SNES Game Review: F1 ROC II

 F1 Race of Champions II (Typically just labeled F1 ROC II) is a racing game from the 1990's on the SNES that features forms of open wheel racing and that is including Formula 1.  This game also has the F1 license at that time so when a player gets to Formula 1, they play against the drivers of that time (of which is likely from 1993.)  This is a lot better than Stunt Race FX, the game most previously rated by myself on this blog.  What works well? See below!

Positives

1. The F1 license does wonders for this game and is a huge boost to it for whenever the player makes it to F1.  You get to face off against the real players of Senna, Prost, etc. That adds instant credibility to this game.

2. The road to F1 that this game has for a career mode essentially is also a major step up, same with the progression on how you use your car to upgrade things.  I am doubly impressed with it overall.  That is something that sorely was needed in future games but they didn't do until the recent F1 games.

3. The graphics are pretty good in this game.  It isn't as sophisticated as F-Zero or Super Mario Kart but overall they are pretty decent.

4. The racing overall is competitive.  Going through career mode is a challenge yes, but that's what makes the game enjoyable overall.  

5. Frame rate is pretty good.  Again, doesn't top F-Zero or Super Mario Kart, but not many games will at all.

Negatives

1. The sound is nothing more than below average, which is quite a downer considering how lively the sounds of F1 cars were in the 90's.  

2. The turning is far too slick than it should be.  Multiple times just an easy corner is far too tough to navigate without slowing down and losing a lot of time.

3.  The game is a grind but it's honestly easy when at F1.  Maybe that is the games way of saying congrats but feels a bit too easy at the top level.

Recap/Rating

All ni all, F1 ROC II is a pretty above average game.  It won't shock you, it won't bore you.  It's a solid racing game.  It's cheap typically too so if you are looking for a decent game, then this is a good one for you overall.  I personally enjoyed the racing.  I thought if they tuned the sound and made the turning better, then this could have been a top 150 game.  I feel if they did that plus F1 tougher, then top 100 for the SNES.  On the face though, still a pretty okay game.  I would rate 6.8 out of 10.  Overall rank of 284th on the SNES all-time scale.

SNES Game Review: Stunt Race FX

 Stunt Race FX is a game with the new (at the time) FX Chip in the SNES.  The FX chip was also made for games like Star Fox and Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island.  This game.. yeah needless to say is not as good as those.  It is a racing game with a different set of courses.  However, it is quickly obvious what the game also lacks.  Here is my review of that game.

Positives:

1. This game does graphically look pretty well honestly.  This game honestly graphically with the FX chip does well here.  I was actually quite impressed

2. This is a pretty straight forward game.  Some you race on, some you do stunts.  It's a game that you instantly get the feel for and it is just a simplistic game overall.  

3. The trucks in this game are pretty neat.  There is a variance of them so you do get to choose over time.  However I do like the varied amount that the game does provide.

Negatives

1. The frame rate, even with the FX Chip, is just lackluster at best.  That was probably the one main downside to this game.  I couldn't really get into it as the frame rate to be honest at all.

2. The racing part due to the frame rate is honestly average at best.  There are many other good racing games out there (F-Zero, Super Mario Kart, F1 ROC to name a few) that honestly have better racing for the pure racing outlet. 

3. While yes straight forward, it isn't a game that really wows you.  With the FX chip, you would have wanted a game to wow you overall, but this game sorely didn't do that at all.  

Recap/Ranking

All in all, Stunt Race FX to me is nothing more than a below average racing game.  It's not a great game at all by any means even with the FX chip.  It's typically a cheap game so if you are looking for a cheap game or one to fill out the SNES library, by all means play it.  However, do note that you won't get too much out of it.  My rating would be a 5.1 out of 10 and around 400th or so at best on my rating list for SNES games.

Boomers Bring Frontier Fun to the Ballpark

 The Schaumburg Boomers are an independent league in the Frontier League that plays baseball in Boomer Stadium in Schaumburg, Illinois.  For reference, it's essentially west of Chicago and in some ways utilizes the Metra line.  For this game, this happened the week of Memorial Day in 2019.  This has been a while since I last blogged, but as I come back we focus on an independent league team with a stadium that is quite good.

 For Schaumburg's team, they have guys either with aspirations of going to the MLB or wanting to get paid for pro ball.  That is much of the same for any major team in the Frontier League.  Their stadium as I entered it seemed to look of that like a pretty decent minor league stadium.  The fan shop is before you enter the stadium which is overall alright and they offer some decent supplies for a minor league team as well.  Upon entering the stadium you see essentially the field right away as you make your way to the seat.  This is a stadium and team that makes use of the weekends and the area's love of baseball as they typically draw well for weekends and the late spring/summer holidays.  On this night it was still alright with attendance though a night that was more sparsely attended than typically on a weekend (this was a Monday I went.)  

