Nintendo Power (August 1993)

Source: Computer & Video Game Magazines – Nintendo Power – Issue Number 51 – August 1993

While I was never a subscriber, there’s no doubt that Nintendo Power was the magazine to have for Nintendo loyalists. August 1993 was just past the peak of my NES/SNES playing days as I was moving on to college (and PC gaming) but I still played from time to time. The August 1993 issue of Nintendo power includes:

Super NES

Street Fighter II Turbo – An overview and strategy guide for Street Fighter II Turbo. I was really excited about the original Street Fighter II coming out on the SNES but I honestly didn’t care much about the subsequent variants.

Zombies Ate My Neighbors – Strategy guide for this underrated game that could best be described as comedy/horror. It is an overhead action game reminiscent of Gauntlet.

Alien 3 – Guide for this game based on the movie of the same name. Not the best Alien movie…or the best game.

Goof Troop – Disney games from Capcom tended to be quite good and this one is no exception.

Nigel Mansell’s World Championship – I never played this Grand Prix racing game but it looks reminiscent of Grand Prix Racing from Accolade which I played on the Commodore 64.

Game Boy

Speedy Gonzalez – A side-scrolling platform game from Sunsoft featuring your favorite Looney Tunes mouse.

Star Trek: The Next Generation – Take command of the STTNG crew in various missions while on the go.

4-In-1 Funpak Vol. II – Includes Solitaire, Dominoes, Cribbage, and Yacht(zee). Most can be played with either one or two players.

NES

Jurassic Park – The movie was absolutely huge when it came out. It was even a huge deal when it was first shown on network television. Licensed games aren’t generally the best but this one isn’t terrible. This strategy guide will help you through it.

King’s Quest V – The King’s Quest series is better known on the PC but this conversion of King’s Quest V for the NES wasn’t too bad if you like this sort of game. This guide can be helpful…and also spoil the game.

Tips From The Pros

Nester’s Adventures – The continuing adventures of Nester. This is an ongoing comic book that puts Nester in the game.

Classified Information – Tips, cheats and codes for Double Dragon (unlimited continues), Super Valis IV (easy mode), SimEarth (sound test), Aerobiz (sound test), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV (bonus turtles), Batman Returns (extra man), Cal Ripken Jr. Baseball (all Ripken team), The Combatribes (extra credits, super hard difficulty, one round match), Deadheat Scramble (track select), and more.

Counselors’ Corner – Help with Inindo: Way of the Ninja, Road Runner’s Death Valley Rally, Ultima V, and Final Fantasy Adventure.

The Info Zone

Next Issue – Coming next month, coverage of Final Fight 2, Rock ‘N’ Roll Racing, Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade, Final Fantasy Legend III, and more.

Video Updates

Now Playing – A brief look at soon to be released games including Final Fight 2 (SNES), Super Aquatic Games (SNES), Aliens vs. Predator (SNES), First Samurai (SNES), Dracula (SNES), Goof Troop (SNES), Street Fighter II Turbo (SNES), Nigel Mansell’s World Championship (SNES), Zombies Ate My Neighbors (SNES), Super Baseball 2020 (SNES), Jurassic Park (NES), Jimmy Connors Tennis (NES), Dracula (NES), Nigen Mansell’s World Championship (NES), Goal! (Game Boy), Spider-Man 3 (Game Boy), Muhammad Ali’s Boxing (Game Boy), Tesserae (Game Boy), and Speedy Gonzales (Game Boy).

Pak Watch – Previews of games accessories still in development including Clay Fighter (SNES), F1: Pole Position (SNES), Plok (SNES), Battlecars (SNES), Power Plug (SNES), Star Trek: The Next Generation (SNES), SimAnt (SNES), Mega Man VI (NES), Final Fantasy Legend III (Game Boy), Mega Man IV (Game Boy), and more.

Player’s Forum

Player’s Pulse – Letters from readers about Blaster Master, game achievements, Star Fox, and more.

Power Player’s Challenge – High scores and other challenges for various games including Phalanx, F-Zero, Super Black Bass, Track and Field, Wave Race, Asteroids, NES Open Tournament Golf, Yoshi, Duck Tales 2, and more.

Player’s Poll Contest – Win a seven foot Alien and Ripley’s cryotube (actual prop from the movie). Other prizes include an Alien 3 video tape, Alien 3 game for the system of your choice and t-shirts.

Top 20 – The top games this month include Star Fox for the Super Nintendo, Super Mario Land 2 (Game Boy), and Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES).

Comics

Star Fox – Star Fox in comic book form.

Special Features

The Name of the Game – A look at games with the same name on different systems. Sometimes they are (basically) the same game. Sometimes they are completely different.

…and more!

Bill & Ted’s Excellent Video Game Adventure (NES)

Bill and Ted’s Excellent Video Game Adventure is a game for the NES based on the movie of (almost) the same name. For those that haven’t seen the movie, it is a comedy featuring Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter and George Carlin. If I were going to compare it to something else, I would say it is like Wayne’s World but with time travel. The movie was released in 1989 and the game in 1991. Both the game and the movie have more of 90s feel than an 80s feel to me.

The plot of the game generally resembles that of the movie. You must travel throughout time rescuing historical figures that have been stranded outside their own time. How, you might ask? Why, time bandits took them there of course. In order to make it to a life changing concert on time, you also have limited time. Seems a little odd though as you are travelling through time anyway.

This is an adventure game played from an isometric point of view in which you play as Bill or Ted depending on the level. Finding the person you are looking for involves talking to others in the game which may lead to the need to find other items to gain their trust. However, locals can be your enemy as well.

As far as reviews go, they are all over the place. Generally, the graphics and sound are good. There are also some interesting music choices with versions of Scarborough Fair and Deep Purple’s Smoke on the Water included. Criticism is generally aimed towards the game play. Overall, I would say it is a very average game but given the average dismal quality of licensed games, that’s probably high praise.

If you do want to try this game, you will have to track down an original or be content with emulation. It’s nearly impossible for licensed games to get re-made or re-released. In addition to the NES version, there are variations of this game for the Game Boy (completely different), Atari Lynx (quite a bit different), Commodore 64, DOS and Amiga. The computer versions are similar to each other but completely different than the NES version.

There are no direct sequels to this game but there was a sequel movie made called Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey which was released in 1991 and the more recent Face the Music which was released in 2020 (and I still have not seen).