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http://www.defunctgames.com The latest articles from Defunct Games. http://www.defunctgames.com/courant/1779 With its stylish visuals and addictive turn-based combat, there’s a lot to like about VED. It walks the line between fantasy and science fiction, giving us an ambitious story full of warring factions and colorful characters. While I love that it swings for the fences, the sloppy storytelling and an insufferable hero get in the way of the adventuring. Still, if you can overlook some writing issues and characters who are constantly making weird decisions, you’ll find a fun role-playing game with a lot of fresh ideas. And, if nothing else, VED is a masterclass on how to do amazing world-building in a short amount of time. Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/egmranks/82 Believe it or not, EGM reviewed a total of 11 games in the extended Shining universe. That includes a lot of Shining Force games, as well as Shining Wisdom, Shining Tears, Shining Soul, Shining the Holy Ark and more. Sadly, they did not get around to reviewing Shining in the Darkness, the first entry in the long-running series. They also missed out on a bunch of the PSP games released after the magazine was shuttered. That sucks, but I think you’ll agree that we have more than enough games here to make a great list. What we’re going to do today is countdown the best and worst Shining Series games using Electronic Gaming Monthly’s own words and scores. There’s no editorializing here, we’re just going to focus on what the critics said back when these games first came out. I sure hope you brought some powerful sunglasses, because the future is bright when EGM Ranks Sega’s Shining Series. Tue, 19 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/reviewcrew/244 Here we are at the end of the week and Nintendo didn’t announce a single game for their two subscription services. Sony did announce classic games for PS+ owners, but they are Blood Omen 1 and 2, which we covered earlier this month when we looked at the complete Legacy of Kain franchise. Thankfully, Square Enix has come to the rescue by releasing the much-anticipated Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, the first of three announced updates to 8-bit entries in the Dragon Quest series. With everybody excited to dive into this brand-new remake, I wondered what the critics thought of the original games back in the 1980s and 90s. Were these early installments as celebrated as they are today? To answer those questions, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, GamePro, Video Games & Computer Entertainment and more classic magazines to see what the critics said back when these games first came out. Get your sword and shield ready, adventure seekers, because this is Dragon Warrior Review Crew. Fri, 15 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/courant/1778 Now that we’ve looked at the Wider World of Atari, Digital Eclipse returns with an Atari 50 expansion pack that chronicles the very first console war. Through interviews, archival footage and a bunch of games, we see the VCS battle Mattel’s Intellivision, a more powerful piece of hardware from a fierce competitor. While not as flashy as the main game, this expansion offers a surprisingly great selection of games, including real stand-outs like HardBall, Antbear, Dark Cavern and Frogs & Flies. While I have a few small issues with the presentation and lack of additional Lynx and Jaguar games, none of this should overshadow what could very well be the final chapter in one of the greatest video game compilations of all time. Wed, 13 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/matchup/6 In this corner, we have Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time, the Super NES beat ‘em up based on the arcade smash hit. In the other corner we have Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist, a console-exclusive brawler that brought the Turtles to the Genesis for the first time. These are two of the most-popular beat ‘em ups of all time, and an important part in the Genesis vs. Super NES console war. But what did the critics say 32 years ago? Was it this hotly contested or was there a clear winner in this 16-bit showdown? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Mean Machines, GamePro and more classic magazines that reviewed both of these brawlers back when they first came out. Today we’re going to see where the critics landed and maybe, just maybe, settle this Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles debate once and for all in this pizza-loving episode of Magazine Match-Up! Wed, 13 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/courant/1777 Tetris Forever is more than a collection of 18 games; it’s a harrowing history lesson into the complicated story of bringing Tetris to the world. It’s also a celebration of the puzzle game, taking us on a guided tour of the evolution of the franchise and its continued relevance in the industry. Through compelling interviews and amazing archival footage, we feel like we’re actually there every step of the way, and all that’s before we’ve played a single game. You don’t have to love Tetris to enjoy this newest entry in Digital Eclipse’s Gold Master Series, but I have a hunch that Tetris Forever will make you fall in love with the story of Tetris. Mon, 11 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/reviewcrew/243 Here at Defunct Games, we love Nightdive. Over the last few years, they’ve managed to breathe new life into a lot of outdated first-person shooters through expertly-made remasters. This includes loving updates of the Turok games, Blade Runner, Dark Forces and even The Thing. With so many classic games getting the Nightdive upgrade, I thought it might be fun to give the Atari-owned company the Review Crew treatment, starting with two 3DO games that were recently re-released – Killing Time and PO’ed. That’s genuinely cool news and I love that these lesser-known shooters are getting a second-life on modern consoles, but were these games worth playing back in 1995? