Shovel Knight: A Pristine Pixel Crown

If I asked you, what's the best 8-bit game, what would you say? Castlevania? Mega Man 2? Both are classics, no doubt. But. The best 8-bit game by far is Shovel Knight. 

Never heard of it? That's because the game just recently came out. A brand new 2D adventure that's guaranteed to flicker your pixelated love pump. Start rotating those thumbs, you'll need 'em to be primed.

Shovel Knight is a 2D action-platformer, made to resemble old 8-bit games of yesteryear. In an industry that rotates triple-A games like used up socks, this may seem like madness. Yet one company (Yacht Club Games) dared to dream in pixels, and launched an ultra successful Kickstarter project that has materialized the most talked-about game of 2014.

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Seeking treasure to unearth, Shovel Knight and his companion Shield Knight have entered the Tower of Faith. While exploring the tower, the two knights become spellbound by a powerful dark amulet. Moments later, Shovel Knight awakens without his comrade.

What's a noble to do, but ready his shovel and brave the challenges ahead!

The graphics are sharp and vibrant. And the sprites – while pixelated – are surprisingly clean and detailed. The colour palette mirrors Nintendo's entire range of bustling 53 colours, with about 12 colours displayed at a time. Add some solid parallax scrolling for depth, and you got a game. A game that is not about the graphics; but about depth of gameplay, and a renewed crusade for innovative play mechanics.

It's all about the soul within it the armour: remember that, all you future squires.

There are shops to visit, castles to storm, and errands to solve. Doted across the mini map are numerous locals in need of good ol' shoveling. Each castle is home to a unique knight, that must be dethroned to progress farther. But getting to the last screen is no easy task, perils are everywhere. The jumps need to be timed PERFECTLY, enemies need to be utilized as living platforms, magic needs to rationing, and bonus abilities have to be unearthed to make progress a bit easier -- this game's everywhere you wanna be.

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You're not considered a gamer until you've balanced yourself while bouncing on a moving gear, just to execute a perfectly timed vault over a chasm, while phasing through that one flying foe that's about to ram you into a pit. Luckily, there are many useful skills/items to purchase and find: fireball wand, a rustic gear platform, arcing anchors, rolling blob balls, and several armours to craft. While the game is challenging, it's never unfair, because every time you perish you only loose a portion of cash – which can be recovered, providing you make it back to reclaim it.

The game's world is filled with quirky characters, who spout offbeat lines, making you smirk every time a text box pops up. The writer has a flair for penmanship, unleashing streams of text that flood your cerebellum with goodness. Chatting with an NPC is never dull. On par with the writing, are the lovable characters: anthropomorphic horse maidens, goat scholars, frog gentlemen, twisted tree-bards, propeller wearing mice, shifty ghosts and sleepy yellow dragons! It's a strange brew of men and beasts, oh so delightful.

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The Boss Knight encounters are very a la Mega Man: with foes unleashing patterned onslaughts, which can only be quelled by practiced counter-attacks. I don't want to give away too much, but this game will demand that you remember your repertoire of moves quickly. It's quite amazing how much personality is contained within all those pixelated sprites. And since ROM is not an issue, the game contains a fair amount of lengthy content, and lots of chiptune music that will shovel its way into your groove veins.

Shovel Knight pays homage to the glorious and memorable games of your youth, and unlocks that special time and place you've stored away inside a nostalgia box. The game reanimates that perfect freeze-frame in time, where you're pulling on the controller as if it's going to extend your jump trajectory. Or that moment when you have finally managed to defeat the last boss, and you're stomping about the basement, joyous and victorious, at 2 am.

This clever title latches onto that youthful magic, and asks only to be enjoyed wholeheartedly and repeatedly. And what it gives back is totally wonderful: A continuation of the best time of your life. I tip my golden chalice, and wish for all the Lord Knights to return once more.

Shovel Knight gets five jewel-encrusted shovels out of five.

