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MegaMan52

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  1. 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.
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    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






  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. MegaMan52

    Visiting Chuck E. Cheese in 2022

    By MegaMan52,


    Restaurants
    Introduction 
    I recently did a little bit of travelling, and wanted to find gaming-related goods in other places instead of just locally or online. I found a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant. Unlike several other restaurants (such as McDonald's, A & W, DQ, Pizza Hut, etc.), I have no memories of being at Chuck E. Cheese when I was a kid. I might've visited the restaurant once, but don't remember. I do remember seeing some of the commercials in the early/mid 2000's (during the Chuck E. Cheese character's "Avenger Chuck" days), but didn't think much of it. In fact, I didn't think of Chuck E. Cheese at all until recently.
    A week or two before visiting the restaurant, I watched a few Chuck E. Cheese "tour" videos on YouTube showing some of the locations in Canada. I wanted to get an idea of what Arcade games to expect. 
    I arrived at the restaurant, and was a little nervous since Chuck E. Cheese is (or at least appears to be) mainly for kids. I also noticed some posts on Reddit saying that some locations don't allow adults to enter without kids, and some people saying they were allowed to enter but got looks during their visit. I'm not much of a Breakfast person, so by the time I got to the restaurant (a little after noon) I was getting hungry. Also let's face it, I'm never too old for pizza and video games. 
    I entered the restaurant. It wasn't busy when I entered. The staff greeted me, and had no problem with me eating and playing games there despite being an adult.
    The Play Pass Card

    The location I went to has more or less phased out tokens, so I was given a Play Pass/All You Can Play card (with a wristband) for playing the games. I was given the option of putting either points or time on the card. It took me several seconds to decide, but I chose time. I got 45 minutes. They've also phased out physical tickets, and so "e-tickets" are automatically saved onto the card while playing a game. There is a Kiosk at the restaurant that can be used to reload the card.
    The Pizza

    One of the things Chuck E. Cheese is known for is its pizza. I ordered a large, stuffed crust pepperoni pizza (it's Chuck E. CHEESE, of course I wanted stuffed crust). I was given a small paper cup and grabbed a drink of Mountain Dew (the restaurant has Pepsi drinks). I was a little disappointed with the cups. They used to have cups with pictures of the Chuck E. Cheese characters on them until recently. Now they have these generic white cups with lines on them. Oh well. I sat at a table by a window, distancing myself from the one or two families that were there when I arrived. Chuck E. Cheese himself (an employee wearing a costume) appears at the 30 minute mark every hour. While I was waiting for my pizza, Chuck E. walked by my table and waved at me. I waved back and said "hey Chuck E.!". I can only imagine how hot it must be while wearing that costume, especially the head piece.
    After 15-20 minutes, a server came to the table with my pizza. The pizza looked fresh and tasty, but I noticed the slices were different sizes. There are rumors that the chain reheats leftover pizza, though I don't know if that was ever proven. Also, the pizza has gotten mixed reviews. Some people like it, and others don't. I put a slice on my tiny Chuck E. Cheese plate. While not as good as, say, Papa Johns or Busters, the pizza wasn't too bad. It kind of reminded me of McCain frozen pizza. I'm not sure if the quality of the pizza differs somewhat at different locations or if some people's expectations are a little too high, but I thought the pizza tasted good. Not great, but good.
    The Games 
    The other big reason I visited, besides grabbing a bite to eat. I had a chance to play a few Arcade games that I hadn't played before.

    I didn't think I'd be able to find this anytime soon, but it was in Chuck E. Cheese. It has a Poltergust Vacuum for a Controller, like what Luigi uses in this and the other Luigi's Mansion games. The game was beside the table I was sitting at. I didn't even notice it until I sat down.

    I have the Super Monkey Ball games on GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Wii, and Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz HD for Switch, but I didn't know about this game until a couple weeks ago when I watched the Chuck E. Cheese "tour" videos I mentioned above. It has a tracker ball for controlling the characters, which I'm not used to. But I am glad I had a chance to play the game.

    This Cars game was in the kids area (well, younger kids area) with the rides, so I wasn't sure if I was allowed to play it. However, unlike the rides, this game looked big enough for an adult so I tapped my card and played. No one complained. The game is actually pretty fun and humorous, like the movies.

    I almost missed this one and didn't play it until my card was almost out of time. This is the newer Rampage game that was released a few years ago, and is loosely based on the movie. It plays like a traditional Rampage game where you pick from three characters (George, Lizzie, and Ralph) and destroy cities. 
    This game was also located in the kids area, and I actually had to kneel down to play it.
    I also played a Batman game and a Fast and the Furious game, but I didn't take pictures of them.

    The Photo Car Ride. The car moves a little, the headlights turn on, and a kid gets his/her picture taken with Chuck E. Obviously, this ride is too small for an adult. But if you've seen even some of my posts on Twitter, Instagram, and here on VGS, then you probably know that I like to take pictures. Apparently, most (and maybe even all) Chuck E. Cheese locations have this ride. I probably would've liked this when I was a kid.
    Something weird that I noticed is that the logo on the front has Chuck E.'s current appearance, but he's wearing his hat from the Avenger Chuck era which he rarely wears nowadays.
    The Studio C Animatronic 

    Like the tokens and physical tickets, the Animatronics of the various Chuck E. Cheese characters that were a big part of the restaurant appear to have been mostly phased out and replaced with TV's showing a puppet version of Chuck E. The location I went to still has a Chuck E. Animatronic, which is based on one of the character's earlier designs. There are also several pictures on the walls which also look like they're from an earlier era. Nice that they have some reminders of the past.
    The Goodies 




    Even though Chuck E. Cheese wasn't really part of my childhood, I actually like both the restaurant and the character now as an adult. After playing some games, I went to the Chuck E. store that is beside the counter near the entrance where you order food. There was a card scanner on the counter. I found out there were 27 e-tickets on my card, no where near enough for most of the prizes on display. Which didn't matter to me, because I wasn't really interested in the prizes (which were things like slinky's, balls, etc.). On the right side of the store were some Chuck E. items that I was more interested in that I bought with cash instead of using tickets. I got a small Chuck E. plush, a big coloring book, and two sticker books. Some people dislike Chuck E.'s current appearance, but I like it. He looks cuter and even more friendly than he used to be.
    I also bought some Cotton Candy earlier when I ordered my pizza, which was available in pink and blue. I'm MegaMan52, so of course I had to buy the blue Cotton Candy. I also kept the plate I used when I ate my pizza. Don't worry, I wiped off the grease after I ate. 
    Conclusion

