New York Mysteries: Secrets of the Mafia (Collector's Edition)

Way overlong

I liked the previous game in this HOG series, finishing it in just two long spells of gameplay. This one, however, was long and tedious and took forever to end. At nearly 9 hours it's the longest time I've ever spent on ... Read Full Review

Iron Commando

Complete trash

Well, this is probably the worst beat-em-up I have ever played, and I've played the C64 version of Double Dragon, so I know bad when I see it. As a big fan of the genre I wanted to gave this game the benefit of the doubt... Read Full Review

Gouketsuji Ichizoku

It DON'T got the power!

Known as "Power Instinct" in English territories, this one-on-one fighting game by Atlus was just about acceptable in the arcades. It was never a huge hit like Street Fighter 2 or Mortal Kombat but enjoyed as much coin-d... Read Full Review

Double Dragon II: The Revenge

Single serving

I remember first encountering Double Dragon II in an arcade in Orlando when I was 8. Having been hooked on the original game the idea of a video game sequel to me (back then) was like a dream come true. To this day, I st... Read Full Review

Hellfire

A slight improvement on the arcade.

Developed by Toaplan and released by Taito in arcades in 1989, this space-shooter was ported to the Sega Mega Drive by Nippon Computer Systems, who didn't think once about dialling down the extreme difficulty. The cover ... Read Full Review

Ryuuko no Ken

Unlikely to win new fans, but most will be pleased

Known as "Dragon Tiger Fist" in Japan, Art of Fighting (there is no definitive article in the title) at first might seem a bland one-on-one fighting game, but it actually shares a universe with the popular Fatal Fury ser... Read Full Review

Eventide: Slavic Fable

An enchanting HOG

Lovely locations.I think I might be overdoing it on the HOGs so this will be my last for a while, though it's certainly one of the better of the genre that I have played. The story is the usual fantasy nonsense but the g... Read Full Review

Age of Empires: Definitive Edition

Not so definitive

This game has not aged well.I first discovered Age of Empires in the Xmas 1997 issue of PC Zone. It was on the demo disc (where I also discovered Grand Theft Auto) it wasn't a timed demo, just a restricted one, and it pl... Read Full Review

Left in the Dark: No One on Board

A quickie HOG

Typically low-res HOG scene.There's virtually nothing in Left in the Dark you've not seen a zillion times in other hogs. All of the puzzles and hidden object scenes feel recycled and overly familiar, but that's not to sa... Read Full Review

Bit Blaster XL

A simple but fun shooter

Bit Blaster XL is a unique hybrid of Asteroids, Space Invaders, with a little bit of Galaga and the texture of something more modern like Beat Hazard Ultra, all while still having an identity of its own. You take control... Read Full Review

Super Bit Blaster XL

It's Bit Blaster but a little bit flashier.

I was more than happy to play through this game again as it's super addictive. "Just one more try", I keep telling myself at 2 in the AM. Like the first iteration, there does come a point where it becomes too hard to go ... Read Full Review

Out There Somewhere

Loads of fun!

I've had Somewhere Out There installed on my PC for a while now but never really got into it until now, and I have to admit this is a lovely little game. It begins as an ordinary space-shooter before your ship crash-land... Read Full Review

Wizorb

Hated it

There's been a zillion incarnations of this game before, from the obvious Breakout or Arkanoid, but for me it first reminds me of a budget C64 game called Batty. I hated that game back then and I hate this game now. The ... Read Full Review

Rot Gut

Simple, retro bliss

Boss fight.A fun and simplistic platform shooter quickie that has an atmospheric aesthetic that is a sort of mix between an old Speccy game called Movie and Batman: The Caped Crusader for the C64. I had a good half hour ... Read Full Review

Double Dragon

End of the Dragon

Developed and released by Technos in 1995, Double Dragon (there is no numeration in the title) is the fourth and final DD game to be released into arcades. Instead of a side-scrolling brawler (as DD3 was beyond terrible)... Read Full Review

Zero Wing

Zero Patience

Developed by Toaplan for arcades in 1989 and ported to the Mega Drive in 1991, there are noticable differences between the two, and, for once, the MD version is far superior to the arcade. It's virtually impossible to re... Read Full Review

Real Bout Fatal Fury Special

Too tough to finish

The sixth installment of this brain-breakingly impossible to organize Fatal Fury series of fighting games is from 1997 and is a big improvement on the first game in regard to how the tournament plays out, but is hampered... Read Full Review

Real Bout Garou Densetsu 2

Get in the ring!

Original ad.As if this review was going to be straight-forward. To immediately complicate matters this is actually the THIRD game in the sub-series, with Real Bout Fatal Fury Special counting as 1.5. I am playing these g... Read Full Review

Real Bout Fatal Fury 2

Real Bout Fatal Fury

What number are we up to now?

Geese would rather die than allow Terry to save him.Essentially Fatal Fury 4, Real Bout is around the time that the series started deviating and becoming hard to numerate and place in chronological order. It's technicall... Read Full Review

Garou Densetsu: Shukumei no Tatakai

(Graphics and) sound and fury

It's pretty obvious that even decades after their creation that Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat are the leading fighting franchises locked in their own deadly battle. Even back in the 16-BIT era this was a war with both... Read Full Review

Fatal Fury Special

A sequel revised

I am totally playing, and reviewing, these games out of order. But Fatal Fury Special is basically Fatal Fury 2.5 with a few tweeks including combos and faster gameplay. Otherwise it plays out exactly as it did before. I... Read Full Review

Garou Densetsu 2: Aratanaru Tatakai

Fury in obscurity

Japanese Cover.Key art.Originally released in 1992, and ported to the Mega Drive for a Summer 1994 release, the first sequel in SNK's long-running fighting series makes some improvement while still feeling like the origi... Read Full Review

Fatal Fury 3: Road to the Final Victory

Average sequel

I first owned Fatal Fury 3 years ago in a big box PC double pack and was perhaps overly critical and dismissive of it at the time. Playing it now as a more experienced gamer I can appreciate it more but it's still a bit... Read Full Review

Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Director's Cut

Not justifiable as a second purchase, and rather short-sighted.

I had many reservations regarding the design of Deus Ex: Human Revolution when it first came out, as I detailed in my original review, but the game certainly did strike a chord and resonate with me as it is one of those... Read Full Review

Ridge Racer Unbounded (Limited Edition)

Derivative, but fun.

I loathed the Ridge Racer series from the very beginning. To me they all represented the most basic "go forward and turn corners" nature of racing games, they were all so linear and plain. Recently I was so bored and des... Read Full Review

Winter Stars

Fun to begin with, but gets too hard towards the end.

Winter Stars is a modern take on Olympiad events games like Winter Challenge from the Mega Drive days. If you liked that game, as I did, then Winter Stars will definitely keep you amused for a good while. With a great a... Read Full Review

I Love Mickey Mouse: Fushigi no Oshiro Daibouken

Twice the power, half the fun

Having played my way through the Master System AND the Mega Drive versions of this game back in the day (both were rather different) I can confirm that the 8-Bit Master System incarnation is somehow better than its 16-Bi... Read Full Review

Disney Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse

A wonderful remake.

Castle of Illusion is one of the classics from the Mega Drive era and was ripe for re-imagining in high definition. The magical world created for this remake is so magical and enchanting it feels like a Disney cartoon th... Read Full Review

OutRun: Online Arcade

Burnout Paradise

Sonic Unleashed

The Revenge of Shinobi

inFamous 2

RoboCop 3

Grand Theft Auto IV

Second Sight

Wizball

Sleeping Dogs