Super Bomberman Party Pak for Super NES (1994)

Original ad published in the January 1994 of EGM (no. 54)

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A Mad Bomber’s Epic Quest for Friendship

Super Bomberman (1993), was the first game of the acclaimed Bomberman series to hit Nintendo’s 16-bit juggernaut. It wouldn’t be the last. A total of five games where released for the Super NES/Super Famicom. All of the were good in single player mode; classics in party mode.

Bomberman is one of finest game franchises out there. You can check of the complete list of Bomberman releases to get the picture of the game’s timeless appeal. Most recently, there are smartphone versiones of the game (2014). 

Yet, no Bomberman game played through an internet connection can rival the experience of playing battle mode with four of five other people in the same room. This was possible with the included Super Multistep peripheral, which ended being pretty useless when not used for Bomberman. Lots of sports games made use of the thing, but most gamers remember it being used for great 3-player action in Secret of Mana. Other than that, the thing was mostly found at the bottom of most gamer's closets.

There’s nothing quite as satisfying in Super Bomberman as cornering that obnoxious friend of a friend that beats everyone and blasting him to oblivion, right there in the same room, right beside you, as everyone breaks out in laughter. This does not happen over the internet. This must be experienced in the same room with your friend by your side. 

That is why Bomberman, which had been released for the NES in 1980, was an awesome experience. Now multiply that awesomeness by 4 characters. Saturn owners would be forever spoiled by the release of their own version of Bomberman in 1996 which allowed for the incomparable experience of 10 player battle-mode. Yep, 10 friends playing the same game at the same time. Good memories.

The print ad copy by Hudson Soft is classy. The most important aspects of the game are well presented and the multitap, the crucial piece to boost the replay value of Bomberman, is prominent. And it well should be. 

Super Bomberman Party Pak for Super NES print ad copy

Instant Party

Just Add Bombs!

Now you and three of your friends can play the hottest game for Super NES at THE SAME TIME! The Super Bomberman Party Pak features the mega-popular Super Bomberman game and the Super Multitap Accessory! 

Hook up to four players for nonstop, bomb blasting action in the Battle Mode! Or go on a two player adventure through 48 levels of monsters and robotic traps designed to blow you off the screen!

• Super Multitap accessory included with the video game!
• Super Multitap compatible with every multiple player game.
• Choose from a dozen wicked Backgrounds in the Battle Mode.
• Compete against friends or computer rivals in action-packed rounds!

Hudson Soft

Legend for Super NES (1994)

Original ad published in the January 1994 of EGM (no. 54)

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First Person Medieval advertisement 

A derivative side-scrolling beat-em-up set in Medieval Europe, Legend (1994) is an effort created solely by two dudes: Carlo Perconti and Lyes Belaidouni. Besides that fun fact, there’s little else to say about the game, except its great advertisement.

Games like Legend were dime a dozen in the 90’s. This game, released by Seika, of Thunder Spirits fame, was probably one of the weaker exponent of the side-scrolling fighting button-mashers. The gameplay is very slow, you’re character moves at a plodding pace and there is little enemy variety. The graphics are big and colorful, but uninspiring. The music, on the other hand, is fantastic, a real treat to the eyes.

There were also solid games like this in the arcades, like Knights of the Round or the immortal Golden Axe. All were set in a medieval dark fantasy world much beloved by gamers the world over. The genre had a recent awesome revival with Dragon’s Crown for the PS3, one the best games ever released for the system and without doubt the best game of this particular subgenera. 

The ad in itself must be mentioned. Legend gained some cool points with the whole letter-reading adventure order that is broken by some evil dude in the upper right corner. Check out the detail in hands at your left and right. They seem authentically surprised. And yes, that dude looks quite evil. 

 

Legend for Super NES print ad copy

Meaty Evil

Sure you’ve played action/adventure games before, and you’re siting there thinking “been there done that”, there’s not a game made you can’t beat the crap out of—big yawn right!

