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Without intending to, I do have a lot of expensive and over priced games. I purchased my games when they "were" the console on the shelf. Their hey day. Many of the games I own if I had to purchase them now I just wouldn't be able to. I own everything from NES to Xbox one. I own many handhelds from each era.
I have one or two of the .hack games on PS2. And I do have the Xenosaga  series. I have Guardian Heroes for the Saturn, Bangai-O for the N64. A lot of the SNES games that are now at unreal prices. Gun Nac on the NES is at unreal prices, so glad I picked that up when I did, I love that game.  Crisis Force is the same way, another great shooter on the NES, Famicom. I have the Lunar series complete for the PS1. So glad I purchased those long ago from then what was called Babages. I have a lot of those old RPGs that seem to hold their price and then some. Games on my Turbo Grafx, NES, N64, Saturn, Dreamcast, Genesis, SNES, PS1, PS2, etc, it seems that each generation has its must have game. Collectors have pushed the prices out of the reach of the average gamer.

This review is taken from a series of reviews I did a couple of years ago concerning the fighters available for the N64.

It has been a while since I've played this game. Don't really remember what diverted my attention. From what I remember it is a very enjoyable fighter. The game is very easy to get into, a very easy pick up and play. I purchased this game back in 2009 as a used game. I am thinking that this game was released at the end of 1996, not sure. Everyone's praise was geared toward the popular fighters on the PS1 and Saturn. I would think that this game would have gotten lost somewhere in that big ocean. Because I think it would take a lot to impress, especially among a crowd of well known franchises.


Awkward as this may be, using the N64 controller, seemingly, all of the buttons on the controller are used. Sadly there is no emphasis on combos. (I love combos.) Even though moves are easy to pull off in a Virtua Fighter-ish way, and you can get in several different hits tapping one button before you are rudely countered by your opponent. I find it difficult to string anything together. Using button combinations sometimes only results in a slight pause in between each button. Almost like it is loading the assigned move for that button. ( Broken, but sometimes you can make it work.) Easy combos would have upped the fun factor. Instead you are left with a strategy of moving in, get several hits, and evade. If you can get more hits in, you had better do it. And do learn to evade because some of these opponents will cut you to shreds. On the plus side, controls are simple and easy to learn. To me, Dark Rift really doesn't stand out and distinguishes itself with any uniqueness. And I say that just because it plays like a mixture of VF and Tekken. But having that style of gameplay is really not that bad of a thing. Some may feel right at home and not know why.



Dark Rift, to me, really doesn't have interesting character designs when placed up against any competition. And that is the way it sort of compares with a lot of fighters on the N64 too. Maybe it is just me. Some may love the character designs. Anyway, the fighters have a blockiness, but yet there is detail, more so, than what you might expect. The level of detail are reminiscent of the first Tekken and VF 2, and yet not quite there. The animation in the fighters is very smooth and fluid.



The backgrounds are greatly detailed, or maybe we should say backdrops. You could even refer to them as paintings. And you seem to be fighting on a plain that is endless. You can never encounter the background. Meaning, there is no interaction with the backgrounds or your surroundings. You could run for days after your opponent, literally. I really tried that, never made it to any boundaries. It makes you feel that you are in a very spacious endless arena. The combination of everything does manage to give you a 3D fighting experience.


It is a weapon based fighter, with no visible option for blood. (Evidently aliens don't bleed.) And no fatalities. Each fighter has their own distinguishing weapon. And their moves relate to that particular weapon. The lighting and special effects distinguishes the game and sets it above the average fighter of that day. I do think that in "Normal Mode" the AI is a bit too easy. I consider myself a lousy gamer and I was able to beat the characters in the first two stages, three matches, without losing. I didn't feel challenged until the third stage. Average amount of moans, and groans, during a fight with scaling in, and out, of the screen, depending on how close you are to your opponent.

