Crash Nitro Kart (Nokia N-Gage review)

Developer: Vicarious Visions
Publisher: Vivendi Universal Games
Released: 2004

Crash Nitro Kart is a racing game that was also released on the Game Boy Advance in 2003.

+ Similar to Diddy Kong Racing (1997, N64), there's an immersive Adventure mode, along with side challenges and multiplayer.

+ Decent course design, timing-based powerslide mechanic is rewarding, and some of the non-racing collecting tasks are fun.

- Camera is excessively zoomed in, which doesn't allow you to see fellow opponents and item boxes with any degree of certainty.

- Likewise, the portrait screen limits visibility, making it alarmingly difficult to see upcoming turns and actually stay on the track.

- Has an enormous amount of over-steer when trying to turn corners, which leaves you disorientated and scrambling to correct.

- Drifting doesn't feel as natural as on the GBA due to the lack of shoulder buttons, and using multiple face buttons is convoluted.

- There's nothing here that advances the kart racing genre, and the Arcade cup mode only allows for singular laps.

Ghouls'n Ghosts (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Sega Enterprises Ltd, Arc System Works

Publisher: Sega of America
Released: 1991

Ghouls'n Ghosts is an action title that was released in the Arcade in 1988, and ported to the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis a year later.

+ Packs in a substantial amount from the 16-bit version, and there's a compelling breadth of ideas in its level design.

+ Has many standout moments (e.g. the iconic opening graveyard scene) and the exclusive magical doors offer free upgrades.

+ Reaching a checkpoint feels like an achievement and the unlimited continues reset your points to aid high score attempts.

- Gameplay feels like it's in perpetual slowdown and there's a severe delay when firing projectiles around groups of foes.

- Sir Arthur's sluggish movement makes dodging impossible, and platforming requires more precision than the 16-bit game.

- Some weapons are useless in the heat of combat, with the Axe being the worst offender due to its high arch once thrown.

- Has an enormous amount of trial-and-error and needing to beat the game twice to see the ending is rather lame.

Ghouls'n Ghosts (Sega Mega Drive / Genesis review)

Developer: Sega R&D 2
Publisher: Sega of America
Released: 1989

Ghouls'n Ghosts is an action title that was originally released in the Arcade in 1988.

+ Includes a compelling amount of ideas in its level design and reaching a checkpoint feels like a huge achievement.

+ Has a plethora of memorable moments, including the iconic opening graveyard and Level 3's vertically scrolling tower.

+ Between-stage map gives scope to the adventure, and the unlimited continues reset your points to aid high score attempts.

+ Menacing bosses are fun, especially Stage 4's giant worm hearts that resemble the alien pods in Contra (1988, NES).

- Some weapons are wholly useless in problematic areas and it's easy to accidentally collect a downgrade in the heat of battle.

- Enemies often spawn directly on top of your sprite, and your inability to steer in mid-air causes no end of frustration.

- Has an enormous amount of trial-and-error and needing to beat the game twice to see the ending is rather lame.

Glimmerati (Nokia N-Gage review)

Developer: Bugbear Entertainment
Publisher: Nokia
Released: 2005

Glimmerati is a racing game that's exclusive to the Nokia N-Gage.

+ Solid racing, good frame-rate, and the amazing track design tests your skills in nighttime Paris streets and narrow lanes in The Alps.

+ Usually has multiple missions open at once, and the branching paths provide impetus to replay the Story mode to see everything.

+ Challenges are a neat incentive to take on bite-sized races, as you can unlock faster cars that will benefit you in the championship.

+ Has a few non-racing objectives, such as timed quests and a fun mission involving launching over a draw bridge to start a TV show!

+ Includes an enormous amount of voice clips, and the gorgeous graphics have impressive lighting effects and detailed scenery.

- Doesn't always give enough notice of upcoming turns, the voice acting is atrocious, and the in-game characters lack personality.

- Brutally hard finale strips away your unlockable cars in favour of a rickety speedboat that's infuriatingly tough to control.

Cloud Master (Sega Master System review)

Developer: HOT-B, Opera House
Publisher: Sega of America
Released: 1989

Cloud Master is a horizontally scrolling shooter that was first released in the Arcade in 1988.

+ Despite its cutesy exterior, the gameplay offers a good level of challenge and some atypical enemies.

+ Has a nice range of secondary weapons to choose from, which are unlimited and carry forward to the next stage.

+ Bosses have impressively large sprites and the between round cut-scenes have great artwork.

- Protracted stages wear out their welcome and there's no set pieces or level design shifts to keep you engaged.

- Checkpoints are too spaced out, and it can take several rounds before you have the ability to fully power up.