WRONG, dragon breath! You’ve never seen anything like LEGEND! Non-stop action, gruesome villains, wicked weapons and sensational weapons. Travel back to a medieval land where your sword is the only law. Where rich and powerful reign over the land with an iron fist of terror. Entre the Black Temple and battle through worlds of wizards and fire breathing dragons. 

Conque the baddest boss monsters ever seen and fight your way through the uncharted world of LEGEND. 

SEIKA

Dino City for Super NES (1992)

Original ad published in EGM's 1993 Video Game Buyer's Guide (late 1992).

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A boy and his dinosaur

Dino City (1992) was a side-scroller platformer released by IREM for the Super NES. It was basically a clone a of Super Mario World, the successful pack-in game of Nintendo’s console.

Aside from that, there’s very little left to say about the actual video game. It’s based on the American TV movie Adventures in Dinosaur City. It could be based on any other series or cartoon where a boy and a dinosaur team up to fight against some generic foe. Besides, it was a very unforgiving game.

This was a drastic change from Super R-Type, the previous game IREM had launched besides Nintendo’s machine and a very good--but very hard--one at that.  

Now the actual print ad you see here does feature some interesting details.  You will hardly find a better marketing statement—and box-art—that tries this hard to be cool with 90's kids. The protagonist is on a skateboard, with jeans and a t-shirt, with sneakers and listening to a walkman his friend dinosaur is also using. All of this whilst in the middle of the desert!

The dinosaur has enormous aviator-style sunglasses, a leather jacket and, also, huge sneakers. Both characters are placed in a sort of homoerotic way that made more than one kind from the 90s feel kinda weird when glancing at the ad. I mean, who really strikes this pose with a straight friend?

Dino City for Super NES print ad copy

DINO-MIGHT!

It’s you and your dinosaur on a Super NES ride!

Oh no! Your wacko TV monitor has transported you into the prehistoric age. Now you’re teamed up with the dinosaurs against some cave head creeps called Rockys. Eye-ball grabbing graphics, awesome challenges and colossal action are the name of the game. Get ready for adventure—on a GRAND SCALE!

IREM

Alien 3 for Game Boy (1993)

Original ad published in the May 1993 of Electronic Gaming Monthly (no. 46)

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A junk effort for a troubled movie

Alien 3 (1993) was one of those games that had enormous potential to become a memorable effort by LJN. As destiny would have it, it was another lackluster affair by the infamous brand to capitalize on a strong Hollywood franchise.

David Fincher’s Alien movie produced quite a buzz when it was released. The hype machine had given the franchise enormous expectations for the third film of the franchise after the success of James Cameron’s Aliens (1986). As an action-suspense vehicle, the second movie is unrivaled. I prefer the original Alien (1979) by Ridley Scott, but the second movie stands right beside it.

So, at the beginning of the decade, a young director named Fincher was commissioned for the third installment of the series. No one knew who did guy was. It was his debut. This was before Fincher’s Seven (1995) and more than two decades before his modern thrash masterpiece Gone Girl (2014). It was no surprised that the movie’s production was a royal fiasco, as expressed by Fincher himself on newer DVD audio tracks of such film. He was young and had practically no control of the final decisions made to the film. If you really wish to see his version of the movie, check out the Director’s Cut of Alien 3. It’s longer, better, but both the theatrical version and latter feature terrible computer graphics effects.

LJN’s game followed those troubled footsteps. It’s just as bland a game as you can release. You could take the Alien 3 attachment and make it any other game and no one would notice it. Both the NES and the Game Boy versions suffer from this blandness. They are repetitive and dull, just as most sucky franchised games by LJN.

The print material goes just as far: stamp the movie’s poster, add some wimpy teenager copy and try to sell that sucker to millions of gamers that were left forever scarred by such commercial crap. 

Alien 3 for Game Boy print ad copy

3 times the suspense…on NES

3 times the danger…on Game Boy

3 times the terror…for You!!!

Alien 3

The Xenomorph are fast, spit acid and are right behind YOU! The motion tracker is your only tracker is your only warning. No time to think, no time to catch your breath…RUN!

