Dragon Warrior 2 (Chunsoft 1990)

After saving the world at the end of Dragon Warrior the hero and the princess left and started their own kingdom. Peace reigned and everyone was happy. The happy couple had three children who each got their own lands to rule. Under their fair and just rulership the land enjoyed peace for 100 years before trouble started again. This time an evil sorcerer called Hargon attacked Moonbrooke Castle in his plans to use the dark gods for world domination. Fortunately a lone solder escaped the carnage to warn the king of Midenhall. Unfortunately the king is far too old for questing but luckily his heir is on hand to save the world.

 

What this all boils down to is pretty much saving the world by finding five artefacts and killing the bad guy. Fortunately Dragon Warrior 2 has some minor improvements that will make the game more fun to play for fans of the first part as well as please newcomers. It's still not up to Final Fantasy standards but at least Enix bothers to translate their games, something Square wasn't very interested in during their early days. The bad news is that the graphics remain pretty much the same as the original with only a few improvements here and there. Seeing as the first game already had dated graphics this does not make for a very visually impressive game. The gameworld is many times larger than the original though so the game packs a far greater challenge.

The biggest change from the first game is the addition of party members. You can now have two other members in your party to help you in your quest. Of course, this means that you'll no longer fight single enemies but can be attacked by large groups of monsters. Although your main character is a warrior and cannot use any magic, his companions can and the game packs a few new spells to make life easier for you. The interface has also been cleaned up a bit and while remaining pretty much the same as in part one most of the more tedious aspects has been improved. You no longer have to use a command to use stairs for example. You also no longer have to worry about torches as all the caves and dungeons are well lit. You can still only save at certain spots but now almost every town and castle has a save spot so you don't have to backtrack vast distances to save your game. If you're really lucky you can also lay your hand on a potion that enables you to save anywhere. This can only be used once and the potions are very hard to come by so don't rely on them.

Buying and selling is still a bit annoying as you have to buy or sell items one by one but at least the shopkeeper will tell you if an item you want to buy can be used by a character. This saves a lot of buying useless equipment hassles. Just to add a little bit of spice to the game you can now also play some lottery mini-game if you find the tickets. Winning can reward you with some very neat prizes although it's not very easy. There are also lots more puzzles and quest than there was in part one although things can still get pretty tedious at times.

The sounds in the game are still very annoying and after a few hours of play can seriously get on your nerves. A bit more variety would have helped a lot. Not all the tunes are bad but you hear them so much that they really start to grate. Sound effects are still pretty much non-existent  Controls are the same as the previous game and it still felt very stiff to me. The cleaner interface made for less cumbersome actions but it's still not perfect. You do get to travel around in a boat due to the larger gameworld but the hordes of random encounters can sap your fun very rapidly.

The game has a decent enough storyline but the formulaic gameplay doesn't make for a very compelling experience. Most of the time finding the items is a bit tedious due to the amount of random encounters and some of the clues can also be very obscure. I played the game for more than twenty hours to acquire all the crests and items, but then couldn't find the final bosses hidden castle. My only clue was that it's hidden somewhere peaceful. Having to fight every second step also sucks the fun right out of the game.

If you enjoyed the first game and can put up the dated look then Dragon Warrior still has a lot to offer. The gameplay is much better than the first part and there are quite a few parts in the game where you have to puzzle things out. You also get to visit some familiar locations and the dialogue is still sometimes entertaining. Having allies also makes for tougher battles and there are now loads more creature types to battle. Overall, the game packs enough improvements to make it worthwhile for fans of the genre. 

[8]

Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (Konami 1990)

Gamers familiar with the Castlevania legacy will know that it was the vampire hunter Simon Belmond that defeated the evil Count Dracula. Their paths crossed once again when Simon found out that he was cursed and had to go on another quest to destroy Dracula's body parts. Castlevania 3 goes back a lot further though and takes place 100 years before Simon's birth. 

Count Dracula is at full power and terrorizing the country with his army of darkness. This time it's Simon's forefather, Trevor Belmond who has to save humanity. He'll need all the help he can get though and during his adventure he will meet up with other characters to help him in his quest. Ghost Pirate Grant DaNasty, fellow hunter and mystic warlord Sypha and even Dracula's forgotten son, Allucard are willing to lend a hand once you find them. It's still going to be a long hard journey but history has shown who the victor will be.

