PixlBit

A game about a dude with a yoyo and attitude

Before Earthbound introduced us to a protagonist with a yoyo as a weapon, Spinmaster did it first. But of course, you've probably never heard of this old arcade game, have you? Developed by Data East and published by SNK, Spinmaster is an action platformer that was released in arcades in 1993. It was immediately ported to SNK's flawless arcade home machine, the Neo Geo (which is the version I played for this review). As with all Neo Geo games, it's a perfect port, even showing you the arcade controls before the game begins. 

Spinmaster is an over-the-top, comical game with expressive goofy characters, and no one really takes themselves too seriously; it reminds me a lot of the Metal Slug games. The story is as typical as they come; the hero's girlfriend is captured by a mad scientist, so Johnny and Tom (no joke) set off on an adventure to rescue her. They'll go to the ends of the earth to save her and fight some really giant monsters along the way. 

Your initial weapon is your yoyo, but the game has a bunch of different weapons to use, such as bombs, fireballs, boxing gloves, and shuriken. You'll fire whatever weapon you have repeatedly as enemies flood the screen; you can also jump on enemies, but I usually didn't think of ever jumping on them in the midst of the chaos. There's also a super attack you can perform, and it's different for each weapon. The super attacks are very over-powered and will easily defeat the bosses. If anything, they're fun to watch. 

Due to the swarms of enemies and shooter-style weapons, Spinmaster ends up feeling more like a run n' gun than an action game. The action is certainly frantic and fun, with plenty of chaos happening all around you. You can only take three hits before dying; if you die, you'll lose your weapon, but the game is generous in providing many weapons along the way in treasure chests. If you have a game over, you can save and begin your game at that level, which is great. 

The inspiration for Spinmaster seems to be from Indiana Jones as the locales include an underground temple, Egyptian tombs, a savage jungle (which includes savages), and even a Roman temple (complete with Roman guards). Gameplay is also constantly changing, having you on land, then in a boat, then in a minecart, and then moving up an elevator. Due to the brisk pace of each level, the gameplay never feels repetitive. 

The bosses are a real stand-out. The mad scientist will show up before each boss fight (similar to Dr. Eggman) and will laugh evilly at you, but then you'll fight one of his monsters. The bosses are huge and epic; these include a multiple giant snake boss, a flying dragon, a goo monster, and a multi-head boss (not two, but four different heads). These fights are very fun, but not difficult, especially since you can use the over-powered super attack. As you progress through the game, you collect pieces of a treasure map. At the end of the game, once the map is complete, you get to choose one of three possible locations for the treasure, and it's pure chance. You might find it or it might blow up in your face. 

Spinmaster is a fantastic game. The only sticking point is the platforming, that is, the few times you have to do precision platforming, which is rare. You can't jump far at all, which will lead to some seemingly unnessecary problems, but they're few and far between. The best part about the game is the fact that it's two player, and this game is a blast to play with a buddy. It may be a short game (only five stages), but it's a very fun one. 

Final Verdict--4 Stars: Recommended

Spinmaster has it all: bright colorful graphics, great gameplay, awesome levels, huge bosses, and two player co-op. The action is in-your-face, hectic, and fun. It's not hard or frustrating, which is pretty amazing for an arcade game. Due to all of this, Spinmaster is a great game to pick up and play at any time. It's even better with a friend. It's available for download on the Wii Virtual Console, and I definitely recommend you try it if you enjoy classic arcade games or are a fan of humorous stuff like the Metal Slug games. And be sure to bring your yoyo with you. 

Join me every Saturday as we take a look back at all kinds of retro games, good and bad.