Hero of Time

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Minit Review

Genre: Puzzle / Adventure Game
Players: 1*
Playtime: 3 Hours (Includes beating the game at 110% completion; Played on the Nintendo Switch)

If you married the art style of a Tamagotchi with the gameplay mechanics of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, you might get something akin to what is the game that is Minit.  The hook that is unique to this game though is that your protagonist finds a cursed sword that will kill the player literally every 60 seconds, to which you then respawn at your last abode.  This small but significant mechanic turns what is a relatively small island into a captivating labyrinth where time becomes the driving force for many a humorous and thought-provoking encounter to be found.  But can a game that is in fact beatable in just 7 minutes truly hold that much depth to it?  Let us take a minute to explore just that in examining the pros and cons of this island adventure.

Throwback Thursday - Fire Emblem Awakening

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia, now examining the esteemed Top 10 games I can't recommend higher.  Steeling thy blades this week: The game of tactical battles against warring empires that is Fire Emblem: Awakening.

Released in the US on February 4th, 2013, Fire Emblem Awakening was developed during a time where the series looked to be at an end, unable to make the desired worldwide sales.  So as to have no regrets, this last effort with Awakening sought to culminate the best features of the all the series into one game with a fresh new look to go with it.  It was either to be a glorious swan song or the start of something beautiful.  Turns out to be the latter as the Fire Emblem series has since exploded in popularity thanks to the tremendous success and appeal of Awakening.  I'll admit to joining that bandwagon of Fire Emblem fandom upon playing Awakening as well.  In fact, this game is one of the rare instances where a game demo actually swayed me to purchase this game I otherwise had not considered picking up.  I was blown away by the attractive art style, striking cut scenes for a handheld, the rich soundtrack that beautifully blended between tactics and battle, the fun nods to the pixel-based characters for map view, and the intriguing plot.  I knew this was a game I would need to dive deeper into, and it ended up becoming my favorite game on the Nintendo 3DS and a cherished experience in all of gaming.

Year in Review - Top 5 Games of the Year (2018)

The year 2018 is coming to a close and with it, a time to reflect back on the year of games that came along for the ride.  So if you're feeling equally nostalgic or just curious what hidden gems may have been overlooked during the hustle and bustle of the year, read on as we break down my personal Top 5 Games of 2018, among other recognition to be had.  Please note for this first category, there is only so much time and/or funds to be diverged among the slew of great games that are continually released.  As such, the games selected in this category only include games in which I've played to full / majority of completion, and saw their debut release in 2018.

Top 5 Games of the Year - 2018

-1- Celeste

Starting off the new year strong and releasing on January 25th, Celeste received an abundance of praise and high acclaim.  It wasn't until near the end of this year though that I took notice when I saw that this game was nominated for Game of the Year in the 2018 Video Game Awards, standing tall among the likes of behemoth AAA games like God of War and Red Dead Redemption 2.  So I picked it up during a Thanksgiving eShop sale for Nintendo Switch, and the game absolutely stole my heart and earned its spot as my favorite game released this year.  From the unique and tight platforming mechanics, catchy and moving musical scores, gorgeous animation to a touching and endearing story, Celeste delivers an experience that is so incredibly engaging and just so beautiful to take part in.  Look forward to more details and a full review of Celeste in the near future.

Throwback Thursday - Donkey Kong Country Returns

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia, now examining the esteemed Top 10 games I can't recommend higher.  Defying the laws of gravity this week: The game of fist slamming simians and devious tiki minions that is Donkey Kong Country Returns.

Released in the US on November 21st, 2010, Donkey Kong Country Returns marked a spirited return in modern form to the beloved platforming series of the SNES era.  And who would of thought that Retro Studios, the developers whose only previous work included the esteemed first-person shooter envisioning of the Metroid Prime Trilogy, would go on to make what is one of the finest platformers to grace us in a generation.  Masterfully blending nostalgic elements with fun and creative ideas, this game takes players on a wild ride that feels right at home.  The adventure begins on an all too-familiar note, some nefarious no-doers, this time a group of hypnotically-enchanting tikis, stealing the coveted hoard of Kong bananas.  As DK happens to be immune to the tiki's hypnotic gaze, players make use of the Wii's motion controls to deliver a satisfying flurry of punches in exaggerated cartoon fashion, and burst into a journey of justice, barrel blasting and plenty of bananas.

