MegaMan52

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

I like the Game Boy Color, but it's my least favorite Game Boy system because of its library. Not that its library is bad, but as others have said it has a lot of ports like Wario Land 2, Link's Awakening DX, Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, and Donkey Kong Country. It also has some games that aren't really ports, but are a little too similar to other games. Like Mega Man Xtreme and Mega Man Xtreme 2. Both are good games and technically aren't ports (Xtreme takes place between X2 and X3, and Xtreme 2 takes place between X3 and X4), but they're so similar to the Mega Man X games on the SNES that they might as well be downgraded ports. Many of the stages in both games have almost identical layouts as the SNES games. They do have some added features, stages, and characters, though, and are still worth playing. But the GBC does have some great exclusives, like Wario Land 3. Deja Vu 1 & 2, Elevator Action EX, and Wendy: Every Witch Way are pretty good too. EX might even be my favorite Elevator Action game. So while I don't like the Game Boy Color as much as original Game Boy and Game Boy Advance, I still like it a lot. The GBA, of course, has lots of ports too. I don't like it quite as much as the original Game Boy, but would still rank it above the GBC because of games like Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Sonic Advance, Kuru Kuru Kururin, and Kirby and the Amazing Mirror.

Beat Mega Man: The Power Battle in Mega Man Battle & Fighters for Neo Geo Pocket Color (played on Switch). I played the game using all three characters: Mega Man in the Mega Man 1-2 course, Protoman in the Mega Man 3-6 course, and Bass in the Mega Man 7 course. The Neo Geo Pocket Color version is sure missing a lot of the music from the Arcade version (Cutman's music is used a lot), but I really like the chiptune versions of the music that is included (especially Mega Man's theme). The graphics took a big hit, but the backgrounds look reasonably good. Gameplay is pretty much the same as the Arcade version. Even though the Arcade version is better, I actually still kind of like this version.

I'll get it eventually, as I've gotten a little impatient waiting for Metroid Prime 4. Still got Prime 1 and 2 for my GameCube (no regrets).

"Let's kick shell!" "Pizza Power!"

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

Beat Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode 1 on Steam.

Well thank goodness for Steam then, because I was able to play all of the levels/acts in Splash Hill Zone, Casino Street Zone, Lost Labyrinth Zone, and Mad Gear Zone, including special stages and boss battles. I was even able to unlock and access E.G.G. Station Zone, the final zone in Episode I.

I'm currently taking a break from buying physical games, as I have pretty much run out of space in my game room. I'm thinking about turning another room in my house into a game room. So for the time being, I'm buying digital releases. Forgot this was released on Steam. I missed out on it when it was released for PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360. I'll download Episode II some other time, because I've got too many other Sonic games I need to play and get back to (Sonic Mania, Team Sonic Racing, Sonic Frontiers, etc.). Last year I downloaded the Sega Ages release of Sonic the Hedgehog, which is notable for including the Mega Play Arcade version of the game as well as lots of extra modes and customization. Recently, I downloaded Sega Ages Sonic the Hedgehog 2. It was on sale. It has all of the features from the 3D version for 3DS, except for the 3D mode. It also has some added features not in the 3DS version, such as the Drop Dash from Sonic Mania. When I got my physical copy of Sonic Frontiers in December, I got the shoes from Sonic Adventure 2: Battle and the Holiday Cheer Suit. But I forgot to get the Adventurer's Treasure Box DLC, which is mentioned in an insert included with the game. I entered the code recently and got it. I'm aware that it apparently doesn't work if you download it after beating the tutorial stage (the game warned me); I didn't complete the tutorial stage and really get into Sonic Frontiers until recently. I also downloaded the Sonic Frontiers Monster Hunter Collaboration Pack. Now I'm all caught up for the time being. Looking forward to the upcoming DLC that's been announced. I downloaded Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium when it was released last year (literally right when it became available for purchase), and paid for Mega Man: The Power Battle. I recently paid for Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters, which was also on sale and cost a mere $1.40. As with the other games in Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium (including Power Battle), both the American and Japanese versions of Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters are included. Also bought some DLC for Pac-Man World Re-Pac (which I have a physical copy of). I downloaded the Switch Game Boy App the day it was released. Maybe some of you noticed these Super Mario Land 2 pics in the "Games You Have Beaten Recently" topic. And I downloaded (and beat) the Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe demo. Will be buying a physical copy of the full game in the near future.

