Classic Home Video Games (1985-1988) Read online

  mind, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a substan-

  Goomba), but adds a number of frustrating

  tive experience. Gamers can bunt, pick run-

  complications, including tricky puzzles. For ex-

  ners off bases, change the batting order and

  ample, planting an acorn in 1955 produces a

  field positions, send in pinch hitters, decide on

  NINTENDO NES

  41

  the starting pitcher, and select their starting

  by a fish, which is similar to The Troll of the

  line-up from a roster of (fictional) players

  Lava Pits in Joust. If it takes too long to defeat ranked according to such categories as fielding

  all the enemies, a lightning storm will occur.

  ability, running strength, arm strength, and

  Like its coin-op counterpart (Nintendo, 1984),

  home run hitting ability. Pitchers, which are

  Balloon Fight contains a special side-scrolling ranked by stamina and ERA, can throw curve

  mode where players float along popping bal-

  balls, screwballs, forkballs, and change-ups.

  loons while avoiding lightning, making a great

  What makes Bad News Baseball kid-friendly

  (if largely unoriginal) game even better.

  are cute animations, voice effects, juvenile play-

  ers (boys and girls), and bunny rabbit umpires.

  Bandai Golf: Challenge Pebble Beach

  Includes password feature.

  PUBLISHER: Bandai. DEVELOPER: Bandai.

  Sports/Golf, 1 or 2 players (alternating). 1989.

  Bad Street Brawler

  Named after the famous coastal golf course

  PUBLISHER: Mattel. DEVELOPER: Beam Soft-

  in California, Challenge Pebble Beach is 18 holes ware. Side-Scrolling Combat, 1 or 2 players

  of no-nonsense golf. Players can select their

  (alternating). 1989.

  clubs, handicap their game, tee off from the

  In Bad Street Brawler, players guide a

  back tee or regular tee, and, depending on the

  dorky looking dude named Duke Davis

  club and type of shot selected, control the ball’s

  through five areas (City Park, Streets, Docks,

  flight, direction, and spin. The speed and di-

  City Center, and Railroad Yard), using a vari-

  rection of the wind are overriding factors, as

  ety of moves (drop kick, punch, head butt, ear

  are a variety of hazards, including roughs,

  twist, and the like) to battle a lame assortment

  bunkers, water, slopes, and rises. Players are

  of boxers, gorillas, punks, bulldogs, bikers, bas-

  given a cross-sectional and bird’s-eye view of

  ketball players, and other enemies. There are

  each hole, along with two different close-ups

  15 different fighting moves, but only three can

  of the greens and their surroundings. The

  be used per level. As in the vastly superior Dou-

  iconic Pebble Beach was featured in various

  ble Dragon, Bad Street Brawler lets players grab other video games, including Pebble Beach Golf

  weapons from certain enemies, but Brawler

  (arcade), True Golf Classics: Pebble Beach

  makes players throw the weapons in the trash

  (SNES), and Pebble Beach Golf Links (Genesis, (teaching an invaluable lesson, no doubt). In

  3DO, Saturn).

  addition, Duke, unlike the boys from Double

  Dragon, is constrained to a single plane of

  Bandit Kings of Ancient China

  movement. Compatible with the ill-fated Nin-

  PUBLISHER: Koei. DEVELOPER: Koei. Turn-

  tendo Power Glove.

  Based Strategy, 1–7 players (simultaneous).

  1991.

