Nerdicus NES Review #109: Caesars Palace

Title : Caesars Palace

Publisher : Virgin Games

Genre : Casino Simulator

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1992

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $3-$5

As June comes to a close, we are back to the NES with one game that everyone seemed to own back in the day. I'm not exactly sure why...Perhaps our parents bought this in hopes of teaching us at a young age what it takes to be a professional gambler? I don't know about you, but I'd much rather play a Casino simulator if the console actually spit out real money if I won.

Imagine the possibilities.....an NES ATM......wow...

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Nerdicus SNES Review #26 : Battle Clash

Title : Battle Clash

Publisher : Nintendo

Genre : Super Scope Shooter

Players : 1 /2  Player

Release Date : 1992

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $3-$5

If you had an SNES, and you owned a Super Scope along with it, chances are you had Battle Clash as well. It was one of the few games out there that actually required the use of the Super Scope, which I have to say I was utterly horrible at using correctly. I was never a fan of the Super Scope, as it was just a bit too bulky and overwhelming compared to its NES blaster predecessor.

Nintendo really was a light gun pimp. At least reviewing this gave me an excuse to whip out my Super Scope. Don't remember the last time I used this thing. It only served as a prop on top of my TV the last few years.

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Nerdicus NES Review #108 : Cabal

Title : Cabal

Publisher : Fabtek / Taito / Milton Bradley

Genre : Cabal Shooter

Players : 1 / 2 Player

Release Date : 1990

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $4-$6

There's nothing quite as satisfying as a shooting gallery game. Simple, entertaining, and challenging as hell for the most part. Of course, these games were a tad more fun when they took place in a military setting. Enter, CABAL. A game that was so innovative, they even refer to certain shooters as "Cabal-style shooters." No joke. Look it up. Wanna fight about it?

I only wish the box art had the one from the Amiga Port. Because that has Kurt Russel on it. And if it isn't Kurt Russel, it sure as hell looks like him.

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Nerdicus Genesis Review #21 : Atomic Runner

Title : Atomic Runner

Publisher : Treco / UPL

Genre : Side-Scrolling Shooter / Action

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1992

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $40-$50

Before we get into the game itself, let's talk a little bit about the back story of this side-scrolling shooter. Atomic Runner, is actually not the complete title of this cult classic. It's actual name is ATOMIC RUNNER CHELNOV. Hmm...Chelnov...alright....are you thinking what I'm thinking?

The story behind this game is about a coal miner, who may as well be Russian considering there is a hammer and sickle in the opening of the game, is almost killed due to an atomic explosion. Chelnov....atomic explosion....okay......things are adding up, aren't they? And this is where the controversy begins.

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Nerdicus NES Review #107 : BurgerTime

Title : BurgerTime

Publisher : Data East

Genre : Puzzle Arcade

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1987

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $4-$6

When this game first made it's appearance in arcades in 1982, it was an instant classic. Of course there were dozens of puzzle games out in Arcades, so it was hard for a new one to really make its presence felt surrounded by already major hits. But there was something about a quirky game about a chef trying to make hamburgers, all the while being chased by Hot Dogs and Fried Eggs that made it irresistible.

I must have owned this game for every retro system out back in the day. I know I had it for Atari, Commodore, Calecovision, and the NES. It was one of those puzzle games you just had to own. You played it once, and you're a BurgerTime-r for life.

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Nerdicus SNES Review #25 : Battle Cars

Title : Battle Cars

Publisher : Namco

Genre : Battle Racing

Players : 1 /2  Player

Release Date : 1993

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $10-$15

If Death Race was a video game, this would probably be the closest thing to it. And, if I had to guess, I probably hated this game as much as I did that crap fest of a movie. So here we have another racing game, set in an apocalyptic future, where cars are blowing each other up in order to win big bucks. I'm sorry, but I can't realistically picture "death racing" as a viable option of self-finance when half the world is destroyed.

Unless it's you're stuck in a prison, like Death Race, and you are televised blowing each other up. Man, how does nonsense like this sell? Mindless garbage...

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Nerdicus NES Review #106 : Burai Fighter

Title : Burai Fighter

Publisher : Taxan / Taito

Genre : Side Scroller Shoot 'em Up

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1990

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $5-$10

Honestly, this was the first time I had ever laid eyes on this game. I'm not even sure how I missed out on it. As a kid I would have been drawn in just by the cover art. Seriously, a flying space suit man that looks like the Shredder.......tell me he doesn't look like the Shredder.....facing off against Shenron from Dragon Ball Z!? 

Uhhhhh, yeaaaaaaah?????

