VIDEO GAMES 1991
Video Games of 1991: The 1991, one of the most important years in video gaming history. It was a year that in many ways serves as a transition between the early days of the video games industry, and the true beginnings of the modern era. So what made this year so special among the others? Continue reading below or choose another year from the menu.
VIDEO GAMES of 1991: THE ARTICLE
Video Games 1991
Video Games 1991: The 1991, one of the most important years in video gaming history. 1991, a year that in many ways serves as a transition between the early days of the video games industry, and the true beginnings of the modern era. So what made this year so special among the others?
Some of the most important Video Games released in 1991
First of all, Formula One Grand Prix (also known as World Circuit), the first proper racing simulator, designed by Geoff Crammond, was released. The game that was noted for its 3D graphics, remarkably high framerate (25 fps) and attention to detail, took Formula One simulation to a whole new level. It aimed to simulate everything that was possible to simulate, from aerodynamics, to engine mechanics, to tire wear.
It allowed to skip time, replay options and it is considered to be the founder of online racing community. Besides that, players also had the ability to edit the teams and drivers and set up their car to their own personal specifications.
Secondly, Sonic the Hedgehog, the crowning jewel of Sega Genesis was released. Sonic the Hedgehog was well received by critics, who praised its visuals, audio, and gameplay. It was also commercially successful, establishing the Genesis as a key player in the 16-bit era and allowing it to compete with Nintendo and their Super Nintendo Entertainment System console. The game became Sega’s new mascot, new face.
Street Fighter II was not the first fighting game, and even not the first in the series. However, it defined the fighting genre, what it should be. It innovated basically everything in fighting genre – having characters with different abilities and styles, stages, music. Considered as the greatest creation of Capcom, many also consider it as the best fighting game ever made. It also resurrected the arcades, being the best-selling title since the golden age of arcade gaming.
Sid Meier’s Civilization, the game that allows you to control a civilization from stone age to space age, was released. Economical progress, military power with the size of armies and technology from spears to missiles and nuclear weapons.
The player is tasked with leading an entire human civilization over the course of several millennia by controlling various areas such as urban development, exploration, government, trade, research, and military. The player can control individual units and advance the exploration, conquest and settlement of the game’s world. The player can also make such decisions as setting forms of government, tax rates and research priorities. The player’s civilization is in competition with other computer-controlled civilizations, with which the player can enter diplomatic relationships that can either end in alliances or lead to war.
Hardware 1991
With Nintendo’s NES and Sega’s Master System declining, and Super Nintendo yet to rise, Sega Genesis (also known as Mega Drive) stepped to the throne of home consoles. Lovely rounded corners, circular design cues and fabulous 16-bit technology made the previous generation of consoles look positively clunky by comparison.
With the rise of 16-bit home consoles, 16-bit computers like Amiga and Atari ST started to decline. The Amiga and ST were too expensive and many gamers switched to the home consoles. Adding even more pressure on the Amiga and ST, IBM PC was about to rise. It was a machine that could indeed do all of the practical, functional things we were told home micros could do, but it did them so, so much better than anything else that was out there.
In 1991, the PC’s final, secret weapon (86C911 by S3) was ready to be deployed that would enable it to establish itself as a bona fide gaming machine – and become the customizable, do-it-all personal computer that both consumers and professionals really wanted. 86C911 was the first significant commercial graphics processing unit.
At the same time, an epic four-way battle royale between Nintendo, Sega, Atari and NEC was taking place in the handheld world. Within the space of 18 months, three technically advanced, but power-hungry and prohibitively expensive color hand-held systems had been launched against Nintendo’s much cheaper black and white Game Boy: Atari’s Lynx, retrospectively looking like a PSP forerunner, Sega’s Game Gear, essentially a mini Master System, and NEC’s TurboGrafx-16-on-the-go, the TurboExpress.
By 1991 each of these systems had some great games available for it, but none had hit critical mass for success. Instead, it was the Game Boy that was kicking ass and taking names thanks to its monstrous popularity – and vast software library.
Other notable Video Games of 1991
Electronic Arts releases motorcycle racing combat game Road Rash for Sega Genesis, starting the series.
Final Fantasy IV, the first 16-bit FF was first released in Japan, and then released as Final Fantasy II in North America in November. It was named as Final Fantasy II because original Final Fantasy II and III were not released outside the Japan.
Nintendo releases Super Mario World and F-Zero along with the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in North America. Super Mario World was the original pack-in game for the SNES. Nintendo also releases The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for the Super Famicom in Japan and Super Castlevania IV for SNES in North America.
For the computers, Neverwinter Nights (credited as the first graphical MMORPG) was released. DMA Design releases Lemmings, a puzzle game that requires the player to lead a group of lemmings through a dangerous environment to an escape portal. A cinematic action-adventure game Another World was released for the Amiga, which uses polygons instead of sprites.
LucasArts releases Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge for Amiga, MS-DOS, Macintosh, and FM Towns.
Namco releases Starblade for arcades, featuring one of the earliest instances of real-time 3D graphics in video games.
LIST OF THE BEST VIDEO GAMES: 1991
Buy me a coffeeWWF SUPERSTARS
Developer: Rare
Publisher: Acclaim
Platform: Nintendo Game Boy
Release(NA): April, 1991
Release(EU): 1991
Genre: Wrestling
Not to be confused with arcade’s WWF Superstars, which is unrelated game.
All wrestlers have the same moves, with the exception of individualized strike attacks. The moveset consists of attack moves (punch and kick), a bodyslam, grappling moves that can only be performed when you pick your opponent up from the mat (piledriver, suplex, headlock with punches), ground attack moves (elbow or knee drop), Irish whip moves (clothesline and dropkick), and flying turnbuckle moves (elbow or knee drop).
Players can also wrestle outside the ring by throwing their opponent over the ropes or by performing a dropkick through the ropes. Throwing the opponent out of the ring can be done once per match and causes considerable damage.
