by Brett Weiss
given by the elders: find the Tree of Merill; de-
player. 1989.
feat the Goblin of Balala Valley; and destroy the
Statue of Evil. The action takes place on seven
Based on Sierra On-Line’s computer game,
types of terrain (cave, forest, island, mountain,
which was first released in 1984 for the IBM
river, swamp, and underground), with players
PCjr, King’s Quest puts players in the role of Sir using a sword and a bow to battle trees, scor-Graham, an intrepid knight on a quest to locate
pions, flying eyeballs, winged beasts, armed
the king’s magic mirror, protective shield, and
skeletons, and other creatures. Backtracking is
chest of gold. Since the Master System lacks a
sometimes required, as is finding correct
keyboard, such commands as duck, jump, look
routes. Players can frequently hurry past ene-
about, pick up, open door, swim, and climb
mies instead of killing them, and talking to
are entered via text menus. While traveling
people opens up new pathways and provides
around the castles, log cabins, lakes, forests,
hints. Lord of the Sword is more than a mind-and other areas, unearthing clues and solving
less action game (thanks to its nonlinear na-
puzzles (many of which require a working know-
ture), but is less than enjoyable.
SEGA MASTER SYSTEM
237
Marksman Shooting/Trap Shooting
and kicking, but Jackson can still jump, pull off
Publisher: Sega. Developer: Sega. Light Gun
flashy dance moves (though the backgrounds
Shooter, 1 player. 1986.
disappear), and turn into a robot. Jackson will
Marksman Shooting puts players in train-
also climb stairs, ride elevators, and fend off
ing with the FBI, taking aim and firing at man-
Dobermans, zombies, spiders, bad guys, and
shaped targets that pop up and move across a
other enemies with his hat. Levels include:
room decorated with piping, blue walls, and
Club 30, Parking Lot, Woods, Cavern, and The
bricks. The illusion of depth is effective, but
Enemy Hideout. This cartridge is loosely based
there are no Hogan’s Alley–like innocents to
on Sega’s 1990 arcade game of the same name
avoid, making for a limited concept. In addi-
and on a movie called Michael Jackson: Moon-
tion, rapid fire combined with unlimited bul-
walker (1988). Considering Jackson’s later legal lets makes the targets too easy to hit. Trap
difficulties, it’s ironic that the game has the ec-
Shooting is similar to the clay pigeon portions centric songster rescuing children.
of Duck Hunt (NES), with players firing at discs that fly through the air in pairs. Fortunately,
Miracle Warriors: Seal of the Dark Lord
ammo is limited, forcing players to fire judi-
Publisher: Sega. Developer: ASCII/Kogado
ciously. Shooting discs immediately after re-
Software Products. First-Person Role-Playing
lease nets 5,000 points, but that strategy is ex-
Game, 1 player. 1988.
tremely risky. Backgrounds include grassland,
In Miracle Warriors, instead of a full view
seaside, desert, and lakeside. Both games in this
of the area and the player’s character, the top
Combo Cartridge are playable, but repetitive.
right fifth or so of the screen is the playfield,
with gamers maneuvering a white map square
Maze Hunter 3-D
around towns, across bridges, in caverns,
Publisher: Sega. Developer: Sega. Maze, 1
through forests, and amongst mountains.
player. 1988.
Upon encountering a character, a list of op-
Viewed from an overhead perspective, Maze
tions appears: attack (battles are turn-based),
Hunter 3-D makes excellent use of the SegaS-
retreat, talk, and magical spell. The top half of
cope 3-D glasses. The raised walls of the mazes
the screen then shows a static close-up of the
are convincing, as is the impression that the
merchant, thief, beast, or other creature play-
protagonist is jumping up toward the screen.
ers confront, along with a background. The
Players must venture through five areas (Metal,
player’s character is not visible, giving the game
Rugged, Jungle, Ice, and Blaze), searching for
a primitive look. Helpful items to find include
the key and the exit in 20 different mazes while
a boat, swords, shields, armor, keys, sacred nuts
hitting (with an iron bar) or jumping over
(for throwing), a staff of earthquakes, and much
rollers, gooms, spinners, polyps, and other odd
more. In addition, certain characters can join
enemies. Helpful items include power shoes
your party. Includes battery backup. RPG fans
(for jumping on creatures), two-way shots,
should stick with Final Fantasy (NES), Dragon maze mines, warp tunnels, and more.
Warrior (NES), or Phantasy Star (SMS).
Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker
Publisher: Sega. Developer: Sega. Side-
Missile Defense 3-D
Scrolling Combat/Side-Scrolling Platform, 1
Publisher: Sega. Developer: Sega. Light Gun
player. 1990.
Shooter, 1 player. 1987.