    Overall, I enjoyed my visit. The pizza was reasonably good, the games were great, and I got a lot of goodies. The restaurant was also very clean. Yes, even the washrooms...though that might be because I was there only an hour after they opened. It got a little busier about an hour after I arrived. I'll probably visit again someday, as I want to play those Luigi's Mansion and Super Monkey Ball games again.
    As with my other blogs, I'll update this blog later to fix typos.
  5. 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
  6. MegaMan52
    Introduction
    I recently did some travelling and visited one of the few remaining video rental stores in Canada. 
    I found out about this store in a news article. They've been in business for over forty years, the store got a new owner in 2020, and even though video stores are largely a thing of the past, this one somehow survived the pandemic.
    The store has pretty much everything: VHS, DVD, Blu-ray, 4K, collectibles, drinks, snacks, and popcorn. I believe they also have some video games, but no where near as many of them as movies. I haven't visited a video rental store in at least a decade, and kind of missed them. It was a very long drive to this store, but it was worth it.
    Arrival

    A lit OPEN sign, popcorn, and new releases...yep, this is most definitely a video rental store I'm looking at in the year 2022.
    Movies Everywhere



    As expected, pretty much everywhere you look in this store you see shelves full of movies in just about every format you can think of. There are hundreds of VHS tapes available to buy for a buck each, and DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K for rent and sale. Horror, Drama, Thriller, Action, classic movies, modern movies, kids movies, adult movies...it's all there.
    Atmosphere 



    The walls have several vintage posters, such as Ghostbusters and The Breakfast Club. New Releases are also advertised apparently, though not all of these are exactly new.
    Snacks And Drinks
    I didn't get any snacks (you'll find out why if you read my upcoming blog), but they have their own bags of "famous" already-made popcorn. They've also got a cooler with Pepsi drinks. Lots of Candy by the counter too. Basically, the kind of goodies you remember being in the video stores of the past.
    Purchases 

    As I don't live anywhere near this store's location, I couldn't rent anything. But I still decided to buy something and support the place. I bought Dick Tracy on VHS. It wasn't a dollar like most of the other VHS tapes, but it does look clean and it does work. I don't have it on either DVD or Blu-ray and it's been years since I last watched it, so I was happy to buy it. I don't mind that I got it on VHS, as I have a large VHS collection.
    As I paid for the movie I briefly talked to the owner, Joe French. He seems like a nice guy. He was talking to a few other customers while I was looking around, and seems knowledgeable and is able to answer pretty much any question about movies that he's asked.
    Conclusion 
    This blog isn't as big as my other blogs. I couldn't hang around at the store for too long as I had other things to do, and it was a long drive back home. But I'm glad I was able to visit one of the few video rental stores left in Canada, I got to take some pics, and I got Dick Tracy on VHS. Maybe I'll return someday (if they're still open).
    -MegaMan52
  7. MegaMan52

    Video Rental Stores

    By MegaMan52,


    Stores
    Introduction 
    The idea for this blog came about shortly after making my Chuck E. Cheese blog. As I mentioned in that one, Chuck E. Cheese wasn't a big part of my childhood. So I thought "why not share something that WAS a big part of my childhood?" And so I present to you, the reader, this blog sharing the video stores I visited when I was a kid, as well as some of the games and movies I rented and bought. 
    The Video Stores I Visited During My Childhood
    Ladysmith Video and Crazy Mike's

    Both of these stores were located in Ladysmith, BC. That was in the early '90s.
    As I was very young at the time, I don't remember much about these stores. I vaguely remember going to one of them. I believe my family and I rented some NES games at these stores, and most likely some movies as well.
    L.J. Video 

    Located in Duncan, BC, this store was my go-to place for renting NES games in 1994.
    I still remember where the NES games were located. They were near the entrance. From the entrance, you just turned right and the NES games were on the other side of the shelf that was there. I rented quite a few games there, like most of the Mega Man games (including Mega Man 5), Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project, Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters, Donkey Kong Classics, Battletoads, Pac-Man (which was my introduction to unlicensed NES games), Pac-Mania, Micro Machines, both NES Flintstones games (yep, even the incredibly rare Surprise at Dinosaur Peak), Tiny Toon Adventures 1 & 2, Rainbow Islands, The Jungle Book, The Little Mermaid, Zoda's Revenge: Star Tropics II, and probably others. I think I even rented the Sesame Street games, and one of the Fisher Price games.
    In 1995, L.J. Video sold their NES games. I bought Mega Man 6 there with the box and manual, for a mere $5. I still have it after all these years. As you can see in the picture, I also still have my L.J. Video card.
    I continued visiting L.J. Video until 2001, and also rented tons of games for SNES and N64. For SNES, I rented Super Mario Kart, the Donkey Kong Country games, Stunt Race FX, Yoshi's Island, Super Mario RPG, Mega Man 7, Super Off-Road, Dirt Trax FX, Rock 'n Roll Racing, Star Fox, etc. For N64, I rented Super Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, Diddy Kong Racing, Cruis'n USA, Yoshi's Story, Super Smash Bros., Mickey's Speedway USA, the Mario Party games, Donkey Kong 64, and Mario Tennis. That was just this store. I rented other SNES and N64 games at other video stores.
    In late 2000 or so, L.J. Video was selling some of their SNES and N64 games. I believe the SNES games were $10 each, and the N64 games $15 each. For SNES, I bought Brett Hull Hockey '95, Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters, Battletoads Double Dragon, and The Jungle Book. For N64, I noticed Super Mario 64 and Diddy Kong Racing. I bought Diddy Kong Racing since I already had Super Mario 64. All of these games had their boxes and manuals.
    In late 2001, I left the Vancouver Island and moved to the mainland, but I visited other video stores on the island before doing so.
    I visited the island for a week in 2018. The building L.J. Video was in is still there, but it is now a Wine store.
    Pioneer Video


