NES reviews X to Z

Down and Dirty Reviews: Nes -- X - Z

I still own around 750 games for this old system and I'm still collecting em to this day. Remember that most Ljn games then to suck so don't spend too much on their titles while most Konami and Capcom titles are a safe bet but beware; there is a exception to every rule. I can only hope my reviews can help you pick out the right games if you are a collector too? Overall ratings on this page: 14 X: 4, Y: 5, Z: 5

The overall scores are out of 100.

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

Score / Name / Company / Release date
27 XENOPHOBE (Sunsoft/Midway, 1988)
If you just looked at the game's cover art you'll know that this is a title where you get to blast away at giant aliens in a space station just like several intense hollywood movies. It really fools ya into thinking it's a good game. The game immediately gets off to a bad start when your characters you get to select from are a mutant duck, a old professor, and some mental case. So which one should you choose? It doesn't matter they all play the same! It's cool that this is a split screen two player game but I doubt anyone will want to play this with you after seeing these dull and uninspired graphics here. I don't know what's worse: the crappy shades of gray in the boring corridors and lack of colour or the weak looking enemies. Wait, I know what's worse! The game has no background music and there are not too many sound effects either. Xenophobe is also hard to control with slow bullets and stiff movements of your character. Xenophobe in the dictionary means the fear of something different but being afraid to play this crappy action game is very understandable.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 2
sound: 1
gameplay: 3
Find Xenophone on eBay here!

Total Recall Dud of the Month!
45 XEVIOUS (Bandai/Namco, September 1988)
Xevious is a very simple arcade shooter where you can shoot enemies down from the sky and ground. In the game you pilot the Solvalou star ship in order to defend the people against an evil alien attack. The game not only has very basic graphics but it also comes with some super annoying music as well. The originally came out in 1981 so but this time it's seven years too late. This game was also a part of Nintendo's special 8-bit classic re-issue for the Gameboy Advance during 2004 season but when did this junk here become a classic?
For 1 player only
graphics: 4
sound: 1 ..............very annoying!
gameplay: 3
Find Xevious on eBay here!

78 XEXYZ (Hudson Soft, March 1989)
This very oddly named game kind of reminds me of Keith Courage in Alpha Zones for the Turbo Grafx-16 plus it even has some of the enemies that look very familiar. In fact I would say the game plays a lot better too thanks to the fast action and cool items to find in the different rooms here. XEXYZ has stages where you shoot down enemies on the ground and then you move to the air to finish off the level. This is a decent action/shooting game here and the only knock against it is that gets overly repetitive at times.
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 5
gameplay: 7
Find Xexyz on eBay here!

12 X MEN (Ljn, December, 1989)
X men, no X game! Popular comic book heroes Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, Colossus, and more are here and some of them even have their special powers intact but the game itself is so cheap they are no help at all. The bottomline is the first ever X men video game is not a very good one because of the very bland graphics, poor hit detection, and mediocre action.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 2
sound: 3
gameplay: 3
Find Xmen on eBay here!

57 YIE AR KUNG FU (Konami, not released here)
*Japanese
Although this game was released in North America in the arcades, the game wasn't released for the NES over here. The Japanese were lucky enough to get a translation of this weird but very innovative one on one fighter. Sure, it may look a little crude at times, this is a very good Street Fighter descended that comes packs with some very tough opponents.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 4
sound: 6
gameplay: 6
Find Yie Ar Kung Fu on eBay here!

52 YO! NOID (Capcom, December 1990)
It's the Noid from the Domino's Pizza ads from a while back and the dude is even in his own video game here. The only question is why? In the game you play as the yo yo throwing Noid creature on a mission to become the top Noid in New York. OK, don't expect anything too new here in this old action game thanks to the difficult platforming and lame pizza eating contests. It should keep the kids happy at least but that's it.
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 5
gameplay: 5
Find Yo Noid on eBay here!

