This makes Contra III one of the easier games in the series to beat, despite it still being rather difficult. Also added are new gun types as well as the inclusion of bombs that will clear the screen of any enemies and/or do heavy damage during boss fights. The boss fights are also well done, with many of them being giant and memorable…and sometimes ridiculous, like the fight where you have to hang from missiles being fired at the boss, and jump from missile to missile to survive while using your puny-in-comparison firearms to take the boss down instead. Overall, though, there aren't many run-and-gun games that are done better than this game. As I said at the start, this isn't a particularly innovative game in the genre, but what it does do, it does very well and it's well worth checking out for fans of run-and-gun shooters. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Contra Spirits (Japan), Super Probotector: Alien Rebels (Europe)

Date added: 03/22/2020 Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse Platform NES Initial Release Date December 22, 1989 (JP) Developer Konami Genre Action My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 90.30/100 After straying from the original formula with Castlevania II, Konami decided to return to what made the first Castlevania so popular, while adding plenty of improvements to make it, in my opinion, one of the absolute best games available on the NES. With multiple paths to traverse and additional characters to recruit and play as along the way, Castlevania III is absolutely fantastic. There’s enough to do here that even when you’ve beaten the game, you haven’t seen everything. You’ve still got other paths to explore and other characters with different abilities and strengths to play as. When it comes to the non-Metroidvania Castlevanias, Dracula’s Curse may be my favorite of the bunch. Played on: NES Also known as: Akumajou Densetsu (Japan)

Date added: 02/12/2021 Tekken 3 Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date March 26, 1998 (JP) Developer Namco Genre Fighting My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 94.33/100 The first Tekken was good and Tekken 2 was better...But Tekken 3 solidified the series as one of the best fighting game franchises of all time. For its time, Tekken 3 was unmatched. Not only did it have all of the extra modes from Tekken 2, as well as plenty of unlockable characters to obtain, but it included some more modes like Tekken Ball (volleyball mixed with a fighting game) and Tekken Force (a side-scrolling brawler) to make sure that you continued to come back for more. I also don't focus too much on graphics usually, but the leap in graphical quality from Tekken 2 to Tekken 3 is really amazing. Tekken 3 improves just about everything from the first two games to near perfection. If you're a fan of fighting games, then this is a must-buy. If you're not a fan of fighting games, Tekken 3 might be worth giving a chance anyway...I've actually seen it win some people over. It’s definitely the best 3D fighting game that you’ll be able to find on the original Playstation, and still holds its own with some of the best 3D fighters of all-time, in my opinion. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 04/11/2022 Halo 2 Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date November 9, 2004 (NA) Developer Bungie Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 89.79/100 I never really thought that the original Halo was as good as a lot of people made it out to be. Yes, it was a very good game, but I never felt like it was the "perfect 10" that a lot of people and publications made it out to be. Halo 2, in my opinion, while still not a perfect game, is the game in the series that made me start to understand why Halo had such a rabid fanbase. I enjoyed the single player campaign that was more than simply shooting stuff as Master Chief, but also shooting stuff as the Arbiter, which game you segments where you can use stealth as the Arbiter to blindside enemies and get an edge in the combat. The Arbiter segments also make you really pay attention to the action - for much of the game, your allies and enemies look alike and shooting everything that moves can result in you losing all of your allies and having them turn against you. Of course, most folks that love the Halo games love the multiplayer, and Halo 2 delivers in that department as well, improving on the already solid multiplayer found in the original game. While there are other first-person shooters that I'd rather play, Halo 2 is still a really good game and well worth playing if you've got a bunch of pals to play with. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/16/2019 Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening Platform Nintendo Game Boy Initial Release Date June 6, 1993 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Adventure My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 94.52/100 I once heard that Link’s Awakening was the Twin Peaks version of the Legend of Zelda franchise. While it’s not as obviously inspired by the beloved cult-hit television series as, say, Deadly Premonition, you can definitely see some similarities. Stranded on an island full of quirky inhabitants, you eventually discover that you’re in a dream of the sky fish…And since you’re part of a dream, various non-Zelda enemies and characters make appearances like goombas, bloopers, piranha plants, and many members of the Super Mario Bros. 2 cast (which also took place in a dream world) including Wart, who goes by the name Mamu here and is an ally rather than an enemy. Despite being on a handheld, Link’s Awakening would have fit right in on a console and was one of the absolute best handheld titles for its time. I’ll end this on a cheesy (but fitting) pun – Link’s Awakening was a game that dreams were made of. Played on: Game Boy Also known as: Zelda no Densetsu: Yume o Miru Shima (Japan)

Date added: 07/25/2019 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date November 21, 1992 (JP) Developer Sonic Team Genre Platformer My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 90.46/100 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is the definition of a great sequel - bigger, better, improved visuals and sounds, and with familiar gameplay that is tweaked to be better than before. The addition of Tails introduced two-player gameplay to the series, which only added to the enjoyment level. The first Sonic the Hedgehog was good fun, but this sequel is great - some still consider it to be the best game in the series today. I don't necessarily agree with that, my personal favorite is Sonic CD, but this is a VERY close second in my eyes. If you want to understand why Sonic vs. Mario debates took place throughout grade schools all over during the early 90’s, look no further than this gem. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/18/2024 ICO Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date September 24, 2001 (NA) Developer SCE Japan Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.99/100 ICO is one of those games where I was pretty certain I would really enjoy it…but I just never really took the time to sit down and play it. Now that I've remedied that, I'm glad to place it on this list. ICO is exactly what I was hoping it would be, honestly…it's basically just one, long, giant puzzle. For those of you who have never played it, in ICO, you control a young lad who has been imprisoned in a castle and quickly find yourself aligned with a young lady and you pair up to try to escape. Shortly into your relationship, you find that a bunch of shadow monsters will try to kidnap your lady friend. So, while finding solutions to escape the castle, you also have to be mindful of her at all times - if she gets kidnapped, it's game over. It's been said over and over again, but this very well could be the game that proves that "escort" sequences can be fun when done right. Since nearly this entire game is you escorting your new-found friend, it also proved that when done right, a whole game can revolve around escorting someone and it can still be fun. When not escorting your gal pal around, you'll be observing your surroundings in an effort to figure out ways to advance on to a new area…and while doing so, you get a sense of how massive the castle that you're attempting to escape really is. It really makes you feel like you've accomplished something when you finally see the credits roll. Anyway, if you like action-based puzzle games, then I highly recommend ICO. It really is fantastic and deserving of every bit of praise that it has gotten over the last 20 years. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/19/2021 Heavy Rain Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date February 18, 2010 (JP) Developer Quantic Dream Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.27/100 I liked Indigo Prophecy a lot...but I felt like the story kinda lost its way by the time the credits rolled. So, when Heavy Rain was announced, I was excited, but also dreading that it may turn out the same way – a great start to the story to hook me, then disappointment as the game went on. Thankfully, Quantic Dream took the great aspects of Indigo Prophecy and improved upon them...And it included a well-made, interesting story that is fantastic from beginning to end, to boot. I gladly played the game repeatedly just to see how the game world would react to the different choices I made in the many different situations I found myself in. I replayed it again for this list for the first time in nearly a decade, and I was amazed that I remembered the vast majority of the story. My memory isn’t the best, but this game stuck with me. Heavy Rain is my favorite game that Quantic Dream has ever put out and a top contender for my favorite game overall on the Playstation 3. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/11/2019 Super Mario Bros. 2 Platform NES Initial Release Date October 1988 (NA) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 91.56/100 Most of you know the story - the real Super Mario Bros. 2 never made it to North America until Super Mario All-Stars was released on the SNES. It was deemed too difficult to be released on North American shores, and thus, Yume Kojo: Doki Doki Panic, a quality game in its own right, was modified with Mario characters inserted in and released as the Super Mario sequel out here. All that said, this is was my favorite game in the Super Mario Bros. franchise for the vast majority of my life and a game that I have to had beaten at least 40-50 times since I was a wee lad. I know every inch of this game by heart...And it's still a game that I enjoy when I play. It's the black sheep of the Super Mario franchise, but being a black sheep myself, that may be what I like most about it. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/10/2019 Mario Kart DS Platform Nintendo DS Initial Release Date November 14, 2005 (NA) Developer Nintendo Genre Racing My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 90.36/100 I love me some Mario Kart DS. I tend to avoid online gaming just because I don't like folks who cheat in multiplayer games...And there are a TON online. Yet, I still played a heckuva lot of this game online. Yeah, every now and then, you'd come across someone that would leave the race if they were going to lose because they didn't want their record soiled with a loss, but for the most part, I enjoyed racing folks in the Mario Kart DS community. But anyway, Mario Kart DS had an assortment of tracks from other Mario Kart games making it almost like a best-of Mario Kart game. Since it was portable, it was like a dream come true to play some of these tracks while on the go. In my opinion, this is one of the best Mario Kart games that Nintendo has put out, even to this date. Played on: Nintendo DS Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/17/2024 Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date November 12, 2001 (NA) Developer KCEJ Genre Action My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 92.21/100 When I think of the best-kept secrets in the history of video games, Metal Gear Solid 2 is always at the very top of that list. Metal Gear Solid 2 started, for many, with a demo disc. On that demo disc, you make your way through a tanker with Solid Snake and the disc ends with a cliffhanger ending, making you want to buy the full game…and many people bought the full game, replayed the tanker…and then a lot of people absolutely lost their minds. Why? Well…because the beloved Solid Snake finds his way into a supporting role and the player instead controls the young Raiden for the remainder of the game. Maybe I'm just the level-headed type, but I never was offended by the change. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of Solid Snake, but playing as Raiden was fine for what it was. Playable character change aside, Metal Gear Solid 2 really was fantastic for its time. The attention to detail in the environments was almost unheard of at the time. Throw in improvements to the stealth gameplay established in the original Metal Gear Solid and a new cast of interesting characters to discover, and you've got an excellent game. If you're the type that complains non-stop when surprised with a change that you may not like, then you'll likely complain here…but that's just petty, in my opinion. Hideo Kojima put out a great game here and more impressive than that is the fact that he was able to hide Raiden's involvement in the game all the way up until the game hit store shelves and people began to play it for the first time. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: Minna Daisuki Katamari Damacy (Japan)

Date added: 08/05/2021 Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date December 13, 2002 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 91.13/100 Say what you want about the cel-shaded graphics, cartoon-like antics, and child-friendly approach to Wind Waker...And sweet muffins, did a portion of players whine and complain about those aspects when the game was first released…But at its core, this is still a Legend of Zelda game and the quality of this title is what you'd expect from the franchise. I, personally, found the art style that they went with to be a refreshing take on the series...And, quite frankly, everything looked (and still does look) absolutely beautiful. Yeah, everyone wanted to play as an adult Link when this came out...But honestly, Nintendo proved with Wind Waker that playing as a child Link can be just as fun. And the unique aspect of sailing around in a flooded world was a nice change of pace, resulting in a Zelda game that many folks since have chosen as their favorite. I’ve played through this game probably about 4 or 5 times, so that likely gives you an idea of my stance on it. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: Zelda no Densetsu: Kaze no Takuto (Japan)

