Sega, Nintendo, Playstation, Commodore 64, Spectrum & More!

Cover art by Luis M

Retro reviews for Consoles & Computers

Including: Sega, Nintendo, Playstation,

Commodore 64, Spectrum & more!

Welcome to Issue For our first issue, we were However, I knew it couldn’t be very excited to land an 1 of TRGN done alone, so I enlisted the interview with industry legend help of fellow retro game Roger Kean, who was the Having spent much of my enthusiasts from YouTube, to editor of Zzap!64, Crash, and youth flipping through the ensure the content would be much more. pages of Zzap!64 and Crash, I rich and varied. often dreamed about the Editor – Phil Wheatley prospect of being part of a We’ll be bringing you reviews Reviewer – Pete Jones computer magazine. Thanks of classic games and exclusive Reviewer – Michael Smith to technology, it is now interviews. Reviewer – Owen McCarthy achievable, and thus TRGN was born.

Front cover art by Luis Martins: http://luismartinsartwork.daportfolio.com

To view other available issue, please visit: http://www.theretrogamesnews.com/back-issues

Contents

Welcome...... Page 2 StarFox ...... Page 3 Roger Kean Interview ...... Page 5 Trojan...... Page 7 Fire Emblem ...... Page 8 Barbarian...... Page 10 Meet the Team...... Page 11 Skull Monkeys...... Page 12 Super Mario Bros Movie...... Page 13 Skooldaze...... Page 14 Super Nintendo System ...... Page 16

StarFox (SNES)

Reviewed by Pete Jones

Until the dawn of the 16 bit era I was only able to get the big budget blockbuster experience when I went on holiday and found an arcade. I always wished for the day when I could get arcade quality graphics in the home. One particular holiday always sticks in my mind as it was when I first got a glimpse of what 16 bit graphics could offer with a two page spread on the classic Street fighter 2. Playing Starfox for the first Toe Tappingly orgasmic to this That was the moment when I time in the 90's was mind day, I can't help but smile as I knew that the industry was blowing. Revolutionary zoom along in my Arwing changing and gaming as an art Graphics, 3D Polygons, lush blasting enemies and saving form was evolving. When I colours, triangular spacecraft that damn toad from an finally got my first Super and an epic soundtrack all untimely death. Nintendo with Super Mario melted into one sublime sci-fi World it was the turning point experience. Going back and playing in my gaming history. From Starfox today it can take some that point on gaming was Fox, Slippy, Falco and Peppy. adjustments to a gamers play never going be the same Those four names bring smiles style compared to modern again. to the faces of a whole Shoot-Em-Ups or Shmups as generation of gamers. they are affectionately known. Back in the 90's I was a kid The digital d-pad isn't quite as with little income and unable to Gamers who have been there forgiving as a modern analog experience all of the fantastic since the 80's watching on the stick. Also there is no reticle to 16 bit games that were side lines as the industry has aim your weapon which can available. However the small evolved from 8 bit sprites to make shooting enemies a little number of games I did play will expansive open worlds. The awkward. Once you get into always stick with me and will 16 bit era was and always will the groove though everything be very dear to my heart. be the greatest era in video feels perfectly natural and game history. An era where most importantly fun. Games such as Street fighter developer's took risks and the 2, Super Probotector, arcade experience was Like all retro games you need Castlevania IV, Super Mario replicated in the living room. to adjust to old style game World, Super Mario Kart and mechanics. While this can be a Starfox made a huge Nowadays graphics have little jarring you'll find that you impression on my young mind. come a long way but back then adjust pretty quickly. I've never One of the biggest and best the Super FX chip was the had any major problems titles for me was Starfox, it was equivalent of seeing the new adjusting but if you find the truly revolutionary and Frostbite 2 engine running older games to be a little something completely fresh. Battlefield 3, your jaw literally clunky a bit of persistence can dropped. However graphics go a long way. In 1993 Nintendo released don't make the game, this is For gamers who are not fans Starfox (Star Wing in Europe), where Starfox excels, not only of Shoot-Em-Ups or have a tale of four mammals and does it have super slick never tried to play a Shoot- their spaceships. As crazy as gameplay and fantastic Em-Up this is a great place to it sounds the fact that character interaction but it has start. Although very basic in its mammals can fly planes was one of the best soundtracks visual style and overall never an issue. ever committed to cartridge. gameplay, Starfox is easy to pick up and play.

Nintendo Gamecube. Both of which put a severe dent in Fox Mcloud's Arwing.

The major flaw with both titles was allowing Fox to leave his Arwing and run around. While this probably seemed like a wise move to expand the gameplay and give the player a more complete experience I believed the developer's failed.

