It's basically R-Type with a dragon but without the good level design. Never got round to checking out Syvalion, looked like a bit of a nightmare to play with the fast directional movement and enclosed spaces. While we're talking about side scrolling shooters that hardly anyone has heard of, Xexex from Konami. This is a great looking game for 1991, looks more like a 94/95 title.
I love this game. I have played it multiple times that I lost count many years ago. I remember after you beat the game, it showed a giant egg and a giant ice key. I thought you can actually obtain them so I played for days trying to get them but to no avail. If I remember right, those were just Easter eggs to tease the player. I do have old Nintendo Power magazines with cheat codes you can use. I tried punching them in but none worked. But it isn't really a hard game so I figured what's the point. I remember reading that the smallest level in BT is bigger than the largest level in BK.
I gotta give props to the two "Freedom Force" games for rocking the Jack Kirby style back in the early 2000s. And I can tell you from experience, the PC modding scene for at least the first game was outrageous!
Gotta agree with the need for both PC Engine cover art and anything that involves punching Nazis. From the former category, Sapphire -
Splatterhouse is one of my favorite series. I really wish Arcade1up would make a cab. This is a Japanese flyer for the arcade: Splatterhouse 2 US release: Japan release: Strider for Megadrive (Superior to the US art): Vectorman (The metallic coloring on the box is still gorgeous till this day):
Not my favorite general art style, but I can't imagine Duckman without it. Same goes for the PC game. (Damn shame they couldn't get Jason Alexander to voice the game version)
Shadow over Mystara, probably the best fantasy themed beat 'em up ever. Have no idea how anyone ever finished this game in an Arcade though, game is obscenely long for its genre.
