Madden NFL 2005 (Tapwave Zodiac review)

Developer: Floodgate
Publisher: Mobile Digital Media
Released: 2004

Madden NFL 2005 is an American Football game that was also released on the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance (both in 2004).

+ Action is fast and fluid with a good selection of plays, and there's a number of customisation options for each match-up.

- Gameplay difficulty only allows for Pro or All Madden, and your Offensive Line seemingly have no idea how to block.

- No auto-select option for plays, and defense is tough due to the zoomed-out camera and microscopic teammates.

- A.I. is dumb and they'll often run out of bounds with clear space ahead, or let the clock expire while in field goal range.

- Front Office mode doesn't factor in a salary cap, so you can keep trading until your lineup consists of the best players!

- Generic announcer commentary is utterly pointless, and team jerseys don't always match their real-world gear.

Terminator 3 (Tapwave Zodiac review)

Developer: Artex Games
Publisher: N/A
Released: N/A

Terminator 3 is a first-person shooter that started development in 2003 before ultimately being cancelled.

+ Gameplay adopts a refreshingly slower pace and peeking around corners to dismantle enemies and turrets is nail-biting.

+ Level design is intricate with some notable moments, including stealthily avoiding the towering T1 machines.

+ Despite often requiring button combinations, the control layout is well mapped and quickly becomes second nature.

+ Graphics do a sublime job of mirroring the series' gritty landscapes, and the draw distance when zooming-in is terrific.

- First two missions are outrageously difficult (even on Easy) and the absence of checkpoints results in major trial-and-error.

- There's no music during action scenes, and invisible walls frequently block your shots through open doors.

SoulStar (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Core Design
Publisher: Core Design
Released: 1994

SoulStar is a third-person shooter that's exclusive to Sega's CD add-on.

+ Provides incentive to keep improving your skills, as certain stages are locked behind the Normal and Hard difficulties.

+ Two-player mode is a fascinating addition, as it requires teamwork to steer and fire while managing your inventory.

+ Scenic backdrops are wildly varied, and the shift from on-rails areas to full 360° movement livens up the gameplay.

+ Graphics, draw distance and scaling effects are astounding, and the game engine has barely any hint of slowdown.

+ Cinematic music always knows the perfect time to transition songs to increase the intensity during battle.

- Some areas drag on forever and the 360° stages have an excessive number of targets you need to destroy.

- Challenge is brutal from early on, and even the difficulty select area is a real hurdle due to swarms of enemies.

Double Hawk (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Sanritsu, Opera House
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1990

Double Hawk is a shooting game that's exclusive to the Sega Master System.

+ Fans of Cabal (1988, Arcade) will feel at home with the similar gameplay, and a two-player co-op mode is available.

+ Falling power-ups add a risk-reward element, and obtaining the machine gun for rapid fire is super satisfying.

+ Bosses are a joy thanks to their multi-target battles that are reminiscent of Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, Arcade).

- Gameplay is ripe for Light Phaser functionality, but the Control Pad only offering mutes a lot of the potential enjoyment.

- Your character and reticle move at an absolute snail's pace, and there's no roll mechanic to quickly get out of harm's way.

- Frequent occurrences where nothing happens on screen for ten second periods, leaving you twiddling your thumbs.

- Lack of music during gameplay hurts the atmosphere, and there's little scenic variety and too many repeated assets.

Running Battle (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1991

Running Battle is a beat-em-up that's exclusive to the Sega Master System.

+ Offers multiple continues, cut-scenes advance the narrative, and there are a couple of different endings available.

- Beat-em-up action is maddening, as your short attack range means you'll typically take damage before landing a blow.

- Level design is embarrassing as entire sections are repeated throughout all stages, and the character sprite work is poor.

- Similar to Karate Kid (1987, NES), you can bypass huge chunks of the game by simply jumping over enemies.

- Life / weapon icons frequently appear over perilous gaps, and the only way to obtain them is to lose a life.

- Doesn't allow you to use weapons against bosses, and the all-too-brief adventure can be beaten in around ten minutes.

- Intro story text doesn't stay on-screen long enough, and the anticlimactic endings don't even include a credits sequence.

Devastator (Mega CD review)

Developer: Wolf Team, Telenet Japan
Publisher: Wolf Team
Released: 1993

Devastator is an action / shoot-em-up game that was only released in Japan and South Korea.

+ Bosses are inventive and their multi-part battles will thoroughly challenge your offensive and evasive skills.

+ FMV cut-scenes are beautifully animated and are very reminiscent of those found in Road Avenger (1992, Sega CD).