Can’t see very far ahead in these air ducts. Hard to breath. Blast life-sucking face-huggers with your pulse rifle and exterminate deadly Aliens with your flame thrower and grenade launcher!

Just keep telling yourself,

“this isn’t really happening…

it’s only a game.”

• Exterminate deadly Aliens with your flame thrower!
• Destroy the eggs, but beware of deadly face-huggers!

LJN

Road Avenger for Sega CD (1993)

Original ad published in the May 1993 of Electronic Gaming Monthly (no. 46)

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An Action-Packed Japanese Anime for your Sega CD

Road Avenger was released in 1993 for the Sega CD. It’s another one of those Full Motion Video Games that became famous in the 90s when compact disc technology started to get popular. Unlike most other games of the kind, this one is pretty good!

The origins of Road Avenger can be traced way back to 1985, when Data East released the game for the arcades with the gigantic LaserDisc format titled Road Blaster. It only left Japan as the Sega CD game you see here. If you know Dragon’s Lair (1983), Space Ace (1983) or Time Gal (1985), then you know the basic mechanics: to advance through the game you must interact with it by pressing the buttons and direction pad exactly at a given time. Failure to do so will result in termination. 

Road Avenger, as Time Gal, featured the awesome animation of Toei, one of the most important anime and manga studios of Japan. They are know for the great work with commercial hits like Dragon Ball, or the more intimate 3x3 Eyes. 'Avenger, while not featuring the color depth of the arcade Road Blaster, stands up incredible well against it, as can see from the still below. Same goes for the overall quality of the sound. Renovation did a good job with the American release.

And, unlike Time Gal, I think they actually hit the nail with their print marketing in popular video game magazines of the era. The punk you see in the ad is quite different, very “Westernized”, but at least it’s not a discriminatory or sexual stereotype as we saw in the above mentioned product. 

Road Avenger for Sega CD print ad copy

Take a Drive Off the Deep End with Road Avenger!

Take it to the extreme. Road Avenger for the Sega CD gives you the license to do whatever it takes to wipe S.C.U.M. (Secret Criminal Underground Movement) off the highway. Ever smash a car through a hotel lobby? Spin off a bridge at high speed? How about tearing up the beach on the tail of perpetrators? Now’s your chance! Gear up for the ultimate hot pursuit. Road Avenger, so much fun it should be illegal! 

• Full CD soundtrack!
• Digitally recorded stereo sound puts you right in the game!
• In your face close-ups!
• Over 30 minutes of full motion animation!
• Heads-up-display keeps your eyes on the action!
• Nine rubber burning stages!
• Head spinning 360 degree scrolling! 

Road Avenger fills your tank with high octane action! Forget the insurance, full speed to your nearest Sega CD retailer!

Renovation

Time Gal for Sega CD (1993)

Original ad published in the May 1993 of Electronic Gaming Monthly (no. 46)

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A Japanese heroine comes to America and is Westernized

Time Gal (1993) was a full motion video game developed by Taito and released in America for the Sega CD by Renovation in the system’s crucial formative years. It was first known to Japanese gamers in 1985. As you can expect, when the game was ported to the Sega-Mega CD it was hardly noticed.

The basis of Time Gal is of course Dragon’s Lair (1983), a very popular game in North America that was a massive arcade hit. Gamers noticed that Taito’s game had been re-released for the Japanese Mega CD and requested the game come to America. It did, but the seams where already quite visible, being that game was working with LaserDisc technology from the 80s. 

Still, the Sega CD version could not handle the color depth of the arcade machine, as you can see from the stills below. It was a graphical downgrade from the original, no doubt. It was also slightly censored in some of Time Gal’s death scenes. Check out the arcade stills, followed by a Sega CD example.

The American box-art and print marketing material are horrendous. Why did Renovation forego the awesome art of the arcade age and place a Western woman in the print ad? She looks nothing like the titular Time Gal. The original Japanese FMV sequences where done by none other than Toei Animation (Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball, et al). Even Hayao Miayazaki worked for this we’ll known company. The full list of anime products released by Toei is very impressive. Why did Renovation change the character's appearance when such rich material was readily available? 

