Games of 1989 - ranked by preference

Release Date: 1989 (NA)
Publisher: Tengen
Developer: Tengen
Genre: Puzzle

Curse you, Nintendo. Tengen released a version of Tetris that was superior to Nintendo's version in nearly every way. When you take everything into consideration about a game, the only thing that Nintendo did better was graphics. Tengen featured multiplayer, which Nintendo did not, and it also included a lot of stats, which made for an interesting break between levels as you could see the statistics of how you had played thus far. Unfortunately, Nintendo went to court to make sure that this version of the popular puzzle game did not last long on store shelves and then proceeded to release their inferior version in its place. Whether Nintendo snuffed this game or not, it's still the better version of Tetris, and dare I say, the best version of the game ever released.

Release Date: March 21, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: RPG

Phantasy Star was a great RPG for the Sega Master System. Phantasy Star II blew it away with improvements in every way imaginable, and a really good story to boot, which (spoiler alert) involves a party member passing away halfway through the story nearly a decade before the death of Aeris was made famous in Final Fantasy VII. It's a fantastic old-style RPG with turn-based combat and plenty of grinding involved for leveling up and saving up money, well worth playing for any fan of RPGs. But, if you're spoiled by more modern RPGs, or just simply dislike needing to grind, you may not appreciate it as much as I do. For its time, there weren't many RPGs better.

Release Date: September 1989 (NA)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Platformer

Duck Tales....Wooo-ooo! In my opinion, Duck Tales is the best Disney game available in 8-bits and, quite honestly, one of, if not the, best Disney games ever made. The only real flaw that Duck Tales has is in how short it is - Someone can literally beat the game in 15-20 minutes without attempting a speed run. But everything else about the game - the music, level design, controls, everything...It's all so wonderful. I'd give this game a perfect score if not for the absurdly short gameplay...It's over in a duck blur. See what I did there?

Release Date: June 14, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Bullet Proof Software
Genre: Puzzle

This is the game that made the Game Boy. Without Tetris, I'm not confident that Nintendo's handheld would have flourished like it did. That little opinion out of the way, I don't think I need to say a whole lot about Tetris. You probably know all about it. Tetris is one of those great games that just does not age. It's just as fun to play today as it was when it was first released and in 100 years, it'll still be just as good. Some say that Tetris is video game perfection. I wouldn't go that far, but it's pretty dang close.

Release Date: July 27, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Pax Softonica
Genre: RPG

For those of you familiar with Earthbound, this is the game that came out before it in Japan. In other words, Earthbound is Mother 2 in Japan. So, if you like Earthbound, you're bound to like the first game in the series as well. Don't speak Japanese? That's fine. It's been translated to English as Earthbound Zero and even programmed to some NES carts in case you want the complete NES experience. But anyway, with its solid RPG gameplay and some good humor tossed in, Mother is probably among the top five RPGs on the NES in my opinion. If you haven't played it yet, do it. You won't regret it.

Release Date: May 19, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: SNK
Developer: SNK
Genre: Sports - Baseball

Baseball Stars doesn't have an MLB license. It doesn't feature star baseball players of the time. What it lacks in name value, it makes up for in everything else that you could imagine. Baseball Stars was, by far, the deepest baseball game ever created when it came out in '89. Create a team if you want, hire and fire players, take a rookie and develop them into one of the star players of the league...Or if you're content just playing a game of baseball and don't want to worry about any of that stuff, Baseball Stars hit the gameplay and controls out of the park, too. For its time, Baseball Stars could not be touched. 25 years later, it still holds its own as a great baseball game.

Release Date: November 1989 (NA)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: Puzzle

Let's face it, Tetris is probably the most popular game of the 80's and 90's. Even people who wouldn't normally play a video game found themselves in love with this Russian puzzle game. It's widely believed that Tetris was the major reason for the success of the Game Boy, and while Nintendo's NES version doesn't get a lot of love due to the vastly superior Tengen version of the game on the same system, the Nintendo version is still a very fun and addicting game in its own right. To this day, its hard to find a puzzle game better than Tetris. It was the first, and it still may be the best.

