23) Before becoming one of today’s dominant names in the world of video games, Square Enix had to start somewhere and specifically during the Famicom days. One of the games they released during 1985 was Thexder. The game was a 2D side scroller where you controlled a robot presumably named Thexder. He could transform from robot into a ship and vice versa. Your objective was to complete each level using Thexder and shoot down the opposition and defeat the level boss if there are any. The levels were straight forward and not much of the cryptic stuff were present. The game is a bit hard and I have played it but just didn’t manage to finish it. There is sort of a delay when Thexder transforms or that could have just been my copy. Thexder was probably not one of Square’s most popular titles but still one of their earliest before becoming big.
24) 3D World Runner was released for the Famicom in March of 1987. The game was made by Square and featured two creators of the Final Fantasy franchise. The game is an up scroller where you controlled the 3D World Runner otherwise known as Jack. The plot involved Jack stopping an alien race known as the SerpentBeasts from taking over their world in Solar System #517. The player had to complete 8 different worlds with different sub levels to finish the game. Being it was an up scroller, Jack continued to run and the player had to avoid the obstacles in order to survive. The obstacles were pitfalls wherein you had to jump and the SerpentBeasts which you could shoot or avoid. The game was definitely a hard one but it was very enjoyable at the same time. It also managed to incorporate the 3D aspect via 3D glasses.
25) In August of 1987 marked the release of Rad Racer for the Famicom. The game was released by Square once again and it was one of the fewest driving games back in the day. The game only featured 2 playable cars to choose from. They were the Ferrari 328 and the F1 Racing Car. The game’s rules were pretty much standard to other driving games. The main purpose was to simply beat the clock and complete the level. There wasn’t much variety to it other than a driving game but it was a successful game enabling it to have a sequel only in Japan simply called Rad Racer 2. The game was also featured in the 1989 movie The Wizard as an add on to the Power Glove commercial segment. That was probably one reason why the game was very successful in America not to mention the game was also capable of the 3D aspect via the 3D sunglasses.
