Star Fox (1993) - Video Game Review

This game was truly revolutionary for it's time!

In a lot of ways, you could say that the, 'Super Nintendo' was a truly revolutionary product as far as video games go... I mean I suppose that the next generation video game systems, those video game systems that have, 'staying power', are pretty revolutionary...

Now eventually I will go more in-depth in to this, but for now, let me say this, ''The SNES' for what it was definitely was one of those video game systems that has allowed Nintendo to be one of the longest running (if not, 'THE' longest running) video game manufacturers of all time... But that is for another blog...

The reason that I mention what I mentioned above, is because there was a game, that, when it came out was a truly remarkable and... well... no pun intended, but was, 'a game changer' for the space fighter games of the tine... This game being: Star Fox (1993)!

A game that was truly ahead of it's time!

Developed by: Nintendo EAD, this game told the story of: Andross, a scientist, has fled to Planet Venom after being banished from Planet Corneria, and has now declared war on Corneria and unleashed an enormous army to wreak havoc on the Lylat system. General Pepper, the commanding officer of Corneria's defense force, has decided to dispatch a prototype high-performance fighter aircraft called the "Arwing." However, lacking in time to train pilots for the new fighters, he summons the elite mercenary team Star Fox to defeat Andross. Fox McCloud, the leader of the team, is accompanied by his teammates Falco Lombardi, Peppy Hare, and Slippy Toad!

Considering the similarity in content, and despite how much fun Sega's, 'Sonic: The Hedgehog' is... Star Fox definitely gave Sonic a run for his money!

In the end, this is one of the first, first person style space fighter games that I had ever played (what I mean is that up till this point, most space fighter based games that I had played generally tended to be 2D as opposed to 3D...)

Another cool thing is the fact that this game was one of the first games to employ, '3D Polygon Graphics,' which they were able to accomplish this due to the fact that this game was one of the first to utilize the SuperFX graphics acceleration coprocessor!

Another interesting fact is that this game was originally release in Japan for the Super-Fammicom (The Japanese version of the North American, 'Super Nintendo Entertainment System',) on February 21st, 1993, and would later be released for the Super Nintendo on March 26th, 1993 and then for Europe on June 3rd, 1993!

The box art for, 'Star Fox' on Japan's, 'Super Famicom'... The Japanese equivalent to North America's, 'Super Nintendo Entertainment System'!

Ultimately guys, I guess what I am tring to say, is this, if you like first person shooter games, or if you like space games, this game is a total blast... Admittedly it maybe a little hard to find, but if you can find it, then I highly recommend checking it out... It is more then well worth it!

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Final Fantasy. An Evolution From, 'Fantasy' To, 'Sci-fi Fantasy'!

Final Fantasy 3 for the Super Nintendo (as seen above), is the first earliest example of a Final Fantasy game that has begun to make the transition from, 'Fantasy' to, 'Science Fiction/Fantasy'.

When I was younger I was one of the last people in my circle of friends to get a, 'Nintendo'... I think at least part of that maybe the fact that my Mom, (like a lot of other mom's out there,) probably thought that there was to much violence in the games that were being released, and thought it wise not to get one...

Well never-the-less, eventually I was able to get one from my Dad... So my Dad ends up picking up the video game system with one of the, 'Basketball' games that came out at the time, and a game that would be come one of my favorite video game series of all time... That game being, 'Final Fantasy.'

Now for me, I was pretty lucky, because my dad ended up playing it so much before he got it to me, that he ended up laminating the maps and the like (he did such a good job preserving these maps, that they were actually in mint condition up till an old friend of mine accidentally sold them about 10 years ago...

This game I would say is still one of the better Final Fantasy game to have ever come out!

Needless to say I was a little bit miffed about that... But it did show the importance that the game did hold, and still does hold for me... And you know what? Like most video game series, this series just kept getting better and better!

Well I can't say that entirely (I hate to say it but I never actually had the chance to play the sequel... But I did have the chance to play the third one... And hot damn was that a fun game!