Date added: 11/11/2021 Assassin's Creed II Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date November 17, 2009 (NA) Developer Ubisoft Montreal Genre Action My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 90.68/100 I thought the first Assassin’s Creed was a good game, but I never quite understood why the series was so popular after playing it. Then I played the second game in the franchise and all was understood. Not only does Assassin’s Creed II improve on absolutely everything from the original, it introduces some new gameplay elements to quite possibly make it the best game in the series. Visiting Italy during the Renaissance is fun in its own right, but the game also gives more insight and focus on the “modern day” story that the series also brings the player through. Exploring Italy, the interesting stories of both the past and the present, the improved gameplay, and new gameplay aspects all result in an absolutely fantastic game. I liked the original Assassin’s Creed. I LOVED Assassin’s Creed II, and it single-handedly made me a fan of the franchise. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/31/2023 Super Mario Bros. Wonder Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date October 20, 2023 (W) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 90.49/100 I've always preferred 2D platformers to 3D platformers…maybe it's 'cause I'm an old fart. Despite my love of 2D platformers, I haven't really been smitten with too many 2D Mario games since Super Mario World came out. The closest was New Super Mario Bros. U, but even that failed to hook me like the original Mario games did. Enter Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Not only is this, in my opinion, the best 2D Mario game since the 16-bit era of gaming, but it may be my favorite 2D platformer to be released in the last decade. Super Mario Bros. Wonder manages to capture some of the magic of previous Mario games and mixes it with…well, some magic pills, I guess. The traditional platforming takes a psychedelic turn at times, where you seemingly enter a fever dream variation of the level that you're in. These segments can see you transforming into completely new forms, providing you with some unique gameplay. Speaking of forms, this game also provides new power-ups - the most notable probably being the elephant suit. You've also got the choice between a pretty big cast of characters to play as, with some playing differently than others, allowing you to experience the game in slightly different ways depending on who you select. The only real downside to Super Mario Bros. Wonder is that it's not very challenging, so you'll likely be racking up extra lives as you play and probably won't be using too many of them along the way. Still, I really enjoy my time playing Super Mario Bros. Wonder - they managed to provide players with a good combination of old-school platforming with some new-school mechanics and gameplay. If you're a fan of platformers, I think that you'll fall in love with this game, too. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/25/2020 Portal Platform PC Initial Release Date October 10, 2007 (NA) Developer Valve Software Genre Puzzle My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 89.80/100 When the Orange Box compilation was released, most people bought it for Half-Life 2. And as great as Half-Life 2 is, it was seemingly overshadowed by a little-known game called Portal that became the star of the package, instantly gaining popularity and adulation. The action-based puzzle gameplay was addicting and fun. It wasn't very long before it saw its own solo release, and eventually even saw a sequel. Spawning several catchphrases, like "the cake is a lie," and spewing personality out of every corner of the Aperture Science facility, from words scratched into the walls, or your far-too-short time with the lovable Weighted Companion Cube, Portal is a game that will stick with you long, long after GlaDOS sings to you as the credits roll. Played on: PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/27/2022 Robotron: 2084 Platform Arcade Initial Release Date 1982 (NA) Developer Vid Kidz Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.76/100 I've always loved Robotron: 2084. About 20 years ago, in Seattle, I remember going to Gameworks for the first part of my friend's bachelor party. I broke away from the group and spent a good chuck of the night over in the classics corner, breaking into the top 10 high scores on Donkey Kong and the top 3 on this game. I remember being told that they went back a few months later and that my score was still standing tall. Robotron: 2084 has a special place in my heart for that reason, but it's also an absolutely fantastic game. While twin-stick shooters are pretty common these days, Robotron: 2084 is what put the genre on the map. Each stage is more and more heavily populated by enemy robots, to the point where it can almost look overwhelming at times. The game isn't simply about shooting everything that moves, though. Sprinkled in with the robots are men and women who you want to try to save, by walking into them, for bonus points. If you fail to save them, you have to live yourself after hearing the screams they let out with their final breaths. Games like Geometry Wars took this formula and tweaked it to improve on it and make it more visually-pleasing, but Robotron: 2084 was still absolutely fantastic for its time and still holds its own as one of the best twin-stick shooters of all-time. Played on: Arcade Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/15/2020 Saturn Bomberman Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date July 19, 1996 (JP) Developer Hudson Genre Action My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 93.36/100 I absolutely LOVE Saturn Bomberman; it's my favorite game in the franchise by quite a large margin. It's very fun in single player, but multi-player is what most folks enjoy Bomberman for, and I believe Saturn Bomberman surpasses all other games in the Bomberman series in that regard. This game supports up to ten players playing together at once. Yes, ten. Think of the chaotic fun to be had with that many people. No friends around and want to experience that chaos? No problem, you can battle against nine computer opponents as well and experience the same mayhem, but without all the trash-talking from your pals. Saturn Bomberman is a great single-player experience in itself, but the multiplayer options turn a great game into one of the greatest games ever made, in my opinion. It’s just a shame that so few people seem to have played it. Played on: Saturn Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/01/2018 DuckTales Platform NES Initial Release Date September 1989 (NA) Developer Capcom Genre Platformer My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 90.21/100 Duck Tales....Wooo-ooo! In my opinion, DuckTales is the best Disney game available in 8-bits and, quite honestly, one of, if not the, best Disney games ever made. The only real flaw that DuckTales has, in my opinion, is how short it is - Someone can literally beat the game in 15-20 minutes without attempting a speed run. Not going for speed, but knowing the level layouts well, I've plowed through this game countless times. Length aside, everything else about the game - the music, level design, controls, everything...It's all so wonderful. I'd give this game a perfect score if not for the absurdly short gameplay...It's over in a duck blur. See what I did there? Played on: NES Also known as: Wanpaku Duck Yume Bouken (Japan)

Date added: 12/26/2021 Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date November 19, 2006 (NA) Developer Nintendo Genre Adevnture My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 94.22/100 The main complaint I hear regarding Twilight Princess is that it's an Ocarina of Time clone...Considering that Ocarina of Time is generally thought of as the greatest game ever made, I dare argue that cloning that game and making some more modern tweaks and changes to the gameplay is something that Twilight Princess should be complimented on rather than have held against it. That being said, while one could make that clone argument, Twilight Princess is still very much its own game. The dark, yet often goofy atmosphere is entertaining…with some imagery that one might expect to find in a horror game mixed in with complete goofiness…Ooccoo being a prime example. She may be goofy and loveable, but I can imagine children being frightened at first glance. Anyway, toss in the near flawless use of motion controls in the Wii version, and you had a must-buy title right at the Wii’s launch. Until Breath of the Wild came out, Twilight Princess was my favorite game in the Zelda franchise that I had played. Revisiting the game for this list reminded me why I fell in love with it 15 years ago. Played on: Wii Also known as: Zelda no Densetsu: Twilight Princess (Japan)