Release Date: August 3, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Platformer

Ghouls 'n Ghosts is a well done, but difficult platformer. With the inability to change directions in mid-air, you need to be positive that the jump your making is the right move to do. Likewise, with some of the tricky enemies you encounter (mainly the gargoyles) you need to be as precise as possible with your attacks or you'll find yourself down to your drawers in a hurry. That said, those that stick around long enough to master this game are rewarded with beautiful levels, interesting design, and fun bosses to encounter. Plus, the perverted women out there can live their dream of playing through a game controlling a man in nothing but his underwear. Don't lie to yourself, ladies, you know you want to.

Release Date: February 9, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Hudson
Developer: Hudson
Genre: Strategy - Turn-Based

Military Madness was probably the best turn-based strategy game to be published in North America for nearly ten years, up until Final Fantasy Tactics was released on the original Playstation. It doesn't have a whole lot of story of it, but the gameplay is fun enough where it really doesn't need one. The gameplay involves battles like Advance Wars, with different vehicles and armies doing different damage on different terrain...Except Military Madness takes place on the Moon. Which is ironic, because from 1989 to 1998, it pretty much eclipsed any other turn-based strategy game found on a North American console.

Release Date: December 15, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Technosoft
Genre: Strategy - Real-Time

I've never been a huge fan of real-time strategy games in general...I just never really understood the appeal. That said, I really enjoy Herzog Zwei. Playing against the computer is fun in itself, but when you've got a pal to go head-to-head with, you're in for a trash-talking good time. Whether shooting at your enemies from the air in your ship form, or transforming into a giant robot to attack from the ground, Herzog Zwei is frantic, fun, and well worth tracking down so you can experience this unique game all for yourself.

Release Date: April 22, 1989 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Sports - Baseball

I'll be honest - I was not expecting much here, and I was very pleasantly surprised. Tommy Lasorda Baseball has smooth gameplay and nice visuals...unfortunately, it lacks licensing, so no real teams...But hey, the Milwaukee Brewers pretty much had their logo unchanged in here, so being from there, that's pretty sweet. Anyway, if you're just looking for a solid, old-school baseball game without all the bells and whistles of games from the sport today, then Tommy Lasorda Baseball is a very solid option.

Release Date: December 22, 1989 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Action - Brawler

I adore the Golden Axe series. The games in this franchise are among my very favorite brawlers that I've ever played. The first Golden Axe is a strong start to the series, with three playable characters, plenty of brawling, various creatures that you can ride and attack with, magic spells, AND the opportunity to kick annoying gnome-like things by a camp fire while catchy music plays in the background. Later games refine everything, but the original Golden Axe is still a delight to play to this day.

Release Date: February 1989 (NA)
Publisher: Tecmo
Developer: Tecmo
Genre: Sports - Football

Tecmo Bowl, even after all these years, may be the ultimate football game. The simplicity in the gameplay and controls made it easy for anyone to pick up and play, but it's also extremely fun...So once you do start playing, it's hard to stop. I'm not a football fan in the slightest, but I adore Tecmo Bowl. Give me this over a Madden title any time.

Release Date: November 28, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: Sports - Golf

Before Mario Golf provided us with one of the best golf games of all-time on the Game Boy Color, this title, simply called "Golf," was the game that caused people to sit on their toilets well after they were done going potty, simply because they wanted to finish "just one more hole." If you don't like how most modern golf games automatically choose the best golf club to use and want a more strategic game of golf, this little handheld gem is for you.

Release Date: April 1989 (NA)
Publisher: HAL Laboratories
Developer: HAL Laboratories
Genre: Puzzle

Adventures of Lolo is an action-based puzzle game where Lolo, a blue ball of goodness has to make his way to the top of a tower...But he has to get there room by room and solve the puzzles in each of those rooms in order to advance on. I'm a pretty big fan of the game, myself. I like later entries in the franchise as well, but I think the first was the best in the series, and it also happens to be my favorite of the bunch as well.

