Blogger Archive: MetalFRO 
[img width=310 height=290]https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/images/15/jan/shmups111.jpg[/img]
In the beginning, there was Pong. And people saw it, and it was good. And the medium of Video Games was born. And people liked it, and many games came, and people played them. And they were good. Arcades were created, and they were good.
And it came to pass, that in the Year of our Lord 1978, Taito did release Space Invaders. And in 1979, Namco did release Galaxian, and in 1981, Galaga, and Konami released Scramble. And in 1982, Namco released Xevious. And they were good. And the shmup was born. And the shmup was good.
Continue reading The Renaissance of the Shoot Em Up part 1
[img width=700 height=700]http://rfgeneration.com/podcasts/shmupclub/images/itunes_image.png[/img]
Episode 03 of Shoot the Core-cast has launched! During the month of August 2018, we played Raiden V, the latest in the long-running series of iconic shmups. It originally released in 2015, signaling the 25th anniversary of the original Raiden, and was exclusive to the Xbox One for a short time. In 2017, the game was then released for the PlayStation 4 and PC as Raiden V: Director's Cut, with some additional content, and adding local 2-player cooperative play. This latest entry brings some new elements to the table, and changes up some typical genre conventions, which we discuss. What do we think of this game? Listen to the episode, and find out!
Podcast page:
http://www.rfgeneration.com/podcasts/shmupclub/
Raiden V discussion thread:
http://www.rfgeneration.c...m/index.php?topic=18694.0
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts (iTunes):
https://itunes.apple.com/...re-cast/id1432819542?mt=2
Check out the episode on Google Play:
https://partnerdash.googl...erified%253D1&a=781627472
Thanks for listening!
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Ladies and gentlemen, the RF Generation Shmup Club now has its own official companion podcast! Shoot the Core-cast is your destination to hear all about the games we're playing each month in the RF Generation Shmup Club. Hosted by MetalFRO and Addicted, each episode will be a recap of the month's shooter game, with discussion about the game, commentary, shout-outs to forum member discussion, and highlighting scores and strategies. Couldn't join in during a month? Listen to the episode and see what you missed! Episodes 01 and 02 are now online, and you can listen to them here:
http://rfgeneration.com/podcasts/shmupclub/
https://itunes.apple.com/...re-cast/id1432819542?mt=2
Come hear Addicted and I wax intellectual about R-Type, including its design concepts, HR Giger-inspired art, its many ports, ominous music, and its lasting impact on the genre. In our second episode, we discuss the mighty Gradius and its huge influence on horizontal shoot-em-ups, and the genre in general. We have plenty to say about these bona fide classics, so please, have a listen!
We're already listed on Google Podcasts, and will be submitting to other services in the coming weeks, so if you have a favorite service you use, stay tuned for more announcements about other platforms!
Google Podcast page:
https://play.google.com/m...h3vrijcro4yno3yrkeawnx6nu
Episode 03 will be coming very soon, where we discuss a modern take on a classic shmup series with Raiden V. Until then, keep those lasers blasting!
As many of you may be aware, I came very late to the Zelda party. In fact, one might say I crashed the party. I tried to get in many times over the years, but it seemed as though the DJ never played my tune. Or in my case, the songs being spun just didn't grab me until I finally understood the lyrics. Whatever the case, The Legend of Zelda finally clicked with me when playing the original game for the August 2016 RF Generation Play Through, and I further cemented my newfound appreciation for the series when I played this game, in January 2017. I revisit it again here for this video review, and still find myself enchanted.
What was your first Legend of Zelda experience, and better yet, when did the magic capture you? Which game was it, and what about it captivated you?
Gargoyle's Quest was released by Capcom in May of 1990 in the west, just over a year after the Game Boy's Western launch. Konami had impressed shortly after launch, with Castlevania: The Adventure, at least visually and in terms of audio, but the game play left much to be desired, as it had been scaled back from its console counterparts and felt incomplete. Rather than trying to bring Ghosts 'n Goblins to the diminutive monochrome handheld, Capcom took a different approach, crafting a unique action game with some storytelling, and added light RPG elements, to make one of the system's finest releases. Watch my latest episode of Dramatic Readings! and see the game in action, while I talk in depth about the game's mechanics. Hopefully, you'll see just why this is such a special game!
Atari was clearly trying to cash in on the fighting games craze of the early 90's, and Pit-Fighter was a bit late to the party, when it came to the Game Boy. That may have hurt sales, somewhat. What hurt sales even more was that this was not a good conversion. What was a reasonably fun, middling arena brawler in the arcade, had been reduced to a one-dimensional, low tech, mess of a fighting game that had very little going for it. And unfortunately, many kids and parents were probably duped to buy a copy of the game. Sadly, they weren't treated with a fantastic handheld gaming experience. Why do I say this? Watch the video, and learn for yourself all the shortcomings and "pitfalls" of this particular arcade port gone wrong. Enjoy!
