Publisher: Nintendo (1997)
Reviewed: 1999/10/11

I was expecting this cartridge to offer a brand new Space Invaders with fancy 16-bit graphics, but instead Nintendo opted to bring back the classic in its original form! That's not a bad idea considering the original Space Invaders had not been previously available for a console before. Not only do you get the classic game as it was in 1978, but also four color variations including black and white, color, color background, and cellophane (simulated color strips on screen). Its great to play Space Invaders again, but I have to admit that its not the kind of shooter you can play for hours on end. Perhaps that's why Nintendo threw in a great two-player, split screen competitive mode. A pleasant surprise, it effectively pushes this cartridge over the top. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Toho (1992)
Reviewed: 2016/11/7
Our high score: 1,365,370
1 player
Publisher: Natsume (1991)
Reviewed: 2016/9/1
Our high score: 32,100
Save mechanism: password
1 player
Publisher: Acclaim (1995)
Reviewed: 2014/8/12
Publisher: LJN (1994)
Reviewed: 2014/8/12
Spiderman/X-Men: Arcade's Revenge
Grade: D
Publisher: LJN (1992)
Reviewed: 2001/3/5

Arcade's Revenge makes a fine first impression, but it wears off quickly as the game slowly descends into mediocrity. The graphics and animation look great, and uptempo music makes you feel energized. In the first stage you play as Spiderman who must deactivate a series of bombs in a building. Your web-slinging skills are necessary to scaling the building, but the control scheme is awkward. You can only shoot web sideways and touching
anything sends you into a free-fall. You can easily cling to walls, but this is annoying when you don't
want to cling to walls! Spiderman must disarm the bombs in a certain order. This is annoying and tedious, but get used to it, because you'll have to replay this stage
every time you put in the game! That's right, the selectable levels (featuring X-Men characters) aren't available until
after you complete the first stage! Subsequent stages are diverse but bizarre. Gambit battles giant chess pieces while avoiding a huge rolling balls. Storm swims through her stages, and Wolverine battles giant toys in a fun house. I couldn't tell if I was playing X-Men or Mickey Mouse's Castle of Illusion! The X-Men characters are a little easier to control than Spiderman, but the gameplay is just so-so, and the game is in dire need of a password feature. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Nintendo (1993)
Reviewed: 2006/12/27
Stone Protectors
Grade: C+
Publisher: Kemco (1994)
Reviewed: 2003/2/19

I had never heard of the Stone Protectors before, but apparently this was a kid's TV show in the mid-90's. Fortunately you don't have to be familiar with the show to enjoy this obscure side-scrolling brawler. Stone Protectors has a style of play similar to Battletoads or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT), with wacky characters and bright, cartoonish graphics. To be honest, I found the five "heroes", who are supposed to be in a rock band, to be pretty ugly. These short, squat fighters look like troll punks on steroids. The lizard warriors you fight look pretty cool though, and I love how their armor flies off as you beat them up. The graphics are crisp and well defined, and the collision detection is right on the money. The jazzy music is pleasant enough, and the sound effects really caught my ear. Each character has a ton of kicks, punches, special moves, throws, and even weapons at his disposal. You can even dispatch foes using devastating "musical" attacks. The stages take place in diverse but repetitive environments including snow, caves, elevators, and a beach. The non-stop fighting is fun for a while, but sometimes it seems like the waves of enemies will never end! I also don't like how only certain characters can pick up particular weapons. It's not for everyone, but if you enjoy this type of game, Stone Protectors is while your while. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.
Our high score: 77980
1 or 2 players
Publisher: Irem (1993)
Reviewed: 2003/2/19

I can't fathom how a respectable video game developer like Irem (of R-Type fame) could produce such a heinous piece of garbage. Often described as Street Fighter for homos, Street Combat's flamboyant graphics, creepy animation, and bouncy music will make you
cringe. The main character (Steven) looks like a chick, and when he's defeated he makes some really suggestive poses! Other characters include a freaky clown in white tights, a robot named Helmut, and a Guile look-alike named G.I. Jim. Street Combat's controls are unresponsive, so by the time you manage to pull off some fancy move, your opponent has already moved out of the way. The attacks are
not what I would call "balanced". Why bother punching when you can just perform your deadly "arm spin" over and over? That's what I did, and using this "special attack" continuously I was able to defeat every character (including the boss) without losing one fight! As bad as it is weird, Street Combat may be the worst one-on-one fighter ever made! © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.
Street Fighter II
Grade: B
Publisher: Capcom (1992)
Reviewed: 1999/9/29

