SNES review | RVGFanatic

Battletoads & Double Dragon (SNES)

**Pub: Tradewest | Dev: Rare | October 1993 | 8 MEGS**

Although not the first arcade beat ‘em up ever released, 1987’s Double Dragon set the standard for the genre in many ways. Similar to Doom, Double Dragon is often referred to as the granddaddy of its genre. Developed by Technōs Japan, players control the ass kicking Lee brothers as they seek to rescue love interest Marian from the evil clutches of the nefarious Shadow Warriors. It perfectly captured the spirit of the late ’80s but more importantly it was a fun 2-player game that would spark an endless line of classic contemporaries — Streets of Rage and Final Fight just to name two. Credit the mastermind Yoshihisa Kishimoto for giving us one of the most beloved genres of all time. In June of 1991, the Battletoads arrived on the scene courtesy of Rare. It thrilled (and terrorized) many NES gamers. Many of us remember it for its wackiness and of course the infamously difficult biker section. Rare developed Battletoads in response to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles craze that was going on around that time. Two years later, Double Dragon and Battletoads joined forces to take on the Shadow Warriors and the Dark Queen’s army. On paper, it sounds like a wet dream. But the real question is… did it live up to expectations?

CROSSOVER CRAZE

*More amazing than your eyes can believe!*

If you were anything like me growing up then you probably at some point too daydreamed about two of your favorite franchises crossing over. I remember my very first exposure to a crossover was when I spotted a VHS copy of King Kong vs. Godzilla at Toys R Us in the late ’80s. I had no idea such a movie existed and it absolutely blew my mind. The two titans are set to have their rematch in 2020 but real fans know it first happened nearly 55 years ago (August 11, 1962).

Who could ever forget the classic ending to Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday? Seeing Freddy’s iconic claw dragging Jason’s goalie mask to the depths of Hell stirred much water cooler talk about a future Jason vs. Freddy crossover. Fans finally got that movie 10 years later in 2003. Better late than never.

Still waiting on the ultimate triple threat, though

In the gaming world there have been lots of memorable crossovers. One of the biggest ones was X-Men vs. Street Fighter. Capcom sort of opened the floodgates. It was all the rage back in 1996. Other notable crossovers include Capcom vs. SNK, Super Smash Bros., Street Fighter X Tekken, Kingdom Hearts, The King of Fighters and Capcom vs. Marvel. Hell, even Sonic and Mario have teamed up!

Who would have thought this back in 1991... — Who would have thought this back in 1991…

But the earliest gaming crossover I can remember playing was Battletoads & Double Dragon. It first came out for the NES in the summer of 1993 before receiving Genesis and SNES ports in late ’93. I fondly remember playing the SNES version at a friend’s house one Saturday night. We couldn’t beat it — it’s damn hard — but we sure had a blast trying. My friends and I didn’t think it was the greatest game ever but we enjoyed it relatively enough. I recently went back to replay Battletoads & Double Dragon for the first time in well over 20 years. I was a little anxious. Part of me wondered if maybe the game’s even better than I remember giving it credit for. Maybe it’s brilliant in a way that my 10 year old mind back then wasn’t quite able to grasp. Kind of like rewatching classic Simpsons episodes from the early seasons and finally getting all the jokes you missed as a kid.

On the flip side, I was a little anxious if maybe childhood memories covered up for a disappointing crossover. But that’s the beauty of retro gaming. You can (re)play them and (re)form your own opinions. You can revisit the past and reevaluate games you once enjoyed. Some games will pass the test. But some don’t. Others are caught somewhere in-between. I was anxious to see where this one would fall…

THE STORY GOES…

Professor T. Bird is a mentor to the ‘Toads and serves the Splinter role.

Wouldn’t be a crossover if they said no

Umm, Billy you OK? I got some Pepto-Bismol if ya need it…

“Bastards, I’m still down here!” *shakes fist* -Jimmy Lee

Joining forces to assemble THE ULTIMATE TEAM!

Select any of the five heroes. Rash rocks a mean pair of shades.

Pimple is the muscle of the group. Zitz is the brains.

Finally, Marian is not the cause.

Villains from both universes collide to form their own super team.

Roper is as big and bad as Abobo, only Roper has a BIG gun. Robo Manus is said to be second in command of the Dark Queen’s army.

Shadow Boss is a loose amalgamation of various characters from the Double Dragon games rather than one specifically. The Dark Queen serves as the final boss, letting you know exactly which franchise style this game is more catered to.

STAGE ONE: TAIL OF THE RATSHIP

Shadow Marines greet you right off the bat as you wage war on the tail of the Colossus. Be careful — one big punch from them can deplete two health boxes!

Desperate to impress their Shadow Boss, Shadow Marines aren’t afraid to risk life and limb. Feel free to kick them off!

Better yet, stomp on their fingers.

Sometimes they’ll come flying at you like such. Toss them wankers into the abyss.

Ahhh, the classic Will Smith elbow drop!

Jimmy Lee would never react this way — I told ‘cha it’s much more Battletoads than it is Double Dragon. After all, Rare did develop this game. But I’ll overlook this. Love the dramatic Abobo entrance, though. Really made him look like an intimidating force!

Abobo was never this tough before!

Finally you put the boots to him, sending him off into deep space.

Professor gives you a quick message at the end of each stage along with a preview of what’s to come. I enjoy these little cutscenes and the miniature versions of the ‘Toads and Dragons especially.

STAGE TWO: BLAG ALLEY

Getting the dummy goons to attack each other is always good for a laugh. Speaking of a laugh, it’s quite comical scaling the chain-linked fence to whack them upside the head.

Shame you can’t toss them into each other.

Walkers make quite the entrance. Love that little detail of the wall being partially taken out there.

Break a Walker apart to steal its leg. Now play Whac-A-Goon!

Doorman of Doom. Believe it or not, that’s actually his name. So cheesy it’s gold. Toss his sticks of dynamite back at him to end his cowardly existence.

Break those eggs apart to reveal various goodies. I like how most of the levels are sectioned off. I especially like how this one has the dash covered up by an egg there. It’s weird little stuff like that that makes me smile. Meanwhile, Jimmy Lee confronts the cowardly Doorman of Doom personally. He’s not exactly thrilled to meet one half of the legendary Double Dragon face to face…

Remember the Turbo Tunnel level from the first Battletoads game? Yeah, I know you do. It makes a cameo here. And thankfully, it’s extremely reasonable.

Turbo Tunnel was only three levels in for the original Battletoads game, and it terrorized an entire generation of NES loving kids. It returned in the SNES sequel, Battletoads in Battlemaniacs. It wasn’t as difficult there but it was still a pain in the ass. Thankfully, it’s super easy (and short) in Battletoads & Double Dragon.

Obstacles are briefly highlighted before the player is forced to react. Love the way Jimmy kicks his legs out to grab some air.

Watch out for bad guys hot on your trail, and be sure to take advantage of the 1UP opportunities.

Whoever complains about having a rat problem never saw this! Um, I wouldn’t do the body bump greeting if I were you, Jim.

Someone’s been working out!

Jimmy ultimately wins the war but not without a few scars.

Oddly fascinating to see your little guy trek through the stage preview there.

STAGE THREE: ROPES AND ROPER

Sounds like a kinky Saturday night. It’s good to see Linda back. I like how the window there gives you a preview of incoming enemies. Knock the stuffing out of the bloody ravens. Oh and welcome Rash to the party. The ‘Toads were getting a little restless waiting on the sidelines.

Linda is no joke. Get caught in-between two [now THAT sounds like a kinky Saturday night -Ed.] and it’s lights out for you, bub. Get ready to swing on some ropes. Don’t miss the platform there or else you’ll lose a precious life.

Fried toad, anyone? Kick the switch to disable it.

Yanking Linda’s hair while kicking her in the bum is my definition of a good time. Better yet, don’t be afraid to give her some head. And to all her friends as well. Now that’s a wild Saturday night.

Another rope section… only this one involves avoiding a moving laser. Great. Scaling the fence there reminds me of Mario in Super Mario World. Except not as smooth.

Avoid getting roasted by pulling your little toad legs up. Pretty cool little bit there. And look who’s joined the debauchery.

Pimple, you’re just in time, too. This stage is called Ropes and Roper. You’ve seen the ropes. Now meet Roper. He goes about 6’9″, 320 pounds and he loves moonlit walks on the beach. He also gets off on whacking toads with his big gun.

Roper has trouble loading his gun occasionally. Thank God for small favors. But get caught by one shot? It becomes a streaming parade of death. Totally cheap and brutal. Good luck giving him the old BOOT.

Looks like we’re heading to outer space [Nothing gets by you -Ed.]

STAGE FOUR: RATSHIP RUMBLE

Space shooting Gradius-esque stage? SWEET! But wait, you quickly come to find out moving the D-Pad moves your ship in a stationary 360 degrees while “A” moves you forward. WHAT THE — needless to say, it’s cumbersome and annoying. Should have stuck to a traditional SHMUP control scheme.

Colossus, we meet again. This time, I’m taking you out for good.

Commence Mission Stop That F*cking Missile.

STAGE FIVE: MISSILE MAYHEM

Similar to stage three, this level uses a single plane (the first two levels do not). I don’t typically like single plane but at least it makes sense here somewhat. Right off the bat we’re greeted by an old friend, Lopar. Beating him will send him cartwheeling off the screen. Nice comical touch.

WHEW was that close! Oops… I spoke too soon.

Preview incoming enemies through the window. Love how the door opens and closes. X indeed marks the spot, as well as a firm jump kick.

General Slaughter is the mid-boss of this stage. I love mid-bosses. I feel like too many beat ‘em ups lack a mid-boss. This game is no different; General Slaughter is really the only true mid-boss. Later on, Billy comes face to face with his old nemesis. Try not to get burned this time [Gee, thanks for the helpful tip -Billy Lee]

Creative enemy entrances in beat ‘em ups are the best, aren’t they? Check out how Lopar busts out of the window there. He also likes to hide behind the red wings. Beware his ninja stars, too.

Being a crossover, I love it when enemies from both universes attack you at once. Sadly it doesn’t happen often but it’s nice when you get it. And look, I found the Bruiser twins pre-Super Punch-Out!!

Nintendo’s dirty little secret they didn’t want you to know!

STAGE SIX: SHADOW BOSS SHOWDOWN

Brilliant beginning! Love seeing the Shadow Boss’ silhouette flashing in the background for a split second before disappearing back into darkness. It’s actually a bit creepy, too.

That is some Michael Myers level type shit!

Killing a Walker with his friend’s leg is hilarious. Oh and look closely in the background. Do you see anything there? Yup, throughout this level Shadow Boss actually stalks you from behind the columns of this shadowy corridor. Brilliant.

Dragons and ‘Toads use the Walker’s leg differently. Both are great but I can’t resist showing how Rash uses this bum for batting practice!

OUCH! That hurts my eye just looking at it. Billy thinks he’s ready to take on all comers when, from out of the shadows, comes the big bad Shadow Boss.

Appropriate reaction this time, even for a Lee brother, I’d say. That is one nasty punch. Zoom in if you’re browsing on a smart phone. You’ll get the full effect.

Billy’s head gets turned into a pile of mush.

Better grab a hold of one of those light fixtures above or it’s exit stage left for you.

Think he’s done with you already? Not so fast, he says. It’s over when he says it’s over. Yeah, good luck with that jump kick there…

Manage to beat him and his suit of armor will fly all over the basement floor. Best of all, the placement of each item seems to be random. You gotta appreciate little details.

Things aren’t done with this level yet. After the Shadow Boss you must get by this little laser trap. Be a shame to lose here after all that hard work! Bit of a tongue on that Professor, too. He and Cranky Kong should do a collab sometime.

Proof positive that we live in a “What have you done for me lately?” society. This is it, Dark Queen. Prepare to be foiled.

STAGE SEVEN: ARMAGEDDON

Shades of Will Smith once again. I like the small detail of the Mechano-Mitt having red (injured) fingers after being smashed.

Finally, the Dark Queen. She’s actually not that tough.

A LITTLE HELP

This game is pretty damn tough. Especially the third level on. Jeez, what’s up with Battletoads games and level three? Anyway, for a major boost, at the character select screen press Up, Down, Down, Up, X, B, Y, A. If applied correctly, after selecting your character you’ll be taken to this handy level select screen. It’ll also grant you 10 lives (you get three normally). The levels aren’t particularly long but this code increases the game’s enjoyability and longevity significantly.

Don't have to start on level one... — Don’t have to start on level one!

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

The game did alright with the critics, if not slightly underwhelming when you consider the crossover star power. EGM enjoyed it the most, giving it scores of 8, 8, 8 and 8. GameFan was notorious for handing out high ratings like they were free condiments at a fast food restaurant, but they were a bit lukewarm on Battletoads & Double Dragon. It received ratings of 74, 77, 79 and 80%. This is in the very same issue, mind, where Clay Fighter was infamously awarded a 97%. Just some food for thought. I’d be remiss if I also didn’t bring up how Sgt. Gamer’s comment pissed me off as a little kid. In his 74% score, he had this to say: “I do have some complaints, however; the biggest being the inclusion of the Double Dragon characters. In the immortal words of the Joker: It’s time to retire…” Man did that set me off back in 1993! I was and still am a huge Double Dragon mark but um, dude, it wouldn’t be called Battletoads & Double Dragon without the Lee brothers. Secondly, NO, they don’t need to retire — YOU DO. Ahem, sorry. Moving on then. Super Play was notoriously difficult on beat ‘em ups and it really showed here. They gave this game a freaking 37%. 37%! Wow. I freely admit this isn’t the greatest beat ‘em up by far but 37%? If anything, maybe they made a typo and it was supposed to be 73%, one might think. But nope, the whole review was scathing and negative. This is NOT a 37% game. So, as you can see, for such a big crossover the reception was a bit meh.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

That Saturday night at my friend’s house back in late 1994 paints the perfect picture in showcasing the strength of the SNES and like-minded friends. My friends and I didn’t bother leaving the house that night. Nope, instead we happily played two lesser known SNES games that gave us almost as much entertainment as one of the classics would have. Those two games? Samurai Shodown and Battletoads & Double Dragon. I remember us playing these two games for three or four hours and being as happy as pigs in mud. Two games that probably would not crack anyone’s personal Top 50 SNES list. Yet they’re a shining example of the system’s extensive library. There are tons of decent to solid little games that can easily entertain you and some pals. It’s no wonder I love the SNES so much. It’s the library that keeps on giving. Anyway, I just had to share that memory. I can’t write about this game without fondly recalling that fine evening.

When it comes to Battletoads & Double Dragon, it’s an unfortunate case of unfulfilled potential. It’s not a bad game but I personally can’t help but feel a bit disappointed by it. Sure it’s a blast with a friend but it’s not quite the ultimate crossover like how it should have been. For starters, while the music is actually quite well done with rock-like techno tunes, the sound is very forgettable and mediocre. But my main beef with this game is the Battletoads are clearly the stars and the Lee brothers come off more as supporting cast members. Worst yet, they don’t feel like the real Lee brothers. That to me as a huge Double Dragon fan is the biggest no-no. Even the Double Dragon enemies look weird and not true to spirit. Because Rare developed this game, rumor was they weren’t well versed with the Double Dragon universe and it honestly kind of shows when you play this game. The ‘Toads and their universe were well represented. But not so much on the Double Dragon end

"Ya killin' me here, Rare!" -Billy — *“Ya killing me here, Rare!”* -Billy

Gameplay-wise, there are quite a few blemishes. Right off the bat, there’s a sense of poor programming. This is evident when you can’t even switch characters after continuing. What? That almost defeats the purpose of having five to choose from. Sadly, the same flaw that plagued the original NES Battletoads and later Battletoads in Battlemaniacs is back: overlapping continues. That’s right, in 2-player mode when one of you dies, it’s back to the beginning of the stage. WHAT! WHY? Ugh. Just not good decisions. I also don’t mind a reasonably difficult game but this one borders on cheap after the first two stages. Things get pretty brutal later on, so thank God for the cheat code to skip stages and have 10 lives. And enemy damage is way too high. It’s very hard to stop them from killing you once you let them punch you once. This usually leads to a succession of punches that ends up in you losing a life. It’s very unforgiving — unnecessarily so. Last but not least, the control feels a bit off and the boss battles are cheap.