Video Game Music for the Holidays - Volume VI

Tis the season once again for holiday hustle and shuffle, and with such, a barrage of jolly jingles.  As is a  yearly tradition among my friends and family these past 6 years now, I compile a collection of music from video games that fit the vibe of the holidays.  If you enjoy the spirit of the holidays, but would appreciate some variety to these tunes, hopefully such will fit just that bill.

An Invitation to Smash

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The holidays and life in general can feel pretty busy and overwhelming at times, but try not to stress yourself out.  Treat yourself to a well deserved break and remember the best gifts in life are often just good times among good company.  Happy smashing!

(Belated) Throwback Thursday - Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday (a bit belated), our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia, now examining the esteemed Top 10 games I can't recommend higher.  Sorry for the delay folks as it's been a busy week, and I didn't want to shortchange such a beloved game here.  Speaking of which, making the fold this week: The game of paper planes and luxury trains that is Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.

Released in the US on October 11th, 2004, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is the second entry in the Paper Mario series and is highly regarded as the best of its peers, if not one of the greatest RPG's ever made (I'm willing to defend this bold assertion).  Taking what was a strong foundation from Paper Mario for the N64, Thousand-Year Door is a familiar sight with its unique paper aesthetics, clever turn-based battles with timed-based action inputs, and its creative world building.  However, this game takes all of these wonderful attributes and pushes the boundaries of each into a more engaging, bizarre and memorable adventure ever thought possible.  It all begins with Mario voyaging to the new horizons of Rogueport, a seedy and dicey pirate port that stands in striking contrast to the colorful and upbeat Mushroom Kingdom. With a missing princess Peach, a mysterious group of thugs known as the X-Nauts, and a magical map to an unknown treasure as their only lead, the stage is set for an adventure like none other.

A Cool Surprise

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Throwback Thursday - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia, now examining the esteemed Top 10 games I can't recommend higher.  Leading us off in this prestigious climax and taking target this week: The game of magical sonatas and epic tennis battles that is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Released in November 1998, 20 years ago to this month, Ocarina of Time marked the much anticipated debut of The Legend of Zelda series into the world of 3D and is heralded by many as quite possibly one of the most influential and greatest games of all time.  This fantastical adventure begins with a young boy, Link, who is the only child to live in Kokiri Forest that is without a fairy.  When sinister schemes are put into motion by a wandering Gerudo, Ganondorf, Link sets off on a grand quest to save the kingdom of Hyrule.  Little does he know the key to smiting this evil force will require the kingdom to fall to ruin, as Link will travel through time and enter a future where Ganondorf has taken rule by means of uncontested power.  Exploring these sprawling lands and discovering the many colorful characters that inhabit such, split across two timelines, makes for what feels like such a classical and epic saga.  The remorse of leaving a dear friend to embark to new lands.  The bond between a horse and a melody that time cannot break.  The intrigue of a mysterious stranger who offers wisdom and always seems to be just one step ahead of you.  The feelings this game is able to evoke is the quintessential embodiment of fantasy.

A Meal To Be Shared

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Happy Thanksgiving - Top 5 Games That Keep on Giving

For those looking for Throwback Thursday, such will return next week as regularly scheduled while we all succumb to food comas this Thanksgiving.  Look forward to such as we will be diving into the climatic my personal Top 10 games I couldn't recommend or praise higher!  In the meantime, let us take a moment to look past the cornucopia of food and sales and give thanks for the wonderful gifts gaming has so often provided.  While I don't typically view playtime as a necessary criteria for what makes or breaks a game, it cannot be denied that some games have considerable value given just how much playtime they give.  These are my personal Top 5 Games that Keep on Giving:

-1- Hearthstone (~750+ Hours)

