Blog Archives
Video Game Grail? (A Response to the MetalJesusRocks Facebook Page)
I saw this question on Facebook today. It really got me thinking. For those of you who don’t know, a grail was originally meant to be something impossible to find. Something really rare or expensive. Now a days, the word is tossed around too loosely. Now it basically equates to your most desired game that is also hard to find. In theory there should only be one grail game. But everybody has different opinions on what that should be. Thus, this question is born.
When I think of video game grails, the list begins and ends with Stadium Events. Now, sure the Atari has some rare cartridges, but no one really has a definitive list for Atari. Either way, I’m not a big 80s collector for video games. My collecting would start at SNES.
There’s two candidates here, Chrono Trigger and Pocky and Rocky 2. However, I’ve actually seen both of these games in person, believe it or not. So are they really rare enough to be considered grails? Chrono Trigger is the game that got me into retro collecting, so it would get the claim over Pocky and Rocky for me personally. Though I do believe I’ll probably see 5 more Chrono Triggers before I Pocky and Rocky 2 again.
Still, in my heart of hearts, I’m not really a SNES collector either. I mostly collect N64, Gamecube and Wii U. With that in mind, what would be my grail from those consoles? N64 had some rare titles thanks to Blockbuster exclusives. The rarest title being Sculptors Cut. But even then, to my understanding anyway, it’s just a base game with added content. And I don’t even care about the base game enough to buy it. On the Gamecube, it’s Pokemon Box. Now some people may think this has to be my grail. As a kid of the 90s whose childhood was wrapped around Pokemon, who wouldnt want this? You are sorta right. I do want it. But it’s hardly a game. It’s a glorified transfer machine. That definitely knocks some points off.
But all of these are games I don’t own. The question asks for one’s we now own. There’s two games that stand out for me.
My copy of Chibi Robo and my copy of Pokemon Soul Silver.
Probably the two games I wanted to own as a kid and never got to. I still remember walking into Gamestop and Soul Silver was 60 dollars. I said I’ll wait for it to go down ( it was loose after all.) It never did. It came into work last year and was about 100 dollars. This time it was complete. Still couldn’t do it. Finally, it came in loose and I just jumped on it. My Chibi Robo is also loose, but it is what it is.
So those would be games I never thought I’d own, but now I do. Thanks for reading. Be sure to follow Metal Jesus Facebook Page and subscribe to his channel
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!
Games That Could Have Saved The Wii U!
*This post was written towards the end of May! Enjoy!*
During the Wii U’s lifespan several games came out that didn’t make it onto the console. If the Wii U had landed some of these titles it definitely would have helped. You guys will see a lot of parallels between the N64 and the Wii U. Let’s go ahead and jump into this one.
JRPGS and RPGs in general were bare on the system, just like the n64. Of course you still got Paper Mario, Xenoblade, and of course Mass Effect 3. So with all that said my first pick is Persona 5. Personally, I haven’t been able to gravitate towards JRPGs, though I do certainly try. With all that said, there is no denying Persona 5s profound impact on the western market. To my knowledge, Persona, as far as a console release, has been exclusive to the PlayStation. Though, the 3ds did see some Persona releases on handheld. I’m not sure the Wii U ever had a chance of landing Persona 5, considering the Switch hasn’t even got a version. This would have been a huge get for the Wii U’s library.
Let’s keep the RPG train rolling. Fallout. Personally, I think New Vegas would be my choice here. If the Wii U had secured a definitive edition of Fallout New Vegas with all the DLC, I would’ve been all over that. If Fallout 4 had released on the Wii U, of course that would have helped the Wii U break the stereotype of being a “children’s unit”, but who knows if Fallout 4 could have even ran on the Wii U in the first place.
And to round out the RPG experience, Mass Effect Trilogy. I’m not sure about Bioware or EA’s relationship with Nintendo during this time, but the Wii U got Mass Effect 3 which just seems weird. I really wish the Wii U either got a separate release for each installment or the trilogy released later on. It’s so weird needing to buy Mass Effect 1 and 2 on Xbox just to jump on the Wii U to round out the trilogy. While this was weird to me, it’s far from the only example (as this also happened with the Batman games).
