by Brett Weiss
ments found in the 1987 computer classic are
tank-like robot body part over simple brown
missing, such as a nude statue and suggestive
pathways and solid green grass, shooting at
text, but the game remains an engrossing and
more than 30 different types of mechanical en-
challenging adventure. Includes battery backup.
emies and dodging their fire. As play pro-
gresses, MagMax (who began as the aforemen-
Mappy-Land
tioned body part) can add to his form, ultimately
PUBLISHER: Taxan. DEVELOPER: Namco. Side-
becoming a full-sized robot. He can also ma-
Scrolling Platform, 1 player. 1989.
neuver underground, where he will fly. Areas to
battle through include: Forest, Desert, Sea, and
The console exclusive sequel to Namco’s
Automated City. The transformative nature of
Mappy (arcade, 1983), Mappy-Land has similar the titular robot sets the game apart, at least
gameplay (run across platforms, bounce on
to some degree, from the plethora of NES shoot-
trampolines, grab items, avoid enemies), but
ers.
expands upon the concept with climbable lad-
ders and vines, an actual jump button, and
Major League Baseball
eight themed levels: Railroad Town, Western
PUBLISHER: LJN. DEVELOPER: Enteractive.
World, Tropical World, Jungle World, Pirates
Sports/Baseball, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous).
World, Ghost Town, Seventh Avenue, and
1988.
Muky Town. The game also adds a variety of
NINTENDO NES
125
relatively ineffectual (and oftentimes indirect)
dodge, and a POW button for knocking over
weaponry, including fish, bowling balls, punch-
all the creatures at once. Although simplistic
ing bags, and fireworks. Visually, Mappy-Land
in design, Mario Bros. is a blast to play, espe-falls flat, but Mappy fans should enjoy the
cially with a second gamer joining in as Luigi.
game’s distinctively bouncy challenges.
Players can team up or, for huge laughs and a
better time, compete against one another. Also
Marble Madness
released for the Atari 2600 and Atari 7800. Fol-
PUBLISHER: Milton Bradley. DEVELOPER: Rare.
lowed by: Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES), Super Maze, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1989.
Mario World (SNES), and other sequels and
offshoots.
Like the Genesis port, Marble Madness for
the NES offers two controller options (hori-
Mario Is Missing!
zontal and diagonal), compensating, at least in
PUBLISHER: Mindscape. DEVELOPER: Radical
part, for the lack of trackball control. One or
Entertainment. Educational/Geography/Side-
two players race a marble through six short,
Scrolling Platform, 1 player. 1993.
timed, Escher-esque mazes, using gentle, pre-
cise, balanced touches of the control pad to
A lesser entry in the Mario franchise,
keep the ball from falling into a chasm or off
Mario is Missing! puts players in the role of the side of the pathway. Marble munchers,
Luigi, who must rescue his brother from
steelies, vacuums, acid slime, and other obsta-
Bowser and his Koopa buddies. This is done by
cles impede the marble’s progress, but players
exploring 14 cities, jumping on Koopas to re-
can get bonus points for finding short cuts and
trieve stolen items, and answering questions
battling certain enemies. The pseudo-3D look
pertaining to Tokyo, London, Cairo, and other
of Atari’s 1984 coin-op classic remains largely
locales. Trivia examples include: “How tall is
intact. Also released for the Game Boy, Game
the Empire State Building?” and “Where is the
Boy Color, Game Boy Advance (via Marble
Sistine Chapel located?” To help Luigi, he can
Madness/Klax), and Game Gear. Followed by:
use such tools as a computer, a map, a globe
Marble Madness 2: Marble Man
(arcade, 1992).
Mario Bros.
PUBLISHER: Nintendo. DEVEL-
OPER: Nintendo. Non-Scrolling
Platform, 1 or 2 players (simulta-
neous). 1986.
An excellent port of Nin-
tendo’s 1983 arcade classic (which
featured the debut of Mario’s
brother, Luigi), Mario Bros. is a
much different game than the
more elaborate, more famous
Super Mario Bros. Players guide
the titular Italian plumber as he
runs across water pipe platforms
and jumps under those platforms
in order to knock over turtles,
crabs, fighter flies, and freezies.
Though the coin-op classics Mappy, Dig Dug, and Centipede
Once knocked over, the creatures
weren’t released for the NES, their sequels, Mappy-Land, Dig
can be kicked off the screen. There
Dug II, and Millipede, did appear on the 8-bit console. The
are also coins to grab, fireballs to
Mafat Conspiracy is the sequel to Golgo 13.
126
CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988
(for riding Yoshi), and a question mark (for
blocks that release historical facts (which
asking people questions). The educational
should be read and memorized) when bopped.
value is marginal, and the action is limited in
Though nothing special, the NES version of the
nature (Yoshi can’t use his tongue, for example).
game, which includes a Yoshi-gets-kidnapped
The Super NES version of Mario is Missing! ,
subplot, is actually preferable to the Super NES
which includes 15 cities, is more colorful and
rendition, which is plagued by dull sequences
has richer graphics.
in which Mario must surf across the ocean and
collect mushrooms.
