Dr. Mario is a falling block tile-matching video game, in which Mario assumes the role of a doctor, dropping two-colored medical capsules into a medicine bottle representing the playing field. This area is populated by viruses of three colors: red, yellow, and blue. In a manner and style considered similar to Tetris. The player manipulates each capsule as it falls, moving it left or right and rotating it such that it is positioned alongside the viruses and any existing capsules. When four or more capsule halves or viruses of matching color are aligned in vertical or horizontal configurations, they are removed from play. The main objective is to complete levels, which is accomplished by eliminating all viruses from the playing field. A game over occurs if capsules fill up the playing field in a way that obstructs the bottle’s narrow neck. Players can select the degree of starting difficulty any time a new game is started. The initial level chosen is a value between zero and twenty that determines the number of viruses to clear, and the three game speed options change how fast the capsules fall in the bottle. The player’s score is based solely on the elimination of viruses, not on the time taken to complete the level or the number of capsules used. If players complete the highest difficulty level, they can continue playing to accumulate a higher score, but the number of viruses to clear remains the same. Additional points are awarded when multiple viruses are eliminated at once, but no additional points are awarded for initiating chain reactions, in which the elimination of one set of objects triggers the elimination of another set. The game speed is also a factor in how the game calculates scoring; higher speed levels yield more points.

The arcade version of the game is essentially an improved version of the original title. The biggest change in the game’s controls are in the replacement of the original’s punch and kick buttons with two directional-based attack buttons (Left Attack and Right Attack) similar to Renegade. Pressing the attack button of the player’s current direction will do a standard series of punches, while pressing the opposite attack button will perform a back kick. A few new moves are added as well, including a Hurricane Kick. Like in the original game, the arcade version of Double Dragon II is divided into four missions: a heliport, a lumber storehouse, a wheat field, and the new hideout of the boss. Each stage has its own boss character with his own theme. After defeating Willy (the final boss from the original game) in the fourth stage, the player will confront a double of their own character for the game’s final battle. If two players reach the end together, then both will each to have to face their own clone for the final battle.

Mario has gone mad! He’s turned the tables on Donkey Kong and locked him in a cage. It’s up to you, as Donkey Kong Jr., to rescue your father by stealing Mario’s set of keys. But it won’t be easy. You’ll have to fight off ape-eating Snapjaws, jump onto moving islands and break through a jungle of vines to get to the keys that will free Donkey Kong. Can you handle the action? Because this off-the-wall monkey business will have you going bananas!

The player controls Jumpman or Mario in home versions. His objective is to reach the top of the stage to save the Lady (Pauline in home versions), although he must jump over barrels and avoid fire, springoboads and sand piles. It became one of the best selling arcade games of its time and set the basics of the platform subgenre.

Castlevania was a cakewalk compared to this bloody curse. You thought you had the Prince of Darkness defanged – eh, Simon Belmont? Well think again, ‘cause according to a damsel in distress, evil Count Dracula has left a horrifying curse in his wake. And the only hope you have of ending the terror is to destroy his missing body parts! Talk about your frightening quest, searching a maze of mansions, graveyards and dark, eerie forests – each guarded by man-eating werewolves, fire-throwing zombies and other devilish demons. Your grim chances are kept alive in Transylvania, where cowardly villagers offer clues to the whereabouts of Dracula’s remains. And where you’ll purchase magic weapons, including silver knives and flame whips. But beware the night. For when the sun disappears, Dracula’s curse grows deadlier. And your chances grow dimmer and dimmer.