- Bullets tend to blur into the background for cheap deaths, and sprite flicker and slowdown also work against you.

- Pre-checkpoint guardians bore with their repeated attack patterns, and the game's main bosses are very alike.

NCAA Football 2004 (Nokia N-Gage review)

Developer: Exient Entertainment
Publisher: Jack Of All Games, Electronic Arts
Released: 2003

NCAA Football 2004 is a sports game that was also released on the Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox in 2003.

+ Boasts a deep playbook, along with over 100 Division 1 schools, head-to-head multiplayer, and adjustable depth charts.

+ Running game is excellent with competent blocking from teammates, and the intuitive kicking game resembles early Madden titles.

- Passing game is an abomination, as it's tough to see players when the screen zooms out and receivers don't always try to catch.

- Portrait screen means those who enjoy controlling wide receivers or defensive backs are out of luck due to the limited field view.

- CPU takes control of your player if the d-pad is left untouched, and the game doesn't remember your preferred defender after each snap.

- Graphics are super ugly with pixelated sprites and broken player animations that are clearly missing multiple frames.

- Info regarding injuries only appears for a split-second, teammates take forever to get to the line, and there's no post-game stats.

FIFA Football 2005 (Nokia N-Gage review)

Developer: Electronic Arts Canada, Exient Entertainment
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Released: 2004

FIFA Football 2005 is a sports game and the follow-up to FIFA Football 2004 (2003, Nokia N-Gage).

+ Has an impressive wealth of content (including a fun Challenge mode) and there's 5,000 more player licenses than the previous game.

+ Prestige Points are an inspired and addictive idea to encourage better play and team management in order to advance your career.

+ Addition of a through ball and 1-2 passes are meaningful improvements that open up the attack game and keep opponents guessing.

+ While still not perfect, teammate A.I. is more refined and they actually make a competent effort to mark rival players on and off the ball.

+ Slicker presentation all around, as you can choose camera angles, save replays, and there's more licensed music tracks in menus.

- Action is noticeably choppier than the 2004 edition, and teammates occasionally stand motionless next to a free ball.

- Radar is still too small for locating teammates, and simulating games is more cumbersome due to extra menu clicks.

Ridge Racer Revolution (Sony PlayStation review)

Developer: Namco
Publisher: Namco
Released: 1995

Ridge Racer Revolution is a racing game and the console follow-up to Ridge Racer (1994, Sony PlayStation).

+ Sliding around a sharp bend is as exhilarating as ever, and the awesome techno music gets you amped for each race.

+ Cars have significant differences, giving you freedom to either brute force your way around most turns or rely on drifting.

+ New rear view mirror gives a clearer view of the action around your car, and mastering manual gears provides extra mph.

+ Day / night cycle is a great addition to keep you engaged, and there's lots of unlockables and secrets to discover.

- Racing speed is noticeably slower than the first game, leading to less excitement until you take on Expert mode.

- Still only one course available (split into three tracks), and overall there's nothing that truly evolves the franchise.

- Distracting ground texture issue from the original game isn't fixed, and the random announcer insults are annoying!

Wolfenstein 3D (Atari Jaguar review)

Developer: id Software
Publisher: Atari Corporation
Released: 1994

Wolfenstein 3D is a first-person shooter that was originally released on MS-DOS in 1992.

+ Level design has intricate layouts (with plenty of opportunities for flanking), and there's four save slots available.

+ Replayability is sky high due to the amount of hidden treasure and secrets that the game scores you on after each level.

+ Good range of weaponry (with the Rocket Launcher able to pierce several foes at once) and there's generous auto-aim.

+ Music intensifies the atmosphere in a similar way to Castlevania (1986, NES) and the huge bosses are terrifying to battle.

- Gameplay can become quite repetitive, especially as the stealth elements from the MS-DOS version are absent.

- Missing lots of stages compared to the MS-DOS original, and some enemies have jittery diagonal animations.

- Controls have too much travel on the h-axis, and the game gets confused between actions and strafing when near doors.

FIFA Football 2004 (Nokia N-Gage review)

Developer: Electronic Arts Canada, Exient Entertainment
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Released: 2003

FIFA Football 2004 is a sports game that was also released on the Game Boy Advance (2003).

+ Includes an enormous amount of competitions, teams and player licenses, and there's even a Bluetooth multiplayer mode.

+ Gameplay is much faster and more fluid than Marcel Desailly Pro Soccer (2004, Nokia N-Gage), with no player animation lag.

+ Action is easy to pick-up-and-play, button placement is well implemented, and the game engine is terrifically optimised.

