vintagegamecrazy
03-03-2008, 02:13 PM
Sorry for not posting for so long, been too wrapped up in the Activision contest here. But I am back again. Some will disagree with me but Treasure Master is a fine game with some practice and patience. Read the review and as always post comments.
Review:
In 1992 American Softworks released Treasure Master for the NES, It was fairly known in its time due to the contest that it had upon its release. The game has five insanely hard levels and if the game was completed by a certain date and you called in, American game you a password to access a hidden stage and that stage had to be completed it a certain time you were elibable for huge prizes. As of today there’s not much info around about the winners of the competition.
Anyways, jump forward to today and Treasure Master has basically fallen into the level of a fairly rare game and into releative obscurity. The game is insanely difficult not unlike Ghosts ‘n Goblins, or Cobra Triangle. The game plays a lot like a game in the Dizzy series except with a lot more action and with a faster pace to boot. You take on the roll of Scooter and set out to find a fortune in treasure. Each level you go through you have to pick up a series of weapons or items to help you complete the level. In level 1 you have to find a pair of boots to kill enemies, then grab a bomb to blow a wall up to grab a remote which is used to control a crane and gain use of a submarine to go underwater. As much as there is action, there is an equal amount of puzzle solving. As you find one item, you’ll have to figure out where to use it at to find the next item. Random extra lives are spread out around the stages and also require certain items to find but you will need every one since the game it furiously hard, as much as I played the game, I never made it past the third stage. The game play throws a lot of great fun at you but isn’t without its fair share of flaws, the game play starts out too difficult from the start. There are ememy caterpillars in the beginning that fire at you and are almost impossible to dodge plus there are other areas that are almost impossible to dodge without trial and error and since you are given three lives at the start and no continues it can grow tedious quickly.
One thing that makes the game the game that it is, is the music, it’s hard to describe but it’s quite catchy and upbeat and I never got tired of it and each stage is more unique sounding than the next. The sound effects are pretty catchy as well each one is different and original but the sound when you kick is rather strange and unfitting but still holds up. The graphics are on par with Super Mario Bros. 3 and definitely give the game a great polished look and feel. Scooter has a big nose and looks like a wooden doll and is actually amusing to look at.
Treasure Master is a fine game and a great piece of Nintendo history, it’s not terribly well known but it was one of only a handful of NES games to have a contest based on it. It’s not terribly known as I said before and it’s not recommended for anyone who’s not good at hard games but it is very unique for puzzle fans. I would recommend it for any collector as well for the historic value but there definitely a love hate relationship for most people. Give it a try it won’t cost more that a few bucks, what do you have to lose?
Game Play 8
Graphics 10
Sound 9
Overall 8
End of Review
Sorry for the small screenshots, my emulator won't let me resize them bigger.
Review:
In 1992 American Softworks released Treasure Master for the NES, It was fairly known in its time due to the contest that it had upon its release. The game has five insanely hard levels and if the game was completed by a certain date and you called in, American game you a password to access a hidden stage and that stage had to be completed it a certain time you were elibable for huge prizes. As of today there’s not much info around about the winners of the competition.
Anyways, jump forward to today and Treasure Master has basically fallen into the level of a fairly rare game and into releative obscurity. The game is insanely difficult not unlike Ghosts ‘n Goblins, or Cobra Triangle. The game plays a lot like a game in the Dizzy series except with a lot more action and with a faster pace to boot. You take on the roll of Scooter and set out to find a fortune in treasure. Each level you go through you have to pick up a series of weapons or items to help you complete the level. In level 1 you have to find a pair of boots to kill enemies, then grab a bomb to blow a wall up to grab a remote which is used to control a crane and gain use of a submarine to go underwater. As much as there is action, there is an equal amount of puzzle solving. As you find one item, you’ll have to figure out where to use it at to find the next item. Random extra lives are spread out around the stages and also require certain items to find but you will need every one since the game it furiously hard, as much as I played the game, I never made it past the third stage. The game play throws a lot of great fun at you but isn’t without its fair share of flaws, the game play starts out too difficult from the start. There are ememy caterpillars in the beginning that fire at you and are almost impossible to dodge plus there are other areas that are almost impossible to dodge without trial and error and since you are given three lives at the start and no continues it can grow tedious quickly.
One thing that makes the game the game that it is, is the music, it’s hard to describe but it’s quite catchy and upbeat and I never got tired of it and each stage is more unique sounding than the next. The sound effects are pretty catchy as well each one is different and original but the sound when you kick is rather strange and unfitting but still holds up. The graphics are on par with Super Mario Bros. 3 and definitely give the game a great polished look and feel. Scooter has a big nose and looks like a wooden doll and is actually amusing to look at.
Treasure Master is a fine game and a great piece of Nintendo history, it’s not terribly well known but it was one of only a handful of NES games to have a contest based on it. It’s not terribly known as I said before and it’s not recommended for anyone who’s not good at hard games but it is very unique for puzzle fans. I would recommend it for any collector as well for the historic value but there definitely a love hate relationship for most people. Give it a try it won’t cost more that a few bucks, what do you have to lose?
Game Play 8
Graphics 10
Sound 9
Overall 8
End of Review
Sorry for the small screenshots, my emulator won't let me resize them bigger.