gingerbeardman
2001
Developer COMPILE made games of all types for their Disc Station compilations. This is related to those because that's where the characters come from. This is a fiendishly simple puzzle game: rotate the field & pull/push blocks to compete the picture. Sort of Magical Drop meets Picross.
I think I've owned three copies of this, at least one was stolen.
I think I've owned three copies of this, at least one was stolen.
2001
Kuru Kuru Kururin sums up what I think is so great about the sort of games Nintendo published in the days of GBA, DS and Wii. It’s an unorthodox action/puzzle/maze game made by a third party best known for their scrolling shoot ’em ups. No other company would have the balls to release a game like this, never mind as part of a console launch line-up.
Fun fact: it was prototyped as an arcade game.
The sequel, Kururin Paradise, perfects the concept.
https://blog.gingerbeardman.com/2010/10/05/kuru-kuru-kururin/
Fun fact: it was prototyped as an arcade game.
The sequel, Kururin Paradise, perfects the concept.
https://blog.gingerbeardman.com/2010/10/05/kuru-kuru-kururin/
1999
The Dreamcast was the first truly online home video game console, and brought with it the first wave of fantastic online multi-player games that could be played on your TV. ChuChu Rocket! was one of the best, an outstanding action puzzler with a glorious multi-player mode.
https://blog.gingerbeardman.com/2010/10/28/chuchu-rocket/
https://blog.gingerbeardman.com/2010/10/28/chuchu-rocket/
2024
My first Lucas Pope game! I enjoyed it, in particular the details for the players paying close attention.
1984
I adore this so much I own an arcade cabinet! If you're in the UK you can play it at Arcade Club, Bury, Greater Manchester.
It's deterministic (no randomness) so you can figure out a repeatable route and turn playing into a zen experience. Controls use leaf switches so feel very analogue.
The Mega Drive version is a decent port but not 1:1 to the arcade original, so I find it slightly lacking.
https://blog.gingerbeardman.com/2010/10/07/flicky/
&
https://www.flicky1984.com
It's deterministic (no randomness) so you can figure out a repeatable route and turn playing into a zen experience. Controls use leaf switches so feel very analogue.
The Mega Drive version is a decent port but not 1:1 to the arcade original, so I find it slightly lacking.
https://blog.gingerbeardman.com/2010/10/07/flicky/
&
https://www.flicky1984.com
2009
Madness. In a good way.
2011
I've just seen the credits on Go Vacation (Wii) by collecting all stamps/badges for playing the listed activities once and achieving the specified requirement. Not all activities are listed in this mode, so there are some surprises waiting for me.
My opinion is that this is a really great game, and I say that as somebody who tried it back in the day and didn't like it coming off the back of Wii Sports Resort. Here we are a decade or so later and I have fresh eyes. I found it very enjoyable.
Tons of content, too! I still have so much more to unlock by revisiting the activities and trying to find the hidden things dotted about the island.
For example: Road Racing is one activity and the first time you encounter it you play one circuit race and have to come first. When you revisit it you may be surprised to see there are a further ~25 events: circuit races (road cars, indy cars), checkpoint races (road cars, motorbikes) & slalom races (motorbikes). For the road cars you can pick between compact, sports and exotic cars that all handle differently. This sort of detail applies to each of ~50 activities.
Comparing it to Wii Sports Resort: what this lacks in depth it makes up for in terms of breadth. Don't sleep on it.
Also, fwiw, compared to the Switch version the Wii version features more graphical effects, albeit at a lower resolution of 480p.
My opinion is that this is a really great game, and I say that as somebody who tried it back in the day and didn't like it coming off the back of Wii Sports Resort. Here we are a decade or so later and I have fresh eyes. I found it very enjoyable.
Tons of content, too! I still have so much more to unlock by revisiting the activities and trying to find the hidden things dotted about the island.
