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Platform

Bubble Bobble on the Sega Master System

written by retrogamer71

Bubble Bobble on the Sega Master System is a faithful and charming adaptation of the beloved arcade classic originally developed by Taito in 1986. Released for the Master System in 1991, the port successfully retained the core gameplay that made Bubble Bobble a hit, offering players the same fun, challenging, and addictive experience at home. Known for its cooperative gameplay, vibrant visuals, and catchy music, Bubble Bobble remains one of the standout titles in the Master System library.

Players control Bub and Bob, two adorable bubble-blowing dinosaurs tasked with navigating through 100 increasingly difficult levels to rescue their girlfriends from the evil Baron Von Blubba. The gameplay revolves around trapping enemies in bubbles and then popping them to clear the screen. Players must also dodge hazards and strategically collect power-ups to enhance their bubble-blowing abilities. The Master System version captures this dynamic perfectly, ensuring that the mechanics feel responsive and fluid, much like the arcade original.

One of the defining features of Bubble Bobble is its emphasis on cooperative two-player gameplay, and the Master System port preserved this element. Playing with a friend not only adds to the fun but also introduces an element of teamwork and strategy, as both players work together to clear levels faster and avoid the game’s time-based threats. Additionally, the game’s hidden secrets and multiple endings encourage replayability and exploration, giving players more reasons to dive back in.

Visually, Bubble Bobble on the Master System stays true to the colorful, cartoony aesthetic of the arcade version. The graphics are crisp and vibrant, with smooth character animations and well-designed level layouts. The cheerful soundtrack, including the iconic main theme, was faithfully recreated, further enhancing the nostalgic appeal of the game.

Overall, Bubble Bobble for the Sega Master System is widely regarded as one of the best home console ports of the arcade classic. Its engaging gameplay, cooperative multiplayer, and whimsical presentation make it a must-play for fans of retro platformers and puzzle games.

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December 22, 2024 0 comment

Astyanax on the NES

written by retrogamer71

the NES version can only be played by one player, who controls Astyanax. Like in the arcade version, the player has a life gauge, a strength gauge that fills automatically when Astyanax is not attacking, and a magic gauge for his spells. Also unlike the arcade version, the player can wield other weapons besides the default axe, as well as use different magic spells, which are selected by pausing the game.

By picking up a power-up, Astyanax's weapon, the Bash, changes shape from its default axe form into a spear, which can be upgraded again into a sword. The spear has the weakest attack strength, but allows Astyanax to use his magic spells more often by consuming less magic points, while the sword can deal the most damage to enemies, but consumes the most magic points when casting a spell. The player will revert to the previous weapon after losing a life.

The player's magic spells consist of a binding spell that temporarily freezes all enemies for a few seconds, a fire blast spell that damages all enemies within range and a thunderbolt spell that damages every enemy on-screen. Each spell consumes a different amount of magic points, with the binding spell consuming the least points, while the thunderbolt consumes the most.

Other power-ups include a power supply that extends the length of Astyanax's power gauge (allowing for stronger axe swings), a wing that increases the refill speed of Astyanax's power gauge, potions that restore the player's health and magic and extra lives. Astyanax can also encounter Cutie throughout certain stages, who will offer to either change Astyanax's weapon or refill his magic points.

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May 13, 2021 0 comment

NES Platform

Asterix on the NES

written by retrogamer71

The player controls the short and mustached Gaul who has to progress through levels located all across Europe, fighting Romans and various aggressive animals along the way, to rescue his friend Obelix before Caesar throws him to the lions.

The gameplay takes place in 50 BC.Gaul is entirely occupied by the Romans.One small Gaulish village continues to defy the occupying forces, thanks to a magic potion which makes them invincible.

But now Obelix has vanished. The Romans have confirmed his capture and taken him to an unknown destination

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May 13, 2021 0 comment

Platform

Alfred Chicken

written by retrogamer71

The player takes the role of a chicken named Alfred who must find his way through bizarre levels full of balloons, telephones, cheese, and other strange elements. While he is on the ground, Alfred can walk, jump, and peck balloons and ground switches. While he is in the air he can dive bomb enemies or springs. Dive bombing enemies will destroy them. Dive bombing springs will bounce Alfred much higher so he can reach platforms well above his normal jumping ability. If he does not hit an enemy or a spring, Alfred will get stuck in the ground for a short time.

To complete a level, Alfred must find and peck all the balloons. The last balloon will take him to a boss fight. If Alfred dies, he starts as an egg located at the last balloon pecked. In the Super NES version, finding the big balloon results in a Stage Clear.

Alfred can receive a few power-ups during the game. For one power-up, he must answer a telephone in secret areas to make Mr. Pekles (a giant flower) give him a pot of jam. The jam gives Alfred the ability to shoot a bomb (about the size of Alfred himself) which bounces around the screen collecting items and hurting enemies. Another power-up is a worm that spins around Alfred destroying enemies that it touches. The player must find a can of worms to get this power-up.

