Balloon Fight (1985)

Balloon Fight is the console port of the arcade game VS. Balloon Fight and this NES iteration has been further ported to many different platforms since its release in 1984. I ended up playing the game on my Switch 2 via the NES classics library by myself but there is a 2-player co-op option if you want to play with a friend. There aren't many levels in the game so if you save scum like I did, you can beat it in one sitting.

You play as a balloon fighter, suspended in the air by the balloons attached to your back. You can land on the ground but primarily you'll be tapping the fly button to keep yourself in the air, not unlike the controls of Flappybird (which wouldn't surprise me if they originally took inspiration from Balloon Fight). The point of the game is to avoid having your balloons popped by your enemies while trying to pop all of theirs. The combination of floaty flight with artillery creates enjoyable chaos and heart-pounding near misses. If Nintendo is taking suggestions for their next "99" battle royale, I'm nominating Balloon Fight.

Preliminary: Wow this is a nice surprise. I thought I would just playtest it, and it'd be another skipable clunky action game. I was disappointed with 1985 for the most part, some remarkable games along the way, but now I'm realizing I'm just now starting the games with actual specific release dates (Japan was much better about that before other regions). AKA, I'm getting into the NES/Famicom era I so love!!!! And this is the first game that felt like it! The controls, the sound, the look--we are finally here! The era I know! Super Mario Bros is right around the corner, too! Ah!!! I needed this pick-me-up after a bad week and disappointing myself for not being able to engage with the technically-great Grumpy Gumphrey game, which in many ways just like my stepping away from the 70s text adventures, I'm sort of "moving on" from the Speccy action-adventures I found so exciting with Atic Atac etc, and now struggle to push through. Or like Manic Miner. Now, with text adventures, some stand out cuz it's been long enough. Perhaps the same will happen with Speccy/C64 platformers and action-adventures, but for now, my excitement is for the NES/Famicom and MSX games!!!

Look: 8/10 Classic NES look, it looks like an arcade game tbh! It's a sign the consoles are "catching up" as we get into the NES era. I gave the Vs Balloon Fight arcade version only 2 star, because it just blended in with other arcade games and Joust clones. This felt... different. I think the Look contributed, but more so the Sound and tight controls/surprising console quality comapred to Speccy/C64. The flapping sprites are cute too and it all works nicely, even if quite simple

Sound: 8/10 I bet this sound absolutely annoyed parents, mind you I'm playing the January 1984 Japanese release, not sure if the other releases had different sounds, but there's this absurd super high pitch sound that I love. And the jingles, like during the Bonus Screen, are just so perfectly NES. I'm so excited for this era, and the Sound really brought it through.

Play: 8/10 I don't love Joust tbh. But... this oddly feels different. Maybe just because it is on the NES and I'm biased? Not sure what it is. But the controls are tight tho i still got annoyed with the Joust style flapping it somehow felt "right", . I didn't even get to do 2-player, but I bet that's a blast. (Oh, I figured it was competitive 2 player, but looks like it's cooperative 2-player)

Feel: 8/10 I'm blasphemous and feel this might be better than Joust. Well, I mean, Joust deserves respect, but this is the Joust version I will return to most often. It does lack that ostrich run thing that was cute in arcade Joust tho lol. All around, a great Feel harkening the era of NES and beyond!! Maybe I'm overrating it because it's the first of the NES games that feel that way, but well-deserved imo. Plus, it's just a genuinely fun action game with a nice Look, catchy Sound, and tight controls.

