The Retro Critic

Operation Secret Storm

Some games are so wrong, they’re almost right.

Let’s talk Operation Secret Storm, shall we?

After reviewing that old classic Aladdin Genesis game, I thought I’d go the other way and find something absolutely ludicrous to play while I complete a new video review for y’all.

Thankfully, Color Dreams is something of a goldmine when it comes to off-beat unofficial NES games that should not have been but somehow were. And this little gem is certainly right up there with some of Wisdom Tree‘s (one of their spin-off companies) most misguided religious 8-bit efforts.

Retro-bit releasing wireless Retro Controllers

Retro-bit, maker of a slew of retro-related hardware and accessories, has announced they’re releasing a series of wireless controllers for retro consoles.

Mega Man 5 OST Now Available

The Mega Man 5 Official Soundtrack is now available from Capcom.

Pinball Alley

Pinball Alley: Pinball Quest

Pinball Quest is the last stop for the Pinball Alley series, and it is perhaps the most creative experience of all of the NES pinball games. While it does offer traditional pinball experiences by virtue of three unique tables, the game’s biggest draw comes from the RPG Mode. It was a great idea for its time, combining two distinct genres of games and mashing them up into a fairly enjoyable– though occasionally frustrating– experience, and we would see Zen Studios resurrect the RPG/pinball mix via the Epic Quest table in 2012.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves and talk about the traditional pinball tables that Pinball Quest has to offer first.

Bitter Without Continues

“We ain’t got it, dawg.” is never an acceptable excuse.

Do you remember being able to go into your video game store of choice, being able to buy a game, and walk out without any conversation other than handing whoever was working the register the sixty bucks for your game?

I want to take a minute this week to talk about “whatever” editions and exclusive retailer releases.

And per the established trend with Bitter without Continues, let’s begin with a personal story.

Atari Poop

Radar Lock

Greetings, Atari Poop readers! Our usual columnist for this piece, Pierre, is out on a top-secret adventure. Thus, I, Eric Bailey, Editor-In-Chief, am taking his place for a special-edition substitute. Will you survive my sabotage? Let’s find out with a look at a true Atari classic, Radar Lock!

The Backlog

Special Episode – Demo Discs

There’s nothing quite like the demo disc. Amazing relics of gaming’s history, they are outdated previews to a history we’ve already lived. In this special episode Joe waxes nostalgic on a few of his personal favorite demo discs and invites you to share your stories.

1 More Podcastle

036 – Paris Fries

Let this be remembered as the day that there was an all-baseball retro showdown, and no one brought RBI.

The Completist

The Completist Presents: Flashback-The Quest for Identity

Hello everyone. First and foremost, I want to thank Eric Bailey editor and chief here at the Castle for believing in me and giving me a shot at writing for this fantastic site. I would also like to thank all of the great writers and content creators who contribute to “the budding flower” of 1 More Castle. You guys are the ones who inspired me to contribute myself with your quality content. I was sucked into this beautiful abyss and after many nights reading through all the amazing articles, I’m going to try my hand at contributing to this wonderful community.

In case you hadn’t read my header, I decided to call this column “The Completist.” There is a reason for this: I love to play through games, to completion. Whenever I start a new game, I have no intention of giving up until my fingers fall off or I see the credits roll. It can be tough, it can be frustrating and it can put undue strain on my marriage but most of all, it can be rewarding. In keeping with my strange compulsion, this column will be dedicated to what it takes to actually complete a game and the many ways that completing a game challenges the player. This isn’t going to be a walkthrough or FAQ sheet but more of a personal take on the challenge and excitement a complete journey through a video game can create. So without further adieu, I present to you my Completist take on “Flashback: The Quest for Identity.”

The Backlog

Episode Ten – The Bouncer (PlayStation 2)

Joe pleads his case for The Bouncer, a game that was unjustly cast aside and never got the recognition it deserved.

The Retro Critic

Aladdin

Told you I’d get to this one at some point.

Considering Disney’s Aladdin was one of the games I played the most on the Sega Genesis, I suppose it was kinda unavoidable.

A big fan of the movie as a kid, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one and it sure didn’t disappoint. Right away, the game had me hooked: its gorgeous visuals, its fluid animation, its clever yet goofy sense of humour, its creative, unexpected approach to some of the classic scenes from the movie, it was just everything I hoped the game would be and more. I tried the Super Nintendo version of the game around about the same time I got the Genesis one but for me there was honestly no contest: as decent as the SNES version was, Sega had already sunk its teeth into my neck and turned me into one of them.