But on the bright side, and yes there is a bright side, it’s still freaking Battletoads & Double Dragon. Sure it’s watered down but it still counts for something. It is fun to play with a friend, even factoring in the annoying overlapping continues. The music, as I said, is really quite good. And THANK THE HEAVENS that they finally got the Turbo Tunnel section correct. It’s not just tolerable — it’s actually pretty fun! Amazing what happens when you make it reasonable, not overly long and not ridiculously hard. Can’t forget about that cheat code, either. It makes it all the more appealing to revisit the game every once in a while. Finally, I appreciate the dark humor and various comical bits. There’s definitely some charm here.

Well, at least they tried... — Well, at least they tried…

All in all, Battletoads & Double Dragon is a mixed bag. A disappointment, for sure, but not without some merit of its own. Leave any lofty expectations you may have at the door and you just might enjoy it. I try to appreciate it for what it is rather than complain about what it could have been. It’s admittedly hard at times when you think about the wasted potential but at the end of the day I’m glad we got this game at all. At the very least, it gave me and my friends some good memories. It should have been great but it isn’t. It is what it is. At least it’s playable and enjoyable enough. And at least we’ll always have Return of Double Dragon to remind us of what a great SNES Double Dragon game looks like

Graphics: 7
Sound: 8
Gameplay: 6
Longevity: 6

Overall: 6.0

Super Double Dragon (SNES)

**Pub & Dev: Technos | October 1992 | 8 MEGS**

Everyone who grew up with the NES back in the late ’80s to early ’90s had their own favorite franchises. The Super Mario Bros. series, Contra, Castlevania, Mega Man and so forth. With the arrival of the Super Nintendo we were all daydreaming about which of our NES favorites were next for the 16-bit treatment. One of my favorite franchises was Double Dragon. When I think of beat ‘em ups, my mind immediately goes to Double Dragon. Not Streets of Rage. Not Golden Axe. Not even Final Fight. Nope, my first thought has always been and will forever be… DOUBLE DRAGON. So you can imagine my cry for joy when Super Double Dragon graced North American shores October of 1992.

RETURN OF DOUBLE DRAGON

The definitive version — *Sleeping Dragon Has Awoke* — what a subtitle!

Everything about Return of Double Dragon: Sleeping Dragon Has Awoke is better, including this badass box art. There are several reasons why the Japanese version is better:

You can actually catch the boomerang. In the US version it knocks you down
You can switch weapons. In the US version you are stuck with what you have
Your Hurricane Kick can connect for multiple hits. In the US version it stops at one. Lame!
Less insane difficulty
Option mode to adjust lives plus a sound test
Expanded final stage
Less knife and bomb damage

The rest of this review will strictly be based on the Japanese version.

Sadly, Marian is mentioned but MIA in the game

MEMORIES FROM A BYGONE ERA

My brother and I were huge Double Dragon fans dating back to 1988 when the first game came out for the NES. We absolutely loved the sequel but the less said about Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones, the better.

Growing up I was lucky to have a close knit group of family friends. About once a month we gathered for a big sleepover. I fondly recall waking up bright and early Sunday mornings and diving right into Super Double Dragon that holiday season of ’92. The game holds an incredible amount of nostalgia for me — any time I see its visuals or hear its music I am instantly transported back to Brian’s room. It’s a bright crisp Sunday morning, shards of sunlight poking through the bedroom window, birds are chirping and we’re whupping some serious ass together while the smell of eggs and bacon permeates over from the kitchen. Those were the good old days. The golden era of my youth. Every once in a blue moon when I’m feeling super nostalgic, I bust this game out on an early Sunday morning. It never fails to bring a smile to my face, but what amazes me most is how well it’s held up nearly 25 years later.

THE STORY GOES…

NEO TOKYO 2064. Bright lights and a teeming nightlife... — Neo Tokyo 2064. Bright lights and a teeming nightlife

At a quick glance, it seems like a peaceful night

But something sinister lies beneath, brewing.... — But something sinister lies beneath, brewing….

"Think ya can disrespect the Shadow Warriors, punk?!" — *“Think ya can disrespect the Shadow Warriors, punk?!”*

"Where's the Double Dragon when you need 'em?" — *“Where’s the Double Dragon when you need ‘em?”*

Shadow Warriors have grown weary of ruling Neo Tokyo — Shadow Warriors grow weary of ruling Neo Tokyo

Nothing reinvigorates a man like new challenges... — Nothing reinvigorates a man like new challenges…

They decide to have one last night of fun... — They decide to have one last night of fun…

"C'MON, THIS IS OUR LAST NIGHT -- LET'S BLOW IT UP!" — *“C’MON, THIS IS OUR LAST NIGHT — LET’S BLOW IT UP!”*

Shadow Warriors must be stopped. Enter the Lee brothers — They must be stopped. Enter the Lee brothers

Sprites on the smaller side but love the visuals/sound — Sprites are small-ish but I love the visuals and sound

It's fun and games, until someone loses an eye — It’s fun until someone loses an eye

The weapons are so satisfying to use. There’s nothing better than flinging a blade at the Shadow Warriors. I also love the sound effect the knife makes whenever it hits the ground. Few beat ‘em ups have more effective weapons than right here.

Deflecting a weapon back feels SO DAMN GOOD! — Deflecting a weapon back feels **SO DAMN GOOD!**

Certain weapons in other beat ‘em ups seem to hinder you more than help. That’s just wrong. Any weapon in this type of genre should aid you, not make you even more vulnerable to incurring damage. This game gets it right — these weapons turn you into an unstoppable force. I especially love how you can deflect back weapons with a well-timed nunchuck swing!

Williams is about to have one HELL of a headache — Williams is about to have one *HELL* of a headache

Hold a shoulder button to charge your bar up there

Return of Double Dragon is full of BADASSERY — *Return of Double Dragon* is so badass

Few things are as satisfying as beating up thugs in the tiny confined space of an elevator. It makes you feel like you’re playing out some epic martial arts flick.

The stages, like this airport, are so atmospheric

Can't wait for the sequel (March 22, 2019) — Can’t wait for the sequel (March 22, 2019)

Each stage takes you through various sections

You can't but that doesn't stop you from looking cool — Actually you can’t but damn does this look sick

You can almost feel the cool night breeze... — You can almost feel the cool night breeze…

Japanese version's Roundhouse Kick > US — Or Cyclone Kick if you will

Kicking them from behind like such felt so good.

By the way, there was a wrestler in the WWF known as Test in the late ’90s. All I could think when I first saw Test was: “He’s Jackson in the flesh.”

Timed right, you can deflect knives with your fist! Now that’s badass. Also, use the punching bag to your advantage. It’s little details like this that makes this game a blast to play.

Jackson’s uppercut is LEGIT. Too bad for him though that he hit the punching bag in the process too hard…

It crashes at 60 MPH and somehow you're still alive! — It crashes at 60 MPH and somehow you’re still alive!

Reminds me of the slo-mo walk from Clockwork Orange — Reminds me of the slo-mo walk from *Clockwork Orange*

Almost fell out of my chair the first time I saw this. He freaking caught it, wow!

Nunchucks can deflect weapons, too. Sick!

Timed and placed properly, you can trap bad guys in a rather compromising position.

Gives them that little extra bit of personality

Now you get to fight McGuire to the death!

That's just wrong. I love this game :P — That’s just wrong. I love this game

Those small wooden boxes add a nice bit of flavor and personality to this boss fight. This game always manages to strike a chord with my imagination.

Too bad Abobo doesn't come smashing out — Too bad Abobo doesn’t come smashing out

One of the most iconic moments in NES history

Terry Bogard from Fatal Fury fame — Terry Bogard from *Fatal Fury* fame

The final level, Mission 7, takes ya to Duke's fortress — The final level, Mission 7, takes you to Duke’s fortress

Just being dramatic. Duke is actually kind of a push over — Just being dramatic. Duke is a bit of a push over

It's only missing a maze of mirrors... — It’s only missing a maze of mirrors…

Enter The Dragon 1973) — *Enter The Dragon* (1973)

Never gets old seeing him bite the dust in slow motion — Never gets old seeing him perish in slow motion

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

Shout out to DOUBLE DRAGON DOJO for this — Shout out to ***DOUBLE DRAGON DOJO*** for this scan

Super Double Dragon graced the cover of EGM but strangely was never reviewed. I’m not sure why. This might mark the only game ever to grace EGM’s cover without ever eventually being reviewed. GameFan gave Super Double Dragon ratings of 95 and 98% in their first issue (October 1992). It was the third highest rated game out of 36 titles that they rated in their debut issue. Super Play on the other hand wasn’t as impressed, scoring the game a paltry 68%. Over the years folks seem to be split on Super Double Dragon. One camp dislikes it because of how slow it is. The other camp loves the variety of moves along with excellent visuals and sound. If you’ve yet to play this game, or if it’s been a while, definitely play the Japanese version if you can.

"My thoughts on all the haters!" -Billy Lee — *“My thoughts on all the haters!”* -Billy Lee

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Too often underappreciated, this game packs a mighty punch — Often underappreciated, *RoDD* packs a mighty punch

Return of Double Dragon is one of my favorite beat ‘em ups not only on the Super Nintendo but of all time. It felt like such an epic all encompassing adventure. You start out under the bright lights of Las Vegas kicking ass in the streets of Sin City. Talk about a hot start! Then you traverse to places such as an airport, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge and China Town, a thug-filled forest and of course things conclude in a heavily fortified fortress. It’s got all the tropes of an epic action flick from the late ’80s to early ’90s. The amazingly detailed, intricate and diversified visuals captivated my imagination 25 years ago — hell, they still do to this day. While I do wish the sprites were a bit bigger, Return of Double Dragon more than holds up visually. The music is just classic Double Dragon. Hearing that classic NES theme in 16-bit form never fails to give me goosebumps. The game is a blast to play with all the moves available, counters, weapons and perhaps best of all the interactive environment. Where else can you send a punching bag crashing into a goon? Many beat ‘em ups suffer from repetition. This one stays fresh from start to finish with subtly sadistic moments of creativity and brilliance interspersed throughout.

This awesome art comes courtesy of AngusBurgers — This awesome art comes courtesy of *AngusBurgers*

It’s not without a few flaws, however. It does play a bit on the slower side so if you’re more into faster beat ‘em ups (such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles In Time), then the pace of play here may come off as a bit plodding. Personally, I don’t think it is plodding but I can see how others would feel that way. Another negative is that the game was rushed out the door in time for the Christmas season, so a lot of little features were cut out due to time. This is evident by a lack of cutscenes, plot details and a proper ending. As a result it really feels bare bones. But these are minor gripes. Return of Double Dragon does so much more good than bad. The sheer amount of moves you can execute would make Michael Jackson green with envy. Having such a wide arsenal of tactics at your disposal makes playing this game a blast. At times you can’t help but feel like a complete badass! Whether you’re blocking jump kicks, countering attacks or leaping off of pillars, Return of Double Dragon makes you feel like you’re Bruce F’N Lee! Sure it’s not perfect, but I feel this entry in the series is too often underappreciated. If you can overlook the slightly slower pace of play, then you’re in for an ass kicking treat.

Graphics: 9
Sound: 9
Gameplay: 9
Longevity: 8

Overall: 9.0
Gold Award

I loved this slow walk by the bosses — I absolutely ***love*** this slow walk by the bosses

Here’s a video I published back in 2015

Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban Trilogy (SFC)

Culture Brain's at it again — Culture Brain’s at it again

You might recall a somewhat obscure company (especially when compared to bigger names like Capcom and Konami) by the name of Culture Brain back in the day. They had a knack for making “quirky” games with features that were a little outside the box (to say the very least). You might remember them for the little quirky SNES game Super Baseball Simulator 1.000. Its Japanese title is Super Ultra Baseball and it was released in Japan on July 12, 1991. It graced North American shores in time for Christmas 1991 and earned itself a semi-cult following with many SNES players harboring fond memories of those early days. Well, did you know that Culture Brain released ANOTHER Super Nintendo baseball franchise but exclusively in Japan? This trilogy was known as Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban. They share a lot in common with the Super Ultra Baseball series and I find it oddly fascinating that one little company had essentially two similar but different baseball franchises running simultaneously on the same system. It’s about as quirky as Culture Brain itself was!

SUPER BASEBALL SIMULATOR 1.000 2?

Released on August 28, 1992, Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban feels more like the true sequel to Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 than Super Ultra Baseball 2 does, on account of the gap being one year as opposed to three. One thing that caught my eye right away was the ability to play in the early evening time which the original game did not present. I’m a sucker for night time in my video games, and that definitely (if not especially) includes baseball.

Sunny days are meant for baseball. But there’s also something beautiful about baseball in the early evening, and this game captures that.

Similarities between the two are inherently apparent. I dig the improved visuals of Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban. There’s something real clean and classy about it especially when compared side by side to the original as seen here.

Surely you can guess which game is which. What a difference one year makes.

Cosmetics aside, Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban also improved on its fielding. Players control a hair smoother.

Nothing compares to a close dramatic play at home plate!

WHAT THE — ! Culture Brain trying to infiltrate my brain…

Celebrate your big shot by shouting WAO! Who doesn’t?

There’s something truly majestic about smashing the ball deep into the night. You can almost smell the fresh cut grass and hot dogs. If you look closely you can even see the ball heading for those fancy lights there.

Admiring your handy work is all part of the fun.

Worry not, the Ultra Plays are back.

They’re what made the original game so popular and memorable. And just like the first game, when you activate an Ultra Play you and any base runners will flash as well. Good stuff.

That’s definitely going to leave a mark.

Missile Hit returns in all its glory.

That’s not the Flash. But you sure feel like him!

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Jitsumeiban in case you were wondering means “Real Player Version.” Culture Brain acquired the rights to use professional Japanese ball players in this trilogy, and this accounts for the major difference between this series and the Super Ultra Baseball one. Obviously there’s some Japanese text to wade through but it’s very manageable and just a really well made baseball game overall. I probably prefer Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 on account of English and nostalgia, but it’s definitely not a bad pick up if you’re so inclined.

ULTRA BASEBALL JITSUMEIBAN 2

The hi-jinx continues in some very charming ways

Funny story right off the bat [HAR HAR -Ed.], I bought this game back in 2006 and for a number of years was convinced it was the direct sequel to Super Baseball Simulator 1.000. After all, it was a Culture Brain baseball game with the number 2 attached at the end of it. How many bloody different baseball franchises on the same system can one company make? Well, apparently two. It came to my attention in 2008 or so that the direct sequel was Super Ultra Baseball 2. And that this game here, in fact, was Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 2. Yes, Culture Brain’s other baseball franchise on the Super Famicom. Confused yet? Don’t worry if you are, I sure as hell was nearly a decade ago. Who knew Culture Brain were such whores for baseball? They truly were the Capcom of this particular genre. So how does Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 2 separate itself from the crowded pack?

… IN SMALL AND BIG WAYS APPARENTLY

WHOA! Right away you notice there are two vastly different presentational styles. The default is a cute Chibi, almost Super Deformed style. But there’s also an option to switch to more traditional, typical 16-bit looking baseball sprites.

Honey, I Think I Shrunk The Ball Players! Call me a sucker for the small stuff but I love this! I personally prefer the Chibi style as it gives the game an even quirkier atmosphere not to mention it plays better in this mode.

Super Deformed mode allows you to see much of the field on defense. The other mode, however, doesn’t. It makes a huge difference when you lose that MUCH real estate! Playing defense takes a huge hit because you see less.

While it’s cool that Culture Brain threw in this mode, it honestly feels more like a throwaway than a well thought out process. Look at the fielding. You can’t see much and it really hinders play. Shame they didn’t adjust the scope because then it would truly feel like two games in one. Still, being an option, it’s hard to complain much about this. Just stick to the Chibi mode and you’ll be fine.

These two shots above are from Super Ultra Baseball 2 (July 28, 1994). Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 2 only came out less than five months later on December 22, 1994. It’s easy to see Culture Brain just slapped on the sprites from Super Ultra Baseball 2 as a bonus. But look at the much more reasonable fielding in that game. Why they didn’t convert that over as well is much to the detriment of this additional mode. So it’s a nice novelty but not one with any real staying power.

Nevertheless, I still admire that it’s even there to begin with. It kind of feels like this game Culture Brain wanted to sort of melt their two franchises together: the Super Ultra Baseball series with Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban. While not a home run, I admire the swinging attempt, anyhow. Besides, the Ultra Plays will forever connect the two series and it’s always a welcomed sight.

Charming, isn’t it? It’s a lot of fun to play, too.