The copy of the ad is dubious. I don’t like the portrayal of Time Gal as a skank. The sexual innuendoes are absurd and uncalled for. This is one the first heroines in all of video game history and Renovation treats her like a flimsy? She’s a cool, strong, anime heroine, not a wimpy American princess. Cultural standards differed this way with Japan and North America even in the 90s. Renovation did release some very good games during the period, but Time Gal seems like a wasted opportunity and the print campaign reflected this mistake.

Time Gal for Sega CD print ad copy

This Gal Gets Around!

This Gal’s been all over, from 70,000,000 B.C. to 4,000 A.D.! She’s traveling the world searching through time for the devious Luda. Help her stop before the world is destroyed. Jump onto your time machine as you travel through 16 exciting eras from the past, present and future. Leap from plane to plane in a WWII dog fight, sail a Spanish Galleon on the high seas, battle robots in a space station and escape from hungry dinosaurs.  Can you and Time Gal brave the challenges and catch Luda before time runs out?

Here’s one date you won’t forget!

• Over 30 minutes of full motion animation
• Test your action-reaction skills with 3 levels of difficulty!

Renovation.

Street Fighter II Special Champion Edition for Genesis (1994)

Original ad published in the January 1994 of EGM (no. 54)

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Jab-Strong-Fierce. It’s a hit!

The most popular arcade game of all time arrived with a massive bang for the SNES in 1992 and it was an earth shattering event. Sega fanboys expected just as much and, fortunately, Capcom delivered a great game just one year later in the updated Street Fighter II Special Champion Edition for Genesis.

The original Street Fighter II for the SNES is still one of the best arcade ports ever.  Save for a few backgrounds, everything was identical to the arcade experience (with less bullies and cigarette smoke). The sound, graphics, and most importantly gameplay, were as faithful to the arcade as you could possibly ask for. Then came Street Fighter II Turbo, also on Nintendo’s console. So Genesis players would have to wait until later in that same year for the arrival of Champion Edition.

The wait actually worth it. In essence, Champion Edition was just a modified Turbo release and that was a very good thing in itself. It featured playable boss characters, selectable colors for every fighter and a higher speed level selection gauge for insanely quick fights. It also had a cool “Group Battle” and of course a modified version of the original arcade intro. As practically every Genesis cart of the era, it had terrible sound, but the graphics could stand proudly against the SNES version of the game.

The intro screen became somewhat famous only after Capcom modified it. I never heard anyone berate the company or the game in the actual arcades. And I played against all types of dudes back in the day, not just caucasians. 

In the Genesis port, unlike previous SNES versions of the game, you see two men fighting each other on the street. In the original arcade version, the white dude hits the black one with a nasty right-handed jab that knocked him down. The Genesis version of the intro removed the black sprite an replaced it with another white dude. Check the pics below (on a side note, compare the awesome color bit-depth of the arcade to the Genesis) 

All in all, Champion Edition was a landmark game for the Genesis. It even forced Sega to produce an excellent six-button controller for Genesis to actually play the game (this was not an issue on the SNES port and the console’s six-button gamepads). 

Fortunately, the marketing campaign that accompanied the game was very well thought out. There’s lots of white in the page, the typography is classy and you actually see the awesome selectable boss characters at your disposal. The copy is childish, but in a cocky sense. I liked quite a lot and I believe it still holds up nicely today. The TV ad, well, let’s just say it’s not my style. 

Street Fighter lore can get very confusing very quickly. If you’re interested in the complete series, check out this excellent Street Fighter wiki. 

Street Fighter II Special Champion Edition for Genesis print ad copy

Now Genesis players can kick some real 

__________________

(fill in the fighting word of your choice.)

Street Fighter II Special Champion Edition. Only on Genesis.

The Ultimate Fight At Home.

