#I knew Super Punch out on the nes and Punch out wii when I was younger

[alish-artie]

At first I wanted to draw some Punch-out characters because it can help me with drawing anatomy…but it quickly turned into a hyperfixation XD

[sukipershipper]

Time will Tell

Punch Out!! One-shot.

Just sharing this before heading off to bed. Very proud of it but also nervous as hell to share it because this is my first full length thing I've written for Punch Out.

This is very headcanon heavy. So, Some things to note are:

1: This takes place during the Arcade game time, or just a bit after (1987), so while ot features boxers from Wii, it's only going to be the ones who appeared in both Arcade games.

2: Pizza Pasta is in this as well. He is referred to as Giovanni.

3: Dragon Chan and Piston Hurricane do not feature in this, because I'm going off  of actually timelines and if they are there current ages in the main timeliness (which is 1997 in my AU) then they would be just kids.

4: Finally, Dream and Macho are not the ones from The NES game or Super Macho Man. They are actually Sandman's and Macho's dads who were both precious champions.

Without further ado, here you go!

(WARNING: HAS MENTIONS OF IMPLIED DEATH)

Silence lingered throughout the locker room. None of the boxers dared to say a word as they awaited the results. The occasional whisper was made every now and again, and it was usually Giovanni trying to calm down an unsettled and overwhelmed child who might have just seen his father's end.

Joseph was one of many bodies in that room. He sat silently, hands clenched together, resting on his lap. He muttered something to himself, though no sound seemed to escape. 

The possible thought of losing someone he saw as a friend, no, as a brother, brought too many unpleasant images to mind. All his life was, to him, nothing but disappointment. Nothing but loss after loss, missed chances and lost opportunities and rejection, from every angle...and now once again he was going to be faced with this feeling. 

But he felt selfish for this feeling. He felt like he was the only one who was feeling this way when this was not true. Many of the others were feeling this too. If anything, some felt it more than he did. Giovanni being one of them.

The other man whom he knew would be affected by this sat alone in the corner of the Locker room. He fiddled with a chocolate bar in his hands and clenched it tight as he leaned his head back against the lockers in frustration.

Another small whimper was heard. Tired and weary, the men all turned to face the small boy in Giovanni's arms, who was currently rocking back and forth to comfort the boy.

"Shh, shh bambino mio, va bene. Papà arriverà presto. Papa will-a be back soon, I promise" he whispered to the child. Joe wanted to speak up and tell him not to lie. But he knew he was trying to keep the child happy...he just wished he didn't have to lie to do so.

The main door to the locker room opened. All the boxers stood up and eyed the entrance as the Referee made his way in. Everyone's faces were drawn with worry, fear, and panic, as the Ref slowly closed the door. His eyes were glued to the ground, and his hands gripping onto his elbows tight. He shuddered as he tried to get his words out, his voice quivering as he opened his mouth. 

With a sigh, he finally spoke.

"Kid Quick….has died…"

The room fell into silence again for a while, until a faint exhale was heard from the corner. The man had stood up and turned himself towards the locker room doors. He did nothing for a while, but quickly smashed the right-side door and screamed in frustration. 

Joseph felt his heart sink as he heard the impact. He brought a hand to his mouth as he choked on his tears, soon sliding down to sir on the floor. His legs tucked in tight, and his whole body trembling as faint sobbing grew louder with each second that passed.

Giovanni held his sobs back as best he could, but a few tears managed to escape as he leaned back against the doors and held the child close.

Soda grabbed his head in shock and brought his drink close to his lips. He took a quick swig of it before shaking his head in grief.

Hugger only stared in disbelief, which soon turned into sorrow as his eyes began to form tears in their corners. 

Tiger was merely shocked by the revelation, seemingly lacking any of the past connection that Quick had with the others. Though he tried to show empathy towards the others, placing a reassuring hand on Hugger's shoulder, though it didn't do much.

Bull seemed to be the only one who refused to belief this idea. He shook his head and grabbed his elbows tightly as his gaze met the referee's. "Bu mümkün değil.  Bu mümkün değil, Kahretsin!" he cried, covering his mouth slightly at his curse.

He looked stomped towards the Ref and grabbed the man by the collar. "HE ISN'T GONE! THAT CANNOT BE POSSIBLE!" he screamed, his voice trembling slightly, "H-HE WAS MEANT TO STAY WITH US FOREVER! HE CAN'T...HE CA-AN'T GO! NOT NOW, NOT EVER!"

Bull stood in silence before feeling his knees begin to collapse. His eyes welled up in the corners as he turned his head down. Tears streamed from his face and onto the ground as he lost grip of the Referee's collar.

