FIFA Football 2004 (Nokia N-Gage review)

Developer: Electronic Arts Canada, Exient Entertainment
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Released: 2003

FIFA Football 2004 is a sports game that was also released on the Game Boy Advance (2003).

+ Includes an enormous amount of competitions, teams and player licenses, and there's even a Bluetooth multiplayer mode.

+ Gameplay is much faster and more fluid than Marcel Desailly Pro Soccer (2004, Nokia N-Gage), with no player animation lag.

+ Action is easy to pick-up-and-play, button placement is well implemented, and the game engine is terrifically optimised.

+ Plenty of customisation options for managing your team, such as in-game statistics, performance charts and key players.

+ Has better presentation than Marcel Desailly Pro Soccer, including replays after goals and highlights at the end of each match.

- Teammates prefer to stand around, so you'll constantly have to switch over to control them when the ball approaches.

- No commentary during matches, and the tiny on-screen radar makes finding neighbouring teammates a guessing game.

Battlecorps (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Core Design
Publisher: Core Design
Released: 1994

Battlecorps is a first-person shooter that's exclusive to Sega's CD add-on.

+ Arms you with a good range of weapons, with each one having unique advantages depending on the situation.

+ Controls work well for controlling your mech's speed, and the anxiety of overheating your gun forces deliberate play.

- Combat is a pixelated mess (it's often tough to determine what's shooting you) and taking damage seems mandatory.

- Even with the mini-map on, navigating each stage is disorientating as the environments have little scenic variety.

- Stages are too long (with no save feature) and the draw distance is limited with foes popping in in singular frames.

- Enemies can't always be shot from distance despite being visible, forcing you to creep closer into harm's way.

- Mission 6's conveyor belt is infuriatingly clunky, and the middle part of the game rushes along with short, boring stages.

Snatcher (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Released: 1994

Snatcher is a graphic adventure game that was originally released on the PC-8801 and MSX2 in 1988.

+ Does an excellent job of narrative pacing and guiding you along, and there's nothing too cryptic that will impede progress.

+ Has some funny moments that totally break the fourth wall, including some laugh-out-loud nods to other Konami games.

+ Presentation is astounding and the atmosphere is always tense thanks to the gripping story and evocative music.

+ Sprite work is spectacular and brings the locales to life whether it's neon-filled cityscapes or gritty urban neighbourhoods.

+ Shooting gallery scenes add pulse-raising variety and play great with either the controller or the Justifier light-gun.

- Requires you to continually select the same menu item to trigger the next plot point, which can be tedious.

- Finale builds to an anticipated showdown with the main antagonist, but it resolves via a long cut-scene without player input.

N-Gage Freestyle (Nokia N-Gage review)

Developer: StormBASIC Games
Publisher: Nokia, Technobubble Entertainment
Released: 2005

N-Gage Freestyle is an extreme sports game that's exclusive to the handheld.

+ Method of unlocking jumps is clever, as some require you to reach certain criteria (e.g. beat three stages in order without failing).

+ Tricks are well animated, load times are fast, and there is mild enjoyment from finally nailing a problematic jump.

- Your sole interactivity takes place on static ground (prior to moving), yet mid-air adjustments would have been more engaging.

- Game engine isn't up to the task, as it often skips frames or stutters while you're trying to input precise button commands.

- Diagonals don't always register correctly and it's the main reason you'll fail stages despite seemingly inputting the right prompt.

- Shockingly low on content, as there's only 15 jumps available in the entire game, with each lasting mere seconds.

- Despite being a score-based title, there's no option to play against a friend or versus the CPU in competitions.

The Jungle Book (NES review)

Developer: Eurocom
Publisher: Virgin Interactive Entertainment
Released: 1994

The Jungle Book is an action-platformer that differs from the version released on the Sega Master System (1993).

+ Sprawling level design, nice animation, and the music has awesome bass tones that are reminiscent of Sunsoft's NES titles.

- Despite having ten stages, there's barely any gameplay variety and continually hunting for gems gets old rather fast.

- Timer is far too strict (resulting in memorisation to succeed), and unlike the SMS game enemies respawn when you die.

- Imprecise controls cause non-stop issues, and there's an annoying delay when crouching and then trying to fire.

- Has an unrelenting amount of instant death pits, and you'll frequently find yourself falling straight through platforms.

- Camera takes forever to pan up and down, which isn't great when you're being sniped by an enemy just out of view.