Excellent as Castlevania 2 was the nonlinear, sprawling levels wasn't everyone's cup of tea. Konami has realized this and made some adjustments but didn't abandon the idea altogether. Now there are a total of 17 possible levels but you won't be playing through each and every one of them. Instead you'll have to make a choice between two levels every so often and this choice will determine what hazards you'll meet up ahead and which ally will join up with you. This gives the game some replay value while still keeping the levels engrossing.

In terms of gameplay Castlevania 3 is very similar to the first game. Levels are filled with tricks and traps while the enemies come at you thick and fast. You also have a strict time limit and only three lives at your disposal. There are passwords and continues when you die but you'll start from the beginning of the stage so don't think you can abuse them like in Castlevania 2. Even the restart points for when you lose a life is few and far between and it's frustrating to die during a boss fight and then having to replay halve the stage just to get back to where you were. The difficulty has definitely been upped since the previous game so once again it's a game of skill and reflexes.

The graphics in Castlevania 3 is pretty damn good and besides the varied and imaginative stages there are also loads of creepy critters to bash around with your trusty whip. While the first half of the game covers your journey to the castle through swamps, woods and even a sunken city once you reach Dracula's abode things become very familiar. Owners of the first game will play through it with a smile of nostalgia on their face. As far as the music is concerned I probably don't even have to mention that Konami has once again crafted one of the best soundtracks on the NES.

Great as the game is if you disliked the previous titles then this probably won't sway your opinion. Controls take some getting used to and the difficulty alone will give people gray hairs. The three new characters add some cool new touches to the series and bring a little variety to the platform formula. If you are a fan of the Castlevania series then this is obviously essential for your collection but even if you've never had the urge to grab a whip and go slay some vampires Mr. Belmond might just convince you otherwise.

[9]

Final Fantasy (Square 1990)

Chances are you've heard about a little company called Square. While Final Fantasy is not their only franchise, it is one of their best and with good reason. Not bad considering the creator, Hironobu Sakaguchi thought this was to be the last game he would make.

The world of Final Fantasy is in trouble. The elements are out of control and this causes all kinds of unpleasant things like the earth starting to rot and stormy weather. The legends tell of four light warriors that will come to save the day by defeating each of the four fiends and finding the four orbs. Now it's up to you and your party of light warriors to stop the chaos and save your world from evil.

Final Fantasy packs quite a few nice options like the ability to pick your party from a group of character classes like Fighters, Thief's, Mages and Black Belts. Each has their own weapon and armor capabilities not to mention spells. After proving your worth, your characters can also be promoted to Ninjas, Knights and Wizards. These features are very nice and were almost unheard of back then in console titles. The world of Final Fantasy is also quite large with a variety of towns and dungeons and you even get different modes of transport like Boats, Canoes and Airships.

Mostly, you'll be fighting creatures for money and experience. Fear not as there are also some puzzles to solve. Taking on the four fiends is no easy task as they reside deep in their dungeons and you can only save in a town or world map. This means you're on your own inside the dungeons so one false move can cost you your life. This means Final Fantasy is one of the most challenging RPGs out there and will really tax your skills. It sucks that you only have one save game slot though.

Combat takes place in turn based format giving you lots of time to plan your next move. All enemies have their own strengths and weaknesses and learning what weapon or spell works best on what monster will help you a lot. There are also lots of magical items and weapons that will make your quest a bit easier. The combat is cool and the only criticism I have is that if the creature you wanted to attack is already dead or has fled your character does not automatically move on to the next one but instead still tries to attack the absent creature.

You can buy a variety of items like tents, cabins and houses that will allow you to save and rest on the world map but once in the dungeons you are on your own. There are also items like healing potions and antidotes as well as potions to cure being turned into stone. For combat ailments like being blinded or paralyzed you'll have to rely on your white mages defensive spells. Seeing as you use so many potions and stuff it's a pity that you can only buy one item at a time. A simple slider or number input could have sped up the process considerable. The music by Nobuo Uematsu is a highlight and you definitely won't be reaching for the mute button. Control is easy and every button has a use.

I have been looking forward to playing this game for some time now and I must say I wasn't disappointed. What it might lack in graphics it more than makes up with in gameplay and this is one game that will take some time to complete. It's tough and challenging but still has that addictive quality that has you exploring every dungeon and town in sight. A very worthwhile addition to your collection and a game that comes highly recommended.

