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MegaMan52

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  1. MegaMan52

    A Look at Imports: Mario Party 4 Event Disc

    By MegaMan52,


    A Look at Imports
    Introduction 

    On YouTube, I have a video series called "A Look at Imports." Starting with this blog, I'd like to expand on that series by talking about games that I didn't include and games that I do have videos of but would like to talk about things I never mentioned in the videos. As I've acquired numerous imported items over the years, this series could include peripherals and other gaming-related items in the future. 
    I'd like to start off by talking about a scarce promotional Mario Party 4 disc that I bought in 2018, known as the Mario Party 4 Event Disc. This is one of the imports that I have a video of on YouTube, but as mentioned above I'd like to talk about things not shown or mentioned in the videos.
    The Mario Party 4 Event Disc 
    Finding out about it
    I found this disc on eBay in 2018. There were at least two listed, and they were both sealed. I noticed the cover was different than most copies of Mario Party 4. Wanting to find out more about it before buying it, I did a Google search. At the time, I could only find one page about it. The only information was the discs title ("Mario Party 4 Event Disc"), and a picture. The fact that it is called an "Event Disc" made me wonder if it was suppose to be for a Japanese tournament, like Super Smash Bros. Melee (which has its own tournament disc in Japan).
    The disc wasn't cheap (and probably costs more now). I won't say how much I paid, but it cost more than ten times as much as a regular Japanese copy of Mario Party 4.
    The cover and Disc 


    The slipcover shows the Mario Party 4 logo. The bottom part of the slipcover and the words on the top of the disc say "Mario Party 4 Event Disc." It's clearly a promo item.
    The game


    There's not a whole lot to it. After putting the disc into a GameCube, the Mario Party 4 title screen appears (in Japanese, of course). Pressing Start takes you to the Mini-Game mode.

    Only two options can be selected: Free Play and Battle Mode.


    Up to four players can play, and all eight playable characters from the full version of the game can be selected.


    Only the 4-Player and Battle Mini-Games can be played. There are 16 4-Player games and 6 Battle games for a total of 22 Mini-Games.

    The second option is the Battle Mode. Like the Free Play option, up to four players can play and all eight playable characters from the full version are available.

    Again, only the 4-Player and Battle Mini-Games can be played. The Battle Mode in the full version of the game has options for 5 wins and 7 wins, but the Battle Mode on this disc only has the 3 win option. The first player who wins three times is the winner.


    In this mode, the Mini-Games are selected randomly.
    Other than the lack of content, everything included looks and sounds pretty much the same as the full game of Mario Party 4. Could there be other content hidden in the disc's memory?
    Conclusion
    Not much else to say. I'm still not sure what this disc's purpose was. Was it actually used in a tournament like Super Smash Bros. Melee? Or planned to be used in a tournament? Was it a giveaway? Who knows. I'd be interested in finding out if there's anything on the disc that is unused. Sadly, the disc is scarce. Not many people know about it.
    If you're interested, I have a video on YouTube showing all of the mini-games and features available on this disc. 
    -MegaMan52
  2. MegaMan52
    Introduction

    I'm sure most of us have traditions, New Year's being one of them. But what about video games or movies? Do you play a particular game or watch a particular movie during a certain time of every year?
    I got Animal Crossing for the GameCube in Dec. 2006. I still have my original copy of the game, and have played it every year since. I've also celebrated New Year's in the game every year since, and it is sort of a tradition. I've since also played Animal Crossing: New Leaf for the 3DS, and have celebrated New Year's in that game too.
    Since I've played Animal Crossing for almost two decades, I thought I might as well make a blog about it. I might make a more thorough blog about these games someday, but for now I'd like to talk about the New Year's celebrations in the original Animal Crossing for GameCube and Animal Crossing: New Leaf for the 3DS.
    Celebrating New Year's in Animal Crossing
    Animal Crossing (GameCube)

    Ah yes, the original Animal Crossing...still my favorite game in the series. One of the best games on the GameCube, and a game that I can play pretty much every year.
    As I said in the intro, I got Animal Crossing in Dec. 2006. I got it at an HMV that still had a few copies left more than four years after the game was released (Sept. 2002). I can still remember seeing pictures of it in 2002, thinking it was weird that it looked like an N64 game (and later found out that it was originally released for the N64 in Japan). When I finally got the game, the main reason why I decided to get it was because of the many NES games that are included in it (including major NES games like Super Mario Bros., Legend of Zelda, Punch-Out!!, and Wario's Woods). As I played it for the first time on a cold winter day, I noticed that, while getting the NES games was a priority, the actual game of Animal Crossing was and still is pretty darn good. Moving into a town (with a randomly generated layout), getting your own house, getting lots of furniture, changing weather and seasons, making lots of friends, and celebrating real-life events like Valentines Day and New Year's Eve. All really cool stuff.

    Beginning at 11:00 PM, your character and his/her friends are told to go to your town's lake for the New Year's countdown. During the countdown, you can talk to any of the characters who showed up, including Tortimer (who is the Mayor). Whoever's standing beside the countdown sometimes announces how much time is left until the new year (half an hour, ten minutes, etc.). Everyone gets more and more excited and nervous. During the final minute of the year, the characters are silent and you can hear the countdown (which gets louder during the final ten seconds). Once the new year begins, fireworks goes off, everyone wishes each other Happy New Year, and everyone sings and dances.
    https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1104119176686105
    From 12 AM to 1 AM, if you walk away from the celebration to other areas of your town, a rendition of the song "Auld Lang Syne" plays (no joke...this game has it all).


    I've celebrated New Year's in this game since 2006, and am going to continue doing so. I'm also going to continue playing it other days of the year. I've also celebrated New Year's in Dōbutsu no Mori e+, the updated Japanese version of the game from 2003. This version of the game has a snapshot feature and SD Card support. This picture was saved onto the GameCube's SD Card accessory released in Japan and transferred to my computer years ago.
    Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS)

    In 2019, I bought the "Welcome amiibo" edition of Animal Crossing: New Leaf (which has several additions and improvements compared to the original release from 2012). It was my go-to game during the pandemic, along with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the Switch. Like the original Animal Crossing, I celebrate New Year's in New Leaf though not every year. 
    As expected, the New Year's celebration in this game is similar to the original Animal Crossing but there are some changes. Instead of by a lake, the event is located by a tree. Instead of a random character, the New Year's Celebration is announced by a character named Isabelle (who was introduced in this game, and is your character's secretary). If you talk to her, she'll give you some Cider to drink. As in the original game, you can talk to characters who showed up to the event and, of course, there are fireworks. Also, because this game has a view that's behind your character instead of above, the camera/view can move up so you can actually see the fireworks in the sky (rather than their reflections in the water).
    There's not much else to say. It's New Year's Eve, and well...it's obviously going to be very similar no matter which Animal Crossing game you play,
    While similar, I think I like the New Year's Celebration in the original Animal Crossing a little bit more. Having "Auld Lang Syne" play at 12 AM in the original was a nice touch.
    Conclusion

    This is my 30th blog, and it is complete.
    This blog is obviously a lot shorter than my other blogs. That was intentional. I wanted to do two things: make a New Year's blog and talk about Animal Crossing. There's not much to say about either that hasn't already been said, but I still felt it was necessary to make a blog about Animal Crossing. And celebrating New Year's in the original has been a tradition of mine since 2006, so I thought that maybe now would be good time to make a blog about that. Thanks for reading.
    Happy New Year.

    -MegaMan52
  3. MegaMan52
    Introduction 
    I visited Chuck E. Cheese last month in September. The restaurant chain wasn't a very big part of my childhood, and it wasn't even really on my mind until just a couple months ago. After watching videos and finding out more about it, I was interested in visiting. I enjoyed my visit.
    My Birthday is in October. After finding out that there's no age limit for having Birthday parties at Chuck E. Cheese, I decided I wanted to celebrate my Birthday there. I hadn't celebrated my Birthday since 2008 (at least), so I contacted my family and told them I wanted to have my Birthday there. 
    We ordered a Birthday Package on the Chuck E. Cheese website, and reserved a table for 7:00 pm. Since it is October, I also got to visit during their "Boo-tacular" Halloween event.
    Arriving at the Restaurant

    It was a long drive, but I arrived at the restaurant a few minutes before 7:00. Most of my family wasn't there yet. Before going in, I took a picture of the restaurant. As you can see, the location I went to still uses an older logo from the "Avenger Chuck" era instead of the current logo used at several other locations. To be fair, this is probably one of the more iconic Chuck E. Cheese logos. And it looks cool at night when it is lit.



    The inside of the restaurant was decorated with cobwebs, ghosts, and bats. My server for the night greeted me as soon as I entered. The table was already decorated with a cloth, balloons, cups, plates, utensils, and a Birthday sign. 
    While the package was already ordered and my table was already setup, I still needed to order pizza and drinks before I could play any games. I asked if I could have a "pumpkin pepperoni pizza" that was mentioned on the website. She wrote it down. She told me I could order two drinks, and she would fill two pitchers. The restaurant has Pepsi drinks. I quit drinking Coca-Cola and Pepsi a few years ago, but figured my family wanted Pepsi so I ordered it as well as some Mountain Dew (which was what I drank when I visited last month). My server told me that a live show with Chuck E. Cheese (a Birthday dance) was part of the package, and asked me if I wanted it. I said no, but told her that I'd like to get a picture with Chuck E. I was then asked if I wanted a picture on my cake. The website mentions a few different pictures, like Batman and Hello Kitty. I told her I wanted a picture of Chuck E. Everything was ordered, but I still couldn't play any games yet. I brought my card from my previous visit, but it was empty. They have kiosks there for reloading the cards, but I chose not to use them because I was supposed to receive a wristband (called a "Play Band") as part of the package.

    After waiting a few minutes, my server came back to the table and gave me a Play Band with 45 points on it. I was ready to play some games while the pizza was cooking but decided to wait for the rest of my family. They arrived a few minutes later and were given Play Pass/All You Can Play cards.
    Game On 
    It wasn't very busy, which I guess is to be expected since it wasn't Saturday. I only had time to play three games: Luigi's Mansion Arcade, Super Monkey Ball: Ticket Blitz, and Cars, all of which I played during my previous visit. My family played games too (yep, even my parents). I started with Luigi's Mansion. Right before playing, I saw Chuck E. walk by holding a ticket sign. He walked near the entrance, where he did his "Haunted Dance" for the kids. 
    Like my previous visit, I played Luigi's Mansion alone. At least for a few minutes. Eventually, my brother (who was playing a different game) joined me (the game allows up to two players). I got through the first mansion and beat the boss. I played through only part of the second mansion because I needed to get back to my table soon and so I moved on and played Super Monkey Ball.
    When playing Super Monkey Ball, I ran into a similar situation as when I got to track 8 in Rad Racer last month (one of the games on my list in the backlog challenge topic). As soon as I got to the goal, the timer ran out and I didn't beat the level. I continued and got through the level on my next try. I didn't get much further; I can't figure out how to beat the bonus levels (I always just barely miss the ring).
    The only other game I had time to play was Cars. Just as I sat down to play it, my server asked me if I was hungry and said my pizza was ready. I played Cars for only a few minutes and returned to the table.
    Pizza Time

    A lot of people say the pizza at Chuck E. Cheese is "bad", but I like it. The crust has a lot of flavor and stuffed crust made it even better.
    My server put a slice on my plate and filled my (small) Chuck E. cup with Mountain Dew (I helped myself after). 
    Cake and Birthday Song

    After eating a few slices of pizza, my server came back to the table with my chocolate cake. I guess they didn't have number candles, so they put one regular candle on it. Yes, it was lit. Chuck E. appeared for a few minutes, and my family and server sang Happy Birthday. At first, I wasn't sure I wanted them to sing Happy Birthday. But it's been fourteen or fifteen years since I last celebrated mine, so I thought "OK, why not?". After blowing out the candle, it was time to get a picture with Chuck E.
    Photo-op with Chuck E.

    As mentioned above, I told the server I wasn't interested in the live show/Birthday Dance so we skipped that and I got a picture with Chuck E. I'm not going to show my face, but that's me there with Chuck E. As you can see, I'm wearing a Mega Man shirt. If you're wondering why my right leg looks a bit chubby, it's because my wallet was in my pocket. I weigh only about 160 pounds.
    While Chuck E. dresses up as a vampire at other locations, here he wasn't really dressed up like that. He had the fangs, but didn't appear to be wearing a cape. I'm not sure if the employee forgot (or chose not to) wear it, or if they don't have a cape at this location.
    Birthday Presents 

    I got some presents, which I opened at the restaurant. Back to the Future is my favorite movie series of all time, so my family already had an idea of what to give me even though I didn't give them any ideas. I also got a Birthday Card, a Walmart Gift Card, some t-shirts (not the Mega Man shirt, which I got from a friend several years ago), and a new Hat. Maybe I'll use the Walmart card to buy Season 4 of Cobra Kai, which I read was recently released on DVD.
    Boo-tacular Event 


    It's October, so of course the restaurant was decorated. While my Birthday celebration wasn't quite over yet, I decided to get off my chair and take some pictures in the Studio C area (the area with the TV's, and where my table was). Also, as I mentioned in my previous Chuck E. Cheese blog, the location I went to still has a Chuck E. Animatronic.
    Some Chuck E. Cheese Halloween music videos were playing on the TV's (as well as some shorts), some of which I've actually already seen on YouTube. A few songs were released this month: 
    "Howl-O-Ween" - I'm not really into Country music, but this song was surprisingly good. It features Jasper T. Jowls, the dog. The other main characters (Chuck E., Helen, Mr. Munch, Pasqually, and Bella) make an appearance near the end. Despite the fact that I'm not into Country music, this turned out to be my favorite of these new Chuck E. Cheese songs. AAAAWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
    "Witches Crew" - Features the characters Helen, Bella, and Dino. Despite featuring three characters, it focuses on Helen about 75% of the time. I think Bella is kind of an underrated character and wish she had more screen time in this music video. It does get a little better about halfway through, with Bella getting a few close-ups and Dino suddenly getting a voice. Even though this song is targeted mainly at female Chuck E. Cheese fans, I like it a little more than the song below.
    "If Everyday Was Halloween" - A hip-hop song. The beginning and end of the video features Chuck E. and Mr. Munch, apparently returning home from trick or treating. The actual song, though, only features Chuck E. I admit I'm a little biased towards Chuck E., so I thought this would be my favorite of these three songs. Surprisingly, it turned out to be my least favorite. It's not a bad song, but...maybe it would've been a little better if Mr. Munch was part of the song too. Also, while I know the song is titled "If Every Day Was Halloween", the music video is clearly a reference/advertisement for the restaurants "4 Seasons of Fun" ("Boo-tacular", of course, is one of them).
    When Chuck E. makes his appearances in the restaurant (at the 30 minute mark every hour), he does a "Haunted Dance" for the kids this time of year. Apparently, the employees were also giving away candy. I didn't get any, but that doesn't matter since I eat some on Halloween (and also watch Horror movies).

    I joined Spotify a few weeks ago (and recently got Premium for free). I've listened to a few Chuck E. Cheese songs here as well. My favorite Chuck E. Cheese song is "Let's Have a Party." I believe the new Halloween songs are also on Spotify.
    The Ticket Blaster


    The server left fifteen minutes before the restaurant closed. She gave me two "Magic Tickets", worth 500 Tickets each. On the website, it mentions "Bonus E-Tickets" as part of the Birthday packages. I guess these were the Bonus Tickets, but they were physical instead of digital. I looked at the words on the Tickets, and noticed they were meant for the Ticket Blaster. I was reminded that I didn't use the Ticket Blaster machine yet (which was part of the package). The restaurant was closing in ten minutes. I talked to the Manager, and she allowed me to go in the Ticket Blaster even though the restaurant was about to close. 


    I was given thirty seconds to catch as many Tickets as I could. While I did manage to catch a handful, I didn't get that many. It's a little hard when they're being blown around all over the place. The Manager gave me a handful of Tickets I didn't catch. I don't know why. Does touching Tickets or Tickets landing on my shoulders count as "catching" them? I don't know. Anyway, including the "Magic Tickets" I was given before, I had 1300+ Tickets.
    The Gift Shop




    Before leaving, I went to the Gift Shop. The Chuck E. Cheese website mentioned some Halloween merch: a Chuck E. Vampire Plush, a light-up Cup, and some Halloween bags. They were sold out of these items, which didn't surprise me since there Halloween event started last month.
    I got a few Chuck E. items with my Tickets, and got the ball for $20. I also took home most of my Birthday items. 
    Conclusion


    If you've read up to this point, you're probably thinking I'm out of my mind for having my Birthday at a "kids" restaurant. First of all, I'm never too old for pizza and video games. Second of all, there's no age limit for parties and Chuck E. Cheese is for families not just kids. As a video game player and collector since 1990, as well as a lover of pizza, it made perfect sense for me to celebrate my Birthday at Chuck E. Cheese. 
    I plan on visiting again next year (multiple times).
    -MegaMan52
  4. MegaMan52

    Favorite Imports

    By MegaMan52,


    Imports
    Introduction
    For my second blog, I'm going to list my current favorite imports. Imports are my favorite items to collect and I've collected a lot over the years, so it makes sense that I make a blog about them.
    MegaMan52's favorite video game imports 
    20.Mario Party 4 Event Disc 
    An obscure Japanese Mario Party 4 promotional disc. I didn't find out about it until 2018, when I came across some sealed copies of it on eBay. Before buying, I did a Google search. The only information I could find at the time was the name of the disc, and a single picture. Because of my interest in imports (and because the GameCube is underrated), I had to buy it and find out more about it. I'm not going to say how much it cost, but it was far more than a regular copy of Mario Party 4.
    The disc contains Mini-Game mode. All eight playable characters are available, and up to four players can play. Four player and Battle mini-games can be selected.
    I don't know much more about this disc. The name seems to imply that it was used (or planned to be used) at a Tournament, like Super Smash Bros. Melee. It might be a demo disc. Maybe it was a giveaway. Unfortunately, not a whole lot more is known. Hopefully someone out there who has this disc can look at the discs data, and find out more about it.
    19.Kirby's Dream Land


    I like Kirby. I really, REALLY like the Kirby games. Of course, importing the Japanese version of Kirby's Dream Land was a priority. The box art for the Japanese version proves that Kirby was pink all along.
    It doesn't differ much from the American version, but it has a nicer-looking title screen and some other minor differences. I made a video (above) comparing the American and Japanese versions. 
    18.Super Smash Bros. 

    The Japanese version of Super Smash Bros. has more realistic punching and kicking sound effects (similar to Melee). Some of the voice clips are different too, while others are the same. There are no Congratulations screens shown at the end of the One Player mode; they were added to the American version. 
    17.Super Bust a Move All-Stars
    This is basically the European release of Bust a Move 3000, but it has two major additions. It adds a Four-Player mode, and a Space Invaders style Shoot Bubble mode. The Japanese version (Super Puzzle Bobble All-Stars) also has these additions. If you like this series, it's worth importing the Japanese or European versions (or both).
    16.Nintendo Puzzle Collection 
    Nintendo Puzzle Collection includes Dr. Mario 64 (yes, it's a Japanese version of the N64 Dr. Mario), an updated version of Yoshi's Cookie, and the unreleased N64 version of Panel de Pon. It's unfortunate that the American release of Nintendo Puzzle Collection was canceled, but at least it came out in Japan. If you like the Dr. Mario and Yoshi's Cookie games for NES, SNES, and Game Boy as well as Tetris Attack for SNES, this is definitely worth importing.
    15.Donkey Kong Land 3

    While Donkey Kong Land 3 was released in America and Europe for the original Game Boy in 1997, it was released in Japan for the Game Boy Color in 2000. 




    There are two revisions of the original Game Boy version, with the differences being the title screen and a slight change to the ending of the Tundra Blunda level. The Game Boy Color version released in Japan is based on version 1.1 for original Game Boy. It also has some changes besides the color display, which are shown in my comparison video above.
    14.Pac-Land 

    Until the Arcade versions release on the Switch as part of the Arcade Archives series and Pac-Man Museum+ earlier this year, the Famicom version of Pac-Land (released in 1985) was the only Nintendo version/release of the game.
    The game predates Super Mario Bros. as one of the first side-scrolling adventure games. The Famicom version mimics the controls of the Arcade version, with A and B used for movement and any direction on the Control Pad for jumping. A more traditional control style can be used by plugging a Controller into port 2. 
    It has fewer levels than the Arcade version and the visuals were watered down significantly. While not as good as the Arcade version, it is decent for an earlier Famicom game.
    13.Elevator Action EX 
    This is probably my favorite game in the Elevator Action series. It has three characters, the music is awesome, and some cool cutscenes/images are shown before a level starts.
    Elevator Action EX was released in America as Dexter's Laboratory: Robot Rampage, with the only differences being the characters and some changed graphics. I'd still recommend importing either the Japanese or European versions.
    12.Kuru Kuru Kuruin 

    One of my first Game Boy Advance imports. Screenshots of it were shown in Nintendo Power, but the game wasn't released in America. It did come out in Europe though, fully playable in English. It was followed by Kururin Paradise (also for GBA) and Kururin Squash! (GameCube).
    11.Tomb Raider (Sega Saturn)

    Right from the beginning, Lara Croft appeared on more than just the PlayStation systems.
    The Saturn version of Tomb Raider got a re-release in Japan, as seen in the picture above. Apparently, the American and regular Japanese releases of the Saturn version have framerate issues. The re-release shown above was apparently optimized for the Saturn hardware, though I can't confirm this since I've never played the American and regular Japanese releases of the Saturn version. From what I've noticed playing this re-release, it looks reasonably good for a 3D Saturn game and plays almost as well as the PlayStation version.
    10.Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards


    For some reason, I overlooked Kirby 64 when it was released. I rented a lot of games during that era, and had Super Mario 64, Mario Kart, Diddy Kong Racing, Mario Party 2, Paper Mario, Mega Man 64, etc. I knew about Kirby 64 and remember seeing pictures of it, but for whatever reason I didn't play it. I finally played the game in 2009, but on the Project 64 Emulator. Over twenty years after the game's release, I finally bought a copy.
    I bought the game at a local game store last year. The store sold a lot of imports, and I found the Japanese version of Kirby 64 with the box, manual, and inserts. I decided it was time to finally buy it.


    I beat the game 100% earlier this year.
    9.Pac-Man World 2 (PS2) 




    As of this writing, this is my most recent import. Pac-Man World 2 has been one of my favorite games on the GameCube since first playing it in 2003. However, only the PS2 version was released in Japan.
    Earlier American copies of the PS2 version are a little different and more difficult, such as the beginning of the B-Doing Woods level lacking the safety net that is in other versions. All other versions of the game, including later copies of the PS2 version, made some minor changes to some of the levels to make them easier. The Japanese release appears to be based on the revised American release of the PS2 version, with many of the same changes made to the GameCube version.
    8.Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell (GameCube) 




    While considered best on Xbox, I enjoy the GameCube versions of the Splinter Cell games (which are ports of the PS2 versions). The European release of the GameCube version of Splinter Cell is interesting. First of all, the cover art is different (and looks cooler in my opinion). There is a Making of Documentary that was left out of the American release. And, of course, it has a Language selection (which would later be included in the American releases of SC: Chaos Theory and SC: Double Agent). However, it lacks Progressive Scan support (which the American release has). Also the Random Facts and Michael Ironside Interview included in the American release were removed, likely because there wasn't enough space on the disc after including the different languages. 
    As with the American release, the European release of the GameCube version has GBA Connectivity that displays a map and guard locations on the GBA, enables a Sticky Bomb weapon, and unlocks levels in the GBA version.
    This game is notable for being re-released as a Player's Choice game exclusively in Europe.
    7.The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (GameCube)
    The last game released for the GameCube in Japan, released in December 2006 and only sold online unlike the American and European releases. Once again, we're treated to a different cover and a beautiful image on the back. 
    Despite coming out before the American release, the Japanese release has a later build date and some bug fixes.
    6.Bubble Bobble 4 Friends (Switch) 
    The Bubble Bobble 4 Friends collector's edition package from Europe, released by Strictly Limited Games. I don't buy collector's edition releases very often, but I hadn't played very many Bubble Bobble games prior to buying this. I have the NES and Apple II versions of the original and the NES version of Rainbow Islands. Those were the only Bubble Bobble/Bubble Bobble related games I played before buying this. I really like both games, so I felt it was necessary to import this Bubble Bobble 4 Friends collector's edition package. The game includes the Arcade version of the original Bubble Bobble, and works on an American Switch since it is not region locked.
    5.Super Mario RPG 

    I happen to like Super Mario RPG more than Super Mario World. It is my favorite Mario game on the SNES. Like Kirby 64, I bought this last year at a local retro game store. A picture of it was shown on the store's Facebook page, so I visited the store and hoped the game was still there. It was, and I was more than happy to add it my collection of imports. 
    4.Luigi's Mansion 


    The Japanese version of Luigi's Mansion is less polished than the American and European releases, but that's what makes it interesting. 
    First of all, it lacks the Pikmin video that's included in the American version. It has less music, less sound effects, and Luigi has fewer voice clips. Again, these differences make it interesting because you get to see and hear what the game was like before it came out in America (like the original 1996 Japanese release of Super Mario 64). Luigi's "whoa!" voice clip from beta versions of the game (heard when he's hit) is used in the Japanese version. The music that plays when Luigi looks through the Telescope in the Observatory plays twice in the Japanese version (both during the cutscene and right after). The music that plays during the battle with "Bowser" sounds a little different than the American version. 
    I imported Luigi's Mansion last year, just in time for the GameCube's (Japanese) 20th Anniversary.
    3.Animal Crossing
    There are several versions of the original Animal Crossing: the N64 version, the Japanese + version for GameCube, the American version, and the Japanese e+ version released for GameCube in 2003 (shown here). 
    Many features that were included in other Animal Crossing games, such as SD Card support and the Reset Surveillance Center, first appeared in the Japanese e+ version of the original. Another addition to this version is being able to enter Tom Nook's store during the night by hitting the store three times with a Shovel, and then being able to enter the store. NES/Famicom games appear as NES consoles instead of the Famicom consoles used in earlier Japanese versions. e-Reader cards are used at the Well. The title screen music was also updated. Some copies of the e+ version include an e-Reader (the e+ version that's based on the American version, not the original Japanese version of the e-Reader) and six cards. 
    2.Super Mario 64



    I have both Japanese versions of Super Mario 64: the original 1996 Japanese release and the Shindou version. The original version has several differences, including less voice clips, some different sound effects, more glitches (like one that causes a star to appear instead of a key after beating Bowser), and the early version of the Jolly Roger Bay painting that was used in beta versions of the game and later used in the Nintendo DS remake. The Shindou version has nearly all of the changes that were made to the American version, but adds Rumble Pak support, has an easter egg on the title screen, and fixes the backwards long jump glitch. Also, Mario says "buh-bye!" when he throws Bowser (he says "here we gooooo!" in the original Japanese version).
    The Shindou version was one of the first games I showed in the "what's new in your collection" topic in 2019. I found the original 1996 version at my local retro game store last year. Both are some of the best imports I have.
    The video above is a private video that is part of my "A look at Imports" series, and was made shortly after I retired from YouTube last year (I may have retired from YouTube, but I haven't given up the hobby of making videos).
    1.Mega Man 4


    Since the original Mega Man/Rockman is my favorite video game character, it makes sense that Rockman 4 is my current favorite video game import. 
    Like a few of the games mentioned above, I bought this at my local retro game store last year. A picture was posted on the store's Facebook page showing various imports they had just got in. There were Japanese copies of Mega Man 4, Super Mario Kart, Donkey Kong Land, Mega Man Xtreme, and New Super Mario Bros. Naturally, I got excited and visited the store. I bought the Japanese copies of Donkey Kong Land, Mega Man Xtreme, and New Super Mario Bros. I saw Rockman 4 behind the counter, and told the owner I was interested in buying it. He couldn't sell it to me because it didn't have a price yet. I asked him if he could put it aside and let me pick it a few days later. He said yes. He cleaned and tested the game, and I came back to the store a few days later and picked it up. The orange color stands out, and that is a really cool picture of Mega Man on the label.

    Honorable Mentions:
    Hudson Selection series (GameCube) 

    New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo DS)

    Adventures of Lolo (original Game Boy)

    Mario Party (N64)
    Tetris Version 1.0 (original Game Boy)
    Conclusion
    If it weren't already obvious by looking at the pictures I've posted in the "what's new in your collection" topic (and social media sites) and the 50+ Charm, I really like imports and I'm going to keep collecting them for years to come. I have almost one hundred imported video games, so who knows...maybe I'll be getting that 100+ Charm in the near future.
    As with my GameCube blog, I'll be updating this blog to fix typos and add pictures and videos.
    Also, check out my A look at Imports series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MegaMan52/playlists?view=50&sort=dd&shelf_id=2
    -MegaMan52
  5. MegaMan52
    Introduction
    I like the Sonic the Hedgehog movies, both of which I watched in the Theater and bought on Blu-ray. I got some Sonic 2 Movie toys at McDonald's last year, and also got a poster. So naturally, I got excited about the new Super Mario Bros. movie. I remember seeing the first image/poster for it, which was full of Easter eggs and references to many of the games. I watched the Trailer videos. Some people were disappointed about Chris Pratt voicing Mario and sounding different than Mario does in the games, but honestly I didn't really have a problem with the voice and the movie itself already looked promising and like it would be similar to the games.


    I received a Mario shirt in January, which was a late Christmas present that I was told was shipped from (somewhere in) California. Also in January, I bought the Mario Happy Meal that was at McDonald's.

    And I got a Mario movie poster recently that I proudly display in my game room. I was ready to watch the new movie on the big screen.

    I had a chance to watch The Super Mario Bros. Movie in the Theater recently. As expected, after seeing the trailer videos, the movie is chock full of Easter eggs and music from the games. So, I decided to write a blog about some of my favorite moments from the movie.
    As the movie hasn't been released on Blu-ray yet, I won't be able to include any pictures of the movie itself. But I'll point out when in the movie these moments occur. Also, while I'm sure many Mario fans have already watched the movie, there might be some who still haven't seen it, so possible spoilers ahead.
    My Favorite Moments and Easter eggs in The Super Mario Bros. Movie
    Super Mario Bros. Super Show Rap

    This is something I wasn't expecting to actually be included in the movie, but am glad was included. Early in the movie, during the commercial for Mario and Luigi's Plumbing business, a Rap plays that should be familiar for those who have watched the Super Mario Bros. Super Show.
    Punch-Out Pizzeria




    Early in the movie, we see Mario and Luigi in a Pizza restaurant known as "Punch-Out Pizzeria". It is, of course, named after the Punch-Out!! game series. This scene alone has quite a few fun Easter eggs. There are pictures showing some of the Punch-Out!! characters (such as Glass Joe, seen in pic above), and a guy playing the original Donkey Kong (called "Jump Man" in the movie, which was Mario's original name). Luigi's ringtone is the GameCube's iconic startup sound, and there's a picture on Luigi's phone that looks like a Mii character. They also talk to a Construction worker named Spike who is from Wrecking Crew for the NES, a game that features Mario and Luigi as Construction workers.
    Mario's Room


    Not surprisingly, Mario's room in the movie is full of NES and also some SNES Easter eggs. In the scene Mario plays Kid Icarus, one of the earliest games for the NES. There's also a poster with a Polar Bear wearing sunglasses on it, which is a character from Ice Climber (another early NES game). And there's an Arwing from the Star Fox games, among other things.
    Luigi Entering the Dark Lands


    After Mario and Luigi are sucked into a pipe, they are separated and Luigi enters the Dark Lands. This scene was shown in some of the Trailer videos. Luigi trembles, uses a Flashlight, and walks through a forest. This is a reference to the opening in Luigi's Mansion for GameCube, and some Luigi's Mansion music even plays briefly. This is also the scene where Luigi is attacked by some Dry Bones enemies, and says his now famous "You've just been-a Luigi'd!" line. World 8 in the NES version of Super Mario Bros. 3 is also called "Dark Land" (though in earlier copies of the NES version and the SNES All-Stars version, it's called "Castle of Koopa", while the Game Boy Advance version calls it "Bowser's Castle").
    Our Princess is in Another Castle!

    This line should be familiar to just about every Mario fan, since it's from the first Super Mario Bros. game which has also been re-released on nearly every Nintendo system. After Mario meets Toad and arrives at Princess Peach's castle, the famous "Our Princess is in another Castle!" line was included as a joke said by the Toad Guards.
    Fire Flower Fields

    The scene where Mario, Princess Peach, and Toad are in a field full of Fire Flowers. I don't know why this is one of my favorite scenes in the movie. It could be that we see Peach using a Fire Flower to light a campfire. Or it could be that the scene just looks cool, with the Fire Flowers lighting up the area. Peach also mentions in this scene that "there's a whole Galaxy out there." Of course, just because Peach said "Galaxy" doesn't necessarily mean it's a reference to Super Mario Galaxy. But then again there's a Lumalee (Blue Star) from Super Mario Galaxy in the movie, so it's possible.
    DK Rap and Diddy Kong's Appearance

    As Mario, Princess Peach, and Toad enter the Jungle Kingdom (complete with the Donkey Kong Country theme playing in the background), we see a Kong with sunglasses who I thought was Funky Kong (though some have said it is a different character). They then meet Cranky Kong, and tell him that they need the Kongs' help to battle Bowser.


    Those who watched the trailer videos knew Donkey Kong would be in the movie. In this scene, Mario battles DK in a setting that is reminiscent of both the original Donkey Kong and Super Smash Bros. A nice touch during this scene is the inclusion of the DK Rap, which plays during the intro in Donkey Kong 64 and is also included in some of the Super Smash Bros. and Donkey Konga games. The DK Rap is one of those songs that is so bad that it's just awesome. Not surprisingly, the DK Rap was included in the Donkey Kong 64 Soundtrack CD.
    During this scene, I thought "OK, we've seen DK and Cranky, but where's Diddy Kong?". I wondered if any other DK characters would make an appearance. Then I hear Cranky say "Everyone simmer down! That means you, Diddy Kong!". So Diddy is shown, and other DK characters like Dixie Kong (from Donkey Kong Country 2 and 3) and Chunky Kong (from Donkey Kong 64) are there beside him.
    Mario Kart 


    Of course, I've always been a big Mario Kart fan and have played most games in the series since the first one.


    In the Mario Kart scene, we see Mario, Princess Peach, Toad, and Donkey Kong creating their Karts, with the same customization seen in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. They then race on Rainbow Road, variations of which have appeared in every game in the series. Just like every game in the series, we see characters drop banana peels and throw shells. After Mario throws a shell, he even says "wahoo!" like he does in many of the games.


    The Tanooki Suit 


    Later in the movie, Mario grabs a Leaf and turns into Tanooki Mario (or Raccoon Mario). This might technically be a reference to Super Mario 3D Land for the 3DS, as Mario gets the Tanooki Suit just by grabbing a Leaf. But as longtime Mario fans know, both the Leaf and Tanooki Suit first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 3 for the NES. Music from Super Mario Bros. 3 plays during this scene in the movie. I really like this scene, and Super Mario Bros. 3 is my favorite Mario game.
    Mario and Luigi Working Together 


    Unfortunately, (possible spoilers) Luigi doesn't have a very large role in the movie. But later in the movie, during the battle with Bowser, we see Mario and Luigi working together. They grab a Star that Bowser has dropped (which Mario and Peach were after earlier in the movie), and the invincibility music from the Mario games plays. We see Mario and Luigi grab Bowser by the tail and swing him around, a reference to Super Mario 64.
    Conclusion
    My twentieth blog is complete. There are other Easter eggs I noticed and scenes I like that I didn't list, but I'm sure there are lots of Easter eggs that I didn't notice. As anyone who's watched the movie likely knows, nearly every scene has some Easter eggs and references.


    Also, I'm glad the GameCube wasn't left out. It is an underrated, yet very good console. I remember watching the Trailer videos and didn't see much for GameCube references, other than the scene showing Luigi walking through a forest. Luckily there are more than that, including a reference to Super Mario Sunshine that I didn't mention above. Chris Pratt (Mario) and Charlie Day (Luigi) have also mentioned that they want a Luigi's Mansion movie.



    Movies based on games have sure come a long way since 1993. The Sonic movies are pretty good, and The (New) Super Mario Bros. Movie has reached $1 billion at the Box Office just like Top Gun: Maverick did last year. A sequel seems likely, but who knows...maybe we could also see Zelda, Metroid, and/or Donkey Kong movies in the future. Maybe Kirby might get an actual movie sometime (the Kirby: Fright to the Finish DVD that was released in 2005 is really just a bunch of Kirby: Right Back at Ya! episodes combined). Who knows.
    I noticed that iam8bit is releasing the new Mario movie's soundtrack on Vinyl, CD, and even Cassette. Still don't know which one I'm going to purchase. The Vinyl is cool, but the Cassette is tempting. I think the last Audio Cassette I got was the Donkey Kong Country 2 soundtrack, which I still have (and it still works).

    -MegaMan52
  6. MegaMan52

    Favorite Nintendo Switch Games

    By MegaMan52,


    Top 10's
    Introduction

    Since buying the Switch in 2017, I've gotten a large amount of both physical and digital games. While not my favorite Nintendo system, it is definitely a step up from the Wii and Wii U. The console/handheld hybrid has the largest library of any Nintendo console, with plenty of its own games as well as past favorites from other Nintendo consoles and handhelds, both updated as well in their original form (Game Boy games were added recently). The GameCube era was the last time I had as much fun as I've had in the current era of gaming. The Wii and Wii U...well let's put it this way: I have a handful of games for the Wii, and the Wii U is the only Nintendo console I don't have. And the fact that the majority of the Wii U's better games have been released for the Switch with added features makes me even less interested in the console than I was several years ago.
    The Switch got me into online gaming, as prior to its release I wasn't really interested in playing games online. I've literally put hundreds and hundreds of hours into a few Switch games (I bet VGS game night participants know at least one of them). It's been almost six years since the system was released, so I feel it is now time to list my ten favorite games for it as well as some honorable mentions.
    MegaMan52's favorite Nintendo Switch Games
    10.Spyro: Reignited Trilogy


    Since the release of Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly in 2002, the Spyro series has gone in many different directions. Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly was very much like the first three in terms of gameplay, but was not as playable due to having numerous glitches that could cause the game to freeze, or not even load certain sections of a level. Spyro: A Hero's Tail featured bigger levels and more wide-open areas, some different playable characters (like in Year of the Dragon), and different voice actors, but otherwise still felt very much like a Spyro game and was more playable than Enter the Dragonfly. There was the Legend of Spyro trilogy that focused more on fighting. Then there was the Skylanders series that used Figures and a Portal accessory to bring characters to life in the games. Both Legend of Spyro and Skylanders were very different from other Spyro games, and many fans wanted a return to the classic style from the first three Spyro games for the PlayStation.



    The fan's wishes came true in 2018, when Spyro: Reignited Trilogy was released for the PS4 and Xbox One. Reignited Trilogy contains remakes of Spyro the Dragon, Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage, and Spyro: Year of the Dragon for the PS1 with updated visuals, soundtracks, and controls, and options to choose the original soundtracks composed by Stewart Copeland and a retro control-style that is similar to the original PS1 versions. Stewart Copeland did not compose the updated versions of the soundtracks, but he did compose the music that plays on the Reignited Trilogy title screen and game selection menu. Tom Kenny voices Spyro (in all three games), who also voiced the character in the PS1 versions of Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage and Spyro: Year of the Dragon. Some fans were still disappointed, however, due to the lack of Switch and PC versions. Those were released the following year in 2019.

    Reignited Trilogy received both physical and digital releases. Unfortunately people who prefer physical were gypped, and this is why I rank this game 10th. Physical copies of the PS4 and Xbox One versions include the entire first Spyro the Dragon game, but the rest need to be downloaded. Switch players were gypped even more. The physical copies of the Switch version only include the first few levels of each, with a mandatory 8.7 GB download required to get the rest of the content. If you play through the first few levels and try to move on to the next area, a message appears saying you need to download an update.
    Still a good collection otherwise.

    9.Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time

    Like Spyro, the Crash Bandicoot franchise has gone in many different directions since 2002. Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex, like Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly, was very similar to the original PlayStation games, but was flawed and had many technical issues. It was and still is a decent game, but then there was Crash Twinsanity, Crash of the Titans, and Crash Mind Over Mutant...all flawed games that led to the series being dormant for several years. Luckily, in 2021, Crash Bandicoot 4 was released, returning the Crash series to its roots. It's about time, indeed.
    I have to say, I REALLY appreciate the fact that, unlike Spyro: Reignited Trilogy, physical copies of Crash 4 contain the full game. No mandatory download to get all of the levels for people who prefer physical releases.
    8.Ghostbusters: The Video Game Remastered 

    A Switch port of the 2009 Ghostbusters video game released for PS3 and Xbox 360. Most of the main cast from the original Ghostbusters movie is included, including Bill Murray and Harold Ramis (rest in peace). 
    This was one of the games I included in my top 10 horror/haunted games blog, so be sure to check out that blog too if you want to know more reasons as to why this is one of my favorite Switch games. I also beat it in 2021, both for the Halloween Bingo Contest and Backlog Challenge.

