Search found 28 matches

by psychohype
February 17th, 2024, 4:13 am
Forum: Videogame Discussion
Topic: Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
Replies: 14
Views: 18557

Re: Our next podcast recording (17.2.24) - 607: Castlevania: Rondo of Blood

There's a strong case to be made that Rondo of Blood is the pinnacle of the entire Castlevania franchise. It's hard for me to point to anything the game does wrong or out of step in building from the foundation of the original NES trilogy. I can hardly think of a game that exudes more confidence tha...
by psychohype
December 9th, 2023, 3:56 am
Forum: Videogame Discussion
Topic: Into the Breach
Replies: 8
Views: 31151

Re: Our next podcast recording (9.12.23) - 599: Into the Breach

When I saw that a mobile version of Into the Breach was coming to phones and tablets for Netflix users in 2022, I was thrilled for the chance to finally give the game a go. I enjoyed it right off the bat, even if it took me a few failed runs to get the hang of how everything worked. Even though I've...
by psychohype
September 20th, 2023, 12:48 am
Forum: Videogame Discussion
Topic: Super Castlevania IV
Replies: 5
Views: 22458

Re: Our next podcast recording (23.9.23) - 588: Super Castlevania IV

There are so many things about Super Castlevania IV that stand out, from the brilliant Mode 7 trickery to the huge Simon Belmont character sprite that dominates the screen. Is it strange, then, that what stands out to me the most in this game is the soundtrack? To me, the shift in musical style is t...
by psychohype
August 18th, 2023, 9:05 pm
Forum: Videogame Discussion
Topic: Golf Story
Replies: 7
Views: 9193

Golf Story

I had a lot of fun with Golf Story, seeing as the game brought just the right level of design simplicity that I personally find enjoyable in a golf sim. Was it too easy? I guess I find it a little odd that I never failed any of the major story missions, but honestly, I’m not complaining. I think thi...
by psychohype
June 27th, 2023, 7:48 am
Forum: Videogame Discussion
Topic: Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge
Replies: 2
Views: 4366

Re: Our next podcast recording (1.7.23) - 576: Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge

To me, the key takeaway from Castlevania II: Belmont’s Revenge is that sometimes second chances pay off. After Konami’s less than stellar success in porting the Castlevania experience to the Game Boy hardware in 1989’s Castlevania: The Adventure , it’s nice to see the studio gave it another shot two...
by psychohype
April 23rd, 2023, 9:11 pm
Forum: Videogame Discussion
Topic: Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (Luigi's Mansion 2)
Replies: 8
Views: 10444

Re: 567: Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (Luigi's Mansion 2)

To me, Luigi’s Mansion 2 will always be the perfect example of a Nintendo Selects title. Do you all remember Nintendo Selects? If a first-party Nintendo game had been out for a few years, and if it had already proven successful, there was always the possibility that it would eventually get a price d...
by psychohype
February 11th, 2023, 9:46 am
Forum: Videogame Discussion
Topic: Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Replies: 11
Views: 3923

Re: Our next podcast recording (11.2.23) - 556: Animal Crossing: New Horizons

I picked this game up around November and finally got around to playing it last week. I’m now nine days in and starting to wonder what I’ve gotten myself into here. For the first few days, I became terribly addicted to the dopamine rush that comes from collecting those sweet, sweet Nook Miles on my ...
by psychohype
December 3rd, 2022, 11:53 am
Forum: Videogame Discussion
Topic: Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Replies: 7
Views: 5753

Re: Our next podcast recording (3.12.22) - 548: Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse

What a classic, this game! Although I never got to play Castlevania III as a kid, I finally got the chance to test my mettle against its gauntlet of punishment when it was included in the superb 2019 Castlevania Anniversary Collection. This is one of the most satisfying retro games to complete, espe...
by psychohype
November 11th, 2022, 4:54 am
Forum: Videogame Discussion
Topic: Nintendo Land
Replies: 9
Views: 5458

Re: Our next podcast recording (12.11.2022) - 545: Nintendo Land

Nintendo Land is a game I was happy to pick up for under $10 about a year ago. For starters, I haven’t played it much. In fact, I haven’t played any of the mini-games that require multiple players. So I certainly haven’t gotten the full experience. But even from my limited play time, dabbling with t...
by psychohype
October 10th, 2022, 12:23 am
Forum: Videogame Discussion
Topic: Metroid Fusion
Replies: 8
Views: 3944

Re: 544: Metroid Fusion

I finally played Metroid Fusion about a year ago by way of the Wii U Virtual Console, and … I was impressed. I was already aware of the mixed feelings this game has generated among Metroid fans. So I knew going in that it was going to be a bit more of a guided experience than other Metroids. And I h...
by psychohype
September 26th, 2022, 1:31 am
Forum: Videogame Discussion
Topic: Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Replies: 15
Views: 6344

