Nintendo Classics July 2026 Update, My Thoughts

Four more games have come to the Nintendo Switch Online service! A platformer, a puzzle/fighter, an RPG, and a puzzle compilation! Not big in number, but hopefully big in quality! Let's look at the trailer!

Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 - Developed and published by Nintendo, released in 1993. The third game in the Super Mario Land trilogy (although it's not about Mario), you play as the "Bad Mario" himself, as he travels an island seeking treasure so he can have a castle of his own. This was the first game in which Wario was the protagonist (his debut in the last Mario Land game was as a villain). This game was praised for its graphics and length but was given more mixed reception for its difficulty.

I have played the first two Mario Land games and enjoyed the heck out of them, although admittedly, I liked the second one more. I have never played this one, and I don't know why. Maybe because it didn't seem like a Mario Land game to me. I mean, it wasn't even about Mario! Of course, nowadays, I know they gave it the subtitle for the purpose of marketing. It clearly worked, as the game sold five million copies and Wario got his own series of games out of it. I loved Wario World.

Fortified Zone - Developed and published by Jalico. Released in Japan in February 1991 and America in September 1991. In this game, you play as a pair of mercenaries named Masato and Mizuki as you fight through various environments to penetrate a military fortress/stronghold. The game was given mixed reviews on release. It was praised for its mix of action and puzzle elements but got criticism for its short length and difficulty curve. It would get a sequel for the Game Boy in 1992 that was not released in Japan.

I personally think this game will be an interesting playing experience. It seems like a game whose big strength is its concept.

And of course they have to deal with giant enemy crabs!

The Sword of Hope II - Developed and published by Kemco. Released in Japan in 1992, North America in 1996. The sequel to the 1989 game The Sword of Hope, you play as Prince Theo of the kingdom of Riccar. As Theo, you must retrieve the titular weapon from the evil menace known as Zakdos. The game was given mixed reviews, mainly for slow battles that made the game a chore. It was still seen as a good enough game for those who wanted an RPG on the go.

Heh heh. Blop. That's a funny name for a monster. I'm guessing Blops are kind of like Slimes in the Dragon Quest games, the easy enemies that you beat to learn how to play.

Dr. Mario and Puzzle League - Released in 1995. A port of the 1990 Nintendo-developed NES game Dr. Mario bundled with the Intelligent Systems-developed Puzzle League, a pair of puzzle games. In the former, you play as the titular doctor, who uses multi-colored vitamins to destroy viruses. In the latter, you must form rows or columns of three identical blocks to keep them from filling up a well. What reviews I did find heaped praise on this compilation. 

One of the first games I remember playing a lot was Tetris back in the day. And I think I did play a little bit of the original Dr. Mario back in the day. I remember doing so, but not exactly when. If you like puzzle games, these are a fun option. 

Out of these four, I think I'm most excited to play Wario Land and Dr. Mario/Puzzle League. Those sound like the best games in the batch. I do enjoy a good RPG, so I may also give Sword of Hope a shot as well. It's nice that these games are being brought here not just for the people who played them in the past, but that these games can get new fans. And I hope they do. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! If you like what I write and want to give my blog some additional support, please make a donation to my Ko-fi! See you next time!

Tales of Eternia Remastered Announcement Trailer, My Thoughts

Back in 2000, Namco developed and released the game Tales of Eternia for the original PlayStation...in Japan. It would come to North America a year later. The third main entry in the Tales series, it told the, well...tale of young hunter Reid Herschel, a young man who has to prevent a massive cataclysmic event known as the Great Fall. Basically, he has to stop two planets from colliding. Good luck with that, kiddo. And now, it's coming to the Switch 2! Let's look at the trailer!

Now, I know you're thinking "Wait, 20 years?! Wasn't this game released in 2000?" Well, yes. But it was released for the PlayStation Portable in 2005 in Japan, 2006 in Australasia and Europe. This will not only be the first official re-release in America, but the first time this game was officially released on a non-Sony console.

"Here I am! ROCK YOU LIKE A HURRICANE!"

