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! 

Nintendo Switch Online March 2025 Updates (Game Boy) - My Thoughts

It's that time again! Nintendo Switch Online has added some new games to its service, this time from the original Game Boy! Let's take a look! 

Donkey Kong - Developed by Nintendo and PAX Softnica. Released by Nintendo in June 1994 in Japan, July 1994 in North America, and September 1994 in Europe. Loosely based on the 1981 arcade game of the same name, this game is a puzzle-platformer. Much like in the arcade game, you play as Mario, trying to rescue Pauline from the titular big ape. This was the first Game Boy game developed with enhanced features when played on a Super Game Boy.

I admit, I have never played this game before. I have played a bit of the original thanks to Donkey Kong 64. I am more familiar with its spiritual successor: Mario vs. Donkey Kong. I played that for the GBA back in the day. Mario's sprite design reminds me of Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins. I wonder if they just reused that sprite. 

I wonder if the enhanced features will still show here. Would be neat to see and maybe provide some nice nostalgia for those that had a Super Game Boy.

Hee hee, Donkey Kong fell down. 

Mario's Picross - Developed by Jupiter Corporation and Ape Inc., published by Nintendo. Released in 1995 (March in Japan and North America, July in Australiasia and Europe). A puzzle game in which you play as Mario, who chips away at stone blocks to reveal a picture. The game is a bit of a cult classic in English-speaking countries. In Japan, the game actually sold rather well, leading to two sequels for the Super Famicom (the Japanese Super Nintendo). 

The first sequel is on the NSO service. I've played it, it's surprisingly fun.  

Tales of Graces f Remastered Launch Trailer, My Thoughts

In 2009, the game Tales of Graces was released for the Nintendo Wii in Japan. Developed and published by Namco Bandai, Graces was the 12th game in the long-running Tales series. The original Wii version never officially came out in the rest of the world. However, it would reach the rest of the world in 2012 when it was ported to the PlayStation 3 as Tales of Graces f. I have no idea what the "f" means. The game would be critically acclaimed in Japan, the original Wii version selling over 100,000 copies, and the PS3 version selling three times that much in the first week after its release alone.

The game is set in the land of Ephinea, where a group of youngsters befriend a mysterious amnesiac girl named Sophie, and from there, a grand adventure and hilarity ensues. On January 17, a remastered version came to various consoles and Windows, including returning to Nintendo by coming to the Switch. Let's look at the trailer!

"Sophie! You're going to ruin Old Man Wilkins' farm!"

Sometimes, hope is all you got.

Ah yes, the whole "my tyrannical rule is justified because I am doing it for everyone's good." That excuse.

"And yet you let me get licked senseless by those giraffes!" 

Man, those new contacts are freaky!

"I mean, I'm the younger brother! I'm supposed to be the less mature one!"

Firework shows in Ephinea are WEEEEEEIRD.

"Trust us, we all ended up seeing Old Man Wilkins naked. We all have had the nightmares." 

(yuk)

That millions of daggers attack was cool...but where does she keep them?

That kid's got a Stand!

Well, I have to admit, I have a rather limited bit of experience with action RPGs. I have played a bit of one of the Star Ocean games, in particular Star Ocean: The Second Story R (a remake of the second Star Ocean game), and I've never played a Trails game before. I think I'd like to give this one a try! Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! See you next time!

Nintendo Switch Online January 2025 Updates

The Mighty Nintendo Switch Online Service marches on! This month, they have added a trio of new games for your enjoyment! Let's look at the trailer!

Fatal Fury 2 - Developed and published by SNK. Released into worldwide arcades in 1992, SNES port released in Japan in 1993, and North America/Europe in 1994. Set one year after the first Fatal Fury, a mysterious nobleman starts a new King of Fighters tournament to get revenge for the death of Geese Howard, the villain of the previous game. This game is notable for the introductions of Kim Kapwhan (The first Korean character and taekwondo practitioner in fighting games) and Mai Shiranui, the pyrokinetic kunoichi who would go on to become one of SNK's mascots, and one of video games' major sex symbols. The arcade version was highly praised, and the SNES port got mixed to positive reviews.

Super Ninja Boy - Developed and published by Culture Brain. Released in Japan in 1991, North America in 1993. Part of the Super Chinese series, this game focuses on a pair of ninjas named Jack and Ryu as they fight to save their home of "Chinaland" (Yes, that's what it's called) in this action RPG. It's a sequel to the 1989 NES game Little Ninja Brothers. Most of the Super Chinese games were never officially released in North America. Also, in the original Japanese versions, Jack and Ryu were kung fu practitioners, fitting for the Chinese-based setting. They were changed to ninjas for marketing in North America. In Japan, this game was known as Super Chinese World.

