Category: Miscellaneous Arcade

Pacman

Publisher: Namco

Designer: Namco

Type: Maze

Platform: SNES

Release Date: 1980

Rating:

After a rather disastrous experience with the Atari version of Pacman, I decided to see what the SNES version was like, and whether it was any easier. Well, my judgement is that it is, though there is still the problem that Pacman can be pretty difficult to control. I guess the reason for that is because once you start him moving, he just doesn’t stop. However, with this version, I did manage to complete the first level, so I guess I can say that it is certainly better.

This game does look a lot more like the version that you would see in the arcade parlours though, and it certainly runs much better as well. The graphics do match the original game, and of course, the ghosts each have their own personality. One thing I noticed is that they don’t all pile out of their inner sanctum at once, which can make it a little tricky. It is also tricky when you find yourself snookered.

Another thing that I noticed is that the maze changes slightly as you progress up the levels. Once again, I’m not sure if that is what is supposed to happen in the original, but it certainly gives this version of the game some more flare to it. However, as I mentioned, it does happen to be difficult, especially since Pacman isn’t as controllable as one would like him to be. Yet, I guess that just adds to the thrill of the game.

Tags Arcade Classic, Maze, Misc Arcade, Retro Game, Shoot-em Up, SNES

2 out of 5 Miscellaneous Arcade Nes Platform

Adventure Island

Publisher: Hudsonsoft

Designer: Hudsonsoft

Type: Platform

Platform: NES

Release Date: 1986

Rating:

It seems as if there are just some games that certain platforms don’t get the rights to, and it seems as if Wonderboy is one of them. Yeah, this is the Nintendo version of Wonderboy, right down to the skateboard and the axe that he happens to through at the nasties. In fact, the only difference that I encountered with this game was the title.

Look, it isn’t a bad game, it is fun, and it isn’t too difficult either, and I suspect that if you plugged away at it you could actually get a rather decent way through. However, I’m not one of those people that is willing to plug away with it all that much, particularly since this isn’t really the type of game that I would spend too much time playing, beyond simply checking it out and writing this review of it.

Then again, when I was a kid I did play Wonderboy often because, well, it wasn’t too difficult, and as I’ve suggested, this is the case with this game as well. Interestingly, another version (which I have already talked about) has appeared on the Super Nintendo, which reminds me of how painful it is when you want to upgrade from one box to another. These days though, well, we have emulators, so I guess it is all good then.

So, you can find more details about it on Wikipedia, of course, but you can also find instructions, and a walkthrough, on Strategywiki. Finally, there is another review of this game on Nintendolife.

Tags Nes, Platform, Retro Game, Wonderboy

2 out of 5 Atari Maze Miscellaneous Arcade

Pacman

Publisher: Atari Inc

Designer: Atari Inc

Type: Maze

Platform: Atari 2600

Release Date: 1982

Rating:

I probably shouldn’t be too harsh on the Atari 2600 considering that it not only is an 8-bit machine, but it was also really really popular. The most common joysticks that I found when I was a kid happened to be the Atari joysticks, not that they were good mind you. In fact, they were pretty bad, and quite prone to breaking. However, let us consider this game, which ironically was the most popular game on the machine.

However, imagine driving a car when your breaks don’t work (not that I would encourage you to test it out because you are likely to cause more damage than to). Well, that is what it was like playing this game.

Honestly, I found that once I sent Pacman in a direction it was really, really hard turning corners because, well, he would just go, and go, and then run into a ghost.

Yeah, controlling this game was an absolute nightmare. Sure, maybe it was designed that way to make the game a little harder, not that I can recall playing it on any other machines, at least in the not too distant past. However, I did attempt to play this game, and it was a nightmare, even if it was simply because I couldn’t make sharp turns, stop, or avoid the ghosts.

Anyway, you can find more about this version of Pacman on Wikipedia, and there is also an entry on Pacman’s very own wiki page. Actually, as a point of note, if you type Pacman into Google, you will find a playable Pacman Google doodle.

Tags Arcade Classic, Atari 2600, Maze, Retro Game

2 out of 5 Miscellaneous Arcade SNES

Super Adventure Island

Publisher: Produce!

Designer: Yuzo Koshiro

Type: Miscellaneous Arcade

Platform: SNES

Release Date: 1992

Rating:

This game reminded me a lot of the old arcade game Wonderboy. I guess that was the intention of it, especially if Nintendo didn’t have, or didn’t want to pay for, the rights for the original game. Anyway, the game starts off with you sitting on top of a palm tree with your girlfriend when some nasty appears and takes her away. So, you decide to go an rescue her (because, well, why not?).

Yeah, pretty much right from the get-go I could see Wonderboy written all over this game, from the skateboard that you pick up, to the weapons that you collect to deal with the nasties. However, the catch is that this game is pretty hard. No, let me rephrase that, this game is really hard. Sure, getting past the first level was all well and good, but then I came to that part of games that I really, really detest, namely the parts where you have to jump onto moving platforms, and if you happen to miss these platforms, then, well its game over (not quite – you do have three lives, and an option to continue afterwards).

Yeah, I managed to get to that part, and then it was just a huge flurry of deaths that meant that I threw my controller down in disgust and went off to do something else with my time (such as writing this pointless reviews). Sure, some people are probably really good at these types of games, it just happens that I’m not one of them.

Anyway, as I tend to do, you can find out more about this game on the Wikipedia page, and here is another review you may want to consider as well.

Tags Misc Arcade, Retro Game, Wonderboy