Man, they really could use He-Man's help right now.

Did somebody throw Skittles at them? That gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "Taste the Rainbow!"

I have to agree with Big Eyes there. I'd rather try and fail than not try at all.

Well, looks like we got quite an eclectic cast of characters here. That's always good to have in an RPG. 

Quality of life improvements are always good. It shows that they want to make the game more fun and enjoyable. After, this game is 25 years old. There's going to be some things that don't age well.

Oh, those effects RULE! They are so cool!

Well, this looks like another potential add to my Nintendo Switch library. You can tell I love RPGs, right? I've never played a Tales game before, so I hope this one is really good and is a lot of fun. Man, I really got to catch up on my other ones. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! If you like what I write and want to give this blog some additional support, please make a donation to my Ko-fi! See you next time!

Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered Trailer, My Thoughts

In 2002, the game Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee was released for the Nintendo GameCube and the original X-Box in 2003. Developed by WayForward Technologies and Pipeworks Software, the game was a fighter starring the various monsters from the history of the Godzilla films up to that point. In the game's single-player adventure mode, the various monsters are made into slaves of the alien race known as the Vortaak (an alien race created for the game), except for the monster you choose to play as in a plot to conquer the Earth. 

The game had several modes, including Destruction Mode (in which you destroy as much of a city as you can for points), and Melee Mode (two to four players can fight as particular monsters). The game received mixed to positive reviews, praised for its many game modes, but criticized for its gameplay. 

It has been announced that a remastered version of the game will be coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, X-Box Series X, and for the first time, Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 5. The game isn't a simple porting, as Pipeworks rebuilt the game with Unreal Engine 5. Hey, rebuilding a game from the ground up? This is an opportunity! Maybe make some much-needed improvements? Bring the graphics up to par with modern games? Maybe add some new quality of life features to help make the game more fun and address issues of the past version. Who knows? Let's look at the trailer!

You ever have one of those days when you just want to throw someone you hate at a building? Godzilla's entire life is like that. And he can throw people into buildings. And he does throw his fellow monsters into buildings. Basically, he throws people at buildings all the time. I mean, who's going to stop him: Michael McDoesn'tExist?

And if he's in the mood, he'll throw a building at a monster! Changing it up every now and then is a good thing.

I've got to admit, all the cities look really good. I do think the color scheme is a bit washed out and dull, though. 

Yes, you can fight your friends online! That seems to be a requirement of fighting games these days, huh?

Sometimes, you just want to break things. Good thing this game has a mode for that. 

Yeah, this needs context. You see, the GameCube and Game Boy Advance versions of this game would be released in 2002. A year later, it was ported to the original X-Box. The X-Box version had enhanced graphics, a couple new levels, the Destruction Mode for single-players, and an additional monster: The incarnation of MechaGodzilla from the 2002 film Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla (as the film was released in Japan after the GameCube version came out)...yet the footage is of the first version of MechaGodzilla from the 1974 film Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla. Yeah, for context, this is what the 2002 MechaGodzilla looked like:

Yup. That's an oopsie.

I admit, I've never played the original version of this game, but I do want to give this remaster a try. It looks like it'll be a lot of fun. Nothing more enjoyable sometimes that playing as a monster throwing buildings at another monster sometimes...or throwing other monsters at buildings. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! If you like what I write and want to give this blog some additional support, please make a donation to my Ko-Fi! See you next time!  

Marvel Cosmic Invasion Cyclops and The Thing DLC Trailer, My Thoughts

Way back in March of 2025, I took a look at the announcement trailer of a Marvel beat-em-up game that I got excited to play: Marvel Cosmic Invasion. In this game, you play as a variety of Marvel's superheroes against the insectoid army of the Negative Zone-born menace known as Annihilus. In the months since, several trailers revealed the full roster. We started with Spider-Man (Peter Parker), Captain America (Steve Rogers), Nova (Richard Rider), Quasar (Phyla-Vell), Storm, Wolverine (James "Logan" Howlett), and Venom (Eddie Brock). A pretty good mix of characters. But that was not all the playable roster. Over time, a series of trailers revealed the actual full roster: She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters) and Rocket Raccoon, Silver Surfer and Beta Ray Bill, Black Panther (T'Challa) and Cosmic Ghost Rider (Frank Castle), and Iron Man (Tony Stark) and Phoenix (Jean Grey). 