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Nerdicus Genesis Review #20 : Atomic Robo-Kid

Title : Atomic Robo-Kid

Publisher : Treco / UPL

Genre : Side-Scrolling Shooter / Action

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1990

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $5-$10

Why is that when humans create space outposts, they never last very long? They're either invaded by aliens, or in the case of Atmoic Robo-Kid, blasted by a massive dose of cosmic radiation. And we all know what happens when humans are exposed to radiation.

Yay, mutants. 

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Nerdicus NES Review #105 : Bump 'N' Jump

Title : Bump 'N' Jump

Publisher : Vic Tokai

Genre : Obstacle Racing

Players : 1 / 2 Player

Release Date : 1988

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $3-$4

Despite the very risque name, this game is anything but. Yes, yes Bump N Jump sounds sexual, ha ha ha. It's not, get those perverse thoughts out of your head. This is a racing game. In fact, Bump 'N' Jump seems to be pretty friendly and kid-like according to the way the box art. It's just some kid and his gal riding on an ATV in the desert. Seems normal. Look at that fist pump! That's when you turn the box over and you get that message...

A Sunday drive has turned into a nightmare on wheels.

Well, they got that part right. This is a destructive, demolition styled game that forces you to slam into other vehicles and send them careening into obstacles or off a cliff. How can such friendly box art fool me into purchasing a game about vehicular manslaughter!? This game claims that it's a racing game, but it's not. Yes, you're on a road, and yes you need to get from start to finish. But this game is all about racking up points and causing mayhem on the road.

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Nerdicus SNES Review #24 : Battle Blaze

Title : Battle Blaze

Publisher : Sammy

Genre : Fighting

Players : 1 /2  Player

Release Date : 1993

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $5-$10

Are you not entertained!? Take every fighting game you've ever loved and throw it out the window. This is the true, reigning fighting champion for 16-bit systems. I mean, hell, once you add weapons into the mix, it's a guaranteed win. Okay, I'm exaggerating a bit, but this was really one of my favorite games for the SNES, especially when I had friends over. 

Fighting games weren't my thing, but I absolutely loved fighting games with a twist. Primal Rage for instance was my go to fighting game. Can't wait to review that one hahah. Oh, Golden Shower...So when Sammy came out with a gladiatorial styled fighting game, I was quick to jump on it.

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Copernicus Nerdicus #4 : "E3 150CC"

Without a doubt, Nintendo kicked major arse in E3 this year. So, of course I had to throw in a Luigi Death stare victory lap against Sony and Microsoft.

Great job, Nintendo. Looking forward to 2015! Will be posting an E3 write up after the week is over. Stay tuned!

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Nerdicus NES Review #104 : Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle

Title : Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle

Publisher : Kemco

Genre : Action Platformer

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1989

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $5-$10

Taking a trip with Bugs Bunny through a crazy castle should be a guaranteed good time, right? We all know how crazy Looney Tunes are, so this has to be downright bonkers! Picture you, Bugs, and all his friends going on a whacky adventure trying to collect carrots! As it turns out, Bugs has no friends...which is pretty sad. Everyone hates him, and wants him dead. Do we want Bugs to die? No, but after playing this game, we might. 

This game may have Crazy in the title, and it certainly does drive a person mad. At least it got that part right.

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Nerdicus Genesis Review #19 : Art Alive!

Title : Art Alive

Publisher : Sega / Tec Toy

Genre : Art / Educational

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1991

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $5-$10

Do you remember how awesome Mario Paint was? The sheer interaction you had with a painting program, allowing you to animate your own drawings and color in illustrations was top notch for a 16-bit console. Not to mention the ability to create your own stylized chip tunes songs with the Mario Paint composer. Cats, and boats, and mushrooms making music? Yes, please. OH, OH! And the Fly Swatter game...man, those were the days.

Oh, I'm sorry. I'm supposed to be talking about Art Alive. Um..........yeah.......well.

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Nerdicus NES Review #103 : Bugs Bunny Birthday Blowout

Title : Bugs Bunny Birthday Blowout

Publisher : Kemco

Genre : Action Platformer

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1990

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $5-$10

There were some games that, regardless of how bad they were, held a special place in my young little gamers heart. I'm not sure what it was about them. Maybe it was where I got these games from, or maybe it was some tweaked section of my brain that was somehow addicted to it, but some games just stood out for me. Bugs Bunny Birthday Blowout happened to be one of those games.

Now, this isn't even a good game. It's frustrating as hell at points, the controls are almost impossible to master, yet it still remains to be one of the easiest games on the NES. Yet, I remember vividly replaying this game dozens upon dozens of times. Was it my obsession with Loony Tunes characters? It might have very well played a significant role. I mean, most of my mornings and nights from the ages 5-10 were spent watching cartoons.

I really don't know....

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Copernicus Nerdicus #3 : "I AM ERROR"

The plot thickens!!!!!