Before every match, wrestlers cut promos on their opponent. Following the match, Vince McMahon comments on the action. The wrestlers each have two comments. One is a generic taunt, while the second is specific to the opponent.
The game features five wrestlers: Hulk Hogan, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, The Ultimate Warrior, “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, and Mr. Perfect.
RATING
CASTLE OF ILLUSION
Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Platform: Game Gear, Master System
Release(Master System): February, 1991
Release(Game Gear): June, 1991
Genre: Platformer
This is an 8-bit counterpart to the Sega Mega Drive game of the same name, which although shares the same story and basic design concepts, has differing levels and gameplay mechanics.
In Castle of Illusion the player controls Mickey Mouse through six levels, known as the “worlds of illusion”. Mickey can grab and throw objects, jump. When Mickey is midair, he can perform a bounce attack. He can also go through doors and climb ladders.
Three levels, containing a gem each, are available in the beginning and can be joined at any order: “The Enchanted Forest”, “Toyland” and “The Dessert Factory”.
Once the first three levels are finished, another two are unlocked, with two gems each and no sequential restriction again: “The Library” and “The Clock Tower”.
After collecting all seven gems, the final level is unlocked: “The Castle”.
RATING
SHADOW DANCER
Developer: Images Software
Publisher: U.S. Gold
Platform: Commodore Amiga
Released: 1991
Genre: Platformer, hack and slash
Climax (under the name of Images Software Ltd) created the Amiga and Atari ST versions simultaneously, targeting the ST first and then porting the game’s contents to the Amiga, where minor improvements would be added.
Sega did not give the team access to the game’s source code, so sprites were copied from a video of the game and touched up in the Atari ST version of OCP Art Studio[10].
As was to be expected, the two versions are very similar, however the Atari ST omits the introduction sequence to save space.
Parallax scrolling is missing in both versions, as are the intermission screens.
–Zagrebo
A pretty competent version of the great arcade game. The graphics feel a bit too bright and “chunky”, and the parallax scrolling is gone but the music and sound are fine and the gameplay is largely intact.
RATING
SHADOW DANCER
Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Platform: Sega Master System
Released: 1991
Genre: Platformer, hack and slash
Shadow Dancer on the Master System retains a lot of the arcade game’s content, but simplifies the graphics and sound to better suit the hardware. Level layouts are slightly different, and the decision to use sprites similar in size to the arcade version means that fewer enemies can appear on screen at any one time.
Sprite flicker is a common sight, and entire sections of levels are removed to save space. Unlike the arcade version, players cannot backtrack during either side scrolling or boss sections, limiting player to a very small section of the screen during the boss fights.
The most striking omission in the Master System version of Shadow Dancer is the dog as an active character, but it is still available as a game mechanic. When a valid target is onscreen, the player must crouch. While crouched, the ninja magic icon will slowly transform into a a dog head.
When the icon is completely full, it will move to the target enemy’s location. Pressing attack will cause the dog to appear out of nowhere and attack the enemy. If no valid target exists, the icon will not move and pressing attack while crouched will perform a normal attack. Dog can be called only three times each level.
Master System version retains the first person shuriken throwing bonus rounds but the one between the second and third level is the same bonus round used by the Mega Drive version, which makes player to jump from a tall building and attack ninjas in a downward shoot ’em up fashion.
Just like the Master System version of Shinobi, Ninja magic cannot be used during boss fights. In addition to the previously mentioned problem of being confined to the small section of the screen makes the boss fights even more difficult than the arcade version.
A small oddity, in the Master System version, player always bows to boss before the boss battle.
RATING
THE GG SHINOBI
Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Platform: Sega Game Gear
Release(NA): 1991
Release(JP): April 26, 1991
Genre: Platformer, hack and slash
Terror and destruction have made their way to Ninja Valley. The Master of the Oboro school of shinobi sends his best students to investigate the suburban areas. They return with news of a powerful dark force that has established a base within Neo City.
The Master knows that only a warrior trained in the arts of ninjutsu can stand against this menace. One by one his greatest pupils enter Neo City to locate and destroy the source of the evil. Ninja Valley has lost contact with each of them. All are believed to be captured.
Now Joe Musashi the Red Shinobi, must carry out this dire mission. As the oldest and strongest of his ninja disciples, Musashi must use his special skills in the art of ninjutsu to free his fellow shinobi. With their combined strength, they can destroy the City of Fear.
It was the first Shinobi game developed specifically for a portable game platform. The player controls the modern-day ninja Joe Musashi, protagonist of previous Shinobi games, as he goes on a mission to rescue four kidnapped comrades from an enemy, gaining control of the other ninjas (each with different abilities).
RATING
SWITCHBLADE II
Developer: Gremlin Graphics
Publisher: Gremlin Graphics
Platform: Amiga / Atari ST
Release(Amiga): 1991
Release(Atari ST): May, 1991
Genre: Action, Platformer
Taking place several centuries after the events of the first game, the story follows a descendant of the original protagonist named Hiro, as he embarks on a journey to defeat Havok, the original main antagonist who has returned from his previous defeat in order to bring chaos upon the land of Cyberworld and its inhabitants after the Blade Knights ceased to exist.
Its gameplay consists of run and gun action mixed with platforming and exploration elements, with a main single-button configuration.
RATING
BOMBERMAN II
Developer: Hudson Soft
Publisher: Hudson Soft
Platform: Nintendo NES
Release(JP): June 28, 1991
Release(EU): 1991
Release(NA): February, 1993
Genre: Action, Maze
A Bomberman named White Bomberman is framed for terrible crimes by Black Bomberman. After being accused of robbing a bank, White Bomberman is thrown in jail. Bomberman’s mission is to escape his prison cell and bring Black Bomberman to justice.
The game follows the classic Bomberman formula: you are in a room full of blocks and enemies and Bomberman must plant bombs to destroy the blocks and enemies.
Several blocks contain power-ups (such as blast radius increasers or fuse shorteners), and one in each level contains a door, which takes Bomberman to the next level.
