Classic Home Video Games (1985-1988) Page 10
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
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