Like many players at the time, I was skeptical of what long-lasting enjoyment could be found from a free-to-play digital card game, even if it was from esteemed developers of Blizzard.  But after winning Game of the Year awards in 2014 and listening to the incredibly catching soundtrack it sported, I decided to give Hearthstone a closer look.  What I was astonished to discover was a game with incredible polish in every aspect and loads of personality and charm to be found.  Over 4 years now this game continues kicking, and with a continual stream of new cards, adventures, and daily challenges, it's no surprise that this is a game easy to continue picking up and pour more and more hours into.  Having started in December, 2014, I've only now just achieved my 500th win with one character class (Priest), unlocking the coveted golden skin for them.  Unless Blizzard has other plans, this will surely be a game to be enjoyed for many years still yet to come.

Tabletop Tuesday - Top 5 Cooperative Games

The holidays are around the corner, so why not put aside the competitive spirit and come together with the unique genre of tabletop games that are cooperative games.  While some of the toughest and brutal games to be found, players can take comfort that support is among good company and all highs and lows are shared together.  These are my Top 5 Recommendations for Co-Op Games:

-1- Escape: Curse of the Temple

If you're looking for a quick game to play together that can still deliver the thrills and chills of of those games with longer playtimes, look no further than Escape: Curse of the Temple.  That is because this game is played in real time in which all players frantically roll their dice simultaneously as they search the temple for an exit within a 10-minute time limit.  It's a game that requires constant communication and teamwork if you're to have a chance at everyone making it out of these cursed halls together.  To learn more details about this game and how to play, click here.

Double-Slap

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Throwback Thursday - Banjo-Kazooie (series)

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia, now examining the cream of the crop with the Top 20.  Completing the puzzle this week: The games of rhyming witches and jigsaw switches that is the ever endearing Banjo-Kazooie series.

Released in the US on June 29th, 1998, Banjo-Kazooie debuted on the N64 set to capture the success and fun that was 3D adventure platforming as introduced by Super Mario 64.  Developed by Rare during their years of partnership with Nintendo (the golden years), Banjo-Kazooie delivered on the many hallmarks this company was becoming well known for, notably impressive graphics and top-notch sound design.  This goofy, lovable adventure follows the exploits of a bear named Banjo and bird named Kazooie, the latter of which lives in Banjo's backpack.  When a wicked witch, Gruntilda, captures Banjo's little sister Tootie to steal her youth, the dynamic duo of bear and bird set forth into Gruntilda's lair to gather the many scattered Jiggies and ascend the tower's peak.  Jiggies unlocked new worlds for more Jiggies and more musical notes to find, of which allowed further access into the tower for more worlds to uncover, and thus began the cycle of what was the popular and addicting genre of the collect-a-thon.

Super Mario Party Review

Genre: Party Game
Players: 1-4
Playtime: 20+ Hours (Includes playing every mode, board, and mini-game, both in single-player and local multiplayer fashion)


The Mario Party franchise has a rich, long history of clever boards and mini-games, hilarious and bogus luck-based situations, and the cause of many a heated and memorable arguments to be had.  The last well-received entry in this chaotic series was Mario Party 8 for the Nintendo Wii, released back in May, 2007.  After 11 years with several missteps along the way, the new Super Mario Party for the Nintendo Switch now looks to do what many games on Switch do best: Go back to the roots and reexamine the core fundamentals of what made this series so beloved to begin with.  Does this reboot find success in re-rolling the dice?  Let's jump to the board and examine the many joys and cons to be found inside.

Use Bombs Wisely

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Throwback Thursday - Super Mario 64

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia, now examining the cream of the crop with the Top 20.  Making the long jump this week: The game of plentiful yahoo's and wahoo's that is Super Mario 64.

Released in the US on September 29th, 1996, Super Mario 64 was the iconic plumber's first foray into the world of 3D and would pave the way for much of the industry and other 3D games to follow.  At the invitation of the princess and delicious prospects of cake, Mario ventures to Peach's castle only to find Bowser's shenanigans at play once again, capturing both the princess and all the Power Stars of the castle.  From the very opening moments of the game, players have free reign to perform all sorts of acrobatic moves and run around wherever their whims desire, creating an immersion into the world of Mario like never before.  As players push the bounds of their curiosity, they'll notice many peculiarities that will require returned investigation.  A door beneath the water's surface of the front moat.  A ghost at the end of a long hallway.  A painting that wavers at close touch.  And then the magic happens.  You decide to jump into the mysterious painting, and you're literally sucked into a whole new world of possibilities.