    7.Pac-Man Museum +

    This is an expanded version of "Pac-Man Museum", which was originally released for PS3 and Xbox 360. This is another reason why the Wii U disappointed me: the original Pac-Man Museum collection was planned for Wii U but that version was canceled due to fact that the console was one of Nintendo's biggest disasters along with the Virtual Boy.



    In addition to the usual Pac-Man games released on numerous compilations over the years (the original Pac-Man, Pac-Mania, etc.), this compilation includes Pac-Attack and Pac-in-Time (both for the SNES), and returning games that have been featured on some (but not many) Namco Museum collections in the past: Super Pac-Man, Pac'n Pal, Pac-Land, and the Arcade version of Pac-Man Arrangement.



    It also includes some newer Pac-Man games: the PSP version of Pac-Man Arrangement (from Namco Museum: Battle Collection), Pac-Man Champion Edition (Xbox 360), Pac 'n Roll Remix (from Namco Museum Remix for Wii), Pac-Motos (also from Namco Museum Remix for Wii), Pac-Man Battle Royale (which I played at a nearby Theater in 2022), and Pac-Man 256.


    One of the highlights, in my opinion, is Pac-Land, a side-scrolling platformer from 1984 (pre-dating Super Mario Bros.). This and the Arcade Archives releases, both released in 2022, are the first times the Arcade version of the game has made an appearance on a Nintendo console. Prior to these releases, the only version available for a Nintendo system was the Famicom version released in 1985 (which was also released on Switch in Namcot Collection/Namco Museum Archives).

    Another notable game is the Arcade version of Pac-Man Arrangement, originally released in 1996 in Namco Classic Collection Vol. 2 and later in Namco Museum for PS2, GameCube, and Xbox and Pac-Man Collection for Game Boy Advance. Unfortunately, the Namco Museum and Pac-Man Collection version all have flaws such as no demos playing when starting up the game, higher-pitched music, no end credits, and some missing sound effects on the name entry screen. Furthermore, the Pac-Man Collection version for Game Boy Advance has very low-quality audio, the screen has to scroll, only one player can play (Link Cable support wasn't included), and it lacks the ability to save your scores. Yet even with these flaws, those versions were still a big deal even over a decade after they were released because for many it was the only easy way that Pac-Man Arrangement could be played.

    The quality of compilations is definitely better now than in the early 2000's, and Pac-Man Arrangement in Pac-Man Museum + looks and sounds just as it did in the Arcade. Everything that was missing in the previous home versions is included.

    The soundtrack for Pac-Man Arrangement (as well as the rest of Namco Classic Collection Vol. 2) was released on CD in Japan, but you can also listen to it in the Jukebox that's included in Pac-Man Museum +. Hopefully Bandai Namco re-releases the other "Arrangement" games someday, such as Rally-X Arrangement and Mappy Arrangement.


    Past Namco Museum and Pac-Man collections included the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive version of Pac-Attack, but this collection includes the SNES version instead. The collection also includes another SNES game: Pac-in-Time. I actually used to have this game for my SNES, and still have the manual for it. tPac-Man Museum + actually includes the Japanese release of Pac-in-Time for the Super Famicom, and has Japanese text with English subtitles. In fact, most of the games included in this collection are based on their Japanese versions. While I don't mind this, an option to switch between Japanese and American versions would've been nice. Other compilations like Capcom Arcade Stadium and TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection do include that option.

    By playing the games, you can collect coins that can be used on a Figure Vending Machine. There are tons of figures to collect. Also note the classic Bandai logo on the machine.

    Customizing your Arcade is fun too. You can change the wallpaper, floor, rearrange the games, add your collectible figures, and place lots of other goodies. Bandai Namco has also released several wallpapers with updates.

    The only major issue with Pac-Man Museum + is that it doesn't include Ms. Pac-Man. If you've followed the on-going legal issues between Bandai Namco and AtGames, then you know why. If you still have any past Namco Museum or Pac-Man collections, keep them. Or buy one of those Ms. Pac-Man Plug and Plays that were released years ago.
    Pac-Man Museum + is not only one of my favorite Switch games, but it was also one of my favorite games released in 2022. Can't beat the classics.
    6.Mega Man 11

    This shouldn't surprise anyone. Of course I had to include Mega Man 11 on this list. When the game was announced during Mega Man's 30th Anniversary in December 2017, I immediately bought the Switch. I missed out on Mega Man 9 and 10 when they were originally released in 2008 and 2010, so there was no way I was going to miss out on Mega Man 11.

    I eventually downloaded Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 in 2019, which includes Mega Man 9 and 10 (I also beat both of them in 2022). While they were good games, they relied too much on nostalgia...particularly for the Mega Man 2 worship crowd, going so far as to removing Mega Man's slide and Mega Buster and Mega Man 9 reusing some of the music from that game. Luckily, Mega Man 11 brings these features back and has a mostly original soundtrack. 
    After eight years of there being no new entry in the original Mega Man series, it was nice to see Mega Man finally come back. I pre-ordered the game and got the "amiibo Edition" package, which includes a Mega Man amiibo figure, a cloth, a patch, and some stickers.
    The game introduces the "Double Gear" system. The "Power Gear" not only makes Mega Man's attacks stronger, but also allows him to perform attacks that he doesn't normally do. The "Speed Gear" slows everything down, and can be useful in certain sections of some stages. You don't have to use the Double Gear system, and can just play the game like the previous games in the series. But you might want to, especially if you haven't played the game much, because the bosses can use the Double Gear system too and not using it yourself can make the game harder. After using either Power Gear or Speed Gear for a few seconds, you'll have to press the shoulder buttons to return to normal otherwise you'll overheat and can't use the Double Gear system for a little while.
    Like Mega Man 8, Mega Man has a voice in this game as do the boss characters. Unlike English versions of that game, Mega Man is actually voiced by a guy in Mega Man 11. And also unlike Mega Man 8, Mega Man 11 has decent English voice acting. A demo of the game was released on the Switch eShop, featuring Block Man's stage. I've got a video of it on YouTube (above).
    Hopefully Capcom makes a Mega Man 12 and/or Mega Man X9. Lately, the only Mega Man games they've been releasing are collections (Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection), as they did in the eight years between Mega Man 10's and Mega Man 11's release.





    I downloaded Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium last year, which includes the Mega Man Arcade games (both Japanese and American versions).


    A few months ago Capcom released Rockman Battle & Fighters for Switch, a game originally released in Japan for the Neo Geo Pocket Color that is based on the Mega Man Arcade games.
    In April 2023, Capcom is releasing Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection. I will continue to support the franchise, even if it means buying re-releases of older games, in the hopes that Capcom will release a Mega Man 12 and/or Mega Man X9 someday. I'd even be willing to buy a Mega Man Legends Legacy Collection or something similar, in the hopes that they bring back the canceled Mega Man Legends 3.

    Anyway, I beat the full version of Mega Man 11 in 2021. Pretty good game (though was there any doubt?), and it's great that Mega Man finally came back. Dr. Light, Roll, Rush, Eddie, Beat, Auto, and, of course, Dr. Wily are all back too. But where are Protoman and Bass? I know why they weren't included (I saw the interview with Kazuhiro Tsuchiya on Rockman Corner), but just wonder where they are and what they're doing during the events of Mega Man 11.
    5.Yoshi's Crafted World

    This is another game I beat in 2021 (the full version), and really enjoyed. I also remember playing the demo of it in 2019 shortly after the full game was released. 
    While the Yoshi games do have their challenging and intense moments, they are often just fun and relaxing games to play with cool visual styles and funny characters. Crafted World is no exception. As the title implies, the game takes place in a world full of crafts.

    I've noticed some people hate on this soundtrack, and think it's disappointing compared to Yoshi's Woolly World's soundtrack. I can agree that it's not the best Yoshi soundtrack, and it's certainly not as good as Woolly World's soundtrack (that one's hard to top). But, I think the music is still reasonably good. There are variations of some of the music from Yoshi's Story on N64. The music fits with the visual style. Some of it is calm and a bit sad. Which is all fine by me. My favorite music tracks in this game are A Teeny, Tiny Universe, Yoshi's Expedition, and Yards of Yarn.
    The difficulty in the game is just right in my opinion. Getting all of the secrets and collectibles takes time and can be a little hard, but just getting through the levels is neither easy or hard.
    The game also allows 2-players to play together and work as a team, a feature that unfortunately wasn't included in the 3DS version of Yoshi's Woolly World. 
    I bought the game in 2020 at Toys 'R Us (note: I'm Canadian), where I found it on sale for $50 instead of $80 like first-party Switch games usually cost in Canada. Definitely worth it. Heck, I would've been willing to pay the full $80 if I had to.

     
    4.TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection

    Yeah, another compilation. Another good compilation.

    The Cowabunga Collection includes the Ninja Turtles games released from 1989-1994, for the Arcade, NES, SNES, Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, and original Game Boy. There's the original Arcade game, the Arcade version of Turtles in Time, Ninja Turtles 1, 2, and 3 for NES, the SNES version of Turtles in Time, Hyperstone Heist for the Genesis/Mega Drive, all three versions of Tournament Fighters, and the three Ninja Turtles games for the original Game Boy. The Japanese releases of these games are also included (if applicable).



    Extras include scans of the console and handheld game's boxes (front and back) and manuals (every page), a music player that includes every music track from each of the included games, and online play. The two Arcade games can still be played with up to four players, but can also be played online. An update was released that adds online play for the SNES version of Turtles in Time. Konami's press release for the update also mentions that online play for Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project will be included in a future update.

    For the Game Boy games, there are multiple screen sizes, pallets, and filters. You can choose the original screen size or fill the screen, and you can choose the original Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, and even the Japanese-only Game Boy Light pallets. And since the Switch is both a console and a handheld, the Game Boy games retain their portability.
    The two Arcade games were included in Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus and Ninja Turtles 3: Mutant Nightmare for PS2, GameCube, and Xbox. The music and voices in these versions had to be changed. In TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection, for the most part the games are in their original forms with original audio intact. One exception is the Ninja Turtles cartoon theme in the two Arcade games that plays during both game's intros, which is a re-done version instead of the original version. Other than that, all of the original audio is intact.
    Even though this collection is targeted mainly at fans who grew up in the 80s/90s, it doesn't neglect other versions of Ninja Turtles. For example, the music that plays on the menus is the Sewer level music from the first Ninja Turtles game for PS2, GameCube, and Xbox (which is based on the 2003 Ninja Turtles cartoon).


    "Cowabunga!"
    3.Sonic Mania

    Sonic is another character who had changed a lot over the years, but returned to his roots.

    Sonic Mania is a 2-D sidescroller, with visual and animation styles that are improved but still very similar to the main Sonic games for the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive. Some of the levels/zones from the classic games appear in remixed forms, such as Green Hill Zone from the first Sonic game and Chemical Plant Zone from Sonic 2. Other levels/zones are completely new.



    Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are all playable. An update was released called the "Encore DLC", which adds features to the game and changes the game's title to "Sonic Mania Plus." One of the features included in this update is the addition of two playable characters: Ray the Flying Squirrel and Mighty the Armadillo, who originally appeared in the SegaSonic the Hedgehog Arcade game released in 1993.

    Robotnik is back, as expected, but the boss battles are all different and every level has one. One of the boss battles has you play a puzzle game, which is a throwback to Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine.

    In addition to returning classic levels/zones, the Blue Sphere special stage from Sonic 3 is back...and still just as fast and challenging.


    There's also another special stage that is sort of a combination of Blue Sphere and the special stage in Sonic CD, where the goal is to catch a UFO.
    The game is a blast from the past, while also being new and fresh. I think I still like the classic Sonic games just a bit more, but Sonic Mania is certainly better than a lot of Sonic games that have been released in the last twenty or so years. Probably the best Sonic game since Sonic Advance 3 or Sonic Rush.


    Sonic Mania originally only got a digital release, but thankfully got a physical release later. The Plus version got a physical release, followed by the standard version. Later on, the standard version got a physical release with Team Sonic Racing on one Switch card. This is the release I got, as seen in the picture above. I was still able to get the added content from the "Plus" version by going to the Switch eShop and paying for the "Encore DLC."
    2.Super Kirby Clash 




    Super Kirby Clash is one of the games I've played the most on the Switch.

    The game has an offline Story Mode, and an online Party Mode. You have a weapon, shield, and armor. There are four different roles: Sword Hero, Hammer Lord, Doctor Healmore, and Beam Mage. There aren't any levels per se, instead the game has boss battles. Most of the bosses are from other Kirby games. You have three other Kirby's on your team to help you defeat the bosses. Beam Mage Kirby's can temporarily stop time, allow each Kirby to keep attacking the boss without taking any damage. After defeating a boss, you get experience points. When you get a certain amount, you level up and your Kirby becomes stronger. You get bronze, silver, gold, or platinum ranks depending on how fast you beat a boss. The game rewards you with Gem Apples that can be used to buy better weapons and armor at a store in the game's main hub. More weapons and armor can be unlocked as you progress through the game and complete missions. There's also a Gem Apple tree in the main hub. You can collect forty Gem Apples from this tree, and a new harvest begins every twelve hours. As you progress through the Story Mode, various characters from past Kirby games appear in the main hub area.
    I've done almost everything there is to do in the game. I've beaten the Story Mode, reached the maximum level, have the best weapons and armor, and got Platinum Medals for every boss battle in the game. The only things I haven't done yet are complete a few missions for the Party Mode.
    Super Kirby Clash is a free game. No joke. There is an option in the game's store to pay for Gem Apples if you want to get a large amount of them quickly, but this isn't mandatory (though it does make the Gem Apple tree grow). A really fun game, and it is basically free. Highly recommended for Kirby fans.
    1.Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

    This is probably not surprising for anyone who participated in the VGS Game Nights from 2020-2022. I've played Mario Kart 8 Deluxe more than any other Switch game. I've played through every one of the initial forty eight tracks on 50cc, 100cc, and 150cc, and have won gold trophies on every cup. I've also unlocked every vehicle (including the Gold Standard Kart), and most of the tires and gliders.


    The Switch version, unlike the Wii U version, has a proper Battle mode that is like the previous Mario Kart games. The Wii U version, oddly, had battles take place on some of the race tracks. The Switch version also adds more characters, and brings back the Double Item Boxes from Mario Kart: Double Dash!!.




    This game here is the game that got me interested in online gaming. I've gotten well-over 9,000 points in the online Battle mode, and have gotten 1st place hundreds of times (and have videos and screenshots to prove it on my YouTube Channel and Social Media pages). I've participated in some of the online tournaments (North American Open, Holiday Fun Run, etc.). And I also participated in a local tournament, where I was given a Switch Lanyard and got to play in front of a few people.




    As fans of the game likely know, Nintendo released a "Booster Course Pass" for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and since last year they have been adding more tracks to the game that weren't in the Wii U version of the game. These tracks include the tracks from the previous Mario Kart games (the rest of them; some were already included) as well as some brand new tracks. Another wave has been announced that not only includes a new track, but also adds Birdo who appeared in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! for GameCube (finally; they're adding some GameCube content for the first time since MK8D was released). They're going to keep adding more tracks (and hopefully more characters) to the game until the end of 2023.
    I don't play the game as often as I used to, but it is still fun and remains my favorite Switch game.
    Honorable mentions
    Super Mario Bros. 35 

    Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 


    TMNT: Shredder's Revenge


    Bubble Bobble 4 Friends


    Cruis'n Blast

    Conclusion 

    There you go. My favorite Switch games. There are a lot of other Switch games that I like too, but these are the ones I enjoy the most.
    -MegaMan52
  7. MegaMan52

    Favorite Original Game Boy Games

    By MegaMan52,


    Top 10's
    Introduction 

    When someone asks what everyone's favorite game systems are, sometimes Handheld systems are left out and people are more interested in knowing what everyone's favorite consoles are. The original Game Boy is my favorite Handheld and my second favorite game system, largely because of its library. So, being one of my favorite systems, I figured I might as well list my ten favorite games for the Handheld along with some honorable mentions.
    Some of the games in the top 5 might surprise some people who think Mega Man games are always my favorite.
    MegaMan52's favorite Original Game Boy Games 
    10.Adventures of Lolo 

    Released only in Japan and Europe, the original Game Boy got an Adventures of Lolo game. As expected, the gameplay is much like the Lolo games on the NES with puzzles that become more and more difficult as you progress. In addition to the two main characters from other Lolo games (Lolo and Lala), this game introduces another character: Lulu.
    The Japanese and European releases have several differences. The European release has far more levels (over one hundred), and also has Super Game Boy support (the Japanese version came out in early 1994, before the Super Game Boy was released). Also, some of the levels have been rearranged and play in a different order in the two versions.
    This is one of the games included in my "A Look at Imports" series on YouTube.
    9.Kirby's Dream Land 

    Kirby's debut, and one of the big Game Boy classics. Being the first game in the series, it doesn't have some of the features that most Kirby games have (like Kirby's ability to copy certain enemies' abilities, which was introduced in Kirby's Adventure). But the basic features, like Kirby inhaling enemies, spitting them out, and flying, are included and have remained staple features throughout the series. There are only five levels, but the terrain varies (grass, water, clouds, etc.) and each one has memorable music that has been reused and remixed throughout the Kirby and Super Smash Bros. games.

    One of my favorite things in the game is this: you can beat one of the "Blatzy" enemies. Blatzy's are the cannon enemies that appear in many of the Kirby games, and most of them are invincible. However, in this game, one of them is a boss on the third level (Float Islands) and can be beaten.

    The game has some extra features. The normal mode is fairly relaxed and is neither too easy or too hard. However, there is also an "Extra Game" mode that increases the game's difficulty quite a bit. The levels in the "Extra Game" mode are the same as the normal mode, but Kirby takes more damage, bosses are faster, and some of their attacks are different. The "Extra Game" mode also has a different ending. There is also a "Configuration Mode" that allows you to change Kirby's vitality (the amount of energy he starts with), and access a Sound Test that includes all of the game's music.

    I beat the "Extra Game" mode last year.
    The American and Japanese versions are almost identical, but have some minor differences.
    8.Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge 

    The first Mega Man game for the Game Boy. 

    The game contains four bosses/robot masters from Mega Man 1: Cutman. Iceman, Fireman, and Elecman, and four bosses/robot masters from Mega Man 2: Bubbleman, Flashman, Quickman, and Heatman. It might seem like a stripped down version of the first two Mega Man games for the NES, but unlike the Mega Man Xtreme games for Game Boy Color every level in this game has different layouts than their console counterparts. The fortress stages are also completely new, and have original music. And unlike the first Mega Man game on NES, this game has Passwords like most of the other Mega Man games.

    A new item appears in this game. There's the Carry item, which you can place in front of you or underneath while you're in the air. It's useful for reaching items that are otherwise out of reach, and is also useful in Dr. Wily's Fortress because it can save you from landing on spikes. 


    The game also introduces a new character: Enker. He's part of the "Mega Man Killer" series of bosses, the others of whom appear in the other Game Boy Mega Man games. He has a weapon called the Mirror Buster. He raises a Spear, which absorbs Mega Man's shots then fires them back at him. The more shots Mega Man fires, the more powerful Enker's attacks become. This is also the only way to defeat him, as Enker loses energy while his Spear absorbs Mega Man's shots. When Mega Man gets Enker's weapon, it acts like a shield, deflecting shots and sending them back at enemies (very useful during the battle against Dr. Wily). Enker returns in Mega Man V for Game Boy, is playable in Mega Man's Soccer, and appears in the Database mode in Mega Man & Bass.
    A solid handheld debut for Mega Man.

    There's an early version of Fireman's stage hidden inside the game's memory, which can be accessed with a Game Shark. There's also some unused music that plays in the level, which sounds like it was originally meant for the game's ending.
    7.Wario Land II

    One of the last games for the original Game Boy, released in 1998. As the follow-up to Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, it is naturally a much bigger game and has more secrets to find.


    The big difference between this game and the first Wario Land is that in this game, there are lots of different paths to take. The first Wario Land also has some levels with multiple goals that either lead to the next level, or secret levels. This game expands on that idea. If you "beat" the game by just simply getting through the levels and defeating the final boss, a map screen appears and you may notice that there are a lot of other levels in the game that you didn't go to. And even though the map screen is basically a level select, it only allows you to go to levels you've already been to. Also, accessing other levels and paths requires you to do other things besides looking for a different goal. For example, in the first level, you see Wario on his bed sleeping (and while his Castle is being flooded and a loud alarm is playing). Normally, you'd just press a button to wake him up. But if you just let him sleep, you'll automatically "beat" the level and enter a different level than the one you'd normally go to if you went all the way through the first level. This puts you on a different path on the map, allowing you to access other levels.
    The other big difference in this game is that Wario is basically indestructible. If he gets hit, hit just loses coins. No matter how much damage he takes in this game, he's able to keep going. He can also get flattened, turn into a spring, and turn into a Zombie, all useful in accessing secret areas. 


    Like the first Wario Land, there are two minigames. One is a guessing game, which can be played by finding secret doors in many of the levels. The game randomly picks a picture of an enemy, and briefly shows other pictures. You have to remember which of the other pictures is the same as the one the game picked. If you pick the correct picture, you'll get some Treasure. There are three difficulty settings, all of them requiring a different amount of coins. The difficulty determines how long the game will show you the pictures. The easy difficulty costs the most, while the hard difficulty costs the least. There's also a normal difficulty, in case you want the minigame to be somewhat difficult but not too easy either. At the end of every level, you can play another minigame if you have enough coins. The game randomly picks a number, which is covered. For 50 coins, you can draw and remove a panel from the picture making it a little easier to figure out which number the game picked. Sometimes when you play this minigame, you'll automatically lose coins and the game will keep removing panels from the picture until you decide to guess or until you run out of coins (in which the game makes you guess, whether you're ready to or not). If you guess correctly, you'll receive a picture panel. These minigames are actually kind of fun. If you collect all of the Treasure and the Picture Panels you'll unlock the final level and chapter, called "The Really Final Chapter."


    Wario Land II was also released for Game Boy Color, as a dual mode cartridge that works on monochrome Game Boy's as well as Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance. The Game Boy Color version has a different save feature, one for monochrome Game Boy systems and one for color Game Boy systems. If you play the game on Game Boy Color/Advance then play it on an original Game Boy or Game Boy Pocket, it won't work unless you erase your save file. Same thing happens if you save your progress on an original Game Boy or Game Boy Pocket, then play the game on a Game Boy Color or Game Boy Advance.

     
    The Game Boy Color version also makes some minor changes to the game itself. Like the windows in some of the levels, which have arches in the original version but not in the color version. This change is also present when the color version is played on a monochrome Game Boy, or when a Game Boy Color, Advance, or Player is forced to play the color version in monochrome (as seen in the right picture above). Yes it is possible to force a Game Boy Player (or Game Boy Color or Advance) to play a dual mode Game Boy game in monochrome. This can be done by inserting an original Game Boy game inside a Code Breaker, slowly removing the original Game Boy game on the Code Breaker's menu, and then slowly inserting a dual mode cartridge into the Code Breaker.

    There's also a unique Fish enemy in one of the levels ("Escape from the Tea Cup!") in the original version that was removed and replaced with the more common Sawfish enemy in the color version for some reason.
    I rank Wario Land II just a little lower than the first one, partly because of the map. It looks generic compared to the map in the first Wario Land, which looks more detailed and has animations like Super Mario Land 2. The music in the first game is also a little better, IMO.



    In 2021, I beat every level and got every Treasure and Picture Panel in the original Game Boy version of the game.
    6.Battletoads


    While the Game Boy did get a port of Battletoads for NES called "Battletoads in Ragnarok's World", this Battletoads game is completely different even though it has the same box art as the one for NES. All of the levels and music (except for the title screen music) are different, and you can only play as Zitz while Rash and Pimple need to be rescued (really an excuse for not giving the game a 2-Player option).


    However, even though the game is different, it is still very similar to the NES game. It has basically the same gameplay, and it is also extremely difficult. In fact, this game seems to be even harder than Battletoads for NES (though that might just be because I haven't played this one as much). Another similarity with this game and the NES game is that it has lots of variety, with flying levels, rope levels, racing levels, etc.
    The game has a different soundtrack, except for the title screen music which is the same as the NES game. I don't like the music quite as much as the NES music, but some of it is cool. The music in the first and fourth levels are probably my favorite. And since this is a Game Boy game, the music is in stereo.
    5.Donkey Kong Land 

    I like Donkey Kong Land 2 and 3 as well, but I like the first Donkey Kong Land more for one reason: it is an original game. Donkey Kong Land 2 is pretty much a Game Boy version of Donkey Kong Country 2. Donkey Kong Land 3 has completely different levels than Donkey Kong Country 3, but reuses DKC3's music and has basically the same story as DKC3. Donkey Kong Land, however, has different levels, a somewhat different story (at least according to the manual), and both reused and original music. It was the first Donkey Kong game to be released on a banana yellow cartridge, which would also be used in the sequels as well as Donkey Kong 64. It uses the same ACM (Advanced Computer Modelling) pre-rendered visual style as Donkey Kong Country, and was considered the best-looking Game Boy game of 1995. Even now, it doesn't look that bad and most of the animations are smooth.

    While a pretty good game and one of my favorites for the original Game Boy, it has some issues. The first issue (and I remember this well from when I was a kid) is that it can be hard to see in certain levels. DK and Diddy sometimes blend in with the backgrounds, and it can sometimes be difficult to see enemies, barrels, platforms, or other things. This is mostly an issue with the original Game Boy, though it can still occasionally be an issue with the Game Boy Pocket even though it has a better screen. It's fine on the Super Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, and Game Boy Player though. And if this game is eventually released for the Game Boy App for Switch, I assume it would look fine on the Switch too considering Super Mario Land 2 does. The other issue this game has is the ending. I'm not going to say what it's like, because there are probably still DK fans out there who haven't beaten the game before. But I will say that the ending is really nothing special, and it is the same even if you find all of the secrets and beat the game 100%.

    The game has some unused music tracks. These can be heard with some Game Genie codes. One of them was apparently supposed to be used during the battle against King K. Rool (the game just plays the regular boss music instead). 
    4.Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3

    The first game to feature Wario as the protagonist. Like Super Mario Land 2, Wario Land has map screens and alternate goals in some levels that lead to secret levels.

    The game takes place on "Kitchen Island", and you gotta love the names given to the various areas of the Island. There's Rice Beach, Mt. Teapot, Stove Canyon, Syrup Castle, etc.
    Wario has different moves and power-ups than Mario. He can body slam into blocks and some enemies (body slamming into the latter gives you coins). If he gets the Bull Pot, which gives him horns, he can cling to ceilings or blocks for a few seconds as well as pound the ground (which causes enemies to flip over). He can get a Jet Pot which allows him to fly for a few seconds and also makes him run faster and jump higher. The Dragon Pot allows him to shoot fire on land and arrows while underwater.
    There are several Treasures hidden in the game. There are some levels in the game that have hidden doors that lead to Treasure rooms. The ultimate goal is to find these Treasures so Wario can get enough coins at the end of the game to get a Castle of his own.
    At the end of each level, you can play one of two minigames. One of the minigames has two buckets with ropes. One of them has a bag of coins, while the other has a 10 ton weight. The other minigame has you throwing bombs across a river at some enemies. There is a meter on the bottom of the screen that shows the strength of your throw. This minigame also has three difficulty settings. Winning the minigame gives you 1 ups.
    The game is a lot of fun, easily one of my favorites. I like it a little more than Wario Land II.
    One of the areas in the game has a typo. When you first enter Parsley Woods, the name is spelled correctly. But when you drain the water in the second level of the area, it becomes "Parsely" Woods.
    I've beaten every boss in the game as Tiny Wario.
    3.Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins

    Improved graphics, more levels, the rabbit ears, and Wario's first appearance. 
    Like the first Super Mario Land, Super Mario Land 2 is different than other Mario games in that it doesn't have Princess Peach or Bowser. In fact, you don't even rescue a princess in this game. The game is about getting six golden coins so Mario can enter Wario's Castle (which is really Mario's Castle) and defeat him. Despite that, the game is closer to being like Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 3 than the first Mario Land.
    The visuals in Super Mario Land 2 resemble Super Mario World, similar to how Link's Awakening's visuals resemble A Link to the Past. Mario also has the spin jump move from Super Mario World, which destroys blocks.
    The rabbit ears are the game's new power-up, which make Mario jump higher and allow him to stay in the air longer which allows him to glide long distances. The Mushroom, Fire Flower, and Star from other Mario games are also in this game.


    Each area in the game, except for one, has levels with multiple goals (one hidden), with the hidden goals leading to secret levels filled with coins. I like that, after these secret levels have been completed, the map screen changes somewhat. For example, beating all of the levels in Tree Zone makes flowers appear on the map while beating all of the levels in Pumpkin Zone causes ghosts (Boos) to appear on the map for that area (the Pumpkin's eyes also light up).



    A hacked version, called Super Mario Land 2 DX, was released for Game Boy Color. Not only is it in color, but it also adds Luigi as a playable character. Luigi controls a little differently than Mario. It was put on a cartridge, and works with Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Advance SP, and the GameCube's Game Boy Player.


    A comic loosely based on Super Mario Land 2, called "Mario Vs. Wario", is included in the January 1993 issue of Nintendo Power. It is also included in the Super Mario Adventures comic collection released in 2016.
    In the first Tree Zone level, there's a hidden section that can only be accessed with glitches. It is also in Super Mario Land 2 DX.


    Super Mario Land 2 was re-released on the Game Boy App for Switch. The game retains its portability on the Switch, since it is both a console and a handheld. Not only have I beaten this game on the Game Boy before, but I've beaten it on the Switch too (every level, including secret levels).
    2.Tetris

    The Game Boy game that pretty much everyone has played. I really don't need to say much about it or why it's my favorite. Tetris is just plain fun and one of the best games for the original Game Boy.

    The Game Boy version of Tetris is considered better than the NES version, due to its portability and inclusion of a 2-Player mode. The NES version actually does have a 2-Player mode that can be accessed with a Game Genie, but it wasn't finished and went unused. I played that unused 2-Player mode with a friend a few years ago.
    While most copies of Tetris are identical regardless if it's bought in the U.S., Canada, Japan, or Europe, it's worth noting that the earliest Japanese copies of the game, known as Version 1.0, are somewhat different. The earliest Japanese copies have a different A-Type music, called "Minuet" (heard in the video above). In most copies of the game, known as Version 1.1, this music was replaced with the much more well-known "Korobeiniki" theme, also known as the Tetris theme. The early Japanese copies that have the "Minuet" music were bundled with a Link Cable, say "DMG-TRAT" on the box, and have a slightly different label than other Japanese copies (you have to see them side by side to notice the differences). The early Japanese copies also have a different level up sound effect (a simple beep that you may not even hear while playing).


    An updated version, Tetris DX, was released for Game Boy Color and is also compatible with the original Game Boy. It has more modes, saves your scores, different cutscenes, and, of course, color graphics.
    Unfortunately, most of the iconic themes from the original Game Boy version were replaced. However, Tetris DX has several unused music tracks (including the full Korobeiniki theme). These unused music tracks can be heard in my video above.
    While Tetris DX is technically "better", there's nothing wrong with going back to playing the original Game Boy game. I play the original more often than DX, though both versions are great.

    Like Super Mario Land 2, Tetris was recently re-released on the Game Boy App for Switch.
    1.Kirby's Dream Land 2

    Here it is, my favorite game for the original Game Boy. It is also one of my favorite Kirby games. I bought the game in 1998, and remember it was the last copy available at the store I went to (The Real Canadian Superstore).

    Since the game was released after Kirby's Adventure, Dream Land 2 retains the feature of Kirby copying certain enemies abilities. Also like Kirby's Adventure, the game has different areas each with a hub containing doors where you can select a level.

    This game introduced Kirby's animal friends: Rick the Hamster, Coo the Owl, and Kine the Fish. If you are riding on one of these characters, the abilities that Kirby copies changes. For example, if you have the Parasol ability while riding on Rick the Hamster, he'll spin the Umbrella on his nose while Kirby becomes a ball and sits on top of the Umbrella, which makes it easy to hit flying enemies or enemies on floating blocks. If you have the Electric ability while riding Kine, a light bulb appears that both allows you to see better in dark areas and can also be used as a weapon. Each of these characters has unique theme music. Their energy is also separate from Kirby's, so even if they lose all of their energy Kirby can still keep going.
    There are "Rainbow Drops" hidden in certain levels. Some of them are easy to find, while others are well-hidden. Even if you find them, you need to figure out what the correct ability to use is so that you can destroy the blocks that prevent you from getting them. Collecting all seven Rainbow Drops allows you to battle the final boss, Dark Matter. Like the first Kirby's Dream Land, there are two endings. If you get all of the Rainbow Drops and defeat Dark Matter, you'll get the good ending.
    Getting all of the Rainbow Drops and beating the game unlocks a Sound Test. One of the music tracks (FGM 94) is unused, but was later redone and used in the Cave levels in Kirby Triple Deluxe for Nintendo 3DS.
    Kirby's Dream Land 2 was one of the 52 games I beat in 2018. I've beaten the game several times before, but that was the first time I got all of the Rainbow Drops and got the good ending.
    Honorable Mentions 
    Mega Man V

    Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

    Metroid II: Return of Samus 


    Operation C

    Super Mario Land 

    Conclusion
    Another blog completed. As the original Game Boy is my second favorite game system, I still play original Game Boy games fairly often. I usually play them on the Game Boy Player and have also played them on the Game Boy App for Switch, but still have both the original Game Boy and Game Boy Pocket and use them on occasion. There are several other games for the system that I like as well, such as the other Mega Man games, F1 Race, and Super R.C. Pro Am.





    -MegaMan52
  8. MegaMan52

    Gaming Websites Past and Present

    By MegaMan52,


    Miscellaneous
    Introduction

    Since first browsing the Internet in the late '90s/early 2000s, I've visited a large number of both official and fan-made video game websites over the years. The very first game site I ever visited was none other than Nintendo's official U.S. site in 2000 or so. The site featured images of various characters such as Donkey Kong, Kirby, Pikachu, and (of course) Mario. There were pages for not only the N64, but also the SNES, Game Boy and Game Boy Color. There were screenshots and videos of several games. There were some pages for the then-upcoming GameCube and Game Boy Advance. And there were various other sites from Nintendo dedicated to the more notable N64 and Game Boy Color games, like Donkey Kong 64 and Mario Tennis. 
    But there were numerous other game sites I visited as well, including fan-made sites all about a particular game series or consoles like the NES. Unlike my Flash Games blog, which lists my favorite Flash games that were on several game sites, this blog isn't necessarily about my ten favorite sites (though it does have some of my favorites) but rather a listing of many of the game sites I've visited in the past as well as some that I visit now.
    Past Gaming Websites I've Visited
    The Pac-Page



    Link: https://web.archive.org/web/20021203021019/http://www.classicgaming.com/pac-man/
    A fan-made Pac-Man site from the '90s. It featured pages for most Pac-Man games from the original Arcade game to Pac-Man World for PS1 (when it was known under its tentative title of "Ghost Zone"). It had info on the various versions of the Pac-Man games (like the Famicom version of Pac-Land, the NES version of Pac-Mania, and the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive version of Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures). The site pages had info on the Namco Arcade compilations that had been released, such as the five Namco Museum collections that were released for the PS1 (with screenshots and info about the Pac-Man related extra content that was included in each). There was a page about the '80s Pac-Man cartoon, which hadn't been released on DVD at the time.


    My favorite things about this site were finding out about lesser-known Pac-Man games, such as Super Pac-Man and Pac 'n Pal (both of which I didn't get a chance to play until much later), and the Pac-Man cartoon. These games, along with the Arcade version of Pac-Land, have since been included in various Namco Museum and Pac-Man compilations, including Pac-Man Museum+.

     
    The Mega Man Homepage
    Easily the best Mega Man site ever made, as it has just about everything a Mega Man fan would want. It was this site where I found out, in the early 2000s, about various Mega Man games for non Nintendo systems, such as Mega Man: The Wily Wars for Sega Genesis/Mega Drive and Mega Man Battle & Chase for PS1.


    The site had a page listing various Mega Man books, such as the Mega Man 2 Worlds of Power book and Japanese Mega Man comics (Mangas). Some of those comics/mangas were translated into English and released in the U.S. and Canada later on, like Mega Man Mega Mix. Mega Mix was also released in color a few years ago, under the title "Mega Man Master Mix."

    While maybe a little outdated now (but not too bad), I thought the site's page listing several American and Japanese Mega Man toys was impressive twenty or so years ago. I was kind of surprised to see that a set of Mega Man 5 toys were released (though in Japan only), as well as some RC cars modeled after some of the vehicles in Mega Man Battle & Chase (one of which I've had for a few years now).


    The site has a section for the Mega Man cartoons, as well as a page listing every episode of the American Mega Man cartoon. This was pretty useful in the early 2000s, because the series wasn't released on DVD until 2003 and some episodes were hard to find at the time. There's also a page about a promo VHS tape that advertised the cartoon and showed what it looked like while it was in development (it looked closer to being like the games). Link: http://www.mmhp.net/Marketing/Promo.html
    The site is still around and I still visit it on occasion.
    Link: http://www.mmhp.net/
    Detstar

    Link: https://web.archive.org/web/20051210210007/http://www.detstar.com/
    Detstar was an interesting site about certain games for the N64 and GameCube, like GoldenEye and Super Smash Bros. Melee.
    The site archived screenshots from beta versions of both GoldenEye and Perfect Dark for N64. There were pages with screenshots of the lost Citadel level in GoldenEye, along with GameShark codes to access it. There were "interesting stuff" pages for most of the featured games on the site that were really fun to look at, because they showed various details and Easter eggs that were easy to miss.
    Aside from Super Smash Bros. Melee, other games for GameCube were also featured such as Mario Kart: Double Dash!!.
    NES Player

    NES Player (Archive): https://web.archive.org/web/20051201082830/http://www.nesplayer.com/ 
    Nintendo Player: http://www.nintendoplayer.com/
    Now known as Nintendo Player, NES Player was probably my favorite website all about the NES (my favorite game system).
    The site had some humorous Flash videos that were based on games such as Super Mario Bros., Blades of Steel, and StarTropics (the latter was actually a Parody of Free Willy and featured a Fish/Cheep-Cheep from Super Mario Bros.). There was another funny Flash video that featured Golf (one of the early black box NES games), which was about the ball going so far out of bounds it ended up in a different game (Contra).


    There was a section about pirated NES and Famicom games, and this was, in the early 2000s, where I found out about the Super Mario Bros. 3 bootleg that I got just last year. It was also where I found out about the Donkey Kong Country 2 Famicom bootleg, which I've had in my collection for several years now.

    One of the most interesting sections of the site was the Articles section. This section had an interview with the creator of M.C. Kids on NES, and a page about good and bad games released only in Japan for the Famicom. There was also a page that featured an interview with Brandon Murphy, the man who found a prototype cartridge in 2003 containing the unreleased California Raisins NES game.

    I believe NES Player was the site where I found out about the Sega Master System, in a page/shrine about Duck Hunt. I also remember reading about Safari Hunt, which was basically Sega's version of Duck Hunt.


    Mega Man PC Website: Dr. Cossack's Lab

    Link: https://www.interordi.com/mega_man_pc/
    The site behind an English translation for Rock Board, a Mega Man board game only released in Japan for the Famicom. It also has a listing of nearly every Mega Man game released for PC, including the Mega Man DOS games, the PC versions of Mega Man X6 and Mega Man X7 (which only got Korean releases), and PC version of Mega Man X8 (which got Japanese and European releases, but wasn't released in the U.S. and Canada). The site still receives updates on occasion, but no where near as often as it used to.

    World of Battletoads

    Link: https://web.archive.org/web/20060618213616/http://battletoads.classicgaming.gamespy.com/
    This was my favorite website about Battletoads. It had pages, info, and screenshots of pretty much every Battletoads game from the first game to the Battletoads Arcade game. It also had a page about Battletoads merch, such as toys, Nintendo Power trading cards, and a Battletoads costume (which I actually used to have). The site also had a page about the Battletoads cartoon special, and was where I found out about the cartoon.

    The Mechanical Maniacs

    Link: https://themechanicalmaniacs.com/
    Another Mega Man site, which I first visited in 2003/2004. Mega Man 3 is the featured game, but the site also has info about Japanese-only releases, bootleg games, comics, etc.
    The best part of this site, in my opinion, was the "mysteries" section containing pictures and info about beta/unused content in the various Mega Man games. While there was lots of info on unused content for the other Mega Man games, Mega Man 3 got its own page for having the most unused content (a lot of which were included in the Mega Man 3 Improvement hack).
    I contributed to the Mega Man 3 Mysteries page once in 2006/2007. Looks like Tyree_Cooper, who some of you may have seen here on VGS, contributed to the Asian PC games section on this site. The site is still around, and still receives updates.
    While I've played and still have most of the original series Mega Man games, Mega Man 3 is by far the one I've played the most and is my favorite game in the series along with Mega Man 5. I still have my original copy that I've had since the '90s.