But even then, that was not all. DotEmu and Tribute has some DLC ready for us, increasing the playable roster to seventeen characters: The X-Men's resident master of the optic blasts: Cyclops, and the ever-lovin' blue-eyed idol of millions, the Thing! Let's look at the trailer!

I admit, it's nice to see the Thing in this game. I've read my fair share of 70s comics with Ben, and he is just a fun character. 

I can imagine that bug is going to have one heck of a headache, ha ha. 

Personally, I would have chosen Sue Storm-Richards/The Invisible Woman for the Fantastic Four representation. Or Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic. Sue's forcefields would be handy for blocking blows. And Reed's stretching powers would have allowed a nice nod to Battletoads. Imagine Reed's foot becoming a big spiky boot when he kicks.

I do admit, Sue could do the same with her forcefields. 

I imagine that Cyclops was included because of the popularity the character has gained thanks to X-Men '97. I mean, I get it. As a fan of the show, Cyclops was pretty awesome. 

When you need bugs bulldozed, Ben Grimm is your man.

Is that Ray Chase voicing Cyclops here? It sounds like him. 

There are four X-Men in this game. Can we please have some love for the Inhumans in this game? I mean, the Royal Family's been all but forgotten by Marvel recently. I'd love to play as Medusa tossing around bugs with her hair, or Karnak throwing some martial arts hands and feet around. Heck, Black Bolt and his sonic powers would be cool!

Wait, was that ben in his 80s black singlet?! Nice deep cut!

I like the dialogue between Scott and Jean. 

"It's on sight!" Get it? Because Scott can blast anything he looks at? 

Well, this is cool! I love that this game has DLC. I hope we get lots more characters and maybe even some new levels and stuff like that. The Marvel Universe has a wealth of characters and places that can be used for this game! So much potential! They can keep this game going for years! I doubt they will, but I hope they find a way. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! If you like what I write and want to give this blog some additional support, please make a donation to my Ko-fi! See you next time!

Pokemon Winds/Waves Reveal, My Thoughts

30 years ago today, the paired RPG monster-catching games Pokémon Red and Green were released in Japan. In 1998, they would come to the West as Pokémon Red and Blue. I remember seeing a copy of Red on a shelf in the electronics section of a Walmart. I was caught by the cover, showing a Charizard. I thought "Hey, that dragon looks neat", and from there, I was hooked.

I am a fan of the Pokémon franchise. If you've followed this blog over the years, you may have seen me put out Text Plays of various Pokémon fan games...which I can never seem to complete. Closest I got was Mega Adventure. And that was a very long time ago. But as for official games, we're now entering Generation X. As in Ten. Yeah, it blows my mind, too. This new pair of games is set in a yet-to-be-named region that is believed to be based on Southeast Asia. Basically, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, that part of the world. I think that's really neat. And that reminds me that I have to get through my copy of Sword, as it's based on my birth country of the UK. Anyway, let's look at the trailer!

That beachfront house looks like a very relaxing place. I'd love to visit it and just look out at the waves.

I wish I could draw that well. Just got to keep practicing.

I think these are previous regions in the series. Makes sense as this is an anniversary year. I mean, I do recognize Kalos and Galar.

Can't have a Pokémon game without a Pikachu! 

Pikachus in clothes are always cute. I wonder if these Pikachu will be special ones.

Yeah, I can see why some would believe Southeast Asia is the inspiration for this game's region. Lots of water and islands? Yeah, that part of the world is full of islands.

My guess is these will be some of the Pokémon we'll see in this game. I know they'll introduce a bunch of new ones, but it's nice seeing some old ones return. 

I wonder what that building is. Can't be a theme park. Maybe that's the lab of the resident Pokémon Professor? 

And meet our player characters! 