Date added: 10/17/2021 Silent Hill 2 Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date September 24, 2001 (NA) Developer KCET Genre Adventure My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 90.35/100 Silent Hill 2 is widely considered the best game in the series. While I still prefer the original to this game, it’s also not hard for me to understand why so many people like this game the most. Silent Hill 2 mostly provides the same creepy atmosphere as the original game did, but with new areas of Silent Hill to explore and new characters to meet. Konami also improved the gameplay in various areas. For one, the Resident Evil tank controls of the first game are now optional, and the game controls more like a modern 3D game. Also, the various difficulty settings for both the game itself and for the riddles within the game help vastly increase the replay value. Outside of the gameplay, Silent Hill 2 also introduced Pyramid Head, a character that many fans still think of first when they hear the words “Silent Hill.” If you weren’t a fan of the original Silent Hill, I can’t imagine that this game would convert you into a fan. For the rest of us, though, Silent Hill 2 is one of the best survival horror games ever made and well worth playing if you’re a fan of the genre. Played on: Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/16/2022 Vagrant Story Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date February 10, 2000 (JP) Developer SquareSoft Genre RPG My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 88.79/100 I remember Vagrant Story getting a lot of press due to it receiving a perfect score in Famitsu magazine in Japan. When it was released, it had only been the third game in the magazine's history to receive a perfect score. So, admittedly, I expected a lot from it before playing…and while I always liked it, I just never stuck with it to the end. Well, until playing it for this list. Now that I've gone through to the end, I can honestly say that while I don't quite agree with a perfect score for it, it's dang close to a perfect score with me. The gameplay is fantastic once you get used to the combat, the graphics are beautiful, the story is interesting…it's just a really well-made game. My only real gripe is that some of the boss fights (specifically battles against dragons) can feel a little repetitive by the end of the game. It's not to say that they aren't fun…but since you can use the same basic strategy against some bosses, many of the fights feel like you've done them already before you reach the end of the game. Still, that feels like a minor gripe when the rest of the game is done so well. If you're an RPG fan, but have never played Vagrant Story, give it a try. I bet you'll fall in love with it, much like I have. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/04/2019 Guardian Heroes Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date January 26, 1996 (NA) Developer Treasure Genre Brawler My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 93.34/100 Ever play a brawler like Final Fight, but wish is played more like a fighting game, like Street Fighter? Well, mix the two together, toss in some RPG elements and a bunch of Treasure charm, and you've got Guardian Heroes - quite possibly the best brawler ever made. Not only is the combat enjoyable, but you’ve got branching paths and four playable characters (five after beating the game) to pummel everything on screen with. Not only is it a blast when playing solo, you've got the option to play with five of your closest friends, so the six of you can pummel each other in deathmatches with the entire cast of the game at your disposal (45 in total) – each character playing differently than the next. This is the closest to perfection that I have ever seen a 2D brawler get. It truly is an amazing game and one that is well worth tracking down if you happen to own a Sega Saturn. Played on: Saturn Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/27/2020 Super Mario 64 Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date June 23, 1996 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 93.90/100 In the early days of 3D games, most developers were struggling with a way to make just a decent 3D platformer, let alone a great one...Of course, then the legendary game designer Miyamoto tried his hand at it and hit a home run in his first attempt. Ditching the formula of the 2D Mario games, Super Mario 64 didn’t have a flagpole or anything to signify the end of the level. Instead, you simply had to collect a star. Each level had several, with various requirements to get the stars to appear, making it mandatory to return to each level multiple times if the player wanted to collect every star in the game…a challenge that many folks gladly accepted. Today, this game is still often in the discussion of greatest game ever made - or at the very least, greatest 3D platformer. I've always preferred the original, 2D Mario games to this one, but I don’t think anyone can argue that this may be one of the first truly great 3D games ever created. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/25/2019 Gran Turismo Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date December 23, 1997 (JP) Developer Polyphony Digital Genre Racing My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 91.67/100 I can thank my car-fanatic friends for getting me into Gran Turismo. I've never been big into cars, and I've never been big into realistic racing video games...But dang it, the original Gran Turismo took hours upon hours of my life away. The concept of starting with the least powerful and most basic of cars (after obtaining your driver's license, of course), and through winning races, slowly build your way up to buy more powerful, faster cars and modify them to make them go as fast as possible until you're essentially the king of the racing world turned out to be a great idea for a racing game. Later Gran Turismo games added much, much more to the table, but the first one is still my favorite in the series to this day, and easily one of my favorite racing games of all-time. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/03/2019 The Walking Dead: Complete Season 1 Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date December 11, 2012 (NA) Developer Telltale Games Genre Adventure My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 90.72/100 When I first saw that the Walking Dead, a game that was only slightly more than a point-and-click adventure game, was winning game of the year awards back in 2012, I couldn’t believe it. Then I played it, and I can’t imagine any other game taking home the prize that year. The Walking Dead is a pretty nifty game that has a great story that pushes you along with some action elements and quick-time events to give the game enough action to go along with the puzzles, point-and-click adventuring, and difficult decisions along the way. It's entertaining, it's fun, and with so many branching points in the story, it's a game that you can play over and over again and get different scenarios and conversations. It's fantastic. If you’re one of the few that haven't played it yet, play it. You'll be glad you did. Played on: Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Playstation Vita, PC, Android Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/07/2019 Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date November 7, 2003 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Racing My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.63/100 Mario Kart: Double Dash!! was a game that my roommates in college and I were hooked on. We didn't have a second controller and didn't play multiplayer...Instead we honed our skills and constantly tried to beat each other's fastest times. That said, Double Dash has a special place in my heart for the competition it created. It's also a solid racing game with a unique gimmick of having two characters on the kart at a time, which also let you hold more power-ups at once, which led to some pretty chaotic (and fun) racing. When it comes to kart-style racing on the Gamecube, nothing comes close to this title. When it comes to the Mario Kart franchise, this is my favorite of the bunch. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/28/2022 Resident Evil: Village Platform Sony Playstation 5 Initial Release Date May 7, 2021 (W) Developer Capcom Genre Adventure My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 88.41/100 I liked Resident Evil VII, but I wasn't as smitten with it as I thought I'd be. I figured that Resident Evil: Village would be more of the same…and instead, Capcom surprised me with my favorite game in the franchise since Resident Evil 4. I absolutely fell in love with this game shortly into it, and by the time I watched the credits roll, I was fully prepared to start up another game and play through it all again. In some ways, it almost feels like Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil VII had a baby…and then that baby grew up to have a child with Metal Gear Solid, and they named that child Resident Evil: Village. Capcom kept the first-person viewpoint and gameplay of Resident Evil VII, but added in more action, like in Resident Evil 4, then tossed in a cast of bosses with unique personalities and their own "superpowers," similar to your typical Metal Gear Solid game. It really is very well done from start to finish, and in some ways, I may actually prefer it to Resident Evil 4. It honestly is that well done. The only reason that Resident Evil 4 stays ranked higher on this list is because RE4 influenced a tidal wave of games after it was released…and while RE: Village is excellent, I can't imagine that it has or will influence anywhere near the same number of games that RE4 has. Still, if you're a fan of the Resident Evil franchise or just enjoy excellent video games, then give Resident Evil: Village a try. I bet you'll be glad that you did. Played on: Playstation 5 Also known as: BioHazard Village (Japan/Korea)

Date added: 09/09/2019 Minecraft Platform Playstation Vita Initial Release Date October 14, 2014 (NA) Developer Mojang AB Genre Adventure My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 87.22/100 I was VERY late to the Minecraft party. I first heard about it on a podcast, and it sounded really interesting to me...But I never bothered to sit down and give this little-known game a try until about six years later. Fast forward and now the world is obsessed with this game. Admittedly, I’ve never played the PC version (where it all started) but the Playstation Vita version, in its portable form, sucked countless hours of my life away while I built my underwater mansion with giant glass walls….usually while I sat on the toilet or laid in bed, winding down to go to sleep. Whether you like building things or just exploring the world around you, Minecraft has plenty to love. It’s that rare game that can make both hardcore gamers as well as people who have never touched a game before obsessed with it. It's good…very good. Played on: Playstation Vita, Playstation 4, Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/08/2020 Red Dead Redemption II Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date October 26, 2018 (W) Developer Rockstar Games Genre Action My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 93.05/100 Red Dead Redemption was an excellent game that basically felt like Grand Theft Horse…because you ride horses instead of drive cars. Get it? Bah, nevermind. Anyway, when Red Dead Redemption II was announced, I knew I’d eventually play it, but I wasn’t in a huge hurry to do so…Then I played it…And completely fell in love. It didn’t happen immediately, mind you…There were moments where I thought that once I finished the game, that would be it and I’d never return to it. Since beating it, however, I’ve had the itch every now and then to return to the environments found within the game. If you liked the original Red Dead Redemption, then you’ll probably love this prequel. Not only does it help provide a very solid back story to the original game, but gameplay-wise it improves on every single aspect of the original and provides the player with a very amusing experience…especially for people like me that simply like to wander around and discover random scenarios that pop up…like asking someone for the time, just before a goat headbutts you in the crotch or distracting two folks trying to blow open a safe long enough for them to forget that they had already lit the dynamite and watch them get tossed into the air from the explosion. Anyway, I’m a big fan of Red Dead Redemption II. If you haven’t played it, I highly recommend that you check it out and see what you’ve missed out on. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/25/2020 Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date 1993 (NA) Developer Compile Genre Puzzle My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 88.37/100 Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine is easily one of my favorite puzzle games of all-time. While it seems as simple as matching up several of the same-colored "beans" to make them disappear, there's actually quite a bit of strategy involved as you want to try to stack the "beans" up in such a way that when you finally pop one, it starts a chain reaction with sets popping one after another. Doing so sends an avalanche over to your opponent and you can advance to the next round with relative ease. Known as Puyo Puyo or Puyo Pop in Japan, and known as Kirby’s Avalanche on the Super NES, Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine is pretty close to the pinnacle of what I believe a great puzzle game should be - strategic, competitive, and most importantly, fun. As far as puzzle games go, in my personal opinion, quality-wise it’s only second to Tetris – the gameplay really is that solid. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: Dr. Robotnik And His Mean Bean Machine (Europe), Donggeuri Toechijakjeon (Korea)

Date added: 08/15/2019 Earthbound Platform Super NES Initial Release Date August 27, 1994 (JP) Developer Ape Studios Genre RPG My Score 9.0/10 Avg. Score 90.55/100 What can you say about Earthbound? I’ll tell you what I can say – I wish I had the correct reproductive organs to have its dang babies…That’s what I say. It's a great game with a fantastic sense of humor. The graphics aren't bad, but they're not gonna wow anyone, and the RPG gameplay was a little bit behind the times, but for people that like oodles of personality in their games, the positives easily outweigh the negatives in Earthbound by a very large margin. It's worth the astronomical price that the game used to sell for. But thanks to recent digital releases on the Wii U, 3DS, and even the SNES Classic Mini, prices for the physical cartridge have drastically dropped to one third of what it was going for just a few years ago…it’s still in the triple digits, though, and worth every gosh darn penny as far as I’m concerned. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Mother 2: Gyiyg no Gyakushuu (Japan)

Date added: 12/26/2022 Samurai Shodown II Platform Neo Geo Initial Release Date December 2, 1992 (NA/JP) Developer SNK Genre Fighting My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 90.39/100 I enjoyed the original Samurai Shodown. It was a really good fighting game in its own right…Then SNK developed Samurai Shodown II and perfected the formula. While games like Street Fighter II were absolutely fantastic in their own right, they also were easy enough to play where button mashers could see the credits roll without needing to be too smart or tactical with their fighting. Samurai Shodown II, even on its lowest difficulty setting, is not a game where you'll get very far simply mashing buttons. Essentially, you'll want to be in the defensive just as much, if not more, than being on the offensive, if you want to survive to see the wonderful, poorly-translated cut-scenes and endings. Every now and then, power-ups appear on screen to help you (or your opponent) out during the battle, and at times you or your opponent may lose your weapon during the brawl, giving the person still with weapon in hand a big advantage. The fighters also vary considerably in size - if you see the giant Earthquake against the dwarf-like Nicotine, it gives you a fun David vs. Goliath visual. And speaking of Nicotine, his full name is Nicotine Caffine. This game is as addicting as both of those substances. A lot of people point to one of the King of Fighters games as the best fighting game on the Neo-Geo. I always have and always will point to this gem - not just the best on the Neo-Geo, but one of the best fighting games of all-time. Played on: Neo-Geo Also known as: Shin Samurai Spirits: Haohmaru Jigokuhen (Japan)

Date added: 04/03/2019 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date June 29, 2000 (NA) Developer Treyarch Genre Sports - Skateboarding My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 92.34/100 I first played Tony Hawk's Pro Skater on the original Playstation a year prior to its release on a demo disk. The game was extremely basic when compared to the final product, but it was still fun enough where a few friends and I lost hours playing the demo. Then, a year later Pizza Hut released a demo much more true to the original game...And I was sold. I went out of my way to purchase this game...And to this day, I can still pop it in and love every minute of my time with it. And I'm not a music guy by any stretch, but I enjoy every song on the soundtrack, which also adds a tad to the enjoyment. While the sequel might be a superior game overall, I'll always have a preference to the simplicity of the original. This version on the Dreamcast may have come out a little later, but it's still just as solid as the original release on Playstation One. Played on: Dreamcast, Playstation, Nintendo 64 Also known as: Tony Hawk's Skateboarding (Europe)

