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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.