    Mario RPG World

    Link: https://www.oocities.org/timessquare/ring/4178/
    A site hosted on Geocities that was all about Super Mario RPG for the SNES. I visited it in the early 2000s. It had information on pretty much everything in the game. Like a lot of game sites at the time, many of the pages on this site had some MIDI music that you could listen to while browsing. The site has been archived on "Oocities."


    Video Game Connection

    The website for a retro game store in Cleveland, Ohio. I liked visiting the site in 2002 or so, because it had some animated graphics and lots of MIDI music to listen to which made the site more fun to browse.
    While I'm in Canada, I actually did buy some games from this store. They shipped to Canada, so I e-mailed them telling them what I wanted and sent a Money Order. Namco Museum 64 was one of the games I bought.
    Tony Hawk's Pro Skater

    I played the Tony Hawk games quite a bit in the early and mid 2000s, and visited the official Tony Hawk game sites from the first game to American Wasteland. The site for the first Tony Hawk game had both Flash and non flash versions, with the Flash version having some simple animations and the menu music from the game. The Tony Hawk's Underground and Underground 2 sites had licensed songs like the games themselves, though most of the songs on the sites weren't featured in the games. All of the Tony Hawk sites had screenshots and videos.

    Link: https://web.archive.org/web/20050830064930/http://www.planettonyhawk.com/
    I also used to visit a fan-made Tony Hawk site called Planet Tony Hawk. I would check out walkthroughs of the first three Tony Hawk games (the first and third of which I used to have for N64), as well as previews of the Tony Hawk's Underground games.

    Spyro the Dragon

    I didn't visit the official Spyro site until 2006 or so. I remember it having some info about Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly and Spyro: A Hero's Tail. I also remember the site having some music. I don't remember what music it was or what game it was from, but I do remember it sounded similar to one of the music tracks included on the Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly Soundtrack CD ("Mid Flute" I think) that went unused in the game.

    For anyone who's wondering, yes I have visited the Spyro: Reignited Trilogy site before.


    (2019 pics)
    tsr's NES Archive

    Link: http://atarihq.com/tsr/
    An NES site hosted on Atari HQ. Had some good info on certain NES, Famicom, Famicom Disk System, and bootleg games. This was where I found out, in the early 2000s, about the original Famicom Disk System version of the Japanese Super Mario Bros. 2, and that Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels in Super Mario All-Stars is based on this game. The site is still hosted on Atari HQ and can still be fun to look at, but it hasn't been updated since 2000.

    Cheetahmen Corner

    Link: https://web.archive.org/web/20051201085254/http://cheetahmen.silius.net/
    Cheetahmen Corner was a site about the NES and Sega Genesis/Mega Drive versions of Action 52, as well as Cheetahmen II for NES. It also had pages about unreleased items, like Active Enterprises's "Action Game Master" handheld, Cheetahmen 3, and "Sports 5" for SNES and Genesis. The site also had an interview with one of the programmers of the Sega Genesis version of Action 52. There were FAQs/walkthroughs for both Action 52 and Cheetahmen II. The Cheetahmen II FAQ was where I found out about the game having a glitch that prevents you from accessing the last two levels, as well as a very rare glitch that causes the game to start on the fifth (second to last) level.
    Ballz's DuckTales prototype page 

    Link: https://web.archive.org/web/20030425030836/http://rpgd.emulationworld.com/ballz/ducktales/
    A site about a prototype version of DuckTales for NES that was found in the early 2000s.
    I actually didn't find out about this site until the mid/late 2000s, and it wasn't around anymore then. It was, of course, archived on the Internet Archive, but first I had to find the link to the site. Where did I find it? I found it on a site called "Rusted Logic", which had a small page for the DuckTales NES game with a link to this DuckTales prototype site. I then pasted the link in the Internet Archives, and could finally see the site.
    Anyway, the site had screenshots and info for every level of the game and compared it to the released version. The music for the Transylvania level (known as "Ghost House" in the prototype) was completely different in the prototype. One page had a picture of the prototype cartridge.
    Another, even earlier prototype of the game was found in 2021 and had more different music. This prototype contained slightly different sounding versions of music used in the released version, the Transylvania music used in the later prototype mentioned above, and completely different (and longer) music for the level select screen that went unused in the released version. I recorded the unused music from this prototype:
    The Warp Zone 

    Link: https://web.archive.org/web/20040402064742/http://www.planetnintendo.com/thewarpzone/
    One of the things I remember most about this site was a page with Game Genie codes that allow access to the lost/unused levels in Super Mario Bros. 3, which I made videos of years ago and uploaded them onto YouTube in 2009. The Warp Zone also had info about NES/Famicom bootlegs and prototypes.
    Donkey Kong 64

    Nintendo's Donkey Kong 64 site came in both High Bandwidth and Low Bandwidth versions. The High Bandwidth version featured "DKTV", with nine channels that featured Flash games to play and advertisements for the DK64 Player's Guide, Banana Bunch N64 Controller, and the Jungle Green N64 bundle that included both the console and the DK64 game. The Low Bandwidth version had some basic info and hints for each of the levels to get the player started.
    Paper Mario



    The official Paper Mario site had both Flash (called "Super Paper") and non Flash (called "Plain Paper") versions. The Flash version included animations of Mario and some of his allies in the game battling enemies and finding items, followed by the sites info about the game, downloads, and activities. The non Flash version didn't include any animations and simply had the info and activities. I recall the site having a few extra features like a Paper Mario Screensaver, and Wallpaper. I also remember there being some minigames as well, such as a Quiz game based on Chuck Quizmo's Quiz that's in the Paper Mario game.

    The Paper Mario site came back in 2004, when Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door was released. The site was basically a storybook (which looked like the one shown in the game's opening) and featured a few different pages based on locations in the game, such as Rogueport and Boggly Woods. If you pointed your mouse arrow at the characters, they would "talk" to you (with text boxes, of course). Each page had some music from the game. Well, for the most part. I remember the music for the Boggly Woods section of the site sounding kind of similar to but not the same as the one used in the game. It was really calm and relaxing, even compared to the Boggly Woods music used in the game. Does anyone who visited this site in 2004 or so remember this? Not sure if it was a different version of the Boggly Woods music used specifically for the site, or if it was an unused version that was from a prototype version of the game.
    I last visited this site sometime in 2007, a little before it was shut down. Unfortunately, even before Flash was discontinued, I couldn't really browse the site though the Internet Archives because it wouldn't load any of the pages except for the main page.


    i also visited the Super Paper Mario site once, but don't remember much about it.
    Lemmy's Land

    Link: http://lemmykoopa.com/lkmain.html
    A Mario site that featured Lemmy Koopa, one of the Koopalings who first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 3. The site had MIDI music of several classic Mario music tracks, lots of pictures, and some fun activities.
    Kirby

    Nintendo's Kirby site was where I went to find out more info about the Kirby: Right Back at Ya! cartoon, and new Kirby games (Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land and Kirby Air Ride were the newest Kirby games at the time).

    KLOV

    Short for "Killer List of Video Games", this site (which is still around after all these years) included a listing for just about every Arcade game ever released. Most of the pages included pictures of the Arcade cabinets, and info about glitches and hacked versions of the games.
    Intellivision Lives


    I found Intellivsion Lives for GameCube in a discount bin at Walmart in 2005/2006, and decided to buy it. I grew up playing the NES, and didn't have an Intellivision in the '80s or '90s. When I got Intellivision Lives, I enjoyed some Intellivision games such as Thin Ice, Thunder Castle, Nightstalker, and Biplanes (originally included on a compilation cartridge called Triple Action). I also liked the inclusion of some unreleased Intellivision games, like Deep Pockets: Pool & Billiards (apparently the last Intellivsion game worked on, and planned to be released in 1990), Brickout, and Hardhat. The GameCube version of Intellivsion Lives also happens to include more unreleased games than the PS2 and Xbox versions (which included the same unreleased games as the GameCube version, but some of them were divided between the two), possibly to make up for being released a year later (the PS2 and Xbox versions were released in 2003, while the GameCube version was released in 2004).
    Anyway during that time, I decided to visit the official Intellivision site, also called Intellivision Lives, to learn more about the Intellivision and its games. The site had production histories for many games. It also had news pages about Intellivision Lives for PC and Mac, as well as the console versions for PS2, GameCube, and Xbox. There were also pages about the Classic Gaming Expo event, which the Intellivision team had a booth at displaying most versions of Intellvision Lives (including a prototype of the GameCube version, which hadn't been released yet), an Intellivision Arcade machine, and various Intellivision merch.
    Mirage Studios' Official TMNT Site


    I first came across this site in 2002 or 2003. It had information on the Ninja Turtles cartoons, movies, toys, comics, and video games (classic and modern). It was kind of an exciting era for Ninja Turtles fans, because this was when the 2003 Ninja Turtles cartoon was on TV every weekend. Not only that but Konami, which created the classic Ninja Turtles games released in the '80s and '90s, made TMNT games based on the 2003 cartoon for PS2, GameCube, Xbox, Game Boy Advance, and PC. Except for Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus, I didn't buy any of those games at the time. I did, however, play a demo for the first of these Ninja Turtles games based on the 2003 cartoon, which was included on the Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Bonus Disc (pic and video below).

    The last time I visited the site regularly was in 2007, when the animated Ninja Turtles movie was released. A video game based on the movie was also released by Ubisoft. I thought this game would only be on the newer systems (Wii, Xbox 360) and PS2, but was pretty excited to find out that it was also being released for GameCube (and Game Boy Advance) as well. I continued visiting the site until 2009 or so.

     
    Newgrounds
    Newgrounds, which I still visit every now and then, was one of my favorite sites for fan videos featuring video game characters and Flash games. I mentioned this site in my Flash games blog. Some of the videos I remember on this site were the Mega Man videos, like "Mega Man Vs. Heatman". Some of the Flash games I remember playing were Mega Man Vs. Metroid, Mega Man Vs. Ghosts 'n Goblins, and Ultimate Flash Sonic.
    Pac-Man World 2 and Pac-Man World 3

    I liked (and still like) the Pac-Man World games, so of course I visited Namco's official sites for Pac-Man World 2 and 3. I have fond memories visiting the Pac-Man World 2 site. Like a lot of sites in the early 2000s, the site required Flash and each page had animations as well as music from the game. There was a create a scene page that allowed you to choose characters, backgrounds, and effects to create your own scenes. There was also a Flash game, mentioned in my Flash games blog and shown in the video above, where Pac-Man collected dots while avoiding Pinky the Ghost. Collecting Pac-Dots and getting a certain amount of points unlocked the site's Jukebox, allowing people to sample music from the Pac-Man World 2 game for PS2, GameCube, Xbox, and PC.

    While I have played the game several times, have beaten it, and still have it for GameCube, I don't remember much about the Pac-Man World 3 site. I do remember the game came out in 2005 during Pac-Man's 25th Anniversary, and that the site had a page listing the game's features (like Pac-Man's new abilities, such as punching, climbing, and swinging from poles). I also remember the main page of the site had a link to one of the game's Press Releases on Namco's site. That's about all I remember from the site, as I didn't visit it nearly as much as the Pac-Man World 2 site.
    Resident Evil 4
    Nintendo and Capcom both had sites for Resident Evil 4 on GameCube, which was considered by many to be the console's biggest and best game of 2005. I remember Nintendo's RE4 site played the game's typewriter/save theme, and had some general info about the game itself. The site also had a page about some of the GameCube's games for teens and adults, which only further proved that, despite the popular opinions at the time about it being a kids system, the console never was just for little kids and was perfectly fine for teens and adults as well (and it still is).
    Capcom's RE4 site had trailer videos, screenshots, quotes from critics praising the game and its graphics, and other features. It would later be expanded to include info about the PS2 version.

    Capcom USA

    Capcom's official U.S. Site was where I got info about their new releases. I also visited their Mega Man page, which had a listing of Mega Man games available for purchase on their site (I never bought anything on the site because the shipping to Canada was crazy expensive) as well as some merch like a Mega Man poster that looked similar to the box for Mega Man II on Game Boy. The Mega Man page also had links to watch a Mega Man commercial, which I remember seeing on TV in 2000/2001.
    Rareware
    Rare's official site. Had info on some of their SNES and Game Boy games, as well as most of their N64 games like GoldenEye and Diddy Kong Racing. Even after Microsoft bought out Rare in 2002, I continued to visit the site because Rare still made games for Game Boy Advance and I was interesting in seeing what games they were coming out with for the handheld. I remember seeing games like "DK Coconut Crackers" and "Diddy Kong Pilot". They released remakes of the DKC trilogy, and Diddy Kong Pilot was turned into a Banjo-Kazooie racing game called Banjo Pilot.


    Sonic Central 

    Sonic Central was Sega's American Sonic the Hedgehog site. It had info on just about every Sonic game released, including Sonic games released in Arcades. It had screenshots and trailer videos for newer Sonic games, and pages about Sonic comics and merch. It also had interviews with Jun Senoue about the Sonic Adventure 2 (Battle) and Sonic Heroes soundtracks. The site also had a Flash game called Sonic Mega Collection Plus Mini, which came out in 2004 around the same time the PS2 and Xbox versions of Sonic Mega Collection were released. There was a fair bit of hype for the Sonic games on the PS2 and GameCube at the time, so this site was a good place to check for news on upcoming Sonic games.

    Besides browsing the Internet Archive later on, I think the last time I visited Sonic Central when it was still around was in 2007. I remember the site had pictures and some information about the 2006 Sonic the Hedgehog game released for PS3 and Xbox 360. I also kind of remember the site went long periods without being updated, and eventually shut down.
    Gaming Websites I Visit Now 
    Nintendo Life

    For a few years now, Nintendo Life has been my go to site for news about the Nintendo Switch. This was, for example, where I found out about the different collector's edition releases of TMNT: Shredder's Revenge and that Sonic Origins is getting a physical release (Sonic Origins Plus).

    A picture of one of my Animal Crossing videos, along with my name, appeared in one of their news articles about the different ways to play the first Super Mario Bros.
    Link: https://www.nintendolife.com/features/whats-the-best-way-to-play-super-mario-bros-in-2023 
    Capcom USA

    While Capcom's site looks completely different now and, in my opinion, isn't as fun to look at, I still visit the site occasionally. I've read their news articles about Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection, as well as Resident Evil games like Resident Evil Village and the Resident Evil 4 remake.

    Reddit

    Reddit isn't specifically a game site, but does have a lot of gamers and gaming "Sub Reddits." I've posted a lot of pictures on that site, many of which have gotten hundreds of likes.
    Link: https://www.reddit.com/user/Mega_Man_52
    Video Game Sage

    This one's obvious. I've been a member here since 2019, shortly after NintendoAge disappeared. I also joined NintendoAge in early 2017, so technically I've been with this community for over six years. I've posted a lot of pictures on this site, participated in VGS game nights from 2020-2022, and for about a year now, I've posted blogs.
    Link: https://www.videogamesage.com/blogs/blog/51-megaman52s-blogs/

    t

    t
    Conclusion

    Even though I listed a lot of sites, these are only some of the game sites I used to visit in the early/mid 2000s and only some of the game sites I visit now. Some other game sites I visited in the past were NES World and Nintendo's Mario Party sites for the first seven Mario Party games, among others. I should mention that in addition to Capcom's site, I visited and still sometimes visit Konami's site. Really happy Konami came out with TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection.


    -MegaMan52
  9. MegaMan52

    Kirby Air Ride is a Good Game

    By MegaMan52,


    Talking About A Specific Game
    Introduction

    For my next blog in the "talking about a specific game" category, I'd like to talk about the only Kirby game released for the GameCube: Kirby Air Ride.
    Much like the GameCube itself, Kirby Air Ride is pretty good but unfortunately is also underrated and has been subject to lots of criticism. The main reason for it being criticized is because it is different: it is mostly a racing game (though there is one mode in the game that has more than that), not a traditional side-scrolling action/adventure game like most other games in the series. However, "different" doesn't mean "bad." And this isn't the only game in the series that is different. 

    Long before Kirby Air Ride was even released, several Kirby spin-off's were already released for other Nintendo systems: Kirby's Pinball Land, Kirby's Block Ball, and Kirby's Star Stacker for the original Game Boy, Kirby's Avalanche (based on Puyo Puyo Pop) and Kirby's Dream Course for the SNES, and Kirby Tilt 'n Tumble for the Game Boy Color. And you know what? Even though these games were also very different, they received good ratings and I don't remember there being lots of complaints about them. I suspect another reason for some people hating on and making fun of Kirby Air Ride is because it is for GameCube, a console that several still bash these days even though it isn't that bad of a console (in fact, it actually was and still is a pretty good console). While some people do like the game, the game was considered mediocre to several critics when it was released in 2003.


    It is worth noting that Kirby Air Ride was announced in 1995 and was originally intended for the N64. It was shown briefly on the Nintendo 64 VHS tape from 1996 that was sent to Nintendo Power subscribers. And, of course, there were screenshots shown in Nintendo Power and on the Internet. It was originally titled "Kirby's Air Ride", though the Japanese release of the GameCube version retains the original title. The canceled N64 version looked promising, featuring familiar characters and a multiplayer mode, but ran at a very slow framerate. It was canceled in 1998, following the announcement of Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards. Air Ride returned in 2002 when it was announced in Japan for the GameCube and it was finally released in late 2003. The souped-up GameCube version was redone with vastly improved visuals and a much faster framerate running at a (mostly) smooth 60 frames per second.

    I present to you, the readers, this blog about why I believe Kirby Air Ride is actually a good game and didn't deserve the low ratings it received from critics in 2003.
    Why Kirby Air Ride is Awesome 
    It has three modes
    Air Ride, Top Ride, and City Trial are the three main modes included in the game.

    Air Ride is the game's standard racing mode. Several machines, each with different speed and handling, can be selected. King Dedede and Meta Knight are also unlockable characters. As in most other Kirby games, Kirby can copy the abilities of several enemies. These abilities can not only be used on other enemies, but also other player's or computer-controlled opponents.

    Top Ride has an overhead view and features miniature race tracks. The tracks may be small, but a lot can happen. Various items can be collected that work as weapons, and increase or decrease your speed. Some boss characters from past Kirby games, such as Kracko, occasionally appear. The action can be intense. While other modes have several machines to choose from, Top Ride mode has two machines that have different controls than the ones in Air Ride mode. There's no split-screen when multiple players play the Top Ride mode. The camera zooms out so all players can see their characters, and zooms in when everyone is near each other.

    City Trial mode could almost be considered a separate game, as it has far more than just racing. More about this mode below.



    All three modes can be played with up to four players. In addition, each mode has 120 tasks to complete for a total of 360 tasks. This certainly adds to the game's replay value.
    City Trial mode is almost like an extra game

    I'd like to talk about City Trial in more detail, because it is the best mode in the game and it is also very different than the other two modes. In fact, it is almost like a separate game that was included as an extra.

    In this mode, you're in a City that is filled with breakable boxes containing weapons and power-ups. The point of being in this City is to upgrade your machine, increasing its strength, defense, turning, weight, etc.

    This is the only mode in the game where Kirby can jump off his machine, and roam around freely on foot. This means Kirby Air Ride was not only the first fully 3D Kirby game, but technically it was also the first Kirby game to allow the player to roam around freely (this would later be expanded upon with a main entry Kirby game in 2022: Kirby and the Forgotten Land for Switch). While on foot, Kirby can run, jump, fly (briefly), and swim like in traditional Kirby games. However there's a time limit, and the main reason for getting off your machine is to get onto another one. All of the machines from Air Ride mode are available, and are scattered throughout the City (some are underground, while others are on roofs). It's worth mentioning, though, that the game has a "Free Run" option, allowing you to explore the City on a machine or on foot without a time limit.

    A random event can occur in the City while you're upgrading your machine. One of the events features Dyna Blade, a boss character who originally appeared in Kirby Super Star for the SNES. There is an event that covers the entire City in dense fog. Another causes your machine to temporarily move so fast, that it breaks the sound barrier (even Sonic and Captain Falcon from F-Zero would be impressed) and becomes very difficult to control. There is also an event where several giant Meteors fall down to the City, which are so strong they can destroy your machine and send Kirby flying to another part of the City. All kinds of cool things can happen. Each of these events also has different music, with some of the music being original and others being remixes of music from other Kirby games (the music that plays when Dyna Blade appears, for example, is an orchestra of the Castle Lololo level music from the original Kirby's Dream Land for Game Boy).



    Some of the boxes in the City contain parts. There are two "Legendary Machines" in the game that are far more advanced than any of the other machines: Hydra and Dragoon. Collecting three parts replaces your current machine with one of the Legendary Machines.


    If you're riding one of the Legendary Machines, you're almost guaranteed to win the game that follows when you're finished upgrading your machine in the City.

    After upgrading your machine, a screen appears that shows your machine's stats. Were you able to upgrade it significantly while you were in the City? 
    I like the calm music that plays on this screen. It's like the game is telling you that you can relax for a bit, but you've still got an intense battle ahead.

    You then go to the Stadium and enter a random battle, race, etc. (a message appears while you're in the City that hints at what you'll do in the Stadium). There are Destruction Derby's, Drag Races, regular races on the tracks from Air Ride mode, Air Gliding, Melee's, etc. There are multiple unlockable tracks and arenas for the Drag Racing, Destruction Derby's, and Melee's.

    Before starting City Trial, there's also an option to go directly to the Stadium and play any battle game you've unlocked. If you go straight to the Stadium, you can pick whatever machine you want but it won't be upgraded and it'll just be the same as it is in the Air Ride mode. Also, you'll enter some of the games, like Air Glider, alone (unless other player's are playing) without any computer-controlled opponents.
    The game has lots of customization



    While Kirby Air Ride is a different type of game, it is similar to Super Smash Bros. Melee in many ways. Just like Melee, almost every option you can imagine can be changed to your liking. In Air Ride mode, these include number of laps, time, an automatic speed boost if you fall behind, and even the game's speed. There's an option to have the game randomly select a track for you, like how Melee has an option for that game to pick a random arena. 


    For the Top Ride mode, there are options for adjusting the camera to stay in a fixed position as well as multiple angles. There's also an option to change the types of items that appear on the tracks. 

    In City Trial mode, you can turn the events on or off and choose the type of game you play when you go to the Stadium. 
    It has simple controls

    Something unique about Kirby Air Ride that wasn't common in 3D games is its controls. You press the A button to perform all of Kirby's actions, and move the Control Stick to steer. That's it (all except one of the machines move automatically). Kirby can inhale enemies, use their abilities, throw certain items, slow down, and boost all with the press of a button. It's simple and effective. And it makes sense too that all of the actions are assigned to just one button, because the A button on the GameCube's Controller is bigger than most of its other buttons. There are some other games on the console that make use of other buttons but still assign most of the actions to the A button, like Resident Evil 4.
    It has tons of unlockables




    As I mentioned above, each mode has various tasks to complete. Some of the tasks unlock extra features. Like Super Smash Bros. Melee, Kirby Air Ride has quite a few unlockable features. You can unlock videos, Kirby colors, machines, two characters, music, one track in Air Ride mode, endings for each mode, some options/rules, and games in the City Trial Stadium. There's also an unlockable chart that appears when you pause the game in the City Trial mode (normally you have to wait until time runs out to see your machine's stats). Just about everything a Kirby and Super Smash Bros. fan would want. 
    I think all that's missing is unlocking a classic Kirby game, like Kirby's Adventure, which would've been nice since Animal Crossing, Metroid Prime, and Zelda: Collector's Edition all have NES games. But maybe including a classic Kirby game would've been too much. Besides, the Game Boy Advance got a remake of Kirby's Adventure only a year before Kirby Air Ride was released (Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land) which can be played on the GameCube with a Game Boy Player.


    It has an orchestrated soundtrack

    Kirby Air Ride was the first Kirby game to have orchestrated music. The GameCube uses discs and Kirby Air Ride was made by much of the same teams that worked on Super Smash Bros. Melee, so it makes sense that they would make use of the technology and make Kirby Air Ride the first Kirby game to have an orchestrated soundtrack. Some of the music is synthesized, like Melee, but most of the regular music for the Air Ride tracks and the music in City Trial mode are orchestrated. If you pick a music track in the Sound Test then leave the Options screen, the music track you picked continues to play on the other menus (this is yet another feature from Melee). Also I recommend hanging out on the Results screen in the Air Ride and City Trial modes for a bit, because the music is longer than you might expect.
    The game has a LAN Option


    Like Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Kirby Air Ride is compatible with the GameCube's Broadband Adapter and has a LAN option. In fact, it was the first game on the console to have LAN support (for a spin-off that didn't get much respect from critics Air Ride sure has a lot of firsts, all of which are good features). Normally the screen has to split into smaller screens when multiple players play. In addition, the graphics are usually downgraded a little when multiple players play so that the game maintains a fast framerate. When using the LAN option, every player has their own TV and GameCube. You don't have to put up with split-screen, and the graphics look about the same quality as when just one player plays. The LAN feature is available for the Air Ride and City Trial modes. The reason why it's not available for Top Ride mode is because that mode has an overhead view and doesn't have split-screen. As when playing the Air Ride and City Trial modes normally, up to four players can play when using the LAN option.
    The game doesn't forget about or overlook other Kirby games
    It may not be a traditional side-scrolling action/adventure game, but Kirby Air Ride is still very much a Kirby game. It has plenty of characters and features that have been in the series since the first Kirby game on Game Boy, and reminders of the past. Here are some examples.


    Kirby still inhales enemies and spits them out, as he's done since his debut. He also still copies some enemies' abilities, which is a feature that was introduced in Kirby's Adventure for the NES.



    One of the most iconic and recurring boss characters in the Kirby series, Whispy Woods, appears in the City Trial mode. You can bump into him, which makes him sad. You can also attack him a few times (only while you're on your machine), which makes him shed a tear like in other Kirby games. 


    Kracko occasionally appears in the Sky track in Top Ride mode. As mentioned above, Dyna Blade from Kirby Super Star appears in City Trial mode during an Event. If you get onto a roof in City Trial, you can glide into Dyna Blade's face (necessary to complete one of City Trial's tasks).



    I also mentioned above that City Trial mode is the only mode in the game where Kirby can get off his machine. By doing this, he can run, jump, fly, and swim like in other Kirby games.

    The Maxim Tomato, an item that restores Kirby's energy and has been in the series since the first Kirby game, is in Kirby Air Ride.


    Kirby's long-time nemesis, King Dedede, is a boss in the City Trial mode's finale.

    As in Super Smash Bros. Melee, most of the stages/courses in the game have alternate music tracks that can be unlocked. Also like Melee, these are music tracks from past games and some are the original versions while others are remixed. These can be heard by holding the X or Y button when you choose a track. But even if you don't hold down one of those buttons, the alternate music tracks will still play on occasion (Melee does the same thing). The Celestial Valley track in Air Ride mode, for example, has a remix of the forest level music from Kirby's Adventure. The Sand track in Top Ride mode has the original version of the "Rock Star" music as heard in Kirby 64. Melee's version of the "Green Greens" music from Kirby's Dream Land for Game Boy can be heard on the Checker Knights track in Air Ride mode. Even the City in City Trial mode has an alternate music track (an alternate main theme, not the music tracks that play during events).
    It was featured in other media
    For a short time in 2003, Kirby Air Ride was featured in other media.





    Two episodes of the Kirby: Right Back at Ya! anime, which was being aired on Fox at the time, are loosely based on Kirby Air Ride and feature some of the machines from the game. These episodes, along with some others, were combined to create a Kirby "movie" on the Kirby: Fright to the Finish DVD.

    A strategy video for Kirby Air Ride is included on one of the Kirby: Right Back at Ya! DVD's.

    A Kirby Air Ride comic is included in the Dec. 2003 issue of Nintendo Power, which is an adaptation of one of the Air Ride episodes from the anime.




    A Kirby Air Ride commercial was shown on Fox in 2003 and is included on the Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Bonus Disc, which also advertises the Kirby: Right Back at Ya! anime. The same commercial is also included on one of the KIrby: Right Back at Ya! DVD's, along with a video of Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land for Game Boy Advance.

    Hori, a Japanese company that has released many licensed accessories for Nintendo systems over the years, released a Kirby Memory Card for GameCube after Kirby Air Ride was released. It has 251 blocks of memory.
    The game hasn't been forgotten

    Some of the music from Kirby Air Ride is included on the soundtrack CD that is included with Kirby's Dream Collection for Wii. Some of Air Ride's music is also included in Super Smash Bros. Brawl for Wii and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for Switch (the latter also has some updated versions of some of Air Ride's music tracks). The "Smash Run" mode that is included in Super Smash Bros. For 3DS was actually inspired by the City Trial mode in Kirby Air Ride, and has a similar system of collecting power-ups to increase character's strength and defense before a battle.


    Kirby Air Ride has also been mentioned/referenced in some of the more recent Kirby spin-offs. Like Kirby's Dream Buffet for Switch, which has treats with pictures of the machines from Kirby Air Ride (including the Legendary Machines).
    Conclusion
    That about wraps up my 16th blog here on VGS. If you haven't played Kirby Air Ride before and are a Kirby fan, I suggest giving the game a chance. If you have played it before but don't play it anymore, it's worth coming back to. Also, check out the video above. There's some beta content still on the disc, like some test tracks.

    Since this is a community of collectors, some of whom have multiple GameCube's (such as myself), it also might be worth getting some Broadband Adapters and making use of the LAN options in both this game and Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. I have, and they only make both games even more fun than they already are.
    Kirby Air Ride and Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Bonus Disc screenshots captured from a GameCube, not a Wii or an Emulator.
    -MegaMan52
  10. MegaMan52

    Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn

    By MegaMan52,


    Talking About A Specific Game
    Introduction

    Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn is the Nintendo 3DS's enhanced port of "Kirby's Epic Yarn", originally released for the Wii in 2010. It was the last game Nintendo released for the 3DS in 2019, and has become somewhat of an uncommon, hidden gem.

    When the game was announced for the Wii in 2010, I didn't think much of it. I read some previews, watched some videos, and looked at some screenshots. I liked the game's visual style and that it was a side-scrolling platforming game, but felt it wasn't really quite the next really big entry for the franchise or a return to form (that didn't happen until Kirby's Return to Dream Land was released in 2012, though I didn't buy that game until it was released on Switch last year). I wanted to play it, but became somewhat less interested after reading that many players thought it was too easy and just kept putting it off.

    Though I didn't really bother with the Wii version of the game, I did get this little promo sign.
    In 2019, Nintendo announced that the game would be released for the 3DS, with more content, under the title "Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn". I bought the game when it was released. I also played the game's demo before the 3DS's eShop closed.
    I played through the game a couple years ago. I liked it and didn't forget about it, but couldn't get back into it until recently. There were a lot of other games I needed to play, and of course I was also busy making blogs (which can take weeks and sometimes months to complete). Now I finally have some time to talk about the game, and why I appreciate it more on the 3DS than on the Wii.
    Why I like Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn
    The Visual Style


    The first thing that comes to mind whenever someone sees the game. In this game, Kirby's transformed into yarn. Yeah, he's strings of yarn in this game but still recognizable. The other characters are also yarn. The levels themselves are made of fabric and have patches and quilts. Since first reading about the Wii version in 2010, I've liked the visual style. The game just has a fun look to it. The 3DS version, shown in the pics, looks basically the same as the Wii version, the screen is just smaller.
    Kirby's Animations Are Cool


    A game with an appealing visual style also needs good animation. If you don't press any buttons and just let Kirby stand, he'll play jump rope while he waits for you. If you jump and hold the A button while in the air, Kirby'll turn into a parachute.
    The Creativity 


    Kirby can enter doors to go inside trees or buildings, as he could in other games. The difference here is that, instead of going to another part of a level, the view remains outside and you have to jump on platforms inside to get to the top of a tree or the roof of a building.


    Kirby can also pull on certain objects, like zippers, to reveal hidden buildings or move part of a level closer so he can jump across.
    Kirby's Abilities

    Since Kirby's Adventure for the NES, Kirby has been able to copy the abilities of his enemies. The difference in this game is that, because he's been turned into yarn, Kirby can't inhale enemies like he normally does. Instead, he grabs enemies and pulls them toward him (he's able to that because he's strings of yarn in this game), then gets their abilities. Some of the abilities are new to this version of the game and weren't included in the Wii version.
    Demo Version
    A demo of Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn was released on the 3DS's shop, along with the digital version of the game. The demo includes two of the games earlier levels: Fountain Gardens and Rainbow Falls. I downloaded and recorded a video of the demo a little before the 3DS's shop closed. The demo showed some of Kirby's transformations, as well as some of the new abilities (called Ravel Abilities) that are only in this version of the game.
    The 3DS Versions New Features
    Since it was released 2019, nine years after the Wii version, Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn adds a few extra features making it the definitive version of the game.


    First up is the "Devilish Mode." This is a harder difficulty, in which a devil follows Kirby throughout the levels and makes things more difficult for him. They addressed one of the flaws about the Wii version, which many thought was too easy.

    Next are the Ravel Abilities. There are six of them: Knitting Needles (creates a yarn ball), Wire (swing a sword to cut through almost anything), Button (bombs), Nylon (whirlwind spin), Bobbin (Yo-Yo), and Marking Pins (throw pins at enemies).


    Two minigames/sub-games were added. One is Dedede Gogogo, a game that has you play as King Dedede where you race through levels, collect beads, and destroy obstacles.


    The other is Slash & Bead, a game that has you play as Meta Knight where you run and fly through levels, collect beads, and defeat enemies with Meta Knight's Sword.

    Kirby's Pad allows you to add and arrange furniture that you can find in the levels. Kirby's Pad was in the Wii version of the game, but the 3DS version has more furniture. You can arrange furniture by tapping the touch screen or using a stylus, similar to Animal Crossing: New Leaf.
    Support for Kirby amiibo figures was also added. Depending on the Kirby character used, the figures can give you abilities, both regular and Ravel, instantly.
    The two player co-op mode from the Wii version was removed, unfortunately, but these added features more than make up for it.
    Kirby's Transformations

    Kirby can transform into a few different vehicles in this game. One of my favorites is the tank, which was also shown in the promo sign I mentioned in the blog's introduction. 
    Price Increase

    As it was the last first-party game for the 3DS, along with more hype for the series thanks to newer Kirby games like Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn can cost around $100 for the game itself or about $130 if it includes the case. Luckily I bought it in 2019 (the year it was released), so I only had to pay $50 (still have the invoice to prove it). 😎

    Connection with Yoshi's Woolly World

    Yoshi's Woolly World, a spiritual successor originally released for the Wii U and later released on the 3DS, has similarities to Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn. The two games were developed by Good-Feel, and feature fun visual styles.
    Yoshi's Woolly World also has a level that plays the theme music from Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn. The level is called "Yoshi and Cookies", with the name of the level being a reference to Yoshi's Cookie and the music referencing Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn.

    Conclusion

    Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn is a reasonably good game that I took the time to play through a few years ago. I wouldn't say it's one of my favorites; but I still had fun playing it and don't mind going back to it once in a while.


    I'll always like Kirby's Adventure (NES) and Kirby's Dream Land 2 (original Game Boy) the most.
    Despite being a side-scrolling action game, it doesn't really quite play the same as traditional Kirby games though it is similar. But there's nothing really wrong with a game being different. Super Mario Sunshine and Kirby Air Ride are examples of that. A game that is different can still be fun to play.
    -MegaMan52
  11. MegaMan52

    Mega Man 9 NES Demo Cartridge

    By MegaMan52,


    Talking About A Specific Game
    Introduction

    Mega Man 9 NES Demo

    Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 (Switch)
    Mega Man 9 was originally released in 2008 as a downloadable game for the PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360, and for the PS4, Switch, and Xbox One a decade later as part of Mega Man Legacy Collection 2. It returned to the audio and visual style of the NES Mega Man games, and played like the first two Mega Man games by removing Mega Man's slide and ability to charge up his weapon (the Mega Buster).
    Because the game uses an audio and visual style similar to the NES Mega Man games, numerous hacks and homebrews were released in an attempt to port Mega Man 9 to the NES. I recall playing a very basic homebrew (using the FCE Ultra NES Emulator) containing the first part of Concrete Man's stage, with music but no sound effects and very little to do. I remember watching a video showing a hack of Mega Man 4, which changed two of the stages to look like stages from Mega Man 9. 

    Mega Man 9 NES Demo Website: https://lukaszkur.itch.io/mm9
    Fast forward to the year 2024, I find a different Mega Man 9 homebrew by "lukaszkur" containing all of Galaxy Man's stage. In February, I found an ad listing a Mega Man 9 demo cartridge. I asked the seller what it contained, and he said "one level of Mega Man 9." I wondered, was this the basic homebrew I played several years ago or was it something else?
    I bought the cartridge last month in April. It contains the above Mega Man 9 homebrew by lukaszkur, featuring all of Galaxy Man's stage playable on a real NES. The label has Mega Man X on it instead of the original Mega Man. Oh well. I've seen stranger labels for hacks and homebrew games.
    Details About the Cartridge
    Opening and Menus 

    The opening, title screen, and stage select screen from the original game are included, complete with music. However, I noticed that the graphics are a little glitched (especially during the opening). I'm not sure what's causing the glitches (and no, it's not because the cartridge is too dirty). I know that with Emulators, you can switch between NTSC and PAL Emulation. I've played NTSC (U.S./Canada) NES games with PAL Emulation using FCE Ultra, and PAL games with NTSC Emulation. The different speeds can cause glitched graphics. The visual glitches in this demo cartridge are similar. I also noticed that the sound effect for Mega Man's shots is slightly higher pitched than Mega Man 1 and 2, possibly indicating that this demo is actually a PAL version of the game and that running it on an American/Canadian NES is causing the glitches. I haven't played it on a PAL NES, though, so I can't confirm that.
    Music
    Source: Chip Jockey
    Since the original game uses NES-style music and Mega Man 9's soundtrack was converted to NSF (NES Sound Format) years ago, most of the music that's on the cartridge sounds very much like the original game. The music that plays in Galaxy Man's stage, however, is a remix of the original version. The music for the stage is also higher quality than the six NES Mega Man games, with PCM drum samples. It's worth noting that the music sounds a little different on a real NES (some of the sounds in the music are missing).
    Graphics

    The visuals actually flicker in certain areas of Galaxy Man's stage. Not just the usual sprite flickering commonly seen in NES games, but the graphics for the stage itself. 

    There's also an area in the stage where platforms just disappear and become invisible. In this screen, the game is actually displaying the graphics and layout from the section just before this area (the area that has several of those teleportation devices), even though Mega Man's not actually there.

    This can be fixed by opening and closing the weapon screen (press Start twice).
    It's actually very similar to a glitch that I found many years ago in Mega Man 2. A glitch that I call "Mega Confusion."
    Weapons

    Because only one stage from the original game is included, you can only use Mega Man's weapon. You can still look at the weapon screen, though, and check Mega Man's energy and how many 1 ups you have left.
    Stages

    The entirety of Galaxy Man's stage from the original game of Mega Man 9 is included, playable on a real NES. Some of the things that were introduced in the original game, such as the teleportation devices that launch Mega Man high into the air, are also included.

    Bolts (the little white object in front of Mega Man) are also included, but have no use because the shop from the original game is not included.
    Demo Ending 

    Galaxy Man himself is not included. After completing the stage, the screen just fades to black.
    Conclusion

    There have been a lot of impressive hacks and homebrews released in the last decade or so, such as Super Mario Land 2 DX for Game Boy Color (a color hack of Super Mario Land 2 that also adds Luigi as a playable character) and Mega Man 3 Improvement (a hack of Mega Man 3 that adds lots of features, including things that went unused in the original game). On the homebrew side there's Mega Man: The Sequel Wars for Sega Genesis, a fan-made sequel to Mega Man: The Wily Wars containing remakes of Mega Man 4-6.

    And then there's this Mega Man 9 demo. Though it only contains one stage, playing Mega Man 9 on a real NES has (sort of) become a reality.
    -MegaMan52
  12. MegaMan52

    MegaMan52 Looks Back on 2023

    By MegaMan52,


    Memories
    Introduction
    For me, 2023 was a mixture of happiness, frustration, fun times, and, in a way, adventure. I made progress with both my video game and movie collections, got to see my family on my Birthday as well as Christmas, went to Monster Jam, and even looked in three malls (in different cities) and more than fifteen stores for a Chuck E. Cheese Funko Pop figure. There were plenty of good and bad days, but there were enough good times that I thought I'd make a blog about some of the highlights of the year and look back.
    MegaMan52 Looks Back on 2023
    New Additions to My Video Game and Movie Collections


    I added several new games and movies to my collections, but also had to take breaks due to running out of space in my game room. This meant I had to put some new additions to my video game collection in other rooms if I wanted to continue collecting.




    There were some notable additions to my collection this year. I got Sonic & Knuckles Collection for PC, continued building up my collection of imports (such as the Japanese release of Mario Tennis for Game Boy Color), got collector's edition packages of Killzone 3 for PS3 and SoulCalibur IV for Xbox 360, and got some free games like Dr. Mario for NES. I also got some related items, such as posters and toys.


    I checked some ads, and remember visiting different towns and cities to pick up some PS3 and Xbox 360 games. One of the games I bought that required a fair bit of driving to pick up was the 2013 Tomb Raider game for PS3. At least it didn't cost very much ($5).


