Newsgroups: rec.games.video
From: tmartin@dpw.com (Thomas Martin)
Subject: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Super Nintendo reviews <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 21:49:05 +0000

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Big Tom's Super Nintendo Game Ratings <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

     HEY !!!! - You haven't been paying attention!  If you want to vote,
see (and actually read) the paragraph at the end of this article.  You will
also find the glossary there - which contains longer descriptions for the
games and ratings.

     Are you tired of spending $60 for a cartridge, getting it home, and
finding it would be best used propping up the coffee table?  Is 4 hours of
fun not exactly what you had in mind when you layed out those bucks?  Here
is a list of ratings, from people like you who voted their mind about how
good or bad their cartridges are.  Read this list and don't buy crap!


============================================================================

New entries since last post:

     Goal
     Jimmy Conners Tennis
     Kablooey
     Romance of the Three Kingdoms
     Super Bowling
     Wheel of Fortune

============================================================================
			  # of  | Game   | Hours | # of |Votes|
Name of Game             Players| Rating |of Play|Voters|Tally| Description
============================================================================
Act Raiser                   1    *** 1/2     14     8    28    Adventure
Addams Family                1    ** 1/2             9    23    Platform
Adventure Island             1    **          20     1     2    Adventure
Amazing Tennis               2    * 1/2              4     6    Tennis
Arcana                       1    ** 1/4      13     3     7    Role-play
Axelay                       1    *** 3/4            4    15    Shooter
Baseball Simulator 2000      2    *** 1/2      #     4    14    Baseball
Battle Clash                 1    *            3     1     1    Light Gun
Blaze-On                     1    *                  4     4    Shooter
Bulls vs. Blazers            2    ** 1/2       #     2     5    Basketball
Contra III                   2    *** 1/2     15    13    47    Fight & Jump
Death Valley Ralley          1    *** 1/2     20     6    21    Platform
Desert Strike                1    **** 3/4           5    24    Helicopter
Dino City                    1    * 1/2              2     3    Platform
Drakken                      1    *                  3     3    Role-play
F1 Roc                       1    * 1/2        #     3     5    Racing
Faceball 2000                2    **                 1     2    Maze Sim
Final Fantasy II             1    **** 3/4    48    14    65    Role-play
Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest  1    ***         25     8    25    Easy R.P.G.
Final Fight                  2    ** 3/4      18     8    23    Fighting
F-Zero                       1    **** 1/4     #    16    70    Racing
Goal                         2    *****        #     1     5    Soccer
Gradius III                  1    *** 1/2     50     9    33    Shooter
Hook                         1    ** 1/4       5     4     9    Platform
Jimmy Conners Pro Tennis     2    *****        #     1     5    Tennis
Joe & Mac                    2    **                 7    14    Platform
John Madden '93 Football     2    *** 1/2      #     7    23    Football
Kablooey                     1    **          30     1     2    Strategy
King of the Monsters         2    **           #     7    14    Fighting
Lagoon                            ***                1     3    ?
Legend o/t Mystical Ninja    2    ***          6     6    19    Adventure
Lemmings                     2    ***          #    17    52    Strategy
Magic Sword                  1    ** 1/2      12     4    10    Platform
Mickey's Magical Quest       2    **                 1     2    ?
NCAA Basketball              2    *** 3/4      #     7    27    Basketball
NHLPA '93 Hockey             2    ***          #     6    17    Hockey
Nolan Ryan Baseball          2    *            #     1     1    Baseball
