http://www.defunctgames.com The latest staff reviews from Defunct Games. http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=courant-712 With its expertly crafted level designs and memorable bosses, Mega Man 3 is one of Capcom's greatest 8-bit games. The game is even better on the Nintendo 3DS, thanks to the Virtual Console's save functionality. But don't let that safety net fool you, Mega Man 3 remains an incredibly tough action/platformer. Those gamers who manage to fight through the challenge will be rewarded with a genuine masterpiece. Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=courant-708 After nearly two decades, Crystal Dynamics finally gets it right. Tomb Raider is an action-packed thrill ride full of amazing set-pieces, sharp writing, a fun science fiction story and tons of enemies to gun down. Tomb Raider is a game worthy of the Croft name! Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=courant-709 This is the last of the "classic" King of Fighters game, after this we get one radical change after another. If you have somehow held out this long and are still in the market for a King of Fighters game, then there is no question that this is the best version on the Virtual Console. Even without mind-blowing 3D graphics and ultra-realistic animation, The King of Fighters '98 remains an easy game to recommend. Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=courant-710 For five dollars, Wrecking Crew is too repetitive to recommend. The bashing fun is short lived, despite a level creator that actually works. With shallow gameplay and ugly graphics, this NES launch game hasn't held up well. Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=courant-706 What I wouldn't give for another F-Zero game exactly like this 16-bit installment. And I don't mean that Game Boy Advance game. I would love Nintendo to go back to the roots of this series and give us a game that honors the memory of F-Zero. Big N may never do that, but at least we can still play this must-own racer. Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=courant-707 Yoshi is definitely worth it. You might not spend hours a day on this game, but you'll find yourself firing it up from time to time when you want to kill an hour or two and feel like you're exercising your brain. The game lacked any kind of memory back-up, which was still common at the time of its release, so there's no way to save your high scores, but there's still plenty of bragging rights in a well-played game. Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=courant-704 On its own, this is yet another solid fighting game for the Neo Geo. It has a wide variety of characters to choose from, good looking visuals, catchy tunes and two intriguing game modes. If it wasn't for the pesky release of World Heroes Perfect, this would be a must-have. But Perfect has been available for months, rendering this an unnecessary purchase! Fri, 15 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=courant-705 Dig Dug left me cold. I can respect its place in the history of arcade maze games, but this is not the way I want to remember it. It's hard to deny the flood of good memories that come with the first play. But a little of that excitement wears off with each subsequent play. It ultimately left me disappointed by what could have been a much deeper and more interesting action game! Fri, 15 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=courant-702 Mega Man II makes for a great portable game, as players can chip away at especially tough parts little by little. Visually it looks outstanding on the small screen and not enough can be said about the Virtua Console's save functionality. If you're going to pick up any Mega Man game on the Virtual Console, make sure it's this one! Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=courant-703 Gun Commando is a solid Doom clone with a number of fresh ideas. Unfortunately, it is plagued by imprecise controls and too many cheap deaths. Even with that weighing against it, this is still preferable to most first-person shooter games on the PS Vita! Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=courant-701 It's like Theme Park, only with fake Frogger machines instead of dangerous roller coaster rides. It doesn't quite nail the ending, but Arcadecraft is one of the most engaging simulators I've played in a long time. This lays the groundwork for what could be an amazing sequel. In the meantime, don't feel bad about spending three dollars on this gem! Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=courant-700 I'm not against the idea of re-releasing early NES games on the Nintendo 3DS, but must we start from the very beginning? Who needs this crummy launch game when they could have Snow Bros. Jr., Capcom's wonderfully exciting ice-themed action game? Best of all, that's a real Game Boy game; the one thing we were promised when Nintendo launched the 3DS Virtual Console. Please, Nintendo, I'm begging you; let Ice Climber die somewhere on the middle of that mountain. Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=courant-699 I know that I sound like a broken record, but there's no reason to buy this single game for nine dollars when you can get the entire collection for roughly the same price. You may have to track it down online, but copies of Metal Slug Anthologies still exist, and that really is the best bang for your buck. Even with new levels and bosses, Metal Slug 4 just isn't different enough to warrant the obscene price. Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=courant-696 Orgarhythm is overflowing with interesting ideas that never quite come together. It's a real-time strategy game that steals mechanics from the rhythm genre. Too bad the gameplay is busted and the single-player story is so short. With a little tweaking (and a different price point), Orgarhythm could have been a real sleeper hit on the PS Vita! Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=courant-697 Super C is a fun game that doesn't aspire to be much more than a mindless shooter. That may be fine for some people, but I was hoping for something bigger and more ambitious. This ends up feeling like an add-on mission pack and not a full-fledged sequel. That won't keep you from having a good time with the game, but frugal gamers are better off waiting for Nintendo to upload the original Contra. Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=courant-698 Beyond the fact that this plays almost exactly like Joust, Balloon Fight really doesn't make any sense. Wouldn't a dart gun be a more effective weapon to combat the evil balloon men? And why do I have to mash on the buttons to move my character up? You're using balloons; shouldn't you float without mashing the buttons? Like Soccer and Urban Champion before it, Balloon Fight is an early Nintendo title that deserves to be left in the past. Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=courant-695 We Are Cubes is an intoxicating new action game that combines the best elements from Tempest and Buster Bros. While it initially left me cold, this Xbox Live Indie Game won me over with its unique voice and addictive scoring system. There's a lot of game here for not much money, making this an easy recommendation! Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=courant-694 Are you a fan of Dr. Mario? If so, then you can probably disregard this review and proceed to having a great time with Kirby's Star Stacker. Personally, I found the game incredibly redundant. The game is full of content, but it never feels fully baked. I like the presentation and gameplay, but Kirby deserves a better puzzle game. Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=courant-693 Django Unchained certainly got me in the mood for Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath. This bizarre action game stars a strange gunman on a quest to earn money by turning in bounties. Even with a few outdated quirks, this fourth (and final?) Oddworld delivers an exciting storyline full of memorable characters. It's just like Tarantino's newest action movie ... only without saying the N-word even once! Wed, 16 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.defunctgames.com/shows.php?id=courant-685 Knytt Underground is sure to be one of the most controversial games of the year. It's daring in all the right ways, poking at hot topics and digging into the origins of religion. Even if you ignore the deeply personal narrative, you'll find that Knytt Underground offers one of the most elaborate game worlds ever created. It's a marvel that will keep you going for dozens of hours! Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0800