Sutte Hakkun - Developed by Indieszero and Nintendo R&D2 and published by Nintendo. Released originally only in Japan in 1997. It was broadcast on the Super Famicom (the Japanese SNES) add-on known as the Satellaview, only released in Japan. A side-scrolling action puzzle game, you play as a being called Hakkun, who must collect shards of a rainbow on each level. This game was one of the most popular games for the Satellaview thanks to its user-friendly tutorial and intricate puzzles. This is the first time the game has come to North America...officially. This game got a fan translation in 2017, and in 2020, the Nintendo Gigaleak revealed ROMs for unreleased ports of the game for the Game Boy and Game Boy Color.

I have to say, it's an interesting trio of games we got here. They cover a variety of genres, and we get a game that never left the Land of the Rising Sun. That's really neat. I think I'm going to have to re-subscribe to NSO to play Fatal Fury 2...even though I suck at fighting 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!  

Ys Memoire: The Oath of Felghana Launch Trailer, My Thoughts

The Ys (pronounced "Yee-s") series of RPGs is not as famous as say Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest, but it is a long-running series in its own right. Developed by Japanese game company Nihon Falcom, the first game in the series, Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished, was originally released in 1987 for the NEC PC-8801, a computer primarily sold in Japan. The Ys series tells the tale of a young man named Adol and his adventures in the games' titular land. Over the years, Ys I would get many sequels that would be released on various computers and video game consoles. My first exposure to the series was the eighth mainline game: Lacrimosa of Dana. 

Ys Memoire: The Oath of Felghana is actually not a brand new game. It's a remake of the third Ys game, originally released in 1989: Wanderers from Ys. Oath of Felghana was originally released for Windows in 2005 in Japan, 2012 in the rest of the world. It would get ported to the PlayStation Portable and released for that handheld in 2010 in Japan and North America, and the rest of the world in 2011. This release for the Nintendo Switch (alongside PlayStations 4 and 5) is a remaster of that. Yeah, a remaster of a remake. Let's look at the trailer!

Is that a glove? I thought that was a glove. I had this great joke about the Infinity Gauntlet being fed up with Thanos's obsession with it. Now I don't get to use it. Darn.

You know, you don't need to do that with the spears, pal. You could just say that you can't welcome guests right now. This hotel sucks for that. I mean, the spears are pretty metal, but...yeah. Not for a hotel.

Adol was thinking "They really need to make repairs to this freaky palace."

C-C-C-COMBO!

A robot centaur with machine guns. Now that is a security system! 😀 

"You are a very bad doggy!"

Adol is a warrior, not a gardener!

For heaven's sake, Adol! Give those fairy...harpy...things their money! They just want their money!

The things Adol has to do just to visit a neighbor.

What would a palace need all those gears for? Does the owner have a thing for clocks?

Adol used Fire Punch! It's super effective!

That robot dragon looks like it came out of a Mega Man/Mega Man X game.

"Dude, I'm just here to find a bathroom!"

"That's nice. Where's the bathroom?"

Eh, the view really ain't worth coming all this way for after all. 1 out of 10, do not recommend. 

Well, this looks like fun. I enjoyed Lacrimosa of Dana, so I think I'll give this one a shot sometime. Hope it has 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!

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound Announcement Trailer, My Thoughts.

Don't you just hate it when you travel to a foreign land to honor your father's wishes, and then demons decide to go bonkers and attack the place? Well, for Ryu Hayabusa in 1988, that is what exactly happened. However, this game...is not about him. This is Ninja Gaiden Ragebound. A side story to the original Ninja Gaiden NES trilogy, this game 

Ahhhh, Dotemu. I enjoy their games. Shredder's Revenge, Streets of Rage 4, their port of Windjammers, they do quality work.

"Is that the best you can do?" is one of the phrases someone says before they end up experiencing new levels...of pain.

I like the nod to one of the original game's cutscenes. 

Ryu: Okay Kenji, I'm going to America because my dad wants me to in his will. Meet up with a bud of his. Hopefully, there won't be a buttload of demons causing problems. Watch the village. Don't screw it up.
Kenji: I got this! No problem! 👍

Aaaaaand Kenji just realized that Ryu is going to kill him when he comes back.

(d'oh)

Frickin' demons, man. You kill one, and then six more show up! Sheesh!

I'd so watch a Ninja Gaiden animated series like this.

Ooh, gameplay footage! It's nice seeing the series return to its 2D action-platformer roots. And the looks amazing.

(wow)

Well, this game looks like it will be a lot of fun.