Games of 1987 - ranked by preference

Release Date: August 22, 1987 (NA)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: Adventure

Perfection. The initial Legend of Zelda was Nintendo's first attempt at an action-adventure game and it was pretty much perfectly designed. From the vast overworld to explore, to the dungeons to conquer, to the second quest that unlocks after completing the game...It's all just designed in a near flawless manner. Later games in the series have had fancier graphics and various gimmicks added, but the original Legend of Zelda didn't need any gimmicks - it was, and still is, one of the best games ever created.

Release Date: October 1987 (NA)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: Fighting - Boxing

Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! is a perfect game to point to when you hear the term "less is more." This game is so simple...and yet so deep. It's dang near flawless, honestly. The number of opponents with an ever-increasing difficulty and various weaknesses and flaws to discover and exploit make it a joy to work your way up the circuits to get destroyed by Mr. Tyson upon finally getting a shot at him. I'm proud to say that I beat Tyson (and the game) once...So my record against him is probably around 1-142-0. But I still won, dang it. This is the absolute best boxing game ever made...And it's so close to perfect that I don't think it will ever be topped.

Release Date: December 20, 1987 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: RPG

Dragon Warrior hit North American shelves about a year after Phantasy Star did...And while Phantasy Star is a far superior game in terms of everything from gameplay to graphics, it never really gained the popularity that Dragon Warrior did. That said, Phantasy Star is a futuristic RPG (one of the first) and it may be the very first great RPG to be released in North America. I can't think of one that came before it that was better. I can't think of many released within a few years after it that was better, for that matter. If you're a fan of classic, turn-based, grinding RPGs, this game is worth buying a Master System for alone.

Release Date: August 15, 1987 (NA)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: Action

Metroid was amazing when it originally released. Traversing through various locations of a planet with an emphasis on exploration rather than a linear path, discovering multiple power-ups, battling a large variety of bosses and enemies...this game was huge. Then you battle your way through the game, defeat the Mother Brain, and watch on in awe as you realize that the cool, intergalactic tough guy that just destroyed the end boss is really a cool, intergalactic tough girl...And then you're rewarded with the ability to play through a second time, but this time sans your spacesuit and with all of your power-ups still intact. Super Metroid improved on this game to near perfection, but for its time, the original Metroid was still absolutely incredible.

Release Date: September 20, 1987 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Adventure

I really wish that more people were exposed to this gem. Aztec Adventure has a top-down view, exploration of the world, and combat similar to Legend of Zelda. You've even got various items to use, like a weapon for attacking, fire for attacking or burning down pesky trees in your way, and even bags of money, which can be used to bribe certain enemies to fight by your side. Wandering around alone is fun by itself, but the strategy of buying the services of some enemies rather than fighting them adds a unique element to the game. I hope that this game gets ported over to the Wii or Wii U's Virtual Console at some point. It deserves a whole lot more attention than it currently has.

Release Date: January 26, 1987 (JP)
Publisher: Enix
Developer: ChunSoft
Genre: RPG

The first Dragon Warrior was a good, albeit short, RPG that wasn't the first in the genre, but was the first huge success in the genre by far. Dragon Warrior II really improves on the first Dragon Warrior in nearly every way. It also introduces a party system, so you can smush the slimes with some allies you meet on your quest, and it also brings vehicles to the Dragon Warrior series in the form of a boat you can use to sail around in. But be warned, especially towards the end, this game can be absolutely brutal in a hard-as-nails way. If you don't have the patience to grind levels and save up money, then this may not be the game for you...But in my personal tastes, I'm a pretty huge fan.

Release Date: February 15, 1987 (EU)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: Platformer

If you're playing a game where you might turn into an eggplant with legs at some point, then you're probably playing a worthwhile game, in my opinion. Kid Icarus is an amazing game for the NES with a blend of vertical-scrolling platforming from the bottom of the level to the top, exploring maze-like side-scrolling levels, and scrolling shooters as you fire arrows at enemies - all while also battling bosses, avoiding wizards that can turn you into a purple fruit with legs, and shooting arrows at grim reapers that get waaaay too excited when they spot you. It's one of the more charming games that Nintendo released for the NES, and one well worth playing if you've got access to a copy.

