Category Archives: Game Reviews

CrazyBus

“We’re Going Off the Rails on the CrazyBus.”

For five years, Tom Maneiro’s 16-bit bus simulator sat unnoticed on a homebrew development forum. That was until it was discovered by YouTube, and hailed as having “the worst music ever.” Ride with us along the game’s road to Internet infamy.

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Popeye (2021)

“You’d Better Check Mr. Popeye, Is Your Switch Running Low?”

After a thirteen year hiatus from video games, Popeye the Sailor Man staged his triumphant return to the format… by way of a studio known primarily for pub quiz machines and shovelware software. We break down all the details of this alleged asset flip.

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Mazer

“Live Those Dreams, Scheme Those Schemes. Got to Hit Me With Your Mazer Beams.”

American Laser Games built an arcade empire on the top of LaserDisc technology. But when the market collapsed, they staged a last-minute pivot to more traditional fare. Could they survive the transition from the Old West into an alien future?

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Sword of Sodan

“There’s an Angel on My Shoulder, in My Hand a Sword of Sodan.”

Legend tells of a beloved Amiga beat ‘em up, and its cursed conversion to Sega’s Genesis. But in our quest to discover the truth of this tale, we must answer an ancient riddle: Was the original ever any good to begin with?

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The Ring: Terror’s Realm

“I Fell Into a Burning Ring of Terror.”

The curse of Sadako Yamamura comes to Sega’s Dreamcast, in one of the most maligned survival horror titles of all time. We finally solve the mystery of its strange narrative — seemingly unrelated to the larger Ring franchise.

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Lula 3D

“It’s a Mixed Up, Muddled Up, Shook Up World. Except for Lula. Lu-lu-lu-lu, Lula.”

The Queen of adult games is dead. Long live Lula, and glory to her all-too-brief eight year reign. We examine the circumstances that lead to her first 3D title also serving as her last, as well as the histories of her franchise and her original creator. All in explicit detail, of course.

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Spirit of Speed 1937

“I’ve Got the Need for Spirit of Speed!”

LJN mounted a brief comeback in the year 2000 to publish a period racing game on Sega’s Dreamcast, before just as quickly falling back out of view. Did Spirit of Speed crash and burn, or was it perhaps unfairly disqualified?

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Resident Evil Survivor

“It’s Gonna Be the Death of Me. Gun Survivor, Gun Survivor.”

Resident Evil‘s first spin-off title went off the rails, to deliver a rail shooter-inspired FPS survival horror hybrid. But did its “ghost developer” Tose still manage to deliver satisfying zombie-shooting action?

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The Graveyard

“You Know They Tell Me The Graveyard Is a Low Down, Dirty Place.”

A leisurely stroll through a quiet cemetery carries potentially deadly consequence… for those willing to spend an additional $4.99 to unlock it as a feature. Sit and listen as the tale of Tales of Tales is told in full.

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Homie Rollerz

“I Got the World Around My Finger With My Homies, Y’all.”

In which we explore the Homies toy trend of the early aughts, the controversies it ignited, and the infamous Nintendo DS kart racer spun off from it. There’s more to these little plastic guys than meets the eye.

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