- Level design is banal, particularly the opening stage which is a purely left-to-right affair with little scenic deviation.

- Shoot-em-up levels hold no excitement and the repetitive backgrounds / enemy patterns will lull you to sleep.

- Controls are too stiff and trying to make quick-second reactions is marred by an overly heavy lead character.

- Even at full weapon strength, the game makes you feel weak and the bosses can be infuriating bullet sponges.

- Graphically, there's little that takes advantage of the CD's capabilities and the action looks like a Sega Genesis title.

California Speed (N64 review)

Developer: Atari Games
Publisher: Midway
Released: 1999

California Speed is a racing game that was first released in the Arcade in 1998.

+ Fans of Cruis'n USA (1996, N64) will enjoy the over-the-top racing, and the game's sense of speed is decent.

+ Course design is exceptional, with atypical environments and five unlockable bonus tracks not found in the Arcade.

+ Many memorable moments, including the narrow climb of Yosemite and driving on top of the Golden Gate bridge!

+ Load times are almost non-existent and the adrenaline pumping music heightens the chaotic action.

- Controls are abysmal and it's impossible to perform precise movements due to twitchy vehicle handling.

- Rubber banding is egregious and whenever you make a small mistake the CPU will immediately be on your tail.

- Bonus tracks are uneventful and the limited draw distance makes it a struggle to anticipate upcoming turns.

Lords of Thunder (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Hudson Soft, Eleven
Publisher: Sega of America
Released: 1995

Lords of Thunder is a side-scrolling shooter and the follow-up to Gate of Thunder (1992, TurboGrafx-CD).

+ Gives you the freedom to tackle the first six stages in any order, and the shop adds depth to bolster attack plans.

+ Stages are an absolute blast due to varied enemy patterns, environmental hazards, and tight corridors that test your nerve.

+ Melee attack is super handy for dishing out huge damage if you're willing to risk close-quarters combat.

+ Hard rock music enhances the gameplay and the adrenaline-fuelled tunes perfectly compliment the chaotic action.

+ Bosses are gigantic (with some taking up almost the entire screen height), and the graphics are spectacularly detailed.

- Lots of slowdown (particularly in the Auzal level) and the sprite flicker makes it tough to clock incoming projectiles.

- A couple of selectable weapons have questionable worth, and the sound effects can often drown out the music.

Kids on Site (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Digital Pictures
Publisher: Digital Pictures
Released: 1994

Kids on Site is a Full Motion Video (FMV) game that was re-released on the Sony PlayStation 4 and Windows in 2022.

+ FMV quality is good, load times are excellent, and you can select the first four stages in any order you prefer.

+ Has laugh-out-loud slapstick comedy, especially in the Steamroller level where you can destroy Nuts' personal property!

- With only five brief stages (one that requires a singular button press), there's little to encourage you to replay the game.

- There's no punishment or challenge in each level, so you can just keep pressing buttons until you ultimately win.

- More interaction with the vehicles (e.g. switching them on) would have added deeper player immersion and engagement.

- Little educational value on offer, as the game doesn't provide any background information or trivia about the vehicles.

- User-interface could have been clearer when selecting missions, especially as the game is aimed at youngsters.

Gex: Enter the Gecko (Sony PlayStation review)

Developer: Crystal Dynamics
Publisher: Midway
Released: 1998

Gex: Enter the Gecko is a 3D platformer and the follow-up to Gex (1995, 3DO).

+ World themes are creative (especially the Star Wars inspired setting), and each level is vast with multiple branching paths.

+ Like Super Mario 64 (1996, Nintendo 64), several worlds are typically open at the same time in case you're floundering.

+ Entertaining missions have a nice blend of platforming and puzzle elements, and the boss fights are a real highlight.

+ Plenty of collectable items and unlockable bonus levels, and there's more content here than in the Nintendo 64 port (1998).

- Controls have a loose, unpolished feel, and judging spatial distance between platforms is an unrelenting issue.

- Camera is a constant annoyance and it often rotates erratically while you're attempting delicate movements.

- Themes are repeated across multiple worlds, and Gex talks incessantly with many quips missing the mark.

Bugs Bunny in Double Trouble (Sega Game Gear review)

Developer: Probe Entertainment, Atod, Climax Enterprises
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1996

Bugs Bunny in Double Trouble is an action-platformer that was also released on the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive in 1996.

+ Mimics the 16-bit version astonishingly well, and there's plenty of variety in the mission objectives and gameplay types.

