SNK

September 1989

Action/Fighting

1 Player

This reasonably well designed game is bound to suffer when compared to not only the arcade title that inspired it, but the best fighting games on the NES as well.  It doesn't have the impact of the P.O.W. coin-op, or the wide selection of attacks in classics like Double Dragon.  What it DOES have, however, are nicely detailed graphics and a unique military theme.

Tengen/Namco

November 1993

Action

1-2 Players (alt)

The beloved arcade game hits the NES in one of the better Pac-Man conversions from the 1980's.  This translation is better than many that have come before it, with superior sound effects and a more accurately drawn maze.  However, you have to think that Pac-Man on the NES have been even better... the gameplay is slow and the colors aren't as vibrant as they could be.

FAST FACT:  Pac-Man was given a second, more stealthy release in 1993 by its original creators Namco.  The game itself is no different from the licensed or unlicensed Tengen versions, aside from minor changes to the title screen to remind players of the new publisher.  However, it is much more difficult to find than its Tengen counterpart.

Hot-B

November 1990

Puzzle

1-2 Players

It's you against a steadily growing wall of dice in this puzzle game which favors fast reflexes over careful strategy.  You'll fire at the dice to add them to a collection at the bottom of the screen, then use the poker hands you've created to stem the tide of brightly colored game pieces looming overhead.  Palamedes is moderately fun, but it's hardly a classic.

Taito/Disco

October 1992

Action

1 Player

Now THAT'S a spicy meatball!  When the Snively Whiplash-esque Ohdove hijacks your restaurant, it's up to you, the apparent love child of Mario and Chef Boyardee, to take it back.  Panic Restaurant is a typical side-scrolling platformer, enhanced by a hilarious cast of food-themed monsters, crisp cartoon graphics, and one of the best death scenes ever in a Nintendo game.

Mindscape

December 1988

Action

1-2 Players (alt)

The amusing arcade game makes its first appearance on the NES, and the results are less than newsworthy.  Paperboy is both sluggish and frustrating... aiming your papers is needlessly difficult, and you'll find yourself in impossible situations where a painful crash is the only way out.  The only thing the game really has going for it are realistic sound effects.

Mindscape

April 1992

Action

1-2 Players (alt)

Looks like the Paperboy has a little female competition!  Yes, in Paperboy 2, you can play as either the original Paperboy or his ponytail wearing female counterpart.  That's not the biggest news, though... although the gameplay is still pretty slow, the graphics have improved and the bonus stages are a lot more fun.  It's even easier to aim the papers this time around.

T*HQ/Equilibrium

January 1991

Action

1 Player

Why did Captain Hook scream?  Because he was forced to play Peter Pan and the Pirates, an exceedingly mediocre side-scrolling action game based on the short-lived Fox cartoon.  You're a squat Peter Pan, poking lame-o enemies with your dagger and collecting fairy dust that doesn't let you fly so much as unnaturally levitate through the air like a second rate magic act.

FCI/Pony Canyon

April 1990

Fighting

1 Player

Phantom Fighter introduced the Western world to kyonshies, weird hopping Chinese ghosts that terrorize everyone in their path.  Kenchi is the only man brave enough to fight these funky phantoms, using punches and kicks to send them back to their graves.  Phantom Fighter is a quirky and repetitive action title, but stick with it and its campy charm may just grow on you.