Infected maybe the only zombie shooter set around Christmas time
Infected is one of the earliest titles on the PlayStation Portable. Developed by Planet Moon Studios back in the mid-2000s, Infected is a twisted and darkly humorous third-person shooter in the backdrop of a zombie-infested New York City around Christmas time. It is also one of the more creative games to be released for Sony’s ill-fated handheld, making use of online play in a creative manner.
Looking at Infected today, gamers can see an experience something that should have been a cult hit. The image of a zombified charity Santa Claus is enough for anyone to give it a shot. If they do, they will play a fun, if not a little mindless, shooter that had a little more personality than most early PSP games.
Ho, ho….no. Image courtesy of Cheat Code Central.
Infected is the definition of a “popcorn game;” turn your brain off and have fun A few weeks before Christmas and the Big Apple is hit with a zombie outbreak. Instead of families enjoying the magic of the holidays, they are being slaughtered and eaten by the flesh-eating horde. The game portrays this tragedy with a wicked grin and comes off less Walking Dead and more Dead Alive. Players take the role of Officer Stevens, whose blood can be used as an antidote against the monsters. The character is fully customizable with several ridiculous costumes, including Rayne from Bloodrayne and all nine members of Slipknot. Stevens is given the task to eliminate as many zombies as possible, in increasingly gory ways.
If you want, you can make Stevens look like a total dweeb. Image courtesy of Moby Games.
The tongue-in-cheek treatment of the horrifying scenario is bookended with raunchy faux-newscasts and over-the-top cut scenes. Stevens’ wardrobe also adds to the zaniness of the game. Zombies are still scary, but have an overtly animated feel to them where laughing at them is more appropriate. Again, it is dark humor so it is not for everyone.
Gameplay in Infected is simple and has a barebones control set up tailor-made for the PSP’s awkward control set up. The two shoulder buttons are for firearms, and the single analog stick allows for basic aiming and movement. Quick-turnarounds are the norm in Infected and it keeps the gameplay fast-paced. It’s a blast to play and feels similar to a rail shooter, where bullets and blood are flying all over the place. The game has a list of missions for Officer Stevens to complete, but it mostly involves shooting, blowing up, destroying, etc. the living dead.
Well, this certainly is a strange Christmas. Image courtesy of Giant Bomb.
Infected’s most interesting feature is the use of online play. Players can engage in typical deathmatch modes and creative ones where one player vs an army of zombies. However, one unique social feature is the ability to jump into a player’s game and infect them. It’s entirely juvenile, but what did anyone expect from a game like this?
Rayne in all her non-Uwe Boll glory! Image courtesy of Hardcore Gamer.
Infected also contains a varied soundtrack. Slipknot not only makes cameos in the game, but have more than a few songs. Metal bands Chimaria and Fear Factory fit in right next to techno/EDM songs done by Junkie XL and Pimp X. It very much screams mid-2000s, but it certainly fits Infected.
One of Gaming’s Undervalued Treasures
There aren’t many games that take place during Christmas time, much less combining the zombie apocalypse. Infected fills in this oddly specific void. The senseless violence found in its facile gameplay will make many gamers grin and laugh at the December dismemberment.
Even if the script becomes a little too fan service-oriented and quippy, and the first act is a jagged mess, Rogue One holds its own against some of the better films in the franchise.
Natsume Championship Wrestling is a game for fans of ‘puroresu’
Natsume Championship Wrestling is a port of a game based on legendary Japanese wrestling promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling. The original Japanese title is Zen-Nippon Pro Wrestling Dash: Sekai Saikyo Tag, and had a massive focus on tag team wrestling.
Super Famicom cover art, featuring Shoei “Giant” Baba. Image courtesy of Hardcore Gaming 101.
For hardcore fans of Japanese wrestling, or ‘puroresu,’ Natsume Championship Wrestling contains some winks and nods to legendary wrestlers from the 90s.
Image courtesy of GameFAQs.
It also helps that Natsume Championship Wrestling is a competent pro wrestling game in its own right. Natsume Championship Wrestling contains the timing-based grapping of the ever popular Fire Pro Wrestling series, along with colorful graphics and tight controls.
Image courtesy of GameFAQs.
The game was quietly released in 1994 over in the United States. While it was popular over in Japan, Natsume Championship Wrestling never got a hold (wrestling pun intended) in North America. Perhaps it was the lack of then-WWF or WCW name branding or the overall different gameplay from other pro wrestling games at the time.
The man, the myth the Japanese pro wrestling legend himself, Giant Baba! This man helped define a new generation of professional wrestling in the Land of the Rising Sun. Image courtesy of Puroresu Spirit.
The promotion utilized “King’s Road” style of wrestling. King’s Road contains a big focus on athleticism and storytelling, while maintaining the over-the-top nature of American pro wrestling.
Kenta Kobashi (red trunks) and Mitsuharu MIsawa were the two top wrestlers in the 90s for All Japan Pro Wresting. Their matches are near perfect. Image courtesy of YouTube user ClassicPuro83.
Stan Hansen became one of the most famous “gaijins” in Japanese pro wrestling. Image courtesy of Illegal Foreign Object.
Giant Baba’s tragic death resulted in more than a few massive shake ups within All Japan Pro Wrestling. The 2000s started a rather unpopular period for the promotion, due to just about every popular wrestler either leaving or retiring. However, around the start of the new decade All Japan has slowly regained its foothold in Japan.
Jun Akiyama, who flourised in All Japan and its off-shoot Pro Wrestling NOAH, is now the president of All Japan Pro Wrestling. Image courtesy of Puroresu Spirit.
Natsume Championship Wrestling is unique among other SNES wrestling games Natsume Championship Wrestling is one of the few wrestling games on the SNES to attempt to match the gameplay style of Super Famicom grapplers. Players will not be mashing the attack button and expect to win after a bombardment of kicks and punches. Natsume Championship Wrestling instead urges players to time their grapples and strikes.
Waiting to hit that punch may take some quick thinking in Natsume Championship Wrestling. Image courtesy of GameFAQs.
