I Ranked Every HAL game on NES

[@iamryan9234]

The Adventure of Lolo series = if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it 👍

[@tomwaters5090]

Hal is another one of my favorite game companies because a lot of the games they made were fun and addictive to play.

[@dslking]

Vegas dream was cool because it had a story. Random characters would walk up to you and borrow money, play a game etc. It had storytelling elements that made it very good

[@yaketythack]

It was my Grandmothers favorite game on her NES. Mario 3 was bought for family gatherings but Vegas Dream was all she needed.

[@bengotagun]

Air Fortress is one of my favorites. The sense of dread after you blow up the reactor in each level is palpable. Especially in the later levels where it's a maze to find your ship.

[@Bryan-eg6ej]

You mentioned Nintendo Games from the grocery store. In my town, there was a Marathon gas station that also sold fried chicken, potato wedges and I think pizza that had a wall of VHS tapes and Nintendo games. I remember it being like a one stop place for food, movies and games. I remember renting the Quattro 4 in 1 games (arcade and sports), Ultimate Stuntman and Uninvited there. It seems so bizarre today to think of returning Nintendo games to the gas station.

[@JohnRiggs]

sounds like my kind of store.

[@leefischer5814]

I remember my grocery store in my small town of 300 had NES rental (games and the console rental) as well as the VHS and VCR rental... dang am I getting old?😂

[@joelbizzell1386]

Loved some Quantum Fighter back in the day.

[@JohnRiggs]

Soo good

[@garethlewis4586]

Great game, and didn't occur to me before how similar the vibe is to Batman

[@matthewlane518]

Me too! I remember getting it as a gift and thinking I won't like it, but then it turned out to be like batman! Wich was my favorite game at that time!

[@springsteenguy]

I finally realized why I love this channel so much. Riggs is just himself. There’s no KZbin filter in the way he speaks. So refreshing.

[@JohnRiggs]

I'm a fan like everyone else.

[@Oddjob126]

Immediately stopped what I was doing when I saw the title pop up

[@Chuckinator_85]

I loved air fortress me and my buddy used to play this religiously as kids.

[@cerberus144]

Air Fortress was a game that was at our Dentist's office and I fell in love with it, might go pick it up on Ebay after next paycheck. I only know Lolo and Lola as bosses in Kirby's adventure lol

[@daryl4841]

Thats one cool dentist's office that has a NES and Air Fortress. There were no video games at the one I went to as a kid. We had Highlights magazine and Wheres Waldo books, which were cool, but not as much as NES.

[@thiagodeandradeneves4585]

My mom played all the Lolos. I replayed them recently and I'd put'em in S tier. They're one of the best puzzle games for people who are not so into puzzles.

[@paxhumana2015]

The Adventures of Lolo and Lala/Eggerland is now technically a part of the Kirby universe and, in turn, they are also considered as Nintendo property. Also, Lolo and Lala have been both enemies, as well as allies, of Kirby, in his video game, anime, and manga series/franchise.

[@me8751]

That Air Fortress tune.👌 Loved it as a kid, and still love it now.

[@Kaiser499TV]

Air Fortress is amazing, and the music is so good. Definitely my favorite HAL game for the NES. I wish we got a sequel.

[@Benjamillion]

I think it's a crime that the Ghostbusters II game that Europe got never got a U.S release

[@Matt-Rat]

I know, right? We got the Activision games but not the HAL version. Good thing I got a reproduction cart of NG2.

[@JohnRiggs]

That's for damn sure! The US Game Boy game is the same as the PAL/Import release, though.

[@Deadono]

Yup. I wish Europe and US would have gotten the same games. Here in Europe, we missed a TON of games that were released in the US as well. Heck, release every game in every part of the world :D All those great Japanese titles..

[@Deadono]

Too bad that would be impossible.

[@KTJohnsonkidThunder]

Blame Activision for that. Then, there was Real Ghostbusters by Data East. Along with that, Compile did the Genesis version.

[@jimx117]

Lolo is perhaps the most criminally-overlooked puzzle game series ever. Never could beat Lolo 3, but I at least made it to the underwater levels... That game is a serious brain-bender

[@mcwoods85]

I personally have a soft spot for Vegas Dream because I love the random events that occurred. Now the “sequel” for SNES Vegas Stakes ALL TIME CLASSIC

[@MrBen2177]

Man John you really have a (undiscovered) big talent for these easygoing reviews. Super positive and just an honest personal rating, no need to overcomplete these things 👍.

