Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following videos I found.
#1 The Fly Revisited – In 1986, The Fly was released in cinemas and it impacted the science fiction genre, the horror genre and pop culture with body horror presentation under the direction of David Cronenberg. The film, which was a remake of the 1958 original, established Geena Davis and Jeff Goldblum as cinematic artists. The movie even became an allegory about AIDS and how people care about those who are living with diseases. That being said, it is not surprising that The Fly became the subject of many YouTube videos in the form of retro reviews, reaction videos and trivia videos. To enjoy The Fly, watch the selected videos below…
#2 Steve Ditko Remembered – Are you familiar with the late illustrator Steve Ditko? He was the co-creator of Spider-Man and he illustrated the first 38 issues of The Amazing Spider-Man comic book series. Unlike the other Spider-Man co-creator Stan Lee (who went on to be famous and celebrated a lot), Ditko had a low-key profile and did not want to be interviewed. If you want to learn more about the late illustrator, watch the video below.
#3 Pro-Palestine Activist Riddhi Patel Bashes City Officials And Threatens Them With Violence – I have seen a lot of Islamo-Leftist activists and zealots. Most of the time, they hate Israel and took sides with Palestinians and the Islamic terrorists. Also many of them activists are so extreme, they became entitled, arrogant and disrespectful to higher authorities. In the Communist state of California, the pro-Palestine activist Riddhi Patel spoke to city officials of Bakersfield and went as far as threatening them with violence. She even misused the name of Jesus. In her own words, Patel said “We’ll murder you.” To find out more, watch the video from SaharTV below.
#4 Wood-Fired Rice Balls Served By Store in Japan – Have you eaten any freshly cooked onigiri (Japanese rice ball) lately? I live here in the Philippines and because onigiri is not a common food, my only options are to buy them from the convenience store or from a foreign food vendor. In Japan, onigiri is widely available and customers can avail of them freshly cooked. There is this store in Japan that sells onigiri which are prepared with rice (cooked by wood fire) and fresh ingredients. Watch and learn from the video below.
#5 Meet The Programmer Behind The Classic Game Centipede – While I never had the chance to play the classic Atari game Centipede in the arcades in the 1980s, I played the Atari 2600 port a lot and enjoy it. Because I have a copy of the Atari 50 collection on my Xbox Series X, I am able to play the Centipede arcade version in the comfort of home. For the newcomers reading this, Centipede is a tremendous success in the arcades ending up as one of the Top 4 arcade games of 1982 in America. It was also ported to many consoles and home computers years later. Recently, I found a YouTube video featuring Dona Bailey, one of the programmers behind Centipede.
Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!
In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads – including arcade flyers – from the 1970s to the 1990s.
For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers, posters and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.
With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…
1. North American Pac-Mania arcade flyer
The front.
The rear.
Released in 1987, Pac-Mania became a big hit among critics, fans and casual arcade gamers which added a lot to the enduring popularity of the Pac-Man game franchise. As it featured a new game design with an oblique perspective and a more 3D feel, Pac-Mania was a very serious attempt on reinventing the Pac-Man formula. For the American market, Namco licensed the game to Atari which in turn came up with the above arcade flyer that had a pretty eye-catching front cover artwork showcasing the iconic Pac-Man jumping out from a maze with the line “I’m back,…and bouncing.” The arcade cabinet was also shown and a clear message about the 3D feature of the game was shown. The other side of the flyer showed screenshots and details that are worth reading. This arcade flyer still looks attractive and informative by today’s standards.
2. Japanese Missile Command arcade flyer
Cocktail arcade tables were popular in Japan and Taito brought Missile Command with the format.
Missile Command is a true arcade classic which I always enjoy replaying (read my retro review by clicking here). It was an instant hit in arcades in America and after Atari licensed the game to Sega and Taito for the arcades of Japan, it also achieved huge success there. Along the way, Taito released Missile Command with an cocktail arcade table format which is common in Japan. The arcade flyer Taito came up with had a very simplistic presentation of details, an image of the cocktail arcade table and one screenshot of the game. The Japanese arcade flyer clearly lacks excitement but at least it gave gamers and arcade operators a clear idea of what to expect with Missile Command.
3. Atari 2600 print ad
The 1978 print ad.