The beauty of Star Fox has always been the space combat, as a fan of the series I have never wanted to climb out of my Arwing and run around. Should Nintendo release further Star Fox game's on their upcoming next generation home console I can only hope that they have learnt gameplay and the experience this lesson. The beauty of Shoot-Em-Ups of space combat. is the sheer simplicity of the With Starfox643D available for gameplay. Fly your ship and Don't be put off by the the 3DS, now blast anything that gets in your outdated polygons and is the perfect time to dust off way. While most 2D Shoot- triangular craft, just remember your Super Nintendo Em-Ups are about the point that gameplay is key. Within and your Nintendo 64 and re- scoring, Starfox tried to do 10 minutes the rose tinted discover the genesis something different. glasses came off and I found of this amazing franchise. myself being absorbed into this Good Luck Starfox introduced characters fantastic world and my only and a storyline to give the goal was to survive. Rating 90% players a bit more depth than the average shooter. For the Starfox is a classic plain and most part the story is your simple, from the revolutionary average graphics, to the sublime revenge tale but serves its soundtrack, simplistic controls purpose and it won't be long and fantastic character design. before you have decided who's You won't find a better 3D your hero and who's your Shoot-Em-Up on the Super nemesis. For fans of the series Nintendo. Slippy the toad is a bone of contention as he is a thorn in The Nintendo 64 saw Fox's side. Constantly Starfox64 (Lylat Wars in requesting help and never Europe) take everything to the really putting up a fight Slippy next level with improved can quickly make you want to controls via the fantastic kill him. analogue stick and upgraded graphics, new vehicles and I would recommend Starfox to bigger worlds to explore. anyone who needs something However for me the original is simple to play which doesn't still the greatest as its so basic take too much thought. but so fresh. Modern games can sometimes take themselves too seriously Two more Starfox titles, Star so it’s a pleasure to play a Fox Adventures and Star Fox game that is all about the Assault were released for the

Interview with Roger was common to have long TRGN: Would you ever lines waiting to get a word with consider starting a magazine Kean Robin Candy, Gary Penn and again? Julian Rignall; to get Anybody who spent hours in autographs or a T-shirt Roger: I don’t think I’d their bedroom reading emblazoned with an Olibug or consider starting a magazine magazines such as Zzap!64 a Rockford by Oliver Frey. I again. A decade of publishing and Crash have a lot to thank think Crash and Zzap!64 were up to six monthlies was quite this man for. Both of those the first magazines in which enough! Besides, there are titles were shifting 100,000 the reviewers and tipsters plenty of publishers doing a units a piece and changed the became stars in their own very good job and face of computer game right, though none of them lost incorporating Internet editions journalism forever. sight of the real job, providing and I think I would be out of authoritative and trustworthy touch today. We were able to catch up with reviews. Roger to get some behind the TRGN: What is the secret of scene information about the TRGN: From the outside, it having such a good and long magazines, and about what he seemed very glamorous working relationship with Oliver is up to now with another working with the Zzap!64 Frey? legend, his business partner team, what was the reality Oliver Frey. like? Roger: Basically being best friends since being at the Roger: As with London Film School and most jobs, putting having a great deal in the magazines common. I always seemed to together every be able to come up with an month was a image suggestion for all the never-ending task, covers I worked on as editor, both from the which Oliver could turn into editorial and art- one of his masterpieces. production points Subsequent editors treated of view. We had him more as a resource to sort none of the out the problem of wanting to modern electronic feature two, three, or more technology to games on the cover and not speed up the quite knowing which to feature process, apart prominently. from Apricot computers for text TRGN: Did you get any time to production. In the play on the games yourself; do King Street offices any of them stand out as a it was a common personal favourite? sight approaching midnight to find Roger: I played a lot of games four or five guys in the first 18 months of Crash, hammering away but almost never thereafter. on joysticks and keyboards, Personal favourites were TRGN: What was your fondest and a couple more crashed out Jetpack, Lunar Jetman, Jet- memory of working on the under the worktables, fast Set Willy and at home later, zzap!64 and Crash magazine? asleep. The glamour was all in Sonic the Hedgehog and its the eyes of the beholders, but sequel. Roger: I have almost too the joy came from opening the many fond memories to latest issue. Then, of course, TRGN: Do you keep in touch mention, but I guess the came the post-partem meeting with any of the well know annual shows at Olympia when all the errors of text and game programmers of the figure most. The enthusiasm of design were exposed, time? the visitors was overwhelming, discussed and lessons not only for the games and the learned. Roger: I do keep in touch with magazines, but also for the a few of the well-known game staff who put them together. It programmers of the time to a