Attachment: 8/10 I got to Phase 7 but Michael already had Alien set up! Ah! He didn't tell me! So I had to end abruptly, but I will def finish it tomorrow. Nice to finally have another game where I know I will return to it and get through all 12 unique phases (even if I'm sad there's not a set ending/reward at the end, it makes sense being an arcade type game and a port more or less of the Vs version)

Welp, they sure knew when to end their game! Just as the level designs were getting tired/repetitive/tacky-feeling with Phase 11 (too many of the skinny platforms and the swinging things that fling you up imo), they ended it after the next Phase--wise! Always best to know when to end it. Well, they weren't that wise, because it just loops back around, but for me, that's the perfect amount and I only do unique levels. I had one life left, so I probly wouldn't have lasted much longer anyway heh. And pretty goofy that only on Phase 12 did holding down the fly button feel useful, usually that was too fast a flying (Pro-tip: holding down the fly button makes you flap faster than just pressing it super fast)

Oh god! And there's Balloon Trip too! Well, Michael's home now, but I will have to return to this some day, possibly warranting a 9 with Attachment, because I'm confident I will return to this to play Balloon Trip! It looks hard but could be rewarding once you've gotten through the unique phases and want to use off how you got used to the quirks of the controls/flying aspect (just like in Joust, but honestly better imo). Plus there's still the 2-player mode too! I could definitely see myself playing this with my brothers or step-dad or husband. Hm. For now this will be an 8 but when I return, it will likely boost up. Yay!

Completion: All 12 unique phases, 168,600 Score with 1 life left Playtime: ~40 mins

This is kind of like Joust, but not as fun. The controls for this definitely take some getting used to, and I don't know if I'd say it ever felt that great once I did get it down. The sound effects are extremely annoying in this one.

I will give a shoutout to the "balloon trip" mode that as in autoscroller like Flappy Bird. This one is right to left though, which for whatever reason I find pretty cool.

This a pure arcade game. It's easy to understand, easy to have fun, but hard to master.

This is the kind of game that you would enjoy for a 20 minute session, and that's True! more fun can be had playing Co-op especially if you have mastered the controls.

As far as fun factor can go though, this game can be both boring and frustrating. It's not that fun grinding for High-Score, nor playing for a long periods.

It's just an arcade game you play for a few minutes and be done with it.

Our first NES Black Box Games was (besides Mario of course) Excitebike, Ice Climber, Duck Hunt and Balloon Fight. These games produced some of my earliest gaming memories, and one of my favourites from those days are Balloon Fight - a simple game, but with great handling and mechanics that proved that simple can be really fun.

It just feels good to handle your character in BF, and you quickly get a hang of it. Pop the enemies balloons and watch out so they don't pop yours! And watch out for lightning and other hazards. You can exit the screen on one side and cross over, which is great for the gameplay and strategies. Every now and then you get bonus levels, and they're great too.

Playing Balloon Fight against each other on the couch was the best and it can get really hectic and competitive! A true classic that every gamer should try out at some point!

I feel like Balloon Fight is always pushed aside when talking classic NES games. I actually really like it. The controls are a bit slippery but by design. You're flapping your arms against the wind- Of course, you aren't able to maneuver on a dime. The game has smart enough AI (like on the same level as an MGS henchman) and some fun random elements. And it feels good getting the killing blow while the little birdie baddies are helplessly parachuting.

The limited number of levels, lack of boss fights, and quick increase in difficulty prevent it from true greatness. But I wish Balloon Fight were still around. Just like one a console generation and it could be digital only. Plus can't you imagine a big eight player party mode of this? I would toss that on next to Nidhogg and Towerfall in a heartbeat.

For the Famicom/NES's attempts to make home versions of arcade games, this one strikes me as an honest surprise. Though definitely not Joust verbatim, Balloon Fight carries the gameplay for Joust into a simple but very playable home version, and Joust is FANTASTIC.

The game consists of three modes - in 1P/2P modes, the player(s) must float with two balloons to pop either enemy AI balloons. The stages cycle frequently after 12 phases but have some interesting bits to them like spinners, lightning stars, and the dreaded fish in the water. Tapping to gain momentum feels a little more controlled in this than Joust, leading to some tricky maneuvers. As for trickier maneuvers, another game mode "Balloon Trip" allows the player to float for as long as they can amidst a sea of lightning stars, slowly gaining rank and high score. These modes may wear out quickly but are a blast to try out.

The game's tunes are relaxing and catchy (the original theme sticks in Nintendo canon for a reason) and the stars are a wonder to behold - although simple, this game provides a stellar arcade experience that makes it one of the stronger launch titles.