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Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker stands as an unforgettable conformation of both the King of Pop’s weirdness and coolness. Unfortunately, it also serves as a reminder that stripped down arcade ports leave a sour taste in the mouth and that attempting to rectify the limitations of the console you’re porting down to is a bad move.
As soon as you plug in Thunder Force III, you know you’re in for a crazy-fueled ride. That vibrant title screen pops up amid scorching rock chords, and that signature theme gets stuck forever in your head. There’s a certain confidence in many of the great video games, a bold swagger that spills over from the artists and programmers and musicians onto the screen. We are witnessing one of the great game studios at the top of their game.
The Japanese weren’t immune to the puzzle fever of the early ’90s, either. Several companies churned out some fairly good puzzle games, and for the most part they made it to the U.S. and Europe. A few slipped through the cracks, of course…After all, no matter how popular the genre, it’s inevitable that some games will get lost in the shuffle. Namco’s Megapanel is a good example of a good puzzle game that somehow got forgotten.
A mediocre action title from defunct developer Sage’s Creation, Shadow Blasters offered little in the way of variety or presentation. It’s worth a look, at least for the half hour it lasts, but those looking for a deeper experience should definitely look elsewhere.
Sega answered Nintendo’s Tetris monster with a puzzle game of its own. Though not as popular, Columns proved to be a solid seller, despite some flaws. Is it worth tracking down for your Genesis? Read our review and find out.