My Top Favorite SNES Games

 

 

 

 

For anyone who has been following this blog (or my other RR actives) long enough, you know by now that my love for the original NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) runs strong, and deep. I've written a tribute to my childhood memories of the console (which I may revisit someday). I've also written pieces on my all-time Top Favorite games (many of which are NES), and my Top Favorite NES games specifically. The NES is unquestionably my favorite system of all time, it's what really made me a "gamer", and it will forever be the system I am most fond of, and nostalgic for. 

But honestly, while I had a Game Boy first, and love many games on that portable classic (which I'll likely write a Top Favorite list on someday as well), the Super Nintendo, or SNES, is my second favorite console of all time. My original experience with it was sadly fairly limited, as I didn't get a used hand-me-down SNES from a cousin until around Christmas 1995. I had been able to dabble and experience little bites of 16-bit glory, the handful of times I was given money and allowed to walk down (by MYSELF no less) to our local All The Best Video store, which had a game station where you could pay to play as many games as you wanted on their consoles for a certain amount of time (in my case usually only like a half an hour). But this was the first time I had unlimited access to a SNES of my own, so that I could fully immerse myself in that experience other kids had been having since 1991. I was still thrilled to FINALLY get one all my own, though by the time I had one, the Sega Saturn and Sony Playstation were already the new thing, and the Nintendo 64 was not far on the horizon. 

 

 

For many, this game WAS the SNES.

 

 

Where I had enjoyed several years growing up with the NES (which thankfully got new games through the end of 1994), for multiple reasons, I only wound up having my SNES for what amounted to probably less than two years. I was super late to the party to be playing games like Super Mario World, Mario Paint, and Sim City, which I believe were the three games my system came with. But I still enjoyed them a lot, even if I still loved my beloved Super Mario Bros. 3 more than SMB4 (World). The very first game I got "new" (as in new to me, retail from a store), was when at some point in early-ish 1996, I talked my mother into buying me Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest, from K-B Toys for $20. I loved that game too, as it was my first RPG experience outside of FF1 on NES, and games like Times of Lore and Sorcerian on PC DOS. 

I was blown away by other games I was late to the party for, such as Super Castlevania IV, Super Metroid, Super Ghouls n Ghosts, Super Mario Kart, and Donkey Kong Country. As well as games I rented (either by myself or with my friend Harold), such as Super Turrican 2, Chrono Trigger, and Super Mario RPG. I also borrowed what would become my fav. rpg of all time, Final Fantasy II (known as FFIV in Japan) from a friend. That experience alone was epic to me. At some point a different friend of mine also seemingly gave me several of his games, as I recall, which included something like Mortal Kombat, but also obscure games like D-Force and Hyper Zone. One of the GREATEST treasures I got during my SNES-owning period, was when I got a Super Game Boy, which allowed me to play my handful of Game Boy games on my TV, which blew me away, and allowed me to experience them "anew". 

 

 

One of my lesser SNES rentals.

 

Ultimately, my original SNES era came to an end, mostly by my own hand, as a bunch of shit was going down in my life around Summer 1997, and I was going through an odd teenage period where I was getting rid of various things. For whatever combination of reasons, I decided to give my SNES (along with all my games AND my Super Game Boy and GB games), to Harold's brother William (also a long-time friend of mine), who lived up in the boonies, and at that point only had an NES still. While William would take (mostly) good care of that SNES, and would eventually even give most of it (that he still had) back to me years later once he had gotten himself a Playstation, tragedy also struck around the same time. My beloved NES, which unlike my SNES and GB I was determined to hold onto, during a transitional period at age 15 where I didn't have a set place to stay, I made the unfortunate decision of having a friend hold on to my NES, games and accessories for me, only for awhile. But because he was also in a tight spot, the dumbass wound up pawning all my NES shit, probably just for enough to get a few meals. So a lot of my OG NES stuff, the love and pride of my pre-teen years, was gone.

But, that's enough about that. The POINT was, that my original teenage SNES experience was relatively short. But I experienced enough during that time, to already gain several favorites. And thanks to some cheap early 2000s game collecting (before prices got ridiculous later on), as well as the magick that is emulation, I discovered more favorites over time. And that's what we're really here to talk about, after all! So without further fanfare, here is a list of what I consider to be my Top Favorite SNES Games! 

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1 – Game: Final Fantasy II (IV), Publisher: Squaresoft, Originally Released: 1991

 

While there are several strong contenders, at the end of the day, there simply is not another Super Nintendo game that I am more fond of, or nostalgic over, than what I originally knew and experienced as "Final Fantasy II". Skipping over a needless explanation on 90s Squaresoft's silly North American naming practices, simply put, this game is a masterpiece. It was a launch window title for the Super NES, the first big RPG the system really got, and in my humble estimation, it started out with the greatest role playing video game ever crafted. 

I originally experienced several spoiler-laden hours of this game, one night when I spent the night at Harold's house. He had some other friends over, and one of them had brought FF2 with him, which he commenced playing, as stated, into the wee morning hours. I, being something of a young video game addict, and having thoroughly enjoyed my own experiences with FF1 on NES, naturally stayed up watching him play. I found myself very intrigued, and the game definitely left a lasting impression on me. But many months (and a couple moves later, don't ask) after I finally got my own SNES, I borrowed FF2 off an acquaintance, and for the first time got to sit down and really experience it for myself, from beginning to end. And let me tell you, even with those previous spoilers I had been privy to, it didn't dampen the experience one bit. In point of fact, my playthrough with FF2 stands out, to this day, as one of the greatest, most fun times I have ever had, playing a video game, in my entire life.

There was nothing (and is still nothing) I don't love about this game (except perhaps running out of arrows). The charming graphics, the amazing soundtrack, the excellent gameplay, the memorable characters, the epic story. This game, as far as I'm concerned, was and remains the gold standard of what a REALLY good RPG can and should be. It's also the gold standard, as far as I'm concerned, of the entire Final Fantasy franchise. It stands out, for one thing, as the only FF game that allows you to have a party of up to 5 characters at once (all others only allow 3 or 4), something I've always liked about it. Even with the wonky English translation (they were a bit pressed for time to get it out in NA), the game has some great dialogue for its time, and a great sense of humor. This was one of not only the first console RPGs, but games period, that really put a larger spotlight on characters and storyline. And it really is no coincidence that many of my top fav. games of all time, feature music that I absolutely love. FF2/4 is no different, as it has some of the very best music I've ever heard in a game.

Playing through this game, for me, at 14 years old, was a hell of ride. I was thoroughly invested in the story and characters. I actually enjoyed grinding to strengthen my party (in part because it wasn't AS mandatory as it was to do so in FF1). The boss battles were intense, especially considering I didn't have a strategy guide to help me out. Exploring the game world was fun, and seeing the different lands actually felt like an adventure. I can still remember the moment in the game, where the dwarves come up from underground, and the various nations band together to fight the Giant of Babil. That moment really had me hyped, as a young teen, and in a funny way, kinda filled me with this swell of positive vibes, like "Yeah! See? The world CAN come together!" All told, by the time I got to that second moon, and defeated the evil known as Zeromus, when I finally got to sit back, after pouring hours into the game, and watch the epic (and LONG) ending and credit roll, I was in heaven. I felt like I'd really achieved something, and it was one of the best gaming experiences (the entire game, not just the ending) I had (or still have) ever had.

It isn't hard, after saying all that, for you to perhaps surmise that this is one of my Top Favorite Games of All Time. And it's absolutely, to this day, my favorite RPG of all time. I could honestly write an entire piece just on this game, and it's likely that perhaps someday, I should. But for now, in the interest of space on this list, I'll stop gushing.