Release Date: 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Hudson
Developer: Hudson
Genre: Platformer

When I was a kid with an NES, I recall seeing Bonk's Adventure and immediately asking my parents for a TurboGrafx-16. I never got one until years later when I found one in a thrift store, but my neighbors got one, and through them, I got to enjoy this charming game of a caveman headbutting things and eating lots of meat. Bonk is probably the manliest video game character ever now that I think of it. Anyway, this platformer might be a little slow-paced for some, but I still enjoy it today and remember back fondly on my childhood memories of it.

Release Date: 1989 (NA)
Publisher: Technos
Developer: Technos
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

A lot of arcade-playing wrestling fans fondly remember WWF Wrestlefest, but not many seem to remember the game that laid the groundwork for that classic - WWF Superstars. Taking a tag team to the gold is the goal here, and the final challenges before getting gold around your waist are the Mega Bucks; Ted DiBiase and Andre the Giant. Andre is near invincible and DiBiase is a wrestling machine...Making this one of the most difficult boss fights I've played in any game...I literally spent about an hour and a half of continuing before finally outsmarting the duo by getting Andre counted out. But anyway, the wrestling action here is very solid and fun to play. Some difficulty issues with the unforgiving computer (mostly only against the Bucks) may make some folks shy away after playing a few matches, though. WWF Wrestlefest tweaks everything found here and improves upon it, but Superstars ain't no slouch, either.

Release Date: April 25, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Technos
Developer: Million
Genre: Action - Brawler

River City Ransom is a different kind of brawler for its time - it's one with RPG elements. Basically, as you beat up gang members, they drop money. With that money, you can go buy stuff that increase your power, health, etc. To further add RPG elements, River City Ransom isn't a linear game - you can wander around and explore any area at your leisure. These elements help River City Ransom stand out in the 8-bit brawler genre...Well, those elements and the amusing things enemies say when you beat them. BARF!

Release Date: December 9, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Pony Canyon
Developer: Nichibutsu
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

A few months before World Championship Wrestling released here in North America on the NES, Super Star Pro Wrestling released in Japan on the Famicom. It's the same game, but with different wrestlers, aside from the Road Warriors - they're in both games. Basically, you pick the wrestler you want, then select the moves that you want to perform, and then beat the snot out of your opponent with said moves. Play through the game and eventually, you'll get in a surprise final battle with Andre the Giant, so that's pretty neat. Plus, as a fan of Japanese wrestling, being able to have Genichiro Tenryu face Abdullah the Butcher in 8-bits is pretty nifty as well.

Release Date: May 12, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Ultra
Developer: Konami
Genre: Action

I've heard a lot of people say that this game is hard. Maybe it's because this was the first game I owned for the NES (aside from the Mario/Duck Hunt/Track Meet cart), and thus, have plenty of time put into it, but I have very little trouble getting through this game. The underwater dam area that everyone complains about is actually my favorite part of the game. I actually enjoy making my way through the electrified plant life and disarming the bombs. Then again, I am a bit of an odd duck. But anyway, the other NES TMNT games are better overall games, but this one ain't too shabby, either. Give it a try if you're a fan of them turtle mutants.

Release Date: October 27, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Culture Brain
Developer: Culture Brain
Genre: Sports - Baseball

Baseball Simulator 1.000 isn't exactly the best name choice for a game that allows players to play in an outer-space stadium, but the name aside, Baseball Simulator 1.000 is a solid baseball game. It plays smoothly and has plenty of teams, stadiums, and game modes to keep most baseball fans occupied for quite a while. While there are some better options for baseball games on the NES, Baseball Simulator 1.000 can still hold its own as a solid ball game that most fans of the sport will enjoy.

Release Date: 1989 (NA)
Publisher: Atari
Developer: Atari
Genre: Action

Road Runner was one of the games released while Atari made the attempt to resurrect the 2600 from the dead in the late 80's...And quite frankly, if Atari had put out games of this quality prior to the game crash in '83, there may have never been a crash at all. In this game, you try to avoid Wile E. Coyote while picking up bird seed and trying to get the ol' coyote run over by trucks driving by to boost your score. Along the way, there are traps and obstacles in your path, too. It's a very simple game, but a game that always had me coming back for more.