Developer: Yacht Club Games

Publisher: Yacht Club Games

Platform: 3DS, Wii U, Windows, OS X, Linux

Released: 2014

Genre: Action-Platformer

You'll Dig It!

 

Meaningful Video Game Soundscapes (Reloaded)

I feel Winter's icy hammer dissipate. A tempting song-bird heralds the oncoming Spring, inviting me to open my door and feel the warmth of the solar star called Sol.

The mustiness of my abode fades, and a soothing nostalgic score energizes my soul. Here's something to move and groove you: Another auditory video game venture for y'all.

Slap that tape in and enjoy the Call!

-Einhander-

Want something to really fire up the night? Give this techno-infused beast a nibble of your ear. This soundtrack will hurl you across the vacuum of space. And spin you like a cocaine-induced, profusely sweating pilot, who's about to permanently stamp Earth with his falling ship.

-Killer Instinct-

  

Now here's something that does not come to fruition too often: A completely original score that manages to fuse metal, rock, techno, and pop into one degenerate and catchy CD. The Killer Cuts CD only came with the SNES Killer Instinct game, making this OST a "Rare" find.

-Axelay-

This game is one of my all-time favourite scrolling shooters. Once I heard the music in this game, my eardrums immediately imprinted its catchy, sci-fi, robotronic, tunes. And ever since that time, I wake up hearing Colony... (Here's Axelay reviewed!)

-Sonic the Hedgehog 2-

I does not matter what musical genre you relish, this is one of those wicked fun OSTs that will make your backbone spin and slide. Also, look at that grinning Dr. Robotnik trying to squeeze the last glorious note out of the game box.

-Doom I&II-

 

Bad-ass games with brutal soundtracks. 

Satan says: ROCK ON!

There you have it, this is my collection of  timeless video game tunes. Listen to the glory and passion of trendsetters who left scores of great beats for all generations to hear. Enjoy, and check out my original Meaningful Video Game Soundscapes post.  

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Growing Up Gamer: From Bits to Infinity

I'm leisurely lounging on my couch, enjoying a laid-back Saturday afternoon. Sipping some juice. Playing Super Mario World. Letting my mind wonder in 2D lands. And an unexpected ring-tone tugs my awareness back to reality.

A quick glance at my surroundings confirms there's nobody home but me. I lift the nettlesome receiver.

“I got the game!”

 “... Which game?”

“You know which game, bring your controller now!”

“... You got Street Fighter II, no frigging way!”

 “Yes! And you need to come now!”

My shoes fly onto my feet, 20 seconds flat. I'm out the door, zipping pass the elevator, almost plummeting down the stairway. Two minutes from the time I put down the phone, I'm already at my friend's house plugging my controller into his Super Nintendo. Grinning excitedly because of the upcoming PvP match.

It Began on the Streets 

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The next two months are spent studying eight unique road warriors, and mastering their intricate thumb-scraping moves. The year is 1992. A decade that was my wondrous entry into the worlds of video games. My initial system of choice: Super Nintendo (with Super Mario World already packed in).

Time was abundant those days, my friends and I would rent games and play them until dawn. Always scouring our neighbourhoods for obscure video game and VHS rental shops – and there ware many. If you wanted to try newly released games, you'd have to hit up The Arcades: Places know as inclusive covenants of amicable characters with diverse gaming skills and knowledge. A lot of gamers I know -- and later became friends with -- I met at the arcades, and the various anime clubs that were slowly popping up around town.

The only way to get gaming news back then was by spending allowance money on the monthly Game Pro/EGM Magazine. And if you were interested in imported games, anime, and comic books, the 'zine of choice was the legendary GameFAN Magazine. Between browsing magazine shelves of our local Scrum Mart, and frantic joystick bashing at the local arcades, we still found time to watch every episode of Video Arcade Top 10, and Game Nation. Yeah, TV was the only way to siphon gaming related news. Radical.