On the Ball                  1    ***                1     3    Maze Game
Out of this World            1    *** 1/2     75     3    11    Adventure
PGA Tour Golf                1    ** 1/2             5    13    Golfing
Pilot Wings                  1    ***         20    15    48    Flight Sim
Populous                     1    ** 3/4       #     7    20    Strategy
Prince of Persia             1    ****               1     4    Platform
Rampart                      2    ***         25     5    16    Strategy
Ranma 1/2 [SFC]              2    **** 1/2           5    23    Fighting
Ranma 1/2, Part 2 [SFC]      2    ****               1     4    Fighting
Rival Turf                   2    **                 5    11    Fighting
Road Warrior, Death Valley        **          20     1     2    ?
Robocop 3                    1    *                  1     1    Platform
Roger Clemens Baseball       2    **                 2     4    Baseball
Romance o/t Three Kingdoms   1    ***          #     1     3    Strategy
R.P.M. Racing                2    ** 1/4       #     7    16    Racing
Simpsons: Bart's Nightmare   1    *** 3/4     20     8    30    Multiple
Sim City                     1    *** 1/2      #     7    25    Strategy
Skuljagger                   2    * 1/4        5     3     4    Adventure
Smartball                    1    * 1/2              2     3    Platform
Soul Blazer                  1    *** 1/4     18     7    23    Adventure
Space Football               2    **                 1     2    Football
Space Megaforce              1    **** 1/2    10     2     9    Shooter
Spider-Man and the X-Men     1    * 1/2        4     5     7    Platform
Street Fighter 2             2    **** 1/2    40    26   120    Fighting
Strike Force Gunner          2    *                  1     1    Shooter
Super Battletank             1    * 1/4        5     9    13    Tank Sim
Super Bowling                1    ***                1     3    Bowling
Super Buster Brothers        1    **                 1     2    Platform
Super Castlevania IV         1    *** 1/2     27    15    53    Platform
Super Double Dragon          2    ** 1/2             3     8    Fight & Jump
Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts       1    ** 3/4      45    11    32    Fight & Jump
Super Mario Kart             2    ****         #    20    81    Racing
Super Mario World            1    ****        31    28   114    Platform
Super Off Road               2    ** 3/4       #     7    19    Racing
Super Play Action Football   2    ** 3/4       #     7    19    Football
Super R-Type                 1    ** 1/2      15     8    20    Shooter
Super Scope 6                1    * 1/2              2     3    Light Gun
Super Smash T.V.             2    *** 1/2     30    19    69    Shooter
Super Soccer                 2    *****        #     1     5    Soccer
Super Soccer Champ           2    *            #     1     1    Soccer
Super Star Wars              1    ****        12    12    48    Multiple
Super Tennis                 2    ****         #     1     4    Tennis
TMNT IV: Turtles in Time     2    *** 3/4      3    12    45    Fight & Jump
Test Drive 2                 1    **           #     4     8    Racing
Top Gear                     2    *** 1/4     20    11    37    Racing
True Golf: Waialae           1    ** 1/2       #     2     5    Golf Sim
Ultraman                     1    *           12     5     5    Fighting
U.N. Squadron                1    *** 1/2            8    28    Shooter
Wanderers from Y's III       1    ** 1/4      18     4     9    Role-play
Wheel of Fortune             3    **                 1     2    Game-show
Wing Commander               1    ** 1/2             7    19    Shooter
Wings 2 - Aces High          1    * 1/2              4     6    Flight Sim.
World League Soccer          2    *            #     1     1    Soccer
W.W.F. Wrestlemania          2    **           3     5    11    Fighting
Zardion                      1    *           10     2     2    Platform
Zelda III (Link to the Past) 1    **** 1/4    56    22    96    Adventure
============================================================================
93 games reviewed                      # Means can be played over and over