Re: 541: Sonic the Hedgehog 2

I don’t know if Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is the best game in the series, but it might be. I’ve been a diehard fan of this game ever since I was 11 years old, when we got Sonic 2 as the pack-in game for our Sega Genesis model 2. As a kid, my favorite stage of the game was probably Casino Night Zone. Ther...
by psychohype
August 2nd, 2022, 8:41 am
Forum: Videogame Discussion
Topic: Castlevania: The Adventure / Rebirth
Replies: 4
Views: 3147

Re: 537: Castlevania: The Adventure / Rebirth

It’s easy to hate on Castlevania: The Adventure, and I’m not saying it’s the greatest game ever—or even above average. But I was 10 years old the first time I played this game, and I can’t say I hated it. I had just recently gotten a Game Boy, my very first actual game console. Before that, the clos...
by psychohype
March 5th, 2022, 10:48 am
Forum: Videogame Discussion
Topic: Haunted Castle (Akumajō Dracula)
Replies: 6
Views: 2827

Re: Our next podcast recording (9.3.22) - 509: Haunted Castle (Akumajō Dracula)

I decided to play along with Cane & Rinse for this one, via the Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection. After maybe an hour and a half of slow, mucky progress, I made it to the end of Simon's journey and destroyed the giant head that was arcade Dracula's final form. All I can say is "Thank ...
by psychohype
January 22nd, 2022, 8:01 pm
Forum: Videogame Discussion
Topic: Contra Spirits (Contra III: The Alien Wars/Super Probotector: Alien Rebels)
Replies: 7
Views: 2952

Re: Our next podcast recording (23.1.2) - 503: Contra Spirits (Contra III: The Alien Wars/Super Probotector: Alien Rebel

I remember playing Contra III for the first time when my friend from the first grade rented a Super Nintendo with this game and TNMT: Turtles in Time. Contra III was the first time I experienced that particular sense of wonder that came from seeing the amazing graphical potential of a new gaming con...
by psychohype
November 20th, 2021, 9:31 am
Forum: Videogame Discussion
Topic: Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (Dracula II: Noroi no Fūin)
Replies: 11
Views: 8094

Re: Our next podcast recording (21.11.21): 496 - Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (Dracula II: Noroi no Fūin)

As a diehard fan of the classic Castlevania games, I'll say this about Simon's Quest. It's not terrible. Even at its most tedious, there's a weird charm to everything that I can't help but admire. Simon's Quest is not a game I grew up with. I only first played it a few years ago when I got my hands ...
by psychohype
September 13th, 2021, 8:32 am
Forum: Videogame Discussion
Topic: Tomb Raider (1996)
Replies: 12
Views: 10466

Re: 491 - Tomb Raider (1996)

I played this game relatively late, back in 2005. I had recently graduated from college and was using my expensive private school English degree to ... work as a shoe salesman at the local Foot Locker. But that was just a part-time job, leaving me with plenty of spare hours to dig into my roommate’s...
by psychohype
September 8th, 2021, 7:07 am
Forum: Videogame Discussion
Topic: Castlevania (Akumajō Dracula)
Replies: 20
Views: 11429

Re: 488 - Castlevania (Akumajō Dracula)

[LONG VERSION] The original Castlevania. I adore this game and the long-running series it inspired. For many years, the original Castlevania was high up on my bucket list for games to beat — one sitting, no save states allowed. One year, when I was 26 and visiting some family in another state, I pla...
by psychohype
May 5th, 2021, 12:30 am
Forum: Videogame Discussion
Topic: Sonic the Hedgehog
Replies: 29
Views: 17212

Re: 473 - Sonic the Hedgehog

After so many years of hemming and hawing over whether or not the traditional Sonic games were actually good, I'm here to say that Sonic the Hedgehog on the Genesis/Mega Drive is indeed one of the all-time greats. Even today, it's so simple to pick up and play. There's very little confusion, and the...
by psychohype
February 8th, 2021, 9:34 am
Forum: Videogame Discussion
Topic: Pokémon
Replies: 26
Views: 14675

Re: Our next podcast recording (13.2.21): 456 - Pokémon gens 1 and 2

I was in high school when I picked up Pokémon Red. I knew nothing about it, other than that it was recommended by some friends who insisted it was worth playing (despite the fact we were older than the target demographic). I must have played it nonstop over a long Thanksgiving weekend. I was just ho...
by psychohype
January 20th, 2021, 3:49 am
Forum: Videogame Discussion
Topic: Celeste
Replies: 14
Views: 8894

Re: 454 - Celeste

I don’t love it. I don’t hate it. Above all else, a tough-as-nails platformer lives and dies by the tightness and fluidity of its controls. And for my money, 2010’s Super Meat Boy is still the gold standard. For whatever reason, the controls in Celeste never ceased to give me grief. Specifically, th...