The Hitchhiker's Guide to Maintaining a Nuclear Waste Dump

Introduction

Hello everybody, Happy Black History Month. Although it's late in the month, I wanted to write about a game that was developed by a person of color. And by that, I mean a game that I developed myself. Over the past few weeks, I've been working on a simple arcade-style indie game called Mega's Nuclear Waste Dump, a puzzler inspired by Uncle Henry's Nuclear Waste Dump for the 8-bit Atari line of computers.

Since this is a game I made myself, this post will not be a traditional game overview like my other blog posts. It will also obviously be missing things like an additional media section, developer interviews, character descriptions, or anything of that nature. That said, what this post will be is an explanation of the game's mechanics, the tools I used to program it, the assets used, my inspirations, and my personal thoughts. So sit back and get comfy as I take you to the waste dump!

Those Unforgettable Days - Getting to Know the Nadesico!

Introduction

When talking about mecha anime, it’s hard to overstate its popularity and impact in Japan. The late 70s and early 80s gave birth to several influential mecha series that fundamentally shaped not only the genre but anime as a whole during that time. Even in the West, series like Code Geass, Voltron, and Neon Genesis Evangelion have become cultural mainstays in many anime communities, remaining popular among fan artists, general anime discussions, and cosplayers to this day. While it might be fun to dive into a deep discussion about my opinions on some of these more well-known series, I instead want to shine a light on a slightly more underrated series from the late 90s. Today, I’m going to talk about a particular series I watched a few years ago that I’ve come to deeply appreciate: a quirky, authentic, and unique hidden gem known as Martian Successor Nadesico!

The Graphical Graces of Bishōjo: Why you should check out 16bit Sensation

Layer 01: 「Introduction」

Happy New Year everyone! To start the year, I wanted to do something that’s actually a bit different. When I first created this site, I wanted to write reviews on anime and manga in addition to video games, but since it’s much easier for me to talk about video games, that’s mostly all I’ve stuck to thus far. The one anime review I did, I was so displeased with it, that I took it down and I’m still in the process of rewriting it. Nevertheless, the topic I’m bringing forth today is technically still in the realm of video games, though it’s more in-line video game development. So, if your interests are, in any way, similar to mine, I greatly recommend you check out today’s manga of discussion: 16bit Sensation.  

❤MS Girls, Ojōsamas, and the Prowess of the PC Engine Super CD-ROM² - Galaxy Fräulein Yuna❤

 Introduction

Today, I wanted to do something a little bit different and talk about a visual novel. Well, okay, I guess visual novels aren’t exactly anything different—my last post was literally about Danganronpa. Before that, I talked about Sakura Taisen. Coincidentally, the company that developed Sakura Taisen, Red Company, is the same company that developed the game I have in mind to discuss today.

Rewinding a few months ago, as a fan of obscure retro Japanese games, I frequently browsed blog sites, forum posts, niche YouTube channels, and online threads that discussed these lesser-known titles. Since many people my age don’t seem to care much about retro games, browsing these pages for hours was one of my only ways to really learn anything new. One site I enjoyed visiting was HardcoreGaming101, which hosts thousands of articles and regular podcasts about retro games, even to this day. While they also cover some modern games, I mostly tend to avoid that stuff.

That site is where I first found lore information about XZR 1, Popful Mail, and Langrisser. Eventually, I purchased one of their books, Japanese Video Game Obscurities, written by Kurt Kalata, the founder of HG101. The book discusses several obscure, mostly Japan-exclusive retro games, ranging from more well-known games like Sakura Taisen, Der Langrisser, Tokimeki Memorial, and Bulk Slash, to more niche titles like Hanjuku Hero, Maka Maka, Sa-Zi-Ri, Emerald Dragon, and Bokosuka Wars. Of the titles discussed in the book, the one I wish to talk about today is a humble PC Engine game called Galaxy Fräulein Yuna!

The Girl Who's Right on the Money: A Review of Money Idol Exchanger (PSX)

 💰Introduction💰

Last time, when talking about Magical Drop, I mentioned how I wasn’t too big into puzzlers. While I’m still not someone who actively plays puzzlers outside of casually killing time, my love for Magical Drop possessed me to check out some other games in the genre. While browsing the internet, I found a cute-looking puzzle game that almost instantly caught my attention. This game was called Money Idol Exchanger.

