Tetris (NES review)

Developer: Nintendo R&D1
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: 1989

Tetris is a puzzle game that was also released on the Nintendo Game Boy in 1989.

+ Type-A is an endurance mode that's both hypnotically relaxing and maddeningly stressful, which is a captivating balance.

+ Type-B is an excellent way to test your problem-solving abilities, as you can set the speed and block height beforehand.

+ Controls are simple but effective, and learning to clear four lines in one move is a skill that's fun to master.

+ Music cleverly speeds up when blocks start to rise toward the top, which increases the urgency and intensity.

+ A neat feature is how the game calculates the different block shapes you've had to withstand throughout each attempt.

+ Cute cut-scenes vary depending on your final score, and the three selectable music tracks are instantly catchy.

- Lack of a two-player competitive mode is a real missed opportunity to increase the game's appeal and longevity.

Devil World (NES review)

Developer: Nintendo R&D1, Intelligent Systems
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: 1987

Devil World is a single-screen action game that takes some cues from Pac-Man (1980, Arcade).

+ Does enough to differentiate itself from its inspiration, and its deceptively simple premise hides a much deeper foundation.

+ Assorted mechanics all work together beautifully and create tension-filled, multi-layered gameplay.

+ Moving playfield is similar to Squish (1986, Game & Watch), and it's fun having to constantly re-evaluate your tactics.

+ Bonus items are a clever risk-reward idea, as while they gain you points they also temporarily stop you in your tracks.

+ Above-average graphics for the time, excellent Black Box style jingles, and the two-player mode is a nice addition.

- Would have benefited from a few additional stage layouts, as despite the enjoyable gameplay it does get repetitive.

- Bonus Rounds give chances to earn extra lives, but there's little deviation from the main stages and they lack imagination.

Clu Clu Land (NES review)

Developer: Nintendo R&D1
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: 1985

Clu Clu Land is an action-maze game that's part of the NES Black Box series.

A pattern of gold bars have been hidden by the evil Sea Urchin and it's up to you to find them before time runs out. Movement is controlled by hooking your hand around a turn post (or by hitting a wall / rubber trap) and enemies can be defeated with your electric shock waves. Initially, the controls are a bit of a nightmare to get used to, as you can't just move your character as in Pac-Man (1980, Arcades); instead you need to rely on momentum and timing as you swing around turn posts which isn't exactly intuitive. However, once you do become more accustomed to the controls you start to realise that the gameplay is actually very thoughtfully and cleverly designed to keep you multitasking at all times; there's always so much to think about and with the ticking clock and respawning enemies it really does force you to react quickly and strategically. One feature I did like is that you can pause the game to check your progress on the required gold bar pattern; this comes in handy when the clock is ticking and you just need to visualise what's missing without the threat of incoming enemies. The four stages do a good job of implementing new ideas to keep things fresh and I particularly like Stage 3's side exits that warp you to the other side of the screen. The biggest issue though is that there's only four stage layouts (discounting the intro stage which only appears once per game). While they each have interesting core mechanics and the patterns alter throughout, there's simply not enough variation and when compared to the 100 levels found in Wrecking Crew (1985, NES) it's hard not to feel short-changed.

Clu Clu Land's unconventional control scheme makes it tough to ease yourself into, but once you adjust there's definitely some fun to be had with its uniquely strategic gameplay. The lack of stage layouts is a legitimate complaint though and it's doubtful that it has much long-term appeal past a handful of play-throughs.

Random trivia: The 2002 Nintendo GameCube title Animal Crossing featured Clu Clu Land as an unlockable game.

Ice Climber (NES review)

Developer: Nintendo R&D1
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: 1985

Ice Climber is an action-platformer that was part of the Black Box series of games.

Supporting 1-2 players (co-op), the objective is to use a hammer to break the arctic ice above you and then climb to the top of the mountain. There's 32 mountains to conquer and various enemies such as polar bears and condors try to stop you from succeeding. The controls are easily the biggest sticking point, as they're incredibly stiff and don't provide you with the finesse needed to react in an efficient and reliable manner. Similar to Psycho Fox (1989, Sega Master System), movement relies on momentum so your character always requires a run-up; however, the inputs aren't particularly responsive and you don't have much control over mid-air adjustments leading to many missed platforms and lost lives. The collision detection isn't the best either, as you'll often leap straight through the edge of a platform. Where the game does shine though is in its ever-changing level design, as with such a simple concept, the idea of leaping vertically ad nauseam could easily have become monotonous; instead, new layouts and mechanics (such as moving floors and enemies that bridge ice gaps you've created) are introduced to keep you guessing, in turn, helping to improve your skills and on-the-fly decision making. I also like how you can choose any of the 32 mountains at any time, as it allows less skilled players to at least see what the game has to offer, while giving pros a chance to skip ahead to more challenging levels. The music features the primitive Black Box style tunes you'd expect from the era, but the melodies here are very catchy and do a great job complimenting the on-screen action perfectly.

Ice Climber is a decent game for short bursts thanks to its above-average level design, but the fickle controls do ruin some of the fun. Also, while the core mechanic is solid, it's not enough to sustain an entire game, and when you factor in the title's short length it's doubtful that many people will want to return for repeated play-throughs.

Random trivia: In 2004, Ice Climber was re-released on the Game Boy Advance as part of the Classic NES Series.