I think I have played this game at the wrong time. Should have played this game first before all the other reviews. Playing some of the other fighters on the N64 has taken some of the "POW" out of Dark Rift for me. I have developed some mixed feelings. I still find this game good simple fun. And it has its own feel, atmosphere, and gameplay, which is what gives it that slight edge. I guess you can look at that from two different perspectives, either in a good way or a bad way. Regardless of any of the negativity I have mentioned above, it is very enjoyable playing. And I will admit that it might not be for everyone. A novice gamer would be able to jump right in and find the controls intuitive. Still, there is enough here, if you learn the moves of your choice fighter, to give an experienced gamer some good gaming. I will say, try it, and I will rate this game, "Great Game."

This review is taken from a series of reviews I did a couple of years ago concerning the fighters available for the N64.

Disclaimer: I have never played a Mortal Kombat game until this one. I purchased this one especially for this series of reviews and impressions. In the past I never had an interest in the games. When passing the games in the arcade they always looked dark and gloomy to me. The graphics looked unattractive. The blood and guts were never a draw for me either. So I paid them no attention. I was always a "King of Fighters, Virtua Fighter, Street Fighter" sort of guy. I never was that violent. I would rather just kick, beat, and pound someone senseless than to rip something out of them. Ummm.........yeah, something like that.


This being my first experience with the Mortal Kombat franchise I am heading into this with no bias expectations. I have no idea as to what is missing in the game so there will be no disappointment, or crying. I have the impression that the fatalities, blood, guts were the center of their popularity, controversy, praise, and criticism from the beginning. That was their selling point, right? Although I feel that everyone, through the years, finally got over that. So the big question in my mind is, by turning off the blood, fatalities, and such, is there a real fighting game underneath?



To all button mashers, "Move along, these are not the droids you are looking for." You want to, and need to, learn the character moves, that is the only way you are going to enjoy and have satisfaction in playing this game. There is no way you are going to get anywhere just mashing buttons. That is the way this game is designed. A novice is going to need to press their way out of their relaxed mode of play and develop some skills. And I think there is enough here to motivate. There is a real fighting game underneath all the blood and gore. Search through and find a character which appeals to you, try them out, then buckle down and get to work. You will enjoy the rewards.


The backgrounds, I personally find a bit disappointing. There could have been more animation, better use of colors, with things going on, needs a bit of activity, that would have made the environments more interesting, for me. Some stages you are busting through floors, I like that. My head went through every one of them. So there is that type of action. But I understand the backgrounds, this is classic Mortal Kombat, and this is the way it looked from the beginning, the way it is supposed to be. I understand that this particular release of the series was not released to the arcades but only to home consoles as, sort of, an update to Mortal Kombat 3. I have no idea if it succeeded in that goal. After all, this is all three of the first games crammed into one, right? I am baffled by the criticism that the N64 version received. But presently this game is not competing against anything, other consoles, or arcade releases. Nope, they are not here in this room with me. We are just considering whether it is a viable fighting game for the console. So...what we have here is a very solid game for the N64 of the Mortal Kombat franchise.


You have a ton of fighters to choose from. You can have up to 8 people sitting around playing together in a fighting tournament. Place on top of that, arcade gaming. (I have so got to get an arcade stick for my N64.) For those "single mode vs computer" gamers, even though this game has a "very easy" setting and a "novice" mode, both of those are not going to help you enjoy this game where you can just whizz through. This is not for casual gamers. Casual gamers really do not enjoy a game the way it was intended, if the truth be told. There is a lot of fun and enjoyment here to be had. This is one of those games in which you can sit down and sink your teeth into, master it. Fast, furious, tight gameplay, they nailed it. This game makes me want to purchase Mortal Kombat 4 for my N64 now. I will give Trilogy a thumbs up and rate it, "Awesome Game."

This review is taken from a series of reviews I did a couple of years ago concerning the fighters available for the N64.




So......hmmm......production values, let's talk about that for a moment. You got to have production values to produce a good game; Or at least to end up with something half way decent. You would think that they would have goals to shoot for. And one would at least come close to meeting those targets, right? As I sit here playing this game all week, I continuously look at the cart reading, and rereading, the name Konami. The name Konami does not go with this game. At least not the Konami I use to know. In my mind Konami had a reputation of putting out top notch games until now. My bubble popped.



