Taz-Mania (Sega Game Gear review)

Developer: NuFX
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1992

Taz-Mania is an action game that's exclusive to Sega's 8-bit handheld.

+ Gameplay has some solid ideas (with minor puzzle elements thrown in) and there's plenty of variety on offer.

+ Bosses are fun, especially the final battle that requires you to reach the top like Donkey Kong (1981, Arcade).

- Most of the gameplay ideas are poorly executed and don't last long enough to build upon their core concepts.

- Contains only a handful of generic enemies and the graphics lack detail while littering the stages with garish colour schemes.

- Jumping commands are sometimes ignored, and Taz will often perform a small leap despite you holding the button down.

- Music is absolutely atrocious and instead of memorable melodies you'll hear tracks that resemble fire alarms.

- As a whole, the game feels very unpolished and even seeing things through to the ending is a let-down.