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Added by ape on 24 Oct 2012 04:15
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Games of 1991 - ranked by preference

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Release Date: March 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Fighting

The fighting genre was around before Street Fighter II was released...But Street Fighter II opened everyone's eyes that fighting games could actually be fun when done right. And the World Warrior was definitely done right - it's still just as fun to play today as it was back in 1991. The controls are still silky smooth and the graphics and music are still pretty nice to look at, too. It's a game that's easy to pick up and play, but it takes time to master, making it perfect for newcomers and veterans alike. To this day, Street Fighter II can hold its own against any other fighting game you throw at it, which is a testament to just how well this game was made.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 9 Average listal rating (6 ratings) 8.2 IMDB Rating 0
WWF Wrestlefest - Arcade
Release Date: 1991 (NA)
Publisher: Technos
Developer: Technos
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

If you're a wrestling fan and you've never played WWF Wrestlefest, you need to go out of your way and find a cabinet. In 1991, this game was so incredibly deep for a wrestling title. There are reversals, finishing moves, double-team moves...And the controls are so simple and easy to pick-up-and-play that anyone can do the above mentioned features with little effort. The game has the tag team mode returning from WWF Superstars, but the real charm to this game is the Royal Rumble mode, which allows multiple players to participate in the popular timed battle royal. There was a recent re-make of Wrestlefest with the current WWE roster on smartphones, which is good, but it's nowhere near the quality of this gem - one of the best wrestling games ever made.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 222 Average listal rating (138 ratings) 7.5 IMDB Rating 0
Super Castlevania IV - Super famicom and SNES
Release Date: October 31, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: Action

Super Castlevania IV is a beautiful game, especially for one that came out so early in the SNES life cycle. It also has some very nice and interesting level design to go along with the pretty graphics. Top it all off with some of the most solid gameplay in the series and fancier usage of the infamous whip, and you've got an extremely solid entry in this long-running franchise. If you're spoiled by the Symphony of the Night formula, you may not appreciate this game quite as much, but if you love action games, Super Castlevania IV is one of the absolute best that you'll find on the SNES.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 243 Average listal rating (133 ratings) 8 IMDB Rating 0
Final Fantasy II (IV) - Super famicom and SNES
Release Date: October 29, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Squaresoft
Developer: Squaresoft
Genre: RPG

Final Fantasy II in North America was actually Final Fantasy IV over in Japan. This fourth entry in the Final Fantasy series is really the first one to deliver a captivating story to go along with the enjoyable gameplay. Watching Cecil's character develop as the story progresses is a fine example of excellent storytelling in video games. If you can't hunt down a copy for the Super NES, Square Enix has pimped this game out on a ton of platforms, so experiencing the story of this game shouldn't be too difficult if you make the effort. The effort will be well worth it.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 51 Average listal rating (35 ratings) 8.1 IMDB Rating 0
Tecmo Super Bowl - Famicom and NES
Release Date: December 13, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Tecmo
Developer: Tecmo
Genre: Sports - Football

Tecmo Bowl was absolutely awesome when it came out, but it lacked official NFL teams...Then Tecmo Super Bowl came out and changed that...And improved on the already great Tecmo Bowl in the process. With the NFL license, and several new modes, Tecmo Super Bowl created what I still consider to be the perfect football game. It may be an 8-bit game with 2D graphics, but I still haven't played a 3D football game that has given me as much enjoyment when I played as Tecmo Super Bowl has...And I say that as someone who really doesn't care about the sport as a whole.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 499 Average listal rating (629 ratings) 7.5 IMDB Rating 0
Sonic the Hedgehog - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: June 23, 1991 (NA+EU)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sonic Team
Genre: Platformer