I really want to like this game. I really do. The intro is comparable to the intros of other fighting games of that day, CD quality IMO. But is that as good as it gets? I find the graphics appealing. And the character design? I almost have this feeling that I have seen some of these fighters before. Maybe popular games have influenced the artists involved? The fighters have a simple anime style artwork look about them. I really like that. The snow stage I find as a favorite. You have an interaction with the stages, the backgrounds, by throwing your opponent crashing through a wall or some object in that stage, or they, throwing you. I like that. I somehow find myself thinking that maybe this will get better the more I play.



There are some good concepts going on here like the "create a fighter" mode. You name and decide how your fighter looks. Then your fighter learns moves from the opponent. Gradually, through many fights, which have to be wins, you become a skilled fighter. Not sure, if at some point, you will be able to use that fighter in the main game. I have seen in a review that you can. There were thoughts, at first, wondering if I would be able to endure just to find out.



My main complaints about this game is the gameplay, total frustration. The controls seem so non responsive, sluggish, haphazard; it is really hard to put into words. Gameplay can kill a game rather quickly. And that is the biggest problem with Deadly Arts. If only this game would have been finished, because that is what it seems like, unfinished. No polish. It had come to mind that maybe this game was untested and shoved out the door. The moves are not anything to get all worked up over as none of them are over the top, just hits and kicks, simple martial arts moves. No finishing moves, or long string combos. Emphasis is on how you fight, the technique, which is very different from other fighters in the genre. And I like bringing new ideas to the table. Confusing if you are used to arcade style gameplay. You have a limited number of moves for each character and some of those moves are difficult to pull off. Using configuration D for the control pad gives you access to those difficult moves as they are assigned to certain buttons. Setting the bout time to 30 seconds is also a plus. If the time runs out each side is given a score based on fighting technique, amount left in your life bar, etc. This can work to your advantage if you strategize. I have had almost nothing in my life bar but was graded high on my fighting and won the bout. Making these adjustments has given me a more satisfying experience with this game. But how many gamers will work their way to this point just to play a game? Casual gamers will jump off at the first bump in the road. Unlockables include, stages, fighters, and extra body parts for the "create a fighter" mode.



I purchased this game especially for this series of reviews not knowing what to expect. I ended this game time with an appreciation for this game which is not how it started. I actually started to have fun. I wonder, did Konami ever redeem themselves after releasing this game? As a gamer I have standards. When you pick up the controller for a fighting game, you should feel "at one" with your character. The game should be designed in such a way that if I fail, I know and feel it was my fault. I should feel some since of accomplishment as I continue to play and advance in the game. It should be easy to pick up and play. If you have tight, fun, responsive gameplay, you have a winner. I don't care what the complaints are with graphics and sound, gamers will still be playing. I will still be playing. Deadly Arts does have its moments, and I get it, what they were trying to accomplish, but it is not enough. This game had such potential. And I rate this game as, "I'm glad I only paid $5 instead of $60." It is totally unfinished. And I am conscious of the fact that some people actually like this game a lot, and are fans. And I will admit, it does grow on you the more you play.

This review is taken from a series of reviews I did a couple of years ago concerning the fighters available for the N64.

This is defiantly a fan based fighting game. I think it is  based on some anime series, Super Robot Spirit, Super Robot Wars, that I am not familiar with except through this game. If you love the Gundam type mecha franchise and own an N64 then this game may be for you. I am under the impression that there are not that many carts available, being that, the game sold under 10,000 copies at its initial release. Or? Maybe there were a lot of copies that went unsold. Who knows? It was only released in Japan. Famitsu list it in the top selling N64 games in Japan as #80. Which was only 8,919 carts sold from 1996 through 2003. That really gives a bad impression on how well the N64 game did in Japan. With that many copies sold, the question comes to mind, "Is it a bad game?"



The game is in Japanese, but it being a fighting game makes it easy to get into. Your only loss is not knowing what is going on in the story mode, which is the mode highlighted when the game boots up in the start menu. Move down the menu until you see the number 64. This would be the mode which is the gauntlet, single player, fighting mecha after mecha until the end boss, Judecca. Right under the story mode is the "VS" mode. It appears that there are only 10 fighters to choose from and several of those must be unlocked.



