Update On The Summer Of 8-Bit

Due to the abrupt power outage caused by Hurricane Isaac, there may be a delay in videos associated with The Summer Of 8-Bit. I hope this video is just me being nervous, but there is a strong possibility that there will be a delay. I sincerely apologize to anyone expecting today's video.

Sincerely,
     Justin M. LaGrande

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Ninja Gaiden

Today's video takes a look at Ninja Gaiden from Tecmo.

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Castlevania II - Simon's Quest

Today's video takes a look at Castlevania II - Simon's Quest from Konami.

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Donkey Kong Jr.

Today's video takes a look at Donkey Kong Jr. from Nintendo

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Joust

Today's video takes a look at HAL Laboratory's NES port of Joust

The Summer Of 8-Bit: R.C. Pro-Am

Today's video takes a look at R.C. Pro-Am from Rare/Nintendo

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Air Fortress

Today's video takes a look at Air Fortress from Hal Laboratory

I'm A Tired Gamer

There was a lot that I wanted to say about the SherryJenix situation from last night, but after reading Kahlief Adams' post on The Spawn Point, and the comments that followed, I was fuming. I lost the desire to write about this topic and just voiced my frustration, disdain, and all around annoyance with the gaming community in general. The following video is my current thoughts on this and the other general hate being spread around the gaming community.

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Commando

Today's video takes a look at Capcom's Commando

RIP Nintendo Power: 1988 - 2012

I just saw a post on IGN that honestly made me tear up a bit. Nintendo Power, Nintendo's in house periodical for almost a quarter of a century, is set to close it's doors. For me, Nintendo Power represented not just a gaming magazine, but an important part of what sparked my desire to write. I remember getting the 50th issue in the mail (Link's Awakening on the cover), The NES Game Atlas, the free game offers (THEY GAVE AWAY COPIES OF DRAGON WARRIOR!!), the foldout maps that doubled as beautiful posters, and you have the recipe for nostalgia of the highest order.

Nintendo Power will forever be one of the most beloved parts of what grew me into the gamer that I am today. Never mind the fact that it was a marketing tool for Nintendo and initially that's all it was, for many gamers, Nintendo Power was a treasure trove of cheats, maps, previews, and other info that other magazines were not providing. I learned about the stage select code for TMNT II from Nintendo Power, along with assorted cheats for NBA Jam, Castlevania III, Street Fighter II Turbo, Mike Tyson's Punch Out!!, and countless other games. Nintendo Power is more than just a magazine that's going out of business, it's a slice of gaming history that everyone who grew up with a controller in their hands can be proud to say was a part of the culture they love.

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Gauntlet

Today's video takes a look at Tengen's NES port of Gauntlet

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Metal Gear

Today's video takes a look at the NES port of Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear

Dust: An Elysian Tail First Look

             As most gamers know, Xbox Live has released their Summer of Arcade Titles.  For the uninitiated, it is basically 4 featured arcade games that are released every summer. Games like Trials HD, Limbo, and Shadow Complex have been some games that have been released in previous summers. Today I decided to pick up one of the games from this year’s Summer of Arcade, and give a quick first impression about it. The game I chose was Dust: An Elysian Tail. It is an Action RPG from the people at Humble Heart Studios. The game focuses on Dust, a rabbit like creature that awakes with some of his memory erased, and his 2 companions, Ahrah, a mystical talking sword, and Fidget, a flying squirrel who is the guardian of Ahrah.  The first thing most gamers will notice when they start the game, is how gorgeous the game is. It’s a 2D platformer, with 3D visuals and style. If you have ever played Odin Sphere, this game will remind you of it. From the hour I have played so far, this game also looks like it takes a page from the Metroid series.  I have come to a couple of areas where I couldn't advance, but later on found the tools needed to get into those areas and had to backtrack. Some gamers might get annoyed by this, but I feel I will thoroughly enjoy it. Gameplay in Dust is very fluid and easy to pick up and begin playing without some of the learning curves some other Action RPGs have. The voice acting so far is spot on and the main characters are all enjoyable in their own way. Even though it is early in my play through, I am convinced that this game will be one to remember.  I am looking forward to getting deeper into the game, and uncover the story that goes along with it. 