Sonic the Hedgehog was Sega's second attempt to compete with Mario (the first being Alex Kidd back on the Master System) and while the blue hedgehog gained an extremely large following which resulted in "What games are better: Mario or Sonic?" debates in schools around the world, Sonic came very, very close, but was unable to surpass the pudgy plumber in overall popularity. Anyway, Sonic was a major part in the Genesis being Sega's most successful console and also let Nintendo know that they had some serious competition in the market for the first time since the original NES hit store shelves. The game itself is fun as well. The sense of speed as you sprint through the levels mixed with some solid gameplay and level design all added up to equate to a great system seller and a must-play title on the Genesis.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 7 Average listal rating (3 ratings) 7.7 IMDB Rating 0
Dragon's Fury - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: October 10, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Tengen
Developer: Technosoft
Genre: Pinball

Dragon's Fury is Devil's Crush from the Turbografx-16, but with some improved graphics and very mild changes to the table. Since I consider Devil's Crush to be the best video game pinball game that I've personally ever played, it's nice to see that game with updated graphics on a system that was much more successful than the TG16 was. Anyway, if you're looking for a solid pinball game on your Genesis, look no further.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 5 Average listal rating (3 ratings) 7.7 IMDB Rating 0
Eliminator Boat Duel - Famicom and NES
Release Date: November 1991 (NA)
Publisher: Electro Brain
Developer: Sculptured Software
Genre: Racing

Eliminator Boat Duel doesn't seem to get mentioned much when listing off some of the best NES games. I think that's a shame because this is one of the best racing games of the 8-bit era, in my opinion. Mixing the top-down racing style of Micro Machines with upgrading your boats between racing like in RC Pro-Am, and a few of their own, unique game aspects tossed in, Eliminator Boat Duel is just tremendous. If you haven't played it, go get a copy and give it a try. If you're a fan of racing games, I bet you'll have a blast here.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 44 Average listal rating (27 ratings) 7.6 IMDB Rating 0
Shining in the Darkness - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: March 28, 1991 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Climax Entertainment
Genre: RPG

The first game in the Shining series may not be as adored as the Shining Force games, but it's still a very solid game in its own right. Unlike the Shining Force games, which are known for their strategic combat, Shining in the Darkness is a traditional, first-person dungeon crawler with traditional, turn-based combat. It also has quite a bit of personality to it. Add all those pieces together and you've got a very good debut for the Shining series and a game well worth plating for RPG fans.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 4 Average listal rating (2 ratings) 8 IMDB Rating 0
Egypt - Famicom and NES
Release Date: May 31, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Human Entertainment
Developer: Human Entertainment
Genre: Puzzle

I first discovered Egypt a few years back when rummaging through some old Famicom games to make videos for. I didn't expect much when I popped it in, but I got a solid puzzle game that I'm surprised that nobody tried to port overseas. In Egypt, your goal is to move tiles around the room and match up two of the same image. Once everything has been matched, you go onto the next round. It's a fun, simple brain teaser of a game that will likely have you coming back for more. It sure did with me.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 4 Average listal rating (4 ratings) 8.5 IMDB Rating 0
Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu - TurboGrafx-16 and PC Engine
Release Date: January 18, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Hudson
Developer: Now Production
Genre: Platformer

I've spent much more time with the NES version of Jackie Chan's Action Kung-Fu, but that doesn't mean I enjoy the original any less. The TurboGrafx version is 16-bits, which obviously makes it look better than the 8-bit NES version, but it plays just as nice...Which is a good thing since I consider Jackie Chan's Action Kung-Fu to be one of my favorite platformers on the NES. Needless to say, it's up there on the TurboGrafx-16 as well.
ape's rating:
Release Date: December 13, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: Action - Brawler

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project is a very long name...But long name aside, this is more of the same in regards to TMNT 2: The Arcade Game. It's a side-scrolling brawler with new enemies to battle, new environments to traverse, mildly improved gameplay and graphics, and just an overall enjoyable time whether you're playing solo or with a friend. If you weren't a big fan of the Arcade Game, then you'll probably not enjoy this game, either...But, on the flip side, if you liked the Arcade Game, then you'll find plenty to love here. In my opinion, it's one of the better brawlers on the NES.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 163 Average listal rating (99 ratings) 7.2 IMDB Rating 0
Mega Man 4 - Famicom and NES
Release Date: December 6, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Platformer