[@JohnRiggs]

No reason to go super indepth about a lot of games. Just a 'here's what it is, here's what it looks like, here's what I think of it' and move on.

[@Sixliters_Speedy_Reviews]

@@JohnRiggs Great new series John!!!

[@JustinLaClair]

Dude, I remember walking across the street to my local deli to look at what NES game to rent for the weekend. They always had Gotcha! And mario/duck hunt, Lolo, Tiger Heli, and some other games that were just not appealing to me at all. Then I saw Air Fortress. It looked.....interesting. i asked my mom to rent it. I was not too excited. My god.....that weekend was amazing. Air Fortress was absolutely a hidden gem for me. I played it ALL weekend. The music was amazing!! I wish I could relive that time....fond fond memories.

[@AICJDR]

Vegas Dream has a really cool element where random people will talk to you and give you choices. You can even get married in the game!

[@BlUsKrEEm]

Lolo 3 is a highly underrated classic.

[@paxhumana2015]

@BlUsKrEEm, I also thought the same thing of its related kin like Boulder Dash, Exodus, and Joshua.

[@mrjotz]

I love Air Fortress, especially the music.

[@theakkusor]

Love joust! My sister and I had so much fun with this one as kids. Just showed my son this game and laughed for a half hour straight!

[@Monodi91]

Funny you brought Iwata on the Joust game because he programmed this port himself.

[@Major73Problem]

You bring a new appreciation for the NES to me. Thank you!

[@Louis-wp3fq]

Air Fortress is WAY higher than a B. One of the best NES games IMO.

[@ostiariusalpha]

It is undeniably repetitive though. I consider it the most well crafted mediocre game on the NES.

[@poisonclangaming6074]

My sister beat that game it was her favorite

[@7thangelad586]

I thought so too. It’s at least a top three shooter in my list. My brother and I rented it so many times.

[@tl2654]

I bought it based on this vid. For the current price, this game for sure is a gem.

[@jyoder1]

That game was super elusive. I think there wasn't a single copy in Ohio. Ever.

[@arno7804]

Ik love the NES rankings you do! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@psychodeviant8903]

To this day I still have never played Kabuki Quantum Fighter even though it's been on my radar for years. But now, whenever I do get around to playing it, I will definitely be playing it with Slayer playing in the background!

[@jeffb.6642]

Play the Famicom Adventures of Lolo 1 and 2 if you want more of the same Lolo action - which are based on US Lolo 2 and 3 respectively - but nearly all of the puzzles except for a handful are different - and much harder. They will have you pulling out what's left of your hair if you want to complete them BTW great video - As Lolo is hands down my fav NES series of games by a long shot I had to watch this.

[@cvrator]

HALlelujah for this quality Riggs content.

[@Rezigunn]

So glad you finally did this list HAL being one of my favorite publishers for the NES. Now you will no longer see me asking where this vid is thank you sir

[@JohnRiggs]

Oh, there's plenty of other companies you can bug me about.

[@Rezigunn]

@@JohnRiggs believe me I know lol but HAL was my main one are you planning on doing some of the European and Japanese exclusive titles for these ranking videos?

[@EsotericArcade]

Agreed John- soooo much nostalgia for grocery store game rentals. Best part of going to the store with the parents/grandparents!

[@clarafedde8674]

"Vegas dreams is a game your mom would play". Yes my mom did...a lot. It was her favorite game. I love lolo, best action puzzle for the nes. Though I will let you on some tidbits, lolo one was just puzzles, lolo 2 had the final boss you fought, and 3 had each regular enemy as boss(and reverse trope too). They did have a sequel on the gameboy, but wasn't as good. I mean if you did nothing, lolo would beat the level himself. Great vid, so much memories, and shout-out for mom games, cause games bring delight for the whole family.

[@antifrodis]

Vegas Dream was great! I rented it, and went out and bought it shortly after. So much more than a standard gambling game. An event happens every fourth round of gambling or so. That's what makes it unique and fun. As others have said, you can get married in the game. The game can also be completed and has an ending. Give it a second look!

[@zachmcclintock7431]

Good job John keep up the good work always enjoy your videos

[@Matt-Rat]

When I saw your video pop up on my subscriptions, I had to check this out. Keep up the good work. I agree with Lolo not getting a 4th game. Maybe one more would be nice. Also, I got Kabuki Quantum Fighter a few weeks ago.

