by Brett Weiss
thanks to financial and distribution problems
from behind and a little above the bowler, lets
suffered by Active Enterprises. However, 1500
players select ball weight (7, 9, 11, 13, or 15
copies of the game were originally produced
pounds), position the bowler left and right, and
prior to the downfall of Active, and, in 1996,
set the power (via a fast-moving meter) and
these cartridges made their way into the hands
curve of the ball. A strip along the right side of
of collectors and dealers via a liquidation sale.
the screen gives an overhead view of the lane
In the game, players guide an anthropomor-
and pins. The music is decidedly hyper, infus-
phic cheetah as he walks, jumps on platforms
ing dramatic punch into an already fun game.
(including gray squares suspended in the air),
Curiously, a four-player adapter is required for and leaps across gaps and over simpleminded
three- and four-player games, despite the al-
dogs, birds, and snakes. Armed with a cross-
ternating nature of the gameplay. Not to be
bow, the cheetah also shoots swordsmen
confused with the Genesis game of the same
(whose bodies are invisible), tornadoes, and
name.
other enemies amongst such simplistic imagery
as grass, posts, and skulls. The cheetah cannot
Championship Pool
duck, so lower enemies can’t be shot. The pro-
PUBLISHER: Mindscape. DEVELOPER: Bitmas-
gramming is obviously unfinished as it gives
ters. Sports/Billiards, 1–8 players (alternating,
players just four of a proposed six levels (the
2-player simultaneous). 1993.
game crashes at the end of level four). Unli-
censed.
Endorsed by the Billiard Congress of
America, Championship Pool is viewed from
overhead, with players using a cursor to aim
The Chessmaster
shots and a power meter (which appears along
PUBLISHER: Hi Tech Expressions. DEVELOPER:
The Software Toolworks. Board Game, 1 or 2
with the cue in a pop-up window) to facilitate
players (simultaneous). 1990.
how hard to hit the ball. Prior to taking a shot,
players can get a preview (via a phantom ball)
A nicely programmed port of the popular
of approximately where the hit ball will land if
computer chess series (which began in 1986
the player proceeds to take that shot. Players
with The Chessmaster 2000), The Chessmaster for
NINTENDO NES
61
the NES lets gamers challenge a friend or play
to find Mandy’s lost kitten. This entails run-
against the Chessmaster himself. Or, gamers
ning, jumping, and throwing boxes and other
can simply watch the Chessmaster play both
items at such enemies as Racquet Roo, Rhino
sides of the board. At any time during a match,
Runner, Hawk Bomber, mechanical bulldogs,
players can switch sides with the Chessmaster
and robotic rats. Thankfully, friends are also
and assume control of his pieces (and vice
onboard: Gadget leaves clues and inventions;
versa). Other options and features include forc-
Monterey Jack helps in finding secret doors and
ing the Chessmaster to move, taking back and
pathways; and Zipper makes the titular squir-
replaying pieces, setting up the board as de-
rel duo invincible. Rescue Rangers is a tad easy, sired, making the Chessmaster solve for a
but the visuals and theme mimic the cartoon
forced mate, and more. There are 16 difficulty
nicely.
levels, giving gamers of most any skill level a
good mental workout. The jazz classic “Take
Chip ’n Dale Rescue Rangers 2
Five” plays during the title screen. Produced
PUBLISHER: Capcom. DEVELOPER: Capcom.
for numerous systems, The Chessmaster
Side-Scrolling Platform, 1 or 2 players (simul-
spawned such follow-ups as The Chessmaster
taneous). 1994.
3-D (PlayStation) and Chessmaster: The Art of Rescue Rangers 2 features the same type of
Learning (PSP, Nintendo DS).
cute, entertaining platforming action as its pro-
genitor, but with a number of improvements,
Chiller
including better graphics, more of a storyline,
PUBLISHER: American Game Cartridges. DE-
and the ability to throw boxes diagonally. As
VELOPER: Exidy. Light Gun Shooter, 1 or 2
in the first game, boxes are also used for hiding.
players (simultaneous). 1990.
Chip and Dale can pick up stunned enemies
Based on the 1986 Exidy arcade semi-clas-
this time around, and Gadget, Monterey Jack,
sic, which was outfitted with a mounted gun
and Zipper make return appearances, though
controller, Chiller was not licensed by Nin-
in altered roles (Monterey gives out donuts, for
tendo, probably due to its extreme (for the sys-
example). Environments to run and jump
tem) levels of gore and sadistic violence (there
through include a kitchen, a sewer, a ship, a
were a few changes made, however, such as the
haunted warehouse, a clock tower, and more.
removal of the graveyard nudity and the ab-
sence of the plethora of body parts lying about
Chubby Cherub
the torture chamber floor). Players use the Zap-
PUBLISHER: Bandai. DEVELOPER: Bandai. Side-
per light gun or the control pad to shoot zom-
Scrolling Platform, 1 or 2 players (alternat-
bies and talismans, the latter of which cause
ing). 1986.