When the Atari 2600 was first launched in 1977, it was officially called the Atari Video Computer System (Atari VCS). The Atari company really aimed high to sell a lot of consoles to as many households as possible and they came up with a print ad like this one from 1978. While the Atari 2600 and its games were displayed, the image of a father, mother and daughter showed that the company not only targeted American families but also want to change home entertainment to be more interactive. This old ad is truly an inspired piece of work.
4. Kool-Aid Man video game print ad
I never played the Kool-Aid Man video game.
There was a time when Kool-Aid was such a popular drink, the character Kool-Aid Man debuted in 1974 after initially starting as the Pitcher Man. A short time later, merchandising featuring the character followed and in 1983 the official Kool-Aid Man video game was released on the Atari 2600 and the Intellivision. This particular print ad appeared in some comic books I read a very long time ago and it offered customers the opportunity to get the game free by sending 125 proof-of-purchase points to the company by mail. This old ad was visually striking and was a creative way to boost sales of the drink.
5. Spider-Man Atari 2600 game print ad
Spider-Man and Green Goblin with the Atari 2600 and the TV.
Even though the controls were rough and the game’s difficulty really went high with each new session, my friends and I still enjoyed playing the Spider-Man video game on Atari 2600 from Parker Brothers. Apart from the comic book-style print ads they came up with to promote the game, Parker Brothers went on to make this particular ad featuring Spider-Man and the Green Goblin with a TV set, the game and the Atari 2600 together all presented with a totally different art style. This is still a fun ad to look at.
6. Phoenix game print ad
This is still an impressive print ad.
After playing shooter-type games like Space Invaders and Centipede on the Atari 2600, my friends and I experienced something familiar yet fresh with Phoenix. Atari secured from Taito the rights to make the Atari 2600 port of the game, and they came up with a dark print ad that showcased the official painted art work, a portion of the video game’s box and the line “Arm Your Missiles…Charge Up Your Shields! Phoenix is coming!” Having played the game many times, those highlighted words really captured the essence of Phoenix gameplay.
7. Sunset Riders North American arcade flyer
The front.
The rear.
Released in arcades in 1991, Sunset Riders was a critical and commercial hit raking in more success to Konami. For the American arcades, Konami came up with this print ad showing a creepy looking cowboy carrying a bag of money (related to the “strike it rich” line) with his donkey with him. The rear of the ad shows another photograph of 3 cowboys on their horses, the four screenshots and the creative text description. Too bad we don’t see flyers like this anymore.
8. Parker Brothers’ 6-game print ad
Parker Brothers 6-game print ad.
Quite arguably, Parker Brothers was the 2nd most prominent publisher of video games on the Atari 2600 console next to Atari itself. Out of the six games presented in this old print ad, I only played Spider-Man and Super Cobra. Each game’s box had a unique art style and collectively they made this ad look exciting. Times were really different back in the 1980s.
Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following videos I found.
#1 Very In-Depth Retrospective about Saints Row (2006) – Back in 2006, I bought my Xbox 360 console and one of the very first games I bought for it was the original Saints Row. The game exceeded my expectations for a fun-filled open-world experience and in some creative ways, it was more entertaining than the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) games available at the time. Recently, I found what is very clearly the most in-depth and most analytical retrospective video about the game which you must watch now.
#2 The Night Donald Trump Destroyed Hillary Clinton With His Al Smith Dinner Speech – Remember the Al Smith Dinner event of 2016? Al Smith Dinner is the annual white tie dinner held in New York City to raise funds for Catholic charities and it has the notable tradition of having US Presidential candidates as guests every four years. The 2016 edition of the dinner was very memorable because of what Donald Trump said about the wicked Hillary Clinton. Trump’s line of Clinton “pretending not to hate Catholics” drew a lot of reactions and was magnified by the mainstream news media. There is a lot more to be discovered in the video from MAGAMark below.
#3 The Sixth Sense Revisited – When it was first released in cinemas in 1999, The Sixth Sense generated a tremendous amount of word-of-mouth reactions and discussions among local moviegoers. This was because of the twist ending, M. Night Shyamalan’s directing, the intense combination of suspense and fright, and the memorable acting between Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment. It’s not surprising that The Sixth Sense became a popular choice of film for YouTubers to make videos of and you can enjoy watching the selected videos below.
#4 Gradius III Revisited – While I played a lot of video games released by Konami, I never ever got to play Gradius III in the arcade nor on game console. Back in the early 1990s, I remember seeing boxes of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) version of Gradius III displayed in local game stores but I did not have the money to purchase it. None of my neighbors (with SNES consoles in their respective homes) had it. Eventually, I saw some YouTube videos focused on the old game and you can enjoy watching them below.