[@petera7745]

First time I heard of Air Fortress was the cover of the theme by The Advantage!

[@KindaCool]

I made my mom sign up for the required Randall’s Membership, even though we never shopped for groceries there, just because it was the first place in town that was renting NES games. Fun times, I love how the rental element impacted so many of us nostalgia-wise...

[@playmooregames371]

I love the Adventures of Lolo, my only gripe is the music gets repetitive.

[@atranfanatic]

I agree with you there man. But it seems after a while you can just tune it out, when you are deeply immersed in the game play.

[@hicknopunk]

Lol, I just commented about the music driving me mad.

[@tigmo55]

That's a VERY fair statement. All they had to do was to add several different themes you could enjoy.

[@SlayerRunefrost]

OMG yes. Turn the sound off and crank up the cassette player.

[@RoXolid]

We had a Curtis Mathis console TV when I was a kid.

[@JohnRiggs]

Awesome! It wasn't the 'sharp' but looked cool to me.

[@39Chevy]

They were one of if not the last American TV manufacturers that made TVs in the US. Their plant was not too far from me in Greenville TX iirc.

[@tomwaters5090]

One of my favorite things to do with gambling games on emulators is to save the state just before it spins the wheel and see where it lands then load the state and put my chips on that number. That way I'm always guaranteed to win

[@PeterParker-vq2cz]

i can imagine in real life, security walks up, "sir, you need to stop saving the game, its cheating...plus...i keep needing to go to the bathroom, can u please just let me finish!!!"

[@tomwaters5090]

@@PeterParker-vq2cz Mr. Spiderman it is a real honor you would respond to my humble comment. Also I with you up til the part of you having security needing to go the bathroom but I didn't understand the rest of it.

[@PeterParker-vq2cz]

@@tomwaters5090 haha just a fun joke about being stuck in someones time loop at an awkward moment, liking having the urge to pee, peeing, then BOOM, your back out side the bathroom having the urge to pee again, cuz someone went back to the save game haha

[@inkfusedgamer]

Wow, the moment you said your local Safeway had rentals brought back a massive nostalgia wave

[@patrickdeveer3485]

DayDreaming Davey = triple D. I think your Ranking for this game is legitimate 😜.

[@JMFSpike]

I think it's a hidden gem. I picked it up at a pawn shop about 2 decades ago knowing nothing about it. I loved it! I think most people have never actually played it, so they don't realize that it's actually good.

[@ImagineABear]

HAL is legendary. Lolo is sickly underrated.

[@kekeke8988]

Lolo/ Eggerland didn't start out on the Famicom. It started out on the MSX.

[@JohnRiggs]

did it? wow! I gotta look that up.

[@grahamtastic83]

Thanks for all of the videos! Got a newborn so I’ve been watching a lot of your stuff when he keeps me up at night. Great lists too 😊

[@jhnmcb301]

Lolo is holds up really well

[@patrickhein6986]

Kabuki Quantum Fighter is one of my Favourite NES Games. Yes it is challenging, especially the Bosses but the tight Controls and the awesome Soundtrack making it so much Fun.

[@RenderUntoCaesar]

Thanks for continuing to do these ranking videos! Much appreciated during these crazy times. Hope you get to Sammy for the NES. Some obscure ones probably worth looking at.

[@waltsoph3]

I agree about Air Fortress. A very under looked game. Its quite the challenge and I enjoyed the concept. It felt almost like Guardian Legend in regards to the plot. Aw man you forget to mention with Vegas Dream how as your playing the games someone may approach you and ask for some help or other scenarios. Depending on your choices it could help you or it could COST you. This is worth picking up if you can get it on the cheap just for that even if your not into gambling games. Thanks again for your time as always.

[@quesoblanco444]

Great vid, I have been really enjoying these. Thanks for hipping me to Air Fortress, gonna go try that out.

[@danielespeziari5545]

It's weird, but none of those arcade ports were released in PAL regions. Instead we got most of the other games you covered, and I agree that they are unique. Air Fortress is very cool, but also frustrating, since by the 4th or 5th world the mazes become really confusing and the enemies very aggressive. Kabuki Quantum Fighter is a very decent action platformer. And yes, I'm also disappointed that Lolo didn't get any sequel on Super Nintendo, he only appears as an enemy in Kirby's Fun Pak (Kirby Super Star). He deserved more than that

[@williamnogle6992]

Riggs, we love the NES rank videos. But how about more SNES and/genesis rank vids? Just a thought. Keep up the good work. You are the man!