Baseball pitchers or Street Fighters? It’s hard to tell at times. But it’s absolutely brilliant all the same.

There’s even sort of a quasi-EarthBound style to its visuals…

Speaking of the Bomb special (as seen above next to EarthBound), it always cracks me up to see the ball exploding in the bleachers. Hope those fans are OK!

ProTip: Avoid meteors whenever possible.

Taking out multiple defenders with the Missile Hit? Priceless.

Nervous, are we? Oh, I see why. Hey, this is baseball. Not ballet!

CLOSING THOUGHTS

There’s something about Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 2 that I can’t help but love. I admire Culture Brain’s attempt to blend the two franchises together. Of the trilogy, this is the closest example to such a feat. While it isn’t perfect, you have to admire the attempt. If only they nailed it then this could have been Culture Brain’s definitive baseball game. Still, I love the default Chibi mode. It plays well and it’s the closest thing we’ll probably ever get to EarthBound Plays Baseball. If that sounds like a good thing to you then give Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 2 a swing.

ULTRA BASEBALL JITSUMEIBAN 3

The last of the trilogy — Ends it with a bang or a whimper?

Arriving mere days before Halloween 1995 (October 27), Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 3 is what you’d get if you took the previous two Jitsumeiban games and mixed them in a visual blender. It’s not quite Super Deformed as the second game but it’s not as serious looking as the first one. It’s almost as if Culture Brain settled on a balance of the two. I appreciate their efforts in making each game in this trilogy look different. At least you can’t say they just put out the same game every year like you can with some other companies, ahem…

And look, they did it again! You get two different styles of play. The left is the default. Thankfully, the optional mode plays a little better than the previous game’s optional mode, but it’s still not the best and I recommend sticking to the default style for optimal gameplay. But more on that in a bit.

Exclamation speech bubbles are a nice new touch. Other added details include batters taking practice swings and digging their cleats deep into the dirt. Unfortunately, while you would think added details are a good thing, perhaps not always. Extra animation leads to games taking a wee bit longer to complete. We’re not talking significantly longer, but long enough to be noticeable. It still plays extremely well but you’ll need a little more patience with this one.

Whereas the alternative visual mode in the previous game was appealing, I have to say not so much on this one. It feels extremely generic in this visual style. Stick to the default.

Besides, the default style plays a lot better since it gives you a better scope of real estate on defense. The alternative mode still suffers from being too closely zoomed in as it did in the previous game. It’s a little better but still not ideal.

PRO YAKYUU STAR

Culture Brain’s true swan song on the SNES though came with 1997’s Pro Yakyuu Star. It was a standalone title that took a bulk of the graphics engine from Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 3 but it improved vastly on gameplay. Fielding and catching the ball never felt so smooth. Unfortunately, the trade-off is there are no Ultra Plays anywhere to be found. Still, as far as straight-laced baseball games on the SNES go, Pro Yakyuu Star is easily one of the better ones.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 3 is yet another solid addition to Culture Brain’s long running series of baseball games. Don’t worry, the Ultra Plays are in this game as well. However, Pro Yakyuu Star plays a lot better so my problem with this game is whenever I play it I often feel like I’m playing a lesser version of Pro Yakyuu Star, due to the similarities in graphics. As mentioned earlier, it also takes a little longer finishing one game here than it does in previous ones, due to the added animation. If I had to rank the three Jitsumeiban games I would go 2, 1, 3.

Ranking Culture Brain’s six SNES baseball games:

1. Super Baseball Simulator 1.000
2. Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 2
3. Pro Yakyuu Star
4. Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban
5. Super Ultra Baseball 2
6. Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 3

Because I’m a nut for baseball, I own all six of these games. They’re all very good but you probably don’t need to play all six (unless you’re crazy like me). If you can only play a few, I recommend checking out the top three in my list above. Pro Yakyuu Star, being the last one released, honestly probably plays the best of them all but because it lacks Ultra Plays I have a soft spot for the earlier games and tend to prefer playing them instead. Enough yapping — there’s only one thing left to do…

Super Ultra Baseball 2 (SFC)

It's Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 2! — Culture Brain strikes again!

Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 has something of a semi-cult following. An early first generation SNES game, it thrilled players with its engrossing customization and ridiculously fun Ultra Plays. These plays, when activated, give you certain special powers. For example, baseballs turn into floating leaves or scorching meteors. Culture Brain wasn’t shy to think (way) outside the box and they brought a certain level of fun to the genre like no one had done before. It’s a shame, then, that the sequel never saw the light of day here in North America. Released on July 28, 1994, Super Ultra Baseball 2 takes everything you loved about Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 and ups the ante.

BIGGER AND BEEFIER

Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 looks a bit crude in places. I mean, there’s still a certain level of charm to the rudimentary graphics but no one will ever say that it’s pleasing to the eye. Super Ultra Baseball 2, on the other hand, legitimately looks like a port of an arcade baseball title! Also, new little details like the sweat beads bouncing off a nervous batter’s forehead brings a whole new sense of life to the game. Of course graphics aren’t the be-all, end-all of a video game, but it’s nice when they’re nice! Keep in mind though — the first game was released in Japan on July 12, 1991, so the sequel that came out three years later is bound to look that much better.

Lovely little intro opens us up. You still get 18 teams to pick from, just like in the first game. And just like the first one, there are six Ultra League teams capable of utilizing the Ultra Plays.

Select from six stadiums and then if applicable, choose how many Ultra Play points you wish to have. You can go as low as 50 or as high as infinite.

Presentation is on point. Love the way it looks, especially when you have runners at the corners. One of the best looking SNES baseball games around!

Those wacky and nutty Ultra Plays are back and better looking than ever.

Tinkering with all the Ultra Plays is half the fun!

Brings new meaning to “He’s got ELECTRIC stuff.”

Pitchers had their fun — now it’s time for the batters. The fan favorite Missile Hit is back and still functions the same. Get the hell outta its way!

Another fan favorite, the Bomb returns to terrorize defenders.

Fielding and running feels a bit smoother than the original.

Baseball players often describe being “in the zone” as seeing the ball like it’s the size of a beach ball. This must be what they’re talking about…

Seriously, does it get any cooler than this?

BUT IS IT BETTER?

Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 or Super Ultra Baseball 2? It really is a tough call. To answer the question of is it better… my answer would have to be yes and no. Graphically, it’s not even close (no surprise there). The fielding is a bit smoother and I’d say SUB 2 plays a bit better than its predecessor.

However, Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 has it beat in two categories: stadium “life” and music. SUB 2 isn’t bad sounding or anything but the renditions were better in the original. Listen to the two and there’s really no comparison. By stadium “life” I mean just look at the first picture here. The first game had some quirky ballparks that added to the charm of the game, such as the field with a tiny white fence that makes hitting home runs a lot easier. Although there are still six stadiums in SUB 2, they all sort of feel the same and there are no interesting quirks with any of them, really. It feels slightly “soulless” if you get my drift. I also even miss the way the first game would zoom in after a home run.

Summary: the first game wins in music and stadium variety. The sequel wins in graphics and gameplay. If only Culture Brain could have combined the two games it would have been the perfect baseball game.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

You can’t go wrong with either game. If you love Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 then you’ll like this as well. It’s hard to pick but if I were forced to, as of right now I would give the slight edge to the first game. Regardless, Super Ultra Baseball 2 is a damn fine sequel that’s sure to make any fan of the first game proud. The wacky Ultra Plays make this an appealing title that even non-baseball fans can enjoy.

Each game in this series brings different pros and cons to the table. Both complement each other well and it’s nice to own both with the choice to play whichever one you’re in the mood for. Super Ultra Baseball 2 has more of that modern flair with all the Ultra Plays you love from the original. But Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 has that classic nostalgic early first generation SNES charm to it. Both games are fun as hell and sure to entertain baseball gamers for many more summers to come. Not to mention those cold December nights where real life baseball is well into its offseason. So grab your mitt, er, SNES controller, and play ball!

"I'm too old for this SH*T!" — ***“I’m too old for this SHIT!”***

PS- Can’t get enough of these wacky Culture Brain baseball titles? Then be sure to check out Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban Trilogy and Pro Yakyuu Star.

Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 (SNES)

**Pub & Dev: Culture Brain | December 1991 | 4 MEGS**

Every year when summer rolls along I can’t help but grow nostalgic for the 16-bit baseball games of my youth. Summer and baseball just go together, and that includes baseball video games. While I don’t recall playing Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 back in the ’90s, I do remember wondering about it and wishing I could have played it. It’s a game that has gone on to achieve something of a semi-cult status in diehard SNES circles. After playing it myself, it’s easy to see why.

HOMECOMING

January 26, 2006. I remember it like it was yesterday. I just got back into all things Super Nintendo (January 17, 2006) and on that Thursday night I decided to revisit my childhood town. It marked 10 years since I moved from my childhood home. 10 years. I wanted to swing by the old crib and also check out the Game Crazy inside my childhood Hollywood Video, which still stood at the time. Being less than two weeks into my SNES resurrection and having a want list of over 200 games meant there was a good chance I was going to find at least one game to add to my ever growing collection.

My childhood Hollywood Video, taken January 2006 — My childhood Hollywood Video — in the flesh!

Early 2006 was a good time to get back into the SNES scene. Prices had yet to explode and real life stores like Game Crazy (a chain tucked inside Hollywood Video locations) actually carried a decent selection of SNES games. So many times as a kid my dad would take me to this very Hollywood Video location and I would browse the horror section endlessly as well as the 16-bit rentals. It was a joy to be able to pick up the various boxes to examine up close, admiring the art work on the front and reading the description on the back of the boxes. It’s a shame kids nowadays don’t get to experience that.

That fine evening I bought Art of Fighting, Clay Fighter, Mortal Kombat II and Super Baseball Simulator 1.000. It was a perfect mix of childhood favorites and curiosities. Clay Fighter was a guilty pleasure while MK II was legit one of my favorite SNES games, period. As for Art of Fighting and Super Baseball Simulator 1.000, those were two games I always wanted to play as a kid but just never did. Now I could. Such is the beauty of retro gaming — the combination of availability and having the disposable income today that you didn’t have 20-25 years ago. It’s the closest thing to a time machine.

Four more games crossed off the ol’ want list. Clay Fighter was free because Game Crazy used to do this Buy 2 Get 1 Free deal for older games. Early 2006 was definitely a glorious time to be buying SNES games. Alas, I digress once more. I couldn’t wait to finally play Super Baseball Simulator 1.000.

A QUICK HISTORY LESSON

Culture Brain released Baseball Simulator 1.000, known as Choujin Ultra Baseball in Japan, to the NES in March of 1990. It stood out in a crowded genre thanks in part to its Ultra Plays. Ultra Plays give batters and pitchers different temporary power-ups, such as being able to throw a fire ball — a much faster fastball that is also capable of eliminating an opposing batter from the game if it hits them! Needless to say, it was a fun and quirky take on the sport that endeared itself to many NES gamers.

December 1991 saw the release of Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 (known as Super Ultra Baseball in Japan). It brought over the Ultra Plays that made the NES original so memorable. While not everyone’s cup of tea, to me it stands as one of Super Nintendo’s most fun baseball games.

OPTIONS

Select your desired options and then pick from one of 18 teams. The six teams in the Ultra League have the ability to use Ultra Plays.

Playing with an Ultra League team gives you the choice to set how many points you want. Each Ultra Play costs a certain amount of points. You can set it as low as 50 or unlimited. Or turn it off altogether if you’re the purist type.

There are six stadiums to pick from. I love the way the umpire looks. Gives off that “NES baseball” vibe and I mean that in the best way possible. Screw the fancy 3D models of today’s baseball games. Give me charming and cartoony sprites any day of the week!

Zooming in because Mode 7! My personal favorite is Brown Stadium. I love the way it has those tiny little white fences tucked in there to give you a chance at hitting some “cheapie” home runs…

PLAY BALL!

Baseball games from that era suffered a bit from weak arms. Yes, there’s a bit of that here, too. Balls will bounce in the dirt even from short distances. It’s not ideal but it’s not a game killer.

Double plays are pretty smooth and easy to turn. A minor pet peeve: the runner disappears when he’s thrown out rather than running away. But again, just a minor gripe, really. Fielding is fairly good and that’s the most important thing.

Sometimes you appear to be safe but you’re called OUT instead. Now that can be frustrating. But I like to think of it as the umpire made a bad call, just like you see in real life every now and again. I mean, it’s not too bad but is worth noting.

Umpire didn’t mess up here, though. See? It’s not too bad. Too bad the game doesn’t show you the new score when a run comes in, though. Small touch but goes a long way. But you get used to it.

Speaking of human error, if you turn errors on then that’s exactly what can happen from time to time. D’oh! It does bring an added sense of realism, though.

Seeing a ball you hit bounce off the top of the wall is a bit of a bummer. But in this case at least you still got a chance at driving in a run. The base runner icon in this game is a bit funky. Instead of seeing it progress naturally, it only updates every halfway point or so. It’s a bit jarring the first time you see it.

ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE

Seeing a ball you hit just barely clear the fence is ultra satisfying.

Smashing home runs never get old. Nice fake hustle there!

Robby smacks the ball DEEP! Well OK, sort of deep. A little bit deep-ish? The center fielder gives chase to cover his teammate out in right who already has a beat on the ball…

Actually, he doesn’t. No, the right fielder can only witness in horror and frustration as the ball innocently sails just past the little white picket fence and lands in the grass clearing in front of the big blue wall. These are the best home runs to hit. It doesn’t get any better than that!

Gratuitous Mode 7 ensues. Quirky and endearing.

Perhaps I spoke too soon… the mammoth MOON SHOT that leaves no doubt is the absolute best. Holy crap look how high up that one went!

ULTRA PLAYS

Majestic home runs are nice but let’s check out the real star of the game here: ULTRA PLAYS. This one turns the ball into a leaf which floats slowly and makes it difficult for the defender to catch. Love the way the batter (and the runner too) flashes. It’s the small details!

Looking for a power boost? Look no farther. This Ultra Play gobbles up 9 points, though.

Super Stroke Simulator 1.000, more like.

Brings new meaning to the term, “That player bombed…”

Missile Hit Ultra Play represents all that is right in gaming. It’s impossible not to smile when you see this (unless it’s happening to you). God bless Culture Brain for thinking outside the box.

Another great laugh. This game is endearing as hell!

Pitchers wanna have fun, too! This one makes the ball disappear during its flight to home plate before reappearing at the very last second. Pretty cruel stuff…

Think of all the great unhittable pitches of our time. Pedro Martinez’s curveball. Nolan Ryan’s fastball. Mariano Rivera’s cutter. Well, with that historical context firmly in mind, add to it the leafball. That’s right, the LEAFBALL. It’s so slow and perplexing that hitters can swing and miss SEVERAL times before it ever hits the catcher’s mitt!

Pissed off, the batter decides to let it go. Who knows, maybe it’ll fall in for a ball. GOD DAMNIT! 35 MPH strike?! YA GOTTA BE KIDDIN’ ME, MAN!

EDIT AND SCOUT

Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 is extremely customizable. It was a marvel back in 1991 for those who played it back then. You can adjust and alter Ultra Plays to your heart’s content.

Construct your very own team, players and their ratings. Hell, even choose the uniform color! This was groundbreaking stuff back in 1991. And yes, I did max out a certain “Steve” there… [Only in video games -Ed.]

Steve steps up to the plate, batting .750 with 99 HR, and launches one off his bat. Let’s see how far it goes… [Like I said, only in video games -Ed.]

HOLY SHIT! Marvel at how far this moon shot goes.

SUPER BASEBALL SIMULATOR 1.000 2

Unbeknownst to some, Culture Brain released a sequel only in Japan. Super Ultra Baseball 2 came out on July 28, 1994. It beefed up the visuals but kept the same quirky gameplay that made the first one so endearing. It’s a shame it never came out to North America. An English translation of SUB 2 can be found online…

SIMILAR TITLES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Culture Brain made many SNES baseball games in Japan only. This is Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban. Released August 28, 1992, it plays pretty much like Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 but it features real professional Japanese baseball players. Still has all the Ultra Plays you know and love but it’s presented in a slightly less cartoonish way.