    A video store that was located in Mill Bay, BC. 
    My copy of Mega Man 3, which I got for Christmas in 1994 and still have, was apparently bought at this store, and has a Pioneer Video label on the box.
    I don't think I rented a whole lot from this store, but maybe I just don't remember. I do remember renting an N64 there once, along with Mario Kart. I think they only allowed customers to rent an N64 for two days, and would charge $7 (or more) if it was returned late. This compares to renting an N64 for a week at L.J. Video. I also remember visiting this store in 2001, after Conker's Bad Fur Day was released for N64. I remember seeing the box for that game at this store. I was too young to rent it, but that didn't prevent me from looking at both the front and back of the box. I recognized Conker from Diddy Kong Racing. The commercial for Conker's Bad Fur Day was shown only at night, and I stayed up late enough to watch it (I remember it had a drunk squirrel and a hooker).
    Overall, L.J. Video had better deals than Pioneer Video.
    24 Hour Video

    24 Hour Video was a huge video store located in Duncan, BC. 
    While not my favorite video store, it was very fun exploring it as it seemed so big when I was a kid. Despite that, there selection of games wasn't all that impressive. One of the main reasons why I came to this store was because it was the only place I could find Mega Man Soccer for SNES. None of the other video stores I went to had it. I think I also rented some N64 games at this store, but don't remember which ones. The movie selection, however, was great. When it came to movies, they had just about anything anyone would want: comedy, thriller, horror, kids movies, etc. They also had an adult-only room; I remember seeing a curtain and a sign saying the room was for adults only. It's been a long time and I might not be remembering this correctly, but I think they also had a Popcorn Machine. And they definitely had candy.
    In 2000/2001, 24 Hour Video closed. I believe they temporarily moved to what used to be a Country Grocer, and sold their movie and games there. I lined up at the entrance one morning, and got in as soon as the doors opened. I walked over to the SNES games, and bought as many as I could with the allowance that I had saved up for a few weeks. I bought Mega Man Soccer, Mega Man X3, Kirby's Dream Course, Donkey Kong Country, and Battletoads in Battlemaniacs. All of the games included the boxes and inserts, except for Donkey Kong Country which was loose. They were $10 each I believe. Unfortunately I sold these games a few years later in 2005. I still have the rental cases. Mega Man X3 is worth $1000+ now, if it includes the box, manual, and inserts. After buying the games, I went back to the store a few days later and bought Honey We Shrunk Ourselves on VHS, as well as some candy.
    I believe a Rogers Video opened up where 24 Hour Video was (the original building, not the Country Grocer). I seem to remember going to it once in 2001. They were probably the only video store I went to that had handheld games, because I'm pretty sure I remember seeing Game Boy Advance games there.
    That's Entertainment

    This store was located in Shawnigan Lake, BC. It was both a video and convenience store. 
    At the entrance was the convenience area, with drinks, chips, chocolate bars, etc. There was a ramp on the left that led to the games and movies. At the top of the ramp, on the wall just to the right and near the ramp, was a small but decent selection of games. I rented Soul Blade for PS1 at this place, and I believe I also rented some N64 games but don't remember which ones (Diddy Kong Racing maybe?).
    A friend and I would sometimes ride our bikes to the store, rent games, and stock up on candy. 
    I visited the store one day and noticed they were selling some of their VHS tapes. They had a Ninja Turtles cartoon tape there for $4, which I still have.
    Aurora Video
    Also in Shawnigan Lake, BC. 
    The game selection at this store was way better than That's Entertainment. They had several SNES, N64, and PS1 games. I believe they even had NES games. But this was in 1997/1998, and by then I was largely focused on playing games for SNES, N64, and PS1. I believe I rented Super Mario RPG and Super Mario 64 from this store.
    In 2000/2001, Aurora Video closed. Like 24 Hour Video, I lined up at the entrance and went in the store as soon as the doors opened. I bought Super Mario World, Mario Paint, and Super Mario RPG. Super Mario World came with a rental case and a photocopy of the manual. Mario Paint came with the box, manual, Mouse, and Mouse Pad. Super Mario RPG came with the box and manual (the real manual).
    Blockbuster Video 

    I bet most of you were waiting for this. The majority of the video stores I went to were independent stores, but I started going to Blockbuster in 1999/2000. The one I visited was located in Duncan, BC.
    However, even though I visited Blockbuster, I didn't really rent anything there. In 2000 or so, they had a Sega Dreamcast up and running and I would visit the store to play Sonic Adventure. Even though I wasn't into Sega as much as Nintendo and Sony, Sonic Adventure was probably my favorite game released in 1999. I've played the GameCube version of Sonic Adventure (Sonic Adventure DX) since 2004 or so and have had it in my collection for over a decade, but a couple years ago in 2020 a friend gave me a copy of the Dreamcast version for free along with some Dreamcast Generator demo discs.
    I moved to the mainland in late 2001. I visted a Blockbuster Video in Red Deer, Alberta and browsed, but still didn't rent anything. I don't remember why exactly, but Blockbuster was never a go to store for me. Yet, I still wanted to visit and look around. Sometimes it was fun to just look around in a video store.
    Video Store in Duncan, BC
    In 2000/2001, after 24 Hour Video closed, another video store opened up in Duncan, BC. I don't remember the name of it.
    I rented some N64 games there: Super Smash Bros. and Hot Wheels Turbo Racing. They had some games (and maybe movies) that were from 24 Hour Video (literally the same copies).
    Video Store in Winnipeg, Manitoba
    I visited Winnipeg, Manitoba in the year 2000, and again in 2002. I don't remember if it was in 2000 or 2002, but during one of my visits I came across a video store and looked around. I also don't remember if it was a Blockbuster or some other store, but I do remember something I saw there. I found a Donkey Kong Country cartoon VHS tape. At the time, Donkey Kong Country was playing on Fox in the U.S. and Teletoon in Canada, but it was a bit difficult to come across episodes of the series on VHS. There was the "Donkey Kong Country: Legend of the Crystal Coconut" VHS that wasn't too hard to find, but it seemed like that was the only DKC cartoon VHS released. Seemed. But I found a different DKC VHS tape at a video store in Winnipeg. I looked at the box and was bummed I couldn't rent it since I was just visiting. I don't think I ever saw that tape again.
    Hollywood Video

