Atari Masterpieces Vol. 2 (Nokia N-Gage review)

Developer: Digital Eclipse
Publisher: Atari Interactive
Released: 2006

Atari Masterpieces Vol. 2 is a compilation of Arcade games and the follow-up to Atari Masterpieces Vol. I (2005, Nokia N-Gage).

+ Plenty of options to customise the controls and game settings, and features a video interview with Nolan Bushnell for historical context. 

+ Centipede plays surprisingly well and the fast-paced gameplay is entertaining with little in the way of compromise for the smaller screen.

+ Includes an excellent port of Tempest with awesome rapid-fire abilities and various playfield shapes to spice things up.

- Crystal Castles features an incredibly zoomed-out camera that makes it tough to accurately collect gems and turn corners with finesse.

- Liberator is barely functional, as it's almost impossible to see the minuscule enemies against the coloured backdrop.

- Pong and Warlords don't benefit from the transition to d-pad movement, as without a paddle, precision manoeuvres just aren't possible.

- Likewise, Asteroids Deluxe and Space Duel struggle with micro-control adjustments, and you'll often miss enemies right in front of you.

Battletoads (NES review)

Developer: Rare
Publisher: Tradewest
Released: 1991

Battletoads is an action game that was later released on the Sega Game Gear and Sega Mega Drive in 1993.

+ Graphics are fantastic with some beautiful pixel art and cut-scenes that feature huge sprite work.

+ Packs in an enormous amount of gameplay variety, which acts as an incentive to keep grinding to the next stage.

+ Fans of Super Meat Boy (2010, Xbox 360) will find lots to love thanks to the brutal challenge that demands perfection.

- However, it relies too heavily on trial-and-error and mercilessly drops in new mechanics with no prior learning.

- Entire game basically revolves around having to react to hazards up ahead that you have no visibility of until the last second.

- Collision detection is suspect and the clunky controls don't offer the level of precision required to counteract the difficulty.

- Many levels outstay their welcome by dragging on for far too long, which negates any real fun they may hold.

Snakes (Nokia N-Gage review)

Developer: IOMO
Publisher: Nokia
Released: 2005

Snakes is an action game and an updated version of Snake (1998) that came preloaded on Nokia mobile phones.

+ Bite-sized levels are perfect for handheld play and your progress is automatically saved so you can continue at a later date.

+ Does a terrific job of gradually introducing new mechanics and items to spice things up and stop repetition from creeping in.

+ Hexagon grids add a new wrinkle, as they require you to retrain your brain and make sure to account for extra d-pad presses to turn.

+ Strikes a perfect balance of being hypnotically relaxing (especially with its ambient music), while also pushing you to beat the clock.

+ Multiple camera angles to choose from (including a cool overhead view) and the Bluetooth multiplayer mode ensures longevity.

- Slight, but noticeable delay between pressing a direction and your snake performing that action, which can cause unwanted collisions.

- Frame-rate occasionally stutters, and the levels can feel very rigid in the way you're expected to beat them.

Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster's Hidden Treasure (Sega Mega Drive / Genesis review)

Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Released: 1993

Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster's Hidden Treasure is a platformer that's exclusive to Sega's 16-bit console.

+ Interesting stage layouts and each typically features areas below ground, as well as in the sky for more perilous platforming.

+ Unconventional level design ideas, such as being able to immediately see the exit, yet needing to work out the correct route.

+ Map / secret exits resemble Super Mario World (1991, SNES) and the wall jump mechanic is great for avoiding hazards.

+ Excellent controls allow you to carefully manoeuvre in mid-air, as well as being able to adjust your vertical jumping distance.

+ Packs a decent challenge, but special attacks even the odds and can be stockpiled throughout each level for strategic use.

- Map screen could be a little clearer and more immediately intuitive in showing you which levels you've beaten / not unlocked.

- Boss battles are rather unimaginative and task you with repeating the same basic attack pattern several times to advance.

Val D'Isere Skiing and Snowboarding (Atari Jaguar review)

Developer: Virtual Studio
Publisher: Atari Corporation
Released: 1994

Val D'Isere Skiing and Snowboarding is a winter sports game and a conversion of Val d'Isère Championship (1994, SNES).

+ Includes three race types, but the checkpoint-based (and fairly extensive) Free Run mode is the star of the show.

+ Action has a good sense of speed and once courses are memorised there's a certain rhythmic quality to the gameplay.

- Infuriatingly tough to stay on track due to minimal arrow signage / barriers and the rolling hills that obscure your vision.

- Camera is positioned too low to the ground, and you can't always see upcoming flags as you're reaching a hill peak.

- No option to battle simultaneously against CPU opponents, so the entirety of the action is a rather isolating experience.

- Game has no personality, and even your fellow opponents are represented by text names instead of avatars.

- Looks and sounds like a 16-bit SNES title, and there's little that takes advantage of the Jaguar's 64-bit power.

Bubsy in: Fractured Furry Tales (Atari Jaguar review)

Developer: Imagitec Design
Publisher: Atari Corporation
Released: 1994

Bubsy in: Fractured Furry Tales is a platformer that's exclusive to the Atari Jaguar.

+ Levels are huge with many twists and turns, and there's a password option to continue your progress at a later date.

- However, there's no map or clear direction from the stage design, resulting in aimless wandering and backtracking.

- Controls are atrociously unresponsive, and Bubsy constantly feels like he has a weight pulling him backwards.

- Dreadful collision detection (e.g. you'll often fall through platforms) and enemy placement is rage inducing.

- Gameplay seems like it wants to mimic the speed of Sonic (1991, Sega Genesis), but there's too many instant death traps.

