Playing video games since 1976.
Writing about them since 1983.
Julian "Jaz" Rignall
35 years ago, I was thoroughly enjoying NES Kabuki Quantum Warrior, a game I imagine few bought. Which is a shame as it was a pile o' fun - a combat platformer in which the hero uses his hair to dispatch enemies in devastating fashion. Definitely a hidden gem ninja hair combat simulator.
35 years ago, an import copy of Game Boy The Hunt for Red October floated into the office. It was a surprisingly good shooter - although it did require world class reflexes to get anywhere. I doubt if many bought it, but we certainly had fun with it back in the day.
Three more budget games from the round-up I posted yesterday. One reasonable Joust clone, and two total duffers. Americana really was shoveling some serious shite.
35 years ago, I reviewed NES Shadow Gate. Yeah, yeah, it was probably good on computer when it came out four years earlier. But on NES it was horrible. Or was it? The Nintendo Power scallywags gave it 4.5 out of 5. We had an ever-so-slightly different opinion, however.
I've been posting a fair number of 40-year-old budget reviews this week, because at that point in time they were becoming really big biz. One of these games was an especially huge surprise - Slamball, a very entertaining pinball game that cost a measly three quid. Top stuff.
35 years ago, when EA hadn't yet become an immense, steaming bag o' corporate shite, they made some great games. Like Ice Hockey, which came hot on the heels of Madden and absolutely blew us away. No NHL license yet, but didn't need it TBH. Absolute stone cold pucking classic.
40 years ago, Commodore launched a new C64 nobody asked for with software few cared about. Meanwhile, the World Cup Carnival fallout continued, and at CES, the NES was clearly becoming THE dominant console as the US video game market bounced back from its crash two years earlier.
40 years ago, Elite was advertising its Ghosts 'n Goblins ports. Complete with cheeky guest appearance of a Super Mario Lava Piranha in the background! Or at least, that's what it looks like. Anyway, in a surprising turn of form for Elite, this actually turned out pretty good! 😁
40 years ago, budget software was becoming big business. The trouble is, you often had no idea what your £2/£3 (£6/£9 quid in today's money) was actually going to buy you - as this ZZAP! budget game round-up attests. Some absolute winners - but also some total stinkers!
40 years ago, Sinclair Research canceled its flat-screen TV tech for its Pandora project (AKA Cambridge Computer Z88). Good move, because it sounded terrible. Meanwhile, Commodore cut its Corby staff by half, essentially axing its UK domestic sales/service/support capabilities.🤡
Julian "Jaz" Rignall
Julian "Jaz" Rignall
Julian "Jaz" Rignall
Julian "Jaz" Rignall
Julian "Jaz" Rignall
Julian "Jaz" Rignall
Julian "Jaz" Rignall
Julian "Jaz" Rignall
Julian "Jaz" Rignall
Julian "Jaz" Rignall
40 years ago, budget software was becoming big business. The trouble is, you often had no idea what your £2/£3 (£6/£9 quid in today's money) was actually going to buy you - as this ZZAP! budget game round-up attests. Some absolute winners - but also some total stinkers!
