Ultra

September 1990

Action/Fighting

1 Player

Ultra's fascination with odd television licenses reaches its disturbing peak with Rollergames, based on the 1990's television show best described as pro wrestling on wheels.  You'll choose one of three team captains, then roll through sharply drawn stages full of easily dispatched thugs and obnoxious gaping holes.  The game's too simplistic to be a truly fantastic fighter.

Koei

October 1989

Strategy

1-4 Players (alt)

Koei's flagship series started out a little rough, with a simple interface and a map of China that, well, doesn't look much like China at all.  Of course, fans of the series probably aren't concerned about any of this... all they want is the astonishingly deep gameplay that's a trademark of Koei's historical strategy series.  Believe me, they'll get it.

Koei

September 1991

Strategy

1-4 Players (alt)

The romance continues in the sequel to Koei's most popular strategy title.  This time, the graphics are more detailed, with an accurate map of China and stylish illustrations of every alliance and ambush.  The impossibly deep gameplay is the same, although it's been enhanced with a more robust and informative interface.

Mindscape

May 1992

Sports

1-2 Players

Mindscape takes its turn on the parquet floor in Roundball: 2 on 2 Challenge.  You have just one teammate in Roundball, making the gameplay more straightforward... although strangely, it's still enormously difficult to sink baskets.  Fortunately, making foul shots is a lot of fun, thanks to a unique and very impressive behind the backboard view of the action.

Konami

April 1987

Action

1-2 Players (alt)

The brutally tough arcade game is back, looking a little less colorful but sounding a bit better than before.  Rush 'n Attack is more faithful to the original than most NES arcade "conversions", with the same straightforward side-scrolling action, but the monotonous marching drums in the arcade game have been replaced with a more exciting Konami-esque soundtrack.

Tecmo

July 1987

Action

1 Player

It's a whole new adventure for Rygar, the star of the obscure Tecmo arcade game of the same name.  The mighty barbarian battles strange creatures with his bladed glaive on a chain, increasing his strength with every victory and stopping only to benefit from the wisdom of giant mountain hermits.  The journey is long and a bit unpolished, but ultimately worthwhile.