The most popular arcade game of all time—Capcom’s Street Fighter II Special Champion Edition is now on Sega Genesis.

You’ve Met Your Match.

The exclusive Group Battle mode is found only on Genesis. And the Turbo mode gives you the speed you need.

The Best Moves Win.

New moves in this Special Champion Edition make the fighting more exciting than ever.

Kick Some _____________________.

Hit the streets to you nearest store.

One of the highest rated Sega games of all time.

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest for SNES (1992)

Original ad published in EGM's 1993 Video Game Buyer's Guide (late 1992).

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Historical Background and Graphical Analysis

The ugly duckling of the Final Fantasy series, Mystic Quest (1992) was Square’s attempt to tackle the North American market with an dumbed-down Japanese style RPG. It was a feeble attempt, despite a strong marketing campaign that accompanied the game.

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest featured a very short, easy to navigate storyline and simplified battle system to, supposedly, entice American gamers into the lucrative subgenra of JRPG gaming. But the game was actually released after the moderate SNES hit Final Fantasy II (1991) (or IV in canon nomenclature). While the first 16-bit game was not particularly hard—actually, it was made easier for the North American players in relation to its Japanese brother—it was much harder than Mystic Quest.

This apparent rift, along with average graphics and a short storyline, made Mystic Quest a failure in commercial terms. Square would have to up its game with the memorable Secret of Mana and the awesome Final Fantasy III (1994) (or VI in canon nomenclature) to hold a firm grasp of the RPG market in North America. The latter is holds the title for best JRPG ever, I don’t care what anyone else says. 

Mystic Quest has some loose ties with Square’s own Saga series. And it does feature very good music. But otherwise, it’s a very forgettable game.

The ad was much better than the actual game itself. I like the clean design with lots of white and a decent photo of the actual box-art. And you can’t deny the appeal of a game that sold for at least 10 dollars less than other SNES carts of the era. No actual game screens, though. Square knew that in this game, visual impact would not be its headline feature. 

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest for SNES print ad copy

Brain Transplant, 

$39.99.

Here’s a brainy idea: Pick up Mystic Quest, the world’s first role-playing game especially designed for the entry-level player.

Easy-to-read icons put your head in the game immediately. Skull-tingling action keeps it there. Then there’s constantly changing 16-bit characters and enough heady combat to scramble your synapses.

All this for just $39.99.

Hey, you don’t need to be a brain specialist to see what a smart deal that is.

X-Men for Genesis (1993)

Original ad published in "KC Joe Montana" issue of Sega Force 
(1993, a supplement to EGM).

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Read below for the full HD version of the file.

Historical Background and Graphical Analysis

A ridiculously hard game for Sega’s Genesis, the original X-Men (1993) is best remembered for the awesome marketing material it produced. Check out the HD version of the ad below in full digital glory.

X-Men joined a long list of mediocre X-Men games titles for different consoles. The list reads like an evil recipe to milk every ounce of dignity from the Marvel franchises. 

Yet, it can’t go without saying that it’s very probable that these terrible video games played an important role in the formative years of today’s big shot Hollywood producers and directors. Just about every Marvel franchise worth mentioning has been translated to the big screen. Games like X-Men for Genesis are obvious culprits of this phenomenon. 

As far as Genesis titles go, this game is average to mediocre. The gameplay is terrible, the graphics muddy, and the difficulty level is ridiculous. The game is most remembered for a particular boss fight that prompts you to press the “reset” button of your system to defeat him. Problem is, that instruction worked only sometimes and if did not work, you were left right back at the begging of the game. Hideo Kojima is that you? Bleh!

The sequel, X-Men 2: Clone Wars (1995), would feature astounding graphics for a Genesis title. This game was released very late in the 16-bit life-cycle and remains an interesting historical footnote of Sega’s machine actual processing power. 

As I mentioned above, the ad for the original X-Men game is awesome. It could very well be a cool poster in any gamer’s room or basement. The actual stars of the game are right there: Wolverine, Cyclops, Gambit and Nightcrawler, all in their heroic stances. 

