by Brett Weiss
Combat, 1 player. 1988.
(skeletons, bats, giants, sorcerers, dragons,
Storming onto the scene in Action Comics
knights, wolves, and the like), ducking under
#1 (1938), Superman was the first bona fide
enemy fire, and jumping over gaps and onto
super-hero. Unfortunately, Superman for the
platforms (including double jumps). Setting it
NES fails miserably in all reviewable categories,
apart from the pack, however, is the strategic
as though it were trying purposefully to soil the
necessity of a shield, which blocks enemy at-
Man of Steel’s storied heritage. Superman’s job
tacks and projectiles. In addition, the game has
here is to stop crime in Metropolis, culminat-
a gorgeous introductory sequence and some
ing in boss battles against Lex Luthor, Ursa,
surprisingly sophisticated parallax scrolling.
Non, and General Zod. Superman can jump,
While working his way through the seven levels
NINTENDO NES
187
of forests, castles, and dungeons, the warrior
T&C Surf Designs: Wood & Water Rage
will get the opportunity to use four types of
PUBLISHER: LJN. DEVELOPER: Enteractive.
magic: bullets (from a cane), flash attacks, fire-
Sports/Skating/Surfing, 1 or 2 players (alter-
balls, and bombs. Killing certain enemies in-
nating). 1988.
creases experience points or releases health po-
T&C Surf Designs: Wood & Water Rage
tions. Similar to: Trojan (NES).
puts players in the role of Joe Cool or Tiki Man,
skateboarding down the street, scoring points
Swords and Serpents
by jumping ramps, grinding along guard rails,
PUBLISHER: Acclaim. DEVELOPER: Interplay.
and jumping on turtles and toy cars. Hazards
First-Person Role-Playing Game, 1, 2, or 4
include cracks, rolling oil drums, baseballs and
players (simultaneous). 1990.
more. The surfing part of the game lets play-
In Swords and Serpents, a party of one, two,
ers, as Thrilla Gorilla or Kool Kat, brave the
or four players must brave a 16-level dungeon
Big Wave Encounter, trying to stay up on the
filled with monsters, weapons (swords, staffs,
board while collecting bananas. The Tony
daggers, and the like), magic spells (such as heal,
Hawk Pro Skater series for the PS2 and other thunder, flash fire, stun, and flight), armor, and
modern consoles has made Wood & Water Rage
more. The objective is to recover the treasures
feel hopeless outdated (certain genres age bet-
of the fabled Ruby Warrior and defeat an evil
ter than others), but the game is certainly
serpent that has been terrorizing the land. De-
playable, especially for NES owners willing to
feating enemies via turn-based battles earns play-
overlook redundant graphics and music. The
ers experience and gold. Players can customize
title of this game refers to surf board retailer
their own heroes or use the pre-generated party
Town & Country Surf Designs.
consisting of three character classes: warrior,
thief, and magician, each rated according to
Taboo: The Sixth Sense
strength, intelligence, agility, hit points, and
PUBLISHER: Tradewest. DEVELOPER: Rare. For-
magic points. Zoom tubes let players retreat
tune Teller Simulator, 1 player. 1989.
quickly to places they have already been, and
Taboo is a nonsensical, slowly paced tarot
an auto-mapping system helps gamers track
card “game” in which players enter their name,
their progress. Similar to: Wizardry (NES).
birth date, gender, and a question about the
future. An oracle then gives the player a 10-
T&C Surf Designs: Thrilla’s Surfari
card reading, which consists of such vague an-
PUBLISHER: LJN. DEVELOPER: Sculptured Soft-
swers as “Your present position is a possible
ware. Side-Scrolling Platform, 1 or 2 players
journey or travel or a need to flee from reality”
(alternating). 1992.
or “Your near term goal or destiny is influenced
The sequel to T&C Surf Designs: Wood &
by great determination.” After the final card
Water Rage, Thrilla’s Surfari abandons the exhas been revealed, the computer will give the
treme sports angle of the first game in favor of
player lucky numbers. The screen depicts text,
platforming action. As Thrilla Gorilla, players
cards, and simple static images.
must skateboard (or surf, depending on the
level) through lush, beautifully rendered jun-
Tag Team Wrestling
gles of Africa. Locales to traverse and obstacles
PUBLISHER: Data East. DEVELOPER: Data East.
