16-Bit Heaven: Jim Power In Mutant Planet (Micro World, 1993)

  Let's get something straight right from the get-go...Jim Power In Mutant Planet for the PC-Engine is not a very good game. Not in the slightest. However, exceptions can be made when the soundtrack for said game is absolutely mind-blowing.  So before we continue, please enjoy this six-minute mix of Jim Power music, composed by Chris Huelsbeck. It's pure 80's sci-fi synth heaven....

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NEStalgia: Totally Rad (Jaleco, 1991)

If you've ever seen Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, or if you grew up in California during the 80's and experienced the dialect of skater boys, valley girls, surfer dudes and other "extreme" social circles, get ready to be totally annoyed by this bogus game's dialogue dudes...

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PS1 Zone: The PS1 RPG's before Final Fantasy VII

If you happened to own the first PlayStation (PS1) console in the U.S. between 1995 to mid-97, you might recall just how slim the pickings were when it came to the PS1's RPG game library back then. Considering how many Sports games, Action games and Platform games there were for the system at the time, RPG's were few and far between. It wouldn't be until Final Fantasy VII was released in August of 1997 that the PS1 would become the go-to console...

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Obscure PC Games: L-ZONE (Synergy, 1993)

L-ZONE --- A hyper-automated city built by a mad scientist. Beneath a gigantic dome rise monumental buildings. Within them extend vast spaces. The tense air throbs within the hum of machinery. A realm chock-full of idling machines, yet not a soul stirs. The moment the switch is thrown, L-ZONE awakes. The whine of machinery...a robot starts to move...the flash of a nuclear explosion. Pass down the corridors, open every door, evade each trap. When...

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16-Bit Heaven: Valis: The Fantasm Soldier

The Valis series was a popular side-scrolling action platformer from Japan that produced four sequels and several remakes throughout the 90's. Telenet Japan developed the first game titled Valis: The Fantasm Soldier for the Sony MSX computer in 1986, followed by the Famicom/NES a year later. The game was then remade for the Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo and various other systems. The heroine of the series is a blue-haired schoolgirl named Yuko,...

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Arcade Stories: The maniacal mock of the Sinistar

Arcades were a pretty big deal when I was a kid. I had parents who loved to gamble, so they would take me to places like Circus Circus or other casinos and drop me off at the nearest arcade so they could try their luck on the tables for an hour or two. I didn't mind at all. Armed with dozens of quarters, I was prepared to take on any game in the place. And then I heard a loud, evil voice declare, "Beware, Coward!...

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NEStalgia: Clash At Demonhead (Vic Tokai, 1990)

The Nintendo Entertainment System continues to amaze me, almost 30 years after the fact. Exhibit A: Clash at Demonhead. I first ran across this game a few years ago while shopping for NES games on eBay. The game cover immediately jumped out at me. Take a look at that cover art for a second -- there is no denying this is one awesome-looking game...

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Obscure PC Games: The Devil Inside (Cryo, 2000)

The Devil Inside was a 3rd-person shooter developed by Cryo Interactive and written by Hubert Chardot (of the Alone In The Dark series) in the year 2000. And what a strange game this is. The game is about a reality TV show called, "The Devil Inside" where host Jack T. Ripper of the WWWL@ network challenges contestants to a live game of survival horror...

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A Gallery of Psygnosis game covers.

Psygnosis was a UK game developer that made games for the Amiga and other video game systems in the 80's and 90's. Most of their games had a very distinctive style, from unique graphics and awesome soundtracks, to hard and punishing gameplay...

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Arcade Stories: The Cosmic Voyage of Star Rider

In 1983 Laserdisc games were introduced in Arcades, and the now classic Dragon's Lair made huge impressions among players. Game company Williams took notice, and while their penchant was in building great pinball machines, they didn't want to overlook the Laserdisc phenomenon. And in 1984, they released their first and possibly only Laserdisc-powered Arcade game: Star Rider. Star Rider was unique in that the player would ride on a "cosmic cycle"...

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