Like its better looking (to a surprisingly
Missile Defense 3-D uses the Light Phaser
small degree) Genesis counterpart, Michael
and the SegaScope 3-D Glasses to good effect,
Jackson’s Moonwalker for the Master System
making for a nice looking, highly original game.
finds the “King of Pop” searching door to door
Players must shoot down nuclear missiles headed
for children who were kidnapped by Mr. Big.
for six different areas: The Arctic, Space, The
The magical spark attacks from the Genesis ver-
Eastern and Western Missile Bases, and The East-
sion have been replaced by standard punching
ern and Western Capitals. Each level is divided
238
CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988
into three stages: missiles launched from a mis-
Montezuma’s Revenge Featuring
sile base; missiles headed for their target; and
Panama Joe
missiles approaching the city. If any missile re-
Publisher: Parker Brothers. Developer: Parker
mains onscreen through all three stages, it’s
Brothers. Action/Adventure, 1 player. 1989.
game over.
In this rousing adventure game, players
guide the Indiana Jones-like Panama Joe through
Monopoly
the 100-room mazes of Emperor Montezuma’s
Publisher: Sega. Developer: Sega. Board
perilous pyramids, grabbing the following items
Game, 1–10 players (simultaneous). 1988.
along the way: jewels; amulets (which disable
Like its NES counterpart, Monopoly for
enemies); keys (which open color-coded doors);
the Master System lets gamers play the popular
swords (which enable Joe to eliminate spiders
bo
ard game on their television set, the advan-
and skulls on contact); and torches (which il-
tage being that the computer handles all the ac-
luminate dark chambers). During his mission,
counting and money management tasks. Also,
which ends at the Treasure Chamber of Em-
up to 10 gamers can play (compared to eight in
peror Montezuma, Joe must avoid laser gates,
the NES version). Gameplay involves taking
ride conveyor belts, cross disappearing floors,
turns rolling dice, moving a cutely animated
climb up and down ropes, slide down poles,
token around a board, earning money, drawing
dodge mummies and bats, and jump over
Community Chest and Chance Cards, and try-
skulls, snakes, spiders, and rolling boulders.
ing to bankrupt the other players by purchas-
Backtracking is sometimes necessary, falling
ing, renting, and selling houses, hotels, an elec-
from too great a distance is deadly, and Joe can
tric company, and other properties. Unlike the
only keep five items in inventory at any given
NES game, the SMS rendition includes battery
time. The action, which should appeal to Pitfall!
backup. However, the NES cartridge has a game
fans, is viewed from the side and takes place
editor mode and superior sound effects (in-
through a series of interconnected, non-scroll-
cluding digitized voices). Also released for the
ing screens. Also released for the Atari 2600,
Genesis, SNES, and numerous other systems.
Atari 5200, and ColecoVision. Followed by:
Montezuma’s Return! (Game Boy
Color).
My Hero
Publisher: Sega. Developer: Sega.
Side-Scrolling Combat, 1 or 2
players (alternating). 1986.
The arcade version of My
Hero (Sega, 1985) has sharper,
more detailed graphics than its
Master System counterpart, but
the games play about the same. A
kung fu master named Steve must
rescue his kidnapped girlfriend by
punching and kicking his way
through a constant barrage of
knife-throwers, hoodlums, bull-
dogs, frogs, a guy wearing a Mo-
hawk, and other enemies. Steve
can trip the bad guys, but a flying
Missile Defense 3-D, Zaxxon 3-D, and Maze Hunter 3-D are all kick is his most effective attack.
compatible with the awesome SegaScope 3-D Glasses.
Obstacles to jump over or other-
SEGA MASTER SYSTEM
239
wise avoid include bombs, spiked wheels,
accomplishment in itself, but the characters
falling rocks, radio-controlled cars, and flames.
don’t fall out of the car during wrecks (a feature
Backgrounds include trees, buildings, and the
that is sorely missed). In addition, there’s
like. One-hit deaths and no continues make
graphical breakup (thanks to a lower frame
My Hero a formidable challenge (the arcade
rate), and the voice effects are gone, which is
original did have continues).
something the more colorful Genesis version
keeps intact (the Genesis game also has a sep-
The Ninja
arate button for shifting gears, which the two-
Publisher: Sega. Developer: Sega. Vertical
button Master System controller prohibits).
Scrolling Shooter, 1 player. 1986.
Overall, this is an impressive port (consider-
ing the relative limitations of the hardware) of
With a title like The Ninja, players may
a fast, fun, good looking game.
expect this game to be a generic side-scroller.