This is really a 2D game, in gameplay, in a pseudo 3D environment. Backgrounds in the game lack imagination. The mecha units are polygonal in design which works well for the characters. They are suppose to look like robots anyway, right? The graphics, not having a lot of detail, are colorful, simple, and clean, animation is smooth. Each Gundam type mecha character is easily recognizable by their own unique design and individual color palette. I find the control responsive and tight. Each fighter has a common kick and punch with their own signature special moves. Some of the special moves are determined by how full the energy bar. That bar fills as you engage your opponent. And you are not limited to fighting just on the ground. Any time you want, you can take it to the air with the right shoulder button. I like this. It adds so much to the gameplay.



I find it a nice little fighter in the list of things available for the console. The game is easy to pick up and play. Moves are easy to learn and initiate. I find the fights fun and engaging. I haven't watched any of the anime series, so I am not that familiar with the characters, or story. Even though I don't know who they are, I still find it a fun and enjoyable game to sit down to and get into the action. It is a simple fighter with big chunkie ginormous mecha. Whats not to love? Even though I have had this a short time, I still cannot beat that end boss Judecca. But I will. To answer that question I posed at the beginning, no it is not a bad game. It may not be for every gamer, but if you love the genre and have this thing for big mecha, you owe it to yourself to pick this up. It is really not that hard to find or that expensive, even for a CIB copy. I am glad to have this in my N64 library. How do I rate this game? I am going to have to place this up there as being "great game."

This review is taken from a series of reviews I did a couple of years ago concerning the fighters available for the N64.

The novelty of the humor wears thin very quickly for me. I do get it, the joke, but it is just that, it's over after the first play through for some reason. Maybe it is only me. Now the only question is, is there really a fighting game underneath the surface?

The graphics are goofy, cartoony, and have the look of claymation. The animation matches that idea with a lack of smoothness reflecting a choppiness. Which is what you get with a clay animated cartoon, etc. The fighters do look good and the backgrounds are very detailed, well designed, and creates the proper mood. What you have is a 2D fighting game in a pseudo 3D environment. Some of the illusion of 3D is that you end up fighting behind an object in some of the environments. In some stages you also crash through doors and walls ending up in another room or place. Similar to a Final Fight or Streets of Rage game.



I recommend running through the characters and find one that you can get into and enjoy playing. I found a good fighter that appealed to me, Earthworm Jim. It is always good to find a character that you can become one with in order to get the most out of any fighter. You start with 9 fighters to choose from with 3 unlockables. There are three punch buttons and three kick. That is weak, medium, and hard for both. From that, with the help of the direction button, you piece together combos. You won't use any of the other buttons except for codes.



There are five fighting game modes, cookie, normal, whoa, dude, and psycho. What bugs me about this game is that in cookie and normal modes there seems to be no challenge. I went through both modes without losing a fight. Then when entering whoa the difficulty level is turned up at a surprising notch. And I am not sure if it might not be the opponent which is making it hard. I easily pounded the clown in dude mode, but the bunny hit me like a freight train. A combo of 487 hits?! Come on! Then I just change to a different fighter (Earthworm Jim at this point) and learn a few of his combos and I blow through dude mode like it was nothing. But if your opponent gets the upper hand because you forget your combos, your toast. Once you have this knowledge of the game, it causes me to say that this game becomes too easy in the single player mode. At first, you will spend a lot of time in the normal mode, mainly learning to put together your combos. If you don't, you will not get anywhere beyond the normal game mode. That makes the emphasis of this game totally on combos in single player. And there are throws and even claytalities to learn. The game really has more of a balance to it in two player gameplay.



There are some frustrations I find with this game. I do not like the hopping that I find myself doing, just to get near my opponent. You both end up in a chase across the whole stage. With some of the combo hits you find yourself knocked across the area only with the need to hop back across. In the fighting you sometimes end up behind an object in which you cannot see either fighter. When you beat the game you are only treated to rolling credits. No points awarded, no name save, no nothing other than game over. Well, you are not totally empty handed. It does give you a code to use on the gamepad. I find the highlight of this game is Earthworm Jim as a controllable fighter. That alone makes the game for me. But when it comes to re-playability, once you open up the three fighters and get all the codes, there is no motivation for me, other than using my fighter. If it had the points for rating my fighting, that could have made the game a little deeper. Not sure if this game is for everyone though. And I am referring to the overall package. There is some fun here, but some gamers might not take it seriously as a fighter. What I am saying is that the game itself has a limited appeal. It is an easy pick up and play with no difficulty in learning combos and moves. But two player is where this game has its moments. Consider the single player mode as practice. With all its flaws, I am going to rate this game as, "good game."

