Blogger Archive: MetalFRO 
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Posted on Dec 17th 2019 at 01:00:00 PM by ( MetalFRO) Posted under Tiger Heli, Shoot the Corecast, Toaplan, Taito, shmup, shoot em up, STG, shooting game, shooter, helicopter, tate |
[img width=500 height=500]http://rfgeneration.com/podcasts/shmupclub/images/2019-12-14_stcc_ep_018_tiger-heli.jpg[/img]
In Episode 018, Addicted and MetalFRO take on the legendary shmup development studio, Toaplan, and dissect their first shooting game effort, Tiger-Heli! We look at this classic both in the arcade, as well as the Famicom/NES port, and see what makes it tick, as well as exploring the early Toaplan DNA found within the game, that you see more fully explored in later games. Is this game still worth playing? Listen, and decide for yourself!
Here's the direct link to listen to the podcast on the site, or download the MP3 for later:
http://rfgeneration.com/podcasts/shmupclub/?name=2019-12-14_stcc_ep_018_tiger-heli.mp3
Continue reading Shoot the Core-cast Episode 018 - Tiger-Heli
[img width=700 height=350]https://cdn02.nintendo-europe.com/media/images/10_share_images/games_15/nintendo_switch_4/H2x1_NSwitch_TheLegendOfZeldaLinksAwakening_image1600w.jpg[/img] Image shamelessly linked from Nintendo UK. The new art style is a nice compromise between shiny, flashy graphics, & a respectful homage to the original.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is a landmark title in a series that is highly lauded by the gaming community. Not only did it manage to successfully take the formula established in the series' debut title, and solidified later in A Link To The Past, and shrink it down to a portable format, but it also told a unique story that deviated from the established canon quite a bit, and became its own experience. Despite the large number of entries in the series since its release, many of them on other Nintendo handheld devices, Link's Awakening is still often spoken of as being in the upper echelon of titles in the series, and, indeed, on the Game Boy itself. It's not unusual to see it in a top 5 list of Zelda games, and even occasionally sits atop a list at number 1. It's no surprise that Nintendo, having seen some success with remaking the Game Boy's only outing for Samus Aran, in Metroid II: Return of Samus for the 3DS, would return to the Game Boy well again, and give Link's first portable adventure a fresh coat of paint.
Continue reading Link's Awakening Redux - Initial Thoughts
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Posted on Nov 19th 2019 at 01:00:00 PM by ( MetalFRO) Posted under N2O, Shoot the Corecast, podcast, Shmup Club, Gremlin Interactive, Nitrous Oxide, STG, shooting game, shooter, shoot em up, t |
[img width=500 height=501]http://rfgeneration.com/podcasts/shmupclub/images/2019-11-17_shoot_the_core-cast_ep_017_n2o_nitrous_oxide.jpg[/img]
In Episode 017, MetalFRO and Addicted talk about a Western-developed game that is largely forgotten today among shooting games, despite being heavily inspired by one of the genre's early hits, Tempest. N2O: Nitrous Oxide takes the Tempest formula to new, psychedelic places, and we give you an in-depth look at the game! What makes this tube shooter different than its predecessors? We discuss that and more!
Here's the direct link to listen to the podcast on the site, or download the MP3 for later:
http://rfgeneration.com/podcasts/shmupclub/?name=2019-11-17_shoot_the_core-cast_ep_017_n2o_nitrous_oxide.mp3
Check us out and subscribe (and rate!) on Apple Podcasts!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/shoot-the-core-cast/id1432819542?mt=2
We're listed on Google Play - subscribe and review the podcast over there!
https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/Iih3vrijcro4yno3yrkeawnx6nu
We're on Stitcher Podcasts now, as well, so if you use that service, have a listen to the show from there!
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/shoot-the-corecast
We also have a presence on SoundCloud now, though it's just the most current episode at this time:
https://soundcloud.com/user-992886896/
We have t-shirts! Help support the podcast, and rep the shmup community by buying a Shoot the Core-cast tee - now with Gaiden design!
https://www.redbubble.com/people/jdieckmann/works/34582606-shoot-the-core-cast-podcast?asc=u&p=t-shirt
Check out the original discussion about the game:
http://www.rfgeneration.com/forum/index.php?topic=19181.0
[img width=700 height=428]https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/3-Analogue-Pocket-Games-1.jpg[/img] Image shamelessly linked from TechCrunch. This thing looks GORGEOUS.
