Retro Games Roundup: Nintendo Legend Reviews #1-5
Welcome to Retro Games Roundup, where we go back through Nintendo Legend’s library of NES reviews and go over them five games at a time, providing a summarized report of the titles and disseminating a lot of information into a more condensed, casual format.
1. Super Mario Bros.
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Blog: Here.
Review: There.
Commentary: The original, the killer app, the world-changer – given the max score of five stars for its tight design, revolutionary vision, imaginative elements, and iconic brand. Could there have been any other choice for the first review? Maybe, but this starts things off right, with a game still enjoyed today, even in competitive arenas such as speed running.
2. Spot The Video Game
Rating: 2.5/5 Stars
Blog: Here.
Review: There.
Let’s Play Video: Where.
Commentary: A quirky, distinctive board game video game that actually stars a licensed character: Spot, the old red-dot-with-shades mascot of the 7-Up beverage. Offers support for up to four human players and a surprising amount of tactical depth; but, ultimately, little else, best for niche fans of the genre or those looking for an offbeat challenge.
3. Captain Skyhawk
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Blog: Here.
Review: There.
Commentary: A sci-fi shoot-‘em-up with both isometric overhead missions and from-behind dogfights, offers a rich visual along with challenging gameplay as the stages progress. An invincibility code may be required to beat it, but ultimately stands as a decent, if not spectacular, foray into level-by-level scrolling shooters.
4. Racket Attack
Rating: 2/5 Stars
Blog: Here.
Review: There.
Commentary: A fairly bland sports genre title, left with the challenge of how to appeal to anyone but tennis fans; and, for the tennis fans, how to satisfy their standards. One interesting note, though, is the timing mechanic used to control shot placement, a scheme perfectly prescient of Wii Sports.
5. Demon Sword
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Blog: Here.
Review: There.
Commentary: Legend Of Kage’s soulmate cartridge and one of those love-or-hate games that some people “get” and some, well, do not. Nintendo Legend seems to like it, emphasizing its high-flying action best expressed in the intensely gravity-defying leaps across the screen, the quick-reflex difficulty of oncoming enemies, and the solid stage progression throughout. Apt movie companion: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
Bonus Review: Check out Questicle’s reverent, insightful take of the NES classic epic Castlevania.
Eric Bailey is a retro gamer on a crazy quest to write a quality review for every single American-released NES video game over at NintendoLegend.com.
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