Author Archives: ollie

PREVIEW – New Style Boutique 2: Fashion Forward (3DS)

Posted on Nov 12, 2015 by ollie

It’s a sad truth that a large number of the many games marketed towards girls that are put out onto the market are quickly dismissed. Many of them are instantly pushed into the category of ‘shovelware’, in some cases based … Continue reading →

Posted in Previews | Tagged 3DS, AKI Corporation, Girls Mode, New Style Boutique 2, Nintendo, Previews, Style Boutique, Style Savvy, Syn Sophia | Leave a comment

You’ve Probably Never Played… N.Y. Nyankies

Posted on Nov 11, 2015 by ollie

N.Y. Nyankies (Rockin’ Kats) Developer: Atlus Publisher: Atlus Platform(s): Famicom/NES Release Date: 5th April 1991 Long ago, before the likes of Persona and Etrian Odyssey had even been thought of, Atlus was a very different company. This was a decidedly younger Atlus, perhaps one … Continue reading →

Posted in Features, You've Probably Never Played... | Tagged Atlus, Famicom, Features, NES, Nintendo, You've Probably Never Played... | 1 Comment

Soundchips, Takoyaki and Broken Dreams – Culture Collection #1

Posted on Nov 10, 2015 by ollie

This is the first entry in a series of regular posts I’m planning on making that aim to give you a little window into gaming culture; be it apparel, artwork, events or music and of course, the games themselves, this weekly feature … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture Collection, Features, Games Culture | Tagged Culture Collection, Features, Games Culture | 1 Comment

You’ve Probably Never Played… Wrecking Crew ’98

Posted on Nov 4, 2015 by ollie

Wrecking Crew ’98 Developer: Nintendo R&D1, Pax Softnica Publisher: Nintendo Platform(s): Super Famicom (via Nintendo Power service) Release Date: 1st January 1998 (Japan exclusive) As I mentioned in my Mario spin-off characters feature last month, Nintendo’s main man can be considered a jack of all-trades; … Continue reading →

Posted in Features, You've Probably Never Played... | Tagged Features, Mario, Nintendo, Nintendo Power, Puzzle Games, SNES, Super Famicom, Wrecking Crew, You've Probably Never Played... | Leave a comment

Gunman Clive now available… on Game Boy?

Posted on Nov 3, 2015 by ollie

It normally comes as a big surprise to hear about brand new releases on systems considered to be discontinued, and few realise that games have continued to release on systems such as the Wii and PSP long after their successors have … Continue reading →

Posted in Posts | Tagged Game Boy, Homebrew, Indie, Indie Games, Nintendo | Leave a comment

You’ve Probably Never Played… Innsmouth no Yakata

Posted on Oct 31, 2015 by ollie

Innsmouth no Yakata (The Mansion of Innsmouth) Developer: Be Top Publisher: I’Max Platform(s): Virtual Boy Release Date: 13th October 1995 (Japan exclusive) If you ask me, there are some things you shouldn’t do that come down to common sense. Going into a … Continue reading →

Posted in Features, You've Probably Never Played... | Tagged Features, Innsmouth no Yakata, Nintendo, Virtual Boy, You've Probably Never Played... | Leave a comment

Listen to chiptune the way it was intended with RIKI’s “8BIT MUSIC POWER”!

Posted on Oct 23, 2015 by ollie

Many fans of chiptune music will tell you that the best and most authentic sounding beats around are those produced by the machines that inspired the genre themselves! Be it the NES or the Game Boy, both of which sport a wide … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Music | Tagged Art, Chiptune, Dojin, Famicom, Homebrew, Import, Japan, Music, NES, Nintendo, RIKI | 2 Comments

Mario characters and the problem with playing it safe.

Posted on Oct 22, 2015 by ollie

It’s no secret that aside from tending to the sewers of Brooklyn and adventuring in the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario has a lot of hobbies. The portly plumber and his friends (and often foes) have seen themselves involved in all sorts of … Continue reading →

Posted in Features, Opinion Piece | Tagged Donkey Kong, Features, Mario, Mario Golf, Mario Kart, Mario Tennis, Nintendo, Opinion Piece, Wario, WarioWare | 1 Comment

You’ve Probably Never Played… Girl’s Garden

Posted on Oct 21, 2015 by ollie

Girl’s Garden Developer: Sega Development Division #3 Publisher: Sega Platform(s): SG-1000 Release Date: 1984 (Japan exclusive) Romance sure is tough, isn’t it? Well, the version of presented in Girl’s Garden certainly is. The game’s protagonist Papri just wants to put together a beautiful bouquet of … Continue reading →

Posted in Features, You've Probably Never Played... | Tagged Features, Girl's Garden, Sega, Sega SG-1000, You've Probably Never Played..., Yuji Naka | Leave a comment

‘Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros.’ is the perfect guidebook to the Mushroom Kingdom

Posted on Oct 20, 2015 by ollie

スーパーマリオブラザーズ百科！！！すっごいデータベースでこういうのめっちゃ大好き……！ pic.twitter.com/Wdjn2ao1Uy — 3雲 (@mi3_kumo) October 20, 2015 Nintendo are continuing their celebrations of Mario’s 30th birthday with the release of an officially licensed guidebook detailing all things Mario, fittingly named ‘Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros.’. Pictures are beginning to emerge … Continue reading →