Release Date: September 29, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Kemco
Developer: ICOM Simulations
Genre: Adventure - Horror

If you know what you're doing in Uninvited, this game can be very short...Like 30 minutes short. If you don't know what you're doing, however, it can take hours (and mny, many deaths) before you see the credits roll. My main complaint in the game is that you can learn multiple spells to use in the game, but the majority aren't needed at all during the playthrough, leaving me scratching my head why they're there. That said, this is a fun game to pull out during the Halloween season even if you don't have any intent in playing through to the end - you'll likely find enjoyment in trying to make the character die in various ways, as each death has its own little scene.

Release Date: 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

Wrestle War is a very cinematic wrestling game for the arcade. The camera angles consistently change, giving it the game a unique feel. The graphics are also very nice for a game for its time. The only real issue I have with the game is the button mashing...Mashing buttons to hit a move can be fun, but not when it’s every single time...and definitely not when the mashing becomes more and more imperative the further on in the game that you are. That said, even with those faults, Wrestle War is still fun enough of a game where even if that quarter you popped in only lasts for one or two matches, you won’t feel so bad about the experience...But there are better arcade wrestling games out there that give you more bang for your buck.

Release Date: February 1989 (NA)
Publisher: Ultra Games
Developer: Konami
Genre: Puzzle - Action

Q*Bert should really have its mouth or snout or whatever it is washed out with soap from all of the cussing that it does. What is Q*Bert anyway? Maybe orange bagpipes with eyes and legs? I dunno, but Q*Bert was huge in arcades, and was one of the household names in video games along with Pac-Man for a brief period of time until a certain Italian plumber hopped along and stole everyone's hearts. Q*Bert hopped too, though, and this unique action-based puzzle game where you change the colors of platforms while also avoiding enemies was still fun when the NES version came out, even though it came out after Q*Bert's arcade popularity had already fizzled out years later.

Release Date: April 21, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: Platformer

Super Mario Land is kind of hard for me to rate. On one hand, I love the level designs and the fact that some levels transform into scrolling shooters, with Mario behind the wheel of a vehicle of some sort. What I don't love is how awkwardly Mario moves. After you get used to the weird physics, it's not terrible to deal with, but Super Mario Bros.-like physics would have made this game so much better than what it is. It's still a decent game, but nowhere near the quality of its console big brothers.

Release Date: 1989 (EU)
Publisher: Absolute Entertainment
Developer: Imagineering Inc
Genre: Adventure

A Boy and His Blob was never a mega-hit game, but over the years it has really developed into a cult classic. I absolutely hated this game when I played it as a kid, but as an adult, I've learned to really appreciate the simplicity and unique gameplay of the game. I still don't think it's an overly great game by any stretch, but it's passable and enjoyable enough to be a game to pass the time on a weekend where you just want to relax.

Release Date: June 15, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Technosoft
Genre: Shooter - 3rd Person

Thunder Force II is a very good side-scrolling shooter held back by top-down, free-roaming levels that are very unpolished. Had Thunder Force II been exclusively the side-scrolling levels, you would have found it placed higher on this list...But as it is, the game as a whole is a decent experience...Heck, even the top-down, free-roaming levels are moderately fun, flaws and all. I'd recommend playing its sequels over this one, however.

Release Date: November 17, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Taito
Developer: AI
Genre: Action

Wrath of the Black Manta has some nice cutscenes, which were a novelty back in the NES days, and some nice gameplay ideas, like interrogating enemies and learning skills...But it just doesn't feel like a good game when you first sit down and play it. The controls aren't as tight as one would desire, and the movements and animations just seem awkward...But like I said, there are some interesting ideas to be found here that help offset the awkward gameplay movements. If you can look past its flaws, you'll find a pretty solid game here. It's not as action-packed as Ninja Gaiden or Shadow of the Ninja, but I think that's to this game's benfit, as it makes it stand out. If you're looking for a slightly slower-paced ninja game with some interesting and unique (for the time, anyway) elements to it, Wrath of the Black Manta may be looking into.

