by Brett Weiss
Goonies, including Annie the Mermaid. There’s
a small dot darts from place to place on a large
lots of platforming action, plus some first-per-
golf ball), skilled gamers can hit the ball into
son, pseudo-3D areas where players talk to
play with a good degree of accuracy. Wind
characters and search for clues, keys, a water-
speed and direction also play a factor. There are
proof coat, a helmet, a hammer, a magic loca-
two Training modes and a Tournament mode,
tor device, and other helpful items. Includes a
the latter pitting players against 30 other
nice rendition of the movie theme song.
golfers.
Gotcha! The Sport!
Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode
PUBLISHER: LJN. DEVELOPER: LJN. Light Gun
PUBLISHER: Vic Tokai. DEVELOPER: Vic Tokai.
Shooter, 1 player. 1987.
Multi-Genre Game/Adventure, 1 player. 1988.
Loosely based on the 1985 feature film,
Based on the long-running manga series,
Gotcha! is a surprisingly fun, highly original Golgo 13 puts players in the role of assassin paintball game that is played like capture the
Duke Togo (a.k.a. Golgo 13), a secret agent
flag. The control pad scrolls the action (a rar-
who must uncover the mystery surrounding a
ity for a gun game) right and left while the light
missing bacteriological weapon, clearing his
gun is used for picking off opponents and
name in the process. The surprisingly adult (it’s
shooting the opponents’ flag. After snagging
implied that the titular hero gets laid) game is
the flag, the player must return it to home base,
comprised of 13 action scenarios (each named
shooting enemies and avoiding their fire along
after a classic film), including: first-person
the way. Shooting smaller enemies nets more
shootouts in a pseudo-3D maze; side-scrolling
points than larger ones, and a map across the
battles in the city (in which sharpshooter Duke
top of the screen shows the position of the flags.
is armed with a gun); side-scrolling shootouts
Three difficulty levels are available: beginner,
in the skies (in which ace pilot Duke comman-
intermediate, and advanced. There are only
deers a helicopter); and side-scrolling shootouts
three stages (Forest, Bronx, and Winter), but
under water (in which a scuba gear-wearing
they look terrific.
Duke shoots and dodges sharks, octopi, frog-
men corps, and marine plants). Duke jumps
Gradius
ridiculously high and is rather stiffly animated,
PUBLISHER: Konami. DEVELOPER: Konami.
and none of the scenes taken separately would
Side-Scrolling Shooter, 1 or 2 players (alter-
make a particularly great game, but the sum is
nating). 1986.
NINTENDO NES
95
A nice port of Konami’s 1985 coin-op
Greg Norman’s Golf Power
classic, Gradius is a must-own shooter for NES
PUBLISHER: Virgin Games. DEVELOPER: Grem-
fans. Players pilot a sleek Warp Rattler ship
lin Graphics. Sports/Golf, 1–4 players (alter-
through seven intense stages (including Vol-
nating). 1992.
canic and Stonehenge), firing lasers, double
beams, and air-to-surface missiles at a variety
In Greg Norman’s Golf Power, gamers can
of alien ships, robots, and amoeboid creatures.
play on a pre-set course in England, Scotland,
A nifty power-up system lets players grab cap-
Japan, or the USA, or they can design and save
sules and select which powers to boost, includ-
their own 18-hole dream course. After an inex-
ing speed, missile, double, and laser. A force
plicable load screen (a rarity for a cartridge
field barrier and doppelganger ship help keep
game), in which a blinking “creating course
the Warp Rattler safe, but Gradius remains a please wait” message appears, players will view
challenge. Pressing up, up, down, down, left,
the action from behind the golfer. This perspec-
right, left, right, B, A at the title screen lets
tive is supplemented by an overhead view of
players begin with a full set of power-ups, in-
the hole, which appears via a vertical strip
troducing the famous Konami Code (which
along the right side of the screen. When the ball
was popularized in Contra). Followed by: Life gets close to the hole, a large overhead view of
Force (NES), Gradius II (arcade), Gradius III the green appears, supplemented by a small
(SNES), Gradius III and IV (PS2), Gradius V
view of the golfer in the upper right corner.
(PS2), Gradius Galaxies (Game Boy Advance),
Hitting the ball involves aiming, adjusting top-
and Gradius Collection (PSP).
spin or backspin, and activating a shot meter,
the latter of which determines power, hook-
The Great Waldo Search
ing, and slicing. Features include: putting and
P
driving ranges, club selection, three difficulty
UBLISHER: THQ. DEVELOPER: Radiance Soft-
ware. Action Puzzle/Educational/General, 1 or
levels, changing wind and weather conditions,
2 players (simultaneous). 1992.
and Practice, Matchplay, and Strokeplay. In-
cludes battery backup.