    However, the highlight was this Super Pac-Man Arcade1Up machine. It has seven games: Pac-Man, Super Pac-Man, Pac-Mania, Pac-Land, Galaga, Galaxian, and Dig Dug. I also made a blog about it. Another highlight was a near-mint, fully complete copy of Top Gun: The Second Mission for the NES.


    And just before the 31st, I bought another collector's package: Forza Motorsport 3 Limited Collector's Edition for Xbox 360.


    For movies/shows, I bought Seasons 4 and 5 of Cobra Kai on DVD, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles on 4K, The (new) Super Mario Bros. Movie on 4K (also included standard Blu-ray), and others. I remember I had a little bit of a hard time finding season 4 of Cobra Kai, as I couldn't find it at either Walmart and other stores. I eventually found it at Sunrise Records. I also got the complete series of Heathcliff on DVD for Christmas. I visited the Salvation Army, and bought some James Bond movies on VHS (even though I already have almost the entire series on Blu-ray) and season 2 of The Simpsons on DVD.

    Watching The (New) Super Mario Bros. Movie  

    I watched The Super Mario Bros. Movie in the Theater, complete with soda, popcorn, and a Mario shirt. 

    Before that, I went to McDonald's earlier in the year and bought a Happy Meal that included a Super Mario Bros. Movie box and a toy. I went to nearly ten McDonald's locations searching for the toys. Some of the toys were sold out, but I managed to collect most of them.


    I later bought the movie on 4K. I also got a Mario movie poster.
    Monster Jam


    I went to Monster Jam in the summer. The seat I sat in was located approximately in the middle, and was neither too high or to low. I was high enough that I could see the traffic in the distance as well as the stadium's parking lot. The entire stadium was packed, and there was no shortage of noise (yet I still have near-perfect hearing). I drank some soda and ate some popcorn. I also got a Grave Digger toy. 


    A little before the show, I bought Monster Jam: Maximum Destruction for GameCube.
    Online Gaming

    I didn't play online as much this year, but continued to play some games that I've been playing online for a few years now.
    I've played a lot of Super Kirby Clash for the Switch since 2020 or so, both online and offline. I've managed to complete the main offline single player modes, get the best weapons and armor, and earn all platinum medals. This year, I also reached the maximum level (meaning my Kirby has maxed out stats and is as strong as he can be). I played a little Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as well (the Switch game I've played the most). 


    I also downloaded the Switch's Game Boy app, and played through both Super Mario Land 2 and Kirby's Dream Land 2 (both of which I also have for the original Game Boy).
    Blogs
    I made quite a few blogs in 2023. Anyone who's read any of my blogs knows that they're long. Probably the longest and most time-consuming blogs I made this year were my Super Mario Sunshine and Kirby Air Ride blogs. I guess I had to get the point across that despite how much these games have been criticized in the past, they are good games.
    I also made blogs about Mega Man 5 for NES and Mega Man II for the original Game Boy, explaining why Mega Man 5 is one of my favorite Mega Man games and why Mega Man II on Game Boy (another underrated game) is actually pretty good.
    Some other blogs I made this year, which took several weeks to complete, were my Pac-Man World and Sega Master System blogs. A little unfortunate that these blogs didn't get as much appreciation as some of my other blogs, especially considering the amount of stress I was under making them and how much time it took to complete them.
    My most recent blogs, as of this writing, are my Super Pac-Man Arcade1Up and top 10 bootleg games/systems blogs.
    Contributing in the NES, GameCube, Game Boy, and Game Boy Color Library Topics


    Earlier in the year, I played through a lot of NES games. One of the games I played was Kirby's Adventure. I played through the game's Extra mode (harder difficulty) and completed the game 100%.


    Later in the year, I decided to get back to playing games for the GameCube. I played through ten GameCube games in one month, including all four Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell games released for the console and some of the Tony Hawk games (like Tony Hawk's Underground). When playing through the first Splinter Cell, I decided to be fancy and play the PAL release (I played through the American release last year). 




    I also played through a bunch of games for the original Game Boy, like the first three Mega Man games for the system, Super Mario Land, Donkey Kong Land 3, Kirby's Dream Land, Tiny Toon Adventures: Babs' Big Break, and others.


    For Game Boy Color, I played through Deja Vu 1 and 2: The Casebooks of Ace Harding and Donkey Kong Country. While playing Donkey Kong Country, I used the SNES-style Hori Digital Controller for GameCube (played with the Game Boy Player) to play the game with basically the same controls as the SNES version.
    I'll likely play through more games for these systems in 2024.
    Visiting Chuck E. Cheese
    I visited Chuck E. Cheese multiple times this year when I needed to reduce my stress levels, and take a short break from the difficulties of adulthood.
    Besides eating pizza (which tastes good, BTW) and playing games, I got a few goodies from their gift shop and even went on an "adventure" looking for the Retro Chuck E. Cheese Funko Pop that was released this year. One of the items I got from the restaurant was a Birthday shirt. It wasn't available in adult sizes, so I had to buy it in youth XL.


    In the spring, I tried one of their desserts: Unicorn Churros. The cup has a picture of Ronnie the Unicorn on it. I also got their "rainbow" cotton candy.


    During the summer, I got a Summer Fun Pass. After paying for the pass, the pass basically allowed me to play games for free when visiting during the summer. I was given a lanyard, which I had to wear so they knew I got the pass then they put half an hour of time (for playing the games) on either my card or wristband (both of which I got in 2022, and the latter was given to me on my Birthday).

    I ate one of their limited ice cream deserts: Dippin' Dots Summer Crunch. It was basically cookies and cream and cotton candy ice cream.


    I looked in three malls and more than fifteen stores looking for this Funko Pop. Some of the stores I went to were Walmart, Toys R Us, Sunrise Records, Hot Topic, Best Buy, and GameStop. I eventually found it at one store in a large mall. They only had one left, and the guy I talked to didn't even know they had one. It was hiding under the counter.

    I collected all of the character cups, and also got a plastic collector's cup. I got the blue cup in the front on my Birthday in 2022. Even though it is technically complete, it seems incomplete because there are actually six main Chuck E. Cheese characters now. The sixth main character is a bunny named Bella, who speaks both English and Spanish (and led to the Chuck E. Cheese website and some of the songs being available in both languages).

    Some other Chuck E. Cheese items I bought were an '80s Chuck E. Cheese token and a modern Chuck E. Cheese hat. Both were bought on eBay.
    My Birthday 

    I visited Chuck E. Cheese once more this year on my Birthday. I've had two of my Birthdays there. I contacted my family and told them I was interested in having my Birthday at Chuck E. Cheese again, so my parents got a Birthday package and reserved a table. I went there on my actual Birthday, not before or after.
    My Birthday is in October, so I was there during their Halloween "Boo-tacular" event. After a long drive (there isn't a Chuck E. Cheese nearby), I went inside the restaurant and my server greeted me. I noticed a Halloween display on the counter, showing their limited edition Halloween items. My table was already decorated with a cloth, and there were already cups, plates, plastic utensils, and hats on it. There was also a Birthday sign with my (real) name on it.

    Though I still had my card and wristband from last year, I was given a red wristband with some points on it for playing the games. I was also given another card with some extra points on it, which I can use on a future visit in 2024. I played some Skee Ball (a.k.a., Alleyroller Classic) with my family, and we all had a lot of fun. Yes, even my parents played.

    We got a pumpkin-shaped, stuffed crust pepperoni pizza (as well as some other pizzas). It tasted really good.

    Chuck E. visited our table, and I got to sing, dance, and get my picture taken with him. Since I like the character and it was my Birthday, I also gave him a hug (I was nice and asked him first). I wore the Chuck E. Cheese Birthday shirt and hat I bought earlier in the year.
    I got to use their Ticket Blaster (wind tunnel). I had to grab as many tickets as I could in thirty seconds. I was also given some "magic" tickets, worth a thousand tickets each. 

    I got a collection of '80s Ninja Turtles comic and some other things for presents.




    After opening presents, I went to the gift shop/prize counter and asked if they still had any Halloween merch. I remember reading about the Chuck E. Cheese Halloween merch on the website in 2022, but they were sold out on my Birthday then. Luckily, they still had some on my Birthday in 2023. I bought (yes, I paid for these items even though it was my Birthday) a Vampire Chuck E. Cheese Plush, a light up cup, and a purple Halloween bucket. I used my tickets to get a Sonic the Hedgehog toy (Tails).


    I brought home some pumpkin pepperoni pizza with me, while my family took home the other pizzas. I also brought home some cake with a picture of Chuck E. Cheese.

    They even gave me the Birthday sign with my name on it.


    On Halloween, I carved a pumpkin with a picture of Chuck E. Cheese (Chuck o' Lantern).
    Christmas 2023
    I've gotten a lot of goodies for Christmas in the past, especially last year and this year. 




    I got to see my family and watch movies, like National Lampoons Christmas Vacation and Polar Express. I watched a few movies by myself, like the original Christmas Specials (Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer) on Blu-ray, my original copy of Berenstain Bears Christmas Tree on VHS, Christopher the Christmas Tree on VHS (which is a little uncommon), and others.
    On the 25th, I ate some turkey and ate lots of treats (cookies, fudge, etc.). And, of course, I got lots of presents (many of which were video game related).




    Some of the presents I got were Christmas ornaments, a wireless gaming mouse, a Coca-Cola branded Popcorn Maker, and a 2024 Mario Calendar. My family, of course, knows I like Chuck E. Cheese (I've had two of my Birthdays there, as I mentioned above), and I was given a retro-style Chuck E. Cheese shirt (which is adult sized) and a modern-style Chuck E. Cheese picture that my brother painted.




    Conclusion

    MegaMan52 Blog #29 completed.
    2023 wasn't the greatest year for me, though there were still some good times and it was, not surprisingly, better than 2020 and 2021. I don't know exactly what I'm going to do next year. For my game collection, for example, I don't know yet if I'm going to focus on a particular system or if I'm possibly going to buy a newer console. Maybe I'll keep buying more imports, or buy another Arcade machine. I'll likely continue making more blogs, though I don't know yet what I'm going to be talking about (a particular game? A console? Somewhere I visited? An event?).
    I might post another blog on New Year's Eve.
    Thanks for reading. See you in 2024.
    -MegaMan52 
  13. MegaMan52
    Introduction
    Nearly every game ever made has glitches. Some have a lot, some only have a few. Some are minor, and some are major. There are glitches that allow you to explore areas you're not supposed to be in, and other glitches that might be game-breaking and make it impossible to get any further.
    Here are ten glitches I've come across over the years that were just fun to do, and others that surprised me.
    MegaMan52's Top 10 Game Glitches 
    10.Go out of bounds in Icecap (Sonic Adventure, Dreamcast)
    A glitch with one of the loops in the Ice Cap level in Sonic Adventure, which a friend and I found while just playing the game normally. As Sonic runs up a loop in the second section of the level, it's possible for him to go through the wall. If you move the camera through the wall, you can see the level's background. The glitch also works in the GameCube version (Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut). Note: I'm silent and off-screen the entire video; you're seeing one of my friends.
    9.Pipe Glitch (Super Mario Land 2, Game Boy)
    In Super Mario Land 2, if you enter a level you've already completed, you can enter a pipe, pause the game, and exit the level. If you enter the first level in the Tree Zone after doing this, you'll appear under the ground. You'll need the rabbit ears to fly underneath the ground, then go through a wall. You'll find an unused room hidden underneath the level that is presumably leftover from an early version of the game. Both the glitch and the unused room are still in the fan-made color version (Super Mario Land DX) for the Game Boy Color, since it's just a hack of the original rather than a homebrew redone from scratch.
    8.Swim through DK Isles (Donkey Kong 64, N64)


    DK64 is a pretty buggy game, though some of its glitches are actually pretty cool. 
    This is a glitch that can be done in other levels in the game, but performing the glitch on DK Isles leads to something interesting. If you dive under the water by pressing Z followed by mashing the B button, you can swim through DK Isles. Besides being able to look around inside the island, you can also find a room from K.Rool's ship ("The Flying Krock") that is part of a cutscene shown very late in the game (when you're in Hideout Helm, the game's last level, and he escapes just before you reach his location).
    7.Go through Walls (Mega Man 1, NES)
    Using the Magnet Beam found in Elecman's stage, it is possible to go through walls in Mega Man 1. This works in several areas in the game. What makes it interesting, though, is that it can be used to get to the mini electricity beams inside the walls in Elecman's stage. These electricity beams can actually hurt Mega Man, even though they're inside walls and you normally can't get to them. This works in most versions of the game, including Rockman Complete Works (PS1) and Mega Man Anniversary Collection.
    6.Swim in the Air (Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly, GameCube/PS2)


    Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly is full of glitches, and is certainly the buggiest Spyro game...yet it was in development for more than two years, and wasn't "rushed" like many thought (there's an interesting documentary about the game on YouTube). One of Spyro's moves is pounding the ground with his horns. If you attempt to pound the ground while you're near water, Spyro might swim in the air. You can swim all over the Dragon Realms (the game's hub), and swim outside of the level. Hunter (Spyro's cheetah friend) can be found on the other side of the castle wall in the Dragon Realms. He appears early in the game and tells you how to glide and hover (a mini tutorial of sorts), then disappears. Turns out that the game just places him behind the castle walls, where you normally can't see him...unless you use this glitch.
    While both versions of the game have numerous glitches, the PS2 version has the most (I rented it once and remember seeing glitches that I haven't seen in the GameCube version). I assume this glitch also works in the PS2 version.
    5.Glitch Room (Mega Man 1, NES)
    Another Mega Man 1 glitch. When you reach Dr. Wily, you can use the Magnet Beam to jump to the upper left corner of the screen. Doing this causes a door/gate to open, leading to a glitched room (which might be the area you run through just before the room with Wily, just with glitched graphics). You then just go back to the room with Wily. This actually still works in Mega Man Anniversary Collection.
    4.Canoe Glitch (Super Mario Bros. 3, NES, Japanese version only)

    World 3 in Super Mario Bros. 3 has a canoe on the map screen that you can ride to reach various islands. If you use a Warp Whistle while riding the canoe, you'll enter the Warp Zone as usual but the game thinks you're still riding on the canoe. This allows you to move outside of the map. The glitch only works in the Japanese release for the Famicom, as well as bootleg SMB3 NES/Famicom cartridges (which contain the Japanese version).

    3.Enter Dr. Wily Stages from other Stages (Mega Man 2, NES)
    By far, one of the coolest glitches in video game history. On the other side of the boss rooms in Mega Man 2 are the Dr. Wily stages you go to later in the game. Using Item-1 while in a boss room causes the walls on the right to open, allowing you to access the Dr. Wily stages.
    Heatman's stage has the first Dr. Wily stage, Airman's stage has the second Dr. Wily stage...
    ...Woodman's stage has the third Dr. Wily stage...
    ...Bubbleman's stage has the fourth Dr. Wily stage, Quickman's stage has the fifth Dr. Wily stage, and Flashman's stage has the sixth Dr. Wily stage.
    But there's more to it. On the other side of Crashman's room is the games opening. No joke, that's the building from the game's opening (on the right of the screen) just with the graphics from Crashman's stage. The black "bar" on the bottom is where the text displays in the opening.

    Source: The Mechanical Maniacs (https://themechanicalmaniacs.com/articles/mmcmysteries.php)
    Metalman's stage is more interesting. The screen on the other side of his room is a weird glitched room. This is followed by what appears to be leftover data from Mega Man 1, including a "tunnel" and boss room that appears to be from Cutman's stage (middle) and most of the first Dr. Wily stage (right). The game often freezes when glitching to the other side of Metalman's room, but sometimes it doesn't and Metalman will follow you. Check out the Mechanical Maniacs (link above), they have maps showing what's on the other side of the boss rooms in Mega Man 2.


    There are other cool things to be found. If you access Dr. Wily stage 1 from Heatman's stage, you can get to the dragon boss but only if you're using a Game Genie code that allows Mega Man to jump higher (this is because you normally need the Item-1 platform, which you get after defeating Heatman). Defeating this glitched boss counts as defeating Heatman. It's also possible to get a "door" or "wall" to open (like when entering the stage from Heatman's stage), but this causes the game to freeze.
    2.Out of Bounds Glitch (Resident Evil 4, GameCube)
    A major glitch in Resident Evil 4 that allows you to go through walls and be in areas you're not supposed to be in. In the farm section in the village (near the beginning of the game), you can not only walk through walls but you can also find items hidden underneath the ground. You can even walk to the area's background/sky box.
    During Chapter 3-2, in the castle's sewer section, you can perform this glitch and go through the area's walls. Walking or running to a specific spot causes the game to play an unused cutscene that is leftover from an early version of the game. The cutscene doesn't have any audio, but any music playing during gameplay will also play while the cutscene is shown (the cutscene probably would've had its own audio if it was used).
    1.The Minus World (Super Mario Bros., NES)


    Probably the most well-known glitch in video game history. If you leave one or two blocks at the top beside the end pipe in World 1-2, you can jump through the wall to the Warp Zone. If you enter the left or right pipe before the words "WELCOME TO WARP ZONE!" appear, you'll enter an underwater level known as "the minus world". If you enter the middle pipe, you'll go to World 5-1 instead.


    The "minus world" is a water level that is the same as World 7-2. The only differences are that it says "World -1" at the top...


    ...and the level loops (entering the pipe at the end takes you back to the beginning of the level). Also the world number is invisible, and apparently "World -1" is actually "World 36-1". 

    The only thing you can do is wait for the timer to run out, and eventually you'll be taken back to the title screen where you can restart the game from the first level.
    This glitch works in most versions/re-releases of the game, since most of them are the exact same game running on Emulators. These include Animal Crossing for GameCube, the Game Boy Advance Classic NES Series edition, Wii Virtual Console, and the Switch's NES App. It also works in the 25th Anniversary edition of the game, because it is also the same (a ROM running on an Emulator) with the only difference being that the question blocks have "25" on them. However, the glitch does not work in Super Mario All-Stars (SNES) or Super Mario Bros. Deluxe (Game Boy Color) as those are remakes/ports.
    Using a Game Genie, or hacking the game to add a flag pole to the level, allows you to access other minus world levels. These have the layouts of other levels in the game, but with different graphics. Naturally these can't be accessed in re-releases, because you can't use an NES Game Genie with a GameCube, GBA, Wii, or Switch (though you can use the FCE Ultra GX Emulator with a GameCube, which includes Game Genie support).
    Honorable Mentions 
    Jump on the Ceiling (Mega Man X, SNES)


    A classic glitch in Flame Mammoth's stage in Mega Man X. Near the beginning of the stage, you can jump up to the ceiling (hey, just like in Super Mario Bros.!) and run to the next area of the stage. If Chill Penguin has not been defeated, the background will be yellow. If Chill Penguin has been defeated, the background will be slime green instead. Also, notice that glitched Sub Tank inside there.
    This glitch also works in Mega Man X Collection for the GameCube.
    Various Glitches (Action 52, NES)
    Action 52 may be a pretty crappy compilation, but it is home to some of the finest glitches of any game.


    One example is a glitch in the game "Ooze". If you make it through the second level in "Ooze", the game just freezes.


    If you select "Alfredo" (a.k.a., "Alfred N the Fettuc") or "Jigsaw", the games don't even load (except for their title screens).
    If you complete the second level in "Billy Bob", you're taken to the fourth level of Cheetahmen...a different game on the cartridge.


    In "Manchester", you can fall down the holes and walk through the floor.
    In "Cheetahmen" (Action 52's featured game), there's a hidden room with a 1up in level 5 (there's also one in the first level). I *think* this room is supposed to take you to the next level, but instead it takes you to a glitched level that, according to the game, is "level 10", which is almost impossible to complete. A YouTuber actually made it through this glitched level. It has the boss from level 6, and defeating him just takes you back to the title screen. Same thing happens if you make it to level 6 by going all the way through level 5...defeating the boss just takes you back to the title screen.
    Action 52 runs differently on different Emulators, and apparently some copies of the game were revised with bug fixes.
    Get stuck in Round/Level 7 (Monster Party, NES)
    In Monster Party, there's a game-breaking glitch in the seventh level (or round, as the game calls it) that makes it impossible for you to complete the level. After defeating some of the bosses and getting the key, you should immediately proceed to the levels goal. If you defeat another boss after getting the key, you'll lose it and get stuck. You can still explore the level, but you can't move on to the next one.
    A prototype of Monster Party (known as Parody World: Monster Party) was found and released in 2014 and does not have this glitch, revealing that it was added to the released version of the game. The released version adds an extra spider boss in the seventh level. Defeating this boss when you already have the key causes you to lose it, making the level impossible to complete. The only things you can do are restart the game from the beginning, or reset the game and enter the password the game gives you after completing the sixth level so that you can restart at the seventh level.
    Star Appears instead of Key (Super Mario 64, N64, Japanese version only)

    Source: Beta Super Mario 64 video

    1996 Japanese release of Super Mario 64
    Exclusive to the original Japanese release of Super Mario 64 from 1996 (not the American release or the later Japanese release from 1997 that adds Rumble Pak support), there's a glitch that causes a star to appear above Mario's head instead of the key that you collect after defeating Bowser. When the key appears, run up to it and press Up C to look around. A star appears above Mario's head, instead of a key (he also keeps looking in whatever direction he was facing after you pressed up C to enter the look mode). This might be a leftover from beta versions of the game, as videos and screenshots from 1995/early 1996 show that a star originally appeared after defeating Bowser instead of a key. It's certainly possible, since the Japanese version also uses the bubbles painting for Jolly Roger Bay seen in beta versions instead of the sunken ship painting that's in the American and later Japanese releases of the game.

    Source: Beta Super Mario 64 video (1995)


    Original Japanese release of Super Mario 64 from 1996 (above), featuring the same bubbles painting as beta versions. Changed to a sunken ship painting in the American release, as well as the later Japanese release from 1997 (below).

    Water Color (Pac-Land, Arcade1Up)

    Pac-Land in a Super Pac-Man Arcade1Up Machine

    Pac-Land in Pac-Man Museum + (Switch)
    This is more of an emulation glitch than a glitch with the game itself. Pac-Land, an Arcade game re-released on various consoles in recent years and on various Arcade1Up machines, has black and blue water in Arcade1Up machines. This is not in the original Arcade release from 1984, the Arcade Archives release, or Pac-Man Museum +. It's an emulation glitch present on Arcade1Up machines (or at least some of them) that include the game. It's minor and doesn't really ruin the experience, it's just kind of amusing.
    Conclusion
    Of course, as someone who's played literally thousands of games in the last three and a half decades, I've come across a lot of other glitches besides these. These are just the really interesting and, in some cases, amusing glitches that I thought deserved to be in a top 10, along with some honorable mentions.
    Mega Man 2 Metalman, Woodman, and Bubbleman and Monster Party videos captured from a real, unmodified NES. Super Mario Bros. screenshots captured from a real, unmodified GameCube (played in Animal Crossing). Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly screens and videos captured from a real, unmodified GameCube. Mega Man X screenshots captured from an Intec LCD screen and played in Mega Man X Collection (GameCube). Resident Evil 4 videos captured from a real, unmodified GameCube. Japanese Super Mario 64 screens captured from a real, unmodified N64. 
    -MegaMan52
  14. MegaMan52

    Pac-Man World Series

    By MegaMan52,


    Talking About a Specific Series
    Introduction

    I mentioned in a previous blog that I might make a blog about the Pac-Man World series. Like many, I've played a lot of Pac-Man games over the years in Arcades, on consoles, handhelds, PC, etc. But as great as traditional Pac-Man games are, there's one series of Pac-Man games that I've always appreciated because they both have traditional Pac-Man gameplay and successfully brought the character into 3D: the Pac-Man World series, consisting of three main entries, a racing game, and a remake for modern systems.

    While I have played all three Pac-Man World games (and the racing spin-off, Pac-Man World Rally), the first one I played was actually Pac-Man World 2 on GameCube (also released on PS2, Xbox, PC, and Game Boy Advance). Each of them were released on various systems, with the first two even getting Game Boy Advance versions and the third game getting released on the Nintendo DS. Most recently, the first Pac-Man World has gotten a remake (titled Pac-Man World Re-Pac) for current game systems.
    This blog will focus on most versions of the Pac-Man World games (including the GBA versions of Pac-Man World 1 and 2 and the remake of the first one), and why I like the series.
    The Pac-Man World Series and Why I Like It
    Pac-Man World
    Originally released on PlayStation during Pac-Man's 20th Anniversary, and later for the Game Boy Advance, this was one of the first (but not the first) true 3D Pac-Man games. It has several nods and tributes to several Namco Arcade games, like Galaxian and Dig Dug. The game has updated versions of music from both the original Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man.
    The GBA version has sprites and a side-scrolling/isometric view, but does its best to recreate some of the levels from the PlayStation version.


    It's Pac-Man's Birthday, and he arrives home from work excited about his big day. But he finds that his house is a mess, and Ms. Pac-Man, Jr. Pac-Man and Pac-Baby, are nowhere to be found. All of the Pac-Man World games have their own villains besides the ghosts.

    In this game, the main villain is a robot character named Toc-Man. He's gonna pay for capturing Pac's family and ruining his Birthday.


    This game is a platformer. But like most other Pac-Man games, you still collect dots and fruit. You can throw the dots you've collected at enemies. Pac-Man has a few different moves, such as the butt-bounce (useful for defeating enemies and opening chests) and a rev roll (can be used to get up steep hills).

    Collecting fruit unlocks doors which contain switches and letters that spell "PACMAN", giving you more to do in each level. Fruit can be out in the open and hidden in chests.

    There's also a Chrome/Steel Ball power-up that allows Pac-Man to walk underwater and break open chests. This power-up appears in the sequels as well.

    The ghosts make appearances in some areas of each level. Like other Pac-Man games, there are Power Pellets that can be collected and allow you to go after the ghosts. Even though this game has a larger emphasis on platforming, it still has some traditional Pac-Man gameplay and features.

    One of my favorite features are the Pac-Dot Chains. After pressing certain switches, Pac-Dots appear forming a path. One of the dots is a red dot. If Pac-Man eats the red dot, he basically flies in a set path and follows the Pac-Dots. This allows him to reach items that are otherwise impossible to get, and reach other areas of a level. Pac-Dot Chains also appear in the sequels.


    You can find Galaxians in the levels, which unlock doors that transport you to traditional Pac-Man mazes. Not much to say about these; the gameplay in these mazes is almost identical to the original Pac-Man game. The game includes several mazes, each with a different layout.

    While in a maze, you can choose a close-up view that's right above Pac-Man or a bird's-eye view that shows the entire maze. 

    At the end of each level, you have the option to try your luck with a Slot Machine. Match three fruit to get 1 Ups. The Slot Machine can be skipped if you don't want to use it.

    The game also included the original Pac-Man Arcade game, which would also appear in the sequels (despite having already been re-released on numerous Pac-Man and Namco Museum compilations, including Namco Museum Vol. 1 for PS1 and Namco Museum for PS2, GameCube, and Xbox).

    Something that kind of surprised me about this game is that it has Widescreen support, which wasn't super common during this era (though there definitely were a handful of games that supported it, including many of the N64 games that were made by Rare). So if you happen to have your PS1 hooked up to an HDTV or a CRT TV that is widescreen, you at least don't have to put up with the game looking stretched (though it might still look jagged and pixelated, depending on the size of your TV).
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    Various demos of Pac-Man World were shown at E3 or released to the public before the full game was released. I have one of them. For footage of this demo, see my video above. The game was originally known as "Ghost Zone" early on. 
    This was a good start to the Pac-Man World series, and can still be fun to play. A remake was released for modern systems (shown later in this blog). 

    The Game Boy Advance version is pretty true to the original PlayStation version, though it is missing several levels and the music, while basically the same, is low quality and has a very low sampling rate.


    However, I do like that the game's opening was redone to something more suitable for the GBA and that the game has save files like the PS1 version (though they're saved to the cartridge, rather than a Memory Card). The original Pac-Man game is not included in this version, which isn't really a big loss since it had already been released for the GBA in Pac-Man Collection (and later Namco Museum 50th Anniversary).


    As mentioned above, the GBA version uses sprites for the characters instead of polygons. And it has side-scrolling and isometric views. However, the PS1 version is mainly a side-scroller (occasionally having the view behind Pac-Man as you move to other sections of a level). Because of this, the developers of the GBA version were able to recreate the levels from the PS1 version and the layouts, for the most part, are pretty similar. 



    Pac-Man still has most of his moves from the PlayStation version, such as the butt-bounce, the rev roll, throwing dots, swimming, and grabbing ledges.

    The Chrome/Steel Ball power-up is also included, allowing Pac-Man to run underwater and break open chests.

    The GBA version, while obviously stripped down, is actually pretty decent overall. It was decent for those who hadn't played the PS1 version, or those who wanted a handheld version of the game. Too bad the same can't be said about the GBA version of Pac-Man World 2, as you'll notice below.
    Pac-Man World 2

    The first Pac-Man World game I played, and my favorite game in the trilogy. For years I've had it for GameCube, though I've since also added the Japanese release of the PS2 version to my collection.

    I found out about the game on Nintendo's website in 2002, and remember watching a video of it. The first Pac-Man World wasn't released for the N64, so I was a little surprised that Namco decided to release the sequel on the GameCube. Then again, the GameCube uses discs and was easier to develop for than the N64 so that may have something to do with Namco's decision to release Pac-Man World 2 on a Nintendo console. The PS2, GameCube, and Xbox versions were re-released in 2003, as Greatest Hits, Player's Choice, and Platinum Hits games, respectively. Player's Choice copies of the GameCube version include Pac-Man Vs. The GameCube version of R: Racing Evolution also includes Pac-Man Vs.

    Though I eventually bought Pac-Man World 2, I rented it numerous times. Even in 2007, five years after the game was released, I went to a Hollywood Video and rented the game one more time. I still have a flyer from this store that I got in 2003.

    After defeating Toc-Man and rescuing his family in the first Pac-Man World, Pac-Man relaxes at home. The ghosts arrive in Pac-Village, and take Golden Fruit from a tree in the center of the village. This releases a villain named Spooky, who had been imprisoned under the Tree for a century. Pac-Man wakes up the next morning and is told the news by Professor Pac. He now has to travel all over Pac-Land to get the Golden Fruit back and defeat the ghosts and Spooky.

    This game mostly ditches the side-scrolling view from the first game (though there are some side-scrolling sections in certain levels) and is mainly viewed from behind (and sometimes above) Pac-Man along with linear levels similar to Crash Bandicoot (though in this game, you can move the camera 360 degrees around Pac-Man).

    As with the first Pac-Man World, the game is a platformer but you still collect Pac-Dots and fruit like in traditional Pac-Man games. You can also collect Tokens, which unlock Arcade games (more than just the original Pac-Man). Ghosts appear in some sections in the levels and can be defeated with Power Pellets as usual.

    Pac-Man also has some new moves: he can do a flip kick, and shimmy across ledges. He still has most of his moves from the first Pac-Man World game, like the butt-bounce and rev roll. Unfortunately, the flip kick move was not included in Pac-Man World 3.


    One gameplay difference between this game and the first Pac-Man World, is the addition of Inline Skating and Ice Skating. There's also a water level that has you riding in a Submarine (called a "Pac-Marine"), shooting Torpedoes at ghost's ships and mines (the Pac-Man version of the World Wars, I guess). In the Submarine level, there's a Gun which makes it easier to shoot at ghosts and mines than the regular Torpedoes that the "Pac-Marine" has. There's also a Smart Bomb weapon that wipes out everything that's currently on the screen (except Pac-Man and his "Pac-Marine").

    Like the first Pac-Man World, there are Galaxians in the game that take you to several traditional Pac-Man mazes. Each one has a different layout, as well as portals that warp you to the other side of a maze. As with the mazes in the first Pac-Man World, you can choose a close-up view or a bird's-eye view.

    Pac-Man runs in most of these mazes, but he skates in the Blade Mountain maze just like in the actual level. I thought that was a nice touch. Unfortunately, Pac-Man doesn't wear his roller skates while in the Haunted Boardwalk maze (the actual level of which features inline skating).

    There's an Arcade that contains four games and a Jukebox, which are unlocked with Tokens that are hidden in the levels. The games included are Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Pac-Mania, and Pac-Attack (originally a console game).

    Pac-Mania looks like it's based on the PS1 version from Namco Museum Vol. 5, as the score info is on the right (instead of the top like the original Arcade version) and the title screen has the year 1997 on it (which was the year Namco Museum Vol. 5 was released).


    Pac-Attack is a port of the Namco Anthology version from Namco Anthology 2 for PS1, and has different music and graphics than the SNES and Genesis versions.

    There's also a Pac-Man World 2 machine in this Arcade. When you complete mazes in the levels, they become unlocked and can be played in the Arcade. The first maze (Canyon Chaos) is already unlocked at the start.

    The Jukebox features most of Pac-Man World 2's soundtrack, though some music tracks are not included.
    A Museum can be unlocked after collecting 150 Tokens. It has a slideshow of Pac-Man World 2 images from during the games development, like concept art.
    The official Pac-Man World 2 site was one of the game sites I visited often in early 2000s, and also mentioned in my gaming websites blog. There was a Flash Game playable on the site, as well as Jukebox that allowed people to sample some of the music from the actual Pac-Man World 2 game.


    Last year, I bought the Japanese release of Pac-Man World 2. Only the PS2 version was released in Japan, though the GameCube version also got a PAL release.

    It has the same difficulty adjustments that were made to the GameCube version and later copies of the American PS2 release, such as Pac-Man only losing one piece of his health meter if a ghost touches him and the safety net that was added near the beginning of the B-Doing Woods level.
    The GameCube version of Pac-Man World 2 has an exclusive music track that plays during the cutscene before the first snow/ice level (Ice River Run). The PS2, Xbox, and PC versions just play the music from the actual level during that cutscene. This music track is not included in the Jukebox that's in the Arcade.


    The Game Boy Advance version, as expected, is basically a different game. It has fewer levels, compressed audio, no unlockable Arcade games (even though they're mentioned on this screen), and password saves (even though the GBA version of the first Pac-Man World game has save files). The graphics don't even look to be on par with the GBA version of the first Pac-Man World, and look more cartoony and generic. This version came out in 2005, only a month before Pac-Man World 3 was released. It was not developed by Namco but by a company called "Full Fat", which also developed the GBA version of the first Pac-Man World. Not sure why they bothered, or why a GBA version couldn't be released in 2002 when the console versions were released. But it doesn't surprise me that Pac-Man World 2 was released on the GBA three and a half years after the PS2 and GameCube versions, because the GBA received quite a few watered-down versions of Pac-Man games released for other systems.

    The GBA version actually has basically the same soundtrack as the console and PC versions. No really, the music sounds like it's from the other versions just shorter and lower quality (the sample rate is very low, like other Pac-Man games on the GBA).

    The game is a side-scrolling platformer and has an isometric view, like the GBA version of the first Pac-Man World. It has fewer levels than the console and PC versions, and they have different layouts. Unlike the console and PC versions, there are no water levels in this version (there's water on the level select screen, but no underwater levels). Some of the levels in the game play the music from the water levels in the other versions.

    While the GBA version of the first Pac-Man World has redone cutscenes (instead of videos) to better suit the GBA, the GBA version of Pac-Man World 2 just uses pictures of the cutscene videos from the console and PC versions. Some of them cutscenes have text, while others are just pictures.

    As mentioned above, it also uses password saves instead of save files. Clearly, "Full Fat" didn't put as much effort into this as they did with the GBA version of the first Pac-Man World.


    The worst thing about these passwords, though, is that some of them are invalid. I am not making this up. After beating the last two bosses, the game GIVES YOU PASSWORDS THAT DON'T WORK. I played through this version of the game a few years ago (2018 or so) and still have some of the passwords that I wrote down. Still disappointed about the useless passwords the game sometimes gives.

    Some ideas and features from the console and PC versions are in the GBA version. Most of Pac-Man's moves are included as well, such as the flip kick and rev roll.
     

    The GBA version also gives Pac-Man another move called the rev roll jump. You hold the B button to charge it up like the rev roll, hold right, then release the B button and hold A. This allows Pac-Man to jump farther, and reach ledges. The GBA version requires the player to use this move often, as many levels have several gaps.


    Galaxians also appear in this version. However, they don't transport you to mazes. Instead, they unlock mazes that can be played in Pac-Village.


    This version has four mazes. Unfortunately, due to a glitch, the fourth maze doesn't unlock even if you find and collect all of the Galaxians. These mazes lack excitement. Other versions have multiple viewpoints for the mazes, while this version has a close-up view only. You can't see very much, and sometimes you can't react quickly enough if you run towards a ghost that isn't shown the screen until you're right in its face. The isometric view is part of the problem, especially when you're moving down. There's a hidden time limit for these mazes. If you don't collect all of the dots within a certain time, the screen goes black and you go back to Pac-Village. Same thing happens even if you do collect all of the dots.

    The GBA version has an exclusive boss battle not in any other versions. This is the Tree boss from the Ghost Bayou level in the console and PC versions. In those versions, he is defeated by making it to the end of that level. In the GBA version, Pac-Man has to fight him. 
    Like most of the other versions, the GBA version of Pac-Man World 2 was not released in Japan. Probably for the best. I wouldn't say it's a terrible game, but by 2005 a GBA version was irrelevant. If a GBA version of Pac-Man World 2 really needed to be made, it should've been released in 2002 along with the PS2 and GameCube versions instead of in 2005 only a month before Pac-Man World 3 was released.
    Pac-Man World 3

    The final game in the main Pac-Man World trilogy. It is very different than the first two games. It was the first Pac-Man World game not developed by Namco, but rather a U.K. development studio called Blitz Games. And unlike the first two, no version of Pac-Man World 3 was released in Japan (not even the PS2 version). 
    I read about Pac-Man World 3 and watched videos of it in 2005 on IGN. The footage I remember watching showed the first two levels in the game. I was excited that a sequel to one of my favorite games on the GameCube was being released. I watched the Trailer video on Namco's website, which I remember also playing on the TV's at some stores when the game was released. In November 2005, on or near the game's release, I went to Future Shop. While their GameCube shelf was full, there were only two copies of Pac-Man World 3. At least I found the game.


    It's Pac-Man's Birthday again, and both Ms. Pac-Man and Junior greet him when he arrives home. However, Pac-Man suddenly vanishes and is transported to an unfamiliar Landfill. He is contacted by Orson, a ghost who controlled the Toc-Man robot in the first Pac-Man World. Two of the ghosts, "Blinky" (who is supposed to be named Clyde) and Inky, were captured and "Spectral Monsters" have taken over. So Pac-Man must go on another adventure and rescue Inky and "Blinky" (Clyde). 


    The biggest difference with this game compared to the first two Pac-Man World games, which is noticeable almost right away, is the fact that Pac-Man talks. And he's pretty chatty during several cutscenes, and even a little during gameplay. Another change is that Pac-Man has more moves: punching, climbing up fences, and swinging from poles. New power-ups were added as well, like the Super Butt-Bounce which wipes out all nearby enemies, while others like the steel ball return. 


    The other major new feature is that you can play as two of the ghosts in certain sections of some levels: Pinky and "Clyde" (Blinky). Pinky can make hidden platforms visible and solid so that Pac-Man can cross huge gaps to reach other areas of a level. Clyde/Blinky can defeat Spectral Monsters, as well as make a loud noise that can break open certain walls or knock down certain objects that Pac-Man can use to cross to over to another part of a level.


    Another difference is that each level has multiple music tracks. As you get further into a level, the music changes. Music can change during cutscenes and other music tracks play during gameplay depending on the situation, such as when "Spectral Monsters" (this game's ghost enemies) appear.

    Pac-Man meets up with Orson in the second level, Banni Wastelands. He needs Pac-Man's help rescuing Inky (the blue ghost) and "Blinky" (the orange ghost, who's name is supposed to be Clyde). "Clyde"/Blinky (red ghost) also needs rescuing later in the game.


    Before leaving the second level, you get to play around with a Toc-Man. The goal is to break the targets by swinging its arms. The Toc-Man can also spin around, which can be useful for destroying multiple targets. You get to use this Toc-Man again during a battle in a later level.

    The main villain in this game is Erwin, a scientist. In my opinion, he's the worst of the main villains in the trilogy.

    Like other games in the trilogy, Galaxians can be found in this game and transport you to traditional Pac-Man mazes. This has features from Pac-Man Arrangement, such as dash arrows and a power-up that allows Pac-Man to be in two places at once. Each level in the game has a maze with a different layout, but none of them have the layout from the original Pac-Man. After you complete a maze, it becomes unlocked and can be played by going to the extras menu on the title screen.

    A demo of Pac-Man World 3 on a Namco Transmission demo disc for PS2 (included with SoulCalibur III) has a maze with the same layout as the original Pac-Man maze, but it went unused in all versions of the full game.


