VIDEO GAME: Contra (1987)

by benmweilertNo Comments
Contra Year: 1987 Rating: E10+ Time Played: ~1 hour What is there to say about such an iconic game like Contra that hasn't been said before? Not only did it cement the historic "Konami Code" into the brains of scores of retro gamers, but its difficulty basically required using this exploit to get to the end of the game. The transition from coin-operated arcade games to the home console market was one that worked well for Contra, which used its difficulty to keep people playing long enough to "get good" and beat the game without the Konami Code. Part of the appeal of this game is definitely the couch co-op aspect. Playing with a partner makes it much more fun, especially if you're both somewhat good at this action platformer. Of course, the game also has its own technical limitations, which can affect the gameplay—especially when playing with another person. It can be janky and cheap with how it spawns in enemies or makes certain...
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VIDEO GAME: Baseball (1985)

by benmweilertNo Comments
BaseballYear: 1985Rating: ETime Played: 30 minutes / 0.5 hours Recently, I've been filling out my collection of NES games and added the classic Baseball for a few bucks from a used game shop. I hadn't actually played this specific game growing up, having instead experienced the Baseball game Nintendo released for the Game Boy. Having a free evening one night, I got the cartridge cleaned up and running on my NES so I could play a round. While not considered one of the "standards" of the system, Baseball still shows the quality content Nintendo released with their first home console. Even with the limited graphical quality of the NES, Baseball uses what it needs to convey the game simply and efficiently. I'm sure Baseball plays differently in 2-player mode against another human, but the brief nine innings I experienced against the AI were enjoyable. Never did I feel the computer player was unfair in its fielding or batting. Similarly, I enjoyed the...
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VIDEO GAME: Shovel Knight (2014)

by benmweilertNo Comments
Shovel Knight Year: 2014 Rating: E Time Played: 27.33 hours I grew up in the era of retro video games. My favorite was the Mega Man series, but I appreciated what games like Super Mario Bros. 3 and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link were trying to accomplish. While Shovel Knight isn’t a spiritual successor to any one game, it lovingly paints the pixelated beauty of classic video games in vibrant homage. I played through this game and all three of its free DLC add-ons on the 3DS, and I found the stereoscopic effect to be just as mesmerizing as the stunning visuals it used to create the effect. Shovel Knight managed to create a world filled with lore and unique characters that far surpasses anything programmed on the NES. Granted, there was a bit of a cheat in not being wholly constrained to NES graphics or audio, but I’d rather have a great game that fudges some nostalgia than one that suffers because of...
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