N64 Connoisseur

1 More Castle Behind the Gaming: Glover Part 2

When we last left our story, Glover and Cross-Stitch had found gainful employment working for a kindly wizard.

“Those boys were the hardest working gloves I’ve ever seen,” remarked the wizard. “Before they came along, I couldn’t conjure a simple spell of HP regeneration. Two days after they started, I created a potion that gave me the power to produce any baked good by simply touching a plate. I gained so much weight, I had to have them both let out so I could fit my hands in them. Then, they helped me come up with this potion that got me free cable. We watched so much HBO! The best thing they helped me do, though, was to build this castle and get these seven crystals put up. You see, those crystals are what protect the kingdom. Yep, me, Glover, and Cross-Stitch, we were on top of the world. There was no stopping us…”

No stopping them, except for unforeseen tragedy.

The Fair Shake

Ice Hockey

So I was flipping through previous columns that I had written for 1 More Castle. Among other things, I’ve never discussed a sports game. I also noticed that, in general, 1 More Castle has for the most part, stayed away from that genre entirely. (‘That’s because geeks don’t play sports’ – my girlfriend). A debate for another time. I will however, present to you with one of my favorite sports titles. Ice Hockey, on the Nintendo Entertainment System. If you’re looking at the picture above and asking yourself who the hell those guys are, they are on the Famicom box, and they are your team. I loathe the US box, so I won’t even post a picture of it.

Bad Guys Anonymous

Zombie

Here we are in yet another edition of Bad Guys Anonymous. This weekly column covers the first opponent gamers encounter in the ranks of classic games. They aren’t famous, they aren’t tough and they aren’t remembered… until now.

This week’s entry focuses on the zombie.

“Which zombie!?” you plead. Well, back before zombies became the mainstay in the corporate world of video game murder, they weren’t quite as common a foe. Perhaps in titles like Zombies Ate My Neighbors they were, but your run-of-the-mill platformer wasn’t always rife with them.

RetroHate

Controlling the Pain

Controllers. Gamepads. Remotes. The interface between you and the little man/robot/animal/alien/vehicle/celestial body/etc. on your TV. The handheld device that grants you control over the pixels and polygons on the screen. Video games and their consoles are defined by their controllers; they live or die by this little hunk of molded plastic we hold in our hands.

Ideally, a controller should be lightweight and easy to hold as opposed to the earlier joystick bricks. It should be comfortable in the hand for hours of play. The buttons should be placed intuitively, within reasonable reach of one’s thumbs or fingers and provide fast response to the actions on screen. It should provide very little barrier between the player and the game; it should be a natural extension of the player body and mind.

Boy, did Nintendo miss that memo with the NES.

1 More Countdown

Episode Nine – Jurassic Park (NES)

In an episode 65 million years in the making, Joe introduces you to the oft-forgotten member of the Jurassic Park video game family.

Virtual View

Teleroboxer Review

Behold the Virtual Boy’s only fighting game. Think of Mike Tyson’s Punch-out!! but in first person view and with robots. Also this was one of two Virtual Boy games I got as a Xmas gift along with the well praised Virtual Boy Wario Land.

Bitter Without Continues

The day that italians versus hedgehogs hit home.

I’ve only been in what i can classify as two physical fights in my life.

One was over a girl, and is completely uninteresting to anybody reading.

The other was about Mario Mario (of the Mario Brothers) being better than Sonic the Hedgehog.

And i lost both, and learned several valuable experiences about fighting when not having any proper kind of training, and weighing close to 80 pounds at the time.

For all intents and purposes, I’m going to talk about the story more pertinent to the retro game column.

Atari Poop

Atari Poop – I Want My Mommy

Well, if the title doesn’t automatically convince you that this game is 100% wholesome, then the box art certainly will:

To be honest, I’m not even sure why I felt this game was worthy of an article. There’s nothing objectionable about it. The creators didn’t all commit suicide for unexplained reasons after its release. No one from the C.I.A. inserted subliminal images to brainwash the people who played it. Even the instruction manual is perfectly suited for children. Hell, it’s even written in a way to make it sound like it’s addressed to a 6-year-old. Here, have a look at what I mean:

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