#0120 Dragon Quest

Wow, I have to say, this is probably the most invested I've been in a game since I started this challenge. This is it. This is where traditional RPGs and JRPGs split ways. Enix has sucessfully taken what was sucessful about sprawling RPGs and made them fit into a nice polished game on a console.

Nearly everything that you remember about a JRPG is here. Leveling up, EXP, equiping armor, Magic, exploration, dungeons, random battles. And while other games before it have all these features (Bard's Quest being the most recent on the list) this game takes what made those fun and turned it into something 100% unique. Something who's echo can still be heard decades later.

No, it's not quite as complex as other RPGs, the story is almost non-existant, you only have one person in your party and the game is less about good strategy and more about how much you've grinded.

Speaking of grinding, I gotta say, there was a LOT of it. Almost to the point where it was too much. But to be honest, I LIKE grinding. I find it soothing and relaxing. You just put on some youtube and just zone out while you mindlessly kill enemies.

All that said, I love this game. This was something unique and special. I loved the map, I loved the fight system (archaic as it is), I love the enemy designs, I love the open world. Almost everything about this game I absolutely love.

If I had to nitpick I could say that the story is stale, and the music could be better, but overall, this was one amazing game, one that I hope to pick up again soon.

Next up: Defender of the Crown

#0119 Solomon's Key

Ya know what the problem with older NES games was? A lot of them were ports of better arcade games. So if I'm gonna do a review of Gradius, and I have to choose between the arcade version or the NES version, why wouldn't I choose the arcade version? In 99% of cases, that's the better game, with better graphics and better sound.

This, is not that case. Solomon's Key is a puzzle platformer. A particularly brutal puzzle platformer where you can create and destroy your own blocks that you can use to jump on. It's a particularly brutal platformer in terms of difficulty.

But I gotta say, as an arcade game, it's not super great. Arcade games have to suck you in immediately. If they're not 100% action packed from the very first moment, you're gonna lose players. The more simple you can make it, the better. Pac-Man had only one joystick.

Where this game does shine though is as an NES game. Console games are better for games that you gotta sit down with, figure out and take your time with. This is that game. It doesn't hook you right at the beginning, but it's still a lot of fun, and the mechanics are something we've never seen before, it was honestly really refreshing. If I had this game as a kid with an NES, I would have LOVED this game. Hell, I kinda like it now. Honestly, I think it's one of the better NES games, and that's saying a lot.

Next up: Dragon Quest

#0118 OutRun

This was pretty good. It's Outrun, it's like the first racing game on the list that has an "behind the car" view that's common in every modern racing game. The physics were very lax and forgiving, the controls were tight and responsive, the music was incredible. And who could forget that amazing soundtrack!

Overall, pretty good experience.

Next up: Solomon's Key

#0117 Rebelstar

I'm impressed. I wasn't sure I would like this game, but this was pretty good.

Rebelstar is a turn based Strategy game where one team has to destroy a computer core in a moon base, the other team has to keep them out. 

It was actually pretty good. I like the map design, the variety of pieces. Even the controls were intuitive and easy to control.

If I did have one complain it would be that the Opratives felt a little more powerful than the Raiders, I always felt a tad over powered by them.

But, overall, this was a pretty good game, I might actually check out the sequels, see if they're any good.

 Next up: Outrun

#0116 Ikari Warriors

I should really enjoy this game. I really should. I love SHMUPS, I love run and guns. But for some reason, this, and esspecially Commando before it, I just can't get into. I'm not sure why either. Technically the game is pretty solid. It allows for both strafing and multidirectional firing using a joystick that rotates as well as rocks (which was impossible to emulate btw), it's a pretty solid game, but I don't know, for some reason it didn't keep me throwing "quarters" into it like most of the other Arcade games on this list. Oh well.

Next up: Rebelstar

#0115 Spindizzy

Today I played Spindizzy. It's kinda like a Marble Madness ripoff. Honestly, it's not bad. The physics are okay, the music is catchy as heck. As far as PC games from the 80s go, you could do a lot worse.

Next up: Ikari Warriors

#0114 Kid Icarus

Today I played Kid Icarus. I played this briefly when it was one of the first game for the Wii Virtual Console. But today I actually really put some time and effort to get to the meat and potatoes of the game and what I found was actually pretty surprising.

Okay, first off, the game is great, no doubt there. It's hard, and unforgiving, but it's a lot of fun. But that's to be expected, it's Nintendo during the Golden Age of Nintendo.

What I did NOT expect to see was so much Zelda in here! You gain weapons, and items as you progress through the game that aid you in your quest. Not only that, but You gain hearts, which is currency, which you can use to buy other weapons and items. It's honestly the first I've ever seen of something like this one the list. Combined with the creative enemies, the fantacy setting, and you can really see the Zelda in here.

Here I thought that Zelda was wholly a 100% unique invention, but here we are, a year earlier and we have the rough outline of what would eventually become Zelda. It's utterly facinating. One of the things I was hoping to find while playing these games.

Next up: Spindizzy