From a cursory glance, the game looked like something right up my alley. It was a puzzle game with gameplay similar to Magical Drop with a focus on exchanging coins into bills. The game was originally released for the Neo Geo MVS arcade system, and since I couldn’t get the Neo Geo emulator to work properly on my PC, the only way I could play the game for a while was to visit the local retro game arcade...which is an hour-long drive from my house.

It wasn’t until a bit later that I learned the game was also ported to home consoles and systems. So, I downloaded the PlayStation 1 version, booted it up on an emulator, and played it a considerable amount. The only real caveat was the fact that the PSX version was never translated into English, so I had to play the game in Japanese. That said though, while the game was quite simple, I still had a lot of fun with it and have a lot I wish to discuss and preach to the choir about. So, without further ado, Let’s Exchanging to Cash!! 

Steeling the Will to Fight: A Review of Vanguard Bandits (PSX)

Introduction

Robots! There, now that I have your attention, I wanted to briefly talk about a game I enjoy called Vanguard Bandits. It’s a humble game. It’s not Fire Emblem, Final Fantasy Tactics, or Tactics Ogre, it’s just Vanguard Bandits. I first discovered this game a few years ago, after I first played Popful Mail. I enjoyed Popful Mail a lot and wanted to play through more of the titles that Working Designs had brought over to the West. I had briefly heard some of Vanguard Bandits' OST online and was already into SRPG-type games, so I checked it out. My initial run was quite short, only playing until Chapter 5 before I got distracted with other stuff.

I came back to this game about a year or so later when I was in a Discord server that was for SRPGs. They had monthly events where there’d be two Games of the Month, and anyone who beat any of the two games would be awarded a cool role in the server and bragging rights. It was a fun little event, I wish more servers did stuff like that. Anyway, the two games for that month were Vanguard Bandits and La Pucelle: Tactics.

Since I had already planned on restarting my run of Vanguard Bandits, I saw this as the perfect opportunity. And by the time I beat it, I had really found myself enjoying the game a lot. I didn’t have a blog site back then to really summarize my thoughts, give my opinions, or talk about minor details that I found interesting. So that’s why I’m here today. So, I hope you enjoy it!

All Our Hidden Gems: A Review of Magical Drop III (PSX)

 🟢 Introduction 🟢

I’ve never been someone who’s been very interested in puzzler games; I’ll play a few rounds of Tetris or Puyo Puyo with friends in a casual setting, but aside from that, I’ve never cared much for the genre. That actually changed a few months ago when I was with a friend at an arcade. I was walking around looking for games to play and there was one small cabinet in the corner of the arcade which looked to be one of those SNK Arcade Candy Cab Machines. I don’t know the exact model, but this machine had three different games to choose from. I don’t remember the other two games, but the third one—Magical Drop III—drew me in because the art style was really cute. 

I played a few games against CPU players and found the game to be quite addicting. My friend was waiting on me though, so I only played for a bit but I remembered what the game was called. So, when I got home, I did some research on the game and downloaded a ROM for the PlayStation version. I was hooked. I was so hooked that I devolved into researching the history and lore of the series, checking out the competitive scene, looking up supplemental media, and drawing fan art. And because of that, you’re going to be subjected to another one of my schizophrenic rants— I mean reviews. So I hope you enjoy listening to me talk about my current favorite puzzler game, Data East’s Magical Drop III.

A Fantasy of Cosmic Proportions: A Review of Cosmic Fantasy 2 (TurboGrafx CD)

 Introduction

From being one of the first RPGs to feature fully animated cinematic cutscenes, to being the game that initially put Working Designs on the map, to being labeled as Electronic Gaming Monthly’s Best RPG of the Year in 1993: it's Cosmic Fantasy 2. Developed by Nihon Telenet, Cosmic Fantasy 2 is an RPG for the TurboGrafx CD and is seen as a cult classic in the niche gaming market. It was one of the best-selling games on the console and was popular enough for NEC to consider making the game a pack-in title for the TurboGrafx CD.

In addition to everything else I just mentioned, it also recently received the honor of being played by me. And while I can see why it was very well-received back in the day, my thoughts on the game as a complete package are a little more complicated. So let’s not waste any more time and start talking about Cosmic Fantasy 2!

