As mentioned previously, Frightober died on the vine this year due to unforeseen circumstances. But, we promise to come back bigger and better next year. We also pledge to make Thankful for Gaming bigger than ever this year. I started with comics earlier this weekend. Now, today, I kick off the thankful with Thank you Atari.
Those who spend any time here know that both Chris and I are old men gamers. Me slightly older than him. As a result, I grew up with both the Atari 2600 and 7800 in the house. Whenever I get a new computer, the first thing I do is download the Stella emulator to play those games. A couple of years ago, I bought one of the Retrokin Atari systems. Just this year, I bought one of the 7800+ systems from Atari.
Okay, But, Why?
Aside from the obvious nostalgia and memories that the games bring back, they’re genuinely just fun games. When I first got the Retrokin to work, I spent a good half hour playing Frostbite until I achieved a score of almost 200,000. I then went on to time out in PItfall (something first accomplished while sleeping over my grandmother’s apartment when younger) and beating Superman, a game that I barely played when younger.
Sure, the graphics are terrible and the game play is repetitive. But, that’s why I love these games. You can have your speed runs. I want a good old fashioned high score battle any time. No pause button. Only one button and a joystick. So tests the mettle of a man. Okay, sorry, I got a bit carried away there. But, those are the reasons that I like the games. It takes away all the pomp and circumstance and gives you games stripped down to the simplest terms.
Doesn’t It Get Boring?
Well, sure, of course it does. But, you can say the same about modern games. How many times can you mine for diamonds or beat the other team in Madden by 75 before you walk away from those games? At least, in my case, I have these games to fall back on when the modern game becomes too much to bear.
Additionally, I don’t want to speak out of turn, but how many other systems will have a thriving homebrew community 40 years later? Command such respect that the company updates the software and recreates the hardware for a third generation? Granted, gaming changed and many developers release their own emulators to preserve older games. But, that takes the power out of the hands of the hobby programmers some. Plus, they continually attack those hobbyists and try to enforce decades old copyrights. How much longer until the emulation industry dies altogether?
Thank You Atari
Fun and engaging games that are almost half a century old. Homebrew games by the dozens. New releases even this year by some of the best and brightest programmers from back in the hey day. What more do you need to convince yourself that the answer to “Have You Played Atari Today?” is a resounding yes each and every day?
Frightober fell apart this year. After a promising start, things blew up due to several unforeseen circumstances. As a result, I also needed to rework the Noob’s Book Club schedule once again. I went an entire month without updating. Sorry. I will explain more with the episode coming this weekend. In spite of all that, I remain committed to getting back on track this month, starting with Marvel SNAP November 2024.
While not a first for me, I never even loaded the game last month. So, coming back might be a bit of a learning experience. Then again, this is Marvel SNAP we’re talking about. As long as you still play cards on a battlefield of three locations, I’ll figure it out. Ugh, that sounded bitter. Sorry.
New Locations
I like Valhalla. Anything that gives me a chance to abuse On Reveal cards sounds fun. Time to dust off the old Odin deck and see what shakes out. Yggdrasil just buffs power at another location. I mean, it might be fun with the one that decreases power by one each turn. But, that’s just the math geek in me laughing at all this action for ultimately nothing. Otherwise, I don’t see a huge advantage from the location.
New Characters
King Eitri
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Activate: Draw a card that didn’t start in your deck.
Fenris Wolf is the ultimate troll card, especially for someone like me who always seems to end up on the short end of the stick against disco or destro decks. Bringing back someone’s Infinaut sounds like a blast. Sutur goes right in my Skaar deck, but I don’t know which card I’d swap it in for. Eitri and Gorr are just decent cards by themselves. I think the two that I’ll have the most fun with, though are Malekith and Frigga. Especially Frigga. That recursion ability makes me unreasonably happy. Combine it with a double or triple effect and it gives you an embarrassment of riches.
The Verdict
While Marvel SNAP November 2024 offers neither compelling characters nor earth shattering card effects, I still want to come back to the game this month. So, I’ll make an effort to find the fun in the season. I don’t see anything for December yet, so I don’t know if will continue, but at least it’s a start.
Along with Metroid, Castlevania ranks as one of the most iconic video game franchises in history. With every new game, it first revolutionized the side scrolling genre before redefining how an RPG looks and what it can do. Therefore, this Frightober, I bring you Noob’s history with Castlevania.
