Classic Home Video Games (1985-1988)

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

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  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