Street Fighter II revolutionized fighting video games when it hit the scene in the early 90's. As a matter of fact, this was the main reason that many people (including myself) ran out and bought a Super Nintendo console. Since this cartridge was nearly arcade-perfect and only available for the SNES, it spelled the beginning of the end of Sega's console dominance. The game's eight diverse fighters hail from all over the world, and each has their own distinctive fighting style. Easy to learn but difficult to master, Street Fighter II's basic gameplay and control scheme became the fighting game standard, copied by endless clones. Harder kicks and punches inflict more damage, but are tougher to land. With numerous special attacks and the ability to block (by holding the joystick away from your opponent), the gameplay is remarkably deep. The meticulously detailed backgrounds are fascinating, and the theme songs are some of the best ever composed for a video game. This cartridge also provides the ability to customize your control scheme, and it annoyed me to no end how each of my friends
always had to modify their settings before
every bout. Street Fighter II stands as one of the all-time classics, right up there with Pac-Man and Space Invaders. It led to many sequels, each of which offered minor enhancements but no significant changes to the gameplay itself. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.
Street Fighter II Turbo
Grade: A-
Publisher: Capcom (1993)
Reviewed: 1999/9/29

This first sequel to Street Fighter II is very similar to the first, except now you could play as one of the four "boss" characters, including Vega, Bison, Sagat, and Balrog. This brings the character selection to twelve. There are also numerous speed settings, allowing for faster and more exciting matches. Otherwise this is basically the same game, and many fans didn't think it was worth the upgrade, especially since its initial price tag was $70! © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.
Strike Gunner S.T.G.
Grade: F
Publisher: Vap (1992)
Reviewed: 2011/5/10
Our high score: 106,000
1 or 2 players
Publisher: Nintendo (1994)
Reviewed: 2010/7/17
Publisher: Konami (1993)
Reviewed: 2018/8/12
Recommended variation: easy
Our high score: 79,350
1 or 2 players
Super Adventure Island
Grade: C-
Publisher: Hudson Soft (1992)
Reviewed: 2012/9/21

It was a fun platform game for the NES, but this 16-bit edition of Adventure Island reeks of mediocrity. The animated intro shows your girlfriend being turned to stone by an evil specter called Dark Cloak. Don't you
hate it when that happens? Super Adventure Island's cookie-cutter stages feature all the standard environments like forests, caves, mines, snow, etc. The scenery looks clean but incredibly ordinary. You can toss hammers or boomerangs, with boomerangs being a far more effective option. Unfortunately the game often
forces you to use hammers by putting a hammer icon in an unavoidable spot (like a narrow ledge). Enemies include walking candles and spear-chucking natives, but it's the tiny, hard-to-hit creatures (like flies) that will annoy the hell out of you. The controls are decent, and I like how you can throw upwards in addition to sideways. The new super-jump (duck and jump) is vital to surviving boss encounters. Speaking of which, I
hate how when you die at the hands of a boss you restart at the beginning of the
preceding stage! It's demoralizing to say the least. The audio is an annoying combination of obnoxious sound effects and cheesy music. Super Adventure Island is the kind of mundane platformer you forget about the instant you turn it off. © Copyright 2012 The Video Game Critic.
Our high score: SLN 39,200
1 player
Publisher: Hot-B (1991)
Reviewed: 2006/7/2

My friends and I always got a kick out of King Salmon for the Genesis, so I was anticipating big things from Super Black Bass. More of a simulation than an arcade game, there are many types of lures at your disposal. The problem is, finding the "correct" shape and color can be a tedious exercise in trial and error. You begin by trolling around a lake while using a depth finder to determine if fish are nearby. After casting, you're given an overhead view of the water, but you need to look close because the fish tend to blend in with the surface. Once you hook a fish, he'll aggressively resist and even leap out of the water. Sometimes it's wise to just let the line out until he gets tired. Once the battle concludes, you'll often discover it was just a "runt" after all. Every now and then you'll spot a large shadowy figure on the lake bottom, and you know that's "the big one". Super Black Bass' controls are very well designed, and so intuitive that I didn't even need to consult the manual. The graphics are only fair, but they do make use of the SNES scaling effects. I really like the sound of water washing up against the boat, but what's that constant bellowing? A beached whale? I could also do without that banjo music that plays as you putt around in your boat. Super Black Bass is one of those games that requires practice and time investment. Unless you're a die-hard fishing fanatic, it's a bit of a drag. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Hudson Soft (1993)
Reviewed: 2000/1/29

