by Brett Weiss
six, Color a Dinosaur lets players do just that: P
color a dinosaur. Actually, there are 16 different
UBLISHER: Mindscape. DEVELOPER: System 3
Software. Side-Scrolling Combat, 1 player.
dinosaur outlines (including a Tyrannosaurus
1991.
Rex, a Triceratops, a Brontosaurus, and a
Pterodactyl), and there’s not really any coloring
Adapted from the PC game Myth: History
involved since clicking on a section of a di-
in the Making, the dreadful, poorly pro-
nosaur simply prompts the computer to auto-
grammed Conan for the NES puts players in
matically box in that section with color. There
the role of the titular barbarian (who was cre-
are 4 palettes, 11 colors, and 9 patterns from
ated by writer Robert E. Howard in 1932 via a
which to choose. The manual, which includes
series of stories published in Weird Tales maga brief history of dinosaurs, recommends that
azine). Conan must journey through the Cat-
kids record their creations on VHS tape, which
acombs of Belveras, the Ruins of Ry-leeh, the
is no big deal since any TV-based video game
Forests of Asgard, and other exotic (or at least
can be recorded in this fashion. The award-
exotic sounding) worlds, jumping on platforms
winning Tommy Tallarico ( Tony Hawk’s Pro
and using pitiful, sluggish attacks (including
Skater, Maximo: Ghosts to Glory) did the music short-range punches, limp swordsmanship, and
and sound, but a lack of animations, celebra-
hard-to-execute jump-kicks) to battle imps,
tions, or any other such flourishes makes Color
Satan, skeletons, Medusa, giants, dragons, and
a Dinosaur extremely limited in nature.
other enemies. Beating the game (which is vir-
tually impossible without cheat codes) “re-
Commando
wards” players with an ending that is as lame
PUBLISHER: Capcom. DEVELOPER: Capcom.
and as hastily put together as the game itself.
Vertical Scrolling Shooter, 1 or 2 players. 1986.
Based on the 1985 Data East arcade game,
Conflict
P
Commando is a typically fine NES port, featur-UBLISHER: Vic Tokai. DEVELOPER: Vic Tokai.
Turn-Based Strategy, 1 or 2 players (simulta-
ing rock solid gameplay, but less detailed
neous). 1990.
graphics and lots of flickering (especially
among the vehicles that drive across the
Conflict is a turn-based strategy game pit-
screen). Armed with a rifle and a limited num-
ting NATO forces (the good guys) against
ber of grenades (which can be replenished),
members of the Warsaw Pact (the bad guys).
players, as Super Joe, must venture into a
Players maneuver air and ground forces across
“deep, unexplored jungle region,” shooting and
16 different top-down view hexagonal maps (all
bombing members of the Evil Empire Army,
featuring fictional scenarios), the ultimate goal
some of whom hide behind barricades, perch on
being to destroy the opponent’s Flag tank (an
bridges, and duck into holes. Enemies are
M1A1 for the blue team and a T-80 for the guys
equipped with knives, guns, and grenade
in red). This is achieved by giving tactical or-
launchers, and they swarm like crazy all over
ders to offensive and defensive units, captur-
the screen, providing a fairly intense gaming
ing cities and airbases, and defeating enemy
experience. To accommodate the dimensions
units. Successful operations net players “fame”
of a typical television screen, the playfield is
points, which can be used by factories to pro-
much wider than that of the more rectangular
duce weaponry. Followed by: Super Conflict
NINTENDO NES
65
(SNES), which features a fictional, Gulf War-
B, A at the title screen lets players begin with 30
like setting.
lives, a maneuver that popularized the so-called
Konami Code. Followed by: Super C (NES).
Conquest of the Crystal Palace
PUBLISHER: Asmik. DEVELOPER: Quest. Side-
Contra Force
Scrolling Combat/Side-Scrolling Platform, 1
PUBLISHER: Konami. DEVELOPER: Konami.
player. 1990.
Platform Shooter, 1 or 2 players (simultane-
ous). 1992.
An engaging, action-packed game, Con-
quest of the Crystal Palace sends a 15-year-old Contra Force is the third and final game in
boy (Prince Farron) and his dog (Zap) through
the NES Contra series, and it’s somewhat of a five stages: Mount Crystal, Realm of the
departure from Contra and Super C (it’s slower Guardian, Lair of the Hungry Ghosts, Gateway
and less intense, for example). Set in the
of Flame, and Realm of Zaras. Players begin
fictional metropolis of Neo City, the game lets
the game armed with a sword and one of three
players select from four different characters
power crystals (spirit, life, or flight), but can
(before and during gameplay), each with vary-
visit shops to purchase a variety of useful items
ing skills (including speed and jumping abil-
and weapons, including herbs, the nuker (pro-
ity). A short-range pistol is the default weapon,
jectile that travels in a spiral), jumping shoes,
but, depending on the character, players can
a boomerang annihilator, a spherical weapon,
upgrade to: hand grenades and machine guns
and a dog whistle, the latter of which makes
(Burn); a flamethrower and a bazooka (Iron);
Zap attack more aggressively (Zap helps in bat-
a rifle and homing missiles (Smith); and time
tling the birds, skeletons, spiders, and other en-
bombs and time mines (Beans). Simultaneous
emies). Jumping on moving ledges, avoiding
action returns, but solo players can now call
spikes, and other such platforming staples sup-
upon an AI-controlled partner for assistance.
plement the combat nicely.