- Compared to Sega's lush 8-bit graphics, this version looks like a low-quality bootleg with muted colours and ugly sprites.

Hook (Sega Game Gear review)

Developer: Spidersoft
Publisher: Sony Imagesoft
Released: 1993

Hook is an action game that was released on numerous systems including the Sega CD and Sega Genesis in 1993.

+ Impressive port that retains much of the 16-bit's levels / gameplay feel, and the music conversion sounds excellent.

+ Weapons-based combat is satisfying, and your limited ability to fly adds depth and tension to the gameplay.

+ Responsive controls are a vast improvement over the Genesis version, and Peter no longer moves at a snail's pace.

+ Overworld map gives your quest a sense of scale, and the boss battles feature some well-designed attack patterns.

- Hit detection isn't quite dialled-in and it can sometimes feel like pot-luck as to whether you slash foes or take damage.

- Camera can't be shifted up or down, resulting in lots of blind leaps of faith that typically end in lost lives.

- Final stretch of this handheld port feels very rushed due to a number of cut stages and absent boss battles.

Hook (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Core Design
Publisher: Sony Imagesoft
Released: 1993

Hook is an action game that was released on numerous systems including the Sega Game Gear and Sega Genesis in 1993.

+ Good level design with a nice mixture of scrolling types / locales, and the narrated cut-scenes push the narrative forward.

+ Weapons-based combat has a satisfying thud, and your limited ability to fly adds depth and tension to the gameplay.

+ Overworld map gives your quest a sense of scale, and the boss battles feature some well-designed attack patterns.

- Controls are unrefined and despite the need for precise movements your directional inputs are sometimes ignored.

- Suffers from an infuriating amount of cheap hits from enemies / objects that are just out of your field of view.

- Peter Pan walks incredibly slowly and the lack of checkpoints in some areas can set you back a considerable way.

- Has long load times and the CD 'enhancements' (such as 1-2 second FMV clips) add little to the overall experience.

Hook (Sega Mega Drive / Genesis review)

Developer: Core Design
Publisher: Sony Imagesoft
Released: 1993

Hook is an action game that was released on numerous systems including the Sega CD and Sega Game Gear in 1993.

+ Level design is good with a nice mixture of scrolling types / locales, and the film's music is faithfully recreated.

+ Weapons-based combat has a satisfying thud, and your limited ability to fly adds depth and tension to the gameplay.

+ Overworld map gives your quest a sense of scale, and the boss battles feature some well-designed attack patterns.

- Stage layouts can occasionally give you the illusion of choice, while expecting you to follow a very set path.

- Controls are unrefined and despite the need for precise movements your directional inputs are sometimes ignored.

- Suffers from an infuriating amount of cheap hits from enemies / objects that are just out of your field of view.

- Peter Pan walks incredibly slowly and the lack of checkpoints in some areas can set you back a considerable way.

Comical Machine Gun Joe (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Sega R&D 2
Publisher: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
Released: 1986

Comical Machine Gun Joe is an action game that was only released in standalone format in Japan.

+ Interesting risk-reward for catching downed foes, as they provide an additional hit at the expense of slowing you down.

+ Has some very cool hidden secrets, including ones that can net you huge bonus points, or change outfits worn by bosses.

- Game only has six stages that loop, with the trade-off being sky-high difficulty that limits your ability to progress.

- One level is simply a nighttime re-skin of the Down Town stage, which reinforces the lack of content on offer.

- Nothing to keep you around once the second loop starts, as the only change is a permanent spider enemy that blocks shots.

- Bullets tend to merge into the background in the Graveyard level, causing unforeseeable deaths from enemy fire.

- Music is annoyingly repetitive and you'll hear the same brief tune incessantly throughout your play-through.

Casino Games (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Compile
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1989

Casino Games is a collection of card and arcade games that's exclusive to the Sega Master System.

+ Mix of game types caters to a wider audience, and a password option becomes available after obtaining $1000.

+ Blackjack and Poker are great for quick play sessions, and CPU opponents in the latter have 'tells' if you look closely!

+ Excellent animations / title screen artwork, as well as humorous cut-scenes once you run out of money.

- Baccarat fails to provide much entertainment, as the action unfolds automatically with no real player input.

- Pinball only has one basic table, and the floaty physics make it tough to catch the ball on a flipper or generate power shots.

- Fruit Machine is very simplistic and the inability to hold certain reels makes for unengaging gameplay in the long run.