18 YOSHI (Nintendo, June 1992)
This is puzzle action at its worst! Even though this game has Yoshi in the name: THIS IS NOT A PLATFORM GAME! Mario and Luigi have to shift around falling monsters to trap them in Yoshi's eggs so you always have to rely on a lot of random shells and luck to win. Hardly cutting edge in terms of graphics and music and the game itself isn't addictive at all for a puzzle game. With all of the game's broken elements, it's no wonder there was never a sequel to this. Stay far away from Yoshi!
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 2
sound: 2
gameplay: 2
Find Yoshi on eBay here!

67 YOSHI'S COOKIE (Nintendo/Bullet Proof Software, April 1993)
Mario and Yoshi from Super Mario World fame now try and match up different cookies in this fun Puzzle game here. Yoshi Cookie is far better than the earlier Yoshi because you have more control of the board and the graphics and sounds are also pretty good for a simple puzzle game at least. Sure, the game is a little repetitive but Yoshi's Cookie is worth tracking down.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 6
sound: 6
gameplay: 7
Find Yoshi's Cookie on eBay here!

68 YOUNG INDIANA JONES Chronicles (Lucas arts, 1992)
I never seen the TV show before but apparently I'm not the only one. Anyway in this decent action game you get to play as a younger Indiana Jones from movie fame and you get to fight around the world looking for treasure. You'll go from the badlands of Mexico to the war ravaged Germany in the early 1900's. The platforming is nothing you haven't seen before in other action games but to be fair the graphics and music are pretty good for NES game and it controls well too.
*Uncommon NES game
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 7
gameplay: 6
Find Young Indiana Jones on eBay here!

62 ZANAC (FCI/Compile, December 1988)
This is what the Guardian Legend would look like if it wasn't as good. It's a OK game really with a lot of on screen action and some cool weapons but there is nothing too special in the presentation. The game very fast paced but the background graphics are just lack luster and I wasn't a fan of the annoying soundtracks either. Zanac may have its problems but it was a good stepping stone for better games like Blazing Lazers and Space Mega Force.
For 1 player only
graphics: 5
sound: 4
gameplay: 7
Find Zanac on eBay here!

Total Recall Dud of the Month!
83 ZELDA II: The Adventures of Link (Nintendo, December 1988)
This second NES Zelda game features some newer RPG elements so you can now increase your magic, power, and defensive skills over the course of the game. The game is now it's an action side platformer much like a Super Mario or a Metroid and not an overhead adventure this time. The new look may turn some people away but it's still a lot of fun.
*Battery back up game
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 7
gameplay: 8
Find Zelda II on eBay here!

78 ZEN Intergalactic Ninja (Konami, 1992)
So in this game I get to play as a space ninja that's trying to save to the environment? Odd story, fun game! The game starts out in some awkward isometric perspective but once you master how to jump and attack in this view the game really starts to get intense and fun to play. There are even side scrolling levels so the game is constantly throwing something new in your face. The game isn't easy and the story is weird too but as long as I'm blowing up crap and beating up people I'm happy.
*Uncommon NES game
For 1 player only
graphics: 8
sound: 8
gameplay: 7
Find Zen on eBay here!

60 ZODA'S REVENGE (Nintendo, March 1994)
This is the rare Star Tropics II game here and the series has matured a little thanks to a better story line and sharper music. Still I wish there were more traditional Role Playing elements to go along with the game's rather basic overhead look but if you liked the first action game you'll like this one too. There is nothing really wrong with the game but I was expecting more from Nintendo. Fortunately, it looks like this average series died with this mediocre game here.
*Battery back up game
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 6
gameplay: 6
Find Zoda's Revenge on eBay here!

55 ZOMBIE NATION (Meldac, 1990)
This has to be one of the weirdest games I have ever played. Just listen to what you have to do in this odd title here. In this 2D shooter you control a flying head that shoots down zombies in the year 1999. The graphics are bizarre but they quite impressive for an NES title and the game plays fine but there isn't much here that gamers haven't played before as far as shooters go anyway plus the game can be kind of difficult as well. Still one of the best floating head zombie killing games I ever played.
*Rare NES game
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 5
gameplay: 5
Find Zombie Nation on eBay here!

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