Time for one of those rare non-gaming Lost Classics! To be fair, 50 had two video games made featuring him (Bulletproof and Blood in the Sand), and his music has been featured in several video games, so here we go!

In 1999, a then-unknown Queens MC named Curtis Jackson grabbed the music world by the balls with his single How to Rob. The single, in which the rapper fantasized about robbing everyone from Jay-Z to Kirk Franklin catapulted him to the forefront of East Coast Hip Hop, pissing off several artists in the process. He wasn’t done yet though, heading back into the studio to add this controversial banger to his then-upcoming debut, Power of the Dollar. While the song was intended to catapult him to even greater heights, the resulting controversy instead gained him a large amount of infamy, and almost ended his life.

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Last week’s Lost Classic was based on a Disney license, so here is another one. Maui Mallard was one of the last good platformers of the 16-bit era. As it was released during the final days of the era, it was largely ignored on the SNES and Game Boy and the Genesis version only saw a European release.
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Lets get dangerous!

Before Capcom got its hands on the Marvel license, it made several games based on Disney franchises, particularly based on movies and TV shows. Chip and Dale’s Rescue Rangers, Duck Tales, and Tailspin all received video game adaptations. However, one of the best NES Disney games was undoubtedly Darkwing Duck. You all remember Darkwing Duck. Basically it was a Ducktales spin-off that’s best described as Batman-meets-Spider-man-meets-The Shadow with ducks. It was fun to watch, and the game was just as fun to play. Built off a slightly tweaked version of the Mega Man 5 engine, Darkwing Duck took players through several levels as they attempted to stop a crime wave hitting St. Canard. Armed with your gun (which you can collect adapters to enhance), you take on several enemies from the show on your way to confront the villain Steelbeak. There is probably a very slim chance we’ll see this on Virtual Console, and it’s too bad. Thanks to its quality platforming gameplay, not only did kids enjoy the game, but older players enjoyed it as well. How frequently can you say that about video games based on Disney properties these days?

Before Tiny Tower (and its rip off Dream Heights), there was SimTower, or The Tower, as it was known in Japan. Although Simtower was a different and more complex game from Tiny Tower, its goal was the same: build a huge skyscraper, and satisfy the needs to the tenants within. Your eventually objective is to make your tower a 5-star building. SimTower wasn’t developed by Maxis, but rather, it was published by a Japanese company called OpenBook (now renamed Vivarium Inc). Ironically, developer Yoot Saito got into game development after playing SimCity, and The Tower was re-branded SimTower when Maxis released it in the US. As you progress in Sim Tower, you’ll be able to build everything from offices and apartments to restaurants, movie theaters, and hotels. From time to time, you’ll encounter various events in the building. For example, terrorists may call to inform you that there is a bomb in the building. The game was criticized for moving slow and not including much promotional materials, but it would be just as well received as many of Maxis’s other games. OpenBook/Vivarium would develop a sequel to SImTower, called Yoot Tower, and would eventually go on to develop the Dreamcast cult classic Seaman along with portable remakes and sequels to The Tower for the Gameboy Advance and Nintendo DS. The original SimTower has been regulated to abandonware status, but hopefully it won’t be long before GOG or someone decided to pick it up for a release. If anything, this game could use a good remake.

In the summer of 1994, the big two 16-bit publishers, Nintendo and Sega, released new racing games for their respective systems. Both of them pushed the envelope in graphical capabilities thanks to special chips in their cartridges, and were also fun to play. So which one is better? Well, click below and lets find out.
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With Batman hitting movie theaters this week, this week’s Lost Classic takes a look at one of the gaming adaptations of another DC icon, Superman. The Death and Return of Superman is a beat em up based upon the controversial storyline of the same name. While it probably isn’t saying much, this is arguably the best game starring the Man of Steel. Developed by Blizzard Entertainment (who would later go on to make some little known game called Diablo) and published by Sunsoft, TDATOS is a solid, if generic, adaptation of the comics. Taking control of Superman, you battle your way through Metroplois until you are taken down by Doomsday. From then on, each level will have you in control of one of the four substitutes, each having their own playstyle. Eventually, SUpes will be reborn, and you’ll be back in control of him. Many of the scenes from the comic are reenacted in game form, particularly the destruction of Coast City. While there isn’t much setting it apart from other brawlers, it’s a solid title featuring Superman. How many other games featuring the Man of Steel can you say the same thing about?

Despite its steep learning curve, Jet Moto became a cult classic on the original Playstation, and is one of the many franchises that Playstation 1 gamers wish to see revived. Developed by SingleTrac(Twisted Metal), Jet Moto was the future version of motocross, as you took control of a hoverbike with a rocket engine on the rear. Playing as one of several unique characters, you make your way through several unlockable tracks as you try to win each race. The game’s physics system made the handling something special, although proper handling was downright chaotic for new players. The game’s steep learning curve scared many players off, but players who stayed on board were well rewarded as they mastered their vehicle, along with each curve and bend of the game’s tracks. The comic book art style (featuring some sexy pin up girls) and Pulp Fiction-style soundtrack also helped to keep players hooked. The PC version of the game improved on the Playstation original’s graphics and multiplayer, and two sequels added even more features to Jet Moto. After the Playstation 1 years, the series basically disappeared as two planned sequels were canceled early in development. All three Jet Moto games are available on the Playstation Network for download, so if you like hardcore racing, check them out.

Master of Magic can best be described as Civilization with Magic instead of technology. This 1994 4X strategy title had several bugs when it was released, but a patch released later on improved the game significantly, taking it to the top of many strategy fans lists even today. Taking place on a fantasy world, players take control of one of several wizards and enlist in one of several disciplines of magic. Starting with a tribe of settlers, you colonize a randomly generated world. You research spells instead of technologies. There is a much greater focus on combat than in Civilization as you go into a turn-based strategy mode when you encounter an enemy. It’s fantasy-strategy gameplay was an inspiration for the Age of Wonders series, another classic strategy game. This classic title is only $6.00 on GOG.com, so do check it out.