Classic Home Video Games (1985-1988) Read online

  Two original super-hero titles for the NES: Batman, which is complement to the exemplary

  based on the 1989 Tim Burton film, and Captain America and

  the Avengers, which is not based on the 1991 Data East arcade gameplay. Also released for the

  game.

  Game Boy.

  NINTENDO NES

  45

  Batman Returns

  venture of Link, but is set in ancient Greece.

  PUBLISHER: Konami. DEVELOPER: Konami.

  Players guide Orpheus on a mythological quest

  Side-Scrolling Combat, 1 player. 1993.

  to rescue his beloved Helene, whose soul has

  been stolen by Hades. Armed with a club and

  The NES take on Tim Burton’s Batman

  the ability to acquire a sword, a staff (unleashes

  Returns (1992) is a brawler in the mold of

  the fire of Prometheus), a crystal ball, a harp

  games like Double Dragon and Streets of Rage, (enables players to fly on the wings of Pegasus),

  but is much more redundant. Players control

  the sandals of Hermes (for jumping higher),

  the Dark Knight Detective as he punches and

  and other weapons, Orpheus must battle his

  kicks his way through six stages (including

  way through labyrinthine woods, ruins, vil-

  Gotham Plaza and Arctic World) of sword

  lages, valleys, mountains, swamps, and caves.

  swallowers, clowns, skull riders, and other en-

  Each of the game’s eight levels is home to a gift-

  emies, including Catwoman and Penguin (who

  bearing god or goddess, such as Zeus or Athena.

  starred in the film). Like the SNES version of

  Enemies in this challenging, lavishly illustrated

  the game, this one lets players commandeer the

  game include cyclopean beasts, centaurs, mino-

  Batmobile, which shoots discs and bullets. As

  taurs, serpents, rock giants, and other fantasti-

  in Final Fight, one of the more powerful com-

  cal creatures. Includes battery backup.

  bat moves (in this case a spinning cape attack)

  takes health away from the player, leading to

  inevitable frustration. Also released for the

  Battleship

  P

  Genesis, Game Gear, Atari Lynx, and Sega CD.

  UBLISHER: Mindscape. DEVELOPER: Mind-

  scape. Board Game, 1 player. 1993.

  Battle Chess

  Although it lacks a two-player mode, Bat-

  PUBLISHER: Data East. DEVELOPER: Beam Soft-

  tleship for the NES is a nice take on Milton ware. Board Game, 1 or 2 players (simultane-Bradley’s classic board game, in which gamers

  ous). 1990.

  take turns bombing the other player’s ships. As

  Based on the 1988 computer game, Battle

  with the board game, players have numerous

  Chess for the NES is a playable chess simulator standard missiles, but the video game adds a

  (the computer A.I. is certainly formidable), but

  limited supply of 10 different special weapons

  the animations move much slower than their

  (warheads, torpedoes, depth charges, and the

  PC counterparts, making the battle scenarios

  like), each of which covers more ground than

  a chore to watch. Luckily, there is a standard

  a standard missile (which hits just one square

  2D mode of play with ordinary chess pieces and

  on the 12x8 grid). In addition, the NES car-

  no animations. In 3D mode (pseudo-3D, ac-

  tridge includes a new type of ship: a frigate.

  tually), the chess pieces appear primarily in

  The game is over when the player (or the com-

  human form (the knight has no horse, for ex-

  puter) has lost all of his or her ships, or when

  ample) and come to life when moved. During

  the player has progressed through 40 battles.

  a capture, the scene switches to a computer-

  Battleship does lack certain features found in directed battle set against a castle background.

  Super Battleship (SNES, Genesis), such as the Features include: take back (undo your last

  ability to repair ships and advance the fleet.

  move); replay (replay your last move); suggest

  Also released for the Game Boy, Game Boy

  move (get hints from the computer); and five

  Color, Game Gear, Philips CD-i, and PlaySta-

  difficulty levels. Also released for the 3DO.

  tion.

  The Battle of Olympus

  Battletank

  PUBLISHER: Broderbund. DEVELOPER: Infinity.