Mega Man 4 was not a bad game, but it was the beginning of the decline in the Mega Man franchise. With Mega Man 2 being awesome, and 3 being just as awesome and with new gameplay features, Mega Man 4 had a lot to live up to. Unfortunately, it ultimately fell short. It's still a very solid game and it's still very fun...But it's not on the same level as the previous two Mega Man games in the series.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 7 Average listal rating (6 ratings) 7.8 IMDB Rating 0
Air Buster - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: January 31, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Kaneko
Developer: Inter State
Genre: Shooter - Third-Person

Air Buster would just be a so-so scrolling shooter if it wasn't for how it changes up its levels...Aside from the typical side-scrolling levels, there's also high-speed levels as well as zero gravity levels, which prevent the title from feeling too repetitious. So, if you're into scrolling shooters and like a little variety in how the levels play, Air Buster is well worth tracking down.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 20 Average listal rating (14 ratings) 7.9 IMDB Rating 0
Shatterhand - Famicom and NES
Release Date: October 26, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Jaleco
Developer: Natsume
Genre: Action

Shatterhand is a neat little action game developed by Natsume where your main weapons are your fists, and you use them to traverse multiple side-scrolling levels and fight multiple boss battles. Despite it not being a well-known game, it's surprisingly good. I'm a little puzzled as to why it's not more widely loved. It's not a perfect game, but Shatterhand is still a solid edition to anyone's NES library and a lesser-known title that I'd definitely recommend to anyone looking for an enjoyable, obscure title for their beloved 8-bit console.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 10 Average listal rating (6 ratings) 6.3 IMDB Rating 0
Rolling Thunder 2 - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: November 18, 1991 (NA)
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Namco
Genre: Shooter - 3rd Person

Rolling Thunder 2 is a pretty enjoyable shooter. You basically walk through each level, shooting various enemies along the way, switching between balconies and solid ground...and it's rather fun as you do so, if I do say so myself. Why Namco never attempted to resurrect this series for modern consoles is beyond me - I imagine that this formula, if done right, would be quite a hit today. It's well worth playing if you're able to find a copy.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 3 Average listal rating (1 ratings) 8 IMDB Rating 0
John Madden Football - Super famicom and SNES
Release Date: November 1991 (NA)
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Park Place Productions
Genre: Sports - Football

The first John Madden Football is pretty solid. I don't feel that it is quite as good as classics like Tecmo Bowl, but it's still solid. Legend has it that Madden wanted a more "realistic" interpretation of the sport with the correct number of players on the field at all times, as opposed to EA's other football game, Joe Montana Football, which was short a few folks. People liked it, and the end result was a phenomenon that ruled sports games for 25 years.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 18 Average listal rating (7 ratings) 8.1 IMDB Rating 0
Wonder Boy in Monster World - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: October 25, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: West One
Genre: Adventure

Known in Japan as Wonder Boy V: Monster World III (confusing, I know) after Wonder Boy's other Genesis outing, Monster Lair, this returns the series to the Monster World formula of less platforming, more adventure. The result is another very good action-adventure game in the Wonder Boy/Monster World series, but maybe not the best overall in either franchise.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 3 Average listal rating (2 ratings) 7.5 IMDB Rating 0
Armadillo - Famicom and NES
Release Date: August 9, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: IGS
Developer: AIM
Genre: Platformer

Armadillo is a fun platformer that never made its way stateside...Though it's my understanding that it was originally supposed to, but it got cancelled. It's a shame that was the case, as this was actually a pretty fun game and if it was marketed correctly, I think it could have been big here in North America. But anyway, if you've already seen the best platformers that the NES has to offer as far as North American releases go, you might want to try importing Armadillo. I bet you'll be glad you did.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 75 Average listal rating (51 ratings) 7.1 IMDB Rating 0
Golden Axe II - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: December 26, 1991 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Action - Brawler

