Ms. Pac-Man (Sega Game Gear review)

Developer: Now Production
Publisher: Namco
Released: 1995

Ms. Pac-Man is a maze game that was originally released in the Arcade in 1982 as the sequel to Pac-Man (1980, Arcade).

+ Has a few exclusive mazes from Level 9, and the difficulty curve is more gradual than the Atari Lynx port (1990).

+ Unlike the Atari Lynx version, this one includes a zoomed-in camera option in addition to the full maze view.

+ Ghosts have unique behaviours and speeds, and their A.I. is incredible as you can actively watch them trying to flank you.

+ Bonus fruits bounce around the screen to raise suspense, and the extra tunnels give you more ways to escape enemies.

- Bare-bones port compared to the Sega Master System version (1991), as it's missing a large amount of mazes and modes.

- Gameplay speed is quite pedestrian throughout, and there's no option to skip the between-stage cut-scenes.

- While Pac-Man (1991, Sega Game Gear) offered competitive and turn-based multiplayer, this game only has the latter.

Ms. Pac-Man (NES review)

Developer: Now Production
Publisher: Namco Hometek
Released: 1993

Ms. Pac-Man is a maze game that was originally released in the Arcade in 1982 as the sequel to Pac-Man (1980, Arcade).

+ Ghosts have unique behaviours and speeds, and their A.I. is incredible as you can actively watch them trying to flank you.

+ Bonus fruits return, but this time with the treacherous twist of bouncing around the playfield to raise the suspense.

+ Extra tunnels have been introduced to the mazes, which is a brilliant idea that gives you multiple ways to escape foes.

- Curious port that only has a small selection of mazes and none of the additions seen on the Sega Master System (1991).

- Likewise, while Sega's 8-bit port offered co-op and competitive multiplayer, this one is turn-based only.

- Controls are often infuriatingly sticky on maze corners and the game doesn't always respond to your d-pad presses.

- Difficulty is more akin to the Atari 5200 version (1983) and the immediate challenge might deter some players.

Wagyan Land (Sega Game Gear review)

Developer: Now Production
Publisher: Namco
Released: 1991

Wagyan Land is a platformer and an enhanced port of the 1989 Nintendo Famicom title of the same name.

+ World map has multiple routes for you to explore, which is a great incentive to return for repeated attempts.

+ Enemies can be stunned to create platforms, which is a brilliant gimmick for strategically traversing the environments.

+ Later stages add a few new wrinkles to keep things fresh, including spring boots that allow you to stomp on bad guys.

+ Colourful graphics are reminiscent of Namco's Pac-Land (1984, Arcade) and there's some neat platform layering effects.

- Like Yo Noid! (1990, NES), the game has an identity crisis and doesn't stay on one idea long enough to make an impact.

- Word chain boss battles slow the gameplay down unnecessarily and it's tough for non-Japanese speakers to partake.

- Obtaining four Wagyanizers grants invincibility, but it's too overpowered and allows you to skip 60-70% of most levels.

Adventure Island 3 (NES review)

Developer: Now Production
Publisher: Hudson Soft
Released: 1992

Adventure Island 3 is an action-platformer and the sequel to 1991's NES title Adventure Island II.

+ Controls and gameplay feel as good as ever, and the level design features some fiendish layouts to test your skills.

+ Some fun boss battles, and the option to choose a playable dinosaur before each stage gives you a ton of flexibility.

+ Addition of triceratops character is a blast and being able to spin in mid-air is helpful for getting out of tricky situations.

- Minor graphical spruce-up with more background texture detail, and the overworld map makes the adventure seem grand.

- Very little in the way of series innovation and everything feels like Adventure Island 2.5 than a real sequel.

- New boomerang weapon is vastly inferior to the axe, as it leaves you in jeopardy and unable to fire until it returns.

- Difficulty spikes much quicker than the previous game, and many of the same jingles have been ported over.

Adventure Island II (NES review)

Developer: Now Production
Publisher: Hudson Soft
Released: 1991

Adventure Island II is an action-platformer and the sequel to 1988's NES title Adventure Island.

+ Dinosaurs are a great addition to spice up the gameplay and you can select whether to use them prior to each stage.

+ Bite-sized levels are the perfect length and each is well designed to challenge your skills / reactions in different ways.

+ Has some fun vertically-scrolling cloud stages, as well as levels where you can choose to travel underwater or above ground.

+ Controls are spot-on and there's a neat push/pull battle between rushing through and making sure you collect enough fruit.

+ Whimsical music compliments the scenic backdrops, and the game's difficulty curve is perfectly executed.

- Doesn't do enough to differentiate itself from the original game, and the locales / level design are very familiar.

- Heavy slowdown in later areas can affect your platforming accuracy, and the 'Choose an Egg' mini-game is lacklustre.

Splatterhouse 3 (Sega Mega Drive / Genesis review)

Developer: Now Production
Publisher: Namco
Released: 1993

Splatterhouse 3 is a side-scrolling beat-em-up and the sequel to 1992's Sega Mega Drive / Genesis exclusive Splatterhouse 2.

+ Small, but respectable range of attacks on offer, with the powerful Mutated Rick having many exclusive moves.

+ High replayability, as the game allows you to choose your route through each stage and there's four different endings.

+ Music creates a seriously creepy vibe that heightens the gameplay and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

+ Stunning graphical effects, ghoulish enemy design and cut-scenes that deepen your investment in the game's plot.

- Time limits to save your loved ones are excruciatingly short and it doesn't help that enemies take a ton of hits to defeat.

- Gets very repetitive mid-way through, as the level design is entirely devoid of any memorable set-pieces.

- Lacklustre bosses aren't even remotely intimidating and instead feature cheap attack patterns that frustrate.

Splatterhouse 2 (Sega Mega Drive / Genesis review)

Developer: Now Production
Publisher: Namco
Released: 1992

Splatterhouse 2 is a side-scrolling beat-em-up that's exclusive to Sega's 16-bit console.

+ Weapons are only available sparingly to add to the survival motif, but each one packs a punch and feels ultra satisfying.

+ Action has a rhythmic quality to its enemy / hazard placement, and the fair checkpoints help to eliminate frustration.

+ Stage IV features multiple paths where falling down a hole takes you to an underground sewer instead of an instant death pit.

+ Atmosphere is incredible from the outset thanks to the cinematic cut-scenes, creepy music and gory stage settings. 

- There's nothing here that advances the series and overall it's very similar to the original game (1988, Arcade).

- Bosses aren't particularly memorable and the eight short stages mean the game can be beaten in less than 30 minutes.

- Heavy slowdown when more than a handful of enemy sprites are on-screen, which can affect input responsiveness.