  Balloon Fight

  Bandit Kings of Ancient China takes place

  PUBLISHER: Nintendo. DEVELOPER: Nintendo.

  at the dawn of the 12 Century, when the evil,

  Non-Scrolling Platform, 1 or 2 players (simul-

  power-hungry Gao Qui has seized all imperial

  taneous). 1986.

  authority. As a bandit leader, it is up to the

  Balloon Fight plays a lot like Joust, but replayer (and up to six friends) to wage war

  places the ostrich-mounted knights with bal-

  against Gao Qui and his soldiers. This relatively

  loonists who fly by flapping their arms. The ob-

  complex process includes: fighting battles on a

  jective is to fly around bumping into enemies

  hexagonal playfield; deploying and instructing

  from above (while avoiding being bumped into

  units across mountains, ice, planes, lakes, cas-

  from below), thereby popping their balloon and

  tles, and other terrain; using four types of at-

  sending them parachuting downward. Hitting

  tacks (melee, archery, magic, and duel); trad-

  the enemy again on his way down makes him

  ing fur for gold; building towns; promoting

  drop into the water below. Flying too close to

  agriculture; recruiting, imprisoning, exiling,

  the water puts players in danger of getting eaten

  and executing prisoners; dealing with such hin-

  42

  CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988

  drances and special events as taxes, aging,

  Fights are text-based, and actions are initiated

  snowstorms, riots, and epidemics; battling wild

  by selecting from such commands as guard,

  beasts to increase popularity; and much more.

  cast, use item, equip, conjure, fight, run, talk,

  Players are ranked according to strength, dex-

  Bard song, and attack. Two views of the action

  terity, wisdom, integrity, mercy, courage, and

  run concurrently: overhead and first-person

  other attributes. Similar Koei games include:

  (pseudo-3D). The pubs in the kid-friendly NES

  Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Nobunaga’s version sell root beer and grape juice instead

  Ambition, and Genghis Khan.

  of beer and wine. Includes battery backup.

  Barbie

  Barker Bill’s Trick Shooting

  PUBLISHER: Hi Tech Expressions. DEVELOPER:

  PUBLISHER: Nintendo. DEVELOPER: Nintendo.

  Imagineering. Side-Scrolling Platform, 1

  Light Gun Shooter, 1 player. 1990.

  player. 1991.

  Although not as well known as Duck

  Unlike most other Barbie games, this one

  Hunt, Barker Bill’s Trick Shooting is a better, is a side-scrolling platformer. Players guide the

  more colorful, more versatile game. Using the

  famously skinny, famously blonde doll as she

  Nintendo Zapper, players take aim and fire at

  walks, jumps, and throws crystals through five

  various targets through four different areas:

  dream-induced levels: The Mall (Sports, Toy

  Balloon Saloon (shoot balloons before they

  Store, Boutique); The Center of the Mall (Gal-

  reach the top of the screen); Flying Saucers

  leria, Waterfalls, Food Court, Pizzeria); The

  (shoot saucers that a man and his assistant

  Beach (Coral Reef, Sand Castle, Throne Room);

  throw into the air); Window Pains (shoot

  The Soda Shop Part One; and The Soda Shop

  falling items through open windows); and Fun

  Part Two (Fast Food, Thick Shakes). Crystals

  Follies (cycle through the previous events). Fun
r />   can be thrown at enemies, but are also given to

  Follies also includes Trixie’s Shot (shoot coins

  animals and other friends in exchange for fa-

  a dancing woman holds out) and Bill’s Thrills

  vors. For example, a dog will steal the enemy’s

  (shoot items before they fall on a woman’s

  tennis ball, a toucan will act as a platform, and

  head). Longtime Nintendo fans will recognize

  a dolphin will use its tail to tug Barbie through

  the laughing dog from Duck Hunt, who pops

  the water. The action is slow, but a nice blend

  up (but shouldn’t be shot) in Balloon Saloon.

  of puzzles and platforming makes the game

  fairly enjoyable, especially for those who don’t

  Baseball

  mind lots of pink and purple.

  PUBLISHER: Nintendo. DEVELOPER: Nintendo.

  Sports/Baseball, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous).

  The Bard’s Tale

  1985.

  PUBLISHER: FCI. DEVELOPER: Pony Canyon.

  First-Person Role-Playing Game, 1 player.