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, GamePro, Next Generations and more classic magazines to see what the critics said back when these games first came out. I sure hope you brought a swimsuit, because this is the debut episode of Nightdive Review Crew. Fri, 08 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/egmranks/81 Believe it or not, EGM reviewed a total of 18 games in the Tetris franchise. That includes many versions of the classic computer game, multiple attempts to refresh the series and even a few oddball spin-offs that you might have forgotten about, like Wordtris and the Blastris game that came with the Super Scope. Unfortunately, Electronic Gaming Monthly didn’t share their opinion of Hatris or the Nintendo-published Tetris game on the Nintendo Entertainment System. But even without those titles, I feel like we have a strong list that covers a surprising amount of consoles. What we’re going to do today is countdown the best and worst Tetris games using nothing more than Electronic Gaming Monthly’s own words and scores. There’s no editorializing here. We’re just going to focus on what the critics said back when these games first came out. So get ready to line things up perfectly, because this is what happens when EGM Ranks Tetris. Mon, 04 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/reviewcrew/242 There hasn’t been a new Legacy of Kain game in two decades, but 2024 was a great year for the series. Not only are we getting a brand-new remastered collection of the first two Soul Reaver games, but Evercade also released their own compilation that included both Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain and Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver. That’s cool news, but are any of these games worth playing? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Computer & Video Games, Next Generation and more classic magazines to see what the critics said about the entire franchise back when the games first came out. Get ready to push some crates, because this is a blood-sucking episode of Legacy of Kain Review Crew! Fri, 01 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/matchup/5 In this corner, we have Ghouls ‘N Ghosts, one of the very first must-own arcade conversions for the Sega Genesis. In this other corner we have Super Ghouls ‘N Ghosts, the pumped-up sequel that helped to demonstrate the true power of the Super NES in the early days. These are two of the greatest side-scrolling action games of all time, and an important part in the Genesis vs. Super NES console war. But what did the critics say 35 years ago? Was it this back-and-forth or was there a clear winner in this 16-bit showdown? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Video Games & Computer Entertainment and more classic magazines that reviewed both of these arcade ports. Today we’re going to see where the critics landed and maybe settle this Ghouls ‘N Ghosts debate once and for all in this spooky new episode of Magazine Match-Up! Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/reviewcrew/241 In a week full of trick ‘r treaters, I think it’s safe to say that Nintendo surprised Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack subscribers with a real treat. This week brings a double creature-feature, thanks to the release of both Shadow Man and Turok 2: Seeds of Evil, two M-rated Nintendo 64 games that are perfect for the Halloween season. That’s cool news, but are either of these games worth playing? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Next Generation, Edge and more classic magazines to see what the critics said back when these games first came out. Get that voodoo magic ready, because this is another dinosaur-filled episode of the Nintendo Switch Online Review Crew! Tue, 29 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/reviewcrew/240 Of all the great video game compilations to come out this year, the Castlevania: Dominus Collection is one of my favorites. It brilliantly collects Nintendo DS classics like Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin and Order of Ecclesia, as well as including a new version of Haunted Castle. I’ve been playing a lot of these games recently, which got me wondering what the critics said about these side-scrolling adventure games. To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, GamePro, Edge and more classic magazines to see what the critics said back when these games first came out. Get that holy water and wooden stake ready, because this is a very stabby episode of Castlevania: Review Crew. Sat, 26 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/courant/1776 Kill Knight is dual-stick perfection. While it may not be the most original game of the year, this action-packed shooter is easily one of the most exciting. This is a deceptive game full of techniques to master and weapons to unlock. Once everything clicks into place, you’ll confidently dash around the ever-changing stages killing the nastiest demons the abyss can throw at you. Kill Knight is atmospheric, brutal and so much fun. This is a game for anybody looking for a little more depth in their dual-stick shooters. Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/reviewcrew/239 Can you believe it has been a whole decade since Konami announced Silent Hills, the much-anticipated reboot from Hideo Kojima and Guillermo del Toro? If you’re a fan of the horror series, then the last ten years have been rough, to say the least. Thankfully, an incredible new Silent Hill 2 remake is here to remind fans why they fell in love with the series in the first place. To help celebrate the success of this recently-released remake, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Computer & Video Games, Next Generation and more classic magazines to see what critics said about the first two Silent Hill games back when they first came out. I sure hope you don’t mind fog, because you’re about to enter the Silent Hill Review Crew! Mon, 21 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/reviewcrew/238 Between Battletoads, remote-controlled cars and Snakes that rattle ‘n roll, this has been a big year for Rare games hitting the Nintendo Switch Online. Now we get one more, as Nintendo just announced that fan-favorite sequel Banjo-Tooie will be available for Expansion Pack subscribers on October 25th. That’s genuinely cool new, but is this game actually worth playing? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Computer & Video Games, Nintendo Power and more classic magazines to see what the critics said back when this game first came out. I sure hope you like collecting random trinkets, because this is another platform-hopping episode of the Nintendo Switch Online Review Crew. Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/courant/1775 If you’re a fan of Crash Bandicoot and Donkey Kong Country, then the new game Nikoderiko: The Magical World is an absolute must-play. It’s a strong debut release from VEA Games that not only manages to capture the charm and personality of those classic games, but actually outdoes most of the recent high-profile platformers. Seamlessly shifting from 2D to 3D and offering a vibrant world full of hidden paths and secret areas, this is a game that can’t help but impress. Nikoderiko is the best kind of surprise. Thu, 17 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/reviewcrew/237 Just in time to celebrate spooky season, Sony has uploaded two survival horror classics for PlayStation Plus subscribers. That’s right, fans of old school tank controls are in luck, because this week brings both the PlayStation 2 version of Siren and the original PlayStation hit Dino Crisis. That’s spine-tingling news, but are either of these games worth playing? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Next Generation, Game Informer and more classic magazines to see what the critics said back when these games first came out. It’s time to run for your life, because this is another scary episode of PlayStation Plus Review Crew. Tue, 15 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/courant/1774 The spirit of Duke Nukem 3D is strong in the new game Chains of Fury, a throwback first-person shooter inspired by everything from Lobo to XIII to Hellboy. This first volume gives us eight fast-paced levels full of twitch shooting and two-dimensional bad guys. It has stylish cel-shaded graphics and enough guts and gore to satisfy anybody’s bloodthirst. Unfortunately, all of this potential is completely undone by a laundry list of technical bugs and glitches. From loading without sound to freezing to falling right through the level, this game is busted, and that’s before you get to the dubious way the game is advertised. There are moments when Chains of Fury really shines, but it’s hard to recommend something that has this many game-breaking bugs. Mon, 14 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/courant/1773 If you’re looking for a story-driven platformer that will definitely make you sad, then look no further than An Everyday Story. Experience an entire life from the perspective of three unique toys, each of which have their own unique moves and abilities. While many of the story beats are predictable, the levels are well-designed and full of puzzle to solve. Unfortunately, the strong narrative is undermined by technical problems and some question design choices. An Everyday Story is a fun platformer that will definitely stick with you, even if the final act borders on being manipulative. I can’t wait to see what Cactus Production comes up with next. Thu, 10 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/courant/1772 The first of two planned expansion packs for Atari 50, The Wider World of Atari is a little unfocused and scattered, but it brings with it a lot of history and some truly great games. This is a worthwhile companion piece that introduces us to new faces, dives into the world of homebrew, explores the origins of Breakout and even gives us a rare glimpse at some previously unreleased games for the Atari 2600. While I found a few games to be incredibly hard to control using a standard game pad and I would have liked more games for the Lynx and Jaguar, there’s no question that this is a quality expansion that makes the already great Atari 50 that much better. Wed, 09 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0800