Sports/Wrestling, 1 or 2 players (simultane-
to jump over include rivers, deserts, waterfalls,
ous). 1986.
oceans, trees, logs, boulders, and more. Stan-
dard enemies, such as electric eels, rhinos, and
Based on the 1984 Data East arcade game
cobras, can be jumped on, and players can
(but with simplified graphics and a few miss-
throw coconuts at the bosses. This is a fast and
ing moves), Tag Team Wrestling was the first fun game with gorgeous graphics, cool music,
wrestling title for the NES. The game is dated,
high jumps, and responsive controls. It wears its
as evidenced by its odd (if workable) control
age extremely well.
technique. Once a wrestler has grabbed his op-
188
CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988
ponent, the player must quickly cycle through
addition to shooting air pirates, Baloo must
a list in order to select the desired move. Wres-
avoid bubbles, baseballs, ghosts, falling steel
tling moves include: body slam, drop kick,
beams, and other obstacles. Levels include:
body attack, back drop, neck hanging, back
Over the Sea, Baseball Stadium, In the Stormy
breaker, flying headbutt, ring post, sasori
Sky, Haunted House, High Above the City,
gatame, western lariat, brain buster, and enzui
Mining Tunnels, Jungle Junket, and Snowy
giri. By leaving the ring, wrestlers can acquire
Alps. Hidden bonus rounds feature Kit Cloud-
weapons. Wrestlers low on energy or caught in
kicker riding his airfoil, popping balloons, and
an unbreakable hold can call on a partner for
flying through fruit. Much different than the
help. The elevated view of the non-scrolling
Genesis and Turbografx-16 games of the same
ring is from the side.
name, which are primarily platformers.
Tagin’ Dragon
Target: Renegade
PUBLISHER: Bunch Games. DEVELOPER: Sachen.
PUBLISHER: Taito. DEVELOPER: Software Cre-
Maze, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1990.
ations. Side-Scrolling Combat, 1 player. 1990.
Viewed from overhead, Tagin’ Dragon is
&
nbsp; The sequel to Renegade (NES), Target:
old-school all the way, with gamers essentially
Renegade has a more conventional control
playing tag with a bunch of dragons (hence the
scheme than its progenitor, and a few interest-
odd title). Players guide their dragon around a
ing features have been taken out, including the
series of timed, Bomberman-like mazes (each
ability to throw enemies and punch them while
marked by square-shaped bushes, permanent
they are down. The motorcycle riding action
blocks, time zones, and ice zones), trying to
and two-player mode have been removed as
bite the tail of the other dragon(s) in the maze
well. Redundant gameplay consists of kicking
while avoiding getting bit. Time zones are
(including flying kicks and foot sweeps) and
lethal if stayed in too long while ice zones make
punching gangsters, bikers, thugs, and other
the player’s dragon go faster. Grabbing a magic
bad guys. As in the superior Double Dragon,
lantern clears out the bushes to reveal bonus
players can knock knives and other weapons
items (for extra points) while snatching up eggs
out of enemy hands and use them. There are
gives players extra lives. Modes of play include:
seven different battlegrounds spread over five
Player vs. 3 Dragons, Both Players vs. 3 Drag-
areas: Parking Garage, Downtown, Park, Up-
ons, and Player vs. Player. Similar to: Jungler
town, and Pig Pen (a gang hideout where Rene-
(arcade, Arcadia 2001), but not as good. Unli-
gade must face his archenemy).
censed.
Tecmo Baseball
TaleSpin
PUBLISHER: Tecmo. DEVELOPER: Tecmo. Sports/
PUBLISHER: Capcom. DEVELOPER: Capcom.
Baseball, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1989.
Side-Scrolling Shooter, 1 player. 1991.
Although not as famous as its football
One of the lesser Disney-based Capcom
counterpart ( Tecmo Bowl), Tecmo Baseball is a games, TaleSpin puts Baloo Bear at the helm of solid rendition of America’s favorite pastime.
his flying Mini Sea-Duck. The Sea-Duck is an
The game can be played in Standard or All-Star
unusual vehicle for a side-scrolling shooter in
mode, and with or without the DH rule. The
that it can hover, fly upside down, and turn
behind-the-pitcher viewpoint allows for large
around, which is useful for backtracking and
players, and, like most baseball video games,
grabbing items, some of which are revealed by
the perspective changes to overhead once the
shooting balloons, walls, clouds, and buildings.
ball has been hit. Pitchers can select from four
Initially, the Sea-Duck can only fire one can-
different throws: normal, fast ball, curve ball,
nonball at a time, but collecting money bags
and breaking ball. There are 14 squads (for a
earns cash for purchasing rapid shots (as well
total of 280 players), each named after a U.S.
as extra lives, armor, speed, and continues). In
city, but player names are generic. Other features
NINTENDO NES
189
include: bunts, steals, tagging up, pinch hit-
Tecmo NBA Basketball
ting, and relief pitching. Includes password fea-
PUBLISHER: Tecmo. DEVELOPER: Tecmo. Sports/
ture and voice effects. Followed by: Tecmo
Basketball, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1992.
Super Baseball (Genesis, SNES).