- Camera never shows you the best view of the action and you often need to be at the edge of the screen for it to scroll.

- World 1 music sounds out-of-place and evokes a far too serious and downbeat tone for a whimsical platformer.

Sega Rally Championship (Nokia N-Gage review)

Developer: Hitmaker
Publisher: Sega
Released: 2004

Sega Rally Championship is a racing game that was only released in Australia.

+ More scenic variety and courses compared to the original game (1995, Arcade), as well as an increase in the number of cars.

+ Shows you the road surface conditions prior to each race and provides you with an option to fine-tune your vehicle accordingly.

- Frame-rate is low and trying to make precise movements with your car is nigh-on impossible as it's overly-sensitive and jittery.

- Cars don't feel like they're connected to the road and slide around corners in an unrealistic fashion, while missing lots of animation frames.

- No real penalty for crashing into side barriers, and although your speedometer decreases, rival cars up ahead will rarely pull away.

- Gameplay is severely lacking in speed and when you're in the middle of a race you'll notice little variance between 60 mph and 110 mph.

- While most stages look semi-decent, the Sandstorm course resembles a developer test area, as it's incredibly barren and unpolished.

Sega Rally Championship (Sega Saturn review)

Developer: Sega AM3, Sega CS3
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1995

Sega Rally Championship is a racing game that was first released in the Arcade in 1995.

+ Cool scenic views and well-designed courses that steadily increase in challenge as you move through the Championship.

+ For an early 32-bit game, it's seriously impressive how cars handle differently based on the type of surface being driven on.

+ Screeching around corners is endlessly entertaining thanks to the impeccable car handling and blistering speed.

+ Co-driver does a good job giving plenty of notice as to what lies ahead, and the overall draw distance is respectable.

+ Includes a multiplayer mode and you can fine-tune cars to your liking (e.g. handling, tires and suspension).

- Only four short courses in the entire game, so unless you're interested in two-player mode longevity is questionable.

- Completing the game in first place requires an almost perfect run, which might put off some casual players.

Strahl (3DO review)

Developer: Media Entertainment
Publisher: Panasonic
Released: 1994

Strahl is a Full Motion Video (FMV) game that was first released on the Pioneer LaserActive in 1993.

+ Allows you to select the order in which you tackle the stages, which is excellent for learning the ropes.

+ Gorgeous anime visuals and animation with some terrific fight sequences, and there's a whopping 48 different endings.

- Gameplay is very easy (with no difficulty options) and you'll likely be watching the end credits within 30 minutes.

- There's no penalty for hitting the wrong input, which defeats the object of a quick-time, reaction-based game.

- On-screen button prompts don't usually match up with the FMV, and as a result you don't always feel part of the action.

- Video footage is overexposed, which washes out some detail and makes the button commands harder to see.

- Art design is inconsistent with its varying styles, and the static cut-scenes aren't an engaging method of storytelling.

Burning Soldier (3DO review)

Developer: Genki Co., Ltd.
Publisher: Panasonic
Released: 1994

Burning Soldier is a Full Motion Video (FMV) rail shooter that was also released on Windows (1998).

+ Locales are varied and see you battling closer to ground, in the sky, and even inside claustrophobic enemy quarters.

+ Similar to Panzer Dragoon (1995, Sega Saturn), your secondary attack can lock onto several enemies at once.

+ Includes a two-player co-op mode, along with a reasonable difficulty curve that provides you with infinite continues.

+ Presentation is outstanding and there's a large amount of cut-scenes, as well as up-tempo music to raise the intensity.

- D-pad isn't quite accurate enough to reward skilled play and cheap hits can occur due to jittery reticle movement. 

- Refraining from shooting to revive your shield adds risk-reward, but the charge rate is too slow to be effective.

- In-game voiceovers are very low in the mix, which makes it hard to follow orders and become invested in the overall plot.

Slam 'N Jam '95 (3DO review)

Developer: Left Field Productions
Publisher: Crystal Dynamics
Released: 1995

Slam 'N Jam '95 is a basketball game that's exclusive to the 3DO.

+ Arcade-style gameplay is fast and enjoyable, and your season progress / individual stats for each player are saved.

+ Ability to customise a full season is excellent, and you can even choose to condense things by only playing each team once.

+ Controls are intuitive, and there's an immense amount of satisfaction to be had from running ISOs and setting screens.

+ Graphics are stunning thanks to cool scaling effects, and the players have lots of personality with their on-court reactions.

+ Enthusiastic commentary resembles NBA Jam (1993, Arcade) and the SFX do a terrific job of enhancing the atmosphere.

- Defense can be tricky, as your teammates are useless and the zoomed-in camera doesn't give you a good half-court view.

- No NBA teams or player licenses, and the CPU doesn't always intelligently use the clock at the end of a quarter.

Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball (Sega Game Gear review)

Developer: Sega Interactive Development Division
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1994

Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball is a pinball game that was also released on the Sega Mega Drive (1993) and Sega Master System (1995).

+ D-pad can be used once Sonic is airborne to gently guide him toward another flipper, or in the vicinity of a platform edge.

+ Fewer death traps than the 16-bit version, and some exclusive items such as giant red springs that launch you into the air.

+ Bonus Round is a fun diversion, as you have to sprint around and collect as many rings as possible within 90 seconds.

- Floaty physics result in very unrealistic flipper movement, and Sonic's on-foot controls feel slightly delayed.

- First stage gets things off to a bad start with confusing level design and unclear pathways to the next part of the table.

- Apart from the finale, the bosses are incredibly easy and unmemorable, and there's only four stages in the game.

- Some unfortunate game-breaking bugs, including areas where your sprite can become stuck on the scenery.