Metroid (NES review)

Developer: Nintendo R&D1, Intelligent Systems
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: 1987

Metroid is an action-adventure game that was originally released on the Famicom Disk System in 1986.

Playing as a space hunter named Samus Aran, your mission is to penetrate the fortress planet Zebes and destroy the Mother Brain. Initially, you're armed only with a Beam, but additional weapons and abilities (such as Missiles and a High Jump) can be obtained. Where the game excels is in its level design, and the amount of unique areas is impressive. I also like how many secrets are littered throughout the fortress, as it encourages you to explore and use recently acquired items to your advantage (e.g. using Bombs to blast holes in the floor). A huge and obvious omission is an in-game map... certainly not ideal in a game this large and I'd highly recommend using an online map to guide you! Saying that, while a lot of backtracking is required it's actually quite satisfying to do so once you know the correct route, and most of that is due to being able to use your new powerful weapons on previously formidable foes! The Ice Beam is a particular highlight and I really enjoy its different uses that affect the gameplay style. For example, you can choose to blast enemies to dispose of them, or temporarily freeze them into a makeshift platform to reach higher areas; this opens up the level design in a grander fashion. The game is tough, but thankfully there are opportunities in pretty much every screen to pick up energy or items by defeating enemies. There is a ton of slowdown when too many sprites are on screen though, something you'll see all too often. The music is very minimalist which creates a dark, brooding atmosphere that lends itself perfectly to making you feel isolated and alone.

Metroid is a game that was well ahead of its time and its huge world and open-ended nature shows how developers were beginning to push the NES console in fresh and exciting ways. It's a shame then that it's not particularly accessible to new players today, and the lack of an in-game map is a real head scratcher.

Random trivia: There's multiple endings depending on how quickly you beat the game.

Mach Rider (NES review)

Developer: Nintendo R&D1, HAL Laboratory
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: 1985

Mach Rider is a vehicular combat-racing game that was part of the NES Black Box series.

In the year 2112, Earth has been invaded by evil forces and it's your job to rescue all survivors. The modes on offer are Fighting (split into ten sectors where you must reach the checkpoint before time expires and without running out of energy), Endurance (reach certain distances before time expires), Solo (similar to Endurance, but with no enemies) and Design (create your own courses). The A button accelerates, while B fires your machine gun that can destroy enemy vehicles and some roadside objects; however, rocks and balls are immune to bullets so they must be dodged. With driving being a key component, the poor implementation is puzzling and most of your time will be spent swerving like a madman in an attempt to avoid crashing for the millionth time. Cornering is the worst offender due to the dodgy side-camera angles that don't follow the road on bends (stopping you from seeing what's actually in front of you). This results in non-stop blind corners and tons of unavoidable collisions where rocks appear from nowhere. The obvious thing would be to slow down, but fellow riders are constantly on your heels and will destroy your bike if you move out of top gear. What follows is some aggravating and unfair gameplay that favours dumb luck over twitch-based skill. The choppy frame-rate doesn't help matters either and trying to make precise movements is nigh-on impossible. It's disappointing as the core concept is appealing and some of the ideas (e.g. the cool rear view camera) are cutting edge. The ability to create your own courses is great, but again the dire gameplay makes it a moot point.

Mach Rider is an innovative title that tries to combine several genres, but shamefully fails to master even a single one of them. The controls, racing and combat are littered with rampant programming issues and the feeling of never being in control is tough to ignore in a game that requires razor-sharp accuracy.

Random trivia: The game was later re-released on the Virtual Console for the Wii (2007), 3DS (2013) and Wii U (2014).

Wrecking Crew (NES review)

Developer: Nintendo R&D1

Publisher: Nintendo

Released: 1985

 

Wrecking Crew is an action game that was released as part of the NES Black Box series.

It contains 100 stages and the objective in each is to demolish the flashing walls, doors and ladders using Mario or Luigi's hammer. The foreman Spike tries to impede your progress, and if an enemy or fireball touches you you'll lose a life. While you can't directly attack opponents, you can knock down pillars to capture them in drums, or send them to the bottom of the level by blowing up dynamite. What might initially seem like a pure action title is just as much of a puzzler, which adds to its depth and stops it from being a mindless destruction game. The clever and intricate stages start off basic, but eventually morph into larger areas; I particularly like those that require you to use dynamite to drop platforms and then destroy a previously unbreakable wall. Other enjoyable stages play like a game of dominos, as you hit one beam and watch as carnage happens around you! Some levels can feel impossibly difficult to start with, but with persistence there's usually a snigger-inducing way to blow up a row of enemies and make your life a whole lot easier. Similarly, it's always fun to smash a supporting beam and watch a drum land directly onto a bad guy! Enemies attack non-stop, and the fact that they're always hot on your heels (with no direct way to attack them) gives the game an intense, claustrophobic feel that's perfect for an Arcade style title. The game can be incredibly tough at times, but the ability to select any level from the title screen lessens some of the frustration. The Design mode also allows you to create up to four stages; it's a fantastic addition but unfortunately the Save/Load feature doesn't work.

 

Wrecking Crew is a unique game that manages to successfully blend action and puzzle elements into a fun, cohesive whole. It does get a bit repetitive after a while, but there's a ton of content here and the ability to choose any level, at any time, makes it a great game to return to.

  

 

 

Random trivia: The Save/Load feature works on the Famicom version if used alongside the Data Recorder.