Though less well-known than Tecmo Bowl,
Tecmo NBA Basketball is a features-rich hoops Tecmo Bowl
title with equal parts simulation and arcade-style
PUBLISHER: Tecmo. DEVELOPER: Tecmo. Sports/
action. Viewed from an elevated side-view per-
Football, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1989.
spective, the five-on-five gameplay includes: all
Many gamers consider Tecmo Bowl to be
27 NBA teams of the era; battery-backed team
the first truly great football cartridge. Though
and player statistics; callable offensive plays;
it lacks a number of realistic features, such as
and 324 players, including Larry Bird, Michael
fumbles, onside kicks, and touchbacks, it does
Jordan, David Robinson, Charles Barkley, and
offer fun, fast-paced action and detailed, nicely
other greats, each rated according to speed,
animated graphics. Controls are simple, and
jumping, stealing, blocking, shooting range,
each of the game’s 12 teams is given four dif-
and stamina. The game also features time-outs,
ferent plays to run. The teams are based on
overtime, injuries, fouls, substitutions, and
their NFL counterparts, but lack mascot names,
much more. Game modes include: Preseason,
and rosters include such stars as Dan Marino,
Regular Season, and All Star Game. Double
Jerry Rice, and John Elway. When compared
Dribble remains the most fondly remembered
to its 1987 arcade counterpart, Tecmo Bowl for basketball title for the NES, but Tecmo NBA
the NES has a number of differences, includ-
Basketball, despite heavy flickering, deserves ing nine-player teams (as opposed to 10) and
some degree of recognition. Followed by:
the lack of a jump button (though players can
Tecmo Super NBA Basketball (Genesis, SNES).
break tackles and make diving tackles). Also
released for the Game Boy. Followed by: Tecmo
Tecmo Super Bowl
Bowl II (arcade) and Tecmo Super Bowl (NES, PUBLISHER: Tecmo. DEVELOPER: Tecmo. Sports/
Genesis, SNES, PlayStation).
Football, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1991.
Tecmo Super Bowl improves upon the al-
Tecmo Cup Soccer Game
ready great Tecmo Bowl with better graphics
PUBLISHER: Tecmo. DEVELOPER: Tecmo.
and more plays (including offensive and defen-
Sports/Soccer, 1 player. 1993.
sive playbooks). There are 30 players per team,
Unlike the more popular Tecmo Bowl,
each rated according to speed, power, and other
which put Tecmo on the proverbial map, the rel-
attributes. Gamers can experience the entire
atively obscure Tecmo Cup Soccer Game eschews 1991 NFL season using any of the 28 NFL
standard sports action in favor of something al-
teams. Other features and options include:
together different: a sports RPG, complete with
Coach vs. Coach mode, Pro Bowl games, coin
storyline (involving the son of a famous soccer
tosses, substitutions, the ability to break tack-
player) and the leveling up of characters. Such
les, and more. Unlike Tecmo Bowl, which con-
soccer staples as dribbling, shooting, passing,
sists of nine-on-nine action, Tecmo Super Bowl
stealing, and penalty kicks are included, but they
lets each team field 11 onscreen players (with
are selected from text-based menus on the bot-
some minor flickering and zero slowdown). In-
tom half of the screen and displayed via cut
-
cludes battery backup. Followed by: Tecmo
scene-like animations on the top half of the
Bowl II: Special Edition (Genesis, SNES), Tecmo screen. The game includes two modes of play
Bowl III: Final Edition (Genesis, SNES), and
(National Tournament and Tecmo Cup), 12 dif-
Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff (Nintendo DS).
ferent teams, and 18 different characters. Based
on the Japanese anime series Captain Tsubasa
Tecmo World Wrestling
(which was what the Famicom version of the
PUBLISHER: Tecmo. DEVELOPER: Tecmo. Sports/
game was called). Includes password feature.
Wrestling, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1990.
190
CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988
Thanks to an involving control scheme,
include Frosty the Hitman, Roadkill Rodney,
more than 30 graphically impressive moves
Stone Warriors, Foot Soldiers, and more.
(pile driver, shoulder throw, power slam, and
Gameplay is somewhat similar to Double
the like), and the ability to train (by pressing the
Dragon, with players running, jumping, and
A button rapidly) between matches to gain
attacking (with katana blades, sai daggers, nun-
strength and endurance, Tecmo World Wrestling
chakus, or a bow, depending on the turtle se-
is an influential game that fans of the sport
lected) their way through seven levels, includ-
should enjoy. Ten fictional wrestlers are avail-
ing Snowy Central Park, Time Square, and the
able, and players can climb ropes, slam their
SoHo Sewer System. TMNT II is less varied
opponent’s head into posts, pick up their oppo-
than TMNT for the NES (which was not based
nent, and fight outside of the ring. Unfortu-
on an arcade game), but more enjoyable.
nately, there are no tournament or tag team
modes.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III — The
Manhattan Project
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
PUBLISHER: Konami. DEVELOPER: Konami.
PUBLISHER: Ultra Games. DEVELOPER: Konami.
Side-Scrolling Combat, 1 or 2 players (simul-
Side-Scrolling Combat/Adventure, 1 player.
taneous). 1992.
1989.
As with the first two games in the series,
Based on the pizza-loving heroes of comic
the excellent TMNT III lets players control each book, movie, and cartoon fame, TMNT for the
of the famous ninjitsu-trained, anthropomor-
NES lets players select from any of the titular
phic turtles. However, this time out they each
tortoises. Michelangelo wields nunchakus;