For the first day, I'm burning through all my NES games that start with numbers. So let's cut the chatter and get it on!
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| 10-Yard Fight |
A little background
Released in October of 1985, 10-Yard Fight is one of many "Black Box" NES games, the original North American release lineup for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Weirdly enough, it's actually a port/remaining of an arcade game of the same name. It's the first American football games for the system, and copies are pretty easy to come by ($2-$5).
First impressions last forever
Ugh, this game does not impress upon first boot. Same boring title screen as most early NES games (just text on a black background), and the game has no music and very limited sound effects. The field of play is vertical instead of horizontal, which is a decent idea, but when you run the ball there's no sense of speed; it feels like they're just inching along. Not to mention it takes forever for your receiver to run down the line. I usually just hiked immediately to save time.
But as I played further...
I've already reviewed this game, but I will admit after replaying it for a while I started to get in the "groove" of 10-Yard Fight. It was still super tedious and, frankly, a really dull experience overall, but once I figured out how to best pass, run, and tackle (using a silly "Superman" pounce that covers like five yards in a single jump), the game started to feel a bit better. Not a lot better, but I did finish one full game at least, even if it took twenty minutes.
So what's the conclusion?
There are so many sports games on the NES, you have plenty of option when it comes down to them. And since everybody knows about Tecmo Bowl and Tecmo Super Bowl, there's no reason to ever pick up 10-Yard Fight if you want football on your NES. While people who want to own all the black box NES games (like me) will probably snag a copy, if you're a casual collector you can pass on it. It's just too dated and dull to be a good time these days, not to mention the awful graphics and sound effects.
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| 1943 - The Battle of Midway |
A little background
1943 came out in October 1988, a sequel to 1942 (which I don't own). It dumped multiplayer for a single player aspect, and was meant to emulate the arcade games of the same name. I'll admit, my experience with this series started with 19XX in arcades, and it began an obsession with shmups that continues to this day. I still suck at shmups, too.
First impressions last forever
This game is a bit confusing at first. Unlike most other shmups, you actually have a "life bar," or set of numbers, that is your Energy. Using special attacks, getting hit, or just flying slowly drains it. Once you run out, you die.
The game looks ok, but what impressed me most was the fact there is no slowdown or sprite flicker at all. Plus it controls very well.
But as I played further...
1943 has like a trillion levels to it, and they all look the same. This isn't a bad thing (I mean, it's the battle for Midway, which was over the Pacific ocean), but it does get a level of "samey" after you play the fifteenth level. The bosses are cool and difficult, the shooting is fun, and considering there's a bajillion shmups on the NES, this one is a good one! Shooting your powerups to change which ones you want is also cool, and the secret "level up" areas that can permanently give you a power boost to your ship is also really neat.
But that "your energy is low!" looping music cue? It can die. Seriously, if you thought the "beeping siren" sound when your health was low in Zelda was bad, this is like putting sandpaper to your ears.
So what's the conclusion?
1943 is a very solid NES shooter, though it does seem to lack the personality presented in other shooters (Abadox, Lifeforce, etc.). If you want a game that's solid but not too flashy, it's certainly one of the better shmups on the NES. It won't ever reach the level of the arcade games, but it's still a fun game. And again, it has a trillion levels, and the password system is really short (so thankful for that), so if that sounds like your thing, get on it!
Just be aware it is only single player. I didn't realize this and my wife was put out that she couldn't play. Copies usually run between $5-10.
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| 3-D World Runner |
A little background
Released in September of 1987 (just one month before Rad Racer, which was built on the same engine), 3-D World Runner was one of Square's early games, and also one of the first with a soundtrack penned by the now world-famous Nobuo Uematsu. It was published by Akklaim, and I'd imagine didn't sell all that well, because Square was in a financial rut until they ripped off Dragon Warrior in May of 1990 and Final Fantasy came out. You can play it in actual 3D if you own red/blue glasses!
First impressions last forever
It's well known that I love this game, but I still remember first playing it at a fellow dorm-dweller's place freshman year of college. I was surprised at how good the visuals were, and how difficult the game could be until you mastered the timing on jumps. The music is unbelievably catchy from the second you boot it up, and the whole package just looks good.