RATING
BOMBERMAN / DYNA BLASTER
Developer: Hudson Soft
Publisher: Hudson Soft
Platform: TurboGrafx / Amiga
Released: 1991
Genre: Action, maze
As White Bomberman, the player must defeat the Black Bomberman, who has kidnapped the daughter of the inventor of both him and White Bomberman and imprisoned her in his giant castle. To do so, White Bomberman must travel to the top floor of the Black Bomberman’s castle, which is crawling with evil monsters and villains that work for him.
The single player game is divided into eight worlds, each one divided into eight stages. Each stage is presented as a maze of blocks filled with enemies. By using bombs, the player must destroy the blocks blocking their path and defeat all of the enemies.
RATING
TEENAGE MUTANT HERO TURTLES: THE COIN-OP!
Developer: Probe Software
Publisher: Image Works
Platform: Amiga / Atari ST / MS-DOS
Released: 1991
Genre: Beat ’em up
The computer ports of the arcade game were released by Image Works and ported by Probe Software.
RATING
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MANHATTAN MISSIONS
Developer: Distinctive Software
Publisher: Konami
Platform: MS-DOS
Released(NA): June 1, 1991
Genre: Action, platform
Manhattan Missions is notable for its more mature tone and setting than other TMNT games of its time.
The goal of the game is to complete a number of missions, consisting of levels divided into screens, culminating in a final battle with The Shredder.
The gameplay is similar to the original Prince of Persia, as characters switch between free movement and melee fighting stances in a two-dimensional platformer environment. In between missions the Turtles can rest, regaining lost hit points, but the player only has a limited amount of time in which to find the Shredder.
The game is designed to be played with a keyboard, and utilizes a key to switch between walking and fighting modes. Each Turtle has the ability to arm and withdraw his weapon.
Each Turtle wields his signature weapon and a number of shuriken. Holding the enter key makes the Turtles attack, and the spacebar is used to block enemy attacks based on which arrow key is held.
RATING
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: TURTLES IN TIME
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Platform: Arcade
Released: March, 1991
Genre: Beat ’em up
A sequel to the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game, a side-scrolling beat ’em up game based mainly on the 1987 TMNT animated series.
Like its predecessor, Turtles in Time was available for the arcades in two- and four-player versions. In the two-player versions, each player gets to choose which of the four turtles they wish to control, whereas in the four-player versions the characters are assigned to the control panel from left to right in the following order: Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael.
Each playable character has his own strengths and weaknesses. New features in this game include the ability to execute a power attack by hitting an enemy several times in a row, and the ability to slam Foot Soldiers into surrounding enemies.
RATING
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES II: BACK FROM THE SEWERS
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Platform: Nintendo Game Boy
Released(JP): November 15, 1991
Released(NA): December 1, 1991
Released(EU): May 21, 1992
Genre: Platformer
Similar to Fall of the Foot Clan, the previous Game Boy game in the series, the player can switch between turtles before each stage.
Each turtle has his own strengths and weaknesses. Donatello has a long range of attack, but attacks slowly, Raphael’s attack is fast but has a very short range, and Leonardo and Michaelangelo are well-balanced. When a turtle is defeated, he becomes captured by the enemy. The game is over when all turtles are captured.
After completing a stage, the player is given the opportunity to rescue a captured turtle. If no turtles were captured, the player enters a bonus stage instead.
RATING
LETHAL XCESS: WINGS OF DEATH II
Developer: X-Troll
Publisher: Eclipse Software
Platform: Amiga / Atari ST
Released: 1991
Genre: Shoot ’em up
It is a sequel to 1990’s Wings of Death, in which its wizard hero goes into the far future to fight the descendants of the evil witch that he had defeated in the first game.
Despite having been acclaimed by critics, the game was a commercial failure.
The great magician Sagyr has won over his nemesis, the wicked witch Xandrilia, and regained the human shape of his former self. But Xandrilia’s curse sends him 3,000 years in the future. There he finds out that the witch’s posterity, known as the Xandrilians, plan to rule the universe with an army of monsters and machines.
Determined to stop the forces of darkness, Sagyr pilots a small combat spacecraft on a desperate mission to destroy the planet where the Xandrilians live.
RATING
POPULOUS II: TRIALS OF THE OLYMPIAN GODS
Developer: Bullfrog Productions
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platform: Amiga
Released: August 31, 1991
Genre: Strategy, god game
Like its predecessor, Populous II is a god game, where the player is guiding his people in battle against the followers of an enemy god. Whereas Populous only generally alluded to undefined deities, Populous II is specifically set under the backdrop of Greek mythology.
The player is a demigod, one of Zeus’s countless children with mortal women, and has to battle one Greek deity at a time until finally facing his father. Zeus has promised to let the player into the Pantheon on Olympus if he can survive all the battles.
Atari ST version was released in 1992, DOS and Genesis ports in 1993.
RATING
BARBARIAN II
Developer: Psygnosis
Publisher: Psygnosis
Platform: Amiga / Atari ST
Released: 1991
Genre: Action, adventure
Not to be confused with Barbarian II: The Dungeon of Drax, which is a different game developed by Palace Software.
Barbarian II is a 1991 fantasy action-adventure game by British publisher Psygnosis for the Atari ST and Amiga. A sequel to 1987’s Barbarian, the player takes on the role of Hegor on a quest to destroy his resilient and nefarious brother, the sorcerer Necron.
The game takes place from a side-on view, and Hegor moves between areas across the six regions, including forests, caves and temples. Hegor’s primary weapons are his broadsword and bow, but he can attain other weapons including a shortsword and axe. Running and jumping comprises a large part of the gameplay, and in particular some of the later levels are extensive and require significant exploration.
RATING
SHINING IN THE DARKNESS
Developer: Climax / Sonic! Software
Publisher: Sega
Platform: Sega Genesis
Release(JP): March 29, 1991
Release(NA): August 6, 1991
Release(EU): September 9, 1991
Genre: Role playing
Shining in the Darkness is a “dungeon-crawler” role-playing video game. The game puts the player in control of the main character and two friends (Pyra and Milo), as they explore 3D dungeon mazes with turn-based battles. It is the first in the Shining series.