Die Legende von Zwei Schwertern: Eine Rezension von Der Langrisser (SFC)

 Introduction

Over Yeless' sky, far above the cursed land of Velzeria, a red star of ill omen has risen: it heralds the arrival of an ambitious man. Not too long after this, Bernhardt of the Rayguard Empire stands in the face of the legendary blade of darkness, Alhazard. Legends say that this sword is the key to infinite power, and so, the driven man pleads with the sword to give him its power. And use said power to conquer the shattered continent of El Sallia... or perhaps… the world?

The man crowned himself as the Kaiser of a new Empire, and together with his trusted knights, he sought to conquer the lands with his unparalleled strength. The armies of the Kaiser left a wake of devastation as they blazed across the continent—bodies piling like victims of a wrathful god.

Little did the Kaiser know, the ravages of his war lend power to an ancient, dormant darkness. One that awaits a day of chaos and destruction. The ancient Glory of Darkness, "Alhazard," will rain terror on the people and bleed the land dry... The blade's true nature seeks only to lay waste to the land. In the grip of evil, humanity will be choked into ancient darkness. The end can only be prevented with the Might of Elthlead, "Langrisser." 

Into the Boundaries of Time: A Review of Exile (TurboGrafx CD)

 Introduction

Today, I want to take you back to the distant past, all the way to the 12th century, and talk about a little-known game called Exile. Exile is part of a side-scrolling Action-RPG series, XZR, developed by Telenet and Riot. The series originated on the NEC PC-88 platform and eventually made its way to home consoles such as the Turbografx and Sega Genesis where it dropped the “XZR” moniker, and went by the name “Exile.” 

The Ice Wall and the Spirit of Duel: A Review of Xak - The Art of Visual Stage (SFC)

Introduction

Today, I wanted to talk to you about a game I recently played. A humble game known as Xak: The Art of Visual Stage. It’s an Action-RPG that was originally released on the PC-88 in 1989, and developed by Micro Cabin. The game was later ported to numerous systems during the 16-bit era. Today, I wanted to record my runthrough of the Super Famicom version which was developed by Sunsoft and Tokai Engineering in 1993.

 

From Zeroes to Heroes: The Story of Mario Kart Zero

 Introduction

In our current era, there are only three video game series that I can confidently say have the status of being legit household titles: Super Smash Brothers, Pokémon, and Mario Kart. Since its debut in 1992, the latter series has remained a perennial favorite, appealing to audiences in both competitive and casual play. Despite that, within the Mario Kart community lies a slightly more obscure subset of fans—the hacking community. Right now, Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart Wii boast some of the largest modding communities, with Mario Kart Wii, in particular, featuring thousands of custom tracks, additional game modes, and even third-party online servers, a decade after the official one shut down. However, this article aims to shine a spotlight on a lesser-known hacking community, the Mario Kart DS hacking community. In addition, I wanted to talk about the history and coverage of one of its most influential hacks from 2012. So, rev your engines, buckle up, and join me as I explore one of my favorite ROM hacks growing up—Mario Kart Zero.

Floral Fantasy: The Adventures of Sakura Taisen (Part 1)

 🌸Introduction🌸

Sakura Wars, also known as Sakura Taisen, is a game series that’s lingered on my radar for a few years. The game's name surfaced occasionally in casual conversations, but my knowledge of it was fairly limited. It wasn't until much later when I heard that Sakura Taisen's characters and mechs were featured as DLC in Super Robot Wars 30, which brought my attention back to the series.

Furthermore, last summer, since I had just graduated from college and had a lot more time on my hands, I had been catching up on a lot of anime. In particular, I was watching a lot of older mecha series, and over time I decided it was time for me to try out this Sakura Taisen game. So, I downloaded a Sega Saturn emulator, the two disk files necessary to actually play the game, and the fan translation. Once, I got everything set up, I went right into the game. And as such, I wish to share my playthrough with all of you in a two-part blog post.

Unboxing a Special Mail Delivery: A Review of Popful Mail (Sega CD)

⭐Introduction⭐

Nihon Falcom is a company that, for a little over forty years, has developed and released games and series that have fundamentally changed the face of role-playing games while also receiving international acclaim. They are often credited with pioneering the action role-playing genre, as well as popularizing the use of personal computers in Japan. While their most well-known games consist of series like Ys, Dragon Slayer, Trails, and The Legend of Heroes, I wanted to talk about a slightly more underrated game from Falcom—Popful Mail: Magical Fantasy Adventure…or just Popful Mail for short.