Release Date: March 1987 (NA)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Human Entertainment
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

Human Entertainment, the folks behind the Fire Pro Wrestling series, created this magnificent gem on the NES simply known as Pro Wrestling. Pro Wrestling is so simplistic, and yet the gameplay is deeper than it appears to be. Each wrestler has their own unique set of moves and a finisher, there are reversals, top-rope dives, dives from the inside of the ring to the outside, brawling on the outside of the ring...And this is all in a wrestling game from 1987, folks. If this game had more modes than just wrestling on a circuit fighting for, and later to defend, the World title, then I can't imagine this game could have been any better than that. But for what it is, it's still really good and a game that I proudly pop in an play on a regular basis even to this day.

Release Date: May 1987 (NA)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: Action

The original Castlevania may have been surpassed in quality by some of the later games in the series...But it's still a very solid title in its own right. Using a whip to neutralize the large variety of undead enemies that attack you is good fun. The later levels can get a tad difficult - especially when they involve platforming...But everything in this game can be overcome with practice...Even Death...No matter how much of a jerk he is. If you're a fan of the Castlevania series, the initial entry is a must-play title that's still fun to this day.

Release Date: December 18, 1987 (JP)
Publisher: Squaresoft
Developer: Squaresoft
Genre: RPG

I like the first Final Fantasy a lot. The story isn't the best, but it doesn't need to be - the gameplay is good. Simplifying the gameplay mechanics found in the Dragon Warrior/Dragon Quest games (like the need to select "open" from a menu to open a box), Final Fantasy made playing an RPG feel a little less tedious. The game is kind of short by later Final Fantasy standards, but this is still a very solid entry in a game franchise that basically single-handedly transformed Square from a financially-struggling game company into a money-absorbing juggernaut.

Release Date: December 17, 1987 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Platformer

Within a few minutes of playing the original Mega Man, defeating Bomb Man, and realizing that I had just obtained the powers of the boss I had just beaten, I fell head over heels for the game. Mega Man's formula is just plain great - wonderfully designed, fun-to-navigate-through levels with an enjoyable boss fight waiting to greet you at the end. Later games in the series surpassed this game, but the original is still a very solid game in its own right.

Release Date: May 24, 1987 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Action

Zillion is a very solid title that kind of reminds me of Metroid in how the game is laid out level-wise. Spending much of the game in corridors and using elevators to get from area to area, it constantly reminded me of the game that Samus Aran stars in. But Samus doesn't star in Zillion, J.J. does. The thing I like about Zillion is how you need to use your noggin'. You're not going to beat the game by simply shooting everything in sight. You need to track down an I.D. card, then blast open capsules in each room and check them for items or symbols that you'll have to remember to input in terminals as part of a code to unlock doors, activate elevators, etc. Zillion isn't perfect, but it feels very advanced for its time, and it's definitely well worth playing through to experience it.

Release Date: December 1987 (NA)
Publisher: Acclaim
Developer: Rare
Genre: Platformer

Until the last few years, I was never a fan of the Wizards & Warriors games...The idea of having a guy with a sword who can barely swing it, and mostly only kills enemies by jumping into them with their non-swinging sword...It just didn't make sense to me, nor was it fun. But, one day I gave this game the ol' college try and it won me over. Once I began to realize that it was more of a platformer than an action game, I was less focused on trying to slash at things and more focused on jumping on platforms and trying to discover treasure (one of which is a boomerang-like throwing dagger that was a nice substitute for not swinging a sword). The game gets insanely difficult towards the end...mostly in the final area where I feel I got myself through it due to luck more than anything else. But anyway, despite my initial complaints about the game, after playing through from beginning to end, I've come to appreciate Wizards & Warriors for how different it is. It's a game I now look at rather fondly.

