Classic Home Video Games (1985-1988)

by Brett Weiss

  he can search for letters spelling out MEGA-

  MAN V to unlock a powerful new ally: an at-

  Mega Man 4

  tack robot bird named Beat.

  PUBLISHER: Capcom. DEVELOPER: Capcom.

  Platform Shooter, 1 player. 1992.

  Mega Man 6

  P

  Though it features a new villain (Dr. Cos-

  UBLISHER: Nintendo. DEVELOPER: Capcom.

  Platform Shooter, 1 player. 1994.

  sack) and an introductory origin sequence,

  Mega Man 4 plays a whole lot like the first three Although published by Nintendo, Mega

  games in the series. As in Mega Man 2 and Mega Man 6 sticks to the tried and true formula of the

  NINTENDO NES

  129

  previous games in the series. In a new story-

  school experience. Players walk around a 5x7

  line, the mysterious (if familiar looking) Mr.

  grid of tiles, shuffling the tiles in order to shove

  X employs a robot fighting tournament to un-

  enemies into walls (the storyline revolves

  leash upon the world eight killer robots: Bliz-

  around a girl who is being held captive by her

  zard Man, Wind Man, Knight Man, Plant Man,

  dolls in the titular palace). Shuffling tiles also re-Centaur Man, Flame Man, Tomahawk Man,

  veals treasures and power-ups, such as suns

  and Yamato Man, each of whom Mega Man

  that shuffle all the tiles on the board or time

  must defeat in order to beat the level and gain

  panels that put extra time on the clock. Many

  a new weapon. As usual, each boss fits the

  tiles contain stars, and grabbing 100 stars grants

  theme of his level, such as Blizzard Man’s

  players an extra life. There are eight types of

  frozen terrain and Plant Man’s jungle sur-

  enemies (swimmers, dancers, girl scouts, and

  roundings. In addition, there are now mini-

  the like), each of which behaves in a different

  bosses. Rush is back, but this time he can trans-

  way, such as spinning, sliding, or jumping. De-

  form into a jet pack for launching Mega Man

  veloped by Game Freak, a key company in the

  into the sky and body armor for enabling Mega

  origination of Nintendo’s Pokémon franchise.

  Man to punch through walls. Beat is back as

  Pengo fans may want to check this one out.

  well (unlockable by finding the letters BEAT),

  and so is Flip-Top. Followed by numerous se-

  Mermaids of Atlantis

  quels and offshoots, including Mega Man X

  PUBLISHER: American Video Entertainment.

  (SNES), Mega Man 8 (PlayStation, Saturn), and DEVELOPER: American Video Entertainment/

  Mega Man 9 (PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360).

  Panesian. Action Puzzle, 1 player. 1991.

  Mermaids of Atlantis is a sanitized version

  Menace Beach

  of Panesian’s Bubble Bath Babes. The naked

  PUBLISHER: Color Dreams. DEVELOPER: Color

  woman at the bottom of the playfield has been

  Dreams. Side-Scrolling Platform, 1 player.

  change to a mermaid, the between-level nudie

  1990.

  screens are now storyline cut scenes, and the

  Menace Beach finds a cool dude named

  difficulty level has been turned down a notch or

  Scooter riding a skateboard from left to right,

  two, making for a more accessible game. Unli-

  jumping over obstacles and battling such ene-

  censed.

  mies as ninjas, Elvis impersonators, and evil

  clowns. Bad guys throw bottles and bombs

  Metal Fighter

  from windows and manholes, but these items

  PUBLISHER: Color Dreams. DEVELOPER: Joy

  can be picked up and used as weapons. Scooter

  Van. Side-Scrolling Shooter, 1 player. 1989.

  can also punch, do spin kicks, grab balloons

  Despite the fact that players pilot a bulky

  (for floating), and get boosts from Squirt the

  fighter ship that looks like a baby chick with a

  fire hydrant and a frog named Froggy. Scooter’s

  giant head, Metal Fighter is a decent side-

  job is to rescue his chained up girlfriend, whose

  scroller that is more playable than most Color

  clothes rot off as the game progresses (creating

  Dreams games. The titular ship walks and

  some controversy at the time). In 1995, Wis-

  jumps along the ground, shooting at an odd as-

  dom Tree retrofitted the game with a religious

  sortment of colorful bionic mutants, which fre-

  theme and released it as Sunday Funday.