This review is taken from a series of reviews I did a couple of years ago concerning the fighters available for the N64.

This game was only released in Europe and Japan. If you have the NTSC N64, then you do not want the PAL version, it would be slow on your NTSC N64 system. You want the Japan version. And surprisingly the Japan version has plenty of English so that negotiating the menus will be no problem.



I have often read discussions on the net concerning the viability of 2D games on the N64. It caused me to wonder if they actually knew that 2D meant two dimensional gaming. From games like this one I can come to the conclusion that the N64 is very capable in delivering a 2D experience. I just think everyone was too busy wanting to cash in on the 3D craze back then. Even though this game's colorful graphics seem geared toward children, very juvenile, there is some heavy fighting going on here, and simple fun. You can even choose a line art mode. The graphics then will look like chalk drawings, really weird.



I am trying to learn some of the moves, because this is not exactly Street Fighter. Some have drawn parallels and compared it with a likeness of a weaker Marvel vs Capcom. Hmmm... not so sure about that.... though I can see where they are coming from. There are three kick buttons and three for punch, with a special, or magic, move. The buttons for each are weak, medium, and strong. Using the direction button with any of these buttons produces several alternate moves for each button as it usually is with other like fighters. (I am getting so pounded by the robot. I don't like him.)



The game is wacky and yet one of the better fighters for the system. This game made me want Street Fighter Alpha on the N64. It made me want that because I can see that it was possible to have a CAPCOM game on the N64. RakugaKids is an incredible game. If you like fighters, then this will cause you to scratch your head, wondering why CAPCOM never stepped into the N64 ring. This game was a very welcome entry for Konami, a classic for the system. How did they get it right here and lose their way somewhere in Deadly Arts? Different team of programmers and designers?



This is a fun game. Not too deep, yet simple and enjoyable to play. Easy to get into. Character designs may not be to everyones liking. Some gamers may be put off by it. Enough to not consider the game seriously. Even though that is so, I still recommend this game. And would have to rate this game as, "awesome game."

This review is taken from a series of reviews I did a couple of years ago concerning the fighters available for the N64.

This fighter is based on a 1995 TV series of the same name. If you haven't guessed, this is a fan based game. I went into this game with a bit of reluctance and caution. Maybe a lot of skepticism too. After all, games based on movies, or TV shows, the majority of the time, crash and burn because they are quickly and sloppily programmed, cheaply thrown together, and stamped with a license. I guess the makers are hoping to get enough cash, before the word gets out, to maybe break even, or make a slim profit. There have been a lot of stinking bad games in video game history that bear this shame. Does this game deserve to be thrown into that ugly pot? That is the question I want to answer for myself.



At the opening there is a synopsis of a storyline which has the intent to give you a reason for fighting in this game. There is really no story mode, which would have been nice being that it was based on a TV series. From the moment you turn the game on, you are treated to nicely detailed graphics. The fighting arenas are big, roomy, and nicely laid out, but no interaction with the backgrounds. And this game is definitely 3D fighting. You are given a sort-of three quarter slightly overhead view and this enhances the 3D feel of the game. I know what you are thinking, fear not, the fighters are big, not tiny. And the fighters are very good likenesses of the characters they are portraying, though the details are somewhat fuzzy, or blurred. Considering the time period, they look nice and are very recognizable, so, I can live with that. Each fighter has their own unique signature weapon and moves. One of the achilles heel of the game is that the variety of moves are limited in number. You have two buttons each for kick and punch, weak and strong. There are several moves, that are determined by the directional button, when engaging kick or punch. Punch is usually the weapon move, whether it be a spear, sword, etc. And there is a special move for every character. There are no finishing moves, no points given for your fighting, only a, you won, or, you lost. Nothing over the top, just plain fighting, something like you would see in an adventure game or action RPG. It feels like it has been extracted from one of those type games. One big feather in this game"s cap is the option of, a three or four player brawl. You can team up or fight each other. This is where one button becomes useful, the targeting button. It is useless in single and verses mode. No need to target in those modes. And that is one thing I like about this game, your fighter is totally focused toward the opponent, so you don't get lost in the 3D. There's nothing worse in a 3D game than trying to get your character to face your opponent so you can hit them. And you're getting beaten in the process.



