Nerdicus NES Review #120: Castlevania

Title : Castlevania

Publisher : Konami

Developer : Konami

Genre : Action Platformer

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1986

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

Okay, I admit it. I was the type of kid that could be scared quite easily. I was a victim of many ruthless pranks from my sister when I was growing up, most involving some freaky ripped off jaw mask that she used to wake me up in the middle of the night. Did I pee myself? Probably, but I like to think I kept those bed sheets dry.

There were even occasions where video games scared the crap out of me too. That's right, little pixelated monsters on 8-bit consoles frightened me. I'd like you to tell me right now that they didn't do the same to you, especially one particular game. Castlevania.

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Nerdicus Genesis Review #28: Beyond Oasis

Title : Beyond Oasis

Publisher : Sega

Developer : Ancient

Genre : Action Adventure

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1995

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

Few games had an impact on me for the Sega Genesis in terms of having a long lasting effect on my gaming obsession. I was never really a Sega Guy. I was always a Nintendo follower. Hell, I only had a few games for my Sega Genesis growing up, and most games I did play, I usually played at my friends house. 

Seriously, out of all my friends I was the only one who played Super Nintendo. It was kind of weird. I would expose them to Nintendo, and they would expose me to the Sega. Maybe it was because my friends weren't that into Mario or Zelda like I was. They preferred the fast paced games like Sonic and every god damn Madden NFL game out there. 

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Nerdicus SNES Review #31: Biker Mice from Mars

Title : Biker Mice from Mars

Publisher : Konami

Developer : Konami

Genre : Racing

Players : 1 / 2 Player

Release Date : 1994

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $20-$30

Please tell me I'm not the only one that remembers this cartoon series from the early 90's? It was one of those animated shows that you couldn't peel your eyes off of for some reason. Probably because it was so damn bizarre. I really would have loved to be sitting down in the storyboarding room for when they came up with the concept of this show.

"Hey, John? Did you come up with an idea for a new show yet?"

"Not yet, Bill. But I did run over a mouse with my motorcycle this morning while eating a Mars bar..."

"Mouse...Motorcycle....Mars...John, you're brilliant! MAKE A SHOW!"

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Nerdicus NES Review #119: Castlequest

Title : Castlequest

Publisher : Nexof

Developer : ASCII Corp

Genre : Adventure Puzzle

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1989

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $8-$12

Don't let the box art fool you. You won't be doing much battling against giant demons, and iron-clad knights in this game. Nah, you're just going to be hopping around, collecting multi-colored keys and moving giant blocks around next to jars of milk to make your way through a castle. Sounds entertaining, doesn't it?

You will get an opportunity to slay critters in this game, but don't get too excited because for the most part those monsters are going to be slaughtering you. Over...and over...and over....and over. It's one of those games. The games where you constantly die, usually due to no fault of your own.

Oh boy. My excitement is billowing forth!

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Nerdicus Genesis Review #26 + #27: Beauty and the Beast : Belle's Quest & Roar of the Beast

Title : Beauty and the Beast : Roar of the Beast

Publisher : Sunsoft

Developer : Software Creations

Genre : Platformer

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1993

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

Title : Beauty and the Beast : Belle's Quest

Publisher : Sunsoft

Developer : Software Creations

Genre : Platformer

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1993

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

I'll be the first to admit that I was a huge fan of any Disney-theme game that came out for the 16-bit consoles. Most of them were pretty damn good, and ones that actually come to mind are Aladdin, The Lion King, and Toy Story. When you were a kid, you most likely begged your parents to go out and rent and/or buy the games when they came out. They were that good.

Unfortunately, not all Disney games are created equal. Enter, the Beauty and the Beast saga of games for the SEGA GENESIS.

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Nerdicus NES Review #118: Castle of Dragon

Title : Castle of Dragon

Publisher : SETA

Developer : Athena

Genre : Action Arcade

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1990

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $8-$12

When you think about obscure arcade games that were apparently quite popular in certain circles, the name CASTLE OF DRAGON usually comes to mind. Frankly, I had never even heard of this and I'm actually quite ashamed with myself. It's got two of my favorite things lumped together in one game..Castles..and Dragons.

My nerd senses are tingling...although the title CASTLE OF DRAGON sounds a bit like broken English...

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Nerdicus SNES Review #30: Big Sky Trooper

Title : Big Sky Trooper

Publisher : JVC / Lucas Arts

Genre : Action

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1995

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $8-$15

You would think that when a game is released by Lucas Arts, everyone would hear about it. Well, in most cases that's true, but with this one....I didn't even know what the hell it was until I ran into it on my list of SNES games.

Lucas Arts is known for coming out with some of the most epic games of this generation. I could list out dozens that I've been obsessed with playing over the years, but there have been some hiccups. A few were misses...and a lesser few were major misses. I have never played this game before, so I'm not sure where it's going to fall into, but I'll give it a few hours worth, and make a judgement.

It's a game with robots, and slug monsters. How can this possibly go wrong?