    Like Pac-Man World 2, this game has a Museum. In this game, the Museum is not just a slideshow of images and you can move Pac-Man around. There's the original Pac-Man Arcade game (again), a board that features a timeline from the original Pac-Man game to Pac-Man World 2, a TV that includes an interview with Toru Iwatani (the man who created Pac-Man), and cards featuring images of the characters in Pac-Man World 3. There are Collector's Cards and Statues in the levels, which unlock cards in the Museum. Collecting all of the fruit in a level also unlocks cards.

    A demo of Pac-Man World 3 was included in a Namco Transmission demo disc for PS2, included with SoulCalibur III. Check out my video of it (above). It has a lot of differences compared to the released game, like the option to switch between Pac-Man's power-ups and a shop that wasn't included in the released game. The visuals also look a little different too, with darker lighting in some sections.

    I remember Nintendo Power had a contest in 2005 that included all of the Pac-Man games and Namco Museum collections released in that year for GameCube, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS. It also included a 25th Anniversary edition of the original Pac-Man Arcade game. I still have the issue of Nintendo Power that featured this contest (issue 195, Sept. 2005, Shadow the Hedgehog cover).
    Pac-Man World Rally
    A racing game spin-off, released in August 2006. It was already announced on Namco's site around when Pac-Man World 3 was released. It was released on PS2, GameCube, PSP, and PC. An Xbox version was planned, but not released. Like Pac-Man World 3, it was not released in Japan. Unlike Pac-Man World 3, the GameCube version of Pac-Man World Rally was only released in the U.S. and Canada (only the PS2 version got a PAL release). It would be the final Pac-Man World game until 2022, though a sort of sequel to this game titled Pac-Man Kart Rally was released for mobile devices in 2010. Also like Pac-Man World 3, Pac-Man World Rally was not developed by Namco (which had merged with Bandai by that point). It was developed by a company named Smart Bomb Interactive. 

    Though I read about the game in 2006, I didn't play it until 2007. In the early/mid 2000s, I often went to a Hollywood Video and rented games. I went there so much, that the owner eventually allowed me to request any games (for then-current consoles) that I wanted. I sold my original copy of Pac-Man World 3 and wanted to play it again, so I requested it. I guess the owner couldn't find it, so he got Pac-Man World Rally instead (GameCube version). Which was fine by me, because I hadn't played that game yet.


    The game's main mode is the Circuit mode. The tracks are divided into Cups, like the Mario Kart games. Winning a Cup unlocks another Cup. There is a Retro Cup that includes tracks based on other Namco Arcade games, such as the original Pac-Man and Galaga. The final Cup is the Rally Cup, which is similar to the All Cup Tour in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! in that you race on all of the games tracks in one Cup. The difference with Pac-Man World Rally's Rally Cup is that each track is only one lap, while the All Cup Tour in Double Dash!! has the full number of laps. Another difference is that in the All Cup Tour in Double Dash!! you race most of the tracks in a random order, while in Pac-Man World Rally's Rally Cup you race on the tracks in the same order. The console and PC versions have fifteen tracks, while the PSP version includes an extra track based on Dig Dug.


    There are several characters to choose from. You can play as Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Junior Pac-Man, and the ghosts. You can play as the villains from the three main Pac-Man World games (Toc-Man, Spooky, and Erwin). There is a new Pac-Man character named Pac-Devil. And there are characters from other Namco games: Pooka and Fygar from Dig Dug, and "The Prince" from the Katamari games. The PSP version of the game also includes Dig Dug and Mappy. Every character has a different vehicle. Unlike all of the other Pac-Man World games, Blinky (the red ghost) and Clyde (the orange ghost) have their correct names (their names were swapped in the main three games).


    The game, like a lot of other Kart racing games, plays basically like Mario Kart. You can get items, and throw them at other racers or drop them on the track. Unlike several other kart racing games (like Diddy Kong Racing and Crash Nitro Kart), though, this game doesn't have very many original features and it doesn't have a whole lot of content. There are Pac-dots that can be found in each of the tracks. Collecting Pac-dots fills up a meter. When this meter is full, you can transform into a Pac-Mobile. This causes the other characters to turn into ghosts, allowing you to eat them which turns them into eyes. After a few seconds, everyone turns back into their normal selves. Eating ghosts gives you points. Getting a certain amount of points in each Cup unlocks items (these are mentioned in the manual).

    Some of the unlockable items include a Galaga ship, and an Ice Dragon named Siria (who is from Dragon Spirit, a Namco Arcade game from the '80s).

    Like most of the Mario Kart games, you can do power slides or drifts that you can charge up and then get a boost. This takes less skill than Mario Kart 64, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, and Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. In those games, you have to wiggle the N64 and GameCube's Control Sticks (or move the GBA's Pad in Mario Kart: Super Circuit) to charge up your power slides/drifts. In Pac-Man World Rally, you only need to keep holding the jump button down. This causes your vehicle to drift, which charges up automatically while you're holding the button down. Interestingly, this less-skilled version of drifting would be used in later Mario Kart games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Pac-Man World Rally also has a drift meter that fills up whenever you drift. When the meter is full, you can press the X button to shield yourself for a few seconds which both protects you from items the other racers throw at you and gives you a speed boost. You can save these shields if you want, and the meter empties once it's full. This allows you to fill up the meter again and get another shield. You can get and save up to three shields per race.
    There is a Battle mode, like in the Mario Kart series. There are four Battle arenas (the PSP version has more), which have themes taken from the race tracks (lava, haunted, canyon, etc.). You can pick the amount of computer-controlled characters (you can't have very many if multiple players are playing). There are five different Battle games to choose from:
    Deathmatch - You get points everytime you defeat a player or computer-controlled character. You can set the amount of points required to win. Whoever reaches that amount of points first is the winner.
    Free For All - Simlar to Deathmatch, except there's a time limit (which can be changed). Whoever has the most points when the time runs out is the winner.
    Last Kart Driving - The last player remaining is the winner.
    Binge - Collect the fruit scattered around the arenas. Whoever gets the most fruit wins.
    Classic - Collect Pac-Dots. Like in the main Circuit mode, a meter fills everytime you collect dots. When the meter is full, you can transform into the Pac-Mobile. There are three rounds in this Battle game. Whoever collects the most dots by the end of the third round wins.
    The Battle mode has silly fruit versions of real weapons, such as a Pac-Dot Gun (Machine Gun) and a Watermelon shooter (shoots seeds like a Rail Gun).


    The Canyon Crusade Battle arena has things relating to beta versions of the game, such as clouds and a waterfall. The picture of Canyon Crusade on the track selection screen shows clouds and a waterfall, but they're not included on the race track version in the Circuit mode. A screenshot of the Canyon Crusade race track from an earlier version of the game is shown in the manual, and also shows clouds.

    The game doesn't just take features and mechanics from the Mario Kart games. If you press the jump button just as you jump off a ramp or boost, you'll get a boost when you land. This is from Crash Nitro Kart.


    The controls in the GameCube version are almost identical to Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, except the button you use to throw items is the L button (in Double Dash!!, you can press either X or Y to use items). The GameCube version has both Progressive Scan and Widescreen support, and has a clean look even on HDTV's. I happen to have the GameCube's Component cable, and am able to play this game in Progressive Scan.


    While Pac-Man World Rally was the first Pac-Man racing game, it wasn't the first racing game Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man appeared in. Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man are also in the Mario Kart Arcade games (Mario Kart Arcade GP and Mario Kart Arcade GP 2). I actually had a chance to play Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 at a Chuck E. Cheese last winter, and the first one at a nearby Arcade earlier this year. Both of these games were part of a collaboration between Nintendo and Namco, and run on the Triforce hardware which is similar to the GameCube's hardware. As a result, both Mario Kart Arcade games have similarities to Mario Kart: Double Dash!!.

    There are some differences between each version of Pac-Man World Rally. As mentioned above, the PSP version has some extra tracks and characters. However, it has the worst performance: it runs at a slow and choppy framerate, there are only six racers at a time (compared to eight for the console and PC versions), and the multiplayer modes can only be accessed with multiple PSP's and copies of the game.

    The PS2 and GameCube versions are pretty similar, but the PS2 version only allows up to two players while the GameCube version allows up to four. The GameCube version also has a slightly cleaner and more vibrant look than the PS2 version (which looks a bit duller, but not by much). The PC version looks the best, runs at a smooth framerate, and has the fastest load times, but only allows one player to play.
    I'd say the GameCube version is the best overall, though the PSP version might be worth getting for its extra content. But it really depends on whether you're just going to play by yourself, or with friends and/or family.
    Pac-Man World Re-Pac

    A remake of the first Pac-Man World was released for modern systems in 2022. It has basically the same story and gameplay as the original. Level layouts are also pretty similar. Pac-Man's moves are mostly same, including throwing Pac-dots, butt-bouncing, and doing a rev roll. The music is also mostly same as the original PS1 version. The biggest difference, of course, is the upgraded visuals. The menu sound effects are from Pac-Man Museum+, released only a few months before.


    Like Pac-Man Museum+ released earlier the same year, Ms. Pac-Man was changed to "Pac-Mom"...

    ...and Junior Pac-Man is now "Pac-Boy."


    The FMV's/video cutscenes have been redone. Pac-Man's family is captured in different ways than the original. Also, Pac-Man's Birthday Party is now outside. In the original PS1 game, his party was inside his house.

    Since the Switch is less advanced than other modern systems, the Switch version of Pac-Man World Re-Pac has an extra option for resolution and performance modes. In "Resolution" mode, which is the default, the game runs in 1080p but the framerate isn't very smooth. In "Performance" mode, the resolution is reduced to 720p but the framerate is improved. This extra option seems to only be available with an update, as I noticed before downloading the update the option wasn't there.
    Could Pac-Man World 2 and Pac-Man World 3 be getting remakes in the future? Guess we'll see. The reception for Pac-Man World Re-Pac has been mostly positive.
    Conclusion

    MegaMan52 blog #24 completed.
    Pac-Man's 3D games may not be as good as the 3D Mario and Sonic games and some may not consider them as good as the 2D Pac-Man games, but the character still made a successful transition to 3D and each game of the series was memorable and worth playing. Even Pac-Man World Rally manages to be decent. I still have every Pac-Man World game (along with many other Pac-Man games), as they remain some of the most fun 3D games I've ever played. Certainly better than Pac-Man Party for Wii (though I kind of like that game too).
    -MegaMan52
  15. MegaMan52

    Physical and Digital Releases

    By MegaMan52,


    Miscellaneous
    Introduction

    Of course, I had to talk about this eventually. Things have clearly changed in the last decade or so, and even in the last few years. For more than a decade, video games have been released both physically and digitally, with some games receiving digital releases only. With some exceptions (Disney Classic Games Collection, for example), video games don't usually include manuals anymore. Some games are released physically in a limited amount. Some physical releases don't include the full game. And then there are the other "physical" releases that you find in the store...but is the game inside the case?
    Physical Releases

    When it comes to first-party games for Switch, usually you can expect the physical releases to contain the full game. Whether it's earlier Switch games like Super Mario Odyssey or newer releases like the Super Mario RPG remake, Nintendo has been good about including the full game on Switch cards. 

    There are some exceptions, like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. When it was released in 2017, it was basically a full game containing all of the tracks, characters, modes, and downloadable content from the original Wii U version, while also adding other features like more characters and the double item boxes from Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. Then in 2022, Nintendo announced the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass. The Pass added 48 more tracks (some new, some remakes of tracks from previous Mario Kart games) and more characters like Birdo and Diddy Kong. The added content was released in "waves" in 2022 and 2023. Of course, the new content has to be downloaded because the physical release only contains the base game released in 2017. This is both great and a little unfortunate for those who bought the game physically, because the physical release, while complete when the game was released, now only contains about half of the content.


    As mentioned above, video games don't usually have manuals anymore though there are some exceptions. This isn't new, and has been going on for at least a decade now. But there are some games that do include manuals. Disney Classics Game Collection includes a manual. Limited Collector's Edition packages can also include manuals.

    When it was originally released in 2012, Animal Crossing: New Leaf included a physical manual. In 2016, an updated version called "Welcome amiibo" was released with a lot of added content (more than just amiibo support). Though the "Welcome amiibo" edition got a physical released, it was an early example of a game that didn't include a physical manual even if it did when it was originally released. Instead, a digital manual appears as an item in the game itself. Nearly all of the content from the original version and added content from the Welcome amiibo edition are included the physical release at least, along with an amiibo card that can be used with the game.
    The Things I've had to put up with as a Collector of Physical Releases
    Unfortunately, things don't always go well for collector's of physical releases, and nowadays it's a good idea to do some research before buying a physical copy of a game you want. 


    The Switch version of Starlink is notable for including Fox McCloud from the Star Fox games. A physical copy of the game was released. But, like a lot of modern third-party games, a download is required to get all of the content. I've also read about some of these packs not including the game, even though they're supposed to.


    One of the first games I noticed that didn't include all of the content was Spyro: Reignited Trilogy for Switch, a compilation containing remakes of the three Spyro the Dragon games released for the PS1. As someone who prefers physical and wanted to actually have the game in my collection, of course I wanted to buy the physical release. In 2019, I pre-ordered the game on GameStop and received a poster as a pre-order bonus. Things weren't quite as impressive when I turned on my Switch with the game inside. First I had to download a system update. Then I had to "read" the game's privacy statement before I could start playing. Then I finally got to play...for about an hour. After completing the first few levels in the first Spyro game, a message appeared saying that a mandatory download is required to play the full games. That's right, only the first few levels of each game were actually included in the physical release...and it cost $50 Canadian.

    I found the required download, totaling 8.7 GB, for the rest of the levels in each game.
    Sega has also done something similar, though not quite to the extent as Activision. 


    Sonic Mania, a game that harkens back to the style of the first three Sonic games for the Sega Genesis and Sonic CD for the Sega CD, was only available digitally when it was originally released. A collector's edition package was also released, but did not actually contain the game. The game later received both a physical release and an expanded version called Sonic Mania Plus, due to demand. The regular version of the game also received a physical release, by itself and with Team Sonic Racing.


    The 2 in 1 package is what I bought, so I needed to download the content from the Plus version. The Plus content added an Encore mode featuring Ray the Flying Squirrel and Mighty the Armadillo, characters from the SegaSonic the Hedgehog Arcade game.


    Sonic Origins, released in June 2022 for the Sonic series' 30th Anniversary, was originally released digital only with no physical released planned at the time. The compilation contains updated versions of Sonic 1, CD, 2, and 3 & Knuckles along with lots of extra content. In 2023, Sega announced Sonic Origins Plus. The expanded version was released both digitally and physically, and adds Amy as a playable character in the main four games, Knuckles as a playable character in Sonic CD, and all of the Sonic games released for the Game Gear. There's a catch, though: the physical release, known as the premium physical edition, only contains the regular version of Sonic Origins, though at least with all of the previously released downloadable content included. A code was included to download the added content from the Plus version. Sega was nice and included an art book and a reversible cover with the physical release. This is basically the same thing that Sega did with Sonic Mania: originally a digital only release that later got a physical release and a Plus version. The difference is that Sonic Mania Plus got a physical release with the Plus content included, while the regular version of the game was also included in a 2 in 1 package also containing Team Sonic Racing (on one card, though they appear as two separate games on the Switch's menu).

    The physical releases of other third-party games, such as Mega Man 11, Cruis'n Blast, Pac-Man Museum +, Bubble Bobble 4 Friends, Ghostbusters: The Video Game Remastered, and Axiom Verge pretty much contain the full games. Updates were released to patch some issues. And Mega Man 11 and Pac-Man Museum + have some downloadable content like music and wallpapers, but the games themselves are all included. Bubble Bobble had extra content released for it a little later that was offered as a free download for those who already had the game, but also got another physical release that includes the added content.
    Then there are hacks, and unreleased games (or versions of games). As these are hacks of existing games or very unfinished games that weren't released, they can usually only be found physically on reproduction cartridges sold on eBay or other sites that specialize in these kinds of releases. One notable game is Super Mario Land 2 DX, a color hack of the original Game Boy game that also adds Luigi as a playable character.
    GoldenEye With Mario Characters is exactly what the title says. It's a hack of the N64 game, but with Mario characters instead of James Bond characters. It also changes some of the multiplayer levels to levels from Super Mario 64. It was released on cartridge, which I found on eBay. 
    This is the unreleased Game Boy Advance version of Resident Evil 2. It was released on a reproduction cartridge I found on eBay. It was just a tech demo, and can be completed in about 2 minutes. The graphics look pretty similar to the console versions and even the sound effects and voices sound almost as good.
    Limited Physical Releases
    Nowadays, even if a game gets a physical release, it's not a always guaranteed that it'll be available at retailers or at retailers that you usually purchase games from. Sometimes the only way to get a game physically is to find out if it's even getting one and order it online. Various distributors that specialize in limited physical releases exist, such as Limited Run Games, Iam8bit, Strictly Limited Games, and Signature Edition Games. Sometimes, these and other distributors are the only ones that provide physical releases of certain games. Here are some examples.

    Bubble Bobble 4 Friends received both standard and collector's edition physical releases with the latter being released by Strictly Limited Games, a distributor in Germany. The physical release wasn't really limited, but the collector's package, of course, was. 

    Axiom Verge could be found at some retailers, but wasn't something you could just find at any store with video games. The physical release of this 2d, Metroid-style platformer was available at certain retailers for a limited time. Not as limited as many other games, but limited compared to, say, a Sonic or Mega Man game. Some versions of the game were released physically via Limited Run Games.


    TMNT: Shredder's Revenge was widely available, but if you wanted a fancy collector's edition package you had to buy it online. Various collector's editions were available at many distributors like Limited Run Games and Signature Edition Games. I imported the collector's edition from Signature Edition Games. It included a soundtrack CD, keychain, a drink coaster, and a card signed by the game's developers, in addition to a physical copy of the game.


    There have also been games, including previously unreleased retro games, that got physical releases in other ways. Wonderland Dizzy, pictured above, was originally supposed to be released for the NES in 1993 or so as an unlicensed game (like all of the other Dizzy games for the NES). The ROM was made available for download and a physical release for the NES, limited to 150 copies, was released as part of a Kickstarter campaign for a book titled "Let's Go Dizzy!: The Story of the Oliver Twins". I found the game on eBay a year or two after its release. It was and still is the most expensive video game I've ever bought. I have the book too. The Oliver Twins (Philip and Andrew Oliver), BTW, are the ones who created Dizzy.
    Wonderland Dizzy Main Page: https://www.olivertwins.com/wonderlanddizzy 
    Wonderland Dizzy Kickstarter Campaign Page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zzap642021annual/the-story-of-the-oliver-twins
    Digital Releases
    Some games are released digital only nowadays and as mentioned above, sometimes you have to download some or even most of a game even it gets a physical release.

    Super Mario Bros. 35 is a game I can understand would get a digital only release. All of its modes were online only that have been shutdown, so a physical release of the game would've been useless other than putting it up for display. Of course, Nintendo could've added offline modes and then a physical release would've been somewhat less pointless, but they didn't. It was online only. Similar games have been released: Tetris 99, Pac-Man 99, and F-Zero 99, with Tetris 99 getting both digital and physical releases. 

    Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 is a collection I would've preferred a physical copy of, but don't really mind having a digital copy of. I bought it mainly for Mega Man 9 and 10, which were originally released digitally for Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360. In the U.S. and Canada, only the first Mega Man Legacy Collection was released physically on Switch with a code to download Legacy Collection 2. Japan, however, received physical copies of the second one as well.

    Unlike all of the other Kirby games released for the Switch, Super Kirby Clash and Kirby's Dream Buffet received digital only releases. While they do have offline modes, that's only about half of these games. So if physical copies were released, you'd still be able to play them but would only have access to about half of the games once the online modes shutdown. Physical releases wouldn't be entirely pointless, but I can still understand why these two games didn't get physical releases.


    The Sega Ages series includes Sega Genesis games with additional quality of life features. You can, for example, use the Spin Dash in Sonic the Hedgehog 1, or enable the drop dash move from Sonic Mania. The Sega Ages release of Sonic 1 also includes the "Mega Play" version of the game, which was originally released in Arcades. The Mega Play Arcade version of Sonic 1 has fewer levels and no special stages. You're given a limited amount of time to complete a level, and no 1 ups in any of the levels. And a ranking screen was added. The Sega Ages versions of Sonic 1 and 2 also include Ring Keeper and Time Attack modes that were previously included in the 3DS versions of Sonic 1 and 2.

    The original Fire Emblem game, originally released in Japan only for the Famicom, was kind of a surprise when it was released for Switch. It was released digitally, fully translated into English. A collector's edition package was released, but did not contain a physical copy of the game. If the game was released physically (on the Switch, not talking about the original Famicom cartridge), I would've appreciated it but am not surprised that it was digital only. It's an NES game, that's it. Not a compilation of games. The good news is that it's not part of the Switch's NES App (which requires an online membership) and was instead released separately on the eShop, so it should still be playable even after the Switch's online features shutdown.

    Sky Skipper is a rare Arcade game from Nintendo that was originally to be released in '80s, but was poorly received. It was released digitally for the Switch as part of the Arcade Archives series. I would've been all for a physical release if it was released in a compilation, but I think expecting a physical release of a single '80s Arcade game would've been expecting a little too much. Personally, I'm just happy to be able to play a game that I otherwise probably wouldn't have been able to play since it didn't get much of a release. 
    Other Digital Games that Have Been Preserved
    Internet games, also known as Flash Games, are a little more difficult to play due to flash being discontinued. However, many flash games have been preserved and can still be played. Here are some examples. I also made a blog about these kinds of games.


    Iragination has Mega Man flash games, like Fireman: Incoming Storm (based on a comic series that Iragination created featuring Fireman from Mega Man 1). These can still be played on modern browsers.
    Newgrounds has a variety of flash games that can still be played, like Ultimate Flash Sonic (which is similar to Sonic Advance 2).
    Homestar Runner released a bunch of flash games in the early 2000s. Many of them are still playable, like Awexome Cross '98.
    Sonic Mega Collection + Mini was playable on Sega's Sonic Central site in 2004, when Sonic Mega Collection + was released. It was archived, and can still be played if you have a flash plug in installed.


    Some Java/phone games have been preserved and can be played via emulation. Recently, various Mega Man games released for phones (some dating back to 2004) were preserved.
    Conclusion

    I appreciate both physical and digital releases. It's a little unfortunate that it is now a little more difficult to obtain physical releases and that some of them don't even include the full games, but I'm thankful that the full versions of first-party games are still released physically and that some physical third-party games also include either most or all of a game. Digital releases allow people to play games that are uncommon and may otherwise be almost impossible to find (unless they happened to be released on repro carts, which can sometimes be costly but still worth it to some collectors). I'll always prefer physical, as I prefer actually having games in my collection, but I appreciate both.
    -MegaMan52
  16. MegaMan52

    Remembering Super Mario Bros. 35

    By MegaMan52,


    Talking About A Specific Game
    Introduction

    On October 1, 2020, Nintendo released a version of Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo Switch to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the original game for the NES. It was a battle royale game similar to Tetris 99, and allowed groups of up to 35 players from all over the world to compete.
    As the game was intended to be a limited release celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the original game, Super Mario Bros. 35 was playable until March 31, 2021, and its online features were shut down and the game was removed from the Switch eShop on April 1, 2021. The game was arguably superior to Tetris 99 and the later released Pac-Man 99, despite only allowing up to 35 players in a group instead of 99 like the other two games.
    I put over 100 hours into this game, and it quickly became one of my most played Switch games along with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Kirby Clash. During that time, I took a lot of pictures and recorded several videos of the game and would like to share some of the memories I have of it.
    Remembering Super Mario Bros. 35
    Battling other players

    While the game looked and sounded a lot like the original game, the goal of the game was not simply to get through the levels. Rather, you needed to focus on two things: defeating enemies and increasing the amount of time you had. Every enemy you defeated would appear on another player's screen. Which player you sent the enemies to depended on who you were targeting, with the random option changing the target every time you beat an enemy. Defeating enemies gave player's more time. Kicking shells at tons of Goomba's or other enemies was a good way to get more time. Collecting Fire Flowers while already powered-up was another good way to get more time.

    All levels except for the first one were locked initially, and simply entering a level would unlock it. However, reaching the goal in a level wouldn't automatically take you to the next. You would often be taken back to World 1-1, or 1-2. Completing these levels multiple times would allow access to other levels. In addition, depending on certain factors (like playing Special Battle mode), the game would sometimes start on other levels instead of 1-1.

    Warp Zones were still in the same locations as the original game, but worked a little differently. The Worlds they took you were random. Also they didn't just take you to the beginning of a World, but would sometimes take you to certain levels. They were a quicker way to access and unlock other levels. Using warps was often a good strategy, because later levels contained harder to avoid enemies like Cheep-Cheeps and Hammer Brothers that you could send to other players, making it a little easier to knock them out. By knocking out other players, you were awarded with more coins and time.

    By pressing the X button, a Roulette would activate and give you an item: Mushroom, Fire Flower, Star, or POW Block. The POW Block would defeat every enemy shown on the screen. But no matter which item you received, the Roulette was useful if you were just regular Mario and were being swarmed by enemies.
    The last player remaining, of course, was the winner.
    Special Battles 
    Often, Nintendo would have events with different rules for the Special Battle mode. In this mode, the game would often start on a different level than 1-1. Sometimes you would start with an item (which would be activated automatically), such as a Mushroom. 


    Some of the events included the three World Count Challenges, which required player's to defeat as much of a certain enemy as possible (like Bowser's and Goomba's), and Full-Course Battle, in which the levels were played in the same order as Super Mario Bros. on the NES.
    Close Calls


    Eventually, after playing for a while, the timer would turn red and go down faster. In this situation, defeating large amounts of enemies and collecting items (even if you were already powered-up) was crucial to preventing the timer from reaching zero. 
    There were a few times I managed to get 1st place with barely any time left. Since the timer went down faster when it was red, 4 seconds was more like 1 second left.
    Playing as Luigi



    While Super Mario Bros. 35 could be played online with a group of up to 35 players, there was no 2-player option. This left many players wondering if Luigi was playable. Turns out, Luigi was in the game and was indeed playable. Unlocking every level would unlock Luigi, but there was no indication of this. After unlocking every level and choosing a mode and level, you needed to press and hold the L button on the matching screen to play as Luigi. Like the original game, Luigi was basically the same as Mario except for his colors.
    Glitches and Updates
    Despite the fact that it was only available for six months, Nintendo released updates for Super Mario Bros. 35 that fixed glitches and made minor adjustments. Something I remember early on was kicking a shell into a very tiny space, which made the sound effect loud and annoying. This was adjusted in an update to make the sound effect a little easier on the ears. I also remember losing once as Fire Mario, and Mario was still Fire Mario when it happened (instead of being smaller) and the game displayed the incorrect animation. I didn't take any pictures of this glitch, but some people might remember it.
    Other unlockables



    Aside from Luigi and the levels, there were unlockable icons. I usually chose Super Mario, but when I unlocked Luigi I occasionally chose Super Luigi.
    Final Battle


    March 31, 2021 was the last day Super Mario Bros. 35 could be played before it was removed from the Switch eShop and its online features were shutdown. I played it late at night, literally right before it couldn't be played anymore. After a long battle, me and a Japanese player were the only ones that remained. It was just the two of us for a while. Eventually the timer turned red, I ran out of time, and I got 2nd. I may not have gotten 1st during the final battle, but I didn't go down without a long, hard battle. I did get 1st place earlier that day, however. Multiple times.
    Right after the final battle, I couldn't play Super Mario Bros. 35 anymore.
    Final Stats





    I put a lot of hours into this game. As mentioned in this blog's introduction, I played Super Mario Bros. 35 almost as much as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Kirby Clash (the Switch games I've played the most). I got 1st place many times and unlocked everything. I did about all I could in this game.
    Conclusion
    It's unfortunate this game was removed, all because it was part of the 35th Anniversary celebration of the original NES game. If only Nintendo would re-name it to something like "Super Mario Bros. Battle Royale", they could re-release it and make it available again. Even though millions of people played the game, there were no doubt a lot of Mario fans who didn't get a chance to play it. 

    I've got an entire playlist of Super Mario Bros. 35 videos on my YouTube Channel (and some of them are included in this blog), featuring regular battles as well as several of the special events.
    Super Mario Bros. 35 remains on my Switch (or rather, an SD Card), but the only things that can be done with it are looking at the menus and stats. At least the menu music is catchy.
    Gone, but not forgotten.
    -MegaMan52
  17. MegaMan52

    Super Mario Sunshine is Awesome

    By MegaMan52,


    Talking About A Specific Game
    Introduction

    With a new Mario movie being released in Theaters soon and the weather warming up, I thought I'd talk about another Mario game. The game I'd like to talk about is yet another underrated game (nowadays, at least) for an underrated console: Super Mario Sunshine for GameCube.
    Unlike Kirby Air Ride, Super Mario Sunshine actually received positive reception from critics when it was released in the Summer of 2002. Nintendo Power gave it a 5 out of 5, though that isn't too surprising since they were the official Nintendo magazine for the U.S. and Canada. Other critics, however, called the game a "masterpiece." That might be stretching it a little, but in general the game was well-received in 2002. Charles Martinet (voice of Mario in the games) at one time considered Super Mario Sunshine his favorite Mario game (before the Super Mario Maker games were released).
    Things change, of course. Super Mario Sunshine is now considered the black sheep of the Mario series, similar to Zelda II: Adventure of Link for the NES. A lot of people like it, and a lot of people hate it. With the release of Super Mario 3D All-Stars for Switch, which includes Sunshine, critics weren't as nice to the game as when it was released in 2002. Some of the criticisms include F.L.U.D.D. (the water pack that Mario wears for most of the game) and sometimes awkward controls. And like Kirby Air Ride, some also criticize the game for being "different" and at times not looking or feeling like a Mario game. Like how Kirby Air Ride isn't the first game in the the Kirby series that's different, Super Mario Sunshine isn't the first game that's "different" in the Mario series. Super Mario Land takes place in "Sarasaland" rather than the Mushroom Kingdom, and doesn't even have Princess Peach (Toadstool) or Bowser. Even Super Mario World doesn't take place in the Mushroom Kingdom, and instead takes place in "Dinosaur Land." Both games are loved by nearly all Mario fans to this day. Super Mario Sunshine takes place on "Isle Delfino" and introduces F.L.U.D.D. and new characters like the Piantas and Nokis, but at least still involves Mario rescuing Princess Peach from Bowser. But apparently that doesn't matter much, because the game is both loved and hated. I guess if a game that's a little different than others in a series, whether it's a spinoff or a mainline entry, is released for another system, it's fine. But if it's different and for the GameCube, it's apparently "not fine" to some.

    I first played Super Mario Sunshine in 2002, when I noticed it was available to play at GameCube Kiosks in Walmart and Future Shop. I remember playing one of the Interactive Multi-Game demo discs that featured a Mario Sunshine demo with a level selection screen allowing you to play some of the Super Mario Bros. style platforming stages included in the game.
    I finally got the game as well as a GameCube in 2003. Yes I got the Super Mario Sunshine bundle that was available in 2002 and 2003, and was happy to get a Mario game with my new console like I did with my NES.
    Before I talk about why I believe Super Mario Sunshine is a good game, I'd like to point a few things out. I do not like Super Mario Sunshine as much as Super Mario 64, nor do I consider it a "masterpiece" (not quite). It definitely has some issues and I agree that Super Mario 64 is the better game, though to be fair it's kind of hard to top that. Also, I don't expect everyone to agree with my opinions. But a new Mario movie is being released soon and the weather has gotten warmer, so I'd like to talk about why, in my opinion, Super Mario Sunshine is still a good game even though many of the other Mario games are better.
    Why I Believe Super Mario Sunshine is an Awesome Game
    It is Not Quite as Different as Some Think

    At first, it seems like Super Mario Sunshine goes off in a completely different direction and strays from other mainline Mario games as much as possible. Mario, Princess Peach, and Toadsworth (one of the game's new characters) leave the Mushroom Kingdom. During their flight, they watch a commercial for an Island known as "Isle Delfino" and decide to go on vacation there. 

    While watching the commercial Peach notices a shadow on the TV that looks like Mario, while Mario and Toadsworth are distracted by some of the Islands attractions shown in the commercial. 

    Once they've landed on the Island, they notice some strange goop. Peach notices someone in the distance...the shadow she saw on the TV.

    Mario looks around Delfino Airstrip and comes across F.L.U.D.D. (Flash Liquidizer Ultra Dousing Device), a pump developed by Professor Elvin Gadd (a character Luigi met in Luigi's Mansion). Armed with F.L.U.D.D., he is now able to clean up the goop and graffiti spread around the Airstrip.

     

    A Piranha Plant covered in goop appears, and this is the first instance that the game isn't quite as different from other Mario games as it appears to be. After defeating the Piranha Plant and cleaning up the Airstrip, Mario finds a shiny object called a Shine Sprite which is what this game has instead of the Stars in Super Mario 64.


    The Delfino Police then arrive. Mario is accused of messing up the entire Island and is sent to prison (for those who haven't played the game, I am not making this up). Isle Delfino has been spread with goop as well as graffiti by Shadow Mario, the mysterious character Peach saw earlier, who holds a magic paintbrush. Mario, still being accused of crimes he didn't commit, is released from prison the next morning and is ordered to stay on the Island and clean up Isle Delfino. He also needs to find more Shine Sprites to unlock new areas and bring back sunnier weather to the Island, which is now darker than it used to be. 


    In addition, Peach is captured by Shadow Mario and the real Mario needs to rescue her again. Magical "M" portals are found throughout Delfino Plaza that lead to the game's main levels, similar to the paintings in Super Mario 64.
    Even though Mario games don't really need deep storylines to be good, I appreciate that Super Mario Sunshine has a deeper storyline than the mainline Mario games released before it. But I'm not going to talk about the entire story. My point is that while Super Mario Sunshine seems very different at the beginning, as you play it it becomes clear that it is still very much a Mario game. Mario still runs, jumps, stomps, and collects coins and mushrooms like he does in other games in the series.



    Super Mario Bros. style platforming levels are included throughout the game, complete with a catchy remix of the Mario theme. In addition to platforms, these levels also have enemies that can be stomped on, coins and mushrooms to collect, blocks that can be destroyed, and cubes that spin around. When you first enter these levels, Shadow Mario takes F.L.U.D.D. and you are restricted to using classic Mario moves only.

    Completing these levels and re-entering them allows you to play through them with F.L.U.D.D. The backgrounds also differ with many of them, with some having a background showing Mario as he appeared in the first Super Mario Bros. game.


    Mario fans likely remember the underground levels from other mainline Mario games. In Delfino Plaza, there are several manholes that you can enter. The game does not go to another level and the camera view does not go underground. Instead, the camera view remains above the ground and you only see Mario's shadow. There's another shadow that indicates what directions you can go. Coins and mushrooms can be found underground, and are shown as question marks. While you're exploring underground, a remix of the underground music from Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 3 plays (the remix sounds like it's based on both versions from those games). Running underneath a manhole and jumping allows you to get back above ground.




    In the Ricco Harbor level, Mario can climb fences, punch enemies, and flip to the other side. This is a feature from Super Mario World.


    In Delfino Plaza, there are pipes leading to other levels. Enter one, and the classic Mario pipe sound effect plays. The sound effect only plays when entering the main levels, so the sound effect doesn't always play when entering pipes. But there are two pipes in Delfino Plaza that lead to two of the game's main levels, so hearing the pipe sound effect when entering those pipes is pretty nostalgic. The classic version of the Mario coin sound effect also plays when the game starts up, while the Nintendo logo is displayed. 
    F.L.U.D.D. has Four Nozzles

    Some people think Super Mario Sunshine was "ruined" because of F.L.U.D.D. I don't know about that. While it does take some getting used to if you haven't played the game before (or haven't played it in a while), F.L.U.D.D. isn't that bad. In fact, it's actually kind of cool. 
    In each of the mainline Mario games, Mario has a different way of powering up. In Super Mario Bros., there are the Mushroom, Fire Flower, and Star (sometimes called "Starman" or "Super Star") power ups. In Super Mario Bros. 3, there are the Tanooki, Hammer, and Frog suits. In Super Mario World, there's the cape. In Super Mario Land 2, there are the rabbit ears. In Super Mario 64, there are the Wing, Metal, and Vanish Caps. And Super Mario Sunshine has F.L.U.D.D., which has four Nozzles: Spray, Hover, Rocket, and Turbo. Super Mario Sunshine continues the tradition of giving Mario a new way to power up with each game.
    With the Hover Nozzle, Mario can fly over small gaps. 

    With the Rocket Nozzle, Mario can reach the higher areas of a level. If you press the L button while really high in the air, Mario's ground pound becomes stronger and he's able to break through or damage certain areas. The Rocket Nozzle needs a few seconds to charge. 3...2...1...Blast off!

    And with the Turbo Nozzle, Mario, not surprisingly, moves much faster. He can also use the Turbo Nozzle to ride on the water like a Boat or a Jet Ski, as well as break through certain doors.

    F.L.U.D.D. also has a Spray Nozzle, which is the default Nozzle. It can be used to clean up goop and graffiti. It can also be used to attack certain enemies.
    F.L.U.D.D. can be used in creative ways

    In the Bianco Hills level, there's a section with water and a lily pad. If you stand on the lily pad and use F.L.U.D.D.'s Spray Nozzle, you can ride on the lily pad like a raft.


    In some levels, there are some flowers arranged in a circle that you can water. If you water them all really fast, you'll get some coins. To do this, it's easier to press the Y button to go into the look mode. Use the Spray Nozzle, then just hold left or right on the Control Stick to turn in a circle while spraying.

    While Mario can swim in this game like most other Mario games, he can also sometimes use F.L.U.D.D. while underwater. There are certain sections in the game that take place underwater. In these sections, you can use the Hover Nozzle to move around or reach higher areas.

    In the Pianta Village level, there are some giant swings. You can use F.L.U.D.D. to ride on the swings and reach higher sections of the level.
    The Game Makes Use of the GameCube's Capabilities
    I'm not even really talking about the graphics (though Sunshine does have some nice water effects). Even in 2002, Sunshine's graphics really didn't impress me much though they aren't really bad either. The environments are large, the water effects are nice, and the game runs at a mostly smooth framerate. But I'm talking more about the game's inclusion of full voice acting, FMV cutscenes, and lots of special effects. The GameCube was the first Nintendo console to use discs, which have far more space than the N64's cartridges.
    While the voice acting in this game really isn't that great (especially the Pianta's, who basically just mumble or speak gibberish except during some cutscenes), it's nice that Nintendo made use of the larger capacity of the GameCube's discs. Princess Peach, Toadsworth, the other Toads, Bowser, Bowser Jr., and even F.L.U.D.D. all talk during cutscenes. Peach already talked during the opening and ending of Super Mario 64, but that was basically what that game offered for acting during cutscenes. Like most Mario games, Mario doesn't really talk much in Super Mario Sunshine. Like Super Mario 64, he "talks" when he performs his moves or gets hit by enemies. He doesn't say much during cutscenes. However, it's worth noting that Mario does talk in one cutscene in the Japanese version. After landing in Delfino Airstrip at the beginning of the game, when Peach sees Shadow Mario (the character she see's on the TV before arriving), Mario says to Toadsworth: 
    "Hmm, looks like-a Mario's gonna have to find a job!" 
    Followed by Toadsworth saying: 
    "Trying to start a new career?" 
    For whatever reason, these two lines were removed from the American version of the game. My guess is that Nintendo of America wanted Mario to (basically) remain silent like in most other mainline Mario games. Charles Martinet voiced Mario in Super Mario Sunshine, as he did in other Mario games that have voices.

    The game was one of the first Mario games to have FMV cutscenes. Which is nice, and shows that Nintendo made use of the added space on the GameCube's discs.

    The game also has lots of special effects. On the episode selection that appears before a level starts, the screen flashes with loads of special effects when you select an episode or Shine Sprite. The special effects change depending on whether you've collected that particular Shine Sprite or not. 

    Like Super Mario 64, Mario falls asleep if you don't press any buttons for a little while. Several "Z's" appear while he sleeps.

     
    If the camera gets stuck inside or near a wall, a circle appears and part of the screen turns blue so you can focus on Mario. 

    If Mario's in front of a wall, the game shows his shadow/silhouette so that you can still see where he is.


    Super Mario Sunshine has Progressive Scan support. It also has Dolby Pro Logic II Surround Sound, in case you'd like to hook up your GameCube to a Home Theater System and listen to the game with five speakers and a sub woofer. The game's options menu allows you to test out the surround sound, like some of the console's other games (such as Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and Soul Calibur II).
    The Game is Similar to Super Mario 64
    Adding to the fact that the game is not quite as different as some people make it out to be, Super Mario Sunshine is pretty similar to Super Mario 64. Just about everyone who's played Super Mario 64 knows it is a great game. As the follow-up to the N64's flagship game, it's no surprise that Super Mario Sunshine has a lot of similarities.


    Mario has most of his moves from Super Mario 64, including the wall jump...

    t
    ...the ground pound...


    ...swimming...


    ...and climbing trees, among other moves.


    Before a level starts, an episode selection screen appears showing Shine Sprites you've collected and a small hint for each one. This, of course, is the same idea as the star selection screen that appears before a level starts in Super Mario 64. And like how some stars in Super Mario 64 require you to collect eight red coins, you have to collect eight red coins to get some of the Shine Sprites in Super Mario Sunshine.

