My All-Time Favorite Games #4 - Banjo Kazooie

After playing Super Mario 64 to death, I was really aching for another 3-D adventure to play and Rare's Banjo Kazooie went above and beyond the call of duty. Not only was it one of the best looking Nintendo 64 titles, it was also one of the most well-constructed 3-D adventures of its time. The game had everything you could ask for with it's lengthy and challenging quest, typical off-the-wall Rare characters, and one of the most original soundtracks ever crafted for a 3-D adventure. While I wasn't too thrilled about the sequel, Banjo Tooie, I still hold Banjo Kazooie in very high regards and that's why it captured the #4 spot on my all-time favorite games list.

What made Banjo Kazooie so much fun was how you not only had multiple quests built into each level, but you also had to find each new level in the huge area of Gruntilda's Lair. Each level had its own distinct look and sound to it, which made getting past one level fun as you never knew what to expect next. Another great feature of Banjo Kazooie was the ability to collect musical notes. It was always fun trying to find the 100 notes on each level. It was also equally frustrating to find 98 notes only to lose a life and have to start the level all over again at 0 notes, which happened quite often in Rusty Bucket Bay. And who could forget Clanker the metal shark who's rotting teeth caused him so much pain that he couldn't perform his duties as Gruntilda's garbage disposal. It was quirky elements like this that made this game so recognizable and well-liked among Nintendo 64 fans. If you can appreciate a solid 3-D adventure, do yourself a favor and give Banjo Kazooie a try. It's still one of the best out there.

Review - Hori DS Lite Multi-Pouch Case

After being very impressed with Hori's DS Lite Compact Pouch case, I had high hopes for the Multi-Pouch case as well. When I ordered the Multi-Pouch, my thoughts were that I could use the Compact Pouch for everyday use like carrying my DS Lite around on short trips, and then I could use the Multi-Pouch for business trips out of town or vacations since I could also carry my AC Adapter and more games. Well that was my plan. But as they say, plans change.

As you can see from the picture to the right, the Multi-Pouch is actually a little bit shorter than the Compact Pouch, but it is wider. It's just not quite wide enough. The front flap part of the case opens up to reveal a soft pouch for your DS Lite system to snuggly fit into. This is actually one of the highlights of the case as this pouch is a perfect fit for your DS Lite system, although much like the Compact Pouch, this case doesn't offer a huge amount of padding in the event you drop it. The inside material is the same stuff used in the Compact Pouch so you won't have to worry about sliding your DS Lite in and out of the case often. As I said, this part of the case passes the test quite easily.

Now we go to the inside of the case. Once you unzip the dual zippers, you see a space that honestly should have been a lot bigger. There are two small pouches that are exactly like the pouches on the Compact case and will hold about two DS games each, as well as an added stylus holder that will come in handy for those who like to carry a spare stylus around. The inside compartment also sports a pouch with webbing that I assume is supposed to house your DS Lite AC Adapter, but getting it in there is a chore, although not nearly as much of a chore as getting it out! Once you pack everything inside, you'll find that getting the dual zippers closed up isn't an easy task either. You're reward for all this hard work is a case that looks like it's about to explode at any minunte. There's no denying that the Multi-Pouch will carry your DS Lite, 4 DS games, a spare stylus, and the AC Adapter, it just won't look very good doing it and most likely won't hold up to the stress of holding everything in for very long.

If you already have the Compact Pouch, there's really no need to buy the Multi-Pouch as it just doesn't add very much to the mix. I personally don't think Multi-Pouch is a very good name for this case. Hori should have called it the "We just basically took the Compact Pouch, added a tiny compartment, some velcro, a shiny metal claspy thingy, and charged you five more bucks-Pouch" to be honest. Some gamers might prefer the velcro flap to the zippers of the Compact Pouch, but other than that, I can't see any benefits of the Multi-Pouch over the Compact Pouch. If you're needing a case that can carry your system, games, and the AC Adapter, you might want to look elsewhere, as this one's just not very practical for that purpose. RATING: (5/10)

DS Lite Leaked at Several US Retailers

There has been several reports from gamers across the US stating that their local Target and Walmart stores already have the DS Lite out in cases and for sale to the public. The picture at left is a photo taken by a gamer at his local Walmart store and there are other pictures on several gaming message boards showing pictures of gamers with their DS Lite systems complete with the US box and packaging. Did Nintendo pull a fast one, or are some retailers likely to be in some hot water with Nintendo? More to come when I find out what's going on. In the meantime, if you're anxiously awaiting the DS Lite system, you might want to head out to your local Walmart and Target stores. Who knows, you might get lucky!

New Ultimate Ghosts & Goblins Screenshots - PSP

With the June release of Capcom's Ultimate Ghosts & Goblins, I was able to get my hands on some brand new screenshots of the game in action. It looks like the PSP was made for this game, as the game looks absolutely fantastic on the widescreen LCD of the PSP. Ultimate Ghosts & Goblins marks the series' return to its 2-D roots and classic mind-numbing difficulty. Capcom has stated several times that the difficulty in Ultimate Ghosts & Goblins would be toned down some to give gamers new to the series a fighting chance, but I'll believe that when I see it. I've still got a box of broken NES controllers thanks to the original Ghosts & Goblins game. Below are 5 brand new screenshots for your viewing pleasure. I'll post a specific Japanese and US release date when we get them.


Where can I buy a crossbow that does that?


A good example of a worst-case scenario!


This level is an epileptic seizure waiting to happen!


Nothing a can of Raid and a machete couldn't fix!


Might be a good time for a clean pair of shorts!

Magical Vacation DS Japanese Site Goes Live

For those of you like me, who are anxiously awaiting the US release of Magical Vacation DS, you can surf on over to the Japanese site that just went live and check out some really great character artwork and some video of many of the game's spells being cast on the dual screens of the Nintendo DS. Magical Vacation DS is set to hit Japanese stores on June 22, so those who are up for a good import rpg should pick one up from Play-Asia. I know I am. Click on the Magical Vacation DS logo to go to the official web site.

My All-Time Favorite Games #5 - Lords of Thunder

Very few games in this world can make me grin from ear to ear like Lords of Thunder can. At the time of its release, I had a Super NES and Sega Genesis system and was perfectly content with them. That is until one day I came home from college and had a video tape in the mail advertising a new game called Lords of Thunder. I had read about the TurboDuo, but I had already owned a Turbografx-16 system and sold it to buy my Super NES. But after 5 minutes of watching the footage of Lords of Thunder, I went directly to my DieHard Gamefan magazines and ordered a TurboDuo system and Lords of Thunder from a retailer listed in the back of the magazines. I even splurged for overnight shipping that set me back another $40. In all my years of gaming, I can't ever remember wanting a game as badly as I wanted Lords of Thunder. Thankfully, it turned out to be one of my favorite games of all-time and easily my favorite shooter. I even got several games that were included with the TurboDuo as a bonus, one of which, Ys Book I & II, almost made this list as well. But for weeks, nothing could tear me away from Lords of Thunder.

