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.

Arcade Classics (Sega Game Gear review)

Developer: Al Baker & Associates
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1996

Arcade Classics is a compilation of Atari titles that was also released on the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis (1996).

+ Lots of options to customise the action, and there's even two-player modes for each game via the Gear-to-Gear cable.

+ Pong plays well and unlike the 16-bit version the paddle ricochets are much more accurate and predictable.

- Offers a measly three games and the inclusion of each is puzzling given their Paddle / Trackball controller origins.

- Redesigned Sega versions fail to add any new gameplay twists, and the graphical reskins are marginal at best.

- Centipede is painfully slow and trying to make quick adjustments to your positioning is like wading through treacle.

- Missile Command suffers from a slow ABM recharge rate, which hampers your ability to launch multiple projectiles.

- Inexplicably decides to show you the compilation credits after each game, which swiftly grows tiresome.

Arcade Classics (Sega Mega Drive / Genesis review)

Developer: Al Baker & Associates
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1996

Arcade Classics is a compilation of Atari titles that was also released on the Sega Game Gear (1996).

+ Centipede includes a two-player co-op mode and there's plenty of options in each game to customise the experience.

- Offers a measly three games and the inclusion of each is puzzling given their Paddle / Trackball controller origins.

- Redesigned Sega versions fail to add anything new apart from garish backgrounds and obnoxious sound effects.

- Centipede has graphical glitches and there's rampant slowdown when a spider appears, resulting in sluggish controls.

- Missile Command omits the iconic 'The End' screen, and the cursor either crawls along (Beginner) or jitters (Normal).

- Ultrapong is frustrating, as the ball seldom ricochets in the right direction based on where it hits the paddle.

- Inexplicably decides to show you the compilation credits after each game, which quickly grows tiresome.