Golden Axe II is basically the exact same game, but with a few minor tweaks to improve on the original formula. While that sounds like I'm knocking it, I'm not. The original Golden Axe was a blast, so some gameplay tweaks to make it better and graphical tweaks to make it prettier are very much welcome. Unfortunately, this is mostly the same cast of characters as before as well...enemies and playable characters. There are a few exceptions, of course, but a tad more new content would have been welcome. But, for what it is, Golden Axe II is still a pretty fantastic brawler if you're into the genre.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 57 Average listal rating (32 ratings) 7 IMDB Rating 0
Adventure Island II - Famicom and NES
Release Date: February 1991 (NA)
Publisher: Hudson Soft
Developer: Now Production
Genre: Platformer

Adventure Island II improves on the original by adding much more variety as well as including some dinosaurs for the player to ride and use as effective weapons. When I was a kid, this was the game that made me fall in love with this series...Now that I'm older, I'm not quite as in love with Adventure Island II as I was as a young'un, but it's still a very good game and well worth playing if you're into platformers.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 3 Average listal rating (2 ratings) 8 IMDB Rating 0
John Madden Football '92 - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: 1991 (NA)
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Park Place Productions
Genre: Sports - Football

John Madden Football '92 does everything good that the original John Madden Football did, and moderately improves upon it. The AI, in particular, has been improved, so you can't just go to the same plays over and over again unless you feel like having the computer catching on to your patterns and making you pay for your repetition. While this isn't an extreme improvement upon the original, the second Madden game still does enough to make it worthwhile to play.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 32 Average listal rating (24 ratings) 7.8 IMDB Rating 0
OutRun - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: August 9, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sanritsu
Genre: Racing

While it's not quite the same as playing in the arcade (mainly due to the lack of a steering wheel), the Genesis home version of OutRun is pretty dang close. Genesis owners, who also love OutRun in the arcade, can rejoyce in being able to play a very competent port in their living rooms. Those who haven't played it in the arcade were still met with an enjoyable racing experience...even if your only intention was to hit a turn as fast as possible to hurl the driver and passenger from their car.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 21 Average listal rating (10 ratings) 7.3 IMDB Rating 0
Ms. Pac-Man - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: 1991 (NA)
Publisher: Tengen
Developer: Innerprise Software
Genre: Action

Ms. Pac-Man is a puzzling release...It's not puzzling that it was released, as Ms. Pac-Man is one of the greatest games ever made...It's puzzling that it wasn't released until late in the SNES lifespan and after the next gen systems had already hit store shelves. That said, this is still the Ms. Pac-Man we all know and love, plus an option at the start of the game to make things easier or more difficult depending on your preferences. It's nothing new or special, but it doesn't have to be - it's Ms. Pac-Man, it's good.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 8 Average listal rating (4 ratings) 7.8 IMDB Rating 0
NHL Hockey - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: 1991 (NA)
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Park Place Productions
Genre: Sports - Hockey

This is where my favorite sports franchise began. Since NHLPA Hockey '93 gets all the headlines for all of its improvements, a lot of folks either forget or don't know how good the original game was. Sure, the sequel improved on everything, but the base that NHL Hockey formed to help make NHLPA Hockey '93 as great as it was can be found here. It's just a shame that NHL Hockey will seem to forever live in the shadow of the game that came after it.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 5 Average listal rating (2 ratings) 8 IMDB Rating 0
NBA Pro Basketball: Bulls vs Lakers - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: 1991 (EU)
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Electronic Arts
Genre: Sports - Basketball

Bulls vs. Lakers and the NBA Playoffs is the second NBA game from Electronic Arts, and it improves quite a bit over its predecessor. The improvement that is immediately noticable is that the "black shoes" signifying which player that you control has been replaced by the colored star that other EA Sports games are known for. It seems like a minor improvement, but it makes it near impossible to lose your player in a crowd, which is nice. There are other tweaks and such to improve on the gameplay as well, showing once again, that EA was establishing itself as the publisher of choice for many sports fans.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 57 Average listal rating (34 ratings) 7.2 IMDB Rating 0
Sonic the Hedgehog - Sega Master System
Release Date: October 25, 1991 (NA/EU)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Platformer