 

2 – Game: Super Metroid, Publisher: Nintendo, Originally Released: 1994

 

Another game that tops this list because it was a major, significant gaming experience to my young self. I don't actually quite remember how I got my hands on Super Metroid (also known as Metroid 3). It wasn't the type of game Harold would have probably owned, and I'm fairly certain that it wasn't one of my SNES rentals (though it could have been). So if it wasn't, then I guess I must've borrowed it from someone or other. But regardless of HOW I came to play it, I do know for a fact that I did have access to it, and managed to beat it. While Super Metroid wasn't AS epic an experience to play through as FF2 was for me, it was still epic in its own way. The name of the game in any proper Metroid, is exploration, and I certainly did that in spades. The game's graphics are some of the very best the SNES offered, and while I do not consider it a "rockin'" soundtrack that I'd sit and listen to on its own (thought that opening theme is amazing), the soundtrack for this game is fairly unique, in that it is perfect mood music, that is really kind of low-key, and totally helps "put you in that world", gets your head in the adventure, so to speak.

The game world features several big areas to explore, and once you acquire certain power upgrades, it gradually becomes something of an "open world". Super Metroid definitely has a story, and a fairly good one, though it's a much different beast than something like Final Fantasy. Whereas FF2 is story heavy, the storytelling in Super Metroid is a lot more subtle. The adventure unfolds and reveals itself through scenes like you see above, silent boss encounters or quiet moments first discovering some piece of ancient architecture, or opening a new area. My favorite area in the game, actually, being the "Ghost Ship", some alien crash-landing wreck, which has not only been sitting around rotting for who knows how long, but also happens to be somewhat "haunted". I always loved little touches like the harmless robots on the ship that somehow still work, or finding the skeleton of a former crew member. 

Overall, this is another game that I fully consider to be a masterpiece, and one of the greatest games ever crafted. In fact I personally consider it to be the best Metroid ever made. While the first (and second) Metroid games kicked the game-style off, and deserve that credit, Super Metroid also proved to be highly influential on specific future Castlevania games, and gave birth to what many now refer to as the "Metroidvania", exploration-heavy style of side-scrolling game. I had a blast playing through this the first time, when everything was new and surprising. Finding my way around the world, surviving perilous boss battles, and finally beating Mother Brain...then having to hurry the HELL up and get off the planet before it blows up (just like the first game). Then sitting back and enjoying a job well done, it also felt like an accomplishment. The sign of a really good game.

3 – Game: Actraiser, Publisher: Enix, Originally Released: 1990 ('91 in NA)

In my original Top Favorite Games piece, I do believe I ranked this behind another SNES game. But truthfully, when really thinking about it, and relating to the "epic experiences" I've talked about with the games above, Actraiser 100% belongs in the #3 spot on this list. For it too, in its own unique and special ways, was a major and significant gaming experience for me. This was another one that I'm certain I did not rent. I must've borrowed it from someone, because while I could be wrong, I don't quite recall actually owning it. Like I don't think it was another game that came with my cousin's system.

But regardless, Actraiser, published by Enix, and developed by a company called Quintet, was another early "launch window" game for the Super NES, coming out in late 1991. In truth, the SNES had some really strong titles in 1991, that already showed off a lot of what it could do, such as F-Zero, Pilotwings, Mario World, Sim City, Super R-Type, UN Squadron, Hyperzone, Final Fight, Final Fantasy II, Super Ghouls n Ghosts, and Super Castlevania IV. Actraiser was among those, and in this man's opinion stands out as one of the best games ever made, let alone ever released on the SNES. It boasts some of the prettiest sprite-work the system ever saw, and once again, one of the absolute finest soundtracks a game has ever had. The score, composed by Yuzo Koshiro, is epic as fuck, and alternates between the peaceful, serene world-building theme, and the striking, pounding epics that accompany the action stages. In fact there is an "Actraiser Symphonic Suite" out there, a recording of a live orchestra performing the game's music, also composed by Koshiro, which is gorgeous, and I highly recommend hunting it down.

And that really is what makes Actraiser stand out the most. It is about the only game I know of, that features such a disparate, but well-done combination of gameplay elements. As the godly character known as the "Master", you are determined to help a fledgling humanity survive and progress, in the face of violent opposition by the demon lord, Tanzra, and his armies. You do this, by playing a smoothly integrated mixture of side-scrolling action stages, destroying enemies with your sword and your magic, and top-down world building, where you help human civilization grow and evolve, while protecting them from both natural, and supernatural threats. The action and building segments of the game alternate, which flows pretty well, and one is not weighted against the other. Meaning that both types of gameplay actually PLAY very well, the dev. team gave both a good amount of polish. 

I had a really fun time playing through this the first time, and frankly, while I love the action stages, I would adore getting an entire game based just on the world building, but greatly expanded. In fact, while Quintet did make a sequel, Actraiser 2 is, frankly, a bit of a mess, and quite a disappointment. Mainly stemming from the fact that Enix nonsensically made them REMOVE the world-building (it also doesn't help that the new "gliding" mechanic sucks). As a personal aside, I also personally like that they altered the semi-Christian-ish themes this game originally featured in Japan. Personally, I think that some master demon named Tanzra, is much more interesting than literally fighting "Satan". But ALL that aside, it is fair to say I adore Actraiser 1. It is a masterpiece of a game, and one that I come back to every now and then. And I STILL always chill out to that peaceful, catchy-as-fuck building tune. 

 

 

 

 

4 – Game: Super Castlevania IV, Publisher: Konami, Originally Released: 1991

 

Yet ANOTHER game with an amazing soundtrack! It really cannot be understated that Super Castlevania IV, along with Actraiser, Final Fantasy 2/4 (and 3/6), Street Fighter II, and Mega Man 2, are all top candidates of mine for some of the very best game music ever created. What can I say? I love good chip-tunes! But this game is so much more than that. It is, I'm not afraid to claim, a near-flawless game, certainly for its series and genre. Konami  (back when they were actually good), really went the extra mile when making this. This is another early SNES game that really shows off what the console could do, whether it was with gorgeous graphics, great music, more/bigger levels, more complex gameplay, you name it. The NES Castlevania games, the Game Boy ones, Bloodlines on Genesis, Rondo on TG16, "Metroidvania" games like Symphony of the night on Playstation and Harmony of Dissonance on Game Boy Advance. They're all good. Some great, even. But this game, I feel, is the gold standard of the series.

It is certainly, I think fairly stated, THE best of the classic style Castlevania games. The addition of the flailing, multi-directional whipping, alone, was one addition that really added to and enriched the gameplay experience. The connected ability to use your whip to swing from certain ledges or hooks, also enriched the gameplay variety. In truth, story-wise, this game is actually more of a remake/retelling of the first Castlevania game, instead of a sequel. You once again play as the great Simon Belmont, making your way through treacherous countryside and haunted ruins, on your way to rid the world (temporarily), of the malignant evil of Count Dracula. But this game is epic in scope, quite lengthy actually, and also quite challenging (though not outright unfair, as Castlevania 3 at times can be). Though I will say, FUCK Slogra! If you know, you know, and I'll leave it at that.

Yet again, this is another game that was a major experience for me, playing through it for the first time, at some point likely in 1996, at the age of 14 or 15. This is another one that I would almost swear I borrowed from someone, yet I also know that I somehow kept it with me, and that it was even one of the titles I gave to William along with my SNES. So I suppose it may well have been another of the handful of games that were basically given to me, by the same guy who gave me Darius Twin etc. But even though I was years behind most other gamers in experiencing stuff that was amazing in 1991, I was still blown away when I reached parts like the glowing caverns, or the room with the gigantic candelabras, or the section with the almost dizzying, spinning background. The boss fights were epic, and as I've stated in previous pieces, I really don't know why I didn't rent ANY Castlevania on NES as a kid. As a major monster nut, this series with SO many creatures and fiends taken right out of mythology, movies and folklore, would have been right up my alley. As it was, CV4 was my first Castlevania experience, and I did in fact absolutely eat up all of the various ghouls and nasties, many of which I recognized what they were, or what they were from.

I am a bit conflicted, when it comes to ALL time Top Favorite games, whether this belongs in my Top 10, or something like Symphony of the Night or Harmony of Dissonance. I love both of those games, and I love the "Metroidvania" style in general. In fact both of those games are my favorite titles on their respective platforms. But, both because of nostalgia for it being my CV "first love", but also just because it is such a goddamn great game, I think ultimately, Super Castlevania IV still belongs in that company, over the others. 