  PUBLISHER: Absolute Entertainment. DEVEL-

  Third-Person Action Role-Playing Game, 1

  OPER: Absolute Entertainment. First-Person

  player. 1990.

  Tank Shooter, 1 player. 1990.

  Sporting a side-view perspective, The Bat-

  Designed by Garry Kitchen (of Activision

  tle of Olympus plays a lot like Zelda II: The Ad-fame), Battletank expands upon the inside-the-

  46

  CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988

  tank perspective of such classics as Battlezone

  PUBLISHER: Tradewest. DEVELOPER: Rare. Side-

  and Robot Tank. The tank players commandeer

  Scrolling Combat, 1 or 2 players (simultane-

  can steer right and left, speed up and slow

  ous). 1993.

  down, reverse direction, raise and lower cannon

  A worthy sequel to Battletoads, Battle-

  and weapon sight, and fire 150mm shells, wire-

  toads/Double Dragon is a dream team matchup

  guided shells (which lock onto fast-moving en-

  of Zitz, Rash, and Pimple (the Battletoads) with

  emies at long range), smoke screens, and 50

  twins Billy and Jimmy Lee (the Double Drag-

  caliber machine guns. The game has 10 mis-

  ons). The gameplay and humor evoke Battle-

  sions (taking place through mountains, deserts,

  toads (as opposed to Double Dragon), with our icy fields, and other areas), each involving such

  heroes battling bad guys (the combined armies

  maneuvers as avoiding mines, shooting enemy

  of the Dark Queen and the Shadow Boss) across

  tanks and helicopters, and destroying enemy

  the top of the massive Colossus space ship, in

  strongholds (including a train yard, a refinery,

  the bowels of said ship, and atop a missile

  and a nuclear power plant). Players will also

  headed straight for Earth. Each character can

  visit NATO headquarters (for repairs, refuel-

  pull off a variety of punches, kicks, throws, and

  ing, and rearming), study a satellite radar map,

  other fighting maneuvers, and busting up an

  and monitor the tank’s readouts, which include

  enemy walker lets players use that walker’s leg

  damage warning lights, short range radar, com-

  as a weapon. There’s also a speeder bike to ride

  pass, number of enemies remaining, and more.

  and a turbo rope for swinging across or down

  Followed by: Super Battletank (Game Boy,

  chasms. Obstacles to avoid include sparkbolts,

  Game Gear), Super Battletank 2 (SNES), and

  electro barriers, mines, homing missiles, ma-

  Super Battletank: War in the Gulf (Genesis,

  chine guns, astro boulders, and more. The abil-

  SNES).

  ity for the Toads and D
ragons to hit each other

  can be turned off or on, the latter inducing

  Battletoads

  chuckle-worthy competition. Also released for

  PUBLISHER: Tradewest. DEVELOPER: Rare. Side-

  the Genesis, SNES, and Game Boy.

  Scrolling Combat, 1 or 2 players (simultane-

  ous). 1991.

  Bee 52

  The titular toads in this nicely designed,

  PUBLISHER: Camerica. DEVELOPER: Codemas-

  graphically rich game must punch, slam, and

  ters Software. Side-Scrolling Shooter, 1 or 2

  kick their way through a bevy of rodents,

  players (alternating). 1992.

  ravens, pigs, mutants, innovative bosses, and

  other baddies, jumping over or otherwise

  In Bee 52, players maneuver the titular bee

  avoiding chasms, whirlpools, logs, mines, mis-

  as it collects nectar to keep Really Nice Honey

  siles, meteorites, and other obstacles along the

  from going out of business. After visiting three

  way. The variety-filled, super challenging ac-

  flowers, the bee must return to the hive, where

  tion incorporates ropes (for rappelling),

  the nectar turns into honey and goes into a pot,

  weaponry, humorous animations, and much

  thus completing one of 24 stages. Slugs, grass-

  more. There are even vehicles to ride, includ-

  hoppers, grubs, and other enemies make Bee

  ing a speed bike, a jet turbo, and a space board.

