A new edition of Retro Corner Reviews is up and this time we are taking a look at the Super Game Boy for the Super NES. There was once a time when us Golden Age Gamers were stuck using monochrome Nintendo Game Boys. Despite the competition having full color and even a backlit screen like Sega Game Gear and Atari Lynx, they didn’t have a diverse library to enjoy. Sega might’ve had Mortal Kombat in color with blood and gore in their versions, but Nintendo had many bangers even in the early years. Aside from the Sonic series, Mortal Kombat and a few gems are all that were offered on Game Gear. While the GB had four double A batteries that lasted longer and there were many genres to choose from. That is the reason the Game Gear after a few years of being on the market, saw it in bargain bins along with the Atari Lynx. That is why Nintendo’s first portable lasted well into the late 90s especially thanks to Pokemon releasing in 1996 to 1998.
That is where the SGB comes in and would see its release in mid-1994 for the Super NES. During the time, Sega and NEC had their CD addons on the market that continued to flop in sales. Thanks to the abundance of shoddy games that paled in comparison to the base systems and the ridiculous price cemented these facts. Nintendo rather than releasing their CD add-on after the fallout with Sony, they would drop these plans all together. Instead, they produce the SGB cartridge to allow black and white GB titles to play on the TV. That is why the House of Sonic continued to struggle for the rest of the decade. It is the reason Nintendo, even after losing to Sony, continued to stay in the black. The adapter did more than give extra color but through the SGB cartridges would offer special features that weren’t possible on the original portable. After three decades, how well does the Super Game boy hold up compared to its successor the Game Boy player? Super Game Boy (Super NES) Review
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A new edition of Horror Gaming is up, and the Halloween season has begun for us to celebrate the usual ghastly festivities. To start the spooky season off, this edition has us take a look at an original gaming creepypasta called Conplus. During 2014, gaming CPs as explained many times weren’t known for quality storytelling aside from a few gems. It was also a time when a few writers tried breaking away from the constant tropes that often was the scary part of these plots. Godzilla NES and Metroid II: Secret Worlds were the first to raise the bar thanks to good writing. Another thing that made these set the bar higher is the quality depictions of what the characters explained were happening to them. While you don’t need imagery to create a unique horror tale, it does add to the immersion and allows your imagination to go even more wild. In the early 2020s, creepypastas began losing their luster thanks to poor writing, authors who can’t take criticism and obnoxiously long one to two sentence titles. The bar might’ve been raised high but it’s obvious these gaming CP authors have moved to a much better format of Analog Horror.
Conplus is an original gaming creepypasta similar to the Theater and Pale Luna that tells a tale of a man recalling playing an odd Super NES title. It was also a multicart in the same vein as Action 52 that is known to have poorly designed games on them. However, unlike Action 52, Conplus's games were developed competently with no broken designs according to the story. There is one odd feature of this cartridge, and it’s how a plastic bubble was placed on the top right. The only cartridge based release to have this feature was the Game Boy Camera. The CP does have that uniqueness to the theme and there was never a Super NES cart to have a camera like function. That really does add to the curiosity of what it could’ve been based on the fact the cover gives no indication of being a multicart release. When we look at the Sega 6-Pak and Super Mario All Stars, usually these carts tell us what’s inside. Conplus features six games each being from rarely used genres in the industry. However, the man remembers some strange things about playing each one after going through their challenges as an adult. Will the man discover the games were as he remembers them or something evil, he finds there as an adult? Conplus Creepypasta Review A new edition of Retro Corner Reviews is up, and we finally tackle a Sega CD game called Vay that was a JRPG. Developed by Hertz who are known for putting together the Genesis port of Outrun was tasked to produce a traditional role playing game. When it came to RPGs in general, the Mega Drive was a distant second to the Super NES that had hosted many titles of the genre. That forced Sega to produce their own games like Phantasy Star to make up for the lack of these titles. It is one of the reasons the House of Sonic wanted to release their own CD add-on beyond trying to stay competitive. While Compact Disks as a format was the next thing for gaming, Sega was obviously trying to get the genre on their platform. This was to entice third parties to develop on the Sega CD using the more advanced technology then the base system couldn’t perform. As history tells us, that didn’t work out for the House of Sonic for more than just this genre. Despite getting a string of decent games, the addon’s lineup was nowhere near the quality of the Super NES’s JRPG library.