Date added: 11/25/2019 Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age Platform Sony Playstation 4 Initial Release Date July 29, 2017 (JP) Developer Square Enix Genre RPG My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 92.16/100 Dragon Quest VIII is one of my favorite RPGs of all-time. With the return of the franchise to console (IX was on the DS and X was an MMO) I was hoping that this game would at least be half as good as VIII was. Thankfully, Square Enix delivered. Taking some of the best improvements that Square Enix made to VIII when it was re-released on the 3DS, and adding in a few more touches, Dragon Quest XI does exactly what Dragon Quest VIII did back when it was released - provided a classic, old-school RPG with enough new bells and whistles to make it feel modern at the same time. I'm also a fan of both the characters and story...Act 2 felt a little, well, dull to me in the story department, but not horrible...then Act 3 came along and solidified my love for this game. I beat it after putting nearly 125 hours into it..though I imagine it will be more like 50-60 hours for most players...but I loved my time so much that I made sure to get everything I could out of it before I defeated the final boss and hesitantly moved on to another game. Played on: Playstation 4 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/03/2019 Virtua Fighter 2 Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date December 1, 1995 (JP) Developer Sega AM2 Genre Fighting My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 93.28/100 Virtua Fighter 2 didn't just solidify Virtua Fighter as the franchise to beat in the 3D fighting world, it was considered by many to be THE best 3D fighting game for many years after its release. That opinion was probably largely due to the fact that the computer AI was very intelligent and it adapted to your fighting style, forcing you to make your attacks more varied unless you wanted to lose…although, this could be turned off in the options, I don’t know why anyone would. If the computer adapts to your tactics, it forces you to get better, making you play more. It was a simple, effective way to increase the replayability back in the days before fighting games had a bunch of modes beyond arcade and versus modes. Smarter AI wasn’t the only improvement in Virtua Fighter 2. The visuals look fantastic for an early 3D game, the gameplay feels smoother and more polished, and you’ve even got some new faces to punch. If you want to play the best, early 3D fighters, Virtua Fighter 2 should be at the top of your list. In my opinion, it spent several years as the king of that growing genre. Played on: Saturn, Arcade Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/14/2019 Sonic CD Platform Sega CD Initial Release Date November 16, 1995 (NA) Developer Sonic Team Genre Platformer My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 93.40/100 Sonic CD is my favorite game in the Sonic franchise...The high-speed platforming that we all know and love is here with excellent level design as well as a time-travel aspect that puts this game slightly above the rest of the Sonic pack in my opinion. While the Sega CD gets knocked a lot due to the poor FMV games that flooded the console, Sonic CD was one of the handful of games that made acquiring a Sega CD a very worthwhile thing to do back when it was released. These days, Sonic CD has seemingly been re-released on every platform in digital form so a whole new generation of gamers can experience one of Sonic Team’s greatest accomplishments. Played on: Sega CD Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/01/2019 Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Platform Super NES Initial Release Date November 21, 1991 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Adventure My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 96.07/100 The concept of A Link to the Past is simple – return to the formula of the NES original, add in a little more direction, still provide plenty of guesswork and secrets to discover, include various dungeons that all feel unique, and toss in a dab of bouncing between two different worlds. The end result is one of the most beloved games in the history of the Zelda franchise…and one may argue, one of the most beloved games in the history of video games as a whole. It was a fantastic 2D finale for the console Zelda games, and one that most fans of the franchise look back on fondly. I personally prefer a few other games in the series to this one, but it’s not hard to see why so many people insist that this is the best game with the Legend of Zelda title. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce (Japan)

Date added: 07/17/2019 Phantasy Star Platform Sega Master System Initial Release Date December 20, 1987 (JP) Developer Sega Genre RPG My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 91.46/100 Dragon Warrior hit North American shelves about a year after Phantasy Star did (though it actually hit store shelves in Japan about a year and a half before Phantasy Star was released in the Land of the Rising Sun)...And while Phantasy Star is a far superior game in terms of everything from gameplay to graphics, it never really gained the popularity that Dragon Warrior did. That said, Phantasy Star is a futuristic RPG (one of the first) and it may also be the very first great RPG to be released in North America. I can't think of one that came before it that was better. I can't think of many released within a few years after it that was better, for that matter, either. If you're a fan of classic, turn-based, grinding RPGs, this game is worth buying a Master System for alone. Or, of course, you can always purchase the Sega Ages version on the Nintendo Switch with some added features (like an auto-map for dungeons) and enjoy this classic on the go. Played on: Sega Master System Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/03/2019 Panzer Dragoon II: Zwei Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date March 22, 1996 (JP) Developer Team Andromeda Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 91.40/100 The first Panzer Dragoon was a fun rail shooter...The sequel improved on the original in pretty much every way and added in a few new features, like levels with multiple paths to choose from and the awesome feature of being able to morph your dragon into a new, more powerful one. This game alone is worth the purchase of a Saturn, let alone all of the other fantastic titles that the console had exclusively. When it comes to rail shooters, I consider this game to be the king of the mountain. It looks beautiful, it plays wonderfully, and it's just a fantastic game as a whole. I don’t think I have ever played another rail shooter that is as fantastic as this one. With a remake seemingly planned for modern consoles, a new generation could potentially (if the remake doesn't mess too much with this formula) see how amazing this game was. Played on: Saturn Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/28/2019 Ninja Gaiden Platform Microsoft Xbox Initial Release Date March 2, 2004 (NA) Developer Team Ninja Genre Action My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 90.83/100 Ninja Gaiden can be frustratingly difficult for some...While I found it to be difficult, I never really found it to be frustrating, as every time I continued, I found myself getting better and better. It reminded me of the 8-bit Ninja Gaiden games, which were the same way. Yeah, those games could get difficult too, but when I'm having this much fun while I fail, I don't mind failing repeatedly, especially when I see progression of my skills in the game. Essentially, this was a spiritual version of the 8-bit games with a beautiful coat of paint...And I think of that as a good thing. And much like the original 8-bit games, it shows players how fun it is to play as a ninja in video games. Played on: Xbox Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/26/2021 Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date April 27, 2000 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Adventure My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 92.98/100 Majora’s Mask is a game that I played a little bit here and there, but never really dove into until playing it for this list. I always liked the concept of the game and such…but at the same time, reliving the same 3 days over and over again looked like it would become a chore. After the second or third cycle, I usually wound up playing something else. Now that I’ve stuck with it, Majora’s Mask has not only won me over as a fan of the game, it has put itself in contention as one of my favorite Zelda games. In fact, if I didn’t like Breath of the Wild so much, it may have found itself as my favorite in the series. Reliving the same three days eventually becomes a fun aspect of the game instead of a nuisance. You’ll find things, stick them in the back of your mind, then remember later, “Oh yeah! I wanted to try this the next time I’m on Day 2.” Likewise, I found it fun to simply “stalk” townsfolk just to see what they do during those three days. Like Link’s Awakening, it’s a Gannon-free Zelda game, and also like Link’s Awakening, I really enjoy and appreciate it for being different. If you haven’t given Majora’s Mask a chance, I highly suggest doing so. It’s fantastic. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: Zelda no Densetsu: Majora no Kamen (Japan)

Date added: 05/26/2022 Suikoden II Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date December 17, 1998 (JP) Developer Konami Genre RPG My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 92.49/100 Suikoden was a great, but short, RPG that I really, really liked…but it got a lot of flack from folks for the graphics that looked aged at the time. The sequel increased the length of the game, introduced a slew of new characters to recruit, and kept the 2D look, but also improved upon it to silence the graphics snobs of the time. Along with those improvements, the story in Suikoden II is fantastic, for the most part. The story of two childhood friends and how their paths separate and return to each other will likely hook most folks that give this game a try. As an added bonus, if you play your cards right, and have a save from the previous Suikoden on your memory card when you begin a new game, you can even recruit the hero from the original Suikoden to join your ranks in this game. While you can't bring him into the final battle of the game with you, you CAN bring him along to a few of the final battles, making them way, way easier, in case you have any difficulties. On top of the main story, recruiting all of the 108 Stars of Destiny in the game will open up various things to do at your castle, including a simple Iron Chef-inspired mini game. The only real downside to Suikoden II is that it didn't receive a great translation before heading over to the West, but it's not bad enough to ruin the game…it just may cause some minor confusion at times. Anyway, Suikoden II can currently go for over $300 USD online, and if you're a fan of RPG's, then it's definitely worth every penny. It's easily one of my favorite RPGs that I've ever played. Played on: Playstation Also known as: Genso Suikoden II (Japan)

Date added: 12/28/2021 Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos Platform NES Initial Release Date April 6, 1990 (JP) Developer Tecmo Genre Action My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 93.09/100 Despite the near-frustrating difficulty of the original Ninja Gaiden, I still really enjoyed playing it. So, when I played Ninja Gaiden II for the first time, I expected more of the same…and it both met and exceeded my expectations. Like the original Ninja Gaiden, The Dark Sword of Chaos has plenty of mini cut scenes between levels to allow players to watch the story play out. Then, once the gameplay starts, it’s basically the same difficulty from the first game - challenging, but fun enough where you’ll keep playing anyway. Admittedly, though, this may be slightly easier than the first game, in my opinion. Possibly related to the slightly lower difficulty, I also enjoyed the level designs and boss fights a little more in this sequel than I did the original. While the game is still challenging, I found myself less frustrated as I made my way through the game than I did playing the original. Toss in some new power-ups and seemingly just an overall improved experience, and that makes this my go-to game when I want to play a game in the 8-bit Ninja Gaiden series. If you like a challenge, and want to play an excellent game, then Ninja Gaiden II is a must-play. It’s not just the best in the Ninja Gaiden series, in my opinion, it’s one of the best games that you can find on the NES, period. Played on: NES Also known as: Ninja Ryuukenden II: Ankoku no Jashinken (Japan), Shadow Warriors II: The Dark Sword of Chaos (Europe)

Date added: 04/14/2019 SoulCalibur Platform Sega Dreamcast Initial Release Date August 5, 1999 (JP) Developer Namco Genre Fighting My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 95.84/100 Soul Calibur turned a lot of heads when it was released. Not only was everything arcade-perfect, but in many ways it surpassed the arcade version, which in itself was already an amazing game. Namco also tossed in a few extra modes to boot, including Mission Mode, which was absolutely addicting. There are also plenty of characters, costumes, and modes to unlock, creating plenty of replay value to ensure that you keep coming back for more. I don't consider this to be the best 3D fighting game of all-time any more, but back when it was released, there weren't too many fighting games that could come even close to matching the quality of this gem....and twenty years later, only a handful have surpassed it. Played on: Arcade, Dreamcast Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/27/2019 Silent Hill Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date January 31, 1999 (NA) Developer KCET Genre Adventure My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 90.45/100 After Resident Evil was released, a ton of sub-par survival horror clones were published by various companies...Then came Silent Hill, which at first glance may look like a Resident Evil clone, but Resident Evil is like Sesame Street compared to Silent Hill. This game is dark, demented, and relies on psychology to scare the player rather than cheap tricks like a dog jumping through a window. I have to have beaten this game at least 10-15 times since it was released over 20 years ago and I’ve never gotten sick of it. Many people think that Silent Hill 2 is the best game in the series...As great as Silent Hill 2 is, I’ve always preferred the original and would gladly journey through Silent Hill in the shoes of Harry Mason again today. It’s, quite possibly, my favorite horror game of all-time. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/07/2019 Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting Platform Super NES Initial Release Date July 11, 1993 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 91.19/100 Street Fighter II was a huge hit and proof that fighting games could be incredibly fun when done well. After the success of the original release, Capcom put out a port of the second Street Fighter II arcade machine - Street Fighter II Turbo, which allowed players to play as any of the four final bosses, play as the same character against others (like Ken vs. Ken), and the fighting was sped up to a near perfect speed, making the already near-flawless Street Fighter II that much closer to perfection in the process. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/20/2020 Mega Man X Platform Super NES Initial Release Date December 17, 1993 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Platformer My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 94.60/100 When I first played Mega Man X after getting it for Christmas as a wee lad, I wasn't sure if I liked it. It was good and all, but this wasn't quite the Mega Man that I was fond of. The more I played, however, the more I found myself absolutely hooked. This is like the original Mega Man formula on steroids...Larger levels, more abilities, secrets to find like hidden items and mini bosses...It was amazing. It was so good that every other game in the X series, in my opinion, struggled to surpass it. The only Mega Man game that I've ever played more than this one is Mega Man 2...And there's a reason I've played this so much - it's absolutely fantastic. Played on: Super NES Also known as: RockMan X (Japan)