Obsessed with pumping out baseball games much? Culture Brain was pretty much the Capcom of the baseball genre! Not five months after Super Ultra Baseball 2, Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 2 graced the Land of the Rising Sun on December 22, 1994. Yup, little Japanese boys and girls enjoyed themselves a merry baseball Christmas that holiday season. The biggest change? The visuals. I really like their decision to go Super Deformed. There’s something charming about a 16-bit baseball game featuring slightly deformed ball players. Kind of even has a quasi-EarthBound look, eh? Best of all, the Ultra Plays are still here.

Arriving mere days before Halloween 1995 (October 27), Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 3 is what you’d get if you took the previous two games in the series and mixed them in a visual blender. It’s not quite Super Deformed as the second game and it’s not as “serious looking” as the first one. But it still has all the Ultra Plays you could want!

Culture Brain released its final Super Famicom baseball title on January 17, 1997. Rather than go with Super Ultra Baseball 3 or Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 4, Pro Yakyuu Star was a standalone effort. Although the Ultra Plays were scrapped, from a technical standpoint this is Culture Brain’s best SNES baseball game. Improved fielding after all goes a long way. If you miss the Ultra Plays, you can play any of the five previous games.

Overall, you can’t go wrong with any of these. They’re all fun and charming in their own way. On a side note, a wacky Japanese announcer is introduced in Ultra Baseball Jitsumeiban 2 and reappears from there on out. You know, just to give those games even more of a Japanese punch. There’s some Japanese text to navigate obviously, but nothing you can’t figure out. If you love Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 then you owe it to yourself to check out its direct sequel Super Ultra Baseball 2 at the very least. While you’re at it, it might be worth your while to sample Culture Brain’s other baseball offerings as well.

You baseball whores you! :D — You baseball whores you!

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

Had Taco Bell for breakfast eh? — Had Taco Bell for breakfast, eh?

Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 is quite the polarizing little game. On the surface it appears to be a crude looking rudimentary baseball game. That alone makes it not everyone’s cup of tea. I’ve seen many retro gamers say that this game was “meh.” Super Play rated it 49%. I can see why someone would give this game such a low mark. But then you have a camp of retro gamers who love this game and swear by it. It’s got sort of a semi-cult following, even. And it’s easy to see why. The kooky Ultra Plays, the insane level of customization and just the overall fun. While it doesn’t come close to topping the almighty Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball, this is easily one of the best SNES baseball games especially if we’re talking strictly North American releases only. I get a kick out of reading stories about how much Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 meant to various people throughout the years. It’s really quite the little nostalgic number for many folks who grew up with the SNES back in the early ’90s. When so many people love a game, you know the developer did something right.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

As far as 16-bit baseball games go, Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 is admittedly a bit elementary. The fielding isn’t the best. Players’ arms are way too weak. It’s got more than its fair share of blemishes. However, this is all overlooked (somewhat) because of how much damn fun it is to play. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, as evident with the Ultra Plays. Some are downright comical such as the Missile Hit which sends any poor defender who catches the ball careening hard into the outfield wall, complete with dizzy stars encircling their bruised dome. It’s ridiculous stuff like this that makes it such a joy to play. Not into Ultra Plays? Turn it off, limit it or play as one of the non-Ultra League teams. Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 is as serious or as silly as you decide to make it. That versatility goes a long way! It’s impossible not to crack a grin at some of the zany “Did that really just happen now?” moments. Few baseball games have made me smile more than this one. I only wish I played it back in the ’90s.

The visuals are improved over the NES original obviously but they’re far from great. They’re a bit crude in places but there’s an overall charm to them that works, from the various batting stances to even the way the different stadiums are constructed. It gets the job done. The music gets really upbeat when you have a rally going and is pretty pleasant on the ears, as long as you enjoy that early ’90s baseball video game vibe. I personally do. The gameplay as I mentioned has a few rough spots but it’s perfectly functional and once you get the hang of things you’ll find your groove. The amount of options and customization along with the creativity of the Ultra Plays make this a winner. If you’re tired of baseball games that take themselves way too seriously and you’re looking for something that isn’t afraid to operate outside the box, Super Baseball Simulator 1.000 is a good bet to scratch that itch.

Graphics: 4.5
Sound: 8
Gameplay: 8.5
Longevity: 9

Overall: 8.5

Super Bases Loaded 2 (SNES)

Pub: Jaleco | Dev: Tose | February 1994 | 12 MEGS — ***Pub: Jaleco | Dev: TOSE | February 1994 | 12 MEGS***

Here at RVGFanatic I relish the opportunity to talk about my favorite SNES games. In particular, I love shining the spotlight on those obscure games that flew under the radar. There are many Super Nintendo games that one could classify as such, but here’s one that is criminally overlooked. It’s so far below the radar that it honestly blows my mind. On the other hand, being a sports game it kind of automatically slips through the cracks. 16-bit sports games aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. But I’ve always loved a well made one, and Super Bases Loaded 2 certainly is that. I’m going on the record to calling this the second best baseball game on the SNES, only trailing the epochal Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball. Obviously, if you don’t care for 16-bit baseball titles, this may not sway you in any way. But for everyone else, read on and more importantly, play the game yourself and see if it doesn’t become a favorite of yours as well.

MIDSUMMER CLASSIC

Last night Major League Baseball put on its 88th annual All-Star Game.

Robinson Cano hit the go ahead home run to put the American League up 2-1 over the National League in 10 innings.

Baseball has a funny way of repeating history in the most bizarre of ways.

July 11, 1967: Tony Perez hits an extra innings homer to lift the NL past the AL in the All-Star Game by the score of 2-1 in Anaheim.

July 11, 2017: Robinson Cano hits an extra innings homer to lift the AL past the NL in the All-Star Game by the score of 2-1 in Miami.

Not a single extra innings home run in-between those 50 years. Not only that but before Tuesday night’s All-Star Game in Miami, baseball put together a ceremony to honor the game’s Latin American history. Eight Latin-born Hall of Famers threw out first pitches to eight Latin-born All-Stars.

In one group? Tony Perez. In the other group? Robinson Cano. Yup, only in baseball. It’s no wonder so many diehard fans have the same mentality: “It’s hard NOT to get romantic about baseball.”

With summer currently in full swing, I decided it was time to start a 162-game season. Normally I play Ken Griffey but this time I decided to pull a different baseball title off my shelf. Over a decade ago I remember playing Super Bases Loaded 2 briefly and thinking that it was pretty enjoyable. I decided to give it a more thorough look and ended up having an absolute blast with it. Let’s see why it’s one of the most underrated sports games on the entire Super Nintendo.

BUT FIRST, A QUICK HISTORY LESSON

Bases Loaded originated on the 8-bit Nintendo. It went on to have three sequels on the NES. The series was immensely popular, selling more than five million copies worldwide.

The series naturally moved to the SNES.

Neat little fact #1: Many people associate Jaleco with the Bases Loaded series but it’s actually TOSE who developed all of these games. Jaleco picked up the publishing rights.

Neat little fact #2: Super Bases Loaded 2 is the only game in the series not originally intended to be part of the series. TOSE developed Super Professional Baseball 2 (the actual sequel to Super Bases Loaded) in August 1992. They then developed a stand alone baseball game, Super 3D Baseball, in October of 1993. Jaleco decided to publish Super 3D Baseball here in the States as Super Bases Loaded 2. Interesting that they skipped over Super Professional Baseball 2. This explains the drastic shift in style and look for Super Bases Loaded 2.

Jaleco made the right call to port Super 3D Baseball rather than Super Professional Baseball 2.

PLAY BALL!

Customize the game as you see fit: it is very player-friendly. The first Super Bases Loaded suffered from not having a battery backed memory. This game fixes that. Although the players aren’t real nor the teams, it’s still fun to play.

Select from 18 teams. I personally enjoy using the L.A. Cyclops. Four teams are customizable but more on that later.

Choose from three different stadiums to play in. I wish each team had its own field but the three here all play differently. This one is the biggest and is good for triples galore. Also has the tallest wall of the three.

Standard park with all your modern amenities.

Classic ball park with the shortest distance to straight away center field.

SET YOUR LINEUP

Set your batting order carefully. Players do vary in terms of ability to hit base hits, home runs, swipe bags, throwing power, etc. Unfortunately, there’s no way to discern this other than trial and error. The stats do help sometimes, but it would have been nice to see a rundown exactly. This is my preferred lineup. The green icons indicate players who feel locked in for that particular game. On the flip side, the orange-yellow icon shows players who aren’t feeling so hot. This doesn’t mean they still can’t perform well, but their odds go down. It’s an interesting system that Extra Innings also had.

Players charge the field. It’s a nice little touch.

Speaking of nice touches, I like how batters receive a quick statistical rundown. It’s a classic, clean look that I really dig. You can check your swing and sometimes this leads to cheap infield singles. Nice!

Jaleco proudly declared on the back of the box that this was the first SNES baseball game to employ the DSP chip. Obviously it’s not really 3D but there’s something charming about the way this game looks. Better yet, you can actually steal bases like a thief in the night.

Power of the DSP chip allows the camera to track the baseball in a “3D fashion.” It’s quite smooth and although it’s not the fastest baseball game around, it works well. Nothing beats seeing the ball land just fair. Cyclops go up 1-0 early.

Simon crushes the baseball to right field for a two run jack! It’s pretty cool being able to track the ball for those massive home run swats.

Defense is a make or break aspect of a baseball game. I’m happy to say the defense in Super Bases Loaded 2 is AWESOME. You almost always feel in control and while the infielders move a bit slowly, diving stops work great and it feels so good to gun out a base runner. Most baseball games render themselves instantly obsolete due to poor defense. This one does not!

Seeing the ball pop off the bat is so satisfying. Is this another home run shot? Nope. Close but no cigar. No matter, it still brings home a run. L.A. Cyclops go up 4-0 on the Boston Kings. Gotta love the fake names. It’s charming in its own way.

Stretching a double into a triple is the best.

Getting beaned, however, not so much. Sometimes the hit batter will even charge the mound and “beat up” the pitcher. No joke. First time I saw that I marked out!

Hitting line drive doubles just inside the foul line is immensely gratifying.

Adding insult to injury is the dribbler that sneaks through the infield for another RBI hit. The camera really lets you see the ball getting pounded into the dirt as it travels just past the defenders. Sweet!

Perhaps nothing is more demoralizing to the opposition than seeing the ball land in-between two defenders (“No Man’s Land”) and roll all the way to the fence as opposing base runners madly dash around the bases. Oh man does it feel good to do this. On the flip side, it’s crushing to be on the receiving end.

Unlike many baseball games from that era, it’s actually possible to score on sacrifice flies. Players’ speed and arm strength in this game feel almost “just right” for the most part. I love scoring on sac flies! It also doesn’t ruin the batter’s batting average, just like in real life. Good stuff.

Flashing off some leather! Like I said, the defense in this game is pretty top-notch. You’ll be stealing away base hits from the opponent like a demon. I also like how the outfield switches seamlessly to a more traditional look.

Another sick home run shot. If I had turned on the slaughter rule, this game would have already been over. But there’s no slaughter rule in the pros and I got to get my stats…

Leaping catches are sick. But oh, the agony of letting one through the cracks.

Aggressive base running from the Kings. Down 11-0, they’ve got nothing to lose.

Nothing beats a diving save over the third base chalk line that leads to gunning out the runner at first. So damn satisfying!

Robbing would be base hits is so smooth and natural in this game.

Seriously, this is an awesome baseball game! So underrated.

WOW… FAIR BY A HAIR! It’s such a helpless feeling for the defender as he chases after the ball.

Baseball, like football, can often times be a game of inches. Being on the offensive side of this is a great feeling. Not so much on the defensive side.

Simon once again terrorizes the Boston Kings, smacking a 2 run double in the gap. The L.A. Cyclops have now scored 3 touchdowns and gone up 21-1. Damn. By the way, you gotta love how the game shows you how each batter performed in his previous at-bats. Especially when a guy has a multi-hit game. Fill up that stat sheet!

Another solid single that barely sneaks past the defenders into right field. It’s so fun tracking your hits since the perspective doesn’t switch until you hit the outfield.

Suicide squeeze up 22-1? I’m definitely getting beaned next time! But check out how you can lower your bunt if you so choose. You can swing or bunt high, normal or low in this game. It all adds to the variety and options.

Gonna be a close play at the plate… SAFE! 26-1, 25 run lead. DAMN.

Computer’s defense is definitely not the smartest. 2 outs and instead of throwing to first base for the sure 3rd out, he throws it to second base. SAFE. The second baseman then flings it to first but he’s a half second late. SAFE. Bases loaded for a crack at a Grand Slam and 30 runs…

Patton steps up to the plate having had a monster day. A single, two doubles and a home run already in the books, could he go 5 for 7 with a Grand Slam to boot? Uh oh… look at that swing! Look at that ball fly… could it be?!

HOLY SHIT Patton did it! The ball stays just fair to give Patton a Grand Slam and a monster game for the ages. The L.A. Cyclops are spanking the Boston Kings 30-1!

Computer, allow me to show you how a real double play is turned! Double plays are the best especially the diving ones. Double plays are a pitcher’s best friend after all. One last out to get…

Another sick diving save at 3rd base. It never gets old.

Sheer, utter whuppage — Holy crap — 30 hits and 30 runs!

FAIR OR FOUL?

Hitting a ball fair or foul is one of those “OHH!” moments for sure. Whether you’re pumping your fist or cursing your lot in life, it certainly elicits that “OHH!” feeling.

Nothing beats seeing a ball land just fair and roll all the way to the wall! Well, if you’re on offense, anyhow.

SAFE OR OUT?

Speaking of the umps, they always get the final say. That won’t stop your 1st base coach however from signaling safe even when the runner is called out. It’s little stuff like this that helps make a game more endearing to me.

BIG OR SMALL?

Players will sometimes “shrink and grow” on the infield. It doesn’t really affect gameplay but it’s a notable quirk. Hey, the DSP chip wasn’t perfect.

DESIGN OR NOT?

Super Bases Loaded 2 allows you to design up to four teams. You can change their player names — this could potentially lead to some juvenile antics but thankfully there’s none of the sort here. [Right -Ed.]. Players are rated in different categories and you can set the number ratings however you wish. You can create the ultimate team of players with 8’s across the board, or the worst team possible with all 1’s. Or you can make them all 4’s, or mix and match. It’s pretty cool.

Speed makes all the difference... — Speed makes all the difference…

SEASON STATS

As mentioned earlier I recently wrapped up a 162-game season. I finished 154-8 for a whopping 95% winning percentage. Won the Omega League by 70+ games! I averaged about 3.75 runs a game and over 2 stolen bases a game.

I freely admit I am a sucker for round numbers. I would hate to end a season with a .299 batting average, 29 home runs, 99 RBIs and 39 stolen bases…

Thankfully Patton was having none of that.

I had three guys in the top 10 for home runs: Baker (36), Patton (32) and Simon (28). Bonner also had 23 so technically he should have been the 4th guy in the top 10.

I had four guys in the top 10 for RBIs: Patton (113), Simon (103), Baker (91) and Bonner (77). I was a little peeved that I couldn’t get 9 more RBIs with Baker to give him an even 100.

I had nine guys in the top 10 for stolen bases! I really love how you can steal bases in this game. Leigh was a beast leading the way with 69 steals.

That Cooper guy on Philly is pretty good!

Damn, Ryan 80 wins and Willis 76 saves!

Unfortunately, I couldn’t take pictures of my final regular season stats. After Game 162, you’re taken to the World Series and the stats reset for post season play. Therefore I couldn’t take pictures but I did write down the stats. I will show the “normal” stats for each L.A. batter below. The caption will reveal the stats I had with that player during the 162-game season.

I clinched the Omega League after 119 games

Boston took me to 7 games. Props to them

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

Sadly, there was never much hub-bub about Super Bases Loaded 2. I remember a one page preview in EGM in early 1994 that caught my eye. The graphics for the time were unique and didn’t look like any other 16-bit baseball title. I ended up buying a copy in 2006 after experiencing my SNES resurrection. I remember playing it very briefly and thinking it was pretty fun, but I stored it away. Earlier this summer I finally decided to pick it up and play again. What started as a few games turned into a full 162-game season! Maybe if more people played it there would be some more positive chatter about this highly underrated game.

Sports fans, don't miss this! — Baseball fans, don’t miss this!