Release Date: December 19, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Coconuts Japan
Developer: Marionette
Genre: Sports - Softball

I Love Softball: The Japanese Famicom game that prominently features the rear-end of a Japanese woman in short shorts on the cover. It makes you wonder if Marionette really loved softball or if they just loved the outfits that Japanese women apparently wear when playing the sport. But anyway, I Love Softball is your standard baseball game - nothing more, nothing less. The only things that make it stand out is that this is an all-female sports game and the anus-focused cover I mentioned at the beginning of this paragraph.

Release Date: November 3, 1989 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Discovery Software
Genre: Action

The best way to describe Zoom! is a 3D variation of Qix. Your goal in Zoom! is to zoom around the graph paper-like levels and make sure to cross every line along the way. When all lines in the level have been traversed, you're ready to advance on. Unfortunately, the 3D kind of hinders it, as the screen never moves, so as you move to the back of a level, you become tiny and so do your enemies and the lines you're supposed to be crossing...It makes things very hard to see, which can lead to frustration as you struggle to find out where the final line you're missing is located at. While it's not a must-play title on the Genesis, it's original enough of a game that it's still worth tackling if you're looking for something new.

Release Date: September 1989 (NA)
Publisher: GameTek
Developer: Rare
Genre: Trivia

Hollywood Squares succeeds in bringing very poor jokes, like the ones that you'd see on the real show, to your NES console. Where it fails is the "Hollywood" aspect...Would it really be that hard to license the likeness of a few B-list celebrities? It's rare that an A-lister appears on Hollywood Squares anyway, so I don't imagine that it would have cost GameTek much dinero to have, say Henry Winkler, in a square. That said, the game is still decent and pretty enjoyable when playing with a friend. It's not great, but it's good enough for what it is.

Release Date: June 20, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Shooter - Third-Person

1943 took the initially fun gameplay of 1942 and added some much-needed variety to it to create what I feel that 1942 should have and could have been. Battle of Midway is simple, classic, top-down, third-person, scrolling shooter fun that isn't quite at its best, but it's still very very good. If you love scrolling shooters, 1942 may have more historical significance, but 1943 is the better game in the series...At least as far as their NES incarnations are concerned.

Release Date: September 1989 (NA)
Publisher: SunSoft
Developer: SunSoft
Genre: Adventure

Fester's Quest is basically an Addams Family take on the Legend of Zelda formula with guns and aliens in the place of swords and whatever you'd classify Zelda enemies as...Anyway, while the game isn't horrible, there are plenty of flaws to overcome. The controls aren't the best and the difficulty is a bit high because of it. Two hits and you're dead. You can continue but you'll start all the way at the beginning, meaning that you'll have to travel all the way back to where you were in order to continue on. It's an annoyance that doesn't seem necessary. Sure, it lets you continue with all of your items, making getting back a little easier, but it's still a major pain...especially when lining up an enemy for an attack isn't always the easiest thing to do. But overall, Fester's Quest is passable and a little better than a lot of people give it credit for.

Release Date: April 20, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: KOEI
Developer: KOEI
Genre: Strategy

In Genghis Khan, the goal is simple - world domination. In this turn-based strategy game, you take the role of the great Khan and manage your territories, armies, and even your wives, among a plethora of other things. Send spies to other countries, wage war on them, negotiate peace....It can all be done here. The downside to the game is that it's not the most aesthetically-pleasing experience, even for back in 1989. But if you don't need a lot of imagery to enjoy a video game, Genghis Khan provides a solid strategy experience.

Release Date: July 14, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Kemco
Developer: Kemco
Genre: RPG

Ghost Lion, or Legend of Ghost Lion according to the title screen, is one of those rare games where as a reviewer, I feel it deserves a rather harsh score, but as a player, I enjoy playing the game anyway. Ghost Lion is basically a game to introduce newcomers to RPGs. The main issue with the game (among several others) is that the random battles are absolutely worthless. After only a few battles, you'll have more money than you'll use for the majority of the game...And you don't gain any experience points. You level up by exploring areas and finding items that will level you up...And the exploration is hindered by the random battles. There is some nice, original ideas to be found here, though, so if you're an RPG fan, it may be worth dealing with the issues to experience them.

