December2020
Review Aleste Collection - M2 Does It Again With This Wonderful Fusion Of Old And New
Vintage shmup action on Switch
M2's Shot Triggers range has a track record of bringing rare and refined arcade shmups home, either making them available on consoles for the first time ever or at the very least making them affordable for the first time in decades. The titles M2 work hard to preserve for future generations are often so incredible...
January2009
Review MUSHA (Virtual Console / Sega Mega Drive)
We've got much love for MUSHA!
Mention the name Compile to any serious shooter fanatic and you’re likely to be faced with a barrage of nostalgic ranting. The now defunct company was responsible for some of the finest blasters the video game industry has seen, including Super Aleste (also known as Space Megaforce), Gunhed and Zanac. Surprisingly,...
March2008
Review Puyo Puyo 2: Tsuu (Virtual Console / Sega Mega Drive)
More Puyo Puyo fun for the Virtual Console.
We’ve already experienced the first Puyo Puyo title on the Virtual Console, although you may not have noticed as the western version was retooled as Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine. As far as laying down the foundations of the Puyo Puyo franchise, it’s not a bad game at all, but it was undoubtedly...
December2007
Review Zanac (Virtual Console / NES)
Take control of the state-of-the-art fighter, Zanac, with the objective of destroying the bases of the mechanized enemy forces.
When you’ve got shooters of the calibre of Gate of Thunder, Soldier Blade and Super Star Soldier to choose from, it’s not unreasonable to question the sanity of downloading a NES blaster; surely anything available on...
August2007
Review Lunar Pool (Virtual Console / NES)
Unique and futuristic flair
The humble pool simulator has never made for the most exciting game, so a futuristic version of the classic pub game set on the moon is an intriguing proposition. It is worth noting that Lunar Pool is based on American pool, which is very different game from what the British play. This game is more similar to billiards in...
July2007
Review Kirby's Avalanche (Virtual Console / Super Nintendo)
The call has gone out throughout Dream Land – the First Annual Ghost Trap Competition has begun!
This is basically Puyo Puyo given a lick of paint, but... wait a minute, isn't that exactly what Damo typed for Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine? Well, it holds true for this game as well. Only this time, instead of Dr. Robotnik and various robots from...
May2007
Review Blazing Lazers (Virtual Console / TurboGrafx-16)
Blazing Lazers is a vertical-scrolling shooter that was praised for surpassing the limitations of the hardware of its time.
Originally released in Japan as Gunhed, Blazing Lazers was one of the most heavily featured titles in the original TurboGrafx-16 adverts, and with very good reason. Considering the age of the title (it was originally released...
December2006
Review Dr Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (MD)
Dr. Robotnik has hatched a plan to ensure that no music or fun remains on Mobius.
This is basically Puyo Puyo given a lick of paint, but that's no bad thing as Puyo Puyo is an excellent Tetris-style game which is amazingly addictive in two-player mode. A series of beans of the mean variety fall into a pit. Your job is to rotate and arrange the...