Hell, there’s even a genre of games called Metroidvania that highlights games that count both as inspiration. So, on this trip into gaming horror’s past, it makes sense to visit the Belmont family. As always on the page, I intend to introduce the games. Don’t take this, in any form, as a comprehensive collection or history of Castlevania. Additionally, I welcome any input for games that you enjoy that I missed.
The Origins: Birth of a Vampire Hunter
Castlevania got its start on the SNES in 1986. You take control of Simon Belmont, a member of the Belmont vampire hunting family. Like others before you, you take on the mission to find and defeat Count Dracula in his castle. No small feat, to be sure. Luckily, in addition to your impressive lineage, you also come equipped with a trusty whip.
As you play the game, you upgrade the whip to deal more damage. That allows you to more efficiently and effectively deal with stronger enemies. You also can pick up secondary weapons in the game that give you even further advantage against the more dangerous or devious of Dracula’s minions. As with the previous game in our trip to the past, Splatterhouse, the side scrolling nature of the game may turn modern gamers away. I implore you to try the game in spite of that.
Unlike Splatterhouse that only offers the side scrolling action, Castlevania (and especially later games in the series) allow for 2 dimensional motion by climbing stairs or descending into caverns. This added movement opens up new strategies for fighting enemies and boss fights. One of the things you need to figure out is when to ascend and when to crouch back on the ground.
Evolution of the Series on the NES and SNES
The second game previews some of the RPG elements further explored in future games. It gives you more freedom to explore towns and interact with the townspeople. They give you hints and point you along your way as you embark on your quest. I like the more open nature of this game, but understand the decision to make the next two games in the more traditional style of the first game.
Upon opening the third game, it gave me a familiar feeling. It looked and felt like the first game. Not a complete recreation. However, they took the Super Mario tact of going back to what worked in the first place after trying something new in the second game. I can’t argue with that decision. I like when people try new things. But, I also like the familiarity of knowing what to expect from a game when I start it. If I got deja vu from the third one, then Super Castlevania IV looked almost exactly like the first one with better graphics. That’s an oversimplification, because the game isn’t a shot for shot remake. But, it owes much to that first game.
A Brief Discussion About 3D vs. 2D
After being born on the NES, it grew up on other Super Nintendo consoles. However, unlike franchises like Mario and Zelda, Castlevania stumbled some on the Nintendo 64. I played through some of the first level (for the first time) to prepare for this article and I said to myself, “I can’t believe we ever though these games looked good.” The graphics are awkward, the animation is clunky, and it just doesn’t give off much of a Castlevania vibe at all.
Luckily, the Playstation version of the game, more than made up for that misfire. Symphony of the Night is considered by many to be the best entry in the series. Granted, it went back to the roots as a side scroller, but it brought in the RPG elements of the second game to give it a more robust feeling. What can you do? Some franchises just took longer to adjust to 3D. Some still haven’t.
The World of Castlevania
Music: From the first game, they enhanced the atmosphere of the game with unsettling and, sometimes, downright creepy music. Every time you load one of the games and hear that theme song start, you know that you’re in for an epic battle with the legions of undead and, finally, Dracula.
Aesthetic: Likewise, the graphics of the game evoke a particular style of horror. Drawing from the old monster movies of early Hollywood and the legacy of Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley. The backgrounds, the monsters, and the weapons all add to that style. When you get that dagger or crucifix, again, you know you’re in for one hell of a battle.
Dracula’s Castle: The castle itself can be considered a character in the story. It shifts from game to game and, sometimes, level to level. This all adds to the unsettling feeling of the games. In addition, this offers new and different challenges in each game. For puzzle lovers like me, that’s probably the biggest selling point.
Where to Start
Depending on your preferred game style, the series offers many starting points. Retro gamers might just start at the beginning with one of the online emulators that offer the NES or SNES games, depending on how far you want to go back. Old guy gamers who remember certain systems but somehow missed the Castlevania games on that system can pick one of the games that I highlighted here. Or, you can jump on with the Game Boy Advance trilogy.
Even if you shun the old games for the new, there’s Castlevania for you. Unfortunately, though, the most recent console games released for the PS3 generation. However, they released a couple of games on mobile for those who want the familiarity of that particular gaming device. If you happen to start playing the series, let us know which game and if you plan to continue.