Shining in the Darkness is set in the Kingdom of Thornwood. The king’s daughter and the main character’s father have vanished, while the evil sorcerer Dark Sol (not to be confused with his father, Shining Force villain Darksol) has appeared to threaten the kingdom. The main character is charged to find the Arms of Light, rescue the princess and his own father, and stop Dark Sol.
RATING
NINJA GAIDEN 3: THE ANCIENT SHIP OF DOOM
Developer: Tecmo
Publisher: Tecmo
Platform: Nintendo (NES)
Release(JP): June 21, 1991
Release(NA): August, 1991
Genre: Platformer, Action
Third installment of the Ninja Gaiden trilogy, in which the events take place between the first two games in the series.
Ryu Hayabusa is framed for the murder of Irene Lew and investigates the circumstances behind her death.
The game features similar gameplay to its previous two Ninja Gaiden titles and includes some new features such as the ability to hang overhead from pipes and sword power-ups.
RATING
NINJA GAIDEN SHADOW
Developer: Natsume
Publisher: Tecmo
Platform: Nintendo Game Boy
Release(NA): December 1991
Release(JP): December 13, 1991
Release(EU): 1992
Genre: Platformer, Action
Set three years before the events of the first Ninja Gaiden (NES), the player controls Ryu Hayabusa, who must save New York City from the forces of Emperor Garuda, a servant of Jaquio.
Garuda’s minions include the cyborg “Spider”, kickboxer Gregory and his manager Jack, former military commander Colonel Allen, and the Japanese nobleman Whokisai.
In contrast to the variety of ninja arts and power-ups available in the NES games, Ryu only has a basic sword attack and a Fire Wheel attack that can be replenished for up to five uses.
While Ryu cannot stick to or climb walls like in the NES games, he can hang onto railings and move underneath them like in Ninja Gaiden III, and use both his sword attack and the Fire Wheel art while hanging onto railings. Unique to this installment, is Ryu being equipped with a grappling hook that allows him to latch onto hard-to-reach railings.
RATING
NINJA GAIDEN
Developer: Japan System House
Publisher: Sega
Platform: Sega Game Gear
Release(NA): December 1991
Release(JP): November 1, 1991
Genre: Platformer, Action
Ninja Gaiden is an action video game released for the Game Gear that stars Ryu Hayabusa and is part of the Ninja Gaiden series, although it features a plot not connected to any of the other Ninja Gaiden games. The gameplay is similar to previous Ninja Gaiden games where the player jumps between platforms defeating and avoiding enemies.
Ryu Hayabusa is a member of the Dragon Ninja clan, who have protected Japan for generations. One day he is away from home, he receives a message that the Dragon Village, home of the Dragon clan, has been brutally massacred. He rushes home finding that all but one of the village members have been killed.
The last survivor of the village tells Ryu with his dying breath that the sacred Bushido scroll has been stolen. The Bushido is a scroll of power so strong that its owner can control the world.
The game features similar gameplay mechanics to the previous NES Ninja Gaiden games. Movements, attacks and jumps are performed in the same mood, and special ninja attacks are cast as usually, by pressing Up and Attack simultaneously.
This version replaced some features from the NES games with new abilities, such as the ability to climb hand-over-hand or cling to walls in the NES games being replaced by the new wall-to-wall jumping ability
RATING
DOUBLE DRAGON 3: THE SACRED STONES
Developer: Technōs Japan
Publisher: Acclaim Entertainment
Platform: Nintendo (NES)
Release(NA): February, 1991
Release(JP): February 22, 1991
Release(EU): 1991
Genre: Beat ’em up
Double Dragon III can be played by one or two players simultaneously, with an “A mode” where both players can’t harm each other and a “B mode” that allows friendly fire.
Like its arcade counterpart, the NES version of Double Dragon III reverts to having punch and kick buttons as the standard control scheme and the ability to dash by pressing the D-pad left or right twice has been added. The rest of the combat system is a bit closer to the previous NES games, retaining the hair grab move that was removed in the arcade version (although the shoulder throw is gone, as well as the flying knee kick and hyper uppercut from the NES version of Double Dragon II: The Revenge).
New moves in this version include a running jump kick (which can become a triangle jump kick when performed on a wall) and a midair somersault that allows the player to throw enemies by jumping on them. During 2-player mode, when both players are controlling each Lee brother, they can perform a twin cyclone spin kick and a triangle jump.
The game discards the traditional lives system from the previous NES installments, as well as the item shops from the arcade version. Instead, the player gains the ability to control two new fighters in addition to the Lee brothers as they progress through the game.
RATING
DOUBLE DRAGON 3: THE ROSETTA STONE
Developer: The Sales Curve
Publisher: Storm
Platform: Amiga
Released: 1991
Genre: Beat ’em up
The Amiga flexes its conversion-accuracy muscle in this game and it’s pretty dead-on accurate. Lots of work was put into the port, and the end result is a very faithful translation. Unfortunately, it’s just an accurate translation of a mediocre brawler with the Double Dragon franchise slapped on it.
Other than than, this Amiga version doesn’t have in-game soundtrack, which is a shame!
RATING
DOUBLE DRAGON II: THE REVENGE
Developer: PALSOFT
Publisher: PALSOFT
Platform: Sega Mega Drive
Release(JP): December 20, 1991
Genre: Beat ’em up
Unlike the earlier NES version that was developed in-house by Technos and is quite a different game, Mega Drive version was intended to be a direct conversion of the arcade game. And actually it is the only direct conversion of DD2 out there, all the other versions are different from the arcade’s original.
One day, the Black Warriors were gathered on a certain spot after their usual rampaging of the city when a young woman accidentally stumbled into their meeting. The gang brutally murdered her without mercy. Her name was Marian, Billy Lee’s girlfriend. With his older brother Jimmy, Billy sets out on a mission to get his revenge on the Black Warriors.