I find it easy to learn the moves and control the fighters. And I have developed a like for certain fighters because of their moves and control. Finding favorites in a game gives it a plus for me. There seem to be small combos that you can learn to perform. The game is easy to get into but it is not that deep of a fighter and that is due to being limited in your variety of moves and not much to do after that other than fighting. It doesn't take long to master the single player mode, that is if you are playing on easy, so I would think that the four player brawl is where this game would shine, a simple fighting party game. Starting in easy mode is a good place to learn to control and use your fighter. And the control seems tight, which is another plus.



FINAL THOUGHTS:
This is one of those games that might not be for everyone. So I find it hard to recommend. It is one of those games that falls into three categories. You either hate it, love it, or it is an acquired taste. My thoughts before I even turned this game on, was, this is going to be trash. I had prejudged this game based on other licensed games I had tried before. I never watched the TV series and yet I found myself liking this game. So I don't think you need to be a fan. This game became an acquired taste for me. Being a weapon based fighter, it is not "Mace The Dark Age," but I found it enjoyable. If you don't mind a mindless simple very playable fighter then you will find this good gaming. This one took me by surprise. My rating for this game is, "good game." Not great, not awesome, but good. I think fans would greatly enjoy.

That is so wicked.  I wished that consoles would have designs, or themes, like that. I would go for one rather than the usual plain look.

There was a time that retro gaming took the form of running to the yard or garage sales. Dropping by the local pawn shop or flea market. Even the local mom & pop media type stores carried the game carts. We were after that game we missed and if we found it complete with box and manual, we were elated. Gradually people were dumping their childhood by cleaning out their closets, attics, basements only to find a desire to return years later trying to catch a glimpse of those memories. There is that generation of gamers that understand. But there have been other generations, since then, that have entered the world of gaming which did not experience that era. They have found bits and pieces only in the virtual console services. Over the years many have found satisfaction in emulation, either home PC, phone, or some hacked portable. In those early years you had to find the original cart to experience the fun on the original hardware, the way it was meant to be. But we have entered a period that it has become harder and harder to find those gems of the past. Many have found the value of those games in the market place. As a result they have priced many games out of the reach of the average gamer. It has become a collectors market.

China, who don't mind the business of pirating, has found that market profitable. It started as a trickle and has become a flood. Clone systems of the real thing like the NES was just the beginning. The NES clones, at the beginning, were very limited in their compatibility with the real games. But over the years that has changed, with only a hand full you would find unplayable. Graphics and audio quality is still problematic. Not only will you find clone systems plentiful, but you will see reproduction game carts, boxes, and pamphlets, or included manual. Much looking like the genuine article.

There are the multi carts which may include anywhere from 4 to over 600 games. They can include original NES games and also hacked games. They may be, for example, all of the Mega man games on one cart.

The recent release of the Nintendo Mini in a limited run left many gamers angered. But China saw the opportunity and responded to fill the gap to Nintendo's bumbling and dropping the ball. The China market released their own Minis with not just 30, but, we're talking, 500 to over 800 games in the same size package, or foot print. And you can pick one of the China clone minis up for as low as $16.95 free shipping.

