GameTek/Softie

September 1990

Game Show

1-2 Players

Just how silly do you like your puzzles?  Well, they don't get much sillier than the ones in Classic Concentration.  In this adaptation of the late 80's game show, you'll match panels revealing fabulous prizes, like "Ring" and "Sofa".  Then, once the panels are removed, you'll attempt to solve the often ridiculous Rebus puzzle hiding behind them.

Sony Imagesoft

November 1993

Action

1 Player

The big-budget film becomes a low-budget video game... and when I say "low-budget", I'm not kidding.  The characters are tiny and poorly detailed, the backgrounds are more abominable than any snowman, and the music sounds like it'd be more at home in an episode of Dudley Do-Right.  Too bad the designers couldn't seem to do anything right when they made this game!

Nintendo

October 1985

Action

1-2 Players

You could almost get away with calling Clu Clu Land a Pac-Man clone... but not quite.  Instead of removing dots from the screen, you're uncovering glittering gems which combine to form a picture.  Also, instead of a maze, the screen is littered with poles which you must use to change direction.  It's an awkward play mechanic that puts the game a step behind Pac-Man.

Data East

November 1988

Action

1 Player

Swooping into dangerous warzones with a heavily armed helicopter to rescue hostages sounds like a sure-fire recipe for a fantastic video game... hey, it worked for Choplifter!  However, Cobra Command just doesn't do justice to this promising concept.  This NES adaptation of the Data East coin-op stumbles in comparison to similar games on other systems... it's less intense but a great deal more frustrating.

Nintendo/Rare

July 1989

Action

1-2 Players (alt)

Cobra Triangle shares a lot in common with Rare's more popular RC Pro Am series, but this is no mere racing game, oh no!  You'll be doing just about everything with your speedy red boat, from disposing of deadly mines to blowing up gigantic sea monsters.  These challenges will push your skills to the limit, but they're so rewarding that you'll gladly persevere to the very end.

Capcom

March 1990

Action

1 Player

Capcom's viciously intense shooter doesn't try to hide its roots... it's a thinly disguised clone of an unlicensed NES game called Rolling Thunder.  Both titles demand patience and steady nerves from the player, who is frequently accosted by enemies leaping out from behind closed doors.  However, Capcom's game looks and sounds just a little better than its inspiration.

Virgin

July 1993

Creativity

1 Player

In this exceptional action-adventure title, you play as a genetically engineered soldier, out to rid the universe of... oh, wait, wrong review.  This is Color a Dinosaur, where you, well... color a dinosaur.  They're really cute dinosaurs, mind you, but that's all the cartridge has to offer.  You don't even get that many colors to use to paint them!

FAST FACT:  Outspoken video game musician Tommy Tallarico wrote the soundtrack for Color A Dinosaur... in an interview,  he sheepishly admitted that it wasn't his proudest moment as a composer.  Tallarico still writes video game music, and co-hosted the G4 television programs The Electric Playground and Judgment Day alongside professional game reviewer Victor Lucas.

Capcom/Micronics

November 1986

Shooter

1-2 Players (alt)

Many of Capcom's first NES releases were rough and unpolished, and Commando was no exception to this rule.  The animation is primitive in this arcade conversion, and the sound could use some work as well... it's repetitive and ear-splittingly high-pitched.  On the plus side, Commando is faster and more intense than other vertically scrolling military shooters on the NES.