It’s a system that rewards patience, but it is far more user friendly than Fire Pro Wrestling. For example, Fire Pro matches are generally slower and more deliberate. Natsume Championship Wrestling’s matches are fast paced and allows players to perform moves quicker. Using a combination of the D-pad and grapple button, players can perform a wide array of moves. Timing is everything though and this will take a while to get used to it. It does make for fun gameplay, once a player finds their routine. There is also a health meter to keep track of a wrestler’s stamina.
MISSILE DROPKICK!!! Image courtesy of GameFAQs.
Unlike the WWF games of the time, Natsume Championship Wrestling has distinct moves for each wrestler. Many of them being techniques they used in real life. Stan Hansen has his infamous lariats, Jun Akiyama has his vicious suplexes and Kenta Kobashi has his devastating strike maneuvers.
Image courtesy of Giant Bomb.
The roster is composed of several popular wrestlers from the mid-90s in All Japan Pro Wrestling. However, due to all of them being near-unrecognizable to American audiences at the time, they all of psuedonyms. Kenta Kobashi is dubbed Conan and “Dr Death” Steve Williams is rechristened as Big Ape. Puroresu fans will be able to recognize the grapplers based on their well-detailed character portraits.
The late Jumbo Tsurata is renamed Asteroid. Image coutesy of GameFAQs.
The impressive graphics aren’t just shown on the character select screen. Natsume Championship Wrestling is very colorful. The ring itself is a nice blue, like the All Japan ring during the 90s. Sprites during the matches themselves reflect each wrestler well and are well animated when big moves are performed. Occasionally there is a hiccup, but the graphics are more than serviceable.
For some obscure wrestling trivia: the blonde guy, J.Kraze? That’s Johnny Ace aka John Laurinaitis! Image courtesy of GameFAQs.
Natsume Championship Wrestling has features not seen in other US professional wrestling games
The addition of tag team wrestling is welcome and it’s executed well. Unfortunately, players cannot customize teams, since they are all preset teams. Interestingly enough, many of them were teams during the 90s in All Japan.
Double team! Image courtesy of GameFAQs.
Other modes include championship tournament and round robin tournaments. Round robins are common in Japanese wrestling and they consist of blocks where wrestlers will fight each other a few times. Winner with the most points based on their performance moves forward. It is yet another creative inclusion to Natsume Championship Wrestling that is sure to be a blast with friends.
An example of a round robin tournament. Image courtesy of GameFAQs.
The music is decent too, with several wrestler’s theme songs being highlights. Jun Akiyama/M. Roach’s is a standout. Although, the SNES soundtrack is changed from its original Japanese soundtrack. For example, the title screen are drastically different.
Strangely enough, All Japan’s founder, Giant Baba is not playable in the SNES version. Depending on the translation, neither is Mitsuharu Misawa who is one of puroresu’s biggest stars.
One of Gaming’s Undervalued Treasures
Natsume Championship Wrestling is exceptional and more fulfilling than the WWF games on the console. The tactical aesthetics and gameplay may be daunting to many players, but once they get in the groove, it’s fun. The game could even be a great introduction to Japanese professional wrestling.
Author’s note: I can assure you, puroresu is AWESOME!!! Image courtesy of YouTube user ClassicPuro83.
Darkstalkers 3 is one fast paced, yet incredibly fun, fighting game
Darkstalkers 3 is one of Capcom’s biggest cult hits in the fighting game genre. Similar to the rest of the Darkstalkers series, Darkstalkers 3 sets itself apart from other fighting games at the time. It’s extensive roster of horror movie monsters, spooky techno/jazz soundtrack and some of the most engaging fighting game mechanics keep Darkstalkers 3 fun. It’s also one of the fastest fighters in Capcom’s library.
Vampire vs Succubus! Only in Darkstalkers. Image courtesy of VG Museum.
Equipped with envelope pushing features, Darkstalkers 3 was quietly released in 1997 in arcades, and was not a major hit. The popularity of the then-new Capcom vs series overshadowed Darkstalkers 3. The game was also marketed as Vampire Savior, which may have confused gamers. Home ports did not fare much better. The Sega Saturn port was Japan-exclusive and the PlayStation 1 was mostly ignored.
Original arcade flyer with the name confusion. Image courtesy of Hardcore Gaming 101.
Darkstalkers 3’s fighting mechanics are top notch The fighting properties in Darkstalkers 3 are the definition of addictive and will have players coming back for more in no time.
J. Talbain v J. Talbain to see who is the most badass, kung fu werewolf! Image courtesy of VG Museum.
Darkstalkers 3, and by extension the rest of the series, is more than just Street Fighter meets Universal Monsters. It’s a very technical series, where air blocking, dashing and timing with super meters is the norm. Darkstalkers 3 continues this trend, but welcomes additions. For instance, players can enhance special attacks by taking a chunk out of their special meter. Instead of utilizing a super, the player can instead chain a standard special with this feature. The game also introduces the Dark Force EX special mode, which is similar to the Super Art mode in the Street Fighter III sub-series.
This new feature to the series allows for quicker, more concise matches. For a game known for being technical, having the ability to blow through a match in a short period of time is great. Make no mistake, Darkstalkers 3 is a blisteringly fast fighting game, but it also requires a good amount of skill play it.
Luckily for new players, the controls are not difficult to learn. Anyone who has played any Capcom fighter will feel right at home with Darkstalkers 3’s control set up. Chaining combos and launching special attacks with come as easy as tying one’s shoes.
A shockingly balanced roster, eye-catching graphics and a solid soundtrack round out Darkstalkers 3 For many gamers, a good roster in a fighting game is what matters most. Darkstalkers 3 has a sublime roster lined with creative characters. The roster contains the series’ trademark originality. The busty succubi Morrigan and Lilith, catgirl Felicia, the vampire Dimitri and fan favorites J. Talbain, the nunchuck wielding werewolf and Eddie the Head’s long lost twin brother Lord Raptor. Newcomers include Q Bee, a human-esque bee and BB Hood, who is what happens when Little Red Riding Hood has Deadpool’s personality.
The whole freakin’ roster! With the two *ahem* MOST popular fighters at the forefront. Image courtesy of Fighters Generation.
