famicomdojo

[famicomdojo]

Did anyone else own this wireless infrared NES controller back in the long ago?

#nintendo #acclaim

[famicomdojo]

Sean helps Simon Belmont resurrect Dracula to end his curse once and for all.

The original Castlevania is a classic, but there were many variations across different consoles. The NES version focused more on arcade-style gameplay, but the MSX experience was quite different. When creating a sequel, Konami took more from the latter. Rather than knock down abilities and weaponry when injured, Simon Belmont can now collect items and upgrade weapons at shops, which will persist even after enough failures that a continue is needed. There are NPCs, towns, and other locales that can be revisited throughout the game, as opposed to the strictly linear progression of the NES predecessor. In fact, this more RPG-like system is quite a bit like another maligned sequel, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link!

Sean has chosen Castlevania II: Simon's Quest as the first Producers Pick "Honorable Mention", plucked from the poll of January 2024. The game feels topical, given our recent experience with the Zelda II enhanced remake, and how the changes to that game have brought the two more in line. Also, both games were Sean's favorites as a kid, and the first titles he got along with his first NES back in 1989. 35 years later, it's time to see what he remembers about playing this game!

#castlevania ii: simon's quest #castlevania iii #simon's quest #NES #konami #nintendo #famicom dojo #sean plays #livestream #let's play #Youtube

[famicomdojo]

Does this sleeper GameCube hit still hold up over 20 years later for fans of Lovecraftian horror?

Eternal Darkness is an episodic action adventure game driven by a central story, as opposed to traditional horror like Resident Evil, and is heavily inspired by the stories of HP Lovecraft to attempt to portray beings beyond human comprehension and the existential horrors that ensue. In fact, it has more in common with survival games like The Last of Us, except with magic and spells instead of guns, knives, and bricks (although there are arrows) - with the important distinction that none of the many protagonists are expected to survive, calling into doubt the fate of the main character Alex. Think of it more like Lovecraft Country.

While there is the occasional jump scare that you might see in a horror film, handled cleverly by the player's control of the camera versus a director, the games biggest contribution to any genre comes in the form of "Sanity effects" as the player witnesses the horrors around them and test their mental fortitude. Not only do these affect the characters in the game, but many of the best effects are aimed at the player, with bugs crawling all over the screen, fake save file errors, or false endings claiming the rest of the game will pick up in (the sadly non-existent) Eternal Darkness 2. This "Sanity" system was re-used for Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes, the GameCube port of the original Metal Gear Solid PlayStation classic.

Also for fans of actual multiple endings, each playthrough can be dominated by an archnemesis and minions that are stealthily selected at the beginning of the game, and only by playing through it three times for each of these choices will the final, real ending be revealed. The different emphasis for each choice also lends to a coloration (no pun intended) of the entire playthrough experience, and for me was intriguing enough to, of the course of a several years, return to this game with enthusiasm each time.

Now a classic in its own right, Sean returns to Eternal Darkness 22 years later to see if it still holds up in the world of HDTV.

#eternal darkness #gamecube #nintendo #lovecraftian horror #youtube #livestream #Famicom Dojo #Sean Plays #Youtube

[famicomdojo]

Sean Plays Zelda II Enhanced Remake (PC)

Ever since playing the original NES and Famicom versions, Sean has been convinced that this game is ripe for a Link's Awakening style re-imagining. While there are many ways to go about this without fundamentally altering the mechanics, Hoverbat's take is elegant in its simplicity. Well, it looks simple, anyway; this is the work of a true artist.

Join us as we play through as much as we can, and point out all of the amazing differences!

#zelda ii #zelda #legend of zelda #the legend of zelda #nes #nintendo #famicom dojo #livestream #live stream #Youtube

[famicomdojo]

At Famicom Dojo we're all about the preservation of video games.  As interesting and fun as the console ports of arcade games can be, none of those ports has truly replicated the arcade controls or aspect ratio of the original games, plus there are almost always other small or technical details that don't make the jump.

With Arcade Archives games, this gap is lessened or eliminated entirely, and the built-in options to allow you to rotate your display to best mimic the arcade experience and maximize the real estate of your Nintendo Switch, or even your TV if you're able to change its orientation!  For those who want a simpler solution, an after-market stand like the HORI PlayStand will get you most of the way there.

#nintendo switch #donkey kong #hori #arcade archives #famicom dojo #keep or heap

[famicomdojo]

We dive into the features of the new Game Boy Nintendo Switch Online service, and offer up our favorite and most surprising findings! Plus, how to get to the Japanese eShop version, and its (slightly) different selection of games.

#game boy #nintendo switch online #nintendo switch #gameboy #nintendo #eshop #famicom dojo #Youtube

[famicomdojo]

We go over some of the tips and tricks available on the special edition Game & Watch, but really we want to know if you can not only perform one of the most famous Super Mario Bros. glitch, but which one will manifest when you do.

#super mario #mario #game and watch #retro gaming #retro games #nintendo #game & watch

[famicomdojo]

We've talked before about movies based on video games, and video games based on movies (sometimes themselves based on video games; looking at you, Street Fighter: The Movie The Game!), but have we talked about TV shows inspired by video games?

Vinnk and Sean react to the Mario movie trailer, talk about the video game cartoons of their childhood, and how the genre has grown to include more mature and live action fare in the modern era -- including shows that have been announced but haven't even been released yet! But also certainly shows that have, and what is lost (or potentially gained) in translation. In Pile of Shame, Vinnk figures he should finally get in on this Minecraft thing all the kids are playing, and Sean describes his experience with the interactive movie game "I Saw Black Clouds" in Future Retro.