This game was a pretty good game overall for the game of baseball.  It was a pretty good pitching duel most of the way and the seats, well there wasn't a bad one in the park really.  Even if you seat yourself on the hills in left or right field beyond the seating, it is a good seat to see the game.  You have a good seat regardless so you don't need to pay an incredible amount of money at all.  On top of that, you get to see literally decent baseball and the concessions are at a good price overall.  One thing I did like as well is that Schaumburg wasn't too pricey on the merchandise, the concessions or tickets.  They certainly knew what to expect out of the fan base and they did well to reasonably price it for not just the singular fan such as myself but a family of 4 to make sure they do not go broke at any point and overprice themselves.  Obviously with 2020, it is tough due to not playing baseball at the Frontier League level.

The last of the major points I want to bring is that their fan promotions are alright both pre-game and in-game.  They do try to tailor thing to the kids, in a way to bring kids to the ballpark.  One thing Schaumburg is know for is aerosol cans so they have an aerosol can race.  That's correct, an aerosol can race happens here.  It was honestly pretty cool to see this race happen and while I know Brewers fans may think it is more or less of a copycat, I know Schaumburg is tailoring to young fans with this sort of promotion.

All in all, I had a good time with the Schaumburg Boomers game.  It reminded me of my love of baseball much like Minor League teams and games do.  That is what it is all about and I am glad to have that experience.  I hope when 2021 comes around that Schaumburg can do their thing again and have a lot of good times with their fans.  They deserve it as does the Frontier League in general.

SNES Game Review: Super Mario World 2, Yoshi's Island

Super Mario World set the SNES world ablaze with selling about 40 bazillion copies back in the early 90's.  Three decades ago as we embark now on 2020, it was seen as a graphical, overall success.  I rated it as one of my top five games of all-time for the SNES, and probably would rate it in the top 20 of all-time games period, in a blog last year that I did for it.  Five years later, Nintendo decided it wanted to do a sequel.  That sequel is far, far different than what anyone imagined at the time.  Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island is a game that features Baby Mario (which if social media existed en masse like today, would compare to the Baby Yoda memes) and his trusty sidekick Yoshi.  Yoshi and his.. well Yoshi pals (eight different colors) protect Baby Mario from.. Baby Bowser.  Yeah, it's a bit of a wacky story.  Wacky story aside, this game is actually quite intriguing.  What's good about Yoshi's Island?  What's not so good?  It's all below right now!

Credit: Mobygames

Positives:

1. The Super FX Chip designed to make the game graphically amazing makes it graphically amazing.  The Super FX Chip was one of the newer designed at the height of the SNES fandom.  It was a chip designed to improve graphics, gameplay and make it feel a lot better to the player.  Yoshi's Island with this chip hits it out of the park.  While yes it is a SNES game, it is also a big step up from the 1990 Super Mario World.  Yes this game is still a side scroller, but the game is much more graphically enhanced thanks to the Super FX Chip.

2. Yoshi gets his game, and it is an amazing set up for him.  This is a game that you have to rely on Yoshi.  For a lot of people, they love this, as Yoshi is one of the most notable characters in the Mario brand today.  Not only does he get his game, he also brings with him the Yoshi's of Super Mario World and they team up to save Baby Mario.  It's a fun side-scrolling adventure game that makes this sequel very well worth it.

3. Nintendo went all out on the level design here and they succeeded easily.  From the first level to the last level, they were absolutely spot on with the graphical designs, the hidden treasures, hidden bonuses, checkpoints, just everything in a nut shell.  They tailored it to Yoshi's strengths and succeeded.  Whenever Baby Mario was needed they made it simple for the player to utilize Baby Mario as well.

4. I know I have said this with just about every Nintendo made game, but the music is just superb in this game.  Every level is amazing, every boss fight is amazing for music.  The map music is probably some of the most splendid music however.  It is a very upbeat, very uplifting motto to the game.  Also, you can make up some lyrics in your head like some on YouTube have done over the course of time.

5. Okay, I have to bring this one up as more comical but also brilliant.  Nintendo in a couple of the levels of this game make it where if Yoshi touches these fuzzy ball type things (think of it similar as those things kids blow that fly into the air in summer) that he gets completely whacked out.  Moving with Yoshi in this is actually really funny as you feel like he is in a psychedelic fit with the graphics moving all up and down.  It's something that makes you laugh and enjoy.

Touch Fuzzy, Get Dizzy. 

Neutrals:

1. Personally, I didn't mind that Yoshi turns into a submarine, a helicopter, a car, or anything else on his trip to save Baby Mario from Baby Bowser.  It was.. weird but something that I think was geared towards young children to have them enjoy the game personally rather than an adult.  An adult may look at it as a weird and what the heck situation.  Kids would definitely enjoy the game a lot more due to this.