+ Plenty of customisation options for managing your team, such as in-game statistics, performance charts and key players.

+ Has better presentation than Marcel Desailly Pro Soccer, including replays after goals and highlights at the end of each match.

- Teammates prefer to stand around, so you'll constantly have to switch over to control them when the ball approaches.

- No commentary during matches, and the tiny on-screen radar makes finding neighbouring teammates a guessing game.

Battlecorps (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Core Design
Publisher: Core Design
Released: 1994

Battlecorps is a first-person shooter that's exclusive to Sega's CD add-on.

+ Arms you with a good range of weapons, with each one having unique advantages depending on the situation.

+ Controls work well for controlling your mech's speed, and the anxiety of overheating your gun forces deliberate play.

- Combat is a pixelated mess (it's often tough to determine what's shooting you) and taking damage seems mandatory.

- Even with the mini-map on, navigating each stage is disorientating as the environments have little scenic variety.

- Stages are too long (with no save feature) and the draw distance is limited with foes popping in in singular frames.

- Enemies can't always be shot from distance despite being visible, forcing you to creep closer into harm's way.

- Mission 6's conveyor belt is infuriatingly clunky, and the middle part of the game rushes along with short, boring stages.

Snatcher (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Released: 1994

Snatcher is a graphic adventure game that was originally released on the PC-8801 and MSX2 in 1988.

+ Does an excellent job of narrative pacing and guiding you along, and there's nothing too cryptic that will impede progress.

+ Has some funny moments that totally break the fourth wall, including some laugh-out-loud nods to other Konami games.

+ Presentation is astounding and the atmosphere is always tense thanks to the gripping story and evocative music.

+ Sprite work is spectacular and brings the locales to life whether it's neon-filled cityscapes or gritty urban neighbourhoods.

+ Shooting gallery scenes add pulse-raising variety and play great with either the controller or the Justifier light-gun.

- Requires you to continually select the same menu item to trigger the next plot point, which can be tedious.

- Finale builds to an anticipated showdown with the main antagonist, but it resolves via a long cut-scene without player input.

N-Gage Freestyle (Nokia N-Gage review)

Developer: StormBASIC Games
Publisher: Nokia, Technobubble Entertainment
Released: 2005

N-Gage Freestyle is an extreme sports game that's exclusive to the handheld.

+ Method of unlocking jumps is clever, as some require you to reach certain criteria (e.g. beat three stages in order without failing).

+ Tricks are well animated, load times are fast, and there is mild enjoyment from finally nailing a problematic jump.

- Your sole interactivity takes place on static ground (prior to moving), yet mid-air adjustments would have been more engaging.

- Game engine isn't up to the task, as it often skips frames or stutters while you're trying to input precise button commands.

- Diagonals don't always register correctly and it's the main reason you'll fail stages despite seemingly inputting the right prompt.

- Shockingly low on content, as there's only 15 jumps available in the entire game, with each lasting mere seconds.

- Despite being a score-based title, there's no option to play against a friend or versus the CPU in competitions.

The Jungle Book (NES review)

Developer: Eurocom
Publisher: Virgin Interactive Entertainment
Released: 1994

The Jungle Book is an action-platformer that differs from the version released on the Sega Master System (1993).

+ Sprawling level design, nice animation, and the music has awesome bass tones that are reminiscent of Sunsoft's NES titles.

- Despite having ten stages, there's barely any gameplay variety and continually hunting for gems gets old rather fast.

- Timer is far too strict (resulting in memorisation to succeed), and unlike the SMS game enemies respawn when you die.

- Imprecise controls cause non-stop issues, and there's an annoying delay when crouching and then trying to fire.

- Has an unrelenting amount of instant death pits, and you'll frequently find yourself falling straight through platforms.

- Camera takes forever to pan up and down, which isn't great when you're being sniped by an enemy just out of view.

- Compared to Sega's lush 8-bit graphics, this version looks like a low-quality bootleg with muted colours and ugly sprites.

Hook (Sega Game Gear review)

Developer: Spidersoft
Publisher: Sony Imagesoft
Released: 1993

Hook is an action game that was released on numerous systems including the Sega CD and Sega Genesis in 1993.

+ Impressive port that retains much of the 16-bit's levels / gameplay feel, and the music conversion sounds excellent.

+ Weapons-based combat is satisfying, and your limited ability to fly adds depth and tension to the gameplay.

+ Responsive controls are a vast improvement over the Genesis version, and Peter no longer moves at a snail's pace.

+ Overworld map gives your quest a sense of scale, and the boss battles feature some well-designed attack patterns.

- Hit detection isn't quite dialled-in and it can sometimes feel like pot-luck as to whether you slash foes or take damage.