Most systems have some sort of definitive multi-player "party" game, and Super Bomberman is "that game" for the Super Nintendo. On the surface, it doesn't look like much. The action starts with a short man in each corner of the maze. By clearing out walls and strategically dropping bombs, the goal is to be the last man standing. With multiple explosions leading to massive chain reactions, Bomberman's dynamic gameplay results in some wild and unpredictable battles. Power-ups give players the ability to drop multiple bombs, toss bombs across the screen, or unleash larger explosions. A variety of battlefields introduce complicating factors like trampolines and conveyer belts. Personally I prefer the raw simplicity of first stage, because the fancy ones tend to randomize the chaos more. Super Bomberman's graphics are modest but the controls are right on, and catchy music plays throughout the contests. The single-player adventure mode challenges you to clear out monsters in progressively difficult stages, but the multiplayer mode is "where it's at". You will definitely need a multitap for this one. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.
Super Bomberman 2
Grade: A-
Publisher: Nintendo (1994)
Reviewed: 2001/3/5

Super Bomberman 2 ranks near the top of my list for "unnecessary sequels". Basically the same as the original Bomberman, this game offers a few more stages, power-ups, and options. Of course, anybody who has played the original Bomberman knows that fancy stages don't really add anything to the game. In fact, they usually detract from its simple yet wonderfully addictive gameplay, which is why most people won't bother with the new stuff here. The single-player mode is mildly amusing, featuring some cool new items like dynamite bundles that maximize the destruction you can unleash. But the real fun lies in the multiplayer battle mode, and the new team mode is a great idea. Other than that, there's nothing new, and I actually prefer the music of the original game. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Hudson Soft (1994)
Reviewed: 2011/7/23
Our high score: 317,240
1 player
Super Caesar's Palace
Grade: B-
Publisher: Virgin (1993)
Reviewed: 1999/12/7

Super Caesar's Palace is obviously a very realistic casino simulator because I blew $2000 in about 15 minutes! You control a guy wandering around an empty casino with several floors and an incredible array of games to choose from. These include video poker, blackjack, slot machines, roulette, craps, keno, red dog, horse racing, and even "scratchers". The controls are simple - you just move a floating hand around to place bets or press buttons. I found this game easy to get into and quite entertaining. Now for the complaints. When you begin play you must register for an ATM account used to keep track of your money. There's nothing wrong with that, except having to copy down that
huge password! Also, I think the game would have been far more realistic and immersive if they had some more patrons in the casino. Otherwise, this is one of the better gambling titles I've played. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.
Save mechanism: Battery
1 player
Super Castlevania IV
Grade: A-
Publisher: Konami (1991)
Reviewed: 2004/12/22
Publisher: Taito (1993)
Reviewed: 2014/10/7
Recommended variation: continues
Our high score: 3,353,370
1 player
Super Double Dragon
Grade: D-
Publisher: Tradewest (1992)
Reviewed: 2005/6/1

I find it shameful that magazines once heaped praise upon this pathetic game. Super Double Dragon is plodding and repetitive, with lousy controls that lack that "crisp" feel you need in a side-scrolling brawler. Super Double Dragon is exceedingly easy, and those who can tolerate its excruciating pace won't have a problem beating it. There are some nice hold moves and a cool roundhouse kick, but punching is your best weapon, since that defeats foes even when you don't even make
contact! Now that's what I call bad collision detection! Also effective are the occasional weapons, which include nun-chucks and boomerangs. You'll face the same set of thugs over and over again - albeit in different colored outfits. You'll want to keep your distance from enemies, because they tend to stun you, which leaves you open to more attacks. Each stage takes an eternity to finish, and everything seems to move in slow motion. So why was Super Double Dragon's reviews so favorable? I'm guessing it had something to do with the graphics and sound. Although the locales are generic (airport, casino, Chinatown, train) the sharp, colorful visuals are striking, and the soundtrack truly kicks ass. Once you get past the flashy presentation however, the gameplay falls somewhere between "boring" and "unbearable". Do I want to continue? No thank you! © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.
Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts
Grade: B-
Publisher: Capcom (1991)
Reviewed: 1999/10/12

