Down and Dirty Reviews: Colecovision -- A - Z

It's a shame this system only lasted two short years. People really seem to remember all the different games here so here are bunch of reviews to help you weed out the losers. There are 28 here altogether so far. All reviews are by the StarSoldier unless noted.

The overall scores are out of 100.

The graphics, sounds, and game play are out of 10.


SCORE / NAME
74 ANTARCTIC ADVENTURE (Konami, 1983)
Antarctic Adventure is a first generation 3D action game where you control a constantly running penguin. It is your mission here to guide this cute little dude across several different icy countries in record time while avoiding pits and annoying seals that pop out of the ground. It sounds stupid and the game isn't too hard either but it comes with some above average cartoon-like looks and fun easy to get into game play as well. This is a fun if a bit too simple game that at least looks just the obscure arcade game it was based on.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 7
sound: 5
gameplay: 4

Find Antarctic Adventure on eBay here!

32 BC QUEST FOR TIRES II: Grog's Revenge
In this odd game you help a caveman on a single wheel unicycle to not to die in the harsh prehistoric environments. It's very hard to tell what's even going in some of the screens so it can be difficult to tell what can and can not kill you in this unusual video game here.
*Uncommon Colecovision game
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 5
sound: 3
gameplay: 5

Find BC Quest for Tires II on eBay here!


37 BUMP N' JUMP (Coleco, 1983)

In this odd arcade racer here you have the ability to jump in your doom buggy here if you want while you race down some busy streets filled with other vehicles that don't seem to like you. Bump N' Jump is a very simple overhead racer that unfortunately gets very repetitive only after a few plays and the controls are not the most responsive either which could lead to your death a lot.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 3
sound: 3
gameplay: 3
Find Bump N' Jump on eBay here!


78 BURGERTIME (Coleco, 1983)

This very difficult yet easy to learn game here lets you help a chef to create giant burgers by walking on the different ingredients (yuck) but beware of the evil walking eggs and sausages that want to stop you. The problem is there are several different enemies on the screen at once so good luck making it far in this hard game here. Burgertime has very colourful visuals and even that comical music is still here but is a very simple action game that gets old very quickly because your doing the same thing for each level. Burgertime can be a little tough to control and the action isn't full screen either but the game is more satisfying then eating the crap at McDonalds.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 6
sound: 7
gameplay: 6
Find Burgertime on eBay here!

39 COSMIC AVENAGER
This is a very weak shooter that just seems to goes on forever and ever. It is kind of cool when you can bomb and shoot at the same time though much like Konami's arcade game Scramble but that's it for cool game play here in this very choppy and way too colourful shooter here.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 4
sound: 2
gameplay: 4
Find Cosmic Avenager on eBay here!

02 DAM BUSTERS (1993)
I really hate these 3D shooters and this is easily one of the worst I ever played in my life. Although creating a deep military action game for the Colecovision sounds like a great idea for some people (some crazy people), the black void backgrounds are absolutely uninspiring and boring plus the game lacks any real action either for long periods of time.
*Uncommon Colecovision game
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 2
sound: 1
gameplay: 1
Find Dam Buster on eBay here!


60 DONKEY KONG (Coleco/Nintendo, 1982)
Despite all the hype surrounding this title it's still a not so great arcade translation of the popular Nintendo hit and I don't know why this was the official ColecoVision pack in game? In DK here you help a man named Mario risk his life through 3 different levels to get his girlfriend back from a giant ape known as Donkey Kong. Sure, this looks way better than the Intellivision and Atari 2600 DK games but some of the animations are still missing and the levels are edited differently too making them less fun. The Atari 7800 and NES versions are better although they are not arcade perfect either. The game ends up being strictly average.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 5
sound: 4
gameplay: 4

Find Donkey Kong on eBay here!



70 DONKEY KONG JUNIOR (Coleco/Nintendo, 1983)

If you don't know the story here; in this cool sequel you actually control Donkey Kong's son on a rescue mission to save his dad from the the former hero of the original DK, Mario himself. Like Donkey Kong for the Colecovision this game may have some of the best graphics for its era and the controls are not too bad either but DK Jr. also has some weird edits as well. Why is the Donkey Kong rescue mission the second level for example? The game is a lot of fun though and it is easily one of the better action games for the system.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 6
sound: 5
gameplay: 6
Find Donkey Kong Junior on eBay here!


83 FRENZY (Coleco/Centrui, 1983)

Cool, this is actually the infamous Berzerk sequel here! Just like first game you run and gun through different killer robots to fight for survival and just like before if you take too long a tough bouncing ball with a smiley face will try to stop you. Unlike the first game however you can actually stop this annoying jerk this time but then they just become faster and certain rooms even have giant gadgets that may effect the game play in some way like turning off the machines or destroying you instantly for a wrong move. You have to stop and shoot to fire each shot but there is tons of action here so it's well worth going nuts over.
*Uncommon CV game
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 6
sound: 6
gameplay: 7

Find Frenzy on eBay here!