You see, the first Final Fantasy game was a primarily, 'fantasy' game... And you know that was a total blast, I mean being able to fight demons and monster and big bads and all sorts of creepy crawleys... Well if you haven't tried it, then I would say do so... You won't regret it if you are a fan of ancient games!
Well when the third one came out, it was this awesome fusion of kind of both... The ancient fantasy style game that made the first one such an amazing great time, but with an added technological element, that not only made it even more exciting, but in the end, this nice fusion of both, really made it for a more epic story line!

To this day... Still a classic series!

But wait... There is more!

You see when Sony released the, 'Playstation', One of the games that was released on to this system was, 'Final Fantasy 7', and the truth is, is this game expanded on the concept of a, 'Science Fiction Fantasy' game even further!

Well, this one was a bit more Science Fiction then Fantasy, you see, in this game, you could almost see the fictionalized version of semi-modern day/futuristic cities... But with the characters that have to right the global wrong, they rely on stuff like, 'Magic', and swords and shields and what not (the stuff that made the fantasy aspect of this series so great,) but also more modern weaponry and the like!

This game is to the Sony, 'Playstation' what the first one was to Nintendo's, 'NES' and, 'Famicom'.

In the end, I hate to say it, but I haven't been in the position to play much more of these games (a situation I intend to rectify,) I mean I heard that there is potentially at least one game that brings together the heroes from the entire series together... But unfortunately I really don't know much more then that... I do hope though, they continued to use the whole, 'Sci-fi/Fantasy' aspect in more games... It was pretty fun!

Contra 3: The Alien Wars (1992) - Video Game Review

Official Score = 1 1/2 Devils 

In horror movies there is something that is kind of interesting... You see in horror movie series they frequently start off with awesome original movies... (As a matter of fact, some of the original movies are so good that they help to make the villains of the piece in to American icons, a couple of examples being: 'Freddy Krueger' & 'Jason Voorhees.)

Well the reason that I mention this is because in video games, (at least in my opinion,) for the most part they tend to get better with age (an example of this of course being, 'Duke Nukem'...)

Well there is one game that seemed to me to at least initially head down that path that so many of the classic horror movies tended to run... That series being, 'Contra'...

Now the truth is, is the first Contra game was truly legendary as far as classic video games go, Contra 2 (1988)... A decent enough game, but Contra 3... phew, what a stinker...

 Contra 3... meh...

I found this to be rare, because I have to be honest and say that where as I did enjoy the original NES and the games that were produced on it, I found that I enjoyed that much more the, 'SNES' and most of the games I played on it... except this one!

I found the game control lame, The music was alright, and the sound effects were alright, but the game play was boring, and ultimately not a whole heck of a lot of fun...

Ultimately guys, I hate to say it, but I never played another Contra game after this, (A situation that I would like to remedy...) But this game was just not one that I liked, if you try it, well... Like anything I suppose you got to try it at least once right?

Rock N' Roll Racing (1993) - Video Game Review

[caption id="attachment_557" align="alignright" width="307"] Official Score = 3 1/2 Devils[/caption]

Through out the 80s racing games in places like Arcades, and eventually with the home console systems enjoyed a degree of popularity... But in the early 90s that popularity was beginning to wain significantly (It wasn't until the release of the Playstation, and such games as: 'Twisted Metal' & 'Need For Speed' really began to bring this particular video game genre back to life.)

Well near the end of it all there was a game that me and my friends used to play that we all really enjoyed significantly... As a matter of fact, it ended up being one of the more memorable games that I have ever played, and that is the Super Nintendo version of, 'Rock N Roll Racing' (1993)

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="389"] A truly awesome game![/caption]

Originally developed by Silicon & Synapse (Now known as Blizzard), and developed for both the Super Nintendo and the Sega Genesis and later ported for the Gameboy Advance (since I have never played this game on the Sega Genesis, or on the Gamboy Advanced, this review is for the Super Nintendo.)

Rock N' Roll Racing essentially is a pseudo Sci-fi battle racing game, where you can play by yourself with the computers, or you can play 2 player (there is still going to be computers though), the purpose of the game is to beat the race at by any means necessary...

