Super Metroid
Published by: Nintendo
Developed by: Nintendo
Genre: Action
Adventure
Number of Players: 1
Original Release Date: December 31, 1994
Console: SNES
MSRP: 800 ($8.00)
Hailed as one of the best 2D adventures ever, Nintendo's sci-fi epic still provides one of the most thought out and
intriguing gameplay experiences around. Players once again slip into the role of galactic bounty hunter Samus Aran and in
an interesting twist on the previous games, attempt to retrieve the last surviving Metroid. Ranging from extensive platform
challenges to gigantic boss battles to a comprehensive power- up system, Super Metroid has attained a divine place in the
hearts of longtime gamers. Certainly, it stands as something players and developers can idolize for years to come.
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
Published by: Nintendo
Developed by: Rare
Genre: Platformer
Number of Players: 1-2
Original Release Date: January 1, 1995
Console: SNES
MSRP: 800 ($8.00)
In the sequel to the immensely popular Donkey
Kong Country™, Diddy Kong® gets the spotlight, along with his girlfriend, Dixie Kong™ - a great little monkey
with a dangerous ponytail. The action starts on the wreck of King K. Rool's Gangplank Galleon that has apparently broken up
on a reef offshore from the Kremlings' Island. Diddy
and his friends will have to work together to rescue Donkey Kong®, exploring all the hidden areas of the Kremlings' island:
a spooky haunted forest, treacherous swamps, a giant beehive oozing with sticky honey and lava-filled caves, just to name
a few.
Kirby's Adventure
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Platformer
Number of Players: 1
Release Date: May 1, 1993
Console: NES
Points: 500 ($5.00)
Not everything is well in Dream Land. For some mysterious reason, the
Dream Spring, a magical well that is the reservoir for all the dreams of the citizens of Dream Land, is no longer working. Everyone
is being subjected to their worst nightmares every time they go to sleep. Upon reaching the Dream Spring, Kirby finds out
that evil King Dedede has stolen the Star Rod, thus depriving Dream
Land of the magical energy that feeds its spring. Using 20 unique tricks
and your ability to steal your enemies' powers by swallowing them, you'll have to make your way through a horrific land filled
with all kinds of nightmares. Recover the broken pieces of the Star Rod, and everyone in Dream Land will sleep peacefully once again.
If you fail, the citizens of Dream Land
will be subjected to a lifetime of terrible nightmares.
Streets of Rage 2
Published by: SEGA
Developed by: SEGA-AM7
Genre: Action
Number of Players: 1-2
Original Release Date: December 30, 1992
Console: SEGA
MSRP: 800 ($8.00)
To celebrate their defeat of the Syndicate
exactly one year before, Blaze, Adam and Axel met for drinks. The next morning, Axel received a frantic phone call from Eddie
"Skate" Hunter, Adam's younger brother, whom he was living with on the edge of the city. Blaze and Axel found Adam and Skate's
house wrecked, and a picture showing Adam chained up at the feet of Mr. X. The city then once again returned to its nightmarish
state as criminals ran rampant. Unable to contact their old friend in artillery, Axel and Blaze team up with Skate and Max
Thunder to free the city and rescue Adam from the Syndicate. It is up to you to take down Mr. X once and for all.
The sequel to Sega's classic beat-em-up, with
design by Team Shinobi and featuring a classic soundtrack by Yuzo Koshiro. This game upped the ante with twice as much graphic
power (the original cartridge was a full 16-mega cart), completely redone graphics and animation, two new characters, more
moves, and a one-on-one Duel combat arena.
Ninja
Gaiden
Published by: Tecmo
Genre: Action
Number of Players: 1
Original Release Date: May 1, 1989
Console: NES
MSRP: 500 ($5.00)
Players take on the role of Ryu Hayabusa, a
rising warrior in his family's clan whose main role in the world is to protect the Dark Dragon Blade from falling into the
hands of evil. Ryu travels to America to seek vengeance for his father's death. Players fight their way through 14 challenging side-scrolling
levels while defeating gangs of street thugs, battling evil ninjas and fighting barbarian bosses by using the deadly Dragon
Sword, ninja skills and Ninpo (ninja magic). Players can run, crouch, jump and climb as they make their way through each stage
and collect items to gain points, strength and weapons.
