Category Archives: Video Game
Characters I Would Have Liked in Smash Bros!
All the roster spots are taken, but many were left out. Here’s some characters I wish had made the list.
Protagonist (Shin Megami Tensei V). Admittedly, I do think going 3rd party was the right choice. With Shin Megami Tensei V set to be one of the major holiday releases for the Switch, this felt like a perfect fit. One sign it wasn’t going to be Protagonist was that we already have Joker, a big Atlus character. Secondly, SMTV was already announced. Having Sora as the last character let Nintendo sneak in another major holiday release, Kingdom Hearts to the Switch.
Howard (Astral Chain)– If Nintendo was going to go with a character they published, my vote would have been the Astral Chain characters. Honestly, I have not played Astral Chain. It is on my list but Switch games rarely go on sale and I have so many Zelda games to play through as well. Either way, I would have loved for one of the Astral Chain characters to sneak in that way Nintendo could diversify their Nintendo published line up. A huge percentage of the roster stem from Mario, Zelda and Fire Emblem. The biggest con I think for pulling from Astral Chain is it would have been underwhelming to the gaming landscape.
Master Chief (Halo)– Master Chief isn’t my favorite third party character nor my first choice, however I think he would have broke the internet. Nintendo and Microsoft have a working relationship so I think this was doable. I thought for sure Banjo Kazooie making it in was a hint that Master Chief might be lurking in the future. Master Chief is arguably Microsoft’s greatest character and would have been a heck of an addition to the overall roster. I cannot really think of any cons. He is not just another sword character, he is a major member of the video game community, and Halo has a new game coming out next year. I think Nintendo and Microsoft really missed an opportunity here. Oh well.
Leon Kennedy (Resident Evil)– Leon Kennedy might just be my favorite video game character of all time, he’s definitely top 5. He probably would have played like Master Chief if either made the final roster. They probably would have relied on fire arms with close range melee weapons if needed along with grenades. Recovery would probably be the hardest thing to pull off. Of course the con would be that Leon hasn’t really be involved with the Resident Evil franchise lately as 7 and 8 have gone away from the traditional cast. Most of the Resident Evil games have already been ported over to the Switch. Still he is an awesome character and it is a shame he did not make the list.
Hat Kid (Hat Kid)– Anyone following my Youtube channel knows I love A Hat in Time. Of course this is a bias pick. She is my favorite Indie character and would easily be my choice. Imagine announcing Hat Kid as the final character and then showing off A Hat in Time 2 or a Mario Odyssey kingdom inspired off of A Hat in Time. I think it would have been awesome to have her. Of course she was never going to make the roster if bigger indie characters like Shovel Knight did not even make the official roster.
So, there’s my list. There’s plenty of other great character’s like Crash, Kratos and Rayman that missed the roster as well. So let me know how you rank the final cast. Who would you rather have?
Thank you guys so much for reading. Have a great day!
Sora is the Final Smash Brothers Character
Earlier this week Sora was revealed to be the final Smash Character. There was a lot riding on this as we have been informed this is the last Super Smash Brothers DLC character. There was great wonder if it would be a Nintendo first party character or if they would go internet breaking third party. I figured it would be either the protagonist from Shin Megami Tensei V or Master Chief. So personally, I was a little disappointed to see it be Sora.
Obviously, Kingdom Hearts and Sora have a beloved, devout and dedicated fan base. I do think Sora was worthy of the final spot even if he wasn’t my first choice.
So that’s it. Are you happy Sora got the spot? Who would you have over Sora? And what do you think of Kingdom Hearts coming to Smash Bros.
N64 Games Coming to the Nintendo Online Service!
Last week’s Nintendo Direct brought so many goodies such as Bayonetta 3 and Kirby’s Forgotten Lands. But one of the major highlights was the N64 package coming to the Switch Online Service! Today, let us look at the 9 games coming to the service in October!
Super Mario 64
The iconic 3D Platformer of its era, Super Mario 64 is one of the catalyst of the 3D boon at the end of the 1990’s. Players take control of the titular jumping plumber as he traverses through over 15 levels collecting coins, stars and the souls of his enemies!
