World 1-30: Boogerman: A Pick and Flick Adventure

Boogerman: A Pick and Flick Adventure
~SNES

After many times attempting to beat this game, I finally managed to pull it off (out?). Boogerman is a disgustingly awesome game - it features poppable pimples (extra points!), snot flinging and belching attacks, and even fart rockets that propel you through the air. The graphics fit the game style perfectly, and the music is almost as catchy as that disease your mother warned you about when you brought home that less-than-credible lady from the street corner. The game itself is relatively short, taking about an hour and a half to complete - if you don't spend too much time fighting monsters and climbing pipes in the sewers to find "bonuses". Overall, Boogerman: A Pick and Flick Adventure is an incredibly unique game that deserves a place in everybody's toile- err, trophy room! Booger!!

World 1-29: Ardy Lightfoot

Ardy Lightfoot
~SNES

Ardy Lightfoot is a great platformer for the SNES. I just recently found this game, and feel ripped off that I never got to play it in my childhood. It was about average length for a SNES platformer; it took me two hours to beat. Like most SNES games, the graphics are clear and the soundtrack is decent too. The game features the main character Ardy Lightfoot (who I assume is a fox) and his penguin buddy Pec, who follows Ardy around and is used as the main weapon. Pec is also used as a tool in the game, much like Rush from the Mega Man series. This game really captured that great 90s video game vibe that made Super Nintendo what it was, and still is today. When you finish the game it says "to be continued" but unfortunately I don't think a sequel was ever made. Ardy Lightfoot is a pretty decent game that's worth the two or three hours you put into it.

World 1-28: Contra 4

Contra 4
~Nintendo DS

Contra 4, like every other game in the series, is a very difficult game. However, it's the difficulty level that makes it so much fun! Who doesn't love running into a level and blowing up bad guys within seconds? There's no learning curve, you just run in and GO! You start the levels surrounded by enemies blasting at you, and within seconds you mow them all down with the basic starting gun. Seconds later, you're finding gun upgrades, grabbing shields, and racking up a killer high score. Then the next thing you know, you're face to face with a giant boss who you must take out before he claims your life. One of the things I love most about the Contra series is that there's no time for story telling - they're just action packed super side scrolling shoot 'em up run and gun games.

One of the cooler features of Contra 4 is the fact that it utilizes the top and bottom screens of the Nintendo DS. At some times, it makes the game a lot more difficult (yes, even more difficult) as it can be easier to ignore bullets swarming you from below, but at other times it makes it easier, giving you a wider field of vision to work with. There are a lot of extra features in Contra 4 as well, such as the challenge mode (what, you didn't feel man enough after beating the arcade mode on hard?) and character selection - I always use Lance Bean. You can also play the original Contra and Super C through this game as well. All in all, I'll leave it at this: if you own a Nintendo DS, then you need to own Contra 4 as well. Lance out.

World 1-27: Plok

Plok
~SNES

I originally found Plok in a list of overlooked games for the SNES, so I decided to check it out on eBay and give it a try. After playing it for a little while, I had to agree: Plok is definitely one of those hidden gem games that nobody seems to talk about. The storyline was alright - basically, Plok wakes up one day to discover that his grandpa's flag had been stolen, and when he returns from getting it back, the island has been taken over by fleas. However, there are other parts of the game that stand out much more. The music is pretty catchy, and the animation style is very charming, full of bright colours and scenic backgrounds. It also has a lot of cool features, like when you attack an enemy, you actually throw your arms and legs at them. After throwing all four limbs, your movement becomes impeded until you collect them again. Originally, I had a lot of difficulty getting used to the controls, and some of the levels were pretty tough, but I enjoyed it overall. What made it even more fun were the special upgrades, such as the detective, plane, tank, unicycle, and even UFO. It was long for a platformer (I clocked in at 4.5 hours to complete it), but still worth the play through. If you're looking for a straightforward game to tackle and have a few hours to burn, you should give Plok a try!

World 1-26: Harvest Moon

Harvest Moon
~SNES

Wow, Harvest Moon is such an awesome game. Let's start with the main objective: your grandfather is going on a trip, and you have to help his farm flourish over the course of 3 years. It's a pretty original idea, and it was executed well. The only drawback to Harvest Moon is the intense grind/monotonous feel to the game, as you go through three sets of seasons which are virtually the same each time around. It takes about 12 hours to complete the game, which is a long time to be picking tomatoes!