#5 Okonomiyaki in Japan – I enjoy eating Okonomiyaki which is a Japanese teppanyaki savory pancake dish consisting of wheat flour batter and other ingredients. In my experience, I have not toured Japan for a very long time and there are lots of places there that cook and serve Okonomiyaki to customers. If you want to see what Okonomiyaki looks like and hot it is cooked, watch the selected videos below.
#6 Entitled Illegal Immigrants – Is your local community still literally flooded with illegal immigrants? There is no doubt that crime is connected with illegal immigration and there are even illegal immigrants who believe they are entitled and cannot be held accountable for wrongdoing. You can see why and learn more by watching the video below.
Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks, retro gaming fans and other gamers!
If you are disappointed with modern console gaming and if you don’t like what the game makers are doing, retro gaming will restore the fun and help you forget about the disappointment.
When I was a very young boy, I saw Cloak & Dagger on home video. The movie – starring Henry Thomas and Dabney Coleman – was a thriller laced with Cold War elements, espionage and video gaming. In fact, the video game giant of the time – Atari – was involved in the movie production and their arcade game Cloak & Dagger appeared in the form of a fictional Atari 5200 game. Each time I saw the gameplay footage while watching the movie (read my retro review by clicking here), I was thrilled and always wanted to play it.
Finally, in 2024, I was able to play Cloak & Dagger on my Xbox Series X after purchasing the physical copy of Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration. Since then, I’ve been replaying Cloak & Dagger a lot in the comfort home and it sure is challenging and fun.
To be clear, this is not a retro game review of Cloak & Dagger. Rather, it is a nostalgic close look at the Atari video game that happened to be featured in the 1984 movie which in turn was released on 4K Blu-ray in 2022. Combine that with the Atari 50 release also in 2022, the Cloak & Dagger game made a comeback in the retro gaming radars of many while also becoming available to play with on modern consoles and Windows PC.
Game design and gameplay
In the arcade game, you play Agent X (the 2D sprite colored green and wearing the hat) and you will encounter challenges from enemies (often robot guards which can fire shots at you), conveyor belts that can impact your movement and the possibility of the giant bomb exploding.
Developed by Atari for the arcade, Cloak & Dagger is a 2D multi-directional shooter in which you play Agent X (who appears wearing a hat, a mask and a coat) whose mission is to infiltrate the massive base of an enemy that goes very deep underground (33 levels/floors).
Each level the player enters require surviving obstacles and defeating (or avoiding) the enemies (robot guards are the most common opposition while the crawling eye occasionally appears) and then move to the other side of the level in order to get into another elevator to keep on descending. The ultimate goal is to reach the final level below to recover top secret plans from Dr. Boom (the main villain and the one responsible for stealing the said plans), destroy his underground bomb factory (which explains the existence of oversized bombs and many explosives on conveyor belts) and get out.
As registering high scores was the trend of video gaming back then, players will be rewarded with shooting at the enemies (example: robot guards are worth 50 points each when asleep or 200 points when awake, while the main villain Dr. Boom is worth 50,000 points) as well as interacting with in-game items such as the unarmed explosives (10 points when shot but worth 100 when collected), armed explosives (50 points each when destroyed) and mystery boxes (worth 200 to 1,800 points plus random effects on the player such as extra life, improved speed and even extra life). For every 30,000 points scored, the player will be granted an extra life. In many levels are gigantic bombs that players can ignite using the Fuse button for extra points.
Between levels, you will see an animated Agent X during the short rides in the elevator.
The game is very challenging because so much is going on around you. The robot guards will always fire shots at you while the conveyor belts often move items and explosives (both the armed and unarmed). You can ride a converyor belt to move around but make sure you do not touch the armed explosives (red containers) as they will kill you upon contact.
Other items players can collect are the extra boxes (resulting in extra life) and the secret maps (which partially reveal safe paths through each fourth level).
When it comes to the controls, Cloak & Dagger has a dual joystick (twin sticks) setup similar to Robotron 2084 and Smash T.V. (read my retrospective look at it by clicking here). One joystick allows players to move Agent X around while the other allows shooting projectiles (using Agent X’s weapon) at any direction. The fuse action (for igniting the oversized bombs in the enemy lair) is done by simply pressing a button. As I am playing this game on Xbox Series X, the game’s controls functioned well on the Xbox controller. Both precision and response of the game are sharp with the Xbox controller.
