by Brett Weiss
skates. As the T-Birds’ Ice Box, the Hot Flash’s
each number representing the statistical attrib-
Rolling Thunder, or the Rockers’ California
utes of a general or a state. Generals are rating
Kid, players skate through six fun, challenging
according to such factors as age, health, IQ,
levels (two of which are auto-scrolling), punch-
weapons, and number of soldiers in their unit
ing and kicking bad guys (including punks,
while states are rated according to gold in the
dogs, and helicopters), jumping over gaps,
treasury, rice in the storehouse, vulnerability
going up ramps, fighting bosses (including
to disasters, number of castles, land value,
Captain Meat Hook and Fish Face), and dodg-
number of generals, and the like. Actions in-
ing manholes, rolling barrels, road signs, mo-
clude moving men and generals, attacking
torcyclists, and other obstacles. Areas to battle
neighboring states, giving presents to generals,
through include: Downtown, The Night High-
planting fields, building dams, training armies,
way, Automobile Processing Plant, The Re-
buying weapons, transporting assets, and much
gional Freeway, The Jungle River, and The
more. Players can select from five scenarios:
V.I.P.E.R.’s Pit, the latter of which is headquar-
Chaotic World, The Emergence of Cao, The
ters for the Vicious International Punks and
Opening of a New Age, The Battle of Red Wall,
Eternal Renegades.
and The Age of the Three Kingdoms. The two
main viewpoints are an overhead map and a
Rolling Thunder
game board/battlefield made up of squares.
PUBLISHER: Tengen. DEVELOPER: Tengen. Plat-
Adapted from the groundbreaking 1985 Japa-
form Shooter, 1 player. 1989.
nese computer game, Sangokushi. Includes bat-
tery backup.
Despite skinnier characters, less colorful
graphics, and the lack of a two-player alternat-
ing mode, Rolling Thunder is an excellent port Romance of the Three Kingdoms II
P
of Namco’s 1986 arcade classic. On a mission to
UBLISHER: Koei. DEVELOPER: Koei. Turn-
Based Strategy, 1–12 players (simultaneous).
rescue the beautiful Leila, the player, as a se-
1991.
cret police agent, must run, jump, and climb
through treacherous passageways, using a
Romance of the Three Kingdoms II is sim-
handgun to blow away hooded thugs, ninjas,
ilar to part one, but with some improved fea-
ape-men, flamers (when hit twice, they break
tures, including a better looking, non-scroll-
into four and attack), and bats with human
ing battle map and some new tactical maneuvers,
faces. Entering specially marked doors grants
such as planning a joint invasion with another
players bullets and machine guns, and un-
ruler against a third country. Six all-new sce-
marked doors sometimes harbor extra time.
narios are available: Dong Zhuo Seizes Loyang;
The game is action packed, but players must
Rivals Struggle for Power; Aged Liu Bei Hides;
progress carefully (including ducking under
Cao Covets Control of China; Nation Breaks
enemy fire), making for a substantial challenge.
into 3 Divisions; and The Three-way Contest.
164
CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988
Patient gamers with a taste for strategic, slowly
wave of foot soldiers, artillerymen, machine
paced maneuvering will thoroughly enjoy the
gunners, and other enemies that attack from
Romance of the Three Kingdoms series. Includes both sides. Bosses include jumping soldiers,
battery backup. Also released for the Genesis
rocket men, attack dogs, autogyros, and para-
and SNES. Followed by numerous sequels, in-
chute troops. Based on Konami’s Cold War-era
cluding Romance of the Three Kingdoms III:
classic, which hit the arcades in 1985.
Dragon of Destiny (Genesis, SNES) and Ro-
mance of the Three Kingdoms IV: Wall of Fire
Rygar
(SNES, Saturn, PlayStation).
PUBLISHER: Tecmo. DEVELOPER: Tecmo. Side-
Scrolling Platform, 1 player. 1987.
Roundball: 2-on-2 Challenge
A re-imagining of Tecmo’s 1986 arcade
PUBLISHER: Mindscape. DEVELOPER: Data East.
game, Rygar for the NES takes nice advantage Sports/Basketball, 1–4 players (simultaneous).
of the console format, adding non-linear game-
1992.
play and certain RPG elements to the running,
Like its title indicates, this game lets play-
jumping, side-scrolling formula. Players guide
ers engage in a little two-on-two basketball.
the titular hero through mountains, towers,
However, there’s also the option to play one-
and palaces, using his patented grappling hook
on-one. The elevated “camera” shows the game
as a weapon and climbing tool. Rescuing vari-
from behind the three-point line, giving play-
ous gods grants Rygar five additional items
ers a nice view of the half-court action. Many
(wind pulley, crossbow, coat of arms, suit of
of the real rules of basketball are enforced, in-
armor, and flute of Pegasus) while killing cer-
cluding three seconds in the key, 24-second
tain monsters increases Rygar’s spiritual
shot-clock violation, goal tending, traveling,
strength (stretched grappling hook, damage to
and out-of-bounds. Players can dribble, shoot
all onscreen enemies, and recovered physical
(including free throws and randomly selected
strength). Followed by: Rygar: The Legendary
dunks, hook shots, and lay-ups), pass (includ-
Adventure (PS2).
