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  • Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde (NES)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    https://boxvsbox.tumblr.com/post/614751806539644928/jekyll-hakase-no-houma-ga-toki-jp-vs-dr-jekyll


    Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde was released for the NES by Bandai in 1988 As the name suggests, is based, albeit loosely on the famous novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. It is a farily typical side-scrolling action game common in that era. While the concept is pretty unique, the actual game play does not live up to expectations, at least if you have any at all.

    As Dr. Jekyl, you are on your way to the church to get married. However, on the way you come into contact with various townspeople, some of whom for one reason or another annoy you. When your anger meter gets too high, you turn into Mr. Hyde and enter a demon dimension…or something and you start the level from the opposite direction. This is where the “psyco-wave” touted on the box comes into play. Once you kill enough monsters, you turn back into Dr. Jekyl. The goal is to reach the church as Dr. Jekyl before or at the same time as Mr. Hyde. Otherwise, if you meet, a lightning bolt strikes and you die.

    There are six levels but oddly some of the levels differ between the Japanese and U.S. versions and some of the levels that are the same are in a different order. I’m not sure why they bothered spending time on doing that sort of thing when the time could have been better spent improving the game. While it actually sounds pretty interesting, game play is frustrating and the graphics are lackluster. It seems that games based on old novels don’t fare much better than games based on movies.

    If you do want to try this one, you’ll have to track down an original cartridge or use emulation. There are no re-releases that I know of. However, you can skip this one without missing much. The concept is original but the execution leaves something to be desired.


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  • American Gladiators

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    https://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/189446302291/httpwwwmegalextoriacomwordpressindexphpcat



    American Gladiators was a game show of sorts that aired in the U.S. between 1989 and 1996. It involved various physical challenges that took the form of a months long tournament. Specific events included things like an obstacle course, tug o war, and various other unique physical games.

    The show was fairly popular for a while so it of course spawned a video game. Released in 1991 there were really two distinct games. There was an NES version that wasn’t all that much like the TV show and took the form of a side-scrolling action game (or series of mini-games). Then there was a version for the Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Atari ST, and Amiga that was much more like the TV show. Much like the show, the player would compete in various events. In that respect, American Gladiators is somewhat similar to other multi-sports events (Decathlon, Winter Games, Summer Games, etc.) Like those games, it is best played with 2 players.

    Unfortunately, like most licensed properties seem to be, this game is really average at best. If you do want to give it a try, you’ll have to track down an original or play via emulation. Either the Sega Genesis or Super Nintendo versions are probably your best choices in terms of ease of finding and price. Plus cartridges tend to hold up a little better than disks. If you are just obsessed with American Gladiator then you may want to try the NES version too since it is a substantially different game.

    Screen shots above are from the Super Nintendo version of the game.


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  • Hudson Soft (1990)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: SWATPro – Issue Number 1 – Fall 1990



    Hudson Soft was truly one of the great video game companies. It’s origins started with personal computer byproducts all the way back in the mid 1970s but most game players would probably know them for their Nintendo games or perhaps one of the most underrated video game consoles of all time, the TurboGrafx-16 (or PC-Engine as it was known outside of North America). To be fair, it was a huge success in Japan, it’s just that it was rather underrated in the U.S.

    The ad above is from the first issue of SWAT Pro from the Fall of 1990. The TurboGrafx-16 had been released relatively recently but clearly Hudson Soft’s catalog of games for the NES was still hugely important as this ad features a whole bunch of them. I’ve played some of these but there are a couple I always really wanted to play based on their ads but still haven’t. Milon’s Secret Castle and Medel Palace come to mind. In addition to those systems, Hudson Soft developed games for many other systems over the years including the Super Nintendo, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, Xbox 360, etc. Some of these were developed for other publishers. For instance, Hudson Soft was responsible for the development of Mario Party 1-8 (and 9 was developed primarily by former Hudson Soft employees).

    Hudson Soft was bought out by Konami in 2012 so Hudson Soft does not exist any more. Konami has the rights to Hudson Soft’s back catalog but unfortunately haven’t done a whole lot with it besides some Virtual Console releases.


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