You can't talk about Lords of Thunder without mentioning what is one of the most hard-rockin' soundtracks ever to grace a video game. In fact, right off hand, I can't think of its equal. Throw in non-stop, pulse-pounding shooting action and some screen-eclisping bosses, and what you get is a space shooter unlike any other. People can talk about Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga all they want to, but nothing can stack up against Lords of Thunder pound for pound. The game even added an RPG touch to the mix by allowing you to select different coats of armor which in turn changed the type of firepower you had in each level. You could also visit a shop in between each level to purchase helpful items like smartbombs and shields. While it didn't affect the game as much as you'd think, it did offer some added gameplay to the experience and only further enhanced what is one of the most outstanding shoot-fests you can find on any system of any time period. If you've never experienced Lords of Thunder, you don't know what you're missing.

Forgotten Game - Wario Ware Touched!

I'll admit, I wasn't always a fan of the Wario Ware games. In fact, I thought they looked downright rediculous and silly from looking at screenshots. So when Mega Micro Games and Twisted were released, I passed on both of them. I almost passed on Wario Ware Touched! as well, but by an odd twist of fate, I was finally introduced to the Wario Ware series when my mother, who hasn't bought me a video game since I was back in high school in the late 80's, gave me Wario Ware Touched! for my birthday. To be honest, I put on a happy face and pretended to like the gift, but my first instinct was to return the game to where she bought it and get something I really wanted. The more I thought about it, the guiltier I began to feel since she was only trying to get me something I would like. After going back and forth for awhile, I finally decided to just give it a try. I mean how bad could it be?

From the first moment I began playing those microgames I was hooked! I couldn't put the game down without catching myself thinking about it. The premise of the game is so simple, yet thoroughly addictive in the way the game tosses all of these microgames at you in such rapid succession. I especially loved the classic games that had some of the classic NES titles featured in them. The more I played this game, the more I wanted to play it. I bet Wario Ware Touched! spent almost 3 weeks in my DS before I finally took it out to play something else. Yet every time I turned around, I caught myself playing it again. I don't get pleasant surprises with video games much anymore since I spend most of my time playing them for review purposes, so when a game like this comes along that I just fall in love with, it's always a nice treat. If you haven't tried out Wario Ware Touched!, do yourself a favor and find a copy, if you can. It's one of the most enjoyable and addictive games you can find for the DS. (RATING: 9.2/10)

My All-Time Favorite Games #6 - Simon's Quest

There are very few NES games that I loved as much as Castlevania. It almost made this list, but unfortunately its sequel, Simon's Quest took the spot instead. Simon's Quest took the platforming action of Castlevania and injected RPG elements into the mix to form a much more non-linear adventure. It also required you to track down the different body parts of Dracula in order to advance to many later parts of the game. Another unique feature to the game was the way the game used an internal clock to change the setting from night to day and back again. During the day you could talk to the many townsfolk and purchase items at the various shops in town. During the night, however, the zombies came out in towns and enemies in the forests became even tougher to defeat. While some Castlevania fans weren't too thrilled with these changes, I think it made the game a lot more in-depth and fun to play.

After getting this game for my birthday, I can't count the many hours I spent trying to beat this game. Spending hours at a time hunting down body part after body part trying to advance to the next area. The wide open spaces and tricky placements of hidden stairways also made it difficult to find some of the secret areas in the game. Once you reached a castle, things began to look and play more like the original Castlevania. There were spike-filled pits, pinpoint platform jumps that had to be made, and enough enemies and dissapearing ledges to keep your extra men dissapearing at an alarming rate. The music was one of the strong areas of the original Castlevania, and Konami spared no expense when it came to this sequel. In fact, some of my all-time favorite Castlevania tunes come straight out of this game. If you're a Castlevania fan and you somehow missed this release, please go track one down and give it a go. Not only is it one of the most challenging of all the Castlevania games, it's also one of the most fun. I just dug it out and played through it again on my NES about a month ago, and I keep holding out the hope that Konami will update and re-release this game for one of the current game systems out there. I can always dream.

My All-Time Favorite Games #7 - Zelda III

What can I say about The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past that hasn't already been said a hundred times over. It's one of the greatest RPGs ever made. Yes, I said it. R-P-G! A game that not only marked the series' first appearance on Nintendo's Super NES system, it also took the game back to its roots, and left behind the experimental, but equally fun, Zelda II: Adventures of Link game. The overhead perspective was back, and so were the intricate dungeons, each chock full of the classic push/pull puzzles that Zelda has become so famous for. This game is considered by many to be the pinnacle of the Zelda series, and after playing through the game more times than I can count, I'd have to agree with that statement.

Many purists will tell you that Zelda is not an RPG because the main character doesn't level up or have the ability to improve his equipment. While that could be argued, and has for years, the simple fact remains that Zelda has always been an RPG to me. You'll spend the majority of your time wandering around the many dungeons of the game, defeating enemies, solving puzzles, and ultimately facing off against the boss of the dungeon. I'll admit that at the time this game was released, I was a diehard action-RPG fan. While I enjoyed turn-based RPGs like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy III, it was the action RPGs like Zelda III, Soul Blazer, and Illusion of Gaia that I loved the most. Zelda: LttP is everything a good action-rpg should be and proves that you can have an engaging and lengthy quest and an action-style game in the same package. Whether you're a Zelda fan or not, you owe it to yourself to track this game down and play through it. No RPG (there I said it again : ) collection should be without this game. Period!

My All-Time Favorite Games #8 - Phantasy Star IV

I've always had a special place in my heart for role-playing games, but this one kind of snuck up on me years ago when it first came out. I hadn't ever played the Phantasy Star games, but one day I was in Toys R Us trying to find Secret of Evermore and came across this game. I'll admit that I was really dissapointed in not being able to locate Secret of Evermore, as I had really been wanting that game. But not wanting to go home without a game, I grabbed the ticket for Phantasy Star IV and headed to the check-out area. On the drive home, I began to regret that I had spent all of the money I had saved for Evermore and even thought about not taking the shrinkwrap off of the game and taking it back when I drove into the city the following weekend. As usual, once I got home and saw that brand new game sitting there in front of me, I just couldn't resist giving it a go, and boy am I glad I did!

Back at the time, I was more into the action-style rpgs like Legend of Zelda and Secret of Mana, but after popping Phantasy Star IV into my Genesis, I immediately fell in love with the turn-based style the game featured. I think one thing I really liked about Phantasy Star IV was the storyline. It was a nice change of pace to have the game set in the future, and it added a fresh approach to rpgs that were beginning to get a bit too predictable. Graphically the game is also one of the best looking Genesis titles, but one area where I think the game really shines is the soundtrack. It might not be quite up to the level of a Chrono Trigger, but this game features an outstanding and melodic selection of musical tracks that carry the mood of the game perfectly. You'd be hard pressed to find a more well-executed or complete rpg package than this one. If you've never experienced Phantasy Star IV, please do yourself a favor and track this game down. You'll thank me for it.