When it comes to the enjoyment and overall value of Cloak & Dagger, I can say that it is indeed more challenging and more chaotic when compared to the more notable twin stick games Robotron 2084 and Smash T.V. For one thing, each level has different layouts complete with obstacles or hazards plus enemies that will certainly challenge players. Many levels have conveyor belts moving unarmed explosives, armed explosives (which you must avoid touching because you will die upon direct contact) and items around which form obstacles when it comes to shooting robot guards on the other side (note: you can use the obstacles defensively when the robot guards fire at you).
From time to time, you will enter a somewhat sparse looking level like this which actually has mines hidden. The locations of the mines do get revealed in specific moments but only for a few seconds. That being said, it is always best to be able to collect maps that appear on conveyor belts.
Apart from the robot guards and the crawling eye, there are also forklifts which don’t attack you but their solid exterior will deflect any projectile you fire at them and send them back to your direction.
To be clear, you are not required to destroy all the robot guards (or the huge crawling eye enemies) in each level. You can simply try to avoid obstacles and enemies to make it to the next elevator to keep on descending although doing so means scoring much lesser points. Picking up items will add points and randomly alter your character’s capabilities (by picking up mystery boxes).
Adding pressure to you on each level is the giant bomb located in the middle which you can ignite using the fuse action. Once ignited, you only have a few seconds left to make it to the next elevator as the giant bomb will explode and spread fire throughout the whole level. Igniting the said thing will grant you a lot of points provided you survive and made it to the elevator going down.
To be able to play the Cloak & Dagger arcade game on your console or on PC, purchase a copy of the Atari 50 collection.
Cloak & Dagger is indeed a fun game but the opposition, the obstacles, time limit (indicated by the giant bomb) and chaotic turn of events make it more challenging than Midway’s two notable twin stick shooters. The game would have been more forgiving and more playable if only it did not have the one-hit-death embedded on it. Considering the challenges each level has and the many levels players have to go through, it would have made more sense to have Agent X have a life bar/health meter/shield and be able to absorb some enemy projectiles (before dying).
Of course, the game was never designed to be like that and the one-hit-death is also found in Robotron 2084 and Smash T.V. That being said, if you played Cloak & Dagger with a high level of success and completed everything without losing all your lives, then you would be a great achiever.
Pop culture significance
It has been reported that Cloak & Dagger – which was released as an arcade kit for machines that ran Robotron 2084, Joust, Defender and Stargate – did not have a big presence in the arcades in America. The 1984 movie dramatically increased public awareness of it.
Print ad of the arcade game.
When Cloak & Dagger was still in game development (created and led by Russell Dawe) under the title “Agent X”, Atari and certain movie producers became aware of each other’s projects and decided to work together. The deal made business sense as Atari could benefit from reaching a mainstream audience through the cinemas while the movie producers joined in the 1980s Hollywood trend of movies that featured powerful computers, software and artificial intelligence as seen in WarGames (1983), Superman III (1983), and The Terminator (1984).
Much to the credit of the filmmakers, the presence of the game actually added good value to the plot. The film’s concept of the Cloak & Dagger game becoming a very wanted object (plot device actually) resulting in chases, intense action scenes and suspense turned out to be very believable as well. It should be noted that director Richard Franklin took inspiration from Alfred Hitchcock which gave the film a unique touch on the suspense and shock scenes. Check out the movie clip below…
When it comes to the Cloak & Dagger game appearing within the movie of 1984, you will see how the filmmakers and Atari cleverly created the illusion of the game operating on the Atari 5200 console by showing not only video game footage, but also having Henry Thomas acting like he’s playing it using the Atari 5200 controller (which has an analog joystick and buttons on one side). When I was a young boy watching the movie, I found the game footage very entertaining and wanted to play it.
Cloak & Dagger portrayed as running on Atari 5200 in this scene with Henry Thomas and Dabney Coleman. (photo source – AtariProtos.com)
A Cloak & Dagger arcade cabinet seen in the background (right side). (photo source – IMDB.com)
Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!
In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads – including arcade flyers – from the 1980s and 1990s.
For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers, posters and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.