For Vay it is titled this based on the plot about an advanced alien mech crashing on a planet that was still developing. Over a thousand years ago, a battle was waged far from most civilized planets in space. In the midst of the war, one lone large mech veered off randomly straight into unknown space after its pilot was killed. It eventually crashed on a world that was still primitive in a medieval age and on auto pilot the advanced armor attempts to destroy all life across the planet. Eventually, five of the powerfullest wizards cast a spell to subdue and seal away the advanced mechanized armor. After a millennium had passed a marriage between a prince named Sandor was set to marry his lover Elin to ensure the Lorath Kingdom was secure. However, his kingdom was unaware the Danek Empire was staging an invasion using technology from the legend to attack and kidnap Elin. Now, Sandor must brave an adventure to save his lover and stop the Danek Empire from its conquest across the world. The gameplay follows the traditional format that many studios used regardless of what quality they were. Can the studio of Hertz redeem their previous work? Vay (Sega CD) Review A new edition of Retro Corner Reviews is up, and we tackle another NSO Game Boy game called Kirby’s Dream Land. It isn’t a surprise to see Kirby be added as one of the first titles on GB NSO. He, among Mario, Wario and Link, is quite recognizable even when certain gamers haven’t touched any games from this series. It is a perfect way to have them try Kirby for the first time especially when having his earlier titles from the 90s available on this service. The first entry can also show where he began his adventure rather than through the modern releases. There is no doubt Star Stacker for GB as well as Nightmare in Dream Land for the GBA will eventually get added. However, having the Pink Wonder’s debut title available for these gamers to try is always a good thing. It is also a good thing to experience where some of the familiar mechanics originate from.
Now, his debut title along with Kirby’s Adventure on the NES is considered sleeper hits. Meaning, Nintendo did advertise the Game Boy release with a short animated commercial showing you don’t have to look like an action hero to take the role. While the second entry on NES came out during the system Twilight Years in 1993 when people were too busy with the 16-bit consoles. The mechanics here are often considered simplistic akin to Super Mario Land. However, when has anyone heard of a character that uses his mouth to suck enemies up and spit them out as if he was a vacuum? In a sea of copycat mascots — Aero the Acrobat and Bubsy to name some — Kirby was able to set himself apart from even the successful ones. Sometimes having a character with an outlandish appearance and ability from the usual is what’s needed. The theme of the original game is about Kirby trying to stop King DeDeDe from hoarding all the food of Dream Land for himself. So how good does the Star Warrior’s first outing stand the test of time? Kirby’s Dream Land (Game Boy) Review A new edition of Retro Corner Reviews is up and as we enter the Spring season, I have an NSO Game Boy game to cover. It is called Game & Watch Gallery 3 that was released on the GBC in December 1998 months after the handheld was upgraded to a color edition. G&W3 along with the original game on GB were two titles I spent hours playing through in the late 90s. I don’t remember when they came into my collection back then (probably as stocking stuffers during Christmas) but the gameplay was addicting. The series might not be as good as the Mario Parties or the Mario Karts however, Game & Watch Gallery does serve it purpose as a time waster. Even RPGs are classified under such a term regardless if grinding to a higher level or proper progression is there.