By now, most dedicated retrogaming enthusiasts should be familiar with the name Analogue. They make FPGA-based consoles that mimic original hardware, so that older, cartridge-based games can be played on modern hardware, and output to modern TVs. Analogue's first product was the premium Analogue NT, a clone of the NES that utilized the same CPU and PPU as the original consoles did. Unfortunately, it had a small manufacturing run, and sold at a staggering price tag. After that sold out, they retooled the design to make it smaller, but also less expensive, by making future units (under the Analogue NT Mini moniker) utilize FPGA technology. FPGA is better explained in detail elsewhere, so here's the 10,000 foot overhead view: FPGA stands for Field Programmable Gate Array, and instead of software emulation on a standard architecture (like an ARM processor, for example), the FPGA can be programmed in such a way that it mimics the hardware of the original device, because it can be made to produce the same results that the original CPU, and other components, would produce. This means that FPGA technology can be used to mimic all sorts of hardware. Notably, it has been seen as quite successful in mimicking video game console hardware.
Continue reading Analogue Pocket - A Dream Portable Console
[img width=500 height=474]http://rfgeneration.com/podcasts/shmupclub/images/2019-10-28_shoot_the_core-cast_episode_016_-_zaxxon.jpg[/img]
In Episode 016, we take a closer look at an early shooting game that seems to be largely forgotten in today's gaming landscape, despite it being ahead of its time, and somewhat influential. Not only is it the first arcade game to have a TV commercial, but it also introduced us to gaming in an isometric perspective. Why is this game so forgotten? We discuss that and more, as we talk all about Sega's Zaxxon!
Here's the direct link to listen to the podcast on the site, or download the MP3 for later:
http://rfgeneration.com/podcasts/shmupclub/?name=2019-10-28_shoot_the_core-cast_episode_016_-_zaxxon.mp3
Check us out and subscribe (and rate!) on Apple Podcasts!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/shoot-the-core-cast/id1432819542?mt=2
We're listed on Google Play - subscribe and review the podcast over there!
https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/Iih3vrijcro4yno3yrkeawnx6nu
We're on Stitcher Podcasts now, as well, so if you use that service, have a listen to the show from there!
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/shoot-the-corecast
We also have a presence on SoundCloud now, though it's just the most current episode at this time:
https://soundcloud.com/user-992886896/
We have t-shirts! Help support the podcast, and rep the shmup community by buying a Shoot the Core-cast tee - now with Gaiden design!
https://www.redbubble.com/people/jdieckmann/works/34582606-shoot-the-core-cast-podcast?asc=u&p=t-shirt
Here's the original discussion thread from the forum:
https://www.rfgeneration.com/forum/index.php?topic=19157.0
Welcome to a new episode of Dramatic Readings! This time around, I take a look at a later entry in the life of the gray brick, a Disney licensed title. Not by Capcom, and surprisingly, not by Virgin Interactive...at least not directly. This game comes to use via Tiertex, and its level of quality is suspect. I'll leave the rest to your imagination, however. You'll need to watch the video, to get my full take on the game. Let me know what you think in the comments - did you enjoy this game? What other licensed games do you enjoy? Let's discuss!
Here's the original written review this video is based upon:
https://gameboyguru.blogs...isneys-hercules-1997.html
[img width=500 height=501]http://rfgeneration.com/podcasts/shmupclub/images/2019-09-21_shoot_the_core-cast_episode_015_blazing_lazers.jpg[/img]
With Episode 015, MetalFRO and Addicted dig into the first TurboGrafx game for the RF Generation Shmup Club, the early release, Blazing Lazers! This game has elements from other shooters you may recognize, because it was jointly developed by Hudson Soft and Compile, and their other games and influences definitely shine through. Does the game hold up today? We dicsuss that, and more!
Here's the direct link to listen to the podcast on the site, or download the MP3 for later:
http://rfgeneration.com/podcasts/shmupclub/?name=2019-09-21_shoot_the_core-cast_episode_015_blazing_lazers.mp3
Check us out and subscribe (and rate!) on Apple Podcasts!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/shoot-the-core-cast/id1432819542?mt=2
We're listed on Google Play - subscribe and review the podcast over there!
https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/Iih3vrijcro4yno3yrkeawnx6nu
We're on Stitcher Podcasts now, as well, so if you use that service, have a listen to the show from there!