CLOSING THOUGHTS

I’m so glad I finally sat down to play this game thoroughly. It’s now become one of my favorite Super Nintendo games, especially as far as sports games go. There’s just something about it that feels so right. The graphics aren’t the greatest but it has that classic retro baseball look to it. If I were to close my eyes and think of a 16-bit baseball game, my mind would probably think of a screenshot from a game like Super Bases Loaded 2. And I love that camera system. It’s the only SNES baseball game I know where hitting the ball doesn’t automatically switch the camera. If you smack it into the infield the camera simply zooms back and you never miss a beat on making a defensive stop. Speaking of which, defense for the most part feels natural and smooth. There are a few mishaps here and there, though. Namely, the infielders can feel like they’re slightly in mud every once in a while. But you get used to the speed pretty soon. Since we’re on the topic of speed, this is a big one for baseball games. You know how sometimes runners run too fast or too slow? Or the defenders’ arms are too strong or too weak? This seems to be that rare 16-bit baseball game that almost gets it right. Players aren’t lightning fast nor are they slow as turtles. Arms aren’t super strong yet the ball never bounces to home plate from the outfield 11 freaking times! Best of all, pace of play. You can finish a 9 inning game in about 15 minutes. That makes games fast-paced and fun.

Some may complain about the lack of teams, real names, real players, lack of stadiums and lack of in-game music. I actually don’t mind the fake players in this case. I find the game’s 14 teams (18 if you count the four custom teams) strangely endearing. I like discovering each team’s best and worst players. Besides, there’s plenty of other baseball games on the SNES if I have a hankering to play as Mo Vaughn or Cecil Fielder. Super Bases Loaded 2 is unique. In fact, the bats have a metal sound to them despite clearly being wooden bats. It all adds to this quirky charming alternate baseball universe atmosphere. It’s not Japan. It’s not college. It’s not even AAA. It’s just… Super Bases Loaded 2. There is no in-game music but this is not necessarily a bad thing. I find it strangely calming to play a game with little music for a change. Besides, there were many evenings earlier this summer where I threw this game on for an hour and knocked out four games while listening to a podcast (without having to turn down the TV volume). It worked quite well! There are nice rally themes that play throughout based on the situation but they’re short (and actually not bad while they last). As for the three stadiums, at least they vary in look and size. Not a deal breaker for me.

The bottom line is this game rocks. Seriously. I’ve played more than my share of baseball games. There are a lot of fair to middling baseball games on the SNES. Then there are some truly awful ones. And then you have good ones. This is definitely one of the good ones. It’s a lot of fun to play, it’s fast to play and it just feels like baseball done right. It’s not perfect, but it’s a lot better than you may initially think. It’s a shame this game is as overlooked and obscure as it is. My hope is this review sways you to give Super Bases Loaded 2 a crack, especially those of you who don’t mind playing a (well made) 16-bit sports game. And hey, being summer time presently, what better time to give it a try than now?

Graphics: 8
Sound: 7
Gameplay: 9
Longevity: 9

Overall: 9.0
Gold Award

Saturday Night Slam Masters (SNES)

**Pub & Dev: Capcom | June 1994 | 24 MEGS**

Capcom could almost do no wrong back in the early-mid ’90s. They were like King Midas; almost anything they touched turned to gold. Their Street Fighter II franchise caught lightning in a bottle. In 1993 Capcom released an arcade wrestling game by the name of Saturday Night Slam Masters. Can we pause here to acknowledge that Saturday Night Slam Masters has to be one of the greatest titles for a video game ever? Who doesn’t love Saturday nights, and who doesn’t want to take control of a Slam Master? The title completely captures the carny and zany nature of the professional wrestling underworld. I loved playing the arcade game back in the day and was psyched when a Super Nintendo port was announced. Boosting 10 crazy comic book-like grapplers, the best thing about Slam Masters was its frenetic 4 player tag team bedlam mode. Yup, Saturday nights at home with the SNES and three friends was never going to be the same again.

30 YEARS BEING A WRASSLIN’ FAN

On an innocent Saturday night in early October of 1987, my uncle introduced me and my brother to the wacky world of professional wrestling. That night we saw Saturday Night’s Main Event. In particular, I’ll never forget that moment when Intercontinental Champion Honky Tonk Man smashed Macho Man Randy Savage over the head with his guitar. Coincidentally, one of the men holding Savage hostage there, Bret “The Hitman” Hart, was recently featured here on RVGFanatic.

The Handshake Heard 'Round The World — The Handshake Heard ‘Round The World

Hulk Hogan made the save and the two joined forces to create The Mega Powers. And on that night I became cemented as a wrestling fan for life. My fandom has been going strong nearly 30 years now, and I’ll always be a sucker for a good wrestling product. Speaking of which…

I’ll never forget the summer of 1994. It was such an epic summer that I wrote all about it here: The Summer of Imports. Saturday Night Slam Masters played a big role in that memorable summer over 20 years ago.

Who didn't want to use Haggar in a wrestling game? — Who didn’t want to use Haggar in a wrestling game?

Known as Muscle Bomber: The Body Explosion in Japan, Slam Masters isn’t the most technically proficient wrestling game around but what it lacks in proper technique it more than makes up for with tons of character, charm and chaos.

SATURDAY NIGHT’S ALRIGHT FOR FIGHTING

Accompanied by a rockin’ guitar riff, the intro is short and sweet. It also sets the mood perfectly for the pandemonium to come.

THE SLAM MASTERS

Jumbo and Scorp are considered “boss characters” and are only selectable in the tag team mode. Scorp is an absolute badass. I like all of them but as a kid I took an immediate liking to Titanic Tim. He was my man! My brother gravitated to El Stringray, the Rey Mysterio Jr. wannabe. Of course, you can’t go wrong with Haggar, either. But Titanic Tim was my favorite. As a kid I had two phrases I would always shout whenever I hit someone with Tim’s big boot or his running shoulder tackle. Hey, I was 10 . It went like such…

"GET OUT OF THE WAY!" — ***“GET OUT OF THE WAY!”***

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

Weapons are occasionally strewn about outside the ring in the one on one mode. Nothing satisfies like cracking someone’s cranium with a sturdy table.

Gunloc is rumored to be the brother of Guile. One can definitely see the similarities…

Turnabout is fair play! Gunloc finishes off the remains of the table and quite possibly Biff as well.

Nothing gets a better laugh though than smashing someone over the head with a beer bottle!

Perhaps you want something more traditional, though. In that case grab a chair which takes two hits to completely destroy. Love the way Haggar sells!

SINGLES WARFARE

Modern day David vs. Goliath — not looking good for the little guy at the moment…

Titanic Tim LAUNCHES El Stingray high into the stratosphere. Love his reaction there. Reminds me of Randy Orton cringing when he threw Samir Singh too hard…

TAG TEAM WARFARE

Stingray’s Atomic Diver looks painful as hell, to BOTH guys.

Haggar is pissed off and delivers his classic spinning clothesline. Stingray’s Jalapeno Comet is probably the coolest looking special move in the game.

Alexander the Grater’s Tornado Toss is arguably the most gruesome and wince-inducing move. He tosses you high into the air, even going above the screen, before you come crashing down to the hard canvas with no give. OUCH!

HAGGAR’S REVENGE

Haggar is pissed off at Stingray for the lack of help and takes out the little guy.

STINGRAY’S REVENGE

Secret to beating a big bully? Recruit an even bigger one! Besides, Titanic Tim feels guilty for launching Stingray into the far reaches of outer space that one time, and is paying back the favor he owes to El Stingray. Not to mention, he’s kind of taken a liking to the little guy, if truth be told.

Capcom absolutely NAILED the entrances. It completely captures the over the top nature of the wrestling business.

Titanic Tim starts out by targeting Haggar, choking the life out of him. Later on, Jumbo uses his girth to put the big squeeze on the big man.

Massive suplex! Thing of beauty.

Haggar submits to Tim’s Torture Rack. At the end you get a classic Capcom Street Fighter-esque post fight quote. By the way, my favorite thing about the tag team bedlam mode is that it’s elimination style. Meaning you can enjoy a nice little 2-on-1 handicap match after defeating one of your opponents. It’s a total blast with 4 players!

Taking a page out of Bret Hart’s playbook, Tim delivers a picture perfect Reverse Russian Legsweep. I love catching them from behind while they’re dealing with my tag partner. These sneak attacks are the best. Also love the impact of the mat. It sounds painful as hell.

Getting a double 3-count pin in stereo is almost the coolest thing in this game. Check out how Grater there turns a shade of red after being defeated!

Speaking of coolest, nothing beats this. Seeing your tag partner thwart the opponent’s attempt to save their partner in the nick of time is a fist pumping moment for sure! Close saves (both ways) create the most compelling moments in this game by far.

Haggar is back for revenge and this time he has a new partner: Scorp. Judging by that second pic there, it’s a good call…

Haggar’s Spinning Piledriver is absolutely devastating.

Scorp’s Spiral Slam is just as lethal.

Destruction personified!

Defeat all comers and Capcom lets you do it again, Ghosts ‘N Goblins style.

Falling face first at the game over screen always made me chuckle.

Quotes from each wrestler appear pre and post match. It was a sign of the times.

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

Gorgeous artwork from AngusBurgers! — Gorgeous artwork from artist *AngusBurgers*

Saturday Night Slam Masters fared well with the critics as an arcade port. EGM gave it ratings of 7, 7, 7 and 8. Super Play rated it 78%. It’s obvious it’s best when played with 4. It takes a huge hit when playing solo, moreso than other 4 player games I feel. EGM said it best when one of their reviewers cited, “This is awesome for parties and gatherings, but not one I’d want to sit down and play all day.” I had a blast with this game back in the summer of 1994. My brother, our friends and I would all rotate having a go. It’s aged well but I’m reminded of how limited this game is, having played it recently. Yeah, it is an arcade port but you wish Capcom threw in some extra modes. It’s a straight port of an arcade game that didn’t have many bells and whistles. What you see is what you get. This worked fine with Street Fighter II, but Saturday Night Slam Masters is the CLASSIC arcade game. By that I mean it’s a lot of fun to play for a short go each time you see it in the arcade hall, but its flaws are exposed with longer sessions.

"A little help here?" — *“A little help here?”*

Super Play perhaps put it best:

“It’s totally atmospheric and, along with the over-the-top glitziness of each of the 10 fighters, it makes for an entertaining game to watch, if never totally satisfying to play. The problem is it’s very much an arcade experience. It’s fine to stick a couple of quid in for a laugh when you happen to come across it at the Trocadéro, for example, but it doesn’t have the gameplay or depth backing it. It’s just a matter of exchanging punches and kicks for a while, moving in for a spot of grappling, and hoping you get in there first. Sure, it may take a while to learn the special moves, and when to best apply them, but there aren’t many, and that’s as far as any strategy goes.”

CLOSING THOUGHTS

SATURDAY NIGHT'S ALRIGHT FOR FIGHTING — ***SATURDAY NIGHT’S ALRIGHT FOR FIGHTING***

Don’t get me wrong, for all the flaws that Saturday Night Slam Masters has, I still like the game a whole bloody lot. You can’t talk about the best 4 player SNES games without mentioning this one. And if you take it for what it strictly is, you should be satisfied. It’s a crazy arcade wrestling game that places more emphasis on an arcade style than it does a pure technical wrestling style. You may come away feeling a bit cheated if you’re looking for anything beyond that. Computer AI can be very cheap, pulling off miracle comebacks and knowing your next move before you even attempt it. But it all goes back to the true nature of this game: it’s meant to be experienced playing alongside 3 pals.

"I'M THE KING OF THE WORLD!" — *“I’M THE KING OF THE WORLD!”*

Yes, it’s a bit shallow but as far as straight arcade ports go Capcom did a great job. Extras would have been appreciated but the graphics and sound are on par with what you’d expect from Capcom in this era. In other words, they do a good job bringing home an arcade-like quality experience. It’s by no means a deep game, so I knocked it down a point or two. It’s just a matter of hanging in there and hoping for the best, as Super Play perfectly encapsulated a bit earlier.

Get 'im, T-Hawk! Er, Titanic Tim — Get him, T. Hawk! Er, Titanic Tim

Overall, it’s a great arcade translation but it was best played in spurts with friends in the arcade, and the same applies here.

Graphics: 8
Sound: 8
Gameplay: 7
Longevity: 7

Overall: 7.5
Bronze Award

Super Punch-Out!! (SNES)

**Pub & Dev: Nintendo | October 1994 | 16 MEGS**

When the Super Nintendo came out in 1991, many people eagerly awaited the souped up 16-bit sequels of their favorite 8-bit NES classics. And for the most part, one by one, they poured in. The first was Super Mario World, then you had the likes of Contra III, Super Castlevania IV, Mega Man X, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Super Metroid and the list goes on. But where was our beloved Little Mac? Finally, in October of 1994, the excruciatingly long wait was over. We were at last gifted with Super Punch-Out!! It proved to be a great game that was worth the wait.

MAC’S COMEBACK (IN AMERICA ONLY)

Nintendo recently announced their upcoming release of the SNES Classic Edition. Of the 21 SNES titles on offer, Super Punch-Out!! made the cut for the American release. It’s interesting to note the Japanese version picked another game in place of Super Punch-Out!! Actually, there was never a Super Famicom version of Super Punch-Out!! ever released. I guess Japan is sticking to their guns. It’s strange but true. I have no idea why but it’s certainly their loss.

PUNCH-OUT!! MEMORIES

If you grew up in the ’80s then you probably had an 8-bit Nintendo or at the very least you knew of a friend who did. For me and many other kids, growing up in the ’80s meant a steady diet of NES, TGIF and WWF. It was Mario and Hulk Hogan. Contra and Randy Savage. Mega Man and “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase. Castlevania and The Ultimate Warrior. Glass Joe and “Iron” Mike Sharpe! Yup, you can’t talk about the best NES games from the ’80s without mentioning Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!

Nintendo made us wait for Super Punch-Out!! but hey, they did give us fair warning at the end of the NES game. Not sure how many eagle-eyed gamers caught their “hidden” message but they didn’t lie — they held up their end of the bargain.

[Boy, PLEASE -Ed.]

ROUND TWO… FIGHT!!

They say your past has a way of catching up with you. Mac finds this to be true as some of his old ring “buddies” are back for another go. I wish Piston Honda and Soda Popinski made the cut as well but I get the need for new blood. At least we got Bald Bull, Mr. Sandman and Super Macho Man. It was like seeing a dear old friend, er, or bully in this case. Not that I know what it was like to be bullied growing up. Of course not. Yes… of course not. [Right -Ed.]

Defeat these 12 and you unlock four more

I guess King Hippo must be enjoying retirement, eh? I’m not the biggest fan of these new boxers — Gabby Jay is just a cheap Glass Joe knockoff with none of the charm — but I am a fan of Piston Hurricane and Masked Muscle. They’re great additions to the roster while the others felt a little too gimmicky for my taste.

NO LONGER STAR GAZING

Make the pain rain, Mac man! — **NO STARS, JUST BARS!**

In the NES game you receive a star for counter attacks, landing a swift blow and so forth. This acted as your rite of passage to using “super punches.” In this game things run a little differently. Once you fill up your meter, you’ll have access to all the special punches your heart desires… so long as you don’t get hit. I like this change.

MINOR CIRCUIT

Gabby Jay is the SNES version of Glass Joe. Hell, he even graduated from Glass Joe’s School of Boxing. Why anyone would pay top dollar to be trained by arguably the worst professional boxer ever is beyond me, but Gabby Jay does have one win to his name. His victim? Who else but Glass Jo(k)e. At 1-99, the 56 year old Gabby Jay doesn’t have much left in the tank. Then again, he didn’t have much even when he was in his physical prime. Might as well hand him his 100th loss then maybe he’ll retire. Jay opens each fight with a pathetic war cry of “YAY!”

Jays having a stroke — Is he having a stroke?

The heaviest boxer you’ll face, what he lacks in boxing technique he makes up for with a punch that packs a mighty wallop! Originally a carpenter, Bear Hugger grew up sparring with the animals in the forest near his home. His pet grizzly bear was his closest rival until he left Saskatoon to begin his pro career. Though not the best, he’s a major step up from the Gabby Jays of the world.

Dont bother punching him in the ponch — Useless punching his belly

... what you had for breakfast! — … what ya had for breakfast!

No more Mario moonlighting as a ref. Sigh — Sadly, no more Mario moonlighting as a ref. Sigh

After losing his home to a terrible storm, Piston Hurricane took his anger out on the mean streets of Havana. He soon became known and revered as “The King of ‘Vana.” Nobody dared to even look at him the slightest wrong way. Legend has it he once knocked out his own mom for looking at him funny. Turns out mama had gas. So just imagine what he’ll do to you!

