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There’s something to be said about straight-up shooters. I’m not talking about the “lone pilot vs. invading aliens” classics. No, I mean one guy with a BIG gun just squeezing the trigger until the vibrations stop! Dynamite Duke appears to be the game to fit the bill in this regard, until you actually play it. Aren’t explosions and big armament supposed to invoke some kind of a response? Shock and awe, meet your evil twin.
By now you’ve ripped open all your gifts, and the sink is still strewn with the dirty dishes from the family feast. What’s there left to do? Why play your Genesis, of course! If you’re looking from something to exchange for those unwanted gifts, then maybe you should take a look at Acclaim’s Virtual Bart. I know, I know. Acclaim? A Simpsons game? Such a match usually has its origins in hell, but this one might surprise you, especially if you pick it up on the cheap side.
Nothing makes me angrier than sending off for a game that looks absolutely incredible in screenshots, only to have the actual product be a plodding stinker. Only two games ever really burned me this way: Fantasia and today’s review choice – Dahna Megami Tanjou. Who knew that she’d be a minisucle little thing running around, hacking fruitlessly at enemies and sliding off cliffs? Who could have anticipated the sedating gameplay or the dreary visuals?
Ah, licensed slop. It’s everywhere, no matter which console you own, and it’s managed to transcend hardware generations like some mutant virus that morphs into a new strain every five years or so. The Genesis was no exception, as evident by today’s poor example of wasted silicon. Sony Imagesoft continued its tradition of horrible licensed software with No Escape, a game surprisingly done by the mostly awesome-on-Genesis Psygnosis. What happened? Maybe it was an off day, or maybe the development budget all went towards women and booze. No one knows, and after playing this turd, no one probably cares either.
Sometimes, a game comes along that totally justifies the stigma attached to licensed titles. We’re talking utter trash here, and a few releases can be quickly named when one is asked to mention which ones stand out the most (anyone remember LJN’s abysmal X-Men game for the NES?). Back to the Future Part III is a card-carrying member of that sorry list.