The Verdict
Hopefully Noob’s History with Castlevania gave you some idea of the scope and influence of the games. We didn’t even talk about the games in pop culture, including the Netflix series. Perhaps, we can revisit at some point and bring you some of that content and more. If we missed one of your favorites, let us know. We’ll cover it in a future article.
I never played this game before last week, so you get a true Noob’s Guide to Splatterhouse with this article. However, this year, for Frightober, I wanted a theme of time. So, I broke my weeks into past, present, and future. While searching for some games from the past, I discovered this one. While I knew about the controversy (thanks Tipper Gore) surrounding games like Mortal Kombat and Bloodstorm, this one escaped my notice at the time.
A deceptively simple side scrolling beat up em similar to any number of games from my childhood, Splatterhouse, like those other games, requires some skill and strategy. That becomes apparently quite early in the game. The other thing that quickly becomes apparent is the gore level. Zombies vomit puddles from the background while you dismember others with your fist, a machete, and a two by four in the first level. If you can handle that level of cartoon violence, though, you need to play this game.
The Basics: Getting Started
Unfortunately, getting your hands on the game might prove difficult. Unlike other games from that era, Namco hasn’t released this one on modern consoles. RetroGames allows you to play the game using a web based emulator. I tried it out briefly with my Bluetooth controller that I bought from Amazon and it works surprisingly well. Responsive and almost no lag from the game.
I recorded the videos on this page using my Retroid Pocket 4 emulator. As far as I know those are the only two ways to play the game. I found a Namco collection on Steam that offers a toned down almost Chibi version of the game that actually acts as a prequel. So, I suppose if you want to check that out, you can.
Intro cinematic
In terms of story, the above cinematic tells the story of a boy and a girl who take refuge in a spooky old mansion to get out of the rain. She screams and fade to black. Then, the game starts. Depending on your layout, there’s only two buttons (Jump and Attack). The D-Pad (or joystick) moves your character left and right. Don’t let that fool you, though. The game gets tough quick.
Gameplay Breakdown: Fighting Your Way Through
Apologies for the overlay…
As you see in the video, I wasn’t lying. You move (right) mostly, jump and attack. When you pick up a weapon, that becomes your attack and gives you a more gruesome way to kill your enemies. One thing that you need to remember is that some enemies can only be attacked by crouching, like the bats and the carnivorous worms at the end of the video.
Since I died fighting those worms, I can’t give you any more depth to the combat system. From what I’ve read, the mask allows you to collect power ups and there are other weapons in the game like a shotgun. Join me on Twitch once I feel more confident in my abilities and learn about how those change the game.
Tips for Survival: What Every Noob Should Know
The key to these games is that the levels are not random. Enemies attack at the same time and in the same place every time you play the game. Therefore, by remembering these attacks, you can ensure your survival. You only have 3 lives and 4 hearts for each of those lives. And, when you don’t know what you’re doing, those lives expire quickly.
One way to make sure that you get through the levels and conserve your health for the boss fights is to take your time. There’s no reason to rush through a level, accidentally step into a pile of zombie vomit, and waste one of your precious hearts. Above all, take your time, be patient, and understand that you will die quite a bit. That’s all part of the process and makes clearing those tough parts that much more satisfying.
Noob’s Note: just because the game released in the dark ages before save states doesn’t mean that we have to suffer. We live in the future and the emulators allow us to set up save states. Use those to your advantage, too.
What Makes Splatterhouse a Classic: Why Should You Play?
Okay, great, a side scrolling beat em up that’s going to take me some time and effort to get good. Yes, and, many of the horror games that we play today owe their existence to this humble beginning. The gore of those games run red because Splatterhouse crawled in the ooze of zombie vomit. From the beginning, the game throws you into this story with little explanation. That sets the tone.
Who are you? Who is the girl? What is this mask? Will you ever get the answer to any of those questions? Only by playing the game can you know for sure. Also, the sounds of the game with the midi horror theme and disgusting sound effects for the various ways you’ll kill and be killed add to the overall atmosphere.
If you’re a retro gaming nerd like me, you need to play this game. If you do and figure out how to beat those worms at the end of that first level, leave a comment or email me.
The Verdict: Noob’s Guide to Splatterhouse
Even if the actual gameplay is nothing special or original. So what if the introduction of the story leaves something to be desired. The horror theme of the game provides enough of an incentive to keep coming back for more. And, if you want a challenge in this era of constant save states and infinite lives, even better.