The copy is adequate and the game screens look much better than the actual game itself. But, the overall impact of the two-page spread is high and surely netted Sega a considerable amount of sales just  because of the excepcional artistic qualities of the advertisement. 

Here's the full HD version of the X-Men for Genesis print ad.

X-Men for Genesis print ad copy

Hear the sound razor-sharp adamantium claws make as they extract revenge.

• Juggernaut is one tough mutant, even against Wolverine’s fierce claws. Fire Gambit’s energised cards and introduce Juggernaut to Storm’s tornado force winds.

• Sabretooth growls his defiance. Cyclops needs Archangels razor sharp blades to help Nightcrawler send him back to his maker.

• Cyclops watches for Sentinel attacks as Gambit uses Iceman’s bridge to annihilate the hovering Sentinel. 

• The final battle takes place on Asteroid M. Defeat Magneto’s Acolytes and the mAster of Magnetism appears…

Welcome to the next level. 

Joe & Mac for Game Boy, SNES and Nintendo (1992)

Original ad published in EGM's 1993 Video Game Buyer's Guide (late 1992).

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Historical Background and Graphical Analysis

Joe & Mac (1991, for SNES) was an arcade port developed by Data East for Game Boy, the original NES and Nintendo’s own 16-bit successor. It was a bland side-scroller best remembered for its big sprites and colorful characters, as well as prehistoric pixel babes in skimpy outfits. 

Joe and Mac was one of the first games released for the SNES. As such, it had to impress early buyers of the system with apparent high production values. I say apparent because the game looked impressive in the print ad you see here, very similar indeed than the arcade game, but it lacked the polished controls of other side-scrollers of the era (Super Mario Word, for example, the original SNES pack-in game).

The print advert for the game conveys exactly what you’d expect from this product. Over-the-top characters, a simplistic storyline and doble the fun when played in 2 person cooperative mode. It’s no Rembrandt, but at least it’s better than the horrible artwork for Toki (1992, NES).

Joe & Mac for Game Boy, SNES and Nintendo print ad copy

Cave-Manic!

Out of the arcades and into your Super Nintendo, Nintendo and Game Boy!

Joe & Mac

Those nasty Neanderthal nerves have kidnapped the cave babes and it’s up to Joe and Mac to get ‘em back! Risk raging rapids, runaway boulders, tyrannosaurs and pterodactyls on your mega-mission to bash the bad guys and race to the rescue!

There’s no time to lose—so grab a game and kick some dino-butt!

Data East

Speedy Gonzales for Game Boy (1993)

Original ad published in the May 1993 of Electronic Gaming Monthly (no. 46)

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Historical Background and Graphical Analysis

Speedy Gonzales for Game Boy is an average side-scroller by SunSoft that takes advantage of the blast processing craze started by Sega's most famous hedgehog. It's sometimes fast, sometimes exasperating, always discriminatory. 

Racial stereotypes have a long history in video games. Racial stereotypes in cartoons, just as well. But racial stereotypes on a video game print are something special. 

This is the first video game I encounter that inevitably features the words "Scheisse", or "review de merde" in the top results Google spits out after you search for it. That about sums it up.

Editorial and graphical conception is nothing to write home about. 

Speedy Gonzales for Game Boy print ad copy

Speedy Gonzales

Wanter for:

• Roquefort Rustling
• Swiss Swiping
• Nacho Nabbing
• and Exceeding All Speed Limits!

Reward
Endless hours of fast paced action and thrilling, fleet footed fun!
SUNSOFT

Mario's Time Machine for SNES (1994)

Original ad published in the January 1994 of EGM (no. 54)

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Historical Background and Graphical Analysis

A mediocre copy of the popular Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? (1985, various systems), the Nintendo-centric Mario's Time Machine (1993) tried to insert the Japanese developer in the edutainment branch of video gaming. It was a less than stellar product. Certainly not up to the standard the company usually delivers.