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May 13, 2021 0 comment

NES Platform

Monster in My Pocket on the NES

written by retrogamer71

The game had the same essential concept of the comic book, although it altered the personalities of Hobgoblin and Gremlin, initially the good monsters but now appeared as villains, to the extent that Gremlin was a boss.

Warlock, wanting to have power and rule over all the other monsters, creates a shrinking spell to use as punishment for any who chooses to oppose him. As time goes on, all of the monsters choose to join his side – except for Vampire and The Monster. However, the spell was miscast – causing all of the monsters to shrink in size. Warlock sends out his henchmen, led by Spring Heeled Jack, Bigfoot, Kraken, Gremlin, and Medusa while Vampire and The Monster are watching TV in the Miles home. They must fight their way through the upstairs and kitchen of the home, the street, and the sewer; they emerge in a construction site and an Orientalist garden before fighting Warlock at Monster Mountain, although that is not the end of the game.

Vampire and the Monster's abilities in the game are the same (though 2-player simultaneous action was an option): they can make an attack that can extend slightly beyond their bodies with a bit of a blaze, and they can make a double jump from the height of their jump, something that has since become a common move in many video games.

The remaining good monsters from the comics—Werewolf, Vampiress, Golem, Swamp Beast, The Phantom of the Opera, Jotun Troll, Invisible Man, Dr. Jekyll, and Mummy—made no appearance whatsoever in the game, although Werewolf did appear on the cover. Warlock and Minotaur were the only two monsters from series 2 to appear in the game. In the comic book, however, Medusa declared that by her count, Vampire's side had a majority, though all the other series 1 monsters were included as enemies in the game

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May 13, 2021 0 comment

NES Platform

Mighty Bomb Jack on the NES

written by retrogamer71

Each level is split into two parts; an action zone and a Royal Palace room. The mechanics and level designs of the Royal Palace rooms are directly lifted from Bomb Jack. Action zones can be split up into several portions and contain power-ups usually hidden in treasure chests such as money bags, Mighty Coins and Mighty Drinks. Mighty Coins allow Jack to change colors; blue allows Jack to open orange treasure chests, orange allows him to open any treasure chest by simply touching it from the side, and green transforms all enemies on the screen into coins for 5 seconds. Mighty Drinks add 10 seconds to the game's timer. Secret passages can also be found in the action zones, activated by finding a Sphinx in a visible or hidden treasure chest.

To prevent the player from becoming too “greedy”, the game automatically sends the player to a Torture Room if they obtain more than 9 Mighty Coins or 99 seconds on the game's timer. The only way to escape a Torture Room without losing a life is to complete a number of jumps, which are counted down on the screen. Once the player exits the Torture Room, Jack automatically loses all Mighty Coins, the timer is reset to 60 seconds, and the game recommences from the beginning of the current level

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Action NES Platform

Mega Man 6 on the NES

written by retrogamer71

The gameplay in Mega Man 6 is largely similar to its five NES counterparts.

The player takes control of Mega Man to complete a series of side-scrolling platform stages littered with smaller robot enemies and occasional larger mini-bosses. The player's primary method of attack is the “Mega Buster” cannon, which can be charged for more powerful shots. At the end of each of the initial eight stages is a boss battle, where the player inherits that Robot Master's unique “Master Weapon” if successful.

These eight levels can be completed in any order, although all Robot Masters are weak to a specific Master Weapon, adding an element of strategy to the order chosen by the player.

The player's health is represented by a gauge that can be refilled by picking up energy pellets. Extra lives, reserve energy tanks, and pellets that refill Master Weapon power can also be found throughout each level. Mega Man 6 introduces the “Energy Balancer”, which automatically refills the weapon with the lowest energy when picking up Master Weapon power.

Previous Mega Man games typically allowed the player to call on the transformable dog Rush or use other support items in order to traverse difficult or otherwise inaccessible parts of a stage. Mega Man 6 instead features a pair of “Rush Adaptors” that fuse Mega Man and Rush into special forms. The first, “Jet Mega Man”, lets the player fly upward or hover for a brief period of time, but prevents the use of charge shots. The second, “Power Mega Man”, utilizes a powerful, short-range punch attack for destroying large blocks.

The player cannot slide when using either adapter. Mega Man 6 also presents less linear ways to complete the stages than in previous entries in the series. There are two pathways in many of the stages that lead to boss rooms, but the player is often required to use one of the Rush adaptors to begin an alternate route. Although either one will clear the stage, only one of them will give the player a letter circuit board for assembling the helper bird Beat.

Collecting all four parts will allow the player to call on Beat to attack enemies

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Action NES Platform

Mega Man 5 on the NES

written by retrogamer71

Mega Man 5 is an action-platform game that is very similar to previous titles in the series.

