UFOURIA
European Release Date: November 1992 | Genre: Adventure / Platformer
Developer: Sunsoft | Publisher: Sunsoft
Notes:
You can’t play the European or Japanese games on the original NES although the top-loader edition can play the PAL region games as well as all the North American ones. I don’t own one of these top-loaders, but when I do this will definitely be the first game I get. It kinda looks like a cutesy Metroid and has the same feature as Bucky O’Hare where you can switch between characters at will.
*Editors Note – I now own a top-loader. Yes it’s the greatest thing ever. Ice cream mixed with fireworks mixed with polygamy.
Highest rank: Retro Sanctuary – #29 Review
ROD LAND
European Release Date: 1992 |Genre: Arcade
Developer: Jaleco |Publisher: Jaleco
Notes:
Apparently this game is an extremely rare PAL game released only in Italy. I’ve watched some footage and it kind of resembles the Bubble Bobble or Snow Brothers arcade style of gameplay. Rod Land is either a creatively stunted pornstar’s name, or the creepiest section of Disney World.
Highest Rank: Satoshi Matrix – #26 Review
RC PRO-AM 2
North American Release Date: December 1992 | Genre: Racing
Developer: Rare | Publisher: Tradewest
Notes:
R.C. Pro AM 2 is rad in that 1-4 players can play simultaneously using the NES Four Score. The only downside is that the screen doesn’t split, and instead keeps all four cars on the screen at once. If your car falls behind the others, the computer brings it back up to the front and thus no matter how shitty you drive you’re always in a position to win. Because of this, there’s not really any challenge or skill involved and honestly it’s kind of pointless. 1-Player however is pretty impressive for the time.
Highest Rank: Retro Sanctuary – #14 Review
LEMMINGS
North American Release Date: 1992 | Genre: Puzzle
Developer: Sunsoft | Publisher: Sunsoft
Notes:
Lemmings is a classic puzzle game released on a ton of platforms. You guide the lemmings around and use their various skills to help them safely through each level. It’s pretty fun and I’m actually surprised it didn’t make more lists. I’d say it’s as good as other puzzle games like the Adventures of Lolo or Kickle Cubicle.
Highest Ranking: Retro Sanctuary – #25 Review
GIMMICK!
European Release Date: May 1993 | Genre: Platformer
Developer: Sunsoft | Publisher: Sunsoft
Notes:
No idea what to make of this one. It’s extremely rare and apparently the reproduction copies that exist have either graphical or audio issues. Supposedly, it’s pretty good, at least according to Satoshi Matrix who ranked it #1 above all other Nintendo games. It kind of reminds me of Kirby’s Adventure mixed with Mega Man.
The name Gimmick! sounds like they didn’t bother to regionalize the game (ex. Adventures of Gimmick Man or Uncle Gimmick Takes Manhattan) and instead just went with whatever randomly translating a Japanese word gets you. The answer is Gimmick!, and somehow the copies of this game didn’t fly off the shelves with great abandon.
Highest Ranking: Retro Sanctuary – #1 Review