A Hat in Time- A Hat in Time was originally in the works for the Wii U. Overtime, that plan evaporated along with the hopes of a Nintendo Switch version. As time elapsed, A Hat in Time would finally make its way to the Switch. Sadly, for Wii U Collectors and players alike, this title was missed from the Wii U library.
Undertale- During the time of Undertale’s release I was playing my Wii U exclusively with a little Xbox One thrown in. As a result, I missed out on Undertale. If this game has found a way to end up on the Wii U I might have got around to playing this. As of now, I have yet to experience Undertale.
Rare Replay- When Rare Replay came out, Nintendo and Microsoft hadn’t quite struck up their friendship. Now a days, Banjo Kazooie has arrived on Switch via Smash Brothers. Also, Cuphead is available on Switch. We’ve yet to get any Rare games on the Switch to my knowledge. However, if people were able to play Banjo Kazooie, Conker, Battletoads or any of those Rare classic titles, I think people would have eaten up the nostalgia factor.
Lastly, for today’s post anyway, Super Mario Odyssey. Breath of the Wild may have ended up on the Switch also, but it was designed, in part, with the Wii U in mind. As a result, The Wii U got an absolute epic game in Breath of the Wild. Now, I have also said the Wii U desperately needed a 3D Mario game. Yes, 3D World was a great game yet if it was complimented with Odyssey, that would have solidified the Wii U’s library as top notch. Sadly, Nintendo saw the writing on the wall and bailed on Odyssey ever coming to Wii U. I think ultimately this was a smart decision due to how much Odyssey can be dependent on motion controllers. All that said, I wish the Wii U had received a title maybe more like a traditional Mario 64 title.
So that’s it for today. I’ve been merciless collecting for my Wii U, I only have about 30ish (at the time of writing this. Now I’m not down to 6!) titles left until I have a whole set. I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on the library. There’s plenty more games to discuss so expect more videos as time goes on. Thanks for reading guys and I’ll see you in the next one.
Games I’ve Played Recently #2
Hey guys. I’ll probably make an update post very soon and than hopefully more post to follow. I figured I would give you guys a sneak peek at a future youtube video I’m making. This is Games I’ve Played Recently #2. If you have not read the first one, feel free to do that here.
Wario World (Gamecube)- First up is Wario World, a very fun transformational entry in a normally 2D franchise. Wario Games ever since the Gameboy were 2D side scrolling platformers. Even the modern iterations on DS and Wii were 2D, I believe. Wario Word on Gamecube is a huge jump into the third dimension where you play as everyone’s favorite Italian plumber desperately trying to reclaim his stolen treasures. One of my favorite parts of this game is how there are warp doors that take you to separate stages that are strictly platforming. These are fun, challenging and creative all at the same time. At its heart, the game is a very thematical platform collect-a-thon.
PokéPark Wii: Pikachu’s Adventure (Wii)– Here’s a game I’ve wanted for about 5 years. I finally decided to take the plunge. I was really worried I overhyped this game. Believe it or not, I actually really liked Hey You, Pikachu on N64 but I cannot find my mic. So I needed my Pikachu fix. With updated graphics, better controls, a more extensive roster of Pokemons, pretty settings, and fun mini games. This game is living up to hype. Hopefully it continues to be awesome through the whole game.
![PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure US Launch Trailer [HD] - YouTube](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/j7SI9qFDcI0/maxresdefault.jpg)
Paper Mario Thousand Year Door (Gamecube)- Growing up, this was a game I held in high esteem. I put it up there with Ocarina of Time, Bioshock, and Mario Galaxy as one of my favorite of all time. I’ve only revisited it sparingly in my adult life because I just dont care for RPGs anymore. However, after completing the first chapter, I can say my childhood Nostalgia is not letting me down. The combat is still the traditional combat we all know and love from the early years of Paper Mario, the partners are great, the dialogue is really well written, and the worlds are fun to explore.