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Nerdicus NES Review #117: Castelian

Title : Castelian

Publisher : Triffix

Genre : Platformer

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1991

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

There's only one game out there where you can play as a little, green, turd monkey named Julius tasked with destroying a multitude of alien towers. Whoa, okay..what? So, you're this..frog...looking thing? I guess? I really don't know what you are..but you're basically climbing up to the top of these giant castle-esque towers and placing bombs at the top so you can destroy them.

I'm not exactly sure why someone would hire some cutesy bug-eyed frog thing to blow up towers, but you know I don't know what happens in these NES games half the time. They probably just made kermit the frog's head the protagonist in this game because it required very little graphical effort.

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Nerdicus Genesis Review #25 : Beast Wrestler

Title : Beast Wrestler

Publisher : Renovation Products

Genre : Fighting

Players : 1 / 2 Players

Release Date : 1991

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $2-$5

I don't know guys and gals. I'm not sure if I'm mentally prepared to play this game. First of all, I'm outright against cage fighting with animals....oh wait, what's that? Sorry, this game has BEASTS. Okay, so you've got a bunch of various beasts that are basically pulled out of a DnD Monster Book and they are thrown into a futuristic wrestling ring. I guess that could work?

Beasts....wrestling....Beast Wrestler...I see where they're going with this. Maybe it'll be like King of Monsters, or a somewhat better version of Primal Rage? You know, that might not be so bad. But then I look at the box...

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Nerdicus NES Review #115 + #116: Casino Kid 1 & Casino Kid 2

Title : Casino Kid

Publisher : SOFEL

Genre : Casino Games

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1989

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $2-$4

Title : Casino Kid 2

Publisher : SOFEL

Genre : Casino Games

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1993

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $40-$60

Oh look. More Casino games for the NES. Just another way to manipulate some poor, innocent child's mind into feeding into their gambling lust. How dare you! No, but seriously why did we need even more than one Casino game for any system. What's the point? Can you really do anything that different with casino games?

My desire to play these games is practically nil. BUT, I shall suffer through it for the good of those who actually skim these reviews I write every day. You hear that folks? I suffer for you. I say....these games should be hooked up to some network in a legalized gambling state, where I can win actual money. I said it before..turn the NES into a money printing machine, then I'll be interested.

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Nerdicus SNES Review #29: Beavis and Butthead

Title : Beavis and Butthead

Publisher : Viacom

Genre : Action / Beat 'Em Up

Players : 1 - 2 Players

Release Date : 1994

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

Ahem...I AM THE GREAT CORNHOLIO! Had to do it....

Oh, 90's MTV. Remember that? When they actually played music videos on TV? Now musicians just toss up their videos on you tube in a battle to get the most hits. What holds the record currently anyway? Please tell me it's still not PSY. Ugh...

Hell, I don't even think they play music videos on TV anymore. Do they? Besides those cable channels in the 900's that play old music. Anyway, if there was one show that did a good job of revealing music videos it was Beavis and Butthead. Before King of the Hill, Beavis and Butthead was actually meant to be an experimental animation, but MTV picked it up as a series to mock some of the craziest music videos out there. 

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Nerdicus NES Review #114: Captain Skyhawk

Title : Captain Skyhawk

Publisher : Milton Bradley

Genre : Scrolling Shooter

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1990

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $2-$4

Here is one of those NES classics that I think everyone had played at some point in their young gamer careers. Yes, that's right I said careers. Gaming is our job, isn't it? Don't tell my wife that, she gets annoyed enough as it is. Hell, the only reason she tolerates the games I play all the time is because I technically use it for "research".

Sssh..don't tell her I have a hell of a lot of fun doing this as well. Sorry, side tracked.

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Nerdicus Genesis Review #24: Battle Master

Title : Battle Master

Publisher : Mirrorsoft

Genre : Action / Strategy / RPG

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1990

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

This is one of those strange Genesis games that came out early during its launch, and I have a vague recollection of playing back in the day. I never owned it, but I do remember a friend of mine down the street having this in his possession. He always wanted to play Sonic the Hedgehog or Mortal Kombat when I was over, but as for me, I wanted to play this game.

My enjoyment of this game probably stems from the fact that it closely related a DnD type genre. A nice mix of fantasy elements with action, strategy and RPG gameplay styles. That's quite a lot to throw into a game, especially one that was somewhat better for the PC, but you know what, the Genesis made it work.

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Nerdicus NES Review #113: Captain Planet

Title : Captain Planet

Publisher : Mindscape

Genre : Action Platformer / Shoot  'em up

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1992

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $20-$25

Earth! Fire! Wind! Water! Heart!

GO PLANET!

With your powers combined, I am CAPTAIN PLANET!

Everybody now! Captain Planet, he's our hero. Gonna bring pollution down to zero! Nobody? Seriously? Ugh, fine. You're no fun. Almost as fun as this game. HA! See what I did there?

Now remember when I reviewed that good 'ol genesis game, Awesome Possum and how I complained about how it was forcing environmentalism down your throat? Well, Captain Planet does it too, but at least Captain Planet was create for the sole purpose of teaching children about how to take care of the planet. I mean the hero's name is Captain Planet for crying out loud.