The Rub Rabbits - Nintendo DS

Let me begin by saying this is one strange game. Not only are the 70's lounge-style visuals quite eccentric, but the storyline itself is pretty off-the-wall as well. The game follows the story of a man who sees a woman on an escalator and then begins his pursuit for her affections. The only problem is that not only does he have to deal with other men who are also competing for her attention, but he also has his own personal female stalker to contend with as well. You'll have to compete in tons of mini-games that are carefully woven into the storyline in order to gain your dream girl's attention and then continue competing in order to hang onto her. If this all sounds insane, it's because Sonic Team has managed to create one of the most original and fresh gaming experiences that you can find for the Nintendo DS and a fitting sequel to the first Feel the Magic XX/YY game.

Graphically, Rub Rabbits looks like something out of the 70's with its' creative art-style and flashy visuals. It's obvious that Sonic Team was going for that over-the-top look to go along with the zany storyline and it all manages to fit together perfectly. There's lots of pinks and floral colors all spun around, and the character designs in the game are outstanding. The graphics in the game can best be described as similar to those art prints you used to see back in the 70's in club lounges. Very abstract and artsy. What's most important is that this style really works within the framework of the game to really make the events unfolding in the story stand out. If you think the art style is insane, wait until you hear the music. It sounds a bit like something you'd hear the Brady Bunch singing, with a lot of nah-nah-nahs thrown into the mix. It fits in with the style of the game perfectly and is quite different from anything else out there on the DS.

The gameplay consists of loads of mini-games that you have to compete in to win your dream girl's affections and then hang onto her. Unlike Wario Ware Touched, the mini-games in Rub Rabbits don't come at you in rapid succession. Most of the games require you to touch or rub the screen in different ways in order to accomplish the many tasks that are laid out for you. A good example would be the game in which you have to toss a frisbee to your girl without the other men getting their hands on it. Most of the mini-games are simple enough in design, but do gradually become more difficult as the game progresses. Each time you complete a mini-game, more of the storyline is presented to you at which time you move onto to yet another new situation and mini-game. All in all, The Rub Rabbits is a unique and fun gaming experience that proves to be a nice change of pace. The game might be a little too "out there" for some, but if your open to a new experience and liked the first Feel the Magic XX/YY game, you'll really enjoy this game a lot.

Europe To Get Black DS Lite

On June 23, Nintendo of Europe will launch the Nintendo DS Lite system onto anxiously awaiting UK gamers and with a nice little surprise. A brand new exclusive color. You heard it right, Nintendo of Europe is launching the new DS Lite system in not only the standard White color that the US will get, but also in black as well. This will mark the first time that the DS Lite has been made available in the black color, and should spark some importing interest among US and Japanese gamers who've been holding out for this color. Play-Asia has begun taking pre-orders for the black UK model DS Lite at a price of $199.90. You might want to get in fast given the fact that the UK is the only country that will get the black DS Lite system at present time. If black or white's not your thing you can also pick up a Japanese model DS Lite system in either Ice Blue or Enamel Navy for the same price. Either way this at least means that there is a pretty good color selection for the new DS Lite, although your favorite color choice will likely cost you extra. I guess that's better than the alternative.

Import Game of the Month - Gunbullet Trainer

It's worth mentioning that I am one of the people who never played the original Point Blank light gun game for the Playstation. That's why I'm still not sure why I decided to import this title, other than the fact that it reminded me a little bit of Wario Ware Touched, which is one of my favorite DS games. Maybe it was because I was wanting to see if lightning would strike twice and I'd find yet another import gem like Legend of Stafi 4 turned out to be. Either way I got Gunbullet Trainer in the mail today and had a little spare time at work to play it. Okay I didn't have any spare time, but I made some spare time anyway. My expectations were met when I realized that the mini-games did remind me of the Wario Ware Touched! game, just not coming at you in quite a rapid succession. It's basically a light gun game without the light fun. Using the stylus does work surprisingly well though, and offers a good amount of pinpoint accuracy that the game relies upon. I noticed that even if I was the slightest bit off on my shots, I would miss the target. Hit detection is spot on in this game and it really makes the intense shooting action quite challenging.

Graphically, the game is hit and miss. Some mini-games look fairly plain and uninspired, while others look fantastic. It really depends on the type of game your playing, but if you liked the Playstation's Point Blank visuals, you should be quite happy with this version. The music in the game is nothing to write home about, in fact you can hardly hear it, unless you crank the volume all the way up. I looked for an option to turn it up within the game, but I couldn't find anything. To give you an idea of what the games are like, one of the games features a carnival shooting gallery. At the top of the touchscreen a specific stuffed animal will pop up to show you which animal you are targeting, and then a large group of assorted stuffed animals will pop up and you'll have to shoot the animal you were shown. You don't have long to accomplish this task either. That's what makes the game so challenging in the fact that in most of the games you have a time limit and this time limit gets shorter and shorter as you progress on to later levels. Most of the instructions given to you before each minigame are done using pictures, so this is a very import-friendly game for those considering picking it up. If you like light gun games or touchscreen-tapping mini-games you're going to love this game. It's simple enough for anyone to play, yet challenging enough for those with even the most accurate touch. (OVERALL: 8.5/10)

Retro Gaming - Wii Virtual Console

Nintendo is betting on the popularity of classic video gaming with the much-hyped Virtual Console function of their new Wii game system. Being called "the iTunes of video games," the Wii's Virtual Console allows gamers to download classic video games from all of Nintendo's past game systems including: NES, Super NES, and Nintendo 64. As an added bonus, Nintendo is also going to make available a "best of" series of games from two competing systems in the Sega Genesis and NEC TurboGrafx-16. The sheer number of possible games are almost endless, but just how many of these classic games will we see available for download, and will these mostly include only first party Nintendo titles? That's still up in the air, but what we do know is that having the ability to download and play many of these classic games on one system will allow those of us who currently have many of these consoles connected to our TVs, to put them into storage and get rid of the fire hazard of cords behind our entertainment centers. Nintendo's even created a special controller to play these classic games, one that looks a lot like the old Super NES controller with a couple of analog sticks applied to it. Could the Wii console be the beginning of a retro-revolution in classic gaming?

As you can see in the picture, you'll be able to browse menus on the Wii console when it's connected to the internet and choose from classic game systems and their games. We have yet to get an official release list, so we still don't know what games will be available, other than the handful of titles that were shown at E3. While we can pretty much assume that we'll be seeing many of Nintendo's first party hits like Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past and Super Mario 64, it's the third party and obscure titles that have many wondering if they'll show up on the Wii's Virtual Console. Games like Chrono Trigger, Lufia 2, Ironsword: Wizards & Warriors, and even Rare's platformer Banjo Kazooie. We also don't know yet if the Virtual Console will allow TurboGrafx-16 CDs and Sega CDs to be played on the system, which I personally think would be a great idea since I have quite a few of them in my collection. I thought it would be fun to make a list of 10 third-party games from each of the Virtual Console systems that I feel should be available via download.