 

5 – Game: Street Fighter II Turbo, Publisher: Capcom, Originally Released: 1993

 

Let me tell you a little story. In 1991, when the original version of Street Fighter II: The World Warrior hit arcades, and I first encountered it, likely at our local Pizza Hut, I was instantly mesmerized, and hooked. I spent the majority of my pre-teen years, absolutely obsessed with this game. And the funny thing is, unlike most of my childhood obsessions (dinosaurs, Godzilla, mythology, monster movies, Goosebumps books, video games in general. etc.), which were all fueled by me actually getting to experience and partake in said things? My SFII obsession was quite different. For me, SFII was the Holy Grail. It was my White Whale. In large part, specifically because I rarely EVER got to actually play the damn thing. My obsession and love for this game, was driven by my desire to actually be able to play it. And I don't mind telling you, while I was fascinated by all of the characters, being the monster kid I was, Blanka was my original favorite, because he was "the monster guy".

I loved this game so much, that I got an issue of Game Pro magazine, that featured move and combo strategies for every character. I read that thing back to front, and back again, trying to map out and simulate in my mind, what I was going to do with which character, the next time I DID actually get to play. This baby wasn't hard for me to find, even in the smaller town I grew up in, combined with my sheltered upbringing (thanks to an overprotective, often tyrannical grandmother). There were cabinets at Pizza Hut, at the local All the Best Video store, at the skating rink a town over that I got to go to for "home school skate" about once a month. There was even, and this is the only time I think I've seen this, a couple of arcade machines at our local Burger King, and once SFII rotated in, it stayed parked there. Hell, there were even SFII machines in other oddball places, like the 7/11. But the point is that I got to see it a fair bit, even by my sheltered standards. Which only fueled my fire more, and made me ravenous to actually play. I DID get some quarters now and again to play, but it was fleeting, and because I hadn't had ample practice, I of course wasn't good enough to last more than a couple fights. My grandmother at one point indicated that she would have to start saving up to get me a SNES, and I was delusional enough to dare dream that she would actually let me get SFII for it. It didn't matter, because it never wound up happening. I even heard at one point, and got my hopes up for nothing, that SFII was coming to the NES, which even if it would have maybe sucked, would have been about my only chance to own it. But it never actually did come out for NES. Hell, I would have settled for the crappy Game Boy port.

I loved this game so much, that it also got me interested in martial arts. I had not grown up being able to see much martial arts or fighting-based stuff on TV or in movies. It was basically SFII and Power Rangers for me. And SFII was not only my first exposure to "real martial arts", but it actually made me want to take Karate classes. In fact I wish I could have, as learning things as a child is usually much easier than trying to learn then as an adult. Naturally, even though it would have been good for me in just about every way imaginable, my grandmother denied my pleas to sign me up. She signed me up for everything else under the sun (at different points, Christian Youth groups, Camp Fire, 4-H, etc.), but not Karate, no sir. Because, and I quote, "fighting is bad". Never mind that the foundation you learn from a GOOD martial arts teacher, IS that "fighting is bad", and to avoid it if you can. 

All that said, I had to wait a good long while, to finally be able to REALLY experience and fully immerse myself in SFII. In fact, it was a similar tale to my SNES experiences, as by the time I moved towns, and got access to play SFII regularly, it was SUPER old hat. But I didn't care, because even though I was getting into other fighters by the mid-90s, like X-Men, Darkstalkers, Mortal Kombat, Tekken, and Killer Instinct, I still adored SFII. It was, and remains, my favorite fighter of all time. I like the original incarnation far better than "Super" SFII, or any sequels that came along later. It is, in my view, pretty much a perfect game, on par with the likes of Mega Man 2 or SMB3. The graphics, yet another fantastic soundtrack, a great cast of very memorable characters, SUPER tight gameplay that still holds up better than almost any other fighter, to this day. This was THE game, that innovated and ignited an entire new popular genre of video games. And in this man's opinion, none have ever surpassed it.

On a side note, I chose the "Turbo" edition which released for SNES in 1993, over the original game which released for SNES in 1992, because while I in some ways prefer the OG game, Turbo just has some nice "quality of life" touches, and the four playable boss characters to boot. 

 

6 – Game: Mystic Quest, Publisher: Squaresoft, Originally Released: 1992

 

This is a game I am going to rank based mostly on nostalgia. Not to say that it isn't a very good game, because in my estimation it absolutely is, far better in fact than many give it credit for. But, there are other RPGs I could list above it, because they are probably just generally better. But as I related early in this piece, this was the first "new" retail SNES game that I got, after getting the console. I didn't know what it was about, only that I had loved FF1 on NES, and enjoyed what I saw of FF2 on SNES, so I knew I liked the "Final Fantasy" brand, even though the back of the box clearly showed this was a bit different. But I also was quite taken by the excellent box art. A simple yet evocative image of a young warrior, standing on a hill, sword held high. I've just always thought that was a great, cool cover.

As for the game itself? Well, as stated, Mystic Quest was my first RPG experience outside of FF1, or something like Sorcerian (which I adored) on PC. This game, as the legend goes, was actually concocted by Square as a kind of "entry RPG", to help get younger gamers, or just Western gamers period, more into the genre. As such, it is a simpler game than the actual FF line, and many consider it to be fairly easy, or as some would claim, "too easy". But to me, it was just right, bearing in mind that I played and beat the tough-as-nails grind-fest that is FF1. The way the game pans out, you play the hero, Benjamin, and get a series of secondary support characters who join you in battle, that you can either control yourself, or let the game control for you. Tristam, the ninja dude, was always my favorite. The game is very straight forward and streamlined, as you basically go from spot to spot, clearing out monsters and collecting crystals. Not as much grinding, and very little map exploration. But what you get is still high quality, and pretty great.

All in all, Mystic Quest is hardly one of the BEST RPGs ever made, but then again, that's really subjective in a lot of ways. To me, it stands out as a game I had a lot of fun with, another great (if lesser than FF2) 16-bit gaming experience I had during this time. A game I played through, and beat, enjoyed the ending, and felt accomplished. And really, it probably IS an "easy" game compared to most RPGs, though I will always point out that it also does get fairly difficult later in, if it's your first time through and you've no idea what's coming. This game will always hold a much deserved spot in my heart, and I still need to go back and play all the way through it again, someday.

7 – Game: Knights of the Round, Publisher: Capcom, Originally Released: 1994

 

The Super Nintendo has a wealth of great beat em ups. But when I force myself to really consider which one is my TOP favorite, while there are about three top candidates, I think my #1 (or in this case #7 Top SNES game), has to go to Knights of the Round. An excellent port of an excellent Capcom arcade game, this one stands out to me for a few reasons. The top one being, that I've been a massive fan of Arthurian Legend/Lore since I was a child, spawning from Disney's classic The Sword in the Stone. The second biggest reason being, that while all three characters in this are great, Lancelot is fucking bad ass. 

Arthur and Percival are fantastic characters, and fit that mold of "All-Rounder" and "Power Guy". But ol' Lance is the "Light and Fast" one, and he is just cool and elegant as fuck. Plus he looks sweet in his upgraded gold armor. Which is one of many cool things about KotR, is that you gradually upgrade your characters as you go through the game, ala Double Dragon and Mighty Final Fight on NES. All around, Knights is very typical of Capcom beat em ups: great graphics, very solid gameplay, visceral hit detection/combo-ing, catchy soundtrack, good enemy variety, great (but sometimes cheap) boss fights, etc. This is a great game, and I highly recommend it. I'm not gonna claim it is THE best beat em up on the SNES, that's up for debate. But it IS the one I probably had the most fun with.