[@milesjoyner]

Love your ranking videos Riggs!

[@Bryan-lu4du]

Rollerball was the game rental Mom would pick up when all of my choices were rented and she still wanted to bring something home for me to play. Not a bad game.

[@dave4shmups]

Great video as always! Safeway was a game rental place for me too, out here in Denver.

[@dazcook2363]

Here’s a drinking game for you: Every time John says “I come back to it every once in a while” take a shot. I guarantee drunkenness on any one of his videos. In all seriousness though, I love these videos! Watched every one so far, and I’m always excited when a new one pops up! 😊 keep up the sterling work.

[@n8ivegogo1]

I LOVED the movie “Pixels” & thanks for mentioning that it’s on 3D Blu-Ray!! I’m gonna find myself a copy!

[@8eyond_the_ra66ithole]

Loved curtis mathis! My little MD town had one in the 80/90s too. Hal had some real solid games, I didnt know they had so many...classics too...Joust use to eat my quarters and piss me off but I was addicted at one point to it lol! Quantum Hair whipping rocks! 🤟

[@mrcoiganable2988]

When the camera zoned in then u said pixels I knew what you meant 😳 surprised more comments havent mentioned it.

[@fd9447]

I love Rollerball. I got it for my 12th birthday in 1990 and I still love it. Plus, great music for a pinball game. The music make me think of 6th grade the way Mega Man 2's music makes me think of 5th grade

[@moshe682]

I was looking for kabuki at least 5 years!! I searched on Google: nes hair fighter, woman hair nes and a lot of combinations. Thank you a lot for ending my searching days ❤❤❤

[@dotdecorandmore7480]

Fun fact: Joust was Satoru Iwata's first commercialized game that he programmed.

[@Colonel-Llama]

Wouldn’t that be Star Battle for the VIC-20?

[@dotdecorandmore7480]

@@Colonel-Llama True. Star Battle was taken off the market outside of Japan, so yea Star Battle can too. Depending on what region we’re talking about.

[@NESbrownbearhugs]

Quantum Fighter is very underrated

[@JohnRiggs]

Totally!

[@NESbrownbearhugs]

@@JohnRiggs When I play Quantum Fighter. I think of Willow Smith whip my hair song...I whip my hair back and forth....🤣🤣🤣

[@BeyondUselessMedia]

Man i love Kabuki! Such an underrated classic!

[@drgerbz]

looking forward to a jaleco review

[@JohnRiggs]

Coming soon.

[@72kbobert]

I agree with all your rankings except Joust. I think Joust is a perfect game. A rank at minimum. Great video!

[@MotherKojiro]

I've always loved Millipede; I'm not always the biggest fan of Arcade Action, because I like a definite end to my games, but the palettes that cycled through on each round were just lovely!

[@PKMNwww411_MkII]

Eggerland on the Famicom Disk System and Eggerland Mystery on the Famicom were perfect predecessors to Adventures of Lolo. The Japanese version of Adventures of Lolo has harder puzzles and is the base for the US version of Adventures of Lolo 2. The Japanese version of Adventures of Lolo 2 is used as the base for the US version of Adventures of Lolo 3. There's also Adventures of Lolo on the Game Boy. The European Game Boy version has added levels to the 50 seen in the Japanese Game Boy version plus a tutorial. Great series overall.

[@alexseekingtheKingdom]

Always a great day seeing your vids John!

[@mobaby1979]

Much love as always bro

[@littleazzyhaven]

We need a Halloween themed Riggs compilation!

[@josephcampbell9298]

Wow, I hadn't heard Curtis Mathes mentioned in years! I remember we had one here when I was a kid.

[@dpgreene]

I actually have a Curtis Mathes CRT TV that I retrogame on still. I never knew it was a store, got the TV at Costco or somewhere I think.

[@DownLikeSyndrome83]

Thank you, finally someone knows about Air Fortress.

