by Brett Weiss
have their own moves (in addition to their own
Raphael fights with a sai; Donatello battles
weaponry). Leonardo has a cyclone sword spin;
using a bow; and Leonardo carries a katana
Raphael a power drill attack; Michelangelo a
blade. The characters are uneven in terms of
kangaroo kick; and Donatello a knockout roll.
ability, and the stages themselves— sewers,
Standard moves include flying flip jump, flying
warehouses, the streets of New York, and the
ninja kick, jab & toss, and get loose (for shak-
like — are uneven in terms of difficulty. The
ing free of a biting Mouser or an arms-pinning
side-scrolling combat areas are complemented
Foot Soldier). The fantastic foursome must
by an overhead view stage (drive the Turtle van
run, jump, and battle their way through eight
around maze-like streets, shooting other vehi-
levels: Ft. Slaughterdale Beach, The Typhoon
cles) and a swimming stage. The famous theme
Tidal Pool, Brooklyn Bridge is Falling Down,
song is absent, but the turtles will encounter
Welcome to the Jungle (garages, subways, al-
the following familiar faces: Beebop, Rock-
leys), The Sewer Pipe Nightmare, The Techn-
steady, Foot Clan soldiers, Shredder, April
odrome, Vertigo Point Tower, and Krang’s
O’Neil, and Splinter.
Spaceship.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II — The
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles — Tour-
Arcade Game
nament Fighters
PUBLISHER: Ultra Games. DEVELOPER: Konami.
PUBLISHER: Konami. DEVELOPER: Konami.
Side-Scrolling Combat, 1 or 2 players (simul-
Fighting, 1–4 players (2-player simultaneous).
taneous). 1991.
1994.
Despite relatively minor graphical sim-
Tournament Fighters eschews the side-
plifications and the absence of a four-player
scrolling formula of the first three games in the
mode, this is an excellent port of Konami’s
TMNT series in favor of one-on-one, Street coin-op classic, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Fighter II–style fighting (an unusual genre for (1990). It even features two new levels and
the NES done surprisingly well here). In Story
some additional enemies, including a flying
mode, players select a turtle for use in fighting
rendition of Baxter Stockman. Other enemies
Casey Jones, Hot Head, Shredder, and the other
NINTENDO NES
191
three turtles. VS Player and VS CPU let gamers
smash, forehand, backhand, volley, lob, and
select any character for battling a friend or the
serve. The first player to win six games wins
computer (respectively) while Tournament
the set while winning two out of three sets wins
mode lets one to four players (two at a time)
the match. Interestingly, Mario sits perched
fight as any of the seven characters. Each com-
atop the official’s chair, turning his head back
batant has a variety of punches and kicks, along
and forth, calling the game via word balloons.
with such special moves as fire breath, explosion
Years later, with such releases as Mario’s Tennis punch, tornado spinning kick, or heel drop.
(Virtual Boy, 1995) and Mario Tennis (Nin-
Curiously, the turtles lack their patented
tendo 64, 2000), Nintendo got smart and began
weaponry. A late NES release, Tournament
featuring the famous Italian plumber as a
Fighters was also produced for the Genesis and playable character.
SNES, but with a different mix of characters.
The Terminator
10-Yard Fight
PUBLISHER: Mindscape. DEVELOPER: Radical
PUBLISHER: Nintendo. DEVELOPER: Irem.
Entertainment. Side-Scrolling Combat/Plat-
Sports/Football, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous).
form Shooter, 1 player. 1992.
1985.
Based on the 1984 feature film, The Ter-
Viewed from overhead, this football car-
minator for the NES puts players in the role of tridge is based on the 1984 Taito arcade game
Kyle Reese, who must journey back to our time
(in which the gamer only played on offense),
to protect Sarah Connor, mother of John Con-
but has sluggish gameplay and somewhat less
nor, future leader of the resistance movement
detailed graphics (the players’ helmets lack
against the machines. Reese starts off in the fu-
stripes, for example). The quarterback appears
ture (a departure from the movie), trying to
in shotgun formation and can run, pass, or toss
find Skynet’s time displacement equipment in
the ball to one of two running backs. Unfortu-
order to follow The Terminator back to 1984.
nately, passes are easily intercepted. Shaking off
Other objectives include: finding Sarah and es-
would-be tacklers is a big part of the game and
caping from the police station; escaping from a
a maneuver the coin-op version handled better
motorcycle-riding Terminator; destroying The
thanks to joystick control. On defense, gamers
Terminator under a compressor; and more.
control a single player (a safety, linebacker, or
Reese spends a lot of time on foot, running,
corner) that can pull off a fairly ridiculous
jumping, climbing ladders, and shooting Ter-
flying tackle maneuver. Five difficulty levels are
minators, but he will also drive a truck (side-
available, and there are no penalties. A system
scrolling) and a getaway vehicle (overhead
launch title, 10-Yard Fight has not aged well.
view). In certain areas, Reese is without a gun,
NES football fans should stick with Tecmo Bowl
meaning he must punch, kick, and throw base-
or Tecmo Super Bowl.
balls at enemies. Similar to the SNES version
(sans brass knuckles, bullet proof vests, and
Tennis
certain other features), but much different than
PUBLISHER: Nintendo. DEVELOPER: Nintendo.
the Genesis and Sega CD renditions (which
Sports/Tennis, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous).
lack driving stages).