    I moved to the mainland. The PS2, GameCube, and Xbox had been released and a new video game console era was in full swing. However, I didn't play these consoles until 2003 or so (actually I played GameCube and tried out Luigi's Mansion at a Zellers store in 2001, but didn't actually get the console until 2003). So, I still wanted to play SNES, N64, and PS1 games. I was also interested in getting back to playing the NES and original Game Boy, both of which I still had but didn't play as often.
    In late 2002, a flyer was delivered to the Mailbox (an orange flyer, not the flyer shown in the picture which was from 2003). It was from Hollywood Video, located in Red Deer, Alberta. I read the flyer, and noticed it mentioned Nintendo games. It also mentioned SNES and N64, so I thought "Nintendo" meant the NES. So, I visited the store and found a shelf full of NES games. There were more on the other side too. I was hoping I could find Mega Man 5 there, which I only rented once at L.J. Video. Well, I did find Mega Man 5...sort of. I only saw the box. I thought someone rented it, but noticed the game still wasn't there when I came back another day. Oh well. I rented Tetris and The Simpsons: Bart Vs. the World. It was kind of cool being able to rent NES games eight years after I rented some at L.J. Video.


    in 2003, Hollywood Video was finally selling their NES games. I bought Adventures of Lolo, and got an NES rental case with a Permastruct manual. The copy of Adventures of Lolo shown in the picture is not the copy I bought at Hollywood Video, but I still have the rental case. In the Summer of that year, they moved a block or two from their original location. It was smaller and a bit cramped. but still fun to visit. They still had many NES and SNES games for sale. I bought Donkey Kong Classics for NES, and a Super Game Boy and Pac-in-Time for SNES. I still have the manual for Pac-In-Time, and still play the game in Pac-Man Museum+ for Switch which I bought earlier this year (interestingly, Pac-Man Museum+ contains the Japanese version of the game). I later bought Dig Dug II and Batman Returns, both for NES.



    There were a bunch of VHS tapes for sale. I bought some Ninja Turtles cartoon VHS tapes. I also found the box for A Goofy Movie. I bought it and took it home. Once I opened the box I noticed that the movie inside was not A Goofy Movie, but rather the sequel (An Extremely Goofy Movie). I didn't mind, though, because I liked both Goofy Movies. I later bought A Goofy Movie (first one) on DVD in 2011, at an HMV. Also pictured is Fly Away, Home, which I watched on TV once.
    I got a GameCube in 2003, and rented a lot of games for it at Hollywood Video. Super Smash Bros. Melee, Sonic Mega Collection, Pac-Man World 2, and Mega Man Network Transmission were among the first games I rented for it.
    In 2005, I was in my late teen years and wanted to play some adult games. Resident Evil 4 had been released for GameCube, and it was the first M rated game I played. But I still wanted to play Mario, Sonic, Mega Man, and Pac-Man games as well. I had been renting games at Hollywood Video for three years by this point, and often visited on weekends. So in late 2005, I started to ask the owner/manager (who was usually the only one working there) if I could request games that weren't at the store. He said yes. And I continued asking for more and more games. By 2007, there were nearly 200 games for GameCube at the store (yes, I counted).
    I continued to rent N64 games in 2004. I rented Super Smash Bros., GoldenEye, and Hot Wheel's Turbo Racing. I also rented Mega Man Legends 2 for PS1.
    In late 2006, I was approaching adulthood and wanted to play more teen/adult games. I became interested in the Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell series, and noticed there were four of them on GameCube (yes, even Splinter Cell: Double Agent even though it was a late release). The original, SC: Pandora Tomorrow, and SC: Chaos Theory were at the store, so I rented them. I had to request SC: Double Agent. 
    In 2007, I requested Pac-Man World 3 but the manager got Pac-Man World Rally instead. No big deal; I wanted to play that game too, and I had already played Pac-Man World 3 in late 2005. I also requested Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex. That game was already five years old in 2007 (almost six if you count the fact that the PS2 version was released in 2001), but could still be found at some stores in the discount bins so the manager got it. I went to EB Games and noticed they had the GameCube version of Mega Man X: Command Mission. Since my funds were limited, I couldn't buy it. I had been requesting games at Hollywood Video for a while, so I requested the game and told the manager that there was a copy at EB Games. He hesitated because he normally didn't get used copies of games, but was willing to that one time. So I went back to EB Games and had them put the game aside, and told them that the manager from Hollywood Video would pick it up.
    Anyway, the Hollywood Video I went to closed in the Summer/Fall of 2007. I bought Mega Man X: Command Mission. I remember almost all of the PS2 and GameCube games were sold, while most of the original Xbox games were unsold.

    In 2010, I found a copy of Bust a Move 3000 at a retro game store. It happens to be a copy from Hollywood Video.


    Last year in 2021, a friend gave me Adventure Island 2 for NES. It is also from Hollywood Video.
    Video Update/Movie Gallery
    In Red Deer, Alberta, there used to be a video store in a strip mall with a DQ and Co-op store and Gas Station. I think it was Video Update, then it became Movie Gallery. In 2002, I often went there and rented Mario Tennis for N64 and Space Jam on VHS. It wasn't very far from where I lived at the time, so I would sometimes walk there. I remember wanting to rent GoldenEye but it seemed like it was always being rented (or was it lost or stolen? Who knows). Luckily, I was able to rent GoldenEye at Hollywood Video.
    Video Plus
    Video Plus was a video store I came across during a visit to Canmore, Alberta in either 2002 or 2003. As I was just visiting Canmore for a few days, I couldn't rent any movies or games. I entered the store and looked around. I don't really remember much about it. I doubt there was really anything about it that stood out. The only thing I really remember about visiting that store was finding The Land Before Time: Journey to Big Water, which was the newest Land Before Time movie at the time. I think the last Land Before Time movie I rented was the seventh one (The Big Freeze). I was a teenager when I visited this store and wasn't really interested in watching Land Before Time movies anymore. I likely thought I was "too old" for them, which is likely also why I didn't visit Chuck E. Cheese much (if at all) when I was a kid and visited there just recently. That and, aside from watching some commercials in the early/mid 2000's, Chuck E. Cheese wasn't really on my mind until just last month.
    VHQ/Movie Gallery


    Video Headquarters, or Movie Gallery, was another video store I often went to in Red Deer, Alberta. 
    There were two locations: one at the south end and one at the north end. I went to the one at the north end, starting in 2003. Some of the games I rented there were Finding Nemo and Sonic Heroes. I still have the receipt from when I rented Sonic Heroes in 2004.
    In 2006, I went to the VHQ at the south end of Red Deer. Some of the games I rented were Namco Museum (2002) and Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly. In 2008, after Hollywood Video closed, I went to VHQ again. They still had games for GameCube. I rented F-Zero GX, James Bond 007: Nightfire, and Need for Speed: Most Wanted. These were some of the last games I rented at a video store.