2. Some people have 100 percented the game and others haven't.  I have seen runs where someone 100 percent completes this game. It seems fun but to me it really doesn't matter whether you do or don't.  The game itself is quite great without doing everything 100 percent.

Negatives:

1. Yes there are a couple of negatives to this game, but the main one has to be Baby Mario's.. incessant yelling if you lose him for even a second.  It is absolutely horrid to hear that scream.  If you don't believe me, go on YouTube, type in Baby Mario crying or Baby Mario yelling.. and listen for yourself in that regard.

2. I felt the controls to be a bit slick in this game.  I do get Yoshi is carrying Baby Mario, but I felt they would have been better if not as slick like in Super Mario World.  If Yoshi can stop on a dime with a 200lb or so Mario on his back, why not an infant that weighs probably 10 lbs?  That's something that felt weird to me throughout the game.

Analysis, Rating and Ranking:

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island is a pretty good game in terms of being a sequel to Super Mario World.  It is a very unconventional sequel to the predecessor for the Super Mario World franchise. It takes some aspects of Super Mario World and make a lot better the graphics, platforming and more.  The music is top notch by Nintendo as well.  The flaws are there definitely but it is more minimal than most games.  Overall this is a very fine game that got it's rightful place on the SNES Classic when that came out.
Rating/Ranking: In final rating, I would rate Yoshi's Island 9.1 out of 10, with an all-time SNES rating of 12th out of 721.

SNES Game Review: PGA Tour Golf

I already did a review of a true golf game on the SNES, Waialae Golf Club, and one that isn't a true golf game but is labeled as one in Kirby's Dream Course (both those will be at the bottom of this blog.)  Now I go into my third golf game in PGA Tour Golf.  The folks at EA Sports were starting to dabble into the SNES market with games such as John Madden Football and this was one of the starting games as well.  To say the SNES was not real great with true golf games is putting it nicely, as I rated Waialae very lowly and to be honest PGA Tour Golf isn't great either.  Of true golf games it is the best, but that's not saying much at all if we are to be honest.  However, there are a few things that EA did well on.

PGA Tour Golf Game Cover

Positives:

1. The three tap shot system is easy.  Literally, this is what every golf game on the SNES should have done.  It's beyond the easiest way to shoot on the SNES and later on the PS1.  EA did a good solid job with this.

2. The four courses to choose from are actually pretty graphically correct.  I know the graphics could be better going forward and they would after 1991 when this game was made but the hole locations and the golf courses were actually pretty accurate to their time.

3.  The tips from the pros on the game is a cool hint.  Obviously later versions are all known about Tiger Woods.  However, a lot of different professional golfers give their hints on every hole and therefore it is pretty neat that they start with this game with the different hints.

Negatives:

1. While the three tap shot system is good, if you are off on it in anyway you are going to be very inaccurate.  This game is not forgiving in the slightest in this regard.  I guess it takes from the actual game of golf where mis-hits are brutal for a golfer though so at least it is realistic.

2. The frame rate is better than most golf games, but it is still brutal.  The frame rate is so slow in this game and it is a shame because if the frame rate was better this game would be actually a lot better.

3. There are only four courses in this game so that is kind of a let down.  I guess in the later edition of PGA Tour 96, there are double the amount but the game not being as good hurts, so I guess this is more of a sacrifice for a better gaming experience.

Rating/Ranking:
After playing PGA Tour Golf, I came away thinking this is probably the best true golf game on the SNES, but also saying that golf was not a friendly sport for the SNES to gravitate towards.  The later consoles were much more premier for golf and a much better fit than the SNES.  There are some positive things to PGA Tour Golf, but plenty of negatives.  The simplistic hitting system is nice, same for the tips from the professionals.  However, the unforgiving nature of hitting and frame rate make this a real drag to have for a game.  Still, of true golf games it is the best albeit that doesn't say much.
Ranking: Out of 10, this game gets a 3.8, with an all-time rating of 502nd out of 721 SNES games.

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SNES Game Review: Tecmo Super Bowl

  This is the start of the Tecmo age on the SNES.  Tecmo Super Bowl, a game that was hugely popular on the NES (along with his trademark starter, Tecmo Bowl.)  The NES games were huge for the Tecmo brand, as there are tournaments held across the nation still to this day.  The Tecmo game crossed through three consoles, ending with the PS1 and their game there (which is actually better than Madden 97 on the PS1 in my opinion.)  Tecmo Super Bowl started the SNES trilogy, and it is honestly unfair to compare it to the other two because Tecmo really just brought themselves better and better off the first game anyway.  I can't do much of a comparison act between the other games because of that.  But what does Tecmo do well?  What did Tecmo not do well to start the trilogy?