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Ocarina of Time was ground breaking at its time and is still a force to this day. This was a must have as it is easily one of the best N64 games out there. Legend of Zelda is an adventure game that has Link conquering several dungeons, monsters and puzzles.
Star Fox 64
Star Fox 64 blends a space shooter and an on rail shooter to make this a unique 3D shooter. This is the only shoot-em-up I really play. The characters are memorable, the gameplay is fun and the branching paths make each playthrough its own adventure.
Mario Kart 64
While Mario Kart 64 was not the first in the franchise, I would argue it took full advantage of racing games leaping into full 3D. Tracks are enjoyable and diverse, racer’s sizes matter, and you feel like you are exploring the Mushroom Kingdom. It is just a fun way to play as the Mario gang.
Yoshi Story 64
Yoshi’s Story is the only side-scroller to make the initial list to this point. This was a dying time for 2-D side scrollers as there are very few note worthy entries for the genres. However, the lovable Yoshis, the addicting music and simplistic gameplay make this a must add for Side Scroll faithful.
Dr. Mario 64
Dr. Mario 64 is the only puzzle game to debut on the service. I’m not a huge Dr. Mario or puzzle game fan so I don’t have a lot to add. I see why they chose their mascot over a generic puzzle game such as Tetris. I think this will be a nice addition for casual fans and hardcore gamers alike.
Mario Tennis
1 of 2 sports games, if we’re counting Mario Kart, on the list. I have never played any version of Mario Tennis. However, with the release of the Switch version of Mario Tennis, this may attract new fans to flock to this rendition of Mario Tennis.
Operation WinBack
WinBack definitely stands out among the other games. It is the only North America release that was not developed by Nintendo on the list. It also is rated T for Teen, one of only 2 games to score that rating. The gameplay is also a complete contrast from the other games on this list. It is a 3rd person, over the shoulder, cover shooter. I’m glad a game like this exist on the service for the older audience that is not interested in kiddie games or first party titles. It wouldn’t have been my first selection, but I think it is a solid pick nonetheless.
Sin and Punishment
Sin and Punishment may or may not be the main reason to pay for this service, but it is definitely the cherry on top. This game never made it stateside during the N64’s original retail relevancy, formerly you could only play this game via the Wii’s Virtual Console. It is rated T for Teen and is another on rail shooter. Sin and Punishment is the N64’s equivalent to Star Fox 2 when the SNES mini released a few years back.
So there you have it. I’ll give more in-depth thoughts and opinions in a later entry but for now that should get you caught up on if you are interested in these titles. There’s really no weak games here, but I think the additional titles will help solidify the line up later on.
I Could Be A Minimalist- The Hobby of Collecting and The Burden of Consumerism.
I have been a prisoner of consumerism for years now like most of us. As someone who went to school for business and sustainability, I am well aware of this problem. I knew a day would come when I would care a little less about consumerism. As days go on, I get closer to that goal. The big reason is because I plan to move. I don’t want more clutter. I don’t want to blow my whole paycheck on comic books and video games. Another reason I am getting closer to being over the addiction of retail therapy is because I have started investing. (Currently, I have $1,600 invested since around January.).
I was okay with consumerism for about 4 years because it was new to me. It started with buying Elemental Hero Yugioh cards to build decks I wanted to as a kid. Than I moved in with my mom and found my N64 games and wanted to start collecting N64 games. Than Jessica took me to her brother’s comic book store and that awoken the trifecta. I was obsessed with card games, video games and comic books. And over a 3-5 year run, I built a collection I was truly happy with. When I pop in my copy of Pokemon Stadium 2, or when I see my Daredevil #2 on my shelf, or when I duel my wife in a card game, I am truly happy with where my collection is. The problem with collecting is that it never ends. Even when you are happy with where you are. Even when you complete your original goals. Even when your priorities change in life. I am still looking forward to new comics each week or the holiday games.