ing jump passes), rebound, steal, block shots,
and enter four pre-set plays (including setting
Ryne Sandberg Plays Bases Loaded 3
picks and posting up). Options include quarter
PUBLISHER: Jaleco. DEVELOPER: Tose. Sports/
length, Tournament mode, and eight selectable
Baseball, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1991.
teams. Stats are displayed after each period, but
Endorsed by Chicago Cub Ryne Sandberg,
they don’t become part of the players’ perma-
Bases Loaded 3 drops the lengthy seasonal play nent records. Multi-tap adapter compatible.
of the first two games in the series and substi-
tutes a challenge to play the perfect game (a
Rush’n Attack
change that was not for the better). Perfor-
PUBLISHER: Konami. DEVELOPER: Konami.
mances are rated according to 13 categories,
Side-Scrolling Combat, 1 or 2 players (simul-
and there are now three stadiums from which
taneous). 1987.
to choose and a team edit feature. One con-
In Rush’n Attack, dozens of American
founding alteration was the change in fielding
POWs are being held inside a heavily arm
ed
perspective. Once the ball is hit into play, home
base. To free the captives and destroy the base,
plate appears at the top of the screen (with cen-
players must run, jump, climb (up and down
ter field at the bottom), making for an awk-
ladders), duck (under enemy fire), and battle
ward view of the game. Followed by: Bases
their way through six short, but super tough
Loaded 4 (NES).
stages: Iron Bridge and Missile Base; Airport;
Harbor; Forest and Airshed; Warehouse; and
S.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack
Enemy Base. The heroic figure players control
Team
is armed with a knife, but he can pick up
PUBLISHER: Natsume. DEVELOPER: Natsume.
weapons (bazookas, hand grenades, pistols, and
Side-Scrolling Shooter, 1 or 2 players (simul-
invincibility shields) dropped by wave after
taneous). 1991.
NINTENDO NES
165
One of the best games for the NES,
feat. The action takes place amidst jungles,
S.C.A.T. is characterized by detailed graphics, temples, and other such locales. Like all Color
novel weaponry, smooth difficulty progression,
Dreams titles for the NES, Secret Scout is unli-a distinct lack of slowdown, excellent maneu-
censed.
verability (players can shoot forward and be-
hind), and terrific two-player cooperative ac-
Section Z
tion. In 2029, Earth is under attack by evil alien
PUBLISHER: Capcom. DEVELOPER: Capcom.
Vile Malmort (whose forces include drone
Side-Scrolling Shooter, 1 player. 1987.
blasters, super lasers, missile ships, shock
troopers, beam guns, and other enemies), and
When developing Section Z for the NES,
it is up to Arnold and Sigourney, a pair of war-
Capcom obviously tried to make the game dif-
riors who are part human, part machine, to
ferent from their 1985 arcade original. Namely,
save the day. Twin satellites rotate around each
the NES game incorporates a frustrating non-
of the hovering heroes (ala Gradius), and these linear component. At the end of each level,
can be locked into place for steady aiming. By
players can select one of two routes, meaning
destroying certain enemies, players can pick up
repeating earlier levels is a given. In addition,
laser fire, wide beam, bombs, energy, and extra
the objectives are needlessly confusing (a situ-
speed. Levels to battle through include: New
ation not helped at all by the instruction man-
York City Ruins, Subterranean Realm, The
ual), the vertically scrolling levels have been re-
Astrotube, The Battleship, and The Orbiting
moved, and the steady stream of grenades has
Platform. Similar to: Forgotten Worlds (Gene-
been replaced by an oddly configured (not to
sis).
mention totally useless) missile-firing tech-
nique in which pressing A and B simultane-
Secret Scout in the Temple of Demise
ously makes the missile appear in the center of
PUBLISHER: Color Dreams. DEVELOPER: Color
the screen. Numerous other changes were made
Dreams. Side-Scrolling Combat/Side-
as well (including the addition of shields, but no
Scrolling Platform, 1 player. 1991.
This dreadful, repetitious
game has players guiding a chubby
little boy scout, who has been sep-
arated from his troops, back to
civilization. The scout runs,
climbs ladders, jumps on plat-
forms, and leaps over pits, and he
can pick up such items as a map,
rope, shields (for temporary in-
vincibility), torches (for lighting
up dark rooms), keys (for open-
ing gated doors), dynamite (for
opening sealed doors, attacking
enemies, and performing a super-
jump), and boomerangs. Unfor-
tunately, the so-called Secret
Scout’s primary weapon is a goofy
looking short-range kick, which
is weak and ineffectual. This makes
the Indians, guards, gangsters,
Nine NES cartridges: Section Z, RoadBlasters, Bad Dudes, archers, ninjas, pirates, skeletons,
Dragon Spirit: The New Legend, The Legend of Kage, Trojan, and other enemies a chore to de-
NARC, Star Force, and Legendary Wings.