limited degree—mostly via the so-called “Young Adult” Roger: There’s nothing very Facebook—and often because segment, which meant specific on the horizon as both they were employees turned avoiding the Boys Own Paper of us tend to wander from idea developers, like Gary Penn type of storytelling. Henty to idea. I’m currently working and Gary Liddon. wanted to hammer home on several novels and short- history—effectively the story collections in between TRGN: What are your views greatness of the British Empire running the Art of Oliver Frey on games today compared to and the superiority of website. The biggest project is those of the 80s? Englishmen over all others— a novel set in the Africa of which posed an interesting ancient Rome at the time of Roger: Too many games challenge; to let the factual Antoninus Pius. It features a today rely on the superb history out through the retired centurion as the graphics and lifelike animation characters’ eyes instead of wandering heroic character and forget raw gameplay. parading events through which who solves a murder mystery Attending Replay Expo at the characters wander. while acting as protector to the Blackpool last November downtrodden citizens of (a reinforced this as I watched TRGN: Do you ever get time to real) Thuburbo Maius (in what young teenagers hammering relax, if so what do you like to is now Tunisia). I’m not sure away at the mass of arcade do in your spare time? when it will be finished! Oliver machines annihilating a myriad still does a deal of commercial sprites with rapt faces and Roger: I don’t get a great deal art for children’s publishers having a tough time of keeping of spare time since I enjoy and paintings for private up. working too much! My main commissions. I’m also The Spectrum and relaxation comes from experimenting with the Apple Commodore64 graphics have watching movies on DVD app. Book iAuthor, which no comparison with today’s allows creation of full-colour offerings, but that very complex layouts for iPad, limitation meant coders had to iPhone and any Mac. The use their imagination to create object is to eventually publish an environment that dragged a lot of the books we did as the player in through Thalamus Publishing. Those gameplay. And then, imagine kind of layouts simply don’t what tiny computer memories work in any other current form they had to play with. That of eBook reader, though no focused the attention and doubt new versions of taxed their minds with how to eReaders will eventually cope accomplish what they wanted as well. through clever algorithms and compression routines, almost TRGN: Thanks again Roger all devised in back bedrooms. for the interview and for your time, much appreciated.

TRGN: Along with your many (rarely in the cinema these successes, you also publish days) in the evenings and— Please visit: your own books. How did the dare I say it?—watching Oz www.recklessbooks.co.uk idea for the Big Action Library soap “Neighbours” at stories come about? lunchtime. Apart from the Also visit:

morning and lunchtime news www.oliverfreyart.com Roger: I wanted to rejuvenate on BBC, I don’t watch much the action-adventure stories of television programming. I do a Victorian author GA Henty. He lot of video editing (Final Cut wrote for teenage boys, but the Pro) of home movies and more language, structure and commercial projects, like the dialogue are too antiquated for ones on Youtube for Oliver’s today’s market. As a result, I website. rewrote and restructured them (several times) to the point that TRGN: What is next on the they have almost no horizon for yourself and connection to the originals. Oliver? And I wanted them to appeal to an adult market as well as

Trojan (NES) as your attacking moves, so and keep repeating this you can’t just say “to hell with process until they’re defeated. the shield” and just attack Reviewed by Michael Smith because you will die very Type 3:These ones you’ll have quickly. In the heat of battle, it to be cleaver and work out Does this game come in XL? gets very intense having to their patterns, but once you do juggle attacking with defending that they’re a push over. The best way to approach as you deal with enemies from Trojan is from the Point of view all sides, and projectiles that One of the things I love about of, hard at first but easy when you must defend yourself from. retro gaming is the gameplay as it’s always the main focus Every now and and that’s evident in this game. then one of the Sure, it also has well above red guys will average graphics for the NES throw something and a decent soundtrack, which results in albeit slightly repetitive but has you losin g your swor you know how. If you know this d and shield, so game inside and out you can for a short period easily finish it in 20 minutes of time, until you but getting to that point where find another sword you can accomplish that, lays and shield, you will the challenge. have to attack by punching and So what’s the gameplay like? kicking. It’s funny Well we have all played side punching enemies scrolling action games were in the sack until your main attack is your sword. they die! Enemies But in this game you also get keep re-spawning to use a shield and the use of so don’t dawdle, kill them and plenty of retro charm. And this shield is just as important keep moving through the there’s even a story but it’s just as the sword. levels and defeat the end in there to give meaning to the bosses. game and to be honest, I didn’t This feature really made this invest myself in it and , you game stand out compared to don’t need to. average hack and slash side The bosses can easily be put scrolling action games. into 3 types and I’m sure at some point we have faced Easy way to sum it up is you’re bosses like a dude with a sword and shield these in other on a quest in a post beat ‘em ups.. apocalyptic world, basically think mad max 2 with swords Type 1: Easy, and shields and you get the just rush ‘em idea. and keep attacking and Conclusion they will go down with very This is an easy to pick up and little defending play game with unique needed. gameplay which is tough at first but the more you play it, Type 2: Attack the easier it gets, so if you see it going cheap, don’t pass it by and then move out of the way to avoid their counter attack as it’s a worthy addition to any Using the sword and shield NES collection. forces you to be as defensive