The third entry continues the same format from its predecessors that features five games remade using the GBC hardware. Nintendo usually does a fantastic job remaking previous games when Super Mario All Stars set the gold standard. It is clear they were attempting those same standards for the G&Ws because this has proven to work. It is no SMAS by any means considering the NES titles have aged well enough to play today. Compared to those old portables, none of them have the same luxury unless recreated in a modernized form as seen here. That is why remaking these classics is a good thing because it gives us those quality of life features missing previously. Nintendo has an outstanding track record of producing the best remakes. Now, this completion includes Egg, Greenhouse, Mario Bros (not the same Arcade title), Turtle Bridge and a variant of Donkey Kong Jr. Can a fresh coat of paint bring these oldies to life? Game & Watch Gallery 3 (GBC) Review Welcome to a new edition of Horror Gaming and it is that time of the year again for the Halloween season. I do tend to read more horror than watch those marathons during the Autumn months. It seems reading these campfire tales engage my imagination more than the usual popcorn flick that does jump scares. However, just like films that produce Troll 2 and Good Will horror flicks, Creepypasta are no strangers to this either. Now, gaming CPs are still notorious for producing crappypastas despite the quality today being in a much better position. The Godzilla NES 2 and Friday the 13th NES horror tales are the recent stories to continue the quality standard. While those written using Mario games continue down a hellish path of terrible plots that could test one’s patience.
Now, I hate bringing bad news but an actual MaRIo III was published a couple of years ago. You heard that right as the sequel that wasn’t needed has become a reality. The sad thing is when I wrote that last part in the double review of the first two stories it was a joke based on no cliffhanger. However, now that there is an actual MaRIo III, you know this isn’t going to lead to good storytelling. The Trilogy is the Sonic.EXE of creepypastas based on how poorly both series' first two plots were written. Even though Pokemon and My Little Pony have their own EXE CPs, they weren’t as terrible as these two series. The question is how there exists a third arc when the second ended with no cliffhanger. You’ll be surprised what some will do as an excuse to make an unnecessary sequel. A perfect example comes from the infamous film Troll 2 which not only had nothing to do with the first movie but used that as an excuse. Can the third MaRIo redeem itself by being a decent tale? Or follow the Troll 2 formula without the “it’s so bad it’s good” shtick? MaRIo III Creepypasta Review As the year comes to an end soon, I have one of my old review to show about Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the N64. With the Expansion Pak online being added (despite the ridiculous backlash over the pricing) we finally got N64 games on NSO. If you are wondering I see nothing wrong with the pricing of the Expansion Pak as it was bound to happen. Did people expect this service to stay at twenty dollars a year with more consoles being added? However, unlike the complaining from most armchair analysts, I like to see things both ways to stay objective. Yes, even though the pricing isn’t problem, but Nintendo needs to add more stuff in later on. I have no doubt they will add Game Boy/Color and GBA to the service. The House of Mario probably should also add in DLC from Smash Bros, Luigi Mansion 3 or Zelda: Breath of the Wild to give more value. We all know Splatoon 3 will be added when the second game has its DLC available on the NSO.
Now, OOT has been hailed by many as the game of not only its generation but one of the greatest ever made. However, over time better 3D adventure titles would overtake OOT thanks to it slowly aging in nearly 25 years. With that said, it is still a hallmark to both its genre and to the series which stood the test of time. Similar to Mario 64, EAD used the same engine by modifying its program heavily to create unique assets. Truly amazing what Nintendo did with a limiting format as OOT wasn’t even using a 64 MB cartridge but instead utilizes a 32 MB cart. When we think of large games in the 90s, often PlayStation One’s massive RPGs with their three to four disks come to mind. They eventually would use a 64 MB cartridge when developing Majora’s Mask and taking OTT’s concept further. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64) Review A new edition of Retro Corner Reviews is up, and it is time to review a game I play every Autumn. The game is Donkey Kong Country 2 for the Super NES and for some odd reason it reminds me of the Autumn season. Maybe it has something to do with the setting being in dingy areas like a swamp or a haunted forest. The funny thing for me is it’s not the only game to give this feeling just take Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. Super Metroid also gives me those vibes oddly enough as its dreadful atmosphere played up to that. Even then DKC2 isn’t the only seasonal style game present as DKC3 had more of a wintery appearance. These types of games centered around these holidays is always something I play traditionally every year.