Sonic the Hedgehog on the Genesis is awesome. Sonic the Hedgheog on the Master System is good, but it's not quite awesome. While the level design and platforming are all fine and all, one thing is missing from the Master System Sonic the Hedgehog that the Genesis games have - a sense of speed. The animations make it look like Sonic is traveling fast, but the speed in which the levels move says otherwise...And the game loses something in the process. It's still a solid game and well worth playing for fans of Sonic and/or platformers...But don't expect to get any sense of speed out of the gameplay.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 3 Average listal rating (1 ratings) 7 IMDB Rating 0
Space Shuttle Project - Famicom and NES
Release Date: November 1991 (NA)
Publisher: Absolute Entertainment
Developer: Imagineering Inc.
Genre: Action

Space Shuttle Project is kind of unique...It's basically just a series on mini-games to simulate launching a space shuttle and eventually repairing a space station. It sounds a little hokey, but it's actually pretty fun, with each mini game having a different mechanic to it to prevent things from getting too repetitive. A few irritating controls in a few of the mini games prevent me from giving it a better score, but Space Shuttle Project is still a solid game and worth checking out if you come across a copy.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 32 Average listal rating (21 ratings) 6.8 IMDB Rating 0
Joe & Mac - Super famicom and SNES
Release Date: December 6, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Data East
Developer: Data East
Genre: Platformer

Joe & Mac is a decent platformer set in prehistoric times that looks pretty nice, plays pretty good, and is a fun way to kill a few minutes when you need to. If you're into platformers, and are looking for something new, Joe & Mac may be right up your alley. It's not the best platformer on the system by far, but it's solid enough to provide you with a decent experience.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 4 Average listal rating (2 ratings) 7 IMDB Rating 0
Super Fire Pro Wrestling - Super famicom and SNES
Release Date: December 20, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Human Entertainment
Developer: Human Club
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

Super Fire Pro Wrestling is the first of the Fire Pro games on the Super NES, and it's an okay entry in the best wrestling game franchise of all time. It lacks a lot of the polish that later games in the series would have, but when compared to other wrestling games of the time...Like the SNES version of Super Wrestlemania...It's much more enjoyable than just about any other wrestling game that was available on the SNES around that time. It's not without its flaws, but wrestling fans (especially those familiar with puroresu of this time period) will likely be able to look past them to enjoy the wrestling experience found here. Besides, I don't think any other game back then would allow you to have a match between Bad News Brown and Jushin Liger....That's gotta count for something, right?
ape's rating:
People who added this item 149 Average listal rating (118 ratings) 7.8 IMDB Rating 0
Streets of Rage - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: August 2, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Action - Brawler

I recall having arguments with a friend and co-worker back in college over what brawler was better - Streets of Rage or Final Fight. He insisted Streets of Rage, while I stuck with Final Fight. Since then, I've come to appreciate Sega's brawler a bit more. Granted, I still prefer the Arcade version of Final Fight to Streets of Rage, but the gap has closed considerably. That said, I'm probably in the minority with that opinion - I think the general gaming public prefers Streets of Rage. This was one of Sega's most beloved franchises during the days of the Genesis...And one that I think would be really neat to be revived in a style similar to Rockstar's The Warriors on Xbox and Playstation 2. But, if a revival never happens, the 16-bit brawlers are more than enough to put a smile on the face of any fan of the genre.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 2 Average listal rating (2 ratings) 6 IMDB Rating 0
Wrestle War - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: June 28, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

