When it rains, it pours. After 41 days, the Nintendo Switch Online drought is finally over. That's right, starting today, subscribers to Nintendo's online service will have access to five classic games from Rare Ltd., including the cult classic Blast Corps, R.C. Pro-Am, Snake Rattle N Roll, Killer Instinct and Battletoads in Battlemaniacs. Wow, that's a lot of games, but are any of them actually worth playing? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Super Play, Die Hard Game Fan and more classic magazines to see what the critics said back when these games first came out. Get ready to ride a wave of nostalgia with this Rare-filled episode of Nintendo Switch Online Review Crew.


R.C. Pro-Am was the right game at the right time. Originally released in 1988, this speedy little racing game not only took advantage of the growing popularity of remote-control cars, but also looked and played completely different from other 8-bit racers, especially Rad Racer. Although the isometric camera perspective takes a little getting used to, those who put in the effort will be treated to a fun and exciting game that holds up surprisingly well. That's cool and all, but what did the critics say back in the late ‘80s?

Well, the answer to that question depends entirely on which magazine you were reading. For the most part, the reviews were kind to R.C. Pro-Am, with ACE dropping their ridiculous one-thousand-point scale in favor of a more traditional percentage grade. They gave R.C. Pro-Am a score of 85%, calling it “technically superb” and raving that it's “overwhelmingly playable. Its excellent graphics, profusion of enjoyable tunes and professional presentation even put it head and shoulders above other Nintendo games. Scrolling is as smooth as anything yet seen on a console and the fun derived from racing cute cars is unbeatable.”

The Games Machine agreed with pretty much everything ACE said, including the score, as they too gave the game an 85%. Believe it or not, the lowest score actually comes from Computer & Video Games, who not only gave the game a middling 6 out of 10, but snuck half of the text into their Metroid review for no reason. “I am not the greatest fan of Spring-Rally, but the quality of this game has won me over. It is by the Rare team and just shows their quality in game design and playability. You can increase your cars performance by collecting turbo, bigger tyres, missiles, bombs and a more powerful engine. The hazards are plentiful: puddles, oil slicks, pop up bars, skulls and drone cars. There are bonus letters littered around the course (try to collect enough to spell NINTENDO). The game plays very fast indeed.” Again, that's the game they gave a 6, though their layout that issue is all over the place, so who knows how accurate that is.

If you're looking for the highest score, then look no further than Nintendo Magazine System, which gave R.C. Pro-Am a 90%. They called it “one of the most playable titles around. Both the graphics and sound are spot-on and there's plenty of action to keep you going for a long time as you race a variety of radio-controlled vehicles around a series of very tight tracks against mad computer drivers. A must!”

Phew, that was a mouthful. I'm not sure R.C. Pro-Am is a “must,” but it's definitely a lot of fun. Check it out.

While Snake Rattle N Roll may not be as hyped as Killer Instinct or remembered as fondly as Blast Corps, don't let those bigger titles overshadow one of the greatest 8-bit video games of all time. Yes, it's weird and not especially easy to describe, but it's also adventurous, experimental and just plain fun. It's from a time when developers could tinker around with fresh gameplay ideas without the fear that one flop would send them straight into bankruptcy. It's a platformer with a weird camera perspective, odd objectives and surreal level designs that demand to be explored, yet it all comes together to create a truly unforgettable NES game.

As it turns out, the critics agreed with my rave review. In fact, this is probably the best-reviewed game we're going to talk about today. To get a taste of this, let's start with Mean Machines, who gave the game a 94%. Julian says that it's “one of the most original games seen in years, and simply oozes quality. The graphics are stunning, with beautifully drawn scrolling forced perspective 3D backdrops and some great sprites. But it's the playability that makes this one of the most compulsive Nintendo games around. The landscapes are fiendishly designed to test your dexterity to its limit, and on later levels you're required to take some amazingly convoluted and precarious routes to the door. Snake Rattle N Roll is an incredible game and is a vital addition to your Nintendo software collection.”

Now, it's worth mentioning that Nintendo Power was not as won over by the charm of Snake Rattle N Roll, giving the game the lowest score – a 3.9 out of 5. Computer & Video Games, on the other hand, strongly disagreed. Giving the game a high score of 95%, Richard Leadbetter argued that it was one of Nintendo's finest games: “Superlative graphics, swingsome sound and extremely addictive one or two player action make this one fine release that Nintendo and Rare should be extremely proud of. With playability that knocks the many Mega Drive games into oblivion, Snake Rattle N Roll is simply superlative in every respect.”

Superlative, indeed. This may not be the biggest game coming to Nintendo Switch Online this week, but it's definitely one of the best.

