N 01

 
NARC
 

Acclaim/Rare

August 1990

Action/Shooter

1-2 Players

Sure, this macho shooter is scaled down from the arcade version, but in this case, that's not necessarily a bad thing.  The control is more intuitive now that there are less buttons to use, and with fewer enemies crowding the screen, you're given a lot more breathing room.  The only things you'll really miss are the gorgeous digitized graphics, and of course, the blood.

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NES Open Tournament Golf
 

Nintendo

September 1991

Sports

1-2 Players

This spectacular golf simulation is a quantum leap ahead of Nintendo's first... it's bright, colorful, and loaded with personality.  Open Tournament Golf is a visual dynamo, with fantastic cut scenes that add even more tension to putts.  On top of that, the user-friendly interface is a snap to use for both golf pros and beginners alike.

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NES Play Action Football
 

Nintendo

September 1990

Sports

1-4 Players

Nintendo's sports sim may have the National Football League license and a wide variety of plays to select, but it doesn't have the muscle to bring down real NES football legends like Tecmo Bowl.  NES Play Action Football features an awkward view of the action, along with gameplay that's slightly slow and stiff.  However, the game does get points for its clever cut scenes.

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NFL Football 
 

LJN

September 1989

Sports

1-2 Players

LJN dishes up a weak football game that's low on impact and high on confusion.  You'll have a heck of a time trying to select plays for your small, blocky team of football players, and when yout team switches over to defense, you'll wonder if you have any control over them at all!  Sorry, guys, but the NFL license only goes so far... and without strong gameplay to back it up, it doesn't go far enough.

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Nigel Mansell's World Championship
 

GameTek/Gremlin

October 1993

Racing

1 Player

Professional race car driver Nigel Mansell tears up the track in this very impressive driving game by GameTek and Gremlin Graphics.  Unlike many formula racing titles on the NES, the cars are enormous, and there's a convincing sense of speed as you rocket down the road.  If the tracks were less flat and the sound effects were more realistic, this game would be superb!

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A Nightmare on Elm Street
 

LJN/Rare

October 1990

Action

1-4 Players

Some effort was invested in making this game faithful to the popular series of horror films, but it's a bit too campy (and boring) to take seriously.  You (and up to three friends, if you've got the right equipment) run through creepy stages, punching bats and wolves.  When your characters fall asleep, the enemies get weirder, but the banal gameplay remains the same.

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Nightshade
 

Ultra/Beam

January 1992

Adventure

1 Player

Now here's an unexpected surprise!  From the publishers of Metal Gear and Contra comes this very British- and very funny!- adventure game with a dark film noir look and a trenchcoat-clad hero.  You'll bust a gut laughing at some of the extremely well-written dialogue, but you won't be quite as amused by the somewhat clumsy interface.  Still, you really ought to try this one.

FAST FACT:  Nightshade was originally designed as a series... this is the first chapter of the story, subtitled "The Claws of Sutekh".  Unfortunately, the quirky and completely unexpected gameplay kept Nightshade from catching on, and the series ended before it began.

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Ninja Crusaders
 

Sammy

December 1990

Action

1-2 Players

The path of the ninja has never been less exciting than it is in this limp action game.  In Ninja Crusaders, you're a curmudgeonly old senator passing a health care reform bill.  No, stupid, you're a ninja!  You'll take the not-so-scenic route through a series of dull stages, carving your way through dozens of dimwitted mutant enemies with a handful of wimpy weapons.

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