+ Difficulty is toned down versus the Sega Genesis, and the zoomed-out window makes it easier to spot incoming foes.

- However, the character sprites are minuscule and it can be tough to precisely and successfully time your jump attacks.

- Objectives are awfully obtuse and the pre-mission hints don't do an adequate job of explaining the requirements.

- Slippery controls lack precision, and the Roman Legion Hare and Haunted Hare levels drag with tedious fetch quests.

- Hare-Abian Nights stages are a poor man's Aladdin (1993, Sega Genesis) due to bland layouts and obscured platforms.

- Missing the cool faux-3D Spaced Out Bunny levels from the console version, and the collision detection is questionable.

Bugs Bunny in Double Trouble (Sega Mega Drive / Genesis review)

Developer: Probe Entertainment, Atod, Climax Enterprises
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1996

Bugs Bunny in Double Trouble is an action-platformer that was also released on the Sega Game Gear in 1996.

+ Like Toy Story (1996, Sega Genesis), the action has tons of variety, both in its mission objectives and gameplay types.

+ Spaced Out Bunny levels feature impressive faux-3D graphics, and the sprite animations are excellent throughout.

- Objectives are awfully obtuse and the pre-mission hints don't do an adequate job of explaining the requirements.

- Slippery controls lack precision, and the Bully for Bugs and Haunted Hare levels drag with tedious fetch quests.

- Hare-Abian Nights stages are a poor man's Aladdin (1993, Sega Genesis) due to bland layouts and obscured platforms.

- Collision detection is unreliable and it's typically pot-luck as to whether you take damage when jumping on an enemy.

- Zoomed-in view doesn't give you adequate time to react, and some levels decrease your vision further via spotlights.

Pit Pot (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
Publisher: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
Released: 1986

Pit Pot is an action-adventure title that was released as part of a two-game compilation with Astro Warrior.

+ Has a similar exploratory vibe to The Legend of Zelda (1987, NES) and each room has excellent stage design.

+ Rather than being a smash-a-thon, the gameplay forces you to think methodically to avoid falling to your doom.

+ Difficulty options not only increase the challenge, they also boost the number of screens and introduce new enemy types.

- Cryptically, the action relies on blindly bashing every single block to uncover hidden items that are required to succeed.

- Hammer has a slow animation reset after hitting a gray block, which isn't ideal when you need to make another quick attack.

- Backtracking is a chore in tougher difficulties due to the unvaried scenery, and the short music loop can get tedious.

- PAL release doesn't include the Edit mode found in the Japanese version where you can design your own screens.

Daffy Duck in Hollywood (Sega Mega Drive review)

Developer: Psionic Systems
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1995

Daffy Duck in Hollywood is an action-platformer that was originally released on the Sega Game Gear and Sega Master System in 1994.

+ Level design breaks each stage down into three smaller areas to minimise backtracking and help you stay orientated.

+ Combat has a Bubble Bobble (1986, Arcade) vibe and quickly trying to capture / pop foes to eliminate them is entertaining.

+ Arms you with an impressive array of weaponry, and the game allows you to choose from multiple levels at any time.

- Stage layouts aren't as creative and fun to navigate as the 8-bit versions, making letter icon collection more of a chore.

- Assault and Peppered stage removes your bubble gun in favour of brawling and throwing stars, but the variety is marginal.

- Attack animations take forever to complete, leaving you vulnerable to damage until the cycle eventually resets.

- Bosses are a major disappointment, as each one is almost identical and relies on button mashing to succeed.

Daffy Duck in Hollywood (Sega Game Gear review)

Developer: Probe Software
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1994

Daffy Duck in Hollywood is an action-platformer that was also released on the Sega Genesis (1995) and Sega Master System (1994).

+ Tight level design breaks down each stage into three smaller areas to minimise backtracking and help you stay orientated.

+ Combat has a Bubble Bobble (1986, Arcade) vibe and quickly trying to capture / pop foes to eliminate them is entertaining.

+ Arms you with an impressive array of weaponry, and the game allows you to choose from multiple levels at any time.

+ Hidden areas are fun to locate, and managing to collect all nine Daffy Duck letters for an extra life is gratifying.

- More noticeable slowdown than the Sega Master System version, and enemies repeatedly attack from off-screen.

- Unlike the 16-bit release, this suffers from irritating one-hit deaths and lacks any boss battles to mix things up.

- Assault and Peppered stage removes your bubble gun in favour of brawling and throwing stars, but the variety is marginal.