With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…
1. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Atari 2600 print ad
If you have seen Steven Spielberg’s 1982 movie, were you able to play the Atari 2600 video game? I did!
Atari invested a lot on its video game based on Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial as the film was a massive box office success. In addition to their Atari 2600 video game print ad showing E.T. with Elliot, they ran another print ad with a concept of the sci-fi character needing people’s help. They came up with original artwork showing E.T. holding a box of the Atari 2600 E.T. video game, then posted details about how to acquire a copy of the game (with prices for regular customers and club members) and posted a toll-free 1-800 phone number. They also offered a $5 discount for those who order the E.T. or Raider of the Lost Ark video game and another cartridge. This old ad had commerce written all over it.
2. Bulls vs. Lakers and the NBA Playoffs Sega Genesis print ad
Before NBA Live, there was this old NBA video games series by Electronic Arts.
Based on the 1990-91 NBA season and the NBA finals match-up between the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers, Bulls vs. Lakers and the NBA Playoffs was Electronic Arts’ exciting game for the Sega Genesis which already had lots of sports-loving gamers. They made a 2-page print ad that was cleverly designed to make both gamers and NBA fans excited. It is not an accident that the ad showed comparative images (in-game footage and real-life basketball photos) of NBA superstars like Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone and Charles Barkley on the right. With the strong visual presentation, emphasis on popular NBA players and other details posted, this old ad is still fun and exciting to look at.
3. Japanese Smash T.V. print ad
The Japanese print ad of Smash T.V.
Yes, it is true! The console port of the arcade classic Smash T.V. was released on the Super Family Computer (Super Famicom) in Japan back in the 1990s. While I cannot understand the Japanese text shown on the ad above, it still looks exciting as the official artwork plus a screenshot of the game were displayed. The revealed retail price of 7,800 Yen is alone eye-catching as there were many games in Japan launched below that price in the next console generation. I can only wonder how many gamers in Japan bought and enjoyed Smash T.V.
4. U.S. Championship V’Ball arcade flyers
The very colorful and striking arcade flyer for the Japanese market.
The American arcade flyer.
In 1988, Technos – the company behind the Double Dragon video games – released U.S. Championship V’Ball in video arcades in Japan and in America. The way it was promoted in Japan, Technos came up with an arcade flyer that had a comic-inspired hand-drawn artwork that easily gave viewers a strong American beach volleyball vibe. For the American arcade market, Taito (licensed by Technos) used different artwork showing two men in action. If you ask me, the Japanese arcade flyer is more dynamic to look at. Regardless of art style and presentation, both arcade flyers emphasized beach volleyball to gamers clearly.
5. Pitfall 3D: Beyond the Jungle print ad
The 2-page print ad of Pitfall 3D: Beyond the Jungle.
When Activision decide to make a new Pitfall video game with polygonal graphics and with 3D platform gameplay, it was not surprising at all as this was the trend that defined 1990s gaming. In 1998, Pitfall 3D: Beyond the Jungle was released for the PlayStation and it received a divisive reception from the critics. If you look closely at the print ad, the words “Next Generation Adventure” was written in the lower-right part and it was clear the game’s quality did not justify them.
6. Atari 2600 and games print ads
Our household had an Atari 2600 console and many games.
Atari’s promotion of its console, the games and interactive entertainment with the TV.
For a number of years decades ago, Atari dominated the video game console market in America with the Atari 2600 sold in the millions. While Atari today is no longer the video game giant it used to be, there is no denying the fact that they really changed the way people enjoyed the use of their television sets in American homes by offering them lots of video games for the Atari 2600 console. By looking at the above print ads, you can see that the company was not only aggressive with their marketing but also made interactive electronic entertainment more acceptable to countless families.
7. Burning Rangers North American print ad
I remember this ad from video game magazines I read in 1998.
Released in 1998 for the Sega Saturn, Burning Rangers was a high-quality exclusive game. To promote it in America, Sega came up with the print ad showing a few screenshots and a dominating image of a fire fighter cooling down on a kid’s personal pool. The image emphasized the element of fire in the game even though it lacked the more sci-fi elements used on the characters and setting. It should be noted that by 1998, the Sega Saturn was no longer in high demand in America as gamers overwhelmingly chose PlayStation and Nintendo 64 (N64) consoles and games. In retrospect, this was one of Sega’s final hard marketing moves done with a Saturn game.
Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks, retro gaming fans and other gamers!