Hes a bit childish — Peek-A-Boo, I kill you

Hell test your dodging skills — You’re no hurricane…

Not even a CATEGORY ONE hurricane! — Not even a ***CATEGORY ONE*** hurricane!

King of Vana huh? — ***“King of ‘Vana”*** huh?

Youre just a couir — You just a court jester in my world!

Go back to being the Queen of 'Vana! — *“Go back to being the Queen of ‘Vana!”*

Knocking out your opponent silly and watching him fly back to his corner is one of the game’s pure joys. It also gives you a breather — madly tap the buttons to recuperate any lost health in classic Punch-Out!! form.

"Better luck next time, PUSSY HURRICANE!" — Better luck next time, Pussy Hurricane

Though sometimes they don’t get up, granting you the right to gloat and taunt like no tomorrow. Camera flashes abound and the crowd cheers. It definitely nails down the big fight atmosphere.

Truly one of the most iconic villains in Nintendo history. There are many memorable bad guys in 8-bit gaming history but my two favorites were Abobo and Bald Bull. Universally beloved, it just wouldn’t be Punch-Out!! without Bald Bull as the champion of the first circuit. Not being his first rodeo, some boxing pundits claim his best years are behind him and that he’s more reputation than dominance at this point…

Time to take you out back... — Time to take ya out back…

... and put you down for good! — … and put you down for good!

Really? This again? — Really? ***THIS*** again?

Can't teach an old bull new tricks — *Can’t teach an old bull new tricks*

"Welcome to 1994, bitch!" — ***“Welcome to 1994, bitch!”***

The infamous “Bald Bull flat on his belly” look. You know you love it. Don’t feel sorry for him. He’s had a heck of a career. But now is the time for the new generation.

Congrats, Mac! Love the celebration animation

Quit the excuses. Bald Bullshit, more like — Quit the excuses, old timer. Bald Bullshit, more like

I like the detailed stats you get at the end of each fight. Gone is the round system. Instead you get 3 minutes to duke it out. Some prefer the old style but I didn’t mind this too much. I do miss the funky little tips Doc Louis would give Mac in-between rounds, though.

30 seconds, Bull? How the mighty have fallen

The battery backup memory records the top 8 times. The NES game didn’t have this. It was fun to try and top your best time. Funny how addicting trying to shave half a second off your best time is.

In addition, whole circuit points are recorded

These little touches add to the game’s longevity.

MAJOR CIRCUIT

Bob loves to juke and jive. In fact, back home he was crowned the “Jive King” of Kingston. Now he’s in the States looking to make a name for himself. Speaking of names, he’s rumored to be boxing under an assumed name but no reporter has dared question him since the, ahem, Columbus incident. Tony Ellis, you’re in our thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery…

He's not drunk — Don’t fall for his mind games

Nice try, pal! — You’re gonna have to try better than that!

"JIVE TO THIS!" — ***“JIVE TO THIS, SUCKA!”***

Bob Charlie may seem to be drunk but the bastard knows what he’s doing out there. Unfortunately for him, you’re no ham-and-egger (R.I.P. Bobby “The Brain” Heenan). THIS ONE IS FOR TONY ELLIS, DAMNIT!

The Major Circuit’s youngest boxer, scouts are impressed with Dragon Chan. Only 22 years old, he quickly ascended the ranks of the boxing universe. He makes for a terrible interview, though, since he speaks not a lick of English. Pain, however, is universal. Trained as a kick boxer, Dragon Chan is infamous for pulling into his bag of tricks. If you thought Bob Charlie to be a little unconventional, you haven’t seen anything yet my friend!

Whoa, when did this become MMA... — Whoa, when did this become MMA…

Be ready to duck! — Hidden Dragon, Peking Duck [HAR HAR -Ed.]

Dragon Chan is quick on his feet — Dragon Chan is super quick on his feet

Masked Muscle follows the classic Punch-Out!! tradition of big beefy boxers imposing enough to make you contemplate a change of careers. Take a steroid-injected masked wrestler, slip on a pair of gloves, give him a purple mist dirty attack and you have instant magic. Muscle was banned from pro wrestling for spewing a lethal mist into his opponents’ eyes that caused permanent eye damage. He’s one tough hombre!

He forces you to use both fists — He forces you to use both arms

Are you sneezing or dabbing, bro? — Bro, are you sneezing or dabbing?

Rumor has it his skull contains a metal plate

I hope you're wearing your cup — I hope he’s wearing his cup…

IT'S THE DEADLY MIST! — ***IT’S THE DEADLY MIST! PURPLE RAIN!!!***

If the mist catches you... — If the mist catches you…

... this is the not so pleasant result — … this is the not so pleasant result

Go back to Lucha Underground! — *“Tell Vinnie Mac to suck it!”*

Classic Mr. Sandman returns from the NES game. He looks superb in 16-bits, eh? The first seven boxers are easy to dispose of but Mr. Sandman is the first real challenge for newbie players. With his mighty powerful punches and near mythical aura, Mr. Sandman confidently reigns as champion of the Major Circuit. There’s a reason why some call him “Chocolate Thunder.” He might make you call him daddy!

Time to put your big boy pants on — Time to put on your big boy pants, Mac

His punches are dynamite if they connect

Now you got his attention — Now you’ve got his full attention

To the left to the left — To the left, to the left

To the right to the right — To the right, to the right

YOU MUST NOT KNOW 'BOUT ME! — ***YOU MUST NOT KNOW ‘BOUT ME!***

I COULD BEAT YOU IN JUST A MINUTE!

Ahem, um, sorry about that. Mr. Sandman takes Mac to the distance but David slays Goliath in the end. Look at all that spit coming out of his mouth. Love the attention to detail! You had a heck of a run there, Sandman, but this ain’t the ’80s anymore. It’s time to graduate to the World Circuit and take out another old friend… Super Macho Man!

WORLD CIRCUIT

Aran was teased and bullied for his name growing up. Being scrawny didn’t help. He skipped college and instead devoted his time to lifting weights and he picked up boxing along the way. As his muscles developed so did his boxing skills. Known for his unrelenting scrappiness, Aran Ryan now takes out his childhood angst on anyone standing across the ring from him.

Block your money maker — Not the money maker

He's a tougher Piston Hurricane — He’s a tougher Piston Hurricane

No four leaf clover's going to help him — No four leaf clover will help him

I don't swing that way, pal — I don’t swing that way, pal

At just 19 years old, Heike Kagero’s future is bright but he has already established himself with a respectable 14-8 pro record. Rumor has it Heike dabbles in the occult, and that his hair is actually the spirit of a samurai protégé who died far too young centuries ago. Mind you, that’s just a rumor. But those who have been whipped by Heike’s hair will tell you differently!

That boy ain't right... — That boy ain’t right…

Heike reminds me of the zebra Battle Beast... — He reminds me of the zebra *Battle Beast*…

Mad Clown wasn’t always a clown, and he wasn’t always mad. In fact, he had a budding career as an opera singer. But on the biggest show of his life, he froze on stage. From that point on he ran to the circus but it wasn’t long before they rejected him on account of mental instability. That’s when he turned to boxing. There he excelled. His trick? Pretending his opponent is one of the audience members who laughed at him!

Mad Clown brings his circus tricks with him — He’s brought his circus tricks with him

Don't dodge left or right here or else — You mad, bro?

He didn't take too kindly to that question — He didn’t take too kindly to that question

Evade this by ducking — Someone needs a hug

Or a stiff jab to the chin — Or better yet, a stiff shot to the chin

Nice try Bear Hugger, er, Mad Clown — Mac’s cardio game is on point

Time to send Bear Hugger... — Time to put Mad Clown down

See ya Twinkle Toes! — See ya, Twinkle Toes!

After all these years Super Macho Man’s reign of terror still sits atop the world of boxing. Well, of the World Circuit, anyhow. But don’t tell Super Macho Man that unless you want a couple black eyes. Owning a stellar record of 29-3, his only blemishes came at the hands of the Bruiser twins and an upset victory by Little Mac way back in 1987. The time for the rematch has finally come!

Was Mac's 1987 victory just a fluke? You decide! — Was Mac’s 1987 victory just a fluke? You decide!

The most intimidating curtsy you'll ever see — Most intimidating curtsy of all time

His Super Macho Punch is devastating — Super Macho Punch!

Oh so satisfying — His face there reminds me of…

But maybe that's just me — But maybe that’s just me!

Show him your footwork, Mac! — C’mon, my grandma’s faster!

I can do this all day — Really, that all you got?

SPECIAL CIRCUIT

You can’t see it there but Narcis Prince (what a fitting name) has a V on his sweater. People who tease him that it stands for virgin end up in the hospital. The V actually stands for victory. He’s a promising young boxer who shot up the ranks quickly. Narcis showed so much potential that he was promoted to the legendary Special Circuit — a circuit renowned for featuring only the best of the best. He throws a fit whenever you punch him in his “beautiful” face. Hey punk, it’s boxing. What do ya expect?!

That V is for victory all right — That V stands for victory all right

Hoy Quarlow (what a name) hobbles to the ring with his trusty wooden cane. But rather than setting it aside, he brings it into the ring to whack you upside the head with. What kind of shady organization is running this thing, eh?! At 78 years old Hoy has forgotten more about boxing than you’ll ever learn. Bearing more than a passing resemblance to Yoda, Hoy was appropriately known as “The Beast From Beijing.” Though he may not look it in his ripe old age, he can still knock out fools with the best of them! And then he’ll get the senior discount at the local Denny’s down the road. Because that’s how Hoy Quarlow rolls.

I don't want any of your wood! — I don’t want any of your wood!

The Bruiser twins rule the boxing world. Rick Bruiser is universally regarded as the second best boxer of this generation. His one loss came at the hands of his twin brother, Nick Bruiser, in a main event that broke the all time Pay-Per-View sales record. It was a fierce and close battle that many historians have touted as the greatest boxing bout in the annals of history. Rick is as menacing as they come. The deadly southpaw once decimated Bald Bull in under a minute and Bald Bull has been “broken” ever since. Mr. Sandman barely made a dent in this war machine and Super Macho Man quickly learned his place in the pecking order. If by some miracle you’re able to get by Rick, what’s left of you will be easy pickings for the even tougher Nick Bruiser. Damn. The Bruiser twins were born to dominate and destroy.

Maybe it's time to settle down... — Mac sees his life flash before him

The Undisputed Champ. Nick Bruiser is the ultimate boxer. No empathy, no emotion. Just a stone cold killer. Boosting a perfect 42-0 record, boxing pundits often argue who would win between “Iron” Mike Tyson and Nick Bruiser. Opinions differ but consensus says Nick Bruiser would ANNIHILATE Tyson. It’s hard to argue. Bruiser strikes fast and hard. The mere sight of him alone is enough to psych out most boxers. Bruiser’s aura is damn near MYTHICAL — he often beats opponents long before the bell sounds. Only one challenger can give him a run for his money, and his name is Little Mac. Bruiser scoffs at the very idea but deep down in his black heart he knows the threat that Little Mac presents. The Boxing Match of the Century has been signed. Who will win and be the Undisputed WVBA Champion? Only you can decide!

Long live the king, Rick Bruiser — Long live the king, Nick Bruiser

CLASS OF 1994

TIME ATTACK

Be immortalized forever (or until the battery dies)

The time attack mode records your fastest times and highest scores. It’s a sweet additional mode that the 8-bit NES game didn’t have.

Was there any doubt? [There was ONLY doubt -Ed.] — I just wish Doc Louis was here to witness it

Once you beat all four circuits, the game’s longevity relies on coming back to the time attack mode to set new highs. It’s always a good time stopping Bald Bull dead in his tracks during his Bull Charge. Or sending Mr. Sandman to the dream world myself. This isn’t the kind of game you play for hours on end. But it’s the kind that you are likely to occasionally play when you only have 15 minutes and want something quick and fun. At least that’s how Super Punch-Out!! is for me.

Beating a record by one tenth of a second — Barely beating a record is incredibly thrilling!

What can I say. I'm pretty good... [PLEASE -Ed.] — What can I say. I’m pretty good…

Believe it or not, I’ve beaten Super Macho Man in under 8 seconds. Look and see for yourself if you don’t believe me. The previous world record was 0’09″43. I submitted this shot to Nintendo for posterity but for some weird reason unbeknownst to me they’ve rejected my submission. Well, either that or they lost it in the mail. Alas, we’ll never know… [You are more delusional than Gabby Jay -Ed.]

MAC ‘N CHANGE

Did you know this was his original look?

There was a debate going around that the Mac in Super Punch-Out!! is not the same Little Mac from Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! Actually, it is. In fact, this was his original look before Nintendo changed it. You can see that clearly is the Little Mac we all know and love. However, I guess they wanted to make him look a little bit “cooler” hence the change. Personally, I don’t mind. I still like the final product we got with regards to Little Mac. Besides, it’s mostly just cosmetics we’re talking about here. The gameplay delivers and that’s mainly what I care about. Still, it’s fascinating to recall the difference between Mac’s first form and what he eventually became.

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

Super Punch-Out!! was very well received by the majority of fans and critics alike. While more people seem to prefer Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! on the NES, very few have deemed Super Punch-Out!! as anything less than a great game in its own right. It graced the cover of GameFan (and what a cover it was) for their October 1994 issue. GameFan’s signature character, the Postmeister, stood in Mac’s place. A bit of a glory hog, that one. EGM gave it ratings of 79% and 86% (given by their two sports game writers as opposed to the traditional four person review panel). GameFan rated it 90, 95 and 95%. Super Play Magazine scored it at 90%. Little Mac’s return was an unequivocal success. Better late than never!

EGM ranked it as the 56th best game of all time

I was miffed EGM didn't give it the traditional review! — I was miffed EGM didn’t give it the traditional review!

I was even more miffed at this somewhat low score :P — I was *even more* miffed at this somewhat low score

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Bald Bull never looked better! — Mac and friends never looked better!

There will always be a special place in my gaming heart for this franchise as well as for Little Mac and all his crazy foes. Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! was one of my favorites back in the late ’80s. So I couldn’t wait for the inevitable 16-bit “Super” treatment. It was a longer wait than any of us expected, but just like “make up presents” in early January it’s a classic case of better late than never. Nintendo was wise to mix in the new blood along with the return of some old familiar faces. Seeing Bald Bull, Mr. Sandman and Super Macho Man in 16 glorious bits was a welcomed sight and a tremendous fan service. The jump from NES to SNES made for a major visual upgrade. You can actually see the bulging muscles and watch the spit fly out of a guy’s mouth as you twist his head back with a well-timed uppercut. The visuals have a real arcade-like quality to them. Speaking of which, did you know there’s actually a 1984 arcade game of the same name? Navigating an older and bigger Mac through the boxing ranks presents a certain nostalgic charm, even if Nintendo did alter his look a bit. Best of all, Little Mac controls like an absolute dream. It’s crisp and super responsive. If you mess up, you know it’s on you and not the game.

HOW RUDE! Cover up when you sneeze next time, jeez! — *HOW RUDE!* Cover up the next time you sneeze. Jeez!

In addition to the three old faces, there are lots of new foes to scout and take out. You’ll have to learn all their techniques, such as Masked Muscle’s paralyzing purple shower. It all adds to the wacky fun. There’s just something special and sacred about a Punch-Out!! game. Maybe it’s the larger than life boxers. Maybe it’s the comic book-like zany brutality of it all. Maybe it’s figuring out the patterns and tendencies of each new competitor and then exploiting their weaknesses. Or maybe it’s simply a timeless classic from the golden days of retro gaming. I like to think it’s all of those things, along with, of course, the fact that I think all of us can relate to Little Mac in some form or fashion. We all love a good underdog story and I believe there’s a little Little Mac inside each of us. It’s David vs. Goliath, good vs. evil, you against all odds. There’s something simple and beautiful about that. And Super Punch-Out!! captures that feeling to a tee. Each opponent gets progressively tougher and nastier. By the time you reach the Bruiser twins you’ll feel like you’ve been through the trenches yourself!