[@OG-SherlockHolmes]

Love all 3 lolos. So fantastic All S for me. And yeah there needs to be a new one

[@jamesni4498]

Nice to see some recognition for Air Fortress! Great game and cheap. Also The Day Dreaming Davie attack looks a little reminiscent of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

[@JohnRiggs]

Air Fortress is fantastic. The later fortresses get a little crazy as I keep getting lost but love this game.

[@michael-johnbrown2881]

Love your channel i subscribed to alot of gaming channels but not many rank the games its a crime that 60 or 70 percent of viewers are not subcribers i love hearing other people talk about old games i went nuts when you mentioned air fortress great game i am not to good at it oh in air fortress if you stand still your air can go up i do that if i am near the elevators just go in and grab a breather

[@abysmalvsmarcus]

I remember seeing the commercial for Air Fortress years ago. Looked like a commercial from public access

[@jm3096]

I lold at the Vegas Dream intro. "A game your mother could play" because my mom did play this, many hours spent on that keno

[@JohnRiggs]

Haha. There you go.

[@goranisacson2502]

I had heard that HAL games were contracted by Nintendo to make NES conversions of old arcade classics like Millipede, which is kinda funny to consider now that most of their output is Kirby games. I too wish they could make Lolo-games though- played the second one as a child, the intro does still haunt me... also man, It'd be wild if the Kabuki Quantum Warrior would one day make a comeback in a Kirby game. Unless he's based on a license, and not an original Kirby IP.

[@humbertoluna3079]

Have you done a ranking of Sammy games? Used to love Silkworm co op with my cousin back in the day, would love to hear your opinion on it. Awesome channel John!

[@BlackMoore82]

Iwata's first commercially published game was the NES port of Joust, however Balloon Fight remains one of my favorite games.

[@jeee1074]

Air Fortress is a great game. I had a terrible copy of it that I found at a used game store. Label was gone and it only worked after cleaning the card and moving the cart around in my NES to different angles. All of that work was worth it for the game.

[@hicknopunk]

I remember being driven mad by the Lolo music. Great game if you turn the sound off. There is a 4th for the gameboy I think.

[@BrettHornby]

I was looking forward to you ranking this video company because there's some underrated titles like the Adventures of Lolo. Also was intrigued on what you thought of Rollerball which I think is the best pinball video game I've played. Did explain at the beginning on Kirby.

[@jordanjackson6151]

Love the Lolo games. I still have them. Yeah Hal should go back to this.

[@magog123]

I didn’t read all the comments John but if it wasn’t mentioned they also have a decent Lolo for Gameboy.

[@JohnRiggs]

That's true! There's also different Lolo games in Japan.

[@josevcp1]

Thanks again for another great video! How about a ranking of all Treasure games on the Sega Genesis?

[@superduty2023]

Thanks for the content Mr. Riggs.

[@seanspear6224]

Air fortress was my first exposure to the Hal library of game

[@chrisgoetz3816]

Absolutley agree on Lolo. What a classic!

[@louisdellalucca8969]

I would LOVE to see you review all the games on the Aladdin Deck Enhancer for the NES.

[@BagOfMagicFood]

Might as well say all Camerica/CodeMasters games.

[@TheRmm1976]

Joust in the arcade was one of the best games of that era!! A true coin-eater too.

[@josefkrenshaw179]

Lolo and Lala became enemies in the first Kirby game. Check out the "Box Boy" series HAL did for Nintendo on the 3DS and switch. Those are good and clever, but they made me really want more Lolo.

[@jonboftwt]

HAL is an underrated NES developer. The Lolo games, Kabuki, Even got huge nostalgia for Air Fortress, Rollerball, and Vegas Dream. ...NES Joust is my favorite version of the game. NES Millipede though? Least favorite. Up one tier and down one tier respectively. Defender II is also close to the arcade original, but didn't dig it as much as the primitive Atari 2600 version.

[@CMRetroGaming]

Kabuki is one of my favorite NES games.

[@gaminggambino8185]

We had a Curtis Mathis in town when I was a kid! They sold electronics & rented movies, consoles & games. Does anyone remember seeing $99+ dollar price tags on VHS tapes if you lose em or break em?

[@pairofrooks]

Rollerball was the best pinball on nes. Great music, sound. Challenge the skyscraper!

[@paxhumana2015]

@JohnRiggs, it is not a giant vulture that tries to get you in Joust, it is a pterodactyl, and they are also in its sequel of Joust 2.

[@PeteOliva]

HAL is/was top tier. They are an all-time great dev/pub for sure.