A Hat in Time (PC)- perhaps the game most synonymous with this channel. I’ve been playing a good bit of mods including challenge road, a Halloween special, and a new modded episode coming out very soon (That modded episode is out now. Check it out here). Check them all out!
Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness (Gamecube)- I’ve always been on the fence about this series. I played Colosseum a lot as a kid but never beat it. I finally bought Gale of Darkness over the summer and I’ve been playing this a lot when I go for runs on my exercise bike machine as it is a great time killer. The story is interesting enough, I love the atmosphere of Gamecube games, converting the dark Pokemons is fun, and you never know what you’ll catch next. I’m really digging this one.
So there you have it. These are the games I’m playing. Let me know what I should be on the look out for next!
Thanks for reading and have a great day everybody!
Super Mario 64 Remake Want List! (Super Mario 35th Anniversary Rumor)
Hey guys, The Nintendo Direct may have been a little lackluster if you wanted more Mario. However, on my Youtube channel, I took the time to make a want list for Super Mario 64 Remake. Below are 5 things I want added to the eventual Super Mario 64 Remake!
P.S. Dont have time to read or just prefer a video format? Here’s the link to my video: Super Mario 64 Remake Want List!
#5 Better Mechanics and Controls: Come on. This is almost a no brainer. The only way this isn’t implemented into the game is if we get a basic bare bones port. Anything above that should bring Super Mario 64 into the modern generation including an actually useful camera, tighter controls, and improved movement. Regardless of what artistic approach they take with the remake/port, better mechanics and controls is an absolute must.
#4 Better graphics- duh. Yet, there’s a sliver of a chance the game doesn’t get any graphical oomph. Honestly, I’m not the most technical savvy person so I’m not going to rabble on and on about video outputting and other jargon, I’m just going to say, I hope this is an HD remastering and not just simple porting.
(I do not own this picture)
#3 2 Player Co-OP- Mario hacks have existed for a while now that have enabled a co-op mode, so in 2020, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to enable a co-op mode in a home console release of Super Mario 64. Something Nintendo has been pretty stingy about. Mario 64 and Sunshine have no co-op mode to speak of. Galaxy 1 and 2 have extremely lack luster co-op functions allowing the 2nd player to play a disembodied pointer grabbing star bits using the Wii remote. Odyssey features the best co-op to date if we aren’t including 3D World. The 2nd player assumes the role of Cappy and can greatly help or hinder Mario on his quest for endless moons. As stated, people have pushed the boundaries of Super Mario 64 via rom hacks, meaning I’m sure Nintendo has the tools needed to do the same, but do they have the guts to utilize it?
(I do not own this picture)
#2 New Hat or Mario Powers- Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 gave us plenty of new power ups which would be cool to see here. I think an obvious power up to include would be the fire flower or ice flower. This could introduce new puzzles such as torches, water walking, enemies that can only be killed by fire, burning down bushes, etc. etc. I wouldn’t mind Boo Mario or Bee Mario but the cap power probably would make it redundant. Giant Mario could be another viable option. Giant Mario has been a staple of Mario since the very beginning, however, on the DS Mario was made ginormous. Wario even got in on the giant action in Mario 64 DS.
(Duh)
#1 New Stars in each level – Blame Odyssey if you must, blame not wanting a standard port or even blame the DS remake, but its time to start adding new content to the game. Super Mario DS added 30 new stars (I think). Odyssey allows the player to nearly double the number of moons found in each kingdom. I think implementing some system like this would be genius. These additional stars could be sprinkled in the game after beating Bowser. This way old school players can still enjoy the game the way God intended while players like myself who want a little more oomph in their remakes can get that added content. This could be done by adding some remixes of old stars such creating 5 new secret spots, making the Koopa race harder or a different route altogether, modifying existing stars in the same manner that comets did in Galaxy. The Mario team is normally pretty darn creative so I know if they tried they could come up with something good that also fits Mario 64.