There are several options on how to raise your farm: You can raise farm animals, such as cows and chickens, and even harvest milk and eggs from them to sell off for decent money. You can also grow crops, which are seasonal - turnips and potatoes in the spring, tomatoes and corn in the summer - you can't grow any crops in the fall, but you can run to the mountain nearby and ship out some mushrooms for a wicked payload. Winter is the most laid back season as you can't even grow any grass, but I find it the most hypnotic. The music is so beautiful, and the scenery is just astounding. Each season has new music, and they fit the seasons very well.

However, one of the most memorable features of Harvest Moon is the fact that you can pick a girl and get married! You can even go on to have a few children. And guess how you woo your wife? By giving her lots of food. Yup, apparently when women get pregnant there's no baby in that belly, it's just fat. But hey, the 90s were a simpler time, when things like pregnancy didn't need to be explained in a video game.

Overall, I'd say Harvest Moon is an excellent game that should be at least tried by everyone. Happy Farming!

My final score:

Money: 175990G
Stamina: 200 

Cow's best affection rate: Bub♥ 255

Ann's love: 999

Happiness rate: 999

Ranch developing rate: 39%

Ranch master rate: 420

(Then it says "Come on,you are so close!")

World 1-25: Contra III: The Alien Wars

Contra III: The Alien Wars
~SNES

Ah, good ol' Contra. If you've never played a Contra game (shame on you) then just believe me, and everybody else, when we say this series is freaking IMPOSSIBLE. Remember the Konami Code? Yeah, you're gonna need that. At least, you would IF IT WORKED ON CONTRA 3. It's like just to spit in your face the Konami Code works in the original Contra, and at least 4 others in the series, but oh no not on Contra 3. I mean what kind of sick joke is that? If you've ever made it past the first half of this game, stop right now and give yourself a pat on the back. Seriously. Go ahead.

Looking past the absurd difficulty level of Contra III: The Alien Wars, it is actually a very good game. As with any SNES game, the graphics are awesomely smooth. The game is packed full of enemies and different weapons, and the music is pretty decent too. The music fits the mood of the game quite well, as do the backgrounds and other scenery. Some of the bosses have almost a Super Metroid feel to them - it's actually quite nice to see a more serious game compared to all the cutesy rainbow bright crap out there. Not that I don't like the fruity games too, but they just don't have the staying power that games like Contra have. Definite thumbs up for Contra III: The Alien Wars.

World 1-24: Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!

Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
~SNES


Original Completion Date: July 3rd, 2009

This was my first time beating Donkey Kong Country 3. I definitely spent more than 2 hours playing, but hey I still kicked everybody else's ass speed wise. I'm a little mad that I couldn't write my full name (everybody else gets up to 7 characters! How come I only got 5?), but that's trivial compared to the actual game play. What I like about Donkey Kong Country 3 is that it's very similar to the first two games in the series; they managed to expand the game without ruining all the basics. Same great music, same great graphics, and you always have at least one familiar playable character in the Donkey Kong Country games. I wasn't much a fan of the new guy, Kiddy Kong, but at least you can still haul ass with Dixie's bad ass banana hair. The storyline is basically the same as the first two: "Oh No! Where did that foolish Kong go? We must seek adventure and rescue him!!" but hey, it works well. The 90s were a much simpler time. Oh and definite props on the soundtrack; David Wise strikes again! 

World 1-23: Bubble Bobble

Bubble Bobble
~NES

Original Completion Date: June 16th, 2009

The first thing that comes to mind when I hear Bubble Bobble is definitely the music. It loops forever and ever; it's so addicting. You can't, nay WON'T, get it out of your head. EVER. And that's okay, because it's cute and totally matches the rest of the game. For all 99 floors. The only new music is at the final boss.

You and your dinosaur buddy (actually you used to be humans, but whatever) have to blow bubbles and strategically trap monsters/bounce off your bubbles to reach the final boss, defeat him, and save your girlfriends. The idea itself is pretty original, and so are the different puzzles on each floor, but basically it comes down to the fact that Bubble Bobble is an extremely monotonous game. It takes a long time to get to the end, with some VERY frustrating levels along the way. And assuming you tackled the game solo, once you reach the end you realize there is no way to get the good end all by yourself. That's right, you have to have a second player to really beat the game. The only real drawbacks to Bubble Bobble are the fact that you can't get the good end alone, and the fact that it's really monotonous. Everything else about Bubble Bobble keeps me coming back for more. Especially that music. Oh god, that music. Enjoy!