 

 

 

8 – Game: Mortal Kombat, Publisher: Acclaim , Originally Released: 1993

 

For a little bit of truncated story time, related to SFII, as stated, I was a MASSIVE Street Fighter junkie in the early 90s. When this game called Mortal Kombat came along, sporting "real graphics", copious amounts of blood, and *GASP* killer FATALITY finishing moves, that was really it for a lot of kids. I was decidedly a Street Fighter Kid, obviously, but I had to deal with this sudden swing, where other kids I'd run into at, say, the local Pizza Hut, were BIG into MK1, and would even go so far as to put down SFII for being "cartoony" (because it had colorful traditional sprite graphics), and because it didn't have enough blood. And NO finishing moves! Obviously meaning that Street Fighter was a baby game for babies, while Mortal KOMBAT was for cool kids. A similar rhetoric I had to deal with from obnoxious Sega Kids, who needlessly talked shit about Nintendo. And in both cases, as you might well imagine, it pissed me the FUCK off! So for awhile, I "hated" MK, just because of stupid kids shitting on something I loved. I changed my tune, eventually, when MK2 came out, because I was attracted to the more exotic Outworld setting, and expanded mythology in the storyline. By the time MK3 (and especially Ultimate) came out, I was a dedicated Mortal Kombat fan. BUT, I never stopped being a Street Fighter Kid.

That said, to tell the truth, my favorite MK game is probably Ultimate MK3/MK Trilogy, just because that is the one I played the most in the arcades, and I don't mind saying, got pretty good at. I like the setting, the aesthetic, and the combo system of MK3, and I probably put the most time into it. Although, MK2 does own a place in my heart, because again, the Outworld setting is really (appropriately) other-worldly, and oddly enough, MK2 is the most colorful looking of the three. In general, I prefer the first three, 2D digitized graphic MK games the best. They WERE the best, to me, and I fell out of the series when it went to 3D. 

As far as Super NES goes, while I really like MK2 on it (one of the best ports of it, actually), I'm actually more nostalgic for MK1 on SNES. Which is funny, because a lot of people to this day STILL talk about how they *GASP* turned the red blood clear-ish, to make it "sweat", and altered a couple of the Fatality moves, in a feeble attempt to tone done the cartoonishly violent nature of the game. And to many kids/people, the fact that the Sega Genesis version had a code to turn the blood back to red, OBVIOUSLY made it the "better" version. But here's the thing: not only is that flat out untrue, but the blood and gore were never what attracted me to MK in the first place. To me, it was the mythology, the story, the characters, and to a point, the gameplay. 

And frankly, outside of the lame attempts as censorship, the SNES port of MK1 is, I don't mind saying, reasonably superior to the Genesis one. In terms of graphical and sound quality, the button layout on the controller, tight controls, etc., the SNES one looks, sounds and plays pretty great. And the reason I'm including this over MK2 or 3, or in my Top Favorites at all, is because this is a game I likely got from the dude who gave me Hyperzone etc., and I played the hell out of it. I just had a lot of fun playing this game on SNES, especially with my boy Johnny Cage, and because of the warm feelings and good times, it belongs on the list.

9 – Game: Demon's Crest, Publisher: Capcom, Originally Released: 1994

 

Another memorable SNES rental of mine, this game, which SHOULD have been called "Gargoyle's Quest 3", is one of the system's true gems. It is a side-scrolling action/platformer game, and a spinoff of the Ghosts n Goblins series. In it, you play the GnG enemy Firebrand (known in the GnG games as "Red Arremer"), an "evil" but honorable demon. Like Gargoyle's Quest on Game Boy and Gargoyle's Quest 2 on NES, Firebrand is out to save his homeworld of the "Ghoul Realm", also low-key the same "Makai" otherworld from the Darkstalkers fighting games, from various threats. In this case, the titular "Demon's Crests", which the demons of Makai have been fighting over for centuries. A rival of Firebrand's, called Phalanx, steals his Crest, and is out trying to gather the others, to make himself ruler of the entire demon realm. So it is up to Firebrand to both get his shit back, but also save his world (once again).

This game is, straight up, one of the most graphically impressive on the console, with some gorgeous sprite-work, great colors, smooth animations, you name it. The soundtrack is also not too shabby, and the gameplay, while not Mega Man tight, is on par with the previous Gargoyle games. The game's main gimmick, is that as you collect the various Crests, you are able to transform into other forms, like an Earth form, a Water form, etc. that grant you different abilities. The game itself isn't terribly long, but it IS a very fun ride, and I don't mind saying, easily one of the best games on the console. 

10 – Game: Final Fantasy III (VI), Publisher: Squaresoft, Originally Released: 1994

 

This is a game that, while I love it, is making it higher onto the list than perhaps it should, based mostly on my very first memories playing it. This game has an odd connection for me, because it is the game I rented the day my grandmother passed away. For those who haven't been following my blogging adventures long-term, I was raised by my grandmother, who was quite a character, to say the least. She was capable of being really cool, and funny, and nice. There were definitely good times, and happy memories from my childhood. BUT, she had a LOT of problems, and honestly had no business raising a kid, even though in fairness to her, she tried her best. She had a horrible temper, and a lot of pent up/unresolved issues, which she would often take out on whoever was around. That was usually me. She also, for a variety of reasons, was both paranoid AND controlling, which made for a rather potent combo, when it came to living around her, and more specifically, UNDER her rule. She was, to put it mildly, rather tyrannical a lot of the time. Or could become so at the drop of a hat, and you never EVER knew what was going to set it off. The point being, there were arguably more bad times than good, growing up. 

The day she passed away, which I honestly can't remember the specific date, I feel it must've been some time in September, 1995, she had been put into Hospice finally (because of lung cancer from smoking), and my mother, who I now had to live with, was also in the hospital with pneumonia. So I was staying at my friend Harold's family's house, even though Harold himself was away visiting his father and brother William. Their mother took me to go see my mother in the hospital, even though she was oddly emotional, and I had a feeling something was going on. When we got there, several relatives were there, and I was informed my grandmother had died. They all looked at me, probably expecting me to cry, but honestly, I was just kinda numb to it, and sat down in a chair. It was a weird, awkward time, and when we finally left, Harold's mom agreed to rent me a game, I guess to take my mind off things. So the game I picked, quite awhile before I got to play FF2 myself actually, was FF3 (more appropriately known as Final Fantasy VI).

I must say, I didn't get SUPER far on this initial rental playthrough, but what I did play I enjoyed a lot. To many people, FF6 is "better" than FF4. In fact, it is probably the second most popular choice for favorite FF game, behind FF7. And I myself like it quite a lot. It is definitely in my Top 3 Final Fantasy games, behind FF2/4, and FF1 on NES (or better yet, the excellent FF1 port on Game Boy Advance). This is yet another game with a superb soundtrack, easily on par with my beloved FF4, with even more tracks, because the game itself is longer. And while FF4 was one of the first games to really focus on story more, FF6 was one of the first to really try presenting the story in a more "cinematic" way. The game has an excellent and diverse cast of characters, a suitably epic and compelling story, and a lot of cool things going on, gameplay-wise. In my heart, FF4 trumps it hard. But that doesn't mean I don't still consider FF6 to be one of the very best RPGs, and games, of all time.

 

 

 

11 – Game: TMNT IV: Turtles in Time, Publisher: Konami, Originally Released: 1992

 

I've probably related before, somewhere, that I did not grow up a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan. In large part because I wasn't allowed to watch it, like several other things, including pro wrestling. By the time I had my own little TV in my own room, the truth is, TMNT was still on TV, not ending until like 1996. I just never watched it, for whatever reasons. It was one of those things where I wasn't allowed to watch it as a kid, so I convinced myself that it must not be that good anyway, just so I wouldn't feel like I was missing out. BUT, I did always like the TMNT arcade game when I would encounter it. In fact, thanks to a quarter-heavy friend of Harold's once, I was able to take part in actually BEATING that original arcade masterpiece.