The larger man knelt on the ground, silently sobbing to himself. A gentle hand touched him lightly on his back. Turning around, he saw Joe standing there with a sorrowful, but comforting smile. Bull gave a sigh as he leaned into the Frenchman's chest and continued to lightly sob. Joe felt his lip quiver and gently wrapped his arms around Bull, pulling him closer as he let his own tears begin to flow.

The only two who were not too overly emotional with the news were Dream and Macho, who stood to the side and gave a small sigh. Macho shed a small tear as he turned to face his friend.

Dream gave him a nod and soon made his way to the main door, patting the Ref on the shoulder to let him know he should step aside.

"We are all obviously distressed by this news...there is no question…" He said, quietly. He brought his hands together in front of him and sighed, "But we cannot sit in here wallowing in sorrow...right now we need to be strong...we need to...to try and be strong...for him"

"How can we be strong?" Joe asked. All heads now turned to look at him. "We just lost one of our own...a friend...a BROTHER! A FATHER! Mon dieu! How can WE expect to be strong now when we have lost…" He trailed off and looked back towards Giovanni.

He gazed at the boy that was cradled in his arms. He was tired, overwhelmed, flustered and upset...and for all Joe knew, distressed by hearing his father was now gone.

Recollecting himself, Joe turned to face Dream again. "I can't be strong...I'm sorry...but at this time I don't know how I can be strong...for you...or for him"

"It's not easy…" Dream said, patting his shoulder reassuringly, "...it's never going to be easy...but we have to try...for our sake's...for Quickie's...and most importantly for his son...we can be sad...but we can't let this sadness overpower us...Quick would want us to move forward with a smile...not to wallow in tears…"

The room murmured in quiet agreement, some were still quietly wiping tears away but tried to remain as strong as they could.

The Referee then slowly made his way in front of Dream, clapping his hands together. "I know this is going to be hard for a lot of you...but I do want to tell you that the Paramedics will be bringing his body through the lobby and putting him in the Ambo to be taken to the funeral home…" He trailed off as he looked down at the floor again, "...If you guys want to go say your final goodbyes, now is the time to do it...they're burying him tomorrow afternoon...once you guys do...You're all welcome to go back to the apartments and...and take the rest of the week off...Boss told me to tell you guys…"

The men all shared a look between each other and one by one, all stood up and made their way out of the Locker room. Giovanni carefully stood up as he held the boy tight. Looking back, he saw the man in the corner hesitate in moving towards the door. "You-a coming, Jerome?" Giovanni asked, The man gave a small, hesitant nod as he leant his hand against the lockers.

--------

The staff and boxers of the WVBA all stood in the lobby as the Paramedics slowly walked through. On their stretcher, a lifeless body lay. The face deprived of color, and even with his boisterous and lively afro, Kid Quick barely looked human anymore. The Boxers all slowly approached the body, the Paramedics coming to a stop so they could each get a look at him. 

Joseph took his hand and gently stroked Quickie's face. It was cold, and solid. It was hard to believe this corpse was his friend...his brother…

Gently, he held Quickie's hand and gave a small squeeze as a new set of tears escaped from his eyes. 

"Mon ami... mon cher ami...I am sorry I couldn't save you in time...I promise I will carry on fighting for you, and I will take care of your boy...the way you took care of me...puisses-tu reposer en paix...tu vas me manquer"

Soon the other boxers came up beside Joe and said their goodbyes.

"Goodbye, ya hoser...Thank you for making this such a memorable year for me...I'll miss you…"

"Take care Old friend...be safe please...dikkatli ol"

"आप सुरक्षित रूप से अपने शाश्वत विश्राम के लिए निर्देशित हों...Thank you for everything…"

"Goodbye...my friend...I drink to you my good man...have a safe slumber, до свидания"

"Goodbye old friend...be safe…" Macho said as he backed away to allow the last three to say their farewells. 

Dream closed his eyes and shook his head as he looked at the body. Unable to form words, but he didn't need to say anything. Everyone knew what he was thinking.

Giovanni stood solemnly looking at the body before leaning down and placing his nose on Quick's. "Goodbye my boy...I will never forget you...I promise I won't...te lo prometto,' Giovanni soon backed away to allow the boy in his arms to stand on the ground. 

The young boy hesitated going near his father until he felt an urging hand. Turning to see Giovanni gently nudge him forward, the boy sighed and slowly stepped closer. He placed a hand on his father's head and let a tear fall down his face. Placing a kiss on Quickie's head, the boy slowly pulled away. "Goodbye, Daddy...I love you…" He said, feeling himself begin to choke on tears. He quickly turned to face Giovanni and ran towards him, hugging him tightly around the legs. The older man scooped the boy back up and held him tight.

The Paramedics soon began to walk again until they heard a door slam shut just to the left. All heads turned to see Jerome making his way towards the group. All the boxers stood aside to let him through.

