classic-games

[classic-games]

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (SNES)

Developer: Natsume    Publisher: Bandai    Release: 09/94   Genre: Beat em up When Power Rangers hit in 1993 it hit big. I will admit even back then to questioning why it was so popular. The acting was cheesy and the footage was low quality. I noticed this even before learning that it was an adaptation of an old Japanese show. But despite my indifference to the series I will credit Bandai for…

[classic-games]

Bart vs the Space Mutants (Genesis)

Developer: Arc Developments   Publisher: Flying Edge    Release: 1992   Genre: Action Bart vs. the Space Mutants is one of the biggest crushing disappointments of my youth. As a huge fan of the Simpsons I looked forward to the game’s release despite being a licensed title. I should have known better by then; both Rambo and X-Men (both coincidentally also from Acclaim) made me weary of tie in…

[classic-games]

Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara

Developer: Iron Galaxy    Publisher: Capcom    Release: 06/18/13   Genre: Beat em up Dungeons and Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara is another in a long line of games I am embarrassed to have put off for so long. I have wanted to play these games for decades. Ever since I first read about Tower of Doom in Diehard Gamefan it has been high on my list. But outside of the Sega Saturn collection which…

[classic-games]

Bomberman (Turbo Grafx)

Developer: Hudson Soft    Publisher: NEC    Release: 1991    Genre: Action Bomberman has enjoyed a long successful run in the game industry and Konami has done a decent job keeping him in the spotlight. But his first entry on the NES was rough. You would never know the little bomber guy would go on to become so iconic based on that game. Hudson Soft agreed and created a new adventure for the…

[classic-games]

Silver Eagle

Developer: Sachen    Publisher: Sachen    Release: 1994   Genre: Action Heavy Barrel was one of the biggest NES surprises of my youth. For a time I was all about coop multiplayer and would gladly go for a quick run in Contra and embarrassingly, Ikari Warriors II. But for some reason I was not impressed with Heavy Barrel at first. It won me over eventually however and I would look for more top…

[classic-games]

Gundroid

Developer: Kitoguru Games    Publisher: Kitoguru Games    Release: 07/25/25    Genre: Action Metroidvania is undergoing a renaissance the likes of which I could never imagine more than a decade ago. When I look at indie game releases there are more than you can shake a stick at. You can never have too much of a good thing or so they say. But I will admit I wish some of that indie love would…

[classic-games]

Mick & Mack: Global Gladiators

Developer: Virgin Games    Publisher: Virgin Games    Release: 1993    Genre: Action Nowadays between the gaming press and user reviews you can read hundreds if not thousands of viewpoints to gauge whether a game is up your alley. But back in the day that was not the case. Have you ever seen a game get glowing praise only to try it out and wonder what everyone else is seeing that you do not? That…

[classic-games]

Seirei Gari

Developer: Hudson Soft    Publisher: Hudson Soft    Release: 12/08/89    Genre: Adventure One of my biggest regrets with the NES library is that point and click adventure games were sparse. Back in the 80s the genre was still largely the province of the PC with consoles receiving scraps. But oh were those scraps so good. I enjoyed Déjà vu so much I almost bought a Gameboy Color just to play the…

[classic-games]

Hyper Iria

Developer: TamTam    Publisher: Banpresto    Release: 10/13/95    Genre: Action The anime adaptation market in Japan is a treasure trove of hidden gems, lost classics, and sadly a mountain of crap. While there are more Gundam games than you can shake a stick at on almost every platform (seriously, look at this) lesser known series also got their day in the spotlight. Iria: Zeriam the Animation…

[classic-games]

Earthion

Developer: Ancient    Publisher: Limited Run Games    Release: 07/31/25    Genre: Shooter                              Also on: Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series (09/25), Genesis (2026) Windows version reviewed There are many modern titles that are inspired by classic retro games. Even still certain platforms enjoy a robust home brew scene, chief among them the Sega Genesis. There have been…

[classic-games]

The Ultimate Stuntman

Developer: Codemasters    Publisher: Camerica    Release: 1990    Genre: Action Camerica were an interesting publisher. I had no idea at the time they were releasing unlicensed games in the US. But in hindsight their distinctive gold cartridges were a dead giveaway, much like the black Tengen carts. Of course that did not stop me from playing many of their releases. While I enjoy Dizzy despite…

[classic-games]

Reign of Fire

Developer: Kuju Entertainment    Publisher: BAM Entertainment    Release: 11/26/02    Genre: Action Reign of Fire. For some god forsaken reason I really wanted to see this movie. I guess human rebels fighting dragons made me think it was the Dungeons & Dragons movie I always wanted. Minus the modern military equipment of course. But I did not see it in the theater; despite my interest something…

[classic-games]

The Red Star

Developer: Acclaim Studios Austin    Publisher: XS Games    Release: 04/23/07    Genre: Action Acclaim’s death in 2004 was bittersweet. To a certain extent we did see it coming. For years they floundered after their huge success during the 16-bit era. But the N64 especially gave them a new lease on life and they came out of that generation strong. But flagging sales spelled their doom. Damn shame…

[classic-games]

TNN Motorsports Hardcore Heat

Developer: CSK    Publisher: American Softworks Corporation    Release: 09/9/99    Genre: Racing Despite its short life the Dreamcast built up a more than respectable library in certain genres. Fighting games, sports, and racing games were well represented and if you were a fan the system had an embarrassment of riches. Unfortunately not every title is a banger and there are plenty of middling…

[classic-games]

Custom Robo

Developer: Noise, Inc.    Publisher: Nintendo    Release: 12/08/99    Genre: Action/RPG The Nintendo 64 was not kind to fans of Japanese RPGs. The genre finally hit the mass market thanks to Final Fantasy 7 and a veritable mountain of localizations would follow. Gamers were spoiled for choice and even the Saturn would receive its fair share in the US. But N64 fans would only receive a few small…

[classic-games]

Suikoden II

Developer: Konami    Publisher: Konami    Release: 09/29/99    Genre: RPG From the moment I read import coverage of the first Suikoden I knew I would love the game. RPGs had not become widespread on the PlayStation yet and when your options are King’s Field or frickin Beyond the Beyond anything will do. But in this case it was not settling for less. Suikoden looked like a 16-bit RPG but on a…

[classic-games]

Battle Garegga

Developer: Raizing    Publisher: Electronic Arts    Release: 02/26/96    Genre: Shooter In the early 2000s I learned about a great many shooters on internet forums. While Radiant Silvergun and Dodonpachi dominated the conversation there were a few others that had an equally large reputation. Battle Garegga even back then had a reputation as one of the most brutal shooters around. As someone who…