nintendo

FINISHED in 2021! (Updated: 3/20/21)

A lot of gamers keep lists of all the games they’ve finished throughout each year. That’s something I’ve always kinda-sorta intended to do, but I’ve tried to keep them all in my head, and at my advanced age (I’m all of forty-damn-six, you little punks), that’s nearly impossible for my withered old brain.

So since the beginning of the year, I figured I can keep track of them right here in a blog post, which I’ll continually update! The latest games will be added to the top. (I’m not including re-playing old games I’ve already finished, like, say, Super Metroid or Mega Man.) So here goes–!

Continue reading →

March 20, 2021 0

Retro Game SuperHyper Fanzine Issue #4 is OUT NOW!!

You can always tell when it’s this time of year, because the blog gets kinda silent. You know I’m working on something — well here it is! The FOURTH big issue of Retro Game SuperHyper fanzine is available now!

Continue reading →

Happy 30th, Super Famicom!

It’s a bit belated, but November 21, 2020 was the 30th birthday of one of the greatest video game consoles of all time, Nintendo’s Super Famicom!

The 16-bit follow-up to the monstrously popular Famicom/NES was highly anticipated in the months before its release, and with Sega’s Mega Drive and NEC’s PC Engine already leading the way into the 16-bit era, all eyes were on Nintendo to see what their machine would deliver.

The Super Famicom’s legacy has been so firmly cemented in the past 30 years that there’s not much more commentary I can offer that wouldn’t be a reiteration of anything that’s already been said. So instead, on this monumental three-decade anniversary, my mind drifts back to my memories of what the vibe was like leading up to the launch of the SFC, as those are some of my most nostalgic feelings of video game excitement.

Continue reading →

November 23, 2020 0

High Score on Netflix

Last week, Netflix began streaming a new 6-part documentary series on the history of video games, titled High Score. Immediately, my Twitter and Instagram feeds were filled with the impressions of my fellow gamers who were watching it. Of course, I checked it out too — I had to, it’s my duty as a gamer — so, how highly does High Score score?

Continue reading →

August 28, 2020 2

Waxing Nostalgic

There’s a new video on the Retro Game SuperHyper YouTube Channel! This time, I show off video game trading card wax packs from the 1980s!

If you were a kid during the Golden Age of video games, you probably ran across these more than a few times, and if you were like me, you bought ’em, played the scratch-off games, and stuck the stickers on everything you owned. Let’s revisit them, shall we?

I’m also thinking about turning this into an expanded pictorial in issue #4 of the RGSH fanzine, so stay tuned for more waxy memories!

July 24, 2020

Super Metroid Re-Acquaintance (Updated 06.24.20)

(This post is being continually updated.)

It’s rare that there’s an immediate follow-up to a post here on the blog, but in my last post, I wrote about climbing back into the ol’ Chozo armor and trying to GIT GUD at Super Metroid again. While I’m in no way a speedrunner, I used to feel pretty proficient at Metroid 3; sadly, my skills had atrophied over the years, and I really wanted to polish them up again, and use what I’ve learned about the game in the many years since I last beat it to improve my own personal best in-game time of 1:28, which I had set wayyyyy back in the ’90s.

So how’d that go? Let’s find out… Continue reading “Super Metroid Re-Acquaintance (Updated 06.24.20)” →

June 24, 2020 0

Wait…WHAT Are We Playing?? Super Metroid?!

Usually I post articles called “What Are We Playing?” when I start a game or two that I plan to write about when I’m done. They’re always games that are new to me — even if they’re old, I’m playing them for the first time. So why am I alerting you to the fact that I’ve been playing good ol’ Super Metroid?

True confession time: Even though I’ve plowed through Super Metroid dozens of times since it came out (I lost count somewhere around 38 back in the ’90s, so I’d estimate 60-80), it’s actually been YEARS since I’ve done it. And in the few times I’ve picked it up more recently, a terrifying truth revealed itself to me: I’ve actually forgotten how to do it. Continue reading “Wait…WHAT Are We Playing?? Super Metroid?!” →

June 5, 2020 0

Solving The Portopia Serial Murder Case

As a fan of graphic adventure/visual novel type games like Snatcher and Jesus, I’d been meaning to tackle Portopia for the Famicom for many years.

Thanks to our current worldwide situation, I just happened to have plenty of time to do it. And not only did I play it, but I took it apart. Continue reading “Solving The Portopia Serial Murder Case” →

April 12, 2020 0

My Arcade Famicom-to-NES Cartridge Converter: The RGSH Test

This is a pretty simple gadget, and this will be a very short review, so I’ll get straight to the point: this was a great idea. Continue reading “My Arcade Famicom-to-NES Cartridge Converter: The RGSH Test” →

February 8, 2020 0

What Are We Playing? 01.12.19: Stranding Judgment Glory

Wow! It’s been FOREVER since I did a WAWP post! So…what ARE we playing?

Continue reading “What Are We Playing? 01.12.19: Stranding Judgment Glory” →

January 14, 2020

A Eulogy for the Strategy Guide (Updated 3/20/21)

Do you hear that? No, of course you don’t. It’s silence. Why is there silence, you may ask?

Because the kid behind the counter at Gamestop is no longer asking you if you want the strategy guide with your new game. Why not?

Because there isn’t one.

Continue reading “A Eulogy for the Strategy Guide (Updated 3/20/21)” →

January 8, 2020

I Found A Box Full of Cool Stuff!

I was looking for some of my old Atari catalogs, and I found them in this box that has piles of other stuff in it, so if you have about 45 minutes to hang out, I thought you might like to dig through this box with me.

There’s some cool surprises in here, like original Nintendo Fun Club cards, Midwest Gaming Classic flyers, old console manuals, catalogs showing games that never came out, and some promotional VHS tapes.