So there you have it. I have a few more items on this want list. If I can come up with five more, I’ll make a follow up to this post. If you want to see what those items are now though, you can check the video in the link above!
Thanks again for reading guys! If you are excited for the remakes, leave a comment down below and let me know what you would add.
Continued Reading:
Somali and the Forest Spirit Episode 1 Review!
Manga Monday: Clay Lord Master of Golems
The Mandalorian Review
Girlish Number- Random Wednesday Number 1
A Hat in Time DLC comes out Thursday!
If you haven’t heard, A Hat in Time DLC comes out Thursday. Here’s some of the highlights:
A New Chapter- Of course one of the highlights is the addition of the latest chapter, Arctic Cruise. It is a brand new world to explore, which is always exciting. With that, comes brand new characters, time pieces, and hours to sink into the game.
New Game Mode “Death Wish”– I will be honest. This one is a little less obvious. It seems as if this mode wants you to play old levels with a twist or it will create small levels with challenges. These twist come in form of challenges. The one challenge seen on camera is beat the level in 8 minutes. If this is the case, than Gears for Breakfast added a whole new level of replayability.
A Hat in Time is Coming to the Switch– This is exciting for future me as I do not currently own a switch. I dont believe the release date has been announced, so keep an eye peeled.
Co-op is coming to A Hat In Time
Split screen co-op will be added for free to A Hat in Time come September 13th. This is amazing. This is coming at a time when Super Mario 64 online taught us these old retro games can be just as fun with multiplayer as singleplayer. From the trailer, it looks like they are opting for a vertical screen (line going up and down) instead of horizontal. This again, is just one of the many ways Gears added not only replayability, but a fresh spin on the original game. The best part is that this will always be free.
Important Takeaways:
The DLC launches September 13th.
The DLC will be free for 24 hours
$499 USD after 24 hours.
The Co-op feature is free anytime
Brand new stage and game mode.
Yes. I am very pumped.
Per usual, you can watch my channel for more updates and gameplay footage of A Hat in Time.
Here’s some of my recent A Hat in Time videos.
Thanks for reading! Have a great day.
A Hat in Time is apart of the Humble Monthly (3 games for $12)!
Been on the fence about A Hat in Time? For the next 17 days A Hat in Time will be included in the Humble Monthly. For $12 you will get A Hat in Time, Conan Exile, and the Escapist 2.
They are also running a deal called Pixel Perfect Platformer. Other games included in this sale are Yooka-Laylee, Rayman Origins, Limbo, and Cuphead.
Episode #1 of blind LP for Yooka-Laylee is on Youtube now!
Hey everyone. If you enjoy the video be sure to like, comment, and subscribe! Please, that would be so awesome! If you really enjoy it, try to share it on twitter, facebook, and any other forum you can think of. I’d really appreciate it and it would mean a lot to me.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post and watch my video. You rock. Thank you for any help you can provide in advance! Have a great day everyone!
I will be streaming A Hat in Time tonight!
Hey everyone!
I will be doing a test stream tonight. It will be my first stream. The start will be getting audio and such adjusted and than we will be diving in to a Mod of Thwomps Fortress recreated for A Hat in Time!
If that sounds exciting than be sure to check out my Youtube channel around 8:30-9pm EST.
Follow my twitter for an exact update.
Youtube channel: Dahubbz
Twitter: Dahubbz
I would love for you to come hang out, have fun, and leave suggestions!
Thanks for reading and have a great day!
Let’s Talk: A Hat in Time!
Hey guys A Hat in Time came out yesterday. I will be doing a review once I finish the game. If you do not feel like waiting and you’re on the fence with the game. You can go over to my Youtube channel and watch my Let’s Play. I’m two episodes in and I upload often.
Anyway, follow the blog so you know when I post my full review.
I’m hoping to bring other reviews back soon (Mangas, Animes, Games, and Top Fives).
As always, Thanks for reading!
Twitter: @Dahubbz
Manga Monday: https://dahubbz.com/category/manga-monday/
Youtube: Dahubbz Channel!
Da_Hubbz 