Tecmo Super Bowl SNES cover.  Credit: Lukiegames

Positives:

1. Quick pace- This game is amazingly fast paced, something the game takes from the NES and is actually really good to the rest of the series.  All the games are quick to finish.  Typically about 25 minutes at maximum to finish with overtime.

2. The most realistic Tecmo game honestly in terms of being competitive.  The Packers are a team that typically goes to the Divisional round but typically not much further.  The dominant teams are San Francisco, Dallas and Buffalo, and typically those three teams plus either Houston, KC or someone else are in the championship game.  Typically the Super Bowl is SF/Buffalo or Dallas/Buffalo.  There could be a surprise team like Washington (who was a playoff team in 1992, but not 1993) but those were few and far between.

3.  The playbooks are simplistic but they can also be changed on offense and defense.  It just takes a couple of buttons to press and you are good.  So if you want the Flea Flicker play, you are able to insert it in just a couple simple ways.

4. The success Tecmo took from the NES directly applies to the SNES right away.  It's easy to grasp, it's quick paced, and it's a lot of fun.  It's pretty realistic for the time in terms of skill and team ability so you don't expect the Cardinals to be better than the Giants and Cowboys or the Buccaneers to be better than Minnesota in the Central division.

Negatives:

1. Why is Brett Favre so awful at this game, and why is Ken O'Brien so good for GB?  I found myself asking this a lot.  In 1992, Favre was raw but was actually decent.  I know 1993 he was very inconsistent, but Ken O'Brien is listed on the Packers roster and was actually better than Favre.  This is evident on the deep ball to Sterling Sharpe constantly.

2. I feel like this is the start of the wacky defensive flaws of Tecmo.  You really can't get a good feel for defense on the game.  Most times you hope to get it right and most times you are wrong and it gashes you for a insanely big gain or a TD.  There were times I just wished to hold a team to a field goal and go from there.

3. It's essentially a third version of an NES game, and I know some people will find that to be a negative.  To me, it's not a terrible negative but it's one that I can agree with given the fact I have at least played some of the two games on NES, it feels a lot more of the same, if only just a bit more polished.  This is something obviously the later games fix to make it feel a SNES game.

Reaction, Ratings:

To me, Tecmo Super Bowl for the SNES is a gateway from the NES to the next versions on the SNES.  This is a perfectly okay football game and SNES game.  Obviously the later Tecmo games are better but this was a good start to the trilogy on the SNES.  You should anticipate a quick paced game that you can grasp, at least offensively.  Defensively it poses a problem and different things make you adjust a lot but with the right set up, it may work out.  Overall, as far as football games go, it's in the top 10 but behind it's two sequels, Maddens 97 and 98, both QB Club games and Sterling Sharpe End to End.
Overall Rating, Ranking: Rating for this game is likely 6.4 out of 10.  For the overall ranking, it's probably.. 331st out of 721.  The sequels do a lot better in the future and this game starts that ascent.

SNES Game Review: Super Caesar's Palace

Super Caesar's Palace is the other casino video game on the SNES, with Vegas Stakes being the other one (I will tag that review at the bottom of the page of this review.)  While Vegas Stakes had some okay ideas, some fancy music, Super Caesar's Palace had some okay ideas as well.  Note, neither is a particularly fantastic game, more merely average at best.  How does Super Caesar's Palace rate?

Super Caesar's Palace Cover.  Credit: Gamespot

Positives:

1. More games than Vegas Stakes- This is more of a pure feel to a casino, with video slots, card games, slots, etc.  So the assortment of games is definitely there.

2. Real life process- You can move around to game to game, instead of just a screen saying "Slots, Roulette" and so on.  So that makes it pretty cool for a real life process of the game.

Negatives:

1. No music? Really?- Yeah when you are playing this game and you play any slots or roulette or whatever, there isn't any music.  And the music of the game as you walk around is pretty mundane to be honest.  There isn't much to say other than it would be better with any sort of upbeat music like Vegas Stakes. Therefore there isn't as much fun.

2. You just walk around- That's all you do to find a game.  It's just walking around and just walk up to the game.  You don't leave the casino, you don't really do much of anything.  There's no real storyline other than play one game, move on.  You don't do much.

Neutral:

1. Similarity to Vegas Stakes?: There are some, but not many.  Just the games really are the same, just a bit expanded.  There are some other similarities as like you can collect big rewards on the games.  You don't have the strange encounters like Vegas Stakes which is more of a neutral than positive or negative.

Analysis:
Super Caesar's Palace does have some upsides to Vegas Stakes but also some downsides.  It's also a game that really doesn't have that nostalgia feel to it like Vegas Stakes.  It's a decent game if you want a variety of casino games which is good.  But there isn't much to it.  You just pick game, play game, win or lose money.  I guess if you wanted the straight forward lifestyle of a casino-goer, that is that right?
Overall Rating: 5.3 out of 10
All-time Rating: 387th out of 721.

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