Jerome examined the lifeless body of his friend and sighed. Grabbing Quick's hand like Joe did and bringing his free hand up to stroke his head. "You gave me such great times...such great memories...heck you gave us all a great time…." He started, "...I can't imagine being here if it weren't for you...you got me here...and you stayed by me all that time….There's never going to be another boxer like you...never gonna be another Kid Quick...never gonna be another brother...or friend...really quite like you...You're one of a kind...I think that's what I'm gonna miss most of all…"

Jerome slowly brought his hands back to his side, as he felt his eyes begin to water. He held his sides tightly and let out a quiet sob as he let the body go. "Goodbye My friend…," He said quietly, trailing off halfway through his sentence, "...I will never forget you…"

Joseph brought himself to Jerome's side and held him tight in an embrace. The Paramedics saw this as a sign to go. As the Boxers all watched their friend go out the door, a blanket was placed over top of him.

The lobby soon became desolate as all the workers began to disperse. The boxers soon followed suit, all giving one final wave Goodbye as they made their way back to the Locker Room.

Their friend was now gone...a brother...a father...all of it was gone…

Silence lingered again as the WVBA facility shut its lights off for the night.

Who knew how long until they once again shined as bright as they did tonight? Only time would tell.

[justaddgame]

QTE: In the Beginning...

When and why did you start playing video games?

To draw a line back to my start would mean crediting my grandma, Elsie, who passed away in 2003 and is missed very much.

Everything I knew about games growing up was through the glow of her tiny CRT TV and the wonderful worlds I frequented on her NES. It was always waiting for us when my sister and I visited our grandparents. Our choices were limited, but far from disappointing.

Super Mario Bros. 1, 2, and 3 were the reigning classics always played at least once; Kirby’s Adventure, Nintendo’s Baseball, and Cabal for when we needed a break from the Mushroom Kingdom; Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune for a healthy dose of edutainment. And Bible Adventures because…well, my grandma adored religion, so that’s probably why she had a copy? It was definitely the odd one in the bunch, but we enjoyed it all the same.

Looking back on this era of gaming, when people like my grandma regularly engaged in it, one of the things I appreciate is how inviting game design was back then. The older generation generally don’t get an “in” to video games these days beyond that previous lightning in a bottle that was Wii Sports and Wii Fit. And that’s not to say there weren’t extremely difficult NES games. Of course there were. But just about anyone could grasp two buttons and a D-Pad for movement. Game design then was still largely developed for pick-up-and-play scenarios, too. There was no need for a tutorial when you could simply test both buttons before being on your way.

That kind of intuitiveness is how people like Elsie, then in her 60s, could master games like Super Mario Bros. And that she did.

One of my all-time favorite stories my grandma used to tell was the time she cleared the entire game of Super Mario Bros.—from World 1-1 to World 8-4—while my grandpa sat in the Player 2 seat waiting for his turn as Luigi. But it never came before the credits rolled. That’s a feat I still can’t pull off today and I think a part of me has never wanted to. She was a rockstar at that game and I’m satisfied just living as a fan.

Not only was she an inspiration for gaming skill, but she was also my teacher, too. There’s an early obstacle within World 1-2, the first level where Mario and Luigi travel through the underground. A layer of bricks protrudes from the ceiling like a sort of Mushroom Kingdom stalactite. Now, if you approach this as Small Mario, no harm; you can pass underneath without a second thought. But, if you happen to be Super Mario, the gap is too small to walk underneath. As a child, this was the impossible challenge. I only understood that I could make Mario walk left, right, and jump. I can’t make him crawl or punch, can I?

Well, Elsie didn’t want her grandson to struggle and lose out on the fun, of course. So, she enlightened me once more. I had to run at it, she said—I knew how to do that well enough, anyway. But it turned out Mario knew how to slide, and if I held down after sprinting, I could reach the other side! It was the first technique I ever learned, and like the game itself, she was a master in demonstrating it.

Video games have been a lifelong hobby since those days and are routinely influential in my life. For one, having been introduced to games by a woman, and playing them together, insulated me early on that it was a hobby for all. Anything I do with video games today is with that thought burning in my ears.

I went through many academic phases while seeking to express my passion including aspirations for games journalism and software development. While neither of these “big picture” careers materialized, there’s always something I’m working on to express this passion, like writing this blog. One of those that is very important to me is repairing consoles and collecting games in hopes that I can create a space for all people to try unfamiliar games and rediscover old favorites. There may even be a future where I try podcasting or publishing videos. It’s something rolling around in my head, anyway.

No matter what happens, it’s clear that video games will stick with me in some form for a long time. I don’t know what they will look like when I’m in 60, but I like to think I could repeat history for someone else, just like a former rockstar and best friend.

[yellow----daisy]

I hope y'all don't mind but I'mma post my punch out oc cause why not I was inspired by @jolloux's post on their cutie punch out oc

(I'm not good with buff boys..)

