Partially inspired by the Collectorcast's most recent episode, but admittedly mostly due to not having the time or inspiration this month to write a more in-depth article, I thought it would be fun to highlight some personal VGM favorites that I feel don't get enough recognition. While I have always had an appreciation for music in video games, it wasn't until about two years ago that I really began to dive deep into it, and now VGM is practically all I listen to these days. I'm going to stray from the usual suspects, as classic franchises such as Final Fantasy and Castlevania as well as more recent favorites such as Undertale and the Persona series get plenty of attention already.
By now the Mana series is one of the longest running, actively developed series in video gaming. This series has a few threads that bind each game together, but for the most part each game is its own, separate entity from the rest of them. However, like most works of media the series has had its ups, and then mostly downs. The first three games in the series, Sword of Mana, Secret of Mana, and Trials of Mana, all pushed the series further upwards in both quality and scope with each game release, with Trials adding multiple character points of view for a nonlinear narrative. In 1999 Squaresoft released the fourth game in the Mana series for the Playstation, Legend of Mana. A North American release would come the following year. Its not immediately obvious, but Legend of Mana is easily a candidate for the best game in this series, and it tends to be woefully overlooked.
It's June 2020, and with another month of being primarily homebound due to COVID-19, I was able to catch up on a few more films. Here some reviews for a handful of them:
Reptillian - As I settled in for this viewing, I did not realize I was about to see one of the most infamous kaiju films of all time. Reptillian is an English language Korean reboot of the Yongary series created in response to the 1998 American Godzilla film. The acting is so bad it falls into that uncanny valley territory that feels like a bad dream. The CGI is terrible. This movie unfortunately is not even so bad it's good. Avoid at all costs.
"Welcome to the bonfire, Unkindled One. I am a Fire Keeper. I tend to the flame, and tend to thee. The Lords have left their thrones, and must be deliver'd to them. To this end, I am at thy side."
I have a friend I'll call "James". James is a fire keeper, though his own flame is fading. He is a real person, and this account is factual except the name for the sake of his privacy. James is an older gentleman who lives by himself out in the country, only a few miles from our house. He lives a mostly solitary life, a literal hermit in the woods. He has lived this way for many years, most recently in a home-made yurt.
After 51 Episodes we finally entrust Bil to lead an episode!! He walks us through some of the best soundtracks in gaming with a strong focus on the modern era. Also the premier of our shiny new theme song written and performed by RF Generation's own The Disposed Hero!
Links to all of our recommendations below the break!!
In Episode 024, MetalFRO and Addicted look at one of Sega's more unconventional arcade hits, the interminably cute Fantasy Zone. What makes this classic tick, and how does it relate to Konami's arcade shooter smash, Gradius? We discuss that and more!
While not the first portable gaming systems, Nintendo's Game Boy was one of the first to reach massive audiences. It's library consists of hundreds of games, many of which are quick, simplistic but fun experiences designed both around the system's limitations and its purpose of gaming on the go.
So it's interesting that for this Top 20, there were several games that came in as "must owns" as out of 7 voters, four games made every voter's list, and eight made at least five lists.
And yet, the final results also showed the variety of the Game Boy, as only 14 games were on three or more lists.
We interrupt your regularly scheduled quarantine to bringJune 2020 edition of RF Generation's Site News! In this issue, we announce our July Community Playthrough game, our shoot 'em up club title, and of course, thank those members who sent in submissions to our site and registered approvals last month. Thanks for keeping it on Channel 3 and please keep you and your loved ones SAFE!
REMEMBER: If you have any news about upcoming events or topics that you think the site needs to hear about, please PM singlebanana and put "RFG Site News" in the subject line. Who knows, maybe your news will make our front page!
During the 80's and early 90's, kids like myself were treated to a large number of ports of popular (and not so popular) arcade games to home consoles. Who wouldn't want to play their favorite arcade game at home on their own TV, rather than having to go drop quarters into the arcade cabinet? And what happens when that arcade game at the bowling alley or gas station got replaced with something else? Sure, there was a new period of discovery, and perhaps you'll find a new favorite, but you still like that previous game enough to want to keep playing it. Enter the home conversion. According to the advertising, you could have the fun of the arcade game in the comfort of your own home! The reality, however, is that it didn't always work out like that.
I got a request to make a custom Mortal Kombat themed NES system. Although the game never officially came out on the NES, there is a ROM of it. I mean, it did come out on the Game Boy, so why not on the NES?
I think this one came together nicely and it was a lot of making it, especially sculpting the Mortal Kombat dragon.
I apologize up front to those who come to this site for an escape, but the coincidental timing of my piece this month leaves me in an incredibly difficult position. You see, I wracked my brain the last few days trying to think of a subject, but as I sit here at my computer on Monday evening, none of the topics I came up with feel appropriate. I won't comment here on my thoughts about the past week's worth of news, and I genuinely feel bad about even bringing it up in these digital pages, but with recent headlines so raw in my mind, I've discovered I'm literally incapable of writing an article that suggests I'm oblivious to them. Eventually, one of the podcasts I watch gave me an idea, and I decided that if I couldn't force myself to write as if current events haven't deeply affected my headspace, maybe I could use the opportunity to remember the things about this hobby that has brought people together.
Nearly half a year later we are finally back! Since everything else is getting a remaster now, why not our show? Check out the new and hopefully improved show. We've got a new vision for the show and renewed passion to keep it going and evolve it into something special. Please enjoy!
I have always referred to H.E.R.O. as my favorite Atari 2600 game. It's a game I had as a child and have often hailed its theme and gameplay as masterful. But one little thing had always bothered me about H.E.R.O. - I had never beaten it! Going back and finally mastering games I played as a kid has become quite the adventure for me. There's something dramatically satisfying about combining the nostalgia driven experience of replaying a game from childhood with the brand new experience of finally beating it. It's like creating a portal between two worlds; like somehow magically connecting my past with the present. And it's a really special thing when there happens to be a game that you tout as your favorite, but still haven't completed yet. The list of games that fall into this category is obviously finite, and I cherish the opportunities that I have to venture into that realm and overcome a challenge that has eluded me for decades. In fact, I cherish them so much that I like to document them. Here is my three part video series where I put on my laser helmet, strap on my Prop-Pack, and attempt to finally save all of the trapped miners in my favorite Atari game of all time.