As you can see from the horrible print ad, the game is sort of a pastiche of different time-travelling quests that slowly advance as you solve different History or Geographic puzzles. If you played Carmen Sandiego, you know very well the dynamics of the genre.

The gameplay, music and graphic departments, however, left gamers scratching their heads seeing that other impressive products by Nintendo had been released previously, such as the excellent Super Mario World pack-in (1991). 

The strange presentation was related to the game being developed by a company called The Software Toolworks, now part of education giant Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. For Nintendo, it was not the best decision. External developers rarely achieved the same level of excellence with their product as the Japanese powerhouse. 

 

Mario's Time Machine for SNES print ad copy 

Travel With Mario in A Learning Adventure Through Time! Mario’s Way Cool Time Machine!!! 

Join Mario as he races through time on the wildest adventures. Tromp through the Jurassic period with giant T-Rex. Sail with Cleopatra in Egypt. 

You can even visit Thomas Edison in his workshop. You’ll get to witness some of the greatest historical moments of all time on a high flying, fun-filled ride. 

So whether you want to meet Bill Shakespeare or President Abe Lincoln, Mario’s Time Machine is a way cool ride with fun, excitement and adventure! 

• Get ready for a ride through time with your favorite plumbers! Meet Sir Issac Newton and other famous folk among the way! 
•  While having fun, you can actually learn about world history! 
• What lurks beneath the surface of this Jurassic period? Available for NES and Super NES, IBM PC and compatibles.

Lunar. The Silver Star for Sega CD (1994)

Original ad published in the January 1994 of EGM (no. 54)

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Historical Background and Graphical Analysis

American owners of the Sega CD swear by their copy of Lunar. The Silver Star (1993). This Role-Playing Game was released by Game Arts a full 18 months in Japan before it hit US shores. It would become the second-most popular game for Sega's optical system and would spawn a plethora of sequels for the following two decades. An absolute masterpiece.

Lunar is as Japanese as you can possibly hope for. North American gamers had timidly grasped the concepts and the essence of the genre with Dragon Warrior (1986) (Dragon Quest until 2005 in the US) and Final Fantasy (1987) on the NES, and the original Phantasy Star (1987) for the Sega Master System. But the newer 16-bit systems were yet to capitalise on the path opened up by their predecessors. Final Fantasy II, The Secret of Mana, primarily, and some other JRPGs had achieved success on the SNES in the early 90s, but Sega CD owners had been left dry.

Enter Lunar. Although I never owned the game, the brother of one of my close friends would spends days inside his room playing Lunar, only to crawl out from time to time to gush about the awesomeness of the title. And by all accounts, it is a fantastic game that owes much of its success to the team at Working Designs that achieved a wonderful English localisation. Every RPG fanatic knows the story is the most important part of the game. Working Designs understood that quite well and delivered big time. Today, there's a very strong ciber community surrounding the game.

And how about the graphical components of the print ad? Almost identical to the actual box-art. Good choice. It's a Japanese-inspired advertisement that masterfully conveys the most important elements of the game: a varied cast of memorable characters, actual game-screens and beautiful artwork. 

Lunar The Silver Star for Sega CD print ad copy

Sega-CD owners asked. We listened. Now. it's here...

Lunar. The Silver Star

• True Role-Playing!
• CD Sounds!!
• Hot Animations!

Working Designs. 

Our games go to 11!

Yoshi's Cookie for SNES (1994)

Original ad published in the January 1994 of EGM (no. 54)

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Historical Background and Graphical Analysis

Candy Crush aficionados should be well served by tracking down Yoshi’s Cookie (1993), a SNES puzzle game that included the participation of famous Russian Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov.

That alone should be enough to set Yoshi’s Cookie apart from most games of the genre. But Cookie has some other layers of complexity that deserve to be mentioned. 

The game was developed by now dead Bullet-Proof Software and was built on the basis of another game called Hermetica. But savvy Nintendo acquired the license of that game before its comercial release and added a Mario-themed fantasy world to make it more attractive. The game was first released for the NES and Game Boy (1992).

