Championship Rally (NES review)

Developer: Human Entertainment
Publisher: HAL Laboratory
Released: 1991

Championship Rally is a racing game that was only released in Australia and Japan (the latter in 1992).

+ Courses are plentiful and well designed, while including many twists and turns to challenge your driving prowess.

+ Nice amount of freedom to customise your vehicle prior to each race, and you can even change tires after each lap.

+ The drift mechanic is incredibly stylish and it's always gratifying powersliding around a tricky U-shaped bend.

- Your co-driver leaves upcoming cornering instructions to the last second, which negates real use of the turbo function.

- No opponent cars are ever displayed on the track and the end result is a rather lifeless racing experience.

- Manual doesn't explain the difference between multiple tire options under one category (e.g. 'Snow' tires are called 'SN-1-4').

- The user-interface isn't particularly intuitive which leads to lots of fumbling around the menus on first boot-up.

Kabuki Quantum Fighter (NES review)

Developer: Human Entertainment
Publisher: HAL America
Released: 1991

Kabuki Quantum Fighter is an action-platformer that's exclusive to the NES.

As Colonel Scott O'Connor, you've been converted to raw data and transported into the circuits of an Earth defense computer in an attempt to stop a mutating virus. There's six levels and while your main weapon is a hair flip, power-ups such as Bombs and Dynamite can be obtained and used as long as you have enough memory chips. You can also hang onto certain platforms and swing to reach otherwise inaccessible areas. The level design is strong and while it starts off simple to get you accustomed to the controls / mechanics, it gradually opens up and introduces hazards (such as water tides) and horizontal grappling hooks. Another great feature is how certain sections allow you to choose between two paths on your way to the exit; this comes in handy once you're familiar with the stage layouts, as you can avoid some enemies by selecting the path of least resistance! It's not all roses though, as the game can be unfairly challenging; this is no more apparent than in Stage 2 with its blind leaps of faith. Things pick up in the inspired Stage 3 though, which ditches enemies almost entirely in favour of vertical, obstacle-based platforming; it's here that you fully realise how tight the controls are and there's a real joy to ploughing through the level in a style that resembles parkour. While the game is short, it does have an ace up its sleeve in that you gain a new projectile weapon after each completed level (an excellent idea for replayability). The narrative is held together by between level cut-scenes and while they're not as impressive as Ninja Gaiden (1988, NES) they do keep you invested in the overall goal.

Kabuki Quantum Fighter is a legit alternative to Ninja Gaiden and while it does draw heavy inspiration from Tecmo's classic series it has a few of its own ideas that blend in seamlessly with its high-octane gameplay. In particular, its unique power-ups and flowing level design are key features that push this into the upper echelon of NES titles.

Random trivia: If you manage to beat the game, a sound test is unlocked after the final credits.

The Firemen (SNES review)

Developer: Human Entertainment
Publisher: Human Entertainment
Released: 1995

The Firemen is a top-down action game that was only released in Europe and Japan.

A high-tech factory carrying the explosive chemical MDL has caught fire and it's up to you and your team to save the trapped workers and put out the spreading blaze. Control wise, the Y button fires a straight spray of water, B fires downwards, while X uses one of your limited extinguishing bombs that destroys flames in the surrounding area. The action could easily have become repetitive, but it does a great job of keeping you engaged by throwing in cut-scenes to tie the story together. It also slowly introduces new fire patterns and environmental hazards, forcing you to strategise and multitask. The level design is top-notch too due to its varied scenery and interesting floor layouts, and the responsive controls give you fluid 360° motion of your hose, reminding me of Simon Belmont's whip in Super Castlevania IV (1991, SNES). I also like how each stage seamlessly transitions into the next one (fully immersing you in the epic mission at hand) and the timer is fair, adding extra intensity to each stage. Your CPU teammate is usually helpful, but is annoyingly vacant when it comes to boss fights! These bosses are expertly designed with cool patterns and huge sprites in narrow quarters that make you use every trick in your arsenal! The game is short with only six stages, but it does have some replayability if you take on the extra challenge of clearing 100% of the fire in each one. This is surprisingly addictive, in large part thanks to the emotive story that hooks you into wanting to protect the trapped workers. However, the game's obvious and glaring omission is the lack of a two-player co-op mode.

The Firemen is a terrific title with great controls, interesting level design, a compelling story and gameplay that could almost be described as a shoot-em-up in disguise. While it is a shame that there's no multiplayer option, what's here is still highly enjoyable and there's plenty of variety throughout to keep you invested.

Random trivia: A prototype of the cancelled U.S. Super Nintendo version is available online and includes a few script differences.

Dance Aerobics (NES review)

Developer: Human Entertainment

Publisher: Nintendo

Released: 1989

Dance Aerobics is a rhythm game that requires the NES Power Pad.

It consists of four main options, including Dance Aerobics; here, you must follow the instructor's movements by tapping the correct buttons on the Power Pad with your hands and feet. There's eight classes in total and each allows for a limited number of mistakes. The game does a great job of easing you into the action by slowly increasing the number of reps you're required to complete in each class, allowing you to build up stamina. The exercises aren't overly strenuous, but I like how the developers switched things up to target different body parts; for instance, there are some lessons that require you to hop, stretch out to the corners, as well as squatting or sitting. What's most impressive is how accurate the Pad is in terms of verifying the split-second you lift your foot off the mat, or place it down; there's zero lag and every movement registers perfectly. It can even tell if you're not putting enough effort in during the hopping tests, as it will add a mistake if you don't leap into the air for long enough! The clear speech samples are another highlight (e.g. your instructor praises you and counts along with the required steps), giving you motivation to keep progressing. Aerobic Studios is similar except you can select a 5, 10, 15 or 20 minute routine; it doesn't offer anything new, but it's good if you fancy a longer workout. Mat Melodies tasks you with playing along to a short tune by using different notes on the Pad; it's not too interesting and there's only five tunes, but at least each is short and recognisable. Ditto challenges you to place your hands and feet in the same position as the computer; it plays like a game of Twister and it's a ton of fun scrambling to get in the correct position before time runs out!

Dance Aerobics is an unlikely hidden gem in the NES library, even if you're not particularly interested in health and fitness. The developers managed to eke out the very best from the game concept and peripheral, and the Power Pad requirement makes a huge difference in immersing you into the whole experience.

Random trivia: The Japanese version of the game was released two years earlier.