NES Round-Up 2 – Ten MORE NES Games You Should Play!

Posted on May 14, 2013 by SaltedCodfish

Almost a year ago I posted a rapidfire list of NES games that I felt gave a decent cross-section of the console and that might not come to mind when you’re just starting out on the console. Well, I had a lot of fun with that piece and folks seemed to like it so here’s the sequel. Not quite the same, but hitting some sweet spots as well.

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Posted in NES / Famicom | 4 Comments

Godzilla vs Super Famicom: Kaijuu Daikessen All-Out Attack

Posted on May 11, 2013 by SaltedCodfish

I’ve been a fan of Godzilla ever since I can remember. These have remained some of my favourite movies of all times, and rank among the few movies I can watch multiple times in short succession. But as a kid, and even now, why do I watch Godzilla movies? Is it for the gripping human drama and interplay? Nah, it’s for the ferocious throw-downs between gigantic creatures. Godzilla movies aren’t titled Human Scientist or Spunky Reporter or the like for a reason. The monsters are the stars, the top billing, and what draws viewers. So a game that cuts to the chase – the monster battles -  must stand out, right? Godzilla Kaijuu Daikessen is that game.

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Posted in SUPER Nintendo / Famicom | 2 Comments

AGROCAST Pilot Episode – ICO

Posted on May 1, 2013 by SaltedCodfish

Introducing the inaugural episode of the AGROCAST!

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Posted in AGROCAST, Playstation 2, Playstation 3 | 1 Comment

Guacamelee! – Add Some Spicy Burrrrrn to Your Playstation 3!

Posted on April 20, 2013 by SaltedCodfish

Guacamelee! Is a game I’d been watching for a while, but didn’t jump on until I received a glowing recommendation from a buddy. It’s been touted as “Luchador Metroid” and that’s not entirely far from the truth. What Guacamelee! Does is blend elements into something entirely unique and fresh. Available on the PSN, it promises to become one of the platform’s standout games of the year.

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Posted in Playstation 3 | 2 Comments

Metroid II – What Grows In The Darkness Below

Posted on April 7, 2013 by SaltedCodfish

I love Metroid II. I love the Metroid series. My first exposure to Metroid was on the NES. My brother’s friend owned it and I would sometimes tag along for the express purpose of playing Metroid. It was big and mysterious, completely captivating. But I didn’t own this game myself, and wouldn’t until years later when I started collecting. In fact, the first Metroid game I owned for myself, played through to the end, and loved every minute of it was Metroid II: Return of Samus.

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Posted in Game Boy | 2 Comments

It’s Okay To Get These Gremlins Wet – Make My Monsters Grow!!

Posted on March 21, 2013 by SaltedCodfish

One of my favourite movies since childhood is Gremlins. It appealed to me on a little monsters level then, and on many more levels now. It’s a dark holiday comedy that plays its horror card well and its tongue-in-cheek card just as well. So I love Gremlins. I also love vintage toys, not exactly a unique combination :P . Recently I was gifted something that captured both sides of this coin…

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Posted in Toys | 2 Comments

Snoopy’s Magic Show – Of Balls and Beagles

Posted on March 12, 2013 by SaltedCodfish

Licensed games. The very concept makes some people immediately turn their noses and lock out any potential for enjoying a game. It’s true that games based on movies or cartoons or other properties are often a cash in lacking the spirit and polish of original or established games. But that’s not always the case. There are many of these titles that are fondly remembered or generally well received. Others still were simply a good game that was reskinned to resemble a property. I’m not really aware of its history, but that’s the feeling I get from Snoopy’s Magic Show. The relationship to Peanuts is superficial, and it’s not really a magic show… But it IS good.

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Posted in Game Boy, Introspection | 3 Comments

Golgo 13: Operation NES

Posted on March 8, 2013 by SaltedCodfish

Golgo 13 aka Duke Togo – the world’s greatest hitman and sniper. He is perfect in what he does – never failing, never swaying from the course. I had early exposure to Golgo 13 in the mid 90’s with The Professional, but even before that I knew it as an NES game. Golgo 13 had two installments on the NES – Top Secret Episode and The Mafat Conspiracy and they tend to be fondly remembered by those who have played them. Personally it’s not a game I played much (if at all) as a child. I mostly remember being at my brother’s friend’s house and watching them play Top Secret Episode. But it was still deeply interesting, especially whenever it would enter a first person action sequence.

Indeed, these games are known for having mature (particularly by NES standards) themes and a great number of play styles. Vic Tokai crafted some ambitious games for Duke, but how many games have there been that have tried to do everything instead of doing just one thing well?

Well, since I have been feeling a resurging interest in Golgo 13 I figured it was time to finally clear these games…

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Posted in NES / Famicom | 4 Comments

Herzog Zwei – Planes, Campaigns, & Robotomobiles

Posted on March 3, 2013 by SaltedCodfish

The Genesis had its fair share of gems, some of them were obvious but others have been left more to the mists of obscurity. But just because a game has been forgotten or isn’t as well known as Sonic doesn’t mean it wasn’t an important game. Games that have had influence, games that are seriously engaging and games that show why the Genesis was the Mega Drive. Herzog Zwei fulfills these criteria.

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Posted in Genesis / Mega Drive | 6 Comments

Soleil – House of the Rising Centy

Posted on February 16, 2013 by SaltedCodfish

Remember when the term “Zelda Killer” was tossed around with wanton abandon? When any action adventure game featuring a sword was a “Zelda Clone?” It makes sense that these terms were used because The Legend of Zelda is undeniably one of Nintendo’s biggest draws to their console. So what of these killers and clones? There are some games that are flagrant in their aping of one another. But others still rise above it and become something special all of their own. Golden Axe Warrior is super close to the original Legend of Zelda in many ways, but it’s a solid game and I enjoy it more than the mainline Golden Axe beat-em-ups. Dark Cloud was touted as both a clone and a killer – but it’s a completely different game that just happens to star a boy with a green hat and a sword. So what about the more obscure entries into the Big N’s core 16-bit competitor? Fingers point squarely at Soleil.

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Posted in Genesis / Mega Drive | 7 Comments