I AM ERROR - what does it mean???? Stay tuned next week, as Copernicus takes matters into his own hand to discover the truth behind this mystery NES cart....

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Nerdicus SNES Review #23 : Batman Returns

Title : Batman Returns

Publisher : Konami

Genre : Beat 'Em Up

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1993

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $10-$15

I've said it once, and I'll say it again...Michael Keaton IS Batman. I'm going a bit backwards here, considering I already reviewed Batman Forever last month, but you know what, this is what happens when you're going alphabetically off a master list. Regardless, here we go again. Another Batman game.

Don't get me wrong, I love Batman, and I love practically every Batman game out there, no matter how bad they are. Playing as the caped crusader is something every kid dreams of. Tell me he isn't the cream of the crop when it comes to Superheroes. If you disagree, I am open to debate so feel free to comment or tweet me or whatever. Batman reigns supreme.

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Nerdicus NES Review #103 : Bucky O'Hare

Title : Bucky O'Hare

Publisher : Konami

Genre : Action Platformer

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1992

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $40-$50

There was something about anthropomorphic, comic super heroes that was insanely addictive for a nine year old. Hell, I'm still hooked on the Ninja Turtles and I'm thirty. It doesn't matter though,I'll happily admit to my addiction any day. They're bad ass. Completely, and utterly bad ass. As you may have guessed, I made it a point to own as many comics as I could based on these heroes. My Ninja Turtle comic collection exceeds the hundreds, thanks in most part to my parents buying these "bulk" comic books at the local store, which had a slew of random comics in them. Luckily, a lot of these random comics happened to be the Ninja Turtle ones.

Then something else came in one of those bulk packages. It was Bucky O'Hare. When I first saw Bucky O'Hare, I didn't know what to expect. First off, he scared crap out of me. Secondly, bunnies didn't really do it for me. But then I started reading it, and it was like combining Star Wars and Ninja Turtles. It actually reminds me a lot of Star Fox. Same idea, technically. Anthropomorphic space fighters. 

Can't go wrong, right?

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Copernicus Nerdicus #2 : "Cart-astrophe"

The Garage Sale journey continues for our good friend, Copernicus. What could possible be more dangerous than playing Cheetahmen II for the NES?!

Stay tuned to find out. This game is more than it seems....

I don't know about you, but there were a lot of NES games that brought me to my knees back in the day. Difficulty levels are really slacking lately...

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Nerdicus Genesis Review #18 : Arrow Flash

Title : Arrow Flash

Publisher : Sega / Renovation Products

Genre : Shooter

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1990

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $15-$20

I don't know about you, but I'm a sucker for anything Gundam related. Okay, this game isn't about Gundam, but these mechs are pretty much dead ringers for 'em. Hell, the game even takes the opportunity to reference Gundam a few times, so it's obviously been inspired by it even if it isn't straight up called a Gundamn game. Oh, and don't even get me started on the Macross references.....

Fine, I admit it. I love anything with robots. Who wouldn't want to pilot a giant mech through space and shoot up some alien critters?

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Nerdicus NES Review #102 : Bubble Bobble Part 2

Title : Bubble Bobble Part 2

Publisher : Taito

Genre : Platform

Players : 1 / 2 Player

Release Date : 1993

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $150-$250

If you were one of the lucky few to have owned this game when it came out back in 1993, I truly hope that you decided to hold on to it. Forget about the fact that this game is basically remake of the first game, the real treasure-factor about this game is thanks to how rare it is.

This game was one of the final titles released for the NES, and when that comes to mind you know the amount of games actually sent out for production were limited. It was the end of the NES era, and most gamers have moved on to the 16-bit systems. If you want to get your hands on Bubble Bobble 2, be prepared to shell out quite a bit of cash. You're talking around $150-$250 for just a loose cart, and in upwards of $500 for a fully boxed game.

I'm happy to say that the copy I owned......was lost during a move.........it was just a loose cart, but do you see that in the corner of my eye? That's a tear....

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Nerdicus NES Review #101 : Bubble Bobble

Title : Bubble Bobble

Publisher : Taito

Genre : Platform

Players : 1 / 2 Player

Release Date : 1986

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $5-$7

Look at the cute wittle bubble dragons! Watch as they burp up bubbles and capture wittle monsters in dem! Squeeeeeee!! Look at dem catch wittle cakes and berries! Oh noe's! Da dragons wittle girlfriends are kdinapped! Help dem! Dis game is so cute! Watch me flail from cute overload!

Wrong! This game is vicious! These dragons are out for blood, and sure they may not blow fire, but those bubbles will suck the oxygen right from your lungs and send you spiraling down into the very pits of hell! They're out to steal your cake and candy....and they're taking names. You don't want to mess with these Bubble Bobble Dragons. 

By the way, did you know their names ARE Bub and Bob? 

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