Recycled Gaming

This is an amazing find. Final Fantasy for the Nintendo NES complete in the box (CIB). All the maps, instruction manual, warranty card and even the little foam insert are inside the box.

Here is the front of the box:

Here is the back of the box:

I’ve owned the Final Fantasy game cartridge since I was a little kid, however I didn’t have the box and all the other goodies it originally came with… until now

My current copy of the game is in really nice shape, but the one inside this box is mint perfect. I’ve never seen a label so shiny before in a used game and I have some really clean games.

If you recall, Final Fantasy is listed in my Top 10 NES games. I really enjoy this game.

Granted, the graphics are nothing compared to modern RPG’s but Final Fantasy is the game that started it all and besides, I like the classics and if you’re reading this post, so do you.

I’ll post more pictures showing the maps, the minty fresh label, even the foam insert in the coming days.

I plan on doing a full review of the game, I just need to brush up on the game a little bit first.

This relentless vertical shooter is similar to 1943, but far more intense!

Your P-40 fighter plane has modest firepower initially, but is also equipped with bombs that can decimate large areas at a time.

The jungle and sea scenery are plain but attractive, and the music is absolutely terrific.

The action begins slowly but ramps up in a hurry, with enemy missiles approaching from land, air, and sea.

Shooting down a squad of eight red planes produces a power-up that incrementally increases your firepower.

Going after these power-ups is a risky proposition, and some might even call it “glory seeking”. Freedom!!

One good piece of advice is to avoid the corners at all costs!

Sky Shark is difficult but not insurmountable, and it keeps you coming back for repeated punishment.

The only thing lacking is a two-player simultaneous mode.

This morning I started searching eBay for a NES Power Glove instruction manual and came across this eBay auction:

Thats right folks. Up for auction is a NINTENDO POWER GLOVE with motion sensors and manuals. This glove is great for either hooking up your nes nintendo console, fighting bad guys, or just a great addition to any Fred Savage collection. A cosmic wonder starting at a mere 99 cents. Good luck with this one folks. The power is in your hands…. Does not include the super babe pictured above. Godspeed. Shipping is 10 bucks. Paypal only please!

What caught my eye was the line “Does not include the super babe pictured above.” Hehe.

Since eBay will eventually remove the images after the auction is over, I wanted to archive the “super babe” picture:

So there you go. The picture in all its glory. “I love the Power Glove super babe girl. She’s so bad”.

Doing a little poking around this users other eBay auctions, they are also selling a boxed Nintendo power set complete with Power Pad, manuals, posters, etc.

Unfortunately no super babe in the pictures, but have no fear, she’ll be immortalized forever on Recycled Gaming.

Last week I posted about the NES Power Glove and how I never owned one as a kid. Well that has all changed as of today:

I couldn’t get an answer on a firm price from my friend, so I started to poke around eBay, local thrift shops, etc.

After a little searching I was able to acquire the Power Glove complete with the sensor bars, however no manual for $10.00 USD.

I tested it out last night and it works pretty good… at least for an accessory that didn’t do a whole lot back in the day.

I’m not sure how much I’ll use my Power Glove now that I own one, but it’s a pretty cool show piece.

A little about the Power Glove:

The Power Glove (1989) is a controller accessory for the Nintendo Entertainment System designed by the team of Grant Goddard and Sam Davis for Abrams/Gentile Entertainment, made by Mattel in the United States and PAX in Japan.

Though it was an officially licensed product, Nintendo was not involved in the design or release of this accessory.

My next mission is to track down a instruction user manual for the Power Glove so I can figure out how to program it for different features and controls.

This one-man-army shooter is a total Commando (NES, 1986) knock-off, and it’s a damn good one!

This game kicks so much ass, they might as well call this Heavy Mother [expletive] Barrel.

You can team up with a friend as you attempt to infiltrate a series of well-fortified strongholds.

In addition to legions of troops, you’ll face tanks, helicopters, and a robot on rails with extendable claws.

