Pokemon: Generation III (Epilogue)

Wait, didn't I finish Pokemon before the New Year? Not quite. I've got Pokemon FireRed videos on the way, plus there's one more thing to do in Pokemon Emerald. That's right, I'm going after the former champion. It's time to take on the deadliest Pokemon trainer in Hoenn: Steven.

Mega Man X3 (Super NES, 1995)

The end of the Super NES trilogy arrives with a bang. This is by far my least favorite of the three as it fixes a lot of what wasn't broken to begin with (while breaking the boss AI). Join me as I slog through it for your amusement.

Mega Man X2 (Super NES, 1994)

A year after the previous game, we got this one. Since I didn't play Mega Man X until about eleven months after it was released, this meant I got to basically go right from the first game to the next. As a result I had the benefit of directly comparing the two, and I'd go so far as to say this is the better of the two. Mega Man X is more appealing in a lot of its designs, and the fortress levels are definitely better, but other than that I prefer Mega Man X2's gameplay and music by a slight edge. They're still essentially tied at the top of the X series for me. This is a game that I can essentially replay at any time and have fun.

Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X (PSP, 2005)

Another cool PSP game, this one a remake of the first game in the X series. It shows some promise, so it's too bad they didn't continue remaking the X series in this vein. It's 2.5D, like Mega Man X8, with enough changes from the SNES original to make it worth playing.

Mega Man X (Super NES, 1993)

I welcome Year of Our Lord 2017 with a quick rewrite of a post that was way too many years in the making.

Pokemon: Generation III (Part 9 - Elite Four)

What did the Geodude say to his girlfriend when they broke up?

"I'm tired of you taking me for granite"

Contra 4 (Nintendo DS, 2007)

Old-school Contra games made a big return in 2007 with Contra 4 for the Nintendo DS. This is a direct sequel to the awesome Contra III: The Alien Wars.

Contra III: The Alien Wars (Super NES, 1992)

Time for one of the greatest action games of the 16-bit era. This game actually came out -before- Contra Force, but it blows away that game in every area.

Contra: Hard Corps, Part 2 - Special Features

Today I'm going to look at some of the alternate endings and assorted weirdness in this game.

Contra: Hard Corps (Sega Genesis, 1994)

Here's the Genesis counterpart to Contra III, and it's everything you'd expect. Higher difficulty, brighter color palette, and lots of X-TREME ATTITUDE. Sega: They Do What Ninten-don't.

Contra Force (NES, 1992)

 This game is a spinoff of the main series, and it tries some new gameplay elements. Unfortunately, it's a victim of "NES games that came along during the SNES era" syndrome, and isn't very good.

Operation C (Game Boy, 1991)

This is the Game Boy spinoff of Contra, and like most Game Boy spinoffs from that era, it's very scaled-down in comparison to its NES counterparts. While those games had 8 or 9 stages, this one has 5. Said stages are shorter, too. That said, it's pretty damn fun. PUSH START KEY!

Super C (NES, 1990)

This is the sequel to Contra, and for some reason they didn't call it Contra II. Not sure what the deal is there. Maybe they were trying to distance themselves from the word after the Iran-Contra scandal. One thing is for sure: Super C is even MORE Xenomorphy than its predecessor.

Contra (NES, 1988)

Today I'm going to look at a game that takes everything awesome about the 80's, puts all of it in a blender, and hits EXTREME PUREE~!

This game is so rad, it should be called Badder Dudes.

It's time...for A Contra Christmas.

Pokemon: Generation III (Part 8 - Juan)

Legendary Pokemon appear, as global warming spirals out of control in Hoenn. Also featuring the most suave gym leader around: The smooth operator that is... ::raises eyebrow:: ...Juan.

Pokemon: Generation III (Part 7 - Tate&Liza)

This shot reminds me of the beginning of Secret of Mana. I can hear the music in my head now. It's one of a small handful of things that still make me nostalgic.

Pokemon: Generation III (Part 6 - Winona)

Today on Pokemon Emerald, Renee walks through tall grass like that scene in Gladiator.

::looks up:: Now we are free.

Pokemon: Generation III (Part 5 - Norman)

Mirage Tower is an optional area where you can get a fossilized Pokemon. Fun Fact: The original Final Fantasy also has a place called Mirage Tower in the middle of the desert.

Pokemon: Generation III (Part 4 - Flannery)

In the latest episode of Pokemon Emerald...we get the first snow of the season. ...Or is it something more malevolent? Has infamous drug czar El Papi Dios put out the call to rain Bolivian nasal dust onto our streets? THAT'LL TEACH US TO BUILD A WALL! IT'S A MADHOUSE OUT HERE!