Well, color me surprised. I've played the Genesis version of Wrestle War a few times over the past 15 years or so...And I never liked it. For some reason, however, when playing it for this list, it finally clicked. Despite some weird design choices (like roating the camera 180ยฐ at times) Wrestle War is actually a very solid wrestling title. It's a nice example that sometimes simplistic can be very good. On a side note, I absolutely love the Japanese cover art. The Japanese folk sure do know how to make generic wrestlers to avoid copyrights, but make it VERY obvious who they're supposed to be, brother.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 17 Average listal rating (11 ratings) 7.1 IMDB Rating 0
Zero Wing - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: May 31, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Toaplan
Genre: Shooter - Third Person

Known more for its poor English translation than anything else, Zero Wing is actually not a terrible shooter. While it feels WAY too easy at times, it has its moments of enjoyment...Unfortunately, it also has its moments of boring, tedious gameplay to even it out. Zero Wing wouldn't be my first pick for playing a scrolling shooter on the Genesis...but it certainly will be my first pick for watching introductions. "All your base are belong to us." came from this title, afterall.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 47 Average listal rating (31 ratings) 7.1 IMDB Rating 0
Road Rash - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: 1991 (EU)
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Eletronic Arts
Genre: Racing

The first game in the Road Rash franchise was decent, but not great. Some twitchy controls made controlling the bike a pain...but the ability to brawl with your fellow racers was just so cool for its time that you were pretty likely to stick with the game anyway, just so you could deliver a roundhouse right to the guy in 1st place to knock him off of his bike and take the lead. Other games in the Road Rash series are better, but this was still a decent rookie effort.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 6 Average listal rating (3 ratings) 6 IMDB Rating 0
HardBall! - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: 1991 (NA)
Publisher: Accolade
Developer: Ballistic
Genre: Sports - Baseball

HardBall! is a passable baseball game that is full of excitement!...That's why it has an exclamation point at the end of the game title...Actually, it's fairly boring. While it's not a bad game, so to speak, it does suffer from some awkward controls that need some getting used to. The gameplay itself isn't horrible, but it's also not really different from other, better baseball games of the time. If you want to give it a try, go for it. It's not bad. But there are definitely better baseball games on the Genesis for you to play instead.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 39 Average listal rating (18 ratings) 6.9 IMDB Rating 0
Release Date: July 26, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Platformer

Only containing 4 of the original 6 bosses, Mega Man is still a decent title, but lacks some of the fun and longevity of the NES Mega Man games. It's not bad for an early, portable Mega Man experience, and it captures much of what makes the console games fun, but it just doesn't live up to the quality of the games you can play on the big screen in your living room. It's good...But far from great.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 9 Average listal rating (3 ratings) 7 IMDB Rating 0
Growl - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: November 15, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Taito
Developer: ITL
Genre: Action - Brawler

Growl is your average brawler, except with a little more variety in terms of weaponry and a bit more forgiving as far as your health goes. In other words, it's a bit on the easy side...But that doesn't hurt the game much. The plot of the game involves you trying to take down a bunch of poachers. By saving wildlife like hawks and elephants, they'll help you out. Watching an elephant destroy a tank was rather amusing to me. The ending game me some Indigo Prophecy deja vu as it really comes from nowhere and seems unnecessary...But that aside, this is a decent brawler that you'll likely enjoy if you're a fan of the genre.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 8 Average listal rating (8 ratings) 7.8 IMDB Rating 0
Pang - Commodore 64
Release Date: 1991 (NA)
Publisher: Ocean
Developer: Ocean
Genre: Shooter - Third-Person

Pang is a unique game that involves a giant ball of goo. Your goal is to shoot it...The catch is that each time you shoot it, it splits into smaller balls...And you get touched by any of them and you're dead. So, Pang becomes a shooter with strategy, as you've got to time your shots and movements so that you're not hit by any of the hopping blobs on screen. That concept alone is kind of fun, but toss in various power-ups and weaponry to pick up along the way, and you've got quite the entertaining game. For those wondering, Hudson and Capcom later brought the Pang series to North America under the names "Buster Bros." and "Super Buster Bros." The Pang name has remained in Europe and Japan, though.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 5 Average listal rating (5 ratings) 6.2 IMDB Rating 0
Release Date: February 25, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: SNK
Developer: SNK
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