Now, DKC2 is among my favorite games to play not only because of the season but due to being a fantastic classic. It took everything great about the first DKC and multiplied this by ten times. That is what Nintendo did with Super Mario Bros 3 by taking the first game’s format and bringing the series to new heights. The jump between DKC1 and its sequel is nearly the same as the gameplay mechanics and broader visuals were tweaked here. The theme this time is about K. Rool turning to a life of a pirate captain as now the Kremlins have become that. However, Captain K. Rool seeks revenge on the Kong family by kidnapping Donkey himself and taking him to Crocodile Island. Now, Diddy and his girlfriend Dixie must go to Crocodile Island — the Kremlins’ stronghold — to save Donkey from K. Rool and his gang of pirates. Unlike the last entry, the stakes were raised higher beyond trying to save a banana horde that oddly enough doesn’t mold. Donkey Kong Country 2 (Super NES) Review A new edition of Retro’s Blog is up, and we talk about why Sega’s Genesis/Mega Drive was the Ultimate Arcade console. The Genesis/Mega Drive is the most iconic Sega console to see a release in its history. While the Saturn and the Dreamcast were great Arcade home systems, they didn’t have the same iconic appeal. It’s the reason they both sold ten million units each compared to the second console selling forty million. The reason is that Sega during the Fourth Gen was a legit competitor that for once took a good market share from Nintendo. It was also the time when they produced a home run in-house lineup that fans still remember till this day. Then we factor in the quality third party support is why the Genesis is fondly remembered. The later consoles despite receiving third party titles was nothing compared to the competition in both the Fifth and Sixth Gens. You can list Shenmue, Virtua Fighter 3, Soul Calibur or Resident Evil: Code Veronica all you want. Those games didn’t help Sega sell millions of units due to reaching a niche audience.
The topic itself will be broken into two parts with the first one being about genres from Brawlers, tournament fighters and licensing. During the 90s, the beat 'em ups and tournament fighters were the genres to dominate both the consoles and the arcades. You couldn’t go a day without seeing either of these types of games at your local pizzeria or in a laundry mat. It was the same thing for home systems where Sega and the third parties brought them over to the Mega Drive. Another genre that did well as much as on the TurboGrafx was the shoot ‘em ups considering how many the Mega Drive received. Despite not being popular like its Arcade brethren, the shoot ‘em ups still gave the market a variety to choose from. Sega Genesis: The Ultimate Arcade Console A new edition of Horror Gaming is up, and we tackle a unique creepypasta about a strange background character in Paperboy 2. The second month of Summer often reminds us about the traditional fourth of July and other seasonal celebrations. Now, what I mean by seasonal celebrations is your typical BBQs, pool parties and simply going to the beach for a day of relaxation. If it’s not these activities that reminds me of the Summer Days in the US, then the simple things like a paperboy/girl delivering newspapers does that. Just take a look at Stranger Things Season 3 and to an extent the fourth one — despite taking place in the Spring — highlights these things easily. Crossing Souls (an indie pixel style game) also does a good job highlighting those classic 80s American tropes.
Now, the creepypasta is unique for a couple of reasons, and it is because the story simply doesn’t focus on a player having a haunting experience. It is the fact someone took the time to use a niche series that not even Golden Age gamers bring up and turn this into a creepy theory. The CP is the only Paperboy one to my knowledge so far as most never write a horror tale about a kid delivering newspapers. That is like trying to turn Mortal Kombat into a CP, but the problem is its already M rated with as much gore as any horror film. The same thing could be said about Paperboy since there is little to go on aside from being a parody of America’s 80s tropes. The theme has the narrator talk about a weird character in the background called the Gray Man. It is simply a man taking his trash to the curb, but things don’t always appear as black and white as we like to think one’s actions are. The narrator has a theory of what the Gray Man might represent based on a family murder that happened in the 90s. A Figure in Gray Creepypasta Review |
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