Darkstalkers 3 contains one of the most badass villains in any fighting game. Jedah Domah is a stoic and ruthless demon, who has some disturbing special attacks. His ultimate plan is to destroy the universe and build it back up as he sees fit.
Jedah taking on the Frankenstein’s Monster inspired character, Victor. Image courtesy of Fighter’s Generation
Disturbing describes the game’s graphics in many instances. Backgrounds range from a jungle with sadistic plants, a post-apocalyptic city or a satanic fetus. They are all colorful, yet creepy, and fit the vibe. With the game taking place in the demon world, known as Makai, it makes sense to have weird and eerie settings for fights.
There it is folks, the fetus. Pure nightmare fuel. Image courtesy of VG Museum.
However, the rest of the game’s graphics are incredible.Anyone taking a look at Darkstalkers 3 will notice it feels like a mid-90s Marvel Comic book. The is game full of vibrant colors and heavy on action. Sprites well animated and fluid. Darkstalkers 3’s animations even rival the almighty Street Fighter III: Third Strike. Animations will perfectly reflect the fighters personality, especially BB Hood who is full of expressions. Special moves are an absolute delight to look at as well.
BB Hood calling in the cavalry! Image courtesy of Hardcore Gaming 101.
To top it off, the soundtrack a good mix of atmospheric and moody horror with techno-jazz.
Darkstalkers 3 is simply just fun to play and will wow players with its uniqueness. It does not condescend new or returning players and anyone watching will be in awe over how gorgeous the game is. Sticking around for the excellent, fine-tuned gameplay helps enhance playing. Playing this game on All Hallow’s Eve also adds to the experience.
urges players to…COME ON AND SLAM! Space Jam was an exceptionally popular movie in the 90s. The film, starring Michael Jordan and a wide variety of Looney Tunes, became a brief cultural phenomenon. The film’s soundtrack went several times platinum and merchandise became a huge hit for families.
However, this is a movie where Warner Bros. cartoons play basketball against aliens. Aliens, who have stolen the talent of the NBA’s biggest stars of the 90s. It’s a movie not meant to be taken seriously, let alone a video game adaption. What did video game journalists back in 1996 think they were getting into?
Space Jam on the original PlayStation, Sega Saturn or PC is a fun, little basketball game that is a great way to kill some time. It’s also a decently competitive multiplayer game, as any pick-up-and-play sports game can be. It also has a great cast of Looney Tunes for the fans of their classic shorts.
Space Jam is NBA Jam…but with Looney Tunes Instead of following the direct plot of the film, Space Jam instead gets right to the point. Space Jam makes playing basketball its main focus. Taking cue from the ever popular NBA Jam series, the game uses the 3-on-3 format for its games. Sculptured Software, the developers
The actual basketball is generally fun to play. Controls are very responsive and will fit like a glove to any NBA Jam veteran. They aren’t difficult to learn at all and the easy going nature of them will make the whole experience a blast. With the game being simple, anyone can play.
Aaaand…the tip off! Image courtesy of Moby Games.
Players can only choose from two teams, the Tune Squad and the Monstars. There is a chance to customize your team with different character lineups. This feature allows for more variation during gameplay for Space Jam. Sadly, “Hit ‘em High (Monstars Anthem)” does not play when the Monstars are introduced.
Tune Squad consists of MJ himself, Bugs Bunny, Taz and a few others including the token girl Lola Bunny. The Monstars are the big guys with all the NBA’s talent. It’s an odd statistic, but the Monstars have significantly worse stats than the Tune Squad.
The Holy Trinity of the Tune Squad. Image courtesy of Moby Games.
Each character has a special dunk, which can be activated easily on the court. The dunks in Space Jam can allow players to recreate MJ’s arm stretch dunk at the end of the film. It’s a little added touch of personality that makes Space Jam stand out a bit. Space Jam’s graphics is entirely 2D, perfectly reflecting the Looney Tunes’ cartoonish nature. It’s colorful and full of energy, much like the classic cartoons. Audience members will be overly animated and even Danny DeVito’s character makes an appearance. It actually looks pretty great and even gives off a “retro” feel years later.
Mr. Swackhammer is not pleased, but Taz looks like he’s having fun. Image courtesy of www.vizzed.com.
Space Jam contains uneeded, but silly and entertaining, mini-games In-between quarters, Space Jam will break away from basketball. The player will partake in some short mini-games. Two of them recreating scenes from the film and one original one starring Speedy Gonzalez. One of them has Daffy Duck trying to find Jordan’s shoes and jersey and the other has Bugs searching the locker room for the “Secret Stuff.”
Daffy’s epic quest to find MJ’s shoes! Image courtesy of Moby Games.
Overall, the mini games can seem forced, but they do have a certain charm. It’s nice to see Daffy get into shenanigans for a few laughs. However, they are fun to play and actually do help increase stats on whichever team “wins.”
One of Gaming’s Undervalued Treasures Space Jam is not going to change the way any gamer looks at basketball video games. It’s an arcade style sports game based on a nostalgic 90s flick. This does not mean it’s a bad game or worth blowing off.
Space Jam is just a fun little game that does not try too hard. It know exactly what it is and just wants players to just turn their brains off for a bit. Fans of the movie should absolutely play it. No questions. For anyone looking for a quick basketball fix and are sick of NBA Jam, Space Jam will certainly provide a few good laughs.
Kirby Super Star is one of many classic games celebrating a milestone this year. Along with Super Mario 64 and Crash Bandicoot, Kirby Super Star is now 20 years old.
Released on the SNES in 1996, Kirby Super Star set itself apart from previous entries in the series. The game still had the series’ trademarked copy ability gameplay, colorful graphics and upbeat, addictive music.
However, to quote the 80s classic This is Spinal Tap, “It goes to eleven.”
Kirby Super Star offers players 25 unique copy abilities, eight creative sub-games to play and some of the best music on the SNES. It also contains one of the more distinct and entertaining two player modes in any platformer. The game also contains top notch controls.