Name: Hades Lighting

Age: 37

From: Athens, Greece

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 207 lbs

Circuit: Major (used to be Minor before Mac came around but moved up. Von Kaiser is still low-key mad at him for it)

Record: 25 wins, 17 losses, 12 wins by KO

Sexuality: Asexual, Panromantic

Backstory: Hades Lighting grew up adoring boxing. It was the best and probably only time he could really be his loud self without getting yelled at. He used to do it for fun but once he realized at home funds weren't the best and his mom was starting to get ill he knew he had to make a career. But around Athens there wasn't much for him to do professionally in boxing, and the careers he could have he didn't have a passion for. Even if he was the best boxer around town. So he moved to America, bringing his mother with him. He joined the W.V.B.A starting off in the Minor circuit, staying there for a while, until he managed to bump up to Major.

Personality: Very loud and passionate. He will tell it like it is, if it needs to be said, it gets said. Even at inappropriate times. He can come off as aggressive but he really doesn't mean to. He's kind to everyone in the W.V.B.A, Mac included. Some people tend to compare him to Mac sometimes. He's very prideful in his country and is a big family man.

Extra:

-He tries so very hard to help Joe win more often but Joe just has some bad luck Hades can't wrap his head around

-He knew he was asexual early on, having growing up despising even the thought of sex, but it took him a while to figure out his stance on romance

-He's the second character alongside Disco Kid to debut in the Wii version of Punch Out

-He started helping Aran Ryan become a more decent person. Dealing with him is very difficult, but Aran is trying super hard to be a good man for Hades and his other friends

-The more time he spent with Aran the more he realized Aran is just like any other boxer. He's a super good brother and has hopes and dreams. He even slowly started to fall for him. But he would never tell him. Or anyone for that matter

-He replaced Mac as an assist trophy in Smash Bros after Mac was added to the roster

-Von Kaiser is his favorite to mess and play around with. He'll always make comments and playfully shove Kaiser and teases him about him not getting over the fact that Hades moved up to Major. Kaiser would probably be his best friend

-He has so much respect for every boxer he works with, Mac especially

-His mom gave him the grey cloth band around his arm for luck

-He's polytheistic and still worships the ancient Greek gods

-Apollo and Athena are his favorites

(feel free to ask me random things about Hades, either here or on my other account @smash-pride which I will reblog this to)

Voice lines: (Greek|English translation)

"Ήμουν ο καλύτερος μπόξερ πίσω στο σπίτι. Δεν άκουσες το όνομά μου; Φωτισμός Άδης!|I was the best boxer back at home. Haven't you heard my name? Hades Lighting!"

"Eísai arketá ischyrós, allá eímai polý ischyróteros!|You're pretty strong, but I'm MUCH stronger!"

"Αυτό είναι για σας μαμά!|This is for you mama!"

"Δεν είναι δίκαιο!!|No fair!!"

"Πώς μπορώ να χάσω;|How can I be losing?"

"Ω! ναι!|Oh yeah!"

"Νομίζεις ότι είσαι αντάξιος αντίπαλος εναντίον του καλύτερο�� μπόξερ σε όλη την Αθήνα; Μην με κάνει να γελάσω!|You think you're a worthy opponent against the best boxer in all of Athens Greece? Don't make me laugh!"

"Ελα τώρα!|Oh come on!"

"Eíste polý mikrós gia na chtypísete aftó to skliró! Pós boreí aftó na eínai?|You're too small to be hitting this hard! How can this be?"

"Χαχα!|Haha!"

"Eísai kalós ... pragmatiká kalós. To sévomai aftó. Kratíste to Mac.|You're good...real good. I respect that. Keep it up Mac."

"Αχ, μια καλή μάχη. Ακριβώς όπως στο σπίτι!|Ah, a good fight. Just like at home!"

"Proetoimasteíte gia ton k. Dexiá kai ton k. Aristeró!|Prepare yourself for my Mr. Right and Mr. Left!"

Fighting style: Hades has a more simple and traditional fighting style. He dodges to the side a lot and waits for the right moments to throw a punch. He hardly does any uppercuts and mostly does straightforward rights and lefts. The best time to hit him is either before a right or left or after the very rare uppercut. At some point he backs up and takes a moment before wailing on Mac with rights and lefts kind like Hondo in the NES version. It takes time but you'll need to get a rhythm with dodging each punch. He only punches 10 times exactly, right, left, right, left. You can also block each punch as well, again, in rhythm

Doc tips:

"You gotta be patient with this one Mac!"

"Wait Mac! Don't hit him too early!"

"He's different than your other opponets Mac! Don't expect many uppercuts!"

"Slow down! Don't get ahead of yourself with him Mac!"

"This man is fast when it comes to dodging Mac! Try being faster than him!"

"He's right Mac! Watch out for his right and left! Hit him before he can use them!"