[img width=578 height=600]https://www.cowcatgames.com/presskit/xenonvalkyrie/artworks/New_artwork_console-HD.png[/img]
Project Xenon Valkyrie+ is a new 8-bit styled, "Rogue-like" action platformer, developed by Diabolic Mind, and published by COWCAT Games. It is available on the PS4 and Xbox One digitally, on PC via Steam, and on the PS Vita digitally as well. For PS4 and PS Vita owners, the game has crossbuy as well, so that's a nice bonus for Sony hardware fans. PXV+ (as the game shall heretofore be known as) combines a "Rogue-like" random level generation aspect with traditional 8-bit art and aesthetics, albeit in a widescreen aspect ratio, with action platforming, traditional combat, and some interesting mechanics. The game has a lot going for it, but ends up being a bit less than the sum of its parts.
Continue reading Project Xenon Valkyrie Plus Review
[img width=700 height=525]https://blogs-images.forbes.com/olliebarder/files/2017/08/rtype_boss.jpg[/img]
Get ready to blast off and attack the evil Bydo empire!
Do you like shoot-em-up games? I do! I'm a long-time fan of the genre, and have spent the better part of the last 20 years, or so, collecting as many of them as I can. While I have played and enjoyed many of these games, I have never felt like I got full enjoyment out of them, because I haven't engaged with other players to talk strategy, compare scores, or revel in the games themselves at the level I would like to. Now's my chance! I'm starting a new monthly series here at RF Generation, where we can play and discuss classic scrolling shooter games!
Continue reading Shmup Fans Of RF Generation Unite!
Konami's Castlevania: The Adventure is an old favorite. It was a birthday gift from my parents at age 13, and the first 3rd party Game Boy game I owned. I have many fond memories of late nights and trips to my grandparents' house, bringing the Game Boy with me, and camping out in the living room to play it while the family talked. However, time hasn't been kind to the game, with many people decrying it as one of the worst entries in the series. What are my thoughts on the game now, as we approach 30 years since its release? Watch my review, and then let's discuss! What do you think of Castlevania: The Adventure? And what are your favorite games in the series?
Here's a Game Boy conversion of a true arcade classic - Asteroids! Atari hit it big with this game, and it became their biggest arcade title ever. When it came time to bring it to the small screen, how was this vector graphics game going to fare? And would it be fun? Watch and see my take on the game! What do you think? Is Asteroids on the Game Boy fun? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Over the years, MANY games based on the Star Wars franchise have been released. Some to great acclaim, like the Rogue Squadron series on the N64 and GameCube, or the original Star Wars Battlefront games during the 6th generation. Others haven't fared so well. Many SW universe games have been lost to time, like the Jedi archives. Where does Star Wars on the Game Boy rank among the list? You'll have to watch to find out!
Welcome to another episode of Dramatic Readings! In this edition, I take a look at Nintendo's own attempt at a pigskin game, with Play Action Football! Nintendo isn't known for sports games, outside of their more recent Mario sports line, and a few early NES attempts, like Ice Hockey. Does the Big N's attempt at a football title score a touchdown, or merely fumble the ball? Watch my review, and decide for yourself!
This is an interesting curio - Nail 'n Scale from Japanese developer I'Max, and published by Data East. Originally released in 1990 in Japan as Dragon Tail, this unique puzzle platformer didn't make its way to Western shores for nearly a year and a half. By the time the game was released in 1992, most developers had begun to really take advantage of the Game Boy's hardware capabilities. Nail 'n Scale, however, still looks and plays like an early Game Boy title. Does this ruin the game's chances of standing up against some of its then peers? Watch the review, and decide for yourself!
Here's Episode 006 of my Dramatic Readings! series. This episode is all about the Game Boy launch title, Alleyway! Nintendo's simple paddle & ball game, based on one of their earliest video game attempts, brings the basic formula to the small screen. Is this game a breakout success, or does it drop the ball into the void? Watch and find out!
Super Mario Land is a launch title for the Nintendo Game Boy, and the first portable entry into the flagship platforming game series. Series creator Shigeru Miyamoto wasn't directly involved with the design, so while the game was relatively faithful to many conventions of the original game, this particular entry took a few liberties with the formula, and created a fun, unique, and rewarding experience, to help sell Nintendo's then-new handheld game console to the Mario faithful. Did they succeed? Watch, and discover for yourself!
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