ToyWiz Blog

The Rocketeer is based on the 1991 Disney movie of the same name.

Nazis are trying to steal an experimental jet pack that will give them an edge in modern warfare for the purpose of world domination.

It is up to the hero to don the jet pack and the helmet to stop the Nazis and keep the world safe!

The Rocketeer is a side-scrolling, run-and-jump and sometimes fly game. About halfway through the first stage, the Rocketeer is able to scavenge jet fuel power-ups, in addition to health and ammo power-ups.

The fuel power-ups allow him to use his namesake power and fly for short distances.

The Rocketeer is one of the coolest ideas ever put on film, at least to me. The video game version of it is only an extension of a great idea!

Jeopardy! is a game which needs no introduction.

Enjoyed by decades, and linking generations, the premise of Jeopardy is pretty simple. Alex Trebek, the lovable Canadian fires answers at the three willing contestants, looking for the proper question.

Jeopardy! has been on the air since 1964. Originally hosted by Merv Griffin and presented in the daytime, the keys were eventually handed over to Alex Trebek and it is now a staple of the Afternoon to Prime Time Lineup.

Jeopardy is one of the few TV shows or movies that is extremely conducive to making a video game. Since Jeopardy consists of watching a screen give you clues anyway, this is just a natural progression of it. The main difference being that instead of just shouting out the answer at the TV, you can gain points for answering correctly.

The one wrinkle is that since the game was made in 1987, the questions that dealt with current events no longer are as easy as it was originally intended. Still a worthy buy for anyone interested.

The Untouchables is based on the 1987 film by Brian De Palma and works to correspond to the movie’s plot outline. In 1920s Chicago, Eliot Ness and his crew of law enforcement professionals are determined to bring down Al Capone and his boys.

The game features 7 levels of action named The Street, The Warehouse, The Bridge, The Alleys, The Train station, The Hostage, and The Rooftop.

If you want to get an idea of how the game plays, think of the recent Godfather game, but without all the fancy graphics and corporate tie-ins.

Let’s put it this way…if they can make a video game out of the movie Juno, then one for the Untouchables isn’t so far fetched.

Werewolf: The Last Warrior is the story of an evil leader and his gang of bio-engineered monsters has taken over the land and only one man stands in their way.

Only he’s not a man, he is a lycanthrope, a person able to transform into a terrible werewolf to let loose his anger.

This game brings to mind the series of very popular 1980’s movies, Teen Wolf. The first movie starred Michael J. Fox, while the second, which was a considerable drop-off in both plot and acting, starred one Jason Bateman.

You start the game in human form. The human can punch, jump, move and shoot a powered up shot which moves horizontally across the screen. By finding a red icon, the human is able to transform into a mighty werewolf creature.

However, if you accidentally grab a blue icon or lose too much energy, you will change you back into a mere human being. The werewolf form offers higher jumps, quicker speed, greater strength, a shockwave attack and the ability to climb walls.

Additionally the werewolf form has an anger meter that is augmented by collecting orbs. After 5 such orbs, the werewolf will transform yet again into a Super Werewolf with even greater strength, speed and partial invincibility.

There are 5 stages in all. Each stage has a boss who moves in a distinct pattern.

Although my favorite Wolf paraphernalia is both a wolf shirt and the song Werewolves of London, this makes a run for the title.

Word on the street is that people who are vegans enjoy playing Skate or Die.

Skate or Die was released in 1988 and can be thought of as a precursor to the Tony Hawk games.

Skate or Die incorporates five distinct styles of skating, which can be attempted individually or in turn. You skate around a menu room to choose which one to attempt.

Just like in Virtua Tennis, you must visit a shop before playing, in this case, Rodney’s skate shop, so you can buy equipment.

The first event is freestyle, in which your aim is to score as many points as possible in 10 attempts. Judges determine how much style and skill you have shown.

The High Jump uses the same equipment, only this time your task is to jump as high as possible at the end of the ramp.

The downhill events are overhead-view races. In the Downhill Race you simply try to complete the course within 90 seconds.

In the Downhill Jam you try to outperform a human or computer opponent whilst dodging or jumping hazards. You can use attacking moves to either remove hazards or knock your opponent over.

The pool joust is more of a one-on-one beat em up using a stick, set within a pit to skate around.

If you like Tony Hawk and his series of games, then give this one a try. If not, well give it a try anyway.

When Lee Trevino’s Fighting Golf came out in the late 1980’s, it was the best golf simulation available for the NES.

Despite it’s name, there was no fighting involved. In fact, the game is a straight-forward representation of what a golf game would actually be. That is, BORING!

The biggest challenges faced were Sand Traps, Water Hazards, Trees and the like. There were no bells and whistles like most of the sports games you will find today.

There are four characters to choose from, with one of them being a fictionalized version of Lee Trevino, in the game as “Super Mex.” Once the game is finished, you are shown a photo of the country club setting that the game has taken place in. That’s it.

An episode of The Simpsons spoofs “Lee Trevino’s Fighting Golf” when Marge buys “Lee Carvallo’s Putting Golf,” and gives it to a less than excited Bart for Christmas. I sometimes wonder if Lee Carvallo’s Putting Golf would have been more interesting than Lee Trevino’s Fighting Golf. One can only wonder.