Launched Into Space 

 

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Time rolled on, and so did technology. In mere four years 16-bit consoles jumped from 32 to 64-bit. Games became larger, more encompassing, and rich in content. Despite the hasty technological progress, gaming was still considered something only odd nerdy people did. Until the first ever commercial for a video game was shown in movie theatres: Final Fantasy VII.

This Square Enix title summoned a hype of Bahamut proportions. Now, everyone was talking about video games. No doubt, gaming was clearly becoming a mainstream hobby. The release of Hallo on the original Xbox only solidified that fact – and brought reluctant PC gamers to the console market. Microsoft and Sony—with its PS2—continued dominating the gaming industry. Developing and releasing a plethora of wicked and awesome games.

With the advent of the Internet, online capabilities finally descended onto home consoles. Playing video games was no longer an experience shared with a handful of dedicated friends; gaming has gone global. The Big Three: Xbox360, PS3, and Nintendo Wii, were the precursors of change. And each gaming system evolved from a gamer-only platform, to inclusive family-friendly entertainment hubs.

And Latched Onto Our Souls  

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When playing recent Gen8 super machines, it is clear that gaming has ingrained into our habitual behaviour. Instant access to online sharing tools, integration of relevant social media platforms, reworked iterations of established titles, and we are primed to blast off into digital realms yet uncharted. A new level of collective gaming is now stimulating our synapses. We are witnessing a creation of a new limitless cyberspace horizon.

But after a dramatic all-night session of online play, I sometimes reminisce about the simpler time. A time when being a gamer meant you were confined to a basement room. A game-filled hideout where only a handful of your nerdy friends would want to visit. Very few people understood your hobby, and even fewer knew the difference between a Sega Genesis, and a Super Nintendo. And you were glad for it. Here is one last CHEER to the wonder and fun of Retro Gaming!

GAME ON!

Pandora's Tower: Emotion and Beauty Caught in a Storm

Wound of a World 

Patched by 13 Towers 

Floating Above a Void 

One Brave Knight 

One Distressed Soul 

Once Upon a Time...

Curse of the Flesh Must be Resolved

Pandora's Tower feels like an old-style epic that focuses on character development as much as it does on action. The two main protagonists are Aeron: a young man who is tasked with conquering beastly masters of thirteen mysterious towers; and his cursed childhood friend Elena: a girl who needs to consume the masters' flesh to rid of her curse.

This is may seem like a creepy premise for a game, but it works because of the evolving relationship between Aeron and Elena. What begins as friendship evolves into a relationship, finally flourishing into love. And this love motif is not some forgetful notion to be used as a mere narrative drive, it's actually ingrained into the gameplay.

Beauty Distressed 

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When not exploring the towers, Aeron is able to talk with Elena. By exchanging some kind words with the lovely maiden their relationship grows, which influences the type of ending you'll get at the end of your journey. Just like real life, having a good report with a girl is pivotal to character development.

How far the couple's bond extends dependents on several neat features: By conversing, selecting the right responses, and sharing information the two lovers sooth and confine each other. Any item in Aeron's possession can be given as a gift -- although, Elena is not interested in weaponry or weird items. She prefers lovely trinkets such as rings, broaches, or household items, which she'll often use to spruce up their hideout.

The towers provide many items that can be turned into useful equipment and fancy gifts. And Mavda, the eccentric merchant woman who carries her monstrous husband inside a large cauldron strapped to her back, is always ready to lend a hand -- at a reasonable price of course. What's neat about the game is that Elena wears her gifts around the hideout, and if you let her curse get too far, her abrupt transformation into a ghastly being will break the items.

Glory of the Chain 

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During frequent visits to the towers the focus is action, searching, and monster slaying. To combat the hostile critters of the towers, Aron can be equipped with various weapons, armour and helpful trinkets. The youth's main tool of combat is an enchanted Oraclos Chain, which can be used to bind, pull, and tear all foes. The chain is also spiritually linked to Elena, and shows how far along her curse is progressing, wait too long and beauty shifts to beast.