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/shoot-the-corecast
We also have a presence on SoundCloud now, though it's just the most current episode at this time:
https://soundcloud.com/user-992886896/
We have t-shirts! Help support the podcast, and rep the shmup community by buying a Shoot the Core-cast tee!
https://www.redbubble.com/people/jdieckmann/works/34582606-shoot-the-core-cast-podcast?asc=u&p=t-shirt
Here's the original discussion thread from the forum:
http://www.rfgeneration.com/forum/index.php?topic=19090.0
It's finally here! After many months of delays, life stuff getting in the way, and a few hiccups with my recording setup, I finally have a new episode of my review series to enchant you all. I'm taking a look at Metroid II: Return of Samus, in Episode 025 of Dramatic Readings! This game is a total classic, but isn't always as well regarded as I feel perhaps it should be. After I, myself, got a rough start with the Metroid series as a kid, I rediscovered it as an adult a few years ago, and was blown away by Super Metroid. Revisiting this Game Boy outing, there's a lot to love, and a handful of things not to. I'll tell you all about it with this video, and I hope you enjoy it. What do you think of Metroid II? Do you think it holds up? Have you tried either of the remakes? Let's discuss in the comments below!
[img width=500 height=500]http://rfgeneration.com/podcasts/shmupclub/images/2019-08-24_shoot_the_core-cast_episode_014_strikers_1945_ii.jpg[/img]
Here in Episode 014, MetalFRO and Addicted pick apart a classic, late 90's shoot-em-up from famed developer, Psikyo. What makes Strikers 1945 II so well remembered? We dive into that, and hear from the RF Generation community as well, on what they like about the game. Some great discussion was had, and we definitely learned a few things about WWII era planes, as well!
Here's the direct link to listen to the podcast on the site, or download the MP3 for later:
http://rfgeneration.com/podcasts/shmupclub/?name=2019-08-24_shoot_the_core-cast_episode_014_strikers_1945_ii.mp3
Check us out and subscribe (and rate!) on Apple Podcasts!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/shoot-the-core-cast/id1432819542?mt=2
We're listed on Google Play - subscribe and review the podcast over there!
https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/Iih3vrijcro4yno3yrkeawnx6nu
We're on Stitcher Podcasts now, as well, so if you use that service, have a listen to the show from there!
https://www.stitcher.com/...odcast/shoot-the-corecast[/url]
We have t-shirts! Help support the podcast, and rep the shmup community by buying a Shoot the Core-cast tee!
[url=https://www.redbubble.com/people/jdieckmann/works/34582606-shoot-the-core-cast-podcast?asc=u&p=t-shirt]https://www.redbubble.com/people/jdieckmann/works/34582606-shoot-the-core-cast-podcast?asc=u&p=t-shirt
Here's the original discussion thread from the forum:
http://www.rfgeneration.com/forum/index.php?topic=19059.0
Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode!
[img width=700 height=801]https://i.ibb.co/jzhSF9p/gb-new-large.jpg[/img]
*pic from Vintagegaming.com*
Nostalgia can be a tricky beast. We all have warm, fuzzy feelings about one thing, or another, from our childhood. A favorite toy, a cartoon we watched after school, or on Saturday mornings; perhaps even a place we used to play. Many of us have a lot of fond memories of video games we played, whether with family and friends, or even solo gaming sessions, totally engrossed in whatever electronic entertainment happened to be captivating us at that time in our lives. But what about a system, and its launch games? Most of us would say, with a few exceptions, that launch titles are quite often weaker than most of the library. I would argue, nostalgia aside, that at least a portion of the Game Boy library transcends that trend. Let's examine the launch lineup, 30 years after the fact, and see if that theory holds water.
Continue reading Reflecting On The Game Boy Launch - 30 Years Later
[img width=471 height=519]http://rfgeneration.com/podcasts/shmupclub/images/2019-07-31_shoot_the_core-cast_episode_013_ghost_blade.jpg[/img]
Here in Episode 013 of Shoot the Core-cast, we bring on a special guest to help us talk about HuCast's indie shoot-em-up, Ghost Blade, a posthumous release on the Dreamcast, from 2015. We also talk about the HD update the game received just 2 years later, Ghost Blade HD. We proudly welcome our special guest, Ser Flash, of Studio Mudprints, creator of the Bullet Heaven series of videos, on YouTube!