[9]

Conquest Of The Crystal Palace (Asmik 1990)

The citizens of the Crystal Palace were happy until their once peaceful homeland was conquered by an evil spirit and his undead minions. With their King  and Queen killed, their only hope was the young prince. Unfortunately he was only six months old at the time. Fortunately the palace guardian and keeper, Zapolis survived despite being turned into a dog. Now fifteen years later prince Farron and his trusty dog Zap must venture back to their home and defeat the warspirit once and for all.

I have to say I'm impressed with this effort from Asmik. They have taken a sound platform game and added a bit of role playing elements to shake things up. The graphics are quite good and features some nice details. Some levels such as the Gateway of Flame have nice effects like the lava. The main character has some nice animations and is also quite responsive to control. Levels also shy away from the run of the mill formulas and feature some originality for once. Besides walking about, slaying your foes and collecting the coins they leave behind, you will also come across a shop from time to time. Here you can replenish your health, buy some new weapons or even catch the wacky news. While fighting you can also call upon Zap to attack your enemies and he has his own life bar that can also be filled up again by buying some food at the shop.

The game only has five levels but they are moderately long and feature some really hectic boss battles. Some of these guys are really tough and having the right weapon for the job helps immensely. You start out with only a sword but can buy some projectile weapons along the way. These don't last long so must be used sparingly and preferably kept for the bosses.

Another highlight is the music which is surprisingly good for a NES game, especially one of this era. There are also some downsides, but luckily not much. Gameplay can be a bit frustrating at times with things hitting you all over the place, but with patience and timing you can easily complete the game. Dying is also a frustrating experience while fighting a boss as you have to travel all the way back to him to restart the fight, instead of simply starting the battle from scratch. The last level also features some particularly nasty maze like layouts that can cause much frustration. Don't let these criticisms put you off though. Conquest of the Crystal Palace is still an enjoyable game and one that stands out in the platform market due to the extra features.

[8]

Ninja Crusaders (NMK 1990)

The whole world is in peril again and who better to save the day than a couple of deadly ninjas. You take control of one of these deadly killing machines and have to travel through five levels of danger before taking on the final boss and restoring peace to the world.

The graphics in Ninja Crusaders are pretty basic, but still not too shabby looking although some of the colour schemes can make it a bit hard to see enemies at times. Most of your adversaries are robots and some of these also have some strange colours like pink for example. At the end of each level you get to face a large boss and some of these are quite hard until you figure out their patterns. The levels, although tough are a bit on the short side and with each level only having two sub levels the game is a little too easily completed for my taste. You have to restart the level upon dying, but biting the dust during a boss battle luckily doesn't place you back at the start of the level. Instead, it only restarts the battle which makes things a bit easier.

 Along the way you get to pick up various ninja weapons like shurikens, katana blades and bo-staffs but I found myself sticking with the shurikens for the duration of the game. Although not as powerful as the short range weapons their range gives you a better chance at eliminating enemies from afar. Interestingly enough, the weapons also enable your ninja to transform into an animal form which is something I didn't even know about until I read the manual. You have no health bar and one shot is all it takes to kill you so it's fortunate that the controls are responsive enough.

The sound in the game is pretty good and for once there are some sound effects that you can actually hear. It's just a pity that some of the enemy's sounds like squeaking mice when they die. Platform games like these are always fun to play, but there's nothing about Ninja Crusaders that really sets it apart from the rest. It's a fun game and you'll enjoy it but if you have a choice I'd say go for something like Shadow of the Ninja. If it was a little bit longer and introduced a bit more variety it could have been better but as it is the game remains largely average. 

[6]

Heavy Barrel (Data East 1990)

When terrorists seize control of an underground nuclear missile site only you have the training and skills to go in and stop them. Since the place was designed like a fortress and filled with all manner of defences (now under terrorist control) infiltrating the complex is not going to be easy. The site also contains "Heavy Barrel" a devastating gun which one of the scientists has disassembled and hidden across the base. Finding and assembling the parts will go a long way towards giving you an edge in this impossible mission.

Heavy Barrel is a top down shooter and apart from a few niggles is one of the better ones on the system. The graphics are quite good and you travel through some really nice locations. Levels consist of areas like the weapons assembly area, quarry, and reactor area as well as launch security area. Each is packed with enemies like tanks, helicopters, mobile gun turrets, machine gunners, snipers and of course the normal terrorist. Each area is also littered with lockers, some of which contains parts of Heavy Barrel while other contains new guns or bombs. The catch is that you need keys to unlock these lockers and these are carried by the terrorists in red clothes. You can also only carry four at a time so you can horde keys for better lockers later on.