1985.
A system launch title, Tennis is a nice up-
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
grade from most tennis games for previous
PUBLISHER: LJN. DEVELOPER: Software Cre-
ations. Side-Scrolling Combat/Platform
consoles, giving players a relatively authentic
Shooter, 1 player. 1992.
version of the popular sport. Viewed from be-
hind (and a little above) the court, the game
An advanced, shape-shifting Terminator
offers five skill levels, all the main rules of stan-
called the T-1000 is trying to kill a 10-year-old
dard tennis, and two game modes: Singles and
John Connor, and it is up to players, in the role
Doubles. Types of hits include smash, backward
of a reprogrammed T-800 (played by Arnold
192
; CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988
Schwarzenegger in the 1991 feature film), to
formula by letting players reveal and collect five
save him. Armed with a 10-guage shotgun and
different ship parts. The parts in question boost
the ability to run, jump, kneel, punch, and ride
the size and weapons power of the player’s ship,
elevators, players must: rescue Sarah Connor
such as dual firing, spread fire, or the addition
from the state hospital (without killing human
of a tail gun. Collecting all five parts temporar-
opponents); destroy Cyberdyne Systems (by
ily transforms the ship into an invulnerable
setting charges and moving 10 barrels of explo-
phoenix, which can crash into enemies with
sives to various sections of a building); battle
impunity. A special Design mode lets players
the T-1000 atop a steel mill; and more. Level
predetermine how the added weapons fly out
two deviates from the other four levels by put-
from the ship. Enemies to destroy include drag-
ting the T-800 on a Harley, driving through a
ons, devils, mines, high-speed boats, floatable
drainage canal (viewed from an angled per-
guard guns, moveable fortresses, and more.
spective), avoiding obstacles and debris while
Terra Cresta is the sequel to the slide-and-shoot shooting openings in gates and shooting and
coin-op classic, Moon Cresta (Nichibutsu, 1980).
outracing the T-1000, who gives chase in a big-
rig tow truck. Much different than the Genesis
Tetris (Nintendo)
and SNES versions of the game.
PUBLISHER: Nintendo. DEVELOPER: Nintendo.
Action Puzzle, 1 player. 1989.
Terra Cresta
P
A port of Alexey Pazhitnov’s famous com-
UBLISHER: Vik Tokai. DEVELOPER: Nihon Bus-
san. Vertical Scrolling Shooter, 1 or 2 players
puter game, Tetris for the NES has players ma-
(alternating). 1990.
nipulating seven different types of blocks that
fall, one at a time, down the playfield. The
A nice port of Nihon Bussan’s 1985 arcade
blocks can be rotated and moved right and left.
game, Terra Cresta for the NES is similar to Xe-The objective is to piece them together to form
vious (fly over land and sea, firing at airborne horizontal lines. When an unbroken line is
and ground-based enemies), but adds to the
formed, it disappears, clearing up space. If the
blocks pile up to the top of the
screen, the game will end. Clear-
ing two to four rows at once gives
players extra points. Mode A is an
endurance test in which players
try to complete as many lines as
possible while mode B is a contest
to complete 25 lines. Tetris is great
in most any form, but the Nin-
tendo version lacks the two-player
simultaneous mode found in the
Tengen rendition. Tetris was
ported to numerous other systems
and spawned countless imitators
and sequels, including Tetris At-
tack (Game Boy, SNES), The Next
Tetris (PlayStation), and Tetris
Worlds (various).
Tetris (Tengen)
Although it lacks the two-player simultaneous mode of the PUBLISHER: Tengen. DEVELOPER:
Tengen version, the Nintendo rendition of Tetris for the NES
Tengen. Action Puzzle, 1 or 2 play-
is nevertheless an excellent port of the popular computer game.
ers (simultaneous). 1989.
NINTENDO NES
193
Although forced off the market due to a
ing involved. Players run through eight alien
Nintendo lawsuit (making the game somewhat
worlds, leaping over large chasms, dodging
hard to find), “Tengen Tetris” (as it is fre-
flaming towers, and firing missiles at serpent
quently called) is superior to its Nintendo-pro-
beasts and their minions (including robot
duced counterpart. Similar to the Tetris arcade heads, roving hands, dog faces, mean TVs, and
game (Atari, 1988), the Tengen version offers
seashells). Power-ups to grab include invinci-
two-player split screen action (cooperative or
bility, higher jumping ability, bonus level
competitive). Players can even handicap games
warps, and more. Mushrooms should be
or play against the computer. Objectives in-
avoided, however, as they are poisonous. The
clude achieving the highest score or racing to
game comes packaged with special glasses,
eliminate a set number of lines, with or with-
which give the already colorful visuals a rich,
out a time limit. Graphically, the blocks are
surprisingly clear, 3D look. Fans of Space Har-
shaded like their arcade counterparts. In the
rier 3-D for the Master System should enjoy 3-Nintendo version, the blocks appear flat.
