This Week in Defunct Games - July 22, 2011

What Is It? Don't be fooled by the name, this Earth Defense Force has nothing to do with giant ants stomping on Earth's greatest cities. Instead this is a traditional 2D shoot-em-up from Jaleco. In this Super NES game you fight the Azyma Empire, a group of aliens who are populating the dark side of the moon. (Why does that sound so familiar?) It's your job to swoop in, dodge bullets, blow the enemy out of the sky and save the day. Even though you're flying solo, players will have a choice between eight different power-ups, which can be activated at the push of a button. If you're looking for a little extra fire power, then you can deploy extra ships on the screen to shoot down the hordes of cliche shooter bad guys.

Does It Still Hold Up? Although I'm not a fan of the way continues are handled, Super E.D.F. holds up as a horizontal 2D shooter. This doesn't do anything especially noteworthy, which may explain why Nintendo "forgot" to announce the game last week. The controls are responsive, the graphics are colorful and the bosses are worth checking out. If that's all you want out of a 2D shoot-em-up, then Earth Defense Force has you covered.

Is It Worth The Money? While I respect the solid gameplay and attractive visuals, there's something about this game that leaves me cold. Everything about this game screams generic action game, something that is only made worse after playing through Kyuiin, a significantly more interesting shooter. Fans of the genre may get a kick out of this brief (though extremely challenging) game, but the eight power-ups aren't enough of a reason for me to recommend Super E.D.F.: Earth Defense Force.

What Is It? When we think back to the early days of the Nintendo Game Boy, it's easy to be reminded of hits like Tetris and Super Mario Land. But beyond the big games lies a treasure trove of middling sports games with simplistic names. I'm talking about Tennis (reviewed in episode #166), Golf and this last week's 3DS Virtual Console release, Baseball. Like the title suggests, this is a barebones take on America's favorite pastime. Enjoy fictional teams, limited game modes and a mediocre presentation. See if you can hit it out of the park in this, the very first baseball game released for the Nintendo 3DS.

Does It Still Hold Up? Like most early sports games, Baseball fails to capture the fun and excitement of the original sport. The gameplay is sluggish and the fielding is poor, two things that kill any fun you could possibly have with the title. The complete lack of modes or extras doesn't come as a surprise, but that doesn't make it any easier to swallow. This is one sports simulator that has not held up well.

Is It Worth The Money? Every so often you'll see a baseball team trot some uber-famous starlet onto the field and have them throw the first pitch. Usually the result involves the poor catcher running as far from home plate as possible, embarrassing everybody involved. Baseball is worse than that. At least when Mariah Carey misses the plate by 20 feet it's entertaining to watch. But alas, there's little fun to be had with Nintendo's Baseball. Surely there are better baseball games on the way, so hold out until pretty much anything else comes out. You've been warned.

What Is It? By now you're probably used to the usual Japanese wackiness. You've seen characters with three eyes, talking mushrooms and everything in between. So when I tell you that Kyuiin is about a kid on a flying vacuum cleaner fighting his favorite works of literature, I assume you you're ready to go along with it and won't ask any questions. Because that's what this game is, it's the type of 2D shoot-em-up where you ride around a vacuum shooting down paper airplanes, snowflakes, novels and much, much more.

Beyond the novel-themed levels (which include Santa Claus and Little Red Riding Hood), Kyuiin features solid 2D shooter fundamentals and the necessary power-ups. This is one of the few shooters to give the player a fighting chance. Not only can you get hit once before dying, but our hero has a chance to earn back health along the way. What's more, the flying vacuum can suck bullets and even enemies up, turning them into a powerful special attack that makes the player invincible. Sound strange? We've only scratched the surface of what makes Kyuiin so special.

Does It Still Hold Up? It's painfully clear that Kyuiin was made by developers who know a thing or two about making 2D shoot-em-ups. From the unique boss battles to the power-ups, this is a company that understands what makes this genre tick. This is the type of game that doesn't fall into the usual cliches, something that is rare in this genre (especially in the 1990s). Sadly there's nothing else to do once you've completed it once, but the journey holds up better than most modern 2D shooters.

Is It Worth The Money? Kyuiin is the type of shooter I love -- the kind that doesn't take itself too seriously. This is one game that has a lot of fun with the level designs and boss battles. And just when you think it's too easy, the difficulty ramps up and gives you a real work out. There isn't a whole lot to done once you've completed Kyuiin, but that shouldn't stop you from spending the six dollars it costs to ride this vacuum cleaner. This game sucks ... but only in the best way possible!

What Is It? Long before The Bigs or MLB Slug Fest, SNK rocked the arcade baseball scene with this 1992 classic. This is Baseball Stars 2, the much-improved sequel to one of the Neo Geo's earliest sports games. With only six teams and two difficulty types, there isn't a whole heck of a lot to do in this early 90s hit, yet that shouldn't keep fans of arcade-style baseball games from having a great time. This Neo Geo Station port also offers network play, which is the type of thing that should keep this game fresh until the next batch of SNK hits.

Does It Still Hold Up? Baseball Stars 2 is certainly a good looking game. Even twenty years later, I'm surprised at how large and detailed every character is. Sadly the gameplay is rooted in the 1990s, making fielding the ball a bit of a challenge. It's worth noting that SNK has improved both offensive and defensive gameplay mechanics over the first, but not to the point where this becomes a must-own sports game. With only six teams to choose from and no career mode, this is the type of game that can get old very quickly.

Is It Worth The Money? There just isn't enough in Baseball Stars 2 for a full recommendation. This isn't a bad game, especially when you put it up against the first game. But even with the improvements, I lost interest after only a few short games. If you're the kind of person who can't wait to take this online and play with friends, then definitely pick up Baseball Stars 2. Everybody else should think twice about whether they'll get their money's worth.

What Is It? At first glance The King of Fighters '95 looks a lot like last year's '94 model. You have largely the same cast, the same visual style and the same basic SNK fighting game mechanics. But don't be so quick to judge, because this second stab at the franchise has a lot of new ideas to offer. For starters, you're no longer tied to the same three-person team. In The King of Fighters '95 you can pick and choose your team or, if you prefer, go toe-to-toe in a traditional one-on-one match. Either way, you'll be treated to an interesting story full of memorable backgrounds, new fighters and cool new bosses. Plus, this Neo Geo Station port offers online play, leaderboards and all the other extras you expect from a 21st century PSN game.

Does It Still Hold Up? The fighting hasn't changed much since The King of Fighters '94, but that doesn't hold this series back. This is SNK doing what it does best, mashing all of their characters together for an amazing game of fisticuffs. The King of Fighters '95 doesn't break new ground from a technical level, instead we get much-needed improvements to the way the teams are set-up and the customization. If you like traditional 2D fighting games, then this SNK effort definitely holds up.

Is It Worth The Money? There are some that will balk at the idea of spending another few bucks on this slightly enhanced sequel, but I say it's worth it. It's been eight months since SNK unloaded The King of Fighters '94, so there's been enough time to warrant the upgrade. Plus, with the addition of new teams, solo mode and other features, this feels like a brand new game. On the other hand, I'm sure there will be more than a few people that hold out for the inevitable King of Fighters '96. Either way, this is one of the best fighting games released this year.