VIDEO GAME: Zoop (1995)

by benmweilertNo Comments
Zoop Year: 1995 Rating: E Time Played: ~0.5 hours It felt like the 90s were trying to capitalize on the popularity of Tetris because there were quite a few puzzle games that came out in that era that had unique ideas but didn’t quite have the same spark that Tetris did. One such game was Zoop, which had probably the most 90s aesthetic of all these puzzle games. More of a matching puzzle game than a shape puzzle game, Zoop feels quirky but is easy to pick up and play. The problem is that there’s no lingering reason to keep playing. The game board for Zoop is at the center of four peg-boards that fill up with different colored/shaped pieces until they reach the center. These pieces can be swapped out with the player cursor or eliminated from the board if the color/shape matches. There are a few special items that can help in the higher levels, but it’s mostly just managing the four different...
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VIDEO GAME: Mega Man X (1994)

by benmweilertNo Comments
Mega Man XYear: 1994Rating: ETime Played: ~3.5 hours Growing up as a fan of the Mega Man franchise, Mega Man X was a hugely successful jump from the 8-bit era to the 16-bit era. The basic Mega Man mechanics were the foundation that X built upon, improving many aspects of the 2D platformer that needed some innovation. Yes, nostalgia may cloud my thoughts on this game, but it’s hard to deny how it affected the franchise for the better. It might not be on the level of Super Metroid in how it changed the gaming landscape, but its influence is definitely present in modern games today. Visually, Mega Man X is a treat. From underwater and underground levels to jungles and snow bases, each of the eight animal-themed maverick bosses are unique and memorable. The soundtrack is undeniably excellent, evoking the hard rock riffs that pay homage to the original Japanese protagonist’s name of “Rockman.” Furthermore, the presence of a small amount...
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VIDEO GAME: Mario’s Super Picross (1995)

by benmweilertNo Comments
Mario’s Super Picross Year: 1995 Rating: Not Rated Time Played: 3,898 minutes / 64.97 hours It’s a little odd to me that Picross (or Nonograms) never took off as a puzzle genre outside of Japan. Sudoku and (my personal favorite) Kakuro eventually found popularity in the United States in the 2000s. This was likely due to the ease with which these puzzles could be printed. While Nonograms have the novelty of producing a pixelated two-tone image, they sometimes take up to 30 minutes to solve (especially for the more detailed puzzles). Pokémon Picross introduced me to Picross games, and it has the advantage of a stylus and touchscreen. The Japanese-only release of Mario’s Super Picross does not have this advantage. Mario’s Super Picross became available on the Super Nintendo Virtual Console for the Switch, which is what allowed me to finally play this game. While the controls take a little getting used to, this game’s one novelty is the little animations that play when solving...
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