I love the hat on the male Trainer. I want that hat!

My guess is that Pokémon encounters and battles will be like those in Legends: Arceus. Makes sense. That style of battling really fits a full-3D game like that, and it would be the most realistic take on it. 

Palossand! I like Palossand. Such a cute little grudge-animated pile of sand.

Wingull, Krabby, Tympole, and some other Pokémon I forgot the name of.

And meet the starters: Browt, Pombon, and Gecqua. They are rather cute, and I can see why Pombon has become such a big hit. 

I got Pombon's name, a mix of Pomeranian and Bonfire. I have to admit, it took me a minute to get Gecqua's name. Gecko and Aqua. I'm a dope.

Not sure where Browt's name comes from. Maybe a reference to the words "branch" and "owl"? I have heard (well, read) a theory that the starters are references to Southeast Asian myth: the Garuda, Barong, and Naga. If this game's region is based on Southeast Asia, having starters that reference that region's mythology is a nice cultural touch.

I noticed that funny-looking cloud there. Is that a hint of this game's legendary or one of them? 

Well, I have to admit, I am always excited about new Pokémon games! I can't wait to explore this new region, and see what sights there are to see. I can't wait to see what new Pokémon these games will introduce. Having the starters be the only "new" Pokémon shown here was a nice touch in my opinion, as it's a tradition to have the starters be the first "new" Pokémon introduced, and assures players some of their old favorites can return. I can't wait to get these! Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! See you next time!

Super Mario Galaxy Movie Trailer, My Thoughts

Back in 2023, the animated film The Super Mario Bros. Movie was released, produced by Illumination and Nintendo. Directed by Michael Jelenic and Aaron Horvath, it had quite a star-powered voice cast, with Chris Pratt and Charlie Day voicing the titular brothers, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach Toadstool, and Jack Black as Bowser. Critics were mixed on the film, but it grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide, being the first film based on a video game to do so. 

In a Nintendo Direct in September 2025 announced a sequel: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Let's look at the trailer!

Man, Bowser is an intense painter! Although I will admit, it is nice that he's finally found himself a hobby. And I thought the bait-and-switch was pretty clever.

I can imagine that he draws inspiration from Jackson Pollack. 

I love that Mario is holding a grudge. Can't blame him, really.

His tiny voice is hilarious.

You know, Luigi, Bowser did kidnap you, tried to kill you and your brother, and also tried to force Peach to marry him. 

I imagine that Mario was inwardly enjoying trashing Bowser's art. Can't blame him, really. Guy did kidnap his brother, tried to kill him, and the big turtle-dragon tried to force Peach to marry him. I admit, I'd be gleefully hating on him, too.

Yeah, I imagine Mario was throwing out his best smirk seeing Bowser injure his tail. 

Hey, the Star Festival from Mario Galaxy! Makes sense, this is the Super Mario Galaxy Movie, after all. And of course, the gang travel by Launch Stars, just like in the game!

That shot of Mario and Luigi on the bikes is very Mad Max.

Hey, is that...the Sand Kingdom from Super Mario Odyssey?!

Freakin' Ninjis! I swear, you take down one, a hundred more appear out of nowhere!

And of course, Bowser Junior from Super Mario Sunshine. I wonder if we'll get to see the Koopalings. I know that it has been said the Koopalings are not Bowser's kids, but it would be nice for them to get a mention. Also, who is Bowser Junior's mom? 

Really cool they used the Prowler theme. Helps give the kid a bit of menace.

Oh hey, Rosalina! Wonder when you'd show. 

Megaleg. Another reference to Mario Galaxy. And I'm betting Bowser Junior is operating it.

Rosalina: "Yeah, no. Go away." 

I love that this trailer implies that Rosalina is a capable princess. I mean, she has become a playable character in recent games, so the portrayal does make sense. 

Well, I loved the last Mario movie, so I am very much looking forward to this one! I can't wait to see how they use the elements of Galaxy, Odyssey, and Sunshine. Maybe we'll get to meet Bowser Junior's mother. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! See you next time!