  This NES launch title lacks a season mode,

  1991.

  but it does include stealing, hit and run plays,

  bunts, and tag ups. The computer controls fiel-

  The Bard’s Tale for the NES is a scaled

  ding, meaning the defense only has to worry

  down (smaller with fewer dungeons) port of

  about pitching and throwing the ball to the

  Electronic Arts’ Wizardry-influenced computer proper base. Batting and pitching require the

  game from 1985, which was titled Tales of the

  simple press of a button, but the control pad

  Unknown, Volume I: The Bard’s Tale. In tradi-

  can be used to vary the speed and direction of

  tional dungeon-crawler fashion, players explore

  pitches, which include fast, regular, curve, slow,

  maze-like areas (a wine cellar, sewers, towers,

  and screwball. The teams in Baseball are as

  and a castle) to find treasure, and battle mon-

  generic as the game itself, which has an over-

  sters to gain experience and to level up a party

  head/slightly angled view of the diamond. As

  of six characters consisting of wizards, war-

  in many sports video games, the two-player

  riors, hunters, bards, sorcerers, and the like.

  mode is recommended.

  NINTENDO NES

  43

  Baseball Simulator 1.000

  spruced up a bit, and gamers can still purchase

  PUBLISHER: Culture Brain. DEVELOPER: Culture

  and trade players, dive for grounders, pick off

  Brain. Sports/Baseball, 1–6 players (alternat-

  runners, earn money to improve player stats,

  ing, 2-player simultaneous). 1990.

  and much more. Like Baseball Stars, the sequel Baseball Simulator 1.000 offers solid, fast

  lacks Major League licensing, meaning fake

  paced gameplay and lots of features, including

  team and player names are used. Includes bat-

  seasonal play (5, 30, 60, or 165 games), full ed-

  tery backup. Followed by: Baseball Stars Color

  iting for up to six teams, pinch hitters, pick-

  (Neo Geo Pocket Color).

  offs, the shifting of fielders, substitutions, six

  different stadiums, and saveable stats (via bat-

  Bases Loaded

  tery backup). What truly sets the game apart

  PUBLISHER: Jaleco. DEVELOPER: Jaleco. Sports/

  from the pack is the zany, laugh-inducing fun

  Baseball, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1988.

  of Ultra Play, which allows players to jump

  One of the more noteworthy sports titles

  super high, throw pitches that disappear or

  in the NES library, the original Bases Loaded

  speed up in mid-air, hit balls that explode or

  helped popularize the behind-the-pitcher cam-

  knock out the fielder, and more. The perspec-

  era angle, and it is famous for its use of “bean

  tive is the typical behind-the-batter view,

  balls” that hit batters in the face, sometimes

  switching to overhead when the ball gets hit

  causing a bench clearing brawl. Each of the

  into play. Followed by: Super Baseball Simula-

  game’s 12 teams is comprised of 30 players,

  tor 1.000 (SNES).

  each rated according to batting average or ERA.

  The game lacks MLB or MLBPA licensing, but

  Baseball Stars

  it does offer a Pennant mode comprised of 132

  PUBLISHER: SNK. DEVELOPER: SNK.

  games. Other features include bunts, steals,

  Sports/Baseball, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous).

  pickoffs, pinch hitters, relief pitchers, voice ef-

  1989.

  fects, passwords for saving progress, and more.

  A favorite among NES sports fans, Baseball

  Also released for the Game Boy. Based on

  Stars is a highly enjoyable rendition of Amer-Jaleco’s 1987 arcade game.

  ica’s favorite pastime, giving armchair athletes

  the ability to: alter starting lineups; hire, fire,

  Bases Loaded II: Second Season

  and trade players (including females); improve

  PUBLISHER: Jaleco. DEVELOPER: Tose.

  the players’ hitting, batting, running, defense,

  Sports/Baseball, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous).

  chance, and prestige; improve the pitchers’

  1990.

  stamina and speed; and change player names

  Bases Loaded II adds a few new features to

  and team logos. The game also includes lead-

  the franchise, including additional camera an-

  offs, steals, pickoffs, diving catches, jumping

  gles, faster fielders (who are too small), and the

  catches, the ability for players to climb walls,

  ability for fielders to dive. However, the origi-

  and other fun features. Includes battery

  nal Bases Loaded has better gameplay. One cu-backup. Followed by: Baseball Stars Professional

  rious new feature is the use of biorhythms,

  (arcade, Neo Geo).

  which track the players in three different cate-

  gories: physical, sensitivity, and intellectual.