And yes. My collection is not insane. Though, I have probably hit that point where if I never added another game I could still probably never play every game in my collection. I thought that would be a wake up call but it wasn’t. That’s mostly because collecting and gaming are two different hobbies. The first one makes you excited you scored a new 3D platformer that you will play for the next 15 hours. The other makes you excited you added 20 O.G. Xbox games for a dollar a piece to your collection. So, who cares that there is no way I’ll ever play every Gamecube game I own? Who cares if I have no interest in the sports games I buy? It’s two different hobbies. Each are equally satisfying in my opinion.
I had an epiphany last week. A month or so ago I bought a copy of Skyward Sword on Switch for $60 dollars. I have played about 2 hours into it (I’m at the first dungeon.). Why haven’t I played more you ask? Because Pokemon Unite, a free to play MOBA, released in the same time window. So I have put countless hours into a Free to Play game and two hours into the game I have paid for. Something is not adding up. And this trend is pretty consistent right now. I have been playing Final Fantasy 15, a game I own, over Gamepass, a service I pay $10 a month for. My phone apps and my computer apps (Hearthstone, MTG Arena, and Bloon Tower Defense 6) are all free to play at this point. I’m playing a bunch of free games and not the ones I am putting money into. And with the way the Nintendo Switch is set up, I do not even need a T.V. to play on my Switch. Other apps I use like Pokemon Showdown are also free. Not to mention I am bumming streaming service accounts like HBO Max, Disney and Crunchyroll.
So being a gamer does not even have to be expensive in 2021. There’s my massive collection of backlog games, movies and comics that would keep me busy without having to spend another buck. And in the digital era, I don’t even have to own the clutter. Marvel comics can be bought on an app. Shoenen Jump has an app. Gamepass has hundreds of thousands of games on there for 9.99 a month. So why own this junk?
Because I like it. There’s a lot more to go into such as the fact I actually own my stuff. Digital properties are prone to being censored upon rerelease, being pulled from e-stores at any point, and the fact you do not own the assets. I like being in a house that is composed of my favorite things. Things that remind me of my childhood. Things that make me happy in a world that is generally depressing currently. I look forward to playing, reading and watching these things with my future kids and with my wife, Jessica. Jessica and I have game nights, movie nights and card nights all the time. We enjoy them.
However, space and time are two major things that are hard to get back when they are gone. And money I invest into my collection is money I cannot invest in my retirement. Those three factors heavily encourage me to slow down. Now, in a month I have added 6 Gamecube games to the collection, but I used store credit so my wallet did not feel as burdened by it. I am liking the strategy of using store credit to fund my hobby. I will continue to do that until space becomes a real issue.
So, at the end of the day, I could become a minimalist, but I probably wont until I absolutely have to. I will cut back on spending, definitely. But I still enjoy adding to my collections and chipping away at the goals. However, I am probably done spending hundreds of dollars on collectibles. For now. My money situation and life situation just make it to where it does not make sense. So I am not a prisoner to consumerism anymore. I am just enjoying life and trying to be smarter in all decision making moments. Surely, I will fail at times, but I am always improving.
Pokemon Remakes Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Adding a New Type! Is This Clickbait?
Let me start by saying this is in no way bashing this article or its writer. I think it’s a great article actually. Read the original article here before reading my take on his article.
Secondly, I am making a YouTube video to correspond with this blog if you prefer the video or spoken form more. Watch it here!
Okay, so both of those disclaimers out of the way, let’s jump into it.
So this article by Comicbook.com caught my eye late the other night before bed. Many profound thoughts ran through my head. My first thought was obviously what the new type was going to be? X and Y was the last Gen to introduce a new type, Fairy. And only the second generation to do so. Johto added both Steel and Dark. I would like to think all 3 have been welcomed additions to the core typings.
Secondly, I questioned why they were introducing a new type in a spin off game. Yes most remakes have been well received and I think many are excited to revisit Sinnoh. Still, it felt risky creating a new type in a remake, something that has never been done before (and stuck. Like how Shadow Pokemons never made it past the Gamecube spin off games.)
