Game Reviews9.5/10
A Link to the Past Still Sets the Standard for Zelda’s Overworld Design
A Link to the Past review: Nintendo's 1991 SNES classic restored the overhead view, added diagonal movement and parallel worlds, and set the standard. 9.5/10.
CLAY TRIBUNE / THE ARCHIVE
Category: Game Reviews
Every game we have scored, from the NES library to current releases.
Game Reviews9.1/10
Super Metroid’s Map Was the Real Innovation, Not Its Shooting
Super Metroid review: Nintendo R&D1's 1994 SNES classic that defined the Metroidvania genre, scored 9.1/10 for its map design and wordless ending.
Game Reviews8.5/10
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island Review: A Crayon-Drawn Departure That Works
A retro review of Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Nintendo's 1995 crayon-drawn SNES platformer starring Yoshi and Baby Mario.
Game Reviews9.2/10
Mario’s Dinosaur Sidekick Was the Real Revolution of Super Mario World
Super Mario World review: how Nintendo built the SNES platformer around Yoshi, the Cape Feather and a branching Dinosaur Land map. Score: 9.2 of 10.
Game Reviews8.4/10
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars Review — A Crossover That Shouldn’t Have Worked
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars review — Square's 1996 SNES crossover put Bowser on Mario's side, destroyed the Star Road, and scored 8.4.
Game Reviews7.4/10
Super Mario Kart Sets the Template for Every Kart Racer That Followed
Super Mario Kart launched September 1, 1992, sold 8.76 million copies, and set the template for the series. A retrospective review scoring 7.4/10.
Game Reviews8.5/10
The Whip Still Justifies the Cartridge
Super Castlevania IV review: Konami's 1991 SNES classic, its eight-direction whip, eleven levels, Mode 7, bosses, and why it still holds up.
Game Reviews7.5/10
Star Fox Is a Faithful Star Fox 64 Remake With Nothing New to Say
Star Fox returns on Switch 2 as a full remake of Star Fox 64, with new art, voice acting and mouse controls. Faithful, polished, and a third pass at the same story.
Game Reviews9.1/10
Trials of Mana rebuilds a game most of the world never got to play
Square Enix's 2020 Trials of Mana rebuilt the Japan-only Seiken Densetsu 3 for modern platforms. A review of its six heroes, three slots, and 9.1 score.
Game Reviews8.5/10
The Secret of Mana Localization Was Rushed, and the Game Shows It
A retro review of Secret of Mana, Square's 1993 action RPG: real-time combat, Ring Commands, three-player co-op, and a story that still holds up.
Game Reviews8.4/10
How Mega Man X Turned the Blue Bomber Into a Brooding Hunter
Mega Man X brought 16-bit reinvention to the series in 1993 with eight selectable stages, stolen weapons, and a darker story. Review score: 8.4/10.
Game Reviews7.4/10
Arthur’s armour falls off after one hit, and that is the whole point
Ghosts 'n Goblins, Capcom's 1985 arcade hit, is famous for brutal two-hit deaths, a ticking clock, and a fake ending that forces a second playthrough.