Many would say it was a disappointment, however it’s not all bad! Unfortunately, it’s not wonderful either! Game has some horrible slowdown issues which can be overcome with overclocking. What you can not fix are the sound effects and graphics that are below the Genesis standards.
If you forget it is a Genesis game, and if you overclock it, it’s actually pretty good. Music is great and controls are responsive.
Unfortunately, this version ended up being exclusive to Japan.
RATING
SWORD OF VERMILION
Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Platform: Sega Genesis
Release(NA): January 28, 1991
Release(EU): April 22, 1991
Genre: Role playing, Action
Sword of Vermilion was the first console exclusive game designed by the Sega AM2 studio.
Sword of Vermilion is about the son of Erik, king of Excalabria, who takes on a quest of revenge to defeat Tsarkon and free the world of Vermilion from evil.
RATING
KID ICARUS: OF MYTHS AND MONSTERS
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Nintendo Game Boy
Release(NA): November 5, 1991
Genre: Action, Platformer
Palutena has a nightmare, which a soothsayer interprets as a foreshadowing of an invasion by the demon Orcos and his minions.
The goddess summons Pit—the leader of her army—and commands him to enter a special training that will give him the power to use Angel Land’s three sacred treasures.
RATING
OPERATION C
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami / Ultra Games
Platform: Nintendo Game Boy
Release(JP): January 8, 1991
Release(NA): February, 1991
Genre: Run and gun, Platformer
Operation C is a sequel Super Contra, it is the first portable installment in the Contra series.
It features gameplay and graphics similar to the Nintendo Entertainment System versions of Contra and Super Contra.
RATING
LEISURE SUIT LARRY 5
Developer: Sierra On-Line
Publisher: Sierra On-Line
Platform: MS-DOS
Released: September 7, 1991
Genre: Point-and-click, Adventure
Being an (in)direct sequel to Leisure Suit Larry 3, its title is misleading, as there is no Leisure Suit Larry 4.
The absence of a “Leisure Suit Larry 4” forms the basis of this newest installment, as Julius Biggs has stolen the “missing floppies” of the game and caused Larry Laffer to become amnesiac.
Larry is now in the adult film industry, working for a Mafia-connected company known as PornProdCorp.
His boss sends him across the United States to scout for models to appear in “America’s Sexiest Home Videos”.
RATING
LEISURE SUIT LARRY 1 (VGA)
Developer: Sierra On-Line
Publisher: Sierra On-Line
Platform: MS-DOS
Released: July, 1991
Genre: Point-and-click, Adventure
In 1991, Sierra released a remake version titled Leisure Suit Larry 1: In the Land of the Lounge Lizards that used the Sierra’s Creative Interpreter (SCI) engine with 256 colors and a point-and-click, icon-driven (as opposed to the original’s text-based) user interface.
RATING
ROHGA: ARMOR FORCE / WOLF FANG
Developer: Data East
Publisher: Data East
Platform: Arcade
Release: 1991
Genre: Run and gun, Platformer
Two years have passed since the military occupation of New York City in 1999 and since then Ragnarok (aka: DAGGER) – the organization responsible for the events – have disappeared following their air borne destruction.
During that time, mech technology has been the boom of future military projects worldwide with the biggest factories residing in Oceania. These mechs become the main target of Ragnarok when it resurfaces and claims the military factories and cities of Australia and New Zealand.
Their plan is to apparently use any and all of the deadliest mechs that have not yet reached completion to their chaotic liking.
GAMEPLAY
Rohga: Armor Force is an unusual scrolling horizontal shooter. Because the players control a mech, the players can hover against slanted walls in the back ground and occasionally land on higher platforms.
Players are set with controls similar to a platformer as they face whichever horizontal direction they choose, can duck, aim their gun upwards at a 45 degree angle, and jump.
Players can also move and aim their gun in different directions by holding the firing button down.
RATING
XEXEX / ORIUS
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Platform: Arcade
Release: October, 1991
Genre: Scrolling shooter
Perhaps the ultimate Konami shooter, a culmination of the craft they had honed over the past decade. Visually it’s unlike anything Konami has ever done, and mechanically it stands apart from their line up too. The game was initially advertised to Western audiences under the name Orius.
The story involves saving the planet E-Square from a rather effeminate looking evil lord. Each stage is punctuated with a cutscene of Princess Elaine La Tias crying for help as she’s tortured by the evil Lord Klaus Pachelbel. As the game goes on, she begins to lose clothing – not unlike Artemis from Namco’s Phelios.
Read the full article: Here
RATING
MIGHT AND MAGIC III
Developer: New World Computing
Publisher: New World Computing
Platform: MS-DOS
Released: 1991
Genre: Role playing
After the defeat of Sheltem and his forces on CRON in Might and Magic II: Gates to Another World, a new party of adventurers from Sheltem’s “homeworld” of Terra find themselves embroiled in the battle between the two Guardians.
The adventurers must aid the mysterious Corak in attempting to stop Sheltem once again and putting an end to his evil machinations.
In canon, these adventurers are named Sir Caneghem, Crag Hack, Maximus, Resurrectra, Dark Shade, Kastore, Robert the Wise and Tolberti.
Throughout the game, the adventurers travel the Isles of Terra, a grouping of separate, flat “nacelle” worlds drawn from the Void onto the oceanic planet of Terra by Sheltem himself in previous years. Driven against the Ancients, Sheltem is now launching their nacelles into the suns of various worlds, snuffing out countless lives in his wake.
Driven by the tales told in Corak’s journals regarding the Ancients, the Elemental Lords and the “Forces of the Dome”, the heroes pursue the Guardians, battling terrors along the way.
RATING
MIGHT AND MAGIC II
Developer: New World Computing
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platform: Sega Genesis
Release(NA,EU): July, 1991
Genre: Role playing
After the events of Might and Magic Book One: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum, the adventurers who helped Corak defeat Sheltem on VARN take the “Gates to Another World” located in VARN to the land of CRON (Central Research Observational Nacelle).
