Radical Dreamers: Nusumenai Houseki

Also known as:  N/A

Developer: SquareSoft

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.

Review added: 05/31/2020

Radical Psycho Machine Racing

Also known as:  RPM Racing

Developer: Silicon & Synapse

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.

Review added: 01/30/2023

Rap Jam: Volume One

Also known as:  N/A

Developer: 64WD Corporation

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.

Review added: 06/22/2020

Rival Turf!

Also known as:  Rushing Beat (Japan)

Developer: Jaleco Entertainment

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 the jimmy dean between your legs, 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 its name. Rather than brawl on their turf, you'll have more fun brawling on the turf of a rival game.

Review added: 12/02/2023

Robotrek

Also known as:  Slap Stick (Japan)

Developer: Quintet

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 think of fondly. Basically, the goal here is that you're a young lad that creates robots and you send said robots into battle. Each robot is customizable from their appearance right down to their attacks. 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, like myself, 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 with the combat to see it through to the end.

Review added: 03/09/2025

Rock N' Roll Racing

Also known as:  N/A

Developer: Silicon & Synapse

When it comes to racing games, there aren't many titles that I've put as many hours into as I have with Rock N’ Roll Racing. I've beaten this gem 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 website, and I found myself playing it for a few hours all over again. With the solid, enjoyable, isometric-style racing similar to what’s found in RC Pro-Am mixed with a variety of weapons and power-ups to purchase, the end result is an absolutely fantastic game. Basically this is the same gameplay from Radical Psycho Machine Racing, but tweaked to near perfection, with absolutely everything improved. The gameplay is better, the sound is better, the graphics are better…the improvement is so vast, that it’s almost hard to believe that this game spawned from RPM Racing. 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.

Review added: 12/23/2021