Release Date: August 7, 1987 (JP)
Publisher: SquareSoft
Developer: SquareSoft
Genre: Racing

Ever since I was little, I've always been a fan of Rad Racer. In fact, I've always been partial to racing games like this and OutRun, where you have to reach your goal in a certain time limit while dodging traffic, and Rad Racer was my first introduction to this style of game. To this day, I enjoy popping this in for a few minutes when I'm bored, as it's a good way to kill a small block of time.

Release Date: 1987 (NA)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Pacific Dataworks
Genre: Sports - Hockey

Hat Trick was probably the first sports game that I fell in love with. It has a Pong-like simplicity that's easy to pick up and fun to play. In Hat Trick, you control two hockey players at once. You control the main hockey player, who you move around the ice to grab and shoot the puck, but at the same time, you're also controlling your own goalie. This can lead to some decision making, like do you go after the puck when it's near your goal or do you forget the puck and focus on the goalie's defense to prevent your opponent from scoring? It's fun by yourself and an absolute blast if you can play it with a friend.

Release Date: August 17, 1987 (JP)
Publisher: Hal Laboratories
Developer: Hal Laboratories
Genre: Shooter - Third-Person

Air Fortress is an interesting blend of scrolling shooter levels that lead up to action levels inside of fortresses, where the player is essentially free to float around in the level wherever they may like. The gameplay isn't perfect, but it's still very good and the interesting blend of gameplay styles work well together. Air Fortress isn't without its flaws, but in my opinion the good greatly outweighs the bad.

Release Date: 1987 (NA)
Publisher: Epyx
Developer: Epyx
Genre: Sports - Olympics

Epyx brought its popular Winter Games to the Atari 2600 when Atari made the attempt to resurrect its dead system. The end result actually wasn't bad - a variety of winter olympic events like skiing and bobsledding help make the game have more replay value. It's one of the better sports games on the Atari VCS.

Release Date: December 4, 1987 (JP)
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Namco
Genre: Platformer

In 1991, JVC published a Star Wars game on the NES...But oddly enough, it was inferior in almost every way to a Japanese-exclusive Star Wars game published four years earlier by Namco. The game isn't as graphically impressive as JVC's game, but it is better in just about every other aspect. I'm not a big fan of Star Wars, personally, but I did think how neat it was that so many aspects from the film were included in this game...So, I would imagine that Star Wars nerds would absolutely adore this title. Heck, everything is done well enough that I bet plenty of non-Star Wars fans will like it...I do.

Release Date: December 20, 1987 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Vic Tokai
Genre: Platformer

A lot of people like to point to Psycho Fox as a great exclusive title for the Master System...The problem is that while Psycho Fox is fun, it's basically a clone of a game that Vic Tokai had created a year earlier for the Famicom that eventually made its way to North America under the name of Kid Kool. Now, it's not an exact clone...The levels are different and Psycho Fox can punch enemies and not have to rely on a fluffy creature to hurl at foes...And to be honest, I think some of the issues with Kid Kool are fixed in Psycho Fox to create a better game. But the way the game plays, the little pole vaults, it's all nearly identical. So, that said Psycho Fox is a slightly better game, but if you don't have a Master System and want to basically experience what Psycho Fox is about, just hunt down a copy of Kid Kool and enjoy.

Release Date: February 26, 1987 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Human Entertainment
Genre: Music - Fitness

Dance Aerobics is actually pretty fun if you give it a chance...This was in my house the entirety of my childhood and I refused to play it once because I thought it was a "girl's" game. Fast forward a few years and I play games for "little girls" for a laugh, and I thought I'd get some laughs out of this. Instead, I got an aerobic workout and some surprisingly entertaining mini games. In the "Pad Antics" area, you can turn your power pad into a piano or partake in a game of Simon Says. While not incredibly deep of an experience, Dance Aerobics is still a decent little game and worth having in your library if you own a power pad.