Turtles in Time, called TMNT IV on SNES (because there had been 3 on NES already), is also a really great beat em up. I do, and always will, like the original arcade game better, but Turtles in Time is seriously right up there. And this SNES port is excellent. It is one of the rare cases when I would say the SNES version is actually better than the arcade original, except of course for graphics, which are still great for how early this came out in the console's lifespan. And much like the NES port, it actually added a level and a boss or so. I must say, that Konami beat em ups were always lesser than Capcom ones, mainly because the hit detection was always looser. Capcom BEUs always felt, somehow, like you were actually beating the shit out of stuff, whereas Konami's you were just kinda hitting things. BUT, that said, this game rocks hard, and is a great co-op experience (like most beat em ups). 

12 – Game: Skyblazer, Publisher: Sony Imagesoft, Originally Released: 1994

 

This is a lesser known gem that actually wasn't a rental. I didn't actually experience this until Harold and I got more into emulation (and when his computer and internet speed would actually accommodate "finding" SNES roms). But when our earnest collecting started in the early 2000s, I eventually came to own it, and I'm putting it on the list, both because it is genuinely one of my favorite games on the console, but also because I just think it deserves a lot more recognition. It was made by the same development team behind Hook on SNES, which it shares certain design and gameplay elements with, to a point (like the jumping animation). But whereas Hook was OK, Skyblazer is bad ass! 

The basic gameplay is a side-scrolling action game, with basic punch and kick martial arts attacks, along with a cool wall-cling/jump feature similar to games like Ninja Gaiden or Mega Man X. Outside of that, you also gain various magical abilities, which you need to fill your magic bar to use. While the game's story is pretty generic "gotta save the sorceress" fare, the gameplay is very fun and responsive. The game also boasts some very pretty graphical aesthetics, like the layered clouds and rain seen above, and a very nice soundtrack. I would consider this a "Forgotten/Hidden Gem", and would highly recommend fans of 2D action games to check it out.

13 – Game: Super Bonk, Publisher: Hudson Soft, Originally Released: 1994

 

1994 was a very good year for video games, most especially on the Super NES. Super Metroid, Demon's Crest, FF3/6, Donkey Kong Country, Knights of the Round, Skyblazer and more all released that year, including this weird-ass little gem. My initial experience with Bonk came when I visited Harold's house, on 4th of July, 1995. It was a mixed bag of a day, because I technically had fun seeing (and playing a little), of this game for the first time on NES (the NES port of the TG16 game came out in 1993). But it was also the day that, while hanging out at a creek which had been converted into something of a public "pool", some dumb bitch shoved me while I was standing on the edge, and when I fell in, I cracked my big toenail open. It was painful, gross, and my toenail has been messed up because of it to this day. I even had to have a little toe-cast on, and subsequently limp around, for like a month afterwards.

But back to Bonk, I eventually got to try the OG Bonk games on the TurboGrafx 16 (via emulation). And one day, lo and behold, Harold and I discovered this little gem, at Toys R Us or somewhere, for pretty cheap. It is very much your classic, fun Bonk game. But it also takes the outright bizareness of the series into new stratospheres. The game is heavily based on Bonk 3 for the TG16, with the ability to grow to giant size via candies you eat. But I do believe it was Super Bonk that also added candies that shrink you to tiny size, to get into small spaces. The BEST part, however, are the weird forms you can take on with the power ups, like Crab Bonk when you get squished, and Chicken Bonk, and my favorite, Godzilla Bonk, which you can see above. The game is really just kind of batshit insane, with a weird variety of stages, like a Chinatown, a stage where everything is gigantic ala Honey I Shrunk the Kids, the inside of a Dinosaur (which is a Bonk staple), and even outer space! There's also a oddball and random "basketball" bonus game. In some ways this isn't a TOP Top Favorite of mine. But I also love it, and feel it is worthy of inclusion for just how unique it is.

14 – Game: Super Turrican 2, Publisher: Ocean Software, Originally Released: 1995

 

This was another rental that I thoroughly enjoyed, even if it got rather difficult as the game progressed. I had never played Turrican on anything else, so I was largely unfamiliar with the series. But when I rented this, I was blown away. It is the product of developer Factor 5, who were known for being wizards at squeezing the most out of hardware that they could (far more than most other studios, in fact). They would go on to make some pretty amazing Star Wars games for N64 and Gamecube, among other things. But as a later release in the SNES' life cycle, this game really was a sterling example of just how good a 16-bit game could be.

The graphics, as seen above, had some genuinely impressive and complex visuals going on. The game even boasted short little bits of essentially "Full Motion Video" cut scene sequences, which Harold and I both thought, for SNES, was amazing. The sound is also exceptional, with top notch sound effects, and a nice, brooding soundtrack. The gameplay is, at its core, a "run n gun" action game, which is what the Turrican series is all about, with a nice variety of different weapons you can use, along with bombs to clear out enemies. But this particular entry in the series also added a very "Bionic Commando" type element, in the form of a hook-shot you can use, to latch onto and reach high areas. Think Bionic Commando with better action, and you can also jump. I can't honestly remember if I beat this when I originally rented it, because it was damn hard. But I still had a blast with what I did manage to experience. 

 

 

 

15 – Game: Mario Paint, Publisher: Nintendo, Originally Released: 1992

 

In the interest of saving myself more time writing, and because this has already become a fairly meaty piece as it is, this is going to be my last entry, making it a "Top 15" list, I guess. I debated quite a bit as to what really belonged in some of these last spots, as many are deserving. But I've tried to stick to games that really stuck out to me, with a few exceptions, as real "Gaming Experiences" I had when I had this system "new", in my teens. There are many games that are arguably more deserving, because I like them more, or there's far more TO them,, to occupy this spot. For example, Illusion of Gaia, or Chrono Trigger, or Tiny Toons. But at the end of the day, this is making it as "Number 15", because it was one of the first SNES games I got with the system, one of the first I experienced, and spent a lot of time with.

This game, simply put, was an attempt by Nintendo to cash in on the popularity of the Windows program, "MS Paint". Hence why it's called Mario Paint. But you know what? I'm glad they did it, because it is a very fun and unique entry into the system's library. I myself spent many hours, trying to make bad pictures with that plastic mouse and mouse pad. I also spent a lot of time trying to make tunes with the limited music mode. AND I spent an undue amount of time playing that stupid Flyswatter mini-game! But looking back, while there are MANY other SNES games that I, in general, LIKE more than this, Mario Paint will always stick out in my memories, as a fun early 16-bit experience for me. It meant a lot to me, to finally (FINALLY) get a SNES, after being a poor kid and waiting what felt like forever. Finally getting one when the system was "Old News", passe. But not to me. To me, even though I should have held onto the damn thing longer, and even though NES will always be THE best, my SNES opened up a whole new world, a whole new level of gaming to me, that I had not (unlike so many of my peers), been able to experience growing from a pre-teen into my early teen years. And Mario Paint was part of that. So I'll always cherish the game, symbolically, for that. 

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There are, of course, MANY other SNES games I like. In fact some I outright love, and they really belonged in this Top 15, or if I had done a Top 20, or whatever. Some of these include:

Super Mario World

Kirby Super Star

Illusion of Gaia

Final Fantasy 5

Aladdin

Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster Busts Loose

Super Ghouls n Ghosts (I actually beat this as a teen, don't ask me how)

Donkey Kong Country 1

Donkey Kong Country 2

Super Smash TV

Chrono Trigger

Breath of Fire

Killer Instinct

Final Fight

Top Gear 2

Magic Sword

Captain Commando

Mortal Kombat 2

Sim City

Super Mario Kart

Zelda: A Link to the Past

Super Mario RPG

etc. etc. etc.

 

 

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So that's it's for now. I'll be back soon enough, but until then, Keep It Retro!

 

 

The Inner Beast 2: Werewolf Cinema of the 80s and 90s

 

I started the Retro Revelations blog, back in October of 2012. So it will soon be something of a Nine Year Anniversary for me. During that first month, both wanting to celebrate Halloween, and the whole writing blog articles thing being new to me, I churned out several different pieces. One of those initial articles was entitled “The Inner Beast: A History of Classic Werewolf Films”. That article, as the name implies, literally went over what I could find of the early history of werewolf cinema, from a bit of info on some (now mostly lost) silent era films, as well as getting into the better known “Golden Era” Hollywood films, such as Werewolf of London (1935), The Undying Monster (1942), and of course the most infamous, Lon Chaney Jr.’s starring role as The Wolf Man (1941), among others. I even touched upon some werewolf films of the 50s and 60s, including Hammer Horror’s own The Curse of the Werewolf (1961).