    In 2010, I went back to the VHQ at the north end of Red Deer. They had sealed copies of Sonic Mega Collection and Sonic Adventure DX on a shelf behind glass doors. Sonic Mega Collection was $20 and Sonic Adventure DX was $10. I bought both and kept them, knowing that would be the last time I would find them sealed at a nearby store. I also still have the receipts/statements from when I bought them. Pretty good deals too especially for SADX, since it not only has an upgraded version of Sonic Adventure but also every Sonic game for the Game Gear (including two games that were originally released in Japan only).

    The Digital Age
    Even after I stopped renting video games in 2008 and Netflix and other streaming services became popular, I still occasionally visited video stores. In 2010/2011, I walked into Blockbuster Video once more. By that point, they didn't have any PS2, GameCube, or Xbox games for rent. They had a few PS2 games available to buy, but that was it. It was mostly PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360 games at the time. I went to a video store (don't remember which one) in Sylvan Lake, Alberta, and they too had gotten rid of their PS2, GameCube, and original Xbox games. I also went into a Rogers Video in Red Deer, and saw they had a few PS2 games left, but again they mostly had PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360 games.
    A few years later, when video stores were mostly obsolete, I remember reading that a new video store, called Video View, opened up in Red Deer, Alberta. They were apparently in the same buildings as VHQ. I thought about visiting the store, but didn't. 
    Conclusion 

    Video stores were always fun to go to. Even on days I didn't rent anything, it was still fun to look around at the games and movies, look at posters, watch what was on the TVs, and eat candy or popcorn. Some stores also had kid areas with cartoons or animated movies playing, or maybe some toys to play with. New movies and games were coming out almost every week. There was always something fun to see and do.
    As usual, I'll be making updates to fix typos and add pictures.
    -MegaMan52
  8. 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
  9. MegaMan52

    Why Mega Man II On Game Boy is Actually a Pretty Good Game

    By MegaMan52,


    Talking About A Specific Game
    Introduction

    Following up my Mega Man 5 NES blog is another blog about an underrated Mega Man game: Mega Man II for the original Game Boy.
    This game is considered by many to be the worst Game Boy Mega Man game and one of the worst games in the franchise, usually only ranking above the worst of the worst (like the Mega Man DOS games). Many still like the game, but some have said several negative things about it and the game's ratings are low for a Mega Man game. Common criticisms include high-pitched music, the game being too easy, and somewhat poor level design. The game introduced a new character named Quint, who is not really a favorite among very many fans of the series.
    The game was developed by Japan System House (later known as Blox), a company who had no prior experience working on games in the series. It was also rushed, with the Japanese version of the game (Rockman World 2) being released only five months after the Japanese version of Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge (Rockman World). This would be the only Mega Man game the company ever worked on, as the company that developed the first Mega Man Game Boy game (Minakuchi Engineering) also developed Mega Man III, IV, and V. 
    While Mega Man II is a flawed game and Capcom was wise to hire Minakuchi Engineering to develop the rest of the Mega Man games for the original Game Boy, I have to say that it is still a reasonably good game. I agree that it is the worst Game Boy Mega Man game, but there are a few things about it that make it stand out. A few good ideas that, in my opinion, should've been used in other games in the series and others that should've been used more often.
    Why Mega Man II For Original Game Boy is Pretty Good
    1.It is fun sliding around in the Mega Man 2 stages

    Mega Man didn't get the slide until Mega Man 3 for the NES. This game combines characters and features from both Mega Man 2 and 3, meaning you can slide in the stages that have the Mega Man 2 bosses.
    2.Rush Marine is actually useful

    In most of the few games that it has been in, Rush Marine isn't very useful. Rush Marine only works in water, and Rush Coil and Rush Jet work just about anywhere...including in water! 


    The one exception is this game. In this game, unlike Mega Man 3, Rush Jet doesn't work in water. Rush Marine, of course, only works in water and there aren't many stages in the game that have water sections. But in the few water areas the game does have, Rush Marine really comes in handy. You can use it to get passed spikes and enemies in Woodman's stage, or ride it instead of jumping on the disappearing blocks in Top Man's stage.
    I don't really mind that Rush Marine was removed from later Mega Man games, but it's still nice to see that it is useful in one Mega Man game.
    3.The Teleporters in Dr. Wily's Fortress lead to other stages



    When I first played this game in the early 2000's, what surprised me the most about it were the Teleporters in Dr. Wily's Fortress. In most of the Mega Man games, they lead to rooms where you battle clones of the first eight bosses/robot masters (or six, in the case of Mega Man 1 on NES). In this game they don't just lead to another boss battle, they lead to more stages (with passwords given for each). The game retains the idea from Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge by featuring bosses from the next NES Mega Man game, with four bosses from Mega Man 3 since the other four from Mega Man 2 are fought in the first Game Boy Mega Man game. This trend would continue with Mega Man III and IV on Game Boy, but with the last four regular bosses being in regular stages instead of Dr. Wily stages.
    4.The game has some nice little touches




    Despite being released only a few months after the first Game Boy Mega Man game, Mega Man II has some nice touches you don't see in most other Mega Man games (only some of the later ones). For example, if you call Rush, open the weapon screen, and select something else, you still see him teleport away. He doesn't just disappear if you open the weapon screen, unlike a lot of other Mega Man games. Another detail is when Mega Man rides on the spinning tops in, where else, Top Man's stage. In Mega Man 3 for NES, he just faces whatever direction he's already facing while on the tops. In this game he faces different directions while on the tops, as if he's really spinning around in a circle. The way he spins is not as detailed as when he stands on the spinning platforms in Stone Man's stage in Mega Man 5 for NES, but it is still somewhat of an improvement over Mega Man 3. The Mega Man logo on the title screen flashes, something that isn't included in Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge but is included in the other Game Boy Mega Man games.
    5.You can use Mega Man 2 weapons on Mega Man 3 enemies