World 1-22: Doremi Fantasy Milon no DokiDoki Daibouken

Doremi Fantasy Milon no DokiDoki Daibouken
~Super Famicom


Original Completion Date: June 4th, 2009

Not surprisingly, Doremi Fantasy Milon no DokiDoki Daibouken (called "Doremi" from hereon out) is a Japanese game for the Famicom. A hard copy was never released in North America, but in 2008 it was available for download on the Wii's Virtual Console, untranslated. Honestly, I have no idea what the storyline was all about, but I loved everything else about this game. Doremi has a lot of anime qualities, in that it is bright, happy, and has very distinctive graphics. It also has a very unique soundtrack, although it does get repetitive at times. I would definitely play this game again, and recommend it to anybody who loves a simple platformer. 

World 1-21: Pokémon (Pokemon) Blue

Pokémon Blue
~Gameboy


Original Completion Date: May 28th, 2009

This is probably the closest I have ever come to fully completing a first generation Pokémon game. Pokémon Blue (and friends) is part of my favourite generation of Pokémon games because it features the original 151 Pokémon, and is fairly similar to the plot of the TV show which I loved as a kid. The idea is really simple: catch as many Pokémon as you can, and beat a series of gym leaders to prove that you are the best Pokémon trainer ever! To add a bit of competition, the game introduces Blue, your new rival who is always one step ahead of you. In terms of game play, Pokémon Blue has everything I love in a game: it's fast, smooth, and easy to follow. There are a couple goodies in the game, such as the Game Corner (AKA the casino) and the Safari Zone, where you can catch all sorts of rare Pokémon using your bare hands! You can also fish for water types, but you need to get upgrades for your pole to catch the stronger Pokémon. Even though the game is about 90% grind rate, Pokémon Blue is a lot of fun. It's also a great game to take on long trips.

World 1-20: Mega Man 7

Mega Man 7
~SNES

Original Completion Date: May 4th, 2009

I find it kind of strange that Capcom would continue the original Mega Man series after introducing the Mega Man X series. And so we have Mega Man 7. Mega Man 7 was released 2 years after Mega Man X came out. Honestly, I would have been much happier to see Mega Man X3 released than this clunky game. And that's saying something, since out of the three Mega Man X games on SNES, X3 is my least favourite. I'm going to be completely honest here, I don't remember a lot about Mega Man 7 seeing as I beat it once, and only once, nearly two years ago. Looking back, I seem to remember the game play being slower, heavier, and just all around more difficult (and not in a requiring advanced skill way). I wasn't a huge fan of this set of bosses either. There's nothing all that original about them, I mean come on. Slash Man? Spring Man? And by the way, doesn't Spring man look an awful lot like he could pass for Junk Man? And on that thought, don't both of those guys look like they could pass for Morph Moth, from Mega Man X2? Sure, they did the robot junkyard theme well, but that's just pushing it. The only thing I can say for sure about this game is that the Old Western style end scene looks pretty neat.

World 1-19: Legend of the Mystical Ninja

Legend of the Mystical Ninja
~SNES


Original Completion Date: May 3rd, 2009




I originally discovered Legend of the Mystical Ninja on the Wii's Virtual Console, but never managed to finish the game back then. However, I loved the game so much that I just had to give it another (and another, and another...) chance, until I finally pulled it off. I love everything about this game. It's cute, it's fun, it's serious good times. It has a great Japanese feel to it, and even though the game plot is the typical "holy crap that dumb ass princess got stolen, quick somebody save her!", it turned out really well. I also thoroughly enjoyed the music and sound effects. As this seems to be a bit of a hidden gem, I definitely recommend this to anybody who calls themselves a retro gamer. Find this game and play it immediately! It's worth every minute. 

