Game Review – Street Hassle (1989)

Here’s another Melbourne House re-release that features brawling action, though it’s a totally different type of game to those reviewed a few weeks ago.

Game Review – P.O.D. – Proof of Destruction (1987)

This Shaun Southern offering is unpretentious, uncomplicated but undeniably fun – proof that the simplest ideas are often the best.

Game Review – Rogue (1988)

This enhanced version of the grandfather of all dungeon crawlers was retro even when released in 1988!

Game Review – Promo Cassette featuring Aqua (1984)

A look at the obscure Mastertronic promotional cassette (origin unknown) that features an exclusive Mr Chip software offering, and a lame Darling Brothers game slideshow…

Game Review – Jonah Barrington’s Squash (1989)

Another sports game that is probably much more enjoyable with a second human player!

November in Review

After a few months of relative inactivity, November saw me getting back on track with 20 new game reviews. This included my ‘Behind Enemy Lines’ mini-series, taking a look at some Mastertronic games release on other systems. I also looked at five different fighting games in my ‘Fists of Fury’ mini-series.

Acquisitions-wise it was a slow month as expected, but I did pick up three more games, one of which I had suspicions didn’t actually exist!

During last months reviews I’ve discovered a few new decent games, most notably Rad Ramp Racer, and some more complete stinkers, including Jungle Story. So my three ‘top ten’ lists have been tweaked again slightly with two new entries in each.

Top Ten Original Mastertronic Games

  1. Street Surfer (Entertainment USA, 1986)

  2. Kikstart (Mastertronic, 1985)

  3. Big Mac: The Mad Maintenance Man (Mastertronic, 1985)

  4. Rad Ramp Racer (Mastertronic Plus, 1990)  **NEW ENTRY**

  5. Bomb Fusion (Mastertronic, 1989)

  6. Kane (Mastertronic, 1985)

  7. Hero of the Golden Talisman (M.A.D., 1985)

  8. Ninja (Entertainment USA, 1986)  **NEW ENTRY**

  9. Mindtrap (Mastertronic, 1989)

10. Night Racer (Mastertronic, 1988)

Top Ten Mastertronic Re-releases

  1. Ghostbusters (Ricochet, 1988)

  2. Rock n' Bolt (Ricochet, 1988)

  3. Rescue on Fractalus (Mastertronic Plus, 1989)

  4. Gemini Wing (Mastertronic Plus, 1989)

  5. Way of the Exploding Fist (Ricochet, 1988)  **NEW ENTRY**

  6. Aliens (Ricochet, 1988)

  7. Toy Bizarre (Ricochet, 1989)

  8. Alcazar (Mastertronic, 1989)  **NEW ENTRY**

  9. Tetris (Mastertronic Plus, 1989)

10. SpeedKing (Mastertronic, 1985)

Bottom Ten Mastertronic Releases (In reverse order, worst at the bottom)

10. Rockford: The Arcade Game (M.A.D., 1988)

  9. Molecule Man (Mastertronic, 1986)  **NEW ENTRY**

  8. Knightmare (Ricochet, 1988)

  7. Speed Zone (Mastertronic, 1989)

  6. Jungle Story (Mastertronic, 1984)  **NEW ENTRY**

  5. Growing Pains of Adrian Mole (Ricochet, 1987)

  4. Double Dragon (Mastertronic Plus, 1990)

  3. FA Cup Football (Ricochet, 1988)

  2. Sport of Kings (M.A.D., 1987)

  1. The Election Game (Mastertronic, 1984)

‘Fists of Fury’ Game Review – Way of the Exploding Fist (1988)

Rounding off my ‘Fists of Fury’ mini-series with another game from the Melbourne House back catalogue, but this one is a bona fide classic…

‘Fists of Fury’ Game Review – Ninja (1986)

The second Entertainment USA release in this mini-series, and this is a vast improvement over Cage Match, although not without its own quirks.

‘Fists of Fury’ Game Review – Fighting Warrior (1990)

Ancient Egypt is an unusual setting for a fighting game, but sadly it’s not enough to stop this from being a rather boring title.

‘Fists of Fury’ Game Review – Knuckle Busters (1988)

This Melbourne House re-release may have been marketed as a fighting game, but you actually end up doing more running than fighting!

‘Fists of Fury’ Game Review – Intergalactic Cage Match (1987)

Kicking (and punching) off another mini-series called ‘Fists of Fury’ we have this Entertainment USA offering…