After surprising everybody with one of the best-reviewed Nintendo Entertainment System games of all time, the Battletoads returned in Battlemaniacs, a game that basically took the good ideas from the original and gave them a gorgeous new coat of paint. While it's true that this game hits on a lot of familiar beats, you can still see the creativity and weirdness bursting through. But even with the more surreal elements, this Battletoads sequel was coming out at a time when critics and consumers were starting to lose interest in old school beat ‘em ups. Would this factor into the scores? Let's find out.

Electronic Gaming Monthly didn't like it as much as the 8-bit original, but still gave it the Editor's Choice Gold award. Steve called the game “absolutely killer! These guys know how to rock – what other game can you name where your characters look like they are having a blast bashing enemies? This game has been long in coming, but it has been well worth the wait. The only gripe: The control configuration needs some work, otherwise this may have been a 10.” Fake ninja Sushi-X also liked the game, but not quite as much as Steve: “The top-notch NES game has finally made it to the Super NES. Your favorite guys in green are here with all the cool moves and action we've been anticipating. The graphics are superbly done and animated. Control takes a bit to get used to when your characters slide after they strike, but it's action-packed ‘til the end.” Electronic Gaming Monthly gave this sequel an average score of 8.25 out of 10.

While EGM may have been satisfied with this sequel, a lot of the critics were not. The game earned a solid score of 80% from Super Play, making it their 196th best-reviewed Super NES game of all time. Hyper went a bit lower with a 79%, which is basically in line with the 7.6 out of 10 you saw from Video Games & Computer Entertainment. Even lower, SNES Force gave Battletoads in Battlemaniacs a 68%, which is basically the same as the 3.4 out of 5 you saw over at Nintendo Power. However, if you're looking for the absolute worst score, then let's once again look at Computer & Video Games, who gave it a 55%. “I really don't know what has gone wrong here. Right from the off, you find yourself enduring sporadic action punctuated with bursts of complete nothing. It just goes downhill from there. It seems as though the programmers just ran out of ideas and got a bit silly. This is tedious and extremely frustrating in places.”

On the other side of that coin, there were magazines that really connected with this Battletoads sequel. GamePro, for example, gave the game a 4.5 out of 5. And then there was Die Hard Game Fan, which was arguably the game's biggest cheerleaders. Skid gave the game a 99% and wanted you to do the math: “Tradewest + Rare + Time + SNES = One of the best games I have ever played. This one measures 9.9 on the adrenaline meter, as each time you finish a tough level, you need a shower. This is absolute perfection! A password would make this a perfect 100%.” The Enquirer also gave the game a 99%, gushing that “this new 16-bit version of Battletoads is one of the best games ever. The graphics are the best I've ever seen, the music is awesome and the two-player simul has no slowdown or flick anywhere. And after all that you will still find that it's still one of the hardest games ever. Rare is on a roll, once again.” Die Hard Game Fan gave this sequel an average score of 97%.

While I don't like this Battletoads game as much as the original, it's still worth a play. It's full of silly ideas and Game Fan isn't wrong when they rave about the graphics. This is a good one.

From the moment it was announced, Killer Instinct had a job to do – it was there to sell you on the concept of what would become the Nintendo 64. Nintendo promised that what you saw in the arcade would be what you played at home on their new 64-bit system. And then, predictably, Nintendo pushed the N64 back a couple of times and ultimately screwed up their initial plans, which brings us to the 16-bit port of Killer Instinct. Released right at the tail end of the Super Nintendo's life, this is a scaled down version of the arcade hit that got the characters, moves and gameplay right, but had to sacrifice the graphics in the process. The fans didn't seem to mind at the time, but what about the critics?

When it comes to Electronic Gaming Monthly, they were a little mixed on how successful this was as a port. Andrew liked the arcade game, but argued that the home port doesn't match up. “The controls just seem a little too loose for my taste. The coin-op was loaded with eye-popping effects, and while it's a nice attempt on the Super NES, it wasn't the same. The No Mercies were laughably weak, especially Riptor's. If you must play Killer Instinct, go for it. Otherwise, pass on it.” Scott liked the game a bit more, concluding that “the long-awaited Killer Instinct has really made a strong showing on the Super NES and for good reason. The game has been faithfully reproduced from arcade version into cart form, and it has managed to retain most of its appealing features. I'd guess Killer Instinct will be Nintendo's last blast fighting game for the Super NES. It is going to be a hard game to top in this dying market.” Electronic Gaming Monthly gave Killer Instinct an average score of 7.75 out of 10.