"Be careful Mac, he'll unleash a fury of punches onto ya!"

"Move in harmony Mac! Get a rhythm!"

(I might add more later! Again if you have any questions or would like to draw/use Hades for anything, ask me here or @smash-pride and if you do draw or use Hades make sure to give credit after asking me!)

[attract-mode-collective]

Just Another Late Night At The Game Center

And just another massive dose of game culture, as originally shared on the Attract Mode Twitter account, (most of) everything that was shared in the latter half of February. The first half was covered here.

Before I forget: the above is courtesy of erickimphotography.com.

Again, given how short Feb is supposed to be, I figured this post would be too... and it's not. So am wonder if going weekly might best going forward?

Anyhow, where did I leave off last time? Oh yeah; Valentine's Day. And here’s Amy Rose, from the day after, reminding us all that, as great as love can be, it also hurts (via sonicthehedgeblog)...

Check out this devastating big boot from Mario, one that would make the WWE's Undertaker or Kane proud (via suppermariobroth)...

You're no doubt familiar with Julie Bell's work, but are you aware of the close resemblance between her art & the artist herself? (via slbtumblng)...

Some nice, pixelated sukajans we have here (via kauzara)...

Look at these hipsters...

Look at these hipsters standing around, on a Brooklyn rooftop...

Look at these hipsters standing around, on a Brooklyn rooftop in leggings based upon the interactive menu for the Super Famicom's satellite modem peripheral. (via minusworld.co.uk)...

Am legit thinking of getting this shirt covered with quotes from people trying to figure out which Metal Gear character is gay (via kotaku.com)...

Am rather fond of Data Weave, which has more than a passing resemblance to the Eliss scarf that helped put the Attract Mode shop on the map (via prostheticknowledge)...

When you go to bed, don't forget to never use your Dreamcast as a pillow (nor should you ever place it on a bucket filled with leafy greens either, but you probably already knew that one; via posthumanwanderings)...

Not sure which SNK 40th Anniversary shirt I like more (via miki800.com)...

It's just Hidetaka Suehiro, playing... I think The Last Blade? Criminally underrated Neo Geo game btw (via nintendu)...

And the late, great Robin Williams playing Ground Zero Texas for the Sega CD (via celebgames)...

Plus the President of Turkey, circa 1990, playing Galaxy Force II for whatever reason (via historium)..

Pro-tip to any & all custom arcade cabinet sellers: if you're going to photograph someone playing a game on your thing, have said person actually play the thing (in this case, Robotron utilizes dual sticks and no buttons; via arcadephile)...

Today's recommended reading is a follow-up to another older post, one that's all about Willie Williams, who not only inspired Virtua Fighter's Jeffry McWild but also Tekken's Paul Phoenix (via lordmo)...

After seeing this gif of a young woman punching a dinosaur (or possibly a dragon) in the crotch, I may have to give Capcom Fighting Jam a second look (via kazucrash)...

Sticking with the subject of crotches for just one bit, everyone out there's familiar with PuLiRuLa, right? (via kazucrash)

Just a friendly reminder of how wacky commercials for the PlayStation 2 were back in the day (via kurhl)...

Back to the subject of dinosaurs... yet still sticking with fun under the sun (via sidestorygaiden)...

If I'm gonna share fan art of unofficial PlayStation 1 era mascots, then I have to pass along this rendering of Abe (via it8bit)...

Seen countless folk play music with a Game Boy or a NES... but a Dreamcast? @slowmagic is the very first, and with a Hello Kitty edition Dreamcast no less...

Does anyone know if these figures of Dorimukyasuko & friends were commercially produced or if they were just made for the Sega no Game wa Sekai Ichi~i~i~I ad that the image comes from? (via vgprintads)...

We've gotten snowfall here in NYC over the past few weeks, once during during sunset, but alas it wasn't nearly as pretty as this (via kirokazepixel)...

It's been ages since I've posted any Game Culture Snapshots, despite countless promises that I'd fix that. Well, until that finally happens, here just one, from IndieCade East 2018. Which was an epic bust, but hey, at least I finally got to play that Bill Viola game I first encountered at GDC 2008...

PLEASE tell me that GBA Video carts are the new hot means of distributing bootleg Hollywood flicks (via @katribou)...

This part from The Thing always reminded me of Asteroids on the Atari 7800 (via pixpunk)...

I posted this on Twitter, not realizing that I had shared it on the blog once before. But since I can’t find that original post, and since it's so damn nice, plus totally worth looking at again (via humanoidhistory)...

I also need to re-share that Tron movie poster cuz it's the first lead up to this Blade Runner-related spread from Joystik Magazine (via mendelpalace)...

As someone who fetishizes old video game magazines, I'm legit ashamed that I didn't know about Joystik sooner (via here & here)...