Date added: 05/16/2020 Super Mario Odyssey Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date October 27, 2017 (W) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 92.50/100 Oh boy, I might get some angry responses for this. Up until Super Mario Odyssey came out, I had never beaten a 3D Mario game. Most of the 3D games starring everyone’s favorite Italian plumber I found to be good, but just didn’t hook me strong enough to see the journey through to the end like the 2D Mario games did from the 80s and 90s. This game changed that. Easily my favorite 3D Mario game, Odyssey is probably best described as a mix of Mario and Kirby…or possibly more accurately, Mario and Brave Fencer Musashi. Basically, you toss your cap at certain enemies or objects to “possess” them and use their abilities. On top of that, each level is interesting and fun to explore. The game is easy enough for children to enjoy, but it’s also challenging enough so adults won’t get bored. Breath of the Wild is still my game of choice on the Switch, but Odyssey is a strong choice for an alternative if Zelda games aren’t your cup of tea. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/13/2022 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date October 29, 2002 (NA) Developer Rockstar North Genre Action My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 92.62/100 So many people consider Grand Theft Auto: Vice City to be the best Grand Theft Auto game ever made…or at the very least, if not the best, it's their favorite. It's easy to see why it's so beloved. Vice City improved on most of the formula created with Grand Theft Auto III, included one of the best soundtracks in the history of video games, and replaced the dull, dreary colors of Liberty City with the colorful, lively pastels of Vice City. On top of that, the story in Vice City was a MAJOR upgrade of the story from GTA3, and so many of the game's most memorable characters are found here, both new characters debuting, and the reveal that many favorites from Liberty City spent time down in Vice City earlier in their lives. Later games in the Grand Theft Auto franchise have further refined the controls and gameplay, causing Vice City's gameplay to age a bit…but the experience as a whole is still just as fantastic today as it was when it released about twenty years ago. Driving a (new to the 3D GTA games) motorcycle down a long stretch of road, next to the beach, with the sun setting in the distant sky, while Toto's Africa starts playing on the radio and the glow of the neon lights reflects off the street as you drive by…that's a memory that many folks that have played this game fondly share…even if that memory is often followed by a car cutting them off, sending them flying off their bike and to the closest Vice City hospital. I personally prefer Grand Theft Auto III to Vice City simply because of the impact that GTA3 had on video games as a whole, but there's absolutely no question that Vice City was still one of the greatest games ever made back when it originally released. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/23/2020 Gunstar Heroes Platform Sega Genesis Initial Release Date September 9, 1993 (NA) Developer Treasure Genre 3rd Person Shooter My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 93.70/100 Gunstar Heroes was the rookie effort from the wonderful developers at Treasure...And in their first attempt, they may have created the single best game available on the Genesis. Gunstar Heroes is a great shooter that can potentially be different each time you play through due to the way that you're able to combine weapon power-ups to find a style of firepower that is to your liking. The game also contains one of my favorite boss fights of all-time in Seven Force. Add in the ability to choose the levels you want to play, ala Mega Man, and you've got what many consider to be the best game on Sega's 16-bit console...I think I agree with 'em. Played on: Sega Genesis Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/11/2020 Spelunky Platform PC Initial Release Date August 8, 2013 (NA) Developer Derek Yu Genre Platformer My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 89.59/100 If you've never played Spelunky, but like 2D platformers, you NEED to play this game. The randomized levels mean that every playthrough is a different experience. That, when added to the fact that this game just has a charm to it where you'll keep telling yourself "just one more time" when you die...and one more time turns into ten or twenty more times…and you’ve got yourself a game, in my opinion, that was one of the absolute best 2D platformers that I’ve ever played. There are plenty of secrets to discover as you play as well, increasing the replay value even further…hidden levels, playable characters, game modes, etc. To this day, over 5 years after its release Spelunky is still one of the games on Steam that I like to pick up and play randomly from time to time. If you haven't played it yet, go out of your way to do so. You won't regret it. It’s fantastic. Played on: PC, Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Playstation Vita Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/30/2022 The Last of Us Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date June 14, 2013 (W) Developer Naughty Dog Genre Adventure My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 95.32/100 During the life of the Playstation 3, Naughty Dog established itself as a major asset to Sony. All three Uncharted games received critical praise, but the game that very well could be their crowning achievement was the Last of Us. A great mixture of stealth gameplay with bits of survival horror tossed in, The Last of Us was easily one of the best games released on the PS3, but it was also one of the best games of that console generation, regardless of what platform you included. The gameplay, even on the easiest setting, isn't going to result in most people just breezing through the game - you'll probably die a lot, especially as you get used to everything. But the difficulty never feels cheap, even on the higher difficulties. It always feels like you can overcome everything if you just come up with the right strategy…and you can. Exploring the game's beautifully designed areas is another enjoyable aspect, and it tends to be rewarding as well, as you'll find supplies to stock up on as well as training manuals and such to boost various stats. The gameplay of The Last of Us is honestly enough for me to rank this game high on the list alone, but Naughty Dog also manages to make you genuinely care about Joel and Ellie, the two main characters, and by the end of the game, you just want to see things end up on a positive note for both of them. I'd imagine that wanting to see how their journey ends is enough to push most people through to the end of the game, even if they're not as smitten with the gameplay as I am…though those folks seem to be few and far between. Almost universally praised, The Last of Us is an absolutely amazing game and if you've never given it a try before, I highly suggest tracking down a copy and seeing what all the hooplah was about. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: Resistance: N/A

Date added: 01/22/2024 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date October 26, 2004 (NA) Developer Rockstar North Genre Action My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 93.29/100 I've put so many hours into San Andreas over the years, but until revisiting it for this list a few weeks ago, I had never actually beaten it. Now that I finally have, I feel like it's time to finally add it to this list. Anyway, San Andreas is considered by many to be the best game in the Grand Theft Auto franchise…and at the same time, it's considered by some to be a low point. I'll start with a negative, because despite my glowing score for it, there are some. The biggest complaint that many have is also the same thing that many people love about this game - the size of the in-game world. Taking place across three cities and a few, small backwoods towns, some missions have you travelling across the entire map…and if you fail, you have to either drive all the way back to the start point to try again or drive to a train station or airport and let them get you close. This was fixed in later games with taxis that take you back to where you need to go, but unfortunately, those taxis aren't here. While many people are annoyed by that, I actually enjoyed driving across the map - I found it to be a mostly relaxing break from the chaos of the rest of the game. The positive of the size of the game world, though, is that you'll see a larger variety of environments as you play through the game, and it does really make the story feel a bit more "grand" than previous games in the series had felt. With a cast of memorable characters, both new and returning from previous games, and a handful of new mechanics and features, its pretty easy to see why Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is so beloved by many. It's not my personal favorite in the series, but I'll always enjoy jumping into the shoes of Carl Johnson and returning to Grove Street all the same. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/31/2020 Snatcher Platform Sega CD Initial Release Date November 30, 1994 (NA) Developer Konami Genre Adventure My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 91.17/100 I don’t think this is much of a secret if you look at this list, but I’m a pretty big fan of Hideo Kojima and the creativity that spews from his mind. Kojima’s style of story telling certainly helps with how much I enjoy this game. Snatcher is a text-based adventure game, which in itself may sound dull…but it’s better than any other game I’ve played in the genre. Every character has personality and there are plenty of easter eggs to discover, so it doesn’t feel like a chore to exhaust all investigation or talking options, even if you feel as if you’ve already got all the info that you need. Metal Gear fans will also see plenty of references to that franchise, from Outer Heaven being a location to visit right down to your sidekick being named Metal Gear. If you’ve never played a text-based adventure game, I consider Snatcher to be the absolute best. It may be a little too slow-paced for some, though some whack-a-mole-style shooting segments do provide some minor action from time to time, but for the folks that stick with it will find an absolute masterpiece of a game – there’s a reason that a copy costs well into the triple-digit dollar amount. Played on: Sega CD Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/05/2019 Legend of Zelda Platform NES Initial Release Date August 22, 1987 (NA) Developer Nintendo Genre Adventure My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 93.56/100 I have played the Legend of Zelda on and off for the past 20 years – I didn’t have the game or play it as a child…And up until adding it to this list, I’ve never beaten it. Well, I can now happily scratch that goal off of my "games to beat" list. The Legend of Zelda was such a game-changing experience back when it was released…adding to the multi-screen exploration found in Atari 2600’s Adventure, the Legend of Zelda includes an army of different enemies and bosses to battle, a huge amount of items to discover, a large world full of secrets…and a second quest to keep you coming back once you finally beat the game. Much like what Super Mario Bros. did for platforming games, the Legend of Zelda did the same for adventure games, setting the bar for what a great game in the genre was. It was such an amazing game for its time and a near-perfect start to a franchise full of near-perfect games – there’s a reason that the cart was gold, afterall. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/27/2020 God of War Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date March 22, 2005 (NA) Developer SCE Santa Monica Genre Action My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 92.50/100 God of War was absolutely amazing when it was initially released. Within mere minutes of starting up the game, you’re thrust into an amazing boss fight with a giant hydra…and that fight is only setting the stage for everything else to follow for the next few hours as you control Kratos in one of the most memorable stories and games that has ever been created. From the opening scene to the final credits, this is one of the absolute best games of its time. Even today, 15 years later, it’s still absolutely amazing. While most other games in the God of War series are also excellent, the first one was done so well that I’m not sure if any of them have ever managed to top it….few games from ANY series have managed to top it, for that matter. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 08/10/2019 Metroid Prime Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date November 17, 2002 (NA) Developer Retro Studios Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 95.96/100 I got Metroid Prime for free with my Gamecube due to a deal Nintendo was doing at the time. I didn't want to play it. At that time I hadn't played a first-person shooter that I enjoyed...Or a first-person game of any kind that I enjoyed, for that matter. Instead, I let a curious friend play it who was a fan of both the Metroid series and first-person shooters while I watched. Simply watching the game in action made me want to play it...And shortly after he left, I popped it in and started my own save for it...And I ended up loving every minute of it. It's the beloved 2D Metroid formula successfully done in first-person 3D, and it's easily one of my favorite games that I've ever played. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/12/2020 Mega Man 2 Platform NES Initial Release Date December 24, 1988 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Platformer My Score 9.5/10 Avg. Score 93.24/100 Mega Man 2 is often considered to be the best game in the Mega Man series. It's hard to argue that. The levels are all designed brilliantly, the bosses are all unique and a joy to battle against, and the soundtrack may be the best in the series. It really is the total package in terms of Mega Man games…and quite honestly, it’s also a total package in terms of most video games, regardless of franchise or genre. Later games in the series added new abilities and features, but even in its basic form, Mega Man 2 is still heads and shoulders above any other game in the franchise, and most others in the platformer genre that have been released before or since. It really is that good. Played on: NES Also known as: RockMan 2: Dr. Wily no Nazo (Japan)