World 1-18: Super Castlevania IV

Super Castlevania IV
~SNES

Original Completion Date: April 24th, 2009

Another day, another SNES game added to my collection. To be honest, I don't think I really understood how all the power-ups worked in this game. I just grabbed whatever dropped out of those candles I smashed and made a break for it. Hey, if that were my castle and Simon was storming in there killing my buddies and smashing my property, I'd be pretty pissed off! Well anyways, most of the game was pretty much just walking around, jumping around awkwardly, climbing a few shady stairs, and then slaying the final boss. I don't really remember much else other than that. Oh, and the wicked music!

Dananana nananana nananana na na na na...

World 1-17: Tetris DS

Tetris DS
~Nintendo DS


Original Completion Date: September 5th, 2008

Well, technically there is no way to finish this game, but I figure maxing out the level and lines is about as good as it gets. My high score from this game was: 49,208,733. I actually calculated approximately how many hours I spent playing this round, and it came out to over 20 over the course of a few days (maybe a week). I also calculated that, had the level kept going up, I would have been around level 2000. So, here's to endless Tetris!! 

My high score:

World 1-16: Kirby Squeak Squad

Kirby Squeak Squad
~Nintendo DS

Original Completion Date: December 29th, 2008


Kirby Squeak Squad is a truly classic Kirby game. It has all the staples of the classic Kirby series: tons of new and exciting power-ups to try out, classic side scrolling, platforming, run 'n fly action, and of course it has that super easy difficulty level that makes it so good for newcomers and old school gamers alike to pick up and play mindlessly. Both the difficulty level and cutesy music/animation make it a great game to pick up before bed while winding down from a busy day. And while the game doesn't feature much stylus use, it actually contributes to the relaxing features of Kirby Squeak Squad, since you don't have to mess around with the touch screen and stylus. And if you're feeling especially lazy, you can just use your thumb to move the bubbles on the bottom screen (which is the full extent of the touch screen features for the game).

World 1-15: Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2

Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 
~Nintendo DS


Original Completion Date: October 27th, 2008

Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2, as the name implies, is the sequel to the original Trauma Center: Under the Knife game. It's not the second game in the "Let's begin the operation!" super surgeon video game series called Trauma Center, but rather the fourth. The original concept is very original (I can't think of any other video games that require you to perform surgery on a regular basis), but the game play itself gets pretty repetitive. Of course, there are different types of surgeries you are required to perform, but it's pretty hard to elaborate after you've introduced the medical warfare disease GUILT, which is the main obstacle of the game. There are a few puzzle levels that take Dr. Stiles out of the usual OR, and they are ridiculously hard, but other than that most of the game revolves around performing operations on GUILT infected patients. Still, the surgery-based levels are very in depth and require a lot of concentration and patience to master. The music also adds a great deal of suspense, drawing you into the game completely. 

World 1-14: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
~SNES


Original Completion Date: October 23, 2008

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island was one of, if not the, first game to really accent Yoshi's existence after his original introduction in Super Mario World. Unlike most Mario games, SMW2:YI actually requires you to be riding a Yoshi throughout the entire game (sans a baby Mario power-up here and there), since the whole plot revolves around the fact that you are just a helpless baby who would die if the Yoshi's hadn't found you. This game was fairly different from the first Super Mario World game in that there is more than one bonus game, and you can repeat them whenever you feel like it after getting 100% on every level. You can also find items and power-ups which are stored in your inventory for use whenever you feel like it. And of course, it's also "that game where you can make Yoshi get high" in the level "Touch Fuzzy, Get Dizzy". I could spend hours just running around in that level (in fact, I already have). Let me tell you, if any authorities ever found Yoshi running around blitzed off his ass with a baby in his saddle, it would be game over, dude. 

World 1-13: Super Mario World

Super Mario World
~SNES


Original Completion Date: October 14th, 2008

Super Mario World, yet another SNES classic. Once again, Nintendo nails every aspect of a great game: smooth game play, awesome replay value, catchy music, and even some innovative features, such as the switch palaces. Switch palaces enhance certain levels, allowing players to reach new heights (for all you completionists out there like me). Another great aspect of this game is that it was fairly long for a platformer. To finish the game with every secret takes about 3 hours!


Also new to the Mario series is our dinosaur pal Yoshi, who is introduced in Super Mario World. Yoshi allows you to blow through levels faster, take an extra hit without losing your own powers, or even dive off last minute for the ultimate betrayal in friendship: leaving your best friend to die while you dive off to safety. As an added little bonus, a sweet drum beat plays with the level music while you ride him. 