Can't Always Get Wahhh You Want

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Throwback Thursday - Beyond Good & Evil

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia, now examining the cream of the crop with the Top 20.  Sneaking into the fray this week: The game of anthropomorphic aliens and sneaking into things that is Beyond Good & Evil.

Released on November 11th, 2003, Beyond Good & Evil is yet another game from Michel Ancel of Ubisoft, creator of the Rayman series, set in a new universe filled with aliens, war, conspiracies, espionage and more.  Players take control of Jade, a female photojournalist, who lives with her "uncle" Pey'j, a pig-like human mechanic, among other orphans on the planet Hillys.  The planet is under attack by a hostile alien force known as DomZ, to which a government force known as the Alpha Sections has the planet under lock-down for its protection against this opposing force.  Strapped for cash in which to shield their home, players take an assortment of odd-end photography jobs to pay the bills.  However, these pursuits soon lead to discovery of darker truths to be found in this world of Hillys.

Happy Halloween - Top 5 Costumes in Games

Halloween beckons all things spooky and candy, and of course is just a fun excuse to dress up in a wide assortment of costumes.  In the spirit of this holiday (pun intended), here's a look at my personal Top 5 favorite costumes found in world of games.

-1- Mario 64 Cap and Suit (Super Mario Odyssey)

Super Mario Odyssey features a plethora of costumes to be unlocked, all of which celebrate Mario's long and rich history in the industry.  There is one costume in particular though that packs perhaps the greatest punch of nostalgia I've ever felt in gaming - That being the polygonal renderings of the Mario 64 cap and suit.  Perhaps in part due to the heavy influences of free-roaming 3D sandbox exploration that Super Mario 64 imparts on this game, or the secret kingdom found post-credits, but this costume felt right at home and was pure joy to leap and wall jump about in every nook and cranny of every world.

Ghastly Visitors

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Fe Review

Genre: Action-Adventure
Players: 1
Playtime: 6 hours (Includes beating the game and finding roughly half of all stone tablets, crystals, and other collectibles scattered about this minimalist world)


I can be a sucker for a game with a unique art style and intriguing premise.  Such was the case when Fe was first teased back at EA's press conference of E3 2016.  Taking cues from such esteemed games such as Journey, Shadow of the Colossus, and Metroid, all the cards look to be in hand for what should be an equally evocative gaming experience.  But being developed by such a smaller, more unknown indie team, is this game able to achieve those same lofty ambitions?  Let us ascend the many polygonal heights of this world and grab our bearings of the positive and negative features to be found across this somber landscape.

Throwback Thursday - Rayman Origins

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia, now examining the cream of the crop with the Top 20.  Striking a pose this week: The game of slapstick humor and soaring mosquitoes that is Rayman Origins.

Released on November 11th, 2011, Rayman Origins sees a return to the series's 2D platforming roots while also being the first game released by Ubisoft to make use of their new UbiArt Framework, a graphics engine which more seamlessly translates and incorporates their 2D illustrations into easy to use game assets.  The result of this new engine is nothing short of what feels like being inside and interacting with a Saturday morning cartoon.  The art and animation in this game is so delightfully whimsical and exaggerated, it perfectly pairs with the slapstick nature of literally slapping enemies and watching them inflate to balloon proportions before giving a satisfying pop.  The nonsensical nature of the game is only furthered by what is a very loose and silly plot, which entails our obnoxiously loud snoring clad of heroes awakening the land of the dead, who then captures all the Teensies, Electoons, and Nymphs across the various lands of the Glade.  As such, our heroes are tasked to travel through thick jungles, musical deserts, delicious tundras and more to restore peace to these outlandish lands.

Fox Down!