  quently make the screen very crowded. By

  grabbing an “F” power-up, the ship can fly,

  Mendel Palace

  which is unusual since in most side-scrolling

  PUBLISHER: Hudson Soft. DEVELOPER: Game

  shooters the ship can fly from the get-go. Other

  Freak. Overhead View Action, 1 or 2 players

  power-ups offer speed, extra plasma balls, dou-

  (simultaneous). 1990.

  ble lasers, multi-angle fire, and circular fire.

  With its non-scrolling screens, pastel col-

  Unlike most shooters with forced scrolling,

  ors, and simple, yet addictively challenging

  Metal Fighter lets players turn back and shoot gameplay, Mendel Palace offers a distinctly old-to the left. Unlicensed.

  130

  CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988

  Metal Gear

  In the year 2501, a defense mechanism sta-

  PUBLISHER: Ultra Games. DEVELOPER: Konami.

  tioned on Pluto has malfunctioned and is sys-

  Stealth, 1 player. 1988.

  tematically destroying all the planets in the

  Solar System. To reach the rogue weapon’s self-

  The forerunner of Metal Gear Solid (PSX),

  destruct device, players, at the helm of an M-

  Metal Gear puts players in the role of Solid 308 Gunner battlemech, must walk, jump, and

  Snake, a stealthy marine who must infiltrate

  shoot their way through four stages of tanks,

  five heavily fortified, overhead-view strong-

  surveillance robots, defense gates, laser beams,

  holds located throughout Outer Haven, which

  and other enemies and obstacles. Armor, extra

  is a South African nation ruled by ruthless dic-

  time, shields, power beams (which increase the

  tator Colonel Vermon CaTaffy. Snake can ac-

  width of the player’s laser), and other items to

  quire guns, a rocket launcher, plastic explo-

  pick up make this challenging task manageable.

  sives, and other weapons, but hiding and

  One unusual aspect of the M-308 Gunner is

  sneaking past guards and soldiers is his pri-

  that it allows players to strategically reverse

  mary strategy. Certain areas require number-

  gravity, sending the mech upward to walk on

  coded key cards to enter. Other helpful items in

  the ceiling. Other notables include multi-lay-

  this complex, though popular game include

  ered backgrounds, nice animation, fun game-

  body armor, binoculars, a transceiver, a mine

  play, a peppy soundtrack, and a garish color

  detector, a flashlight, a compass, rations, an

  scheme consisting of various shades of
purple,

  oxygen tank, and more. Followed by: Snake’s

  peach, orange, yellow, red, green, and blue. In-

  Revenge (NES), Metal Gear Sold 2: Substance cludes password feature.

  (PS2, Xbox), and other sequels.

  Metroid

  Metal Mech

  PUBLISHER: Nintendo. DEVELOPER: Nintendo.

  PUBLISHER: Jaleco. DEVELOPER: Sculptured

  Platform Shooter/Adventure, 1 player. 1987.

  Software. Platform Shooter, 1 player. 1991.

  Metroid is a tough, non-linear game in

  which a space suit-wearing cyborg named

  In Metal Mech, the intrepid Tony Martin

  Samus Aran must explore the dark, yet beauti-

  must single-handedly thwart an alien invasion.

  ful caverns of an alien planet, using beams

  The invaders in question are mechanical in na-

  (short, long, ice, and wave), bombs (which can

  ture and include such creatures and vehicles as

  uncover hidden areas), missiles, and a screw

  skull tanks, dragonflies, dogs, ninjas, blowfish,

  attack to battle a variety of creepy creatures,

  blobs, hovercrafts, and top-walkers, the latter

  including mini-bosses and the vaunted Mother

  of which hang upside down and walk on the

  Brain. To access narrow passageways, Samus

  ceiling. Tony pilots a slow-moving Metal

  can roll up into a ball. The action scrolls verti-

  Mech, which can stomp on or shoot enemies,

  cally and horizontally, and it’s easy to get

  but sometimes he must exit the alien vehicle to

  turned around in the vast, interconnected

  navigate tight spaces. Tony blasts his way

  world (backtracking is inevitable). Metroid

  through six levels: City, Towers, Sewers, At-

  spawned numerous sequels, including Metroid

  lantis, Alien City, and Alien Queen’s Mother-

  II for the Game Boy and Super Metroid for the ship (where Tony dons a jetpack and wields a