166
CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988
health meter), none worth recommending. Re-
Rubber Ducky from his soap dish into Ernie’s
garding nuts-and-bolts gameplay, players guide
bathtub. Both games offer a solid educational
a jetpack-wearing Captain Commando through
experience as well as cute graphics and sounds.
futuristic tunnels of rock and industrialized
Recommended for pre-schoolers.
metal, firing left and right at clone soldiers,
missile drones, metal crabs, mechanical eye-
Sesame Street ABC & 123
balls, spiral gunships, and other enemies.
PUBLISHER: Hi Tech Expression. DEVELOPER:
Rare. Educational/Spelling/Math/General, 1
Seicross
player. 1991.
PUBLISHER: FCI. DEVELOPER: Pony Canyon
This cartridge contains two previously re-
Side-Scrolling Shooter, 1 or 2 players (alter-
leased games: Sesame Street ABC and Sesame nating). 1988.
Street 123.
The evil Basrahs drove the peaceful Petras
underground, where they developed the Gilgitt,
Sesame Street: Big Bird’s Hide and
a specially equipped motor scooter. Players
Speak
must ride this vehicle through three levels (Ob-
PUBLISHER: Hi Tech Expressions. RSP. Educa-
stacle Zone, Slippery Zone, and Battery Zone),
tional/General, 1 player. 1990.
firing laser beams at aliens, dinosaur fossils,
Enhanced by digitized voice effects and
strange plants, hostile bikes (which can bump
colorful, cartoon-like graphics, Big Bird’s Hide
you into obstacles), energy cannons, living
and Speak uses the Sesame Street license to very bombs, and other enemies. Shooting reduces
nice effect. In each of the game’s six modes of
energy (which can be replenished by grabbing
play, Big Bird stands outside an apartment
energy packs), so it’s a good strategy to avoid
building that has four windows. Elmo, Ernie,
confrontation whenever possible. Rescuing fel-
the Count, and other characters enter the
low Petras earns bonus points while grabbing
building and appear in the windows, and play-
power stars (which appear after radar buoys
ers must guide Little Bird (who acts as a cursor
have been shot) charges up the laser beam. The
of sorts) to the correct window based on the
forced scrolling moves at a rapid clip (with
clue that a computer-controlled Big Bird calls
music to match), making the game a challenge.
out, such as the character name, the letter ac-
Seicross for the NES is a nice po
rt of the 1984
companying the character, or a three-letter
Nichibutsu arcade game.
word. Starring the voice of Carroll Spiney, who
plays Big Bird on the Sesame Street television Sesame Street ABC
series, Big Bird’s Hide and Speak is designed to PUBLISHER: Hi Tech Expressions. DEVELOPER:
teach children basic recognition, memoriza-
Rare. Educational/Spelling/General, 1 player.
tion (windows can be closed), and spelling
1989.
skills.
This 8-bit take on the long-running PBS
children’s show includes two distinct games. In
Sesame Street Countdown
Letter-Go-Round, a letter sits in each basket
PUBLISHER: Hi Tech Expressions. DEVELOPER:
RSP. Educational/Math, 1 player. 1992.
of a ferris wheel. As the wheel spins, kids must
select the correct letters to spell words or cre-
At the beginning of each level in Sesame
ate matches. Bert replaces letters on the wheel
Street Countdown, a wheel of numbers begins
while Big Bird dances to celebrate correct an-
spinning, and players, as the Count, must jump
swers. In Ernie’s Big Splash, which is designed
up to touch a number. For the rest of the level,
to help kids learn planning, problem solving,
side-scrolling action ensues, in which Count
predicting, cause and effect, and spatial rela-
walks along looking for representations of that
tionships, players use a washing machine, a
touched number, such as groupings of smiley
water slide, a friendly alligator, and other
faces or ice cream cones or the actual numeral
building pieces to create a pathway leading
itself. In Hop mode, Count automatically hops
NINTENDO NES
167
to each grouping or numeral, meaning the
The action is viewed from an isometric per-
player’s job is to simply figure out the correct
spective. To fit the perceived demographic of
number. In Run mode, players must guide
the average NES owner, the skateboarder in
Count to the numbers. Unfortunately, a pro-
this version of the game is much younger look-
gramming glitch causes numbers to sometimes
ing than his coin-op counterpart. Also released
be placed directly on top of bits of scenery that
for the Game Boy Color.
cannot be walked over or jumped through,
forcing players to pick the wrong number in
Shadow of the Ninja
order to progress. The game stars the digitized
PUBLISHER: Natsume. DEVELOPER: Natsume.
voice of Jerry Nelson, who voices the Count on