Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

Also known as:  Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce (Japan)

Developer: Nintendo

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 in the title. If you’ve never given it a try before, then I highly recommend that you play this link to the past of video game history.

Review added: 08/02/2019

Looney Tunes B-Ball

Also known as:  Looney Tunes Basketball (Europe)

Developer: Sculptured Software

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 also 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.

Review added: 11/15/2023