				   THE BEST
				   ========

Here are the games with a 3 star rating or more:
============================================================================
 Game                                 # of   Votes   Game
Rating      Name of Game             Voters  Tally  Rating     Company
============================================================================
*****       Super Soccer                 1      5     5.00
*****       Goal                         1      5     5.00   Jaleco
*****       Jimmy Conners Pro Tennis     1      5     5.00   Ubi Soft
**** 4/5    Desert Strike                5     24     4.80   Electronic Arts
**** 8/13   Street Fighter II           26    120     4.64
**** 9/14   Final Fantasy II            14     65     4.63   Square Soft
**** 3/5    Ranma 1/2 [SFC]              5     23     4.60
**** 1/2    Space Megaforce              2      9     4.50
**** 3/8    F-Zero                      16     70     4.39
**** 4/11   Zelda III (Link t/t Past)   22     96     4.36   Nintendo
**** 1/14   Super Mario World           28    114     4.07   Nintendo
**** 1/20   Super Mario Kart            20     81     4.05   Nintendo
****        Super Star Wars             12     48     4.00
****        Prince of Persia             1      4     4.00   Konami
****        Ranma 1/2, Part 2 [SFC]      1      4     4.00
****        Super Tennis                 1      4     4.00
*** 6/7     NCAA Basketball              7     27     3.84
*** 3/4     Simpsons: Bart's Nightmare   8     30     3.75   Acclaim
*** 3/4     TMNT IV: Turtles in Time    12     45     3.75   Enix
*** 3/4     Axelay                       4     15     3.75   Konami
*** 2/3     Gradius III                  9     33     3.66
*** 2/3     Out of This World            3     11     3.66   Virgin
*** 12/19   Super Smash T.V.            19     69     3.64
*** 4/7     Contra III                  13     47     3.56
*** 4/7     Sim City                     7     25     3.56
*** 8/15    Super Castlevania IV        15     53     3.52   Konami
*** 1/2     Act Raiser                   8     28     3.50
*** 1/2     U.N. Squadron                8     28     3.50
*** 1/2     Death Valley Rally           6     21     3.50   Konami
*** 1/2     Baseball Simulator 2000      4     14     3.50
*** 4/11    Top Gear                    11     37     3.36
*** 2/7     John Madden '93 Football     7     23     3.29   Electronic Arts
*** 2/7     Soul Blazer                  7     23     3.29
*** 1/5     Pilot Wings                 15     48     3.20
*** 1/5     Rampart                      5     16     3.20
*** 1/6     Legend o/t Mystical Ninja    6     19     3.17
*** 1/8     Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest  8     25     3.13   Squaresoft
*** 1/17    Lemmings                    17     52     3.06
***         Lagoon                       1      3     3.00
***         On the Ball                  1      3     3.00
***         Romance o/t Three Kingdoms   1      3     3.00
***         Super Bowling                1      3     3.00
============================================================================
41 games out of 93 with a 3 stars or better rating.  (43.8% of rated games)



				  THE WORST
				  =========


The rest of the worst - games with less than a 3-star rating:
============================================================================
 Game                                 # of   Votes   Game
Rating      Name of Game             Voters  Tally  Rating     Company
============================================================================
** 10/11    Super Ghoul's 'N' Ghosts    11     32     2.90
** 7/8      Final Fight                  8     23     2.88
** 6/7      Populous                     7     20     2.84   Akklaim
** 5/6      NHLPA '93 Hockey             6     17     2.80   Electronic Arts
** 5/7      Super Off Road               7     19     2.70
** 5/7      Super Play Action Football   7     19     2.70
** 5/7      Wing Commander               7     19     2.70   Mindscape
** 2/3      Super Double Dragon          3      8     2.66   Trade West
** 3/5      PGA Tour Golf                5     13     2.60
** 5/9      Addams Family                9     23     2.55
** 1/2      Bulls vs. Blazers            2      5     2.50
** 1/2      True Golf: Waialae           2      5     2.50
** 1/2      Magic Sword                  4     10     2.50
** 1/2      R.P.M. Racing                6     15     2.50
** 1/2      Super R-Type                 8     20     2.50
** 1/3      Arcana                       3      7     2.33
** 2/7      R.P.M. Racing                7     16     2.28
** 1/4      Hook                         4      9     2.25   Imagesoft
** 1/4      Wanderer's from Y's          4      9     2.25
** 1/5      Rival Turf                   5     11     2.20
** 1/5      W.W.F. Wrestlemania          5     11     2.20
**          Adventure Island             1      2     2.00
**          Faceball 2000                1      2     2.00
**          Kablooey                     1      2     2.00
**          Mickey's Magical Quest       1      2     2.00
**          Road Warrior, Death Valley   1      2     2.00
**          Space Football               1      2     2.00
**          Super Buster Brothers        1      2     2.00   Capcom
**          Wheel of Fortune             1      2     2.00
**          Roger Clemens Baseball       2      4     2.00
**          Test Drive 2                 4      8     2.00
**          Joe & Mac                    7     14     2.00
**          King of the Monsters         7     14     2.00
* 2/3       F1 Roc                       3      5     1.66
* 1/2       Dino City                    2      3     1.50
* 1/2       Smartball                    2      3     1.50
* 1/2       Super Scope 6                2      3     1.50
* 1/2       Amazing Tennis               4      6     1.50
* 1/2       Wings 2: Aces High           4      6     1.50
* 4/9       Super Battletank             9     13     1.44
* 2/5       Spider-Man and the X-Men     5      7     1.40   LJN
* 1/3       Skuljagger                   3      4     1.33
*           Nolan Ryan Baseball          1      1     1.00
*           Battle Clash                 1      1     1.00
*           Robocop 3                    1      1     1.00
*           Strike Force Gunner          1      1     1.00
*           Super Soccer Champ           1      1     1.00
*           World League Soccer          1      1     1.00
*           Zardion                      2      2     1.00
*           Drakken                      3      3     1.00
*           Blaze On                     4      4     1.00
*           Ultraman                     5      5     1.00
===========================================================================
50 out of 93 games with less than 3 stars.  (56.2% of all reviewed games)