A classic never goes out of style — *A true classic never goes out of style*

There are a few blemishes to note, though. Seeing a few more familiar faces would have been nice, especially Piston Honda. Many fans prefer the villain roster of the 8-bit original, claiming the 16-bit roster to be not quite as memorable. Fans have argued over the years about which they like better. The NES one is better overall I think, but there’s something to be said about the 16-bit treatment of Punch-Out!! that took the game to new heights graphically and really brought home an arcade-like quality. The SNES game eliminated the three round format (with breaks in-between where you get tips from Doc Louis) and instead features one round lasting three minutes. I do prefer how the SNES version tracks your knock-out punches (full meter vs. earning stars) and you had four different knock-out punches in Super Punch-Out!! as opposed to just one in the NES game. The Bruiser brothers are brutal but they’re definitely no Mike Tyson in terms of sheer difficulty. By the way, did I mention the awesome battery-backed capabilities of the SNES game, allowing you to store top scores and compete among friends? Oh, but did I mention the legend that is SODA POPINSKI? It’s like being forced to pick your favorite child. I love both games for different reasons. You simply cannot go wrong with either!

WERE BACK! — These childhood terrors have aged like a fine wine

All in all, Super Punch-Out!! is no doubt a Super Nintendo classic. It’s aged very well, too. I still love playing it even to this day. Whether you prefer the NES or SNES version, there’s no denying Super Punch-Out!! is a worthy sequel. Having more boxers, seeing ol’ Doc Louis and having some cutscenes would have been great, but I’m more than satisfied with what we got. This is one of those games I envision myself playing well into my twilight years when I’m as old as Hoy Quarlow himself, God willing. Boxing games rarely get better than this. Now if you’ll excuse me, I got me a couple Bruiser bros to beat up…

Graphics: 9
Sound: 8
Gameplay: 9
Longevity: 8

Overall: 9.0
Gold Award

Finally beat both Bruisers after all these years!

MAC’S FINAL COMEBACK!

Somewhere in the Bronx, New York... — Somewhere in the Bronx, New York…

It was a cold and dark night in the Bronx. An old bulldog roamed the streets. If you looked close enough, you’d recognize him as Little Mac. Yes, that fabled boxing teen heart throb from the vaunted ’80s. Made a comeback in ’94 and then disappeared into obscurity. Mac is now in the second half of his life and on this night, something stirs deep within his core. A feeling he hasn’t felt in over 20 years…

The rumble in the basement... — The rumble in the basement…

The knees are feeling good. The joints are working. The back’s never felt better in years. Was it possible? Could it be? Could Mac return to the ring for one last shot at glory?

There was an eerie stillness to the night — There was an eerie stillness in the cool night air

It felt like the calm before the storm. Mac’s old trainer, Doc Louis, couldn’t believe it. Mac didn’t tell Doc explicitly, but Doc knew. He had seen that look in Mac’s eyes before. The very same look that Mac had right before he knocked out the likes of Bald Bull, Mr. Sandman and yes, even the brutal Bruiser twins. The Mac man is hungry, and he wants one more fight. One more chance to shine under the bright lights and recapture a flicker from the past.

This place was once vibrant. Analogy... ? — This place was once vibrant, teeming with life

Mac and Doc got back in the car and drove around town. One by one, they stopped off at each of Mac’s old haunts. Mac peered inside the store as though he were peering down his very soul.

"You ready to go yet, Champ?" — *“You ready to go yet, Champ?”*

Then they headed over to the old pet shop on 4th Avenue. It was where Mac got his first pet fish. Poor Freddy. He only lived six weeks, as Mac recalls it.

Mac: *sniff*

Doc: Hey Mac, you crying?

Mac: Uh, no. No no.

Doc: Looks like tears to me, Mac.

Mac: C’mon Doc, you know I got allergies.

Doc: Of course.

"Man, where does the time go, Doc?" — *“Man, where does the time go, Doc?”*

Mac: Damnit Doc, look at this will ya? This is where I grew up. I remember my mom buying me a Nintendo and some boxing game back in 1987. Those were the good old days. Lot of memories here, Doc. You know they say if you live in a place long enough, you are that place…

Doc: I ain’t no talking building. Listen, enough yapping. I gotta get your old ass ready for the Sandman!

Mac: You know what to do. Time to take that ancient bike of yours out of storage.

"Man, its just like the old days, Doc!" — *“Man, it’s just like the old days, Doc!”*

Just like old times, indeed. Doc’s training regimen was legendary in the ’80s and ’90s. Tonight begins the comeback trail!

"Come on Mac, LETS SHOCK THE WORLD!" — *“Come on Mac, LET’S SHOCK THE WORLD!”*

Doc: Mac, I gotta be real here. You sure put on a lot of weight in the last 20+ years.

Mac: I’m not the only one who’s changed. You hardly look like the Doc Louis I knew! In fact, maybe it’s the dizziness from all this running talking but I swear you look yellow all of a sudden!

Doc: What?! You must be going blind in your old age.

Doc: Alright Mac, this is your night. You’ve put in the hours. You’ve dropped the weight. Whatever happens tonight, I want you to know, from one old ass fart to another, I’m proud of you for making it this far!

Mac: Come on, Doc. You should know me better than that. I ain’t satisfied making it this far. I didn’t come all this way to finish in second place. Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will BEAT you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or NOBODY is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and THAT AIN’T YOU! YOU’RE BETTER THAN THAT!

Doc: Um…

Mac: Whoa, sorry. I get my wires crossed from time to time, you know.

Doc: That one’s probably Nick Bruiser, 1994, Vegas. First round uppercut.

Mac: Don’t worry ’bout me Doc. I still got most of my mental facilities.

Doc: *mutters under breath* Faculties.

Mac: You said something Doc?

Doc: Uh, nope.

*EYE OF THE TIGER PLAYS*

Mac: Hey listen Doc! They playing my music. You know what that means.

Doc: I know what that means. This is your night. Mr. Sandman ain’t what he used to be. Hell, none of us are. But you’re better than him. Always was and always will be. Now you go out there and you leave it all out there in the ring!

Mac: Man, I love you too, Doc Brown.

Doc: *mutters under breath* Soda Popinski, 1987, Detroit, second round hook.

"LETS GO MAC! LETS GO MAC!" — *“WELCOME BACK! ***clap clap clap*** WELCOME BACK!”*

Though he’s been out of the spotlight for over 20 years now, Mac has adoring fans of all generations. Grandfathers have passed Mac’s legacy down to their fathers. And fathers to sons. After all this time, folks still fondly remember. And they’re not shy to show Mac the appreciation he’s due.

For one last time, with the good Doc Louis by his side, Mac made that long walk down the aisle with the capacity crowd chanting his name in ecstasy. The show of adoration sent chills up and down Mac’s spine. Even if he doesn’t win, this moment will forever live on.

Long time nemesis Mr. Sandman paces in the ring, awaiting Mac’s arrival. We haven’t seen Mr. Sandman in decades, either. He still looks good. It’s the rematch everyone’s talking about. Mac Man vs. Sandman — RING THE BELL!

"THANK YOU MAC! THANK YOU MAC! THANK YOU MAC!" — *“THANK YOU MAC! THANK YOU MAC! THANK YOU MAC!”*

At the end of a hard fought battle, busted and bruised, Mac took a moment to acknowledge his loyal legion of fans. It’s been one hell of a ride. We’ve witnessed here tonight two boxing legends go toe to toe one last time. The sport will never be the same again. As for who won, the fans did. The sport of boxing did. In an era where we push youth and quickly cast aside the old, this was a historic night where tradition was honored and appreciated. Good night everybody!

Street Fighter II Turbo (SNES)

**Pub & Dev: Capcom | August 1993 | 20 MEGS**

Street Fighter II jumpstarted a revolution, no doubt. Likewise, there is no doubt that Street Fighter II Turbo refined said revolution. Many would even argue perfected it. Allowing you to use the four boss characters, in addition to adding new special moves for most of the fighters and the all-important speed factor, Street Fighter II Turbo has cemented its place in video gaming lore. The hype surrounding the release back in the summer of 1993 was palpable and surreal. I remember my brother buying this game on launch day and nobody in my gaming group was disappointed one iota. Looking back, it’s easy to see it’s not a perfect conversion of the 1992 arcade smash hit, but man, back in those olden days it sure felt pretty damn close to perfect. You have to remember that home consoles back then weren’t close to being as strong as arcade cabs. It’s amazing what Capcom was able to translate to the little ol’ 16-bit SNES. My friends and I wasted so many hours on this one. Good times.

MAKING A COMEBACK

With the recent news of Nintendo releasing the SNES Classic Edition, Street Fighter II Turbo is once again being brought back into the public consciousness. It’s the only fighting game featured in the package and if you could only pick one then Nintendo made the right call. Let the nostalgia commence.

THE STREET FIGHTER PHENOMENON

Seeing this back in the summer of ’93 was every kid’s dream come true. All 12 Street Fighters available at the tip of your fingers. Same character selects with no codes. Finally, no more excuses. Survival of the strongest. Many scores were settled and many bruises ensued. Even better, Capcom was cool enough to include both Street Fighter II: Champion Edition and Turbo in one package. Champion Edition allows you to control the four boss characters and select the same fighters. Turbo upped the ante by giving most of the original cast a new special move and added a speed setting. Many consider Turbo to be the definitive version of Street Fighter II.

Beat the bosses, BE the bosses. Brilliant, Capcom

Arguably Capcom's finest hour on the SNES... — Arguably Capcom’s finest hour on the SNES…

I still vividly remember to this day my brother rushing out to buy this game. I stayed at home counting down the minutes. Seeing my brother come back home with the Holy Grail firmly in his grasp was a moment of sheer euphoria. Experiencing the game in our living room, in all its 20 MEG glory, showing off the power of the SNES, it was crazy to see how far video gaming had come since the days of the 8-bit NES. Never was a system more aptly named than the SUPER Nintendo.

THE STREET FIGHTERS

The face of the franchise, this straight edge no nonsense warrior is all about the fight and nothing else. Some may call him a little vanilla, but Ryu is as solid and consistent as a rock. He’s the Leonardo of the crew, and I guess every franchise needs that one leading cat, eh?

Ryu’s stage is simply classic. Battle for supremacy on top of a private roof. A nearby dojo looms hauntingly in the background. Sadly, the moon is missing but back in 1993 none of us really cared. We were way too busy appreciating what we had.

Straight up two of the most iconic special moves in all of fighting game history.

Hurricane Kick can now be performed in mid-air.

Of course he was born on Valentine's Day — Of course he was born on Valentine’s Day

Every main protagonist needs a rival. Enter Ken, a flashier version of Ryu. Naturally, he’s a bit temperamental and one cocky son of a gun. Ken is perfect for those who want to control someone with Ryu’s moveset but has a little edge to their character.

There's nothing like seeing this on a Saturday morning — A sight that once dominated my Sunday mornings

Ken’s stage has always been one of my favorites. Being the complete opposite of Ryu in terms of personality, Ken wants a crowd to witness and worship his skills. Nothing gets him going more than humiliating his opponent in front of a packed house, or boat as it were. A pair of barrels propped to the right will shatter upon impact, adding insult to injury.

Similar moveset to Ryu but Ken’s Dragon Punch travels a bit farther.

Homie needs to cover up his junk better... — Homie needs to cover up his junk better…

The residential sumo grand champion, Edmund Honda is determined to show the world that a sumo champ can also be the world’s greatest fighter. I never much cared for Honda back in the day but over the years have come to appreciate him more.

Prepare for a blood bath [HAR HAR -Ed.] — Prepare for a blood bath *[HAR HAR -Ed.]*

E. Honda’s stage is awesome. I love the combination of colors used and that background mural is so bizarrely memorable. The best thing about this stage is when the fight is over, the mural lights up and the mural man flashes a sign at you. It’s bonkers.

Edmund uses his thick head to devastating results. “OOP OINK!” He also has the fastest hands around, unleashing hell in the form of a hundred hand BITCH SLAP. It’s been upgraded; Honda can perform it while inching toward his opponent.

Honda’s new move serves as a bit of an anti-air special, followed by a diving ass attack. Assack, perhaps.

Now with a fireball in tow -- the KIKOKEN! — Now with a fireball in tow — the KIKOKEN!

Many people think of Chun Li as being the first lady of fighting games. Other people have, AHEM, other thoughts about her but it would be inappropriate to cite said thoughts. You know her story. She’s out to avenge the death of her father who fell at the vile hands of M. Bison. She got arguably the best new move in Turbo as well. A fireball! Hey, it was a big deal back then.

Is that guy choking his chicken watching her? — He’s watching Chun Li while choking his chicken

He’s really got no shame, the git. Chun Li’s stage is another classic that is burned into my soul. Duke it out in front of a busy marketplace complete with cyclists passing through. Should you emerge victorious, you can then partake in buying some dinner or even get a haircut. All in a day’s hard work!

#NEVERSKIPPEDLEGDAY.

Remember what a big deal people made back in the early ’90s that Chun Li now has a fireball of her own? And on a side note, her annoying infamous head stomp returns as well.

"Quit blocking my barbershop post!" — *“Quit blocking my barbershop post, Chunners!”*

One of my favorite Capcom creations of all time

Ah, the tragic tale of Jimmy. The little boy who descended to the depths of a Brazilian jungle during a plane crash, only to be mutated and raised by the wild savages of the jungle. All that produced the beast you now see… BLANKA!

The music, the locals snapping photos to prove the existence of the beast, the savages cheering on from inside the hut packed in like a can of sardines, the giant clouds scrolling lazily by in the background, the giant anaconda wrapped around that decaying tree… this stage tells such a rich story and is perfection personified.

Blanka’s electric shock fits him so well. That x-ray animation is legendary. His rolling attack has been improved — Blanka no longer takes double damage if he’s hit during the attack.

Blanka’s new trick is a vertical rolling attack. It doubles as an anti-air move and it can also nail opponents on the way down.

Don't mess with a guy who wrestles with bears — Don’t mess with a guy who wrestles with bears

If Chun Li is the first lady of fighting games, then surely Zangief is the first muscle maniac of the genre. It takes a very skilled player to use Zangief effectively. I love how he wrestles bears for a hobby, and his scar-laced body is proof that he is certifiably a turnbuckle shy of a wrestling ring!

Held in the heartland of the USSR, factory workers take a break from the work grind to witness their beloved Zangief crush yet another poor victim.

Similar to Honda’s Hundred Hand Slap, the Spinning Clothesline can now move. It’s cool how a small change can actually make a big difference. His new move is a crushing German Suplex that would make ECW’s Taz proud!

Spinning Pile Driver still the most devastating move in the game!

Guile was always the "cool rebel" to us kids — Guile was always the “cool rebel” to us kids

There’s something cool about a good old American badass. Guile fits that role to a tee. He doesn’t have a lot of special moves but he makes each one count. Forget about Charlie, Guile is where it’s at!

Nothing like sending your foe through a crate — We called the guy in the middle there Cyclops…

Street Fighter II has some of the best stages in fighting game history. Guile’s is yet another example of such. The music of this stage is stuck in my head to this day, and it never gets old throwing your opponent through the crates.

Hadoken set the bench mark for all projectiles to follow, but I’d argue that the Sonic Boom is almost just as memorable. Remember how the jab version was so slow that it allowed you to bash your opponent’s head in with a well-timed back fist? You can’t do that with the Hadoken, that’s for damn sure!

Champion Edition tweaked the Flash Kick to hit two times. I was never a fan of this change. Thankfully, it’s back to the classic one hit in the Turbo edition. I’ve always been a huge fan of Guile’s Flash Kick. To me it’s just as iconic as the Dragon Punch and it looks way cooler.

[Very funny, NOT -Stretch Armstrong] — *[Very funny… NOT -Stretch Armstrong]*

Forever a perennial favorite of mine, Dhalsim was the first Street Fighter character I ever used. He was also the one I used when I perfected my brother’s annoying cocky friend at a 7-11 circa 1991. He had no answer for Dhalsim’s long limbs and his hubris was his ultimate downfall. Dhalsim and I have shared a lifelong connection ever since.

Seeing this brings back so many memories of 7-11

Yet another haunting stage. The elegant blue rug, the elephant god mural and of course, who could forget the elephants trumpeting at the end of each battle?

Dhalsim had the very unique ability of being able to stretch his limbs. This great gimmick was often copied in other fighting games from other companies. Hey, he was a trailblazer!

Teleportation is Dhalsim’s new special skill. Check out how he uses this new power to confuse, daze and nail his opponent!

Known for his signature fiery antics, he can spew a small fireball (Yoga Fire) or blow a larger one that is more short ranged but hits for more damage (Yoga Flame). The “on fire” animation is, no pun intended, seared into the memories of anyone who ever ventured through an arcade hall in the early ’90s.

