SWEET HOME (CAPCOM 1989)

Japanese Price = $ 30-50

American Repro Price = $ 30ish - Complete = 80-100$

Players = 1

'30 years prior to the story, famous artist Ichirō Mamiya hid several precious frescos in his huge mansion before he mysteriously disappeared. In present day, a team of five treasure seekers seek to recover the paintings from the abandoned, dilapidated mansion. Upon entering, they are trapped inside by the ghost of an unknown woman, who threatens to kill all trespassers. The team decides to split up and find a way out, but the mansion is both in danger of collapsing and is occupied by countless monsters.'

-Note: This game was developed by the designer of Resident Evil! Pretty sweet!

HOW DOES THE GAME LIVE UP TO IT'S EXPLANATION/BOX ART? (10/10)

If you are a Capcom fan, you already know that almost every Capcom game on the NES is pretty amazing. It doesn't even matter what the title is. Little Mermaid to Mega Man; They are all pretty good. Now this game on the other hand is no usual Capcom game for the time period. Or really any game at the time for that matter. This game Screams HORROR MOVIE!! 

And, well, It is actually based directly off a horror movie. Which as far as the NES went. Most of those are pretty terrible... generally. But, This one at first glance says hey Horror nerd... you need this. 

The explanation of the game is pretty straight forward. What it says is pretty much what you get. So over all.. this box did a pretty good job at telling you what's going on. Now do note, that this game was not an american release, and recently was translated and printed for america through a reproduction site. It's slightly hard to come by, but you can find them, or even get them printed yourself through a few different websites. 

http://www.thenesdump.com/index.html

To give you one. ;)

HOW IS THE GAME PLAY? (10/10)

Now I can tell you that I wasn't really prepared to be playing an NES style RPG. These are not too common on the system and generally do not play anything like this game... At all. It does have a Dragon Warrior/Final Fantasy attack style, with random battles. But, the game itself is more directed towards solving tons of puzzle like elements, using items you find around the house. 

Now one of the things that is completely strange for a game of this genre, is having complete control of 5 different characters. Each character has their main item you can use in the game for certain areas. So each person has their own 'expert' item. Which as you play for a while, you do find substitute items for these characters. WHY? you might ask yourself... BECAUSE YOUR CHARACTERS CAN ACTUALLY DIE!  What? Die? No revive spells? My camera man is dead? Well wha...? Yes... this was amazingly surprising to say the least. If your character dies... he or she is dead.. forever. 

Another weird aspect of this title is that you can pair up any 3 characters as you wish. and move each person individually. Pairs of two or three. Because you do actually have to use each character's abilities. There is a master of unlocking, a master of lighter, a master of camera, a master of healing ailments, and a master of vacuum. Yep. Vacuum. ha. 

You do not get an unlimited amount of items either. Each character can carry one weapon, and 2 extra items, so you have to be very careful as to what you are doing. 

The only blunders are a few items only work in certain situations and can be horribly used and wasted. I will just say the block of wood. It is amazingly important earlier on. But, if it's used too many times.. you can fall into quite the predicament. There are a few other things, but they really aren't that annoying. I ran into a couple glitches here and there, but it was nothing that froze the game up or screwed me in any way. 

HOW DOES THE GAME LIVE UP TO IT'S GENRE? (10/10)

I can say that this is probably the best RPG I've ever played for the NES. And I absolutely love Gargoyle's Quest II, Dragon Warrior(s), Final Fantasy, Faria, StarTropics, and so on and so forth. But, this was just something I had never expected to play. It was like they looked into the future of what games could be and made one of the best possible Rpg of it's time. It's a shame that I never got to play it as a kid, you know, being american. But, I can say if you love RPGs, You need to play this game. 

THE 'GAME OVER' ALL? (100%)

If I haven't said get this and play it yet. That's my over all review. If you don't dig RPGs, you probably won't like it. But, if you don't like RPGs, but you do enjoy horror related stuff. You should play it. There is really no learning curve. The stuff does what you would expect it to. EXPLORE, FIGURE OUT THE ODD MESSAGES, KILL, and SURVIVE!