Release Date: April 1989 (NA)
Publisher: Taxan
Developer: Carry Lab.
Genre: Adventure

When I was a kid, I could not figure this game out for the life of me - I'd enter a castle but would never be able to advance on from there. Since then, I've beaten the game and came to realize that the game just has some platforming that is so precise that if you don't sit there and try to make a jump repeatedly until you get it, you may think that you need to go find an item to make you jump higher or farther before you can make the jump that you're attempting. Once you catch on to that, however, making your way through the game isn't nearly as frustrating...well, aside from the fact that you'll have to attempt the jumps repeatedly. This is a passable game, but some of its design flaws bog the experience down enough where I don't imagine too many folks would put this on their favorite games of all-time list.

Release Date: July 25, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Tonkin House
Developer: Aisystem Tokyo
Genre: Sports - Bowling

Nothing in life is perfect...Especially not this game that claims to be. Perfect Bowling was a Japan-exclusive title that's just simply passable. Perfect Bowling was on the right track with their gameplay, using meters and timed button presses like modern bowling games do, but it's a far less polished. That said, it's still mildly fun to play both against the computer and with a friend. Like I said, it's passable...Just don't expect anything beyond that if you give this game a whirl.

Release Date: 1989 (NA)
Publisher: Horrorsoft
Developer: Horrorsoft
Genre: Adventure - Point-and-Click - Horror

Personal Nightmare is a mix of point-and-click adventure and horror that reminds me a bit of Chiller on the NES in terms of amusing death sequences and such...But, like many point-and-click adventure games, despite the amusement, you'll probably need a guide to make your way through it with seemingly nonsensical things to do...Mind you, they all make sense in the long run, but during your initial playthrough, you'll have no idea why you'd need secateurs...And then later find out that you've gotta cut the fingers off of a corpse to get a book. I also like some of the demented aspects in the game, like finding the diary of a child, and upon opening it, you discover that the kid covered his parents in petrol when they were sleeping and lit them ablaze. The ending is kinda corny, and there's not enough horror here to live up to the fact that it considers itself to be a horror game...But, if you're into point-and-click adventures, Personal Nightmare might be worth looking into.

Release Date: 1989 (NA)
Publisher: Data East
Developer: Data East
Genre: Fighting

Hippodrome is a gladiator-like fighting game that pits the gladiator (who does an extremely comical victory cry) against various mythological creatures in a battle to the death. I really enjoy the concept, but like most pre-Street Fighter II fighting games, the combat is clunky and awkward. But, if you can get past that lack of smooth controls, you'll find an interesting little fighter with a Mega Man-like opponent selection screen that opens up more as you win your battles...And hear more of those awesome victory cries.

Release Date: December 15, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Milton Bradley
Developer: ITL
Genre: Shooter - Third-Person

Abadox is a decent scrolling shooter, but not a great one by any means. It looks kind of bland, but plays decent enough to make up for it...Except for the difficulty, which is generally easy...But should you die in a level, even if against the boss at the end, when you start your next life, you're forced to start at the very beginning of said level...Which can be frustrating when all it takes is a single stray bullet that you didn't see to send you back to square one. But, I've played shooters much, much worse than Abadox...The problem is I've also played plenty that are way better.

Release Date: January 31, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Data East
Developer: Data East
Genre: Racing

Al Unser Jr. Turbo Racing isn't a horrible game if you're a big fan of racing games and want less of an arcade-y feel to the games you play. Turbo Racing is one of the better indy car-style racing games from the 8-bit era, but it's just not very fun when you compare it to other, more out-there racing titles like R.C. Pro-Am and Micro Machines. Still, despite the inclusions of turbos, this is one of the more realistic racing experiences that you'll find on the NES.