It doesn't necessarily look like it, but King of the Monsters is actually a glorified professional wrestling game with wrestlers replaced by giant monsters and the wrestling ring replaced with cities surrounded by electric barriers that act as ring ropes. The goal is to beat up your opponent(s), often with wrestling moves, and use the city to your advantage as you do. The victor is decided by covering your downed opponent for a three count. It's not a perfect game by any means, but it can be an enjoyable experience for fans of wrestling games and fans of giant monster films alike. If you're a fan of both, well then this game will likely find a place in your heart.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 91 Average listal rating (53 ratings) 6.6 IMDB Rating 0
Tiny Toon Adventures - Famicom and NES
Release Date: December 20, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: Platformer

Tiny Toon Adventures is a solid platformer with a unique gameplay element in that while you play much of the game as Buster Bunny, you can choose who you can transform into when obtaining a certain power-up - Plucky, Dizzy, or Furball, each with their own special abilities. Much of the cast from the cartoon makes appearances, which is a nice little bonus for fans of the show. The main problem I have with the game is the not-so-imaginative level design...They're kind of bland. But, they're still fun...Just not must-play fun, if you catch my drift.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 8 Average listal rating (5 ratings) 6.2 IMDB Rating 0
WWF Superstars - Game Boy
Release Date: April 1991 (NA)
Publisher: LJN
Developer: Rare
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

Maybe it's 'cause I grew up with turds like WWF King of the Ring and WWF Raw for the Game Boy, but WWF Superstars really isn't that horrible of a handheld wrestling title...Particularly for its time. The move sets are limited and all, but everything plays smoothly. The only thing really holding this game back is repetition. There are only five playable wrestlers, and each one basically has the same move set with very minor differences...And the game options aren't really varied, either...So within ten minutes of playing the game, you've pretty much experienced all it has to offer. But, it plays well and compared to other wrestling games of its time (especially in North America) it's a pretty decent title.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 28 Average listal rating (17 ratings) 6.5 IMDB Rating 0
The Little Mermaid - Famicom and NES
Release Date: July 19, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Action

Another Capcom-made Disney game, and another success. The Little Mermaid may not be as popular of a game as Duck Tales or Chip 'N Dale's Rescue Rangers, but it's still very solid. Not a platformer like the two previously mentioned games, the Little Mermaid is an action title that allows the player to swim around the stages, avoiding enemies and collecting items, and participate in boss fights at the end of each stage. It's a fun little game that may not be quite as good as some of the other Capcom-made Disney games, or as popular, but it's still a solid title and it may be a pleasant surprise for folks that give it a chance.
ape's rating:
Release Date: June 28, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: FCI
Developer: SSI
Genre: RPG

From what I hear, this version of Pool of Radiance is actually the worst when compared to the version put out on in other formats. Well, I haven't played those other formats yet (though, I may play the Commodore 64 version in the future) but worst of the bunch or not, Pool of Radiance is still a pretty enjoyable RPG. It mixes first-person exploration and dungeon crawling with third-person, turn-based battles...And it works pretty well. It's not nearly as engrossing as a Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy game, but it's a decent game to play for the hardcore RPG folks, even if the other versions of the title are apparently better.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 5 Average listal rating (3 ratings) 8.3 IMDB Rating 0
Kiwi Kraze - Famicom and NES
Release Date: March 1991 (NA)
Publisher: Taito
Developer: Software Creations
Genre: Platformer

Kiwi Kraze, better known as New Zealand Story outside of North America, is a neat little platformer where you play as a kiwi (the bird, not the fruit) and attempt to make your way to the goal in each level without dying by shooting enemies, jumping, swimming, and flying around the stages via floating platforms. It's not a mind-blowingly great experience, but if you're a fan of platformers, you'll find plenty to enjoy here.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 5 Average listal rating (2 ratings) 8.5 IMDB Rating 0
Cowboy Kid - Famicom and NES
Release Date: September 13, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Romstar
Developer: Pixel
Genre: Action

