All-Pro Basketball - Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

   I am no stranger to Basketball. I use to play in my American Jr. High team when I lived in Los Angeles. So, I figured I would nail this game easily. Oh, was I wrong. Two Words: GIT GUD 

   At first, the controls and the gameplay were confusing. It’s a bit clunky and fast paced, there’s a lot of position strategy and chance-luck involved in taking court shots. There’s two full teams on the court, so keeping track of yourself can be tricky. Nothing trial and error can’t handle. I was able to get the hang of it. The Free Throws is a precision challenge all on its own though. They don’t happen too often, so it may take some time to practice to master it. 

     Ok, enough about the fundamentals. The graphics are Amazing for an 8-bit game. The Slam Dunks and Blocks are so well done! I can see a lot of passion went into the sprite animations. It’s an art to appreciate. The halftime cheerleaders are a cute inclusion too. There’s even a post game report, with fun animations and well drawn sprite designs. Serious meticulous talented work is seen in this game. It’s really inspiring, if you’re into sprite art. 

     If you like basketball and want to play a challenging title, play All-Pro Basketball. It’s a bit clunky and will take practice to master, the short repetitive high pitched music is a little annoying with the length of the game, but it’s definitely a fun experience overall. Just put some music on and have some snacks ready for the halftime show intermission. Great basketball game! 

Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse - SEGA Master System

    Minnie Mouse has been kidnapped! It’s up to Mickey Mouse to brave the Castle of Illusion to save her! And boy, GOOD LUCK! This game is BRUTAL. A Renown SEGA Mega Drive / Genesis Classic, ported to the Master System. I haven’t struggled this hard on a platformer since I co-op with Melody playing Donkey Kong Country 2. The controls are fine and tight, but there is a slight delay when you want to jump. Not game breaking, but something to be mindful about. The enemies are sometimes unfairly placed and relentless. They even respawn, so you gotta make sure you keep pushing forward. The music is a bit repetitive and can be a little annoying with its high key melodies. You get 3 lives and 10 continues, so you gotta Git Gud to beat this one.  

    I am not one to quit on a difficult challenge. The game can be beaten, but it will take practice and persistence. I do recommend this game, but only if you’re up for the challenge. If you’re curious for the Master System Version of this beloved Classic, I say give it a try. 

Alien 3 - Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

     Alien 3 on Nintendo Entertainment System is a let down for me. The goal of the game is rescue all the captured prisoners that have been impregnated by the facehuggers, before the timer runs out and they are killed by the Xenomorphs bursting out of their guts. It sounds simple, but it really is an unfair game. The enemies are faster than you, and appear too rapidly for you to react in time to avoid or defeat them. The controls are stiff and Ripley has fast movement. Which is amazing that you can be both sluggish and slippery at the same time. Jumping has a slight delay, causing a lot of missed platforms. You need to be pixel perfect to go down a ladder. It’s so frustrating. The levels are large and full of dead ends. You lose precious time exploring them to complete each stage. Honestly, the only way this game is beatable is to memorize every enemy placement to kill them fast and know every location of the captured prisoners. What’s the fun in that!? 

    There is challenging and there is unfair difficulty. I did not enjoy my time with this game. It’s not the worst game ever, but I know there are better titles out there to play. Unless you want to tear your hair out and destroy furniture for this game’s grueling difficulty and broken controls, I say skip it. 

Captain Silver - SEGA Master System

 

    Talk about the most basic of basic. Captain Silver does not take any risks or tries to be different. Swing sword to attack. Collect points to gain 1Ups. Find keys to open hidden stores. Get power ups to raise your offense and defense. 

    The music is bland. Nothing special about it. The enemies are large, so it’s not difficult to hit them. Spam your attack to take out bosses fast. It’s not even a challenge when you’re fully powered. And from what I learned, the game is short. Depending on what version you have, there are only 3 to 6 levels. Since this is the U.S. Master System Version, there are only 4 levels. 

It’s so slow and boring. The biggest problem is not the gameplay, but how mediocre it is to play. It’s not a bad game, it’s just not very interesting. I say skip it if you’re looking for something more exciting to play.