NES - Simon's Quest: Castlevania II, Dragon Warrior, Castlevania, Contra, Karnov, Final Fantasy, IronSword: Wizards & Warriors 2, Kid Niki, Ghosts & Goblins, and Legacy of the Wizard. Super NES - Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy III, Lufia 2: Rise of the Sinistrals, Axelay, Soul Blazer, Terranigma, Pocky & Rocky 2, Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel, Secret of Mana, and Demon's Crest. Sega Genesis - Phantasy Star IV, Sonic & Knuckles, Beyond Oasis, Thunder Force III, Popful Mail (CD), Cool Spot, Mickey Mouse in Castle of Illusion, Wonderboy in Monsterland, Sword of Vermillion, and Ristar. NEC TurboGrafx 16 - Bonk's Revenge, Neutopia, Neutopia II, Splatterhouse, Ninja Spirit, Ghost Manor, New Adventure Island, Blazing Lazers, Alien Crush, and Devil's Crush. Nintendo 64 - Banjo Kazooie, GoldenEye, Conker's Bad Fur Day, Mystical Ninja starring Goemon, Jet Force Gemini, Animal Crossing, Harvest Moon 64, Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber, Snowboard Kids 2, and Turok: Dinosaur Hunter. Feel free to post comments or shoot me out an email if you have any favorites you want to see on the Wii's Virtual Console. Until then, I'll just keep my fingers crossed that we see at least most of these games available for download.

My All-Time Favorite Games #9 - Donkey Kong

It probably would have been cheaper to have just actually bought a Donkey Kong arcade game considering how many quarters I stuck in this game. Not to mention the sheer number of detentions I got due to coming back to school late because I was on my fourth trip to the Cement Factory level. Needless to say this excuse didn't go over well with my principal, who obviously didn't know what it meant to get to the Cement Factory four times in one game. I finally broke down and bought a Donkey Kong arcade game used about 5 years ago and then restored it to new condition, which was almost as much fun as playing the game itself. I love the game so much I've owned it for over nine different systems over the years including: Atari 2600, Colecovision, Intellivision, Commodore 64, NES, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Apple II, and PC (using MAME of course.) I even had the little Coleco tabletop electronic game that I still have buried in the game closet here somewhere. It goes without saying that I hold the original Donkey Kong arcade game in very high regard, and that's why it's #9 on my all-time favorite games list.


In Donkey Kong you took on the role of Mario the Carpenter (he was a carpenter before he changed careers and became a plumber) and you're job was to climb up steel girders and ladders to reach the top and rescue your beautiful girlfriend Pauline from the clutches of the evil ape Donkey Kong. The bad part was, everytime you managed to make it to the top, Donkey Kong would grab Pauline and scamper up to another level. It may sound redundant, but it sure was a lot of fun climbing up those girders jumping the barrels Kong rolled down towards you and quickly dodging the fireball and firefoxes who were looking to light a fire under you. It was a very simple premise, but it worked so well in the fact that you had so many dangers to watch for all at once, it made it difficult to reach the top, especially as you reached later levels in the game where the action got really heated and the pace of the enemies and barrels sped up. The ultimate goal for most players was to at least become good enough at the game to be able to reach the Cement Factory, or "Pie Factory" as we called it. Then you became a solid player and could then try to become great by seeing how many times in one game you could reach the Cement Factory. I think my record was 7 times, but there were others I knew that could beat even that. If you've never experienced Donkey Kong, get out there and find at least one version of the game. It's still amazing even all these years later.

My All-Time Favorite Games #10 - Megamania

While Atari had some great first party games for their Atari 2600 VCS system, it was Activision that consistently brought out some of the best games you could find on the system. With big names like Pitfall, Kaboom, and River Raid, there was no shortage of great games. But there was one game that came out in 1982 that just became a must-have shooter, and is still to this day, one of my all-time favorite games. That game was Megamania! Steve Cartright developed a lot of my favorite Atari 2600 games including Barnstorming and Plaque Attack, but there was just something about shooting Space Dice and Bowties that just always brought a huge smile to my face. I still drag this game out of the closet every now and again just to rack up a few hundred thousand for old time's sake.

What made Megamania so much fun and so challenging was the way the falling space garbage was coming down towards your ship. Each different wave had a completely different pattern of falling which always kept you on your toes. Some items, like the Cookies had to be taken out as soon as they began falling downward because if you missed too many, they would trap your ship and crash into you. As if these insane patterns weren't enough, after you began to repeat the waves, the speed with which the debris was falling increased each time to the point that things were falling so fast, you could barely keep track. It was like Space Invaders on crack. If you've never played Megamania, try to find you a used copy of the game and give it a go. I think you'll be impressed with how well it's stood the test of time.

Retro Gameboy - Pocket Bomberman

Most people will remember Pocket Bomberman as being the first game released for the Game Boy Color system when it first arrived on US store shelves back in 1998. It wasn't that visually stunning, but it was in color, which was a long overdue upgrade for Nintendo's Game Boy line of systems. Unlike other Bomberman games in the series, Pocket Bomberman took the game from an overhead style party game, to a side-scrolling puzzler. No doubt this most likely rubbed some long-time Bomberman fans the wrong way, but it actually turned out to be an outstanding game in itself. Hudson must not have been too impressed with the game or its' sales as we've never seen a sequel in the 8 years since this game's release. I keep hoping though!

Pocket Bomberman shares a lot of similarities with the past games in the series in the fact that you have a very simple goal in each level. You have to defeat all of the enemies in the game using your bombs and then locate and enter the exit. What makes this game so fun is that you have to use some basic platforming skills and some unique puzzle solving in order to accomplish this. As you venture further into the game, the enemies and puzzle elements begin to gradually become more challenging and difficult. You'll also get to face off with a boss character at the end of each world, which adds yet another nice change of pace from previous Bomberman games. All in all this is a terrific game that will appeal to many types of players given the wide variety of gameplay functions found throughout the game. If you've never played this one, pick it up on ebay and give it a try. And Hudson, if you're listening, MAKE A SEQUEL!

To Wii . . . or not to Wii?

Judging from the gaming messageboards and online polls, the Nintendo Wii made quite a splash at the recent E3 show this past week in Los Angeles. Extremely long lines were the norm at Nintendo's booth, making those who wanted a crack at playing the Wii system have to anxiously wait their turn. After months of hearing Nintendo's new slogan "Playing is Believing" it was finally time to put the Wii to the test. Anyone that got a chance to play the system will tell you that you really have to experience the console for yourself to fully appreciate just what Nintendo has been able to accomplish with their new spin on video game control. This is the type of revolution (sorry I had to say it : ) that could dramatically change the way we play video games from now on. Never before has a player been able to control the action taking place in a video game with so much precision or participation. You can do things in a video game on the Wii that's just not remotely possible on any other video game console out there. Couple this innovative new control system with the fact that Wii will most likely cost less than half of what the Playstation 3 will retail for, and you can see why the Nintendo Wii now has such a buzz surrounding it.