    Like some levels in Super Mario 64, Mario can occasionally lose his hat in Super Mario Sunshine. Without his hat, he takes more damage. If he loses his hat In Super Mario Sunshine, he also slowly loses energy automatically due to the fact that he's on an island and it's extremely hot. However, if you go into some water while he doesn't have his hat he won't lose energy. I like the logic.
    The Boss Battles Are Unique
    Though the bosses in Super Mario Sunshine are new characters (except for Bowser), most of them are a classic type of Mario enemy (Piranha Plant, Blooper, Boo, Wiggler, etc.). Some games have basically the same boss battles over and over. Pac-Man World 2, released the same year as Super Mario Sunshine, has a few boss battles with the ghosts that are basically the same, with the only real difference being the difficulty. Even so, Pac-Man World 2 is one of my favorite games for GameCube, and like Mario Sunshine it was one of the first games I played on the console. Maybe I'll make a blog about the Pac-Man World games someday.
    In Super Mario Sunshine, many of the boss battles are different and unique. Here are some of the highlights.


    First off, there's Petey Piranha. For this battle, you spray water in his mouth which he swallows and fills up his belly. You then run up to him, jump on his belly, and do a ground pound which not only hurts him but also causes him to spit out the water you sprayed into him.


    Then there's Gooper Blooper. For this battle, you have to grab onto his tentacles and pull them off. After that, you have to pull on his nose, let go, and send him flying.


    This is Mecha Bowser, a boss in the Pinna Park level. For this battle, you get to go on a Roller Coaster. There are water-filled missiles on the track, which you have to aim and shoot at Mecha Bowser. Aiming can sometimes be difficult, since you're constantly moving and the track has some loops. While you're cruising around, Mecha Bowser will shoot a familiar enemy at you: Bullet Bills! Simply spraying them will defeat them. There's a section of the track where you'll get very close to Mecha Bowser, who constantly shoots flames. Better get F.L.U.D.D.'s Spray Nozzle ready if you don't want Mario to get Burnt.

    After defeating Mecha Bowser, Shadow Mario will reveal himself to be Bowser's son, Bowser Jr. He's the one who actually spread the goop and graffiti throughout Isle Delfino, using that paintbrush he's holding.


    Wiggler ahoy! Full steam ahead! 
    This battle takes place in the Gelato Beach level, and features a Wiggler enemy (Wiggler's first appeared in Super Mario World). You need to spray Dune Buds on the sand, which causes the sand to rise and flips over the Wiggler. You then jump on it and do a ground pound. An arrow points where you need to ground pound. The boss moves faster and faster as the battle progresses, and even the musics tempo speeds up.

    Here's King Boo, who's hiding underneath the Casino in the Sirena Beach level's Hotel. While he has the same name, he doesn't look like the King Boo from Luigi's Mansion. Unlike the one in Luigi's Mansion, this King Boo is a goofy, slobbering ghost who loves eating but can't stand spicy food. He holds a Slot Machine, which you have to spray with F.L.U.D.D. Depending on what is shown on the Slot Machine, enemies or food will appear. You have to pick up Peppers and throw them at him, which sets his tongue on fire. While his tongue is on fire, you have to pick up any of the other fruits and then throw them at him. The giant Roulette Wheel also moves.

    As mentioned above, the real Bowser (the one Mario has battled since the first Super Mario Bros. game) is the final boss like most mainline Mario games. The battle takes place inside Corona Mountain, the game's final level. Peach is there rooting for Mario, while Jr. roots for Bowser.
    This is one area where F.L.U.D.D.'s Rocket Nozzle comes in handy. As mentioned above, if you use the Rocket Nozzle and press the L button while you're in the air, Mario's ground pound becomes stronger and he's able to damage the floor...which eventually causes everyone (including Mario and Bowser) to fall from a great height back down to Isle Delfino. Don't worry, the game's ending isn't (too) tragic.
    The Game Fixes Some of Super Mario 64's Issues

    While I like Super Mario 64 more than Sunshine, it isn't perfect. Sunshine has some issues of its own, as mentioned in the intro above, but it also fixes some of Super Mario 64's problems. 



    For example, hanging onto a gate/fenced area. In Super Mario 64, you have to hold the A button down and hope that Mario doesn't let go. I can remember how frustrated I got getting that Star in the picture above (showing an area the Hazy-Maze Cave level), because Mario would sometimes let go even if I was still holding the A button down.


    In Super Mario Sunshine, Mario hangs on automatically. You don't have to hold any buttons down. Just make sure you don't bump into any enemies.


    In Super Mario 64, Mario has one meter for both his energy and oxygen. So if he's underwater and almost out of air when he jumps out of the water, he'll also be low on energy. But as most players likely know, simply swimming up to the surface (rather than jumping out) is an easy way to refill Mario's meter. Collecting coins while underwater slightly refills the meter.


    In Super Mario Sunshine, there are separate meters for Mario's energy and oxygen (yellow for energy, blue for oxygen). When the meters are low, a sound effect constantly plays to warn the player that Mario's almost out of energy or oxygen. If you keep losing energy or oxygen the warning sound effect plays faster (similar to a heartbeat), increasing tension. Like in Super Mario 64, collecting coins refills Mario's energy and oxygen. He also sometimes receives a helmet in this game, which allows him to stay underwater much longer.
    Not everyone is going to agree with me on this, but in my opinion Super Mario Sunshine has better camera control. The N64's Controller has C buttons, meaning digital controls for the camera. I've played Super Mario 64 a lot over the years, and sometimes the camera just doesn't want to go where you want it to. It either stops moving and plays a buzzing sound (meaning it can't be moved any further in that direction), or it swivels a little too much.
    The GameCube's Controller doesn't have C buttons, but instead has a C-Stick. This means the camera in Super Mario Sunshine has analog controls. The camera control is more fluid, allowing you to move it at different speeds. Unless it gets stuck inside a wall, you pretty much have almost total freedom to position the camera where you want it. Aside from the more fluid controls, the camera system is similar to Super Mario 64's. You can hold down on the C-Stick to zoom out, hold up to zoom in, and hold left or right to rotate it. Like when you press C-Up in Super Mario 64, you can press the Y button in Super Mario Sunshine to look around from Mario's point of view. It's worth noting that this look mode is also improved over the look mode in Super Mario 64. In Super Mario 64's look mode, Mario doesn't turn around so you can only look up, down, left, or right (you can't see what's behind you). In Super Mario Sunshine's look mook, Mario turns around when you look left or right allowing you to look in any direction and also see what's behind you.
    Yoshi appears on the roof of Peach's Castle in Super Mario 64. After collecting all of the stars, you can use a Cannon to blast up to the roof. I can still remember the rumors about Super Mario 64 that spread around the Internet during the N64 era, and even after Super Mario Sunshine was released. Among other things, people wondered if it was possible to ride on Yoshi like in Super Mario World. Unfortunately, you can't ride on Yoshi in Super Mario 64. He tells a message to the player, saying that "this is the end of the game, but not the end of the fun!". He then gives Mario several 1-Ups, then leaves. After that, Mario gets a new version of the triple jump that protects him if he falls from a high ledge or platform.


    I suspect that Nintendo knew players wanted to ride on Yoshi in Super Mario 64, so they likely made sure early on that he would also be in Super Mario Sunshine. Yoshi appears on lots of promo images for Super Mario Sunshine, including in the manual and on the cover for an issue of Nintendo Power. In most levels and in Delfino Plaza, you can find an egg. You can see a thought bubble that shows the kind of fruit Yoshi wants. Since the game takes place on an Island, fruit can be found all over the place. If you bring Yoshi the fruit he wants, the egg will hatch and you can ride on him. In this game, Yoshi...err..."vomits" juice to attack enemies and open up some areas that are blocked off.


    He still sticks out his tongue, like other Mario games, if you press the B button. Just like Super Mario World, Yoshi eats fruit in this game. The Juice meter is Yoshi's energy meter, so eating fruit is necessary to give him energy. Depending on the fruit he eats, he may also change color. Also like Super Mario World, the music changes somewhat while you're riding on Yoshi.

    Unfortunately, the green Yoshi was removed from the game. Green Yoshi was in early versions of the game, appears on promo art, and even appears in a screenshot in the manual (likely from a prototype version of the game). The decision to remove him appears to have been last minute. However, green Yoshi is still in the game's memory and can be played by using an Action Replay (as seen in my video above).
    The Game is Full of Variety and Extras
    Like several other Mario games, Super Mario Sunshine is chock full of secrets and has a lot of variety. Since Super Mario Sunshine only has seven or eight main levels (compared to fifteen main levels in Super Mario 64), some have complained about there not being enough levels or enough variety for level themes. I suppose that's a fair complaint, since the levels are mostly beaches, a harbor, in a Hotel, etc., though it makes sense that the game would have mainly these kinds of levels since it takes place on an Island. In my opinion, the game more than makes up for that by giving players a lot to do each level. 




    You can ride on a Blooper and go surfing in Ricco Harbor, go on a Roller Coaster ride in Pinna Park, go after Shadow Mario and spray him with water, race a character named Il Piantissimo in some levels, grab "floaty fluff" in Pianta Village to ride up to higher parts of the level, etc.

    There are hidden levels/areas/minigames in each level. In a sense, there are levels within the levels. As mentioned above, there are platform levels that are similar to Super Mario Bros. Even if you've completed these levels, you can come back to them and get another Shine Sprite. When you come back to these levels, a red button appears. If you pound these buttons, eight red coins appear and you're given a limited amount of time to collect them. I also mentioned above that, after you've beaten these levels once, the game allows you to play through the levels with F.L.U.D.D., making the experience a little different than the first time (classic Mario action with a twist).

    There are also hidden areas that take place up in the clouds. One of these areas is a "super slide", where the goal is to simply slide to the bottom to find a Shine Sprite. 

    Another secret area has you collecting red coins, most of which are hidden inside lots of grass.


    One hidden area is basically a table that is based on Pachinko, a game that's popular in Japan. This is often considered to be one of the most frustrating and difficult parts of the game, because of the controls and some odd physics. Until just last year, this was one of the few areas in the game that I couldn't complete. However, I figured out that it is actually not as difficult as it seems.



    So basically, at the start of the table, Mario bounces up to the top of the table where there are red coins. Where you land depends on which direction you're moving the Control Stick (the stick on the left side of the Controller, not the C-Stick) or if you don't move the Control Stick at all. It's easy to get the hang of it after a few tries. You just need to remember where Mario landed before, then either move to Control Stick in that direction if you need to try again or move it in a different direction to land near another red coin. You can also use F.L.U.D.D. to hover over to some of the red coins.


    Some of these hidden areas require you to make use of F.L.U.D.D.'s different Nozzles. There's the waterslide, where you use the Turbo Nozzle to get enough speed to jump over gaps and reach other platforms in the distance.
    There's another hidden area where you collect red coins while riding on a lily pad. This is another of the areas in the game that I couldn't beat until just last year because you can't touch the water. It's also somewhat difficult to get all of the coins, due to the current pushing the lily pad. And if you miss some red coins, you have to walk on the sides and hope you can make it back to the beginning of the area without falling so you can try again (the lily pad reappears).

    I'll mention one more of the secret areas. There's a secret area in the Gelato Beach level where you ride on a "Sand Bird." The Sand Bird flies in a circle around a tower, and at different altitudes. Once again the goal is to collect red coins to get a Shine Sprite, but you have to do that while riding on the Sand Bird and not falling off.



    You can play games and complete some tasks while in Delfino Plaza. There's a minigame that requires you to destroy boxes within a time limit. Some of the Pianta's want you to work for them. They want three of a particular fruit. You can grab fruit and toss them into a basket that's either beside or above the Pianta's. You can kick Durian's like a Soccer ball. One of the tasks actually requires you to kick this fruit over some water to the other side of the Plaza, then kick them into a Pianta's basket. GOAL!!!! 
    Once you've given the Pianta's three of the fruit they want, they'll give you a Blue Coin.

    A Mario Soccer game would be released for GameCube a few years later: Super Mario Strikers (a.k.a., Mario Smash Football). The game also received some sequels, including a Switch game.


    There's a Blooper-surfing minigame in a hidden part of Ricco Harbor. 
    The Blooper-surfing area has a hidden background. It's the Train background used in some of the Super Mario Bros. style platforming levels.



    Blue Coins are another complaint some players have about this game. Blue Coins are required to get certain Shine Sprites, as there's a store in Delfino Plaza that sells some of them. Some of the Blue Coins are well-hidden, while others are in plain site but can be a little frustrating to collect. Even so, I'm glad the game has lots of Blue Coins to collect. They add to the game's replay value, and the game allows you to save your progress everytime you collect one.

    Super Mario Sunshine, not surprisingly, is a very bright game. In many of the levels, there are Pianta's wearing Sunglasses. If you talk to them, they'll give you some Sunglasses to wear for a little while. The screen darkens a little while Mario wears them, making it a little easier on the eyes.


    Once Bowser is defeated, load up your save file again. Talk to any of the Sunglasses wearing Pianta's (either in a level or in Delfino Plaza) and he'll not only give you some shades, but also a Shine Sprite shirt. You can wear these items while riding on Yoshi.



    In the highest section of the Sirena Beach level's Hotel, you'll come across a Pianta who mentions there are ghosts (Boos) in the Hotel and wishes someone would suck them up with a vacuum. This is an obvious reference to Luigi's Mansion, where Luigi uses a vacuum to suck up ghosts. The vacuum Luigi uses was developed by Professor Elvin Gadd (a character from Luigi's Mansion), who also made Mario's pump F.L.U.D.D. in Super Mario Sunshine.



    This is the same area, in the highest section of the Sirena Beach level. It is a maze, with Boos. Some of the Boos sleep, while others wander or go after Mario. A maze and ghosts makes this section a little bit like Pac-Man. Nintendo would collaborate with Namco the following year (in 2003) on Pac-Man Vs., which is included with the GameCube version of Pac-Man World 2 (Player's Choice copies only) and some copies of the GameCube version of R: Racing Evolution. It was also included with some copies of the GameCube version of I-Ninja, and sold on its own in a limited amount.
    I also recommend checking out my video above, which shows a Test level that's hidden in the game's memory and can be accessed with an Action Replay. Oh, and this test level actually has a Soccer ball.

    Speaking of beta content, there are some things left in the game that seem to relate to early versions of the game. After defeating Shadow Mario in Episode 7 of every main level, Delfino Plaza becomes flooded. This is actually a different part of the game's memory, and it has some differences compared to the normal version of Delfino Plaza. It's not just the fact that the place is flooded that's different, but some parts look different from the normal version of Delfino Plaza.


    The Jail Cell has a manhole. It's not there in the normal version of Delfino Plaza. Apparently, Mario originally entered this room with a manhole in early versions of the game.


    The Bell Tower's door is different. The normal version of Delfino Plaza has a door that Mario can break through with F.L.U.D.D.'s Turbo Nozzle, where a Shine Sprite can be found.


    Behind the Jail Cell. It's open in the normal version of Delfino Plaza. Once again, you can see that there's no manhole inside in the room in the normal version of Delfino Plaza.

    Surprisingly you can still ride on Yoshi when Delfino Plaza is flooded, even though he can't touch water in this game, Mario can still swim while he's carrying fruit (which, by the way, is almost as big as he is). If you decide to ride on Yoshi during the flood, you'll have to jump on the trees and rooftops to get around.


    There's a mysterious book hidden in one of the game's underwater areas (which takes place in a bottle floating in the sky). Apparently, the book had a purpose in early versions of the game.


    I showed this picture earlier in the blog, but I'm showing it again because it shows one of the game's easter eggs. Once again, I have to say I appreciate the special effects in Super Mario Sunshine. Look in the circled area. The Sirena Beach level is shaped like the GameCube's Controller. Also, if you look at the second pic in this blog, you'll notice that Isle Delfino is shaped like a Dolphin. Maybe some of you remember that the GameCube was known as the "Dolphin" before it was released.
    The Game Left its Mark in History and hasn't been forgotten 
    While Super Mario Sunshine is considered the black sheep of the Mario series, it was both a critical and commercial success. 




    Like how Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros.3 were included with the NES and Super Mario World was included with the SNES, Super Mario Sunshine was included with the GameCube. In 2002 and 2003, a Super Mario Sunshine GameCube bundle was available at retailers that came with an indigo GameCube, one Controller, a Memory Card 59, Memory Card labels, and the Super Mario Sunshine game. Another Super Mario Sunshine bundle was released later that included a platinum GameCube, one Controller, a Player's Choice copy of the game, and a nicer-looking (Super Mario Sunshine themed) box.
    https://web.archive.org/web/20020829044228/http://cgi6.ebay.ca/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=nintendo_canada&include=0&since=-1&sort=3&rows=25
    In 2002, before the game was released, Nintendo of Canada sold ten copies of Super Mario Sunshine on eBay that were autographed by Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto. I remember seeing that auction in the Summer of 2002.

    Super Mario Sunshine was featured on the cover for issue 160 of Nintendo Power. Issue 159 came with a Mario Sunshine poster.
    Various merch was released, like shirts and hats, through Nintendo Power's "Super Power Supplies" catalog. Toys R Us gave Mario Sunshine towels away as a pre-order bonus. Mario Sunshine toys were available at Burger King.
    Bowser Jr., who was introduced in this game, has been in most of the mainline Mario games since Super Mario Sunshine, including New Super Mario Bros. and the "Bowser's Fury" expansion in the Switch version of Super Mario 3D World. He's also in several Mario Kart and Mario sports games, and appears in Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour as Shadow Mario.
    Pianta's have appeared in other Mario games, like the Mario Kart games (Double Dash!! and later) and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Both Pianta's and Noki's are playable in Mario Superstar Baseball.


    F.L.U.D.D. has appeared in every Super Smash Bros. game since Super Smash Bros. Brawl, as well as a stage/arena based on Super Mario Sunshine. The Super Smash Bros. games also include music from Super Mario Sunshine (with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate including both the original version and an updated version of the Delfino Plaza music).


    Shine Sprites appear in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. There's also a Shine Sprite Game Boy Advance e-Reader card that works with Animal Crossing for GameCube, which can be used on clothing, Umbrellas, wallpaper, floors, signs, the Island Flag, etc. Most Mario Kart games since Double Dash!! have a Shine Thief battle game featuring Shine Sprites, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has a Super Mario Sunshine race track called Sunshine Airport.
    Animal Crossing: New Leaf for 3DS has a Super Mario Sunshine reference, where the character Gulliver mentions he hasn't "met someone so willing to help since the residents of Ricco Harbor!".

    Super Mario Galaxy (Wii), Super Mario 3D Land (3DS), and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (Switch) use some features or ideas from Super Mario Sunshine. Like the "Too Bad!" words that appear when you lose, jumping/bouncing on other character's heads (like Toads), and Mario's shadow being shown if he's in front of a wall so you can still see where he is.
    t


    The Switch version of Super Mario 3D World includes an expansion called "Bowser's Fury", which has several references and ideas from Super Mario Sunshine. Some examples include the "M" graffiti that appears in the intro, and the inclusion of Bowser Jr. (who assists Mario, and can be controlled by a second player). "Bowser's Fury" also has Shines, called Cat Shines. Also note that the place where you find Bowser Jr. (pic above) is a beach.


    Super Mario Maker 2 for Switch has a fan made level based on the Sand Bird hidden area from Super Mario Sunshine. The GameCube's logo appears right before the level starts, the Delfino Plaza music from Mario Sunshine plays, and the level uses graphics from Super Mario Bros. 3. 
    Conclusion

    Of course there are better Mario games, but Super Mario Sunshine, in my opinion anyway, really isn't that bad. I had a lot of fun playing it in the GameCube era, and have continued to play it on occasion in the last decade or so. It has a lot of cool ideas and boss characters, while including some things from other games in the series and still managing to look and feel like a Mario game. The game was re-released, along with Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy, in Super Mario 3D All-Stars for Switch, where the game is largely the same but displays in HD. I like that 3D All-Stars has the option to use the GameCube's Controller (the real one) while playing Super Mario Sunshine.



    I've had a Super Mario Sunshine save file since first getting both the game and a GameCube in 2003. In fact, the Memory Card 59 I have now is the very same one I got with my GameCube twenty years ago, though my Mario Sunshine file has since been moved to a Memory Card 1019 (there's an option on the GameCube's menu to move files from one Memory Card to another). For many years, I had 110 Shine Sprites. While I've technically beaten the game many times before, last year I finally got the remaining ten Shine Sprites and fully completed the game.
    Super Mario 64 screenshots captured from a real N64. Super Mario Sunshine screenshots captured from a real GameCube, not a Wii or an Emulator.
    -MegaMan52
  18. MegaMan52

    Super Pac-Man Arcade1Up Machine

    By MegaMan52,


    Arcade Machines
    Introduction

    I'm guessing most of you who have read my blogs think I only like console and handheld games. Not so. I've visited numerous Arcades since the late '80s/early '90s, including Arcades in Theaters, Bowling Alleys, Airports, and Ferries, playing most of the better Arcade games like Pac-Man, Street Fighter II (don't remember which one), Ninja Turtles, Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, Cruis'n USA, San Francisco Rush, Mario Kart Arcade GP 1 and 2, Luigi's Mansion, and Super Monkey Ball, as well as Pinball games like Super Mario Bros., Time Warp, Jurassic Park, and Star Trek.
    I've known about Arcade1Up since 2018 or so. Besides the Internet, I've also seen these machines at Walmart, Costco, and several other stores. I purchased a Super Pac-Man Arcade1Up machine. This machine has seven games: Pac-Man, Super Pac-Man, Pac-Mania, Pac-Land, Galaga, Galaxian, and Dig Dug. I thought I'd talk about this machine, and share some stories about where I found out about the more obscure games.
    Super Pac-Man Arcade1Up Machine
    Artwork and Controls

    Most of the art on the machine is from the original Arcade release of Super Pac-Man from 1982. The bottom front of the machine has the logos of all of the included games. The marquee lights-up. There's a joystick (obviously), buttons for Pac-Mania, Pac-Land, Galaga, Galaxian, and Dig Dug, and buttons for playing alone or with two players. Like the original release of Super Pac-Man, the boarder around the screen has instructions (even still saying to insert a coin) and game tips.
    Menu and Settings

    Turn on the machine, and a video showing the Arcade1Up logo plays. This is followed by the game selection screen. Every game has adjustable settings, including lives and difficulty. I can remember some people complaining about the Pixel Smoothing that these machines include. There's an option to turn it off if you want the games to look more like they did when they were originally released in the '80s.
    The Games
    Pac-Man

    We all know about this game. I don't have much to say about it. It appears to be basically the same here as in Pac-Man Museum +, with the title screen being updated to say BNEI (Bandai Namco Entertainment, Inc.) instead of "Namco" (or Bally Midway).
    Super Pac-Man
    \
    The featured game on this machine, and a lesser-known game than the original Pac-Man. I found out about Super Pac-Man on a website called "The Pac-Page" (https://web.archive.org/web/20031204233134/http://www.classicgaming.com/pac-man/) in the early 2000s. Though it was released on some consoles in the '80s and later for the PS1 in Namco Museum Vol. 2, it wasn't released on nearly as many systems as Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, or Pac-Mania. In the last decade or so, Super Pac-Man has been re-released more often and became more accessible, appearing as part of several Arcade 1Up machines, the Arcade Archives series, and Pac-Man Museum +. 
    In this game, the goal is mainly to collect food instead of dots (though the Power Pellets are still in the game). Several keys appear in the mazes, which unlock rooms containing food and power pellets. Dots that transform Pac-Man into Super Pac-Man are one of this games' added features. While super, Pac-Man can pass through ghosts without being harmed and break through doors.

    After two or three mazes, a bonus round appears. These are like the regular mazes/rounds, except there's a time limit and there are no ghosts. Also, Pac-Man is already Super Pac-Man at the beginning. The more food you eat, the more points you get when the timer runs out. Collect all of the food, and you get even more points. The game also has some intermissions, like most other Pac-Man games from this era.
    Pac-Mania

    I rented the NES version of Pac-Mania in 1994 or so (still have the card from the store where I rented the game), and bought it years later. The first time I played the Arcade version of Pac-Mania was, technically, Pac-Man World 2 on GameCube (which I believe is a port of the PS1 version from Namco Museum Vol. 5 on PS1). I've also played it on various Namco Museum compilations, Pac-Man Collection for Game Boy Advance, and Pac-Man Museum + on Switch.
    This is another well-known Pac-Man game, and plays basically the same as the original except for the isometric view and the Pac-Man's added ability to jump. It's also one of my favorites. 

    The version of Pac-Mania included on this Arcade1Up machine is the American release of the Arcade version, which has some differences compared to the Japanese release. For one thing, Jungly Steps is not selectable on the level select screen. If you choose to start on Pac-Man's Park or Sand Box Land, the game gives you a "Courage" bonus/extra points (which I remember from the NES version). The Japanese release has a few extra mazes that are basically repeats with the only difference being the addition of another ghost, which were removed in the American release. Another difference is that the American release adds a high score screen.
    I recorded playthroughs of the NES and Arcade version of Pac-Mania years ago. The latter was played in Namco Museum 50th Anniversary, and has over 200,000 views.
    Pac-Land

    Another lesser-known Pac-Man game, though it was released on more systems than Super Pac-Man. It predates Super Mario Bros. as the first side-scrolling adventure game.

    Like Super Pac-Man, I found out about Pac-Land on a website called "The Pac-Page." I was kind of surprised that the only Nintendo version of the game was the Famicom version, which I later bought. The Arcade version of the game wouldn't appear on a Nintendo system until 2022, when it was released as part of the Arcade Archives series and Pac-Man Museum +. Pac-Land, like Super Pac-Man, has also been included on various Arcade1Up machines.

    Pac-Land is unique in that it has some unusual controls. It is the only game included on this machine that doesn't use the joystick. The two buttons on the left move Pac-Man left or right, while one of the buttons on the right (the red "A" button) makes him jump.

    At the end of a level/round, you come to a screen with a Church and a sign that says "BREAK TIME." If you jump. you can get different amounts of extra points depending on how close you are to landing on the ground without touching it when the music stops. The maximum amount of extra points you can get here is 7650.

    At the end of every third round, Pac-Man enters "Fairy Land." Here, he's given some special shoes that allow him to jump in mid-air.

    Pac-Man Museum + (Switch)

    Super Pac-Man Arcade1Up Machine
    Oh and like the Arcade Archives release and Pac-Man Museum +, Ms. Pac-Man was changed to "Pac-Mom."
    The version of the game included in the Arcade1Up machine appears to be the American release of the Arcade version, which was slightly different than the Japanese release. The American release was based on the '80s Pac-Man cartoon, so Pac-Man looks a little different in the two releases. Pac-Man's nose in the Japanese release is bigger. The crosses on the Churches (shown in the "BREAK TIME" screens) were removed in the American release. The American release also added Pac-Man's two pets, shown when he returns home at the end of every fourth round. The version in Pac-Man Museum + appears to be the Japanese release, as Pac-Man's nose is bigger.

    Pac-Man Museum + (Switch)

    Super Pac-Man Arcade1Up Machine
    There's also an emulation issue in certain levels. The water appears blue and black, instead of just blue. This is not present in Pac-Man Museum +.
    Galaga

    Another well-known game, and the sequel to Galaxian. Galaga is the same here as it always was in Arcades, except for the title screen being updated slightly to say "BNEI" (Bandai Namco Entertainment, Inc.). In a sense, this Arcade1UP machine is like an Arcade version of Namco Museum. Like Pac-Man and Dig Dug, Galaga has been re-released so many times and there are so many versions of it. The NES version has appeared on bootleg NES multicarts, and the Arcade version has appeared on Namco Museum compilations, various Namco and Pac-Man Arcade machines, and the Ms. Pac-Man Plug and Play.

    Galaxian 

    Galaga's predecessor, and Namco's (or Bandai Namco's) answer to Space Invaders. It too is well-known and has been re-released on numerous consoles, handhelds, and other Arcade machines. It's the same here as it's always been, complete with adjustable settings. Not much to say about it. Even if you haven't played it or don't remember it, you've probably seen Galaxians in other Namco games. They've appeared as items in several Pac-Man games, for example.  
    Dig Dug

    I've played so many versions of Dig Dug. There's the Famicom version, Namco Museum compilations, NES multicarts, Dig Dug Arrangement, etc. I've even played a hacked version that has Hello Kitty on a 64 in 1 Famicom multicart that @fcgamer gave me. Because the Arcade version has a vertical screen, some versions have smaller screens or scroll vertically. The version included in this machine, of course, is the Arcade version and retains the original aspect ratio.
    I don't have much to say about Dig Dug either. It's still just as fun now as it was in the past.
    Conclusion

    For a little while there, Arcades seemed to be a thing of the past in the U.S. and Canada. Yet, they could still be found in Theaters, in Bowling Alley's, on Ferries, and some new Arcades have opened. And then Arcade1Up appeared, releasing numerous smaller Arcade machines and countertops, stools with Arcade art, accessories (like risers), and apparel. Then we get to the collector's, of which many are into Arcade games. Seems to me that Arcade gaming is still alive and well.


    Many '80s, '90s, and early 2000s Arcade games have been re-released on various compilations. This is good, because they're more accessible and people who play them on the Switch have the option to play them on the go. Some compilations, like Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection, even have the option to play the Arcade Ninja Turtles games (as well as some of the console games) online. However, when it comes to Arcade games, nothing beats the authenticity of an Arcade machine, be it the original machines or these newer Arcade1Up machines. If you like Arcade games but don't have any Arcade machines, I highly recommend getting an Arcade 1Up machine (or multiple). Or, get one of the original machines if you're able to.
    -MegaMan52
  19. MegaMan52

    The Mandela Effect in Gaming

    By MegaMan52,


    Rumors/Theory's
    Introduction
    You've likely heard of the mandela effect, false memories of things that you "remember" from the past. And you've probably experienced it at least once. There's the whole "Berenstein" and "Berenstain" Bears conspiracy theory, leading some people to believe in the existence of parallel universes. You might "remember" something that isn't actually there in a movie you've watched many times over the years. The mandela effect can happen with pretty much anything.
    Video games are no exception. I never experienced the mandela effect with anything other than a video game. One game in particular: Super Mario RPG. Even though I'm not really that into RPGs, Super Mario RPG is my favorite Mario game on the SNES and possibly my favorite game on the console. I first played it in 1999/2000, and played it a lot up until 2004 or so. I not only rented it, but I also bought a copy with the box and manual at a rental store that closed in 2001. But as much as I liked and still like the game, there is something about it that's been bothering me for over twenty years: a possible false memory.
    What I "Saw" and "Remember"
    This occurred when I rented the game in 2000 or so. The particular copy of the game I rented was pretty well beaten, as I remember every level in the game being selectable. I decided to check out Nimbus Land, the area in the game that's above the clouds. I went inside the castle and explored. I walked into a small room with some stairs that apparently led to another room, but I couldn't go in. Why? Because Mallow was standing at the bottom of the stairs, guarding the room. I seem to remember him mentioning that his parents (King and Queen Nimbus) were in the room, and wouldn't let me in. Even though Mallow was inside the Nimbus Land castle guarding a room that his parents were apparently in, he still appeared with Mario in battles.
    I never saw this again. I rented the game again later, and it was just like the way we all know it. As mentioned above, I bought the game at a (different) rental store that closed in 2001 so and same thing: the game was the way we all know it.
    Writing to Nintendo 





    I used to write to Nintendo a lot. Sometimes I would send letters to the game counselors, or order manuals, accessories, Nintendo Power magazines, and Player's Guides.
    This memory I have bothered me every bit as much (and probably more) when I was a kid. I wrote a letter to Nintendo in 2000 but didn't send it, either because I thought they would think what I "saw" and wrote was "stupid" or because I simply forgot to send it. I still have the letter after all these years, as well as the envelope.

    It reads (typos and punctuation errors included): 
    "To Nintendo Game Play Counselors I need help with Super Mario RPG Legend of the Seven Stars again. I'm in Nimbus land now and there is something I can't figure out. I rented this game a couple of times and in the Nimbus land Castle there is a room where Mallow stands guard in and there is another one that Mallow's Parents are in but Mallow is standing guard and won't let me in do you think you can help me with this part?"
    I'm glad I didn't send the letter, because they likely wouldn't have known what I was talking about (or would they?). I'm also glad I still have it.
    Reading About Other Player's Memories
    in 2003/2004, I asked about this on GameFAQs. As expected, no one knew what I was talking about. But apparently, I'm not only one who remembers different things in Super Mario RPG.
    On GameFAQs, a user mentioned he rented the game and remembered the "Gate" level (the last level in the game) being selectable at or near the beginning of the game. Another user mentioned an area called "Mario's Factory", which was said to be the same as the Factory seen near the end of the game except you could walk on the Conveyor Belts.
    Were there different versions of Super Mario RPG at some rental stores or...did some people, including myself, experience the mandela effect?
    Looking at Issues of Nintendo Power 


    i bought several issues of NP in the early 2000's, some of which answer player's question's in the Counselor's Corner section and other's show easter eggs in the Classified Information section. None of these magazines show or mention what I saw.
    A few years ago, I bought issue 77 of NP and noticed a preview showing a beta version of Super Mario RPG. Some of the areas shown in the pictures look similar to the final version of the game, while other areas look very different or aren't even in the game. Once again, I didn't see or read anything about what I saw that one time I rented the game.
    Conclusion
    To this day, no one seems to know what I may or may not have seen while playing Super Mario RPG over twenty years ago. There are rumors that some rental copies were different, but as far as I know that wasn't proven true. I guess it's just a false memory. The mandela effect can happen to just about anyone, whether they're watching a movie or TV show, reading a book or magazine, or playing a video game. In my case, I have a false memory of something I "saw" in a video game.

    Since 2021, I've had a Japanese copy of Super Mario RPG. It's a little unfortunate that I'll probably never know the truth about what I "saw" or whether there really were different versions of the game at rental stores or not.
    -MegaMan52
  20. MegaMan52
    Introduction
    Hi there, and welcome to my first blog on Video Game Sage. This blog is about Nintendo's moderately successful but criminally underrated (so much so that Nintendo apparently regrets releasing it) sixth-generation console, the GameCube, and the REAL reasons why it is still an amazing console over twenty years after it was released and doesn't deserve all of the criticism it has received over the years. The reason why it is still a great console is not just because of Super Smash Bros. Melee or first-party games. It is not because of its graphics capabilities (many of its games do hold up, though). It is not because of its smaller discs. And it is not because of Super Monkey Ball (though those games certainly contribute).
    The REAL reasons why the GameCube is awesome: 
    1.Game Boy Player


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    The Game Boy Player allows you to play 99% of the games released for the original Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance on the GameCube. It is also compatible with most Game Boy accessories, such as the Game Boy Advance Link Cable, e-Reader, and Wireless Adapter. You can play Game Boy games on the GameCube with a variety of Controllers, including the Standard, Wavebird, Hori Digital, Mega Man X, and White Standard Controllers. You can also hook up a Game Boy Advance or Game Boy Advance SP to the GameCube using a GameCube-Game Boy Advance cable, and use them as Controllers.




    Something that isn't too well-known is that the Game Boy Player is also compatible with Game Boy Pocket and Game Boy Color Link Cables, as well as other accessories since the shape of the plugs are almost the same as a Game Boy Advance Link Cable. There is a Link Cable adapter (MGB-004) released in Japan that converts the original Game Boy Link Cable and Four-Player Adapter to a Game Boy Pocket plug, allowing either to connect to a Game Boy Pocket, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, and yes even the Game Boy Player. Universal Link Cables (MGB-010) or Universal Link Cable Sets (which contains a GBC Link Cable and original Game Boy Link Cable adapter) can also be used to connect the Four Player Adapter to three other Game Boy Player's.
    It is possible to connect four TV's, four GameCube's, and four Game Boy Player's, either with Link Cables or GBA Wireless Adapters. You only need one Game Boy Player disc. Also if you plan on playing a four player game of the Mario Bros. game in the Super Mario Advance series and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, keep in mind you don't need multiple copies of the same game. You can just use your copies of Super Mario Advance 1-4, or use three Super Mario Advance games and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. Also, the Game Boy Player itself is region free. If you have an indigo or platinum GameCube and want to import a Game Boy Player from Japan, it'll work as long as the Start-up disc matches your console's region.
    It is also technically possible to connect a Game Boy Micro to the Game Boy Player. A Converter Connector Adapter (OXY-009) is required.

    As mentioned above, the Game Boy Player itself is region free and works on any GameCube. Same goes for the games. Original Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games of any region work on any Game Boy Player.


    Despite the fact that the Game Genie doesn't fit easily in most Game Boy systems, it can be inserted into the Game Boy Player easily even if a Game Boy Wireless Adapter is connected. The GameShark, Code Breaker, and Game Boy Advance Action Replay also work with the Game Boy Player, but are harder to fit.
    The GBA Action Replay can be used to force Game Boy Advance Videos to play on the Game Boy Player.


    (Manual scan by MegaMan52)

    There is a picture in the Japanese Game Boy Player manual that shows the original Game Boy Cleaning Kit can be used to clean the Game Boy Player, which is good because that Cleaning Kit is fairly common. 
    The Game Boy Player doesn't work with the Wii (the console lacks the required port, and obviously has a different design) so this is one major reason to keep your GameCube or buy another if you sold it.
    2.Nameplate customization


    On the original DOL-001 model of the GameCube, the nameplate can be swapped. If you open the disc cover and look underneath it, you'll see two clips that can be pressed to remove the nameplate. Various nameplates were released in Japan such as Animal Crossing, Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Mario Party 5, and Donkey Konga.
    3.LAN Options 



    Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Kirby Air Ride, and 1080° Avalanche are compatible with the GameCube's Broadband Adapter, and have a LAN mode if you don't want to put up with split screen. Double Dash!! also allows up to eight players each with their own TV and console, or sixteen player co-op with two TV's (split screen) and four GameCube's (sixteen Controller ports).
    The Broadband Adapter isn't compatible with the Wii either because, again, it lacks the required port.
    4.Lots of four-player games 




    Like the N64, the GameCube has many four-player games and doesn't require an adapter for this. Some examples are the Mario Party games, Super Smash Bros. Melee, F-Zero GX, Sonic Riders, James Bond games, TimeSplitters games, Rayman Arena, Tetris Worlds, Kirby Air Ride, Star Fox Assault, and Alien Hominid. There are even some multiplatorm games where the GameCube versions allow four players and the PS2 versions don't, such as Rampage: Total Destruction and Pac-Man World Rally.
    5.The Wavebird Wireless Controller 

    Let's face it, the Wavebird is one of the greatest Controller's ever made. It runs on two AA Batteries, which last for about a hundred hours. It has a guaranteed range of twenty feet, but is actually capable of operating much farther away from the console than that. Some Wavebird Controller's have a frequency of 900 MHz, while others have a frequency of 2.4 GHz. Though some third-party wireless Controllers were released for the NES and SNES, the Wavebird was one of the earliest first-party Controllers coming out in 2002. The Controller is perfect for multiplayer sessions with games such as Super Smash Bros. Melee, the Mario Party games, and the James Bond games. Wireless Controllers may be standard nowadays, but Nintendo was ahead of the game in the early 2000's.
    2022 marks the 20th Anniversary of this incredible Controller.
    6.Superior versions of many multiplatform games 
    If someone recommends a multiplatorm game on GameCube, other people may say "so? That game is also on PS2 and/or Xbox" apparently not aware that the GameCube versions of some games have extra features and better performance. It is well-known that Sonic Heroes is best on the GameCube, as it was developed with that console in mind and before Sonic Team was used to developing for the PS2 and Xbox. But there are some lesser-known examples as well. 
    Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly is known to be a buggy and unfinished game no matter what console it is played on. However, the GameCube version is the more playable of the two versions. The PS2 version has a nasty habit of freezing in some levels (especially Crop Circle Country). It also has a rather annoying glitch that causes some sound effects (such as the portal and "swirly thing" sound effects) to repeat constantly until you exit the level you're in. The GameCube version only seems to freeze when you pause the game while underwater or, in rare cases, go back to the title screen. I haven't seen it freeze during actual gameplay, unlike the PS2 version.

    In the PS2 versions of the Midway Arcade Treasures trilogy, several games have issues: Smash TV has framerate issues the original Arcade version didn't have, Pit Fighter actually runs faster than the Arcade version, Hard Drivin' runs even slower, and the menu music in Off-Road Thunder is shorter than the Arcade version. For the Xbox version of Midway Arcade Treasures 3, I remember in 2005 people were complaining about a save glitch and possible freezing in San Francisco Rush 2049. The GameCube versions, while not perfect, don't have these issues.