After two decades and several legitimately fantastic entries in the series later, is Kirby Super Star still great? Are gamers looking through pink tinted glasses? Does its remake, Kirby Super Star Ultra, overshadow it? Or does Kirby Super Star still stand on its own and deserve to be put into every SNES owner’s collection?
What makes Kirby Super Star so great? Variety of course! Similar to any work of art, there are several factors that make Kirby Super Star great and it’s strongest trait is its variety. Each of the sub-games are all creative and worth checking out at least once. However, a player should play them all in a row to get a true one-of-a-kind Kirby experience.
The variety in Super Star feels more concise and straight to the point than its remake. There is just enough sub-games where none of them feel tacked on and the copy abilities are a perfect assortment. The game is also not terribly long and overly stuffed.
Super Star Ultra adds a lot of mini-games and special modes, on top of the enhanced graphics and sound. However, Super Star Ultra is spread a little bit too thin. The extra stuff is just there. Getting the chance to throw down as Meta Knightis fun and the online multiplayer is great, but they aren’t particularly needed additions.
Copy Abilities are EVERYWHERE!
Along with the sub-games come the copy abilities. With 25 unique ways to defeat enemies, Kirby Super Star also introduces the Kirby Hats. Kirby will change color and wear a different hat or hairstyle to coincide with the ability. It’s a nice graphical change that keeps the variety up.
There is also not one copy ability that is not useless. The classic abilities of Fire, Sword and Stone are there. However, the more creative ones, Yo-Yo, Suplex and Ninja make appearances in Kirby Super Star. Fighter Kirby makes his first appearance in the game as well!
The game allows for experimentation, as it does not penalize you for not having a particular copy ability. If someone wants to play through only using Fire, they can! If they feel like switching out every few seconds, players can!
It’s strange to think about, there is a significant amount of freedom and choice in a Kirby game.
Twice the Fun with Two Players! Playing the game as just Kirby is a fun time. Using the abilities to create a second player makes Kirby Super Star more of an unadulterated blast. Player twos will take control of one many cartoonish enemies Kirby copies abilities from. For example, if Kirby gets rid of his ability, than Player Two will become that enemy. It makes for some real fun gameplay combinations and silly, but fun, moments.
The “8 9 Games in 1!”
The whole game available on a corkboard. Image courtesy of Kirby Wiki.
Kirby Super Star boasts the “eight games in one” slogan right on the box. The games are all interesting and remarkable in their own right. The “eight games in one” schtick may appear gimmicky. It is technically nine, counting the mini-games. However, each sub-game contains its own story, challenge and even graphical aesthetics, along with slight positive updates to the gameplay.
Whispy Woods in 16-bit! Image courtesy of Game FAQs.
Spring Breeze is a loose remake of Kirby’s Dream Land, but now with the copy abilities. It’s a fantastic start to the game and hooks players in with its colorful graphics. Level design and bosses are all great, but it’s just an appetizer to the main course.
Fighting off Dyna Blade with two players! Image courtesy of VG Museum.
Dyna Blade is the first original game on deck. It’s up to Kirby to defeat the title character, who has been terrorizing Dream Land. The map system is a lot like Super Mario World, and is an extended version of Spring Breeze. It just happens to have better level design, boss fights and a memorable final one with Dyna Blade herself.
Finding treasures of all worth! Image courtesy of Moby Games.
The Great Cave Offensive is the Kirby series attempt at a Metroid style game. Kirby has fallen into a massive cave and find his way out, while spelunking for treasure. Also, Kirby must fight off several unique bosses, including one that is a hysterical parody of Final Fantasy’s turn based combat. The Great Cave Offensive is definitely the most difficult for players and it is a MASSIVE part of the game. However, there are players who don’t want to leave the caves and just keep exploring.
Gourmet Race has Kirby and the nefarious and hilarious King Dedede competing in a foot race to see who can eat the most food. The music is beyond memorable and has been remixed more than a few times. This is also a blast because of how competitive it is.
Revenge of Meta Knight, arguably the darkest of the eight games, has Kirby stopping his rival from conquering Dream Land. Meta Knight and his cronies send just about everything after Kirby, including a combat lobster and a MASSIVE gun. The speed run nature of the gameplay, appearance of the fan favorite Meta Knight and pulse pounding music make Revenge of Meta Knightone of the more memorable sub-games in Kirby Super Star. The dialogue between Meta Knight and his army is also enjoyable.
Kirby in the final battle of Milky Way Wishes! Image courtesy of VG Museum.
Finally, after blowing through each game, the player unlocks the penultimate sub-game, Milky Way Wishes. The Sun and Moon are fighting caused by an unknown entity. Kirby’s friend Marx shows up to help. Milky Way Wishes has Kirby traveling throughout the galaxy. Stopping from planet to planet, Kirby notices the damage the Sun and Moon are doing, which results in some unique level design and steep challenge. Milky Way Wishes is also the only game in the franchise to have the Copy Ability Deluxe feature, where Kirby must find the abilities and stock them. It also contains one of the best final bosses in any Kirby game.
Facing off against Meta Knight in the Arena! Image courtesy of https://happyhibisci.wordpress.com/2009/10/05/kirbys-super-star/
The Arena is Kirby Super Star’s boss rush mode and is easily the most difficult of all the sub-games. The Arena only gives the player five Maximum Tomatoes to recharge on health to fight all of the game’s bosses.
Rounding out Kirby Super Star are two mini-games. Megaton Punch and Samurai Kirby are quick games involving timing. Megaton has Kirby facing off against strong enemies by testing his strength. Samurai is stylish like a classic samurai film and has Kirby taking out enemies similar to the quick draw mini-game in Kirby’s Adventure. The two mini-games are fun to play around with when you need a break from the actual game.
Everything Else Fires on All Cylinders Kirby Super Star’s other features like its graphics, controls and sound are about as flawless as a 2D platformer can be. No one will ever feel like they are out of control or they won’t brush off the graphics as being “just another SNES game.” And no one will be able to not hum the theme to “Gourmet Race” after playing it. It goes without saying the features that make up video games (controls, graphics, etc..) are phenomenal in Kirby Super Star.