Date added: 10/12/2019 Super Street Fighter II Turbo Platform Panasonic 3DO Initial Release Date November 13, 1994 (JP) Developer Capcom Genre Fighting My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 94.77/100 If you loved Street Fighter II, this game alone was worth buying the 3DO for. This was the definitive Street Fighter II game, with Akuma as an unlockable boss fight and tweaks and refinements to the combat to improve on a formula that had previously seemed perfect. I don’t think that there is another game in the various versions of Street Fighter II, that were released on console, that were quite as good as this one. The gameplay is tweaked to near-perfection, the audio and visuals were the best in the series up to that point without visiting an arcade…it’s just an incredible game. In my opinion, it is the best console variation of a game with Street Fighter II in the name, and an argument could easily be made about this being the best game in the Street Fighter franchise period. The best part? It hasn’t aged one bit over the last 25 years since it was released. Played on: 3DO Also known as: Super Street Fighter II X (Japan)

Date added: 05/05/2019 Super Mario Bros. Platform NES Initial Release Date September 13, 1985 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 94.95/100 Mario Bros. was a success in Arcades, but rather than stick with a similar formula for the sequel, Shigeru Miyamoto instead created a game that was absolutely massive for its time, with scrolling levels, power ups, various enemy types, and lots of secrets to discover…a game so drastically different that when compared to the original game, it was simply “super.” Miyamoto created such a solid game, in fact, that Super Mario Bros. is still just as fun to play today as it was in 1985. It’s timeless. Few games have had such an effect on such a wide audience, as well. My friend's mother knew where the hidden 1-up was in level 1-1, where the warp pipes were in level 1-2, etc. It was the greatest game ever made when it was released, without any question. It was so perfectly made that even to this day, over three decades later, it’s not hard to still come up with arguments to at least have it in the discussion of the greatest video game ever created. Played on: NES, Arcade Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/08/2019 The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date March 20, 2007 (NA) Developer Bethesda Softworks Genre Adventure My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 93.88/100 The best thing about Oblivion was when I realized that I had put over 60 hours of gameplay in....But had never finished the first mission of the main story yet. I had gotten so caught up in exploring this massive world, doing side quests, and taking part in fisticuffs with the residents of the world (including the wildlife...nothing beats boxing a bear) that I had forgotten that there was an actual main story to be found. Even with its glitches (which it is notorious for) Oblivion may be sandbox-style gameplay at its finest. Going back to play this game again to refresh my memory for this list, I planned on playing for an hour or two…80 hours later, I’m having just as hard of a time putting the controller down now as I did 12 years ago. Played on: Playstation 3, Xbox 360, PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/30/2018 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Platform Sony Playstation 3 Initial Release Date June 12, 2008 (W) Developer Kojima Productions Genre Action My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 95.47/100 I love the Metal Gear franchise...And when Metal Gear Solid 4 came out, I was really looking forward to it. I had high expectations and this game shattered them and went far beyond what I was hoping for, giving me an experience that I enjoyed so much that I felt the need to play through the game nearly ten times since its release...and most recently, play through a few more times to obtain a platinum trophy. Video games rarely create such excitement within me these days, Metal Gear Solid 4 managed to create that excitement a few times throughout my time with it...most notably with the chapter where you battle Crying Wolf, which as a fan of the franchise, is a chapter that I hold near and dear to my heart. If you're a fan of the first three Metal Gear Solid games, then Metal Gear Solid 4 is a fantastic way to wrap everything up and bring it all together. It's over-the-top, as you may expect from the franchise, but it’s also a whole heckuva lot of fun. Played on: Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 05/31/2020 Chrono Trigger Platform Super NES Initial Release Date March 11, 1995 (JP) Developer SquareSoft Genre RPG My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 97.19/100 When people discuss the greatest game of all time, Chrono Trigger is almost always brought up and thrown into the discussion. Back in 2008, I ran a video game website and Chrono Trigger actually found its way to number one on that year's "Top 500 Games of All-Time" list. Looking at the "Average Score" on here, it's pretty easy to see how it got there. While I prefer some other games over this one, including Chrono Cross (yes, I’m fully aware that I'm in the minority with that opinion), you can't deny the number of people that absolutely adore this game. It is one of the best RPGs ever created and one of the best games in any genre ever released. If you haven't played it yet, give it a try - you'll probably fall in love with it just like the rest of us who have played it already have. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/15/2021 Super Mario Galaxy Platform Nintendo Wii Initial Release Date November 1, 2007 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 96.13/100 Super Mario Galaxy, for a time when it first was released, was the highest-rated game by critics ever, surpassing Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time's grasp on that title. As time went on, enough reviews came in where it settled in at a few spots below number one, but the fact remains; critics absolutely loved this game. I don't blame 'em. I've always preferred 2D Mario games to their 3D brethren, but Super Mario Galaxy did have me hooked for quite a while. Revisiting it again for this list, I found myself absolutely hooked all over again. I recently felt that Super Mario Odyssey was my favorite 3D Mario game that I had ever played…starting my journey through space as everyone’s favorite Italian plumber again, I found myself questioning if Super Mario Galaxy was the true holder of that crown…it is. Played on: Wii Also known as: Super Mario Wii Galaxy Adventure (Korea)