  SNES, and has a famous surprise ending —

  sonic boomer). Each level has things to discover

  SPOILER ALERT!— in which Samus is re-

  and collect, including smart bombs, extra lives,

  vealed to be a woman. Along with Kid Icarus,

  shields, a spacesuit, fuel, a cannon, and keys

  Metroid was the first video game cartridge to (for exiting the levels). Similar to (but not as

  include a password feature for saving progress.

  good as): Blaster Master.

  Michael Andretti’s World GP

  MetalStorm

  PUBLISHER: American Sammy. DEVELOPER:

  PUBLISHER: Irem. DEVELOPER: Irem. Platform

  American Sammy. Formula-1/Indy Racing, 1

  Shooter, 1 player. 1991.

  or 2 players (simultaneous). 1990.

  NINTENDO NES

  131

  Viewed from behind the vehicle, Michael

  side-scrolling levels: City, Number Factory,

  Andretti’s World GP lets players select from four Space Research Center, Number City Museum,

  different four-speed cars (Chevy Lola, Honda

  and Big Bad Pete’s Hideout. At the end of each

  V10, Ferrari V12, or Mugen V8) for racing on 16

  level is a bonus round in which players must

  twisting, turning, international tracks, each of

  solve a simple math problem. Mickey is nicely

  which is visually sparse. Andretti himself is on

  animated and speaks the numbers and a vari-

  hand to offer advice (which is actually useful)

  ety of phrases in his patented, high-pitched

  prior to each race, and gamers can select from

  voice. The follow-up to Mickey’s Safari in Let-

  three modes of play: Practice, Two Player (split

  terland, Mickey’s Adventure in Numberland is screen), and Grand Prix (which is really long).

  designed to teach younger gamers number

  Turning is done incrementally, meaning the

  recognition (1–10), counting, and rudimentary

  control pad must be pressed several times for

  addition.

  each turn. Tires will wear out, making pit stops

  necessary, but fuel is not a factor. Similar to:

  Mickey’s Safari in Letterland

  Michael Andretti’s Indy Car Challenge (SNES).

  PUBLISHER: Hi Tech Expressions. DEVELOPER:

  Includes password feature.

  Beam Software. Educational/Reading/Side-

  Scrolling Platform, 1 player. 1993.

  Mickey Mousecapade

  P

  In Mickey’s Safari in Letterland, Mickey

  UBLISHER: Capcom. DEVELOPER: Hudson Soft.

  Side-Scrolling Platform, 1 player. 1988.

  Mouse must run, jump, and grab letters (with

  a butterfly net) through six levels of play:

  The first Disney-related game for the NES,

  Yukon, Swamp, Forest, Pyramids, Jungle, and

  Mickey Mousecapade has players guiding

  Caribbean. The objective in each stage is to re-

  Mickey Mouse through five levels of play (Fun

  trieve three letters, spelling a word in the

  House, Ocean, Woods, Pirate Ship, and Cas-

  process. There are enemies to dodge, such as a

  tle), with Minnie tagging along, echoing

  seal, a turtle, and a hippo (like the one in Fan-

  Mickey’s moves. Both characters run, jump,

  tasia), but Mickey never loses a life. As in

  climb, and shoot stars at enemies, but Minnie,

  Mickey’s Adventure in Numberland, there are

  who cannot be left behind, must occasionally be

  three difficulty levels, all of them very easy.

  rescued (by finding a hidden key) after being

  Mickey speaks letters and phrases clearly, and

  kidnapped by the Crow, making her something

  Mickey’s pal Goofy is on hand to drive Mickey

  of a nuisance. Peg Leg Pete, Crocodile, and The

  to each level. Cartoon-like graphics add to the

  Wizard are also on hand to make Mickey’s task

  fun. Followed by: Mickey’s Adventure in Num-

  a challenge. Although playable, Mickey Mouse-

  berland.

  capade would be a much better game if it had a two-player simultaneous mode.