Now in between the races you can upgrade your vehicle, but in the end, the objective of the game is to make it to the number #1 position no matter what the cost, and the truth is, is getting there is just a total blast!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] This game is so much fun![/caption]

In the end, if you can get your self a copy of this game, give it a try, it is not hard to figure out, and in the end, for me it was a freaking awesome fun time!

http://youtu.be/1sPrZW2wXP4

Final Fantasy 4 (1994) - Video Game Review

[caption id="attachment_415" align="alignright" width="350"] Official Score = 4 Devils[/caption]

Everyone, I have learned has there basic classification for which type of gamer they are... Now that doesn't mean that they don't ever deviate... A fan of RPGs (Role Playing Games), can end up really enjoying shooter games as well, (I know because as far as video games goes, for me, my main type of  game that I have found that I really enjoy is, 'RPGs'... But I do enjoy a good shooter game from time to time!)

The reason that I mention this though is that those in their right groups will find specific video games that they not only found that they really enjoyed, but in the end, found to be rather memorable!

For me... One of those games happens to be, 'Final Fantasy 4' (1994)!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="432"] I may be calling this game, 'Final Fantasy 4'... but that is the Japanese title, in America it has always been, 'Final Fantasy 3'[/caption]

Released by Square (now, 'Square Enix'), this video game told the amazing story of a group of powerful men and women who have one common goal... That goal being to stop the monster, 'Kefka' and to take down the evil empire that has been terrorizing them... And they will do what ever it takes to do so!

In the end, it is the ultimate battle of good vs. evil, and magic vs. machines!

Now I found the story to be a lot of fun, and extremely engrossing (even as a kid), I mean the action is pretty amazing! And as for the controls... Well just about every Final Fantasy game I have ever played has always had easy controls, and this is no different!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="320"] Sword & sorcery come alive in, 'Final Fantasy 3'![/caption]

As far as music goes, 'Nobuo Uematsu' is such a good composer, that... well... I may never have owned the soundtrack to this game, but I did end up getting the soundtrack to part 7 and loved it!

In the end, this game is a total freaking blast, and if you get a chance, check it out, I doubt you will regret it!

http://youtu.be/RDMWp1oLoA0

F-Zero (1991) - Video Game Review

[caption id="attachment_557" align="alignright" width="307"] Official Score = 3 1/2 Devils[/caption]

Back in the 90s one of the type of video games that me and my friends used to like to play were, 'racing games'... You might be thinking, really? Well sure why not?

You see the 90s saw a ton of very inventive racing games, from: 'Mario Kart' for the, 'Super Nintend0', to the release of the first, 'Need For Speed' game for the, 'Playstation'... They were a lot of fun and very inventive largely because they weren't just the classic racing games like you had for the arcade, as well as the home consoles... You know, such things as racing around a track as was common in Nintendo games, or racing around a city in the arcade games... No it was so much more!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="628"] Mario Kart for the, 'Super Nintendo' was a landmark game that helped keep racing games going strong in the 90s.[/caption]

What I mean by this is that in a lot of the racing games they started coming out with more advancements then normal that would help you get an advantage over the other players or the computer, but the main thing that I liked about it is that you could shoot things at players to stop or slow them down! (A great example of this that was a lot of fun is that you could pick up turtle shells and shoot them at other people in, 'Mario Kart'...)

And you know  what? This is just part of the reasons why I thought that, 'F-Zero' for the, Super Nintendo was so much fun... All though I hate to say it, but I really don't remember if you are able to shoot anything in this game!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] F-Zero is a fun futuristic racing game![/caption]

Released by Nintendo, for the Super Nintendo back in 91, this game told the tale of how in the future a group of lethargic billionaires will end up creating a race that is based on the old world (car races), but sets it up in a more technologically advanced society!