D WorldRunner.
Tetris 2
The Three Stooges
PUBLISHER: Nintendo. DEVELOPER: Nintendo.
PUBLISHER: Activision. DEVELOPER: Beam Soft-
Action Puzzle, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous).
ware. Multi-Genre Game, 1 or 2 players (alter-
1993.
nating). 1989.
Tetris 2 is a cross of sorts between Tetris Ruthless banker I. Fleecem has threatened
and Columns, with fixed blocks and flash
to foreclose on Ma’s orphanage, and it is up to
blocks (which are already on the screen as play
Larry, Moe, and Curly to raise enough money
begins) thrown in for good measure. As in
to save the day. What this amounts to is a col-
Tetris, formations of blocks fall from the top lection of mini-games: The Cracker Eating
to the bottom of the screen, and players must
Contest (Curly scoops up crackers before oys-
maneuver the blocks in order to make them
ters can eat them); Help Wanted: Doctors (race
disappear. However, unlike Tetris (and more
up hospital corridors, grabbing medical sup-
like Columns), the blocks come in three colors plies); Help Wanted: Waiters (a classic pie
(red, green, and yellow), and the job is to align
fight); The Boxing Match (Larry runs along a
three or more blocks of the same color verti-
side-scrolling sidewalk, dodging obstacles, try-
cally or horizontally. Eliminating a flash block
ing to bring back a “Pop Goes the Weasel”-
makes all blocks of the same color vanish, and
playing radio so Curly can beat the champ);
eliminating all flash blocks advances the game
The Slapping Game (Moe slaps, pokes, punches,
to the next level. In two-player split-screen
and kicks Larry and Curly); and Three Stooges
mode, eliminating flash blocks makes the other
Trivia. Fans of the comedy trio will recognize
player’s ceiling drop down one line. In addi-
famous scenes from various Stooges short
tion, creating chain reactions makes the other
films, and the game uses digitized graphics and
player’s blocks fall faster. The SNES version
of
authentic voice effects. Based on the 1987 com-
Tetris 2 trumps this rendition with sharper
puter game. Also released for the Game Boy
graphics and a Puzzle mode. Also released for
Advance and PlayStation.
the Game Boy.
Thunder & Lightning
3-D WorldRunner
PUBLISHER: Romstar. DEVELOPER: Romstar.
PUBLISHER: Acclaim. DEVELOPER: Square.
Ball-and-Paddle, 1 or 2 players (alternating,
Third-Person Shooter, 1 player. 1987.
simultaneous). 1991.
With its behind-the-runner perspective,
Like Arkanoid, Thunder & Lightning takes 3-D WorldRunner (which is also known as The the Breakout concept — rebound a ball off a 3-D Battles of WorldRunner) is something of a paddle and into a wall near the top of the screen
Space Harrier clone, but with much more jump-in order to make it disappear one brick at a
194
CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988
time — and adds levels (30), power-ups, and
cle automatically jumps over water, inclines,
enemies (such as birds and turtles in this case).
and hills and can equip sidecar power-ups con-
Unlike Arkanoid and Breakout, Thunder & sisting of a chain gun and five types of cannons.
Lightning has two-player simultaneous action, When things get tough, players can call on a B-square bricks (as opposed to rectangular), and
7 bomber to provide air support. There are four
a guy named Mr. Chin, who carries the paddle
levels of play: City, Base, Woodland, and
along the bottom of the screen. Power-ups in-
Fortress, culminating in the destruction of an
clude: glove (for catching the ball); missile (for
atomic power plant. This is a nice (if visually
firing missiles at the bricks); slow (for slowing
downgraded) port of Taito’s fun, action-packed
down the ball); big (gives the ball the ability to
arcade game (1987).
go through any brick); 1-Up (extra life); long
(increases the length of the paddle); three-way
Tiger-Heli
multi-shot (splits the ball into three separate
PUBLISHER: Acclaim. DEVELOPER: Pony
balls); and six-way multi-shot (splits the ball
Canyon. Vertical Scrolling Shooter, 1 or 2
into six separate balls). Based on Seta’s 1990 ar-
players (alternating). 1987.
cade game.
In Tiger-Heli, players fly a stealth jetcopter over land and sea in the fictional terrorist-run
Thunderbirds
country of Cantun, firing missiles (which ap-
PUBLISHER: Activision. DEVELOPER: Pack-In-
pear in horizontal groupings of four) at any-