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Since this Substack began in September 2024, I’ve mostly covered the NES, with a smattering of Switch 2 discussion here and there.
Starting in February, however, I’ll be covering all Virtual Boy games released for Nintendo Switch Online. Through the rest of 2026, I’ll also be introducing Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, SNES, N64, and GameCube coverage.
If you want more info, this post will help you out.
Defender II
PUBLISHER: HAL Labs
DEVELOPER: Vid Kidz (port by HAL Labs)
RELEASE DATE: Sept. 24th, 1987 (JP), July 1988 (US)
Originally named Stargate in the arcades, Defender II is indeed a sequel to the original arcade classic, Defender. The Shooting Aliens in Space genre may have kicked off with Space Invaders in 1978, but Defender added some zip and movement to the whole affair. With Space Invaders, your laser cannon is locked on the ground while aliens descend upon your location from on high. With Defender, you have a ship that can move horizontally in two dimensions, left to right to left, zapping alien menaces, free as a space bird. Fun fact: did you know both Defender and Stargate (Defender II) were released in 1981, only seven months apart? None of this “decade between sequels” business that we have today.
But let’s say you’re a young kid in 1988 (or a middle-aged man in 2026) and you’ve never played Defender or its sequel. What does Defender II on NES have to offer? Make no mistake, this is still very much a 1981 game dressed in mid-1980s, 8-bit aesthetics. The story is threadbare, the gameplay is simple, and each level proceeds more or less as the last, save for tougher enemies appearing as you progress.
You control the Defender, a spaceship equipped with infinite lasers and limited screen-clearing smart bombs. Enemies with enigmatic names like Gul Mutants and Yllabian Space Guppys appear en masse to give Defender a hard time. The human Residents of the planet make perfect alien food, but if you save them while they’re being abducted, you’ll get a sweet 1500-point bonus. Stargates – glowing squares in the center of the screen – will warp you to a different part of the level. Destroy all the pretentious aliens, then move on to the next area, then do it again until you lose all your lives or boredom consumes you whole.
Defender II is wave after wave of sparkly stars, glistening in the darkness of space, while red laser mountains keep you on the straight and narrow. It’s a perfect 1981 arcade game, modestly recreated for your NES in 1988. Defender II is not why you own an NES, however. It’s a decent time-waster, something you play between grand adventures, but little more.
C+
Gauntlet
PUBLISHER: Tengen
DEVELOPER: Atari Games (port by Tengen)
RELEASE DATE: July 1988 (US)
Gauntlet is a dungeon crawl-y action game most known for its four-player arcade cabinet, one of the first of its kind. Unfortunately, NES Gauntlet was released before the NES Four Score peripheral was even a glint in Nintendo’s eye, so you’re locked to two players here. That’s ok, though. Whether you have only a single comrade-in-arms or a full team, Gauntlet is an enjoyable (if archaic) multiplayer experience.
Thor the Warrior. Thyra the Valkyrie. Merlin the Wizard (on loan from Arthur). Questor the Dork- er, Elf. For Gen-Xers disillusioned with the world, these names are as memorable as Cloud Strife, Master Chief, or Steve. Thor wield axe, no magic. Thor move slow. Thor big and powerful. Thyra is the most well-rounded character, slicing and dicing fools in as little clothing as possible. Merlin takes creeps down to magic town, but he’s old and frail so proceed with caution. Questor looks like Robin Hood, which means he wears tights and he’s fast, but he’s also weak. Caricatures all, but they get the job done.
Select your hero and the top-down hack-and-slashing begins in earnest. Ghosts and grunts and demons and sorcerers, all with varying abilities and strength, go out of their evil way to make your life as miserable as possible. Enemy generators continuously pump out the bad guys, to the point that the NES can barely handle the dozens of wicked jerks on screen at once. Destroy them quickly or you’ll certainly be overrun.
The main goal is to find the exit, and eventually, the Sacred Orb, but along the way, there are treasures and other goodies worth collecting. Nabbing 50-100 treasure chests increases your maximum health, while other items like potions increase your armor and fighting skills for the rest of the game or until you die.
There are around 100 rooms in the game, and while each present slightly different challenges, the overall gameplay loop is the same. Collect keys, open doors, get treasure, kill abominations, and get to the exit (mind the fake ones!) before too much health has drained from your body.
In addition to enemy damage, your life drains as you move. The latter might be realistic but it’s also a cheap design to suck as many quarters from your pockets as possible. Treasure rooms are a great way to fully replenish your health, but they appear only sporadically. If you don’t find enough gruel or alcohol to enhance your health along the way, the afterlife absolutely awaits.
Playing with one or more friends has always been the way to tackle any Gauntlet game, including this NES iteration. Sure, you have to split treasures and food amongst yourselves, but sojourning with a buddy into the dark abyss is leagues more fun than tackling undead legions on your own.
SOLO: C
WITH A FRIEND: B
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Only a C+ for Defender II? Oh well. I do understand where you're coming from; it's very bare-bones compared with other NES games.
I never played Defender, but I know for a fact that, despite not looking the part, Gauntlet on NES is one is the most impressive technical achievements on the platform. The trickery to have so many enemies on screen is commendable.