Game Reviews8/10
Crystalis: A Post-Apocalyptic RPG That Trusts Its Systems
A retrospective on Crystalis, SNK's post-apocalyptic action RPG: four elemental swords, the Tower, and why its level gates still sting.
CLAY TRIBUNE / THE ARCHIVE
Tag: retro games
Game Reviews7.9/10
Bubble Bobble’s two-player mode turns a cute platformer into a sabotage engine
Bubble Bobble hit arcades in 1986 and never left. A retro review of Taito's two-dragon classic, its one-screen design, and Fukio Mitsuji's co-op vision.
Game Reviews7.2/10
The grappling arm is the only thing Bionic Commando gets right
Bionic Commando's no-jump grappling arm still holds up, and its 1988 NES localization kept a Hitler villain and exploding face while renaming the Nazis.
Game Reviews7.1/10
Zelda II’s reputation problem is really a design problem
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link reviewed — the side-scrolling black sheep of the series, its magic meter, Dark Link, and why it scores 7.1 of 10.
Game Reviews8.4/10
The Legend of Zelda Review: Nintendo’s 8.4-Rated Blueprint for Adventure
A retrospective on The Legend of Zelda, Nintendo's 1986 adventure that taught a generation to explore, save their progress, and trust the unknown.
Game Reviews9.2/10
Mario’s Raccoon Suit and the Level Design That Outlasted Its Console
Super Mario Bros. 3 hit Japan in 1988, not 1993 — that was the All-Stars remaster. A look at Miyamoto's stage-play platformer and why it still holds.
Game Reviews7.5/10
Mario’s Oddest Sequel Holds Up Better Than Its Reputation Suggests
A review of Super Mario Bros. 2 as remastered in Super Mario All-Stars, covering Subcon, Wart, four characters, 20 levels, and its Doki Doki Panic origins.
Game Reviews7.5/10
Ninja Gaiden II Sharpens Its Combat and Stumbles on Its Cutscenes
Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos review: Ryu Hayabusa returns on NES with wall climbing, new power items, brutal difficulty, and a weaker story.
Game Reviews7.4/10
Ninja Gaiden on the NES: Cinematic, Brilliant, and Cruel Enough to Break You
Ninja Gaiden on NES, reviewed: Tecmo's 1988 classic that pioneered cinematic cutscenes and brutal difficulty. Score: 7.4 of 10.
Game Reviews8.1/10
Metroid Review: Alone on Zebes, and Better for It
Metroid (1986) review: Samus Aran alone on Zebes, the power-up loop that invented the Metroidvania, and why the ending still lands. 8.1/10.
Game Reviews7.2/10
Mega Man 6 Sends the NES Series Out Without a New Idea in Its Head
Mega Man 6 (1993) was the NES's last 8-bit Mega Man game. Review of its Robot Masters, Rush Adaptors, Energy Balancer and 7.2/10 score.
Game Reviews9.6/10
Mega Man 5 Is Where the Series Stops Trying
Mega Man 5 hit the NES in 1992 with eight Robot Masters, Beat the bird, and the Dark Man twist, a confident high point for the classic series