Damn, the weeks are just flying by aren’t they? Not a ton of new activity here but hey…what do you want? The most noteable addition is ahhh…well, check it out for yourself.
Have fun! Read More
Developer: SCEI Publisher: SCEI Release Date: 1-31-97 (JP) 9-30-97 (US)
Think You’re Smart?
I remember being so addicted to this back in the day. I was in college and my good friend Zac and I used to get trashed and play this for hours on end. Seriously. This was considered to be the Tetris-killer when it first came out.
Of course now nobody remembers what the hell this game is. But hey.
Anyways. Read More
Ahhh…the true mark for the end of summer: Live Arcade activity. A lot of add-ons are kickin’ around this week but there are some things of notice that are new.
We won’t speak of it here though, we are mysterious. Click the link.
Oooooo. Read More
Developer: Rareware Publisher: Midway Release Date: Oct. 1994
ULTRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!
So. Since whispers of a new KI release have been heard over the past few months I thought it appropriate to do a Retro Review of it’s original release from 1994. Any of you that remember KI know that it was famous for its incredible graphics, lightning-fast gameplay and its monster combo system. Not to mention its great characters.
So with that in mind let’s get going shall we?
Developer/Publisher: Data East Release Year: 1991
Uugh, it is very early in the morning for me. What the hell is a caveman Ninja anyways?
Everyone knows that we here at Loot-Ninja are very avid gamers. We constantly challenge ourselves and never back down from any difficulty level. We will tear off your heads and shit down your necks - with gusto. Your parents will be crying in a corner as we stand on your head victoriously.
But sometimes we just aren’t in the mood for any neck-shitting, y’know? We’ll be sitting at home with some beer or whatever and don’t feel like decimating some faceless schmuck online. “What do I want?” You ask yourself. And then there’s the answer.
Two little cartoon things jumping and flailing and throwing bones at other little cartoon things that are jumping and flailing about. We just sit back and play through a game that any nine year old can beat.
Now you may be thinking to yourself “Wow Schwinghammer, you’re way off the mark! I want to be dragging some asshole out of his car in GTA IV and beating him with his own shoes.” So go friggin’ do it already!! But first ask yourself, when was the last time you just laid back and relaxed with an ol’ Hop-n-Bop game?
Been a while, hasn’t it? Read More
Developer: Project Soul Publisher: Namco Bandai, Ubisoft (EU)
Release date: 7/29/2008, 7/31/2008 (Japan, Europe)
I GOT SOUL…AND I’M SUPER BAD!- James Brown
Well well. It’s finally here. About friggin’ time, I think.
Let me start off by saying that although this newest release in the Soul Caliber world doesn’t re-define the genre, it’s an amazing play and easily the best in the series. Jesus, this almost makes you forget that SCIII even existed. Almost.
Oh, and just because there has been so mush emphasis in past months I’ll get this out of the way as well: Darth Vader and Yoda are merely alright to play as. Yoda is short, neigh-impossible to grab and has some cool jumping attacks. Vader’s moves are unfortunately based off of the original trilogy - meaning that they’re slow and completely unimpressive (but powerful - wheee). Seriously, it’s like having a palsy victim on the roster. I don’t even like typing these words because I’ve been so jazzed about these characters coming to the series. And while things like well integrated force powers work for their presence, they really don’t fit in all that well. A couple plays through is all you need. Maybe when Vader and Yoda cross platforms there will be more reason to use them.
Starkiller, the Apprentice from the upcoming Force Unleashed is moderately badass (but still make you yawn, although certainly better than the others). He moves more as I envisioned Darth Vader would. Huh. Even the stages are a little boring. All in all, disappointing. So many fan boys are Mother-F**king their computer screens right now and I’m truly sorry that it has to be that way. E-mail the developer if you like. I’m sure they’d love to hear from you. Read More
Release: 1993 Developer: Sega Interactive Publisher: Sega of America
Restoring Balance In The Universe Through Goofy Sprites
I will say that first and foremost I am a fighting game fan. I remember the first time I played Karate Champ on the NES back in 1984 (hmmm…possible retro review material there). And even though it was clunky, glitchy and …well…shitty, I got chills up my spine every time I landed one one my opponents noggin.
It was either that or Diphtheria.
Anyways.
Developer/Publisher: Konami Release: 1992 CPU: 68000 @ 16Mhz
Display: Raster - 288×224 pixels (Horizontal), 2048 Colors
“WELCOME TO DIE!! -Magneto
In the world of retro reviews there is always one given: the reviewer is usually in his/her thirties. For many of our younger readers, this may seem…what’s that word…awful. But for those of us who were around in the young to middle years of the video game industry, it simply means that: A) We have more points of reference, and B) We appreciate things that back then were truly awesome.
The X-Men arcade game was one of those truly awesome things.
So here we go. Read More
Developer: Capcom Publisher: Capcom Designer: Tokuro Fijiwara
Release Date: 12-12-1988
Bionic Commando for the NES (also known as Top Secret: Hitlers Revival in Japan) was a sequel to the popular arcade game of the same name in Japan (Top Secret). Not too many people remember that. What they do remember is the blistering difficulty the game was known for. Now I’m sure some of you were thinking “Hey, I’ve played that and it wasn’t too hard…pussy”. Those people can bite me. As I played through a couple of days ago, I’ll admit it wasn’t as hard as it used to be. But it was still goddamn hard. Remember, at the time, lots of us were used to Mario-esque platformers. And seeing as how Bionic Commando had no jump button, you can imagine the frustration. It wasn’t unlike ripping out one of our thumbs. But at the same time, we were introduced to the joys of killing Nazis in video games.
Sigh, memories. Read More
Developer: Nintendo EAD Publisher: Fuji Television (DDP), Nintendo (SMB2)
Designer:Shigeru Miyamoto Release Date: 7/10/1987 (DDP, Japan), 10/10/1988 (SMB2, US)
I’m sure by now that a many of you know SMB2s dark little secret (though probably less so these days..damned information age). In 1988 the release of the newest Mario game was in fact not a Mario game at all. But a conversion by Nintendo of a game called Yume Kōjō:Doki Doki Panic (“Dream Factory: Heart-Pounding Panic”)- a game based on a story of a family - Papa, Imajin, Lina, and Mama - go out on in adventure in an Arabian novel (known as ‘Subcon’ in SMB2). And of course people feel two ways about this: those who believe that because of the characters were Mario based that it was a true Mario Game. Then there are those who believe that because the game was not designed to be a Mario game from the ground up, it didn’t warrant a ‘real’ Mario label. I suppose both sides have a point. Although Miyamoto did have a heavier involvement in DDP than the actual SMB2 in Japan (the lost levels here).
As for myself - I hate to say it, but I lean towards the ‘not a Mario game’ slot. For me it has to do with the initial intent (but hey, that’s me).
Anyways. Read More
