1. Tenchi Sōzō (Super Famicom)
2. Eternal Senia (Steam)
3. Tombs & Treasure (NES)
4. Magic Knight Rayearth (Super Famicom)
5. Zelda no Densetsu: The Hyrule Fantasy (Famicom Disk System)
6. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES)
7. Seiken Psycho Caliber: Majū no Mori Densetsu (Famicom Disk System)
8. Deep Dungeon: Madō Senki (Famicom Disk System)
9. Deep Dungeon II: Yūshi no Monshō (Famicom Disk System)
10. Suishō no Dragon (Famicom Disk System)
11. Dandy: Zeuon no Fukkatsu (Famicom Disk System)
12. Lagoon (SNES)
13. Contra (NES)
14. Super C (NES)
15. Wonder Boy (Sega Master System)
16. OutRun (Sega Master System)
17. OutRun (Genesis)
18. Ninja Gaiden (NES)
19. Written in the Sky (Steam)
20. Wendy: Every Witch Way (Game Boy Color)
21. Mario Bros. (NES)
22. Popeye (NES)
23. Super Mario Bros. (NES)
24. Super Mario Bros. 2 (Famicom Disk System)
25. Phantasy Star II Eusis's Text Adventure (Steam - Sega Mega Drive & Genesis Classics)
26. Phantasy Star II Nei's Text Adventure (Steam - Sega Mega Drive & Genesis Classics)
27. Phantasy Star II Rudger's Text Adventure (Steam - Sega Mega Drive & Genesis Classics)
28. Phantasy Star II Anne's Text Adventure (Steam - Sega Mega Drive & Genesis Classics)
29. Phantasy Star II Huey's Text Adventure (Steam - Sega Mega Drive & Genesis Classics)
30. Phantasy Star II Kinds's Text Adventure (Steam - Sega Mega Drive & Genesis Classics)
31. Phantasy Star II Amia's Text Adventure (Steam - Sega Mega Drive & Genesis Classics)
32. Phantasy Star II Shilka's Text Adventure (Steam - Sega Mega Drive & Genesis Classics)
33. Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic (Famicom Disk System)
34. Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES)
35. Super Mario Advance (Game Boy Advance)
36. Gunman Clive (Nintendo eShop)
37. Zaxxon (Xbox 360 - Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection)
38. Zaxxon (Atari 2600)
39. Zaxxon (Intellivision)
40. Zaxxon (ColecoVision)
41. Cosmic Avenger (ColecoVision)
42. Mr. Do! (ColecoVision)
43. Pepper II (ColecoVision)
This is certainly one of the raddest and baddest second gen games around.
Pepper II (which was sadly only ported to ColecoVision) was developed by Exidy, the same folks responsible for
Venture,
Mouse Trap, and
Crossbow.
At first glance
Pepper II seems to resemble yet another
Pac-Man knock-off, what with its maze-like structure and power-up system. However, this is actually a "fill-in" game cut from the same cloth as
Qix and
Amidar.
The eponymous hero darts around the screen "zipping" up segments as he goes; backtracking unzips what hath been zipped. Once a segment is fully zipped it fills in and points are awarded. All the while Pepper must avoid sets of watchful eyes that dart around the screen. If Pepper encloses a segment containing a pitchfork he briefly transforms into a devil and can defeat the malicious ocular orbs.
The most noteworthy (and best) thing about the game is the size of the levels. Each one consists of not one but four screens, each containing four exits. This eliminates the claustrophobic feel that characterizes so many second gen titles without abandoning the requisite tension and fervor. A quick departure from a given screen can be used to your advantage when shit hits the fan, but it's not without risk. Enemies spawn from said exits (as opposed to the middle of the screen
Pac-Man style) so it's prudent to wait until all eyeballs are visible before bailing.
My one (small) complaint involves the game's visuals. The colors are rather garish and the "zipper" doesn't look quite distinct enough when compared to the bare tracks. Screenshots of the arcade original indicate that that version was no beaut either.
This is a great game. The clever little design elements make this a highly addictive experience, one that will thrust you right into "the zone" and cause you to lose all track of time and personal hygiene as you shoot for yet another loop and high score. Pepper II seems to be well-received by those who reviewed it. The notoriously picky Video Game Critic gave it an
A- and it's also graces most "top ten" ColecoVision lists I found after some cursory googling.
Oh yeah, and about the predecessor? There isn't one. The "II" in the title apparently refers to the duality of the human spirit: the angel/devil dynamic. At least that's what an AtariAge poster told me and no one on the internet ever lies or makes stuff up.