Mario’s Time Machine
PUBLISHER: The Software Toolworks. DEVEL-
Master Chu and the Drunkard Hu
OPER: Radical Entertainment. Educational/
PUBLISHER: Color Dreams. DEVELOPER: Joy
History/Non-Scrolling Platform/Side-
Van. Platform Shooter, 1 or 2 players (simulta-
Scrolling Platform, 1 player. 1994.
neous). 1989.
In this sequel to Mario is Missing! , Bowser
In the oddly titled Master Chu and the
has stolen historical artifacts and placed them
Drunkard Hu, the legendary Siamese-Twin
in his museum. Each of the seven rooms in the
Shiva (a.k.a. the God of destruction) has cursed
museum is a drastically simplified rendition of
the village with evil spirits, meaning numer-
the non-scrolling platform game Mario Bros.
ous enemies abound in the palaces and tem-
In each room, Mario must knock over three
ples, including serpents, tarantulas, jaws of
Koopa Troops (by head-bopping them from
steel, great balls of fire, vampire bats, fire
below) and kick them off the screen. This pro-
demons, and flowers of destruction. Ch
u and
duces an artifact, which must be taken via time
Hu, the latter of whom becoming a drunk after
machine to the correct place within the correct
repeated failures to drive out Shiva’s evil forces,
time period (there are 14 periods in all, ranging
must thwart this onslaught by running, jump-
from prehistoric times up to 1989). Each pe-
ing, and shooting (fireballs) their way through
riod is a short, side-scrolling level containing I-
10 hostile worlds. Collecting var-
ious items (symbols of harmony,
scrolls, amulets, keys, and the
like) lets players battle bosses, be-
come temporarily invulnerable,
double or triple their firepower,
unlock secret passages, and more.
The baby blue cartridge screams
Color Dreams, as does the poorly
programmed game, which is
plagued by shoddy collision de-
tection, cheap looking graphics,
and repetitious music. Unlicensed.
Maxi 15
PUBLISHER: American Video Enter-
tainment. DEVELOPER: Various.
Multi-Game Compilation, 1 or 2
players (simultaneous). 1992.
Maxi 15 contains 13 previ-
ously released games: Chiller,
Deathbots, Double Strike, Dudes
Two of the best, most accurate arcade ports in the NES library: with Attitude, F-15 City War, Krazy
Mario Bros. and Donkey Kong 3.
Kreatures, Menace Beach, Puzzle,
NINTENDO NES
127
Pyramid, Shock Wave, Solitaire, Tiles of Fate, sor around the screen (or aiming with the Nin-and Venice Beach Volleyball. In addition, the tendo Zapper), shooting at robots, rebel sol-cartridge contains two previously unreleased
diers, helicopters, frogmen, gunboats, destroy-
games: Rad Racket — Deluxe Tennis II and
ers, attack dogs, and other enemies. There are
Stakk’m. The tennis game features six playable no innocents, meaning players should feel free
characters, three court surfaces (hard, grass,
to fire away at anything that moves. The action
and clay), singles and doubles action, and a tra-
scrolls automatically left and right through a
ditional elevated viewpoint from behind the
variety of areas, including forests, airfields, seas, court. Stakk’m is a Tetris-inspired game in caves, and a train. Shooting boxes replenishes
which numbered blocks fall one at a time from
ammo and health. When it gets dark, shooting
the top of the screen, with players making them
flares lights up the night. Similar to: Operation disappear by placing them in vertical, horizon-Wolf (arcade, NES).
tal, and diagonal rows. For a row to disappear,
it must consist of similar or consecutive num-
Mega Man
bers. Treasure blocks, which act as wild cards,
PUBLISHER: Capcom. DEVELOPER: Capcom.
can be helpful while death blocks simply get in
Platform Shooter, 1 player. 1987.
the way. Unlicensed.
The first game in a popular series that
would spawn five NES sequels, plus games for
M.C. Kids
the SNES, PlayStation, and other systems, Mega
PUBLISHER: Virgin Interactive. DEVELOPER:
Man puts players in the title role of a small, hu-Virgin Interactive. Side-Scrolling Platform, 1
manoid robot (created by Dr. Wright) clad in
or 2 players (simultaneous). 1992.