Get out there and play the game. If you found this Noob’s Guide to Splatterhouse helpful, let me know.
My history with Legend of Zelda goes back a long time. I remember going to my mother’s family’s house for Christmas one year. Surprisingly, even though , or perhaps because, they made me feel awkward and out of place, I remember a lot from those visits. They formed several core memories, to borrow a phrase from the Inside Out movies. In any case, whenever a new Zelda game comes out, I pay attention. While a bit late, I’m finally bringing you A Noob’s Guide to Echoes of Wisdom.
In this particular memory, I attempted to assuage some of the weirdness by walking through the house to find someplace that jibbed more with my vibe at the time. Like now, that generally means on the darker side, with few people, and hopefully a cat or dog or two. As I searched, I stumbled on a room with a Nintendo Entertainment System. The game? The original Legend of Zelda. Remember when I said that my parents eventually caved and bought us an NES? The seed for that planted on this day as I watched the person play the game and thought it the most beautiful game I’d ever seen.
Look at the colors. The sprites. The dungeons.
The Announcement Trailer
I will start with the TLDR.
Even though Noob’s Guide to Echoes of Wisdom comes three months too late, true to our style, we release within a week or so of the game coming out.
0:00 – We open on a dungeon with a blue cloaked figure and three guards wearing bat eared helmets. The figure approaches, draws his sword, and strikes at one of them. The guard deflects that blow, but the figure spins with his sword and defeats them all.
0:11 – A princess (Zelda) is trapped in a pink crystal, held captive my some monstrosity. Our hero enters and throws off his cloak. Link! To the rescue! The monster charges. Link leaps and counter attacks. The monster casts fireball! Link returns the flame for a second hit. Link closes, spins, and defeats the monster.
0:33 – The monster vanishes, leaving behind a magical staff. As Link approaches to save Zelda, a darkness spreads out from the staff. It quickly overtakes him and sucks him down into the ground. As a last resort, he pulls out a crossbow and strikes the crystal.
0:42: Link disappears into the floor completely and the crystal shatters. Zelda falls to the ground where the darkness hasn’t yet spread. After considering her freedom, she must run from the spreading darkness. It chases her out of the fortress.
0:50: Zelda falls. The darkness creeps closer. What now of our princess?! The darkness stops and we can breathe a sigh of relief. Away from the darkness, a wondrous land unfolds before Zelda. The title appears in the upper right hand corner at 1:10.
Introduction and Initial Gameplay Thoughts
1:15 – Fade to black and back in on Eiji Aonuma, producer of the series. He explains the concept of the game. Link has vanished and now Zelda is the protagonist of the series! Will she fight with a sword?
2:00 – Long story short. Let’s see what this video tells us about the game. Rifts appeared across the land. So, this is not an isolated event. Zelda meets a fairy named Tri, who gives her the “mysterious” Tri Rod. One of the powers of the Tri Rod gives Zelda the ability to create an imitation of objects. In this example, she learns the echo of a table. Big deal, right? Well, now she can place tables anywhere on the map. This allows her to build stairs to reach otherwise unreachable heights! Other echos include boxes, beds, and water blocks. Interesting one, that.
What About Battles?
3:14 – Well, they’ll look different. By creating an echo of a rock, you can throw it at the monsters.
3:25 – Wait, what?! You can also create echos of monsters that will fight by your side? Okay, that sounds and looks awesome. Each monster grants a different ability that helps depending on the situation.
3:44 – A series of short and quick videos showing other aspects of the game. Jumping, winding up some kind of bomb thing (?), throwing acorns (?), using a monster to fly across a river of lava, meeting (and defeating) friends (and enemies), and dungeon crawling.
4:00 – Back to Mr. Aonuma asking, “How was that?” followed by more vignettes of game play. He assures you that there will be plenty of puzzles that need to be solved in a variety of ways when the game launches September 26.
4:40: There’s a special edition Switch Lite for the game. Guess I should have waited to pick mine up. Oh well, that’s always the way for me.
The Verdict
Having not played the game yet, and watched no other game play videos, that’s all I have for Noob’s Guide to Echoes of Wisdom. From what I’ve seen there, I need to play this game as soon as possible. I love the graphic style. The addition of the echo system feels very much like Minecraft but with more of a purpose to how you use everything. As I saw some write recently, “it will be fun to finally play as Zelda, even in a chibi style.” I say, bring on the chibi. I loved Wind Waker and I’m sure to love this one, too.