- There's no option to turn off the short, looping music, and the game's advice after going bankrupt is questionable!

The Jungle Book (Sega Mega Drive / Genesis review)

Developer: Eurocom Entertainment Software, Virgin Interactive Entertainment, Disney Software
Publisher: Virgin Interactive Entertainment
Released: 1994

The Jungle Book is an action-platformer that was also released on the Sega Master System (1993) and Sega Game Gear (1994).

+ Lots of variety in the stage design with amazing verticality, and the Ruins levels are intense due to crumbling scenery.

+ Unlike the 8-bit versions, you don't need to collect all the gems in each scene, although doing so unlocks Bonus Levels.

+ Bosses offer a better challenge with their more comprehensive attack patterns, and the animation is top notch.

+ Addition of a jump attack opens up the combat, and the ability to switch between different weapons enhances strategy.

- Tons of instant death pits, and despite being able to move the camera up / down it doesn't always give you an ideal view.

- Some animal SFX grate, and Mowgli can no longer eliminate foes on upper or lower platforms with his weapons.

- Button presses are occasionally ignored, and the sketchy collision detection can lead to unavoidable damage.

The Jungle Book (Sega Game Gear review)

Developer: Eurocom Entertainment Software, Syrox Developments, Disney Software
Publisher: Virgin Interactive Entertainment
Released: 1994

The Jungle Book is an action-platformer that also saw release on the Sega Genesis (1994) and Sega Master System (1993).

+ Level design has interesting layouts, and there's plenty of verticality that lends itself well to the exploratory gem stages.

+ Has great graphics and playful ideas, such as being able to launch yourself off crocodile snouts to reach higher platforms.

+ Scene 8 has some awesome parkour elements where you need to string together several moves in quick succession.

+ Ability to look up / down helps to compensate for the small screen, as you can safely dispatch foes on other platforms.

- There's a small, but noticeable delay when pressing jump, and later levels have bottomless pits that rely on trial-and-error.

- In some scenes, it's not always clear what's part of the background or foreground, resulting in missed platform jumps.

- Bosses are easily destroyed by nonchalantly spamming the attack button, and the game's ending is lacklustre.

The Jungle Book (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Syrox Developments, Disney Software
Publisher: Virgin Interactive Entertainment
Released: 1993

The Jungle Book is an action-platformer that saw release on the Sega Game Gear and Sega Genesis in 1994.

+ Level design has interesting layouts, and there's plenty of verticality that lends itself well to the exploratory gem stages.

+ Has great graphics and playful ideas, such as being able to launch yourself off crocodile snouts to reach higher platforms.

+ Scene 8 has some awesome parkour elements where you need to string together several moves in quick succession.

+ Being able to pan the camera up / down is handy, as you can safely dispatch enemies on different platform levels.

- There's a small, but noticeable delay when pressing jump, and later levels have bottomless pits that rely on trial-and-error.

- In some scenes, it's not always clear what's part of the background or foreground, resulting in missed platform jumps.

- Bosses are easily destroyed by nonchalantly spamming the attack button, and the game's ending is lacklustre.

Dead Angle (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1990

Dead Angle is an action game that was first released in the Arcade in 1988.

+ Duck and cover gameplay is fun, but obtaining the Machine Gun switches things from 'hide and seek' to all-out destruction!

+ The game is very fair if you die during a boss fight, as it remembers their existing damage metre when you respawn.

+ Graphics feature detailed tile sets and large sprites, and the ending cut-scene has beautifully drawn Gothic artwork.

- Frame-rate is choppy, resulting in inconsistent hit boxes and difficulty lining up your reticle with ultra precision.

- Foes can instantly appear in the middle of the screen, defeating the object of keeping them away from your central hit box.

- Disappointingly, there's no Light Phaser support, which would have worked great in tandem with the Control Pad.

- Each playfield is tiny and there's little reason to move around as enemies typically congregate in the same areas.

Castelo Rá-Tim-Bum (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Tec Toy
Publisher: Tec Toy
Released: 1997

Castelo Rá-Tim-Bum is an action game that was only released in Brazil.

+ There's a variety of locations on offer and each screen is basically a puzzle-like mini-game, which is a neat core concept.

- However, none of the gameplay types are fleshed out and you're left with basic scenes that fail to provide any excitement.

- Certain areas rely on luck over skill, such as the burger making game where you blindly click drawers to reveal items.

- Poor collision detection, resulting in simple platforming tasks (e.g. jumping from numbers 1-12) being super frustrating.

