W 03

 
Wild Western
 

Nintendo

October 1985

Light Gun

1 Player

It's a classic wild west showdown!  A rowdy bunch of southwestern stereotypes challenge you to gunfights in this early light gun game... fire first when the foe pulls his sideiron to put 'em down and move on to the next opponent.  The expressive cartoon characters are hilarious, but the game doesn't pick up speed until you play it in the more varied and intense gang mode.

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Willow
 

Capcom

December 1989

Action/Adventure

1 Player

This game patterns itself closely after The Legend of Zelda, arming its pint-sized hero with a sword and sending him through maze-like paths littered with hideous creatures from the movie.   Life is hard for Willow at first, but if he perseveres, he'll eventually learn to wield his weapon like a true warrior, giving him a chance to soak in the lush scenery and ambient music.
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Winter Games
 

Acclaim/Pony Canyon

September 1987

Sports

1-2 Players

The shrill music... the horrendous graphics... the unresponsive control... it can only be Acclaim's abysmal conversion of Winter Games for the NES!  Compared to versions of the game on much older consoles, Winter Games falls flat with a tiny selection of events, none of which are much fun to play.  Only Pony Canyon and its accomplices at Atelier Double could have screwed up such an easy port so very badly.
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Win, Lose or Draw
 

Hi-Tech Expressions

March 1990

Game Show

1-2 Players

Oddly enough, the popular game show isn't as much fun to play as it is to watch.  It may have something to do with the fact that ther are no celebrity contestants... just a bunch of random schlubs that shout out inane phrases like "Cool!" and "Rad!" when they solve puzzles.  It may also have to do with this adaptation's slower pace, which makes the gameplay less involving.
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Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord
 

Nexoft/Game Studio

July 1990

Role-Playing

1 Player

Wizardry is so dated and archaic, you'll almost think it was dug out of the rubble of an Egyptian tomb.  The interface is clunky, the graphics are as black as night, and combat is severely limited in both scope and intensity... you can't choose the enemies you want to attack, and you'll never get to watch your heroes clash with their adversaries.
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Wizardry II: Knight of Diamonds
 

Nexoft/Game Studio

April 1992

Role-Playing

1 Player

It's another dusty old Wizardry game, with the same dated look and limited play mechanics as the previous one.  The awkward interface hasn't been improved, the battles still leave you swinging at random foes, and the visuals are still an even mixture of black, grey, and brown.  The three-dimensional levels you'll explore have been touched up a little, but that's it.
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Wizards and Warriors
 

Acclaim/RARE

December 1987

Action/Adventure

1 Player

When the kingdom's fairest maidens are kidnapped, only bullet-headed knight Kuros has the guts to rescue them!  Wizards and Warriors is an inventive action title with enormous stages and a touch of humor, which breaks the tension when the player's patience is tested by frustrating platform hopping, bloodthirsty bosses, and the limited reach of Kuros' sword.
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Wizards and Warriors II: Ironsword
 

Acclaim/RARE

December 1989

Action/Adventure

1 Player

Rare adds an adventure element to the Wizards and Warriors series with Ironsword.  This time, you'll search for items to appease four giant beasts in their natural habitats, then use magic spells to slay corrupt elemental forces.  The stages are more repetitive and less intricately designed in Ironsword, and Kuros still has trouble reaching enemies with his blade.

FAST FACT:  Before he starred in reality television shows or sold artificially flavored butter-like spread, Italian heartthrob Fabio appeared on the cover of Ironsword as the hero Kuros.  Apparently, nobody told Acclaim that the star of the game was a comical knight in a full suit of armor, and not an impossibly handsome barbarian with long, flowing hair.
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