Game Review: Wall Street Kid for NES

Rating: 73 out of 100

Introduced in 1990, Wall Street Kid for NES is probably the most fun tycoon strategy game I have found for the NES. In the game you are the heir of the $600 billion Benedict fortune, but to prove you are worthy you are given $500,000 to invest. You must make enough to buy a house, a yacht, and finally the family castle. You must also maintain a good relationship with your fiancé/wife, and maintain good health. If you succeed, you get the billions, fail and you get squat!

The gameplay is, at first, hard to pick up on, but once you get the hang of it, its fun and challenging. If your looking for a no holds barred 8-bit thrill ride, look somewhere else. It’s a strategy game, pure and simple. The “save codes” are a bit complex. If you write them down, make sure you write down where they are shaded digits or regular. Otherwise you will end up losing your progress. That being said, once you get the hang of it, you can play the entire game from beginning to end in about 2 hours, less if you are really good. I can actually get through the entire game in about an hour now. But there are always curveballs, so watch out.

The game throughs a bit of humor at you with the names of the companies, which are essentially spoofs of real companies such as Yapple instead of Apple, Firedman’s instead of Freidman’s, Charles Schlob for Charles Schwab, YBM for IBM, Strayhound instead of Greyhound, and Carnivore Cruise Lines instead of Carnival Cruise Lines.

The game is fairly easy to find, and since its not in high demand. I picked up my copy at the Cheektowaga Super Flea in Cheektowaga, NY for $2.  I have seen them online, I have seen them at Oogie Games, and I have seen other copies at the flea market, all for between $5 and $10. For the price, it is well worth it. If you are into strategy games I definitely recommend you pick this one up.

HINT: The stock tips are a VERY useful way to make money. Sure they may cost $1000, but they are worth 100 times that!

CHEATER'S CORNER: 

To get to the cheats, simply go into the "saved game" section instead of new game and enter one of the following codes. 

Code: 24[!][?]9 Q[X][%]2[K] [%]2[D]3[?] 01[D]31 02[D]3[L] 03[D]3H 04[D]3Y [%]2DB7 [!]0[Q][M]3 4C0[O]3 [%]2

Effect: Start Game on Monday, April 5th at 9:00 with $999 Million+ Cash/$360 Million+ Stocks/Max.Stocks(999)/Full Portfolio.

Code: MCAIB 10W0? SH40Q 2020E 0?%4? %4?%4 2V8MK CQ208 M30C0 C

Effect: Final week of game

Code: L50UB %452? %4?%4 ?%4?% 4?%5V 60W0D 0C0M3 0C08

Effect: Mansion

Code: MC50W %2W0! 7H10E 2030Z 0?%4? %4?%4 1P8MC CQ208 M30C0 C

Effect: Skip to week 15

Code: G1HGL L3%34 6?%4? %4?%4 %4?%5 E62%2 70C0M 30C%2

Effect: get the Yacht 






ON A DIFFERENT NOTE: Don’t forget to vote for your favorite game system on the poll located on the top of the column on the right! A lot of people have voted for the SNES, which is probably my least favorite vintage system and I really don’t think it did much to further the video game industry, but one man’s trash is another’s treasure. Anyway, VOTE! PLEASE VOTE!