Cowboy Kid is a decent little action game that has you enter a town in the Wild West and upon getting a key to unlock the sheriff's department, you're made the new sheriff of town. It's then your job to hunt down and kill the most wanted criminals....and dozens of their henchmen along the way. The game isn't incredibly difficult and the constant killing of enemies that re-spawn gets a little tedious at times...Even the puzzles you've gotta solve are pretty basic and sometimes feel more like a bother than a welcome break from battling henchmen. But repetition aside, Cowboy Kid is a solid game if you're looking for an enjoyable, lesser-known title for your NES library.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 24 Average listal rating (20 ratings) 5.6 IMDB Rating 0
Pit-Fighter - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: 1991 (NA)
Publisher: Tengen
Developer: Sterling Silver Software
Genre: Fighting

Pit Fighter is basically street fights...but not Street Fighter-style street fights with fireballs and such, but street fights with barstools, kegs of beer, knives, etc. It's not a game that you should go out of your way to play, but if you happen to come across it, you'll find a passable fighting game that has a certain charm to it that may entice you to keep playing.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 5 Average listal rating (3 ratings) 6 IMDB Rating 0
Saint Sword - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: June 27, 1991 (NA)
Publisher: Taito
Developer: Taito
Genre: Action

Saint Sword is one of those action games that really isn't that bad...But the controls feel awful. It can be frustrating playing an action game when you've got to constantly hit and run most of the enemies you encounter. That said, Saint Sword redeems itself in level design. While not mind-blowing, the level design is good and it helps offset any frustrations that the combat may cause. With every flaw, there's something to balance it out, so as a result, you're left with a so-so game that I think some will like, but very few will love.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 3 Average listal rating (2 ratings) 7 IMDB Rating 0
Golf Grand Slam - Famicom and NES
Release Date: January 31, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: TOSE
Genre: Sports - Golf

Golf Grand Slam is kind of neat in that it's not just a golf game - it's a golf game that also aims at teaching you the fundamentals of actually playing golf on a real course. The game tries to simulate real golf conditions so that you'll know what club to use and when when you're outside playing a real game of golf. It even has a little tip when the game starts, which is kind of nice. But nifty tidbits to learn don't mean anything if that game isn't fun, but Golf Grand Slam succeeds at that. It's not the greatest golf game that you'll ever play, but it's solid. NES Open is still a better option if you're looking for an NES game of golf, but Golf Grand Slam is decent enough, and you might learn a thing or two to improve your game on the real courses you may frequent.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 13 Average listal rating (7 ratings) 6.3 IMDB Rating 0
Release Date: July 1991 (NA)
Publisher: Bandai
Developer: TOSE
Genre: Action

In Frankenstein, you play as some guy in a knight suit. You start out with nothing, but upon beating certain enemies, you may obtain weapons. But, look out - one hit and you drop your weapon...Which is a real pain when you're in, say a sewer, and your weapon drops in the water and you're forced to fight a water dragon boss fight that you weren't expecting and all you've got are your fists. That said, if the game controlled a little better, it would have been a better game as a whole, but for what it is, it's not bad at all.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 31 Average listal rating (25 ratings) 6.6 IMDB Rating 0
Alien Storm - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: June 28, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Action - Brawler

If you're what Alien Storm is like, imagine Golden Axe, but with robots and aliens instead of dwarves and goblins. Sounds good, right? What if I told you that you'll also have to remove most of the personality from it? That's where Alien Storm struggles. While it's technically a decent brawler like Golden Axe, it has almost none of the personality...that's likely why Golden Axe is still fondly remembered today, yet Alien Storm is mostly forgotten. If you're into brawlers, Alien Storm may still be worth checking out, but everyone else can probably pass.
ape's rating:
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Ricky FjohanlefourbeBml93kathyKurkkuharjaThe O.P.Mr. Saturn
Yes, another branch of my 'ranked by preference' lists...This time, by year.

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Timeline of Games - ranked by preference (37 lists)
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