By now most people have seen the demonstrations of using the Wii Remote and Nunchaku controller. If you haven't you need to build a raft and get off that deserted island you've been living on. Nintendo is changing the level of personal interaction a gamer has with a video game by putting more ways of controlling the game into the player's hands. This allows for an almost infinite number of new and innovative control options that developers can now incoporate into their video games. No longer will the player just sit and press buttons on a game controller, instead players can now take a more vital role in the way they control what's happening onscreen. As if these innovations weren't enough, Nintendo is also making their Wii system a "virtual console" as they like to call it. This means that not only will the Wii play new games made specifically for the system, it will also play games from past Nintendo consoles including: Gamecube, Nintendo 64, Super Nintendo, and even the 8-bit NES, not to mention rival consoles like the Sega Genesis and the Turbografx-16 system. Along with the online service that gamers will use to play games online, Nintendo has also promised a huge library of these past games to be available for download via a service similar to iTunes in which the player can pay a small fee to download the games they want onto their Wii system or an optional SD card. Nintendo is obviously not only trying to appeal to current gamers, but also old-school gamers from the past as well.

Nintendo did show off several of their new Wii game titles that included a few of their well-known franchises like Mario and Zelda, as well as some original titles like Project H.A.M.M.E.R. and Excite Truck, all of which made use of the Wii's new style of play control, to the excitement of anyone that was lucky enough to play them. It remains to be seen just how well Nintendo's new philsophy on video gaming will be accepted by the general gaming public, but judging from the reception the system recieved at E3, it's fairly obvious that gamers are ready for something new and different and Nintendo looks primed to offer that with their new Wii system this Fall. Nintendo didn't announce a specific US release date or price, but they did say that the Wii system would be out sometime in the 4th quarter and would be cheaper than both of the other next generation consoles. We'll just have to wait a little longer to know exactly how much cheaper that'll be. My prediction is that we'll see the system here in the US sometime near the end October for around $249.99. Personally, I can't wait!

Dragon Warrior Monsters 2 - I'm hooked again!

My little write up on Dragon Warrior Monsters the other day got me to thinking about those games again so I dug the old Game Boy games out and managed to find both Dragon Warrior Monsters and Dragon Warrior Monsters 2: Tara's Adventure. I decided to give Tara's Adventure another go, and I've been hooked on it all over again. Every once in a blue moon a game comes along that I just get completely obsessed with and can't seem to put down. The Dragon Warrior Monsters games were two such games, and now I'm back to my old ways of playing this game every chance I get and when I'm not playing it, I'm constantly thinking about what monster I want to capture and then breed next. It's sick, I know, but what's a guy to do? For any DWM fan, below are the three monsters that I finished the game with last time, and what I consider to be the best combination of monsters in the game, although I'm sure some will disagree.

You just gotta have a slime in your party. Not only do they have a high defense, they also come in really handy when you need one of your monsters healed during battle. While some players tend to build a party of strong offensive monsters, I've always liked having the luxury of knowing I have a slime on board to take care of the other monsters and resist some of the stronger magic that you'll face, especially later on in the game. The Granslime is the pinnacle of slimehood, and is easily one of the best defensive weapons you can have on your team. Their "Farewell" spell will come in especially handy as it can instantly revive and heal your entire party. Despite being very slow in leveling up, it's definitely worth putting in the time to not only breed a Granslime, but also to level him up. When you hit some of the long and difficult battles near the end of the game, you'll be quite glad you did.

The one thing that I love about the Skullarach is its' high agility. It can dodge attacks extremely easily, yet still has a very powerful attack. Its' "Bi-Attack" will come in especially handy when you need your Skullarach to hit multiple times during battle. "PoisonGas" is also very effective against enemies who are weak against poisoning. Not quite as resistant to magic as some of the more powerful "???" monsters out there, the Skullarach makes up for it with its' ability to frequently dodge both melee and magical attacks. Easily one of the most well-rounded monsters in the game and one that no DWM player should be without. It doesn't hurt that the Skullarach looks cool as hell either. : )

I saved the big boy for last. This is the type of monster most players begin shooting for early on in the game. I mean seriously, who doesn't want one of these butt-kickers in their party. The Deathmore Final Form is the single most powerful and devastating monster in the game, and he's a tough one to breed as well. All that hard work capturing and breeding all of the many monsters needed in order to obtain this beast will be well worth it when you see your Deathmore Final Form pull off one of his monstrous attacks or cast his unstoppable "BigBang" spell at one of your enemies. That's when you crack a smile and realize that the long road to get this bad boy was well worth the trouble. Nothing comliments a nice, defensive Granslime like the monstrosity that is the Deathmore Final Form. The Deathmore may take a long time to level up, but his attack power and magic resistance alone makes him worth it. If you want to win big in this game, breed yourself one of these. That's when the game gets really fun!

The Witching Hour. . .

For those who don't already know, I'm a sucker for a good shooter! Ever since I first stuck a quarter in an R-Type arcade game many years ago, I was hooked on the shooters (that's what we called them back in the days before the FPS games stole the name.) Needless to say, I own about 60 shooters, including the insanely expensive PC Engine shooter "Sapphire" and the import Saturn gem "Radiant Silvergun," but the one shooter that's always had a special place in my heart is Cotton 2. After playing the extremely fun, yet extremely hard first game in the series, I just couldn't pass up the chance to pick up the import version of Cotton 2 for the Sega Saturn when I saw it at a little import video game store in Albuquerque, New Mexico years ago.

Let's face it, there are very few shooters that feature a broom-riding witch as the main character. More often than not, we spend our time piloting a space ship of some sort, not a stick with some straw on one end. The cutesy look of the game might lead you to believe that this game is geared towards a younger gaming audience and the difficulty must be super easy, right? Well if you think that, you're in for a surprise when you play any of the Cotton games because one thing is consistent between all of the many Cotton game releases over the years. They're all hard as hell! Cotton 2 has some of the best visuals the series has ever seen, and really brings the fantasy world of Cotton alive on screen using the Saturn's impressive 2-D sprite capabilities. The music is as inspired as the tunes from previous Cotton games, albeit a little more moody this time around, and all of the trademark gameplay returns as well. If you've never played a Cotton game, you owe it to yourself to give at least one of these games a try. I think you'll find that Cotton 2 is not only one of the best looking shooters out there, it's also one of the most fun to play!

Forgotten Game #2 - Dragon Warrior Monsters

Back in the late 90's the Pokemon series was really taking off. Monster collecting games were beginning to take shape and Enix obviously recognized this and created a very unique spin-off of their hugely popular Dragon Warrior series. This game was Dragon Warrior Monsters. It took the adventure and fighting aspect of the Dragon Warrior games, and fused it together with monster collecting and breeding. The game offered a huge number of monsters to collect and breed, and sported a terrific and easy-to-use combat system, unforunately, Pokemon was just so huge at the time that many similar type games were sadly ignored, including this one. The game has garnered a loyal fanbase over the years and has become quite the cult classic. Read on to see what makes Dragon Warrior Monsters a game every rpg/monster collecting fan should have in their collection.