Date added: 02/02/2022 Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! Platform NES Initial Release Date October 1987 (NA) Developer Nintendo Genre Fighting - Boxing My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 95.16/100 Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! is a perfect game to point to when you hear the term "less is more." This game is so simple...and yet so deep. It’s essentially perfect in its simplicity. This game is dang near flawless, honestly. I’m really not sure if the developers could have done anything here to make it better than it is. Brawling through the various boxing circuits is an absolute joy thanks to the cast of memorable opponents, all of whom have their own strengths, weaknesses, and fighting styles. None of those boxers are more memorable than Mike Tyson, who is so powerful that if you manage to successfully topple all of the other boxers and face him, he has the potential to knock you out with a single punch. For the folks that have beaten this game, few things are a more satisfying accomplishment in video game history than seeing Mike Tyson sprawled out in the ring while Little Mac has his arms up in celebration. Most of us that have beaten the game have a record against Tyson that looks like 1 win and 183 loses, but it’s not about how many times you get knocked down, it’s how many times you get back up…and Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! Is a timeless classic that I will gladly get back up for time and time again. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/07/2020 Final Fantasy VII Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date January 31, 1997 (JP) Developer Squaresoft Genre RPG My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 94.72/100 Let's face it - when it comes to RPGs in North America, this was the game that was almost exclusively responsible for their success and popularity. RPGs weren’t a new genre in North America by any means when the seventh entry in the Final Fantasy series was released, yet for many, this was their first taste of what an RPG was and it led to a wave of gamers falling in love with the genre. Final Fantasy VII is also generally seen battling Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the title of greatest game ever made on most online polls. I wouldn't necessarily go quite as far as to say that it’s the greatest game ever made, but Final Fantasy VII is definitely one of the best RPGs ever created. Every character is likable, the journey is memorable, and raising and racing chocobos is still one of my favorite mini games in RPG history. Over twenty years later, a month away from the release of the big remake, and I'm still playing this game at least once a year...And it just never seems to get old. That said, there aren't too many stand-alone titles that have as rabid of a fan base as this game does. If you play it, you're likely to see why. Played on: Playstation, Playstation 3, Playstation 4, PC, Playstation Portable, Playstation Vita, Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 10/19/2019 Galaga Platform Arcade Initial Release Date September 1981 (JP) Developer Namco Genre 3rd-Person Shooter My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 94.63/100 Space Invaders made the concept of moving a ship left and right to fire at enemies moving at the top of the screen popular. Galaxian made an attempt to improve upon that formula, and some could argue that it was successful. After Galaxian, Namco released Galaga, which is about as perfect a game that you can get out of that genre. Including enemies that not only break away from the left-and-right movements, but can both fire diagonally at you AND some simply act as kamikaze pilots, trying to ram their ship into yours. Some ships can even “steal” one of your ships and hold it hostage. While this costs you a life, if you’re able to recapture your ship, you get rewarded with double fire-power until one of your two ships get destroyed. It’s such a fantastic game and it has stood the test of time wonderfully. It was perfect for its time, and as I write this, nearly four decades later, I don’t think that any other game of its type has come even close to surpassing it in any way. Played on: Arcade Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/27/2023 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date September 20, 2000 (NA) Developer Neversoft Genre Sports - Skateboarding My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 94.36/100 I've always preferred the simplicity of the original Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, but let's face facts - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 took an already excellent game, tweaked everything, and added enough new content to create a game that is near perfect. While I prefer the original, I can't deny that Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 is the best game in the history of the Tony Hawk franchise. It's masterfully done. Like the original Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, anyone can pick this game up and see the majority of what this game has to offer…even with limited experience. However, with the inclusion of manuals, veterans of the original Tony Hawk's Pro Skater were given a whole new way to experience the game and gain insane high scores. Using manuals aren't necessary at all - it's entirely possible to complete the game without them, but including them allowed veterans to experience the classic THPS gameplay in a whole new way. Toss in the inclusions of create-a-skater, build-a-park, and hidden skaters and parks to unlock, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 really gave gamers so much bang for their buck when it first released. All these years later, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 may not have aged too well graphically, but it still plays just as great as it did back when it originally released. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 very well could be the greatest sports game of all time, and it reached heights that the series was never able to duplicate or surpass again. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 02/23/2024 Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date March 13, 2003 (JP) Developer Sega AM2 Genre Fighting My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 91.86/100 Virtua Fighter 4 may be the very best 3D fighting game that I've ever played. A lot of folks point to the original Soul Calibur…But I have never, ever spent as much time with a 3D fighting game as I have with Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution. For months after its release, it was my obsession. Revisiting it for this list, I found myself obsessed all over again - I needed to be the king of the arcades like I was twenty years ago. The original release of Virtua Fighter 4 had excellent fighting mechanics and gameplay…Evolution tweaked It all to make it even better. Plus, they included new fighters, to increase the variety of your opponents. The biggest positive of this game, though, is the Quest mode. Replacing the Kumite mode from the previous game, Quest mode has you jumping from arcade to arcade, challenging AI versions of real Japanese arcade players to test your skills against the very best. You'll be working on your rank throughout your journey to each arcade, but you'll also be attempting to complete challenges and tournaments while also collecting various items that you can equip your character of choice with. It took me over a dozen hours just to make my way through everything with a single character. If I tried to complete that mode with everyone, I'd be looking at a whole lot of time devoted to this game…and I'd enjoy every single minute of it. To me, Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution surpasses every 3D fighting game that had come before it…and more than two decades later, I don't know if any other game in the genre has been able to knock it off of the mountain. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 06/24/2020 Half-Life 2 Platform PC Initial Release Date November 16, 2004 (NA) Developer Valve Software Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 95.89/100 The original Half-Life was an absolutely amazing game for its time...Groundbreaking, even. No first-person shooter had ever been like it before. It was hard to imagine that it could be surpassed. Fast forward a few years and Half-Life 2 was released, completely blowing the original away. With such a variety of environments to traverse, vehicles to cruise around in, and a pretty dang solid story, Half-Life 2 is better than the original (which is still excellent) in just about every way imaginable. The game is so good, in fact, that over 15 years past its release, one could still argue that Half-Life 2 is the measuring stick for how good a first-person shooter can be…kind of like how Super Mario Bros. became the measuring stick for platformers when it was released. I still pop this game in and play it from time to time and it’s just as fun to play today as it was back in 2004 when it was initially released. Played on: PC, Xbox 360, Playstation 3 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/06/2022 Chrono Cross Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date November 18, 1999 (JP) Developer Squaresoft Genre RPG My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 92.85/100 Chrono Cross is a game that people seem to love or hate based on if they expected it to be like Chrono Trigger or not...I've actually heard quite a few people argue that Chrono Cross is terrible simply because it's nothing like Chrono Trigger. That's absolutely ridiculous. Chrono Cross is a great game that anyone who goes in with an open mind will likely enjoy. The graphics may be the most beautiful found on the original Playstation. I'd argue that the soundtrack is up there as one of the best soundtracks of all-time. The combat system is totally unique, and easy enough where you can just grasp the basics of combat and make it to the end of the game, but complex enough where you can essentially take out many of the bosses, including the final boss, fairly quickly and easy if you learn how to strategize with the elements that you equip and when/how you use them. The lack of traditional leveling up also works really well here. You always improve your stats a bit after boss fights, but even random battles may slightly bump your stats up. Toss in the branching storylines, the large number of characters to recruit, the enjoyable concept of bouncing back and forth between dimensions, and the interesting story that slowly unravels as you continue your journey, and the result is one of the best RPGs that I have ever played. I love Chrono Trigger. It's a fantastic game. I know I'm in the minority in saying this, but I love Chrono Cross more and always have. Yes, Chrono Cross plays nothing like Chrono Trigger, in fact, it plays nothing like any other RPG before or since. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/25/2019 Super Mario Bros. 3 Platform NES Initial Release Date October 23, 1988 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 97.81/100 Super Mario Bros. 3 took what was great about the original Super Mario Bros. and improved on every single aspect of it to create an absolute masterpiece of a game. Spanning eight worlds that are all completely different from each other, and loaded with new enemies and power-ups, Super Mario Bros. 3 was a giant, wonderful game. Going back to revisit it for this list, I was flooded with childhood memories of playing this game so much that I began to come up with challenges for myself to complete…the most notable, and one of my favorite gaming achievements, was when I beat the final level of the game wearing the frog suit. The only real flaw with the original NES version is the lack of a save system. With a game this big, a save system would be nice…heck, even a password system. But, with two warp whistles easily obtained within minutes of starting a game, it's not too hard to continue where you left off even without anything saving your progress. Aside from that one, single flaw, Super Mario Bros. 3 may be the closest thing to a "perfect" game on the NES. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/27/2019 Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Platform Nintendo 64 Initial Release Date November 21, 1998 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Adventure My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 96.05/100 A lot of people consider this game to be the greatest game ever made. Back when it was created, it very well could have been. The series' evolution from 2D masterpieces to 3D was nearly flawless in comparison to other games of its time. Not only did Nintendo succeed in translating the series to a 3D environment, they made an absolutely incredible game in the process. I really hate using this word because it's so overused, but the only real way to describe this game is epic. Later games in the Zelda franchise have improved on some of the 3D designs that haven't aged so well, like the combat, but this is still a great game that has not aged too poorly and is well worth playing through today. It's always a contender for "greatest game ever made" for a reason, you know. Played on: Nintendo 64 Also known as: Zelda no Densetsu: Toki no Ocarina (Japan)

Date added: 10/12/2019 BioShock Platform Xbox 360 Initial Release Date August 21, 2007 (NA) Developer 2K Marin Genre 1st Person Shooter My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 95.11/100 I was a new owner of an Xbox 360 when BioShock came out, and looking for some exclusive titles to warrant me having the console. I got BioShock, which was exclusive to the 360 initially, knowing full well that I generally did not like first-person shooters. I popped the disc in, pretty much ready to dismiss it as “good like everyone says, but not for me.” Next thing I knew, several hours had gone by, I needed to get to sleep before work, and I was still having trouble putting the controller down. I've heard first-person shooter veterans voice their disapproval of this game, but I absolutely love it. I’ve beaten BioShock countless times, and while I do not consider myself a great first-person shooter player by any means, I know the game well enough where I managed to beat it once on Survivor difficulty without using a Vita-Chamber. There aren’t many games released over the last 15 years that made me that obsessed, but BioShock did, and I’d gladly return to Rapture today. Played on: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/03/2020 Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date March 20, 1997 (NA) Developer Konami Genre Action My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 96.21/100 Super Metroid was a game that was dang near perfection...And Symphony of the Night takes the classic Castlevania gameplay and inserts that into the Super Metroid formula to create one of the absolute best games ever created. I recall working at a video rental store (remember those?) and hearing people mock this game because it was 2D and "nobody plays 2D games anymore." They totally missed out. Symphony of the Night is one of those rare games that I like to pull out about once a year to play through from beginning to end...And the best part? Beat the game with certain requirements and you unlock the upside-down version of the castle, basically doubling your gameplay time with new enemies and bosses to discover, as well as the true ending. The ability to play the game as other characters as well, with their own gameplay styles, just adds to an already awesome overall package. If you haven't played this yet, do yourself a favor and play it. It is absolutely amazing and easily one of the greatest games ever created. Played on: Playstation, Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Playstation Portable, Playstation Vita, Xbox 360 Also known as: Akumajou Dracula X: Gekka no Yasoukyoku (Japan)

Date added: 09/26/2022 Resident Evil 4 Platform Nintendo Gamecube Initial Release Date January 11, 2005 (NA) Developer Capcom Genre Action My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 94.50/100 When Resident Evil 4 came out, people had been mumbling that the traditional style of survival horror was getting stale. Despite a very solid outing on the Dreamcast with Resident Evil: Code Veronica, Capcom set to work to redefine the series for the "official" fourth game in the series. Not only did Capcom hit the ball out of the park, they created one of the most memorable games of all-time and, much like the original Resident Evil, they also heavily influenced many video games that came after it. I mentioned Resident Evil 4 being memorable. The most notable part, for me anyway, is the very beginning of the game, when you realize that you're not dealing with zombies. You're dealing with infected people that move quickly, have intelligence, and greatly outnumber you…and then once you feel like you've got the hang of everything and that you're safe…here comes the big guy with a sack on his head and a chainsaw in his hands. I pretty much just had enough time to pick my jaw up off the ground before the chainsaw feller took care of me in a single blow and I saw my first of many Game Over screens. With gameplay that was absolutely amazing for its time and so many memorable moments, Resident Evil 4 ensured that the Resident Evil franchise would continue on strongly even today. While some aspects of the gameplay seem a little dated now, and while some fans of the original games resented the change in gameplay direction for the series, Resident Evil 4 is still considered by many to be one of the greatest games ever made. Resident Evil 4 may be the high point in the history of the Resident Evil franchise, but it also happens to be one of the high points of video games in general. Played on: Gamecube Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2019 Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date March 3, 2017 (W) Developer Nintendo Genre Adventure My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 95.58/100 This is the type of game that you want when you release new hardware - Breath of the Wild broke records with the number of perfect scores that it received, and with good reason...it deserves it. This entry in the Legend of Zelda series is one of the greatest games that I have ever played. While it saddens me that the closest thing to “traditional” dungeons found in the game are the insides of the Divine Beasts, this open world Zelda more than makes up for it with the rest of the gameplay. Do you want to take your time, collect everything, see everything, do everything…or do you want to skip everything and head straight for the castle and battle Gannon? You can play this game any way that you want, but no matter how you play, it’s always fun. To sweeten everything even more, the Switch is portable, so you can explore the beauty of this version of Hyrule on the go. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 03/06/2024 Final Fantasy III Platform Super NES Initial Release Date April 2, 1994 (JP) Developer Squaresoft Genre RPG My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 95.23/100 Known as Final Fantasy VI in Japan, Final Fantasy III may be the best example of a 16-bit game feeling cinematic without needing the use of any cut-scenes. This game shows how powerful a good story can be, even when you've got super-deformed, pixelated graphics as your visuals. There are so many memorable moments in Final Fantasy III…it would take up too much space to list them all. Aside from the story, though, the gameplay is the peak of the series, as well. Not only does the game have a fantastic main quest to experience, but nearly all of the optional side-quests are enjoyable as well. As someone that loves collecting things while I play, I spent countless hours on the Veldt learning enemy skills, for example. You can also spend hours trying to teach everyone magic skills to build-up a super party, making level grinding more than just a dull way to increase your levels…you can be teaching everyone magic spells, monster skills, and even dance moves. It makes each battle feel more rewarding than your typical RPG. If you want a nice variety in party members, there's plenty of interesting party members to recruit, along with a few hidden characters as well. To go along with all of those likeable characters, you've also got the most dastardly villain that may have ever appeared in a video game…Kefka is pure evil without any redeeming qualities, so it feels quite nice when you finally take him down and watch the credits roll. On top of all of that, the soundtrack found here is one of the best and most memorable in the entire Final Fantasy series. Add everything together (there's so much more that I'm not mentioning due to lack of space) and Final Fantasy III very well could be the greatest Final Fantasy game ever created…and if certainly presents a solid argument if you wanted to claim that it was the best RPG ever created. Played on: Super NES Also known as: Final Fantasy VI (Japan)

