NES AtoZ 79: Hook, Hoops, Hudson Hawk, Adventure Island & Hunt for Red October

Hook – 1/1
Sony Imagesoft | Platformer | 1992 |
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Hook is a side scrolling platform game based on the movie. There are two things I found puzzling in this game in my short time playing it. The first is why doesn’t your sword do anything? I am not exaggerating it doesn’t do anything! You can stab people from point blank range and all that happens is YOU get hit. What the fuck? The second is how you beat the levels!? There seems to be an ending, but how do you activate it? The cave level says to get food and something about Thud Butt… Is that the objective?
I suppose these things would become clear after playing the game for a while. Other than that confusion, the graphics are pretty good (other than aids-zombie Peter Pan), the animation is smooth and it has music. The controls aren’t terrible or anything and it seems to have a large overworld and a story. How can a kid complain?

Hoops – 1/1
Jaleco | Sports | 1989 |
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You know I hate sports games, but I didn’t hate this! In a strange twist you are just playing half-court basketball, like in White Men Can’t Jump! I never really understood why you would play half court if you had access to a full court… Saves space I guess but if there is no one else around isn’t it better? I guess it also saves some energy with less running around, but isn’t demonstrating extreme endurance part of the skill?
I really enjoyed the way this game started with the shoot out with a mechanic I haven’t ever seen. It has a arrow randomly shooting around and you need to time you shot perfectly to make it. I like this because it incorporates skill into your shooting. Usually in basketball games (NBA Jam) you just jump and release at the peak of your jump without much else.

Hudson Hawk – 1/1
Sony Imagesoft | Platformer | 1992 |
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Hudson’s Adventure Island – 1/1
Hudson Soft | Platformer | 1988 |
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The Hunt for Red October – 1/1
HiTech Expressions | SHMUP | 1991 |
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