Karnov Box Art

I got Karnov and Friday the 13th one day as a kid. It was from a cousin who didn't like either game anymore. I received both a few days after receiving Adventure Island II for Christmas. The three games were a pretty big part of my childhood, when I only owned 20 games or so. Karnov will always be remembered for its insane robotic fish people, t-rexes, and wacky settings. This is defiantly one of the defining games of the NES, and every collector/gamer needs a copy.

I gave Karnov a try tonight, while I was taking a break from WoW. I can still get to the Caterpillar woman boss on Stage 4, but I can't beat her! Never could as a kid either. This is one of those games than has haunted me since I was a kid.

Top Gun Box Scans

Weclome... to the DANGERZONE! Top Gun is another NES game that gets a really bad rap. We can probably thank AVGN for that, but I suppose the game isn't without its problems. Landing on the aircraft carrier is pretty damn tough, but so what? Ok... full disclosure, Top Gun isn't Afterburner II (which is fucking amazing), and I only saw Top Gun for the first time last night (what the hell is wrong with me?), but piloting an 8-Bit Tomcat has its perks. In this case most of those perks consist of listening to the 8-bit Top Gun anthem on the title screen.

Love the copytext on the back of the box; it perfectly captures the "in-your-fucking-face" extreme '80s action attitude.

Hydlide Manual Scans

Knowledge is the most powerful weapon. Minutes into my quest to beat Hydlide, I had about a dozen questions. Thanks to the DigiPress NES Manual Archive I was able to get the Hydlide manual scans and begin to understand the game. I have to admit, seeing all the artwork and cheesy Engrish instructions has given me the motivation I needed. Things are looking up.

Here are .PNGs of all the important manual pages. The generic FCC regulations page and the password page have been removed to save some space. Enjoy!

Hydlide Promo Flier

Oh, Hydlide. I got stuff to say about Hydlide, don't worry. but not now. Now I gotta go drink a 44 oz. White Russian, Dude-style, and play Hero Quest. 

You guys have a fun Friday, Hydlide's comin this weekend.

Ultima: Exodus NES Box Scans

I love NES box art and the copy text on the back. Ideally, we'd all own complete in box sets of all the games we love, but its a damn naer impossible (and expensive dream). Especially since I bought Ultima 3 for 4 bucks from a friend who hated it. At the time I wanted to play Ultima Online, but 15 bucks a month was out of the question for my 7th grade hobo self. Nevertheless, Exodus remains one of my favorite games of all time and like a fine, cliched wine it gets better with aged cheese. Yes. That'll do pig. That'll do.

The box boasts 100 hours of gameplay. You just can't get that kind of quality shit for 4 bucks these days.





Wizards and Warriors NES Box Scans

Back in the day box art was badass. Look at that dude, he's about to seriously fuck up that goblin. Surprisingly  the copytext and story for W&W isn't total corporate vomit. More of a Lord of the Rings meets Le Morte D'Arthur while hooking up with a drunk Ghost 'n Goblins.

In a world where magic reigns supreme in almost every game or movie, it's refreshing to have Wizards and Warriors break the trend. "Yo! magic is shit dog, hack some bitches up, holla!" says the box.

The game taunts you by promising "untold riches" to the "ultimate knight warrior." Are you an ultimate enough warrior to knight the shit out of this game? Of course you aren't, you probably use savestates. Pussy.

Pinball Extravaganza Scans

This is a really cool page from issue 5 of Nintendo Power: mini reviews of Rollerball, Pinbot, and Super Sushi Pinball.

Rock-N-Ball and Pinball are two other classic NES Pinball games. They can be fun and challenging, but Devil's Crush and Alien's Crush on the Turbo Grafx-16 have all of them beat.

Nevertheless, I got Rock-N-Ball many, many years ago for $5.00 at a garage sale. I was impressed by the multiplayer and different modes. My friends and I spent countless hours playing the pinball versions of soccer and hockey.