the dead to come back to life. Set in the Middle
In Chubby Cherub, players guide a naked
Ages, the game is chock full of horror imagery,
little angel as he walks (on roofs of houses,
including a graveyard, a haunted house, and a
walls, and the ground), jumps, and flies (his
rack room. Unfortunately, thanks to inaccu-
primary method of transport) through cute,
rate, unresponsive controls, gameplay comes
colorful, nicely drawn worlds, each containing
up lacking, ruining the guilty pleasures such a
biting dogs, egg-throwing crows, and puffs of
game might provide.
smoke. There’s even a burglar who throws fire-
crackers at our hapless hero. To scare the dogs
Chip ’n Dale Rescue Rangers
and make them run away, Chubby Cherub can
PUBLISHER: Capcom. DEVELOPER: Capcom.
emit heart symbols with his “gau-gau” cannon.
Side-Scrolling Platform, 1 or 2 players (simul-
To maintain his strength throughout each
taneous). 1990.
level, Chubby must continually consume ap-
Like DuckTales, Rescue Rangers is a qual-ples, grapes, shish kabobs, hamburgers, and
ity Capcom game based on a Disney cartoon.
cakes. Eating a P symbol makes Chubby tem-
Players guide either Chip or Dale on a mission
porarily invisible and invincible. Mission obj
ec-
62
CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988
tives include delivering a microcomputer, giv-
background as the Statue of Liberty and the
ing a flower to the Mad Man, and discovering
Eiffel Tower.
a clue that will help Chubby find his friend.
Chubby Cherub is charming (or cavity-caus-
Clash at Demonhead
ing, depending on your perspective), but a bit
PUBLISHER: Vic Tokai. DEVELOPER: Vic Tokai.
lacking in the action department.
Platform Shooter, 1 player. 1989.
Although not as well known or as widely
Circus Caper
heralded as such mega-hits as Metroid and
PUBLISHER: Toho. DEVELOPER: Toho. Side-
Super Mario Bros. 3, Clash at Demonhead is one Scrolling Platform, 1 player. 1990.
fine game. The protagonist, a guy named Bang,
Mr. Magic has kidnapped Tim’s sister and
is extremely versatile as he can walk, jump,
taken her deep inside a circus tent. In order to
squat, climb, swim, shoot, fly (via jet pack),
protect her, players, as Tim, must run and
don a super suit, and strap on hyper boots (for
jump through six levels, punching and kicking
increased speed and power). Anime-style
monkeys, clowns, vultures, snakes, ghosts, ele-
graphics, selectable routes (via a map screen),
phants, tight-rope walkers, flying acrobats, and
strange bosses, quirky humor, and a shop where
other enemies along the way. To help in defeat-
Bang can purchase items add to the depth and
ing the various circus performers and their an-
enjoyment of the game. Bang’s mission is to ex-
imals, gamers can pick up hammers, soccer
plore Demonhead Mountain, rescue Professor
balls, yoyos, and bombs. In addition, there are
Plum, and deactivate a doomsday bomb.
blocks for use in reaching high areas, and snap-
ping alligator heads to hop on in order to cross
Classic Concentration
water. Bonus points are earned via a fire-jump-
PUBLISHER: GameTek. DEVELOPER: Softie.
ing mini-game. Despite oddly sinister circus
Game Show, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous).
music and unusually high jumps (by the pro-
1990.
tagonist and by certain enemies), Circus Caper
Based on the TV game show, which aired
is a largely typical side-scroller.
on NBC from 1987 through 1991 (earlier incar-
nations of the program were simply titled
City Connection
“Concentration”), Classic Concentration has PUBLISHER: Jaleco. DEVELOPER: Jaleco. Side-players opening doors on a numbered, 25-door
Scrolling Platform, 1 or 2 players (alternat-
game board. Each door hides the name of a
ing). 1988.
prize, such as a trip or a mink coat. During
City Connection is similar conceptually to
each turn, players open two doors in hopes of
the console and computer classic Miner 2049er, getting a match, which will grant the player that
but instead of guiding Bounty Bob, players take
prize and make that pair of doors disappear.
the wheel of a Honda City hatchback. The ob-
Each door that disappears reveals part of a
jective in each of the game’s seven side-scroll-
rebus puzzle. After any match, the player can
ing, multi-platform, wraparound levels is to
guess the rebus puzzle. Wild cards, eight selec-
drive over every section of highway, painting
table contestants, and timed final rounds add to
it in the process. Police cars frequently get in the
the fun. As with most video games based on
way, as do buses, cats, and spikes (which ap-
game shows, puzzles do begin repeating them-
pear when players spend too much time on any
selves sooner than most players would prefer.
one level), but they can be jumped over or oth-
Similar to (but more sophisticated than): Hunt
erwise avoided. In addition, the car can shoot
& Score (Atari 2600).
oil cans at the enemy vehicles. Grabbing three
red balloons transports players one or two lev-
Cliffhanger
els ahead. Like its better looking coin-op
PUBLISHER: Sony Imagesoft. DEVELOPER: Sony
cousin (Jaleco, 1985), City Connection for the Imagesoft. Side-Scrolling Platform, 1 player.