parents, the ‘tactician’ is the unit, or to ‘seize’ a particular role that you adopt for the square on the map. Combat purpose of the game, your in- takes place when a players game avatar as it will. Taking unit or enemy unit moves this as its starting point the within range of an opposing game develops its plot into an unit and chooses to initiate an intricate and tightly weaved attack. Attacks in Fire Emblem net, incorporating themes of incorporate a rock-paper- conspiracy and betrayal, love scissors element with units and loss, and of course gaining an advantage over Dragon based global their opponents depending on apocalypse. Plot is played out which weapon they are using, via exposition and interaction sword beats axe, axe beats between attractively drawn spear/lance etc. Weapons Rating 82% characters in the down time have a shelf life though, giving between battles, the lack of you an extra factor to consider Fire Emblem (GBA) player control in these sections when you are ‘in the shit’. being one of the very few criticisms I have of the game. From experience I can tell you Reviewed by Owen The subsequent two scenarios that it’s not good for a unit to McCarthy follow the characters Eliwood be left weaponless although and Hector respectively, in you can get round this by First released in 2003, Fire much the same manner as the arming them with more than Emblem on the Gameboy first, although each of the three one tool of destruction. The Advance was the first game in main protagonists will feature same considerations need to the series to be made throughout the game as be made for magic users, with available to western playable or non playable each staff having a finite audiences, the series itself characters to varying degrees. amount of uses and with each beginning back in 1990 with the Japanese only Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryu to Hiraki no Tsurugi (‘Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light’ to those of us who have been neglecting our Japanese homework) on the NES. Developed by Intelligent Designs and published by Nintendo, the Fire Emblem titles each follow the same basic formula of RPG with turn-based strategic Fantasy battles conducted on large grid-based battle fields, but in reality Fire Emblem GBA and its extended family offer so attack magic type (light, dark much more than that suggests. Although cut scenes are a or anima) being dominant over frequent and welcome element the next in the rock-paper- Beginning the first of three to the game, the true game scissors triangle. Further depth main scenarios, you follow play is experienced through comes from the range of Lyndis, the daughter of slain the regular large scale turn- character classes available to Lorca Chieftain Hassar and his based battles, and these are you, from the RPG staples of wife Madelyn. The game where the deceptive Fighter, Knight or Archer to the begins as Lyndis encounters a complexity lies. The core game more unique Myrmidon nameless (and faceless as it play consists of the player Swordmaster or Corsair, each turns out) ‘tactician’ and moving their units around a with their own affinity and skill decides to follow him in order map with the aim of achieving with particular weapons, and to improve her sword fighting a specific goal, which is ability to train in their use. skills and seek revenge on the usually the defeat of the Characters can also have an scoundrels who slew her enemy or a particular enemy affinity with each other, known

as ‘support’, giving a statistical croaks it. Likewise recruitable I can only recommend the first boost when particular characters are gone forever if Fire Emblem game to hit characters are fighting side by you don’t fulfil the correct western shores, it’s got a nice side in battle, this ‘support’ can criteria before the end of the difficulty curve so if you’re new be cemented during mid-battle battle. to the genre it’ll ease you in interactions. nicely but there’s also enough For games like this stellar depth and complexity to graphics and sound are never appeal to tactical RPG essential but aesthetically Fire veterans, perfectionists might Emblem is never less than struggle to quell their functional, battle map graphics innermost instincts and are of the ‘do the job’ variety graphical whores need not but the battle animations apply but then they’ve only got themselves, small animations themselves to blame for that accompany every attack, missing out on something with can often be charming and this much appeal. help set the tone for the rest of the game, Wallace the Rating 85% Paladins special ‘Charge’ attack animation being my personal favourite. The music For me the main appeal of the in the game is unremarkable game lies in how Fire Emblem but I can’t deny that by turns it differentiates itself from its inspired me and also brought a tactical RPG brethren, namely tear to my eye (No of course it in how it treats death in battle, didn’t, not really……). in Fire Emblem death is Computer AI is exactly as it permanent! This means that should be, functional and often there are no post battle resurrections of your favourite characters or healing of the mortally wounded, once they’re defeated they’re gone, usually with a plaintive few final words before shuffling off this mortal coil. This adds a very tangible air of tension to every encounter, knowing that one false move could mean the end of one of your favoured magnificent few. Not ideal for us perfectionists. This is slightly balanced out by how easily over levelled some of your units can become, but you’re always aware that there’s a soft under belly to predictable, neither of those I your fighting force. see as being necessarily to the games detriment. Indeed, the Shopping, character enemy will often have the recruitment and other standard upper hand in numbers so the RPG mechanisms all take human thought process being place on the battle field which superior to computer AI is what can take some getting used to will help level the playing field. but they all help add to the air Let’s face it; we’d all struggle if of tension, especially when we were confronted by a you’re running low on healing computer with a Deep Blue items so you have to take time sized intellect. out to run to the local corner shop before Nigel the Archer

Barbarian (C64) your girlfriend' plot, but not by Drax's trusty helper; this little much. green goblin geezer walks across the screen to clear up Reviewed by Phil Wheatley The fighting takes place in the mess you've made. fighting pits and forests, under Barbarian, which originally the watchful eye of Drax As well as using your sword to came out in 1987 for the himself. You have to battle attack, you can also use it for Commodore 64, caused quite your way past eight barbarian blocking, one block in a stir at the time for various warriors, each getting particular called the web of reasons. Before you even progressively tougher, whom death shows off how much the took the cassette out of the are protecting Drax from box, you couldn't help notice your advance. the bold photo on the front cover. Once you have managed to defeat them, which is no mean feat, the scene ends with Mariana dropping to her knees in front of you before the screen fades to black. Hmm, no guessing what happened next! game designer and artist

Steve Brown knew about While many software houses animation. In fact, the game were pumping out kung fu boasted some of the biggest style beat em ups like 'Way of character sprites at the time, the Exploding Fist' and 'Kung something that is also visible in Fu Master', Palace software the Sacred Armour of Antiriad. wanted to go for something a

Palace software who are also little different. known for creating Cauldron 1, Cauldron 2 and the Sacred Armour of Antiriad, wanted to The Commodore 64 do something a little different was the original than the usual hand drawn version, and due to cover art work. They hired it's success, the game body builder Michael Van Wijk, was then released on best known as 'Wolf' in the UK the Speccy, Amstrad version of the gladiators, to CPC, Apple 2, Atari appear on the front cover as a ST and BBC Micro. In Conan inspired barbarian, America, the games barely covered by his loin was licensed to Epyx cloth. and was sold under the name Death Sword.