Unlike most games, your default weapon is pretty effective, allowing you to shoot rapid-fire in any direction with good range. (more…)

The Nintendo Power Glove… this is one NES accessory that was never part of my collection as a kid, however a good friend of mine owns one.

I’ll have to see about taking it off his hands if he doesn’t want it anymore.

In the mean time, check out this clip from The Wizard (1989), starring Fred Savage:

This movie was a huge deal back in the day for promoting Nintendo as a brand and also the Super Nintendo (SNES).

I’m thinking this movie would be a good addition to my DVD collection. Time to check Amazon.com and eBay I suppose.

In an era that was enamored with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Tradewest’s Battletoads turned out to be a game with perfect timing.

This is an amazing find, Battletoads for the Nintendo Entertainment System, factory sealed on eBay:

Easily one of the best examples of how to rip-off a more popular license only to exceed the original inspiration in terms of quality, Battletoads is still considered by many to be one of the best side-scrolling beat ‘em up actioners of all time.

As not only were the graphics amazing and the challenges high, but the game had plenty of personality too.

Though it spawned a Game Boy port and three sequels for the NES and SNES systems, none of them ever approached mindless perfection as closely as this Rare-developed original.

If you want to shell (no pun intended) out $199.99 USD, you can own this beauty if you want to use the buy it now feature on the eBay auction.

It’s a little… well ok, REALLY pricey for me, so I’ll just stick to enjoying my unboxed version which is in mint condition:

All I need now is to track down an instruction manual for my copy and I’ll be happy.

And now to go play a quick game of Battletoads before calling it a night.

The NES edition of 1942 was pretty lame, but this sophisticated sequel improves upon its predecessor in every way.

Before each mission you’re allotted a certain number of points to configure your plane based on offensive power, defensive power, energy level, and special weapons.

1943’s graphics are noticeably improved, with clouds in the sky and a better variety of enemies on land and sea.

Several effective power-ups are also available, including a devastating five-way shot.

In addition to your normal cannon, you can fire an extra powerful shot, or unleash a “smart bomb” that obliterates every enemy on the screen.

The “evasive maneuver” is performed by pressing both buttons simultaneously.

Unlike 1942, taking a hit won’t instantly destroy you - it just drains your energy. Upon meeting your demise, a password is provided, along with an option to continue.

Do you remember that incessant beeping of 1942… doot doot beep beep. Gah! It makes me want to break the cartridge into pieces.

But there is hope because 1943 features some nice upbeat music without all that freaking beeping… and there was much rejoicing… yay!

A satisfying shooter with surprising depth, the game’s only real disappointment is the lack of a two-player mode.

If you own an NES then you should definitely have this game in your collection. You will not be disappointed.

You can usually find it on eBay for less then $8.00 USD or you might get lucky and find it for less at a garage sale or thrift store in your local area.

One of my favorite NES games is Mike Tyson’s Punch Out. I could play this game for hours at a time and I recently broke out my Nintendo Cartridge to kick some butt.

I’m still working on being able to record my own game play to post but for now check out this video of Little Mac giving Mike Tyson a good beat down complete with a TKO in round 1:

Not sure if you caught it but at the beginning of the video is the pass key so you can jump right to the round where you get to fight Mike Tyson:

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Little Mac is my hero… and now to go play more NES Punch Out because Mike Tyson is waiting for the challenge!!

The NES has a ton of classic games, and this list only covers my top 10 favorites, and in no particular order.

Whether or not you agree with this list is a different story! If there is a game you think should have made this list, let me know in the comments.

Megaman II

The second game in the popular series from Capcom, Megaman II had the coolest robots (Airman, Metalman and Quickman… later games had stranger robots like Pharoahman, Dustman and Topman) and the best music in the series (Bubbleman, Woodman and Dr. Wily stages). Megaman didn’t have Rush or the chargeable buster, but the simple gameplay made it worth it.

Contra

Contra’s fast-paced shoot-em-up gameplay makes it addictive. While Konami can have some hit and miss NES games, Contra was one of their better attempts. Best played with a friend, and of course don’t forget the code for 30 lives (which you can also use in Life Force)! (more…)