Date added: 06/26/2020 Tetris Platform NES Initial Release Date May 1989 (NA) Developer Tengen Genre Puzzle My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 94.78/100 Curse you, Nintendo. Tengen released a version of Tetris that was superior to Nintendo's version in nearly every way…and did so about half of a year before Nintendo published their version. When you take everything into consideration about a game, the only thing that Nintendo did better was a prettier graphical presentation. Tengen featured multiplayer, which Nintendo did not, and it also included a lot of stats, which made for an interesting break between levels - you could see the statistics of how you had played thus far. Unfortunately, Nintendo went to court to make sure that this version of the popular puzzle game did not last long on store shelves and then proceeded to release their inferior version in its place. Whether Nintendo snuffed this game out or not, it's still the better version of Tetris, and dare I say, the best version of the game ever released. Played on: NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/19/2020 Panzer Dragoon Saga Platform Sega Saturn Initial Release Date January 29, 1998 (JP) Developer Team Andromeda Genre RPG My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 96.90/100 Panzer Dragoon Saga isn't a perfect game, but for the system it was on, and for the time it was released, Panzer Dragoon Saga was absolutely amazing. The game is fully voiced-over (which was unheard of back then) and it also took place in a beautiful, fully 3D world, which was a change from the pre-rendered backgrounds in most RPG's of the time. On top of that, the game itself is just so original...Even today there isn't a single game out there like it, which is a shame as this is a fantastic experience. I don’t know who came up with how to convert the rail-shooter gameplay of the first two Panzer Dragoon games into a turn-based combat system, but they did an absolutely brilliant job at it. Panzer Dragoon Saga can cost a pretty penny if you want a copy, but quite frankly, when you've got a game this good and this original, it's well worth the price of admission. It’s easily one of my favorite games that I’ve ever played and the number one reason why I’ll never, ever get rid of my Sega Saturn. Played on: Saturn Also known as: Azel: Panzer Dragoon RPG (Japan)

Date added: 01/14/2020 Grand Theft Auto III Platform Sony Playstation 2 Initial Release Date October 22, 2001 (NA) Developer DMA Design Genre Action My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 93.68/100 I'll admit it - I didn't think that this game would be anything special. I had played Driver 2 and thought that it was alright, but was disappointed overall by the result. The Grand Theft Auto series wasn't as critically acclaimed as Driver, so I was expecting a similar result...Instead I got absolutely blown away. Whether you were working on the main story, working side jobs, collecting packages, or just wandering around doing nothing...It was all fun. Today, I know the streets of GTA III's Liberty City better than I know most of the streets around my neighborhood from playing this game so much. I also take great pride in the fact that I perfected flying the Dodo, often wowing my college roommates with 20-30 minute joyrides in the skies above Liberty City. Sure, other games in the Grand Theft Auto franchise improved upon stuff found here, but no other game in the franchise (and not many games period, for that matter) came close to making the impact that the first 3D romp in Liberty City made when it hit store shelves nearly 20 years ago. Played on: Playstation 2 Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/17/2019 Ms. Pac-Man Platform Arcade Initial Release Date 1981 (NA) Developer Midway Genre Action My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 96.03/100 Pac-Man was, and still is, a great game...But Ms. Pac-Man added to the already great Pac-Man formula and pretty much tweaked it to perfection. The best part is that while in Pac-Man the AI was predictable, the AI in Ms. Pac-Man is more random, meaning that once you think you've got their pattern down, the ghosts could surprise you. You can’t just go with the motions, you have to think on your feet and improvise your path from time to time, keeping you on your toes. On top of that, unlike Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man isn’t just the same maze over and over, there’s slightly more variety with four different maze designs. It's worth noting, however, that Ms. Pac-Man was never a planned game. It was actually a hack of the original Pac-Man named "Crazy Otto." Once Midway, the American distributor of Pac-Man, saw Crazy Otto, they were impressed enough that they bought the game and transformed Otto, from his "Pac-Man with legs" appearance to the "Pac-Man with lipstick and a ribbon on his head" look that we've all come to know and love. In my opinion, it very well could be the best arcade game ever made...And it's a major contender for best game ever made, period. Nearly 40 years later, it’s still just as fun to play today as it was back when it was released. Pac-Man may be the most remembered, but Ms. Pac-Man is unforgettable. Yup, I’ll end it with that cheesy line. Played on: Arcade, NES, Genesis, Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 09/01/2019 Super Mario World Platform Super NES Initial Release Date November 21, 1990 (JP) Developer Nintendo Genre Platformer My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 96.78/100 Super Mario World introduced the world to a caped Mario that could basically fly through an entire level if the player was skilled enough. It also introduced the world to a loveable green dinosaur named Yoshi. The game also let players explore a beautifully designed world with many levels having multiple exits, allowing the player to branch away from the normal path to discover hidden levels and shortcuts. Everything was just so wonderfully done. I think that this may be as close to 2D platforming perfection that you can get. Some folks argue that Super Mario Bros. 3 is the best 2D Mario platformer. As great as that game was, I feel like Super Mario World surpassed it as not only the best 2D Mario platformer, but the best 2D platformer of all-time. Played on: Super NES Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/04/2020 Metal Gear Solid Platform Sony Playstation Initial Release Date September 3, 1998 (JP) Developer KCEJ Genre Action My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 94.72/100 When I got the Playstation in late 1998, my love for video games was starting to fade...Then I ordered a pizza from Pizza Hut, got a promotional demo disk along with it, and discovered Metal Gear Solid and a few other titles on it. Upon playing the MGS demo, I got hooked...And before I knew it, I had reached the cliffhanger ending and NEEDED to buy the game so I could see what happened next. I did, and then played through what ended up being my absolute favorite game of all-time for the time...It pretty much re-sparked my interest in video games and re-taught me what a video game could be. With so many hidden secrets to discover and multiple ways to accomplish the same goals, I still love playing through this game today…even if the visual presentation of the game shows its age. With an entertaining story, fantastic voice acting, and an interesting cast of characters, Metal Gear Solid may be my favorite game in the franchise, and is still a contender for my overall favorite of all-time as well. Played on: Playstation Also known as: N/A

Date added: 11/13/2023 Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Platform Nintendo Switch Initial Release Date May 12, 2023 (W) Developer Nintendo Genre Adventure My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 94.80/100 My initial thoughts of Tears of the Kingdom weren't the best, honestly. In the starting moments of the game, they throw a lot at you and, quite frankly, I initially found the crafting aspects to be a chore. I think I probably played an hour or two of the game, then moved on to other things. A few months later, I revisited the game and once I found myself back on Hyrule, I started to explore to see how this Hyrule was different than the Hyrule in Breath of the Wild….and nearly 170 hours later, I can honestly say that not only did Tears of the Kingdom win me over, it is one of the greatest video games that I have ever played. If you thought that you had plenty to explore in Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom essentially triples that, by including an underworld and sky world to explore that both span the entire map of Hyrule. As someone that loves to wander around and explore in games, I lost countless hours to just looking around and exploring in all three areas. My only real complaint upon completion is that it feels like Nintendo did too much with Tears of the Kingdom. They threw so many gimmicks and features at this game that I have a hard time believing that they can ever top it. The developer even said that they don't plan to release any DLC for the game since they feel like they can't improve upon the experience. I feel like maybe they should have saved some of the concepts and ideas found here for future Zelda games, especially since the next game now has incredibly big shoes to fill to avoid feeling like a letdown…but honestly, that's a very minor gripe. The fact is, that by using every idea they had, they created one of the absolute greatest games ever made. As I mentioned, I put nearly 170 hours into this game before I finally saw the credits roll…and I still had so much to do and discover at that point. I can honestly see myself revisiting this game over and over and over again. The only tears that this game made me shed were tears of pure joy. Played on: Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A

Date added: 07/24/2019 Persona 4: Golden Platform Playstation Vita Initial Release Date June 14, 2012 (JP) Developer Atlus Genre RPG My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 95.98/100 Amazing. That's really the only way to describe Persona 4 Golden. Persona 4 on the Playstation 2 was one of the best RPGs ever made as it was. Golden makes that RPG portable and adds in a ton of new content (content that you'll keep seeing from the beginning of the game until the credits roll) to make an already amazing game even better. If you haven't played this game yet, play it. It does everything extremely well - the story, the gameplay, graphics, managing your time between work, school, friends, and dungeon crawling...It's all fantastic. I highly recommend this game to anyone who even just slightly likes RPGs or even to people who like good stories in their games. It's like I said at the beginning: amazing. Easily one of my favorite games that I have ever played, as well as my favorite in the Persona series. Played on: Playstation Vita Also known as: N/A

Date added: 12/14/2020 Super Metroid Platform Super NES Initial Release Date March 19, 1994 (JP) Developer Intelligent Systems Genre Adventure My Score 10/10 Avg. Score 97.51/100 When I first received Super Metroid as a present from my uncle on Christmas, I was grateful but a little disappointed. It didn’t look like the kind of game that I liked to play at that point in my life. I hadn’t broadened my horizons in video games much yet and mostly stuck with platformers, fighting games, and sports games. That night I gave Super Metroid a try for the first time…and I wasn’t really impressed. I revisited it the next morning…and started to get a little invested. Then more invested. Then I began to get a little obsessed. The next thing I knew, I had fallen in love. The game is just so well designed…it’s about as close to perfection as it can get, in my opinion. The backtracking in the game, in particular, never feels like a chore because you’ve seemingly got a new toy on you when you do, giving you a new way to experience previously-explored areas and ways to open previously-inaccessible paths…and aside from the obvious-to-see secrets, there are also plenty of other, hidden secrets that are a blast to discover while the haunting melodies of the game's fantastic soundtrack play through your speakers as you traverse the various worlds found beneath the surface of the planet Zebes. For a while, Super Metroid didn’t have any contenders in my eyes. It was my absolute favorite game of all-time. In the decades that have passed, other contenders have stepped up to challenge Super Metroid for that title, and some have even taken it for periods of time…but Super Metroid has aged incredibly well, and revisiting it again for this list, I feel like it’s time for this game to once again take its place at the top of the mountain. Played on: Super NES, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo Switch Also known as: N/A