In the end, this game was a lot of fun, it had fun music, great graphics, and the game play was well worth it! If you get a chance, I highly recommend trying it out, it is a fun one, and I think you might find the same thing as well!

http://youtu.be/2T5u9nD_I0I

Street Fighter 2 (1991) - Video Game Review

[caption id="attachment_330" align="alignright" width="220"] Official Score = 2 1/2 Devils[/caption]

Fighting games have been around in various forms since 1976  when Sega released their fighting game, 'Heavyweight Champ'... But the popularity really started to boom in the early 90s with the release of games such as, 'Streetfighter 2' and 'Tekken' etc,,,

And speaking of Street Fighter 2, this game  is something else... You see this game which would be released in 1991 for the arcades and subsequently  would be released on the Super Nintendo and the Sega Genesis is the sequel to the hardly known Arcade classic, 'Street Fighter' (1987)... This particular title would eventually heavily overshadow it's predecessor with several sequels under the, 'Street Fighter 2' banner, as well as movies and other forms of merchandise...

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="384"] Ryu doing battle in, 'Street Fighter' (1987)![/caption]

Now this game really was way ahead of it's time, you see, this game was an awesome fun competitive fighting game, which gives you a list of characters in which you could play, including: Ryu, Ken, E. Honda, Chun Li, Guile, Dhalsim & Zangief (The villains you can't play as until the future versions of Street Fighter 2...) Anyway this game has you playing in competitive fighting matches between computer players until you get to the actual bad guys, and then as you fight more and more of these bad guys, you finally make it to M. Bison...

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="384"] Ken in battle with Blanka in, 'Street Fighter 2' (1991).[/caption]

As for the good stuff, the game play was an awful lot of fun, the music was awesome, and the special attacks were cool, as well as the characters were a lot of fun... The only problem is that the game was very slow at enough points that it actually ended up cutting across the fun of the game in general... (Fortunately this problem would be handled in subsequent versions of the game!)

In the end though, despite it's only flaw (unfortunately a major one), this game is fun, and well worth it, and if you are looking for it fresh, I know that it is on the Iphone... I have it myself on my phone and it is still a blast!

http://youtu.be/aeqEmBNe8o4

Gradius 3: From Legend To Myth (1989) - Video Game Review

[caption id="attachment_415" align="alignright" width="350"] Official Score = 4 Devils[/caption]

Most people at this point have played some sort of video game in their life... I mean even my Dad beat the original, 'Final Fantasy' for the NES, before I even had a chance to play it... And as the years go on more and people are sort of born in to the concept of playing video games as a regular thing!

And well, every true gamer has that one game, or that one game series that they truly love, that game that in some way you could say in some capacity ended up defining what games they would end up playing in the future... For me, that game was, 'Gradius 3: From Legend To Myth (1989)'!

This game started off as a 2D side shooter game in 1989 when it was released by Konami in Japan as an Arcade game... This game would later be released for the, Super Famicom in 1990, (for those of you who don't know this the, 'Famicom', or 'Family Computer' is the name that was given for the Japanese equivalent of the, 'Nintendo Entertainment System' and the, 'Super Famicom' was the name given to the Japanese equivalent of the, 'Super Nintendo' etc...)

But, 1991 is when I, and the rest of North America would be able to finally get our grubby little mits on it, when it was re-released for the Super Nintendo as simply, 'Gradius 3'!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Gradius 3... A truly awesome fun time![/caption]

Now this game freaking rocked! And is still one of my favorite games of all time (As a matter of fact, I was recently playing the first, 'Gradius' game and I got to say that this game was truly amazing as well!)

You might be wondering why this game is so awesome... Well the truth is, is everything! The music was awesome, for a 2D side scrolling game from 1991... The graphics were truly above board, and frankly with the story, and the fact that the way this game was made, made it that much harder in the end truly made this a spectacularly fun time that I just spent literally hours on!

In the end I still think this game is a lot of fun... It can get extremely frustrating at times, but even the frustrating times are fun as well! And well, where as I can't vouch for the fact that this game will be your favorite game of all time, I can honestly vouch for the fact that if you try it, you might really, in the end enjoy it!

http://youtu.be/XQfNkjEF5f4