NES features such familiar landmarks in the
1993.
NINTENDO NES
63
Based on the 1993 feature film, Cliff hanger
This pedestrian port of the 1988 Data East
for the NES puts players in the role of Rocky
arcade game has poor controls and replaces the
Mountain rescue ace Gabe Walker, who
sharp, textured graphics of the original with
Sylvester Stallone played in the movie. Walker
sheer mediocrity (including blurry back-
must run, jump, crouch, climb (on ladders and
grounds). Gameplay is similar to Choplifter,
ropes), and make flying leaps through seven
but not as good. Players guide a helicopter back
poorly drawn, washed-out looking levels of
and forth across scrolling skies, firing away at
mountain-based action, collecting money and
enemy choppers, tanks, soldiers, cannons, and
dodging such obstacles as falling icicles, run-
warships, frequently swooping down to lower
away boulders, and bottomless pits. Walker can
a rope or a ladder to rescue hostages. The
punch and kick venomous bats, rabid wolves,
copter can be upgraded with various types of
evil henchmen, and other enemies he will meet,
guns, missiles, and armor. Not to be confused
but he can also pick up and use a gun, a knife,
with Cobra Command for the Sega CD.
dynamite, and rocks. Other pick-ups include
spiked boots (for running in snow) and climb-
Cobra Triangle
ing gloves (for ascending a frozen waterfall).
PUBLISHER: Nintendo. DEVELOPER: Rare. Wa-
Near the end of the game, Walker must battle
tercraft Racing/Vertical Scrolling Shooter, 1
Eric Qualen’s helicopter and then Qualen him-
player. 1989.
self (in the movie, Qualen was played by John
This game puts players behind the wheel
Lithgow). Much different than the Genesis,
of a Cobra Class Speed Boat, racing against
SNES, and Sega CD versions of the game.
other boats, jumping over waterfalls, shooting
targets and sea monsters, protecting swimmers,
Clu Clu Land
dodging whirlpools, disposing of mines, and
PUBLISHER: Nintendo. DEVELOPER: Nintendo.
Maze, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1985.
more. Pods can be collecting for upgrading the
boat’s guns, missiles, and speed. There are 25
A fun, challenging, highly original take on
levels to cruise through, each of which features
the maze genre, Clu Clu Land has players guid-an angled, R.C. Pro-Am-like perspective. An
ing a cute, round, fish-like creature named
early game by Rare,
the company that would
Bubbles around a series of mazes marked with
go on to develop such favorites as Perfect Dark
turn posts. The only way to make turns in each
(Nintendo 64) and Donkey Kong Country
maze is by bouncing off walls or by hooking a
(Super NES), Cobra Triangle is a fun, finely hand around said turn posts. Each maze con-programmed game that is a challenge to the
tains a pattern of hidden gold bars. When Bub-
finish.
bles passes above a hidden bar, it will appear
onscreen. The objective is to uncover all the
Code Name: Viper
hidden gold bars (forming an outline of a pic-
PUBLISHER: Capcom. DEVELOPER: Capcom.
ture, such as a face or a house) in order to
Platform Shooter, 1 player. 1990.
progress to the next maze. While Clu Clu
works at uncovering gold bars, deadly sea
A dramatic, non-nonsense, War on Drugs-
urchins prowl the maze, but they can be
influenced game, Code Name: Viper puts play-
warded off with electric shocks. Other things
ers in the role of an agent working his way
appearing in the maze include black holes, rub-
through the jungles of South America and a
ber traps, timers (for freezing the clock, the sea
drug lord’s fortresses, opening doors to find
urchin, and the opposing player), and money
hostages, health, and ammo. Agent Viper is
sacks and fruit (for extra points). A system
equipped with a handgun and a machine gun
launch title.
for killing snipers, napalm soldiers, maniacs,
frogmen, and hidden warriors. Obstacles to
Cobra Command
jump over (Viper can shoot and maneuver dur-
PUBLISHER: Data East. DEVELOPER: Data East.
ing jumps) or otherwise avoid include acid
Side-Scrolling Shooter, 1 player. 1988.
drops, bombs, and statue-traps. Based on Cap-
64
CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988
com’s 1989 arcade game, which did include a
coin-op classic. Also, the ground in the NES
two-player alternating mode. Similar to:
game is orange instead of tan, and Super Joe is
Rolling Thunder (arcade, NES).
shown eating instead of smoking as he rests at
the end of the first level. Also released for the
Color a Dinosaur
Atari 2600, Atari 7800, and Intellivision. Fol-
PUBLISHER: Virgin. DEVELOPER: FarSight Tech-
lowed by: Bionic Commando (arcade, NES,
nologies. Art, 1 player. 1993.
Game Boy).
Recommended for children ages three to
Conan