After Yoshi’s Cookie, countless other games have tried to modify the addictive combination of a puzzle set in a static mosaic that must be cleared with a limited number of turns. Today, Candy Saga developer King have taken this simple formula and transformed it into a multi-million dollar business only comparable to the original Tetris.

Watch the gameplay video to understand the simple but very addictive formula. Today’s touch-screens have made this type of gameplay only exponentially more accesible to anyone with a smartphone and a couple of minutes of free time.

The artwork for the ad is high-quality Nintendo goodness. Actual game screens show detailed sprites. Yoshi and Mario are prominently featured, which practically guarantees financial success for any video game, even a brain-flexer like this one (although retro game hunters will pay big time for a NIB item). 

But the prettiest element of the ad has to be the variety of cookies. All of them look fantastically delicious! That kind of emotional and physical connection is what makes the ad click.

Yoshi's Cookie for SNES print ad copy

Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Yoshi's Cookie

Cookie Chaos for Mario and Yoshi!

Mario and Yoshi are filling in at the Cookie Factory and the snacks are piling high!

As fresh baked cookies roll out the ovens, it's up to Mario to sort and stack 'em before they pile too high! Line up a row of the same kind of cookies either vertically or horizontally, and the vanish. Clear the screen to move on to a new leven of munchie-madness! Yoshi appears from time to time to stir things up! Play for high score or go head-to-head against a friend or the computer. The mouth-watering madness doesn't let up!

In the tradition of Tetris and Dr. Mario, Yoshi's Cookie is a heaping help of lip-Smacking, snack-stacking cookie chaos!

• 100 stages, plus bonus rounds.
• 1 or 2 players, or play against the computer
• Choose to be Mario, Yoshi, the Princess or Bowser.
• Extra puzzle game from the creator of Tetris.

It's a snack attack!

It's a heapin' helpin' of cookie crunchin' fun!

Challenge a friend or the computer for more munchie-madness!

Thunder Spirits for SNES (1992)

Original ad published in EGM's 1993 Video Game Buyer's Guide (late 1992).

Press to view or download image in higher resolution. 

Historical Background and Graphical Analysis

Thunder Spirits (1991) for SNES has an interesting story that sets its apart from other 16-bit side-scrolling shooting games. A solid effort in its own regard, it brings the same pedigree as the very popular Thunder Force series for Sega's Genesis.

In essence, Thunder Spirits is a modified version of Thunder Force III, released in 1990 on Sega's machine. In brief, it's a very good game. One of the best 'shmups' of the 16-bit era. 

However, Spirits is also the home version of Thunder Force AC  (1991), an arcade game published by Technosoft only after the success of Thunder Force III on the Genesis. Spirits, on the other hand, was released by Seika. Both Seika and Technosoft, I believe, were part of the gigantic Toshiba corporation. Some argue that it was published by different labels and adopted the "Spirits" suffix to avoid any problems with Sega's publishing standards. 

These differences would have to be well established in the print advertisements for both games. As I wrote about it some days ago, Thunder Force III has an amazing print ad taken directly from the box-art that gamers purchased. The fire phoenix you see in the ad are actual enemies of the game. Thunder Spirits goes in a whole different direction. A dubious one.

That cool fire phoenix I talked about earlier? Gone. Your cool ship in the foreground? Gone. Instead, you see some weird dude in the middle of an acid trip. This was somewhat normal during the 90s, a decade were too much neon and trippiness produced the results you at the top of this page. Good game, terrible print ad. Stranger still when you notice the actual box-art for Thunder Spirits is very cool.

Thunder Spirits for SNES print ad copy

Hurl through space

It’s so fast, it’ll make your teeth rattle. So intense it’ll make your toes curl. So action-packed, you’ll go rocketing, blasting, and splashing your way through 8 stages in Thunder Spirits, the Super NES Action/Arcade classic. It may take facing horrific 3-D creatures & multilevel scrolling. It may take a will of iron & nerves of steel. But you’ve got what it takes! Even if you have to hurl. 

Seika