As I've mentioned a few times already. This game was not released in America. The reason being is the gore, story line, and some of the 8 bit video scenes that do happen. I won't tell you any of the wow... moments. I can just say that if you give this game a chance, and play through it. There are a lot of Holy Crap.. Okay.. yeah.. that wouldn't have gone over well in 1989. At this point in time. This game would easily still be an M rated title, but it was released long before that system even existed. Capcom said we made this. An american censor checked it out and went nope... not in our country. Which is unfortunate and has happened, and still happens, with a lot of japanese titles today. But, as we move forward; our fellow nerds find a way to get it to us. 

So I'd like to give a big thanks to the teams of people or the one guy that translated this to a point that someone could print it and slightly Market it to us. 

arbitrary credit for gore and nudity = 10 

GORE! GORE! GORE! GORE! and GORE!

-Felix "the Brett" Prescott  

02-07-2013

10 Yard Fight

Price = $ 2 -5.00

Players = 1-2

'You're the quarterback in this amazingly real football game!

Enjoy realistic grid iron action as you move your team up and down the field to victory! Run, pass, kick, punt you call the plays in this true to life football game. Play against the computer, or against a friend, for hours of real football action. The sights, the sounds, and the plays are so real, you'll think you're right on the fifty yard line! '

HOW DOES THE GAME LIVE UP TO IT'S EXPLANATION/BOX ART? (2/10)

The cover of 10 yard fight is an actual screen shot of the game. So it gets a point for showing you exactly what you will be playing.

The back explanation is a huge lie. This game is no where near a real football game. I mean at the kick off your receiving team is standing in a rectangle in which your receiver (in the middle of the rectangle) catches the ball and you head upwards towards that 6 points.

HOW IS THE GAME PLAY? (1/10)

The game play is just awful. Sometimes when you hike the ball to early you are instantly downed. So if you don't wait for your half back or other player to run passed your quarterback before hiking the ball you are screwed. Now, that doesn't sound too bad other than it takes about twenty seconds for him to get passed you. And sometimes you just randomly kick the ball for a field goal or punt for no apparent reason.

The character models are all the same guy just colored differently which isn't anything new on nintendo and it doesn't lose points for it, but the hilarious thing is all of their tackle sprite action looks like a screwed up version of frogger jumping across to his goal.

HOW DOES THE GAME LIVE UP TO IT'S GENRE? (1/10)

This is easily the worst football game I have ever played in my life. And, the fact that it says that I will feel like i'm on the fifty yard line is just bull crap. This game feels like i'm playing a strange version of football that doesn't know what it is.

THE 'GAME OVER' ALL? (13%)

The only reason to play this game would be if you got it for less than a dollar for a good laugh. There are so many other football games on the nintendo that are better. Well, all of them are better. Just stick with the Tecmo Bowl or Super Tecmo bowl.

arbitrary credit for gore and nudity = 0

-Felix "the Brett" Prescott

Wizards and Warriors

Price = $5.00

Players = 1

'The Journey of Kuros continues.....

You are Kuros, the knight warrior Hero of the books of excalibur. Your journey begins deep within the woods of Elrond, where even the wind obeys the Supreme Wizard, Malkil. But Malkil has strayed from the path, and is now part of the dark side.

Buried within the catacombs and dungeons of Elrond lies the key to your quest. The powers of levitation, the cloak of darkness, and the mysterious potions only Kuros can drink will be revealed to you.

In caverns of fire, through demons that fly and crawl, against the soldiers of the undead you must continue. No sorcery can prevail. For you are the only knight with the strength to wield the Brightsword.

The prisoner of the wizard awaits. She calls to you from Castle Ironspire.

But the wizard is watching you, warrior, And this tale has just begun. '

HOW DOES THE GAME LIVE UP TO IT'S EXPLANATION/BOX ART? (10/10)

Now before I get started, I am a sucker for barbarian anything so this cover catches my attention instantly, but once you start the game you are not a barbarian at all, you are a knight. Once again, fooled by Nintendo box art. But! The back of the box does tell me that I'm a knight from excalibur, so I'm not as disgruntled as I would have been if it didn't explain this to me on the box.

The game does in fact live up to the explanation perfectly. It doesn't really tell you anything about the game play other than a few clues on some of the items you will recieve. But, the images don't try to trick you like a lot of the other games i've played have.

