DARC - SEGA Master System

     DARC is a homebrew title for the Master System with a lot of heart in it. It’s very simple, but yet fun. You fly around as a jetpack fighter blasting enemies, seeking cores to destroy in an Alien Fortress. The controls are tight, so flying is super easy and fun. There’s linear exploration, but the path forward is always closed off by an objective. Find the core, destroy it and more doors will open onwards. Get upgrades as you defeat each core. It feels like Metroid with a jetpack, especially when you fight one of the cores that is reminiscent of Mother Brain. It is also not easy. But that’s good, because I don’t like games that I can fly by through without any challenges. 

     If you’re looking for something new to play and bored of the official library of games, definitely try this game. It’s easy to play and it’s challenging. Definitely recommended. 

Athena - Nintendo Entertainment System

     Athena on the NES is a mess of a game. To give it a little praise, it’s at least a fateful port of its Arcade version. The graphics are colorfully bright, and the weapons and armor upgrade mechanic is fun. That’s about it. The endless and unfair respawning of enemies, their spamming of projectiles, the awful ear piercing music, the stiff movements and jumping, and no stage checkpoints, it all just makes this a terrible experience. This is one of SNK's very early releases, and it shows their inexperience in platformers. 

   Athena is not recommended by me. I don’t mind difficult games, but this is just too broken and unfair to enjoy. It’s a shame, cause this has so much potential. Athena could have been up there with the likes of Mai Shiranui, but is instead relegated to a cameo fighter in the King of Fighters series. 

Cyborg Hunter - SEGA Master System

     

     Cyborg Hunter is a platforming action game very reminiscent of Metroid. Only that your base attack is melee punches. You must infiltrate a fortress full of enemies, and unlock new areas with upgrades you collect. You have a radio operator assisting you as you carry on your mission. That’s pretty much it. 

     Yeah, it’s a Metroid clone. To its credit, it’s a good clone. The graphics are very nice. Its characters are Anime style from its time. That’s because it’s actually a tie-in game to a TV Anime called Sonic Soldier Borgman. The localizers just altered the characters, so they won’t be recognized. The hud displaying the map is handy and the radar also alerts you, so you won’t be ambushed by enemies. The controls can be confusing when trying to use the elevator, but I figured it out. The major problem is it’s a manual required game. I did not know how to use the weapons and upgrades I got, until chat told me I needed to use a second controller to select them. Eh?!! Second controller for menu to select!? What if you’re a kid in the 80’s alone and you are stuck there for hours without a clue? I’m sure you could have used the pause button to bring up a menu, just like so many games have done. Other than that, it’s a good Metroid clone. 

     It’s a good clone. Just wish it was better handled with the controls. If I had the time, I would play this to completion for the curiosity. Just make sure you have a second controller to actually play this game. Give it a try, if you’re curious. It's very well like by Master System fans. 

Astyanax - Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

    

    Astyanax is a port of an arcade side scrolling adventure game with rpg mechanics. You play a high school boy who is isekai into a fantasy world, to save a magical princess from a dark sorcerer. Yes, even then, isekai was a common storyline trope. A companion fairy name Cutie guides you on your journey, as you venture across six treacherous levels of brutal platforming and an endless onslaught of enemies. The graphics are awesome, and well designed and detailed. This is one of the best looking games on the NES. You have a magical weapon named, Bash. Bash can transform from a Battle Axe, to a Spear and a Sword. Each form is stronger in strength, but weakens your magic abilities. It’s a good counter to not make the player overpowered. It’s a standard affair. Transverse the stages, defeat the boss and advance onwards. What gives this game its charm is its detailed cutscenes. Excellent anime illustrations present a compelling narrative as you play. Considering the limitations of the NES, these scenes are well executed. I was surprised and became motivated to beat this game on stream. It feels as I am watching one of my mom’s old VHS OVA Anime tapes, only in game form. 

    Astyanax is very difficult…for new players. As a new player myself, this was a gauntlet. I was just brute forcing my way through the levels, until I advanced. Nothing trial and error with perseverance can’t handle. You know what we always say on this blog: GIT GUD. 

    My only complaint is the unfair enemy placement and the endless respawning of them. You have to look before you leap at every platform, because an unexpected enemy can just spawn from the ground and knock you back into the death pit. This game had to take inspiration from Castlevania, because the enemies are relentless and the dreaded knock back is your common demise. Don’t even get me started on the flying drone enemies, known as the “Medusa Head” clones to gamers. Still, despite the enemies and the occasional unfair challenges, it’s a nice feeling of accomplishment to beat the stage boss and progress. The bosses are so cool looking too. The sprite work is so detailed and imaginative. Very Heavy Metal kind of Vibe. 

    With an awesome and compelling presentation, excellent sprite designs, and fun game mechanics, I highly recommend this game. It’s really short too, if you know what you’re doing. You can just cheese the difficult parts with the time freeze spell anyways, including the boss fights. It’s a little unfair, but overall a fun time for challenge lovers like myself. Play this game. A Melody Hayashi Approval 🐰👍🏻 

The Cyber Shinobi - SEGA Master System

     This game is not very good. The controls are very stiff and the movement is slow. I struggle to move my character accurately to avoid danger and hit an enemy. The music is not very good too. Lots of unfair traps with no hints for avoiding them, unless I didn’t see it. And worst, when you die and get set back, your time does not restart. You need to beat each level flawlessly. That is a very game breaking oversight. 

     Nah! Skip this one. It’s so broken and unfair. Clunky controls, bad level design and bad programming. I can’t recommend this one. 

Arkista’s Ring - Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

     Arkista’s Ring is a top down action-adventure game exclusively published for North America by Sammy. It can also be found on Famicom bootleg carts, like my Mother’s own copy of the game. You play as Christine on a quest to find the magic Artiska’ Ring. Traversing the lands, collecting power ups, penetrating fortresses, defeating monsters and bosses to save her world. 

   It’s a simple and short, but charming game. It’s pretty easy too, with the power ups and the continues you have. Nothing really to it. There’s only 32 Levels and the game loops. So I guess this is ideally for gamers who like collecting points. My only complaints is that the controls are stiff and the music is really high pitched. 

     This game is fine, and it was one of my mom’s favorite games to play in a boring afternoon. You can beat it in less than a hour and go for multiple loops. I know there’s secret jewels I missed, so try to find them all.