T-Pac

I'm kinda interested, but I still don't understand how this game works. Maybe I'll just watch how this plays out, then join in next time when I've got a better grasp on things haha. -CasualCart

I've always liked Kiwi Kraze, but I find it really difficult. Congrats on beating it - I spent a couple weeks last year trying to make decent progress in it, but I couldn't even get halfway through the game haha. -CasualCart

If someone saw an unlicensed game on my shelf with my NES collection and asked me what it was, I would say it's a Nintendo game and specify that it is unlicensed. -CasualCart

Bucky O'Hare is completed! My cartridge is the PAL version, but I'm not aware of any regional differences from the NTSC release. I really love the way progression works in this game - how each level has its own password and is broken into a series of challenging gauntlets. The controls are spot on, every selectable character is useful, and the unlimited continues encourage you to keep trucking through to the end. -CasualCart

I collect loose games exclusively, and condition doesn't matter as long as it plays. Marker, torn labels, etc. is all fine by me - it just adds character. I'd like to start picking up manuals for my NES games at some point, though. -CasualCart

Monster In My Pocket is completed! I played as the Vampire, and I had forgotten how satisfying the slash attack is in this game. Although - I've always hated when games trick you into thinking you won, only to bring the final boss back in another form. -CasualCart

Panic Restaurant is completed! I played the PAL version, so if that doesn't count then someone else will have to take care of this one. Taito platformers are always a blast, and Panic Restaurant probably has the most charm of them all. I struggled a lot with the ice stage and the final boss battle against Oh'Dove, but it was worth the effort! -CasualCart

Felix the Cat is completed! I'm always confused at how a silent-film cartoon ended up as a NES game, but this one is always a lot of fun! -CasualCart

Darkwing Duck is completed! This is one of my top 10 NES games - the character sprites and sound design are in a league of their own for the system. And I actually learned a neat strategy for taking down Steelbeak from a thread on NintendoAge last year! -CasualCart

Woohoo! Thanks @Gloves and VGS staff! @BortLicensePlate it's time to run this place into the ground ... with aesthetic. -CasualCart

Can't wait to see the progress on this - I'll bet this is a big undertaking! -CasualCart

I was super excited to get a bunch of NES games this Christmas, and these are the highlights: I've never been a fan of the Flintstones, but the game seems really fun so far. I'm not surprised considering how much I like Taito platformers. Pipe Dream is super addicting - I've played it more than any of my other new additions so far. I've been looking to add Shatterhand to my collection for a few years now, so I'm pumped to finally have a copy. I've only briefly tested it out, but the gameplay is great and I look forward to giving it a proper playthrough soon. Believe it or not, I've been collecting NES games for almost 7 years, and I've never had a copy of SMB2 or SMB3 until now haha. -CasualCart

I've always thought these were really neat, but there's just so many that it's hard to tell which ones are worth picking up. What are your recommendations outside of the high-end quarter-scale cabinets? -CasualCart

A question for all the VGS'ers on Santa's Nice List: What would be the ultimate, fantasy wishlist item for your collection? A prototype of your favorite game? A crazy custom console? Rare production artwork? A mint sealed game? For me it would probably be a fully-licensed arcade machine with all my favorite games or a universal ROM-cartridge dumper to archive my collection.

Cool - I've never seen these before. To be honest, I think the bland labels are kind of neat. -CasualCart

Awesome - I can't believe I never knew Sinatra did Christmas music! He's one of my favorite artists (along with Louis Armstrong, Dean Martin, Guy Lombardo, etc.), so I'll definitely have to hunt down those songs. And I've made a point to watch some of the more obscure, B-tier Rankin & Bass films as well (most recently Pinocchio's Christmas lol) - it's fun to spot which puppets were re-used between productions. Interestingly, I learned that a lot of the animation for those was done in Japan. -CasualCart

That's really cool! Does it hold multiple layers of games or just the rows up front? -CasualCart

Well said - I was exposed to many of my favorite games through YouTube videos, so I guess it's not so bad that I had to pay more for them due to 'hidden gem' hype. -CasualCart

I've been playing a fair bit of Darius Twin for the SNES. I recently got an Asciiware Fighter Stick SN, and spaceship shooters are always more fun with an arcade stick. -CasualCart

In my experience with Mega Man 2, it counts as a win (at least against the final Alien boss). -CasualCart