    As mentioned above, the game has features from both Mega Man 2 and Mega Man 3 for the NES. In addition to being able to use the slide in stages with the bosses from Mega Man 2, you can also use weapons from Mega Man 2 on enemies from Mega Man 3.
    6.The game is a little weird sometimes 
    OK, maybe this isn't a reason why the game is good. But I thought I'd point out that it is also a little strange. Like in this section of Crashman's stage, some enemies only appear if you run to the right and back. Otherwise, they don't appear.
    7.Some of the music is great

    That's right, I'm praising some of the music from one of the most criticized Mega Man soundtracks of all time. The title screen music is memorable, and a remixed version of it is included in Mega Man Anniversary Collection (it's one of the remixes included in the "Homage to Mega Man" music track). The music tracks in Hard Man's and Needle Man's stages sound...interesting.
    The credits music is one of the saddest music tracks I've ever heard in a Mega Man game, but is also kind of catchy and makes you feel like you've accomplished something.
    8.The final stage is interesting


    While technically all of the stages are different, most of them reuse a lot of graphics and ideas from Mega Man 2 and 3 on NES. The final stage is the only all-new stage in the game, and it is kind of interesting. Look at the clocks in the background. While time travel is involved according to the story in the manual, the background features melting clocks that are similar to the painting "Persistence of Memory" by Salvador Dali.
    This is also another stage where Rush Marine is useful.
    Conclusion
    Another underrated Mega Man game with some good ideas. I'm not saying that everyone "hates" Mega Man II on Game Boy, but over the years I have noticed that it gets bashed somewhat. Sometimes a little unfairly. While Capcom made the right choice to let Minakuchi Engineering develop the rest of the Mega Man games for the original Game Boy (they had more experience and a better understanding of what the series is about), I think the development team that worked at Japan System House deserve some credit. Considering they had very little time to make this game and didn't know much about Mega Man, I think they did a good job. This is coming from someone who's been a fan of the series for over thirty years.

    Mega Man II was re-released as a Player's Choice game in 1998, which doesn't surprise me at all. It is a good game.

    It is also the perfect compliment to a blue Game Boy Pocket.


    The SNES's Super Game Boy and the GameCube's Game Boy Player are also great.
    -MegaMan52
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. MegaMan52

    Why Mega Man 5 is one of my favorite Mega Man Games

    By MegaMan52,


    Talking About A Specific Game
    Introduction

    Anyone who's seen my pictures (whether it's here on VGS or on Instagram) or just looked at my name knows I like the Mega Man series. But which game in the series is my favorite? Often, when there are polls asking this question or someone makes a top 10, Mega Man 2 and Mega Man 3 are the favorites among many fans.

    Like many, Mega Man 2 was my introduction to the series and not the original game. But as much as I liked it, it wasn't and still isn't my favorite. I noticed the additions and improvements almost right off the bat in Mega Man 3 (improved control, climbing ladders faster, extra stages before the fortress stages, the addition of Rush, etc.), and in some of the later entries. I actually have two favorite Mega Man games: Mega Man 3 and Mega Man 5. Mega Man 3 is by far the one I've played the most, and was also the first one that I got (I still have my original copy). I like them both equally, but for different reasons.
    Mega Man 5 is one of the most underrated games in the series. Nowadays, that is. I can remember in the early 2000's, it was usually ranked as one of the better games in the original series behind only Mega Man 2 and 3. But things have changed, and now it is often considered one of the worst games in the series (or at least one of the worst Mega Man games on the NES). Some even rank it lower than the first Mega Man game.
    Being one of the more underrated games in the series, I should probably explain why Mega Man 5 is, in my opinion, one of the better entries in the series and why I like it as much as Mega Man 3. I actually did post the reasons why on both NintendoAge and here on VGS, but maybe some forgot or aren't aware of the particular topic I posted those reasons in. So I've made this blog, which includes pictures showing exactly what makes this game among my favorites in the series.
    The Reasons Why Mega Man 5 is One Of My Favorite Mega Man Games
    Rush Coil is Different 

    I'm not saying this is a "better" version of Rush Coil, but I'm glad Capcom at least tried something a little different with Rush before Mega Man 6 was released. 
    Each Level Has Something Unique 

    Every stage has something different that affects the gameplay somewhat.

    Star Man's stage has low gravity.

    Gravity Man's stage has changing gravity.

    Gyro Man's stage has a section where you need to avoid spikes while riding on an elevator.

    Crystal Man's stage has sections where you need to avoid crystals while jumping over gaps and spikes.

    Napalm Man's stage has these drill machines that keep appearing until you get through this section.



    Stone Man's stage has no less than three hidden rooms. 


    Charge Man's stage has you riding both on top of and inside a Train, a bit of a step up from the Train stage in Little Nemo (but not quite as difficult).



    Wave Man's stage has a section where you need to jump on bubbles, and an auto-scroll section that also includes a mini-boss.

    The uniqueness and fun little gimmicks extend to the fortress stages as well.
    Rush Marine Was Removed 

    Rush Marine isn't very useful in most of the games it's been in (the only game I know of where it actually is useful is Mega Man II on Game Boy). Not only that, but Mega Man 5 only has one level with an underwater section. So, I'm glad it was removed. The game adds some things that are useful, some of which would also make appearances in future Mega Man games. Keep reading.
    The Mega Tank

    The Mega Tank was introduced in this game, which refills both Mega Man's energy and weapon energy, AND gives you 1-Ups. In fact, if you leave the enemies alone and use a Mega Tank, all of the enemies on the screen turn into 1-Ups. You can only carry one Mega Tank, but can still carry up to nine Energy Tanks like Mega Man 3 and Mega Man 4.
    Other Mega Man games have Tanks with different names that also restore Mega Man's energy and weapon energy. Mega Man 7 has the Super Tank, while Mega Man 9 and 10 have an M Tank called the "Mystery Tank." I prefer Mega Tank.
    Beat is Useful 




    Beat was also introduced in this game, and you know what? He's useful. After finding letters that spell "MEGAMANV" (or "MEGAMAN5" in Mega Man Anniversary Collection) in the first eight stages, you can call Beat. He can be useful in "Protoman's" fortress, and is very useful during the final battle. 
    The Super Arrow 