The Starsoldier Game of the Month!

90 FROGGER (Parker Brothers/Sega/Konami, 1983)
This is a great version of the road crossing, home searching arcade hit. It even has the cool classic music included and not even the Super Nintendo version has that bouncy soundtrack and if you don't like the music then the game lets you turn it off with a simple key press. Frogger is a must for any Colecovision owner and it even doesn't have that annoying Coleco load up screen either.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 5
sound: 7
gameplay: 6
Find Frogger on eBay here!

53 FROGGER II THREEEDEEP (Parker Brothers/Konami, 1984)

Here is the rare Frogger sequel and it tries a lot of interesting ideas that may not please fans of the popular original. First off all the action takes place across 3 different screens now but the goal is still the same where you have to guide a lone frog to the top of the screen to score points and try not to get killed. The game is still fun and the graphics are decent enough so you know what everything is but now the different enemies and objects feel too bunched together and it lacks the frantic action Frogger one had.
*Uncommon CV game
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 6
gameplay: 6

Find Frogger Threeedeep on eBay here!


75 GAMESTER81 The Video Game (2013)

*Homebrew game
If you don't know this guy Gamester81 is a Youtube user with a amazing game collection and has his own podcast with the All Gen Gamers. Anyway now he has his own video game after his Indigogo project was successfully funded and in this game you guide the backward cap wearing hero through three games: Monkey Madness, Invaders Rain, and Ghost Zone. Each games comes with great controls and excellent visuals across 4 difficulties but the scoring system is a bit weird especially with the Donkey Kong-esque platform game. Gamester81 is very playable and well worth tracking down for Coleco owners looking for something new.
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 7
gameplay: 6

Find Gamester81 the video game on eBay here!



86
GHOSTBLASTER (Daniel Beinvenu, 2009)
Here is a special Ghostbuster-esque game where you play as a dude named Ed that hunts evil ghosts from Utah. Surprisingly this game is actually an action platformer which is rare to see on the Colecovision here but it's definitely welcome. In the ten different stages Ed must collect all the gems and get the letters CCJVQ to unlock the exit to complete each level. It sounds simple enough but there are ghosts ready to stop you and they only get faster and tougher to zap the further you get in the game. The stages are well designed, the graphics are really impressive especially with the parallax scrolling, and the original Ghostbusters theme music just sounds awesome on the Coleco here. The jumping takes some getting use to but it's still one amazing game that I didn't know the CV could handle.
*Homebrew CV game
For 1 player only
graphics: 9
sound: 9
gameplay: 8
Find Ghostblaster on eBay here!

75 GORF (Coleco/Bally Midway, 1983)

Gorf may look like your average space shoot em up where you fight invading aliens but this game has several different scenarios to separate itself from the pack. For example; in one scene you get to shoot aliens in Space Invaders-like formations and then once that's done that you get to move on to stronger attackers with killer lasers and faster speeds. You can even try to shoot down a giant starcraft too. Gorf is either too fast or too slow in the game play department so you may not get that intense arcade experience found in other CV games.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 6
sound: 6
gameplay: 6

Find Gorf on eBay here!

73 GYRUSS (Parker Brothers/Konami, 1983)

Here is one of the rare space shoot em ups from the early 1980's that dared to go 3D and it works pretty well here. Just like the arcade original you soar across the solar system to shoot down tons of enemies while rotating 360 degrees. The action gets repetitive but it's cool to see the slight difficulty change with each planet and it's fun to see how far you can get with each play. Also the Bach background music is great here too.
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 7
gameplay: 6

Find Gyruss on eBay here!



70 JEEPERS CREEPERS (Daniel Beinvenu, 2007)

Here is another cool homebrew title from NewColeco over in Quebec. In this game your girlfriend has been captured by the creatures of the night so you have to shoot down mummies, ghosts, and even frankenstein's monsters to get her back. The game is a classic 2D shoot em up kind of like a Galaga or Space Invaders but there are multiple stages and your hero can take several hits as well. This game also has a few cool digital voice samples too which is pretty rare for a Coleco title.
*Homebrew CV game
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 7
gameplay: 5

Find Jeepers Creepers on eBay here!


65 LADY BUG (Universal, 1982)
Yeah, you can't get the real Pac Man for the Colecovision (unless you find a fan made cartridge) but at least you can get this bug based maze game instead. I don't like the many trap doors here and the action can get a little too quick at times but it's intense trying to survive so I can live with it.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 5
sound: 6
gameplay: 5

Find Lady Bug on eBay here!