Rock-N-Ball deserves an in-depth review, so I'll stop there.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, be sure to check back for a special post...

Interview with Yuji Naka: the creator of Sonic the Hedgehog

I found this interview with Yuji Naka in Sega Visions Issue 9. Sonic 2 hadn't come out yet, and this guy was at the height of his powers.

Dragon Warrior Strategy Guide Nintendo Power Scans

Here's a great way to start the weekend: Dragon Warrior Strategy Guide scans. In addition to another issue of Nintendo Power with Dragon Warrior, the game was covered in-depth in Issue 7.

I'll always remember getting my copy for free in the mail because of my subscription to Nintendo Power. I spent months playing the game before I finally beat it. I would spend hours looking at the maps, charts, monster stats, etc. I even calculated how many battles I would need to buy the Silver Shield, get to level 30, and other good stuff. Dragon Warrior was one of the first really fleshed out adventures, and the main overworld theme will always be stuck in my head.

These scans have nice hints, tips, & some amazing art! This is what made Nintendo Power such a force to be reckoned with.

Dragon Warrior is epic, what more can I say that the scans don't? Twenty years ago you'd be watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and playing Dragon Warrior right now.

Section Z NES Manual Scans

Section Z is the overlooked Capcom classic for the NES. Luckily it's rather common so you should be able to track it down if you're into awesome space shooting games. Most arcade players will already be familiar with Section Z, but the NES game definitely holds its own.

Great music, nice graphics, multiple weapons, tons of enemies, and a maze-like exploration mechanic combine to form something like S.C.A.T. or Abadox meets Air Fortress.

Whether you've played this game before, threw out the manual as a kid, never want to play it, or picked it up today, you can at least enjoy the ridiculous story and creative drawings. Overall this is a damn nice manual, and I like the materialistic design. It's over 20 pages, and I didn't post some of the legal copy. All the good stuff is in-tact.

Vice: Project Doom Review and Nintendo Power Scans

Vice: Project Doom is a champion among games. It unabashedly copies the Ninja Gaiden formula, but with improvements. You play as Hart, a secret agent who has no qualms about killing people left and right. Armed with a laser sword, spy car, grenades, and a gun, you hack your way through 11 stages of men, monsters, and giant radioactive rats. Released in 1991, it managed to stand out against the SNES thanks to the Nintendo Power spread and high-quality.

Some stages play like Spy Hunter, with you driving, and an overhead perspective. Others are similar to light gun arcade games (Jurassic Park, House of the Dead). These stages keep the gameplay fresh, and, most importantly, feel 100% polished.

But the real meat is the platforming, and Vice: Project Doom doesn't disappoint. You can duck and run, and attack while ducking and running; the environment will collapse around you; enemies drop power-ups (and coins which will grant a 1UP with 100). Enemy drops are very generous, so once you start to get the hang of things taking a hit here or there doesn't completely trash your chances of beating the stage.

The challenge is fine-tuned, with a nice progression of difficulty. Overall, however, Vice is easier than Ninja Gaiden, but harder than Super Mario Bros. 3 (for whatever that's worth).

In-between stages present a cinema-driven story. As the title suggests, you are, I suppose, a narcotics officer. The Bad Guys are using some substance, "gel," to turn people into mutants and monsters. Aliens get involved, and the story degenerates into hilarity and awesomeness. The music is sometimes brilliant, sometimes not-so-brilliant, but most tracks fit the mood of the stage well.

Vice: Project Doom received significant Nintendo Power attention, including the cover spread. A creepy thought that while your character is hopping and bopping through stages, monsters lurk in the third dimension watching you. And why identify this mutant with the reader? I never even noticed the guy in the background until I really started to look at this image. It's fucking bizarre.

The Nintendo Power article covers up to stage 9, and shows off the nice boss artwork and grand scope of the game. Vice: Project Doom is an 8-Bit epic--don't miss it!