The Great Cave Offensive is perfect for showing off the graphical capabilities of the SNES. Image courtesy of Moby Games.
There are many SNES games that are as colorful and full of energy and take full advantage of the superior sound capabilities. Kirby Super Star absolutely deserves to be on the list of SNES greats like Super Metroid or Chrono Trigger in terms of using the hardware to its full potential.
My personal experience with the game…
I first played Kirby Super Star back in 1999. One of my childhood friends had an elusive SNES still kicking and owned a copy of Kirby Super Star. Now, I had only played Kirby’s Dream Land 2 on the Game Boy, so to say my experience with the Kirby franchise was limited is accurate. On my friend’s birthday, we all decided to head over in his basement and start playing away.
Within the next few hours, I don’t remember playing anything else but Kirby Super Star. All I wanted to do was conquer the Halberd as Kuckel Joe one more time. I wanted give back the food to Dream Land from Dyna Blade or just race King Dedede. I wanted to play as every enemy who had Kirby’s abilities. I just wanted to play this game!
As the years went by and several “edgy/mer-I-hate-Nintendo” phases later, I bought a Wii. Mostly to play games on the Virtual Console.
One summer, I downloaded Kirby Super Star from the Virtual Console on a whim. The same feelings I had when I played the game back in 1999 came flooding back nearly 11 years later. The gameplay still held up after all these years and I couldn’t believe it. I even found myself enjoying it more than the other Kirby games I downloaded.
Not counting RPGs, it’s the most played game on the Virtual Console for me.
I’ve always had a soft spot for the Kirby franchise and will always love Kirby Super Star. It’s one of the few video games where I can play for five minutes or five hours and still be happy. To me, it’s the only Kirby game that feels fresh every single time I boot it up. Kirby Super Star is just simply fun. It doesn’t tell a deep story, it does not completely reinvent platforming. Kirby Super Star just does everything right and keeps players entertained, no matter what.
For those who are curious, Revenge of Meta Knightis my personal favorite sub-game and the Yo-Yo ability is my favorite Kirby copy ability of all time.
Kirby Super Star is still great even after two decades and a remake Ask any Kirby fan what their personal favorite is in the series and it will usually differ. However, one game in the series all fans can agree is legitimately great is Kirby Super Star. The perfect graphics, sound and control build up the experience. It is the gameplay that is chock full of diversity and choices that sets it apart.
Kirby Super Star does its job so well that it is the measuring stick for many Kirby games have copied it. It’s also a game many gamers have fond memories of.
Happy 20th, Kirby Super Star! A game this legitimately great after all these years deserves to be played by anyone. It truly is one of the best SNES games and an honest classic.
Happy 20th Kirby Super Star and a happy 24th to you too, Kirby! Image courtesy of Game FAQs.
Stranglehold is sequel to a classic action film and a great action game on its own Stranglehold is the official sequel to John Woo’s 1992 action masterpiece Hard Boiled. Interestingly enough, it’s a video game instead of a film.
Stranglehold features the same shoot ‘em up action and melodrama Woo’s films are known for. Putting those features into a video game sounds too good to be true. However, Stranglehold works thanks to its tight gameplay, Hong Kong cinema level production values and love for the source material. Woo’s involvement with the production certainly helps too. Chow Yun-Fat even reprises his role as police officer/professional bad ass, Inspector “Tequila” Yuen.
Despite having all the makings of a classic action game, Stranglehold was only a decent hit, both critically and financially for Midway. It was not long term. Being released at the beginning of the 2007 fall season meant Stranglehold would be competing with BioShock, Halo 3 and the first Uncharted and Assassin’s Creed games. Plus the stigma of being a “movie game” may have turned off some gamers.
Stranglehold manages to capture John Woo’s style perfectly The game scores points for originality by being a fresh story with new characters. Taking place a few years after Hard Boiled, Inspector Yuen is on a case about missing police officers in Hong Kong. Through some contacts, Yuen discovers an international plot involving a Hong Kong crime syndicate and his estranged daughter. Who has also been kidnapped, adding to the melodrama. Armed with a massive amount of firearms and a bottle of tequila, Yuen sets out on his quest.
Stranglehold’s story is full of moments like these. Image courtesy of Giant Bomb.
The story itself is overly complex in Woo’s typical style, but it allows for more than a few set pieces. This is where Stranglehold truly shines. The control set up for Stranglehold is perfect and allows players to dive and shoot as flawlessly done in the films. Max Payne owes a lot of its aesthetics to Woo’s films. Its nice to see Stranglehold using the same type of gameplay, but adding its own spin on it.
Image courtesy of Giant Bomb.
Stranglehold’s audio is also well done too. Having a similar score to Hard Boiled, but also having some top notch voice acting. There is not a Cantonese voice track, but the actors do their jobs. Yun-Fat is especially great, and its nice to hear him reprise one of, if not, his most famous roles.
Action packed action in Stranglehold! Adding to the action of Stranglehold are a series of special moves. Shooting enough enemies and performing enough stylish dives earns the player stars. Stars will be used as ammunition for Tequila Bombs and other attacks. There is also a mode called Tequila Time where time will slow down, doves will fly out of every corner, and Yuen will become unstoppable. These features replicate Woo’s films perfectly. They even give Stranglehold a sense of identity instead of being a Max Payne clone.
Diving and shooting is the name of the game in Stranglehold! Image courtesy of Giant Bomb.
Locales in Hong Kong and Chicago allow for some creative action, instead of keeping it to the city. Yuen will be duel wielding pistols in a bar, a fishing port and a swanky jazz club. In a humorous moment, the club will have the musicians still playing their set, while Yuen is gunning down gangsters.
Shooting out in a bar. Inspector Yuen always finds himself in places where that really shouldn’t happen. Image courtesy of Giant Bomb.
Report to the GOOF TROOP…and we’ll always stick together! Goof Troop on the SNES is an interesting adaptation. Instead of being a typical platformer, Goof Troop is an overhead adventure/puzzle game, not unlike classic Legend of Zelda games. Goof Troop manages to pack in addicting and challenging gameplay and excellent sound and graphics.