The land of CRON is facing many problems brought on by the encroachment of Sheltem and the adventurers must travel through CRON, the four elemental planes and even through time to help Corak stop Sheltem from flinging CRON into its sun.
Genesis version of Might and Magic II was actually the first that was released on home consoles. Might and Magic 1 was released one year later on the NES.
RATING
PHANTASY STAR III
Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Platform: Sega Genesis
Release(NA): July, 1991
Release(EU): 1992
Genre: Role Playing
Phantasy Star III takes place 1000 years after the event of Phantasy Star II, and runs parallel to Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium.
At first, the game appears to take place in a medieval fantasy setting, in contrast to the science-fiction settings of previous games.
A thousand years before the start of the game, two factions — one led by the swordsman Orakio, the other by the sorceress Laya — were engaged in a bitter conflict.
An attempt at peace was made when the two leaders met for an armistice, but soon afterwards they both mysteriously vanished. This placed the two factions in a precarious situation, as each blamed the other for their leader’s disappearance.
All communication between the Orakians and Layans was suspended, travel between their respective worlds was prohibited, and the two groups teetered on the brink of war.
RATING
INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE
Developer: Software Creations
Publisher: Taito Corporation
Platform: Nintendo (NES)
Release: March, 1991
Genre: Action
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a video game released in 1991 by Taito, for the NES based on the film with the same name.
Not to be confused with Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Action Game by Ubi Soft.
In the game, the player controls protagonist Indiana Jones going through levels taken directly from the film, albeit with a shortened and simplified plot.
RATING
VENDETTA / CRIME FIGHTERS 2
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Platform: Arcade
Release: July, 1991
Genre: Beat ’em up
Vendetta, known in Japan as Crime Fighters 2 is a 1991 side-scrolling beat-’em-up arcade game. It is the sequel to 1989 Konami’s Crime Fighters, although it was marketed internationally as a stand-alone game with no previous connections.
Dead End City is a place controlled with a firm grip by the “Dead End” gang, an endless parade of violent criminals. Their only obstacle is the opposing hero gang, called The Cobras.
The Cobras number five members: Blood (former prizefighter, with a passing resemblance to Wesley Snipes), Hawk (former professional wrestler, with a passing resemblance to Hulk Hogan), Boomer (a martial artist, possibly based on Jean-Claude Van Damme), Sledge (a military ex-convict with a passing resemblance to Mr. T) and Kate, the damsel in distress, described as Hawk’s protegee and wearing a blue shirt similar to his.
One day, Kate is kidnapped by the Dead End Gang under the leadership of Faust, who is looking for the leadership of all street gangs in an attempt to take full control of the city. The four men go to enemy territory to save Kate, fighting through the waves of enemies sent against them.
RATING
TOEJAM & EARL
Developer: Johnson Voorsanger
Publisher: Sega
Platform: Sega Genesis
Release(NA): October, 1991
Release(EU): November, 1991
Release(JP): March 13, 1992
Genre: Action, Dungeon crawler
ToeJam & Earl centers on ToeJam and Earl—alien rappers who have crash-landed on Earth. As they attempt to escape the planet, players assume the role of either character and collect pieces of their wrecked spacecraft.
ToeJam & Earl’s design was heavily influenced by the role-playing video game Rogue, and took from it such features as the random generation of levels and items. It references and parodies 1980s and early 90s urban culture and is set to a funk soundtrack.
RATING
ACTRAISER
Developer: Quintet
Publisher: Enix
Platform: Super Nintendo
Release(NA): November, 1991
Release(EU): March 18, 1993
Genre: Platformer, City-building, Simulation
ActRaiser is a platform and city-building simulation game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System developed by Quintet and published by Enix, combining traditional side-scrolling platforming with urban planning god game sections.
The plot follows a godlike being known only as “The Master” (God in the Japanese version) in his fight against Tanzra (Satan in the Japanese version), also referred to as “The Evil One.” According to the instruction booklet, The Master was defeated in a battle with Tanzra and his six lieutenants. The Master retreated to his sky palace to tend to his wounds and fell into a deep sleep. In the Master’s absence, Tanzra divided the world into six lands, one for each of his lieutenants; they later turned the people to evil.
After several hundred years, the Master awakens fully recovered to discover that he has lost his powers due to the lack of belief in him. As the game progresses, the Master defeats Tanzra’s lieutenants and recovers his powers by rebuilding the civilizations of his people and communicating with them through prayer. After all lieutenants have been slain, the Master commences an assault on Tanzra’s stronghold, Death Heim, eventually defeating him.
RATING
ARMED POLICE UNIT GALLOP
Developer: Irem
Publisher: Irem
Platform: Arcade
Release: 1991
Genre: Scrolling shooter
Armed Police Unit Gallop is a side-scrolling shoot ’em up, part of the popular R-Type video game series.
Taking place concurrently with R-Type Delta, Gallop sees the player as a member of the like-named private security organization tasked with hunting down autonomous vehicles driven berserk by the Bydo, dubbed “Mad Cars”.
The player pilots an R-Type fighter, the R-11B Peace Maker. As in most horizontal shooters the screen scrolls continuously to the right, but Gallop is unusual in that the scroll rate can be controlled by the player. The further right the player’s craft is oriented onscreen, the faster the game scrolls.
RATING
FINAL FIGHT
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Platform: Super Nintendo
Release(NA): 1991
Release(EU): 1992
Genre: Beat ’em up
A port of Final Fight for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System was released as a launch title for the platform in Japan in 1990 and later in North America in 1991 and then in the PAL region in 1992.
The SNES port removed the two-player co-op option, the Industrial Area level, and playable character Guy. Most of the scene transitions were also edited out. In the arcade version, the player characters would be seen exiting the levels and breaking through doors unlike the SNES version.
