http://www.defunctgames.com The latest articles from Defunct Games. http://www.defunctgames.com/reviewcrew/328 Attention everyone! This is an emergency episode of Review Crew! Last week, when I posted a look at the worst games on every console (according to Electronic Gaming Monthly) there was one game that really stood out – Killer Instinct on the Game Boy. The comment section was filled with people shocked the game was on the list, defending it as one of the Game Boy’s best fighting games, not the worst. With no Nintendo Classics being added this week, I wanted to dig deeper into this debate and see if Sushi-X was just the outlier or if the rest of the magazines hated Killer Instinct on Game Boy as much as EGM? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Nintendo Power, GamePro, Computer & Video Games and more classic magazines that reviewed this game back when it first came out. Get your combo fingers ready, because we’re dialing up a brand-new episode of Review Crew. Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/courant/1850 Inspired by the arcade games of the 1990s, 4PGP is a slick new racing game that will send you around the world to compete on fourteen different tracks. Manage hairpin turns and dangerous S-curves as you fight for first-place in several different modes, including split-screen multiplayer fun. Although it offers quite a few different tracks, the game still somehow manages to feel light on content. Despite a few issues with the control and lack of compelling modes, 4PGP is a racing game that ultimately delivers what old school fans are looking for. Just don’t expect a whole lot of depth. Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/reviewcrew/327 Just in time for summer comes Gitaroo Man, the weird and wildly creative rhythm game first released in 2002 on the PlayStation 2. This cult classic will be the first of several PlayStation 2 games hitting PlayStation Plus over the next few months. That’s cool news, but is this game actually worth playing? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Edge, Game Informer and more classic magazines that reviewed Gitaroo Man back when it first came out. Get ready to hit all the right notes in this rockin’ episode of PlayStation Plus Review Crew. Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/courant/1849 Fans of arcade-style racing games are in for a real treat with Turbo Hatchback Time Attack, the sophomore release from Grumpy Pizza Games. Drift around corners, jump through speed hoops and barrel roll in an effort to win gold on icy mountaintops, coastal beaches, scenic forests and a neon city straight out of the 1980s. While it’s a little light on content and completely lacking any multiplayer modes, Turbo Hatchback Time Attack excels with fun gameplay, wonderfully-crafted stages and a nice variety of locations. We need more racing games like this. Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/courant/1848 If you’ve ever wanted to give it all up and live on a farm, then Dread Fields is here to knock some sense into you. This is a short and surprisingly effective horror game set in a single location. While the tasks are a bit repetitive and the visual style won’t be for everyone, the story is well-told and delivers multiple endings that will stick with you for a long time to come. At seven dollars, Dread Fields is both a steal and a reminder that you don’t need a dozen hours to tell a scary story. Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/reviewcrew/326 A few months ago, we took a trip down memory lane by covering the Disney Afternoon Collection, which brought eight classic Capcom games to the Nintendo Switch for the first time ever. By popular demand, we’re back with a companion episode that looks at five Disney Afternoon games that were not included in the recent compilation. I’m talking about Gargoyles, Darkwing Duck on the TurboGrafx, Sega’s version of Bonkers and TaleSpin on both the TurboGrafx and Genesis. Yeah, those are definitely Disney games, but are any of them actually worth playing? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, GamePro, Turbo Play and more classic magazines that reviewed these games back when they first came out. I hope you’re ready to get dangerous, because it’s time for another animated episode of Disney Afternoon Review Crew. Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/reviewcrew/325 Nintendo, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch Online, Nintendo Classics, app, Donkey Kong 64, Expansion Pack, DK64, Nintendo 64, platformer, reviews, Electronic Gaming Monthly, Game Fan, Incite, Hyper, Next Generation, GamePro, Edge, 64 Magazine, Computer & Video Games, Hyper, Rare Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/courant/1847 Nitro City Racing is a simple game about driving as fast as you can on an impossibly straight highway, all while narrowly missing cars in an effort to earn a high score. Weave through traffic using a half dozen or so upgradeable cars and conquer a challenge mode that cycles the same five tasks until you give up. The sense of speed is pretty good and that highway is definitely straight, but Nitro City Racing is ultimately a shallow experience that you’ll quickly forget ever playing. Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/reviewcrew/324 Nicktoons fans young and old, time is running out to pre-order your copy of Rugrats Retro Rewind Collection on both PlayStation 5 and Switch. This is a brand-new collection featuring all of your favorite Rugrats in six different games, including Rugrats: Search for Reptar, The Rugrats Movie, Rugrats: Time Travelers, Rugrats: Studio Tour, Rugrats in Paris: The Movie and Rugrats: Castle Capers. Yeah, that’s a lot of Rugrats games, but are any of these actually worth playing? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Nintendo Power, Pocket Games and more classic magazines that reviewed these games back when they first came out. Get ready to fill your diapers, because it’s time for a very questionable episode of Limited Run Review Crew. Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/courant/1846 All Hail the Orb is like trying to juggle during a hurricane. It’s a chaotic mess of micromanaging and upgrading that will pull your attention in five different directions all at once. While the grind can sometimes feel like busywork, I was ultimately impressed by the variety of tasks and its charming aesthetic. This is the kind of game that is constantly throwing something new at you, making it practically impossible to put down. All Hail the Orb is a simple yet effective time-waster that is easy to recommend. Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/reviewcrew/323 Grab your Guncon, because Time Crisis is coming to PlayStation 5. On second thought, you can probably put down the light gun, because modern consoles and televisions won’t support it. But that inconvenient fact isn’t stopping Time Crisis from coming to PlayStation Plus this week. That’s cool news, but is this game actually worth playing? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Next Generation, Computer & Video Games and more classic magazines that reviewed Time Crisis when it first came out. Get ready to hide behind a crate, because it’s time for another action-packed episode of PlayStation Plus Review Crew. Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/courant/1845 Fun for a while, Incremental Retro Racing is a brand-new throwback with its heart in the right place. It’s a loving homage to the influential racing games that helped to popularize the genre, including classics like OutRun and Rad Racer. Unfortunately, it falls short of mimicking those greats and never manages to find its own personality. The never-ending loop of randomly constructed courses wears thin quickly and there are some real issues when it comes to houses and buildings that are literally in the roadway. Incremental Retro Racing is a love letter that feels like it’s missing a few paragraphs. Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/reviewcrew/322 It’s been 148 days since Nintendo uploaded a Nintendo 64 game to Nintendo Switch Online. Worse yet, it has been 398 days since the last Sega Genesis update. So, what did Nintendo give us this week? That’s right, it’s more Virtual Boy. But before you groan, this is actually a pretty great update, because we’re getting the cult classic Jack Bros and the 2D shooter Vertical Force, as well as a trio of games that are coming to the U.S. for the very first time, including V-Tetris, Virtual Bowling and Space Invaders: Virtual Collection. That’s cool news, but are any of these games actually worth playing? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Nintendo Power, Next Generation and more classic magazines that reviewed these games when they first came out. Pour one out for Nester, because it’s time for another monochromatic episode of Nintendo Classics Review Crew. Thu, 14 May 2026 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/reviewcrew/321 Are you a fan of lifeless still images? Do you like vague mysteries that never get resolved? Are you the kind of person who can’t get enough of poorly-acted full-motion video scenes? If you answered yes, then I’ve got some good news – Myst and Riven are coming to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X later this month. Those are definitely two point and click adventure games that you’ve probably heard of, but are either of these games actually worth playing? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, GamePro, Next Generation and more classic magazines that reviewed these games back when they first came out. Immerse yourself in another obtuse episode of Review Crew. Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/courant/1844 The Shore is a brief but genuinely effective horror game inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft. Explore a mysterious island full of secrets and unleash massive monsters, all while battling your own sanity. This is a great looking game with great voice acting and a lot of moments that will stick with you for a long time to come. Unfortunately, the whole thing is over far too quickly, giving us a rushed ending that lacks the emotional punch the developers were going for. It also turns into an action game in the second half, losing a lot of what was appealing about the first half. For fans of this style of Lovecraftian horror, The Shore is definitely worth playing. But maybe not at full price. Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/reviewcrew/320 Hey, did you know that Rock It Games just released a new Jaleco Sports compilation? Well, I certainly didn’t until a viewer brought it to my attention. This brand-new classic game collection features both Goal! Two on the Nintendo Entertainment System, as well as Super Goal! 2 on the Super NES. Those are definitely sports games, but are either of them 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 that reviewed these games back when they first came out. It’s time to once again hit the pitch in this brand new episode of Jaleco Sports Review Crew. Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/courant/1843 Get sucked into Forbidden Solitaire, a fictional 1990s computer game so violent that it comes with its own set of urban legends. This ambitious tale of fear combines the best elements from Grey Alien Games and Night Signal Entertainment, creating a genuinely effective horror experience that also takes aim at the ills of the games industry. From the streamlined combat system to the new stealth mechanics to the dozens of joker cards, this is the best solitaire game yet. I have a hunch that both companies are going to find it hard to top Forbidden Solitaire. Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/courant/1841 A simple and sometimes satisfying mix of farming and puzzling, Drop & Grow should keep fans of this style of cozy experience engaged for a few hours. The loop of dropping, growing and upgrading is a lot of fun at first, but grows thin the further you get into the game. It doesn’t help that the core gameplay is so repetitive. That said, growing and upgrading scratches a very specific itch for a good while, and players may not even notice the repetition if they play it in short doses. Drop & Grow is a good looking and playing debut from Shane Staller Games. I’m excited to watch this developer grow with the next game he drops. Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/reviewcrew/319 Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot about how companies want to sneak more advertising into video games. That sucks, but it wouldn’t be the first time games have been used to sell products. Back in the 1990s, we saw a lot of these so-called advergames, including everything from McDonalds to Chester Cheetah. Today, I want to take a look at three different variations on this trend, including Cool Spot, the unreleased Fido Dido game and Yo! Noid from Capcom. Yeah, those are definitely characters used in advertising, but are any of these games actually worth playing? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, GamePro, Video Games & Computer Entertainment and more classic magazines that reviewed these games back when they first came out. I promise, 7up is definitely not a sponsor in this sell-out episode of Review Crew. Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/courant/1839 If you needed a reminder that Parking Garage Rally Circuit is a fantastic racing game, then European Tour is it. More than just doubling the amount of content, the new locations and tracks add a lot of fresh ideas, as well as new obstacles and challenges that give each stage its own personality. While it’s not a full-on sequel, this new content adds onto what was already a great game, creating a can’t-miss package that will appeal to anybody who loves racing and the 32-bit era. Parking Garage Rally Circuit DX is legit. Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0800