I hope you're sitting down for this, because it's another week where Nintendo ignores their online subscription service. The good news is that we still have plenty of Nintendo Switch Online games in desperate need of the Review Crew treatment. I'm talking about all-time classics, like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Joe & Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics and the terribly-named Operation Logic Bomb. Sure, these games hit the subscription service years ago, but I still need to ask: Are any of these games worth playing? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Nintendo Power, Super Play and more classic magazines to see what the critics said back when these games first came out. Get ready to do some clubbing (literally), because this is another eclectic episode of Nintendo Switch Online Review Crew.


The Caveman Ninjas are back, and this time they are battling their way through paradise. Joe & Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics is, of course, the sequel to the 1992 Super NES game that was in turn a console port of the arcade game Caveman Ninjas. It is not a port of the arcade sequel, Joe & Mac Return, which came out the same year and has completely different gameplay. This Super NES game continues the side-scrolling antics of our prehistoric heroes, this time in a colorful new setting, complete with new bosses and a whole new silly story. The critics liked the first game, will the same be true of this sequel?

The answer to that question isn't as clear-cut as you might think. For example, Electronic Gaming Monthly far preferred this game, giving it an 8.25 out of 10, up from the original's 6.75. Ed was impressed: “Wow! I was completely taken by surprise with this one. Thinking it was just another mindless action game, Joe & Mac II proves that blending action and role-playing can make a great game. The graphics are absolutely stunning and the jungle tunes have a great beat. The levels are long and have interesting surprises, but they can also be rather bland in the action department.” Steve also praised the game's role-playing elements: “Joe & Mac II is really good. It has the play control the first one lacked, and it sort of has an RPG feel to it. The addition of towns was a nice feature, plus the fact that you can find a wife and build up your cave is also really neat. This is one of the better action games for the Super Nintendo. I highly recommend this cart.”

EGM's score was more or less what in line with many of the other magazines of the time. GamePro ended up giving the Joe & Mac sequel a 4 out of 5. That's the exact same score you saw over at Super Play, who called it “a great little game which is playable, funny and occasionally ingenious.” They did have some complaints: “The only real problem – and this applies to most platform games – is its limited life-span. The password feature enables fairly rapid progress and – even bearing in mind how much fun it's going to be getting to the end – you have to question whether Joe & Mac 2's going to be 54.99 worth.”

The great graphics and RPG elements weren't enough for some critics at the time. A good example of this is Nintendo Power, who gave the game a surprisingly low 2.9 out of 5, despite not bothering to explain their reasoning. Game Players gave the game a similarly low 69%, but at least they were more up-front with what they didn't like. They explained that the “colorful scenery and huge bosses really help the game stand out” and that the “animations are funny and there's lotsa variety in bad guys.” However, they were disappointed by the music and ultimately concluded that “the game looks great and plays well, but it's easy and very short. You'll come back a few times, but nothing holds your interest after you've won.”

Personally speaking, I think this is a fun action platformer. Is it true that you probably won't replay it dozens of times? Absolutely. But on the Switch, that probably won't be a concern. Even the best Super NES games aren't getting played dozens of times. Just have a good time marveling at the colorful graphics and cool boss fights. You won't be disappointed.

After thirty years, I need to get something off my chest – Operation Logic Bomb: The Ultimate Search & Destroy is a dreadful title. What makes it even worse is knowing that in Japan it has a title that translates to the much more badass Fortress of Fury. No matter what you call it, this overhead action game is the second sequel in the Fortified Zone series that started on the Game Boy and ended on the Super NES. Of course, you won't see that lineage brought up in any of the reviews, but there is a certain Hideo Kojima classic that gets brought up a lot. Let's see if you can spot it in the reviews.

For their part, Electronic Gaming Monthly liked Operation Logic Bomb, giving the stealthy sequel an average score of 7.75 out of 10. Ed opened his review with a great question: “Looking for a 16-bit version of the NES classic Metal Gear? Operation Logic Bomb has to be it! Although this game is a simple blast-a-thon, the variation of the weapons and the levels more than makes up for its lack of involving strategy. As with too many games today, this one is a bit on the easy side, however it is still fun to play.” Steve wasn't nearly as sold on the game, dragging the average down with his score of 6 out of 10: “For fans of games like Metal Gear, this game should be a winner. Its graphics are pretty good, and the many weapons at your disposal tremendously add to the technique. The explosions might be a bit cheesy, but it's a small price to pay for a generally fun cart. If it's excitement you want, this game is packed full of it.”

This mirrors what you saw over at Nintendo Power, who couldn't go any higher than a 3.5 out of 5. And then there's GamePro, who may have a reputation for giving out perfect scores like they're candy, but could only muster a 4 out of 5. They concluded that “Operation Logic Bomb is an interesting blend of shooting action and trial-and-error maze exploration. Sharp graphics and sound are the highlights of this extensive 10 level action/adventure.”