Release Date: September 1987 (NA)
Publisher: Acclaim
Developer: Squaresoft
Genre: Action

3-D World Runner wasn't a bad game by any means...But at the same time, it wasn't a great game either...It was a decent game stuck in mediocrity. I managed to beat it, somehow, but 3-D World Runner is definitely a game that increases in difficulty the further you advance, so much to the point where I think it'll drive off many people who attempt to beat it. It was also a game from the then-struggling company known as Squaresoft prior to their much-needed Final Fantasy success.

Release Date: December 20, 1987 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: RPG

Another NES clone, the original Wonder Boy is a clone of Adventure Island on the NES. The gameplay is near identical from the enemies right down to the power-ups. You'll be hurling stone axes while rolling around on a skateboard, hopping over snails, fires, and boulders in no time. This isn't a bad clone by any means, but thankfully Wonder Boy goes in a different direction for its later games, and a direction that, dare I say, surpasses the Adventure Island series that it originally cloned in its debut title.

Release Date: November 1987 (NA)
Publisher: LJN
Developer: West One
Genre: Shooter - Third-Person

Jaws isn't as bad of a game as a lot of people claim it to be...But it does require a lot of patience if you plan on trying to see it through to the end. The seemingly random dives into the ocean to just shoot at various sea creatures in an effort to power yourself up enough to stand a chance against Jaws is done well enough with controls that work nicely and easy to pick-up-and-play gameplay...But there's only so many times you can play in the same screen shooting at the same sea creatures before boredom starts to set in. The fight against Jaws also feels like a bit of a joke, as he's slower than molasses and pretty much just open to you repeatedly attacking him as you feel like it. But if you have the patience to play mostly the same level over and over to slowly get enough strength to do enough damage to the great white shark, you could do a lot worse than playing this game.

Release Date: August 1987 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Fighting

For those unaware, the Street Fighter franchise didn’t exactly burst onto the scene with a great game...On the contrary, the original Street Fighter is just a barely passable experience that most fighting fans today would likely stick their noses in the air at. With only one playable character, Ryu, the original Street Fighter didn’t really have much need to replay the game upon beating it. Only diehard Street Fighter fans wanting to the origin of the series should bother with this game...Though, for those who do play through, expect to see some familiar faces amongst the never-seen-again fighters while you fight around the world.

Release Date: February 10, 1987 (JP)
Publisher: Hudson Soft
Developer: Hudson Soft
Genre: Shooter - Third-Person

The Adventures of Dino Riki is one of those games that I loved as a child, but upon playing it as an adult, I can see plenty of flaws in the gameplay and design. I managed to beat the game not too long ago...The game gets very boring and repetitive by the end, which caused me to sigh when upon beating the game, as I got to start all over and play from the beginning in order to continue building up my high score. In small doses, Dino Riki can be very fun...But to sit down long enough to play through and beat it...That can lead to plenty of boredom once the repetition kicks in.

Release Date: June 26, 1987 (JP)
Publisher: Jaleco
Developer: TOSE
Genre: Sports - Baseball

For when it was released, Bases Loaded wasn't terrible, but it wasn't exactly the best baseball game available, either. R.B.I. Baseball had released in Japan about a year earlier, and that game is a little better in just about every regard, but this is still a passable game for baseball fans. It may not be the best ballgame in town, but it definitely set the base for future games, all of which are much better, in the Bases Loaded series.

Release Date: August 17, 1987 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Sports - Baseball

Great Baseball isn't great at all. It's not horrible, but it's definitely not great. They should re-name is "Passable Baseball" or "Not Too Special Baseball" or even "Play Reggie Jackson Baseball Instead Baseball." If you're a baseball fanatic, you'll likely find something to latch onto and like here, but most everyone else that plays will spend the majority of their time playing trying to figure out where this "great" aspect that the title mentions is hiding.

