Rival Turf (Super NES, 1992)

 

Rad-sounding developer Jaleco brings us a game that looks totally rad to the max: Rival Turf, known as Rushing Beat in Japan where it had a bit more of an audience. I have no idea what I'm getting into here. Is this one of Nintendo's earlier attempts to be young and hip like Sega? Who are these two kids? Are they in the game? Are they faces or heels? They look like they're minutes away from beating up Emilio Estevez in an arcade.

Now on Nintendo Switch Online, so one can play it there with simultaneous two-player action. Put on your bandana and pop your collars, it's time to be a RAD DUDE.

Top 10 Underrated Emotional Moments In Games

Today I'm running through some emotional moments that don't get a lot of airtime. Little jolts from various games that meant something or hit hard in their own ways. Obviously I'm missing about a hundred worthwhile things from this list, and it's just what came to mind for a top ten.

Dragon Quest Master Post (Updated for 2026)

Links to all of the Dragon Quest series posts on this site, in an organized list. There are so many of them that it became necessary! Bunch of new updates.

Highlander 5x01 - Prophecy

 

A year later, I pick up after the cliffhanger of sorts at the end of S4. How will Joe and Duncan mend their shattered friendship? Where's Richie?

Most of the questions will have to wait a bit because this episode is more about setting the stage for the big main event of Season 5. I wonder if this is the only show out there that has its "main events" about 60% of the way through the seasons*. I'd say Buffy got it right by having the Big Bads show up at the end, but either way, I'll take it. * - Except Season 3, which felt much more like a traditional season arc.

This episode is a good one, and features the underrated and gorgeous Tracy Scoggins as mythical immortal Cassandra, known for being able to see the future. Yes, that Cassandra. Not sure how I feel about Highlander getting more "mystical" from here on out, but I'll need to get used to it because supernatural elements pop up quite a few times in the last arc of the show.

Dragon Quest VI SFC, Part X - Finale

 

Day 12 of The Twelve Days of DQsmas arrives. Whew, that was a haul.

With the big optional dungeon / superboss still remaining, I've got lots and lots (and lots) of grinding to do.

Dragon Quest VI SFC, Part IX - Demigods and Hungry Ghosts

 

Day 11 of The Twelve Days of DQsmas brings us the grand finale of DQ6.

At the top of Deathtamoor's Castle, the final battle for the fate of the world begins. Which world? I don't know. Probably the Dark World, but also probably one of the other two. Maybe both of 'em. I stopped keeping up a while ago,

Dragon Quest VI SFC, Part VIII - The Oppressive Force of Gravity

 

Day 10 of the Twelve Days of DQsmas is upon us. With Sorrow Town cured, the next one is Greed Town. Wait, so each Dark World town is essentially a personality issue that needs to be fixed? Is this suddenly an Ultima game? Will the next town be Wrath, and I need to cure it by visiting Empath Abbey?

Dragon Quest VI SFC, Part VII - Fine Dining and Culinary Excellence

This was the missing chapter when I did the remake. Here I raise Zenithia Castle and battle Duran Duran, while that Hawk guy continues to hang around.

Dragon Quest VI SFC, Part VI - Land of the Hawk

 

Now we enter uncharted territory with the remainder of this infernal game, after abandoning it for a while.

Previously on DQVI: I defeated Gracos, Demonlord of the Sea, found the legendary armor, and found the legendary shield. Also the hero won a beauty pageant by having the fiercest runway walk. Now, I have to repair a rusted sword and find the legendary helm before I head into the final battle.

Dragon Quest VI SFC, Part V - The Ballad of Clean Ken

 

My God! ...wait, who?

Dragon Quest VI SFC, Part IV - A Very Yuji Horii Christmas

DQ6 continues with more class-leveling! I'm all about the class-leveling in this game. The story really isn't interesting and the game world is a bit bloated, so the strong point of this game is the tree of classes and wealth of abilities to collect.

Need to issue a BIG correction: I said in the past that class mastery bonuses (+10 to a stat, etc) carried over between classes. Since then I've been informed that they don't. So that's unfortunate. Still worth maxing multiple classes to stack up the abilities, though.

Dragon Quest VI SFC, Part III - Glockenspiel

Not quite as breathtaking as the remake, but not too shabby either...

Dragon Quest VI SFC, Part II - Mirror Mirror

 

Today on DQVI: The intro scene finally comes to life as our heroes take on Fort Dragonia Mudo's Palace.

Dragon Quest VI (Super Famicom, 1995)

 

DQsmas continues with me bringing back DQ6 from the dead. I never finished covering the original version so it's my one remaining loose end in the first six games of this series. Covering it the same time as the remake was an experiment and it didn't work out great for the original. Regardless, I'm re-editing the first 60-70% or so that I did, then covering the last 30-40%. Let's go.

I've never been that crazy about this game and definitely put it in the bottom half of the series quality-wise. I've only played the SFC version once before, in 2001, so it'll be interesting to revisit it after all this time. This version never got an official US translation (all of the US releases were based on the remake) so I'm playing it on the same fan-translation from 2001.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, Part 7 (Finale) - End of the Beginning

"Considering as we have the ancient disease of pride which has caused innumerable homicides, the people of Alefgard agreed that no other house should be built higher than the towers of Zoma's Citadel." - Thomas Aquinas, probably

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, Part 6 - Merry DQsmas

 

Previously on DQ3: Our heroes defeated Baramos, only to have Zoma appear with an army of Mystery Drones and fly them menacingly over Aliahan, prompting our heroes to climb down to Hell.

The Crow (2024)

 

A rare movie review, because for some reason I actually had a lot to say about this movie. The original is one of the most atmospheric movies of the 90's, with a powerful performance by Brandon Lee (his last, mind you, which makes the movie even more impactful). It wasn't something that needed to be remade to begin with, and they bungled this one on every level to boot.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, Part 5 - Descent to Avernus

 

Today on Dragon Quest: I sail the Santa Maria de la Inmaculate Concepcion to new lands and take on Baramos in what is definitely the final battle of DQ3.

Super Earth Defense Force (Super NES, 1991)

 

1991 gave us two massive cultural touchstones that completely shook the world: Highlander II, and this space shooter from Jaleco that I never heard about until recently. Thought it was related to the Earth Defense Force series from 2005+, but nope, totally unrelated it seems. Trying it out anyway, as Jaleco usually makes good games. Also, "Jaleco" is like the most rad-to-the-max 80's/90's video game company title.

This is without a doubt the most attention this game has gotten in a long, long time.

Romancing SaGa 2, Finale - Live on in Song

 

This is it, the final episode of this very strange, but very good game. Unfortunately, the final boss is horrible.