We are gathered here today to celebrate the life of the Virtual Console. For a little over a decade, it was Nintendo's premier method of preserving video game history. It provided gamers the ability to travel back and play Nintendo's past consoles, whether for the first time as a new gamer, or again as someone … Continue reading A Farewell to the Virtual Console
Tag: Nintendo 3DS
History of the Emblem, Chapter 2: Celica
Sunlight fills the cathedral windows, causing Celica's red hair to glow. She bows her head. Her hands are clasped together: "Mila, our Mother Goddess, please hear my prayer. Our crops are dying. Abominations are rising from their graves. Rigel has invaded our homeland. I can no longer stand idly by. What must I do?" Celica … Continue reading History of the Emblem, Chapter 2: Celica
Confessions of a Game Collector
I have too many video games, and that's the #1 best thing about being an adult. I have a black IKEA shelf next to my TV, and that's where my game collection sits. The bottom row is almost entirely dedicated to the 3DS. Some isolated shelves are set aside for the GameBoy, PS Vita, and … Continue reading Confessions of a Game Collector
Pokémon Retrospective, Part 3: Modern Poké-Problems
In 2012, I thought I'd outgrown Pokemon. I never bought a DS to play Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, and I didn't feel anything when I saw the remakes of Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver on store shelves. In fact, I felt like I'd outgrown video games in general. During this time I only casually played Super … Continue reading Pokémon Retrospective, Part 3: Modern Poké-Problems
I Finally Found My Lost Childhood Game Boy Consoles
On Christmas morning of 1999 I received a Game Boy Color (GBC) and a copy of Pokemon Yellow. Leading up to that fateful morning, I'd been watching other kids play Pokemon Red and Blue and listening to their conversations about the games. Pokemon was everywhere: on the playground, in the neighborhood, and in every kids' … Continue reading I Finally Found My Lost Childhood Game Boy Consoles
A Newcomer’s Guide to Fire Emblem
Alright, I've introduced you to the Metroid series, and the Xenoblade series, but what about Fire Emblem? Perhaps you're curious about all of the anime sword characters flooding the roster of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, or maybe you're interested in the newest spinoff game coming out, Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes. What are these games … Continue reading A Newcomer’s Guide to Fire Emblem
My 2021 In Gaming
Time spins on, my friends. With each passing Holiday season, I'm reminded that my childhood was a long time ago, and it's only drifting further and further away into the past. My parents gifted my siblings and I a PlayStation 1, our first video game console, in the Christmas of 1998. I remember plugging that … Continue reading My 2021 In Gaming
Mini Review Marathon 2021
It’s that time of year again! I really look forward to my Mini Review Marathon. It’s a good writing exercise to try and condense my opinion about a game down to just a paragraph or two. This year I have nine such reviews lined up for all of you! 1. Ultimate NES Remix (Nintendo 3DS) … Continue reading Mini Review Marathon 2021
Returning to Metroid: Samus Returns
On the eve of Samus' new outing on the Nintendo Switch, I thought it would be fun to look back on some of the Metroid games and give them solid critiques, starting with this game. As with A Link Between Worlds, I played Samus Returns before I started reviewing games. However, unlike A Link Between … Continue reading Returning to Metroid: Samus Returns
Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, and Between Formulas
Happy 35th Anniversary, Zelda! To celebrate, I thought it would be interesting to take a peek at a Zelda game that showed Nintendo in the middle of a metamorphosis. In the mid-2010s Nintendo was transitioning from a gameplay formula they had been using and refining since A Link to the Past in 1991, where Link … Continue reading Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, and Between Formulas