    Blog: 
     
    The GameCube version of Sonic Adventure is often said to be a bad port, but it is really the definitive version of the game. These screenshots are from a twenty minute video I made comparing the Dreamcast and GameCube versions, both running on their original consoles. The GameCube version has improved visuals with higher polygon counts for the character models, additional shadows, an improved draw distance with less pop-up (very noticeable in the whale section of Emerald Coast), better water effects, and an added ground/floor in the Chaos 4 battle. It also has higher quality audio with clearer music and sound effects (the splashing sounds the fish make at the end of the second part of Emerald Coast, for example, sound muffled on the Dreamcast and clear on the GameCube), and Dolby Pro Logic II Surround Sound has been added. Some sound corrections were made as well: the monitors in the Chao Garden and the doors in the Egg Carrier are silent in the Dreamcast version, but their sound effects play in the GameCube version. A Free Camera option was added. You can skip cutscenes in the GameCube version. Load times are noticeably different, with the Dreamcast version taking about twelve seconds to load a level while the GameCube version takes about five seconds. Cream the Rabbit makes several cameos. You can play as Metal Sonic in Trial mode if you collect every Emblem. The Station Square Chao Garden has some of the added features from Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, such as the Black Market. There is a Mission Mode that has sixty extra tasks to complete. Perhaps the best addition in the GameCube version is the Mini-Game Collection mode, which has ALL TWELVE Sonic games released for the Sega Game Gear including the first Sonic Drift and Tails' Skypatrol which were originally only released in Japan. The Game Gear games can be played with up to two players, even those that don't have a Versus mode. As an added bonus, you can play the Japanese versions of some of the Game Gear games if you change SADX's text language to Japanese. 
    I should note that I compared a later revision of the Dreamcast version (a Sega All-Stars copy containing NA version 1.1 of the game) that features some improvements over earlier Dreamcast copies. Also, as mentioned above, both versions were played using their original consoles (not Emulators or newer consoles). So, this comparison isn't biased. The GameCube version has a lot of additions and even more improvements.




    it is often debated whether the PS2 or GameCube versions of Mega Man Anniversary Collection is the best (with the PS2 version usually being favored even though it has several flaws of its own), but in the case of Mega Man X: Command Mission the GameCube version is definitely superior. The GameCube version runs at 60 frames per second, while the PS2 version runs at 30 frames per second. Load times, as expected, are faster in the GameCube version, sometimes slightly and other times by a noticeable amount. The two versions have some exclusive extras, with the PS2 version getting a Mega Man X8 demo and the GameCube version getting a Treasure Radar (activated with a Game Boy Advance) that allows you to find Treasure Tokens that can be used to collect over thirty exclusive Figures. The Game Boy Advance beeps when you're near a Treasure Token. In the GameCube version, there is a vending machine you first come across in Chapter 2 located in the Central Tower (Air City 3rd Street) that is not in the PS2 version. You can spend the Treasures Tokens at this machine, then view the exclusive figures in the Sky Room (where the game's bonus materials are).
    Fun fact: In 2004, before Mega Man X: Command Mission was released, a Mega Man X Controller was announced by NubyTech for PS2 and GameCube. It was delayed and only the GameCube version of the Controller was released in late 2005/early 2006, alongside Mega Man X Collection. The Controller was licensed by Capcom and got Nintendo's seal of approval, making it very official.
    a
    In the PS2 and Xbox versions of Intellivision Lives!, there were some unreleased games that were divided between the two: the PS2 version got Hard Hat, Brickout, and Deep Pockets: Pool & Billiards, while the Xbox version got Takeover, Space Cadet, and Number Jumble. The GameCube version has all six of these games, possibly to make up for being released a year later.



    Goro and Shao Kahn were added as playable characters in the GameCube version of Mortal Kombat: Deception. And while it didn't receive a Kollector's Edition release, it does (or at least some copies do) include a character card like the Kollector's Edition releases do. My copy came with a Sub-Zero card.



    The GameCube version of Fight Night: Round 2 includes Little Mac, the protagonist from the Punch-Out!! series. It also includes the full game of Super Punch-Out!!. The game also has Progressive Scan and Widescreen support, so you don't have to worry about Super Punch-Out!! looking blurry or stretched.


    As mentioned above, the GameCube versions of Pac-Man World Rally and Rampage: Total Destruction allow up to four players unlike the PS2 versions. It is often said that a console being more advanced doesn't mean it or its games are better. But, a console being more advanced can sometimes mean more fun games. The TimeSplitters games are another example of this, where the GameCube versions allow more bots in the multiplayer modes than the PS2 versions.
    7.Sonic the Hedgehog games



    In addition to two Sega games being released on the console's launch (Super Monkey Ball and Crazy Taxi), Sonic's appearances on the GameCube were a huge deal in the sixth-generation console era. With both Sonic Adventure games, the superior versions of Sonic Heroes and Shadow the Hedgehog, and Sonic Gems Collection being a GameCube-exclusive in America, Sonic was one of the major reasons to own a GameCube during that era. Even now, most of these games hold up quite well and are must-have's. 
    Sonic Origins, a compilation containing remastered versions of the first three Sonic games and Sonic CD, was recently released for the Switch (and the other current platforms). Unfortunately, as with other modern compilations like the Mega Man Legacy Collections and Pac-Man Museum +, some unwanted changes had to be made. The music tracks for Carnival Night Zone, Ice Cap Zone, and Launch Base Zone were changed to be based on a prototype version of Sonic 3, similar to Sonic & Knuckles Collection for PC. However, the music tracks are not identical to the prototype and are actually inferior. Hopefully this and the compilation's other issues are fixed someday. I'm not saying people shouldn't buy Sonic Origins (I actually like that compilation despite the fact that it has some obvious flaws). I'm just saying, If you still have Sonic Mega Collection for GameCube and recently downloaded Sonic Origins, I recommend keeping it because it has all of Sonic 3's original music, more games (such as Sonic Spinball and Ristar), and the nostalgic menus. If you don't have Sonic Mega Collection, it is still cheap at around $20.
    8.Not as "kiddie" as people thought/think 




    Despite popular opinion (that's right, opinion), the GameCube isn't and never was a "kiddle" console. There are over forty M rated games on the console, such as SIX Resident Evil games, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, the True Crime games, Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, and Mortal Kombat: Deception. Even Nintendo released two adult games for GameCube: Eternal Darkness and Geist, and they also collaborated with Konami and Silicon Knights on Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes. Ubisoft gave the GameCube version of Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (also an M rated game) a Collector's Edition release like the other versions. The GameCube version of BMX XXX also happens to be the least censored of the three versions, and taking the cover out of the case and looking at the other side of it reveals a hidden picture (as seen in the video above). But an even bigger surprise is the fact that the GameCube version of Resident Evil 3 is the only version of the original Resident Evil 3 that is completely uncensored (in the U.S. and Canada anyway; I haven't played the Japanese and European releases yet).
    Don't even bother using the indigo color as an argument for the console being for "kids only." The Jet black color was also available right on the console's launch, and Japan also got the Spice orange color. Platinum followed only a year later.

    9.Lots of great imports
    Some people criticize the console's library for having less games than PS2 and Xbox. Well, there's more than meets the eye. A lot more. There are several games released only in Japan and/or Europe that are worth importing. Here are some of the notable ones:

    There are Dr. Mario games for just about every Nintendo system, but the GameCube seems to have been left out. Not so. Dr. Mario 64 was released in Japan for the GameCube as part of Nintendo Puzzle Collection. Also included are an updated version of Yoshi's Cookie, and (believe it or not) the unreleased N64 version of Panel de Pon. These games allow up to four players to play and can be played with any of the GameCube's Controllers (Standard, Wavebird, Hori Digital), or a Game Boy Advance or Game Boy Advance SP connected to the GameCube. Some copies of Nintendo Puzzle Collection include a GameCube-Game Boy Advance cable. 

    Like it or not, the GameCube has a trilogy of Donkey Kong games like the SNES and original Game Boy do. Donkey Konga 3 includes DK, Diddy, and Dixie as playable characters like Donkey Konga 2, and also adds Funky Kong. This also means the Kongs are shown on the screen when four players play, unlike the previous Donkey Konga games. The soundtrack is better than the previous Donkey Konga games, not only having the most songs but also having music from NES and Famicom games such as Super Mario Bros. 3 and Mappy (the Donkey Konga trilogy was developed by Namco, after all). If you like the other Donkey Konga games, this is worth importing because it is the best of the trilogy.
    Hudson Soft, the company behind Bomberman and Adventure Island, released several remakes of their NES games in an era dominated by 3D games and new ideas. Though some Bomberman games were released for the console outside of Japan, Hudson Soft released remakes of Lode Runner, Star Soldier, Bonk's Adventure, and Adventure Island in Japan. Each game includes some unlockable features, such as commercials (including the American commercial for Adventure Island II) and the Hudson Shooting Watch.

    A sequel to Bomberman Land for PS1 was released in Japan for GameCube. It features a 2D, RPG-style story mode where you talk to people and play mini-games. One of the more notable mini-games (which is in 3D) is Bomberman Kart, which was originally released as a standalone game for PS2. Bomberman Kart in Bomberman Land 2 allows up to four players, has three modes (including Grand Prix and Time Trials), includes more than ten tracks (many of which need to be unlocked), has multiple character and Kart selections, and shows replays after each race. It has almost enough content to be a full-fledged kart racing game like the standalone version. Bomberman Land 2 also has additional mini-games that can be downloaded to a Game Boy Advance with a GameCube-Game Boy Advance Cable.

    Maybe you've heard of/played the Kururin games on Game Boy Advance (Kuru Kuru Kururin and Kururin Paradise). Well here's Kururin Squash!, the (so far) only console entry in the series, released in Japan. Though the visuals are in 3D, as expected, the game plays mostly the same as the GBA games, in that you ride a helicopter and must move through narrow paths while doing your best not to touch the walls. The levels also become more challenging the more you progress. There are boss battles at the end of each world. The music ranges from intense to calm and relaxing, and some of it is quite memorable. Up to four players can play. One of my favorite imports.
    This game was released in America under the title Bust a Move 3000. Some people think it is a port of Super Bust a Move 2 for PS2, probably because it has the same cover art. However, it is actually a port of the first Super Bust a Move but with different backgrounds. The reason why the Japanese and European releases are worth mentioning is because they have two additional modes that the American release doesn't have: a four player mode, and a kind of Space Invaders-style Shoot Bubble mode. If you liked the Bust a Move games for the N64, it is worth importing Super Bust a Move All-Stars or Super Puzzle Bobble All-Stars.

    Micro Machines is another franchise that has appeared on most Nintendo systems, but the GameCube was seemingly left out. Actually, an entry was released for GameCube in Europe but by Atari instead of Codemasters. Honestly, it's not as good as previous Micro Machine games though it isn't bad either. The characters are different. Instead of characters like Mike, Emilio, and Spider like in previous Micro Machines games, this game has Grizzly Beard and Aunt Betty. The gameplay, however, is basically the same, with an overhead view and tiny vehicles cruising through several tracks indoor and outdoor. Like Micro Machines 64, up to four players can play this game. Some of the music is catchy, while others are forgettable. I'd say it's worth importing, but only if you're a fan of this series.
    10.Action Replay 


    Even though the Action Replay is a cheat device, it isn't just for using cheat codes. It can also be used to access hidden features in many games, such as beta content in Luigi's Mansion (remember the Game Boy Horror clock in early screens of the game?), a debug mode in Super Smash Bros. Melee, a test level in Super Mario Sunshine, Super Mario Bros. and Legend of Zelda in Animal Crossing, etc.

    The earlier versions of Action Replay are the best because they have an option to add codes, which was removed from the newer version released in 2007. One of the best codes allows you to play F-Zero AX in F-Zero GX, complete with menus, checkpoints, and Arcade controls with the Logitech Speed Force Steering Wheel. The newer version of Action Replay is still worth buying, though, because it has SD Card support for homebrew material. 
     
           
    Both the earlier and newer versions of Action Replay also have a Freeloader option to play imported games, without modifying the console, just by swapping discs. The Freeloader included in the earlier Action Replay discs (as well as earlier Freeloader discs) can also convert PAL games to 60Hz, so they'll work on American GameCube's and American TV's even if the game doesn't have a 60hz option.                
    The earlier versions of the Action Replay don't work with the Wii due to updates, so this is yet another reason to keep the GameCube or buy one. 
    11.SD Card support







    If you read issues of Nintendo Power in 2001 before the GameCube was released, you might've seen pictures of an SD Card accessory. The SD Card Adapter was released in Japan in 2003. It is meant to be used in Dōbutsu no Mori e+ (Animal Crossing) and Pokémon Colosseum. You can take pictures, save them onto an SD Card. and do whatever you want with them. You can print them, use them as desktop wallpaper, post them on a website, e-mail them to someone, etc.


    The SD Card accessory, both official and unofficial versions, can be used with the 2007 version of Action Replay for Homebrew material, without modifying the console. Yes, the GameCube has a Homebrew scene. It's just not as big as NES, SNES, or N64. You can download NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, Game Boy, and even PS1 Emulators. Of course, these Emulators do not replace the original systems but can be useful. You can play hacks of various games (such as Mario Adventure and Mega Man 3 Improvement) on a console, without having to spend $50 or more on a cartridge (assuming a hack was even put on a cartridge).

    You can play the unreleased Game Boy Advance version of Rainbow Islands on a GameCube with the Visual Boy Advance GX Emulator. It is also possible to play it on the Game Boy Player by using a GBA Flash Cartridge.

    Like FCE Ultra for PC, FCE Ultra GX for GameCube has a built-in NSF (NES Sound Format) Player and can play pretty much any NES soundtrack (including Famicom and Famicom Disk System). You can even listen to Mega Man 9, Mega Man 10, and Shovel Knight's soundtracks, since they were converted to NSF, as well as unused music tracks from games such as Battletoads and Kirby's Adventure.
    With the CubeSX PS1 Emulator, you can play the beta/prototype versions of Mega Man 8 on a GameCube.
    The SD Card Adapter works with regular SD Cards of up to 2 GB, though Datel released an Adapter that allows SD Cards of up to 4 GB.
    12.Looks reasonably good on HDTV's


    With HDTV's having removed S-Video ports and having Composite video shared with Component video ports, it's gotten more difficult to connect older consoles to newer TV's. Of course, retro consoles like the NES and Sega Genesis are best played on CRT TV's anyway. The thing about GameCube, however, is that many of its games still look modern(ish). Of course, being released in 2001, it is a standard definition console, and depending on your setup it may or may not look good on an HDTV.
    The GameCube has its own Component cable, and the original DOL-001 model of the GameCube has a Digital A/V out port where this cable can be connected. Of course, if you've looked for Component cables on eBay, then you've likely noticed that they are not cheap due to the fact that they were only sold online (except in Japan, where they were also available at retailers and came inside a nice box). However, nowadays there are HDMI Adapter's available for GameCube if you'd prefer a cheaper alternative.
    Though both the Component cable and HDMI Adapters provide a much sharper picture than Composite, quite a few of the GameCube's games also have Progressive Scan support for an even sharper image. Some games also have a Deflicker setting and a surprising amount of games have Widescreen support as well (more info below).
    Since the Game Boy Player doesn't work with Wii, one advantage that the GameCube's Component cable has over the Wii's Component cable is that the former can be used to run the Game Boy Player in Progressive Scan. So this is yet another to keep/buy the GameCube if you want to play Game Boy games with a clearer image.

    Super Smash Bros. Melee, Sonic Heroes, and Pikmin 2 have a Deflicker setting. For Melee and Pikmin 2, I recommend turning this setting off for the clearest picture possible. While useful on a CRT TV, turning the Deflicker option on while using a Component cable and an HDTV just makes the image look blurry. For Sonic Heroes, I recommend leaving the option on since the image honestly doesn't look all that different when it's off (and the difference is even less noticeable on an HDTV) other than making the menu graphics look a little more jagged and pixellated. 

    Tired of the image looking stretched on your HDTV? Many games have Widescreen support. Some games even have both Progressive Scan and Widescreen support, such as Star Fox Adventures, Super Monkey Ball 2, James Bond 007: Nightfire and James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing, the Burnout games, Eternal Darkness, F-Zero GX, Soul Calibur II, R: Racing Evolution, most of the Tony Hawk games (even Pro Skater 4), Need For Speed Underground 2, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, TimeSplitters: Future Perfect, Need For Speed Most Wanted, the True Crime games, Fight Night Round 2, Geist, Super Mario Strikers, Pac-Man World Rally, and Need For Speed Carbon. Even Madden NFL 08 has both Progressive Scan and Widescreen support, despite being a very late release for the console.
    Here's another use for the earlier versions of Action Replay. Some games that don't have Widescreen support can be forced to run in Widescreen on a real GameCube. Animal Crossing looks VERY clean when played in both Progressive Scan and Widescreen (it also runs at a smooth 60 frames per second). And now the GameCube version of Zelda: Twilight Princess is playable in Widescreen like the Wii and Wii U versions.
    13.Skins 
    Several skins were released for the GameCube, both licensed and unlicensed. I remember seeing some of these in 2006/2007. I've seen Super Smash Bros. Melee, Pikmin, Pokémon XD, and various Zelda: Twilight Princess skins. These are licensed. I've also seen an unlicensed Resident Evil 4 skin. A year or two ago, I saw a Sonic Riders skin on eBay which looked to have been licensed by Sega.
    14.Game Boy Advance Connectivity 

    The Game Boy Advance Connectivity feature is well-known, but only got a moderate amount of attention during the GameCube era. Which is unfortunate, because there are actually quite a few neat features available when linking the two systems. The most notable games with Connectivity are Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, Animal Crossing, Metroid Prime, Pac-Man Vs., Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, and Zelda: Four Swords Adventures.
    Sonic Adventure 2: Battle


    When Sonic Adventure 2: Battle came out, Sega and Sonic Team made history by not only releasing the first Sonic game for a Nintendo console but also by being the first companies to make use of the GBA Connectivity feature. You can send your Chao to a garden called Tiny Chao Garden on your GBA, and build-up its stats on the go. You can save your stats if you have Sonic Advance or any other Sonic GBA game that has the Tiny Chao Garden. When you're ready, you can send the Chao and its stats back to the GameCube. Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut expanded this GBA Connectivity feature by also including a few mini-games.
    Animal Crossing 


    Animal Crossing is the only GameCube game released in America that is compatible with the GBA e-Reader (other e-Reader compatible games were released in Japan). Many e-Reader cards were released that can be used at the Town Tune board, the e-Reader machine in the Post Office, inside the Able Sisters Tailor Shop, and on the e-Readers' menu. Two NES games (Mario Bros. (1983) and Ice Climber), thought to be "forbidden" games, are officially obtainable with two of the e-Reader cards. 

    In the Tailor Shop, you can download the design tool to a GBA and create/edit designs on the go. You can also use the e-Reader here to scan cards that have patterns. You can then use the patterns on clothing, umbrellas, doors, signs, wallpaper, and floors. You can also put them on display in the Tailor Shop, then your animal neighbors may use them on their clothing or umbrellas. If another player visits your town, he or she can also use the patterns you have on display.




    You can use the GBA to travel to an Island. There's a flag on this Island that you can change with any patterns you have. When you're ready to go back to your town, you can download a simplified version of your Island to a GBA. If you leave your Shovel, Axe, Net, and Fishing Rod on your Island, your Islander can use these tools on the GBA. If you go back to your Island on the GameCube, you'll find your tools in the same spots where your Islander left them on the GBA. If your Islander finds any goodies with your tools, he or she may give them to you. One of those goodies is Wario's Woods for NES. If another player is playing and you have two GBA's, you can also trade the GBA versions of your Islands. There are Coconuts on the Island that you can take back with you to your town. When you're back at your town, you can dig the Coconuts and grow palm trees.


    When playing an NES game, there's an Advance Play option that allows you to download some of the included NES games to a GBA. Some games such as Punch-Out!! and Wario's Woods can't be downloaded because they're larger than the GBA's RAM.
    Pac-Man Vs.




    Pac-Man Vs. is one of the finest examples of GBA Connectivity. At least two players are required to play, but there are options for computer controlled Ghosts and up to four players can play. Three players control the Ghosts and look at the TV. The other player, of course, controls Pac-Man, and looks at the Game Boy Advance. The players controlling the Ghosts can only see their immediate surroundings, while the player controlling Pac-Man can see the entire maze. The player that catches Pac-Man then swaps Controllers with whoever was playing as Pac-Man. There are several maze layouts to choose from, Also, Mario provides commentary. Interestingly, the title screen music is from Namco Museum Vol. 1 on PS1.
    Pac-Man Vs. is included with all Player's Choice copies of Pac-Man World 2, and some copies of R: Racing Evolution. I believe it is also included with some copies of I-Ninja, and got a limited release by itself.
    Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell


    The Splinter Cell series is considered best on the Xbox consoles, but the GameCube version of the first Splinter Cell has some cool GBA Connectivity features not in the other versions.
    A map showing your surroundings is shown on the GBA. The green arrow is Sam Fisher, the purple arrow is a guard that's been knocked out, and the red arrow is a guard above Fisher. If a guard is nearby, the GBA beeps to warn you. Connecting a GBA also allows a Sticky Bomb weapon to be selected. On the GameCube you shoot the Sticky Bomb using the SC-20K and then activate it with the GBA, taking out any guards that are nearby. If you have both the GameCube and GBA versions of the game, five more levels can be unlocked in the GBA version by completing levels in the GameCube version and then connecting a GBA with the GBA version of the game.

    Conclusion
    I could go on and on, but I think that's enough (for now). These aren't the only things about the GameCube that make it a great console. Like other consoles, you can hook it up to a Sound Bar or Home Theater System and listen to games in Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound (Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike stands out, because it has seven channel Dolby Pro Logic IIx). Many of its games have memorable soundtracks. A lot of its games have Progressive Scan support and some like F-Zero GX even have widescreen support, making them look reasonably good even on an HDTV. It was one of the first consoles to have an official wireless Controller. Even the demo discs are fun to collect (and play).t

    The Cube was and still is an amazing console after all these years, and it deserves more respect. If you haven't played it in a while, it is worth going back to. If you've never played it before, I suggest giving it a chance. 
    Check out my YouTube Channel for videos of GameCube demos, beta content, soundtracks, and my A Look at Imports series.
    YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MegaMan52
    I'll add more pics to this blog later.
    -MegaMan52






  21. MegaMan52

    The Sega Master System

    By MegaMan52,


    Talking About A Specific Console
    Introduction
     
    I grew up playing the NES and have no nostalgia or memories of Sega's 8-bit console, the Master System. In fact, I hadn't even heard of the Master System in the '90s. I always assumed Sega's first console was the Genesis/Mega Drive, and that they had only made Arcade games prior to the release of that console.

    In 2001/2002, I came across an NES site called NES Player (mentioned in my previous blog about gaming sites I used to visit). They had several shrines (pages dedicated to certain NES games), one of which was about Duck Hunt. NES Player's Duck Hunt shrine had a page comparing Duck Hunt to a similar game called Safari Hunt. It was on this page that I found out that Sega released a console prior to the Genesis called the Sega Master System, a gun peripheral similar to the NES Zapper called the Phaser, and a 2 in 1 cartridge similar to the Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt cartridge called Hang-On & Safari Hunt. I was mainly a Nintendo guy at that point (though I liked the PS1, the Genesis, Sonic Adventure on Dreamcast, and some PC games), so I didn't really have any interest in the Master System when I found out about it. Even so, I still thought it was interesting that Sega released a console before the Genesis/Mega Drive.
    In 2018, I played the Master System for the first time with a friend. The game we played was Double Dragon, which is kind of different than the NES and Game Boy versions that I'm more familiar with (note: I'm silent and off-screen in this video; my friend was the only one who talked). In 2021, my friend decided to give me his Sega Master System collection, the console, ten games, two Controllers, the Phaser, and hookups.
    This blog focuses on some of the games that I currently have for the console, as well as some of its interesting features.
    The Sega Master System
    The Controllers


    The Master System's Controller resembles the NES Controller, with a rectangular shape and a similar button layout. The Pad, however, is inferior in my opinion (though it is a little more comfortable), because it seems to be more sensitive than the NES's Pad. And there's no Start button (even though some games tell you to "Press Start"). Instead, there are 1 and 2 buttons with the 1 button acting like a Start button. There's a Pause button on the console. 

    One interesting feature, which likely would've blown my mind if I knew about the Master System in the '90s, is that the Sega Genesis Controller is compatible with the Master System. It doesn't make use of the added buttons, but it does work.
    The Built-In Games


    Another interesting feature of the Master System is its built-in games, which varies depending on the model. The most common built-in game is the Snail Maze game, a very simple game where you control a Snail and are given a minute to make your way through a maze. The Snail Maze game can be played by turning the Master System on with no cartridge inserted, and holding up on the Pad and Buttons 1 and 2 while the Sega logo is being displayed. In addition to this game, my Master System also has Hang-On and Safari Hunt built into it (which I also have on a 2 in 1 cartridge). If the system is turned on without a cartridge and no buttons are pressed, it loads up Hang-On & Safari Hunt. Other models of the Master System have other games built-in.
    The Phaser

    The Master System's Light Gun, used in certain games such as Safari Hunt. While not as iconic as the NES's Zapper, I suppose many would think it looks "cool" in comparison. It's fairly accurate, but as with the NES's Zapper it only works on CRT TV's (it doesn't work properly on a modern HDTV).


    Games on Cartridges 

    These are some of the Master System games that I have right now that I thought I'd talk about.
    Hang-On & Safari Hunt


    As mentioned above, Hang-On and Safari Hunt are not only built-into my Master System but I also have them on a cartridge. This 2 in 1 cartridge was one of the cartridges included with the Master System, like how Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt was included with the NES. These were the first Master System games I came across (but not the first ones I played) when I found out about the Master System on an NES site called NES Player in 2002.


    Hang-On, based on the Arcade game of the same name, is similar to Mach Rider for NES in that you ride a Motorcycle that moves at different speeds, and have to avoid obstacles. Not surprisingly, being an Arcade-style game (and originally released in Arcades), it has a time limit. There are some checkpoints, but there's little room for error as the game only gives you just enough time to reach them. The background changes when you reach a checkpoint. Unlike the Arcade version, the Master System version doesn't have any music during gameplay (just a short tune on the title screen, and another tune when the game is over). Which is a little weird and somewhat disappointing, considering even Mach Rider (an early black box NES game released before Hang-On) has music that plays during gameplay. Still, Hang-On can be fun to play on occasion and is fine if you want some quick Arcade-style gaming for about fifteen minutes.

    Now let's talk about the other game included in this cartridge...

    Also part of the above 2 in 1 cartridge is Safari Hunt, a game that makes use of the Master System's Light Phaser gun.

    As you can see, this is basically Sega's version of Duck Hunt. You shoot Ducks, as well as Fish jumping out of the water. Similar to how Duck Hunt requires you to shoot a certain amount of Ducks to move onto the next round, Safari Hunt requires you to score a certain amount of points. Simply shooting Ducks won't give you enough points. You'll need to shoot the Fish as well, which give you 1000 points each.


    The scenery and wildlife changes as you progress. You'll notice Bears, Birds, Armadillos, Monkeys, Spiders, Bats, and Panthers.
    Since the Phaser doesn't work properly with modern HDTV's, getting good quality screenshots captured directly from my Master Sysfem was difficult compared to the other games listed in this blog. My Master System had to be plugged into a CRT TV so that I could start the game, then I had to plug it into my Capture Device (which works with retro consoles but connects to HDTV's). My Capture Device sometimes takes a little while to pick up a signal, and If you don't do anything in this game it ends and goes back to the title screen after about a minute. So, taking screenshots during gameplay was a little difficult.
    Wonder Boy 


    You might think that the Master System ripped off the NES. In some ways maybe, but here's an instance where the Master System got something before the NES. The first Wonder Boy and first Adventure Island are very similar games, both based on the Wonder Boy Arcade game. They have different main characters, different titles, and different music, but basically the same levels and gameplay.


    Both games play pretty much the same. You need to keep collecting fruit so that your energy meter doesn't run out. You can find eggs in the levels that contain a weapon (an Axe), a Skateboard, or a Fairy who makes you invincible for a short time (Adventure Island has a Bee instead).


    Adventure Island has superior controls and music, in my opinion. Wonder Boy has a catchy theme, but my main complaint about its soundtrack is that it plays the same music for every level except the levels that have bosses. Adventure Island's theme plays only on some levels, with water levels and cave levels having their own music. I've listened to the Wonder Boy soundtrack on YouTube and the game does have an unused music track that, presumably, would have played in the water or cave levels. Too bad it's unused.
    While I do like Adventure Island a little more, I still think Wonder Boy is a good game and it is definitely one of my favorite games on the Master System.
    Double Dragon



    This was the first game I played on the Master System. I played it with a friend in 2018, and we made it to the last level. I had no idea that he would give me this game along with the rest of his Master System collection three years later. I grew up playing the Game Boy version of Double Dragon (and still have my original copy), and have also played the NES version several times.

    The Master System version of Double Dragon is, in many ways, similar but also different than the NES and Game Boy versions. The NES version has a two player mode with players taking turns playing as one character: Billy Lee, as well as a Versus mode with several characters to choose from. The Game Boy version is one player only, except for a stripped down version of the Versus mode from the NES version. The Master System version has a two player co-op mode like the Arcade version, with Player 1 controlling Billy and Player 2 controlling Jimmy. This is the standout feature of the Master System version. Gameplay is otherwise pretty similar.


    As in other versions, you can use weapons such as a Baseball Bat and a Whip.

    The Master System version has shorter levels, but improved graphics and in some cases is a little bit closer to being like the Arcade version. And while the music, in my opinion, isn't quite as catchy as the NES and Game Boy versions, I still like how the music sounds in the Master System version. The music tracks in Level 2/Mission 2 and Level 3/Mission 3 (pic above) are my favorites.

    Paperboy 


    Not much to say about this. Paperboy, like other Arcade games such as Pac-Man, came out on just about every game system you can think of. Arcade, NES, Master System, Game Boy, etc., etc. The N64 got a 3D version, and PS2, GameCube, and Xbox got the Arcade version in Midway Arcade Treasures.

    This screen appears right before you deliver papers. showing which houses you need to deliver to (subscribers) and which ones you don't need to deliver to.

    The Master System version plays the same as most other versions. You deliver Newspapers to subscriber's doorsteps or mailboxes. Throwing papers in mailboxes (imagine doing that in real life) gives you more points. If you miss a subscriber's house or mailbox, or if you throw a paper at a window or somewhere besides the doorstep or mailbox, you'll lose subscribers. There are various obstacles that you have to make sure you avoid, like cars, people, dogs, and other things.

    After delivering papers, you ride your bike through an obstacle course (called the Training Course in the Arcade version) where you can throw papers at targets for more points. 
    The music in the Master System version is awesome, like many other versions of the game.

    Out Run


    Another instance of Sega releasing a game first. Sega's Out Run was the inspiration for Nintendo's/Square's Rad Racer (which I still have my original copy of that I've had since the early '90s). Both games are very similar.


    Rad Racer has a turbo feature, two vehicles, and a 3D mode. Out Run has low and high gears instead of turbo (common in Arcade racing games of the '80s, like Pole Position), and the tracks have multiple paths (there are sections of the track where the road splits).


    Both games have multiple music tracks to listen to while you're cruising by beaches and cities. Crashes also look cool in both. Out Run's scrolling is a little choppy compared to Rad Racer, though its visuals are definitely better. 
    Out Run is often considered to be the better game, though I like both.
    Fantasy Zone II


    A shoot 'em up (or "cute 'em up" as some people may prefer calling it) similar to games like Gradius, Life Force, Twin Bee, and R-Type. Other than that, I'm not too familar with the Fantasy Zone series. When it comes to shoot 'em ups, I'm more into Space Invaders, Galaxian, Galaga, Gradius, Life Force, Contra (a "run and gun"), Smash TV (a "multidirectional shooter"), Star Fox (a "rail shooter"), and Alien Hominid (also "run and gun"). Fantasy Zone II was my introduction to the Fantasy Zone series. It has kind of a cute look to it (like the TwinBee games), which is why some call it a "cute 'em up" instead of a shoot 'em up.


    The game seems to be most similar to Defender, in that the screen scrolls left or right and various enemies are after you in most directions. There are several warps in the levels that take you to other sections.
    Great Golf


    A basic Golf game. Visually, it's more detailed than regular black box Golf for NES. You can pick Stroke Play or Match Play. There are both male and female Golfers. Like many of the Golf games on NES, there are two views: an overhead view, and a view from behind the Golfer.

    Conclusion
    The NES was, is, and always will be my favorite game system. That being said, I cannot deny that the Master System had potential, good ideas (like built-in games and compatibility with Genesis Controllers), and has its fair share of classics. It is also interesting playing different versions of games that I played on Nintendo systems, such as Double Dragon and Wonder Boy (Adventure Island on the NES), and games that inspired some games on the NES, such as Out Run (which inspired Rad Racer).
    In the future, when I add more games to my Master System collection, I might make more blogs about the Master System's games. As the Master System didn't really catch on in the U.S. and Canada, its library of games is pretty small compared to the NES and Genesis. However it was more popular in Europe, and got a ton of cool games there that weren't released in the U.S. and Canada. Interesting that while most gamers in the U.S. and Canada were playing the NES, most gamers in Europe were playing the Master System. As someone who's been importing games and related items for decades, I'll likely be importing several Master System games. The console also isn't region-locked, so playing imported games is easy. It also has an active Homebrew scene, with ports of Game Gear games and new games created by fans.
    Game screenshots captured from a real Sega Master System, not an Emulator.
    -MegaMan52
  22. MegaMan52

    Top 10 Bootleg Games/Systems

    By MegaMan52,


    Top 10's
    Introduction
    First-party/Third-party/Licensed/Official games (whatever you want to call them) aren't the only games I collect. When importing games, I also collect bootlegs that came from Brazil, China, Taiwan, Poland, etc. Over the last three decades, many of these bootlegs have found their way into the U.S. and Canada.
    I read about many of these and other bootlegs in the early and mid 2000s. In the last decade or so, I've managed to get some of them. Some were bought on eBay, some are from friends, and some I got from a certain Famicom enthusiast here on VGS. Heck, some of them could be found at retro game stores, mixed with licensed, unlicensed, hacks, and homebrew games.
    Of course, Rockman/Mega Man bootlegs were a priority, but I've also come across multicarts, Mario bootlegs, and Donkey Kong bootlegs. And then there are the systems, some of which are plug and plays that look like N64 Controllers.
    Here's my current top 10 for bootleg games and systems.
    Top 10 Bootleg Games/Systems
    10.Super Mario Bros. 3

    I thought I'd start off with a less exciting, yet still interesting bootleg. I found out about this cartridge on an NES site called NES Player (now Nintendo Player) in the early 2000s. Last year in 2022, one of my friends finds it from a nearby seller and decided to give it to me for free (knowing that I like collecting imports).
    This is the entire Japanese version of Super Mario Bros. 3 on a bootleg cartridge. While the cartridge resembles an NES cartridge, the actual game is a Famicom game connected to an adapter.

    The game is identical to the official Japanese release, with one exception: the copyright info on the title screen was removed.

    Being the Japanese version of the game, there are some differences compared to the American release. After selecting a level on the map screens, there is a fade-in that was removed from the American release.

    The World 1 Mini-Fortress has a minor change in the room with the spiked ceiling. The Japanese version has an extra set of spikes after the door that were removed from the American release. The American release also moved the door slightly to the right, underneath the two higher spikes.


    World 5-1 has a different goal. A pipe was removed from the American release that leads to the goal in the Japanese version. It's still in the American version, and can be found by using Game Genie code AOSUZI and removing blocks from the wall in the room with the treasure chest. The goal from the Japanese version was shown in the movie 3 Ninjas.

    If you use a whistle while riding the World 3 canoe in the Japanese version, the game thinks you're still riding on it and you can move around the Warp Zone map screen. This glitch was fixed in the American version.
    There are other differences too, but these are some of the more notable differences.
    9.Super Joy III

    A plug and play. This one looks like an N64 Controller. The analog stick can't be used.


    It's like a muliticart, in that it has a bunch of Famicom games. There are a lot of games included that can be found on multicarts, like Super Mario Bros. and Kung Fu. The highlight in this plug and play is Super C. There are about 50 or 60 different games, while the rest are repeats. There is a slot on the bottom for Famicom cartridges.

    Sound emulation isn't quite accurate. The music in Super Mario Bros. sounds different, and it's faster (wonder if they used the PAL version, with NTSC emulation). Most of the games sound a little different. At least the picture quality looks good. The games look bright, and the colors are vivid.
    8.Rockman X3
    A bootleg, Sega Genesis version of Mega Man X3 that I remember recording videos of in 2009 (2008, actually...they were re-uploaded in 2009).
    It's based on the Saturn version, believe it or not. The boarders around the screen are from the Saturn version. Also, the second option on the title screen says "CONTINUE" (instead of "PASSWORD") like in the PS1, Saturn, and PC versions. Two bosses/Mavericks were removed. Collecting all of the Heart Tanks causes the game to crash
    There are multiple versions. Music differs depending on the version, as well as the Emulator used. I remember in 2008, I played the game on GENS and Zero's theme played in every level. Then I played it on Kega Fusion, and other music tracks played but they were mixed up (the music for Blizzard Buffalo's stage played in the opening stage, while the music for Gravity Beetle's stage played in Blizzard Buffalo's stage).
    The videos I recorded of this bootleg got a fair bit of attention in 2009, and were mentioned in news articles on some sites such as Rockman Corner.
    Rockman Corner news article: https://www.rockman-corner.com/2009/07/mega-man-x3-snes-vs-genesis-bootleg.html
    Press The Buttons news article: https://www.pressthebuttons.com/2009/07/mega-man-x3-for-sega-genesis-tries-hard-bless-its-heart.html
    7.Sonic 3D Blast 5
    A game that I played with one of my friends a few years ago on a Game Boy multicart (note: I'm silent and off-screen the entire video). We also played the Rockman 8 Game Boy bootleg below.
    The game isn't really anything like Sonic 3D Blast/Sonic 3D Flickies' Island, other than the opening having pictures of the opening from the Saturn and PC versions of Sonic 3D Blast. The game more closely resembles Sonic 1, 2, and 3, though that's being a little too generous. It has several glitches, the music is annoying, sometimes you can get stuck, and it takes a little while for Sonic to speed up. Still, I thought it was kind of interesting.
    6.Rockman 8
    Oh yeah, this game. I remember it. I found out about in on a Mega Man site called The Mechanical Maniacs in the mid 2000s. I bought it on eBay in 2013 or so.
    The opening has pictures of Mega Man 8's opening. This is followed by a Rockman 8 title screen, then a stage select screen with pictures of Mega Man and four of the Mega Man 8 bosses (Tengu Man, Frost Man, Clown Man, and Grenade Man). However, the names of the bosses are mixed up and after selecting a stage you see some of the bosses from Mega Man 3.
    None of the levels are actually from Mega Man 8, though they do have similar themes. If you select Mega Man's picture on the stage select screen, you go to an island stage sort of like the opening stage in Mega Man 8. There is a sky level, an ice level, a carnival kind of level, etc. Also, none of the bosses are from Mega Man 3 or Mega Man 8, and you don't get their weapons.
    The game is full of glitches. You can fall through platforms. If you shoot too many enemies, the other enemies don't even appear (except for the bosses). 
    5.Super Donkey Kong 2 (Donkey Kong Country 2)

    This is another bootleg I found out about on NES Player/Nintendo Player in the early 2000s, and bought on eBay much later (2016 I think).
    It contains only three levels, and only Diddy Kong is playable (Dixie Kong only appears on the title and ending screens). The levels have basically the same layouts as their SNES counterparts. The last level has one of the animal buddies from the SNES version: Rattly the Rattlesnake.
    The music tracks are recognizable and translated well to the NES, for the most part.
    4.64 in 1 Multicart


    I bought this multicart from a certain Famicom enthusiast here on VGS (along with King Kong 2).
    This cartridge has hacked versions of several well-known games. One of the games is Dig Dug, but with Hello Kitty. There's an Arabian game, which is actually one of the games included on the Caltron 6 in 1 cartridge for the NES. The sound effects on the game selection screen, by the way, are the same as Action 52 (which uses a modified version of a menu from a different multicart that also uses the same menu sound effects).
    3.Donkey Kong Country
    The now well-known bootleg of Donkey Kong Country from a company called Hummer Team. I made a video of it in November 2006 (the original video from that time is included in my compilation video), and it was one of my first hugely successful videos. The video was successful because this bootleg was unknown at the time, and many were surprised that it was good.
    Both DK and Diddy are playable. A bunch of levels from the SNES version are included, though several were removed. The graphics are some of the best on the NES. The Bonus areas and animal buddies were removed.
    Pretty impressive overall, and the best Donkey Kong bootleg I've seen. 
    2.110 in 1 Multicart

    Another bootleg I got from a friend, who found another 110 in 1 bootleg around the same time (one of which was bought at a retro game store). It's similar to the 64 in 1 above and even has the same menu, but it has more games.