The Great Waldo Search has players guid-
ing a magnifying glass around five busily illus-
trated (if mostly static), side-scrolling worlds,
searching for magic scrolls, clocks (for extra
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
time), point markers, and, of course, Waldo
PUBLISHER: Sunsoft. DEVELOPER: Sunsoft.
himself, who appears in a different place ever
Overhead View Action, 1 player. 1990.
time the game is played. Also hidden is Waldo’s
dog Woof, who, when found, instigates a flying
Loosely based on Joe Dante’s 1990 feature
carpet bonus round in which he flies over a
film, Gremlins 2: The New Batch is a nice look-cityscape, collecting points. Searchable worlds
ing game that gives Gizmo a surprisingly large
include: Land of the Gargantuas, Kingdom of
role. Players guide the furry Mogwai around
the Carpet Flyers, Water Monks vs. Fire Druids,
rooms in the Clamp Centre building, jumping
Enchanted Underground, and Land of the Wal-
over gaps and onto platforms, and throwing
dos. Expert mode adds bonus challenges while
tomatoes, lit matches, and paperclips at Grem-
a special Parent Feature lets mom or dad turn
lins and other creatures. Gizmo can also use
off the clock and/or force the screen to go to
flashbulbs (for destroying all onscreen ene-
the hidden objects. A funky, digitized musical
mies), crystal balls (for purchasing items in Mr.
intro (by Jeff Barry) belies the mundane nature
Wing’s shop), balloons (to float over holes),
of the game. Based on the series of search-and-
and other
items. The platforming action is un-
find picture books. Also released for the Gen-
usual for an overhead-view game, and it makes
esis and SNES (sans the cool musical intro, but
certain jumps hard to judge. Includes password
with more animation). See also: Where’s Waldo?
feature. Much different than the side-scrolling
(NES).
Game Boy version.
96
CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988
The Guardian Legend
and other hindrances in his path. It is up to the
PUBLISHER: Broderbund Software. DEVELOPER:
player to shoot and destroy the enemies and
Compile. Vertical Scrolling Shooter/Adven-
obstacles, and players can even shoot Mr.
ture, 1 player. 1989.
Stevenson himself, which makes him jump
The Guardian Legend alternates between
over various obstructions. The objective is to
Zanac-style shooter action and Legend of Zelda-
collect five Black Panther diamonds in order to
type exploration, the latter of which has an in-
free Emerson’s kidnapped daughter. There are
trepid female walking around labyrinthine cor-
four levels of play: City, Sky, Sea, and Jungle.
ridors and dungeons, shooting aliens (with
names like Eyegore and Clawbot), using keys
Gun-Nac
to enter rooms, and finding weapons. A grid
PUBLISHER: ASCII Entertainment Software.
map helps gamers track their movement. In the
DEVELOPER: Compile. Vertical Scrolling
Shooter, 1 player. 1991.
rapid-fire spaceship levels, which are harder,
faster paced, and more enjoyable than the ad-
Gun-Nac is an obscure, yet fast, fun, and
venture areas, players fly up the screen, blast-
furious shooter with an amusing premise. In a
ing away at onslaught after onslaught of alien
distant solar system comprised of eight planets,
ships, space rocks, and other enemies. Weapons
animals, plants, and factory products have
include multi-bullets, back fire, area blaster,
begun attacking people, and it is up to Com-
repeller (spinning bullets), wave attack, bullet
mander Gun-Nac to save the day. The ship the
shield, enemy eraser, grenades, fireballs, and
commander pilots uses five types of weapons
lasers (hyper, cutter, and saber). Includes pass-
(blaster, screen buster, search driver, dragon
word feature.
napalm, and wide beam) and five types of
bombs (fire, blizzard, thunder, water, and let-
Guerilla War
ter) to destroy enemy vessels and bosses. A
PUBLISHER: SNK. DEVELOPER: SNK. Vertical
supply shop is available for purchasing fire
Scrolling Shooter, 1 or 2 players (simultane-
power increases and the aforementioned
ous). 1989.
weapons.
Predictably, Guerilla War for the NES has
less detailed graphics than the 1987 SNK arcade
Gun.Smoke
semi-classic, but the gameplay is faster, making
PUBLISHER: Capcom. DEVELOPER: Capcom.
for a more intense experience. In fact, it moves
Vertical Scrolling Shooter, 1 player. 1988.
at a quicker pace than all the other games of its
Although it has less detailed graphics,
type, including Front Line, Ikari Warriors, and Gun.Smoke for the NES is a distinct improve-Rambo. Players guide a soldier through heav-
ment over its already enjoyable coin-op coun-
ily guarded villages, beaches, and other loca-
terpart (1985, Capcom). The game takes advan-
tions, firing machine guns, rockets, grenades
tage of the console format by allowing players
(which remove barriers and tanks), and
to purchase weapons (shotgun, machinegun,
flamethrowers at enemy troops. The arcade
magnum, bombs) and wanted posters, the lat-
game boasts rotary controls, but the NES pad
ter of which must be acquired in each stage to
works just fine.
reach that level’s boss. The ingenious three-way
fire has been left intact, but the game is not as
Gumshoe
brutally difficult. Gameplay involves guiding
PUBLISHER: Nintendo. DEVELOPER: Nintendo.
cowboy Billy Bob up the screen, shooting at
Light Gun Shooter/Side-Scrolling Platform, 1
punks, Indians, riflemen, snipers, and other
player. 1986.
bad guys. Destroying barrels reveals treasure,
In this inventive and enjoyable light gun
rifles, horses, and other useful items. Levels of
shooter, a detective named Mr. Stevenson
play include: Town of Hicksville, The Boul-
moves automatically to the right, oblivious to
ders, Comanche Village, Death Mountain,
the rocks, cars, planes, bombs, alligators, skulls,
Cheyenne River, and Fort Wingate.