I played a short game this time, due to the fact that I've been busy. I decided to beat the prototype of the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive version of Aladdin included in Disney Classics Games Collection for Switch. I believe it is included in the original version of the collection, but I played it on the expanded version that includes The Jungle Book. Once you've beaten it, the game just goes back to the title screen. Still fun and interesting.

For the same reason the River Styx and Underworld are in Super Paper Mario, I guess. Or Mimi snapping her neck and transforming into a giant spider with gears in her head.

@fcgamer Is that screen with the Japanese SMB2 graphics and no title logo from "Mario Bors II"? Just curious, because I have a 110 in 1 multicart that looks like it has basically the same version of SMB.

Oh yeah, that just screams professional.

I noticed both topics and the fact that he changed the title. I don't know what he REALLY wants...a release date? An early copy of the game? Pics? Or did he just want to post spam? Whatever. Incoming pics. The bundle that twiztor mentioned.

Still a lot of fun after all these years.

I think I've got most of the American Mario, Metroid, Donkey Kong, Sonic, Pac-Man, Spyro the Dragon, Ninja Turtles, Mega Man, and Resident Evil GameCube games and items I want (more pics on pages 2 and 4). In the future, I'd like to buy the Biohazard Collector's Box, a Japanese copy of Pac-Man Vs., Japanese copies of Mega Man Network Transmission and Mega Man X: Command Mission, and Japanese copies of Super Mario Sunshine and Paper Mario. I've got American copies of the Splinter Cell games (including a collector's edition copy of Chaos Theory), a demo of the first Splinter Cell game on the 2003 GameCube Preview Disc, and a demo of Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow on the Version 17 Interactive Multi-Game Demo disc. Last year I bought a PAL Player's Choice copy of Splinter Cell (one of the PAL exclusive Player's Choice games), and hope to eventually find an English PAL Player's Choice copy of Pandora Tomorrow (I've seen it before, but most of the Player's Choice copies I've seen are French) as well as purchase PAL copies of Chaos Theory and Double Agent. There's also a PAL demo of the first Splinter Cell that came with an issue of Cube Magazine.

I'm sure you do, Gloves.

Yeah, and I still stayed on topic by answering that question at the beginning of my post.

Yeah, I'm content with my collection. Doesn't mean I'm done, though.

"Cowabunga!"

NES: Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt Original Game Boy: Tetris SNES: Killer Instinct Sega Genesis: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Apple II: Bubble Bobble PS1: Gran Turismo/Volume Three Interactive CD Sampler Pack Game Boy Color: Mega Man Xtreme PC: Sonic 3D Blast N64: Super Mario 64 GameCube: Super Mario Sunshine Game Boy Advance: Mega Man Battle Network 3 Blue Version DS: Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt Sega Saturn: Mega Man 8 Wii: Skylanders: Giants/Super Mario Galaxy 3DS: Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World Switch: Super Mario Odyssey Sega Master System: Wonder Boy, Out Run, Hang-On/Safari Hunt, Shinobi, Fantasy Zone II, Great Golf, Double Dragon, Paperboy, Snail Maze Game Plug and Play: Thomas the Tank Engine

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

Here's a good strategy for winning the Coin Runners Battle Game in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mega_Man_52 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CoiFc66giqC/

Actually, there are 22 Mini-Games (16 4-Player games, and 6 Battle games). And the mode for "randomly selected mini-games" mentioned in that article is the Battle Mode, the second option in this screen.

Some of the guides I have: Have had many of these guides since the '90s/early 2000's.