Gameplay revolves around the player using the central character Mega Man to run, jump, and shoot his way through a set of stages. If the player takes damage, Mega Man's life meter can be refilled by picking up energy capsules scattered about each level or from fallen enemies. Mega Man's default Mega Buster arm cannon can be fired an unlimited number of times. The Mega Buster's charge feature, introduced in Mega Man 4, has been upgraded to allow its powerful, charged shots to encompass a slightly wider area.

Each stage ends with a boss battle with a Robot Master; destroying that Robot Master lets the player copy its special “Master Weapon”, which can be toggled and used throughout the remainder of the game. Unlike the Mega Buster, Master Weapons require weapon energy to use and must be replenished if it is depleted in the same selected stage.

Other power-ups including extra lives, “Energy Tanks”, and a new “Mystery Tank”, which fully refills health and all item power, can be picked up as well.

After completing certain stages, the player can call on Mega Man's faithful dog Rush to reach higher platforms or cross large gaps using his “Coil” and “Jet” transformations. These abilities require refills with the same weapon energy that Master Weapons use.

Some of the level designs in Mega Man 5 are different from earlier games in the series. For example, in Gravity Man's stage, the gravitation is reversed from the floor to the ceiling, while in Wave Man's stage, the player drives a water craft from the halfway point to the boss room.

Hidden within each of the eight Robot Master stages is a collectible circuit board. Gathering all eight of these boards (spelling “M-E-G-A-M-A-N-V”) gives the player access to a robot-bird friend by the name of Beat. The player can then call on Beat to attack any onscreen enemies

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Action NES Platform

Mega Man 4 on the NES

written by retrogamer71

Mega Man 4 features similar gameplay to the previous three games.

The player must complete a series of eight stages in an order of the player's choosing. The protagonist, Mega Man, is able to run, jump, shoot, and climb his way past obstacles and enemies; the game also retains the slide ability which debuted in Mega Man 3. At the end of each stage is a Robot Master boss. Upon defeating a Robot Master, Mega Man gains the Robot Master's signature weapon, which can then be used by the player in subsequent stages.

Once all eight Robot Masters are destroyed, two separate sets of linear stages must be completed to finish the game. One major addition to the gameplay in Mega Man 4 is the “Mega Buster”, an upgraded version of Mega Man's arm cannon. By holding down the firing button, the player can now charge a shot, resulting in a blast far more powerful than the standard shot.

This feature was later used in subsequent incarnations of the franchise.

The hero's dog Rush makes a return from Mega Man 3 with the ability to transform into “Coil”, “Jet”, and “Marine” modes for navigating different environments.

Aside from Rush, two additional support items called the “Wire Adaptor” and the “Balloon Adaptor” also aid the player in reaching areas not normally accessible. However, these hidden adaptors must be found in the stages rather than being awarded for defeating a Robot Master.

Like the Master Weapons, the three Rush modes and the two adaptors are each limited to an amount of weapon power that drains when in use. The character “Flip Top” Eddie is introduced in Mega Man 4. Eddie, who went on to appear in later Mega Man games, provides the player with a random item at designated points in some of the levels

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May 13, 2021 0 comment

Action NES Platform

Mega Man 3 on the NES

written by retrogamer71

Mega Man 3 retains the platforming and action game elements established by the two Mega Man games released before it.

The player controls the protagonist Mega Man as he traverses eight selectable stages. The player's primary blaster weapon is used to fend off the game's numerous enemies. Several power-ups can be picked up in each stage, including life energy, special weapon ammunition, extra lives, and “E-Tanks”, which are stored and can be selected to completely refill the player's life energy. At the end of every stage the player must defeat a Robot Master boss: Magnet Man, Hard Man, Top Man, Shadow Man, Spark Man, Snake Man, Gemini Man, or Needle Man.

Each Robot Master features a unique weapon and stage related to the weapon's power. After defeating a boss, their signature weapon is added to Mega Man's arsenal.The Robot Masters are weak to the weapons of certain other Robot Masters, allowing the player to ease the boss battles by clearing some stages before others.

Mega Man 3 is the first Mega Man game to feature the slide maneuver, which lets the player slip under enemy attacks and low-level barriers.After completing certain stages, Mega Man can access new abilities in his robot dog companion Rush.

Rush's transformations include the “Rush Coil” for jumping higher, the “Rush Jet” for flying around the screen, and the “Rush Marine” for traveling underwater.

Throughout the various stages the player encounters Proto Man (as Break Man), a mini-boss who, once defeated, will open passageways for the player to advance. Mega Man 3 also expands upon the two preceding games by having additional stages set between the initial eight Robot Masters and the linear stages of Dr. Wily's fortress.

The “Doc Robots” are fought after defeating all 8 Robot Masters. You face the Doc Robots in the Spark Man stage, Needle Man stage, Gemini Man stage, and Shadow Man stage.

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