For the guys, we were treated The game also spawned a to model Maria Whittaker, who Not only can you attack your sequel called 'The Dungeon of in fairness was wearing more opponents with your sword, Drax' which contained similar clothing than she normally but you can also kick them and moves and graphics as does. Regardless, the photo even head butt them. Barbarian but was a fully upset a lot of parents at the However, the move which fledged scrolling arcade time which worked well for raised a few eyebrows at the adventure, another game from promotional purposes, and time was the head chopping Palace really worth checking also detracted from the actual death blow. It took good out. violence within the game. timing, but you span around

full circle and then sliced the If you have never played As the name suggests, you opponent's head clean off, Barbarian, it's worth checking play the part of a barbarian resulting in blood squirting and is still enjoyable and who has to rescue princess from his torso. challenging today. Mariana from the evil wizard

Drax. Well, I guess it's slightly A nice added touch is when Rating 95%. more original than the 'rescue you dismember your opponent,

Meet This Month’s I like to play a variety of titles Owen McCarthy across a multitude of TRGN Team (LeBossu77 ) platforms. My favourite period is without doubt the 16bit era. Phil Wheatley ( TRGN ) For me the 16bit era defined what modern Owen raising gaming has money for become. It was charity in when video ‘Mo-vember’ games matured and became more than just simple toys for children.

Expansive Phil (right) with Jet Set Willy worlds, orchestral scores, Programmer Mathew Smith I'm a practising Artist living in stunning 16bit graphics, what's not too love? north London, my first The first game I played was experience of video games Blitz on the Vic 20, way back in Michael Smith was watching my neighbour 1980, and it’s been down hill playing Combat on his Atari ever since ;-) Soon moving (Davidhass3lh0ff ) 2600, probably at some time onto the C64, which for me around the latter end of the was the golden era, Uridium, 1970s.... Ghosts ‘n’ Goblins, Staff of Karnath, Nodes of Yesod, and The first system that I owned the list goes on. was an Acorn Electron, although it rarely worked. Over I was also fortunate to have the years I've had Amstrads, friends who had the Speccy, Mega Drives, SNESs, so I could play Sabre Wulf, Gameboys, PS1s and PS2s, Skool Daze, Green Beret and and now Xbox 360s, DSs and the like. Wiis.

Pete Jones ( Snestastic ) RPGs, particularly JPRGs are my game of choice although I am a gamer 1st and a For as long as i can remember I'm a sucker for anything collector 2nd. I collect vintage I've been a gamer. As a kid I interesting, shooters, 1 on 1 video games for the Super started out on our family fighters, you name it I've had Nintendo as well as the computer at the time the my fingers in many pies, original Xbox (not so vintage). Amstrad cpc 464 and worked indeed. my way up from there to the modern stuff.

Nowadays I’m more of a retro gamer and through my video and written game review's, retrospective's, and MRGR radio I’m sharing my passion I started gaming back in the for retro gaming. 80's with Way Of The Exploding Fist on the Commodore 64 and have been gaming ever since.

Skullmonkeys (PS1)

Reviewed by Owen McCarthy

Some games exceed your expectations, others fall well short leaving you with a feeling that you wish you’d saved your money or at least gone with something that came with a warm glow of familiarity, a nice FIFA game maybe. With Skullmonkeys on the original Playstation I had no expectations bar that it ‘might be a bit of a laugh’. I’ve been wallowing in smug self satisfaction ever since I took the gamble because Skullmonkeys turned out to be a bit of a revelation, and scene continues as he falls that put you off. The action slightly more than the ‘bit of a onto Idznak with a crunch, moves smoothly and at a laugh’ I’d hoped it would be. flattening one of the locals in decent pace so style is the process. Having survived certainly not at the expense of Developed in 1998 by ‘The the fall he then goes on to substance. It also uses Neverhood, Inc.’ who are declare himself ‘King of all foreground scenery to comprised of many members Skullmonkeys’ and to state accentuate the sense of scale of the team responsible for how he intends to ‘Destroy The and depth, but this is not Earthworm Jim, and published Neverhood!’, and the rest, as merely decorative as it can by Dreamworks Interactive, they say, is history, or in this often obscure large parts of Skullmonkeys is a 2D side- case a very good video game. the screen to create obstacles scrolling platformer and a pseudo sequel to the 1996 point-n-click adventure ‘The Gameplay is Neverhood’. In it you take undeniably control of Klayman who has conventional, the been forcibly summoned from game wears its The Neverhood to the Planet influences openly Idznak to save its slightly and there are echoes impressionable inhabitants, the of many of the genre aforementioned Skullmonkeys, favourites from down from the thrall of the Evil the years, Klaymans Klogg. standard attack is similar to/exactly the The game begins with a cut same as the Mario scene and the words ‘A bad head bounce, elsewhere there that must be navigated or to man fell from the sky…’, that is a distinct whiff of Donkey hide enemies or collectibles. ‘bad man’ is Klogg and the cut Kong Country. It is in other areas that the game seems This may be a fault to some determined to separate itself but I see it as a conscious from the crowd. design decision. Less conscious maybe, would be A selling feature is the the slightly inaccurate collision distinctive look of the game, detection, although while this everything, including the cut isn’t ideal to begin with it is scenes, is created in the consistent so it will only take ‘claymation’ style, similar to the initial five minutes or so that used in the Clay Fighter before head bouncing is games, but please don’t let second nature.