HOW IS THE GAME PLAY? (10/10)

Kuros has some amazing skills indeed in this platformer style game. He fights flawlessly with his sword style, he can jump like Jordan, and he can run faster than Mario. But, unlike most platform style games this one moves all over an area map instead of just going right. Which is a great change of pace.

The potion power ups in this game are kind of odd. A pink potion grants you huge jumps, the blue makes you run even faster, and the red protects you from small damage. The other items you gain from from giant treasure chests actually stay in your inventory and you can use them for the rest of the game. Other than a few items that switch out.

Level progression only continues if you find all three keys and get enough money to make the knight move out of the way so you may fight the lurking boss.

HOW DOES THE GAME LIVE UP TO IT'S GENRE? (10/10)

This is an amazing action platformer. There are very few games of this type that let you free roam an entire map on the nintendo. Most of them once you've moved forward you can no longer move back, because of the screen stop. In Wizards and Warriors you can freely move back and forth at will and enter doors to find other areas with goods in them. All around excellent game.

THE 'GAME OVER' ALL? (100%)

This is just one of those gems on the system that is rare to find. Out of so many titles with awesome box art, this one actually lives up to it. This should be in your 8 bit collection as one of your favorites. (disclaimer : IronSword -wizards and warriors 2, and wizards and warriors 3 - not so much. )

arbitrary credit for gore and nudity = 1 point

(after you defeat each boss you save a pretty much naked woman that kuros pays no attention to)

-Felix "the Brett" Prescott

StarTropics

PRICE = $5.00

PLAYERS = 1

'A teenager's dream vacation on a tranquil south sea island... A shotting star!? ... It's an omen of disaster! Mike's archaeologist uncle has been kidnapped. Mike alone can rescue him. Thus begins the test of island courage.

Happy villagers eagerly assist, but endless enemies threaten every step. Mike's search leads him through the lush wilderness of the StarTropics. As he travels on foot, or by submarine through this sunny land of dark secrets and deadly peril, Mike is a tireless fighter.

Using common sense, an island yo-yo, magic potions, and mysterious new weapons and skills, Mike must defend himself. Restore his strength with coconut milk, help him defeat strange creatures, sea monster and hidden attackers.

Join Mike in his adventure. Journey the StarTropics.

Modern-day adventure in an Island Paradise! '

HOW DOES THE GAME LIVE UP TO IT'S EXPLANATION/BOX ART? (7/10)

The cover of this game leaves a lot to the imagination. It's an excellent vacation resort shot, but it does make you think about what you are in store for. But, It doesn't really give you any idea of what you are going to be playing at all.

The explanation of the game opens up everything you are hoping for in a game. An interesting sounding adventure plot line with one of my favorite weapons, a yo-yo.

HOW IS THE GAME PLAY? (10/10)

This game plays to perfection. It's a little strange when you first start. It has the Dragon Warrior/Final Fantasy style top down view when you are searching the island and towns. Yet, when you arrive into an actual dungeon it takes a quick switch to a pseudo zelda style play.

Your character Mike changes from the chibi version RPG character to a full blown character. The play field is sorta new and different for a nintendo title. There is a lot of random block jumping that occasionally open up new areas. Finding some of those really was the only pain of the game. But, i found no actual flaw in the game play.

(Game Note : If you didn't buy this complete you will reach a point where the robot will tell you to get the letter wet. In the original box, there was a note that came with the game. Once submerged in water you would get a code that you had to type into the game. A really cool concept but, unfortunately you probably didn't get it complete, so just jump onto GameFaqs.com and get that code.)

HOW DOES THE GAME LIVE UP TO IT'S GENRE? (10/10)

StarTropics kind of made it's own style action platformer. I can't really think of any game on the nintendo that plays anything like it other than the few quirks of the overmap RPG style searching. The in game battle style is sorta like Zelda but not really at all. It's funny how jumping can add such a change to top down adventure game.

THE 'GAME OVER' ALL? (90%)

I really enjoyed playing through this game. It was a large change to the same old platformer that most of all the nintendo games are. Start at left go to the right until the boss fight. This game doesn't have anything in that range. The designers took the best of the best out of the top ranked games and made their own baby.