Star Fox 64
Published
by: Nintendo
Developed
by: Nintendo EAD
Genre: Flight Action
Number
of Players: 1-4
Release Date: July 1, 1997
MSRP: 1000 ($10.00)
Players
take the controls of their Arwing and complete 15 missions to reach the final objective: a showdown on Venom, the home planet
of the interplanetary tyrant, Andross. Throughout the adventure, players have to accomplish challenging objectives in order
to reach and conquer every mission. Skim over the surface of an alien sea, weave through the concrete canyons of a futuristic
metropolis or dodge planetoids the size of mountains. Between missions, players will be treated to real-time 3-D movies that
progress the story of the Star Fox team of space mercenaries in their struggle against thevil ape emperor, Andross.
Mario Kart 64
Published
by: Nintendo
Developed
by: Nintendo
Genre: Racing Action
Number
of Players: 1-4
Release Date: February 10, 1997
MSRP: 1000 ($10.00)
Though
the single-player mode is a bit of a step back from the SNES original, Mario Kart 64 still offers one of the best multiplayer
experiences to be had on Nintendo 64. Like its predecessor, the title is once again a kart race featuring classic Nintendo
mascots. This time around players can race as everybody from Mario himself to Luigi, Bowser, the Princess, Yoshi, Donkey Kong
and Wario. Mario Kart 64 features a good selection of straightforward single-player levels that allow players to sabotage
computer controlled opponents on the roadside with various power-up bonuses. But the main attraction is the addictive multiplayer
mode in which up to four players can battle against each other through several arena-style environments.
Contra III:
Alien Wars
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Genre: Action
Number of Players: 1-2
Original Release
Date: June 1, 1992
Console: SNES
Points: 800 ($8.00)
It's the year 2636, and the Notorious One is
about to unleash an onslaught of epic proportions. It's up to you, as a brave commando, to fight back with your impressive
arsenal of super-powered weapons and keep the peace. The game is played from both a side and top-down perspective, and the
environments are rich in detail and intensity. You'll do battle against an alien armada made up of Mutant Megasquitos and
Psycho Cyclers as you work your way through six grueling stages. If you're feeling a bit overwhelmed by the hordes of enemy
attackers, have a friend join you and battle evil together. The enemies are mean, the graphics are awesome, and the action
is non-stop in this third installment of the CONTRA series.
Comix Zone
Published by: SEGA
Developed by: SEGA
Genre: Action
Number of Players: 1
Original Release Date: January 1, 1996
Console: SEGA Genesis
Points: 800 ($8.00)
Sketch Turner is an artist in New York City. One day while Sketch is drawing, there is a huge thunderstorm and a bolt of
lightning hits Sketch's image, bringing it to life. That image is Mortus, a megalomaniac mutant who wants to become real and
rule the earth. Mortus magically transports Sketch into the pages of his comic book so that he can end his creator's life
and become real. Inside the comic book, Sketch meets General Alissa Cyan, who believes he is a superhero that came to save
their post-apocalyptic world from the evil brought by Mortus' hand. Now Sketch must save the comic book world and get back
to his own...
Gunstar Heroes
Published by: SEGA
Developed by: Treasure
Genre: Action
Number of Players: 1-2
Original Release Date: May 26, 1997
Console: SEGA Genesis
Points: 800 ($8.00)
Easily one of the greatest shooting titles
from any generation, Gunstar Heroes set new standards for the genre and helped define the 16-bit generation with its incredible
graphics, overwhelming challenge, and intense level of action. Not only did the game provide one of the most adaptable weapon
systems around, it also boasted some of the most amazing boss characters from the time period; not to mention a terrific art
style and technological brilliance matched by few others.
Bomberman
'93
Published by: Hudson
Soft
Developed by: Hudson
Soft
Genre: Puzzle Action
Number of Players: 1-5
Original Release Date: June 1, 1993
Console: TurboGrafx-16
Points: 600 ($6.00)
Bomberman '93 is the exciting, powered-up version
that followed the original Bomberman! With 6 rounds, each containing 8 stages, the single-player Normal Mode provides all
the fun you can handle in its 48 different stages! Blast all of your enemies and find the hidden exit within the time limit
to progress to the next stage. The "kick" function appears for the first time in this version of Bomberman, and you can really
start using cunning tactics in your game play! Make the most of the traps and the new items to clock the game with a perfect
record! Up to 5 players can play in the Battle Game, and all the new tricks and devices (like the conveyor belt) are sure
to guarantee a heated battle!