The story in Dragon Warrior Monsters is simple. One night as you and your sister lay in bed, an evil monster named Watabou comes out of your dresser and kidnaps your sister. His brother Warabou, appears and takes you back to the Kingdom of Greatlog where you meet the king and somehow get recruited to become a monster master. Your goal is to catch and train a group of monsters in order to compete in the Starry Night Tournament in the hopes of getting your sister back. You'll travel through different warp areas called traveler's gates where you'll fight and capture monsters while doing battle with a boss monster at the end of each area. As you gradually move up through the levels in the game, the monsters that you can catch become more powerful and more rare. These monsters also become more difficult to catch, so you'll have to use your best lures to get the really great monsters. Once you've completed all of the levels and become a monster master, it's then that you'll compete in the tournament against the greatest monster masters in the land. If you can win the tournament, you'll recieve one wish in which you can use to rescue your sister and return home.

The graphics in Dragon Warrior Monsters were good for their time, but definitely look a bit dated by today's portable standards. The soundtrack, on the other hand, sounds as terrific as ever, even with the limited Game Boy audio capabilities. Very melodic and upbeat, the music in the game is so well done, you won't mind that it tends to repeat a lot as you play through the game. What makes this game so much fun is the capturing and breeding of monsters. As you capture male and female monsters, you can breed them together to form an even more powerful monster. Careful breeding is the key to creating the ultimate monster. You'll roam through different areas looking for that area's warp hole, but you'll also have to battle monsters along the way in order to have a chance to capture them, not to mention level up the monsters you already have. Some monsters will just naturally offer to join your party, but others you'll have to lure with different types of meats. The better quality of the meat, the better chance you'll have of making friends with the monster and having it offer to join you. It's a fun cycle to go through as you'll have to work at becoming a true monster master. But that's what makes this game so much fun to play.

Given that there are hundreds of different monsters found throughout the game, you're never going to be at a loss for one to hunt or breed. The sheer number of combinations of breeding means you'll always be in for a surprise when you breed two different monsters together as you never know what new monster you're gonna get. You may even get lucky and breed one of the ultra powerful "???" monsters. There's just so much you can do with this game that it appeals to a fairly wide audience. RPG gamers will appreciate the lenghty quest involved, and Pokemon fans will enjoy the monster taming and breeding portions of the game. Dragon Warrior Monsters has got plenty to offer any gamer, and it's one of the best out there for the Game Boy system.

Sandisk Releases 4GB Memory Stick for PSP

As if the monstrous 2GB memory stick pro duo wasn't enough of a beast for the PSP, Sandisk has upped the anty and will release the 4GB memory stick pro duo the end of May. This should give PSP fans enough room for just about anything they can manage to cram onto their PSPs. This might also help out with the recent announcement of a Playstation emulator that will be coming soon for the PSP. Gotta have room for all of those PS1 games, after all. The 4GB stick will retail for a whopping $219.00, more expensive than even the PSP itself. Gotta pay for all that storage space you know. As you can see in the picture, Sandisk has stuck with the transparent look of the previous gaming sticks, this time giving the 4GB stick a bright red color. Must be because it's so hot! That or because red is the color you'll see when you find out how much it costs. : )

Hori Compact Pouch DS Lite Case - Review

My Hori Compact Pouch DS Lite case arrived today from Play-Asia and I have to say, from the moment I took it out of the wrapper I was pretty impressed with it. I'm about as finicky as anyone when it comes to cases for my portable game systems. I don't like the zipper to touch the game system at all when I'm zipping and unzipping the case. I also like the inside of the case to be made of as soft a material as humanly possible. But above all I want a case that's going to be durable, offer the type of protection I'm looking for, and looks as good as my portable system does, which in this case, happens to be my new Ice Blue DS Lite system. If those criteria are met, I'm generally quite satisfied with a case. So the question is: How do I like this Hori Compact Pouch case?

We'll start with my obsession with the zipper touching my game system. Fact is, if a metal zipper is touching my system when I'm zipping and unzipping the case, it's going to scratch it. That's just a fact. Luckily the Hori case has a nice fluffy layer of cushioning that goes up around the DS Lite system in order to keep the zipper from touching it. Critierion #1 met. The entire inside padding of the case is also made of an extremely soft fabric which just seems to hug the little DS Lite just right when you pull the top down to close the case. No worries of scratching there, and it does offer a little padding in case you drop the system, although I wouldn't trust a case this small when it comes to dropping the DS Lite. It doesn't have that much padding. Criterion #2 met. Durability is an important factor in a carry case for a delicate electronic device like a DS Lite system, because if you can't count on your case to stay in one piece, how can you expect it to protect your valuable handheld system? Once again the Hori case lives up to the challenge and is extremely well made and even the stiching is flawless. The zipper is fairly smooth and doesn't snag on the soft inside cushioning, and the zippers even have tassles on then for easier gripping when opening and closing the case. Criterion #3 met. So far so good.

So we know the case is well made, but does it really protect the DS Lite? The simple answer is, to an extent. This is not a hard-body case or one with a lot of padding, this compact case's main goal is to fit snuggly around the DS Lite, keep it from getting scratched while being carried around, and keep as much dust away from it as possible. Those things this case does with ease. That being said, if you're looking for a case to protect your DS Lite during extreme conditions, like dropping the system, you may want to invest in a hard shell case instead of this one. Criterion #4 met. Last but certainly not least, does the Hori case look as good as it functions? To put it bluntly, hell yes! The light blue case I bought almost matches the exact color of my DS Lite system to a tee. You'll barely be able to tell the slight difference in hue between the two. It also features white highlights around different parts of the case which give it a very clean look when blended with the pastel color of the case. Criterion #5 met. To sum it up, I've owned tons of different cases for my various portable systems over the years, but this Hori Compact Pouch is one of the best I've owned. If you're looking for a simple, yet effective case to protect your system from dust, scuffing, or scratching from everyday use and transporting, this is the case for you. RATING: (9.0/10)

** I knocked off 1 point on the rating because the DS and GBA game pouches inside the case don't stretch at all and it doesn't hold as many games as I would have liked, but I'm being a little nitpicky here. **

Has Sony Gone Too Far With Playstation 3?

Today came word from Sony that their upcoming next generation console, the Playstation 3, will launch in two different setups, a 20GB hard drive and 60GB hard drive package on November 17th in the US. That's not the big news though. The real jolt came when Sony confirmed what many insiders had already predicted, that these systems would retail for $500 and $600 for each respective console package. Yes you read that right, $600 bucks if you want the high end PS3 system. That's $200 more than the Premium Xbox 360 package and a whopping three times the retail price of the Nintendo Wii system which is expected to launch at under $200. I've been about as big a Sony Playstation fan as one could be over the years, buying both the PS1 and PS2 consoles the morning of their US launches, but I'm finding it difficult to come to grips with the idea of paying $600 for what is essentially still a toy, no matter how advanced it is technology-wise. So if I, a huge Playstation fan, am already having second thoughts about purchasing a PS3 console, how are those who are on the fence going to react? As painful a news item as the price was, Sony wasn't finished yet.