22 LOOPING

So what's the point of this stupid and very choppy shooting game anyway? In the game here you control a plane with the ability to flip through the air but even the controls here are sluggish and overall just quite bad and that's never a good thing for a pure shooter game like this. Looping is definitely another black eye for Colecovision owners.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 2
sound: 2
gameplay: 2
Find Looping on eBay here!

67 MOUSE TRAP (Exidy, 1982)
This is one of the better versions of a Pac Man clone especially for the Coleco here. In this game you guide a hungry mouse through deadly corridors with menacing cats waiting to attack you. Your little mouse isn't helpless as you can open and close three coloured doors at will to escape the cats plus if you have any dog biscuit's then the mouse turns into a dog to chase the cats for a change and extra points. It's not as good as Pac Man because of the game play is too demanding but for many it's still the next best thing.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 5
sound: 5
gameplay: 7
Find Mouse Trap on eBay here!

68 MR. DO (Universal, 1983)
Remember this arcade game about a clown that collects cherries in dirt? Mr. Do is a little slow here but it's still a merely OK version of the arcade game where you help a clown collect cherries and shoot down enemies. You can shoot enemies with a unique ball attack but the more you use it the slower it returns to you so there's some strategy involved. One of the biggest problems with this translation is that the controls are quite stiff and the graphics are pretty choppy as well.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 4
sound: 4
gameplay: 5

Find Mr. Do on eBay here!

SECOND OPINION!
I thought Mr. Do was HORRIBLE on Colecovision. The music was WRONG, Mr. Do was WRONG, and they changed the rules of the game. "Get Ready Player 1?" What's that?
-Darryl 3/31/01


95
PAC MAN COLLECTION (Opcode/Namco, 2008)
Ohya, it's about time! The Homebrew specialists over at Opcode not only re-created the legendary arcade hit Pac Man but this collection even includes the mega popular Ms. Pac Man (there is even a code to unlock Pac Man Plus too by the way). All the pelet munching, ghost avoiding, maze action are amazingly faintful to the arcade originals and the cart even let you input credits just like a real arcade cabinet. Minus a little bit of flickers these games are nearly perfect.
*Homebrew CV game
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 9
sound: 9
gameplay: 10

Find Pac Man Collection on eBay here!

79 PEPPER II (Coleco, 1982)

I don't remember Pepper I but what the heck, let's review this anyway. In this game you move around a little dude around 4 different mazes in order to fill in the lines and each points or even power ups to stop your enemies on the board. Sure it sounds like a lot of other puzzle game out there and the presentation is nothing special but the action is quick and I like the freedom of going to the other levels as well. Pepper II is a pretty good sequel... I guess.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 5
sound: 5
gameplay: 7
Find Pepper II on eBay here!

77 POPEYE (Parker Brothers/Nintendo, 1982)

Alright, another arcade classic here! If you don't know this game you guide Popeye the sailor man himself through three different stages (the dock, city, and ship) trying to win the super skinny bean pole Olive Oil's love by collecting junk for her. Problem is that fat Brutus, eagles, and seahag are here to get in your way. The characters are all one single colour but they are recongizable at least plus the controls are precise too so go ahead and check this out especially if you are a fan of Donkey Kong-like games.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 7
sound: 8
gameplay: 7
Find Popeye on eBay here!


81
Q BERT (Parker Brothers, 1982)

Parker Brothers may no longer be in the video game business but they sure made some of the greatest games for the Colecovision, eh? Take Q Bert on the system for example; one of the best translations of this fun arcade classic. As this strange orange creature Q Bert you must hop around a blocky pyramid in order to change the colours on the panels while avoiding pesky enemies like hopping monsters and giant snakes. Simply change all the colours on the blocks and you finish the level but it definitely gets more tricky later into the game with panels that demand multiple jumps to get the right colour. Although it was disapointing that Q Bert didn't have eyes and there isn't any background music either, still the game is so simple enough for anyone to pick up and play plus the controls are perfect with the CV controller here. It's easy to get addicted to this one.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 6
sound: 5
gameplay: 3
Find Q Bert on eBay here!

76 Q BERT QUBES (Parker Brothers, 1984)
Whoa, anyone remember this Q*Bert sequel? Anyway in this game Q*Bert 2 ditches the giant pyramid design and now he must line up a row of perfectly placed cubes after jumping on the blocks to change their colours. Depending how you move each block, you can either score more points if you make more matches or take out certain enemies when they jump on turning cubes. The graphics are decent and it's cool to see Q*Bert have his eyes back too. The new game play takes a lot of getting used to but if you stick with the game gets very addictive just like the original and some may even like the more demanding game play here.
*Rare Colecovision game!
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 7
gameplay: 7

Find Q*Bert Qubes on eBay here!