Marvel Cosmic Invasion Release Date Trailer, My Thoughts

It's coming closer! The new Marvel beat-em-up video game Marvel Cosmic Invasion is getting closer to release! Back in September, I gave my thoughts on the reveal of two of the playable characters in the game: Black Panther and Cosmic Ghost Rider. Well, this launch trailer also reveals the last two playable characters in the roster: Iron Man, and Jean Grey, aka the Phoenix! Let's look at the trailer!

It is appropriate that Iron Man be on the roster. After all, this game is going for the whole 90s aesthetic, and Iron Man was traditionally on the rosters in the Marvel vs. Capcom games. He was in most of them.

And is that Eric Loomis as Iron Man? He voiced him in Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, and his work as Tony was spectacular!

I'm guessing MODOK will appear in this game. Likely as a boss.

The Proton Cannon returns!

Jean Grey is quite a surprise. Although I personally think we already have plenty of X-Men rep in Wolverine and Storm. Still, happy for her fans. 

Iron Man hitting them with the pulse bolts. 

Hey, Jeff the Land-Shark in that tube. I also noticed Man-Thing and is that...Lionheart? From BRUTE FORCE?! Oh, this is a deep cut! Respect!

I think Jean is getting a little drunk on Phoenix power. Just a little bit.

As I said before, I have a lot of respect for the game makers for making such a varied roster. Hopefully, there will be more characters added as DLC. And it comes out in December, so it can be added to your Christmas list. I am excited for this game! I cannot wait to play it! I hope there's a demo! Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! See you next time!

Marvel Cosmic Invasion: Black Panther and Cosmic Ghost Rider Trailer, My Thoughts

Annihilus is rampaging through the Marvel Universe, and it's going to take a variety of said universe's greatest heroes to take him down! In the upcoming beat-em-up game Marvel Cosmic Invasion, you get to do exactly that, the roster of heroes you can command being a mix of superstars like Spider-Man and Storm, to hidden gem characters like Phyla-Vell and Nova. Back in July, it was revealed among the 15 playable characters in the game were Beta Ray Bill and the Silver Surfer.

And now, this new trailer reveals playable characters #12 and #13: The King of Wakanda, T'Challa, the Black Panther...and the hellfire-packing Frank Castle, the Cosmic Ghost Rider! Let's look at the trailer!

Makes sense that Black Panther would be in this game. His profile has been raised considerably thanks to the MCU. 

I love that Thanos has essentially become Marvel's answer to Darkseid. As in the Big Bad of that superhero universe. It kind of fits as Thanos was inspired by Darkseid. 

Man, good thing that chain showed up. T'Challa's face was nearly made into hamburger meat.

Cosmic Ghost Rider is actually quite a surprise. 

For those not in the know, Cosmic Ghost Rider first appeared in Thanos #13 (January 2018), created by writer Donny Cates and artist Geoff Shaw. He was the Frank "Punisher" Castle who came from an alternate timeline that was conquered by Thanos. After he was killed, he was sent to Hell. Desperate to punish Thanos, he made a deal with that universe's Mephisto (the Marvel Universe's answer to Satan), When he returned to his Earth, Thanos was gone, and Earth was a dead husk. He would end up becoming a herald of that universe's Galactus, hence the Cosmic Ghost Rider thing. He would be brought to the mainstream comic universe by Odin. Fun fact, he fights with chains made from the bones of Cyttorak, the godlike being that empowered the Juggernaut of X-Men fame.

He's an odd choice, considering the game's whole 90s aesthetic, but it makes a bizarre bit of sense. For one, the game's roster is a mix of known and lesser-known characters, so it makes sense that the game makers would see this as an opportunity to use a character like CGR. For two, he's linked to Thanos and was a herald of an alternate Galactus, so he is a cosmic character. Three, the Punisher had his own beat-em-up game in 1993. So, yeah. Good way to sneak him in while giving him unique mechanics.