Very early on the jig is up. ” A lot has changed since Pokemon Diamond and Pearl first released in 2006, including the addition of Fairy-type Pokemon.” Starts Marc, the author of the article. “There are still a lot of questions about Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, but we now know that Fairy-type Pokemon will be represented in the remake when it releases”
The new type he is referring to is Fairy. As anyone who has followed Pokemon with any consistency through out its last handful of installments, X and Y came out 3 generations ago back in 2013, you wouldn’t exactly think of Fairy as a new type anymore. However, the point he is getting at is Fairy wasnt out during Pokemon Diamond and Pearl’s initial releases.
Pokemon Diamond and Pearl launched on Nintendo DS all the way back in 2006. Hot of the release of GBA staple Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald, Diamond and Pearl were Pokemons first foray onto Nintendo’s newest handheld at the time. For those doing the math, Pokemon Diamond and Pearl were released 7 years prior to Pokemon X and Y and two whole generations before.
So the first time the players traversed the wonderful region of Sinnoh, Fairy types were nearly a decade away from emerging as the newest type. So in some way, Marc is absolutely right. Fairy is a brand new type to Sinnoh. New moves, new weaknesses and strengths, and brand new strategies await those returning to the region in the fall.
However, as we have demonstrated, Fairy is far from a new typing. Thus I found the article title to be misleading. As I said, I do actual like the article. It gives historic Pokemon background and states its point and view and even mentions how Fairy types add a whole new dimension to a game some of us may have logged hundreds of hours in. I just didnt care for the name.
So if you made it this far into my article, I would like to know if you considered this title or article to be clickbait. As a good journalist, your article will always rely somewhat on clickbait. Its just the nature of the beast. I’m just curious if, after reading the original article, you found that article to be misleading. It’s a question on modern day journalism and how much can a title get away with. This is far from the worst example I’ve seen. However, as someone who does video game reviews and news topics here, I’m very interested in what my audience thinks about this topic.
Thank you guys so much reading. Have a great day!
Obtain Cinderace for Free in Pokemon Unite (Day 8 Log In Reward)!
Cinderace is an all out attacker in Pokemon Unite. Technically, as Cinderace is the day 8 reward, you could have got Cinderace yesterday, Thursday July 29th. However, I wanted to spotlight Zeraora and Gardevoir.
I played a few rounds with Cinderace and enjoyed him way more than I thought I would. I found him to have a little more health than Zaraora. However, in the two rounds I got to play with him both rounds were lopsided. One time my Cinderace didnt die until 30 seconds left and I easily won MVP scoring over 200 points. The second time my team was destroyed and struggled to get any momentum going.
So be sure you’ve logged in 8 times and claim your free fighter ASAP! Thanks so much for reading and have a great day!
Unlock Zeraora in Pokemon Unite! Early Access Bonus! Dont Wait!(Nintendo Switch)
Hey everybody. Pokemon Unite released Free to Play for Nintendo Switch owners last week! We discussed our early thoughts in a previous blog post. Be sure to check that out here.
Now it is important to make sure everyone knows Zeraora, one of currently 20 playable characters, is free for a limited time as an early adopter bonus. If you love Pokemon, MOBAs, or are just looking for something different to play, there is no reason to miss out on this electric heavy hitter.
Zeraora’s Pokemon Unite stats mimic his in game stats. He is a powerful mix sweeper with nice speed. However he is fragile. This why pairing him with a support Pokemon or the eject button battle item can go a long way in providing longevity to the electric glass cannon.
I’ve used Zeaora early on with a sub optimal build , but he is still nonetheless very fun to play with.
Let me know if you’ve taken advantage of this deal and scored the Sun and Moon legendary for free! Thanks for reading and have a great day!
Ranking Super Mario 64 Levels (Top Five Friday) Part 4 Finale The Top Five Levels of Super Mario 64!
Today, we finally wrap up our series of ranking every Super Mario 64 level.