  52’s job a challenge, but the brave bee can fend

  Gamers can play as one of three oversized, an-

  them off with a stinger and a spit attack and

  thropomorphic toads: Zitz, Rash, or Pimple.

  can pick up such weapons as bombs, rapid re-

  Battletoads spawned a number of sequels, in-

  load, a junior bee, and a super sting. Beautiful

  cluding Battletoads in Battlemaniacs (SNES),

  outdoor environments and unusual gameplay

  Battletoads in Ragnarok’s World (Game Boy),

  make Bee 52 a keeper. Unlicensed.

  and a 1994 arcade game. Also released for the

  Genesis, Game Boy, and Game Gear.

  Beetlejuice

  PUBLISHER: LJN. DEVELOPER: Rare. Side-

  Battletoads/Double Dragon — The Ulti-

  Scrolling Platform/Overhead View Action, 1

  mate Team

  player. 1991.

  NINTENDO NES

  47

  A misstep by the usually reliable Rare

  excitement of three stories from the Old Testa-

  (though a poor game by LJN is certainly no rar-

  ment.” These include: Noah’s Ark (carry ani-

  ity), Beetlejuice is loosely based on Tim Burton’s mals to the boat); Baby Moses (keep the little

  1988 feature film, but looks more like the ani-

  prophet from harm); and David and Goliath

  mated series (1989–1991). Players guide “the

  (gather sheep and battle a giant). Each segment

  ghost with the most” as he runs, jumps, and

  plays like a (very) poor man’s Super Mario Bros.

  stomps his way through The Village, Storm

  2. Gameplay consists of running, jumping,

  Drains, The Maitlands’ House (which includes

  climbing, delivering items, picking up and

  basement, kitchen, living rooms, attic, and

  throwing objects, and avoiding scorpions,

  model graveyard), The Attic, and Afterlife Wait-

  lions, and other enemies. Bible verses appear

  ing Room. By stomping on beetles, collecting

  throughout each game. Unlicensed.

  poison bottles, and destroying ghosts, whirling

  skulls, and other enemies, Beetlejuice can collect

  Bible Buffet

  “help vouchers” for use in purchasing “scares,”

  PUBLISHER: Wisdom Tree. DEVELOPER: Wis-

  such as Medusa heads for freezing floating skulls,

  dom Tree. Board Game/Maze Shooter, 1–4

  a Birdman for jumping high, and umbrella

  players (simultaneous). 1993.

  heads for defeating the octopus. Fans of the film

  may want this cartridge, but blind jumps, lousy

  Packaged with a rather sizable trivia book,

  controls, commonplace enemies that are im-

  Bible Buffet is a video board game in which each pervious to certain attacks, and other exam-player spins a spinner, moves around a map

  ples of poor programming will alienate most

  screen, and, depending on the square landed

  gamers. Also released for the Game Boy.

  upon, spins again, answers three questions

  (from the aforementioned book), moves ahead

  Best of the Best Championship Karate

  or back extra spaces, or enters a brief overhead

  PUBLISHER: Electro Brain. DEVELOPER: Loriciel.

  view maze/action scene. The latter has players

  Fighting, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1992.

  using spoons, knives, forks, and preservatives to

  Loosely based on the 1989 feature film

  battle and collect various foods. The objective

  (which was simply called Best of the Best), Best in this game is to finish first, collect the most

  of the Best Championship Karate features 32 dif-food, and/or correctly answer the most ques-

  ferent types of hits and kicks, eight of which

  tions. Unlicensed.

  the character the player creates or selects will

  have at his command. The action moves slowly,

  Bigfoot

  but is strategic in nature as a mix of moves

  PUBLISHER: Acclaim. DEVELOPER: Beam Soft-

  works better than mere button-mashing. In ad-

  ware. Monster Truck Racing, 1 or 2 players

  dition, striking good blows depends on a num-

  (simultaneous). 1990.

  ber of factors, including the power of the blow,

  the proximity of the fighters, and the part of

  Bigfoot is a cross-country tour from L.A.