Sonic the
Hedgehog
Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Genre: Platformer
Number of Players: 1
Original Release Date:
December 31, 1991
Console: SEGA Genesis
Points: 800 ($8.00)
While others attempted to emulate Miyamoto's platform innovations,
Sonic Team brought something new to the genre with the little mascot that could. Faster and prettier than any previous platformer,
Sonic also took the genre vertical and upside- down. The spiky-haired, blue hedgehog became Sega's mascot and managed to dethrone,
if only for but a brief while, a seemingly invulnerable King Mario.
Super Castlevania
IV
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Genre: Platformer
Number of Players: 1
Original Release Date: October 30, 1991
Console: SNES
Points: 800 ($8.00)
First Super NES installment in the popular
Konami series, known as Akumajou Dracula in Japan.
Essentially a remake of the original Castlevania on NES, Super Castlevania IV casts players in the role of gothic superhero
Simon Belmont, who enters Dracula's elusive castle to break the family curse and vanquish the king of vampires once again.
The game features scrolling action with platform jumping and combat, plenty of Mode 7 fireworks, and a memorably soundtrack.
Simon himself can use his whip and chain like never before, attack diagonally, swing across ledges, hang from it while the
whole castle rotates around him, and more. He also has access to an array of secondary weapons, including the throwing dagger,
the whirling axe, and holy water, among others.
ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron
Published
by: SEGA
Developed
by: TJ&E Productions
Genre: Platformer
Number
of Players: 1-2
Original Release Date: April 1, 1993
Console:
SEGA Genesis
MSRP: (800) $8.00
The
year 1993 found the popular alien duo ToeJam and Earl on their home planet of Funkotron. Unknowingly, as they left earth for
their return voyage to Funkotron, their cargo included a hoard of earthling stowaways. Because earthlings disrupt the Funk
balance on Funkotron, the objective was to capture all the earthlings in jars, and ship them back to earth in rocket ships
at the end of each level. This side-scrolling adventure (originally on the Sega Genesis) takes advantage of a completely new
layout and graphics engine for the loyal fans of ToeJam & Earl.
ToeJam &
Earl
Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Genre: Action
Number of Players: 1-2
Original Release Date: June 1, 1991
Console: SEGA Genesis
Points: 800 ($8.00)
In 1991, two aliens, Toejam and Earl, were
cruising in their Rapmaster Rocket Ship, when ToeJam decided to let Earl drive. Bad move! After crash landing on Earth, ToeJam
and Earl began their mission to get back home to Funkotron. Along the way, they traversed this most un-funky planet, avoiding
earthlings, hunting down the pieces of their spaceship, and searching for elevators to take them from level to level. In this
one- or two-player game, the goal was to find all 10 pieces of the rocket ship, and return ToeJam and Earl to Funkotron. Published
by Sega of America for the Genesis, ToeJam & Earl became a hit, and remained on the top ten list of video game rentals
for years after its release.
Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream
Published by: Nintendo
Developed by: Nintendo
Genre: Sports
Number
of Players: 1
Release Date: June 1, 1987
MSRP: 500 ($5.00)
Mike Tyson-free
version of Punch-Out!! featuring the fictional Mr. Dream character. Nintendo released this version after Tyson lost his heavyweight
title and a renewed license was no longer desirable.
Ecco the Dolphin
Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Genre: Action
Number of Players: 1
Original Release Date: August 16, 1992
Console: SEGA Genesis
Points: 800 ($8.00)
If you thought Flipper was smart, wait until you get a load of ECCO THE DOLPHIN. This ocean resident is one of the
smartest creatures of the sea, and you'll get the chance to lead him on an adventure that is unlike any other you've ever
experienced. An underwater storm has swept Ecco's family away, and it's up to you to help him find them. Using your sonar
to guide you, you'll embark on an adventure of discovery and wonder as you come face-to-face with some of the dangers of the
deep. Through 25 challenging levels, you'll be faced with a variety of puzzles, where the solution isn't always as obvious
as you might think. The graphics are amazing, the gameplay is challenging, and the overall experience is one you'll never
forget.