Get the game and a few others while you’re at it. Not an official partnership. Just love the games.
Back to school and back on track with the articles, at least. I need to record for the podcast and get the YouTube back up and running. One step at a time, dear friends. With the web page back on track, we bring you comics for the first week. Aiden and I played some Dicemasters yesterday. Quinn made a deck and Aiden asked to play more. Look for that in the near future. Today, I talk about Marvel SNAP September 2024. Comics reviews come at the end of the week.
New Locations
Brooklyn Bridge turns off some strategies (like Hawkeye), but opens up other possibilities (like Jessica Jones). Also, it sucker punches all of the bots that like to just fill one location if it shows up in that particular location for the game. Otto’s lab gives you a taste of the old Doctor Octopus card. With my luck, I end up pulling their best card and losing because of it. But, maybe it all works out for me. Hey, stranger things have happened!
New Characters
Silver Sable
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On Reveal: Steal 2 Power from the top card of your opponent’s deck.
Ever since Spider-Verse in the comics and then the movies, Spider People have exploded in number in the various Marvel universes. It almost makes me yearn for the good old days of Spider-Man and Venom. Almost. But, I needed to search for Araña because I never saw her before in any of the literature.
As far as the cards, two of them debut the new keyword, “Activate”. This allows you to control the abilities of cards a little bit more. Instead of resolving on the reveal of the card, you activate the card’s ability by clicking on the card until it says “activated!” I like the idea and that they’re trying new things to keep the game fresh. Madam Web and Araña work well with my “Move” deck and I like the cheeky lore behind Scarlet Spider’s ability.
The Verdict
Marvel SNAP September 2024 brings the “attack of the spider people!” to the game. Plus, Silver Sable, one of my favorite characters from my teenage years, joins the fray. Overall, I like the inclusion of the new keyword, the cards look like fun, and the locations (if they ever show in my games) promise to make things more interesting overall. See you in game, SNAPpers!
As part of our 10th anniversary celebration, I came up with the idea to write about my past, present, and future in video and tabletop games. I already talked about past and present. That, of course, brings us to video games of future. I won’t say that I completely inherited my father’s knack for being wrong when it comes to predicting the future.
However, a student mentioned the “Gamestop thing” to me about five years ago and I thought nothing of it. Then, something happened and they wrote a movie and produced several documentaries about it. Perhaps you heard. Then, more recently, when picking stocks, one of the students suggested Nvidia. No movies about that yet, but investing before the split and then doubling down might have been a good idea.
First of Two Possibilities
Following up on the Nvidia thread, one of the ideas I wrote down in my notes is artificial intelligence. Ever since the release of ChatGPT (and maybe before), AI jumped to the front of the technological zeitgeist. Everyone jumped on board to be the next company to incorporate AI into their platform. This resulted in the stupid money (not dumb money, but stupid money) following that trend with huge investments in what, so far, amounts to so much vaporware.
It comes as no surprise that a company known for graphics chips that pushed video games to new heights also became one of the leaders in AI. Ever since their infancy, video games used the concept of artificial intelligence in their vernacular. Granted, it means something else these days. They added the descriptor generative AI to describe the latest in technology. In truth, it feels like a step back from what video games considered artificial intelligence.
I mean, I’m not the brightest bulb, but this game could kick my ass.
Don’t get me wrong. Combing the wealth of human knowledge contained on the internet to write a semi coherent essay or build a picture based on a simple prompt is impressive. However, when you consider how much it takes to control 22 different players on a football field in addition to the coach and sideline players, AI already impresses in video games. Admittedly not a visionary, I struggle to see how they can make things better with the current iteration of AI.
Second of Two Possibilities
Likewise, virtual reality (VR) has been a promise for as long as I can remember. Back before he went off the deep end, Dennis Miller performed a bit about VR in his stand up set. According to an article I read, Sega researched the possibility for VR for the Saturn. They realized the limitations of technology at the time, so it never went anywhere. Still, the possibilities excite. It makes sense now that they released Virtua Fighter and Virtua Cop now, though.