Levels include Dewerdye Warehouse, U.S.S.
Unkmy Battleship, Sheeshee Towers Construc-
Contra
tion Site, Thunder Wolf Helicopter, and C-
PUBLISHER: Konami. DEVELOPER: Konami.
Force Headquarters. Two of the five levels are
Platform Shooter, 1 or 2 players (simultane-
viewed from overhead and scroll vertically.
ous). 1988.
Contra Force was released the same year as Contra III: The Alien Wars (SNES), which was fol-Contra is a tour de force of manly gam-
lowed by Contra: Hard Corps (Genesis), Contra ing, putting players in control of a muscle
4 (Nintendo DS), and other sequels.
bound soldier from the Special Forces elite
commando squad. Armed with the ability to
run, jump, duck, and fire a gun (at aliens and
Cool World
P
their evil henchmen), the guerilla warrior must
UBLISHER: Ocean. DEVELOPER: Ocean Soft-
ware. Side-Scrolling Platform, 1 player. 199
3.
blast his way through eight stages of brutal ac-
tion: Jungle, Base 1, Waterfall, Base 2, Snow
Based on Ralph Bakshi’s live action/ani-
Field, Energy Zone, Hangar Zone, and Alien’s
mated film (1992), Cool World puts gamers in Lair. Bases 1 and 2 sport a behind-the-soldier
the role of Detective Frank Harris (played by
perspective while Waterfall features vertical
Brad Pitt in the movie), who must thwart the
scrolling. Capturing flying power-ups enables
beautiful Holli Would’s plan of getting a flesh-
players to upgrade their firepower to machine
and-blood body and existing in the real world.
gun, laser, fireball, rapid fire, and, most fa-
This requires running and jumping through
mously, the awesome spread gun. Like its more
four areas (Cool World, The Highway, Sweet
graphically detailed (yet less well known) coin-
Place, and Countryside), dodging obstacles
op counterpart (Konami, 1987), a second
(collapsing platforms, acid rivers, manholes,
gamer can join in for cooperative action. Press-
and the like), collecting pieces of a map, and
ing up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right,
using cartoonish weapons to defeat goons, street
66
CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988
urchins, a giant rabbit, dragons, and other en-
Viewed from in front of the swimmers, Swim-
emies. Weapons include stink bombs, carrots,
ming is a swim race, but with players pulling
balloons, an eraser, a pen, and more. Once
and kicking to try and drown one another.
Frank makes it to the Ocean Hotel in Las Vegas,
Roof Top Jumping has players pole-vaulting
he must climb to the top of the building using
and riding unicycles (across tightropes) to go
window ledges and fire escape ladders, ulti-
from roof to roof. Finally, Fighting Scene
mately confronting Holli herself. The SNES
(a.k.a. Judo) is a simple, one-on-one fighting
version includes driving sections and the abil-
game in which players punch, kick, jump-kick,
ity for Harris to stretch his arms. Also released
charge, shoulder-tackle, and pull off special
for the Game Boy.
moves. A shopping mall lets players purchase
health and performance-enhancing equipment.
Cowboy Kid
PUBLISHER: Romstar. DEVELOPER: Seta. Third-
Crystal Mines
Person Action Role-Playing Game, 1 or 2 play-
PUBLISHER: Color Dreams. DEVELOPER: Color
ers (simultaneous). 1992.
Dreams. Maze/Maze Shooter, 1 or 2 players
(alternating). 1989.
In Cowboy Kid, players control a young
gunslinger named Sam as he embarks on a mis-
Boulder Dash fans should enjoy Crystal
sion to exact vengeance on the Scorpion gang
Mines, which has players guiding a mining
for killing his father, who was the sheriff of Vil-
robot deep beneath the surface of a planet,
latown at the time of his death. After selecting
using energy balls to dig through dirt and rock
a bandit to go after (from a list of such charac-
while grabbing crystals. The objective is to
ters as Coyote Jim and Wild Wolf Chief ), Sam
gather enough crystals to meet the quota
will open treasure chests, enter shops, acquire
within the time limit given in each of the
guns and knives, use keys to unlock doors, eat
game’s 100 levels. Various enemies (including
food to increase hit points, and battle a bevy
rock, mud, lava, and gas creatures) make this
of bad guys. Sam can even play a little blackjack.
a challenge, but robot gunfire, falling objects,
The music fits the Old West setting (which is
and explosions can kill them. Prizes and
disappointingly cartoonish), and the fighting
weapons to find include rapid fire, bombs, pro-
scenes play a lot like a side-scrolling combat
tection, bags of gold, freeze timers, and more.
game (unlike the overhead view action of The
Includes password feature. Unlicensed. Fol-
Legend of Zelda and other such similar games).
lowed by: Crystal Mines II (Atari Lynx). See
In two-player mode, a sympathetic Indian war-
also: Exodus: Journey to the Promised Land
rior named Little Chief joins in to help.