Due to hardware limitations the SNES version could only display two or three enemies on-screen, in contrast to the CPS arcade version, which could display up to nine or ten enemies on-screen; to make up for this difference, the SNES version features more stopping points than the arcade version and the enemy placement is vastly different.
RATING
STARBLADE
Developer: Namco
Publisher: Namco
Platform: Arcade
Released(JP): September, 1991
Released(NA,EU): 1991
Genre: Rail shooter
Starblade received critical acclaim, being praised for its 3D graphics and cinematic presentation. It is cited as an important and influential game in 3D video games, serving as inspiration for games such as Star Fox, Panzer Dragoon and Rez.
Home conversions were released for the Panasonic 3DO and Sega CD, with a PlayStation remake named Starblade Alpha being released a year later.
Starblade is a 3D rail shooter video game, taking place in a first-person perspective. The player assumes control of a starship named the FX-01 “GeoSword” in its mission to destroy a hostile alien race known as the “Unknown Intelligent Mechanized Species” (UIMS) before they destroy Earth.
Gameplay revolves around the player controlling a crosshair and firing at incoming enemies and projectiles. The GeoSword has a shield meter at the bottom-left corner, which will deplete when it is inflicted with enemy fire; when the meter is fully-drained, the game ends.
The player will need to complete two missions; destroying the power reactor of the superweapon “Red Eye”, and eliminating an enemy fortress and a powerful ship named the “Commander”. The Commander stalks the player throughout the game, with a fight against it ensuing once both missions are completed.
RATING
BUCK ROGERS: COUNTDOWN TO DOOMSDAY
Developer: Strategic Simulations
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platform: Sega Genesis
Release(NA): December, 1991
Release(EU): February, 1992
Genre: Role Playing
Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday is a Sega Mega Drive RPG based on the Buck Rogers TV series. The game is a port of the PC and Amiga game of the same name, with some elements removed and/or combined to make the game easier to play on a console.
It is one of the few games in the Sega game library to come with a strategy guide along with the manual.
RATING
EYE OF THE BEHOLDER II
Developer: Westwood
Publisher: Strategic Simulations
Platform: MS-DOS
Genre: First-person RPG
Release: 1991
After the adventures of the first game, the heroes head to a local inn to rest and enjoy their new found fame but a note gets slipped to them from Khelben “Blackstaff” Arunsun, Archmage of Waterdeep, who says that he sent a scout to investigate reports of evil brewing in a temple known as Darkmoon but she has not returned. Khelben then transports the heroes to the temple to find Amber and continue the investigation.
While battling their way through the temple’s clerics and other inhabitants, the players discover that the high priest, Dran Draggore, is assembling legions of skeletal warriors to attack Waterdeep. The players need to pass an acolytes’ test to gain access to the inner parts of the temple. In the final confrontation, Draggore turns out to be a red dragon.
Much of the game remains within the confines of the temple, where the player is allowed to roam freely between locations once inside. The game itself features the catacombs beneath the Temple Darkmoon, the upper levels of the temple, and its three towers; silver, azure and crimson.
RATING
BATMAN: THE MOVIE
Developer: Atari Games
Publisher: Atari Games
Platform: Arcade
Released: 1991
Genre: Beat ’em up
Batman is a horizontally scrolling beat ’em up and first-person shooter arcade game released by Atari Games in 1991. Game was suppose to be released in 1990, but it got delayed until Jack Nicholson approved of the vocal mixing. Supposedly he wasn’t happy with how his voice came out. They had to keep revising the sound until he gave it an ok.
The storyline is based on the Tim Burton’s eponymous 1989 movie. The game features audio clips of Batman (Michael Keaton), The Joker (Jack Nicholson) and Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger) as well as digitized photos from the movie and the music is based on the movie’s soundtrack composed by Danny Elfman.
Story in details
In the crime-infested Gotham City, there are reports of a ”Six Foot Bat” torturing and catching criminals. This, of course, has the criminal underworld scared stiff. Meanwhile, crime boss Carl Grissom finds out that his right-hand-man, Jack Naiper, has been having an affair with his mistress. Grissom sets Jack up to be killed by police, during a scheduled break-in at the Axis Chemical Factory.
Batman arrives, and accidentally causes Jack to fall into a vat of acid, which alters Jack’s appearance, and mind. Jack now calls himself the Joker, and he goes totally off the deep end, determined to wreak as much havoc on Gotham City as he can. But the Joker has a problem: Batman.
Other games and ports
It’s the fourth title in the Batman series – after Batman (1986), Batman: The Caped Crusader (1988), Batman (1989). However, it was the first based on the movie. Multiple versions of the game were produced – for the Genesis, NES, Gameboy, PC Engine. You should check them out, these are all different.
Unlike the other versions, it’s including first-person control of the Batmobile and the Batwing.
Gameplay
Batman can use various weapons, such as Batarangs, Batrope and Gas Grenades, as he takes on various goons and the Joker. Common enemies appear throughout the game, shooting guns and throwing knives at Batman. The player character’s energy is displayed using the Batman logo – three hits, and you are dead.
When the platform is higher than you can jump, fire the Batrope upwards. The player must use a 4-way joystick to take control of Michael Keaton’s version of Batman, with two buttons (the first to make him attack the enemies, and the second to make him jump).
Reviews
Doc Lathrop Brown (gamefaqs)
The hit detection is kinda poor, and it’s slightly hard to connect a blow. Although it can be annoying, after a few minutes of play, you’ll probably become used to it and figure out how to compensate for it. Otherwise, the game controls smoothly enough.
Graphics are amazing. That’s all I have to say. While they’re probably merely 16-bits, they still do their job. The color application for the graphics are equally as nice. The game uses many vibrant colors, but uses enough so that everything can be colored correctly. Nope, Batman isn’t purple!
Sprites are wonderfully detailed! You can’t help but laugh when the Joker actually puts on the funny nose glasses! The Batman sprite stands with his cape in his hand, covering himself. Gives him a nice, mysterious look.
Backgrounds are undeniably one of the best parts of the game. Anton Furst’s award-winning production design survived the transition from movie to game. The backgrounds compare wonderfully with movie stills.