By aiming the Wiimote at specific objects an "O" icon appears, enabling you to interact with them by using the chain. The stages are made for fast movement, and offer plenty of opportunities for fulfilling platforming and swinging action. While aiming, the game slows down, allowing for swift targeting of specific parts. Enemies can be bound to objects, or to each other to link their life points, and be disarmed from armour or weapons.

During boss encounters, the chain's mechanics really shine. To avoid being swept into a hellish inferno, Aeron must cling onto a cavernous ceiling, and wait until a gigantic molten master surfaces to tear at its flesh. When facing the plant-like master, the chain is used to pull the boss to prevent it from healing in the sun light. I don't want to give away too much, but trust me, each encounter with a master is memorable and innovative.

Towers of Wonder; Sounds of Doom; You Will Return

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Visually Pandora's Tower is one of the best looking Wii titles available. The textures are smooth, the colours are bright and bold, and each of the towers has challenges unique to its surroundings and constructs. Running around, you'll often loose yourself in the emotive atmosphere of this game. The two recurring issues I had with the overall design, was not being able to control the camera, and noticing reused sections/rooms throughout the towers.

The score for this game is of highest quality. Fully orchestrated, and clearly based on classical opera compositions of grand master composers like Franz Liszt and Caccini. The symphonic arrangements in this game will take you to euphoric highs. Just listen to this Boss Theme. It kind of sucks that the tracks get reused a bit throughout the adventure. And I really wish there was more classical music similar to this score in more games.

The game's world has a very rich back-story that you'll piece together by reading tomes about the towers, conversing with Mavda, and witnessing Elena's vivid visions. There are many subtle, political, and religious overtones that complement the game's focus on turmoil and destiny. And I enjoyed the parallels between a world that's about to be torn apart by war, and the healing bond of youthful love.

It's worth noting that after beating the game once, you'll gain access to more rooms and items, which will help you get the best ending, if you did not do so the first time around.

Just like Pandora's Box, Pandora's Tower was destined not to be played with. However, because of some dedicated North American fanfare Nintendo's decision not to localize the game for the American audience was overturned. Thanks to the fine people who spoke up, we can all witness Aeron's resolve to keep his lover from loosing her humanity to the hungry beast within.

Pandora's Tower gets 92 sturdy chain links out of a 100. 

Developer: Ganbarion
Publisher: Xseed Games
Platform: Wii
Genre: Action RPG
Released: 2013

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Tomb Raider: Explorer's Journey into Cult of Croft

If your only recollection of Tomb Raider is the two marginal flicks staring Angelina Jolie, do yourself a favour and look up Lara Croft. Long story short, she's an intelligent, athletic, explorer of ancient tombs, who happens to collect valuable trinkets—a total everyday woman.

This time the party responsible for unhinging the crypt again is Crystal Dynamics: a company famed for creating Gex and the Legacy of Kain games. If you're expecting a hot-pants sporting, dual-pistol wielding Lara of old, you may be a little surprised.

For this title, Crystal Dynamics chose to focus on the origin story of fan favourite English archaeologist, Lara Croft. A time when she seems less experienced, yet determined to make her mark nevertheless. Proving once again that archaeology can be a very demanding trade.

Will of Yamatai

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After a violent shipwreck, Lara finds herself bound and hanging upside down in a confined cave. In a frenzied attempt to escape her predicament, Lara lands on a protruding spike which punctures through her abdomen (good job freeing her). Bloodied and hurt, she stumbles through the darkness into a gory sacrificial chamber. Her discovery indicates a beginning of a malicious struggle she must overcome to escape the mysterious Yamatai island, and its brutish inhabitants: The Solarii Brotherhood.

In an attempt to flee a volatile roundup of her crew-mates, Lara is forced to kill for the first time. This scene is absolutely brutal and not for the squeamish. It also sets the tonality of the entire game: you must learn to survive at all cost. In fact, the entire game engine is set up on that premise. And that's a good thing. You'll hunt, collect artifacts, explore puzzle-filled tombs, and combat waves of crazed enemies.

