Time now for another five entries in GB's 100 Games. Lots of crusty old classics here, and while some may be familiar, others are a bit more obscure...
90: Kirby's Dream LandGenre: Platformer
System: Game Boy
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: August 1, 1992
Kirby's first outing is significantly different from the Kirby we know and love. Many series regulars like Waddle Dee, Whispy Woods, and King Dedede are present, but Kirby is white instead of pink (not like it matters on a black-and-white system) and most importantly he couldn't copy the abilities of his opponents, only suck them up and spit them out.
Kirby's Dream Land was designed to be easy and short to appeal to many people, and Kirby games have acquired a reputation for being low in difficulty. However, the bonus modes tend to offer a far more serious challenge, and that's been true since the beginning - entering a special code unlocks an incredibly challenging remixed version of the game, made harder by the lack of copy abilities. In fact, I've never actually beaten Dream Land's Extra Mode - it's a seriously formidable challenge.
89: Chuck Rock/Chuck Rock II: Son of ChuckGenre: Platformer
System: Sega Genesis
Developer: Core
Publisher: Virgin
Released: 1992, 1993
Before Lara Croft came around, Core's most iconic character was actually the goofy caveman Chuck Rock. Chuck's platform game was ported to roughly eight hundred different systems, including the Genesis, SNES, Game Boy, Game Gear, Sega CD, Master System, Amiga, Atari ST, and Acorn Archimedes. If you looked hard enough you could probably find Virtual Boy, N-Gage and Texas Instruments ports as well. They stopped just short of making a version of Chuck Rock that could play on digital clocks.
Chuck Clock.
...ANYWAY, my first experience with this series was actually the sequel, Chuck Rock II: Son of Chuck. This game starred Chuck's infant son, but despite not yet being out of diapers Junior proves himself a worthy platform hero, aping Bamm-Bamm the best he can with his trusty club.
Both of these games are decent platformers with solid mechanics and some catchy music. Chuck Rock's title screen in particular seems to be very fondly remembered by most who've played the series. Back in the day Chuck was actually one of the more successful platform mascots. Not only was he among the first to mimic Super Mario Kart with BC Racers, a kart-racing spinoff, he even got his own comic book for a year in the mid-90s. Core claimed Chuck Rock would make a next-gen return in the 2000s, but sadly we haven't seen ol' Chuck since.
88: The Great Circus Mystery Starring Mickey and MinnieGenre: Platformer
System: Sega Genesis
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Released: December 15, 1994
In the mid-90s, Capcom released a trio of well-received Mickey Mouse-themed platformers. However, of the three, only the second was released for Sega Genesis, and the third game was only released in Japan. A decade later, ports of all three games were released for Game Boy Advance, solving that particular issue.
The main gimmick in Great Circus Mystery is the ability to use and swap between four different costumes, each with its' own special ability. Normal clothing lets Mickey and Minnie pick up and use blocks and other objects as weapons, a vacuum suit allows for sucking up enemies and items, an explorer outfit uses a grappling hook to climb and swing, and a cowboy outfit gives Mickey and Minnie a projectile attack and a dash ability. The vacuum and hobby horse require energy to use their special abilities, which is replenished throughout the stage. A little on the easy side (especially because of the password system to let you come back to later levels quickly), but that's both expected and welcomed of a game targeted at the younger set.
87: Wario WorldGenre: 3D Platformer
System: GameCube
Developer: Treasure
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: June 23, 2003
HAVE A ROTTEN DAY
Wario's first non-portable adventure is a fun but brief brawl-filled romp through bizarre worlds filled with enemy reskins. As expected, much of the gameplay revolves around collecting tons of loot, including thousands of coins and dozens of hidden treasures. Boss fights are extremely plentiful and Wario is simply a fun character. After so many squeaky-clean Nintendo heroes, it's nice to play as a guy who's just in it for the money.
The "World" moniker isn't quite deserved, as this is an extremely short game with only eight normal levels. Treasure hunters will find a good deal of replay value, though. If you can find it for a bargain price, Wario should provide some solid fun.
86: Space InvadersGenre: Shmup
System: Atari 2600
Developer: Taito
Publisher: Atari
Released: 1980
A number of video game giants claim that Space Invaders is the game that got them into gaming, including Shigeru Miyamoto, Hideo Kojima, and yours truly. While incredibly simplistic by today's standards (and I dare say Wario World and the like are probably more fulfilling nowadays), Space Invaders deserves placement for not only its' legacy, but for the fact that we all discovered during our first year of ZFRP that the gameplay has managed to hold up pretty well. Well enough for an impromptu high score contest, at least.
The Atari 2600 version is the first game I can definitively recall playing, and is my guess for being the first game I ever played (it was either this or 2600 Pac-Man). As such, Space Invaders is a strong nostalgic trigger for me even though it's a decade older than I am.
Thanks to my rescue of an Atari last fall, I have been reunited with the Atari 2600 Space Invaders after nearly twenty years away. Feels good, man.
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