If you're looking for higher scores, then I've got you covered, because Nintendo Magazine System gave this Jaleco game an 84% in their 8th issue. Computer & Video Games went one point higher, giving it an 85%. And then there's the EGM offshoot Super NES Buyer's Guide, who gave the 16-bit game an impressive 90%. Guy (yes, Guy) gave the game a 90%, raving that “Jaleco gets better and better all the time! This is a very engrossing and challenging overhead-perspective Gauntlet-type action game. Some of the most notable aspects are the demos of weapons and other items you find throughout. One gripe though: There could be a few more terminals that restore your life meter.” Fellow editor Dude (yes, Dude) called Operation Logic Bomb a “cool game” with “lots of intense weapon and good search-and-destroy gameplay.” “The only quasi-major gripe I have is that the music is borderline annoying. All in all: Operation Logic Bomb is a great thinking-person's strategy game which is high on technique. Great job, Jaleco.”

Okay, look, if you go into this expecting it to be a strategy game, then you're going to be disappointed. Instead you should look at it as a shoot ‘em up where you have to be a bit more strategic, not unlike that Kojima game that kept coming up. It's fun and worth checking out, especially if you wish there were more Metal Gear games in the old school style. Give it a play on the Switch.

For the better part of my life, I have abbreviated The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past down to Zelda III. In fact, I would still be doing it to this day if not for people in the comments pointing it out. If you also do this, there's a reason why: That's the shorthand used in every single video game magazine to line the shelves in the early 1990s. And you know what, it makes sense. Even if it's not numbered, it's still the third Zelda game. And, in my opinion, it's one of the very best, perfecting the template that would be used to make many more Zelda games, both 2D and 3D. But you already know that Zelda III is one of the greatest adventure games of all time. You're here to see the critics tell you that you've been right this whole time. Well, let's see how that goes ...

If you were expecting perfect scores at Electronic Gaming Monthly, then you might want to sit down for this, because The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past received an average score of 8.75 out of 10. Okay, don't freak out, pretty much all of the editors gave the game nines, with some wanting to go even higher. Take Ed as an example: “Wow! This is the closest a game has ever gotten to a perfect 10. Everything except the graphics gets the best score possible. Unfortunately, Nintendo let us down when it comes to the graphics as there is nothing spectacular here. Still, this is the best available and one which everybody should (and will) want to buy.” Steve is the lone holdout, only giving the game an eight. Why? “Like Super Mario World, however, Zelda III may disappoint some who expect radical changes in the overall play mechanics. No such luck here, but for a solid adventure title filled with lots to do, you can't do much better than Zelda III.”

EGM wasn't the only magazine to give A Link to the Past a slightly lower-than-expected score, as you also saw Computer & Video Games going with a score of 8.9 out of 10. But let's be honest here, these only stand out because of the rest of the pack are hovering between near and perfect. For example, Super NES Buyers Guide gave the game an average score of 9 out of 10 in their first issue, while Super Play went a little higher with a 93%, making it their 10th highest scoring Super NES game.. That's the same score we saw over at N-Force, who called it “quite simply, a damn fine arcade adventure. Bloody good spin ‘n' scroll maps, bloody enormous playing area and bloody ‘bloody' guardians. Technically outstanding, it was too. It's rare to find a game that excels in all fields but this manages, no problem. Puzzles, arcade action, graphics, evocative music, powerful story line with diverse sub-plots just exude the atmosphere of the heroic fantasy setting. Unfortunately, being nothing more than a mentally disadvantaged kill-happy sicko, I couldn't stand it! But give it its due if you like this sort of stuff – it's an absolute must.”

Want even higher scores? No problem! How does 95% from Mean Machines hit you? Or a 96% from Nintendo Magazine System? Still not good enough? Well, then you'll be happy to see that Nintendo Power gave it one of their very highest scores – a 4.9 out of 5. Better still, this was back when Nintendo Power had George and Rob critiquing their games. Both agreed that it was their favorite game of the issue, with George calling it “just awesome.” “It's got incredible graphics great sound effects and it's a well thought-out adventure.” Rob agreed: “I think it's going to be a mega hit. It takes all the things that made the first two Zelda games fun and exciting to a new level with the enhanced graphics, sound and depth made possible with the Super NES.”

Okay, I get it. You're not satisfied by a “near” perfect score, you want something that can't be topped. Look no further than GamePro, who yet again comes through with a 5 out of 5 score. They concluded that “The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is a well-executed fantasy thriller with a good 30-hour quest, rich color shading, excellent sounds and a fine plot. The only real disappointment comes at the end – if you completed Zelda I, you know how to polish off Ganon here. Despite a somewhat lackluster ending, Zelda III's journey is its own reward.”

See, I told you. Everybody called it Zelda III. And everybody liked it. Even if they had some minor complaints here and there, it was a hit across the board. And if you have somehow never played A Link to the Past, then now is the perfect time. We're in between Zelda games and it's right there waiting for you on the Switch. You're going to love it.