Check out the previous parts here:
Ranking Super Mario 64 Levels (Top Five Friday) Part 1
Ranking Super Mario 64 Levels (Top Five Friday[Saturday]) Part 2
Ranking Super Mario 64 Levels (Top Five Friday) Part 3
Separately the top 5 was pretty difficult. Some of my favorite levels such as Snowman Land and Whomp’s Fortress have already appeared on the list. Meanwhile, a few levels that are not exactly my favorite, still remain at large.
#5 Big Boo’s Haunt- This personally might be my favorite level. I’m not sure where the general consensus is for this stage but I tried to be relatively unbiased here. I like that the mansion has three floors but I wish there some more variety in the rooms. It would have been cool to see a kitchen or master bedroom area. Still this level is fun to explore, has the boos and the coins and stars are pretty easy to run around and claim.
#4 Tall, Tall Mountain- This is a level I didn’t really care for before making this list. The mountain can be a hassle to climb, the falls can be demoralizing and the Monkey is a pain in the butt. However, this level is truly epic. While it lacks some of the complexity of other levels. The ascent up the mountain, while not perfect, is one of the highlights of the game. Theres some variety in the missions and of course, this level has a slide! So bonus points.
#3 Shifting Sand Land- Again, another level I had absolute disdain for growing up. The sand has insta kill sections, climbing the pyramid can be more of a chore than the mountain of Tall Tall Mountain, and the bird can steal your hat. While those can be big detractors, this level was certainly out of their comfort zone. It is one of the first levels to truly challenge you. On top of that, exploration is another huge plus here. The pyramid feels like it’s own level. It is filled with plenty of puzzle-esque sections, challenging platforming parts and some secrets thrown in to keep you on your toes. This certainly wouldn’t be in my top 5 favorites, but I appreciate all the things it did.
#2 Bomb-Omb Battlefield- Another level that is absolutely up in my top favorites. It is just a massive sandbox for platforming. And platforming and exploration are the two biggest strengths of the game. Sure, the level lacks complexity found in later levels which hinders some of the exploration. However, this level is absolutely iconic. It has a surprisingly amount of diversity for the first level. The Wing Cap combined with the cannon is a crazy combo. The floating island in the sky immediately encourages wonder and curiosity. Who will ever forget being greeted by the bombs, having to slip past the Chain Chomp and finally scaling King Bomb-Omb’s mountain? There’s a handful of secrets, enemies, and interesting areas to keep this level feeling fresh and exciting.
#1 Tick Tock Clock- I absolutely hated this level as a kid. The 100 coins in this course was one of the last stars I ever got, putting it off until my adulthood… However, climbing Tick Tock Clock feels like a real achievement. There’s several branching paths, difficult enemies, secret coins and stars and plenty more. It harbors some of the most annoying stars that you can feel proud of yourself for conquering. It’s a level you can complete several times over and have a different experience each time you run through it. That’s because depending on which quarter of the clock you jump in at (12, 3, 6 and 9) will determine the speed of the moving parts. You can double the speed, slow it down, randomize it or even bring it to a dead stop. This provides plenty of different strategies and playthroughs. In this example, you try to get the 8 red coins with the platforms stopped (Generally considered the easiest way to beat it.) Or you could have the platforms speed randomized. I will say Rainbow Ride is equally, if not harder, than Tick Tock Clock. However, Tick Tock Clock seems like a more professional and cohesively designed level whereas Rainbow Ride feels more thrown together. This level combines many of the aspects that make Mario 64 so great, There’s a massive tower to explore, plenty of sections allow and encourage precise platforming, and the difficulty is balanced so that the trek is not easy but not overly ridiculous either. For the fact that this level fuses what makes all other levels great in their own way into one level makes it stand out to me.
So, what did you think of this list? Feel free to leave your own opinions in the comments down below. There will be plenty more list and reviews in the future so make sure you are following the blog!
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Reacting to My Super Smash Brother’s Ultimate Character Speculation Video!
This blog post is a companion piece to my video that just aired on my YouTube channel. I’ll list my 5 guesses from before the game comes out and give a slight comment about it. If you want to watch my original video, watch it here! If you want to watch the companion video, watch it here!