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300th Post! - Top 5 Posts (So Far)

Would you look at that folks.  It appears we've reached the 300th post for this portal of all things gaming.  To commemorate this milestone, I thought it'd be fun to share some stats and take a look at the Top 5 viewed posts from this blog thus far.  So without further delay, here are the posts that generated the most buzz over the past 300 posts:

-1- Throwback Thursday - Hearthstone

As part of our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia, Hearthstone ranked as my 57th prominent games of exceptional craft and compelling gameplay.  At the time of that post, the latest expansion for Hearthstone had been Kobolds & Catacombs, which added a new single-player campaign mode, pitting players against a series of bosses as they built up their decks in rogue-like fashion, as well as a slew of new cards and mechanics, such as Recruit which pulls minions from your deck straight onto the battlefield or upgradable spells should certain conditions be met while they're in hand.  Since then, two new expansions have also seen release, The Witchwood and The Boomsday Project, the latter of which introduced an interesting new type of single player experience for a slew of puzzle-solving micro challenges based on various conditions, such as clearing the board of all minions or healing your character back to full health.  While the meta of this popular digital card game is constantly shifting and often times feels quite broken, the frequent incorporation of new mechanics and modes makes this game a continual joy to stay a while and warm up by the hearth.

Mario Kart VR Impressions

Last year, Mario Kart dabbled in the realm of virtual reality (VR) through a Tokyo arcade with Mario Kart Arcade GP VR, developed by Bandai Namco.  For those curious and eager to try such an experience state side, you're in luck as VR Zone arcades is now bringing several VR experiences to the US, including the much abuzz Mario Kart.  Their first venue is setup at Washington DC at Union Station, open until March 2019.  Unable to contain my intrigued interest at what the world of Nintendo can bring to VR, I went and partook in this experience this past week.  For those unable to reach this destination or just want a preview of the experience before diving into such themselves, allow me to share my thoughts and impressions on Mario Kart in VR.

Throwback Thursday - Inside

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia, now examining the cream of the crop with the Top 20.  While this blog is rated E for everyone's safe and enjoyable viewing, I should mention this week's throwback is rated M for Mature.  Parental discretion is advised for playing this game.

Speaking of which, making the sprint this week: The game of moving right and curious sights that is Inside.

Released on June 29th, 2016, Inside is the highly anticipated follow-up to Playdead's critically acclaimed hit Limbo back in 2010.  At surface level, this game bears many similarities to its former counterpart: A boy who wakes up in a mysterious forest and sets off on some unknown driven purpose, solving various puzzles in which to press forward and satiate an unyielding curiosity.  However, Inside tells a story distinctly its own and raises the bar over that of Limbo in most every conceivable way.  The animation is some of the best animation to be displayed in any medium; the way in which the boy perfectly reacts to the world around him to the haunting marches of the brain-dead bodies.  Even as a 2D platformer, the world is richer and fuller than most any game you could hope to explore, completely enamoring the player with its beautiful, cinematic framing and perfect pacing.  The sound design, so wonderfully rich and chilling.  The narrative, so strange and yet so incredibly captivating, you can't help but keep thinking about long after the credits finish rolling.  It's a game that begs further discussion and an unhealthy amount of further diving into every facet of this world for deeper meaning.

Tabletop Tuesday - Zombicide

It's October again, which means it's the time for many a variety of spooky and ominous games.  So join in as we explore an overlooked tabletop favorite saved for just such a creepy time as this...the joys of making noise that is Zombicide.

Players: 1-6
Time: 60-180 minutes
Genre: Cooperative

High Five!

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Throwback Thursday - Braid

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia, now examining the cream of the crop with the Top 20.  Breaking conventions this week: The game of puzzles to rewind that blow your mind that is Braid.

Released in the US on August 6th, 2008, Braid is a unique puzzle-platformer that sought to reexamine the fundamentals of game trends and traditional storytelling.  Right from the start of the game, players are presented with a mysterious, lonesome building with but a single room lit titled "2. Time and Forgiveness".  Questions and curiosity immediately arise as to why start with "2" if this is the start of journey?  What happened to "1"?  And what is this fault our character has committed that he wishes to be forgiven?  With these lingering thoughts in mind, players take pursuit into surreal and meditative worlds, to gather the many scattered puzzle pieces that may better illustrate the answers to these very mysteries.