I highly recommend this game.

arbitrary credit for gore and nudity = .05%

(For island babes in bikinis)

-Felix "the Brett" Prescott

Shadowgate

PRICE = $5-10

PLAYERS = 1

' A hidden key unlocks an ancient castle's door. As it creaks open on rusted hinges, the whisper of a dank, stale wind delivers this chilling warning; Danger awaits you. Yet within these dark and ominous walls lies your quest. Welcome to Castle Shadowgate.

Your destiny as the last of a great line of hero-kings, is to terminate the diabolical Warlock Lord before his dreaded black magic unleashes the hideous Behemoth and destroys the world.

With a strong heart and shining armor, you carefully choose your path of travel throughout the castle's sinister grounds. Along the way, you'll discover strange and wondrous objects. Some things may be useful on your journey. Others may be deadly to the touch.

Three-dimensional images, unsurpassed graphics and special sound effects unfold as you venture through those grave ruins. But beware!

Your next move could be your last

Using screens and graphics like those in the best interactive PC games, Shadowgate is the most challenging, participatory adventure you've ever experienced on the Nintendo Entertainment system!

Shadowgate. Enter if you dare.'

HOW DOES THE GAME LIVE UP TO IT'S EXPLANATION/BOX ART? (4/10)

Well the cover of the game does do a little attention grabbing but has nothing to do with the game at all. I don't even think there was a gargoyle in the game for that matter. So the cover gets a big fat 0.

The back of the box does explain the game pretty well. It is a point and click game like those that were on the PC all those years ago. The only thing I know that wasn't the exciting is the part where it exclaims the graphics as unsurpassed. I had this game as a child and though I did enjoy the game, the graphics are far from amazing. If you've played a point and click game the screen you are playing on has very limited movement if any at all.

HOW IS THE GAME PLAY? (6/10)

This plays exactly like all the old point and click games for the N.E.S. system. But, the company that released this game was pretty much the only company that released games like this for home console.

The problem with the game is some of the controls are kinda wonky. You'll be trying to select a certain thing on the screen like. USE - whatever item - and you'll use the wrong thing and waste something that is important to the quest and not be able to defeat the game. There are several items that can end your quest in it's tracks and you would never know until you looked up a cheat FAQ off a site and realize that you are stuck forever and have to start over.

HOW DOES THE GAME LIVE UP TO IT'S GENRE? (10/10)

There isn't too much to really say here. It plays exactly like a point and click 8 bit console release in perfection. The only problems with is what i mentioned in game play.

THE 'GAME OVER' ALL? (67%)

Though this game received a high D on a rating score, it is still a fun play if you are more of the sit back and relax style gamer. There isn't any jumping or attacking. It's just figuring out how to get to the next room with what goods you have in your stock pile of stuff.

I really enjoy this game but on the points out of 30, unfortunately the box art ran shadowgate's score way down.

arbitrary credit for gore and nudity = .03

(for some text based death scenes)

-Felix "the Brett" Prescott

Legacy Of The Wizard

PRICE = $1-5

PLAYERS = 1

' Long, long ago, an evil dragon terrorized the forest until it was imprisoned by a powerful wizard. Now, years later, the dragon has revived and it's up to you to use the power of the wizard's descendants, the draslefamily, defeat the dragon once again.

The whole family takes part in this action adventureas the parents, children, and even the family pet search huge dungeons for gold, keys, magic, hidden crowns and finally the magical sword that can destroy the dragon.

Can you recover the four crowns that will prove you worthy to wield the magical jeweled sword?'

HOW DOES THE GAME LIVE UP TO IT'S EXPLANATION/BOX ART? (8/10)

The cover of this box instantly makes you think RPG, and the back of the box explains the game perfectly so you know what your role will be, but it doesn't really tell you how the game play will be.

After placing the game in the system and selecting a person of the household, I'm tossed instantly into an action platformer. I love action platformers, so i'm already thrilled with this purchase.

I couldn't really tell what the game was going to be like from the box at all. But the explanation and box art are dead on.

HOW IS THE GAME PLAY? (8/10)

This game is an rpg action platformer that you can select one of five family members, which each have their own abilities. (Pet isn't hurt by enemies other than bosses, the daughter can jump high, the mother, father, and son can use certain equip items no one else can) This game plays really well. Some of the baddies have some crazy attack patterns, but it's on the n.e.s. so that's expected.