Every enemy that you neutralize can be searched for items. And many weapon upgrades can be found as you progress. Your movement is not restricted by a preset path, as the stages intertwine and change in layout as the story moves on. There's also plenty of opportunities to back-track with new weapon upgrades to uncover more areas and story tidbits. My favourite way of traversing is using Lara's bow to shoot ropes across great chasms and then zip-lining away.

Crafting with Croft

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Reaching a campsite provides opportunity for respite, and enables Lara to use gained experience points to unlock skills and abilities. Those can range from survival skills, such as, arrow recovery and more space to carry ammo, to combat upgrades that make you more proficient at stealth kills. (Stabbing a foe in the toe with an arrow just to axe him in the head never gets old.) The best part about this experience-based upgrading is that it feels like a natural way of gaining skills as the game progresses.

The game's design esthetic borrows from Eastern cultures, and integrates imposing statues, temples, and modern scavenged technology to create a distinctive tapestry of memorable visuals. The island itself is prone to extreme and changing weather patters which prevent you from reaching your goal safely. The environmental conditions in this game are stunning, especially when coupled with the highly detailed and realistic structures of the ancient island.

Blinding winds blanket the landscape, tearing apart everything that's not bolted down. Lightning bolts strike mountains, moving the very ground you're on—swiftly providing some inverted platforming travel. And there are plenty of crazy action sequences: Lara crushes through a falling B-52, and smashes into its glass cockpit with just enough time to reach for a parachute before the glass cracks, then free-falls through a dense forest canopy hoping for a safe landing. I hope you like quick-time events because there are many.

Journey-Woman Lives
 

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The story is fantastic, and structured with tight and mature writing. A forgotten ancient tribe that worshiped a supernatural queen, a violent and raging cult, fearsome bloodthirsty Japanese demons, and plenty of emotional scenes to tie it all together. Indeed, the mysterious dark island possess many dreadful secrets for Lara to uncover as she progresses. The voice acting is great, and the entirety of the dialogue feels like a well crafted script. Penned by, Rhianna Pratchett, and voiced by English actress, Camilla Luddington, this new young Lara is in the right hands. Or vocal chords I should say.

The music in the game tends to build tension, and feels like a natural extension of the environments you travel through: chimes, woodwind instruments, subtle piano parts, and some very strange horror-like FX—made by a homemade steel contraption, used for all the intense encounters in the game. This standout score was composed by Jason Graves, whose work can be heard in the Dead Space series and Star Trek: Legacy.

The multilayer component of the game is also worth a mention. There's the standard PvP combat, Private Rescue where teams must move medical supplies to marked locations, and Cry for Help, which involves exploring the map to retrieve batteries and defending radio beacons from scavengers by setting traps. All the mechanics from the main game carry over to multilayer, making this—first-ever—addition to Tomb Raider functional and fun.

Gloom and Shine

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My only issue with the game was the graphic depictions of Lara's numerous deaths. When Lara dies, she really dies in agony. What's really unsettling about it, is that the game auto saves right before dying. This repeats the fatality until you get the timing of the button press, or become proficient at avoiding lethal objects. I don't have issues with gory content if it delivers a more believable experience, but some of the scenarios got a bit daunting for my taste.

Also, the survival skills that seemed interesting in the beginning, like gathering meat from killed animals, were rendered useless rather quickly. Mostly because Lara's health regenerates fast, and combat becomes more predominate later on. And there's the guide markers: Ledges marked with flashing lines, which tend to stand out too much from the environment and delude the immersion factor.

Putting the gory bits and shinny delusions aside, I'm happy to say that playing this revival of the Lara Croft franchise was like stumbling upon a valued historical artifact in my backyard: an experience definitely worth treasuring. Marooned on a mysterious island, Lara must learn to survive in a very hostile environment. Driven by her astounding inborn determination she must overcome her vulnerabilities and become a survivor. Will you help her find her way?

Tomb Raider gets five benevolent Japanese figurines out of five. 

