Big games never reviewed
This Nintendo platformer received EGM's SNES game of the year in 1995, yet wasn't reviewed in the magazine despite being a sequel in arguably the biggest franchise of all time.
What is Yoshi's Island?
Ed liked the scatalogical humour of this platformer so much he demanded a spin-off for the game's first boss, Hickboy. "After playing a few times I found out you could dig and pick zits," said Ed, adding "there are lots of things to keep you playing."
What is Boogerman?
This seminal strategy RPG was one of many big Genesis games to get the Major Mike Roundup treatment in 1994.
What is Shining Force 2?
This 1994 SNES cart is now considered one of the best games of all time, but when readers first turned to EGM for a review they were greeted with a spoiler in the form of a picture of the game's iconic end boss.
What is Super Metroid?
The first game to score a 10 (along with Ninja Spirit in the same issue) was this TurboGrafx CD game that includes Academy Award nominee Thomas Hayden Church in its voice cast.
What is Ys Book I & II?
This quirky RPG was received with a shrug and complaints that it was too weird and kiddy. Now it is one of the most sought after SNES carts.
What is Earthbound?
Ed went to bat for this SNES edutainment game, noting "the younger audiences will like the *blank* characters and theme music, while the parents enjoy the geography their kids will learn."
What is Mario is Missing?
One of the few good mascot games in the early 90s, this Konami platform action game starred a jetpack wielding possum.
What is Rocket Knight Adventures?
The review crew was baffled by this innovative Genesis strategy game, with one reviewer saying it is "only for die-hard gamers who want strategy in their shooters."
What is Herzog Zwei?
A month after handing out the first 10s ever, EGM gave this Genesis racer two 10s and a pair of 9s. Ed was particularly enthusiastic, starting his review with "I like racing games."
What is Super Monaco GP?
This SNES launch window game showed off impressive rotation and scaling effects, along with a "limp whip."
What is Super Castlevania IV?
Ed went nuts for this SNES food mascot beat-em-up, calling out "great animations, especially the guitar playing along with a decent quest and a lot of different levels keep this game rockin'."
What is Chester Cheetah: Too Cool for Fool?
The first game in this popular RPG series was published by Square in an attempt to build off the success of Final Fantasy. Its sequels would get the full review treatment.
What is Breath of Fire?
This now revered Game Boy puzzle game baffled the EGM crew, with all four reviewers giving mediocre scores and complaints about needing math skills to play.
What is Mario's Picross?
Ed was once again generous to this insanely hyped mascot sequel. The franchise would be one of the few IPs on Sega Genesis to routinely score 10s.
What is Sonic 2?
This futuristic racer was one of the most acclaimed Playstation games early in the system's life, yet it didn't get a review in EGM.
What is Wipeout XL?
Ed was the lone reviewer to praise this SNES compilation of a classic NES action series, although he couldn't make up his mind on the graphics. Ed noted he wished the visuals had been improved, only to add "the effect of the new graphics will make you drool."
What is Ninja Gaiden Trilogy?
This treasure of a Genesis game features some of the best parallax scrolling of the 16-bit era, not to mention absolutely bizarre bosses soundstage levels.
What is Dynamite Headdy?
This section ran in issues 69 to 99, and delegated sports and racing game reviews to reviewers such as Video Cowboy and The Iceman.
What is Team EGM?
Ed went gaga for what might be the first noteworthy video game remake, to the point of telling readers to "ditch those old 8-bit versions for this one!"
What is Super Mario All-Stars?
This Genesis beat-em-up sequel wasn't reviewed by the mag, despite the first game in the franchise getting high scores the previous year.
What is Streets of Rage 2?
Ed was kind to this Jaguar fighting game that is part of an iconic NES franchise, saying it was "worth getting if you own a Jaguar." The one complaint? Having to use the Jag controller's number keys. "The Jag needs a different type of controller for fighting games," he bemoaned.
What is Double Dragon V?
This graphic adventure game put the emphasis on graphic, with a gory death scene that was featured in practically every gaming mag.
What is Snatcher?
What is Way of the Warrior?
This rare great Jaguar game saw Ed getting nostalgic for his glory days in the arcades, with him adding "what really makes this game perfect is that it is new."
What is Tempest 2000?