The game has four different categories to pay A LOT of attention to. One is obviously your health meter, the second is your magic meter (which does deplete and is your only form of attacking), third is the key meter (which is how many keys you have, which you use a lot in this game), and the last is your gold meter (so you can buy things or stay at an inn to replenish health/magic. You will use these things a lot).

The annoying factor of this game is you run out of magic a lot, so you have to go to inns constantly. Enemies do drop items that replenish these things, but it's never enough to comply. It's a huge trial and error game, because since only certain family members can do certain things you have to constantly try and try again. If you die like all nes games you end up back at the beginning and have to go all the way back to where you were. But, if you are determined like i am, it will just reinforce your personal will to continue.

HOW DOES THE GAME LIVE UP TO IT'S GENRE? (10/10)

It's a great platformer in comparison to most, and it adds in RPG elements that make the game have a lot more atmosphere. I had a great time playing this and trying to figure out the best ways to do things. And believe me it takes a long time to figure out where everything is, find the stuff without purchasing it, and finding out who best uses items. Because everyone uses different secondary items.

This game is probably one of the longest platformers i have ever played in my life, but i feel quite rewarded after beating it. This was a tough play and adds to my stockpile of beaten games.

THE 'GAME OVER' ALL? (87%)

This game has a great midi file soundtrack, great game play, and had such a huge map to explore that I enjoyed every bit of it. The small annoyances of having to get magic and keys all the time aren't too bad after you get farther into the game. But do note, that if you unlock one of the door blocks and leave the screen it does come back, so always have enough keys on hand to get where you are going.

arbitrary credit for gore and nudity = 0

-Felix "the Brett" Prescott

Mendel Palace

Price = About 3-5 bucks.

Players = 1-2 with co-op play

'The player's character must save his girlfriend, who was kidnapped by a young girl. The backstory differs slightly between the Japanese and American versions, although the in-game presentation is the same regardless. In the American version, the player's character is named Bon-Bon and the girl he must rescue is a Princess named Candy, who is trapped in her own dream. In the Japanese version, the main character is named Carton and the girl he must rescue is merely his own girlfriend, Jenny, who has been kidnapped by Carton's younger sister Quinty (the titular character in the Japanese version).' -taken from wikipedia

HOW DOES THE GAME LIVE UP TO IT'S EXPLANATION/BOX ART? (8/10)

At the first glance of the cover of this game I really wouldn't know what to think, so i'll turn it over and read the back. It's the normal storyline. Boy has to save girl blah blah blah. That was pretty much every single game ever released. So it has the normal style of game play. Let's take it home and play this weird looking game.

Well after pressing start and by passing the opening screen I'm tossed to an overview map to select my area in which to start. (Level select) Sweet, I like having a choice in where I get to start and get my ass kicked by the game. Well now I'm confused that this game is actually a puzzle style game where you flip the floor to kill the baddies. That explains the weird screen shots on the back. I'm digging this.

HOW IS THE GAME PLAY? (9/10)

The point of the game is to flip the tiles on the floor to knock the baddies into the walls causing them to explode in Mega Man death scene fashion. Underneath some of the cards/tiles are power ups that make an entire row flip over or a happy Sun that flips them all and you instantly win. It plays perfectly other than every so often the cards don't flip when you press the button. Which could be a player flaw and not a game flaw (insert text smiley winkyface). This game is honestly just as confusing as the box art and the enemies are indeed the characters on the box. Each one of them has their own strange fighting mechanism to knock you into the wall and kill you. Which if they hit you and you don't hit the wall you still die. (so you know)

HOW DOES THE GAME LIVE UP TO IT'S GENRE? (10/10)

I didn't know I was buying a puzzle game at the time. But, I was aware that Hudson* does release a lot of strange puzzle/platformer related games, so i wasn't surprised. If you enjoy puzzle games as much as I do, you will love this game. It's not your normal style puzzle game like Tetris, Dr. Mario, or Yoshi's Cookie, but is a lot of fun.

THE 'GAME OVER' ALL? (90%)

Mendel Palace sits on it's own throne for a strange puzzle release title. But, I had a blast playing this game. It's simple, straight forward, and the enemies are as japanese as all get out. If you like goofy games with puzzle style play definitely give this one a try.

arbitrary credit for gore and nudity = .02 bonus points

(for sumo tits and bald trannies in ballerina costumes)

-Felix "the Brett" Prescott