Daffy Duck in Hollywood (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Probe Software
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1994

Daffy Duck in Hollywood is an action-platformer that was also released on the Sega Game Gear (1994) and Sega Genesis (1995).

+ Tight level design breaks down each stage into three smaller areas to minimise backtracking and help you stay orientated.

+ Combat has a Bubble Bobble (1986, Arcade) vibe and quickly trying to capture / pop foes to eliminate them is entertaining.

+ Arms you with an impressive array of weaponry, and the game allows you to choose from multiple levels at any time.

+ Hidden areas are fun to locate, and managing to collect all nine Daffy Duck letters for an extra life is gratifying.

- Has some unavoidable trial-and-error, and unlike the 16-bit version this suffers from irritating one-hit deaths. 

- Assault and Peppered stage removes your bubble gun in favour of brawling and throwing stars, but the variety is marginal.

- Not always clear which foes are immune, and like Cool Spot (1993, Sega Master System) boss battles are entirely absent.

Cool Spot (Sega Game Gear review)

Developer: Virgin Interactive Entertainment
Publisher: Virgin Interactive Entertainment
Released: 1993

Cool Spot is an action-platformer that was also released on the Sega Genesis and Sega Master System in 1993.

+ Plays remarkably well for a scaled down port, and manages to capture the look, feel and personality of the original.

+ Level design is exceptional with many unconventional themes / layouts, and the sprite animation is first-rate.

+ Plenty of lengthy stages available, and trying to collect all 100 Cool Points against the clock is endlessly compelling.

+ Being able to shoot through walls is hugely beneficial, and defeated foes don't respawn after you lose a life.

- Diagonal firing is challenging with the Game Gear's stiff d-pad, and grabbing onto ropes is consistently finicky.

- Wading Around relies on leaps of faith due to confusing background layering and your inability to see upcoming platforms.

- There's no boss battles whatsoever, and the final three stages are disappointing rehashes of previous themes.

Cool Spot (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Virgin Interactive Entertainment
Publisher: Virgin Interactive Entertainment
Released: 1993

Cool Spot is an action-platformer that was also released on the Sega Game Gear and Sega Genesis in 1993.

+ Plays remarkably well for a scaled down port, and manages to capture the look, feel and personality of the original.

+ Level design is exceptional with many unconventional themes / layouts, and the sprite animation is first-rate.

+ Plenty of lengthy stages available, and trying to collect all 100 Cool Points against the clock is endlessly compelling.

+ Being able to shoot through walls is hugely beneficial, and defeated foes don't respawn after you lose a life.

- Time limits can be harsh, and some of the more memorable levels (e.g. Loco Motive) have unfortunately been cut.

- Wading Around relies on leaps of faith due to confusing background layering and your inability to see upcoming platforms.

- There's no boss battles whatsoever, and the final three stages are disappointing rehashes of previous themes.

Cool Spot (Sega Mega Drive / Genesis review)

Developer: Virgin Games
Publisher: Virgin Games
Released: 1993

Cool Spot is an action-platformer that was also released on the Sega Game Gear and Sega Master System in 1993.

+ Level design is exceptional with many unconventional themes / layouts, and the sprite animation is first-rate.

+ Plenty of lengthy stages available, and trying to collect all 100 Cool Points against the clock is endlessly compelling.

+ Precise 8-way firing plays like Vectorman (1995, Sega Genesis), and being able to shoot through walls is hugely beneficial.

+ Unlike the SNES port (1993), defeated foes don't respawn after you die, leaving a clear path in previously contained areas.

- Some levels rely on leaps of faith due to confusing background layering and your inability to see upcoming platforms.

- Time limits can be harsh, and Spot's sluggish initial speed doesn't help when you're trying to rush to the end cage.

- There's no boss battles whatsoever, and the final three stages are disappointing rehashes of previous themes.

Baku Baku Animal (Sega Game Gear review)

Developer: Minato Giken
Publisher: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
Released: 1996

Baku Baku Animal is a falling block puzzle game that was released on numerous systems including the Sega Master System (1998).

+ Simple, addictive gameplay that refreshes the falling block genre by requiring multitasking to feed animals the correct food.

+ Excellent controls, and the cut-scenes showcase each character's personality while steadily advancing the narrative.

+ Includes a handy password feature after each round to allow you to continue progress at a later date.

- CPU opponent frequently receives perfect drops when close to defeat, which does cheapen your skilled groundwork.

- Has substantial spikes in difficulty that can be jarring, especially when they're followed by an easy 60 second win.