- Camera can't be shifted up or down, resulting in lots of blind leaps of faith that typically end in lost lives.

- Final stretch of this handheld port feels very rushed due to a number of cut stages and absent boss battles.

Hook (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Core Design
Publisher: Sony Imagesoft
Released: 1993

Hook is an action game that was released on numerous systems including the Sega Game Gear and Sega Genesis in 1993.

+ Good level design with a nice mixture of scrolling types / locales, and the narrated cut-scenes push the narrative forward.

+ Weapons-based combat has a satisfying thud, and your limited ability to fly adds depth and tension to the gameplay.

+ Overworld map gives your quest a sense of scale, and the boss battles feature some well-designed attack patterns.

- Controls are unrefined and despite the need for precise movements your directional inputs are sometimes ignored.

- Suffers from an infuriating amount of cheap hits from enemies / objects that are just out of your field of view.

- Peter Pan walks incredibly slowly and the lack of checkpoints in some areas can set you back a considerable way.

- Has long load times and the CD 'enhancements' (such as 1-2 second FMV clips) add little to the overall experience.

Hook (Sega Mega Drive / Genesis review)

Developer: Core Design
Publisher: Sony Imagesoft
Released: 1993

Hook is an action game that was released on numerous systems including the Sega CD and Sega Game Gear in 1993.

+ Level design is good with a nice mixture of scrolling types / locales, and the film's music is faithfully recreated.

+ Weapons-based combat has a satisfying thud, and your limited ability to fly adds depth and tension to the gameplay.

+ Overworld map gives your quest a sense of scale, and the boss battles feature some well-designed attack patterns.

- Stage layouts can occasionally give you the illusion of choice, while expecting you to follow a very set path.

- Controls are unrefined and despite the need for precise movements your directional inputs are sometimes ignored.

- Suffers from an infuriating amount of cheap hits from enemies / objects that are just out of your field of view.

- Peter Pan walks incredibly slowly and the lack of checkpoints in some areas can set you back a considerable way.

Comical Machine Gun Joe (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Sega R&D 2
Publisher: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
Released: 1986

Comical Machine Gun Joe is an action game that was only released in standalone format in Japan.

+ Interesting risk-reward for catching downed foes, as they provide an additional hit at the expense of slowing you down.

+ Has some very cool hidden secrets, including ones that can net you huge bonus points, or change outfits worn by bosses.

- Game only has six stages that loop, with the trade-off being sky-high difficulty that limits your ability to progress.

- One level is simply a nighttime re-skin of the Down Town stage, which reinforces the lack of content on offer.

- Nothing to keep you around once the second loop starts, as the only change is a permanent spider enemy that blocks shots.

- Bullets tend to merge into the background in the Graveyard level, causing unforeseeable deaths from enemy fire.

- Music is annoyingly repetitive and you'll hear the same brief tune incessantly throughout your play-through.

Casino Games (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Compile
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1989

Casino Games is a collection of card and arcade games that's exclusive to the Sega Master System.

+ Mix of game types caters to a wider audience, and a password option becomes available after obtaining $1000.

+ Blackjack and Poker are great for quick play sessions, and CPU opponents in the latter have 'tells' if you look closely!

+ Excellent animations / title screen artwork, as well as humorous cut-scenes once you run out of money.

- Baccarat fails to provide much entertainment, as the action unfolds automatically with no real player input.

- Pinball only has one basic table, and the floaty physics make it tough to catch the ball on a flipper or generate power shots.

- Fruit Machine is very simplistic and the inability to hold certain reels makes for unengaging gameplay in the long run.

- There's no option to turn off the short, looping music, and the game's advice after going bankrupt is questionable!

The Jungle Book (Sega Mega Drive / Genesis review)

Developer: Eurocom Entertainment Software, Virgin Interactive Entertainment, Disney Software
Publisher: Virgin Interactive Entertainment
Released: 1994

The Jungle Book is an action-platformer that was also released on the Sega Master System (1993) and Sega Game Gear (1994).

+ Lots of variety in the stage design with amazing verticality, and the Ruins levels are intense due to crumbling scenery.

+ Unlike the 8-bit versions, you don't need to collect all the gems in each scene, although doing so unlocks Bonus Levels.

+ Bosses offer a better challenge with their more comprehensive attack patterns, and the animation is top notch.

+ Addition of a jump attack opens up the combat, and the ability to switch between different weapons enhances strategy.

- Tons of instant death pits, and despite being able to move the camera up / down it doesn't always give you an ideal view.

- Some animal SFX grate, and Mowgli can no longer eliminate foes on upper or lower platforms with his weapons.