However, the game surprises with its vertical
scrolling (for the most part), hugely enjoyable
Paperboy
gameplay, in which players guide the titular
Publisher: Sega. Developer: Tiertex. Mission-
Based Racing, 1 player. 1990.
ninja up the screen, throwing darts at fire-
blowing ninjas, runaway horses, ninja wolves,
Although it lacks voice effects (and, obvi-
samurai, darting ninjas who throw sickles, and
ously, a handlebar controller), Paperboy for the ninjas that disguise themselves as rocks and
Master System is an excellent port of Atari’s
pop up out of the ground. The only lame
1984 coin-op classic (and certainly an improve-
enemy is a repeating boss character. Button 1
ment over the bland NES version). Players ride
throws darts in the direction players aim while
their bike up a sidewalk (and partially into
button 2 throws darts directly forward. Re-
yards and along the side of the road), throwing
treating while firing forward is a smart tactic
papers at various suburban targets positioned
when the screen gets busy, as is disappearing,
on the left side of the screen, primarily the pa-
which is done by pressing both buttons simul-
perboxes and porches of subscribers’ houses
taneously. Grabbing secret scrolls lets players
and the windows of non-subscribers’ houses.
throw pinwheel darts, run faster, and find their
Papers are limited in supply, so it is necessary
way to the captive princess. There are 13 color-
to pick up extra bundles along the way. There
ful locations, including Grassy Field, River
are numerous obstacles to dodge, including
Bank (in which players jump on logs), Town
workmen, lawnmowers, grates, fences, and
Street, Residential Samurai Area, and Inside
manholes. Making it to the end of a street re-
Ohkami Castle. The Ninja is somewhat simi-
sults in a special bonus training course, and
lar to Commando, but with a Japanese setting
levels are referred to as days of the week. Also
and no grenades.
released for the Genesis, Game Gear, Game
Boy, Game Boy Color, Atari Lynx, and Nin-
Out Run
tendo 64 (the latter radically changing the for-
Publisher: Sega. Developer: Sega. Sports Car
mula). Followed by: Paperboy 2 (NES, Gene-
Racing, 1 player. 1987.
sis, SNES, Game Boy, Game Gear).
Sega’s original Out Run (arcade, 1986)
took the formula established by such racing
Parlour Games
games as Pole Position (1982) and Hang-On Publisher: Sega. Developer: Sega. Sports/Billiards/Darts/Board Game, 1–4 players (simul-
(1985) and amped up the action with multiple
taneous). 1988.
routes, three selectable songs, a passenger rid-
ing shotgun, and crazy wrecks in which the
In Parlour Games, players select from
driver and his mate would tumble out of the
three competently programmed competitions:
car and onto the ground (the car players drive
Billiards, Darts, and World Bingo. Viewed from
is a convertible). The Master System version
overhead, Billiards includes four game modes
leaves much of the gameplay intact, which is an
(Basic, Nine Ball, Five Ball, and Rotation), but
/> 240
CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988
there are only 11 balls (plus the cue ball) instead
tures, and various other hazards can harm the
of the standard 16. Gameplay is simple: aim,
eggs as well. Breaking certain ice blocks reveals
establish strike point on cue ball, and use
clocks, iron shields, springs (for jumping
power meter to determine how hard to strike
higher), and ghosts, the latter of which make
ball. Darts provides a large front view of the
Overbite move in the opposite direction of
board, a small side view of the guy throwing
where he’s being commanded to go. Penguin
the darts, and two modes of play: 301 and 501.
Land is cute, but extremely difficult, requiring World Bingo is similar to standard bingo, but
patience, meticulous movements, and strate-
numbers are drawn via a slot machine. Betting
gic planning to make any level progression
more money gives players more cards and more
whatsoever. An Editor mode lets gamers cre-
ways to win.
ate and save their own mazes via battery
backup.
Penguin Land
Publisher: Sega. Developer: Sega. Adventure
Phantasy Star
Puzzle, 1 player. 1987.
Publisher: Sega. Developer: Sega. Third-Per-
son Role-Playing Game/First-Person Role-
In this game, players must help a Penguin
Playing Game, 1 player. 1988.
named Overbite roll eggs (one at a time) through
downward-scrolling mazes of ice blocks, boul-
Set in the Algol Solar System in Space
ders, pits, polar bear-like beasts, rocks (which
Century 3240, Phantasy Star finds a brave
can be moved), and other obstacles, trying to
young girl named Alis on a mission to avenge
get each egg safely to a spaceship. Overbite
the death of her brother, who was killed during
pushes the eggs along platforms and drops
a rebellion against the evil King Lassic. Alis’
them down gaps, over cliffs, and through egg
journey, which transforms into an all-out quest
tubes, but he should be careful not to drop an
for the liberation of the people of Algol, takes
egg down too far or it will break. Rocks, crea-
her to three planets: the forest-ridden Palma,
the desert-like Motavia, and the
icy Dezoris. Joined by a talking
cat, a rebel warrior, and a magi-
cian (once they are found), Alis
walks around a colorfully detailed
overworld, talking to townsfolk,
avoiding traps, purchasing items