We finally reached the point in technology where VR is possible and enjoyable. However, recently, things start to look a bit too much like Ready Player One (see my Noob’s Book Club about that!) for my tastes. Science fiction is always written as a warning and friendless losers who somehow become titans of industry look at it as a how to manual. And, by the time they get there, nobody tells them to their faces that its a bad idea. And, so, we get nonsense like that video above.
The Verdict
Video games of future looks bleak. As I say, I’m no prognosticator. Additionally, I generally take a more rosy view of things, especially the future. But, when I consider where we are now and what those things might become, I’m fine with my new Switch Lite and handheld emulator. At least I know those won’t let me down.
While Chris and I mostly just talked during this latest visit, we still discussed our recent gaming adventures. I suggested D&D if the boys were home and maybe Warhammer, if not. I showed off my models and he thought they were cool, but we didn’t actually play. He’s been busy with other stuff, his gaming habits mirror mine lately. Nevertheless, we talked about video games of present.
You probably both know that our video game habits often rely on older games. Without question or shame, we consider ourselves retro video gamers. Every now and then, most recently with Skyrim (yeah, how’s that for a blast from the past), we buy a new title. Usually, though, we play old Street Fighter or a previous version of NHL or Madden.
Nintendo Switch
Because I am an adult with adult motivations, I promised myself a Nintendo Switch if I made it through the remainder of the school year. I mentioned to Chris that I bought myself a Switch Lite. He replied, “That’s what I play the most.” You may remember that the boys bought me Hades for Christmas a few years ago. Well, both Quinn and Liam use the main Switch. So, for me to progress in the game, I got myself a Switch. I told you, an adult with adult motivations.
I grabbed a few other games from the pile to add to my bag, too. Chris gave me Elliot Quest a few years ago because he bought a duplicate. I got addicted to the DS version of Luigi’s Mansion, so I picked the third installment of that. Also, PIkmin and Super Mario RPG to round out the games that I wanted to play. Note: I only booted up the Switch twice since buying it. But, winter is coming and I usually play more then.
Retroid 4 Pro (Video Games of Present?)
I also told Chris about the handheld emulator that I bought. “Handheld emulator, he asked?” So, I showed him the Retroid 4 Pro and some of the systems/games that I owned for it. To be honest, I played this quite often. Like I say, we are without question, retro gamers. Booting up Mario vs. Donkey Kong or Circus Convoy (hey, a relatively new game!) makes me happier than it probably should.
I always say that I rarely suffer nostalgia. That’s true for most things. But, games, for whatever reason, mean more to me than that. Comics, on some level, too. But, I like when they update comics and change the characters or stories. Because, otherwise, they get boring. Not so with video games. I play the same games numerous times and never tire of them. Note: Witness the 3 or 4 times that I played Portal 2 to completion.
Gaming with the Family
As you all know, we play Mario Kart on the Switch about once a month or so. A few months ago, we branched out into Mario Party and enjoyed ourselves then. Once or twice, we loaded up one of the Jackbox games as a family. Speaking of, we need to do that again. Along those same lines, I ordered a “Mystery Games” bundle from Humble Bundle. It simulates escape rooms and other puzzles. We always talked about doing an escape room, but never actually bite when given the chance.
8 days left if you’re interested! Note: Humble Bundle is not a partner. I simply like their product and want them to remain in business. I read a rumor the other day that they might be on the chopping block because of their managing company. I hope that’s not true. As an aside, I haven’t played any of the games yet, but I watched some videos and they look fun. Next family game night, I’ll have to suggest them.
The Verdict
No surprise, but video games of present look very much like video games of past for me. Other than the new games we try as a family, I find myself solidly in my teenage and young adult years when it comes to games. Granted, I try new games every now and again to make content for the page, but overall, I just like the retro games.
This month, we celebrate 10 years of the web page. I got the idea to celebrate my past, present, and future in gaming with a series of articles. I already talked about tabletop games of the past. This article plans to celebrate my video games of past.
If the title sounds awkward, I apologize. I tried to channel Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with the ghosts of past, present, and yet to come. Then, I realized that it doesn’t quite work the way I wanted. But, instead of changing it, I just leaned into the awkwardness. It’s one of the things I do best.
Actual Past
I wrote in my Newbury Comics article that comics played a big role in my history. Video games played an even bigger role. Growing up, my family owned an Atari 2600 and then an Atari 7800 back when both consoles first released. My parents resisted buying a Nintendo for a while, but finally caved and got us the Nintendo and a bunch of games. My mother worked at a grocery store that rented the games and then sold them cheaper to free up stock room.