NINTENDO NES
97
Gyromite
Harlem Globetrotters
PUBLISHER: Nintendo. DEVELOPER: Nintendo.
PUBLISHER: GameTek. DEVELOPER: Softie.
Side-Scrolling Platform, 1 or 2 players (alter-
Sports/Basketball, 1–4 players (simultaneous).
nating). 1985.
1991.
Gyromite is a platformer containing ele-
Play as or against the “Clown Princes of
ments of Super Mario Bros. and Donkey Kong Jr. , Basketball” in Harlem Globetrotters for the
but with an interesting (if convoluted) twist.
NES. When playing as the titular team, gamers
Packaged with R.O.B., the game uses the
can execute the following trick maneuvers: be-
painfully slow Robotic Operating Buddy to
hind-the-back pass, slam dunk, piggy back
push buttons on the second controller, which
slam, pull down the referee’s pants, trip the ref-
moves gates blocking the player’s progress. The
eree, and ball on elastic. Despite these funky
objective is to guide Professor Hector up and
flourishes, the game plays a fairly mundane
down and across the platforms of 40 phases,
rendition of five-on-five hoops, and the Glo-
defusing dynamite while avoiding holes and
betrotters aren’t even wearing their patented
Smick creatures, the latter of which can be dis-
red, white, and blue uniforms. The elevated
tracted with turnips. Game B finds Hector
view is from the side, and the screen scrolls
walking in his sleep, with R.O.B. operating the
horizontally (as in most basketball video games
gates to keep him safe. A system launch title.
of the era). Fouls are seldom called, but most of
See also: Stack-Up.
the bare essentials are here, including jump
balls, jump shots, steals, passes, rebounds, free
Gyruss
throws, and cheerleaders. The shot clock is 45
PUBLISHER: Ultra Games. DEVELOPER: Konami.
seconds, and players can adjust quarter length
Non-Scrolling Shooter, 1 or 2 players (alter-
and select from two difficulty levels. Multi-tap
nating). 1989.
&nbs
p; adapter compatible. The far-famed hoopsters
also appear in Harlem Globetrotters World Tour
Gyruss for the NES is easier than Konami’s
(Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS).
1983 arcade classic and includes the following
upgrades: an introduction by Genghis Khan;
Hatris
bosses; remixed music (including some new
PUBLISHER: Bullet-Proof Software. DEVELOPER:
tunes); 39 stages (as opposed to 23); larger,
Paragraph. Action Puzzle, 1 player. 1991.
more detailed graphics; and a
special Ultra-Lazonic Phaser
weapon, which cuts a swath
through all the enemies in its
path. Gameplay consists of
guiding a Neo-Tutonic Cannon
in a circular motion around the
screen, shooting inward at alien
attackers. Destroying bonus
spheres equips the cannon with
dual fire. In the NES game, the
enemies look more like me-
chanized space bugs, less like
conventional aircraft. Gyruss
has often been described as a
cross between Tempest and
Galaga, which is a fitting com-
parison. Also released for the
Atari 2600, Atari 5200, and
Two terrific arcade ports for the NES: Gun.Smoke, a vertical ColecoVision.
scrolling shooter, and SkyKid, a side-scrolling shooter.
98
CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988
Programmed by Alexey Pajitnov (along
trucks, and other skiers. Events include: Down-
with Vladimir Pokhilko), the Russian designer
hill, Slalom, Half-pipe, Moguls, and Back-
of the groundbreaking Tetris, Hatris replaces woods. Viewed from the side, the action moves
the blocks in Tetris with hats, putting a new from left to right. Wiley Asher, senior editor
(yet hardly original) twist on the falling object
of International Snowboard Magazine, had this subgenre. Hats fall in pairs, and the object is to
to say about the cartridge : “The realism of
stack them in vertical rows of five in order to
Heavy Shreddin’ is uncanny.... Nintendo and
make them disappear. There are six different
snowboarding freaks everywhere will be ad-
types of hats: ball cap, cowboy hat, crown,
dicted to this game.”
derby, top hat, and wizard hat. As a pair of hats
falls down the screen, players can switch the
High Speed
positions of those hats. The NES version is a
PUBLISHER: Tradewest. DEVELOPER: Rare. Pin-
port of Video System’s 1990 arcade game, which
ball, 1–4 players (alternating). 1991.
has a two-player split-screen mode, a more so-