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Nerdicus SNES Review #28 : Bazooka Blitzkrieg

Title : Bazooka Blitzkrieg

Publisher : Bandai

Genre : Arcade Shooter

Players : 1 - 4 Players

Release Date : 1992

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

A few weeks ago, I had reviewed my first Super Scope game for the SNES, Battle Clash. Despite my hatred for the Super Scope games in general, I actually had a good time blasting away at gigantic robotic mechs in a strategic shoot 'em up. Unfortunately, it looks as if my pleasure in the Super Scope is going to shift right back to the negative.

I give you, Bazooka Blitzkrieg.

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Nerdicus NES Review #112 : Captain America and the Avengers

Title : Captain America and the Avengers

Publisher : Data East

Genre : Action Platformer

Players : 1 / 2 Player

Release Date : 1991

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $20-$25

Captain America..the TRUE American hero. Just look at that pose. He is the ultimate bad ass. Red Skull can shove it up his Nazi arse. No one is a match for his shield of justice! When I first saw this game on the NES, I thought to myself, "OH, SNAP! It's going to be the same as the one in the arcade!"

Um...no.

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Nerdicus Genesis Review #23 : Back to the Future Part III

Title : Back to the Future Part 3

Publisher : Tengen

Genre : Action Platformer

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1993

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

It feels like ages ago since I played the Back to the Future games on the NES. It's not like it's something I miss. Hell, those games were absolute torture. It's a damn shame too considering that the BTTF trilogy is by far one of my favorite movie trilogies of all time. ALLLLL time. Not even an exaggeration, I can watch those movies for a week straight and not get sick of 'em.

With such a love for a movie series, you would be correct in assuming that I was aching for a BTTF game that I would actually enjoy. Well, since the NES didn't offer me anything worthwhile, I've turned over to the 16-bit generation. Surely the Sega Genesis has what it takes to make a decent BTTF game?

Great Scott, was I wrong.

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Nerdicus NES Review #111: Capcom's Gold Medal Challenge

Title : Capcom's Gold Medal Challenge

Publisher : Capcom

Genre : Sports

Players : 1 / 2 Player

Release Date : 1992

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

Oh boy. What I would have given for a turbo controller when I played this game.

Okay, everyone. This is going to be a quickie. Why do you ask? Well, it's difficult to say. Scratch that, it's not difficult to say at all. This was one of the most bizarre track 'n' field style games I have ever played. It really is like watching a bunch of big-headed freaks run around on an Olympic field.

I understand the Olympic part, because this game originally came out during the Barcelona Olympics. But the big headed athletes? Erm....sure?

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Nerdicus SNES Review #27: Battletoads in Battlemaniacs

Title : Battletoads in Battlemaniacs

Publisher : Tradewest

Genre : Beat 'em Up

Players : 1 /2  Player

Release Date : 1993

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $35-$45

I haven't been having much luck lately when it's come to SNES reviews, so it was pretty refreshing to know I would be playing through another Battletoads game. These games, much like the TMNT brawlers, were always good. Sure, they were pretty much the same thing over and over again in terms of concept, but they were a hell of a lot of fun. It's the type of game where you can just pop in and play whenever you want, and still feel entertained.

Of course, this is my first Battletoads game that I've played since I reviewed the two for the NES, and I didn't bother going over Battletoads vs Double Dragon for the SNES because it was just a graphical overhaul of the NES one. But, does Battletoads in Battlemaniacs which was a SNES exclusive (okay I lied, it was ported to the master system too I think), do enough to keep me interested in the Battletoads series? Or does the originality waver.

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Nerdicus NES Review #110 : California Games

Title : California Games

Publisher : Milton Bradley

Genre : Sports

Players : 1 / 2 Player

Release Date : 1989

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

You know you're in for a real treat, when you pop in an NES cart, and the first thing you hear is a chiptunes rendition of Louie Louie (whether it's supposed to be the Kingsmens version or the original Richard Berry version). But when you're talking about one of those track and field type games, who knows. They're usually garbage.

This was one of those games that I played a lot when I was a kid. The main reason is because my sister always had to take part in a little competition against me to see who could do better at certain events. Then again, half the time we played this game we were always trying to figure out how to play the stupid events. Don't get me started on hackey sack. I still don't know how to kick that damn bag of beans.

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Nerdicus Genesis Review #22: Awesome Possum....Kicks Dr. Machino's Butt

Title : Awesome Possum...Kicks Dr. Machino's Butt

Publisher : Tengen

Genre : Action Platformer

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1993

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $6-$10

Back in the early 90's, we all probably watched the Captain Planet cartoon. Hell, I even collected all the action figures for it. Those villains were really well done. The thing that made Captain Planet great, was that it was a legitimate environmentalist platform, and hell the cartoon was pretty damn good too. Of course, cartoons are a great way to get kids involved in supporting the environment, but who would have thought that video games were involved too. Seems legit, right?

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