| Computer Entertainer reviewed the NES version in October 1987 as Taito's adaptation of its own arcade game, "a very faithful adaptation of the coin-op game", with 33 levels and its own paddle-type controller, whose knob moves the paddle. It rated the game three stars of four for graphics and three and a half for game play. It is for one player or two alternating, and the magazine recommended it, at a list price of $49.95. | p. 10, Nintendo reviews, Arkanoidp. 10, Nintendo reviews, Arkanoidp. 10, Nintendo reviews, Arkanoidp. 10, Nintendo reviews, Arkanoidp. 10, Nintendo reviews, Arkanoidp. 2, The Rating Systemp. 2, The Rating System | Magazine |
| Computer Entertainer found the NES version "so addictive" that its reviewers had a hard time putting it away, and wrote that anyone who had enjoyed Breakout would like Arkanoid even more. | p. 10, Nintendo reviews, Arkanoidp. 10, Nintendo reviews, Arkanoid | Magazine |
| California Games headed Computer Entertainer's Top Twenty in its October 1987 issue, on the Commodore 64. | p. 1, The Top Twentyp. 1, The Top Twenty | Magazine |
| Activision's Atari 2600 version, licensed from Data East and designed by Dan Kitchen, was reviewed by Computer Entertainer in October 1987, which said it marked Activision's return to making new games for the 2600. In it the Kung-Fu Master rescues Princess Victoria from the Evil Wizard's Temple, fighting through its five levels; one player or two alternating play. | p. 8, Atari 2600 Softwarep. 8, Atari 2600 Softwarep. 8, Atari 2600 Softwarep. 8, Atari 2600 Softwarep. 8, Atari 2600 Software | Magazine |
| Computer Entertainer found the Atari 2600 version's play "quite similar to the arcade original" and its animation amazingly good for the system, called it a good game with plenty of action, crisp graphics, and good sound effects, and recommended it, at a suggested retail price of $19.95. | p. 8, A Fine Jobp. 8, A Fine Jobp. 8, A Fine Job | Magazine |
| On the NES title screen, Select chooses one player, two players, or Edit mode; in the two-player game the second player uses controller 2, and a speed one player sets holds for both. | p. 13, Nintendo Software, Lode Runner | Manual |
| Computer Entertainer's October 1987 review gave the NES version three stars for graphics and three for game play, out of four, and recommended it at a suggested price of $29.95. | p. 13, Nintendo Software, Lode Runnerp. 13, Nintendo Software, Lode Runnerp. 2, The Rating Systemp. 2, The Rating Systemp. 2, The Rating System | Magazine |
| Computer Entertainer called Lode Runner a game that had stayed popular for years and a challenging arcade game, and expected Broderbund to bring it to the NES after its Japanese release. It found the split screen disconcerting, because a guard waiting off-screen can cost a life, and a lost life sends the player back to the start of the level. | p. 13, Nintendo Software, Lode Runnerp. 13, Nintendo Software, Still a Classicp. 13, Nintendo Software, Lode Runnerp. 13, Nintendo Software, Lode Runnerp. 13, Nintendo Software, Lode Runnerp. 13, Nintendo Software, Lode Runner | Magazine |
| In the United States Mindscape published its own adaptation for the Commodore 64. Computer Entertainer reviewed it in October 1987, at a suggested retail price of $29.95, one player with a joystick, and listed an Atari ST version as coming. It gave three of four stars for graphics and two and a half for game play. | p. 4, Paperboyp. 4, Paperboyp. 4, Paperboyp. 4, Paperboyp. 2, rating key | Magazine |
| Computer Entertainer found Mindscape's adaptation good, holding much of the coin-op's feel, though it doubted the original had enough to it to hold interest for hours. Riding diagonally in the lower right of the screen, it said, hazards come out of nowhere; it called the game simple, but one that hooks the player. | p. 4, Paperboy, Good Adaptationp. 4, Paperboy, Good Adaptationp. 4, Paperboy, Good Adaptationp. 4, Paperboy, Good Adaptation | Magazine |
