Game: Arkanoid
Console: Nintendo Entertainment System
Developer: Taito
Release Date: 1987
Arkanoid is a simple and much loved NES game where players break bricks using a paddle to bounce a ball up to the top of the screen and keep the ball in play, much like a single player version of Pong. I was a big fan of this sort of game in my childhood, and knew of a few different versions of it, including the original 'Breakout' but looking back on the game now, it does seem to lack any real progression and feeling of true control over the paddle.
The game is kept interesting by the inclusion of various power-ups which aid the player such as a larger paddle, the ability to launch the ball each time it hits the paddle, multi-ball mode and a skip to the next level of the game. Sometimes collecting the falling power-ups can turn into a risk/reward situation where players don't want to miss the ball, but also would like to get the power-up.
Graphically the game is basic, with the backgrounds featuring the most interesting graphics in the whole game, since the block are simply coloured rectangles. As is often the case in Taito games, a few of the levels make the shape of famous video game characters. There's no music to accompany, aside from the semi-musical sound effects of the ball hitting the paddle and blocks.
Overall Arkanoid is a simple but effective concept which is hard to expand upon, like many of the classic arcade games. Any sequels would be criticized for either changing too little or changing too much, but there's some fun to be had before the game's lack of true action and expansion on its theme hits home.
Rating: 62/100
Grade: C
Game: Dig Dug
Console: Nintendo Entertainment System
Developer: Namco
Release Date: 6th April 1985
Dig Dug for the NES is a pretty faithful representation of the arcade version of Dig Dug; players dig down into the earth where enemies are hiding in order to inflate them and win the level. Enemies can move freely through the ground and exit the level before the are destroyed by players, and if the manage this, then players will score less points for the level.
Players can also dig tunnels in order to drop rocks onto the enemies, but this is harder to time and also relies on enemies closely following behind the player. The gameplay concept and controls are good, but players must keep in mind what direction they are facing in order to successfully strategise and inflate the enemies.
Graphically the game is basic, as was the arcade version in many respects but there's some classic and recognisable sprites in Dig Dug and his enemies. Oddly, there's only music when players are moving, so there's a fairly sporadic soundtrack as players need only move when hunting enemies and not when when inflating them.
Overall Dig Dug is a better arcade game than it is an NES game as the complexity never really reaches a level which justifies the game being on home console. The lack of weapons and power-ups for beating enemies with means that there's little variation between levels save for changing colours of dirt and this hurts the overall replayability.
Rating: 60/100
Grade: D
Game: Joust
Console: Nintendo Entertainment System
Developer: Hal Labs
Release Date: 1988
Joust is an example of a game which initially puzzling and difficult to get into but that can be fairly rewarding once players work out what they actually have to do. The aim of the game is to control a jouster atop a large bird, fighting against other jousters on large birds. Players can only defeat another jouster by hitting them from above; if they are below when contact is made then a life is lost.
Once an opponent has been defeated, they drop an egg which is presumably the jouster who was once riding them, as the egg can hatch if left for too long into another jouster who re-mounts a bird and comes back into play. If the egg is collected before it hatches then players score bonus points for collecting. After a few normal rounds there's an egg bonus round where players race to collect many on-screen eggs before any hatch.
Graphically the game is a little basic, and in fact becomes more and more so as the game continues, with platforms being removed from play every few levels. The main technically impressive point of the game is the momentum of the player's bird, which handles much like the ship in Asteroids, but in bird form. Soundwise the game is pretty noisy with the flying and footsteps of birds all represented by various amounts of white noise.
Overall Joust is an addictive game once the main concept and controls have been understood and it grows somewhat on players as they become better. Unfortunately there's not quite enough variation in enemies and attack types for it to be truly classic and replayable, but it's definitely one of the better arcade style titles on the NES, and an early effort of Hal Labs who brought us some great games later on in Nintendo history.
Rating: 72/100
Grade: C
Game: Space Invaders
Console: Nintendo Entertainment System
Developer: TOSE
Release Date: 17th April 1985
Space Invaders for the NES, nearly every version of Space Invaders is the same thing; the real points of difference between versions are the smoothness of gameplay, any changes in difficulty and any additional features that have been added. This version sits in the middle of all of these categories; there's everything you'd expect from a port of Space Invaders to home console and nothing more.
Gamplay is standard; you shoot invaders until they either reach the bottom of the screen or are all defeating, starting a new round. Points are scored for hitting invaders and there are a few different shapes, which change colour as they descend down towards the player's bases.
Graphically the sprites are perhaps a little smaller than in some versions, meaning that the top row of invaders can be somewhat difficult to hit, but aside from this its the same game as ever. There's a very basic soundtrack, as with the arcade version but it seems to be even more simplified, sounding hollow and tinnier than normal.
Overall this is Space Invaders on the NES, there's little more to say; it plays like regular Space Invaders, and there's little difference to any other version of the game on any other consoles. I've never really seen the appeal of the game in the modern day, but this is about as good as it's going to get.
Rating: 57/100
Grade: D
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