  Baseball Stars II

  When a player’s readings are low, he should

  PUBLISHER: Romstar. DEVELOPER: Romstar.

  probably be pulled from the lineup. Includes

  Sports/Baseball, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous).

  password feature. This was the first of three

  1992.

  NES sequels in the Bases Loaded series, which Baseball Stars II is fun like the original

  spawned several games for other systems, in-

  game, but it does take away one of the more

  cluding the SNES ( Super Bases Loaded #s 1–3)

  enjoyable features of Baseball Stars: the ability and Saturn and PlayStation ( Bases Loaded 96:

  to alter the names of the teams and the play-

  Double Header). Followed by: Ryne Sandberg ers. Luckily, the audio/visuals have been

  Plays Bases Loaded 3 (NES).

  44

  CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988

  Bases Loaded 4

  Inspired by Tim Burton’s 1989 film, Bat-

  PUBLISHER: Jaleco. DEVELOPER: Tose. Sports/

  man puts players in the role of DC’s Dark

  Baseball, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1993.

  Knight
Detective, who works his way through

  five exciting stages: Gotham City, Axis Chem-

  Bases Loaded 4 wisely drops the perfect

  ical Factory, Underground Conduit, Labora-

  game goal of Ryne Sandberg Plays Bases Loaded

  tory Ruins, and Cathedral. Batman can punch,

  3, but keeps the oddly disconcerting behind-

  in addition to gaining three optional Bat-

  second-base fielding perspective intact. When

  weapons: a spear gun, a dirk (which shoots in

  a player wins 70 regular season games, he or

  three split directions), and a Batarang. These

  she enters the Super Series championship

  items are useful in battling a variety of obsta-

  round. A slaughter rule dictates that if a team

  cles and bad guys, including homing mines,

  is ahead by nine or more runs in the bottom of

  bomb-dropping claws, K.G. Beast, Deadshot,

  any inning, they will automatically win, and

  and even the Joker himself. A spry hero, Bat-

  players are awarded black (bad) or white

  man can kneel and pull off three types of

  (good) stars depending on the quality of their

  jumps: normal, Batman, and wall. One of the

  performance. Like the first three games in the

  better looking and playing movie-based titles of

  series, Bases Loaded 4 lacks MLB and MLBPA

  the era, the game spawned a sequel in Batman

  licensing. Includes password feature.

  Return of the Joker, which boasts an original storyline.

  Batman

  PUBLISHER: Sunsoft. DEVELOPER: Sunsoft. Side-

  Scrolling Combat, 1 player. 1990.

  Batman Return of the Joker

  PUBLISHER: Sunsoft. DEVELOPER:

  Sunsoft. Platform Shooter, 1

  player. 1991.

  Batman Return of the Joker

  pits the Caped Crusader against

  the Clown Prince of Crime and

  his henchmen. Using a basic

  shooting mechanism, a jetpack,

  four types of extremely cool pro-

  jectile weapons (cross bow, Bat-

  arang, sonic neutralizer, and

  shield star), and the ability to

  jump (over obstacles and on mov-

  ing platforms), slide-attack, and

  duck, Batman must battle his way

  through seven challenging, hugely

  enjoyable stages: Gotham City

  Cathedral, The Joker’s Ware-

  house, Snow Mountain, Refinery,

  Underground Conduit, Ammu-

  nition Base, and Island of Ha-Ha-

  cienda. The visuals, which feature

  parallax scrolling, rich coloring,

  detailed backgrounds, and large

  characters, are a pitch-perfect