Goof Troop aired on the Disney Afternoon block from 1992 to 1993. It was a sitcom style cartoon about Goofy and his teenaged son Max living in the suburbs of Spoonersville. Goof Troop is another fondly remembered show from the ‘90s, and has one of the more catchy theme songs from a Disney cartoon.
Goof Troop on the SNES is the only game based on the show. Developed by Capcom, it is also worthy of being considered one of their better Disney games as well. Unfortunately, the show’s short lifespan and lack of coverage from the video game press caused Goof Troop to fade away.
Goof Troop takes liberties in a fun, creative way
Strangely enough, Goof Troop for the SNES does not take place in Goofy and Max’s town. Instead, Goofy, Max and their neighbors Pete and PJ are out fishing. Suddenly, Pete and PJ are kidnapped by pirates and it’s up to Max and Goofy to save them. Max and his dad end up on a tropical island paradise and begin their adventure.
Most of Capcom’s Disney games are platformers. DuckTales, Chip and Dale: Rescue Rangers and Aladdin, among others, are going down a well-traveled road. It’s a breath of fresh air to see Capcom use one of their Disney licenses for a different genre. It works in Goof Troop, since the show had a laid back tone and wasn’t huge on action to begin with. It’s nice to see Capcom getting creative.
Players can choose to either play as Goofy or Max. Goofy is much slower, but can take more hits. Max is quicker than his dear old dad, but his health is lower. Regardless of their differences, both characters are fun to play as in Goof Troop. It really comes down to personal preferences.
Goof Troop will have Goofy and his son running around beaches, dockside areas and even pirate castles in order to save their friends. Each stage has enough block puzzles to keep players guessing. They are all challenging in their own right, and are just as fun with two players.
Goof Troop is similar to Four Swords Adventures in the sense that it’s a top-down adventure game with co-op options. For certain puzzles, two players would be required. For the most part though, the challenge isn’t steep at all. However, that does not stop Goof Troop from being entertaining.
Max and his father cannot fight the pirates off with their bare hands, but can use the environment and few items along the way. Blocks in the puzzles and even a grappling hook will help Goofy and his son on their quest. It’s actually very satisfying kicking a block in a pirate’s direction and watching them fly off the screen.
Goof Troop lives up to Capcom’s standards for Disney games
The original setting and inspired gameplay make Goof Troop worth playing. It’s the game’s graphics and sound which will draw players in. Capcom knew how to take full advantage of the SNES’ colors and power. Goof Troop on the SNES is able to capture the colorful nature of the cartoon, and even manages to get the expressions down as well.
The music in Goof Troop is bombastic, but playful. It fits the tropical tone of the setting. It’s not Capcom’s best SNES work, but it serves a purpose in keeping the player entertained.
One of Gaming’s Undervalued Treasures Goof Troop on the SNES manages to be an interesting adaptation of a cartoon many 90s kids love. The adventure game format and engaging gameplay certainly make Goof Troop one of the more creative Disney licensed games. It’s unfortunate the show was short lived, as this game is one of the most highly appealing games on the SNES.
Starhawk is one of the better games on the PlayStation 3 Starhawk is a 2012 pulse pounding action game released on the PlayStation 3. The game is a spiritual successor to the PS3 launch title Warhawk.
Starhawk is a game worth checking out just once. In short, the game is a blast to play. LightBox Interactive managed to make an action/RTS game that’s simplistic, yet still fun. Starhawk even manages to have a fun story mode as well. On top of those features, the soundtrack is a sublime mix of western and space opera.
Starhawk is light on story, incredibly heavy on action The shockingly good story of Starhawk is told through well done motion comics. Starhawk’s space western universe focuses on the Rifts. Rifts are sources of powerful energy. When a person comes in contact with a Rift, they become a monster composed of pure energy called an Outcast. Emmett Graves is a bounty hunter who has been called on various jobs throughout the galaxy to get rid of the Outcasts and secure energy. However, lately the galaxy has had an outbreak of Outcasts. The leader of these Outcasts may have a personal connection to Emmett.
An example of the stylized cut scenes. Image courtesy of 3D Juegos.
The action of Starhawk uses the typical third person shooter aesthetic. The PS3 controller was made for these kinds of games. The tight controls keep the game flowing with set pieces. With a wide variety of guns, vehicles and explosives, Emmett can take out Outcasts in a simplistic, but fun, way. However, where the RTS elements come in are with building support units and garages for vehicles.
Building a base! Image courtesy of Impulse Gamer.
Emmett’s friend Cutter shoots down all kinds of helpful items and vehicles. A highlight is the glider, which Emmett can use for ground fighting and aerial combat. As long as Emmett and Cutter have enough funds, the player can summon as much as they want. This keeps Starhawk fun, as the player will always have some sort of item to have gameplay fresh every time
Gun play is a lot of fun, but not as fun as riding some vehicles. Image courtesy of 3D Juegos.
It also helps that each mission is on a unique planet of the galaxy or on a space station. Each chapter of the game will have its own unique mission. Rather than having a variation of the same task, like securing Rift or eliminating all the enemies, Starhawk requires players to be a little experimental with what they create.
For a game focusing on its multiplayer aspect, Starhawk has a consistently solid single player mode.
Image courtesy of Impulse Gamer.
Multiplayer is one of the many bright moments Starhawk has one of the most entertaining multiplayer modes in any game on the PS3. Utilizing the same chaotic energy the single player missions have, Starhawk is fun with friends. There are your standard deathmatch and capture the flag modes. However, Starhawk has so much freedom with its gameplay, it allows for some creative multiplayer experiences. Even after finishing the story mode, players will keep going back to Starhawk’s multiplayer. Granted if the servers are still up.
Multiplayer on Starhawk is a good times for all. Image courtesy of Impulse Gamer.
During Starhawk‘s development, the multiplayer component was highly anticipated. Unfortunately, a very little amount of gamers were online playing it. Which is a shame, as the easy-to-learn gameplay is perfect for a big game night with friends.
One of Gaming’s Undervalued Treasures Starhawk is one of Sony’s more interesting first party games. Pity the company did not promote it better. Emmett Graves could be going on more adventures.