In Japan he was originally called M. Bison

The first of the four boss characters, Balrog has always been the least interesting to me. He was a sign of the times; Capcom drew inspiration from “Iron” Mike Tyson.

Fighting under the bright lights of Las Vegas, combatants duke it out as strippers, pimps and tourists cheer the carnage on. Epic background.

Balrog’s two special moves consist of rushing punch variations. In fact, he is the only fighter in the game to never use his feet. It takes a skilled player to use him effectively.

The first time I ever saw Vega I remember thinking how cool he was. Vega to me seemed like a combination of Freddy Krueger and Michael Myers. It wasn’t long before I realized he was nothing more than a masked narcissist with a claw. Just a pretty boy, and nothing at all like those terrifying monsters of my youth. Needless to say, I didn’t like him as much then!

Remember the 1991 rumors of knocking off his mask? — You can knock his claw off, but not his mask

Dropped in the middle of an underground fighting world at an undisclosed location somewhere in Spain, the steel cage protects the spectators from the sheer chaos. But really, it serves as a tool for Vega to scale when things get too hot and heavy…

Vega’s rolling attack can connect several times and inflict a good deal of damage.

Nimble as a cat, Vega takes to the cage when all else fails. From here he can either pierce you with his razor sharp claw or catch you in an devastating overhead throw.

One of my favorite Capcom characters of all time — How many Asians you know are 7’4″?

In the first Street Fighter tournament, reigning champion Sagat was dethroned by a young warrior named Ryu. Ryu’s Dragon Punch left an enormous scar on his chest and ever since then the Thailand terror has been training 24/7, waiting for the perfect moment to exact his revenge.

Brings back memories of Jet Li's SHAOLIN TEMPLE — The chest scar, the eye patch… what a character

A giant Buddha statue oversees the battle as combatants wrestle to the death in this beautiful and serene stage. The temples in the backdrop remind me of the old 1982 Jet Li film, Shaolin Temple.

Sagat’s two Tiger Shots hits either high or low. Switch the velocity to keep your opponent on their toes.

Sagat’s Tiger Knee connects on the ground for up to two devastating hits, and doubles as an anti-air attack to boot.

Needing to counter Ryu’s lethal Dragon Punch, the deadly Tiger Uppercut came to life. His chest scar is a daily reminder of the pain and humiliation he suffered in the first tournament. Seeking vengeance, Sagat believes his Tiger Uppercut will be the difference maker.

Remember how much we hated M. Bison as kids when he was in Street Fighter II? And remember how much we wanted to control him just so we could pull off his Psycho Crusher? Street Fighter II Turbo made our dreams come true.

The sky paints such an ominous backdrop. Towering golden statues decorate each side of the stage which you can send your opponent crashing through. A massive bell that looks like it came straight out of a Bob Ross water painting rests center stage.

Scissor Kick can hit up to two times, one high and one low. Tricky and deadly!

Jumping high, Bison plants both feet into your skull and then flies backwards to smash your temple in with his tyrannical fist. OUCH!

You felt so badass screaming across the screen!

BONUS STAGES

Who could ever forget the first time seeing the car bonus stage? It’s an iconic gaming sight, and one that still resonates more than 25 years later.

Bricks don't hit back — Bricks don’t hit back

Bonus stages were a fighting game staple of the '90s — Bonus stages became a staple for the genre

THE MAN IN THE MOUNTAIN

When we were kids my brother and I believed that was none other than Dhalsim on the front cover showing off his new teleportation special move. Fast forward some odd 15 years to 2008, I posted my memories about this on a message board and everyone there told me “No, it’s just Honda and Sagat on the cover.” I wasn’t so quick to buy in, though, as I assumed everyone thought back in the day the same thing that my brother and I did. The debate somehow summoned the original artist of the SNES Street Fighter II Turbo cover into the fold. He claimed that the strange bald figure seen on the cover is NOT Dhalsim. I asked him who was it then, but he never got back to me. The mural man doesn’t look a damn thing like the bald guy we see on the cover. Strange. I guess we’ll never know for sure. But I still stand by my original statement… to me it was clever Capcom showing off Dhalsim’s brand new special skill. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it! #childhoodconvictions

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

1993 -- what a time for a gamer to be alive — 1993 — what a time for a gamer to be alive

Street Fighter II Turbo was a smash hit with the critics. It earned Game of the Month accolades with EGM, posting scores of 9, 9, 10 and 10. GameFan gave it ratings of 98, 98, 99 and 100%. Super Play rated it a whopping 96% — the highest score they ever dished out. This port is widely considered as one of the BEST arcade to home translations on the SNES. In terms of top 100 lists, Nintendo Power ranked it #10, EGM had it at #5 and Super Play placed it at #2.

Street Fighter II Turbo ranked high on many lists — *Street Fighter II Turbo* ranked high on many lists

WHAT YOU, THE READERS, SAID

Which SNES Street Fighter game got the most votes? — Which SNES *Street Fighter* game got the most votes?

More than a decade ago, way back in February 2007, on my old original RVGFanatic website I ran a survey asking my readers to vote for their favorite SNES Street Fighter game. You voiced your opinion loudly. Now, more than 10 years later, the final results are in. Come on, you didn’t think I would lose those figures, right? Don’t answer that. While obviously not conclusive — this is one small sample after all — it’s interesting to see nevertheless. 10% prefer the very first one while 39% voted for Super Street Fighter II. It was no shock that Street Fighter II Turbo won the poll with a stirring 51% of the votes. I love all the SNES Street Fighter games (yes, even 1996’s Street Fighter Alpha 2) but Street Figher II Turbo to me will forever be the king.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Street Fighter II Turbo forever holds a special place in my heart. It gave me and my gaming crew so many fond memories over the years. For my money, it is without a shadow of a doubt the best fighting game on the Super Nintendo. At the time it blew all of us away. And while it’s true that it isn’t a perfect conversion of the arcade (nobody expected it to be), it still made for the perfect SNES fighting game. Even though there have been arcade-perfect ports of Street Fighter II Turbo released on other systems over the years, I still find myself coming back to the SNES version and having a blast. Maybe I’m a little blinded by nostalgia but I’ll be damned if it doesn’t still hold up well nearly 25 years later.

No, it definitely doesn’t.

Graphics: 10
Sound: 10
Gameplay: 10
Longevity: 10

Overall: 10
PLATINUM AWARD

When you talk about Super Nintendo’s very finest, any discussion excluding Street Fighter II Turbo should automatically be null and void. It was a video gaming revolution — a special time we’re likely never to see again. I’m thankful I got to witness it first-hand.

Long live the memories — Long live the king

Super Baseball 2020 (SNES)

***Pub: Tradewest | Dev: Monolith | July 1993 | 12 MEGS***

Super Baseball 2020 was originally released in the arcades back in late 1991 as part of the Neo Geo lineup. It was later ported to the SNES in the summer of 1993. It’s crazy that we’re only two and a half years away from 2020! When I first saw the arcade cab in ’91 I remember thinking to myself that 2020 would never get here. Indeed, at the time it was nearly 30 years away. 30 years to a kid is an eternity. Yet here we are. On the brink of 2020. That blows my mind. Looks like we won’t have super robots playing baseball a couple years from now, though. But hey, you can always simulate that with Super Baseball 2020!

WELCOME TO THE YEAR 2020

HE HITS IT HIIIIGH... — ***HE HITS IT HIIIIGH…***

... HITS IT DEEEEEEP... — ***… HITS IT DEEEEEEP…***

... OUTTA HERE!!! — ***… OUTTA HERE!!!***

Gotta have giant scrolling letters. It was the 16-bit era! — Gotta have giant scrolling letters in the 16-bit era

FAIR OR FOUL?

Baseball rules and regulations have drastically changed by the year 2020. Now the emphasis is on a larger fair playing field, making action quicker and more exciting. The foul zone’s been reduced to strictly behind the catcher. As a result, one can score hits all over the field!

SHOW ME THE MONEY

Upgrade your robotic players to super soldiers of destruction. Money is earned based on positive plays. Similarly, money is lost on negative plays. Adds a bit of depth and strategy to the old baseball formula.

Super Baseball 2020, sponsored by Pete Rose — *Super Baseball 2020*, sponsored by Pete Rose

SPECIAL CUTSCENES

Exceptional outs are highlighted by cutscenes, just like in the arcade!

Check out the timing on this one. The ball should sail off those fancy blue glass plates for a single or double, but alas…

“DAMNIT UMP, I WAS SAFE!”

“DAMNIT UMP, HE WAS OUT!”

WHAT THE PROS WEAR IN 2020

NEO-TITANIUM ALLOY BAT FTW! — NEO-TITANIUM ALLOY BAT FTW

Leap over 20 feet into the air to rob would be HRs — Leap over 20 feet in the air to rob home runs

KICK SOME GLASS

One of the best things about this game is no doubt those futuristic looking blue glass plates that cover the audience. More than cosmetic, balls that are hit on the glass plates are considered in play! This leads to what I like to call “Wall Ball.” Nothing beats smacking a ball so hard that it rolls down several planes of glass, allowing you to stretch singles into doubles or even triples!

Balls to the wall fun... [You're fired -Ed.] — Balls to the wall fun… *[You’re fired -Ed.]*

Wall Ball is a hoot. It’s even better when you have runners on base. Balls hammered to the far reaches of the stadium bounce slowly off the glass as your men round the bases.

They remind me of Lego's blue plates... — They remind me of Lego’s blue plates…

Who didn’t love Lego back in the day? In addition to the huge bases and fortresses you could lose yourself in for hours on end, I was always fascinated by the color glass plates. Playing Super Baseball 2020 takes me back to those innocent childhood days playing with my favorite Lego sets. One of my favorites was the Metro PD Station. The glass windows resemble those of Super Baseball 2020 so much.

WHAT’S THE PASSWORD?

"OOH YEEEEAH! DIG IT!" — *“OOH YEEEEAH! DIG IT!”*

The password feature is a bummer. Baseball games of this era mostly used a battery backup memory. Thankfully, seasons are only 15 games long. It makes the password tracking a bit more bearable. Also, the 12 character passwords aren’t the worst in the world. Not ideal, but not a deal breaker.

THE TEAMS

Ninja Black Sox? Best baseball team name ever

Lowest team in terms of total points: Aussie Battlers (20). Highest team in terms of total points: Taiwan Mega Powers and Tropical Girls (29). The Tropical Girls and the Battle Angels are the two all-female teams. I love that each team has its own pros and cons.

PLAY BALL!

Overwork your players and robots will falter and break down. Once they explode, they become extremely ineffective. As soon as they show signs of wearing down, you’d do well to replace them.

Well that an easy decision to go with Lu... — Well that was an easy decision to go with Lu…

Tonight's exciting match-up — Tonight’s exciting match-up

All games in the year 2020 are played exclusively in the Cyber Egg Stadium. Gone are unique team stadiums and home field advantage. It’s a bit of a shame but the Cyber Egg Stadium is so cool that it almost makes you forget about there being only one ballpark to play in. Almost.

Looks fairly close to the Neo Geo original

It's HIGH... but FOUL! — It’s HIGH… but FOUL!

"It's at the 10... the 20... it could... GO ALL THE WAY!" — *“It’s at the 10… the 20… it could… GO ALL THE WAY!”*

Apparently, even in the year 2020 some things never change. Seems like in the off-season the Cyber Egg Stadium also acts as a football stadium. Oakland A’s and Oakland Raiders, I’m looking at you.

Home runs only count when hit to dead center

HURRY, get in position! Now jump! *CLUNK* D’OH!

Trash talking while all this is going on is half the fun! — Trash talkin’ while all this is going on is half the fun!

Replace your pitcher, fielders, base runners or hitter with a robot off the bench, or upgrade if you have the cash.

Be a shame to ruin its brand new shiny exterior…

REVENGE OF THE BOTS V: BALLS TO THE WALLS

Check out how long this ball will roll for... — Check out how long this ball will roll for…

Not stopping for the first row... — Not stopping for the first row…

... nor the third row... — … nor the third row…

This unique feature alone makes this a blast to play — Get those Pokemon Ball looking runners home!

After being crushed way to the top of the upper deck, it finally lands somewhere on the 8th glass plane and begins to bounce off several on the way down. Meanwhile the runners are circling the bases like mad ants and the opposition can’t do a DAMN thing about it but wait and curse. This unique feature alone makes Super Baseball 2020 a blast to play with a friend.

It cannot be overstated how much fun comes from the trash talking that ensues in moments such as this. My brother and I had a riot taunting each other while playing this game. Having only one stadium for all 12 teams is a bit of a bummer but like I said, when the one stadium is as cool as the Cyber Egg Stadium, it’s a lot easier to overlook.

Another unique aspect: STOP signs in the field — It could help or hurt you. It all depends…

Instead of the typical 7th inning stretch, in the year 2020 the 7th inning means only one thing: the WILD CARD INNING. This is where both teams receive a major boost of added power. Because you know, baseball and steroids have never been linked together before. Things tend to get a little nutty in the 7th…

Fireworks down 9-2? You're better than that... — Fireworks down 9-2? You’re better than that…

MEGA POWERS WIN IT ALL

I played a 15 game season with the Mega Powers and was neck and neck with the all-female team, the Battle Angels. The most epic game of the season came in Game #13 which saw my Mega Powers (10-2) going up against the Battle Angels (10-2). I was up 6-4 going to the bottom of the 9th, but the Angels scratched back to tie it at 6 a piece. I ended up surviving a barn burner 7-6 after 13 innings and five (!) dead robots. It was one of those epic games you never forget. I finished the season 13-2 and went on to defeat the special team in the Championship game.

THE FUTURE ISN’T ALWAYS BETTER

No tagging back. If you attempt to advance on an outfield out, there’s no turning back. I guess the robots were programmed with this flaw and no one caught it during quality assurance.

No way to change the batting order or fielders.

Zero individual stat tracking.

You can’t run to the next base until the other runner passes it. This becomes glaringly annoying when you have a fast robot trailing a pair of robots that would make Bernie Sanders look like Deion Sanders.

Fielding is about 75% automatic. The other 25% of the time it’s not as smooth and well executed as the baseball game that set the standard for defensive fielding, Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball.

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

The SNES port of Super Baseball 2020 was well received for the most part. GameFan gave it ratings of 70, 76, 80 and 82%. Super Play rated it 85%. The SNES port did an admirable job replicating what made the arcade game such a fan favorite. Appealing even to non baseball fans, Super Baseball 2020 brings a refreshing new take on America’s favorite pastime.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

One of the best Neo Geo to SNES conversions out there — I love me some good old 16-bit baseball!

It was quite the thrill seeing this childhood favorite of mine at a retro gaming store back in 2006. Seeing Super Baseball 2020 in the wild brought back a flood of fond memories of playing the Neo Geo cab at Safeway as well as renting the SNES port. Being that the game takes place in the year 2020, there’s a neat little futuristic feel to the whole game. This includes the robotic players, the sleek looking blue glass planes that cover the entire Cyber Egg Stadium, and the interesting financial aspects that bring a new dimension of strategy and know-how to the old baseball formula. Put together, it all works rather well. I can’t stress how fun it is to play this game against a like-minded friend or sibling. OK so there are only 12 teams, only one stadium and too many players look alike, but the fun factor covers a multitude of sins.

"WHAT CHU LOOKING AT?!" — *“WHAT CHU LOOKING AT?!”*

Is it the pinnacle of baseball games? No. It’s certainly not without its flaws (as noted earlier), but you simply won’t find another baseball title like this on your 16-bit Super Nintendo. Any time a game can put itself in a “special class” of its own and is fun to play, that game is going to earn bonus points with me. Nothing beats hitting those scorching wall ball hits. The best ones are the rare hits where the ball doesn’t bounce but roll slowly down the glass planes. These hits can lead to inside the park home runs but are extremely rare, which makes it all the more satisfying when it does happen. Aside from the missing bombs, speech samples and some frames of animation, this is a faithful translation of the arcade smash hit. The graphics are big and colorful. There’s a certain solid simplicity to the visuals. The sound is nothing to write home about, but not anything I hated. This is just a fun little baseball game. It doesn’t come close to touching the epochal Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball, but for a decent alternative with a neat futuristic ambiance and quirks you just won’t find elsewhere, Super Baseball 2020 smashes a solid double in the bottom of the 9th.

Graphics: 8
Sound: 6
Gameplay: 7.5
Longevity: 8

Overall: 7.5
Bronze Award