Developer: Crystal Dynamics
Publisher: Square Enix
Platform: PS3/4, Xbox 360/One, OS X
Genre: Action Adventure
Released: 2013

kitguru.net

Christmas With The Batman, an Origins Story

When I first heard that the new Batman game would focus on the masked crusader's origins, I was ecstatic. Now here's a hero with an extensive back story and lots of flying mammal skeletons in his closet. Plenty of material to choose from for a new game, I said. And patiently waited.

An origin story, almost

The creators of Batman Arkham Origins chose to stick to the well crafted formula set by Arkham Asylum and Arkham City games. The combat is still smooth and dynamic, gadgets are aplenty, and the atmosphere is galvanizing. Unfortunately, beyond that, the game does not stray out of its comfortable and preset foundation. A pity, since the title Origins states a beginning of something new in development.

Let's have a closer look under the cowl, because Arkham Origins is still a solid noteworthy title.

A relentless kingpin known as The Black Mask puts out a hit on Batman. Moments later (literally) a slew of shady foes answer the call to kill: Deathstroke, Bane, Copperhead, Deadshot, Anarky, Firefly and Penguin. Looks like there will be no Christmas dinner for Bruce Wayne. Alfred will have to feed the bats again, alone. And on his Birthday no less—OK, I made that one up.

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A night in Gotham 

Out of the cold winter night Batman descends on a criminal-infested Gotham City. Swiftly proving that the production values in this game are staggering. The large gloomy city is designed to mirror characteristics of Tim Burton's Batman flicks: many archways, domed structures, tall steeples, grimy alleyways, odd statues, and rooftops. And the best part: By using his famed grapnel gun, Batman can easily scour the entire impressively detailed Gotham City landscape.

Since the entire city is under martial law, there are lots of criminals to bust and stalk. This allows plenty of opportunities to utilize Batman's silent take-down techniques and gadgets like batarangs, explosive gel mines, smoke bombs and numerous other crime-busting devices. The majority of fights are executed using the fluid combat system established by Origins predecessors. You'll counter, dodge, and flow from one foe to the next, gain experience, unlock more abilities, and feel great about it. It's awesome. Except, it was all done in previous games.

Now you may point out—as my friend did—that this is a beat 'em up game after all. Yes, that it is. And a fine one at that. However, this is a third entry in the Batman franchise. And for a game that promises to present a “young, raw, more unrefined” Batman, it still feels like you're controlling an experienced master crime-buster we all know from the previous games.

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Opportunity cowed 

Playing through certain parts of the game, I felt like there were many opportunities for the designers to come up with something different. When the anti-authority angst-y youth, Anarky, threatens to blow up Gotham's economic centres of power, Batman is tasked with disarming the bombs. After doing so, Batman engages Anarky in combat and busts his face. I would have gotten more enjoyment trying to convince Anarky to join my side, and have him target some of my foes.

Mad Hatter makes a brief appearance, offering a brief respite from combat. He forces Batman into a 2-D dreamworld where the Dark Knight has to rely on his platforming skills. This could have been a perfect side-quest to inject more puzzle-like elements into the gameplay. I would love an opportunity to use Batman's legendary computer—you know, the one takes up half the Bat Cave. Instead, we are, once again, tasked with finding collectibles, and doing missions to unlock extra content and additional moves. Not a very creative way to extend play time.

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Diving into delights 

Fortunately there are plenty of great moments in the game: Free-gliding through all the numerous structures will give you a feeling of total immersion and non-linear progression. It's fun. It's functional. It's all about being a powerful kick-ass hero. You now have an option of setting objectives according to your priority. By doing so, a giant Bat Signal will mark the spot you need to get to. This makes navigation a breeze, and you are never left wandering astray. You can also use Batman's slick jet to move onto drop off points, providing you disable Riddler's jamming towers. Nygma!!