This medievel side-scroller is a complete remake of
Ghouls 'N Ghosts (Genesis, 1989) with entirely new stages and monsters. New areas include a haunted pirate ship and a snow stage (who asked for that, by the way?). The graphics, special effects, and music are significantly better than the Genesis version, but the gameplay is about the same. You control a knight running through a series of locations while destroying monsters and collecting power-ups. Although this game should have rated higher than its Genesis counterpart, it doesn't, due to a few major issues. First, the action tends to get
slow (read: slow-motion) when the action gets hectic, and when you die, you're sent
way back to the start of the stage. At least the Genesis version let you continue fairly close to where you left off. Even unlimited continues don't help when you keep keeling over just before the end of a stage. Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts would have been a great game had it been more forgiving. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.
Our high score: BSC 17,900
1 or 2 players
Super Mario All-Stars
Grade: A
Publisher: Nintendo (1993)
Reviewed: 1999/11/21

With the four original Super Mario Bros (NES) games included, this cartridge packs an enormous amount of classic gameplay for the dollar. It contains the first Super Mario Bros, the Lost Levels, Super Mario Bros 2, and Super Mario Bros 3. The Lost Levels, which was not originally released in the U.S., adds additional levels to the original game. Super Mario Bros 2 is the one odd-ball of the bunch, offering a different kind of gameplay. Instead of pouncing on enemies, you dispatch them with roots which you pull out of the ground. The graphics and sound in all these games have been enhanced slightly, and four save slots are available for each game! This package is first-class all the way. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.
Save mechanism: Battery
1 player
Super Mario Kart
Grade: A+
Publisher: Nintendo (1992)
Reviewed: 2002/5/20

Not only is this one of the best SNES games ever, but it single-handedly created an entire new genre of video games! Instead of aiming for realism, Super Mario Kart strips racing down to its essense with simple yet fun go-cart action. The racers are classic Nintendo characters, each with a variety of speed and handling capabilities. Thanks to some marvelous SNES "mode 7" effects, the ground moves and rotates smoothly underneath your cart, conveying a sense of speed. Although the tracks are totally flat, their textures range from smooth, to wood, to gravel. Tracks also contain speed boosts, traps, ramps, and power-ups. Turtle shell power-ups serve as missiles to shoot at your competitors. One power-up causes your fellow racers to
shrink for a few seconds. Not only does this look hilarious, but it gives you the opportunity to squash them as well! The single-player mode is challenging enough, but the two-player split screen is even better. The outcome of each race is usually in doubt, but never feels unfair or cheap. An innovative battle mode is also available that lets players fire shells at each other in open arenas. In typical Nintendo fashion, a cute trophy presentation screen celebrates the winners of each game. Innovative and fun, Super Mario Kart is a must-have for any serious SNES collector. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.
Super Mario World
Grade: A
Publisher: Nintendo (1991)
Reviewed: 1999/11/21

As the original pack-in game for the Super Nintendo system, Super Mario World is certainly a worthy successor to the NES series. It manages to expand the Super Mario universe without sacrificing the fun or addicting gameplay. In addition to sharper graphics, Mario has new moves at his disposal including the ability to throw turtles, fly, and ride around on a little green dinosaur named Yoshi (his first appearance in the video game!). The "world" is huge compared to previous Mario games, with a nice variety of settings including my favorite - haunted houses! A battery backup allows you to save up to four games in progress. High in quality and super fun, this should be standard issue for all SNES owners. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.
Our high score: 98100
Save mechanism: Battery
1 player
Publisher: Nintendo (1994)
Reviewed: 2005/2/17
Publisher: Tradewest (1992)
Reviewed: 2015/1/1
Super Off Road: The Baja
Grade: F
Publisher: Tradewest (1993)
Reviewed: 2001/9/8

At first glance, Super Off Road: The Baja looks like Road Rash with trucks, judging by its rolling hills, sparse scenery, and gritty music. But the game's poor controls and marginal gameplay prove otherwise. I don't know why they even put "off road" in the title, considering whenever you veer off the narrow road you slow to a stop! And it's nearly impossible to stay on the road because it twists and turns all over the place. The controls aren't a factor in the easy early stages, but later stages prove nearly unplayable. The trucks look pretty good, but everything else looks
awful. There's nothing interesting about the repetitive scenery except for that old man riding on a tractor who gets in your way every five seconds. You'll lose money for running him over, but it's worth the price of not having to navigate around his sorry ass. Baja's races contain eight excruciatingly lengthy sections, and you'll spend more time keeping an eye on your damage gauge than your opponents. You can upgrade (or downgrade) your vehicle between sections of the race, and there is a password feature. Super Off Road: The Baja is anything but super. It's one big mess. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.
Super Play Action Football
Grade: F
Publisher: Nintendo (1992)
Reviewed: 2005/12/7
Super Punch Out!!
Grade: A-
Publisher: Nintendo (1994)
Reviewed: 2009/7/15
Save mechanism: Battery
1 player
Publisher: Irem (1991)
Reviewed: 1999/12/14