- Button presses are occasionally ignored, and the sketchy collision detection can lead to unavoidable damage.

The Jungle Book (Sega Game Gear review)

Developer: Eurocom Entertainment Software, Syrox Developments, Disney Software
Publisher: Virgin Interactive Entertainment
Released: 1994

The Jungle Book is an action-platformer that also saw release on the Sega Genesis (1994) and Sega Master System (1993).

+ Level design has interesting layouts, and there's plenty of verticality that lends itself well to the exploratory gem stages.

+ Has great graphics and playful ideas, such as being able to launch yourself off crocodile snouts to reach higher platforms.

+ Scene 8 has some awesome parkour elements where you need to string together several moves in quick succession.

+ Ability to look up / down helps to compensate for the small screen, as you can safely dispatch foes on other platforms.

- There's a small, but noticeable delay when pressing jump, and later levels have bottomless pits that rely on trial-and-error.

- In some scenes, it's not always clear what's part of the background or foreground, resulting in missed platform jumps.

- Bosses are easily destroyed by nonchalantly spamming the attack button, and the game's ending is lacklustre.

The Jungle Book (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Syrox Developments, Disney Software
Publisher: Virgin Interactive Entertainment
Released: 1993

The Jungle Book is an action-platformer that saw release on the Sega Game Gear and Sega Genesis in 1994.

+ Level design has interesting layouts, and there's plenty of verticality that lends itself well to the exploratory gem stages.

+ Has great graphics and playful ideas, such as being able to launch yourself off crocodile snouts to reach higher platforms.

+ Scene 8 has some awesome parkour elements where you need to string together several moves in quick succession.

+ Being able to pan the camera up / down is handy, as you can safely dispatch enemies on different platform levels.

- There's a small, but noticeable delay when pressing jump, and later levels have bottomless pits that rely on trial-and-error.

- In some scenes, it's not always clear what's part of the background or foreground, resulting in missed platform jumps.

- Bosses are easily destroyed by nonchalantly spamming the attack button, and the game's ending is lacklustre.

Dead Angle (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1990

Dead Angle is an action game that was first released in the Arcade in 1988.

+ Duck and cover gameplay is fun, but obtaining the Machine Gun switches things from 'hide and seek' to all-out destruction!

+ The game is very fair if you die during a boss fight, as it remembers their existing damage metre when you respawn.

+ Graphics feature detailed tile sets and large sprites, and the ending cut-scene has beautifully drawn Gothic artwork.

- Frame-rate is choppy, resulting in inconsistent hit boxes and difficulty lining up your reticle with ultra precision.

- Foes can instantly appear in the middle of the screen, defeating the object of keeping them away from your central hit box.

- Disappointingly, there's no Light Phaser support, which would have worked great in tandem with the Control Pad.

- Each playfield is tiny and there's little reason to move around as enemies typically congregate in the same areas.

Castelo Rá-Tim-Bum (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Tec Toy
Publisher: Tec Toy
Released: 1997

Castelo Rá-Tim-Bum is an action game that was only released in Brazil.

+ There's a variety of locations on offer and each screen is basically a puzzle-like mini-game, which is a neat core concept.

- However, none of the gameplay types are fleshed out and you're left with basic scenes that fail to provide any excitement.

- Certain areas rely on luck over skill, such as the burger making game where you blindly click drawers to reveal items.

- Poor collision detection, resulting in simple platforming tasks (e.g. jumping from numbers 1-12) being super frustrating.

- Final level has peculiar speed up, followed by extreme slowdown, almost as if the game engine is confused.

- Characters walk at a snail's pace and their run ability takes forever to gain momentum, making it hard to avoid damage.

- Graphics are comically bad for a 1997 release, and the lack of tile art in the sprites and backgrounds is amateurish.

Wimbledon II (Sega Master System review)

Developer: SIMS
Publisher: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
Released: 1993

Wimbledon II is a sports title and the sequel to the 1992 Sega Master System original.

+ Roster has been greatly expanded (32 compared to 16 in the original game), and you can now choose female players.

+ Gameplay is easy to master and there's a good range of shot types, as well as match customisation options.

+ More accessible than its predecessor in terms of difficulty, and the issue with constant service faults has been fixed.

+ There's now the ability to turn music off during matches, although you can select from five tracks if preferred.

- Tournament mode requires you to grind for points, meaning early matches suffer from ceaseless rallies with no power shots.

- Once again, you can only play doubles in Practice mode, which is a huge missed opportunity to increase longevity.

- Some CPU players have an oddly frequent tendency to hit serves out of the baseline, missing the court entirely!