a round helmet and blue costume. Mega Man’s
M.C. Kids is a surprisingly fun, surpris-
job is to run, jump, shoot (left and right only),
ingly challenging game that is much more than
and climb his way through six obstacle-filled
a commercial for the McDonalds restaurant
levels, each ending in a robot-gone-bad boss:
chain. Mick and Mack must make their way
Cutman, Gutsman, Iceman, Bombman, Fire-
through McDonaldland, picking up and
man, or Elecman. After defeating a boss, Mega
throwing blocks at rabbits, beavers, birds, and
Man will acquire that character’s weaponry,
other creatures, making sure to collect a
such as fireballs or boomerangs. After beating
specific number of cards (some of which are
the first six levels, Mega Man must enter the
hard to find) in each stage. Gathering 100
last stage to face Dr. Wily, who is responsible
golden arches initiates a bonus game, and there
for reprogramming the aforementioned robots
are a variety of activities throughout, including
to become evil. The game scrolls vertically as
crossing icy bridges, bouncing on spring-
well as horizontally, and Mega Man poses a for-boards, throwing snow at enemies, riding a
midable challenge (thanks in part to disappear-
boat, floating on clouds, and more. Super
ing platforms and tough-to-dodge projectiles),
Mario Bros. fans should enjoy the game, though but the health meter is long, and continues are
Mick and Mack (who also starred in Mick &
unlimited. Selectable levels and weapons, sharp
Mack as the Global Gladiators for the Genesis) (if somewhat simplistic) visuals, and com-cannot jump on enemies.
pelling gameplay make Mega Man an all-time
classic.
Mechanized Attack
PUBLISHER: SNK. DEVELOPER: SNK. Light Gun
Mega Man 2
Shooter, 1 player. 1990.
PUBLISHER: Capcom. DEVELOPER: Capcom.
Platform Shooter, 1 player. 1989.
Based on SNK’s 1988 arcade game, which
boasted a pair of replica machine guns and
Arguably the best game in the series, Mega
two-player simultaneous action, Mechanized
Man 2 improves upon the already winning for-
Attack has gamers, armed with an assault gun, mula established by the original game. Im-a rocket launcher, and grenades, guiding a cur-
provements include: crisper controls; superior
128
CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988
sounds; Genesis-quality graphics; two difficulty
Man 3, there are eight new robot masters to
levels; a password feature for saving progress;
battle: Pharoah Man, Toad Man, Bright Man,
a nifty introductory sequence; larger, more de-
Dive Man, Ring Man, Drill Man, Dust Man,
tailed enemies (with such names as Atomic
and Skull Man, each of whom, when defeated,
Chicken, Robo-Rabbit, and Lantern Fish); and
releases a selectable weapon for Mega Man to
larger, more imaginative level designs. There
take, such as a rain flush, a dust crusher, a skull
are eight bosses (as opposed to six in the orig-
barrier, or a dive torpedo. Rush returns from
inal Mega Man), each created by (instead of
Mega Man 3, offering Mega Man the same
just reprogrammed by) Dr. Wily: HeatMan,
helpful tools: a springboard, a submarine, and
AirMan, WoodMan, BubbleMan, QuickMan,
a jet. New to the series is Flip-Top, Dr. Light’s
FishMan, MetalMan, and CrashMan. Once
cybernetic assistant who appears from time to
again, by defeating a boss, players will gain a
time offering power-ups. Also new
is a mega
new weapon, such as the ability to freeze ene-
buster weapon (which is basically the standard
mies or throw tornadoes, metal blades, or bub-
weapon charged up), a balloon adaptor (for
bles. In addition, Dr. Light (formerly Dr.
creating small floating platforms), and a wire
Wright) is on hand to provide three transporta-
adaptor (for pulling up on a wire to ledges and
tion items: a levitation platform, a jet sled, and
ceilings).
an elevator. Scoring has been removed, but this
is no great loss.
Mega Man 5
PUBLISHER: Capcom. DEVELOPER: Capcom.
Mega Man 3
Platform Shooter, 1 player. 1992.
PUBLISHER: Capcom. DEVELOPER: Capcom.
By the time Mega Man 5 was released,
Platform Shooter, 1 player. 1990.
most NES aficionados were firmly entrenched
Sticking closely to the format of Mega
in the Mega Man formula: run; jump (on plat-
Man 2 (which, in terms of basic gameplay, was forms, some moving, some disappearing);
very similar to the original Mega Man), Mega slide; climb up and down ladders; shoot (left
Man 3 features eight new bosses (Magnet Man, and right) enemy robots; dodge obstacles
Snake Man, Needle Man, Hard Man, Top Man,
(lasers, fire, enemy projectiles, and the like);
Gemini Man, Spark Man, and Shadow Man),
and grab tanks to replenish energy. Bosses in
each thematically fitting of the level they are in.
MM5 include: Charge Man, Napalm Man,
As in the first Mega Man, battling the robots in Gyro Man, Stone Man, Crystal Man, Wave
the correct order (stages are selectable) is im-
Man, Star Man, and Gravity Man, each with a
portant for acquiring the weapons (lasers, nee-
different selectable weapon to take and use.
dles, magnet missiles, and the like) needed for
Flip-Top and Rush make return engagements,
the next battle. New to the series is Mega Man’s
but this time Rush can only turn into a spring-
helpful dog, Rush, who, when his weapons box
board and a jet. The mega buster weapon re-
appears, can be turned into one of the follow-
turns from Mega Man 4, but it can now be used ing machines: a springboard for high jumps, a
to blast through walls to find hidden power-
submarine to keep Mega Man alive underwa-
ups and secret passages. In addition, Mega Man
ter, or a jet for flying. In addition, Mega Man
can ride a super arrow to scale high walls, and
can now pull off a sliding maneuver.