Say My Name

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Spider-Man Review

Genre: Action-Adventure
Players: 1
Playtime: 25 hours (Includes beating the game and completing 98% of side missions and collectible gathering)


In my youth, super hero games more often than not always felt like a cheap imitation of what was to be seen in your comics or films.  They never quite captured what was the feeling or essence of being that enamored hero.  Then came Batman: Arkham Asylum in 2007, which raised the bar of what super hero games were capable of, perfectly emulating what it meant to be the caped crusader.  Now in an even rarer occurrence for that of super hero games, Insomniac's Spider-Man has swung onto the PS4 as an exclusive title, looking to reboot our friendly wall-crawler like never before.  Is this sporty new web-slinger of a game able to replicate the essence of Spider-Man as Rocksteady Studios did for that of Batman?  Or is it just another cash-in on a familiar and beloved icon?  Suit up as we swing along with the pros and cons of this super-filled review.

Throwback Thursday - Super Mario RPG

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia, now examining the cream of the crop with the Top 20.  Mixing it up this week: The game of Mushroom Kingdom all-stars battling isometric monsters that is Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars.

Released on the US on May 13th, 1996, Super Mario RPG was the result of a rare and magical collaboration between Nintendo and Square.  Combining the whimsical nature of the Mario universe with the somber and epic tones of that the likes of a Final Fantasy RPG, this is a game that hits all the right notes in appeasing players of either preferred genre.  It's in fact a good jumping ground (pun intended) for players not overly found of the intimidating complexities or repetitive turn-based nature of RPG's.  The adventure begins on a familiar note: Bowser kidnaps Princess Toadstool (aka Peach), and Mario springs into action.  But from here, the series of choices following this very intro completely shift player expectations and set the tone of what will be an incredible grand and memorable adventure.

Call Waiting

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Throwback Thursday - Limbo

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia, now examining the cream of the crop with the Top 20.  While this game is only rated T for Teen, there are many gruesome variances of death sequences to be found in this somber world.  This blog is rated E for everyone's safe and enjoyable viewing, but I'd advise some parental discretion for playing this game.

Speaking of which, taking a stab this week: The game of brutal deaths and fun with physics that is Limbo.

Released on July 21st, 2010, Limbo starred as the eye-catching new indie game of Xbox's "Summer of Arcade" promotion.  And boy did it turn some heads, with its simplistic and yet incredibly gripping art style and gameplay mechanics.  By stripping down the components of its design, this is a game that manages to be both surprisingly accessible and deeply engaging.  As a puzzle-platformer, players explore this entrancing world filled with all sorts of interesting puzzles, either comprised of new ideas or familiar elements with new layers of complexity.  The main basis of most of these puzzles and the game centers around a trial by error system (or "trial by death" as the creators put it).  This may sound frustrating dying over and over again, but such is kept from feeling grinding thanks to generous checkpoints and the many varied horrific, yet strangely captivating deaths.  The deeper you dive into this haunting world, the more you develop a sense for anticipating these devious traps and a satisfaction for overcoming such.

Tips for Pandemic - Surviving the Outbreak

As is the case with many a cooperative board game, victory is often far and few between as the brutal mechanics of the game have players frantically scrambling to stay alive.  And the viral outbreak of a game that is Pandemic is no exception.  With so many small, nuanced decisions to be made, there is always much deliberation to be found as what the proper course of action should be to contain the situation from spiraling out of control.  While there is technically no one right answer, there are a few tips and tricks to help give your team of emergency respondents that leading edge.  So with no time to waste, let's get the rundown on those tips to ensure your next game night still has vital signs come its conclusion.

(NOTE: These tips apply to the standard, base version of Pandemic, though they may also assist with some of the expansions.  For a brief overview of Pandemic and the general mechanics of the game, see previous Tabletop Tuesday post on such here)

No Questions Asked

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Throwback Thursday - Super Mario World

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia, now examining the cream of the crop with the Top 20.  Making a sprint for the goal this week: The game of spin-jumps and 1-ups that is the classic Super Mario World.