I really enjoyed investigating crime scenes using Batman's scanner, and seeing the entire crime in a virtual reality state, where I could rewind time to see past actions and study the area for all possible clues. In a true Batman game tradition, the original tone-setting music is simply incredible, and can easily match any big budget Hollywood score. Also, the boss battles use the foundation of the solid combat engine, and allow you to exhibit all of Batman's skills and gadgets. I especially like how Batman scavenges his foes' weapons, and converts them to his cause.

It's hard to recommend this game to a newbie. If you never played Batman: Arkham Asylum, or Arkham City, I suggest you try those out. For the price of this game you could have both. And lets face it, you'll still probably get this game to complete your collection. Most likely at a lower cost, since you'd have to blow through two Batman games before getting to this one.

Batman Origins gets four scuffed Bat-cowls out of five. 

Developer: Warner Bros Games Montreal

Publisher: Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment

Platform: PC, PS3, Wii U, Xbox 360

Genre: Beat-'em-up

Released: 2013

Happy Holidays, Hope It's Pure West!

Thunder Force V, Glimpse of Shooter Heaven

To enjoy this review fully you'll need to put on a pair of nostalgia specs. If your monitor becomes a bit finicky and rough around the edges, don't fret, that's just the early 1998 resolution: a way-back realm of low polygons and rough CG compression.

Today we enter the house of PlayStation. Pop the flap open, place the black disk onto the reel—make sure to hold it by its sides—and press in the circular Power button. Let's begin our venture into another classic shooter: Thunder Force V.

Touted as the greatest shooter series amongst its numerous fans, Thunder Force V first came out on Sega Saturn in 1997, and got its well deserved PS1 port the following year. Thunder Force V deserves its spot in the limelight for three reasons: it has wickedly articulate mechanical designs—a la Gundam, lots of gnawing skirmishes, and a kick-ass hard-rocking soundtrack.

I was going to write how utterly and undeniably awesome Thunder Force V is, but as soon as I started playing it an unprecedented nostalgic feeling swept over me.

It's 1998, I'm 18 and chilling at my friend's house. He tells me to check out this new Japanese shooter he just got, and plumps the game disc into his PS1. He takes a few steps towards me to hand me a controller, but accidentally trips on the system's power cord, pulling the entire PS1 off of the TV shelf...

We spent the next 20 minutes trying to secure a near busted flap so the laser would read the disk. Two well placed Hobby Japan magazines later, and we're finally playing Thunder Force V. An hour into the game, we're staring at the screen mesmerized by the game's up-beat tempo, iconic design, while thumping our feet to some of the most irresistible rock/metal tunes to grace a video game.

I wasn't kidding when I told you to put on those nostalgia specs.

Playing shooters on the PS1 was almost ceremonial in my friend circles. Because everyone I knew had their system “chipped” to play imported and copied games; our combined game libraries were overflowing with obscure titles. We'd play games before and after school, sometimes popping into a friend's abode at lunch or during a spare class.

Sometimes the good ol' Playstation would get finicky and not load certain games, or unplugging a controller would delete the memory card, but that didn't matter to us. Replaying games would mean more time spent with our favourite hobby. Sometimes we would stop playing to scrounge for some leftover pasta in the kitchen—which we would usually overcook due to not paying attention. Most times though, it was all about gaming till dawn.

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Getting together for some gaming was a familiar scene for the entire PS1 life cycle. It was a time of socializing in smaller less intrusive groups. And a time when the gaming industry was at the pinnacle of innovation—not technologically by creatively. Although I do not resent today's focus on sharing of our digitized persona, I do believe that to appreciate something artistic to a greater length one must observe and share the experience of it with another person present. Passively playing video games with close friends seems to be a forgotten hobby these days. Luckily my PS1 is still spinning all its games.

I hope you enjoyed spending time dodging bullets in the Den of Shooters. If you're curious about this often overlooked genre of games check out my feature on the origin of shoot 'em ups: Inside The Bullet Hurricane.  

Developer: Technosoft

Publisher: Technosoft, Working Designs

Platform: Sega Saturn, PlayStation

Genre: Shooter

Released: 1997