| Computer Entertainer reviewed the NES version in April 1989 as newly released by Mindscape, giving three and a half of four stars for graphics and three for game play, and recommended it at a suggested retail price of $42.95. | p. 2, rating key | Magazine |
| The NES Rygar appeared in Computer Entertainer's Top Ten Videogames, from telephone polls of retailers and distributors: sixth in August 1987 and seventh in October 1987. | p. 1, Top Ten Videogames | Magazine |
| Spelunker began as a game for Atari computers from MicroGraphic Image. Computer Entertainer reviewed it in November 1983, under its Atari computers heading, as "a superb exploration game from MicroGraphicImage, Inc." on 48K disk. Reviewing the NES version in October 1987, the same newsletter called it an adaptation of a game done originally by Tim Martin and MicroGraphicImage for Atari computers, which it had reviewed almost four years before, "before the title was licensed to Broderbund". | p. 10, Nintendo software, Spelunker; read on the page imagep. 10, Nintendo software, Spelunker; read on the page image | Magazine |
| Computer Entertainer reviewed the NES version in October 1987, gave it three and a half stars of four for graphics and three and a half for game play, and recommended it at $29.95 for one player, with a pause. It listed elevators, conveyors, an abandoned mine train, bats, lava pits, steam vents, dynamite, and secret passages among six levels of caverns, and wrote that the game, "a delightful game of exploration when introduced in 1983", is "every bit as much fun now" on the Nintendo system. | p. 10, Nintendo software, Spelunker; read on the page imagep. 10, Nintendo software, Spelunker; read on the page imagep. 10, Nintendo software, Spelunker; read on the page imagep. 10, Nintendo software, Spelunker; read on the page imagep. 10, Nintendo software, Spelunker; read on the page image | Magazine |
| Computer Entertainer's availability lists put Acclaim's NES Winter Games under September 1987 in its July 1987 issue and under October in its October issue; its November issue lists it under October as shipped by press time. | p. 13 (image 13), Availability Update, Nintendo (contd.)p. 14 (image 14), Availability Update, Nintendo | Magazine |
| The NES version came out in North America in October 1987, published by FCI (Fujisankei Communications International). Computer Entertainer's October 1987 issue, which played a preview sample, called it the second release from FCI, then a new Nintendo licensee. | p. 11, Sneak Preview, Nintendo Softwarep. 11, Sneak Preview, Nintendo Software | Publisher |
| The player flies Zanac to destroy the enemy's central base. At some fortresses the scrolling stops and the fortress has to be destroyed within a time limit shown on screen. The game has twelve areas, and clearing the twelfth shows the ending. | p. 11, Sneak Preview, Nintendo Software | Manual |
| Computer Entertainer's October 1987 preview, unsigned, described the NES version as a vertically scrolling shoot-'em-up set in space, and recommended it. Its writers enjoyed the speed, called the weapons lavish and imaginative, the music good and the sound effects outstanding, and praised the exceptionally smooth control. They noted that the ship can fire from nose and tail at once, and that the game has a continue feature. | p. 11, Sneak Preview, Nintendo Softwarep. 11, Sneak Preview, Nintendo Softwarep. 11, Sneak Preview, Nintendo Softwarep. 11, Sneak Preview, Nintendo Softwarep. 11, Sneak Preview, Nintendo Softwarep. 11, Sneak Preview, Nintendo Softwarep. 11, Sneak Preview, Nintendo Software | Magazine |
| Computer Entertainer's October 1987 preview gave the NES version three and a half stars for graphics and three and a half for game play, out of four. | p. 11, Sneak Preview, Nintendo Softwarep. 2, The Rating System | Magazine |
| The NES version's suggested retail price was $34.95 in October 1987. | p. 11, Sneak Preview, Nintendo Software | Magazine |