Released in the US on August 13th, 1991, Super Mario World was the debut Mario title to launch with the new Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).  It's a little difficult not to be a little bias in regards to my affinity for this game as it also marks my first foray into the world of video games.  And what a superbly jolly and creative introduction into the medium it was.  Players take control of this mustached hero as he dawns bright yellow capes and mounts adorable green dinosaurs, soaring to the skies to rescue the princess on a island named entirely off delicious sweets.  Sounds like the perfect start to a very memorable adventure.

An Awkward Catch

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Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom Review

Genre: Action RPG
Players: 1
Playtime: 40 hours (Includes beating the game and completing a good portion of side quests and kingdom building)


The original Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch marked an ambitious RPG developed through the collaborative efforts of game company Level-5 Inc and animation film-makers Studio Ghibli.  The result was quite impressive and incredibly charming, like being able to walk inside and interact with one of Studio Ghibli's beloved movies.  Five years later, we now see a return to this magical kingdom with its sequel Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom.  While Studio Ghibli is no longer part of this project, the developers of Level-5 still strive to carry the same polish and charm of its aesthetic wonder, while expanding upon the gameplay in bold new ways to tell a whole new story.  Is this ambitious sequel able to find the same success again though?  Let's gather our Higgledies and jump into the fro of the pros and cons to be found.

Throwback Thursday - The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia.  For the better part of the 80 past weeks, you've enjoyed in-depth looks at many a great game, all of which I would highly recommend playing.  But starting today, we'll now be diving into some of my absolute favorite games as we step into the remaining top tier that is the Top 20 games.  And what better game to begin with than the hero that fights for two kingdoms in The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds.

Released in the US on November 22nd, 2013, for the Nintendo 3DS, A Link Between Worlds began as a spiritual successor to the highly beloved and acclaimed Link to the Past back on the SNES.  And while it does bear many direct similarities to its prestigious predecessor, such as with the overworld layout and themes of parallel worlds, it manages to stand apart with unique mechanics, a memorable story, and enough other notable differences to make this a step above most other Zelda adventures.  In this adventure, a sinister sorcerer by the name of Yuga begins transforming the sages of Hyrule into paintings for certain evil schemes.  In pursuit to stop these wicked deeds, Link himself gets turned into a painting, but as a fate would fortune him, this curse instead becomes a most useful ability, allowing Link to merge to and from surfaces at will.  With such, players can now circumnavigate otherwise impassible terrains, narrow passages, or after a certain climatic juncture in the game, travel between the parallel kingdoms of Hyrule and Lorule (yes, a beautifully bad, but endearing pun).  This clever gameplay mechanic really puts a refreshing twist to the Zelda series, often requiring the player to reconsider their approaches to typical puzzles and really think outside the box.

Show Me Your Moves

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Throwback Thursday - Super Metroid

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia.  Accepting the mission this week: The game of ice beams and other alien things that is Super Metroid.

Released in the US on April 18th, 1994, Super Metroid comes as the third entry in the Metroid series and would be heralded by many as one of the greatest games ever made, its influence being felt for generations to come as it helped define a whole new genre that is the Metroidvania.  The adventure takes place after the events of Metroid II: Return of Samus for the GameBoy, where Samus has successfully eradicated the Metroid species, other than a lone baby Metroid which she hands off to scientists for further research on the potential benefits for humankind.  No sooner than when she leaves the space station does she receive a distress signal that the station is under attack by space pirates.  With the notorious Ridley stealing the infant Metroid, Samus takes pursuit and follows them to the nearby planet surface of Zebes.  Thus begins the players' new mission to navigate this alien world and put a stop to the rekindling affairs of the space pirates.

Tabletop Tuesday - Mixing it Up in DropMix

Last year saw the release of a most unusual and groovy partnership between Hasbro and Harmonix to bring the world a unique musical, card game that is DropMix (for more info on this game, click here).  While playing the variants of Clash and Party mode offer an enjoyable degree of fun and structure, it's often even more fun just to mess around in Freestyle mode and have at it creating fresh, tasty beats.  In that spirit, I thought it'd be fun to share some of my own cooked-up mixes here for your listening pleasure.  Enjoy!