and my personal favourite Was it that bad or did I repress There are no double jumps in ‘Slappy the Hamster’, although it the game but a longer leap can I’ll leave it up to your be achieved if you combine a imagination as to what they So, 19 years later I’m giving jump with the sprint feature, a might entail. this film a second chance. My jump can also be adjusted sights are set low and we will mid-air to help you hit your I would urge anyone to give see if this ‘mistake of a game’ target. This particular skill is Skullmonkeys a try, while it film adaptation is worthy of helpful in the later levels when may not be perfect and while it being revisited and ultimately the difficulty is almost might often be repetitive to the re-evaluated. unsportsmanlike, although I point of being exasperating, prefer to think of it as brutal but the game is wrapped up in a First the look of this movie, it is fair. However, this difficulty is package so charming and well shot and overall has a offset by the shear amount of pulled off with such likability look you don’t see nowadays things to collect that will give that it’s almost impossible not in Hollywood movies, with very you either extra lives or power- to be won over. detailed sets that visually have ups, leading me to believe that a lot in common with Blade the games brutality is also a Oh, and one last thing, the Runner, but at the same time conscious design decision, game has the BEST music of are a world away for the Mario having 99 lives going into the ANY video game, EVER, BAR franchise. Maybe that was the final level is not unheard of. NONE, PERIOD, with NO point of it so that they could exceptions! And if anybody create- a decent film that’s The developers have also says otherwise they’ll have loosely based on Mario. But decided to do away with any Slappy the Hamster to deal the problem with trying to sort of save system in favour with. make a Mario film is you have of level passwords given to very little to work from if you’re you at the completion of each Rating 75% just going by the games. This world, none of this gives me is one of the reasons why the the impression that they Super Mario Bros – film failed because it was too weren’t fully committed to the much of a departure for Mario project, rather that they were The Movie fans, but at the same time if looking to offer the player a they had stayed too faithful to good, honest, old school Reviewed by Michael Smith the games, they could not challenge. have made a movie at all. Oh no it’s the super Mario The game rarely misses a bro’s movie So you have to give this film chance to demonstrate credit for even attempting to another of its great strengths, make a movie its sense of humour. Regular from the source cut scenes punctuate the material. experience, each one with a Secondly, the fully realised and often casting. This film hilarious set of gags, although is about as well whether you find them casted as it gets. ‘hilarious’ will depend greatly If you had to on how much you like fart pick any actor in jokes, of which there are the early 90’s to many. I like fart jokes. For this review I had to revisit play Mario it Evidence of the scatological my past. would be Bob Hoskins. He humour can also be found in looks like Mario and is one of the range of power-ups I remember as a kid wanting to the best British actors this available, all of which are see this movie badly and heck, county has produced. John designed with their comic I also remember the queues Leguizamo is an interesting effect in mind. ‘Phart Head’ is outside the local Hollywood choice to play Luigi and pulls it where Klayman creates a cinema waiting to see this, but off even though he’s has no doppelganger of himself to for the life of me I could not mustard and isn’t as tall as I distract enemies, he does this remember what this movie was imagine a live action Luigi by… er… farting out of his like. would be. But an actor’s head. Other power-ups height, skin colour, or look available include ‘Super Willie’ should not be in question if he

can play the roll and John setting the mood for each Well here go super Mario bros Leguizamo convinced me he scene. So in fairness it did the movie is your next was Luigi. This was an what it needed to. And if you Saturday night movie but don’t important role for John that like nostalgia, there are a few forget the popcorn. propelled him from stand up cool tunes in the original comedy to acting. But I found it soundtrack, remember the Rating 67% strange that Daisy (played by dinosaur craze in the early Samantha Mathis) was set up 90’s? There’s a scene in this Skooldaze (Zx as the love interest for Luigi? movie that features George Even though Mario has a Clinton’s Walk the Dinosaur, Spectrum) girlfriend that also needs to be now that song brings back rescued it should have been memories from my childhood! Reviewed by Phil Wheatley Mario that was the romantic Also, in the end credits we interest for daisy. This is how I have Roxette’s Almost Unreal. Do you remember this great felt it should have gone, Mario If you’re a collector of film game which gives you the meets and hits it off with Daisy OST’s, then this one would be chance to relive your school then she gets kidnapped, then worth picking up but the scor days? he defeats the bad guy and of this film at the time of writing has never been released, and probably never will.