84
ROOT BEER TAPPER (Coleco/Midway, 1983)

In this cool fast paced game you actually help a bartender serve up of glasses on Root Beer (it was just Beer when it was in some arcades and bars by the way) to your many tristy customers. Although the game may appear easy at first, you have to worry about collecting empty glasses and customers from reaching the end of the bar or they will throw you out there altogether. This is a tough but very original game with bonus levels and distractions like cheerleaders help break up the contrant drink tossing. Root Beer Tapper can be very addictive only after a few plays. I'll tell you when I had enough!
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 7
sound: 7
gameplay: 7
Find Tapper on eBay here!

51 SMURF Rescue in Gargamel's Castle (Wallace Berrie & Co., 1982)
Just has the name implies you play has a Smurf (a tiny human-like creature who is completely blue) on a rescue mission to find Smurfette (the girl Smurf). Smurf is a good looking game (for Colecovision standards anyways) with some colourful backgrounds but you basically just jump over obstacles, avoid stuff and repeat. That's it for game play here unfortunately and it wears thin after a few plays.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 6
sound: 5
gameplay: 3
Find Smurf on eBay here!

71 SPY HUNTER (Coleco/Midway, 1983)

The popular overhead driving game about a spy in a highly advance sports car (or boat) comes to the colecovision here too and surprisingly it isn't too bad. In the game you shoot down rival cars and motobikes with a unlimted round of machine gun bullets while cool Peter Gunn music plays in the background. You can even pick up bonus items like oil slicks and missiles to use against tougher enemies as well. Although the graphics are underwhelming, the game is still very playable.
For 1 player only
graphics: 5
sound: 7
gameplay: 7

Find Spy Hunter on eBay here!



70 SQUARES (Harvey DeKanaie 2007)

Now this is cool! Squares is a special Homebrew game I got here at a Canadian trade show for a few bucks and it works on any Colecovision. The idea is simple enough: in it you are a little white square that must avoid other Squares to survive in an enclosed room but the more points you earn the faster it gets plus these Squares increase in size too over time. There are temporary invincibility and hyper space options but the game is very light on options overall so don't except anything that pushes the machine here to it's limits. Squares still packs a challenge with 5 different difficulty however, and it's always fun trying to break that high score.
For 1 player only
graphics: 2
sound: 2
gameplay: 5
Find Squares on eBay here!

56 TIME PILOT (Konami, 1983)

If you don't know this arcade shoot em up you must travel to different time periods and blast away at anything in the sky to go to the next era. Think of it as a cool spin on the game Asteroids and you should get the idea. The Coleco edition isn't too bad here either but it isn't perfect. The graphics are decent enough and the controls are easy to use as well but the screen scrolling does get pretty choppy and it can hurt the eyes a bit. Still Time Pilot works.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 5
sound: 5
gameplay: 5
Find Time Pilot on eBay here!

67 VENTURE (Coleco/Exidy, 1982)
Venture is a fun overhead adventure game on the Colecovision but I wish the controls were better but half the blame goes to the flawed controllers. In it you play has the warrior Winky (yes, his name is Winky) and you're armed with a bow and arrow to fight against the many enemies that guard the plentiful treasures across three dangerous lands. Although the graphics and sounds are ugly, this is a fun game that's slightly superior to the Atari 2600 version.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 4
sound: 4
gameplay: 6
Find Venture on eBay here!


60 Yie Ar Kung Fu (Opcode/Konami, 2005)

Believe it or not but here is a one on one fighting game for the Colecovision. Based on the arcade game you control Lee; a talented martial artist looking to stop the evil Wu empire and save China. It won't be easy though because many of Wu's minions like to fight dirty and carry weapons like staffs, chains, and even throwing stars. Cheap! At least the game sports some decent visuals like all the detail on the fighters themselves and the background music fits this setting well too so Opcode did a great job porting this one over. My main issue with the game is the fighting controls don't feel too responsive on the Coleco pad here and I find myself doing the wrong move in the middle of a intense bout. Still battling it out with the computer or a friend (it's odd that they can only select the enemies) is pretty solid and the game predates Street Fighter so what did you expect.
*Homebrew game
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 6
sound: 7
gameplay: 7

Find Kung Fu on eBay here!

59 ZAXXON (Coleco/Sega, 1982)
The legendary 3/4 point shooter of skill and action is translated well on the Colecovision but it's not really arcade perfect because of the choppyness on the screen scrolling. If you are new to Zaxxon it's a isometric shoot em up where you control both the latitude and altitude to survive a dangerous group of enemies and locations. Although the sharp graphics were nice, I really didn't like how the game was a little too easy and so repetitive either. Shouldn't a good game should get progressively harder here?
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 5
sound: 3
gameplay: 6
Find Zaxxon on eBay here!

-All the reviews here are written by the StarSoldier unless noted.