First, the happy and chill mix of Outkast (Ms. Jackson), Nightfeels (Find You), The Weekend (Can't Feel My Face), and Walk the Moon (Shut Up and Dance):

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

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Happy Labor Day weekend!  Don't forget to get your flu shots for this fall...perhaps from a more certified, licensed professional than our doctor shown here.

Tips for Hollow Knight - Tricks and Secrets

As you may know from either your own play experience or reading the many glowing remarks in my recent review of Hollow Knight, the kingdom of Hallownest is a staggeringly large world to be explored, teeming with secrets and at times considerable challenges at every corner.  For those checking out the last release of free DLC, Godmaster, or who have recently picked up the game as it was just on sale last week, discoveries continue to be found by veteran and new players alike.  So I thought it would be a fun excuse to further highlight some of the many secrets found in this incredible game, while also sharing some tricks to help players persevere through its formidable halls.  For purposes of upholding the joy of uncovering some of these secrets, I will keep this relatively spoiler-free and light on some of the details, providing links to which you can further look into particular topics if desired.  With that said, let us dive into the many considered nuances of Hollow Knight:

Throwback Thursday - Earthbound

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia.  Stepping up to the plate this week: The game of spiteful crows and mondo moles that is the now cult classic Earthbound.

Released in the US on June 5th, 1995, Earthbound was set in the uncertain ominous future of 199X, where a mysterious meteorite crashes down onto the sleepy little town of Onett and sets the stage for one of gaming's most unusual adventures ever.  An intergalactic time-traveling bug sends word of warning that a cosmic destroyer known as Giygas will corrupt all of Earth with his evil energy unless three boys and a girl unite and stop him.  Equipped with little but a baseball bat, a pocket full of cookies, and a surprisingly lenient and encouraging mother, players take control of a young boy named Ness as he sets on a quest to seek out the eight spiritual Sanctuaries and these three other unknown friends to save the whole world.

A Spiky Surprise

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Throwback Thursday - Kingdom Hearts (series)

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia.  Wielding the way this week: The games of key blades and where dreams are made that is the Kingdom Hearts series.

What started as a chance encounter between then SquareSoft game producer, Shinji Hashimoto and a Disney executive in an elevator would culminate into one of the iconic crossovers ever to be seen in the medium of video games.  Kingdom Hearts first saw release in the US on September 17th, 2002, for the Playstation 2, and was heralded for its captivating mixture of serious Final Fantasy storytelling / characters with the lighthearted and endearing nature of Disney worlds / characters.  Taking the roll of an original character by the name of Sora, he and his friends, Riku and Kairi, are whisked away on an epic adventure across a vast assortment of worlds.  Meanwhile, Donald and Goofy are also on a quest to locate their missing king Mickey, who has set forth to investigate the disturbing occurrences of suddenly disappearing worlds.  Discovering Sora is the bearer of a magical weapon known as the Keyblade, he joins Donald and Goofy on a journey to find their friends and aid those in need across the many worlds they come across.

Hollow Knight Review

Genre: Action-Platforming Adventure
Players: 1
Playtime: 25-35 hours (Includes beating the game at 91% completion in 25 hours; Continued digging into Hallownest and beat the true final boss at 107% completion in 35 hours; Still so many secrets to uncover; Played on the Nintendo Switch)


Having received a wide array of praise for what looked to be a simple and eye-catching Metroidvania, I decided to dive into Hollow Knight upon its release for the Nintendo Switch.  What I came to discover during the course of exploring this massive world was a game that exceeded every and any expectation I thought possible.  I won't even try to be coy in this foreword: This is perhaps one of my favorite games I've ever played, to which I can personally find nary a fault in this masterpiece.  With that said, this isn't necessarily a perfect fit for just everybody.  So if you're still on the fence about entering this foreboding realm of the Hallownest, press on into this review as we bring to light the positive and negative facets of this incredible feat of a game.