There were a handful of werewolf movies in the 1970s, but none that I feel were truly of great note. But the 1980s? That’s a whole different story. In the 80s, werewolf fiction became all the rage again, hitting with full force in 1981 most especially. In that year, in a span of fewer than 12 months, four major werewolf films released, a couple of which at least are now considered to be perennial classics of the genre. I’m here today to talk about some of the more notable werewolf films of the 1980s and 1990s. I will mainly be covering films that specifically focus on werewolves, and don’t merely feature one. And for the interests of space and redundancy, I also won’t be covering individual sequels. So without further adieu, let’s dive into it!

 

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Film: The Howling

Year: 1981 

 Director: Joe Dante

First up, on the trail of his cheeseball satire of Jaws, the Roger Corman produced Piranha (1978), but before the smash hit that truly launched his career in Gremlins (1984), Joe Dante helmed this, the first major mainstream werewolf thriller to come along in many years. An adaptation of a novel of the same name by author Gary Brandner, the story, at least at first, plays out more like a murder mystery. A television reporter, played by Dee Wallace of (later) E.T. and Cujo fame, is investigating a series of murders, and trying to get close to the killer by setting up a private meeting (like an idiot) at a local porn shop. During the encounter, she briefly sees the killer’s “true form”, that of a werewolf, though she and the audience naturally don’t get a good look. She screams, the police barge in and shoot him, and that’s that. Except that the reporter, Karen White, is now traumatized and amnesiac. She sees psychiatrist Dr. Waggner, played by Patrick Macnee of Avengers (60s TV show) fame, who recommends she go to a private retreat he runs to recover from her ordeal. And of course, everything gets crazier from there.

The film also stars a young Dennis Duggan, a fairly unknown actor who would go on to become a pretty successful comedy director, of such films as Problem Child (1990), Happy Gilmore (1996), Beverly Hills Ninja (1997), and Saving Silverman (2001). One way in which this film stands out from most werewolf fiction is that the werewolves within it, do not conform to the established “rule” of only transforming during full moons. Without spoiling the whole plot, it turns out that this “retreat” called “The Colony”, is, in fact, a colony of werewolves, of which the serial killer, Eddie Quist, had been a member. And as the heroes come to learn, these werewolves can apparently transform at will, day or night. In point of fact, that was the one outstanding thing about this film upon release, was that for its time, the werewolf effects, and in particular the transformation effects, were some of the best practical effects yet seen. As a movie, it works for the most part. It grabs your interest with the mystery of the main plot, and as most good horror films do, gradually ramps up the weird, creepy, and horrific, until the final climax.

It is not one of my personal favorites, as far as horror films or Joe Dante films go, though he is one of my favorite directors of all time. But it is a very well made film, for the most part, and if you like werewolf or murder mystery fare, it’s got everything you could want in that genre of film. The success of this movie also went on to spawn seven (yes seven) sequels or prequels, etc. Although none of them are really quite of the quality of Dante’s original.

Film: Wolfen

Year: 1981

Director: Michael Wadleigh

Another film based on a late 70s novel, this time written by Whitley Strieber, better known for his 1987 alien story “Communion”. This film also plays out like a murder mystery, though this time the main character trying to solve the case is a retired police officer named Dewey Wilson, played by veteran actor Albert Finney. This story, however, unfolds on the East Coast, vs. The Howling’s California setting, specifically, New York City. The basic plot is that Captain Wilson has been brought back to active duty to help solve a series of murders that is stumping local law enforcement. The investigation eventually leads Wilson to contact a militant Native American activist he once arrested, Eddie Holt, played by Edward James Olmos. Through Holt and other Natives, it is learned that the killings are being committed by “Wolfen”, which they regard as wolf spirits, who “only kill to protect their hunting ground.”

The film also features Diane Venora, Gregory Hines, and Dick O’Neill. One major thing of note is that this was apparently the director’s only fictional film, as he was more known as a cinematographer and director of documentaries, the most famous of which being Woodstock (1970).  For his only shot at a fictional film, let alone a supernatural horror story, it’s actually pretty impressive. As far as the film itself goes, unlike perhaps any of the others on this list, the story actually plays out more like a gritty crime drama with supernatural elements. And the “werewolves” in question, are either literally spirits, or they are more like how werewolves were depicted in the earliest werewolf movies, as humans who could transform fully into wolves, instead of the more transitory “Wolf Man” hybrid-like state. Either way, it deserves recognition for being a very unique entry in the genre.

Film: An American Werewolf in London

Year: 1981   

Director: John Landis

Now we come to both the first at least semi-comedic entry on this list, as well as being the first to not be based on a book. Written and Directed by John Landis, a longtime friend of Joe Dante, this is not only most likely the most well known of the films on the list, but it’s also arguably the weirdest. This movie also had the benefit of having veteran special effects man Rick Baker in charge of the (again for the time) rather lavish and complicated practical effects, which actually won multiple awards. As far as John Landis goes, he’s definitely known more as a comedy director, not the least of which were the two prior films of his that had already established him as a big name in the business: Animal House (1978) and The Blues Brothers (1980). He would mostly stick to comedy again after this, though he did take a stab at it (pun intended) with 1992’s vampire flick Innocent Blood. But while you could argue that this is more of a “dark comedy”, Landis’ first foray into the horror genre must have been pretty good for its time, as it’s still one of the most iconic and remembered werewolf films, even today.

The plot sees friends David Kessler and Jack Goodman (played by David Naughton and Griffin Dunne) traveling to England on a backpacking trip. While walking across the Yorkshire moors at night (against the advice of somewhat hostile locals), they accidentally wander off the road and are attacked by a huge wolf-life beast, and Jack winds up dead. David is taken to a hospital in London, and from there things only get stranger. One of the signature things people remember about this film, is the very disturbing and surreal visions and dreams of the dead that the character David keeps on having. For one thing, he keeps seeing his friend Jack’s ghost, who informs him he is now a werewolf, and is something of a gruesome comedy relief. As he transforms and kills local Londoners, their ghosts also appear to him, urging him that he must kill himself before he transforms again. But perhaps the weirdest, most disturbing, and most memorable scene from the entire film is the so-called “Mutant Nazi Nightmare” scene, where he dreams that he is back home in America with his family, only to have grotesque undead Nazis break into their house and slaughter his family while he watches. A very random scene, arguably out of place, but it fits with both Landis’ style and the odd tone of the film in general.

Film: Full Moon High

Year: 1981 

Director: Larry Cohen

The fourth, certainly silliest, and probably most obscure of the “Big 4” 1981 werewolf films, is Full Moon High. Directed by Larry Cohen, previously known for both exploitation films like Black Caesar, and horror films like It’s Alive!, this was his first real attempt at a pure comedy film. In fact, it’s an outright goofy film, which is a welcome departure from the typical sombre mood of werewolf stories. It is in part a send-up to the 1957 film I Was a Teenage Werewolf, itself a more serious and for its time somewhat groundbreaking work. But it also, ironically, shares a lot of similarities with the later mid-80s hit film Teen Wolf. Both feature a boy who becomes a werewolf but tries to live a normal life in spite of that, and both have a focus of a werewolf trying to make it on his local high school sports team, though in this case, the main character Tony Walker, is trying to play football. 

Both are comedy films, even farcical ones, but I’d have to say Full Moon High has a more blatantly silly tone. The werewolf of this story is portrayed as being more of a “town nuisance” than a dangerous threat, even going so far as having a gag where he keeps biting people on the ass, instead of killing them. Though the film also provides some more subtle social commentary on how America had changed since the 1960s when Tony had become an “ageless” werewolf, and the 80s, where all of his friends have also grown up and changed.