#5 Wonderful Red
Odds he makes it in: 4/10.
Pros: I think the pros for him are Platinum Games and Nintendo’s good and healthy working relationship. I think it also helps that Wonderful 101 has been ported to the Switch. He has a very awesome design that lends itself to a fighting game.
Cons: The port happened forever ago. It is not a huge, groundbreaking reveal. Platinum games has already released a new game, Astral Chain. Meaning I think the protagonist in it is a stronger candidate. I give it a 4/10 because I feel the cons overweigh the pros, making his path tough.
#4 Pokemon (Dragonite)
Odds Dragonite Makes it in: 1/10
Pros: Vintage Pokemon is still relevant. Pokemon in general is still very relevant. The Dragon typing is heavily underrepresented. Awesome design.
Cons: There’s no telling which of the original 151 would make it in, if any. Gen 8 is relevant as well, meaning they could go with a new Pokémon. Pokemon is kind of in that second party area, meaning they may want to go with a more first party character to end it off with.
Odds a new Pokemon makes it in: 7/10.
Pokemon is still one of Nintendo’s biggest properties. However, I’m not sure it would be the most impactful pick.
#3 Funky Kong
Odds he makes it in: 2/10
Pros: Has a sleek, awesome design. DK Tropical Freeze has been ported over to Switch.
Cons: Some time has gone by since the port. He is such a side character when I feel the last roster spot will go to a main character. I feel like both of those reasons are pretty big hold backs.
#2 The Champions
Odds they make it in: 0/10
Pros: Best case scenarios , as spirits or trophies.
Cons: I feel like their time has passed.
#1 Hat Kid
Odds they make it in: 1/10
Pros: She pays homage to Mario and plenty of the other franchises in the game. Her move set writes itself. It would be massive for an indie games.
Cons: There’s such a low chance an indie character makes it in. Again, she would not be a ground breaking announcement. Sans got in as a mii fighter so I feel like that’s the ceiling for her.
So that was my list before the game released. I think all these guesses were okay picks back in 2018 leading up to the game’s launch. However, for most of them I feel like the window has closed. Which is why I’m going to do an updated list soon!
Thank you guys so much for reading! Have a great day!
Spent Today Cataloging My Video Game Collection
Hey guys. I should have been a little more productive today then I was. However, I took the time to catalogue my Wii U, N64 and Gamecube collection. Next week I plan to maybe, hopefully tackle OG Xbox, 360 and Wii games.
My Wii U collection says 161 out of 165. However, I have a little different system than most, so in my list there’s only about 163. I am not sure what the exact differences are. I know I only count Bayonetta 2 as the only release. It had an original printing with Bayonetta 1 included and a second print run without the original included. I also include New Super Mario Bros, New Super Luigi Bros, and the 2 and 1 bundle as one game. Others include all 3 as separate releases (in their defense, they are all separate). I’m missing Devil’s Third and Just Dance 2019.
My Gamecube collection clocks in at 108 after a last minute impulse buy of Zoocube. Jessica said I should own the last game alphabetically speaking on the gamecube. Some of the highlights include Skies of Arcadia loose, both Pokemon Colosseum games, all the Mario Party games, and the Zelda collection including Zelda 1, Zelda 2, Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask.
My N64 collection only has 62 games. I thought for sure I had already broken 70, but alas, not yet. Some of the highlights include Super Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, Bomberman 2nd Attack, Silicon Station Space Valley (yes, I know this is wrong. It’s actually Space Station Silicon Valley but I can never say nor type it right.).
Despite being almost done with the Wii U and the N64 containing most of my childhood games, Gamecube is my collection I am most fond of. It is such a great console!
N64 and Gamecube games.
Not a very flattering photo, but Jessica took this picture of the N64 games and Gamecubes stacked how she did.
Anyway, I don’t know how many of the regular readers are into retro games or video game collecting, but here’s just a small look into the collection! Thank you guys for reading!
As always have a great day!
Da_Hubbz 