Here's the direct link to listen to the podcast on the site, or download the MP3 for later:
http://rfgeneration.com/podcasts/shmupclub/?name=2019-07-31_shoot_the_core-cast_episode_013_ghost_blade.mp3
Continue reading Shoot the Core-cast Episode 013 - Ghost Blade
When I was a kid, I spent a fair bit of time with the classic One on One basketball game on the family's home computer. This was an early version, by EA, which featured basketball greats Larry Bird and Julius "Dr. J" Irving. In the 90's, however, the formula got an update by EA, and Dr. J was replaced by basketball whiz kid, Michael Jordan. His star was rising quickly, and although Larry Bird was getting older, he was still well regarded in the sport. How does this particular iteration of the game fare? Find out here in Episode 022 of Dramatic Readings!
[img width=700 height=700]http://rfgeneration.com/podcasts/shmupclub/images/2019-06-17_shoot_the_core-cast_ep_012_-_gradius_iii.jpg[/img]
Here in Episode 012, MetalFRO and Addicted tackle one of the most difficult arcade shooters of all time, the legendary Gradius III, from Konami. Not only that, but we compare it to the much more friendly, and approachable port, released on the Super Famicom and SNES. Which version will we prefer, and which should you play? Have a listen, and hear what we think about these 2 iterations of the game.
Here's the direct link to listen to the podcast on the site, or download the MP3 for later:
http://rfgeneration.com/p..._ep_012_-_gradius_iii.mp3
Check us out and subscribe (and rate!) on Apple Podcasts!
https://itunes.apple.com/...re-cast/id1432819542?mt=2
We're listed on Google Play - subscribe and review the podcast over there!
https://play.google.com/m...h3vrijcro4yno3yrkeawnx6nu
We're on Stitcher Podcasts now, as well, so if you use that service, have a listen to the show from there!
https://www.stitcher.com/...odcast/shoot-the-corecast
We have t-shirts! Help support the podcast, and rep the shmup community by buying a Shoot the Core-cast tee!
https://www.redbubble.com...t-podcast?asc=u&p=t-shirt
Here's the original discussion thread from the forum:
http://www.rfgeneration.c...m/index.php?topic=18999.0
Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode!
[img width=646 height=555]https://i.imgur.com/xJFpPTf.png[/img]
It's hard to believe that, only 1 year ago, the RF Generation Shmup Club was just ramping up, and starting our 2nd month. After playing various versions of R-Type throughout the month of May, we were beginning to jump into the original Gradius, and getting steeped in a couple classics of the shoot-em-up genre. As I reflect upon the past year, it's been an interesting ride. I never imagined I'd be doing this, but I'm glad I started it, and I'm even happier that it's taken off in such a big way.
Continue reading Happy Birthday RF Generation Shmup Club!
[img width=500 height=495]http://rfgeneration.com/podcasts/shmupclub/images/2019-05-21_shoot_the_core-cast_ep_011_-_einhander.jpg[/img]
Episode 011 of Shoot the Core-cast is here, and it's all about the lone shoot-em-up produced by Japanese RPG factory, Squaresoft. During the mid-late 1990's, the company deviated somewhat from their RPG formula, and tried their hand at a few different genres. Ehrgeiz is an interesting wrestling/fighting game, Tobal No. 1 is a fighting game with some unique elements, and Einhander is a side-scrolling 2.5D shooter, wrapped in 3D graphics, and soaked in an esoteric, dystopian, cyberpunk, futuristic story. Complemented by a varied electronic soundtrack, this game brings a unique ability to take weapons from your enemies, and use them to defeat everything in your path. Over the years, the game has earned quite a reputation as one of the best shooters on the original PlayStation. Why is it so well loved, and what makes this game so special? We dive into that in this episode, and try to dissect this game, to see what makes it tick.
Check out the episode here, directly from the feed on the site:
http://rfgeneration.com/podcasts/shmupclub/?name=2019-05-21_shoot_the_core-cast_ep_011_-_einhander.mp3
Check us out and subscribe (and rate!) on Apple Podcasts!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/shoot-the-core-cast/id1432819542?mt=2
We're listed on Google Play - subscribe and review the podcast over there!
https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/Iih3vrijcro4yno3yrkeawnx6nu
We're on Stitcher Podcasts now, as well, so if you use that service, have a listen to the show from there!
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/shoot-the-corecast
We have t-shirts! Help support the podcast, and rep the shmup community by buying a Shoot the Core-cast tee!
https://www.redbubble.com/people/jdieckmann/works/34582606-shoot-the-core-cast-podcast?asc=u&p=t-shirt
Here's the thread from the play-through:
http://www.rfgeneration.com/forum/index.php?topic=18974.0
Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode!
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