    This cartridge contains both original versions (with modifications to the title screens) and hacked versions of games. One of the games included is The Goonies for the Famicom, which only got an American release on some Play-Choice 10 Arcade machines but was never officially released on the NES. There's a hacked version of Super Mario Bros. that changes the graphics to that of the Japanese Super Mario Bros. 2, but is the same otherwise. A hack of the original Pac-Man called "Super Pac-Man" (not like the actual Super Pac-Man game) changes some of the colors, speeds up the game, and is somewhat harder. One of the highlights is Antarctic Adventure, a Famicom game released only in Japan from Konami featuring a Penguin and levels with a pseudo 3D look similar to Rad Racer. Some other games include Galaga, Dig Dug, Gradius, Adventure Island, Mappy, Milon's Secret Castle, and two versions of Tetris (the Famicom version, and Tengen's NES version).


    Some of the games have strange titles on the game selection menu, like "Din Dun" (Dig Dug) and "Mario Bors II" (Super Mario Bros., with the Japanese Super Mario Bros. 2's graphics).


    1.Zook Hero Z and Rockman DX3 (a.k.a., Zook Hero 2)

    Couldn't decide which one I like most, so they both place 1st. They are similar to the Mega Man Xtreme games for Game Boy Color, but have ideas and features from the original Mega Man series as well. They're from a well-known (among bootleg collector's) company known as Vast Fame, and are part of a series (which extended to the Game Boy Advance).
    Both games use sound effects from Mega Man III, IV, and V for the original Game Boy. The music seems to be original in both, but sounds similar to the Mega Man games for the original Game Boy (it sounds like they use the same sound engine as those games). The music in these games js actually pretty good; noticeably better than a lot of other bootlegs.
    Zook Hero Z has a Cop who becomes a robot (gee, I wonder where they got that from). Rockman DX3/Zook Hero 2 has two playable characters like Mega Man Xtreme 2, but they're not X and Zero. The characters have Mega Man's slide and X's dash, and can also jump on walls like X and Zero.
    I remember watching a video of Rockman DX3 in 2007. There are multiple versions of the game. The one I saw in the video had all of the stages already completed and the final stage already accessible, you started at a checkpoint in some of the stages, and it reused the music from Zook Hero Z. Some versions are also compatible with the original Game Boy. In the version I have (complete with box and manual), the stages aren't cleared, the music is mostly different, you start at the beginning of the stages, there's a save feature, and it's for color Game Boy systems only. One issue with the version that I have is that the collision during boss battles is broken, so you can sometimes take damage even if the bosses shots don't touch you. Regardless, the games manage to be more playable than many other bootleg's and seem more professionally made.
    Honorable Mentions
    Kool Kidz


    Another plug and play. This has 15 games that are rip-offs of well-known NES and Arcade games, like R.C. Pro Am and Space Invaders.


    One of the included games is "Big Racing", which is a rip-off of two games: R.C. Pro Am and Micro Machines. The title screen has the R.C. car from R.C. Pro Am II's title screen. The game has an overhead view like Micro Machines (rather than the isometric kind of view R.C. Pro Am as), and the score info and map look similar to the first R.C. Pro Am. The game uses sound effects from R.C. Pro Am and Micro Machines (NES version).


    One of the other included games is Space Castle, which is a rip-off of Space Invaders. It uses sound effects from the NES version of Gradius.
    Super Donkey Kong (Donkey Kong Land)
    A Famicom bootleg version of Donkey Kong Land. I recorded a video of it in 2007.
    There are five levels (well technically fifteen, but the other ten are repeats). The music is from Donkey Kong Country (first one). DK and Diddy are both playable, and they have their signature moves (roll and cartwheel).
    It looks and sounds reasonably good for a bootleg, but has some issues (besides the limited amount of levels). The game is kind of slow, When you climb ropes and move from one rope to another, there's a bit of a delay (DK also looks weird when moving to another rope). The animations are choppy compared to the official version of the game for the Game Boy.

    There's kind of a funny part in the second level. There's a kremling ("Kritter") who's just walking in one area. If you move away and just leave him, he just sort of walks out of the level.
    Conclusion
    There you go, I play and collect bootlegs too (and also have others not listed here). Which isn't too surprising, because I've been collecting imports for decades.
    That wraps up MegaMan52 blog #28. Thanks for reading.

    😎
    -MegaMan52
  23. MegaMan52

    Top 10 Flash Games

    By MegaMan52,


    Top 10's
    Introduction
    Yes, you read that correctly. Not PC games, but FLASH games. Those games you may have seen on various websites in the past that were playable on the Internet. Sites such as Newgrounds, Miniclip, Iragination, and Homestar Runner. 
    Flash was discontinued over a year ago, but despite that many Flash Games can still be played today. The Flash games from Iragination, the company behind various Mega Man Flash games such as Fireman: Incoming Storm and Fall of 21XX, are still playable after all these years for example, and can be found on their site (Link: https://www.iragination.com/clips/games.php).


    I wasn't really a big PC gamer in the early/mid 2000s, though I did play some PC games like Test Drive 5 and Sonic 3D Blast (both of which I still have after all these years). I was more into consoles, handhelds, and Arcade games. However, I was into playing several Flash games. I visited a lot of gaming websites (including Nintendo's official U.S. site), and sites that weren't really gaming-related but had games to play (like the Lunchables/Kraft Foods site). Flash games were often short and sweet, and were nice to play after a long day at School or on a day off work.
    Thanks to the Internet Archive, I was able to play many of the Flash games I played in the early/mid 2000s one more time in 2020 and recorded videos of them. This blog lists my ten favorite Flash games I've played over the years.
    My Favorite Flash Games 
    10.I Am Error: The Flash Game
    A Flash game featuring "Error", a minor (but well-known) character from Zelda II: Adventure of Link for NES. You play as "Error", and shoot "I am Error" text boxes at a bunch of Links.
    This game was playable on an NES site called NES Player (now known as Nintendo Player), which I used to visit in the early and mid 2000s. The site also had various Flash Movies based on games like Super Mario Bros., StarTropics, and Blades of Steel. I didn't play this game until 2020, when I noticed it was still on Nintendo Player. I figured I'd play it a bit before Flash was discontinued. Humorous game.
    9.Awexome Cross 98
    A Homestar Runner Flash game. It features the character "The Cheat" riding a Tire and jumping over obstacles. It uses some sound effects from Super Mario Bros. The levels get harder and harder. It can still be played on the Homestar Runner site (Link: https://homestarrunner.com/viderogames).
    8.Rock 'n Roll Racing Flash Demo 
    A demo of the Game Boy Advance version of Rock 'n Roll Racing that was playable on Blizzard's site (now Activision Blizzard). I remember playing this demo in 2003/2004, and played it again in 2020 before Flash was discontinued. It contained one track, which you raced on a few times then the demo came to an end. Like the full version of the game, you could earn money and use your earnings to upgrade your vehicle with better parts. I rented the SNES version of Rock 'n Roll Racing a few times in the late '90s/early 2000s and remember really liking it, so it was kind of fun playing this demo of the GBA version. I bought the GBA version of Rock 'n Roll Racing on eBay several years ago, fully complete and in near-mint shape. 

    7.Sonic Mega Collection Plus Mini
    A game that was playable on Sega's Sonic Central site, and basically advertised the PS2 and Xbox versions of Sonic Mega Collection. Though I got (and still have) the GameCube version of Sonic Mega Collection, I still liked playing this game on the Sonic Central site. It has the first level from the first Sonic game, and the goal was to reach the end of the level while collecting rings and defeating enemies. After reaching the goal, the game would give you the option to submit your score. It was another game I got to play again in 2020, before Flash was discontinued.

    6.Pac-Man World 2 Tree-Top Token Game
    This Flash game was playable on Namco's Pac-Man World 2 site. The Pac-Man World 2 game for PS2, GameCube, Xbox, and PC was one of my favorite games released during that era, and so of course I visited the game's site several times. The goal of this Flash game was to jump on the platforms and collect the dots, while avoiding Pinky the ghost. Collecting the dots gave you points. Getting a certain amount of points would unlock the sites Jukebox, allowing you to sample some of the music from the Pac-Man World 2 game for PS2, GameCube, Xbox, and PC.
    While there was nothing really great about this Flash game, it was a nice way to relax for a bit.
    5.Donkey Konk
    This was a Donkey Kong 64 Flash game, playable on Nintendo's DK64 site. I remember playing it in 2000/2001. The goal in this game was to click on the enemies (Kremlings), while making sure you didn't click on DK or Diddy. It was fast-paced and kind of addicting. I got to play it one more time in 2020, seen in the video above.

    4.Mega Man Vs. Ghosts 'n Goblins
    A Mega Man and Ghosts 'n Goblins crossover from Staticreator. You play as Mega Man, and work your way through two levels based on Ghosts 'n Goblins for NES. Arthur, the protagonist from Ghosts 'n Goblins, is the boss in the second level. Defeat him, and you get his weapon. There's another game basically like this one called Mega Man Vs. Metroid, also from Staticreator. Weapons earned in one game can be used in the other. Beating both games allows you to unlock and play as Protoman in both games.

    I have fond memories of playing Mega Man Vs. Ghosts 'n Goblins in the dark in 2008/2009, with the volume cranked up. The music in the game is a remix of the Ghosts 'n Goblins theme. A remix of the boss music from Mega Man 3 plays during the battle with Arthur. Both Mega Man Vs. Ghosts 'n Goblins and Mega Man Vs. Metroid can still be played on Newgrounds (Link: https://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/175060).
    3.Fireman Vs. Bass
    This game is from Iragination, which also made several other Mega Man-related Flash games. You play as Fireman, one of the bosses/robot masters from Mega Man 1. You play through a very short level, then you battle Bass (who first appeared in Mega Man 7). Bass is suppose to be one of Dr. Wily's most advanced creations (and in the real Mega Man games, he is), but his attacks have no effect on Fireman. The goal is to keep shooting Bass as many times as you can while he's in the air (the game will keep counting, until he lands on the ground or until you defeat him). Different sounds play depending on the amount of times you hit Bass. The game then shows your ranking. The better your ranking is, the longer the ending will be after the battle. 
    This game is one of my favorite Flash games because of its humor. I recorded a video of the game in 2008, and then recorded another in 2019 (I did better in the second video). The game is still playable on Iragination's site.
    2.Animal Crossing Find Your Way Home
    A Flash game that was playable on Nintendo's GameCube Animal Crossing site. You're in a maze, and have to find your way back to your house. It's dark, and you can only see part of the maze. The maze layout changed, so you wouldn't always walk through the same maze everytime you played the game. For music, the game played the GameCube Animal Crossing Halloween music (well, part of it).
    1.Ultimate Flash Sonic
    This Flash game was on Newgrounds, and it can still be played (Link: https://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/151706). 
    The game is based on Sonic Advance 2, featuring graphics, animations, and music from that game. As in that game, you can play as Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, and Cream the Rabbit. While not overly long (it is possible to beat it in under ten minutes), the game is a little longer than many Flash games and has multiple levels and boss battles. The game does have some issues, like being a little slow and choppy and having some glitches. But it's still pretty good for a Flash game.   
    I first played this game in 2004, and it was easily one of my favorite Flash games. After replaying many of these games in 2020, I can say that this is definitely my favorite Flash game. While Flash games were usually pretty short, I kind of like that this one was a little longer without being too long and included more content than many other Flash games.
    Honorable Mentions
    Luigi's Mansion Poltercue
    This was playable on Nintendo's GameCube Luigi's Mansion site. I remember playing it in 2001/2002. It's kind of like Pool, but there's only one ball and you use Luigi's Vacuum to get the ball inside one of the holes. By completing the game, the player was rewarded with some Luigi's Mansion Wallpaper.

    Mario Party 6 Flash Games
    I visited pretty much all of the N64 and GameCube Mario Party sites, from Mario Party 1 to Mario Party 7. The sites often had Flash games that were based on some of the minigames featured in the Mario Party games. 
    Fireman: Incoming Storm


    I remember playing this on a site called Arcade Pod in 2003/2004, and later on Newgrounds. Like Fireman Vs. Bass, it is another Mega Man Flash game from Iragination that features Fireman from Mega Man 1. It is based on Iragination's Fireman comic series. The game plays like a regular Mega Man game, and features music from the Mega Man X games (particularly Mega Man X2, X3, and X6). It has options to change the game's difficulty, and an option to configure the controls to your liking (after you're done configuring the controls, the game allows you to test out the controls before playing the actual game). The boss at the end of the level is Tengu Man from Mega Man 8. The game is on Iragination's site and can still be played.
    Fall of 21XX
    Another Mega Man Flash game from Iragination. You play as Mega Man X, and go through one level that has enemies from the Mega Man X series. It has three bosses from Mega Man X2 that are fought at the same time. Charging up X's weapon (the X Buster) does a lot more damage than regular shots, and you get energy from each boss you defeat so the boss battle isn't as unfair or difficult as it may seem.

    I played the game using this SNES-style USB Controller.
    Ninja Turtles Mutant Munchies
    A Pac-Man clone that featured Michelangelo from Ninja Turtles. It was released in 2003 and was playable on Fox's Foxbox/4Kids site. It had pretty much the same gameplay as Pac-Man. Basically, you moved Mikey around a Sewer maze (which had the same layout as the original Pac-Man maze) and collected dots. The game had Pizza's that were basically like the Power Pellets from Pac-Man, allowing Mikey to eat the enemies. While it was a Pac-Man clone and wasn't very original, I thought it was worth playing for its humor. I mean think about it, Mikey eating Pizza and becoming invincible for a few seconds (complete with some rockin' music from the 2003 Ninja Turtles cartoon)? I thought that was kind of funny twenty years ago.
    I think I played this game again in 2020, but for whatever reason I didn't record a video of it. If you want to see pictures of it, just search for the game in your favorite search engine. There's also a video of it on YouTube.
    Conclusion
    t

    I played a lot of Flash games. Unfortunately, some of them have been lost to time. But many have been archived and remain playable. Some of these games were on sites that required Flash (or had both Flash and Non-Flash versions). Maybe I'll make a blog about many of the game sites I visited in the past.
    -MegaMan52
  24. MegaMan52
    Introduction 



    I've bought so many gaming items over the years, that I've got various games and other items that could be considered holy grail items. In the past, I've shown a few of my rarer games or items here on VGS. But the fact that I've acquired several uncommon items (including one or two items that some collectors might be unaware of) led to the idea of creating a blog about ten items, as well as some honorable mentions, in my collection that are so uncommon they might as well be holy grail items. Now some of these might be easier to find in Taiwan or China, but are pretty hard to find in Canada.
    My Favorite Holy Grail Items in My Game Collection
    10.Resident Evil 2 (Game Boy Advance)



    Originally released for PS1 and later released for N64, Dreamcast, PC, and GameCube, Resident Evil 2 was planned to be released for Game Boy Advance. The first Resident Evil, also a PS1 game, was planned and almost released for the Game Boy Color, but canceled despite being almost complete. The GBA version of Resident Evil 2 is a tech demo, and was barely started. It can literally be beaten in about two minutes. Visually, however, it is impressive. The pre-rendered screens are taken straight from the PS1 version and look almost as good. There are voice clips that play on the title and intro screens, which are compressed but sound reasonably clear for a GBA game. Most of the sound effects sound basically the same as the PS1 version. Leon is the only playable character. The menu features both a handgun and a knife, but only the gun can be used. Only the title screen has music; there's no music during gameplay.
    This is a reproduction cartridge that I found on eBay in 2018 or so. It didn't cost very much, but the demo it contains is scarce. I didn't know Resident Evil 2 was even planned for the GBA until I got this cartridge. Check out my video above for some footage.
    9.Mega Man CES 1990 Hat

    A Mega Man hat that Capcom gave away during the Consumer Electronics Show in 1990. It came in orange and pink. I remember it costing around $700 Canadian. The seller I bought it from also had the pink hat.
    8.Super Mario Bros. 3 Bootleg Cartridge




    I found out about this cartridge in the early 2000s (https://web.archive.org/web/20051201161627/http://www.nesplayer.com/pirates/smb3pirate.htm), on an NES site called NES Player (now known as Nintendo Player). It contains the Japanese version of Super Mario Bros. 3, which has several differences compared to the American version (like an extra pipe in World 5-1 that leads to a different goal than the one used in the American version).
    In 2022, one of my friends found this cartridge and decided to give it to me for free (knowing that I've been collecting imports for years). Before he gave it to me, he opened up the cartridge. The game is attached to a converter that allows it to work on an American NES, like several early copies of black box NES games such as Gyromite.
    7.Wonderland Dizzy (NES)

    Codemasters, the company behind the Game Genie and unlicensed NES games such as Micro Machines, made several "Dizzy" games for the NES, but they had plans to release more. One such game was Wonderland Dizzy. The ROM for the game was made available for download in 2015. A physical copy playable on a real NES, shown here, was released only as part of a Kickstarter. Only 100 copies were made. I bought the game sealed for about $800, and I believe it is still the most expensive game I have ever purchased.
    6.Mega Man Cartoon VHS Tape

    This isn't one of the officially released Mega Man cartoon VHS tapes (some of which I also have). Rather, this is a recordable VHS tape containing episodes of the American Mega Man cartoon from when they were originally shown on Fox in 1994/1995. I bought this on eBay in 2001/2002, before the series was released on DVD. For a while, this was the only way to watch other episodes that weren't officially released on VHS. In 2002 or so, I remember a Mega Man site, called the Protoman Homepage, had all but two episode available for streaming. One of the missing episodes, "Bad Day at Peril Park" from season 2, is on this VHS tape.



    The versions of the episodes shown on Fox were shortened somewhat. Almost every instance of Mega Man getting hit was cut. But perhaps the most interesting things about this tape are the promo screens shown during commercial breaks, as well as the credits. These weren't included on the official VHS and DVD releases (below).


    5.Mega Man X Controller


    Probably the coolest looking Controller ever made. The Mega Man X Controller was made by NubyTech, and officially licensed by both Nintendo and Capcom. It was originally suppose to be released for both PS2 and GameCube in 2004, alongside Mega Man X: Command Mission. It was delayed, and only the GameCube version of the Controller was released in late 2005/early 2006 alongside Mega Man X Collection.

    The Controller was shown in the 2005 Mega Man commercial, and advertised in the Mega Man X Collection manual.
    4.Nintendo Power First Issue

    The very first issue of Nintendo Power. I also have issues 3, 5, and 6. Just need issues 2 and 4, then I'll have the entire first year of Nintendo Power. The cover is slightly wrinkled, but the pages are very clean and in near mint shape. The poster is still attached. Somewhat of a collector's item nowadays.
    3.Japanese Zelda: Twilight Princess
    The Japanese release of Zelda: Twilight Princess for GameCube. This was the last game Nintendo released for the GameCube, in December 2006 (there were some third-party games for the console that followed in 2007, however, some of which are shown in my video above). The GameCube version is a little uncommon, but no where near impossible to find because it got a full release in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. However, in Japan only the Wii version got a full release while the GameCube version was available online only. This makes the Japanese release of the GameCube version one of the rarest games for the console. I bought it complete for a little over $100 in 2020, but it'll likely cost a fortune someday.
    2.Sealed GameCube Component Cable

    The GameCube's Component cable was available in the U.S. and Canada only from Nintendo's online store (in Japan, it was available at retailers). This is the American release of the cable, and is still sealed. The most surprising thing about it, however, is that it was cheaper than my used GameCube Component cable. My used cable cost around $115 U.S. dollars in a buy it now eBay auction in 2012. For this sealed cable, bidding ended at around $90. No one outbid me and I won the cable. Nowadays it's worth at least a few hundred for a used one.
    1.Super Mario Bros. 3 McDonald's Happy Meal Toy Display

    This is my favorite of the holy grail items that I have. The display that McDonald's used in 1990 when they sold Super Mario Bros. 3 toys with their Happy Meals. McDonald's had another Mario Happy Meal earlier this year, with toys for the new Super Mario Bros. movie.

    Honorable Mentions
    Mario Party 4 Event Disc

    I made a blog about this. I came across this disc in 2018. The only information I could find out about it at the time was the name of the disc and a picture of it. I found it sealed for a few hundred bucks and had to know what was on it. Well, it's nothing overly exciting. It contains the minigame mode only, and was apparently used (or planned to be used) for a competition in Japan. It is still interesting, as before I got it in 2018 I had no idea this even existed.
    Mario Smash Football Pearl White GameCube bundle
    A bundle released in Europe, containing a Pearl White GameCube and Super Mario Strikers.
    Coleco Telstar Pong Console

    I've seen many loose Pong Consoles over the years, but unexpectedly found this one with its box from a nearby seller.
    Mega Man Bootlegs


    Various Mega Man bootlegs for the original Game Boy and Game Boy Color. One of them is a Mega Man 8 bootleg. Two others, called Zook Hero Z and Rockman DX3 (a.k.a. Zook Hero 2), are games from a Taiwanese company called Vast Fame, and contain different characters and music but basically the same gameplay as the Mega Man series. Zook Hero Z and Rockman DX3 use the same sound effects as Mega Man III, IV, and V for the original Game Boy. There are multiple versions of Rockman DX3. I remember watching a video of it on YouTube in 2007/2008, and the version shown had all of the levels already completed and music recycled from Zook Hero Z. The version I have has mostly different music, a save feature, none of the levels are completed. However, collision during boss battles is broken and you can get hit even if it looked like nothing touched you.
    Mega Man 8 also had multiple versions, with a color version being released under the title "Rockman X4" which has nothing to do with Mega Man X4 other than the opening screens. Recently, I found out that the color version was also released under the title "Rockman 99". Thanks @fcgamer for showing pictures of that version in the "what's new in your collection" topic.
    Crash Bandicoot 2 Shirt

    A promo shirt that was included with Crash Bandicoot 2 when it was released.
    GameCube Kiosk Demos


    GameCube demo discs used at GameCube Kiosks in stores. The October 2001 demo disc was the first GameCube demo disc in the U.S. and Canada, while the Japanese disc contains Super Smash Bros. Melee and Pikmin demos as well as commercials/trailer videos. The Version 17 demo disc (top) contains a demo of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, from when it was known simply as "Paper Mario 2".
    Super Donkey Kong 2 (Famicom)

    A Donkey Kong Country 2 bootleg for the Famicom/NES. This is another bootleg that I found out about on NES Player in the early 2000s:
    https://web.archive.org/web/20071217193529/http://nesplayer.com/pirates/sdkc2.htm 
    While technically it is a port of the SNES game, it is missing quite a few levels. There are only three levels, and only Diddy Kong is playable (Dixie Kong appears on the title and ending screens, but isn't playable in this version). The third level features Rattly the Rattlesnake, the only animal buddy from the SNES version that's included. The music is from the SNES version, with some music tracks being full length while others were shortened a little. The music that plays on the third level (which is based on the "Rattle Battle" level in the SNES version), is pretty catchy and is a fairly accurate rendition of the "Snakey Chanty" music from the SNES version. The graphics are also impressive for a Famicom/NES game. Many of the screens (title, map, ending, etc.) are taken directly from the SNES version, with reduced color.
    Official GameCube SD Card
       



    That's right, the GameCube has its own official SD Card accessory. It was shown in some issues of Nintendo Power in 2001, and released in Japan in 2003. It's intended to be used for saving pictures taken with the Japanese version of Pokémon Colosseum and Japanese e+ version of Animal Crossing, which can then be printed, used in a digital frame, used as a YouTube Channel icon (which I did about a decade ago), posted on a website, etc. But the SD Card can also be used for homebrew stuff like NES, SNES, Game Boy, and PlayStation Emulators. I use this card to play hacks and homebrews of NES games using the FCE Ultra GX Emulator, like an updated version of Mega Man 3 called "Mega Man 3 Improvement". I also used this card to play an unreleased Game Boy Advance version of Rainbow Islands using the Visual Boy Advance GX Emulator, and a beta version of Mega Man 8 using the CubeSX PlayStation Emulator.
    Donkey Kong Country 2 Audio Cassette

    I've got several DK soundtracks on CD, including a Donkey Konga soundtrack CD I imported from Europe that I thought about listing here. But, I decided to list this Donkey Kong Country 2 Audio Cassette instead. The DKC ("DK Jamz") and DKC3 soundtracks are a little uncommon, but aren't too difficult to find on eBay. The DKC2 soundtrack, however, is pretty rare (as of this writing, there's a DKC2 CD on eBay for over $1500). The Cassette, which I have here, is even rarer than the CD. I bought it new on eBay in 2002 or so. While Cassettes haven't really made a comeback like Vinyl, I'm glad I still have this DKC2 Cassette. It still works well; check out my video below and have a listen.
    Japanese Game Boy Tetris
    Tetris, of course, is one of the most common games for the original Game Boy. I'm listing this because it is an earlier Japanese copy that contains a slightly different version of the game. The "A-Type" music in this copy is a different music track known as "Minuet", instead of the more iconic "Korobeiniki" music (a.k.a., the Tetris theme).
    Conclusion

    t



    These are just some of the rare goodies I've collected over the years. Some other "holy grail" items I have include a reprint of the very first Ninja Turtles comic that came with pre-orders of the 2007 TMNT game at GameStop, a Battletoads costume I got during my childhood, a Mario Party 3 soundtrack CD, a Resident Evil 4 Chainsaw Controller for GameCube, a fully complete copy of Mega Man II on Game Boy, a Michael Jordan Upper Deck card from an issue of GamePro magazine, a Mario Tennis flyer, and so on.





    -MegaMan52
  25. MegaMan52

    Top 10 Horror/Haunted Games

    By MegaMan52,


    Top 10's
    Introduction
    While not my favorite genre, there are a fair number of horror/haunted-themed video games that I like. And since it's October, I thought now would be a good time to make a blog sharing my top 10 horror games. Some of these aren't really "horror" games, but still have a sense of the season by having haunted levels or enemies such as ghosts or bats. 
    Top 10 Horror/Haunted Games
    10.Monster Party


    Monster Party deserves a spot on this list just for the fact that it is weird. It is so weird, that it is awesome.
    As soon as the title screen appears, the game introduces you to the boss characters...some of which are food items, like a giant Shrimp and an Onion Ring. Things are a little weird already, but it gets weirder as soon as you start the game.


    You play as a kid named Mark, who is walking home from a Baseball game. A Gargoyle named Bert appears suddenly and tells Mark that his world is in trouble, and he needs his help. Why he would ask an ordinary kid with a Baseball Bat is a mystery, but the weirdness is what makes this game worth playing.

    Right before a level starts, this screen is shown. Despite the fact that Nintendo usually didn't allow companies to include blood and violence in their games at the time, apparently this screen showing skeletons in a pool of blood was okay.

    Once the first level starts, you realize that the game itself is a generic platformer. Nothing bad or overly weird, just generic and a little boring. Or so it seems.

    Each level in the game has doors. Enter the doors, and you're in a room. Creepy music starts playing. Some of the rooms are empty, and some of them have bosses.


    In one of the rooms is a giant plant. So...does this remind you of anything? It's supposed to be a reference to Little Shop of Horrors. In a prototype version, this is more obvious due to the presence of a Microphone and a Speaker. The plant shoots (what appear to be) bubbles. You can either run up to it and whack it with Mark's Bat, or you can "play ball" and swing Mark's Bat to send the bubbles back at the plant.

    On the right side of the room, there is an invisible object that Mark can stand on. This is the Speaker from the prototype version; it's still there, just not visible.

    In another room, one of the bosses says he's/it's "dead" (yet he/it can still talk, apparently), and you win the battle without even doing anything.

    About halfway through the level, you come across this tree.


    Walk past the tree and the seemingly happy, mostly peaceful level turns into a bloody nightmare. The tree's face changes, other faces appear, and the happy face platforms turn into skulls. The music even changes when this happens. I'm not sure if Nintendo's censors didn't get past the title screen, or if they allowed this because they wanted the game to appeal to older players.

    The last boss of the first level is a Pumpkin Ghost that says "Please don't pick on me." Beat this boss to get a key and move on to the next level.
    Anyway, you get the idea. The game itself isn't great by any means but is still worth playing because of how weird it is. If you haven't already, I recommend reading about the prototype version as it has even more parodies and references to classic horror films. Even though the game was made in Japan and the prototype version is for the Famicom, the game wasn't released in Japan. It was only released in the U.S. and Canada.
    9.Jersey Devil 

    Remember this early 3D platformer for the PS1?
    In the late '90s, I remember playing a demo of this game. I also sort of remember seeing the commercial for this game. I later bought the game on eBay in 2018. 

    The levels have a haunted theme, such as forests and museums. There is a bonus level where you slide and collect Pumpkins (I remember this in the demo I played in 1998/1999). 
    The controls, while not bad, are a little awkward. You press Circle to duck, and press Triangle to glide. Actually, the controls are similar to Crash Bandicoot. Also, you can move the camera around with either L2 or R2 like in the Spyro the Dragon games. The controls are alright for an early PS1 game, though, and the game supports the analog controls of the PS1's Dual Shock Controller.

    Some of the music tracks, such as the music that plays in the Museum level, have a creepy vibe to them. The music that plays when Jersey Devil loses all of his energy freaked me out a little when I was a kid. Like several other PS1 games, you can put the game into a CD Player or Computer and listen to the game's soundtrack (or you can go to the PS1's menu and load up its music player).
    8.Wendy: Every Witch Way


    A late release for the Game Boy Color. If you don't know who Wendy is, she's one of Casper's friends.
    I've known about this game since the early 2000's, because it was featured in Nintendo Power (Volume 151, Dec. 2001). I bought a sealed copy for about $50 on eBay in 2014 (I also got a sealed copy of Mega Man Xtreme for around the same price and from the same seller in 2012). Unfortunately, even used copies of the game are over $100 now.
    The game is similar to Metal Storm for NES, because of Wendy's ability to change gravity. Wendy, being a Witch, has a wand that can be used to shoot at enemies. By collecting stars, her shots become stronger.
    There is an "Advance World" with three extra levels that can be played on a Game Boy Advance, but not a Game Boy Color. This was likely a marketing decision, as the game doesn't appear to make use of the Game Boy Advance's capabilities (unlike Shantae, which came out even later than this game). Since the GameCube's Game Boy Player is basically a Game Boy Advance, the Advance World levels can also be played on the Game Boy Player. Check out the video above; I got through the Advance World without getting hit even once.
    7.Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti (Famicom)

    There are many Splatterhouse games. This one, however, came out in Japan-only for the Famicom. It remained exclusive to Japan until it was released for Switch in Namco Museum Archives (released in Japan as "Namcot Collection"). 
    Unlike other Splatterhouse games, the characters in this game have kind of a cute look to them. I guess they wanted this game to be more kid-friendly than the other games in the series.
    Like Monster Party, this game both parodies and pays homage to classic Horror movies. Some of these include Bram Stoker's Dracula, John Carpenter's Halloween, and Friday the 13th. 
    I played through and beat the game last year, during the Halloween Bingo contest here on Video Game Sage.


    If you can't import a copy for the Famicom, I recommend importing a physical copy of Namcot Collection for Switch (the Switch is not region-locked, so it works on any Switch). Otherwise, download Namco Museum Archives Vol. 1 (the American release of Namcot Collection, and split into two volumes for some reason).
    6.Pac-Man World 2 (PS2/GameCube)

    While Pac-Man World 2 is not really a "horror" game, anyone who's played even one Pac-Man game knows that Pac-Man games have ghosts. Furthermore, Pac-Man World 2 has three haunted levels. If you think this game is only for kids, think again. The haunted levels are extremely hard.


    In the Haunted Boardwalk level, Pac-Man wears Rollerblades and must skate on and jump his way to a ton of bridges. This isn't easy. Not only is the level dark, but many of the bridges are unstable and sink into the water as soon as Pac-Man jumps on them. If Pac-Man falls into the water, you have to restart from the last checkpoint (or the beginning of the level, if you didn't reach any checkpoints). Later in the level, there are areas where the path splits. The fog makes it difficult to see what's ahead of you, so you might miss a bridge and accidentally jump into the water.



    The second haunted level has a maze near the beginning of the level. There are spider enemies in this maze. While you're running through the maze, the camera moves overhead just above Pac-Man. Because of the camera view, you might bump into the spiders and lose energy. While the maze isn't that difficult to get through, it might be a little confusing unless you've played the game a lot. Because of the overhead view, if you haven't played the game before or haven't played it in several years, you might exit the maze where it starts and then have to go through it again. Getting to the other side isn't overly challenging, though. 

    Ghost Bayou is the last level in the game, so it's not surprising that it is also the hardest. The level is covered in fog, and features a maze of narrow paths. Like in Haunted Boardwalk, if Pac-Man touches the water, you have to restart from the last checkpoint. The biggest challenge is not falling into the water, because the path aren't very wide. Sometimes the paths split. Some of them lead to dead ends.

    You think that's dark enough?! Geeze...the level's already covered in fog, why does it need to be extremely dark? Oh right, because it's the final level in the game.
    There is a section later on with a bunch of skeleton enemies. You have to beat a certain number of them within a time limit, and the game gives you just barely enough time. If the timer runs out, it's back to the last checkpoint you reached. If you see a checkpoint, don't ignore it. You have to actually touch it for the game to save your progress up to that point, or it'll send you back to wherever the checkpoint you last touched was.
    Anyway, Pac-Man World 2 has been one of my favorite games on the GameCube since I first played it in 2003. I also recently imported a Japanese copy for PS2.
    5.Luigi's Mansion Arcade

    I thought I'd include this, because I played it recently and had a lot of fun. 
    It has a motion controlled Poltergust Vacuum for a Controller, like what Luigi uses in the game. It is very similar Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon for 3DS, with many of the same locations and additions as that game (such as the Strobulb). Unlike the other Luigi's Mansion games, you see the action from Luigi's perspective. Since this is an Arcade game, it's mainly about scores. 
    You use the Poltergust not only to catch ghosts, but also to find coins and keys hidden in the Mansion. As in Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, the Poltergust has a function called the Strobulb. There is a button on the Controller that you can hold for a few seconds to charge up the Strobulb, and then release to stun ghosts so you can catch them with your Poltergust Vacuum. 
    There are multiple paths to take. Sometimes the game will ask you where you want to go, such as staying on the 1st Floor or go up the stairs to the 2nd Floor.
    I played the game alone and didn't get very far. Apparently, the game includes some boss characters from the other Luigi's Mansion games. The game allows up to two players to play, so it is probably even more fun with a second player. If you haven't played the game yet, I recommend looking for it at any nearby Arcades or restaurants (or do a little travelling). I found the game at Chuck E. Cheese.
    4.Luigi's Mansion (GameCube)

    Much like how I can watch classic movies over and over again, Luigi's Mansion is a classic game that I can play over and over again. Even though I've played it since 2003 (though I first played it at a GameCube Kiosk in 2001), I can come back to it once a year and still have fun playing it. 
    Honestly, there's not much I can say about this game that hasn't been said many times already by others. It was followed by Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon for 3DS and Luigi's Mansion 3 for Switch, so that should tell you right there that the game is worth playing if you haven't yet (or if it's been years since you last played it). There is also a Luigi's Mansion Arcade game mentioned above), which I played at Chuck E. Cheese last month.
    Also, I recommend watching my video above. The game is loaded with unused content leftover from beta versions of the game.
    3.Super Mario 64


    Okay, Super Mario 64 is obviously not a horror game. But I've noticed a lot of people have pointed out in recent years that the game has kind of a creepy vibe to it. Princess Peach's Castle, the paintings, and even the level backgrounds are a little creepy and disturbing to some people. 



    In the water area of the Hazy-Maze Cave level, there's a Sea Dragon. There's actually a sign in this area warning the player, but it turns out the Dragon is harmless. The darkness and slightly creepy music do make this area a little unsettling for a Mario game, though.

    I can understand why people would find the painting for Lethal Lava Land a little creepy. There's also the fact that it's located in the Castle's basement.

    Of course, the game does have a haunted level as well: Big Boo's Haunt.

    Who can forget the Mad Piano inside the mansion?

    The ghosts known as Boo's have made appearances in the series since Super Mario Bros. 3. Not surprisingly, they appear just about everywhere in the mansion. There's also the underground section of level with a Merry Go Round where you fight small Boos, and then a Big Boo.

    There's also a hidden room with a giant eyeball that can only be accessed with the Vanish Cap.
    2.Ghostbusters: The Video Game Remastered (Switch)

    Originally released for PS3, Xbox 360, and PC in 2009, Ghostbuster's: The Video Game was released on PS4, Switch, and Xbox One in 2019 with some minor improvements. Good thing too, because I missed out on it when it originally came out in 2009. Another version was also released for Wii and PS2, known as the "stylized version" (stylized visuals instead of realistic visuals like the other versions). The Switch version, not surprisingly, is a port of the more advanced version for PS3, Xbox 360, and PC, known as the "realistic" version.
    From what I've seen in a comparison video showing the Switch and PS3 versions, the Switch version appears to have higher resolution textures, has some added lighting effects when using the Proton Pack, and runs at a smoother framerate (the PS3 version looked like it ran a little choppy). And since the Switch is both a console and a handheld, the Switch version can also be played on the go. The online multiplayer mode from the older versions released in 2009, however, was removed. A little unfortunate, but I'm pretty sure the main single-player Career mode is what most people really care about anyway.
    This game was one of the games on my list in the backlog challenge topic here on VGS. And yes, I did in fact beat the game...and was impressed.
    All four Ghostbusters are featured, but you don't play as them. Instead you play as "Rookie", a newly hired Ghostbuster. He's never referred to by name.
    The game features most of the original cast, including Bill Murray and Harold Ramis (rest in peace). The story was written by Dan Akroyd and takes place two years after Ghostbusters 2. Ernie Hudson also reprises his role as Winston. The game also includes some ideas that were originally meant for the canceled Ghostbusters 3 movie (the original Ghostbusters 3, not Afterlife).
    The Firehouse displays lots of things from the first two Ghostbusters movies. There is even a monitor that displays the end screen from the Ghostbusters game for the NES (see video above). Also, while you can go down the stairs if you want to, you can use the pole to go down just like the Ghostbusters do in the movies.
    Oh, and look who's back:

    "It's the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man."
    Easily one of the best horror/haunted games I've ever played.
    1.Resident Evil 4 (GameCube)




    Of course, I had to include a Resident Evil game on this list. Any of the Resident Evil games for GameCube could be number one, since they're all great. But, I think I'll give the edge to Resident Evil 4. I've played Resident Evil 4 since 2005 and have played it more than any other Resident Evil game.


    Some of the game's most memorable moments include Leon jumping out of the window on the second floor in the cabin at the beginning of the game, seeing the Chainsaw guy coming after you in the Village, constantly pressing the A button to run away from giant boulders, meeting Luis Sera, meeting the Merchant ("Over here, Stranger!"), being knocked off and having to swim back to the boat during the battle with the lake monster, battling the giant El Gante boss and being helped by the dog you (hopefully) saved near the beginning of the game ("Hey! It's that Dog!"), and running into a cabin and teaming up with Luis to fight a swarm of villagers ("OK, it's game time!"). After completing Chapter 4, loading up Disc 2 brings you to the game's final chapter, which also has its share of memorable moments.
    While the game is liked by many and is considered one of the best games in the series, many have said that it is not as scary as other games in the series and some say it isn't scary at all. In previous Resident Evil games, Ammo is limited, and you need Ink Ribbons to use Typewriters and save your progress. In Resident Evil 4, Ammo is common, and you no longer need Ink Ribbons to save your progress. While I can agree that this game is not as scary as some of the other Resident Evil games, it has its moments. The American release is completely uncensored, just like the American release of the GameCube version of Resident Evil 3. If you hook up your GameCube to a Sound Bar and Subwoofer or go all out and hook it up to a Home Theater System to hear the game in surround sound, be prepared for some jump scares. In the area with the lake monster, for example, if you keep shooting at the water, the lake monster will suddenly jump out and EAT Leon! Imagine hearing that with five speakers and a subwoofer.
    The game has been released on just about every console (after GameCube) that you can imagine, in HD, on PC, and there has also been a Virtual Reality version. Of course, most of these versions have some added features not in the original GameCube version such as the Separate Ways campaign. Even so, I've been pretty content with the GameCube version all these years. It was easily one of the best-looking games in the sixth-generation console era, and the visuals still hold up reasonably well. The game was clearly designed with the GameCube's Controller in mind, with the big A button used for performing most actions. And even without Separate Ways, the GameCube version still contains a lot of extra content such as Assignment Ada mode, Mercenaries mode, alternate costumes for the main single player mode, the Professional difficulty setting, the Chicago Typewriter weapon that is unlocked after getting a five star rating on all levels in the Mercenaries mode, an alternate title screen showing the village from the main game that you can scroll left or right by using the C-Stick, and two trailer videos that are shown if you wait a few seconds on the title screen. There is also a room in the game's Castle where you can play a Shooting Gallery game and win collectible bottle caps of the game's characters.
    I have several Resident Evil 4 videos on my YouTube Channel, such as a video showing an early demo of the game in the Resident Evil 4 Preview Disc and a video showing a Bonus Disc released in Europe.
    Conclusion
    Well, that's it for this blog. As usual, I'll make updates to fix typos and add pictures. Also, I might make another Halloween blog this month. We'll see.
    Game screenshots captured from original consoles, not Emulators (except for Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti). That includes the GameCube; the screenshots were captured from a real GameCube, not a Wii or an Emulator. Resident Evil 4 screens are from one of my YouTube videos, but the game was played using a real GameCube.
    -MegaMan52
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