One thing to note about this movie is that it features both the main star, Adam Arkin (Tony), as well as his brother and famous actor/director father, Anthony Arkin and Alan Arkin. The movie also stars comedian Ed McMahon, most well known for his long stint on the The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. It also has appearances by Pat Morita, Elizabeth Hartman, Kenneth Mars, Desmond Wilson, and a young Bob Saget.

Film: The Company of Wolves

Year: 1984 

Director: Neil Jordan

Perhaps the most obscure movie on this list, this is more of a “Gothic Fantasy” from the UK, by director Neil Jordan, who would a decade later go on to direct his biggest hit, Interview With a Vampire (1994). The film is unique for its very odd narrative structure, which sees a young girl from the modern day, dreaming that she lives in a “fairytale forest” of earlier centuries. In fact, her character Rosaleen is basically “Little Red Riding Hood”, complete with red cloak, and a granny who lives in the forest. During the course of the film, which is already established as a dream, there are several “anthology” style shorter stories told, from one character in the film to another, all of them dealing with wolves or werewolves. While the main framing tale is a direct analog to “Little Red Riding Hood”, the overall story winds up being something of a “cautionary tale”, albeit a bit of a contrived one. Not a great movie, but a decent one, notable for being a British entry into the genre, and more a fairytale take on werewolves, instead of straight horror.

The film stars Angela Lansbury as the girl’s grandmother, as well as David Warner and Terrance Stamp, among others.

Film: Teen Wolf

Year: 1985 

Director: Rod Daniel

1985 was arguably the year of Michael J. Fox. He was not only starring in the hit television comedy Family Ties, but he had two films that took the box office by storm that year as well: Back to the Future and Teen Wolf. Both films were comedic and unique twists on other genres (science fiction and horror), and both films were definitely high school-centric, coming of age stories. And both just so happened to also turn out being a couple of THE most quintessentially “80s” films of the decade.

The film Teen Wolf itself, is a story, much like Full Moon High, about a boy who becomes a werewolf, but tries to cope and continue having as “normal” a high school existence as possible. In this particular case, Fox plays the character Scott Howard, a kid who is tired of being bland and “average”, in his life, on his high school basketball team, with the girls, etc. Things most teenage boys could probably relate to on some level, making the story very relatable. But the Howard family has a secret: the condition known as “Lycanthropy”, or werewolfism, runs back into their history, but sometimes it skips a generation. Meaning that Scott’s father Harold (played by James Hampton), is also a werewolf. Scott tries to live his regular life, dealing with normal teenage things, like trying to make it on the basketball team, trying to impress a girl, and trying to fit in. But because of his werewolfism, he also does things like, say, accidentally claw a girl he’s making out with, or using his now super-sense of smell to help his friend find pot. Because why not? While far from a horror film, it’s still a dumb, fun 80s movie, and watching it, it’s easy to see why Fox became such a likable star.

The movie was a big box office success, in fact the biggest of director Rod Daniel’s career, along with Beethoven’s 2nd (1993). It was written by Jeph Loeb, who went on to become a well-known television and comic book writer, among his works are runs on Superman, Captain America, and Cable. There would be one loosely related sequel, titled Teen Wolf Too (1987), which follows Scott’s cousin Todd Howard.

Film: Silver Bullet

Year: 1985 

Director: Dan Attias

Also released in 1985, Silver Bullet has a couple of major distinctions that set it apart. The first of which being, that it is one of the only films, let alone horror films, that features a physically disabled central hero. And the other, of course, being that it’s the only one based on a story written by the “Master of Horror” himself, author Stephen King.

An adaptation of the novella “Cycle of the Werewolf”, the story is set in the small town of Tarker’s Mills, Maine. Marty Coslaw (played by Corey Haim) is a paraplegic 10-year old, who still tries to live a fairly normal life, in spite of his malady. His family consists of his older sister Jane, father Bob and mother Nan, as well as his “black sheep” uncle, Red (played by Gary Busey).  A series of murders rock the town, occurring over several months, but they are all either explained away as accidental deaths, or left unexplained. Eventually, when Marty’s best friend becomes the latest victim, not only do the town’s people form a vigilante force to go out and “hunt the killer”, but Marty himself becomes determined to solve it once and for all, for his friend. His Uncle Red gives him a custom built wheelchair/motorcycle, called the “Silver Bullet”, which he rides around town on his quest. Marty eventually discovers that it is the town’s religious leader, Reverend Lowe (played by Everette McGill), who is not only the (somewhat reluctant/remorseful) killer, but is of course a werewolf. He and his sister Jane become determined to fight the werewolf and enlist their uncle’s aid in doing so.

While the movie apparently differs in some key ways from the novella, it’s still classic King, probably one of the better King story adaptations. It can be rather dark and gruesome (again, King), but it also has a lot of heart, and there is a really nice relationship displayed between the siblings, and with their Uncle Red. I would definitely say it’s one of the strongest werewolf films out there. In fact I would say it's my favorite on the list, as far as straight werewolf movies go. Though my TOP favorite on the list, is the following entry...

Film: The Monster Squad

Year: 1987 

Director: Fred Dekker

The one film that I will break my rule for, I am including this in the list purely on the basis that it happens to feature one of the better werewolves ever committed to film. Written and Directed by Fred Dekker, who previously wrote the story for House (1986), and directed the cult classic Night of the Creeps (1986), the film is a love letter to the classic Universal monsters of the 1930s-50s. It was also co-written by Shane Black, a good friend of Dekker’s, who would have a solid career as a writer in Hollywood, before finally becoming a director himself, with his big hit thus far being Iron Man 3 (2013). In fact, Dekker and Black again collaborated on the film The Predator (2018), which represents the first feature film Dekker has worked on since 1993 (sadly, as he’s a great talent).

But as for the movie itself, if you’re unfamiliar, it has been described as “The Goonies with Monsters”, which is not an unfair or inaccurate statement. I would say Monster Squad has a bit more “attitude” (though I love The Goonies), but it really is its own unique entity as well. I’ve never seen another film quite like it, and it is another one of those movies that are, in part, so great specifically because it is totally a product of its decade. All of the monsters, Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, The Creature (From the Black Lagoon), The Mummy and The Wolf Man, all get 80s updates, and the designs for each actually exceptionally good. 

They definitely spent money and care for detail. And the werewolf is no exception, as it definitely pays homage to the classic Chaney look for the monster, but it also manages to look a bit more organic and lupine. Still not “perfect”, but for a lower budget 80s movie, it’s pretty damn good. Actor Jonathan Gries also does an excellent, and very sympathetic portrayal of the human version of the Wolf Man, probably the most compelling of the bunch, outside of good ol’ Frankenstein. If you love monsters, love the 80s, and love good movies, and have never seen The Monster Squad, please do yourself a favor and see it. You’ll thank me.

Film: My Mom’s a Werewolf

Year: 1989 

Director: Michael Fischer

Possibly the most obscure film on this list, next to The Company of Wolves, this is a very “80s” movie, very much in the same mold as something like Teen Witch (1989). For all I know they might have both been part of a late 80s trend to have supernatural comedies with a focus on teen female characters. But I will say, while this one isn’t a great movie by any means, it’s definitely better than Teen Witch.

The basic premise, and what makes this film stand out and worth including, is that, as the title suggests, it’s about an “everyday housewife” who becomes a werewolf. Played by Susan Blakely, said mom Leslie Shaber is your typical put upon housewife, whose well-meaning but oblivious husband doesn’t pay her enough attention, her teen daughter sasses her, etc. Fed up, she goes shopping (what else?), and remembering their dog needs a flea collar, she drops into a downtown pet store to get one. While there, she meets the curious shop owner, Harry Thropen (played by John Saxon of Enter the Dragon fame), who seems to have a hypnotic gaze, and she becomes fascinated with him. 

