Co-developed by Hudson and celebrated shooter developer Compile, Blazing Lazers was the lone shooter available at the launch of a system that would gain a cult following because of them. The game was released in Japan as “Gunhed” and was based on a mecha-themed movie of the same name. In Blazing Lazers you can choose … Read more
Episode 30 – This week on the show, it’s the third installment in the “Launch Spectacular” series, the launch of the TurboGrafx-16! We take a brief look at the history of NEC, Hudson Soft, and their joint venture that started in 1987. We also take a look at all of the “launch window” games for … Read more
Released in Japan as a licensed game based on “Fist of the North Star,” Last Battle is the weakest link in the Sega Genesis launch line-up. A side-scrolling punch-and-kick action game, it’s similarity and inferiority to Altered Beast leave it out in the cold. The game has some sort of plot, but the introductory text … Read more
Episode 15 – This week on the show, I review Clu Clu Land for the Nintendo Entertainment system, which was a 1985 launch title. An under-appreciated action/puzzle game that is definitely worth checking out.
Keith Courage in Alpha Zones was the original pack-in game for the TurboGrafx-16. It’s an action platform game consisting of 7 themed levels, each with an overworld and underworld stage. In the overworld, you control the human Keith Courage, making your way through a village fighting off small enemies with a dagger and collecting gold … Read more
Virtua fighter shares many traits with another Saturn game, Daytona USA, as both a Saturn launch title and a home conversion of a 1993 hit arcade game. The game is noteworthy in the annals of video game history for being the first fully 3D arcade fighting game, which in the early 90’s made it stand … Read more
It is a little-known fact that Tetris was not originally intended to be bundled with the Game Boy. Henk Rogers, a game developer and founder of “Bullet-Proof Software”, convinced Nintendo of America president Minoru Arakawa that Tetris, and not Super Mario Land, would give the Game Boy broad appeal across multiple age groups. Mr. Rogers … Read more
Duck Hunt was not only a launch title, but was a pack-in game if you purchased the “NES Action Set”, where the game was bundled on a single cartridge with Super Mario Bros. Although less common, the game was also released as a stand-alone retail cartridge. Duck Hunt has 3 game modes, each requiring the … Read more
Golf was one of four completely forgettable sports titles released with the launch of the NES. The game can either be played single player, or 2-player in stroke or match play format. The game features only one course, but it is a full 18 holes and the holes are varied enough to keep the game … Read more
In the early days of the NES, Excitebike was *the* game to have, and it’s easy to see why. Excitebike is a dirt bike-based racing game in which you race against the clock in either a time trial format or in a group of other riders. The object of the game is to navigate your … Read more