Page 15 - Old School Gamer Magazine Issue #43 FREE Edition

The Ren & Stimpy Show, but unfortunately for Blockbuster (and any unlucky renters), this is one
of the worst. Taking its inspiration from an early episode in Season 1, Fire Dogs is a repetitive platformer set inside a multileveled fire station. Controlling Stimpy, you dodge
burly firefighters and sentient bursts of flame while trying to collect random items before the timer runs out. Shallow in content, bloated in difficulty, and feeling
like a complete cash-in, it's hard to believe that this title was developed by Argonaut Games, the same studio that helped create Star Fox (SNES, 1993) and the accompanying Super FX chip.
MR. NUTZ (SNES, 1994)
Originally developed for the Amiga but eventually released on the Super Nintendo, Mr. Nutz is a side- scrolling platform game created
by Ocean Software that's simple but surprisingly fun. Playing as the questionably named squirrel, Mr. Nutz, you navigate through a series of thematic worlds, defeating enemies with acorn projectiles
and collecting power coins. In Europe, Mr. Nutz was available for purchase in multiple stores, but in North America, you could only rent it at Blockbuster, adding a bit of
Eggs of Steel is a doubly unique video game, not only due to its status as a Blockbuster exclusive but also because it was made by the visual effects studio Rhythm
& Hues. This puzzle adventure follows Charlie, a cheerful egg man who must liberate a steel factory from evil autonomous robots by collecting colored keys and evading crazed machinery. In truth, the gameplay is nothing to write home about, and while Rhythm & Hues never found footing in the gaming world, they did see massive success in movies and television. Flexing their prowess in visual effects, Rhythm & Hues has won three Academy Awards and worked on popular titles like The Lord of the Rings, The Hunger Games, and Game of Thrones. It seems fitting then that their sole video game was only available at Blockbuster.
CLAY FIGHTER: SCULPTOR'S CUT
(N64, 1998)
Without a doubt, this is easily the most infamous Blockbuster
mystique to this otherwise standard mascot platformer.
EGGS OF STEEL: CHARLIE'S EGGCELLENT ADVENTURE (PS1, 1998)
exclusive game. The third game
in the Clay Fighter franchise,
Clay Fighter 63 1/3 (N64, 1997),
also got a “Tournament Edition” release in the form of Sculptor's
Cut. Unfortunately, as the original game was poorly received, the
new characters and bonus stages weren't enough to generate extra interest. As such, limited copies
of Sculptor's Cut were produced, making it one of the rarest N64 games of all time. Trying to buy some of these Blockbuster exclusive games nowadays can cost you
a pretty penny, but none are as expensive as Sculptor's Cut, which tops out at $15,000 for a graded new copy. Even if you're just looking for a loose cartridge, you can expect to pay upwards of $900.
STUNT RACER 64 (N64, 2000)
Created by Boss Game Studios, Stunt Racer 64 is one of the better N64 Blockbuster exclusives, fulfilling the promise of its title in full. Straightforward but still fun
to play, this racing game sees you blazing through a variety of themed tracks in futuristic cars, pulling off mid-air stunts and collecting cash to upgrade your vehicle. With five leagues of opponents to compete against in the main “Contest Mode” and several cars to unlock, Stunt Racer 64 had enough content to justify a weekend rental, though
it's a far cry from the likes of Mario Kart 64 (N64, 1996) or Diddy Kong Racing (N64, 1997).
NOVEMBER 2024 • WWW.OLDSCHOOLGAMER.COM
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