That score is pretty much in line with what GamePro was saying when they gave the port a score of 4 out of 5. Super Play went a little higher, giving it an 85%, making it the magazine's 123rd best-reviewed Super NES game. The lowest score actually comes from Next Generation, who went with a so-so 3 out of 5. “It's clear that Killer Instinct is a far cry from the groundbreaking title it was touted to be. While the combo system was new, the concept behind the look isn't materially different from Mortal Kombat. So, it should come as no surprise, especially after the 100% rendered characters of Donkey Kong Country, that a Super NES translation is not only possible, but likely, and that it would be very close to the arcade version. Nintendo has stated that Killer Instinct will be enhanced for its eventual release on the Ultra 64. Let's hope so, because by then, this will be very, very behind it.”

When it comes to the high scores, you saw Computer & Video Games giving Killer Instinct a 93%, while Hyper went one tick higher with a 94%. That's the same score you saw over at Die Hard Game Fan, who couldn't stop raving about this high-quality port. Skid thought that he would never see this on the Super NES, “heck, I didn't think they'd even attempt it. I can't tell you how shocked I am at this game's playability. Killer Instinct Super NES plays as good as the coin-op. The graphics are noticeably lower resolution and some of the goodies are absent, but overall, for the money, Killer Instinct SNES is a miracle.” K.Lee agreed, arguing that “Nintendo and Rare once again bring us a game that should be impossible to do on the Super NES. Nintendo's 3.58 MHz slowdown machine that could does a fine job of bringing the 64-bit arcade experience home. If Nintendo can do this on 16-bit, imagine what the Ultra's going to be like. Oy vay!”

Of course, by the time the Nintendo 64 eventually came out, Killer Instinct was old news. The system would get a port of the arcade sequel, but all eyes were on Super Mario 64 as the system's true killer app. Let's hope this is just the appetizer and Nintendo eventually releases the 64-bit sequel on the Switch.

Blast Corps is a good example of a critically-acclaimed game that was largely overshadowed by higher-profile games when it first came out. It's one of those high concept sort of games that you would expect to be a big hit, but just didn't connect with players at the time. Thankfully, the game has been rediscovered over the last quarter-century, with many finally having a chance to see what made this quirky little action game so unique and fun. If you're a fan of slamming vehicles into buildings and other objects until they blow up, then you're going to want to jump into the driver's seat for this one.

Like I said, this was a critic darkling back in 1997. There really weren't any bad reviews, with the lowest coming from outlets that liked it more than loved it. Giving it an average score of 8.75 out of 10, Electronic Gaming Monthly was right in the middle. Shawn gave it a 9 and described himself as a “starving Nintendo 64 player” and said that he would “try anything that comes through at this point.” “Even though I'm a little desperate, I do have to say that Blast Corps is a real winner. What impresses me the most about Blast Corps is the variety – in many ways. First, all of the vehicles to choose from; second, all of the secrets to discover; and last, all of the different styles of levels to play through. Still, what it comes down to is level after level of destroying stuff which might get old. Overall, this one is a definitely buy.” Dan also liked the game, but went a little lower with an 8.5 out of 10. “Don't judge a book by its cover, right? Well, when I first saw Blast Corps, I thought that it looked extremely boring. It's a good thing that I had to review it, because I discovered that it was very fun to play. It's the type of adrenaline-pumping, addicting experience that will make you say, ‘just one more round,' or more likely, ‘let me give that last round one more shot.'”

On the lower side, you saw Die Hard Game Fan give the game an average score of 84%, which is basically the same as the 4.2 out of 5 we saw from Nintendo Power. The lowest score I could find came from Computer & Video Games, which gave the game an 8 out of 10, though you did see Next Generation going with the equivalent 4 out of 5. The magazine I want to focus on is Edge, which also gave the game an 8 out of 10. What was their complaint? The length. “The guts of Blast Corps, the missions, run out a little too soon for comfort. But, even if the Blast Corps experience is all over a bit soon, in many ways it's one of the best things to have happened to the N64 so far. It's a tremendously compelling game that has no equivalent on any other format, with graphics that will be the envy of every PlayStation and Saturn owner. Another much-needed feather in the N64's rather bald-looking cap, then.”

On a more positive note, you saw N64 magazine give the game a much better score of 88%, while 64 Extreme goes even higher with a 94%. If you're looking for a perfect score, then GamePro will not let you down. Giving it a 5 out of 5, they concluded that “maybe using a Wrist Rocket to launch Hot Wheels at your sister's Barbie Dreamhouse is more fun, but when it comes to video game destruction for brains and brawn, Blast is definitely the master.”

If nothing else, this Switch release should give a whole new generation of gamers a chance to discover a real cult classic on the Nintendo 64. Blast Corps is a great game that you can't help but love, and it's great to have the game back and accessible on modern hardware.