Please enjoy a healthy helping of scans from Lovely Sweet Dream, the dream journal that would become the basis of LSD for the PlayStation 1 (via here & here)...

Sorry, but I still think the idea of a multi-billionaire sending his sports car into space just cuz he can to be kinda cringey, yet that doesn't mean I'd don't think this pixelated recreation is any less pleasant (via it8bit)...

I've never been to Beverly Hills, so I have no idea if this portrayal according to Super Chase: Criminal Termination is accurate or not; maybe it was when the game was produced? (via obscurevideogames)...

Meanwhile, closer to where I am (somewhat; am not all that far from Long Island) is Mario & Yoshi & the Book of Revelation (via greathaircut)...

Are you playing Mario? Or is Mario playing you? (via suppermariobroth)...

Game Boys. And Game Girls. Mostly Girls. (via contac)

Before anyone asks, no, I do not have a bigger/wallpaper appropriate-sized version of this super sexy image of a couple of Wiis (via klaus-laserdisc)...

I think I kinda need to do this to my PlayStation (via dreamcast.tokyo)...

... Which reminds of those fancy, souped up by audiophiles PSXs I mentioned a whiles ago...

I celebrated Cat Day in Japan by posting this fave official King of Fighters illustration (via videogamesdensetsu)....

... along with this Monster Hunter fan art (via kerriaitken)...

... plus this highlight of a fave WarioWare: Twisted micro game (via suppermariobroth)...

So yeah, Flash sucks, I get that, but as the platform fades away, so does the opportunity to play games like Fear Less! (via zombie-chaser)...

Thankfully, WORLD OF HORROR, "a love letter to the cosmic horror work of Junji Ito", is something that's much more accessible (for now at least)...

I don't know much about Dujanah, which has you assuming the role of a Muslim woman with grievances against a military force that's occupying her Islamic homeland, other than it looks extremely compelling...

Yet another game I need to check out is CONTINUUM, which is a shmup that combines time manipulation and Tetris? (via alpha-beta-gamer)...

It's a legit shame that Jetpack Squad has seemingly fallen off the map (via shmups)...

Another shmup that I really, really want to play (though it's starting to feel increasingly unlikely) is AEROBAT, which looks just as gorgeous (and insane) today as it did the first time I laid eye (via shmups)...

Yet another game that was never meant to be, and the only thing we have here is some incredible looking concept art; if it ended up happening & was any good, I wonder if I'd be a PC-FX owner? (via videogamesdensetsu)...

If a Tokyo Dark Souls was ever to happen, which artist's take do you prefer; this one (via visor-visual)...

... or this one? (via mendelpalace)

You know about celebrity roasts, right? Well, a comedy club in Long Island City had one for Mario, though I have no idea how it went; I had kung fu practice that night...

Me, when the coffee kicks in (via anthony10000000)...

I had no idea that Typing of the Space Harrier was even a thing (via posthumanwanderings)...

It's a bit unsettling how some of Dreamcast Magazine's advice on how to survive Y2K are still useful today, in particular their words of wisdom regarding Seaman (via posthumanwanderings)...

Megadora Man, a Tokusatsu-esque take on the Mega Drive, for Beep! Mega Drive; am assuming his foes are inspired by the Famicom and PC Engine (though am not totally sure which is which; via obscurevideogames)...

Question: how hard would it be for someone in the US to get the first three issues of Famitsu from the Japanese Kindle Store? (via miki800.com)

Been well over a decade since first laying eyes and I FINALLY know the identity of the artist behind a series of Mario illustrations that has long left me stupefied: his name is Ishihara Gōjin (via videogamesdensetsu)...

I woke up the other day with a sense of purpose, with the knowledge that I finally have a mission in life: to do whatever I can to make this dancing kid from Sega Splash Golf a viral sensation (via sonicthehedgeblog)...

Though speaking of morning, been feeling run down as of late, though it's my own damn fault for not having breakfast. Which is why I can't wait for my Persona 3 toaster has yet to arrive (via gasp-theenemy)...

Had no idea that MAME can also emulate those crappy, Tiger handheld games; naturally there's not much to look at, since none of the background is part of the game's code (via lanceboyles)...

Eggman has a sense of humor (via voidirium)...

Eggman also has aesthetics (via posthumanwanderings)...

When you mess with the textures in Wind Waker for the sole purpose of making Vaporwave Link (via pmpkn)...

Man, I really wish each and every mech in Tech Romancer actually had its own anime (via ultrace)...

Before Mappy was a video game, it was a physical game involving real deal robots (via namcomuseum)...

And I swear, one of these days, we'll make available online Zac Gorman's print from Comics Vs Games 2...

In my time I've encountered lots & lots of BMO fan art, so much that it has become increasingly difficult to take notice and be impressed, yet this one managed to do so regardless (via it8bit)...

