• Final Fight Header
    1990s,  The Quarterhole

    Review – Final Fight

    I tend to paradoxically refer to my memory as both a steel trap and completely unreliable. I actually have no idea how my recollection compares to other people; how can anyone? However, let me give you an example of the former claim. Somewhere in the foggy depths of my youth, I remember the first time I played Final Fight. It…

  • Ben Bero Beh Header. Image via FlyerFever.com.
    1980s,  Bakage,  Review,  The Quarterhole

    Review – Ben Bero Beh

    I have a confession to make: I’m attracted to weird Japanese arcade games. There’s a word for it: Bakage (Ba-kah-gey, not ba-cage). It means stupid game. It’s not to be mistaken for kusoge (koo-so-gey) which means crappy game. I have made the mistake before, but merely because I didn’t know there was a name for bizarre games. 1984’s Ben Bero…

  • Streets of Rage Header
    1990s,  Genesis

    Review – Streets of Rage

    My household as a child was ruled by the Super Nintendo. That is to say, my childhood console was an SNES. But I had a cousin who lived nearby with a Sega Genesis. He didn’t have many games, but we rented a lot when we spent time together. However, he also had the Sega 6-Pak. It had games like Sonic…

  • Image via Mobygames
    1990s,  Bakage

    Review – Harvester

    Harvester haunts me. It's incredible that this game came out in '96, because even the seediest, most experimental side of the indie and alternative markets would struggle to conjure something even nearly as evocative and bizarre as the dark, twisted, and disgustingly effective world that Steve finds himself in.

  • Doom 64 Header
    1990s,  N64,  Review

    Review – Doom 64

    Doom 64 is Doom... On the N64. Except not anymore, and not really. It's actually its own distinct entry in the Doom series, and now you can find it more places than just on the N64. For a console spin-off by a completely different team, it's great beyond all reason and logic.

  • Header Road Trip
    2000s,  Review

    Review – Road Trip

    Road Trip is a game about ascending in the government ranks by winning a racing championship. Despite that, and despite the fact that Road Trip is based on the Choro Q line of toy cars, this game is more about driving than it is racing. With talking cars, no less.

  • 2010s,  Review

    Review – La-Mulana

    Completing La-Mulana without a guide is a feat of strength. That's probably why I couldn't do it. After an unsuccessful run some years ago, I tried again on another console and with a begrudged willingness to get outside help. It went a lot better this time.

  • No More Heroes PAL variant cover.
    2000s,  Review,  Wii

    Review – No More Heroes

    Travis Touchdown isn't exactly an enviable protagonist, being a bloodthirsty lecher possibly warped by the anime and video games he's obsessed with. However, the fact that he has obsessions beyond adventure makes him one of the most relatable game protagonists I know. Also, the game is interesting. The whole thing is, really.