World 1-12: Super Mario Bros. 3

Super Mario Bros. 3
~SNES (Via Super Mario All-Stars)


Original Completion Date: October 23rd, 2008

Super Mario Bros. 3 - what a perfect game. It is widely known as one of the top selling video games of all time, having sold over 18 million copies on the original console. It also managed to sell another million copies 20 years after it's original release, after coming out on the Wii's Virtual Console for download - and not without reason. After two decades, the game play is a definite rival for current classics. Divinely smooth with an array of level themes and music to match each scene, the difficulty level is fairly well rounded as well; the bosses are ridiculously easy (three consecutive jumps timed right will leave him totally stunned until you finish him off), and yet the secrets are hard to find as a first time player. You can also collect flutes to skip worlds whenever you feel like it, but make sure you don't skip past World 5-3, for the game's only appearance of Kuribo's Shoe, more commonly known as that awesome boot thing you can ride in!

World 1-11: Super Mario Bros. 2

 Super Mario Bros. 2
~SNES (Via Super Mario All-Stars)


Original Completion Date: October 23rd, 2008

Another sweet Super Mario Bros. game. For those of you who don't know, Super Mario Bros. 2 is actually not an original Mario game, but rather a port with a slight redesign of the Japanese Famicom game Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic. And while the original SMB2 game was released in Japan, it was deemed to difficult for North Americans (Ouch! That hurts Nintendo), and so this is what they came up with. Even so, SMB2 turned out to have some difficult parts of its own, especially when using the wrong characters for each level. I tend to use Peach most because she can float for hours with her dress (talk about a cheap win), but I do like to change up the difficulty now and then by, say, using Luigi. Just look at those legs, how is anybody supposed to control THAT? I remember imitating that jump as a kid on trampolines, but just try killing a giant frog-thing spewing bubbles at you with that kind of instability! Classic. 

World 1-10: Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels

Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
~SNES (Via Super Mario All-Stars)


Original Completion Date: October 16th, 2008

Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. It's hard. It's classic Mario. Everybody knows the iconic music and style of these games. Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels is a direct sequel to the original Super Mario Bros. game, and once again Bowser has kidnapped the princess, so it is up to you, my fat plumber friend, to trudge through another eight worlds of hell - only this time, hell is on steroids. So let's get Goomba squashing and Koopa stomping; only a few hours of torture and running into that stupid Toad telling you "Our princess is in another castle!" will bring you to destination Princess-cheek-kiss! (What a cop-out). 

World 1-9: Diablo II: Lord of Destruction

Diablo II: Lord of Destruction
~PC

Original Completion Date: October 20th, 2008

Well, this is my first PC addition, and I'm damn proud of it. Diablo II is worth every last minute you spend wandering around, slaying monsters, finding hidden treasures, talking to NPCs, and just messing around in general. The story line is incredible, and each character has a very defining voice. Personally I like Deckard Cain. There are loads of features in this game which were very innovative, and I can't wait to see what Blizzard will come up with for Diablo III.





Bonus Pic: My tattoo of the symbols of Tal Rasha's tomb (left leg, outside edge)

World 1-8: Super Bomberman

Super Bomberman
~SNES

Original Completion Date: October 14th, 2008

Super Bomberman is a puzzle game where you blow up walls strategically to kill enemies and find the exit to the next level. It's cute, fun, easy to learn, and endlessly addicting. I think I beat this particular version 3 times last year, just because it's so mindlessly enjoyable. There's no real storyline, and that's okay. Who doesn't enjoy a simple game now and then?

World 1-7: Mega Man X2

Mega Man X2
~SNES

Original Completion Date: October 14th, 2008

I could write all day about how awesome Mega Man X2 is, considering it's one of my favourite games ever. The music is totally bad ass, character control is seriously slick, and while the bosses are a piece of cake (that may be my 1000 times killing them talking), there's nothing in this game not worth loving. As far as the storyline goes, there isn't really much to it. But let's be realistic, this is the 90s when all you had to do was run around shooting shit until it died, occasionally figuring out the bosses movement patterns. I mean seriously, what kind of threat does a Wire Sponge really pose? Absolutely zilch. And that's why this game is awesome.