The space western design of the characters and story will certainly bring in people in. It’s the extremely enjoyable and overall inventiveness of the gameplay that will keep players on their PS3s. Starhawk may look like a generic third person shooter, but it’s a far better game than that assumption. It also won’t clean out any wallets with those prices on Amazon.
Kirby’s Dream Land 3 is one Kirby’s most fun and creative adventures Kirby’s Dream Land 3 is one of the better entries in the long running series, but also one of the SNES’ most unique platformers.
Kirby’s Dream Land 3 showcases the power of the SNES, not with cutting-edge effects, with the impressive color palate the system had. Gameplay is also as fun as ever, but introduces a good amount of elements to keep it fresh each level.
Colors, colors everywhere in Dream Land! Image courtesy of GameFAQs.
Consistently solid gameplay keeps Kirby’s Dream Land 3 interesting Kirby’s Dream Land 3 uses the typical Kirby format. Jumping, flying around and getting opponents abilities. However, the addition of Kirby’s animal friends make things more interesting. Instead of three, there is now six. Rick, Coo and Kine all return from Kirby’s Dream Land 2. Nago the double jumping cat, Pitch the green bird and Chuchu the octopus wearing a bow all join the ranks of Kirby’s friends. The blue ball Gooey is along for the ride and can be used by player two.
Kirby and Gooey’s Excellent Adventure. Image courtesy of GameFAQs.
Kirby’s Dream Land 3 does not have the gimmick of being “six games in one” like Super Star, but has the same amount of variety. Not in game types, but in gameplay. It is also more streamlined to focus. It does not break down barriers, but keeps gameplay steady.
The amount of animal friends in Kirby’s Dream Land 3 for one is a great addition. Each of them will be helpful in finding secret passages in stages.
The sort of “missions” in each stage will allow for replayability. Kirby’s Dream Land 3 contains a side character in each stage. Some times its an original character. Other times its another Nintendo character. The character will ask Kirby break down a wall, bring back children or find a certain item. It is not the main goal of each stage, but it adds to Kirby’s Dream Land 3’s platforming. It’s a nice addition to make the game feel longer.
It’s random cameo time! Image courtesy of GameFAQs.
Kirby’s Dream Land 3 has the typical copy abilities such as cutter, spark and stone, among others. They aren’t particularly different, but it’s not an overwhelming selection. Each copy ability in Kirby’s Dream Land 3 is useful in its own right, and the player won’t ever feel like they got the short end of the stick. This is somewhat a rare feature, since every Kirby game has its selection of useless copy abilities and this one does not.
The franchise has always had fun, but simplistic, gameplay that keeps players coming back. Kirby’s Dream Land 3 will certainly delight longtime fans and even new comers.
Kirby’s Dream Land 3 boasts a great art style Kirby’s Dream Land 3’s stylized sprites and backgrounds are absolute eye candy. Similar to Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island, Kirby’s Dream Land 3 has a distinct hand drawn style. Outlines of characters will have scribbly lines and the game looks like it was drawn with pencil crayons. The Kirby series has been all about cute visuals, the graphics of Kirby’s Dream Land 3 exemplify this aspect perfectly. It does not display bright colors like Super Star did, but it at least has its own style.
The art style alone is great to look at. Image courtesy of GameFAQs.
One of Gaming’s Undervalued Treasures Kirby’s Dream Land 3 came out at one of the worst times. A (then) second-tier Nintendo series being released at the very end of a last generation console, and having to live up to an instant classic stacked the cards against the game.
If any Kirby fan or even someone looking for an addictive and clever platformer, than Kirby’s Dream Land 3 will be what the doctor ordered. The visuals alone make the game worth playing at least once, but the addition of several gameplay elements will keep gamers glued to the game. In some ways, it is just as good, if not better, than Super Star.
Kirby’s Dream Land 3 isn’t expensive to find on the SNES and it is available to download on the Virtual Console.
Darkwing Duck for the NESis just as great as the show Darkwing Duckis good platformer that does the show justice. It is also a solid entry into the consistently great library of Capcom Disney games.
Darkwing Duckis a broad superhero parody which ran from 1990 to 1992 on the Disney Afternoon block. The show was about Drake Mallard and his title character alter ego, battling crime in St. Canard. Along for the ride is his adopted daughter Goslyn and wheelman/sidekick Launchpad McQuack, who is fromDuckTales. The show had a silly cast of characters who were parodies of comic book and spy film villains.It’s a fondly remembered show, which combines the quality animated comedy of Disney and the fun of comic books.
Capcom released a game based on the show in 1992 for the NES.Darkwing Duckuses theMega Manmold of being a platformer where jumping and shooting are key. However,Darkwing Duckis not just anotherMega Manclone.Darkwing Duckhas some creative level design and boss fights. It stuffs two seasons worth of characters and locations to set it apart from the Blue Bomber.
However, being released at the very end of both the NES and show’s lifespan, the game could not have had a more unlucky release window. Which is a shame. Darkwing Duck on the NES is a fun adaptation that manages to have the personality of the show and fantastic gameplay to back it up.
“WHEN THERE’S TROUBLE YOU CALL DW!” Darkwing is informed the criminal organization known as F.O.W.L. started to run rampant throughout St. Canard. DW is armed with a variety of gadget to help him on his quest to rid the city of crime.
Darkwing Duckhas the same open-ended stage selection ofMega Man.Launchpad drills Darkwing on what villain has taken over what section of the city. QuackerJack, the Joker parody ofDarkwing Ducktakes control of the bridge; Wolfduck controls downtown and the Liquidator has seized the sewers. Other villains from the show will appear, such as the nefarious Steelbeak, the pseudo-Electro spoof Megavolt and Darkwing Duck’s nemesis Negaduck!
Launchpad is willing to bring DW anywhere! Image courtesy of Hardcore Gaming 101.
Let’s get dangerous… on the NES Turning onDarkwing Duckfor the NES, players will be greeted with a semi-recreation of the show’s memorable intro.