- Final level has peculiar speed up, followed by extreme slowdown, almost as if the game engine is confused.

- Characters walk at a snail's pace and their run ability takes forever to gain momentum, making it hard to avoid damage.

- Graphics are comically bad for a 1997 release, and the lack of tile art in the sprites and backgrounds is amateurish.

Wimbledon II (Sega Master System review)

Developer: SIMS
Publisher: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
Released: 1993

Wimbledon II is a sports title and the sequel to the 1992 Sega Master System original.

+ Roster has been greatly expanded (32 compared to 16 in the original game), and you can now choose female players.

+ Gameplay is easy to master and there's a good range of shot types, as well as match customisation options.

+ More accessible than its predecessor in terms of difficulty, and the issue with constant service faults has been fixed.

+ There's now the ability to turn music off during matches, although you can select from five tracks if preferred.

- Tournament mode requires you to grind for points, meaning early matches suffer from ceaseless rallies with no power shots.

- Once again, you can only play doubles in Practice mode, which is a huge missed opportunity to increase longevity.

- Some CPU players have an oddly frequent tendency to hit serves out of the baseline, missing the court entirely!

Wimbledon (Sega Game Gear review)

Developer: SIMS
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1992

Wimbledon is a sports title that was also released on the Sega Master System in 1992.

+ Includes multiplayer Gear-to-Gear Cable support, 1P & COM doubles, and a handy tournament password option.

+ Difficulty is more approachable compared to the SMS, and you're never forced to play from the opposite side of the net.

+ Service games are much easier due to decreased faults and lets that relentlessly plague the 8-bit console version.

+ CPU players have distinct characteristics that force you to adapt, and the awful music during matches has been removed.

- While you can play doubles in Practice, the game only allows for one-on-one matches in Tournament mode.

- Doesn't feature any real world tennis players or female stars, and the decorative between-game artwork is gone.

- Stereo SFX cut in and out if using the mono speaker, and it's easy for your timing to be thrown by absent audio cues.

Wimbledon (Sega Master System review)

Developer: SIMS
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1992

Wimbledon is a sports title that was also released on the Sega Game Gear in 1992.

+ Has a neat password feature to continue tournaments, and you can even play doubles matches alongside the CPU.

+ Instead of palette swaps, CPU opponents have distinct characteristics that force you to adapt to baseline / net shots.

+ Includes excellent artwork between games, and the players have humorous animations based on how well they perform.

- Starts you with pitiful stats, and the first two tournaments are rough without the means to adequately angle cross-court shots.

- Blistering gameplay speed gives barely any time to react to incoming shots, and your sprite often moves out of camera view.

- A.I. is inconsistent, as one minute they'll return everything under the sun before forgetting to swing at a passing ball.

- Service faults are common, there's no real world players, and dreadful music plays incessantly throughout matches.

Captain Silver (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
Publisher: Sega Enterprises, Ltd., Sega of America
Released: 1988

Captain Silver is an action game that was originally released in the Arcade in 1987.

+ Japanese / European version contains the full build of the game, and increases the challenge for more satisfying combat.

+ Pirate Ship level has some nice verticality, and the Island stage is tense due to the reduced space you have on your boat.

+ Collecting all the Captain Silver letters for an extra life is addictive, and the game's checkpoints are very fair.

+ Deciding whether to buy items from the shop, or keep your gold for extra 'points' is a neat idea for high score chasers.

- U.S. release poses little challenge, omits two stages, several bosses and enemies, as has a text-only credits sequence.

- Boot item for larger jumps has limited use, and your projectiles travel straight through foes at the edge of the screen.

- Graphics aren't particularly impressive and the forgettable lead character (Jim) has no personality to connect with.

Note: Deduct a star if playing the U.S. version of the game.

Madden NFL 2005 (Tapwave Zodiac review)

Developer: Floodgate
Publisher: Mobile Digital Media
Released: 2004

Madden NFL 2005 is an American Football game that was also released on the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance (both in 2004).

+ Action is fast and fluid with a good selection of plays, and there's a number of customisation options for each match-up.

- Gameplay difficulty only allows for Pro or All Madden, and your Offensive Line seemingly have no idea how to block.

- No auto-select option for plays, and defense is tough due to the zoomed-out camera and microscopic teammates.

- A.I. is dumb and they'll often run out of bounds with clear space ahead, or let the clock expire while in field goal range.

