Game Reviews7.6/10
Rygar: A Strange Weapon, a Stranger Premise, and a Durable NES Classic
Tecmo's 1986 arcade hit Rygar introduced the Diskarmor, a chained shield weapon. The 1987 NES port added RPG elements that shaped the Metroidvania genre.
CLAY TRIBUNE / THE ARCHIVE
Category: Game Reviews
Every game we have scored, from the NES library to current releases.
Game Reviews8.2/10
Punch-Out!!’s Fights Are Rhythm Puzzles, Not Boxing Matches
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! is a rhythm game in boxing gloves — a review of Nintendo's 1987 NES classic, its heart meter, star punches and three-loss career.
Game Reviews7.8/10
Capcom’s Little Nemo Is Beautiful, Unforgiving, and Built on a Lie
A retro review of Capcom's 1990 NES platformer Little Nemo: The Dream Master — candy, animal rides, hidden keys, and beautiful cruelty.
Game Reviews7.8/10
Konami rebuilt Salamander for the NES and gave it a new name
Konami's 1987 Life Force rebuilt Salamander with organic art and split power-up gauges. A 7.8/10 look at what the redraw costs and earns.
Game Reviews7.5/10
Kickle Cubicle Review: Irem’s Freeze-and-Kick Puzzle Gem
Kickle Cubicle review: Irem's 1988 arcade puzzle game came to NES in 1990. Freeze enemies, kick them, and solve 30 extra levels. Score: 7.5/10.
Game Reviews7.9/10
A Cozy Fairy-Tale Adventure That Asks Only for Patience
Guardian Legend is a 2019 indie RPG for PC with lovely modelling, a nostalgic fairy tale world and humorous dialogue. Single player only, scored 7.9/10.
Game Reviews7.9/10
Gradius: The 1985 Shooter That Let You Build Your Own Ship, One Capsule at a Time
Gradius hit arcades in 1985 and its power meter changed scrolling shooters forever. We review the Vic Viper classic and its NES port.
Game Reviews7.1/10
Gargoyle’s Quest II Is a Prequel That Refuses to Explain Itself
A retrospective on Gargoyle's Quest II: The Demon Darkness, Capcom's 1992 prequel starring Firebrand the gargoyle. Slow, macabre, and uncompromising. 7.1/10.
Game Reviews7.5/10
Faxanadu’s tree is worth climbing, even when the game fights back
Faxanadu brought a grim World Tree climb to the NES in 1990. A look at the Hudson Soft classic's story, mantras, and its sword-swallowing king.
Game Reviews7.5/10
The NES DuckTales Sequel That Never Made It West Until 1993
DuckTales 2 hit the NES in 1993 with non-linear levels, cane upgrades and a secret bad ending — a solid sequel that never escaped the first game's shadow.
Game Reviews7.9/10
DuckTales Review: Capcom’s Pogo-Cane Platformer Still Bounces
A retro review of Capcom's 1989 NES classic DuckTales, covering the pogo cane, five levels, hidden diamonds and the $3,000,000 cheat.
Game Reviews6.6/10
Nintendo’s Dr. Mario Was a Game & Watch Title Before It Was a Puzzle Game
A 1992 Mani Industries Dr. Mario game watch shares a name with Nintendo's classic puzzle game but almost nothing else — and a 6.6 score floats free of both.