#mario movie #halo paramount #podcast #gaming podcast #dojocast #famicom dojo

[famicomdojo]

It’s been a hot minute since we were on Tumblr! How’s everyone doing? Anyone get an Import Blue Internet Checkmark? Did you know that we’ve been live streaming a retro (or occasionally contemporary) video game every week for over two years now?

Lately we’ve been trying to get through all of Chrono Trigger, which Sean has tried to start many times, but now cannot put down! We’re nearing the end now, so if you missed this when it was live please enjoy, and we’ll do better to alert all you Tumblrds in the future.

#chrono trigger #snes #streaming #livestream #famicom dojo #sean plays #retrogaming #video games #video gaming

[famicomdojo]

This live stream is not a continuation, and it's not a do-over!  We've gotten our hands on a copy of the original Night Trap re-issued for Sega CD by Limited Run games!  Let's try this game in its original incarnation -- assuming we can stand it!  (If not, maybe this WILL be a continuation of the Nintendo Switch version...)

#night trap #sega cd #sega 32x #sega genesis #sega #limited run games #16 bit #retro games #retro gaming #famicom dojo #pile of shame #live stream

[famicomdojo]

We got ANOTHER Limited Run Games package, but this time for a retro system: the Sega CD!  Not only do we go through the amazing details of the physical package, but we even show you how to set up a Model 1 Sega Genesis, Model 1 Sega CD, and a 32X all together, but the special cables you need to do it, how best to get stereo sound, AND we show a little bit of the introduction to the game before we hand it off to the Pile of Shame LIVE! follow-up coming tomorrow.

#night trap #sega cd #sega 32x #sega genesis #sega #16 bit #retro gaming #retro games #limited run games #famicom dojo

[famicomdojo]

#heart of the alien #let's play #sega cd #sega genesis #out of this world #another world #interplay #16 bit #retro games #retro gaming #famicom dojo #pile of shame #live stream

[famicomdojo]

After researching and reviewing Another World (aka Out of This World), Sean went out to find a copy of its bare-remembered sequel that he had only seen in person once in the '90s.  Heart of the Alien was a Sega CD exclusive by Interplay, released without the involvement of the original Another World creator Eric Chahi.

Before Vinnk travelled back to Japan after his last visit, he and Sean played through as much of this disavowed sequel as time would allow.  Stick around for a few impromptu cameos by Rebecca "Burger Becky" Heineman, who was gracious enough to provide some more background on the development of this unique title.

Watch the full let’s play: https://youtu.be/N0H83CLHf1s

#out of this world #another world #heart of the alien #sega cd #sega genesis #interplay #let's play #16 bit #retro games #retro gaming #famicom dojo #pile of shame

[famicomdojo]

The bad news keeps compounding for Sony. First came the announcement that the PS3, PSP, and Vita online stores would be shutting down this July. Then some intrepid investigators discovered that the death of the CMOS battery in PS3 and PS4 models means your digital libraries would be useless -- even if the batteries are replaced -- unless it can connect to online servers that will no longer be in service after this year. And lo and behold, this problem affects the PS5 as well! On this 10th anniversary episode of the DojoCast,

Sean and Vinnk recall the first episode about the DLC Apocalypse, and how it's really been here all along. Sean talks about how Pile of Shame LIVE! turned his opinion around about Double Switch, and Vinnk is still playing Phoenix Wright after all these years -- this time on a region-free Switch cartridge collection of the first three games.

#cbomb #sony #psp #ps vita #ps3 #ps4 #ps5 #playstation #famicom dojo #dojocast #podcast

[famicomdojo]

Many people think Flashback is a sequel, or at least another game by Another World (aka Out of This World) creator Eric Chahi.  After all, it was developed by the same Delphine Software, and features rotoscoped, vector-based graphics in a sci fi setting? Surprisingly, the games had separate but nearly-simultaneous development tracks, and Eric Chahi was not involved at all.

Flashback was actually created by Delphine Software's lead designer Paul Cuisset.  Amazingly, Flashback has a sequel itself called "Fade to Black", which we hope to play some day!  For now, let's take a look at the SNES port to see how it compares and contrasts to Sean's beloved favorite Out of This World.

#flashback #SNES #nintendo #let's play #16 bit #retro games #retro gaming #famicom dojo #pile of shame #eric chahi #live stream

[famicomdojo]

Another World (aka Out of This World) was a singular 16-bit experience for many games in the early 1990s.  A cinematic experience with amazing graphics and music on affordable consoles and computer platforms, and minimalist design to match, but brutal consequences for failure.  If you were like us, you were hooked and wanted more.

Published by Delphine Software, the game was actually only developed by one person -- Eric Chahi -- with sound design provided by Jean-Francois Freitas.  Together, over two years, they created a video game experience that has stood the test of time three decades and many consoles and online gaming services later.

We explore how the limitations of the '90s drove Chahi to create a game that was easily portable to other systems of the day, required minimal (if exceptionally clever) effort to port to other contemporary systems, and how this all laid the groundwork for an HD glow-up that belied the extraordinary, indie-like effort to create.  We also tackle the features that were included in, but also the ones notable missing from, the 20th Anniversary Edition that is itself 10 years old as of 2021.

Watch the full Future Retro review, with guest spot by Rebecca “Burger Becky” Heineman: https://youtu.be/8DFRF9UogRA

#snes #nintendo #another world #out of this world #famicom dojo #future retro #16 bit #nintendo switch #retrogaming #retro games #eric chahi

[famicomdojo]

We finally get the streaming software somewhat under control — just in time to take on Air Man and (very apropos) Crash Man! Includes the “Crash (Man) Into Me” song, before it sadly gets cut off by another software crash…

#mega man 2 #let’s play #mega man #capcom #nes #nintendo #8 bit #air man #crash man #pile of shame #Youtube