Release Date: December 1989 (NA)
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Bulletproof Software
Genre: Strategy

A lot of folks love Archon...I think it's decent, but nothing great. Archon is basically a game of chess with battles determining if, say, your goblin is going to take your opponent's unicorn. If the battles were done well, then I think this game would be much, much better than what it is...But, quite frankly, the battles are horrible. If you're playing against a friend, it's not as bad since you'll be sharing the horribleness (is that a word?) of the battle system together. In the end, Archon is a novel idea, but the battle system just plain doesn't work well. It does the job enough to make Archon a passable game, but I dare to say that it could have been so much more than that.

Release Date: October 18, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Hal Laboratories
Developer: Hal Laboratories
Genre: Pinball

Revenge of the Gator is a solid, albeit bland, pinball game. The game plays decent, but there's not a whole heckuva lot of meat to this game. But still, I'd like to think that this game helped lay some of the ground work for Hal Labs' fantastic Kirby's Pinball Land that came out years later. If there was some more variety here, I'd bring the score up a bit, but for what it is, it's not too bad.

Release Date: February 1989 (NA)
Publisher: LJN
Developer: Pack-In-Video
Genre: Action - Horror

This game isn't quite as bad as its reputation makes it out to be. It's not a great game, mind you, but it's one of those games where the more you play it, the more you grow to appreciate it. The particular aspect of the game that I enjoy is how you feel like you're growing stronger as the game goes on. The first time you battle Jason, you barely do any damage and may not even survive the encounter. The more you play, you'll learn his attack patterns and obtain more powerful weapons that help you take larger chunks of his life away or a nifty sweater that reduces the damage that the dude in the hockey mask can give to you. Discovering all of this does require patience, however, but when you've worked your way through to the end of the game, it feels like an accomplishment you should pat yourself on the back over.

Release Date: July 14, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Data East
Developer: Data East
Genre: Action - Brawler

I feel like a comma should be inserted between the words of the title of this game because it's Bad, Dudes. With poor collision detection, choppy graphics and movements, and just overall poor gameplay, I really should be scoring this lower than I did. The redeeming quality of Bad Dudes is that it's almost like a B-movie - so bad that it's good. The corny and downright bad aspects of the game can sometimes be charming and enhance the experience as a result. Is Bad Dudes the best game ever made? Not even close...but its charm does make it a passable experience for anyone looking for a good brawler to play.

Release Date: July 1989 (NA)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Action

Strider in the arcade or on the Genesis is fantastic. Strider on the NES is merely passable. The controls here, while not terrible, could be tighter...and should be considering the fact that you need to do some fancy footwork with jumps and the like. Everything else about the game is pretty good, but when controls aren't quite as tight as they should be, it can bog the whole game down. If you want to play some Strider, I'd go with a Strider game on just about any other console before this one.

Release Date: March 31, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Taito
Developer: Taito
Genre: Shooter - First-Person

Operation Wolf is a game that a lot of folks seem to have fond memories of, yeat I never really understood the appeal. Without a light gun, the action is not very good at all. With a light gun, it's really not much better. The only real reason to play this game, in my opinion, is the awesome cutscene (well, single screen) that appears when you die. It's corny and wonderful...It makes me wish that the whole game was as well.

Release Date: September 23, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Coconuts Japan
Developer: Color Dreams
Genre: Casino

American Dream is about an egg (I think) going to casinos and gambling away his money at slot machines...Apparently, the Japanese believed that the American dream was getting addicted to gambling and trading in your first-born for a few more chips. But anyway, if you're here just for the slots, the game has you covered. If you'd like a story to go along with it, the main game is like an RPG, as you wander around an overworld map and enter casinos, gambling away. As far as casino-style games go, this is one of my favorites...But that said, I still find video game slot machines to be the most pointless and boring game genre available...However, with the RPG-like wandering and such, it added some much-needed substance to the slot genre, which usually has absolutely none.

Release Date: 1989 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Sports - Football

Walter Payton Football is probably the biggest failure in Walter Payton's career. I'm not a football guy, but I know of Walter Payton and his success. This game does not do the man's name justice. It looks pretty. It's got some nifty menus...But that's about it. In the end, I was just disappointed in this game. Shame on you Sega. Apologize to Mr. Payton.