• 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…

  • Sparkster Cover with the eponymous character hurtling toward the viewer.
    1990s,  SNES

    Review – Sparkster (SNES)

    Rocket Knight Adventures remains my favourite game on the Genesis, so it’s heartening to see that Limited Run Games has a collection on the way. I preordered the Ultimate Edition because sometimes you have to spoil yourself. I love RKA, and what other opportunities will I have to really express that in the form of consumerism? But while I’m happy…

  • Psycho Dream Header 2
    1990s,  Genesis

    Review – Psycho Dream

    The opening credits showed the director, Kenichi Nishi. “I know that name,” I thought to myself. I initially believed it was maybe because he had something to do with Valis, but I knew it was something more significant than that. No, wait. Kenichi Nishi was at Love-de-Lic before he co-founded Skip. The dude helped create Chibi-Robo!

  • Star Fox Header
    1990s,  Review,  SNES

    Review – Star Fox

    Star Fox and me, we go way back. I played it when I was very young, and I didn't care about the polygonal 3D graphics. At this point, its technologically antiquated, but that doesn't mean there isn't any value in playing it today.

  • Actraiser Header
    1990s,  Review,  SNES

    Review – Actraiser

    Having reviewed the remake, Actraiser: Renaissance, I decided to return to the original. Not for comparison's sake, exactly, but because you can never get enough Actraiser. It's a mix of playing god and hitting things with a sword. It's like if SimCity had segments where you play as Michael Myers.

  • Review,  Video Games

    Review – Clay Fighter

    The impact that Street Fighter II had on the industry can’t be understated. It jump started a genre, and soon, the pretenders started crowding in. The market was swamped with 1v1 fighting games, and it became difficult to stand apart from the rest. Some used licensed characters, others went the more violent route, and then there was Clay Fighter To…

  • Review,  Video Games

    Review – Super Mario RPG

    It’s impossible to state what an event Super Mario RPG was in my childhood. I could spin quite a few yarns about my initial experiences with the game, like how, when I would rent it, it would come with its Player’s Guide. Or that time my mom hooked this really crappy TV up so I could play it in my…

  • Review,  Video Games

    Review – Earthworm Jim 2

    Yeah, just try and convince me that Earthworm Jim 2 isn’t a work of art. How else do you describe a game that abruptly casts you as a blind salamander clutching a plasma gun and drops you in a giant maze of intestines filled with pinball bumpers while playing Moonlight Sonata in the background? Earthworm Jim 2 is an inexplicable game.…

  • Review,  Video Games

    Review – Jurassic Park (SNES)

    Jurassic Park is one of those really weird licensing situations. On one hand, the movie really isn’t for children, while on the other hand, marketers were extremely quick to rush out all sorts of toys and action figures for it. It’s sort of like Star Wars, especially when you consider the sheer marketing power of the franchise. The only difference…