				   GLOSSARY
				   ========

     #      -  Game can be played over and over again.
     [SFC]  -  Cartridge is for the Super Famicom system.
     *      -  Dreck, yak, bleck, hack, gleck (Horrible beyond words).
     **     -  OK, playable, still dreck, although someone might like.
     ***    -  Decent game that will appeal to some (But not everyone).
     ****   -  Pretty good, a fun game that almost everyone will like.
     *****  -  Damn good, a real winner, every game should be this good.



			      GAME DESCRIPTIONS
			      =================

Adventure    -  Games where you must explore large worlds, killing enemies,
		and discovering hidden treasures, sometimes with a quest.
Copter Sim.  -  Games where you are controlling the flight and other capa-
		bilities of a helicopter, from a cockpit view.
Fight & Jump -  Games where you fight and jump to stay alive, and sometimes
		have other powers. Boards usually scrolling horizonatally.
Fighting     -  Games where you face off against another player, or the
		computer in some form of one-on-one combat.
Flight Sim.  -  Games where you are given a cockpit view of some sort of
		aircraft, and are given a flying mission.
Light-Gun    -  Games where you must use your system's light gun to perform
		some function, usually similar to Shooter-type games.
Pinball      -  Games that emulate the playing of arcade-style pinball
		machines, usually with some different options though.
Platform     -  Games where moving from platform to platform, avoiding
		enemies, and getting prizes are the objective.
Role-Play    -  Games where you take on the role of some sort of adventurer,
		able to increase in abilities and experience along the way.
Shooter      -  Games where you shoot a lot and avoid being shot by the
		enemies you are shooting.  Most often are space scenarios.
Sports^      -  Games where there is some sort of sporting event to play
		other than everyday, normal sporting events.
Strategy     -  Games that require more thought than dexterity.  This can
		encompass a great variety of different type games.
Tank Sim.    -  Games where you are given the command and control of a tank
		and play from a viewpoint within the tank itself.
Think-Fast   -  Games that require the player to make fast decisions and
		act on them, kind of a quick-thinking strategy.

^ Regular sports games will be described by their appropriate sporting event.



				 HOW TO VOTE
				 ===========

     Simply E-mail me (tmartin@dpw.com) with your votes.  You certainly can
vote for games that are not on this meager list and they will be added.
Please make your vote an even number of stars (1-5) or we will not include
it in our list.  Also, the number of players (available on the screen at
once) should be included, as well as as short description similar to those
listed above, and if you can, how many hours of play you think the average
game player can reasonably expect to beat or play out the game.

						  Thanks for participating.

						  BIG Tom Martin