RATING
DUKE NUKEM
Developer: Apogee Software
Publisher: Apogee Software
Platform: MS-DOS
Release(NA): July 1, 1991
Release(EU): 1992
Genre: 2D platform
Duke Nukem is a 2D platform game developed and published by Apogee Software, featuring the adventures of the fictional character Duke Nukem. The game was followed by another 2D scroller, Duke Nukem II, in 1993. The series made the jump to 3D graphics with Duke Nukem 3D in 1996, which became the most popular of the three games.
The game is set in the year 1997. Dr. Proton is a madman, determined to take over the world with his army of Techbots. Duke Nukem, the eponymous hero, takes upon the task of stopping him. The first episode takes place in the devastated city of Los Angeles. In the second episode, Duke chases Dr. Proton to his secret moonbase. In the third episode, Dr. Proton escapes into the future, and Duke pursues him through time, to put an end to his mad schemes.
RATING
BATMAN: RETURN OF THE JOKER
Developer: Sunsoft
Publisher: Sunsoft
Platform: Nintendo (NES)
Release(JP,NA): December 20, 1991
Release(EU): November 19, 1992
Genre: Action Platformer
Batman: Return of the Joker is a 1991 platform video game, the follow-up to Sunsoft’s first Batman game on the Nintendo Entertainment System. Unlike that game, which was based on the 1989 Batman film directed by Tim Burton, Return of the Joker is entirely self-contained and based more on the modern comic book iteration of Batman.
The story begins with the Joker escaping from Arkham Asylum, and with various henchmen and mercenaries plots to destroy Gotham City by targeting it with missiles with warheads that are filled with his deadly Joker-gas from his secret island base. Batman must survive several side-scrolling levels and defeat five boss levels, to ensure that Gotham is safe.
Batman is armed with a utility belt that allows him to collect various types of icons throughout the stages in order to shoot different types of batarangs and projectiles. Batman only has one type of batarang in the Game Boy version. The console version of the game uses a password feature which allows players to return to any non-boss level which they have previously reached. The Game Boy version allows the player to select a level at the start of the game.
RATING
EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
Developer: Westwood
Publisher: Strategic Simulations
Platform: MS-DOS
Genre: First-person RPG
Release: 1991
Eye of the Beholder features a first-person perspective in a three-dimensional dungeon, very similar to the earlier Dungeon Master.
The player controls four characters, initially, using a point-and-click interface to fight monsters. This can be increased to a maximum of six characters, by resurrecting one or more skeletons from dead non-player characters, or finding NPCs that are found throughout the dungeons.
The lords of the city of Waterdeep hire a team of adventurers to investigate an evil coming from beneath the city. The adventurers enter the city’s sewer, but the entrance gets blocked by a collapse caused by Xanathar, the eponymous beholder. The team descends further beneath the city, going through Dwarf and Drow clans, to Xanathar’s lair, where the final confrontation takes place.
RATING
CATACOMB 3-D
Developer: id Software
Publisher: Softdisk
Platform: MS-DOS
Release: November, 1991
Genre: First-person shooter
Catacomb 3-D is a landmark title in terms of first-person graphics. The game was released in November 1991 and is arguably the first example of the modern, character-based first-person shooter genre, or at least it was a direct ancestor to the games that popularized the genre. It was released for MS-DOS with EGA graphics.
The game introduced the concept of showing the player’s hand in the three-dimensional viewpoint, and an enhanced version of its technology was later used for the more successful and well-known Wolfenstein 3D. The game’s more primitive technological predecessor was Hovertank 3D.
The player takes control of the high wizard Petton Everhail, descending into the catacombs of the Towne Cemetery to defeat the evil lich Nemesis and rescue his friend Grelminar.
RATING
STREETS OF RAGE
Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Platform: Sega Genesis
Release(JP): August 2, 1991
Release(NA): September 18, 1991
Genre: Beat ’em up
The once peaceful city has been taken over by a criminal syndicate, including factions of the police. Mass violence is now common and no one is safe. Adam Hunter (an accomplished boxer), Axel Stone (skilled martial artist) and Blaze Fielding (judo expert) are vicenarian ex-police officers who have quit the force to fight back against the syndicate.
RATING
Video Games 1991: Facts!
Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Genesis was the Blockbuster’s highest-renting video game in 1991. Blockbuster also released a list of the top 10 highest-renting NES titles of the year: Take a look!
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG
Developer: Sonic Team
Publisher: Sega
Platform: Sega Genesis
Release(NA): June 23, 1991
Release(JP): July 26, 1991
Genre: Platform
The game features an anthropomorphic hedgehog named Sonic in a quest to defeat Dr. Robotnik, a scientist who has imprisoned animals in robots and stolen the powerful Chaos Emeralds. The gameplay involves collecting rings as a form of health, and a simple control scheme, with jumping and attacking controlled by a single button.
RATING
HISTORY OF VIDEO GAMES: BOOKS
Books “History of Video Games: Games You Should Try, Volume 1, 1971-1976” and “History of Video Games: Games You Should Try, Volume 2, 1977-1979” were composed for all the current and future retrogamers.
And will be followed with Volumes of the 80s. If interested, you can find them here: Kindle Store
Books were composed as guides to help retrogamers. The main purpose is to give information about the games you should try if possible. They were composed to save your time searching for information. Instead wasting your time, you can get all the information from one source, from these books.
In these books you can find the – most important, most innovative, most playable video games as of today, listed in chronological order.
Every video game has a picture and short description on the side.
However, these books were not meant to give you in-depth reviews about the games, these books were composed to provide overview – about what games were released back then and which are still playable, worth to check out today, if possible.
Please leave your comment! If you have some great memories with any game from this year, please share it with others! Some less known facts, personal observations, or even tips and tricks! Or maybe you recommend any of these games, or even something I was missing…
EYE OF THE BEHOLDER: I’ve gotten my money’s worth after 30 years. Still playing it occasionally.