For example: Road Racing is one activity and the first time you encounter it you play one circuit race and have to come first. When you revisit it you may be surprised to see there are a further ~25 events: circuit races (road cars, indy cars), checkpoint races (road cars, motorbikes) & slalom races (motorbikes). For the road cars you can pick between compact, sports and exotic cars that all handle differently. This sort of detail applies to each of ~50 activities.
Comparing it to Wii Sports Resort: what this lacks in depth it makes up for in terms of breadth. Don't sleep on it.
Also, fwiw, compared to the Switch version the Wii version features more graphical effects, albeit at a lower resolution of 480p.
1992
This "shmup" contains more ideas than any other single game. At every turn you think you've seen it all: you have not. Game designer Kazuyuki Kurata called it a day after this, his only game. A masterpiece.
2010
More imaginative than the first one, which is saying something.
But, it doesn't have the impact of it being a totally new concept so I don't like it quite as much.
Honestly, you need to play them both.
But, it doesn't have the impact of it being a totally new concept so I don't like it quite as much.
Honestly, you need to play them both.
1997
Evil pigs, giant eggs, farting flowers, butterflies, mushrooms, a hungry monkey, a lost dwarf child, a thousand year-old wise man and a pink-haired feral boy. Yes, Tomba! may not be your average game but it’s certainly an overlooked gem.
https://blog.gingerbeardman.com/2010/10/21/tomba/
https://blog.gingerbeardman.com/2010/10/21/tomba/
2023
Been waiting for this since ...2016! Bravo for making it through development.
It looks better than expected, but the gameplay is completely at odds. Mechanics can be explained as Resident Evil meets Assemble With Care, with nothing original or memorable. Some very odd interactions are required which would make more sense if the game was motion or touch controlled, but it's not. The story is very slight and doesn't really go where you'd hope. End ending, meh.
Sigh, I'm a bit gutted such beautiful and imaginative graphics didn't come with its equal in gameplay. Where's the game!?
Graphics: 4.5
Gameplay: 1.5
Story: 3.0
It looks better than expected, but the gameplay is completely at odds. Mechanics can be explained as Resident Evil meets Assemble With Care, with nothing original or memorable. Some very odd interactions are required which would make more sense if the game was motion or touch controlled, but it's not. The story is very slight and doesn't really go where you'd hope. End ending, meh.
Sigh, I'm a bit gutted such beautiful and imaginative graphics didn't come with its equal in gameplay. Where's the game!?
Graphics: 4.5
Gameplay: 1.5
Story: 3.0
2011
Finishing this 100% is my standout 3DS memory. Loved it. It was such a huge effort I doubt I'll go back to the game, ever.
The only bad recollections I have was the weird floaty stalling behaviour in the jet plane. And the landings being tricky to do perfectly, annoying when you're trying to 100% the game.
There was a tiny bit of slowdown, but that goes away if you play it at New 3DS speeds on a modded device.
Oh, and I even had some crazy photos of me in flying gear taken by friends on release day. Good times!
The only bad recollections I have was the weird floaty stalling behaviour in the jet plane. And the landings being tricky to do perfectly, annoying when you're trying to 100% the game.
There was a tiny bit of slowdown, but that goes away if you play it at New 3DS speeds on a modded device.
Oh, and I even had some crazy photos of me in flying gear taken by friends on release day. Good times!
2009
Great. Probably the first game I played "on a schedule" where I would come back to check on the game clock/events.
And by one of the N64 GoldenEye developers!
And by one of the N64 GoldenEye developers!
2005
Astonishing attention to detail, plus a lot of things I've not seen before or since. Phenomenal handling. Can be persuaded to run in 480p using GSM and external scaler. Uneven computer results/timings lose it a little love.
All prior games in the series are perfectly distilled and stretched across dual screens. A more perfect difficulty curve I am yet to find. Extended play is mind-melding: you begin to think like the level designer!
The only issue I have is the voiceover and magician scenario which were apparently the request of a journalist. I much prefer the Safari-suit "Explorer" vibe of all previous games.
The only issue I have is the voiceover and magician scenario which were apparently the request of a journalist. I much prefer the Safari-suit "Explorer" vibe of all previous games.