W 04

 
Wizards and Warriors III: Kuros: Visions of Power
 

Acclaim/RARE

March 1992

Action/Adventure

1 Player

Someone must have been asleep at the wheel when creating the graphics for the third Wizards and Warriors game.  They're astonishingly unprofessional by Rare's usually high standards, with garish colors and an appalling lack of detail.  The gameplay is just as disappointing, with too much emphasis on tedious exploration and not nearly enough on combat.
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Wolverine
 

LJN/Software Creations

October 1991

Action

1 Player

The snarling superhero loses a lot of his bite in this underwhelming side-scroller.  The level structures are very basic, and the generic enemies are very obnoxious, sapping you of your energy faster than you can say "Omega Red".  Plain artwork and an irritating soundtrack are the final adamantium nails in the coffin of this game unworthy of the Wolverine comic license.
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World Champ: Super Boxing Great Fight 
 

Romstar

April 1991

Sports/Fighting

1-2 Players

This is probably the best boxing game on the NES without the words "Punch-Out!!" in its title.  The control is surprisingly sharp in World Champ, making every punch in your arsenal a breeze to perform.  On top of that, the elevated side view perspective lets you freely dance around the ring, rather than being stuck in a single spot like in most boxing titles.

QUICK HINT:  Play a few practice bouts, choosing a punch boost as your reward for winning each fight.  After winning four or five times, play a real fight, investing all the power you've earned in your straight punch.  This punch, performed by pressing forward and A, will now have the strength to bring down an entire building!  However, we'd suggest demolishing your opponents with this crushing blow instead.
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World Class Track Meet
 

Nintendo/Bandai

August 1988

Exercise

1-2 Players

If this game looks familiar, there's a reason for that.  World Class Track Meet is a re-release of Stadium Events under the Nintendo brand name.  You'll still be competing in a series of events, using the Power Pad to leap over hurdles and race to the finish line.  The only difference is that World Class Track Meet is much easier to find than its Bandai counterpart.
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World Cup Soccer
 

Nintendo/Technos

December 1990

Action/Sports

1-4 Players

This lively soccer game, featuring Kunio and the rest of those beloved punks from River City Ransom, might play a little too rough for its own good.  You'll spend as much time knocking down members of the opposing team as you will shooting for their goal.  In addition, you can't directly control your teammates; only command them from a distance to kick and pass the ball.
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World Games
 

Milton Bradley/RARE

March 1989

Sports

1-2 Players

The world is your oyster in this sports game featuring events from eight different countries.  You'll dive off eighty foot cliffs, cling to an angry bull, and lock stomachs with the professionally obese in your quest for the gold.  The artwork is adequate, with a slightly cartoony touch, but it's hard to get a feel for some of the game's unusual events.
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Wrath of the Black Manta
 

Taito

April 1990

Action

1 Player

Remember kids, ninjas don't do drugs!  They also don't make a habit of rescuing children from evil crime syndicates, but the Black Manta is no ordinary ninja.  This silent assassin slings shuriken and interrogates creepy thugs in this sloppily designed but well-intentioned action game that borrows heavily from Sega's Shinobi series.
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Wrecking Crew
 

Nintendo

October 1985

Action

1-2 Players

In this early puzzle game, Mario and Luigi break cement blocks and ladders with their hammers while avoiding toothy wrenches and disgruntled eggplants.  Why don't they just smack the pursuing enemies with the hammers?  Who the heck knows?  Anyway, Wrecking Crew is fairly entertaining, even if its simple graphics haven't aged well.
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