(NES) and Joshua and the Battle of Jericho
(NES).
Crash ’n’ the Boys: Street Challenge
PUBLISHER: Technos. DEVELOPER: Technos.
Crystalis
Sports/Miscellaneous, 1–4 players (alternating,
PUBLISHER: SNK. DEVELOPER: SNK. Third-Per-
two-player simultaneous). 1992.
son Action Role-Playing Game, 1 player. 1990.
This game has super deformed, River City
Taking place 100 years after the Great
Ransom-style characters competing in five dif-War, when sorcery and magic had supplanted
ferent events. 400 Meter Hurdles is indeed a
science and technology, Crystalis stars a young hurdles race, but players can kick the other
magician searching the land (Death Desert,
runners and throw pieces of broken hurdles at
Tower in the Sky, Wind Valley, Angry Sea, Mt.
them. Hammer Throw has players pressing a
Sabre, and five other areas) for four elemental
button rapidly to get their character to spin
swords (wind, fire, water, and thunder), the
faster in order to throw the hammer further
combining of which will form a weapon capa-
down a golf-like course. The lack of an over-
ble of defeating the evil Draygon. Each sword
head view course indicator ruins this game
can be powered up in various ways. Gameplay
since players cannot preview trap locations.
consists of killing enemies to gain experience
NINTENDO NES
67
and strength, communicating with townsfolk,
1989 ( Cyberball 2072), but it was only ported visiting shops, solving puzzles, and acquiring
to the Atari Lynx (as Tournament Cyberball).
shields, armor, rabbit boots (for jumping), fruit
of Reeun (for removing a curse that turns the
Cybernoid: The Fighting Machine
magician into a monster), thunder, x-ray gog-
PUBLISHER: Acclaim. DEVELOPER: Gremlin
gles, keys, magic spells, and other tools,
Graphics. Side-Scrolling Shooter, 1 player.
weapons, and power-ups. Includes battery
1989.
back-up. Also released for the Game Boy Color.
In the notoriously difficult Cybernoid,
players must pilot a spacefighter through three
Cyber Stadium Series — Base Wars
asteroid storage facilities, collecting cargo, re-
PUBLISHER: Ultra Games. DEVELOPER: Konami.
sisting gravity, dodging obstacles, and blowing
Sports/Baseball/Futuristic, 1 or 2 players (si-
away giant green blobs, caterpillar death
multaneous). 1991.
squads, and other enemies. Each of the more
The two primary elements of Base
Wars
than 150 rooms contains a time bomb, mean-
that set it apart from the average NES baseball
ing timely exits are crucial. The spacefighter,
game are robot players and battles for bases on
which can fly in all directions and shoot left
force out plays and close calls. The robots can
and right, is equipped with a laser blaster,
be upgraded with various guns, swords, special
bombs, and genocide missiles, but players can
catches, and other useful items, but the battles
also acquire shields, bouncers (which bounce
are basic one-on-one button-mashers (featur-
off walls and destroy everything in their path),
ing a close-up view of the action). In terms of
seekers (which hone in on ground installa-
actual baseball, the screen oftentimes scrolls
tions), and a cybermace (which circles the
slower than the ball moves, making for prob-
ship). Adapted from the Commodore 64 game
lematic fielding, but pitching is fun since the
of the same name.
player has full control of the ball after release.
Includes Team Edit mode and battery backup.
Dance Aerobics
PUBLISHER: Nintendo. DEVELOPER: Bandai.
Cyberball
Sports/Exercise, 1 player. 1989.
PUBLISHER: Jaleco. DEVELOPER: Atari.
Designed for Nintendo’s Power Pad con-
Sports/Futuristic, 1 or 2 players (simultane-
trol mat, Dance Aerobics helps gamers keep
ous). 1992.
physically fit by providing 12 stages of aerobic
Like its Genesis counterpart, Cyberball for
conditioning and 64 separate aerobic routines.
the NES gives players more than 100 offensive
The format is that of a dance studio class, with
plays to choose from (along with 12 defensive
eight levels of play — two apiece for each skill
formations), which is significantly more than
level: introductory, beginner, intermediate, and
found in Atari’s 1988 arcade game (which was
advanced. An onscreen instructor (complete
a huge machine boasting four-player capabil-
with leg warmers and headband) leads gamers
ities and two monitors). Unfortunately, the
as they hop, stretch, bend, dance, and other-
robot players are less detailed, and the field has
wise move to the music.
a flatter look. The game is overhead-view, ver-
tically scrolling, seven-on-seven football of the
Danny Sullivan’s Indy Heat
future (2022, to be exact), with rules that would
PUBLISHER: Tradewest. DEVELOPER: Rare. For-
make George Carlin proud. There are no