Dragon Hopper (Virtual Boy review)

Developer: Intelligent Systems
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: 2026

Dragon Hopper is an action game that was cancelled in 1996, and finally released on the Nintendo Classics service in 2026.

+ Each stage is sizeable with high replayability due to the amount of collectables hidden off the beaten track.

+ Unlockable characters / abilities offer many ways to tackle stages, and magic points give the action an RPG-like element.

+ Landing consecutive bounces on enemy's heads is entertaining in a similar way to Bound High! (1996, Virtual Boy).

+ 3D effect shines and it's a joy to ascend complex environments, especially during Stage 4's cloud-based platforming.

+ Epic final level does a great job of testing your skills and endurance, and there's four slots to save your progress.

- Stage 2's vast, barren landscapes are uninspiring, and the lack of diagonal attacks makes for some awkward combat.

Anticipation (NES review)

Developer: Rare
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: 1988

Anticipation is a video board game that's exclusive to Nintendo's 8-bit home console. 

+ Includes 16 puzzle categories for longevity and the higher levels remove all hints to really test your noggin.

+ Risk-reward comes in the form of waiting to guess the answer until the dice shows the number of moves you need.

+ Timer adds a sense of urgency and the cursor moves smoothly while allowing you to cycle through letters in reverse order.

+ Allows you to battle against three CPU opponents, but the real fun comes from pitting your wits against 2-4 friends.

- A few of the drawn objects barely resemble their real-world counterparts, and some are shoehorned into unfit categories.

- Avatar is pre-determined (depending on your player number) and the game doesn't let you select from the four available.

- Light on presentational flair, and more graphical finesse could have enhanced the overall gameplay experience.

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.

Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! (NES review)

Developer: Nintendo R&D3
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: 1987

Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! is a sports game that was re-released in 1990 as Punch-Out!! (NES).

+ Boxers ooze personality and their unique attacks give the game a puzzle-like element where button mashing is punished.

+ Despite the small amount of button inputs, there's lots of strategy to each bout, as well as various secrets to uncover.

+ Learning how to earn a Star Punch from each opponent is fun, and using them wisely can lead to devastating KOs.

+ Difficulty curve is spot-on and the Circuits slowly help to improve your skills before throwing the kitchen sink at you.

+ Includes a handy password system that allows you to skip ahead to different Circuits, or battle against later opponents.

+ Iconic cut-scenes with some amazing parallax scrolling effects, and the chunky character sprites have terrific animation.

- Some boxers are repeated in later Circuits, and while they do have new attacks, a fully unique roster would have been nice.

Mario Bros. Classic Series (NES review)

Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: 1993

Mario Bros. Classic Series is an enhanced port of the 1983 Arcade title that was originally ported to the NES in 1986.

+ Controls are greatly improved over the original and allow you to deftly manoeuvre around the playfield using diagonal jumps.

+ Now includes cut-scenes when new enemy types are introduced, which builds character and strengthens the presentation.

+ Quickly forming a plan to defeat the unique enemy types in rather cramped environments is part of the games' charm.

+ POW block evens the playing field in precarious situations, and the collectable coins add a neat risk-reward element.

- Despite being an enhanced version of a 7-year-old NES game, there's no new enemy types or gameplay variations.

- Each stage features the exact same layout, and after a while you'll likely hit a fatigue wall due to repetition.

- Challenge stages task you with obtaining as many coins as possible, yet they're always located in the same places.

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.

Pro Wrestling (NES review)

Developer: Nintendo R&D3
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: 1987

Pro Wrestling is a sports game that's part of the NES Black Box series. 

+ Decent amount of moves on offer and the fact that each character has unique special attacks gives the game longevity.

+ Being able to throw your opponent over the ropes and then fight outside the ring increases your battle options.

+ Five-minute time limit per match adds urgency and forces you to play strategically and aggressively to avoid a draw.

+ Some nice crowd SFX, and the referee / cameraman help to round out the excellent overall presentation.

+ Two-player mode is addictive and the non-stop button mashing leads to many hilarious moments and bragging rights.

- Single-player is lacking in true content and the omission of any extra modes hurts its long-term appeal.

- Collision detection when attempting to execute non-grapple moves can be annoyingly inconsistent.