Final Soldier - PC Engine Review

PC Engine is known for its shooters, and this one does not disappoint. Fast paced, smooth, beautiful graphics, and superb music and sound.  You can select between normal, hard, and expert.  The difficulty settings on hard and expert are insane to play.  The thing that I like about this game is that there are ample power ups, yet there are not too many that it becomes confusing or just stupid like some other games.  You can access a setup menu where you can select what the power ups do, for example, missiles can be dumb fired or homing.  The game doesn't get boring during play with a mini boss and a main boss on every stage.  You also have the ability of setting 3 different speeds for your ship with the press of a button so you can do it while playing.  You don't  really have bombs like most games.  Instead you collect 2 companion ships that follow you and you can detonate them at any time to use as a bomb that wipes through the screen.  Very fun and challenging game overall.  I give it a solid 8 out of 10 stars.

Actraiser - SNES Review

If you have never played this game before, you must immediately drop whatever you are doing and play it now!  I am serious, this game is a must play.  It is a combination of a sim, an RPG, and an action platformer.  You play the role of a god that comes down to the land and rids it of monsters so people can live and build there.  Once you clear the first stage, you go into sim mode.  You control an angel with a bow and arrow which you can use to shoot enemies.  You also can use natural disasters like lightning, rain, earthquakes, etc.  You have to solve puzzles and figure things out quite often.  The people will ask you to help with various things throughout the game.  There are 2 bosses on each level / area.  There are even some emotional parts in the story that make it really interesting.  The graphics are amazing, the sound and music some of the best for its time, and the game play is excellent.  Overall, I give this game a perfect 10.  There is nothing wrong with it at all and you will replay it over and over again because it is so fun.