Not only will the Playstation 3 be astronomically expensive, it's also going to have pretty much the same controller we've been using now since the original Playstation system, albeit with a few minor tweaks to it. Throw in a little wireless function, some motion sensor technology, and voila, a rehashed Dual Shock. I'm just not sure what Sony's thinking is behind the PS3, I've always assumed they were trying to hit a homerun and create the most powerful console on the face of the planet, but I don't care what the PS3 can do, consumers are going to have a hard time shelling out $600 bucks for a game system and I think this is going to really hurt Sony's position in the video game market. I hope I'm wrong, but I just don't see how this is going to work out in any good way, except maybe help Nintendo gain some much-needed ground back. In truth this arrogance that Sony seems to be showing at the moment reminds me of another company named Atari many years back that began to think that they could do anything they wanted and gamers would still buy their systems. And we all know what happened to them, don't we.

Densetsu no Stafi 4 (Import) - DS Review

After seeing 3 Game Boy Advance releases in Japan, the Densetsu no Stafi series now finds a new home on the Nintendo DS system. The series has enjoyed a lot of popularity with the Japanese gaming audience, although none of the games have seen a release outside of Japan, and now Nintendo looks to capitalize on that popularity with their DS release Densetsu no Stafi 4. Although the game pretty much sticks to the style of gameplay that's made the other games so much fun to play, Nintendo did manage to squeeze in a few touchscreen functions to give the game a fresh feel on the DS. Densetsu no Stafi 4 isn't going redefine the platforming genre, but it's a solid effort that's just an absolute joy to play. And that's really what counts after all.

GAMEPLAY: (9.0/10) - What makes Stafi so much fun to play is the simple control scheme the game employs. Basically, Stafi can run, jump, and use a spin attack. But these basic moves are only the beginning as Stafi will acquire additional moves as the game progresses including an extremely useful "glide" move that allows Stafi to glide through the air and reach platforms that would normally be unreachable. You'll also encounter "familiar animals" that you can take control of and make use of their individual special moves to complete levels. What makes this game so much fun is how seamlessly all of these gameplay functions come together. The game offers up a lot of gameplay, but makes it easy to use. Anyone that's played any of the Kirby games will feel right at home with this one as they share a lot of similarities in both style and function. The goal in each sublevel is to locate a specific lost item and return it through the entry gate. Along the way you can grab coins and occasionally solve a puzzle or two, but you won't get lost as the bottom screen of the DS always has a map of the level on it to refer to. This tends to make the game a little on the easy side, but this game really isn't about difficult challenges, it's about fun platforming action and it's loaded with enough levels to keep you busy for quite some time.

GRAPHICS: (9.0/10) - It's very easy to describe the visuals in this game. They remind me a lot of the Kirby series of games in the way they're extremely bright and colorful. They're also a nice step up from the previous games' graphics as well and do a nice job of showing off the 2-D sprite capabilities of the DS. The game also makes use of 3-D graphics in the backgrounds to give the game not only a really smooth scrolling motion, but also allows for some outstanding animations in the backdrops as well. This creative mixture of 2-D and 3-D graphic components really give Stafi 4 an absolutely gorgeous look. Throw in some of the most jaw-dropping cut scenes we've seen yet in a DS game and you have a game that may look somewhat 16-bit at first glance, but after playing the game for a while, you'll begin to fully appreciate just how much visual prowess and personality this game truly has.

SOUND/MUSIC: (8.0/10) - The music in this game fits the visual style of the game to a tee. It's bouncy and cute as you'd expect with a game of this nature and does a good job of carrying the lighthearted mood of the game. I knocked the rating down a few marks because many of the music tracks in the game are not very long and tend to repeat a lot during some of the longer levels that you'll find later on in the game. Even though many of these tracks are quite catchy at first, once you've heard them repeat for the 20th time, you may find yourself turning the volume down. It might have been nice to have had some voice acting in the game, but the converstation text does a nice job of allowing the silly story to unfold. A solid musical effort, I just wish the tracks had been a little longer.

OVERALL: (9.0/10) - Densetsu no Stafi 4 is just like all of the previous Stafi releases in the fact that it's just a lot of fun to play. It doesn't offer any type of overwhelming challenge, and might be too easy for some gamers expecting a higher degree of difficulty, but for those just looking for an extremely fun, lighthearted platformer, this game is just your ticket. There is a lot of Japanese text in the many conversations that take place in the game, but the game is easy enough to figure out even if you can't read a word of Japanese. One of the most enjoyable DS games I've played in quite some time, and lengthy enough that you can't blow through it in one sitting. What more could you ask for?

Retro Look - Super Mario Bros. (1985)

With the upcoming release of New Super Mario Bros. for the DS system on May 16th, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at the previous Super Mario Bros. games. So every other day, I'll be adding a short write-up on one of the Super Mario Bros. games. We'll start from the beginning with the game that many say kickstarted the entire video game industry back in motion after the horrific crash of 1984. After having success in Japan with their Famicom system, Nintendo decided it was time to tackle the American gaming public and in 1985 released their Famicom system in the US as the Nintendo Entertainment System. Gaming historians have come up with many reasons why the NES was so successful, but the one reason you here come up more than any other is the fact that Nintendo bundled their arcade hit Super Mario Bros. with the system. Super Mario Bros. basically introduced the gaming world to the side-scroller, a genre that still thrives today, and began a string of Super Mario Bros. games that have become the best-selling video game series in the history of video games. Not bad for a game about an Italian plumber who gets to spend most of his time rescuing a princess from a giant turle.

How would you like to be the guy that has to spend his days busting brick ledges with his head, swimming through squid-filled waters, and climbing down stale sewer pipes, all to rescue a princess that everytime you turn around gets captured again. That's what our tireless hero, Mario, does in the game and you, the player, get to go along for the ride. In the first Super Mario Bros. game you'll spend most of your time running, jumping, and busting bricks through level after level, only to reach one of the many castles in the game to find out that the princess is in another castle altogether. What makes all of this redundancy so much fun is how Nintendo has creatively crafted each level to hold many hidden surprises that you must find by careful searching and busting every brick in sight. While this sounds simple enough, you'll have to do all of this while dealing with enemies intent on keeping you from reaching each castle. Mario can defeat most enemies by stomping on them, or he can find a hidden flower and turn into fiery Mario and shoot fireballs at them. Either way is fun. Couple all of this insane gameplay with an extremely responsive control system and you have what is considered by many to be one of, if not the greatest video games ever created. Luckily if you want to play this game it's readily available in many forms including: Super Mario Bros. for the NES, Super Mario All-Stars for the Super NES, Super Mario Bros. Deluxe for the Game Boy Color, and Super Mario Bros. - NES Classic available for the Game Boy Advance system. Whichever you choose, you'll no doubt enjoy what a fantastic game the original was really was. A classic in every sense of the word.

