NES

I’m a sucker for a good sports documentary. Something like an episode of 30 for 30 can captivate me even when I’m not a fan of the game it’s covering. The world of sports is just ripe for drama. Players overcome adversity, fight through heartbreaking setbacks, and claw their way to the top of the mountain to accomplish their dreams. When made well, these works capture the power of the human spirit in ways few other pieces of media can. This past weekend, I found myself engrossed in another riveting sports…

The original Doom recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, making me feel quite old. As well as being an early blueprint for the FPS genre, id Software’s iconic shooter is also a popular modding playground. Sometimes, these mods harken back to even older gaming days. Modders Gokuma and Kontra Kommando have crafted a love letter to an absolute classic ’80s slasher film. Specifically, they’ve turned Doom into Friday the 13th. More specifically still, they’ve based it on the NES adaptation, turning the 1989 side-scrolling…

Money is really depressing to me. Not only have recent events left me with a deep anxiety about finances, it seems that a lot of people are struggling, and the best you can hope for is to struggle less. I don’t want to discuss this on a deeper level, so instead, let’s talk about Wall Street Kid. Wall Street Kid is actually known as The Money Game II: Kabutochou no Kiseki in Japan, meaning that, yes, it’s the second in a series, with the first game never seeing a release outside of Japan. You could also look at the games…

I mentioned this once before, but after the launch of the Super Nintendo in 1991 (1990 for Japan), Konami went through this weird period of producing licensed games that were way better than you’d expect. I’ve covered Bucky O’Hare, but there’s also Zen: The Intergalactic Ninja, and this one: Monster in My Pocket. Monster in My Pocket is more than just a cheeky euphemism, it was this media franchise in the age when everyone wanted a media franchise. Well, it was an attempt at one. It was based around a series of tiny…

Nothing will make you feel old like the anniversary of a much loved gaming console. Perhaps none more so than the 40th birthday of the Nintendo Entertainment System (or the Famicom as it was known for its 1983 Japanese debut). Having launched in the very same year that the games industry crashed, Nintendo faced an uphill battle to make what would become the NES a commercial success. But we all know what happens next. Nintendo, through some shrewd decisions, creative talent and maybe just a dash of luck would become a…

Livin’ in a Box Metal Gear fans went into overdrive during Wednesday’s PlayStation showcase, when it was revealed that not only was the Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater remake a very real thing, but also that they’d be receiving a new opportunity to buy the old Metal Gear games for the 200th time via the all-new, all-old, Master Collection. While the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.1 announcement included Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, and the original Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, some…

Test your Bible skills I may be one of the few people in the world who can be upsold on Kusoge (crap game). I was minding my own business, spending all my money at the local game store. The clerk there, perfectly aware of my infamous lack of taste, pulled out a boxed copy of King of Kings: The Early Years. Usually, I don’t collect boxed NES titles, but the price was right, and he made a convincing argument. I did need another subject for my column. I also could probably use more Jesus in my life. Perhaps this was God…

Not just a novelty Bitwave Games has announced that Gimmick! Special Edition will be coming to PC and console on July 6, 2023. Initially released by Sunsoft in Japan in 1992, followed by a very limited release in PAL regions as Mr. Gimmick in 1993, Gimmick! is a game cherished by NES fans who are in the know. The PAL version is among the most expensive NES cartridges on the system and isn’t cheap on the Famicom either. As such, a modern port has been a long time coming. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb8KGQVksp0…

‘Cause Jill can’t stands no more Does the gameplay of 1983’s Popeye on the NES appeal to you, but you just can’t get behind the beloved golden age license attached to it? What’s wrong with you? Where did you leave your soul? If that’s the case, the Resident Evil 3: Chibi Edition might be for you. Created by a super-team of modders, Protopixel and Crying Onion, Resident Evil 3: Chibi Edition gives the NES arcade port a full Resident Evil make-over. Players now control Jill Valentine as they avoid the persistent…

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to play Super Smash Bros. a decade before it came out — with online gaming tech that didn’t exist in the 80s — Super Tilt Bro. is your answer. The retro homebrew NES game pays homage to Nintendo’s fighting franchise (while steering clear of Nintendo IP) in a lovingly crafted passion project now seeking funding on Kickstarter. The platform-fighting game will ship as an NES cartridge using a custom memory management controller (MMC) with a WiFi chipset and antenna, allowing for…