Through a series of events, he eventually uses his “mysterious gaze” to seduce her, basically making out with her in a public restaurant, all while her teenage daughter, who was coming to find her, sees the whole thing. The daughter Jennifer decides to try and follow her mom around town to see what’s really going on, and they wind up back at the pet shop, where ol’ Harry tries to get mom into bed. Just barely failing because of biting her toe (yes really), Leslie slips away back home, but the dastardly home-wrecking werewolf remains determined. Meanwhile, ol’ mom starts showing signs of becoming a werewolf herself, like growing apparently unbreakable fangs and displaying a more aggressive attitude, which her husband Howard (played by character actor John Schuck), finds out in bed later that night.

The film is full of dumb moments and silly hijinks galore, as the mom starts growing fur all over her body etc. The daughter Jennifer is obviously kind of meant to be the main character, palling around with her horror-obsessed best friend Stacey. They even track down the stereotypical gypsy woman (played by comedienne Ruth Buzzi), to discover what to do about their mom (even though she comically gives the wrong advice). John Saxon, good actor that he usually is, turns in a pretty solid performance as the creepy wife-stealing pervert werewolf, and while the movie contains plenty of face-palm worthy moments, it’s also not a horrible way to spend an hour and a half of your life.

Film: Wolf

Year: 1994 

Director: Mike Nichols

I remember seeing commercials for this film when I was a kid, thinking that Jack Nicholson (who I was not all that familiar with at the time), certainly seemed pretty scary. Which is a pretty fair assessment. I also was not familiar with werewolves all that much as a kid, as mysteriously it was one genre that my grandmother never really let me watch (the same with vampire, Frankenstein or mummy films). I didn’t actually wind up seeing this movie until a few years later, in my teens, and while I didn’t love it (nor did it scare me much by that time), it’s still pretty solid for what it is. Which is basically a big budget, “mainstream” Wolf Man attempt.

Directed by Mike Nichols, who was previously known for such films as The Graduate (1967) and Catch-22 (1970), this film is more of a drama with horror flavoring than a straight up horror movie. Jack Nicholson (who let’s be honest, is a pretty perfect choice for “crazed werewolf”), plays Will Randall, an editor-in-chief of a big publishing house, plenty of money, big house, hot wife, the “whole nine yards” as they say. One day while driving home, he gets bitten by a wolf, and his life just kind of spirals from there. He loses his position, getting demoted in the process, to rival Stewart Swinton (played by James Spader), who it turns out not only connived behind the scenes for Will’s job, but he’s also having an affair with Will’s wife Charlotte. He tries to move on with his life, getting with the bosses daughter Laura instead (played by Michelle Pfeiffer), but things continue to go awry, as it turns out that maybe Will turned that asshole Stewart into a werewolf also.

Overall, it’s a well-made film, but it’s really not all that much of a horror story. It focuses a lot more on the bestial nature and senses that the werewolf gains, and otherwise is kind of just a rich guy drama story, with supernatural trappings. One thing I will say is that for the (at the time) rather huge budget, the werewolf makeup and effects aren’t all that impressive. I understand that they had one of the top actors in Hollywood as the star and maybe didn’t want to cover up his face all that much. But still, that’s shallow Hollywood reasoning at best. For most of the film, it’s basically just Jack Nicholson with a bit more hair, some claws, some fangs, and yellow eyes. It’s a solid film, but I wouldn’t say it’s essential viewing unless you’re a big fan of Nicholson or Pfeiffer.

Film: Werewolf (aka Arizona Werewolf)

Year: 1996 

Director: Tony Zarrindast

Being best known for getting lampooned on an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000, is probably not the best distinction a movie could have. But hell, it worked pretty well for Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966), right? There really isn’t a ton to say about this one, but I felt I should include it just for its infamous badness. I am not one of those who really subscribes to the “so bad it’s good” philosophy, but regardless, this movie is just bad. The only thing that actually makes it bearable to view, is the hilarious ribbing it gets by the MST3K guys. So if you’ve never seen it, and want to, PLEASE watch that version.

This movie was surprise surprise, a very low budget, direct-to-video affair. And like most such films, it’s just really kind of a mess, from start to finish. Set in the Arizona desert, some archaeologists on a dig, manage to unearth what they just happen to decide must be a werewolf skeleton. Through a series of starkly idiotic events, one of the foremen gets into a fist fight with some of his digging crew, and he just happens to fall on the werewolf bones. Which turns him into a werewolf. Because, you know, that happens. The plot isn’t really worth getting into deeper, if you truly care, then, by all means, watch the film. I haven’t seen every single werewolf related movie ever made (and there are lots), so I can’t say with 100% certainty that this is the very worst werewolf movie ever made. But I can, I think with some authority, state that this is easily the worst werewolf film I’ve personally ever seen. And let’s just leave it at that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Film: An American Werewolf in Paris

Year: 1997 

Director: Anthony Waller

So I figured I might as well bookend this article, finishing where we began, so to speak. This is the one film off of this entire list, that I actually saw in theaters. I had just recently turned 16 at the time, and while it released on Halloween in the UK, apparently they thought it would be a great idea to release this on Christmas Day in the United States. I remember being kind of excited to see this movie, because I thought werewolves were pretty cool, and I saw it with my friend Brian, who was huge into wolves and werewolves himself. I also remember the promotional shit leading up to this, including the Bush song “Mouth”, which Brian also liked. But as enthusiastic as I was to see this, I have to say, it wound up disappointing me.

It is supposed to be a loose sequel of sorts to John Landis’ 1981 film, though he had  zero involvement with it, and it shows. It is also listed as being a “comedy horror”, but I don’t remember the movie being very funny. Like at all. It is more of a serious, straight horror film, and as such, it loses the weird, f’ed up charm that the original had. The basic premise is that yet another American middle-class kid named Andy (played by Tom Everette Scott, who was in a lot of things in the late 90s), along with his buddies Brad and Chris, are vacationing in “The City of Love”. They are in fact going to bungee jump from the Eiffel Tower because you know, it’s the late 90s, and everything was all about “EXTREME”. Before Andy jumps, he sees a blonde girl basically trying to jump to her death, and he saves her. Afterward, she disappears, and that’s that. Later Andy and Co. go to a club, because that’s something else extreme young men do, and it turns out, guess what guys, the club is actually a place where a secret society of werewolves lure tourists so they can kill them. Because people totally wouldn’t catch onto that at all.

The blonde Andy saved earlier shows up, and tries to rescue the idiot Americans, though dumbass Brad falls behind and gets killed. Andy also gets bitten, and blacks out. He later finds himself at the girl’s apartment, and it turns out, because why not, she’s the daughter of David from the first film, and Alex Price, the nurse he fell in love with. Because David was her father, she’s also a werewolf, and she’s morose as hell because she accidentally wound up killing her own mom. As I said, the levity and charm form London are completely devoid in Paris (the movies that is), and the entire thing just kind of plays out like a plodding, overly “dark and gritty” horror film. Which is par for the course in the late 90s. So anyway, to save time, the ghost of Brad shows up (because that happened in the first movie too!), and informs Andy that all he has to do to save himself from being a werewolf, is eat the heart of the werewolf that bit him. First off, that’s gross, and secondly, that would have been a super helpful rule to know about for poor David in the first movie.

Long story short, in my opinion at least, this movie sucks. I’ve seen worse, yes. But it’s just dull and lifeless. And worst of all, again, in my opinion, the CGI werewolf designs in this film, are some of the very worst looking werewolf designs I’ve ever seen. Like yeah, it’s partly that it’s the 90s, but there was CGI from Jurassic Park in 1993 that looks a TON better. No, the design is just bad. The film has one advantage (in my book) over the first, in that they gave the main character a saving grace, and he and Wolf Girl (whose name is Serafine for some reason), more or less live happily ever after because they find a way to control her wolfness. But even having a happy-er ending, doesn’t save it from being a lame movie.

 

 

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So there you have it. Trust me when I tell you that just in the 80s and 90s alone, there were a lot more werewolf films I could have listed and shared with you all. But I feel like I picked the best or most notable, and it’s a pretty healthy sized list as it is. So if you’re in the mood for some good beastly horror, look one of these up and give it watch! Cheers.