March2009

  • Review Detana!! Twinbee (TG-16)

    It's the popular vertical-scrolling shooter renowned for its cute and comical world.

    The Twinbee series of shooters hasn't seen a lot of action outside of Japan, so it should come as no surprise that this PC Engine version of Detana!! Twinbee was never released outside of Japan and marks yet another import release for Hudson on the Wii Virtual...

  • Review Bomberman '94 (TG-16)

    Bomberman has arrived to restore peace on the planet

    Bomberman has seen a release on just about every console out there over the years, and while you'll definitely get contrasting opinions on which version of the game is the best, it's pretty indisputable that Bomberman '94 is one of them. Bomberman '94 was never released outside of Japan for some...

February2009

  • Review Onslaught (WiiWare)

    Can Hudson really pull off an FPS game on WiiWare?

    Japanese developers are not known for creating first person shooters. After all it is far from being a popular genre in the land of the rising sun. The few Japanese FPS games that spring to mind failed to compete with their Western counterparts. Considering the limitations of the WiiWare service,...

  • Review Snowboard Riot (WiiWare)

    Is Hudson's Snowboard Riot a riot to play, or just a wipe-out?

    There's no denying that Hudson is one of the more talented developers on WiiWare. All of their games to date have done much to impress and show other devs how it’s done. In Snowboard Riot they have turned their hand to creating a racing game with the added bonus that you can use items...

January2009

  • Review Pop Them, Drop Them SameGame (WiiWare)

    Is Hudson’s puzzler a worthy purchase or just more of the same?

    SameGame is a bit of an unusual one. It was first created way back in 1985, but was never really all that popular. Nevertheless, it went on to spawn a large number of clones and remakes over the years, with Hudson’s effort being the latest. The basic concept of SameGame is quite...

December2008

  • Review Pit Crew Panic! (WiiWare)

    Is Hudson's crazy pit crew game a hit or is it the just the pits?

    Pit Crew Panic! marks the sixth WiiWare release from Hudson and easily their most unique release to date. While the title of the game would lead you to believe that you're in for a little auto racing pit crew action, you'll quickly find that you're in for a very different pit crew...

November2008

  • Review Cue Sports: Snooker Vs Billiards (WiiWare)

    Will Hudson’s Cue Sports have you cueing-up to buy it or leave you snookered?

    Hudson’s Cue Sports aims to add a degree of fresh realism in contrast to Gameloft’s Midnight Pool, which is a much more light-hearted affair. Will its boast of Wi-Fi support and extensive game modes give it the edge as the definitive cue sports game on WiiWare? The...

  • Review Alien Crush Returns (WiiWare)

    Crushing nefarious xenomorphs with your trusty pinball - welcome to the gloriously deranged world of Alien Crush Returns

    Over the years, the original Turbografx-16 Alien Crush title has become quite the cult favourite among classic game fans, so it certainly comes as no surprise that Hudson's decided to give this classic a fresh new look and feel in...

September2008

  • Review Bomberman Blast (WiiWare)

    Everyone's favourite arsonist is back with a blast from the past!

    Of all well-known videogame characters, Bomberman has got to be the one who has stayed the closest to his roots. Almost every single Bomberman game features the exact same goal: grab power-ups, avoid the blasts of your opponents' (and your own!) bombs and then blow them up! While some...

August2008

  • Review My Aquarium (WiiWare)

    If you are too busy to take care of real fish then Hudson’s virtual aquarium might be perfect for you.

    Let’s make this clear right from the very start of this review -- My Aquarium is not a game. Unlike Nintendo's deep sea diving title for the Wii, Endless Ocean, there is no adventuring or exploring of any sort. My Aquarium consists solely of...

May2008

  • Review Star Soldier R (WiiWare)

    Does Star Soldier R have enough fire-power to satisfy shooter fans?

    The shoot 'em up genre has been lacking for many years now, so it's no real surprise that shooter fans have been anxiously awaiting Hudson's newest entry in their Star Soldier series. WiiWare seems like the perfect fit for a good old-fashioned space shoot 'em up, but many fans have...

  • Review Star Parodier (Wii Virtual Console / TurboGrafx-16)

    Cute'em-up.