The first console I ever purchased for myself was a Super Nintendo. I worked at Toys R Us and saved money in order to buy it. Shortly after that, I also bought a Sega Genesis. I never put much stock in “console wars”. The only reason I picked a side with Sony and Microsoft is that the consoles are prohibitively expensive and I don’t want to piss away 600 dollars every few years for a couple of exclusives.
Through it all, I remained loyal to Nintendo. I bought several Game Boy Advances, an N64, a Wii, and a Wii U. Liam bought a switch that the family uses. I’ve been thinking about getting myself a Switch Lite for trips. But, I should wait until the Video Games of Present to write about that one.
Trying to Capture the Past
More recently, I purchased a Retron 77, which has the look and feel of an old Atari machine. I found a way to load the ROMs onto an SD card and played them that way. Laugh all you want, but Audacity games released two new games for the system, 40 years after it became “obsolete.” That reminds me. I need to buy Alien Abduction.
Then, a couple of weeks ago, I finally caved and bought a Retroid handheld. It allows me to play Atari, GBA, N64, and other console games from my childhood and early adulthood. I love that damn thing and used it many times already while on Cape Cod. I know that Christine might think it’s silly if I buy a Switch, but I see it getting just as much use.
The Verdict
I forgot to mention the Commodore 64 that I received one Christmas that allowed me to play video games of past. It also let me attempt to program them. That produced mixed results at the time. However, my love for programming continues today as one of my many hobbies.
Chris and I recorded the reboot of the reboot of 2 Guys Gaming a couple of weeks ago. In anticipation of having to write about the game again, I saw that Steam had the Street Fighter 6 demo available. You may remember that I texted him after he suggested we record again, “Let’s do SF6 and MK1. Seems like the perfect soft landing spot for us.” He agreed and then we promptly recorded the episode three months later.
Hey, we’re old guys. We have lives that don’t often coordinate. The important part is that we recorded. I plan to edit and release it on Wednesday with my MK1 article, but it might end up being Friday instead because I can’t think of another proper way to end the week. Just trust that it will come at some point this week.
Play This Game for Eternity
After loading up the game, I clicked the button to start “Battle Hub”. It informs me that the game mode isn’t available but I can watch the trailer video. Sure thing. Why not. Naturally, after showing some game play via an arcade scene, a woman comes on to the screen to tell us about the mode. But, wait.
While the character sounds feminine and wears make up and booty shorts, some might argue (not me, mind you) “That’s no woman!” and angrily throw their controller at the screen. Instead, I watched the video and actually forgot about the whole thing until later while waiting for dinner with my wife. Then, I decided to look up what the community reaction to the character was. Naturally, I found a headline about some douche bag named “Johnny Chainsaw” or some other ridiculously overtly masculine username complaining about the game as woke. Just par for the course in our national conversation surrounding LGBTQIA+ people and their mere existence.
I, for one, liked the character. They brought energy and fun to the video. They may or may not be trans. But, that’s the thing. Capcom never confirms nor denies anything. Just this individual on the screen and leaves it up to you to do with them what you may. Like Gwen in Spiderverse, it makes the point that they are here and, well, you just have to deal with it. I, for one, am here for all of it and Eternity is one of the reasons I might buy the game.
“You bastard. You flipped.”
That’s a paraphrase of Chris when he responded to my text that I wanted to buy the game. I assured him, probably not at full price but after a drop or two, for sure. When we talked, we both said that neither of us wanted to buy the game because it felt like it just offered more of the same as Street Fighter 5. We both agreed that one was a dumpster fire.
Not so this time around. When he first said to me that I flipped, I texted back, “I know. But the graphics are awesome and the game play is solid. Yes, I made that determination after only about 15 minutes of actual game play. Honesly, though, what more do you need than the 2 minute video I recorded earlier. It’s Street Fighter. You fight…on the street.
The Verdict
I mean, it might be dangerous to judge a game so quickly because, as the Street Fighter 6 demo warns, “This game is still in development…followed by some other word that basically say the finished product probably won’t look or play the exact same way that it does here.” Some of that is true. Most of it, though, is just legalese to cover their butts in case someone takes better notes than I did and wants to sue them over the omission of a game mode or character. For me, though, I’m sold. Hell, if my check is big enough this week, I might just splurge and buy it then.