This SNES edition of the popular space shooter is probably best known for its immense difficulty level. This cartridge was very popular when it came out, but mainly because there were few other shooters available for the system. In retrospect however, Super R-Type's flaws are obvious. The graphics are sweet but the level designs aren't very impressive. The bosses tend to be forgettable mechanical monstrosities, and more often than not I found myself asking "where am I supposed to shoot this thing?!" There are some cool power-ups, but they are spread too thin throughout the levels. One technical problem is serious slowdown that occurs when many objects are on the screen - a problem many early SNES titles have in common. Another annoying aspect is how upon losing a ship the game sends you
all the way back to the beginning of the stage!! Give me a break - the game is hard enough as it is! Super R-Type gives you unlimited continues, but you might need them all to finish it! © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Nintendo (1992)
Reviewed: 2012/10/23
Recommended variation: Confront
Our high score: 175,600
1 or 2 players
Publisher: Acclaim (1991)
Reviewed: 2013/9/12
Recommended variation: coop
Our high score: BSCandVGC 1,544,250
1 or 2 players
Publisher: LucasArts (1992)
Reviewed: 2005/5/18
Our high score: 26000
1 player
Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
Grade: A
Publisher: LucasArts (1994)
Reviewed: 2005/5/18

As the final chapter of the Super Star Wars trilogy, LucasArts seemed to get everything right in Super Return of the Jedi. The gameplay hasn't changed much since Super Star Wars, but Jedi is the most forgiving of the three games. In fact, it's almost
easy compared to Empire. The action begins in Jabba the Hutt's palace before moving to the forest moon of Endor (home of the beloved Ewoks), and culminating at the new Death Star. You can select from several characters for most stages, including a bikini-clad Princess Leia (
now we're talking). Jedi's graphics and attention to detail are stunning. As an example, Jabba's gamorrean guards actually have
saliva dripping from their mouths! The stage backdrops, particularly those set in the lush forests of Endor, look gorgeous. One major gameplay innovation is a new defensive move for Luke: the lightsaber block. This plays an instrumental role in defeating Vader, and ultimately the Emperor. Another new element, floating icons, will earn you a bonus life should you collect 100 of them. These add a fun, Super Mario Bros. flavor to the game. The 3D speeder bike stage isn't as impressive as I remember, but it's not so bad. The Millennium Falcon shooting stage is probably the weakest part of the game. Jedi does a nice job of following the storyline of the film, skillfully building to the exciting finale. With the same action-packed gameplay as its predecessors but lacking the frustration factor, Super Return of the Jedi is a fitting conclusion to an excellent series. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.
Find Super Star Wars Return of the Jedi on
eBay,
YouTubeSave mechanism: Password
1 player
Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Grade: B+
Publisher: LucasArts (1993)
Reviewed: 2016/3/2
Find Super Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back on
eBay,
YouTubeRecommended variation: easy
Our high score: 72,780
Save mechanism: Password
1 player
Super Street Fighter 2
Grade: A
Publisher: Capcom (1994)
Reviewed: 1999/9/29

This was the third edition of Street Fighter 2 to appear on the SNES. It added four brand new characters, bringing the grand total to sixteen. Of the new challengers, Fei Long, is a Bruce lee look-alike, Cammy is a scantily clad British soldier, Dee Jay is a tall guy from the Caribbean, and T. Hawk is a huge American Indian in a sissy pink outfit. The game also includes a new tournament mode for multiple players, and I recall having fun with that way back in the day. Super Street Fighter's graphics have been tweaked from the previous game to look slightly more realistic, and the music has been remastered for better or worse. Most regard this as the ultimate Street Fighter game for the SNES. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Nintendo (1991)
Reviewed: 2000/3/16

Super Tennis offers plenty of bells and whistles, but its lackluster gameplay prevents it from greatness. The characters are rendered in a Japanese anime style, and the detailed courts come complete with ball boys and line judges. The oversized tennis ball is easy to follow, and pleasant music plays throughout the matches. The controls provide every shot you would need, including lobs, slices, and overhead smashes. Executing these shots is frustrating however. You have to hit the button at exactly the right time (
not when it's bouncing), and you
can't swing while on the run. I was also annoyed by the constant faults on the serves. You can select between single, doubles, or a tournament mode. Hard, lawn, and clay courts are available. Super Tennis has some nice features, but its core gameplay could use some work. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.
Save mechanism: Password
1 or 2 players
Publisher: Atlus (1992)
Reviewed: 2005/2/17