You know, I do think there is a pattern to these reveals, as I hinted at in the Beta Ray Bill and Silver Surfer trailer. Basically, the idea is that each of the two characters have a role: one is the slow-moving powerhouse that can hit hard and take hits, the other is the faster, more agile character. Not as durable, but can dodge and strike multiple times real fast. These two fit the pattern in a way. T'Challa slashes real fast, and Castle hits hard with his whip and cosmic shotgun. 

Hee hee hee, Frank ran over the bugs with his cosmic death motorcycle.

And I just saw Thanos there. Yeah, I think it's revealing that Thanos is likely a boss here. Wouldn't surprise me if he's the main boss, considering Marvel's trend of making him their biggest Big Bad in recent years. 

Well, I am excited. As I have said before, I love that this roster is a mix of Marvel's well-known and lesser-known heroes. It's a great way to show just how incredibly wide and big the Marvel Universe truly is. I hope that some of the lesser-known characters here get new fans as a result. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! See you next time!

Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution Launch Trailer, My Thoughts

Sometimes, a video game takes a lot longer to be released than expected. That was the case with this game: Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution. This game originally started development in 2002, originally intended for the Game Boy Advance. The sixth game in the Shantae series, this game was set between the first and second games in the series. In this game, Shantae would try to stop her nemesis, the pirate queen Risky Boots, from terraforming the world with a special underground machine.

At the time, WayForward was unable to find a publisher for the game, causing it to seemingly end up forever unreleased...until now. Risky Revolution has been brought to the X-Box One and Series X/S, PlayStations 4 & 5, Windows, GBA, and the Switch. Let's look at the trailer!

Sometimes, you just need to take a swim to get your head together. 

Some may think that whipping with a ponytail is silly, but a) Shantae is half genie, and b) being whipped by hair can hurt. Ask anyone who wrestled Bianca Belair.

Aw come on, Shantae! That cannonball was only two days away from retirement!

I can imagine that it's only her being half-genie that is the reason that her seeing the world rearrange itself like that doesn't cause her to get dizzy, vomit everywhere, and faint.

That robot was not paid enough to get smashed by an angry elephant.

I wonder if Shantae had ever been bothered by the Inheritors in her spider form.

Having a 4-player battle mode makes sense. This game was originally developed for the Game Boy Advance, and one could link up 4 GBAs with enough cables.

Alternate costumes, eh? I wonder if they'll be homages. I never really worried about that kind of thing myself, but if you want to give her a new look, have fun with it.

Well, this looks really fun! I've never had the opportunity to play any of the Shantae games in the past, so this will be a great place for me to start. I love the concept of Shantae taking various forms. I can imagine that each of the forms will have different uses for exploration and combat. It looks bright, colorful, a real feast for the eyes. I think this game looks like a winner! Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves, and each other! See you next time! 

Marvel Cosmic Invasion: Silver Surfer and Beta Ray Bill Trailer Reveal, My Thoughts

Back in June, I gave my thoughts on the trailer revealing She-Hulk and Rocket Raccoon as playable characters in the beat-em-up Marvel Cosmic Invasion. We know the game will have 15 playable characters, and we've seen nine. Now let's look at characters number 10 and 11: the Sentinel of the Spaceways, the Silver Surfer. And the Korbinite powerhouse worthy of Mjolnir: Beta Ray Bill! Let's look at the trailer!

I love the music they use in this trailer. I hope it's in the game.

Ooooooh, Stormbreaker to the face!

We're going to Asgard! Which looks like it's going to be eaten by Galactus. For some reason, I can imagine Galactus saying Asgard tastes like a Scandinavian pastry. Mmmm...pastry.

That trick with Stormbreaker is pretty cool. Get a few hits in without letting the opponents get near.

"Let us fight with valor!" I love that line.

I always imagined that the Silver Surfer's physical combat abilities would reflect the cultural view of the likes of aikido and Shaolin monks, being all about redirecting violent energy away from himself. It would fit his whole thing of being a peace-seeker and being rather, well, Zen for lack of a better term. 

I like the voices for Beta Ray and Surfer. I think the VA did a great job.