The Forgotten Game #1 - Kid Dracula

Back in 1993, Konami had already created a parody of their Gradius series of shooters with Parodius, so it seemed quite natural when they decided to do the same thing with their popular Castlevania series of games. The result was a game called Kid Dracula that was first released on the Famicom in Japan and then on the Game Boy system two years later. It was this Game Boy release that finally made it to US shores in 1993 and, like the Parodius titles, was actually a very solid game. Based loosely on the Famicom release, Kid Dracula presented players with a Mega Man-type gameplay system inside of a Castlevania-type atmosphere. Although Kid Dracula didn't light up the sales charts, it's still to this day, a much sought after Game Boy title, fetching as much as $50 on ebay where it seldom pops up.


At its' core, Kid Dracula is a platformer. Most of your effort in each level will be spent jumping between platforms and carefully navigating many of the moving and tilting ledges. This is the meat of the game, but Kid Dracula does have other abilities. For starters he can shoot a power shot at enemies and even power the shot up by holding down the "B" button to unleash a super power shot. As if that weren't enough Kid Dracula can also power up and turn into a bat which allows him to reach previously unreachable areas in each level. It's not rocket science, but the gameplay works well within the framework of these Castlevania-style levels. Every now and again you'll be forced to fight a boss character, but most of them aren't too difficult to dispatch. Fighting enemies is fun, but the platforming aspect of the game is what really makes this game stand out. Even after all these years, I still drag this one out from time to time just for old time's sake. Pick this one up...if you can find it!

We've Come A Long Way!

This August will mark the 17th anniversary of the release of the original Nintendo Game boy system here in the US so I thought it might be nice to remember the old timer and also take a look at just how far the handheld market has evolved over those 17 years. On August 13, 1989, Nintendo released their portable Game Boy system and kicked off the portable gaming revolution. Now gamers could play their games on the go. The Game Boy used a black and green monochrome display that had no backlite, which forced the player to reflect large amounts of light into the screen in order to be able to view it. It didn't help matters that the refresh rate on this LCD was terrible, thus making everything on the screen fuzzy if anything was in motion. While this may sound terribly annoying, at the time of its' release, the Game Boy was unlike anything we'd seen before and was so mindblowing at the time, no one cared that they were slowly going blind playing it. The system was powered with 4 "AA" batteries which provided about 30 hours of play time before you had to pop in a fresh set of Energizers. The Game Boy sold like wildfire during the '89 holiday season, selling out at many stores as early as October. It didn't hurt that the system was packaged with the hugely popular game Tetris, which many think single-handedly sold a several million Game Boy systems by itself. So although the system was, at the time, considered a little expensive at $109.99, it certainly didn't stop it from going on to become one of the best selling game systems in history. Not even more powerful and full-color LCD offerings from Sega and NEC could stop the mighty Game Boy from flying off of store shelves.

I realize that it seems quite unfair to put those two screenshots next to each other, but I simply couldn't resist. When Super Mario Land was released with the Game Boy system back in 1989, it instantly became a huge seller. In truth, it was a very fun game, and the closest thing to a portable Super Mario Bros. as you could get at the time. It's only real fault was actually not its' fault at all. Once again the refresh rate of the Game Boy's LCD screen was just too slow to keep up with any type of steady scrolling found in Super Mario Land and it made seeing many things in the game difficult at times, especially when coupled with a lack of good lighting. Nintendo released three Super Mario Land games for the Game Boy system, all of which shared much of the same type of success all of the other Super Mario Bros. games did at that time. Now warp forward 17 years to 2006. This month we're going to see the release of a brand new portable Super Mario Bros. adventure, aptly titled "New Super Mario Bros." for Nintendo's newest portable game system, the Nintendo DS. It doesn't take someone with 20/20 vision to take a look at those two screenshots and see just how far portable gaming has come over the years. Can you imagine if you could travel back in time and show Game Boy owners what they'd be playing in 17 years. Of course they'd probably knock you over the head with their big honking Game Boy system and steal your DS, but that's a story for another time. Suffice it to say, it's been a great ride over the past 17 years watching the portable gaming technology just get better and better. Here's to another 17 years! Imagine what the portable games will look like by then.

New Hori DS Lite Carry Cases

Hori has just released their new line of carry cases for the Nintendo DS Lite system. The Compact Pouch cases feature dual zippers, padded inside, two DS game pockets, as well as one pocket for either a Game Boy Advance cartridge or your DS lite GBA slot cover. The cases also come in a wide variety of colors including: Black, Blue, White/Gray, Light Blue, and Light Pink. These cases retail for about $10 USD and can be imported from most import retailers. Play-Asia has all colors in stock for $10.90 via their web site. These cases are fairly small and compact, thus the name, and will appeal to DS Lite owners who only want to carry around the bare essentials.

Hori will also introduce another group of DS Lite cases called the Multi-Pouches later this month. These cases are larger than the Compact Pouches and hold more accessories but feature many of the same features including the dual zipper design and multiple compartments. These are the cases for DS Lite owners who want to carry all of their DS gear with them in these larger-sized cases. The Hori Multi-Pouch cases retail for about $14 USD. Play-Asia is currently taking pre-orders for the Multi-Pouches at a cost of $14.90 via their web site. I have both of these cases on order and will write up a quick review and snap some pics of these cases when they arrive to me.

**Click on either of the pictures to visit the official Hori page for that particular case for more info and pics.**

Ninttendo DS Lite US Launch Details?

Given all of the rampant rumors and specualtion that's been going on these past few weeks regarding the US launch of Nintendo's DS Lite system, it's time now to officially put the speculation to rest once and for all. Nintendo will officially release the DS Lite system here in the US on June 11, 2006 at a retail price of $129.99 and the DS Lite will only be available in the Polar White color for the US launch. Interesting coincidence that the June 11 launch date is the Game Boy Advance system's 5th anniversary. And what is it with Nintendo and these Sunday launches. But anyway, now everyone can run out and pre-order their DS Lite systems today. I'll be thinking of you while I'm sitting here playing my Ice Blue DS Lite. : )

Magical Vacation Rant...AGAIN!

This is the portion of the blog where I rant and rave for a few minutes. While it never really accomplishes much, it always makes me feel much better. This month's rant is towards Nintendo for not bringing the Brownie Brown Game Boy Advance rpg, Magical Vacation, to the US.


It would be one thing if this were just another game, but Magical Vacation is the main reason I bought my Game Boy Advance system in the first place. When I saw screenshots of Golden Sun and Magical Vacation, I knew right then and there that I had to own a GBA system. In fact I even imported from Japan months before the system made its' US debut. And year after year has gone by and still, even 5 years later, we still don't have Magical Vacation here in the US. So my question to Nintendo is, why if you gave us the mediocre Sword of Mana cou