  the body that was hit. Fighters are ranked ac-

  to New York, viewed from a top-down perspec-

  cording to strength, reflexes, and resistance and

  tive. Players drive their monster truck up the

  can improve these stats by training. The odd

  screen, jumping (ala Bump ’n’ Jump), crushing color scheme consists of blue lighting, purple

  other vehicles, avoiding water slicks, grinding

  onlookers, and a green ring. The SNES and

  through mud hills, collecting cash (for purchas-

  Genesis versions of the game add a referee and

  ing tires, a bigger engine, transmission work,

  crowd noise.

  and an upgraded suspension), and grabbing

  power-ups (including a circular saw, shields,

  Bible Adventures

  and nitro boosts). At stops along the route, the

  PUBLISHER: Wisdom Tree. DEVELOPER: Color

  action switches to a thumb-numbing side-view

  Dreams. Side-Scrolling Platform, 1 player. 1990.

  event: Car Crush, Mud Race, Hill Climb, Trac-

  The first religion-themed console game,

  tor Pull, Car Crush Drag Race, or Oyster Bay

  Bible Adventures lets players “experience the Championship Drag Race.

  48

  CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988

  Bignose Freaks Out

  version was advertised, but not released. Fol-

  PUBLISHER: Camerica. DEVELOPER: Optimus

  lowed by: Bignose Freaks Out (N
ES). Unli-

  Software. Side-Scrolling Platform, 1 or 2 play-

  censed.

  ers (simultaneous). 1992.

  The sequel to Bignose the Caveman, Big-

  Bill & Ted’s Excellent Video Game Ad-

  nose Freaks Out is a faster game than its pro-venture

  genitor, thanks to a new mode of transporta-

  PUBLISHER: LJN. DEVELOPER: Rocket Science

  tion: a wheel board, which speeds Bignose

  Games. Overhead View Action/Adventure, 1

  player. 1991.

  through each level like a Sonic the Hedgehog

  wannabe (by way of BC’s Quest for Tires for the An extension of the movie Bill & Ted’s Ex-ColecoVision). On a mission to recover stolen

  cellent Adventure (1989), this game lets players bones scattered throughout five prehistoric lev-control Bill or Ted (depending on the level) as

  els filled with hills, trees, caves, slopes, chasms,

  they travel back in time to rescue Cleopatra, Al

  and platforms, Bignose must use his trusty club

  Capone, Elvis, Sitting Bull, and 12 other his-

  and rocks to battle dinosaurs and other ene-

  torical figures. Friends throughout the game

  mies, some of which pop up unexpectedly,

  provide clues and items while foes (including

  leading to cheap hits. Level warps, boss battles,

  “crazy jailer dudes”) can be distracted or elim-

  and hidden areas and treasures complement

  inated with such items as text books, dynamite,

  the action nicely. Unlicensed.

  pudding, and cassette tapes. Worlds to explore

  include Medieval, Western, Colonial, Medieval

  Bignose Freaks Out (Aladdin Version)

  2, Modern, and Ancient. The action is viewed

  PUBLISHER: Camerica. DEVELOPER: Optimus

  from an isometric perspective, helping make

  Software. Side-Scrolling Platform, 1 or 2 play-

  the characters somewhat difficult to control.

  ers (simultaneous). 1993.

  Bill and Ted are also featured in Bill & Ted’s The Aladdin rendition of Bignose Freaks

  Excellent Adventure (Atari Lynx) and Bill & Out looks and plays like the standard version, Ted’s Excellent Game Boy Adventure (Game

  but was produced in a compact cartridge for-

  Boy).

  mat. Requires the Aladdin Deck Enhancer. Un-

  licensed.

  Bill Elliot’s NASCAR Challenge

  PUBLISHER: Konami. DEVELOPER: Distinctive

  Bignose the Caveman

  Software. Stock Car Racing, 1 player. 1991.

  PUBLISHER: Camerica. DEVELOPER: Codemas-

  Viewed from inside the cockpit of the car

  ters. Side-Scrolling Platform, 1 or 2 players

  (the bottom 2/5 of the screen shows the steer-

  (alternating). 1991.