The game oozes with the energy of the cartoon, with DW yelling his classic battle cry, “I AM DARKWING DUCK” at the beginning of each level. The colorful graphics and animation reflect the cartoon perfectly
About to take on QuackerJack. Image courtesy of GameFAQs.
Released in 1992, Capcom knows how to squeeze out whatever graphical capabilities the NES has.Darkwing Duckis a fanatastic showcase for the NES’ graphics and has vibrant and varied colors throughout the game. Characters look like their TV show counterparts.
The game manages to nail the cartoony expressions. Image courtesy of Hardcore Gaming 101.
As the terror that flaps in the night, Darkwing moves fluidly thanks in part to some incredibly responsive controls.Darkwing Duckwill certainly invoke memories ofMega Manwith all the jumping and the shooting. The level design is certainly inspired. There is enough interesting platforming all throughoutDarkwing Duck’s world, such as using a grapping hook to climb up buildings or using tires to get across spiked floors.
DW’s array of gadgets help him move around the stages. Image courtesy of Hardcore Gaming 101.
However, unlikeMega Man,Darkwing does not steal the powers of his enemies. Instead he has to find his own power-ups. DW can gain electric powered ammunition or arrows that shoot in two directions for his gun. It’s a small touch, but the game does not feel exactly likeMega Manonce the player gets used to it.
Darkwing Duckfor the NES is always challenging. Even for veteranMega Manplayers. The abundance of creative enemy types also raise up the ante for each stage. DW may be a superhero, but he will need a player of great skill to take care of the enemies. Boss fights inDarkwing Duckare challenging, having the player utilize their platforming skills to the nth degree.
One of Gaming’s Undervalued Treasures Darkwing Duckis a great Disney cartoon which holds up even today.Darkwing Duckon the NES is an excellent platformer that does the classic show justice. It does not set the world on fire, but it is a fun game in its own right. Colorful graphics go along with the solid gameplay to create an experience any fan ofDarkwing Duckcan enjoy.
If Darkwing Duck could provide his own narration for his game, he would say something like this:
“This is a game that is a blast to play. This is a game that shows off my crime fighting skills perfectly. This is DARKWING DUCK…on the NES!!!”
Our hero ladies and gentlemen and his typical catchphrase. Image courtesy of Nintendo World Report.
Wario World is a short, but packed, GameCube exclusive
Wario World is the title character’s only major GameCube outing, but it is one that is absolutely worth checking out.
Wario is a cult favorite character. His goofy grin, lust for gold and money and overall ridiculous demeanor have gained him legions of fans. Gamers look see what Mario’s evil doppelganger is up to next. Gamers have played his Wario Ware Inc. games, which feature mini games that are addictive as chocolate or the hilarious Wario Land games on the various Nintendo handhelds.
Wario World is a little bit of both, showing off the silly sense of humor and intensely fun gameplay found in his other titles. Developed by the geniuses at Treasure, Wario World also features a ton of creative platforming and a personality reflective of the character.
Wario World is short and bulky, like its protagonist Wario World takes place after our anti-hero has amassed a collection of cash and gold that would rival Bruce Wayne, Tony Stark and Scrooge McDuck combined. However, there is a sentient jewel dubbed the Black Jewel, who turns the collection into monsters. Worse yet, Wario has been thrown out of his extravagant castle. Wario World has our portly hero going through four unique worlds and trying to get all of his money back. And he does this by any means necessary.
The bare bones story is more than enough for gamers to start playing Wario World. The game is incredibly short, clocking it at just under six hours. One part of a level can be completed quickly. Which is saying a lot since Treasure has packed each stage with enough collectibles, puzzles and secret areas to keep players glued to the screen.
Along with the gold coins that need to be collected, Wario must find boss tokens, heart tanks and little elves who represent parts of whatever stage Wario is stuck in. The abundance of trinkets to find make Wario World a collect-a-thon not unlike any typical Rare game, however the collecting is not as daunting as some of their games.
Collecting the various objects found in Wario World does not require backbreaking grinding or searching every last miniscule pixel on screen, but instead allows for some minor exploration on relatively straightforward levels. It’s quick and easy and thanks to the spectacular control set up, jumping around in Wario World is always a blast. There’s is more than enough secret stages that keep ramping up the challenge of the game, such as the puzzles where the player will have to futz around with the camera to help Wario fund the macguffin he needs.
Wario will be using his fists and a repitore of over-exaggerated pro wrestling style moves. This element makes Wario World feel more like a beat ‘em up rather than a standard running and jumping platformer.
A unique atmosphere helps give Wario World an identity apart from other platformers Where Wario World truly shines is its bizarre environments and character design. The basic idea behind certain levels are generic, boiling down to typical “forrest,” “ice,” and “spooky” levels seen in most 3D platformers, but it is in the enemy and boss designs that make it feel more creative.
Instead of jumping on goombas, Wario will be pummeling dinosaurs, strange machines and evil theme park-esque mascots. The bosses are even more uniquely designed and actually require the player to learn a good amount of skill with Wario’s repitoire of moves. Wario World’s antagonists are a breath of fresh air from the typical Mario rogues gallery.
The music can only be described as a cross between vaudeville and The Muppet Show, but composed by Primus. A large portion of Wario World’s music is horn-based and carries out the goofy tone set by it’s title character. The pause music has become infamous, due to Wario’s childish taunting.
Wario World has this overly animated, Tex Avery cartoon aesthetic where it is all over exaggerated and takes advantage of the fantasy elements found within itself. It could be compared to Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island, which also featured an innovative art style, inventive boss battles and an overall distinctive feel.
One of Gaming’s Undervalued Treasures Wario World is very much like the protagonist. It’s stocky, but full of energy and character. Treasure spent a lot of time fleshing out this weird universe for Wario to destroy and it just reeks of originality. The game’s brief length may not warrant the price tag, as Wario World does fetch some decent prices on Amazon.com, but it’s worth shelling out for the craziness Wario gets himself into.
Excellent controls, a strong sense of identity and chock full of fun make Wario World worth playing. Player’s shouldn’t let the short length scare them off, if someone is into speed runs Wario World could scratch that itch for speed runners looking to try a new game.
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