    I like the Super Arrow because it is basically a three in one item. You can ride on it (like Item-2 in Mega Man 2, and Rush Jet), you can use it as a weapon, and you can use it on walls, allowing you to reach areas or platforms you otherwise wouldn't be able to reach if you simply jump (of course there's also Rush Coil, but still).
    The Mega Buster is Awesome 
    The charged shots look cool in Mega Man 5 and have a different sound effect than Mega Man 4. It's slightly disappointing they didn't re-use this game's charge shot sound effect in Mega Man 6. However, it is used in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate which pleases me greatly. People criticize the Mega Buster for being overpowered in Mega Man 5, but the game doesn't force you to use it. Each boss is weak to a certain weapon, like the other games in the series.
    Conclusion
    There you have it. Mega Man 3 AND Mega Man 5 are my favorite games in the series. I know many would disagree about the latter being one of the best games in the series (nowadays), but it doesn't matter to me. I don't regret ranking Mega Man 5 above most of the others.
    All screenshots captured from a real unmodified NES, not an Emulator.



    -MegaMan52
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. 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
  17. MegaMan52
    Introduction 
    I visited two Chuck E. Cheese locations earlier in the month, both different than the one I visited in September and October.
    You might be thinking "what is the point"? Well, much like player's towns in the Animal Crossing games, not all Chuck E. Cheese locations are the same. The games, the items in the Gift Shop, and, in some cases, even the layout differs, with some locations being bigger than others.
    Exploring the different Locations

    The first of these two locations that I visited is very similar to the location I visited in September and October, using an older Chuck E. Cheese logo from the "Avenger Chuck" era. The layout inside almost looks the same. The game selection, however, is very different. 
    I visited during the restaurant's "Winter Winner-Land" event, which began in November. The windows were decorated with snowflakes, and there was a small Christmas Tree inside on the counter. It was busy and very noisy. There was also a Birthday Party going on.
    Like the location I visited two or three months ago, I ordered a stuffed crust pepperoni pizza. It tasted pretty much the same here, and was not too bad. The Chuck E. Cheese pizza crust has a lot of flavor. I also ordered some Cheesy Bread (Bread sticks, basically), which came with some Ranch dip. For drinks, I got some orange soda.
    Time to play some games. I used the blue Play Band that I got on my Birthday in October, which still had points on it:

    Sonic Spinner

    Wow, a Sonic the Hedgehog game in a Chuck E. Cheese. There's not much to this game. The images on the machine are from Sonic Adventure. After tapping your Chuck E. Cheese Card or Play Band, Sonic starts spinning. There's one button, which you press to make Sonic stop spinning. Once he stops spinning, the number that he points at on the machine is the amount of E-tickets that you get. That's about all there is to this game.
    Pac-Man: Ticket Mania 

    This game is pretty cool. It plays basically like the original Pac-Man, but has some added features. After clearing the maze, the game tells you to enter the pot (the box with the fruit in the middle of the maze). If you're able to get there, Pac-Man becomes super sized and swarms of ghosts and fruit fill the maze. You play for a bit longer, gobbling everything in sight. Then the game ends and goes back to the title screen. The machine itself looks cool, with animated images of Pac-Man and the ghosts on top. It also flashes in different colors.
    Galaga Assault 

    Until I played this game, the newest Galaga game I played was Galaga Arrangement which I've played for years in Namco Museum for GameCube. Galaga Arrangement, however, was originally released in Arcades in 1995 as part of Namco Classics Collection Vol. 1. This game is much more recent.
    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2017)

    A Ninja Turtles game that is based on the 2012 Nickelodean cartoon series, but plays like the original Ninja Turtles Arcade game as well as Turtles in Time. Like those games, this game allows up to four players. There's a meter below your Turtles' energy meter. When it's full, your Turtle can use his special move. TURTLE POWER! 


    Chuck E. Cheese's Sketchbook

    This machine takes a picture of you. After that, it shows an animation of Chuck E. drawing you. He talks while drawing, saying things like "Uh-oh, my hand slipped!", "now to add the final touches!", or "you'll want to frame this one!". After Chuck E. is finished drawing, the machine prints your picture in black and white. Kind of similar to the Game Boy Camera.

    I stayed for about an hour and half (probably a bit longer than that). After eating pizza and playing some games, it was time to visit another Chuck E. Cheese location.

    It was getting late. I was a long way from home and needed to get back. While this location isn't too far from the previous location, there was lots of traffic and it took me about an hour to get here from the other Chuck E. Cheese. It looks like this location uses an even older Chuck E. Cheese logo. Though it wasn't fully lit, if you look closely you can see that it shows a bored-looking Chuck E.
    Unlike the other location, this location wasn't busy. I'm sure there are busy days/evenings here, it just wasn't busy when I visited. There were only one or two families. This location is bigger, and has a different layout.
    I only had one drink of orange soda at the other location, and needed a drink. Though there were about a thousand other places I could've gotten a drink, since I already wanted to visit this Chuck E. Cheese location anyway I went ahead and ordered some water. I was given a bottle, which was nice and cold. I sat at a table for a few minutes and drank my water. Like I said there was lots of traffic; I needed to relax for a bit.
    Once again, the game selection was different and I used my Play Band (which STILL had some points on it). I needed to get back home, so I didn't stay here very long and only played two games (well, technically just one).
    Chuck E. Cheese Photo Booth 

    That's really all it is. Sort of like the Sketch Book Machine, but prints color pictures. It doesn't have an animation of Chuck E. drawing your picture, but he does appear on the screens as well as the printed pictures. You can go inside and sit, or stay outside of the machine and stand in the back. The border around the picture differs depending on weather you take the picture inside or outside. Either way, the pictures come out of a slot outside of the machine in the back.
    After using the Photo Booth, I noticed Chuck E. (an employee dressed up as the character) was standing near the Photo Booth. There was no one else on this side of the restaurant (there was one family on the other side, near the kid area), so I said hi. He was wearing a Santa hat on one of his ears, which I liked.
    Mario Kart 