Many of the consoles, or systems, have their nuances, but they still sell to a niche market hungry for those retro delights. With the advent of built in games or multi carts, it has become very easy for someone with an appetite for the old NES magic to acquire possibly the  complete library of games requiring almost no space for storage. In the newer generation of gamers there is no desire to own those older consoles of the past. There is no nostalgia in it for them. They were not there. It is easier to just walk in and purchase the clone. For others that remember, and was there, they may find the convenience of the China stuff welcomed. They are wanting their kids to experience what they did at that age. (Or the clone is one of those things that your Grandparents purchase for you, not knowing it is not the genuine article.) Whatever the case may be, it sells. And it has effected the whole gaming scene. It has clouded and made it a field of deception in the collectors market when looking for the "real thing." One now has to collect with much caution when purchasing. There are those positive and negative aspects of the flood. And it keeps pouring.
My own experience is that, I enjoy playing with this sort of stuff. Right now I am hyped for a Final Fantasy 7 cart that I am eagerly waiting for at my mailbox.  It is a fan made hack and contains the whole story of that RPG that was made for the PS1 long ago. And it looks great, like the other Final Fantasy games on the NES. I have even ordered a box designed for this game.

Welcome to the forums!!

Spent some time today with Nemesis on my Gameboy Pocket.

I have picked up Diablo 3 for the PS3, but seemingly I have not had time to play it. I have had it now for over a month. Purchased it because of the conversations in a thread around here.

Just so you know my favorite,

I thought that the Gamecube was Nintendo's perfect entry into the world of disc based gaming. I loved the small disc. Been a while since I had mine out being that you can use those games on the Wii. Embarrassing, I know, for a retro gamer.

Lot of good gaming can still be found on this system.

My fav would have to be Mario 3. It introduced the world map to the Mario games. And the music just sticks in your head and never lets go. The gameplay is spot on. It is Mario in its perfection.

As always, Neo Geo stuff out of reach. 

Hmmm.... in my Family I have always been the black Bomberman. (Ahem) Anyway...welcome to this little corner of space on the net. Glad to have a new gamer added to the forum. Please look around.

Mine stays out and ready to go. I am the most distracted gamer. Meaning that I will play something like the Gameboy Pocket for a while, walk by the Genesis, you got to fire it up, switch to some sega games for a while, then a game on the NES comes to mind. Before you know it it has been a year or more since you have fired up the ole NEO GEO CD.
Recently a guy at work, who owns an AES, and I was discussing the difficulty level of newer fighters vs the old arcade stuff. That prompted me to turn on my NG CD. I got my tail handed to me that night. 

I am glad I still own one that works. And I know at some point it will fail. But it has given me the opportunity to own the original stuff on the original Neo Geo hardware. It has some of the most challenging and fun fighters from the old days of arcades. I still play, but not like I did years ago. So looking forward to retirement. (Random memory flash)And that first time walking into the front doors of a K-Mart and there stood a World Heroes cabinet, first encounter with Neo Geo. While playing wishing I had it at home.

Always wanted a CDz. It never happened. Never will. I am very reluctant to put out money for a retro CD based gaming system any more since my Sega CD died.

holy crap...  IF I Am correct... I saw $250 at Amazon.com?

What the what?!

Yep! Exactly!

The prices I am seeing on this thing are not very encouraging.

  Still fit?

This system doesn't always go for $60. Just so happens one vender on Aliexpress was selling it for such a good price. It usually sells for around $72 which is still a great value. And yes most of the time you are going to pay $100 plus for HDMI output. Just look at my recent purchase of the 8-bit boy NES portable, $99, with HDMI output. One of the big selling points for that system. The easiest and cheapest way to get HDMI output for any retro gaming system is using an HDMI converter. They have a price range of $5 to $100+. I have one that falls into the low, cheaper, range price point. It basically does the same thing as the HDMI output of this Genesis clone. There is that softening effect to the edges of the retro gaming graphics. (Lets face it, retro graphics are retro graphics.) Being new to this I am not sure what more can be done except offering the option of scan lines. Yes you can enhance the colors, contrast, maybe, but...... I have been contemplating purchasing a more expensive converter just to see if there is a difference. I recently had to go flatscreen with my retro gaming which this is now more of an issue. $400 for only one retro system is insane, unless you are an N64 only fanatical fanboy, then you can easily justify it. But I am a "retro floater gamer." I just float from one retro console to another by moods. Wow I just made up a new gamer category! To me, the converter just makes more sense. I am personally satisfied with the HDMI output I find on the two clone systems that I have with this feature, but I would rather have the option of gaming on the original console. Clones are okay for what they do, but there are those games that just don't work, or they are very glitchy and problematic in their playing. What if the option to mod all of your retro systems to HDMI came about? If it was $400 a pop, then I would have to be selective, if I got that serious. I would keep in mind the age of the system and (sweating at this point) the thought would go through my mind, "This thing could fail next week and I just put $400 into this thing?!"

