Posts

Posted on

Retro Review: Does the Original 1986 Metroid Still Deliver in 2025?

When Samus fell into yet another pit of lava for the twentieth time, I seriously questioned if I had the patience for this game. Yet, thirteen hours later, I’d become a Metroid convert.

I’ve collected several games in the Metroid series, knowing they’re beloved classics, but I never felt compelled enough to play them. I’ve even started the original Metroid a few times in the past but always quit after 15-20 minutes.

I never allowed myself enough time with Metroid to understand its appeal. I figured it wasn’t a game for me. But last week, I decided that I wanted to give this game a chance and see it through to the end.

Continue reading “Retro Review: Does the Original 1986 Metroid Still Deliver in 2025?”

Posted on

Silent Hill: The Short Message – A Brief, Haunting, but Mediocre Journey

Silent Hill is one of the most well-known survival-horror series, known for its dark atmospheres, twisted and creepy monsters, and psychological scares. Oh and fog.

With the massive success of the recent Silent Hill 2 Remake, many gamers (like me) are returning to older games in the series, one of which being Silent Hill: The Short Message, which is free on the Playstation Store.

Continue reading “Silent Hill: The Short Message – A Brief, Haunting, but Mediocre Journey”

Posted on

Exploring the Maps of Classic SNES Games: My Contribution to Video Game Maps: SNES – Volume 2

When Brian Riggsbee first announced Video Game Maps: SNES – Volume 2, I knew I wanted to be part of it. As a lifelong gamer and collector, the Super Nintendo holds a special place in my heart. The book, which showcases the beautifully detailed maps of some of the greatest SNES games, also includes contributions from writers, game developers, journalists, and other gaming enthusiasts. Each contributor shared their thoughts on a favorite game; its world, maps, or something unique about its design.

I knew right away which game I wanted to write about: Illusion of Gaia.

Continue reading “Exploring the Maps of Classic SNES Games: My Contribution to Video Game Maps: SNES – Volume 2”

Posted on

Nintendo Switch 2: Everything We Know and What to Expect

* Originally published on January 16, 2025

Recent updates:

January 22, 2025

  • A retail listing may have announced a 3D Super Mario game and a Zelda remake
  • Nintendo released an updated video showing the controller release buttons

After years of anticipation and speculation, and many leaks in recent months, Nintendo has officially announced the Nintendo Switch 2. The reveal trailer, a brief but captivating two-minute showcase, has confirmed some of the rumors while leaving plenty of room for excitement and speculation.

Continue reading “Nintendo Switch 2: Everything We Know and What to Expect”

Posted on

Playing Video Games When You Have Kids

Video games have always been a big part of my life, and now they’ve become a way to connect with my daughter in meaningful ways. As someone who’s been gaming since the days of the Atari 2600, I’ve seen how this hobby can grow and evolve. Today, as a dad, I’ve found new ways to share my passion for gaming while balancing parenting responsibilities.

Here’s a look at my journey, how I’ve introduced my daughter to gaming, and some advice for parents who want to share this hobby with their kids.

Continue reading “Playing Video Games When You Have Kids”

Posted on

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Review

“The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” was released in the US in May 2023. It was developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch as a sequel to the critically acclaimed “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” (BOTW) from 2017. This action-adventure game retains and expands upon the open-world exploration of BOTW’s Hyrule, introducing new dimensions of gameplay.

Players once again control Link in his quest to save Princess Zelda and thwart Ganon’s destructive plans. The game stands out for its expanded vertical exploration, allowing players to traverse both the skies above Hyrule and a vast underground realm known as the Depths. “Tears of the Kingdom” was initially conceived as additional content for “Breath of the Wild” but grew into a full-fledged sequel due to the abundance of new ideas. The game has sold over 19.5 million as of September 2023 and is one of the best-selling games on the Nintendo Switch.

I bought Tears of the Kingdom on release day, May 12, 2023, and I’ve put in more than 245 hours of gameplay. After really digesting everything I played, I want to share my experience.

Continue reading “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Review”

Posted on

NES: 8 Eyes Retro Gameplay

I used to update this website multiple, sometimes dozens of times per day. I covered every bit of game news I could. And I loved it. But then I got a job that made it nearly impossible to continue without complete burnout. Eventually, it helped me land a side gig of doing game reviews for a well-known tech reviewer. So that’s where I spent any of my extra game journalism time. That lasted for maybe a year, and I could have kept going if I wanted, but I needed to focus on my career.

Fast forward to 12 years later and I want to come back. But I don’t want to publish news anymore. I just want to have fun.

So with all of that said, this is the first of what I hope will be more gameplay videos on this site. I realize that this first video isn’t up to par with the quality of most gameplay vids these days but it’ll get better. So I hope you stick around!

Continue reading “NES: 8 Eyes Retro Gameplay”

Posted on

DIY Super Mario Bros. Cat Tower

mario-bro-cat-climber-1

I don’t have a cat, but if I did I would totally make a Super Mario Bros. cat tower. I almost want to get a cat just so that I can build one of these!

Redditor “collinferal” built his own cat climber and posted a picture (seen above) of his final creation on Reddit. Check out that thread for more tips on building it.

The cost for this project ran about $140 in materials.

  • 6 hinges (each box has an opening door)
  • 3 magnetic clasps
  • 2 50-foot rolls of sisal rope
  • Wood
  • Paint
  • 2 buckets
  • 2 bags of 50 glue sticks
  • 1 can of polyurethane

He even took some video of the cat using it.

This project was based on the Etsy item “Super Mario cat complex,” which you can see below. Also freakin’ awesome!

il_570xN.479685442_nnrr

The original costs $200, plus $45 S&H, so you can save $100 by building your own, maybe even more with some modifications or if you already have some parts laying around.

Posted on

Why You Should Play Games With Your Kids Even If Society Thinks It’s a Waste of Time

Kid plays Donkey Kong

My wife is 22 weeks pregnant right now with our little baby girl. I mentioned to my wife when we first found out she was pregnant that I can’t wait for our daughter to get old enough for me to play video games with her. My wife said that she doesn’t want our kid to play video games because games are bad for kids and a waste of time.

What!!??

Ok, now I get why people think this. I’ve heard this my whole life. But being an avid gamer since I was just a little kid, I know differently. I feel like games have benefited me greatly. I’ve always believed that my eye-hand coordination and reading skills have been enhanced by playing games. Games are also a great way for me to wind down, relax and recharge.

People can make all the assumptions they want, but recent studies are showing that games are great for both kids and adults in many ways.

In older adults, scientists at the University of California have found that playing video games can increase cognitive function and can treat neurological disorders. The researchers even believe that video games might be on par with prescription medications.

Just 15 minutes ago, my local news station aired a short story about Dr. George Sachs treating young kids with ADHD with video games. They used strategy-based games in the study and found that the volunteers showed better speed and accuracy on cognitive tests. That’s big news.

I don’t know how beneficial all games are for kids, but you’re probably safe giving your kids educational games or games that promote critical thinking. My favorite games as a kid were RPG’s which is what I think helped my reading skills develop so strongly. These are the kinds of games I plan to play with my daughter and I’m glad to know that gaming can be so beneficial in cognitive development.