Beta Ray Bill strikes me as the Mighty Glacier type. He's not quick, but he can hit hard and take a hit.

The Surfer might be more agile. In fact, I think that's the pattern with these reveals: you have a big powerhouse character, and the quicker character. It works when you keep in mind She-Hulk and Rocket in the last trailer.

And HELA? Looks like we got her as a boss here. Makes sense she'd be revealed here, with Bill's connection to Asgard.

I'm so hyped for this game! As I said before, I love that the game's roster is a mix of famous and lesser-known characters. I will be looking forward to playing this! Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! Seeyou next time!

Marvel Cosmic Invasion: She-Hulk & Rocket Raccoon Reveal, My Thoughts

Back in March, I gave my thoughts on the reveal trailer of the upcoming beat-em-up game Marvel Cosmic Invasion. This game will use a tag-team mechanic and will boast 15 playable characters. We know seven of them already: Captain America (Steve Rogers), Wolverine (James "Logan" Howlett), Storm, Quasar (Phyla-Vell), Nova (Richard Rider), Spider-Man (Peter Parker), and Venom (Eddie Brock). But this new trailer just revealed two more playable characters: The Sensational She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters), and the Rough-and-Tumble Rocket Raccoon! Let's look at the reveal!

I love that the mushroom cloud looks like a raccoon's head. 

I like this game's rendition of She-Hulk. Shows that she is a beautiful powerhouse.

Heh, fist-bumping with a Hulk is never the best idea when you are small.

Good thing Rocket is tougher and meaner than the average raccoon. 

I love that he just magically whips out massive guns.

As a wrestling fan, I appreciate that She-Hulk's moveset seems to be modeled on pro wrestling. I want to see her suplex a Sentinel. Same with Rocket using his claws to fight. He's got 'em, why not use 'em?

Another nice touch with She-Hulk's thunderclap move. She's strong, but not as powerful as her cousin. But that doesn't mean her thunderclap won't hurt.

The presence of Sauron seems to imply that we'll be going to the Savage Land in this game. Nice.

This looks great! I like that She-Hulk and Rocket seem to be for people who prefer different styles. You like to hit and run and blast your opponents? Go for Rocket. You prefer a tank that can hit hard? You go with Shulkie. Personally, I want to try them both out and see what they can do. My hype for this game has grown thanks to this. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! See you next time! 

Lunar Remastered Collection Launch Trailer, My Thoughts

In 1992, the Japanese game studio Game Arts (alongside Studio Alex), developed and released the RPG Lunar: The Silver Star for the Sega CD. This game made use of the CD-ROM format to include voice acting, improved audio, and full motion video. It told the tale of Alex, a young boy who dreamed of being a hero like his idol Dyne.

No way, man! Swords are sharp!

Only in a fantasy RPG can you beat down a big dragon with a tiny sword.

I haven't played much of the Lunar games (I have one of them on my tablet), but this looks gorgeous. 

(wow)

Hey, buddy! You got a pair of angry fireballs following you! 🔥

🎵 Sailing, sailing, over the bounty main...🎵

Again, only in a fantasy RPG can you see a guy fighting monsters with dice. I bet the game makers were playing D&D when they came up with this idea.

Ooh, that'll hurt.

*wince)

A giant mechanical toy drummer is a unique idea for an RPG boss.

I like the idea of being able to choose between remastered and classic modea. If you played thsi game in the past, the classic mode may be how you want to play it for nostalgia. New players can use remastered. Win-win for everyone!

(Terminator thumbs up)

METEORA! METEORA! METEORA!

(Meteora)

Gradius ORIGINS Announcement Trailer, My Thoughts

In 1981, Konami developed the side-scrolling shooting game Scramble. This game was Konami's first major hit, and it was a rather important game. This game was the first shooter with forced scrolling (meaning the game forced you to move forward), and distinct levels. It would also pave the way for one of the most iconic side-scrolling series of games of all time: Gradius. In fact, the first Gradius game was intended to be a sequel to Scramble. It's why Konami considers Scramble the spiritual predecessor to Gradius. 