Release Date: April 1987 (NA)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: Action

Rush'N Attack is different....I'll give it that. Basically, you side-scroll your way through levels, stab a bunch of people with a knife, stab more people with a knife, and then face a final challenge at the end of each level. The stabbing stuff gets pretty old pretty quickly. The lack of weapon variety turns what could have been an enjoyable experience into a lackluster one. So, unless you feel like stabbing everything in sight as you plow through enemies, you're probably better off finding yourself another 8-bit action game.

Release Date: 1987 (NA)
Publisher: Absolute Entertainment
Developer: Imagineering Inc
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

I think the best way to describe Title Match Pro Wrestling is that it's basically a thumb-wrestling match in video form. It is extremely basic, but when playing with a friend it can actually be kind of fun - kind of like thumb wrestling - very basic, not deep at all, but can be enjoyable for a few minutes when playing with a friend. When the game first released, there were already a few good wrestling games on the market, so this game didn't make much of a splash, but had it been released in the late 70's, it may have gained some popularity. Either way, if you love wrestling games, Title Match Pro Wrestling is worth a shot if you've got a friend around to play with...But even then, you might get bored after a few bouts.

Release Date: 1987 (NA)
Publisher: Data East
Developer: Data East
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

This version of Tag Team Wrestling is a bit better than the NES version. It controls better and it looks better...But it's still the same, repetitive and boring game that the NES version is...Just slightly better. It's quite lame when you successfully fight your way through Japan, beat the champions there, then go to Europe...and the two opponents look like the two guys you just repeatedly beat in Japan. But anyway, it's the same poorly-made wrestling game that you saw on the NES...But with a few minor upsides that the game on Nintendo's console doesn't have. Neither one is a winner...It's like a double count-out.

Release Date: November 1987 (NA)
Publisher: LJN Ltd.
Developer: Sanritsu
Genre: Shooter - First-Person - Light Gun

Gotcha! is a sub-par light gun shooter based around paintball...So when you shoot up all of the folks popping up on the screen, you're not killing them, you're just putting paintball welts all over their torsos...Which is much better, I suppose. But anyway, I suppose the light gun responds all right and all that fun stuff, but the game itself is just...well, boring. It has nothing to do with the paintball element, either. It's just dull. Enemies stand there and wait for you to shoot them...Even on the higher difficulties. How is that fun or exciting? Sure, after a while they eventually fire, but if you can't hit them by that time, you've probably fallen into a coma. Poor difficulty aside, if you just want to shoot at stuff, I guess this is an okay game...But the lack of difficulty means that most folks will get tired with this pretty quickly.

Release Date: June 5, 1987 (JP)
Publisher: SNK
Developer: Micronics
Genre: Action

The thing about Athena is that I want to like it...But, the controls just feel so terrible, that I just can't. I've seen a LOT of folks give this game very low scores (like a lot of 1 out of 10's) but this game isn't THAT bad. The clunky controls and awkward-feeling attacks on enemies do hold the game back enough for me to consider it less than passable, though. If everything just felt smoother when you played, I can't help but think that this had potential to be one of the must-have titles on the system rather than a game that many refuse to give a chance to wow them.

Release Date: November 1987 (NA)
Publisher: LJN
Developer: Atlus
Genre: Action - Brawler

The first few times that I played the Karate Kid, I thought it was just a fighting game. I never won the karate tournament...Then I finally did. My reward? An absolutely horrible side-scrolling brawler with enemies that can juggle you to death, even if you're at max health, and one of the lamest final boss fights that I can remember. In the final battle, you're on a platform with the boss. If you knock him off the platform, he'll respawn with full health. Makes sense, right? The only way to win is to pummel him to death without sending him to a watery grave. It's horrible...Just like the vast majority of this game. Avoid it at all costs, friends.