The super Mario Bros movie would add something to There are some games from the Mario the 80s that have past the test saves Daisy. After the end canon, if an explanation as to of time and some that haven't. credits gets some… now to all why Mario and Luigi are called Luckily, Skooldaze is one of our younger readers when I the Mario Bros for starters. those games that has, largely say “get some”, of course I Basically to avoid any due to the fact that you get the mean a peck on the cheek and confusion, both of their last chance to relive your own a freshly baked cake for all his names are Mario, so that school days but without the troubles (wink wink), keep it would make their full name’s worry of having to pass your PG everyone. Luigi Mario and Mario Mario. I exams. guess it makes sense and helps explain why their called The first great thing about this the Mario brothers. Whether game was you could rename you like this movie or not, it’s each of the main characters to integrated itself into the Mario your own name and your franchise for all time. friend’s, but even better was the chance to rename each of the teachers. However, if you didn't rename the characters So in conclusion then you played the part of Eric, the hero. It seems that If you like the kind of movies you have done exceptionally where you can leave your bad at your subjects that year brain at the door and just enjoy and if your parents got to see them for what they are, then your report, then you would be you’ll enjoy it. Or you’re a in serious trouble! movie lover looking for Finally, the soundtrack. something unusual to watch or So, the main object of Nothing about Alan’s Silvestre you want to relive your Skooldaze was to steel your film score really stood out for childhood, it fits the bill. own school report from a safe me but it was competent in which was being held in the giving this film atmosphere and headmaster's room. The

All in all, it was a great game which you can play online on some of the retro game sites. This game also spawned an even better sequel called Back to School which featured a neighbouring girls school where you could create havoc with rodents and stink bombs! Also, look out for a perfect remake of this game for the PC called Klass of '99. Search the net for this as this is probably the best way to play this great game.

Rating 94%

headmaster was Mr Whacker Science teacher (Mr Rockitt) and could be easily spotted as seemed to look exactly like he walked around with a rather your own teachers. If you got menacing looking cane. If he to your class before the or any of the teachers caught teacher then you could have you doing anything strange like some great fun writing sitting on the floor or jumping expletives on the blackboard! like a Kangeroo then you One annoying thing was there would get given lines, exceed normally seemed to be more 10,000 and you would get pupils per class then chairs expelled. provided, if you got knocked on the floor then you would Your first task was to go incur more lines. around the school and hit all of the shields which were placed Other characters included in rooms and corridors. Some Einstein (the swot) who was were easy to reach with a well great fun to punch but timed jump and some required sometimes this bad karma knocking a teacher over first came back on you in the form with a pea shooter and then of the school bully, Angelface. deflect the pea off the teachers head, providing you could find the pea-shooter first of course.

Once you managed to get all the shields, which was no mean feat by the way, then when hitting some of the key teachers over, each one would reveal one part of the combination to the safe. Well, this was as far as I ever got but never actually opened the safe, something for a rainy day maybe.

In between doing these tasks, you still had to attend your normal daily lessons, it was amazing how the geography teacher (Mr Withit) and the

Super Nintendo excited to say the least and we made up his mind and wouldn't raced round to Malcom's to buy me the console and System (Part 1) see what the Super Nintendo instead said I would need to had to offer. Malcolm had buy it for myself which wasn't Reviewed by Pete Jones Super Soccer and Super Mario going to be easy as I was only (Snestastic!!!) World. a kid. However I persevered aand I went and got myself a The Super Nintendo First up we played Super paper round and earned £10 Entertainment System is the Soccer and while it looked nice per month. greatest home video game console ever created,fact. Or Needless to say the wait to get at least that's my opinion after enough cash to buy a Super 26 years of gaming and with Nintendo with Mario World was several different systems excruciating but when that day under my belt. At the eventually arrived it was beginning of the 90's I was still fantastic. Being able to finally playing with my Commodore play Mario World on my own Amiga 500 along with my Super Nintendo and explore cousin Roy who also had the those magical worlds was one Amiga 500 and his neighbour of the greatest moments in my Malcolm had a Sega gaming history. Megadrive. Released in 1990 in Japan, SNES Japanese Super Famicom At that time I was impressed 1991 in North America and with the graphical upgrade that it wasn't quite the impressive 1992 in the UK the Super the Sega Megadrive offered Nintendo was a power house over the Commodore Amiga title that I had expected. Then of technology. Able to create and the level of sophistication we put in Super Mario World pseudo 3D environments via that the games had to offer. and it blew me away, the Mode 7 it was something Games such as Altered Beast graphics were bright and fresh, above and beyond what I had and Mickey Mouse Castle Of the music was instantly been used to with the Illusion were streets ahead of hummable and the character Commodore Amiga 500. what I had been playing on the and level design was sublime. Amiga and showed that the This was the moment where I When it comes down to the arcade could be replicated in decided I had to own a Super appearance of the Super the home. Nintendo, a task which was Nintendo it can definitely split never going to be easy. opinion. As a kid the appearance of a console was SNES Pal During the 80's family's had way down the bottom of the list been convinced that kids of importance when deciding needed a system that not only which system to purchase. The offered gaming but could also PAL and Japanese Super do important tasks such as Nintendo/Super Famicom word processing. This was the systems are identical and have fork in the road for me when a nice slick rounded trying to convince my dad that appearance and are compact I needed a Super Nintendo. He for easy storage. The US couldn't understand why I Super Nintendo (my personal would want a Super Nintendo favourite) is a different story, when all it did was play games the US model is the version and on top of that the games that really splits gamers themselves would cost a small opinions. One day me and my cousin fortune. were hammering away at Ikari For me the US Super Nintendo Warriors and after several Being a kid though you don't was always the version I would hours of frustration Malcolm see it as clearly as that and like to have owned but could came round and announced you just want the new shiny never afford due to the that he had sold his Megadrive toy and I was determined to difficulty of importing in the and had purchased a Super get a Super Nintendo one way 90's. The US Super Nintendo Nintendo. Me and Roy were or another. My dad eventually took a different approach to