You can find new guns like the laser and flame thrower but these have limited ammo before you revert back to your standard machine gun. You can also find hand weapons like grenades and smoke bombs although only one type can be carried at a time. The Heavy Barrel weapon is of course the best in the game and is so powerful that can take out almost anything in just a few shots. Unfortunately it's split up in six parts and once you've found all the parts you can only use it for 90 seconds. After your time is up you have to find all the pieces again. Sometimes you can time it so that you find the last piece before a boss battle but it's mostly a question of luck.

 

The sound in the game never really rises above average with the usual action-like tunes playing in the background. The sound effects are quite feeble though and lack that hard hitting edge that would have made the game seem more intense. The controls are responsive and your character is easy to control while dodging bullets and enemies. It only takes one hit before you go down but you have a few continues to even out the odds and there is handy two player mode so you can take on the terrorists with a friend.

Heavy Barrel could well have been a classic if it wasn't so short. It's a much better game than similar titles like Ikari 3: The Rescue but its still bit too short to offer real value for money. With a few more levels this would have been a great game but as it is, it's still good. Good in single player and even better in multi-player, shooter fans should have fun completing this one.

[7]

Destiny Of An Emperor (Capcom 1990)

Role Playing Games normally fall into two categories. There are those that take place in the far flung future such as Phantasy Star or those that take place in a mythical past ala Dragon Warrior. With "Destiny of an Emperor," Capcom has tried to offer something unique by basing the storyline on the historical age of turmoil in China's past. This means the game is filled with real Chinese generals and towns and those that know their Chinese history will know exactly what's going on. Of course there is still plenty to satisfy RPG fans that have little interest in history and just want to play a fun and challenging game.

While not much different from your average Top Down NES RPG, "DOE" can appear a bit daunting at first due to a couple of factors. The staple of a good RPG, magic, is still present but is now called Tactics and you'll have to appoint an intelligent strategist to employ them. Unfortunately Capcom has left the names in Chinese so you'll have to keep the manual nearby to check that you are casting the right spell during battle. Trust me nothing sucks more than accidentally casting "Tui Lu" during battle causing your troops to retreat. You'll be using tactics a lot though so you'll soon learn to separate your "Huo Shen" from your "Shui Long". All the towns and people's names are also Chinese which can be a bit confusing but nothing that can't be rectified by taking a few notes.

Progress in the game is pretty linear and although some of the towns are spaced quite far apart it's really hard to actually get lost. The entire game also takes place on one continent so there is no sea travel. Encounters are still random and take place with alarming frequency. Instead of the usual monsters and mutants you'll find yourself battling rebels, brigands and pirates. There are also loads of enemy generals roaming about and defeating them in battle gives you the option to set them free or try to convert them to your side with a cash bribe or nice horse. Unfortunately there is no option to execute the scum that refuse to join.

 You can have up to five members in your active party but can keep a reserve of up to 64 back home. This may sound like a lot but considering there are over 200 generals in the game you'll still have to pick carefully who you want to keep around. The battles are turn based and very strategic and with troops (HP) of over 40 000 in later battles, which means these can go on for quite some time. Even worse some generals love casting "Wan Fu" which instantly replenishes all their troops or worse still "An Sha" which instantly kills one of your generals regardless of the amount of troops he has left. On the good side "DOE" gives you an "All Out" option in battle which speeds up combat by automatically picking choosing the attack command every turn. Very useful considering the amount of weaker foes you'll encounter. I've also noticed that your party members seem to walk a lot faster than the usual RPG speed which helps on those long travels.

Graphically "DOE" won't win any awards appearing functional rather than dazzling. There are some nice touches though and every general has their own portrait. Towns look pretty much like they do in every other NES RPG and are also the only place you can save, rest and equip your characters. While the game focuses more on combat than puzzle solving there are a few spots where you can easily become stumped. The game also places the level cap at 50 which considering the amount of random battles you fight is quite low and attainable in no time. After that the random battles only become an annoyance since you'll have all the money, food and experience you can have.

One area where Capcom did not disappoint was the audio and "DOE" has quite a few memorable tunes. The sound effects on the other hand are about what can be expected of the NES. The controls should also feel familiar to anyone who has played a Final Fantasy or Dragon Warrior title.

While this isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea I think Capcom should be applauded for converting this title to English. It makes a nice change from the usual NES fare and while I won't want to finish it again any time soon it was way better than I expected considering the subject matter. Sure to garner a cult following.

[8]