I do find this clone system enjoyable and fun to game on. But recently I have been heavily distracted by my 8-bit boy. Been playing NES Final Fantasy. 

OLED is a must have for any new Sony portable. I love my OLED Vita. 

I have been wanting this game. I have been thinking about picking it up for my PS3. Look the art style and animation that I have seen of it.

So far the general feeling is that the older games should have some type of preservation, in some form, with easy accessibility. We are placing games in the same classification as literature and art, having historical value.
This situation sparked some discussion in my home. My Daughter felt that if Nintendo was going to pursue this route then they should provide an alternative.
Lets face it, there were a lot old good computer games released on floppies and cassette tape. That medium has probably reached the end of its life span. Unless those games are preserved in digital form, there will be a great loss. Being able to experience those games raises questions on accessibility. Also who should be able to preserve those games. There are many old arcade games that fall under this need also.

We are not necessarily talking about nostalgia. There are many games from different time periods that are just simple fun. Some genre are not even made anymore, like for example the "text based." (I understand okay?) But you know what I am saying. Telltale comes very close to some of those old computer type games from the 386 and 486 days. Not that I would want to see those games take a place on the modern hardware necessarily, it is just that it would fill a need for many gamers to experience many things from those time periods. Some might, I am sure, would find a new love for certain genres that they never knew existed.

I can't imagine not being able to play my R-Type, Nemesis, Gradius 3, Darius Twin, Parodius, and many other shooters. But at some point even the carts along with their systems will give out and die, perish the thought. But it will happen. Hopefully not in my lifetime.

It seems that no one wants to offer a real solution to this need. Everyone in the industry has the attitude of, "play our new hardware" forget that old stuff. Here we'll  throw you a bone, maybe that will pacify those noisy gamers.

Maybe Nintendo is saying stop playing that stuff, purchase our new Switch gaming system.

What would have happened to these old games if there was no internet?

I think we need more companies like Retro-Bit to put out those multi plug and play systems. Let the minis continue to be made. If that is a solution for now.

I think a Star Ocean anime movie could be done well.

In light of Nintendo's present activities, I would like to discuss this matter from a different perspective. I have read so many boohoo snot slinging reactions this week. I will admit that many years ago, I know it has been over twenty, I did attempt some emulation. It did not satisfy or keep me interested. If anyone knows me well they know I love being able to hold the physical cart in my hand and push it down into the real, or clone, machine. Chasing down a copy, scraping the money together and bringing it home, is just part of the experience for me. Not much into digital copies of games, but, time to time, I have purchased old Gameboy games on my DS and 3DS from Nintendo's store. I still search ebay for a bargain on old cart SNES, Gameboy, GBA, DS, and Sega Genesis games.

With that being said,

After all these years of emulation, rom downloads, suddenly Nintendo comes out like a bear and a lion trampling down the free rom sites beneath their feet.

What motivated, or prompted this sudden move? Why now? Why throw cash out at something like this at this time?

Did they finally realize with the release of the minis that there is gold in those old games? It is odd that this happens after the reaction of gamers toward the mini sales and its success. They have hesitated for some reason in the retro gaming access concerning the Switch.

Are they about to launch something for the Switch and in order for it to be successful they need to clean house? Or are they, after all these years, finally woke up to protect their properties?

Are there any thoughts on this? Has anyone heard or contemplated what Nintendo is up to?

Just got through eating my homemade burritos and a baked tater. 

Happy Birthday! 

Done

Now if only I had the Thumbs up done that quick   Need to find the proper images.

Dig the review @retro junkie - Good Stuff.

Thanks!
I have been into this thing all weekend. If I had one of these for the SNES and one for the Sega Genesis, I would not want for anything else.