    This location has a Mario Kart Arcade game. This was one of the few Mario Kart games I hadn't played. Being developed by Namco, it also includes Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man in addition to the Mario characters. I raced on two tracks on 150cc, and got 1st place. This shouldn't be surprising to anyone who's played Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on VGS game nights, or looked on my social media pages (Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Reddit).
    That's about all I did at this location. I didn't have time to play any other games and needed to get back home. One of the other games I saw was H2Overdrive, a sort of sequel to Hydro Thunder. As I was leaving, I noticed this location had some Jumbo Cotton Candy. I didn't buy any since I already got some Cotton Candy at the location mentioned above, but perhaps that's a reason besides the Mario Kart game to come back to this location sometime.
    Chuck E. Cheese App 

    The Chuck E. Cheese website mentions that if you download the Chuck E. Cheese App, you can get 500 E-Tickets for free. So I downloaded it. At the first location mentioned above, I went to the Gift Shop, showed the lady the App, and got the Tickets. While some of the items here are different than the location I visited in September and October, there wasn't much that I wanted. Some of the items I already have (like a Chuck E. Plush), while others I wasn't really interested in. There was A LOT of Cotton Candy, and I noticed a sign on the counter saying you can get Cotton Candy for 500 E-Tickets. Like the location I visited a few months ago, there was blue and pink. I didn't really want Cotton Candy, but there wasn't really anything else I was interested in either. The lady mentioned I could get both in one (half and half), which I didn't know was an option. Previously I paid for the Cotton Candy and got blue and pink separately, but this time I used my bonus 500 E-Tickets from the App and got half and half Cotton Candy.

    Conclusion
    Visiting different locations of the same restaurant may not seem all that great, but in the case of Chuck E. Cheese it is interesting because of the different games. Someday, I hope can find a Chuck E. Cheese that has Cruis'n Blast (I like the Switch version, but you know...I want to play the Arcade version too).
    -MegaMan52
  18. 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
  19. 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
  20. 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
  21. MegaMan52
    Introduction

    In the '80s and '90s, it was actually quite common to find video game related shows. There was Pac-Man, Saturday Supercade, Super Mario Bros. Super Show, Legend of Zelda, and Captain N in the '80s, and Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Mega Man in the '90s. This continued in the late '90s/early 2000s with shows like Donkey Kong Country, Kirby: Right Back at Ya!, Sonic X, and MegaMan NT Warrior. 
    Then there were the game shows. Americans were treated to video game shows such as Video Power, Nick Arcade, and GamePro (a TV show version of the magazine). Canadians, however, got their own video game show: Video & Arcade Top 10. The show ran from 1991 all the way to 2006 and was shown on YTV, and usually featured Nintendo systems from the NES to the GameCube (Game Boy games were also shown). Occasionally, PlayStation games were also featured. I watched the show a fair bit during the N64 and GameCube eras. 
    The show was divided into multiple sections and wasn't strictly about video games. The main part of the show was the competition, where a few gamer's could play different games (usually two different games per episode). There was the tips and tricks section for both new and classic games. Then there was the top 10 prize wall section near the end of the show, where the winning contestants got a chance to win one of various prizes. I remember in 2004, one of the prizes was Mega Man Anniversary Collection for GameCube. There were usually/always video game prizes, but also other prizes that weren't video game related that kids could enjoy. Music and movies were also featured.
    Even though I watched the show a lot, I apparently didn't record very many episodes. I found one VHS tape containing a single episode from the N64 era, and appears to be from 2000 or so. Since I'm Canadian, I guess I might as well talk about it. So that'll be the focus of this blog.
    Memories of the Show 
    Game Action


    The main part of the show. Nicholas Picholas was the star of the show for almost its entire run. In each episode, a few kids would play a couple different games. 


    The particular episode on the tape I have features San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing and Ready 2 Rumble Boxing, both for N64. Other sections of the show would be shown during the action, then it would return to the competition. There were two rounds, each featuring a different game. After a round, the winning contestant would be taken to the prizes. After the first round, different contestants would play. I remember an episode that featured Mario Party on N64. Original Game Boy games would be played with the SNES's Super Game Boy, Game Boy Color games would be played with the N64's Wide Boy, and Game Boy Advance games would be played with the GameCube's Game Boy Player.
    Music


    Featuring music instead of gaming, this was the only part of the show I didn't care much about. It's not that I didn't care about any music, it's just that I was watching a video game show and wanted to see video games not music videos. That's what channels like Much Music and MTV were for. They also had quiz questions.
    While were on the subject of music, though, I'll mention that the shows theme song sounded like the music from Crashman's stage in Mega Man 2.
    Tips and Tricks

    Not to be confused with the magazine of the same name, some tips and tricks for both new and classic games were mentioned, and footage of the game being talked about was shown. I remember Sonic Adventure 2: Battle being shown in this section. The episode on the VHS tape I have has tips and tricks for NBA Courtside 2 and Star Craft 64.
    Letters

    Gamer's sent letters asking a question about how to do something in whatever game they were playing, and Nicholas would read them to the audience and viewers. Also notice the fan art.
    Movies

    Movies for teens and younger kids were also shown and talked about.
    Top 10 Prize Wall 

    After a round, the winning contestants would be taken to the prizes. The kids who won that day would be blindfolded and then put his or her hand into a container that had balls with numbers on them. Whichever number was shown on the ball indicated what prize they got. Most of the balls were white, but one of them was a red ball. The red ball, if pulled out, allowed the winning contestant to choose any prize he or she wanted. Every contestant was a winner, because even the losing players still got a prize. The prizes included a copy of the games being played, as well as other things like game accessories, Timex Watches, and puzzles.

    Who could forget the Pokémon craze in the late '90s/early 2000s? Even if you didn't care much about it, you couldn't escape it. 2000 was the year Pokémon The Movie 2000 was released, which I remember watching in the Theater (and got on VHS last year). And YTV, the channel that played this show, also played the Pokémon cartoon. Stores were full of Pokémon merch and apparel. Everyone was talking about Pokémon at the time.
    Other Stuff

    Even Nintendo got in on the fun with these shirts.

    Ah yes KFC. It's finger lickin' good.
    Conclusion

    Video & Arcade Top 10 was fun to watch. It was just one of many video game related things that Canadian gamer's liked. When Canadian kids weren't busy with school, playing video games, watching movies, browsing the Internet, or reading an issue of Nintendo Power, perhaps they were watching cartoons or maybe an episode of Video & Arcade Top 10. I know I watched the show a lot.
    -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
    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
  24. 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
  25. 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
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