Let's all take a moment to appreciate the instruction manual for Cubivore, shall we (via skincoats)...

Cubivore's Japanese box art is also very nice (via gaygamer)...

An important message for all parents out there, concerning Minecraft (via reddit.com)...

When you can't afford the licensing fees for Miami Vice, Ghostbusters, Barbarella, I think... and maybe Logan's Run? (via mendelpalace)...

Given how Platoon ended up as a NES game, the idea of the Terminator on a Tiger handheld isn't totally far-fetched (via rewind01)...

And finally, PUT THAT CONTROLLER DOWN, NOW! (via fuzzyghost)

[iownmywiiulegit]

Metroid Prime 4: #1- The Lay of the Land

This is the beginning of documentation representing my journey through the Metroid franchise by Nintendo.  First, a warning: This next little bit is a flashback that leads up to now.  

When Nintendo first mentioned that Metroid Prime 4 was in development I thought man, I really should beat the first Metroid Prime.  Back in the days before the Wii I worked my Metroid Prime all the way up to the Ridley battle and then set it down for a few years.  I got into different games like Soul Calibur II and Tales of Symphonia.  Soul Calibur was a great bro bonding game and I still think it is.  The next few years were spent focusing on college and then I bought a Wii.  I thought the Gamecube was obsolete at this point since my Wii could play Gamecube games, but man was I wrong.  Buying the Wii U proved this to me.  I wanted to play all discs on one system but I couldn’t do that.  I wanted (and still want) purity with my consoles.  This resulted in my going hard into my Gamecube again and getting the hardware peripherals that made it stand on par with the Wii, if not debatably better.  I bought the digital component cable for a wildly discounted price on eBay, and the Gameboy player and disc.  I got super lucky in finding the component cables at the price I found them at and I think the seller was in a pinch because it WAS around the holidays and I was just randomly checking the listings and was like “holy crap.”  No bidding, just buy it now.  Can’t say, won’t say.  It was also around this time that Nintendo announced that they were starting development for Metroid Prime all over from scratch.  Hearing this news felt like hearing a referee pistol.  If Nintendo was going to give me a fair warning that shit was getting real about Metroid Prime 4, then it’s up to me to get on the ball and meet Nintendo and Retro Studios in stride.  My instincts told me to go beat my original Metroid Prime file, finally.  My hardware was excellent and Nintendo sent the official signal; let’s go.

Turning on Metroid Prime for the first time in years with my original save file still intact, I expected to me extremely rusty at the controls and traversing the landscape.  Surprisingly it came back fairly quickly and before I knew it I was blasting different colored Metroids away no problem.  What I didn’t realize was exactly how close I was to actually beating the game.  The final boss was all I had to defeat.  Really?  17 years just for that?  If my memory serves me correctly, I simply just didn’t want the game to end.  I do that.  Leave books unfinished, leave movies before the end, compose music and leave the ending open, and I don’t know why.  I want time to soak into the experience and really savor it.  Perhaps I’m not so much a voracious consumer of entertainment but rather an appreciative connoisseur.  Back in 2004, I remember being at a drummer’s house that I was in drum corps with, and he was a stupid competitive type that turned everything into a pissing contest.  Once he found out that I had gotten all the way up to Ridley or something he set out to beat that game asap.  It was when he was at the final boss that I got my first glimpse of the future 15 years later.  Damn.  

Anyway, I beat Prime but I still have this amazing fully loaded Gamecube that has the OEM digital component cable, and Gameboy Advance player.  My next move was obvious.  I wasn’t done with the original Metroid Prime yet, not by a long shot!  If you’re a fan of Metroid, you love finding secrets and collecting all de tings.  To get the full original Metroid Prime experience, I had to play and beat Metroid Fusion for the Gameboy Advance.  I eBay-ed it up asap.  It’s kinda funny- Fusion showed up in the mail right on the day or day after I beat Prime.  Pretty cool.

Getting into Metroid Fusion was something I wasn’t ready for but always wanted.  It was Super Metroid that turned me into a fan.  The music, the beautiful colors, the crunchy explosions, and the search really got me looking in every nook and cranny in each level.  I wanted more and Fusion was it but I didn’t have a Gameboy Advance and wasn’t going to shell out even more money if I wasn’t going hard into games back then.  At that time I was so into music and rocking harder than life could offer that I just could not afford to allocate money toward a handheld that still was not backlit.  Fuck that.  When I saw pictures of Fusion all I could think was that it was Super Metroid 2.  After playing it, man, was I right about that.