Gradius pioneered the "power-up bar". Whereas in other shooters, the player can pick up a variety of power-ups that have different effects, the Gradius has only one power-up item. By picking up a certain number of these items, the player can choose the effect from a bar on the bottom of the screen. Later games (starting with Gradius III) would allow the player to choose what combination of effects before starting the game. 

Over the decades, the series would make its way out of arcades and into various home consoles and computers. It would also get spin-offs, most famously Salamander (If you ever played the NES game Life Force, that was the first Salamander).

It has been announced that a collection of the early Gradius games is in the works for the Nintendo Switch. This collection contains the first three mainline Gradius games, the first two Salamander games, as well as Life Force. And it has a special surprise. Let's look at the trailer!

That music is awesome!

M2? Yeah, they're the guys behind those Sega Ages ports of old Sega games. I have their ports of the first Phantasy Star and the first two Sonic games they did on my Switch. They're great ports of fun games.

They also did the "3D Classics" Sega game ports for the 3DS back in the day.

A third Salamander game?! Neat! And it looks really cool!

It's insane how many versions some of these games have. It would be neat to see the differences, though. And I'll get to play Life Force on my Switch. I have it on my 3DS. I am wondering why the SNES version of Gradius III isn't included, though.

A rewind feature is only welcome in this house. As well as an easy mode. I like easy modes.

A training mode, too? They're really going all out to make the games more welcoming to people. That's a good thing.

Well, this looks like another great addition to my Switch library. I am a bit familiar with the Gradius series, thanks to having Life Force on my 3DS, and also having Gradius Galaxies on my GBA. As such, I am excited for this. I'm looking forward to playing some of these games. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! See you next time! 

Marvel Cosmic Invasion Announcement Trailer, My Thoughts

French game developer/publisher Dotemu has made their name in the video game industry for remaking and remastering classic video games. They also have been known to make new games in a retro style. I myself have enjoyed some of their work, like their port of the arcade game Windjammers, Streets of Rage 4, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge. And now they're gracing the marvel universe with a new retro beat-em-up.

Marvel isn't a stranger to the beat-em-up video game. Many characters have appeared in them. Spider-Man (paired with Venom), Captain America and the Avengers, the X-Men, the Punisher...the Marvel Universe loves beat-em-ups. And it's not hard to see why. Superheroes are a great fit for the genre. And now they're coming back to the genre to face the hordes of the Negative Zone tyrant known as Annihilus with the upcoming game Marvel Cosmic Invasion. Let's look at the trailer!

Aw, man! I just made my last payment on that food truck!

Ah, monsters invading New York. In the Marvel Universe, that's just a regular Tuesday.

Imagine being an alien attacking the city, and the last thing you see is that shield heading right for your face. 

Count on Steve Rogers to hand out a quality Grade-A American-style beatdown.

And of course, you cannot have a Marvel fighting game without Spider-Man. Peter, Miles, Miguel, it doesn't matter. You can't have a Marvel game without Spidey.

Naturally, if you're paying homage to the 90s, you gotta have Venom. The symbiote had a bit of a heyday back then.

Wolverine and Storm? Yeah, makes sense. Again, if you're doing a 90s style Marvel game, you include the X-Men. 

Wait, is that...Phyla-Vell?! In her Quasar garb?!

Nice! I love it when games use lesser-known characters! 👍

And the Richard Rider Nova! With his mid-90s haircut!

Gameplay looks fun as heck. But then again, it's DotEmu and Tribute Games. They haven't disappointed yet. The graphics and art style make me think of a 90s beat-em-up, which is always good.

Well, this trailer looks like fun! Nova and Phyla-Vell are surprising additions, but I can guess why. This game is clearly based on the Annihilation crossover, and those two played a role in it (Nova ripped Annihilus's guts out through his throat), so it makes sense they'd show up. This is the kind of game you could support for a long time through DLC, additional campaigns and characters and the like. In fact, I have some ideas on characters they could add...

But yeah, I am hyped for this game. This looks like another home run for Dotemu and Tribute Games! Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! See you next time!