- Front Office mode doesn't factor in a salary cap, so you can keep trading until your lineup consists of the best players!

- Generic announcer commentary is utterly pointless, and team jerseys don't always match their real-world gear.

Terminator 3 (Tapwave Zodiac review)

Developer: Artex Games
Publisher: N/A
Released: N/A

Terminator 3 is a first-person shooter that started development in 2003 before ultimately being cancelled.

+ Gameplay adopts a refreshingly slower pace and peeking around corners to dismantle enemies and turrets is nail-biting.

+ Level design is intricate with some notable moments, including stealthily avoiding the towering T1 machines.

+ Despite often requiring button combinations, the control layout is well mapped and quickly becomes second nature.

+ Graphics do a sublime job of mirroring the series' gritty landscapes, and the draw distance when zooming-in is terrific.

- First two missions are outrageously difficult (even on Easy) and the absence of checkpoints results in major trial-and-error.

- There's no music during action scenes, and invisible walls frequently block your shots through open doors.

SoulStar (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Core Design
Publisher: Core Design
Released: 1994

SoulStar is a third-person shooter that's exclusive to Sega's CD add-on.

+ Provides incentive to keep improving your skills, as certain stages are locked behind the Normal and Hard difficulties.

+ Two-player mode is a fascinating addition, as it requires teamwork to steer and fire while managing your inventory.

+ Scenic backdrops are wildly varied, and the shift from on-rails areas to full 360° movement livens up the gameplay.

+ Graphics, draw distance and scaling effects are astounding, and the game engine has barely any hint of slowdown.

+ Cinematic music always knows the perfect time to transition songs to increase the intensity during battle.

- Some areas drag on forever and the 360° stages have an excessive number of targets you need to destroy.

- Challenge is brutal from early on, and even the difficulty select area is a real hurdle due to swarms of enemies.

Double Hawk (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Sanritsu, Opera House
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1990

Double Hawk is a shooting game that's exclusive to the Sega Master System.

+ Fans of Cabal (1988, Arcade) will feel at home with the similar gameplay, and a two-player co-op mode is available.

+ Falling power-ups add a risk-reward element, and obtaining the machine gun for rapid fire is super satisfying.

+ Bosses are a joy thanks to their multi-target battles that are reminiscent of Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, Arcade).

- Gameplay is ripe for Light Phaser functionality, but the Control Pad only offering mutes a lot of the potential enjoyment.

- Your character and reticle move at an absolute snail's pace, and there's no roll mechanic to quickly get out of harm's way.

- Frequent occurrences where nothing happens on screen for ten second periods, leaving you twiddling your thumbs.

- Lack of music during gameplay hurts the atmosphere, and there's little scenic variety and too many repeated assets.

Running Battle (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1991

Running Battle is a beat-em-up that's exclusive to the Sega Master System.

+ Offers multiple continues, cut-scenes advance the narrative, and there are a couple of different endings available.

- Beat-em-up action is maddening, as your short attack range means you'll typically take damage before landing a blow.

- Level design is embarrassing as entire sections are repeated throughout all stages, and the character sprite work is poor.

- Similar to Karate Kid (1987, NES), you can bypass huge chunks of the game by simply jumping over enemies.

- Life / weapon icons frequently appear over perilous gaps, and the only way to obtain them is to lose a life.

- Doesn't allow you to use weapons against bosses, and the all-too-brief adventure can be beaten in around ten minutes.

- Intro story text doesn't stay on-screen long enough, and the anticlimactic endings don't even include a credits sequence.

Devastator (Mega CD review)

Developer: Wolf Team, Telenet Japan
Publisher: Wolf Team
Released: 1993

Devastator is an action / shoot-em-up game that was only released in Japan and South Korea.

+ Bosses are inventive and their multi-part battles will thoroughly challenge your offensive and evasive skills.

+ FMV cut-scenes are beautifully animated and are very reminiscent of those found in Road Avenger (1992, Sega CD).

- Level design is banal, particularly the opening stage which is a purely left-to-right affair with little scenic deviation.

- Shoot-em-up levels hold no excitement and the repetitive backgrounds / enemy patterns will lull you to sleep.

- Controls are too stiff and trying to make quick-second reactions is marred by an overly heavy lead character.

- Even at full weapon strength, the game makes you feel weak and the bosses can be infuriating bullet sponges.

- Graphically, there's little that takes advantage of the CD's capabilities and the action looks like a Sega Genesis title.