Game Reviews9.6/10
Mega Man 5 Polishes the Series Formula — and Adds Beat the Bird
A chronicle of Mega Man 5, wherein eight masters, a bird companion, and stages of trial prove the series holds its old promise still.
CLAY TRIBUNE / THE ARCHIVE
Category: Game Reviews
Every game we have scored, from the NES library to current releases.
Game Reviews4.5/10
Mega Man 4 Adds a Charge Shot but Plays It Safe
Mega Man 4 grants a charge shot for the Buster, yet the war against eight new robot masters feels safe and familiar throughout.
Game Reviews6.8/10
Rush Man and Proto Man Add Plenty, but the Blue Bomber’s Third Outing Trades Tight Design for Sprawl
A review of Mega Man 3, a game of new foes, a companion named Rush, and a low move, weighed against its rougher spots.
Game Reviews8.2/10
Mega Man 2 Still Sets the Standard for NES Action
A look back at Mega Man 2, whose eight robot masters and device system remain among gaming's tightest NES designs.
Game Reviews7.3/10
Before the sequels smoothed it out, Mega Man’s NES debut was already brimming with the series’ best ideas
A tale of six robot masters, one puzzle, and a hard, unkind test upon the NES, worth the playing still.
Game Reviews6.7/10
Pit Battles Through the Underworld to Free Palutena, One Brutal Vertical Stage at a Time
A hero rises from a dark realm to save a goddess above, through narrow passages and steady running stages, in this old, rough journey.
Game Reviews6.6/10
Contra on NES: Hard, Fast, and Still Standing
Two soldiers storm an alien base alone in this hard, direct shooter of forest fights and base attacks.
Game Reviews7.8/10
Castlevania III Review: Branching Paths and Three Companions Make a Harder Castle Worth Replaying — 7.8/10
A castle of two paths and three companions, wherein Dracula's curse tests courage and patience alike.
Game Reviews6.7/10
Simon’s Quest Trades Linear Stages for an Open Map, Then Buries Its Clues in Villagers’ Lies
A haunted world, a heavy burden, and clues that mislead — Castlevania II: Simon's Quest tests patience across dark lands.
Game Reviews7.4/10
Konami’s Original Whip-Cracker Earns Its Difficulty — Why the First Castlevania Remains Worth the Climb
A hunter of vampires marches through a count's ancient castle armed with a chain, in this old, harsh Konami tale of dread.