Metroid Fusion is so amazing.  I love 2D Metroid-style games.  Hell, I spent a large part of 2018 playing through the indie game A Robot Named Fight on Steam and currently have a thoroughly played but not beaten Axiom Verge save file on my Wii U.  Again, Nintendo gave the signal and I had to run with it so here we are.  What I love about Fusion is quite a few things.  I love the graphics.  The colors are so vibrant and all the sprites look lively.  Even though the Gameboy Advance’s resolution is apparent on a 480p screen, it still plays amazingly.  The controls are tight and intuitive.  I did get lost a lot and backtracked often to find that random wall that needed to be blown through to progress to the next area.  I love how the security levels kept me from progressing just enough to experience the game unfold before me.  Oh man, I loved hiding from SA-X.  What a cool addition.  I swore a lot at the spider boss because it took me the most tries to defeat.  It was somewhere around that point where I thought that this game wasn’t for amateur platform players.  You really had to have a handle on things to get any further.  The moment Fusion Stole my heart was in chapter 11, at Plant Core X.

In Metroid Other M, there were oftentimes feelings of isolation and maybe even mild claustrophobia.  The same could even go for the final boss in Metroid Prime.  There’s something really gross-but-in-a-cool-way about destroying a slimy bug hive in a dark triple sub basement, especially if you have to spelunking your way to perform the extermination.  In Fusion, it’s sooo different, but the feeling is eerily similar in a way that I absolutely love.  When I first experience Plant Core X, I didn’t think I would be emotionally attached to my character.  I didn’t think I was Samus.  But then I kept getting dragged into the poisonous flower swamp that released deadly spores into the air in a wide horizontal sine wave pattern.  The music was minimal and just a little quieter than the rest of the game.  I kept trying to jump out of the swamp but I couldn’t get out.  It frustrated me because it interrupted my flow.  I felt helpless and that my situation was serious, even over my head.  I was suffocating.  I felt connected to Samus and like I had entered an extremely deadly area.  If Samus is an exterminator, this place was ground zero for the cause of everything in Fusion.  Don’t get me wrong- all the other bosses are vital to making up the game but at Plant Core X, Samus gets into deep shit.  Imagine that you’re stuck in a poisonous swamp or quicksand and you keep trying to jump out but the sludge keeps pulling you back in.  Now imagine all that while the air around you is raining poisonous dandelion seeds.  There’s no way you can’t get hit or sucked into the swamp.  What an amazing experience.  I couldn’t believe what I was feeling.  Here’s a YouTube link to this experience but it’s not me playing.  Whoever played in this video did way better than me but I think you can get an idea of what I’m talking about. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=347poZRrbrQ

Just last week I beat Fusion but didn’t do so well in collecting all the little things in the game. The final boss was cool and well drawn for the time period and hardware imho.  My main goal was to unlock the original NES Metroid in my copy of Metroid Prime on the Gamecube.  Since I have a Gameboy Advance that my dad found on a school bus and no kids claimed, I used it to link up to my cube with the Fusion cart and unlocked Metroid.  

That brings us to the current moment.  Today I figured out how to save my original Metroid game on the Gamecube.  This was a little confusing because the Gamecube controller doesn’t have a select button like the original NES.  Instead it’s the Z button.  To save while you’re playing the game, you need a second controller, just like in the original Legend of Zelda, and while paused push UP and A to initiate the save screen without dying.  

I can’t wait to get into it.  When the original Metroid screen comes up on my HDTV in a somewhat aliased 480p widescreen picture, I am immediately in a time warp.  Since I never played the original Metroid as a kid, my only memories of that game are from looking at strategy guides that didn’t show you everything.  I didn’t think much of it then because Mario was it.  I used to watch the title screen to Zelda II: The Adventure of Link over and over again as a kid and look into the stars on the screen and just wonder endlessly about anything. It cast a spell over me or something; I was captivated.  With Metroid, the original, it is now happening again. The game is brand new to me and I couldn’t give a care to anything modern as far as gaming and technology if I tried.  The stars in the background, the blinking letters of METROID, the fairly quick opening sequence loop-  all of this shows me that I’ve never grown up from being a kid after all.  I’m still the same after all these years.  The world can only help me build character and deep down I’m just the same kid that gets filled with endless wonder when 8 bit Nintendo does it’s thing.  Amazing.

For a current side note, I’d like to add that in Fusion, you can hear sound effects that are similar to those in the Virtual Boy’s Galactic Pinball.  Although the composer for Fusion was not the same as Galactic Pinball, Galactic Pinball’s composer was the same for Super Metroid and Mike Tyson’s Punch Out: Kenji Yamamoto.  You can hear similarities everywhere like Yamamoto was consulted often.  And if you’re not aware, Galactic Pinball does have a miniature Metroid space shooter game as a bonus easter egg on one of the tables. I like to think that only the hardcore Nintendo fans know this.  

Anyway.  I’ll report back as soon as more progress is made with the original Metroid.  In the meantime, here is my most recent Twitter post with a pic documenting where things are at.  

https://twitter.com/VeryBadTim/status/1100219464585490434