the PAL & NTSC-J regions. polished but for me The US console is big, bold that's what always and brash, it has a basic attracted me to the colour scheme of grey and system, that level of purple and is considered by quality and shine. The most gamers to be ugly. I have Super Nintendo also a lot of love for the US console had a fantastic sound as I prefer the big bulky purple chip from Sony which power and reset buttons and helped produce some the overall tank like design of of the greatest gaming the console. sound tracks ever.

The game cartridges are also Games such as Super different for the US Super Mario World, Street Nintendo. PAL and Japanese fighter 2, Starfox, comparing the two versions of cartridges are small, round and Super Mario Kart, Super Star Mortal Kombat as the Super compact unlike the US Wars really demonstrate the Nintendo looks and sounds cartridges which are big, audio quality of the Super much better than the square and dominating. Again Nintendo. Super Star Wars in Megadrive version. I have always preferred the US particular has a fantastic cartridges as they look rendition of the movie score. There are definitely pros and powerful, sturdy and most cons to both systems and like importantly different. Another I have always found the one all consoles it is a personal defining look of the US Super thing that fans of Nintendo and preference, for me Nintendo's Nintendo cartridges is the nifty Sega can both agree on is that games have always had more little plastic dust cover to the Super Nintendo can appeal. Id much rather play a protect the cartridge’s pins produce much better speech. Mario game with its excellent which I have always thought The Megadrive always sounds level design and depth. I’ve was a nice touch. very muffled and feels like the always found Sonic to be a bit console is struggling. The of a one trick pony, the biggest Then there’s the controller Super Nintendo on the other flaw being the emphasis on which is the most important hand has crystal clear speed as opposed to actual part of any videogame renditions of in game speech platforming. I could never quite console. Without a good such as the voice over and get to grips with Sonic as far controller your dead in the character expressions found in as gameplay is concerned as it water. Its fortunate then that Street fighter 2. always feels like your just Nintendo created in my opinion trying to get from one side of the most perfect controller for In the beginning another big the screen to the next as any system to date. The advantage that the Super quickly as possible. controller is small and light and Nintendo had over the fits perfectly into my hands. Megadrive was the standard 6 That’s not to say that I am not You have the d-pad on the left, button controller which was a fan of Sonic but for me the start and select buttons in the perfect for Street fighter 2 Mario games have a lot more middle, four action buttons to when it was released. The depth and playability. Mario the right and two shoulder Megadrive had a 6 button has multiple suits to choose buttons either side on the top. controller released later in it's from to aid the little plumber as Everything feels perfectly life but the standard controller well as bringing his friends on natural and the buttons are all with the system only supported board such as Yoshi. And then easily accessible making three buttons. there’s the brick bashing to gameplay a doddle. obtain coins which when you Fans of the Megadrive will reach 100 gold coins you earn The Super Nintendo was a argue that although the Super an extra life. This provides an powerful beast for its time and Nintendo had stronger incentive to bash every brick outshined the Megadrive in the graphics and sound the that you see. Therefore for me graphics and sound Megadrive had advantages Mario seems to be the more departments. The graphics on such as Mortal Kombat which fleshed out game. the Megadrive look a lot had full gore and red blood muddier compared to the unlike the Super Nintendo. The one thing I have always Super Nintendo. Some say the While this is a valid argument it found appealing about retro the Super Nintendo is too was a small price to pay when systems such as the Super

Nintendo or the Megadrive are the game cartridges. A simple but very effective way of playing games. In an era of constant updates and patch's and loading times I can't help but hope cartridges make a comeback. With the Super Nintendo you just plug the cartridge into the cartridge slot and turn on the power. The game boots up to the title screen, you press start and away you go.

This simplicity is what made gaming accessible back in the day and is sorely missing in modern gaming. I for one have had quite enough of having to download an update and then having to install game data before even seeing the title screen.

However like any system they are only as good as there games and luckily the Super Nintendo has an amazing catalogue of top tier titles. From 1st party Nintendo titles such as Super Mario World, Super Mario Kart, Super Mario AllStars, Super Metroid and F- Zero to third party giants like Street fighter 2, Starfox and Donkey Kong Country.

Read Part 2 in the next issue of TRGN…

Next Issue

As well as the conclusion to the Super Nintendo review, there will be reviews of Space Quest (PC), Super Mario Land (Gameboy), Ghosts ‘n’ Goblins and more, not to mention another exclusive interview.

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Happy gaming and best wishes,

Phil

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