  Micro Machines

  PUBLISHER: Camerica. DEVELOPER: Codemas-

  Mickey’s Adventure in Numberland

  ters. Miniature/Radio Control Racing, 1 or 2

  PUBLISHER: Hi Tech Expressions. DEVELOPER:

  players (simultaneous). 1991.

  Beam Software. Educational/Math/Side-

  Scrolling Platform, 1 player. 1993.

  Viewed from an overhead perspective,

  Micro Machines is a nicely detailed, wildly in-Big Bad Pete has stolen Numberland’s

  ventive game that lets players select from nine

  magical number molds, prompting Sheriff

  miniaturized vehicles (including sports cars, a

  Donald Duck to employ Mickey Mouse to re-

  helicopter, a power boat, and a combat tank)

  trieve them. As Mickey, players must run,

  and nine different racing environments (in-

  jump, avoid obstacles (including falling crates,

  cluding a kitchen, a pool table, a sand pit, and

  trap doors, bouncing flour sacks, and ringing

  a bathtub). There are 32 tracks in all. One-

  telephones), enter doors, ride conveyor belts,

  player races are against three computer-con-

  and collect
the correct numbers through five

  trolled cars, and there are 11 characters to com-

  132

  CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988

  pete against, each with his or her own skill

  Might & Magic: Secret of the Inner

  level. The controls are simple, the racing action

  Sanctum

  is fun and variety-filled, and the game makes

  PUBLISHER: American Sammy. DEVELOPER: G-

  creative use of rubber ducks, Cheerios, sand

  Amusements. First-Person Role-Playing

  castles, and other commonplace items. Includes

  Game, 1 player. 1992.

  Tournament mode. Based on the line of Ga-

  Secret of the Inner Sanctum lets players

  loob toys. Also released for the Game Boy,

  pick a party of six adventurers (fighters, cler-

  Game Gear, SNES, and Genesis. Followed by

  ics, robbers, wizards, paladins, and archers) for

  numerous sequels, including Micro Machines

  use in exploring the enchanted Land of Varn,

  64 Turbo (Nintendo 64) and Micro Machines 1

  which is a vast, non-linear world of caverns,

  and 2: Twin Turbo (Game Boy Color). Unli-

  castles, forests, and islands. To aid players in

  censed.

  their search for the Inner Sanctum, which in-

  volves plenty of monster battling, there are

  Micro Machines (Aladdin Version)

  more than 250 weapons and other items, plus

  PUBLISHER: Camerica. DEVELOPER: Codemas-

  92 mystical spells. The bottom half of the

  ters. Miniature/Radio Control Racing, 1 or 2

  screen displays the many text-based commands

  players (simultaneous). 1993.

  while the top half shows the creatures (which

  The Aladdin rendition of Micro Machines

  are non-animated) and first-person rooms,

  looks and plays like the standard version, but

  hallways, and other areas. In comparison to the

  was produced in a compact cartridge format.

  original 1986 Apple II computer game ( Might

  Requires the Aladdin Deck Enhancer. Unli-

  and Magic: Book One) the NES version is eas-

  censed.

  ier, but has better graphics and sound. Includes

  battery backup. Followed by numerous sequels,

  including Might and Magic III: Isles of Terra

  Mig 29 Soviet Fighter

  (Genesis, SNES) and Heroes of Might and Magic

  PUBLISHER: Camerica. DEVELOPER: Codemas-

  (Game Boy Color).

  ters. Third-Person Shooter/Vertical Scrolling

  Shooter, 1 or 2 players (alternating). 1991.

  Mighty Bomb Jack

  One of the better unlicensed NES games,

  PUBLISHER: Tecmo. DEVELOPER: Tecmo. Side-

  Mig 29 Soviet Fighter does a good job alternat-Scrolling Platform, 1 player. 1987.