  

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Chip 'N Dale Rescue Rangers

Today's video takes a look at Chip 'N Dale Rescue Rangers from Capcom

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Iron Tank

Today's video takes a look at Iron Tank from SNK

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Prince Of Persia

Today's video takes a look at the NES port of Jordan Mechner's Prince Of Persia

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Clash At Demonhead

Today's video takes a look at Clash At Demonhead from Vic Tokai

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Gradius

Today's video takes a look at Gradius from Konami

Click, Point, Walk Dead

by Shawn Hill: Host - Character Select

My friend raved that the Walking Dead video game by TellTale was awesome with griping moments. This week, I went, bought some MS points, and got MTG 2013 (not really the point). With the leftover points, I bought the first of two episodes of this gaming series, there being five in total.  First off, the game is a click and point adventure.  There are objects that you can interact with by aiming the cursor with the left stick  (if you haven't figured out that I’m playing this on a console, you should stop reading) and the right stick moves the character but you will hardly use it. The game's graphics are cell-shaded and keep in line with the look of the comic-book graphic novel. The face buttons give an object multiple options to deal with it, from look it to interacting with it.  Good. I got that out the way.  No shooting wave after wave of the undead.  Now because you don't get to replenish your ammo after every checkpoint doesn't mean you should pass up on this game. What makes this game a buy is the story telling. It's right up there with novel and the television show, even with the scares. Don't be fooled by the cell-shaded look, it made me jump a few times.  Now I fell that tell you about the plot of game would ruin your experience of the game. Yes, it one of those game.  Just know that you play A BLACK MAN (TellTale knows we survive until we come out of the basement that we were hiding in) named Lee Everett. You start off in the back of a police car (of course) and being taken to prison for a crime that you have committed.  The cop is talking to you about your crime and other topics while you notice every piece of law enforcement heading towards the city that you're leaving from.  While talking to you, he hits an undead and crashes; thus your story begins. That's it. Not saying any more.  What TellTale does is put characters in your path that you will love, hate and feel sad about. And it's up to you to build a relationship with them or not and if you do, what type of relationship. Will you be honest or keep secrets? Will you be friendly or aggressive towards them?  The way the characters react to you is impressive. The way you handle a scenario with a character or characters can haunt you for rest of the series (if they live). Talk to somebody the wrong way, you might regret it. They have a dialogue system similar to games like Mass Effect and Alpha Protocol, that helps direct the game and make decisions. The timer on the dialog doesn't help either.  Also, it doesn't hurt that the voice acting is up there. After playing this, I would mind an animated version of the Walking Dead.  Lee is voice by Dave Fonney and if he sounds familiar he is the voice of HULU. Yes, the voice that tells you an ad is coming up or what this show is brought to you by. Funny thing is that it works. His voice has a wide range for this kind of character that has to be versatile due to the player. It's hard to be reasonable on the brink of madness. If you are a fan of the novel and show, characters from both will show up during the game. Another reason for fans of the series to download; help flush out some the main characters' back-story.   By now, most of you are like "ummmm this isn't a review." It's a recommendation.  I don't want to tell you much about this game because it's like telling you about an episode of TV show. It just wouldn't feel right about ruining the experience for you. Each character, moment and encounter is a refreshing experience within it's self. Of course you don't have to watch the TV show or have read the graphic novel but warning, the game will make you want to check out both. If you're a fan of great story telling, you will love this game (plus the control handles well). Zombies and headshots...BUY. A writer for the television show wrote the script for this game. What else can I say to make you buy this game, or get an episode every time one is released?  It just one of those games at the end, you ask yourself if you made the right decisions or just play the game over again.

Shawn can be found on Goggle + under the name "Shawn Hill". His weekly video game podcast / discussion show "Character Select" can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/user/zama63

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Astyanax

Today's video takes a look at Astyanax from Jaleco

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Wrestlemania

Today's video takes a look at Wrestlemania from Acclaim

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Demon Sword

Today's video takes a look at Demon Sword from Taito

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Mega Man 2

Today's video takes a look at Mega Man 2 from Capcom

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Rollergames

Today's video takes a look at Rollergames from Ultra Games / Konami

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Alien Syndrome

Today's video takes a look at Tengen's NES port of Sega's Alien Syndrome

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Renegade

Today's video takes a look at Renegade from Taito

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Kid Icarus

Today's video takes a look at Kid Icarus from Nintendo

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Town & Country Surf Designs Wood And Water Rage

Today's video takes a look at Town & Country Surf Designs Wood And Water Rage from LJN

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Gargoyle's Quest II

Today's video takes a look at Gargoyle's Quest II from Capcom

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Crash N The Boys Street Challenge

Today's video takes a look at Crash N The Boys Street Challenge from Technos Japan

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Rygar

Today's video takes a look at Tecmo's Rygar

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Monster In My Pocket

Today's video takes a look at Monster In My Pocket from Konami

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Faxanadu

Today's video takes a look at Falcom's Faxanadu

The Summer Of 8-Bit: Pro Wrestling

Today's video takes a look at Pro Wrestling