- In later rounds, item drops aren't always fair and you can receive an exhaustive barrage of either animal or food tiles.

- With only 19 rounds, single player is rather light on content and would have benefited from an Endless mode.

Baku Baku Animal (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Minato Giken
Publisher: Tec Toy
Released: 1998

Baku Baku Animal is a falling block puzzle game that was released on numerous systems including the Sega Game Gear (1996).

+ Simple, addictive gameplay that refreshes the falling block genre by requiring multitasking to feed animals the correct food.

+ Excellent controls, and the cut-scenes showcase each character's personality while steadily advancing the narrative.

+ Includes a handy password feature after each round to allow you to continue progress at a later date.

- CPU opponent frequently receives perfect drops when close to defeat, which does cheapen your skilled groundwork.

- Has substantial spikes in difficulty that can be jarring, especially when they're followed by an easy 60 second win.

- With only 19 rounds, single player is rather light on content and would have benefited from an Endless mode.

- Lazily, the action runs in the Game Gear's smaller 160x144 resolution, so there's not much room to manoeuvre.

Bonkers Wax Up! (Sega Game Gear review)

Developer: Al Baker & Associates
Publisher: Sega of America
Released: 1994

Bonkers Wax Up! is an action game that was ported to the Sega Master System in 1995.

+ Non-linear stage design is respectable, and the radar is super helpful for pointing you towards the next collectable pickle.

+ Has a more consistent frame-rate than the Sega Master System version, and there's a good variety of enemy types.

+ Slide attack is handy if you suddenly encounter a foe, and the game affords you multiple hits to aid progression.

- Action is mind-numbingly repetitive with only a short mine-cart section for variety, and the bosses are unimaginative.

- Enemies can suddenly respawn just out of view, leaving you wide open to damage when the camera starts to move.

- Controls are dreadful and cheap hits are abundant due to your inability to adjust in mid-air when stomping.

- Collision detection is equally as frustrating and you'll often find yourself jumping straight through items with no response.

Bonkers Wax Up! (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Al Baker & Associates
Publisher: Tec Toy
Released: 1995

Bonkers Wax Up! is an action game that was first released on the Sega Game Gear in 1994.

+ Non-linear stage design is respectable, and the radar is super helpful for pointing you towards the next collectable pickle.

+ Slide attack is handy if you suddenly encounter an enemy, and the game affords you multiple hits to aid progression.

- Action is mind-numbingly repetitive with only a short mine-cart section for variety, and the bosses are unimaginative.

- Game engine feels like it's always struggling to keep up, with constant sound, sprite and HUD glitches.

- Frame-rate is wildly inconsistent, and the abrupt speed changes are a nightmare when attempting precision platforming.

- Controls are dreadful and cheap hits are abundant due to your inability to adjust in mid-air when stomping.

- Collision detection is equally as frustrating and you'll often find yourself jumping straight through items with no response.

Dynamite Dux (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Whiteboard
Publisher: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
Released: 1990

Dynamite Dux is a beat-em-up that was originally released in the Arcade in 1988.

+ Has a nice range of weapons that are slowly introduced to keep things interesting as you advance through the levels.

+ Super Punch is a gratifying way to defeat multiple enemies and mastering it is essential for beating the tough bosses.

+ Diagonal scrolling areas help to add variety, and there's plenty of opportunities to top up your health metre.

- Despite varying scenic backdrops, the five stages feel very similar and there's no memorable moments throughout.

- Collision detection is entirely broken, with the Super Punch having the ability to hit enemies from several feet away!

- Jump kick attack is completely pointless, as you always seem to take damage whenever you attempt to use it.

- Omits characters and stages found in the Arcade original, and the two-player co-op mode is also absent.

Basketball Nightmare (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
Publisher: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
Released: 1989

Basketball Nightmare is a sports game that's exclusive to the Sega Master System.

+ Timing-based shot mechanic rewards skill, and impressively there's six different court locations available.

+ Close-up dunk animations look amazing and have much more fluidity than seen in Double Dribble (1987, NES).

- The game's main attraction is its ghoulish teams, yet in multiplayer you can only select normal human players.

- Sprite flicker and minuscule ball size make it astonishingly difficult to see who has possession during gameplay.

- A.I. is dumb, as teammates avoid defense and opponents defer wide open dunks in favour of random backcourt passes.

- CPU follows pre-set lanes, and cheap wins can be gained by blocking their path until they hand over the ball!

- B-movie music during gameplay does fit, but the short track loops endlessly and there's no option to mute it.