But as I played further...
Despite my love for 3D World Runner, I'm willing to admit fault. The game is pretty much just the same thing over and over with some very minor changes (read: new obstacles), but it doesn't really do anything that you haven't seen in the first level. The game also has a crazy difficulty curve, with Level 3 being notorious at destroying casual attempters. The checkpoints sometimes are so far between each other that dying becomes massively obnoxious (though I must commend the game for having checkpoints; this is the NES era, remember). And how to get power ups? Ram into poles. Seriously, you think they're just obstacles, but no: you have to slam your body into them and then the reward pops out. Not to mention the most useless invincibility powerup in any game over; it only lasts long enough for you to get up to speed then ends.
Still, this game puts its hooks into you. Just replaying it for this review I sunk a hefty amount of time in the game, the "one more try at that jump!" mentality grabbing me fast.
So what's the conclusion?
I love this game. It's one of my favorite NES games. While it is simple and doesn't really do much with its ideas (not to mention is an obvious ripoff of Space Harrier), that simplicity is kind of the joy of it. It's easy to pick up but hard to master, with jumps getting tricker as the game goes along, and while few people will ever beat it, just know you're pretty good if you can beat level 3.
I'd consider this game an overlooked gem, and if you see it at a game store you should certainly consider picking it up! Copies are usually around $3-5, making it an easy impulse buy. It probably costs more to get 3D glasses than this game itself.
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| 8 Eyes |
A little background
8 Eyes (or 8 Eye's if the title screen is to be believed), is a Taxan joint (and I have no idea what else they made) released in January of 1990. It's important to note that this is after Castlevania and Castlevania 2 came out. It has box art that looks exactly like Shining Force on the Genesis, if that's a claim to fame. It also supports two players, where one person plays as the pet bird while the other guy plays the warrior. If you don't play two players, you have to try to control the bird with one controller. Spoiler alert: it doesn't work very well.
First impressions last forever
I really like the cover art for this, and my copy's label looks sweet. It did take a while to boot up though, despite being clean, so it loses points for that.
This game looks a lot like Castlevania 2, even from the get go. Dark, with thick black outlines on everything, and every level starting with you opening a door and walking in it (much like Simon walking into the castle at the beginning of Castlevania). The stairs? Straight outta Castlevania. Sub-weapons? That's a Castlevania joint. I swear the axe knights are even ripped wholesale.
It also has a stage select that is very Mega Man esque. But hey, mixing two of my favorite NES franchises can't go wrong, right?
But as I played further...
This game is unfairly difficult and poorly balanced and will cause immense frustration for anyone who plays it. I'm usually one for a challenge (NES Castlevania 3 is one of my favorite games), but 8 Eyes just doesn't give you the tools to beat it. Your sword's range is shorter than any enemy's attack (including the melee characters) so you'll always get hit when attacking, turning every battle into a war of attrition. Subweapons are handy but the game never gives you enough magic to use them, and when you do get enough magic, certain subweapons only work on certain enemies. How do you find that out? By trial and error with your limited magic supply, of course! Brilliant.
While you can pick your stages, you have to play them in order or else you'll never beat the game, because bosses are only weak to other boss's weapons (except the first boss, in Spain). The power-ups you get from the bosses (again, Mega Man-esque) are useless except against other bosses, which makes them pretty much a moot point.
I still like the graphics and the sound, and the idea of a two-player Castlevania is an enticing one, but strip aside all the good ideas (most of which done badly) and all that's left is an exercise in elevating my blood pressure.
So what's the conclusion?
8 Eyes really wants to be Castlevania. Castlevania graphics, Castlevania stairs, Castlevania health bar and power ups...the list goes on. But it isn't Castlevania. It's crappy.
While some may have nostalgia for it (and I still like the box art) and it does have a decent first impression, the game is too flawed to recommend to anybody. If you're a fan of Castlevania, play that instead. There's a reason those games are so revered: they have strong level design and the limitations placed on your character are there to challenge you, not frustrate you. I'd rather play Simon's Quest than 8 Eyes, and that's saying something. At least I can beat Simon's Quest.
8 Eyes usually rolls for around $8-10, but you shouldn't be getting it anyway.