    Star Parodier is not only one of the best cute'em-ups ever created, it's also one of the best shooters ever made as well. Combining sugary sweet visuals, a stunning musical score, and some of the most responsive play control ever found in a shooter, Star Parodier proves that video game spoofs can be every bit as good, if not better, than...

  • Review Cho Aniki (Virtual Console / TurboGrafx-16)

    Idaten or Benten are celestial warriors who are out to bring an end to the tyrannical rule of the emperor of Planet Builder.

    The Japanese are often accused of creating some seriously weird and wonderful videogames. While this reputation is often underserved (with games like Jet Set Willy, Western developers are just as guilty of producing bonkers...

  • Review Final Soldier (Virtual Console / TurboGrafx-16)

    Once again its your job to protect the Galactic Empire from an alien invasion using nothing but your trusty starfighter.

    There were basically three Star Soldier releases for the PC Engine/Turbografx-16 system, not counting the cute 'em up spin-off Star Parodier. Two of those releases, Super Star Soldier and Soldier Blade, saw a release in the US...

March2008

February2008

  • Review Lords of Thunder (Virtual Console / TurboGrafx-16)

    Lords of Thunder is a side-scrolling shooter that has you take on the role of a legendary warrior, blasting enemies to heavy-metal tunes.

    TG16 fans thought they’d died and gone to heaven when Gate of Thunder was published for the system. A shooter of truly epic magnitude, it rocketed the underrated machine to the top of the pile when it came to...

January2008

  • Review Riot Zone (Virtual Console / TurboGrafx-16)

    I predict a riot!

    Released back when the scrolling fighter was still seen as a massive money-spinner, Riot Zone (AKA: Crest of Wolf in Japan) was Hudson’s attempt at muscling in on the territory traditionally presided over by Capcom (Final Fight, Captain Commando, Knights of the Round, etc) and Sega (Streets of Rage, Golden Axe). Now let’s not...

December2007

  • Review Monster Lair (Virtual Console / TurboGrafx-16)

    Join young Adam and Laura as they embark on a fantastic adventure in this comical action/shooting game.

    Before you get excited, this isn’t your traditional Wonderboy adventure. Although we’ve already been blessed with Virtual Console versions of the quite frankly sublime Wonderboy in Monsterworld (Genesis / Mega Drive) and the exceptional...

  • Review Bomberman Story DS (DS)

    Hudson pulls Bomberman out of the multiplayer arena and drops him into another game type. Is it a successful transition?

    When a company succeeds in creating a strong mascot chances are it will milk the character for all its worth. Mario has driven karts, gained a PhD and hosted numerous parties, for example. However, there’s a fine line between...

  • Review The Dynastic Hero (Virtual Console / TurboGrafx-16)

    Take control of Dyna as he battles through action-filled stages.

    Dynastic Hero is basically identical to the Megadrive Wonderboy in Monsterworld. Anyone who has played this MD classic will know that this is no bad thing - it's one of the strongest titles in the Wonderboy series. However, this version features different characters. I can only guess...

November2007

  • Review Honeycomb Beat (DS)

    Another week, another DS puzzle title hits the shelves - but is this one worth your valuable time?

    Here at NintendoLife we’re constantly surprised by the steady stream of puzzle titles released on the DS; rarely a month passes without a new game appearing on the shelves hell bent on exercising your flagging grey matter. The DS touch screen...

  • Review Power Golf (Virtual Console / TurboGrafx-16)

    Every system needs a golf game, right?

    If Wii Sports’ gesture controlled club swinging has grown old for you, the more in-depth game offered in Hudson’s Power Golf might be of interest. There are three modes of play on offer here: stroke play is for a solo player, match play lets you take on a friend, and competition play allows for two to three...

October2007

September2007

  • Review World Class Baseball (Virtual Console / TurboGrafx-16)

    Batter up!

    This game began life known as Power League on the Japanese PC Engine and spawned many sequels due to the popularity of Baseball in Japan. The game offers a comprehensive range of options to fine tune your game. For instance you can switch the players in your roster and play a quick game or play in pennant mode. It’s really as...