If you are disappointed with modern console gaming and if you don’t like what the console makers are doing, retro gaming will restore the fun and help you forget about the disappointment.
I recently purchased a copy of Elevator Action Returns S-Tribute for my Xbox Series X because I wanted to play Elevator Action Returns again but in the comfort of home. For the newcomers reading this, Elevator Action Returns (also titled as Elevation Action II in some markets overseas) was first released in Japanese arcades in 1994.
The Japanese arcade flyer of Elevator Action Returns.
In my experience here in the Philippines, I played the original Elevator Action on the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom) in 1986 and I played its sequel for the first time at the arcade of X-Site Amusement Center inside Festival Mall in Alabang in 1998. Upon playing Elevator Action Returns arcade version, I was instantly hooked as it was pretty playable, exciting and fun to play. To the best of my memory, I replayed Elevator Action Returns a number of times at X-Site Amusement Center until early 2001. Today, the game is no longer available in X-Site’s arcade selection which is a bummer.
In recent times, I’ve been replaying Elevator Action Returns and the original Elevator Action on my Xbox Series X thanks to the Elevator Action Returns S-Tribute digital copy I purchased. What I am writing here is not a game review but more of an observation about the mid-1990s game in general and how it played using the Xbox controller.
Game design and gameplay
Developed by Taito, Elevator Action Returns was built up on the foundation it inherited from its 1980s predecessor. The game has a 2D visual design and with more detailed sprites and artistic elements of the time. The game was designed with a joystick and two action buttons (one for shooting and the other for jumping) arcade control set up in mind.
The first level is a creative remake of what was presented in the original Elevator Action game. Only this time, the action is more intense, faster and more explosive.
Players will have to make their way through the floors in each level (six in total), shooting the enemies (the in-game terrorist group), entering all the red-colored door to retrieve something essential, survive and then making your way to the exit point of the level. As the game has a designated health meter or life bar for the player, this allows players to keep enduring the challenges without worrying about any one-hit deaths.
As players make their way through each level, they can pick up new weapons like machine guns or launchers. Players can also enter doors to pick up not only new weapons but also health boosters or points.
The 2D sprite work and animation are fantastic to look at. The artistic details in the background and foreground added visual dept.
You can pick one of three characters to play as.
When compared to the original Elevator Action, the sequel comes with good variety per level prepared. The first level was traditional in design like the previous game as players have to move down a tall building by floors, accomplish with the red door and conclude the level at the ground floor. The other levels are more horizontal in design and players will definitely be moving more sideward fighting the terrorists while avoiding environmental hazards. There also will be times when players will have to climb up one floor to the next by escalator or by elevator depending on the level designed.
When it comes to the constant opposition, the terrorists are many and players should be aware of them appearing when they are least expected. What it noticeable is that the terrorists become more aggressive and relentless the longer players take to finish a level. I promise you readers, you will do a lot of shooting, jumping, and even melee attacks when fighting the bad guys.
Levels like this one allowed for more sideway movement as well as opportunities to climb up or down a floor in order to accomplish your objective.
With a health meter implemented, you can endure more damage as you fight the bad guys and make your way through. Beware of environmental hazards along the way.
As for the controls, the arcade control set-up of a single joystick and two buttons remains the best way to play it. Elevator Action Returns is playable enough with the Xbox controller. While the left analog stick of the Xbox controller works well in moving the character, I ended up using the directional pad (D-pad) a lot more because it works much better and allows me to make more precise moves. This game can be played in single-player or in 2-player co-op.
A sequel released at the right time
I like the artwork the game developers prepared highlighting your mission accomplishment and survival. A lot of effort was invested on making the artwork displayed here.
Being a mid-1990s game made with more advanced visual elements, better hardware and a modern approach to gameplay, the action in Elevator Action Returnsis unsurprisingly faster, more action-packed and more explosive than its predecessor. Indeed, this is a high-quality sequel and a true evolution of the classic Elevator Action formula. As Islamic terrorism became a major problem in global affairs in the 1990s, the terrorism theme of the game’s story was timely and fitting as the fictional terrorist group is obsessed with causing destruction and death worldwide. As such, the game allows players to pick one of three character of a counter-terrorism unit, and each character has differences with regards to speed, armor, firing speed, health and sub-weapons. The levels are plentiful and the same can be said about the varied action which makes the game worth replaying from start to finish. I should state that the 2D sprite work is great and timeless to look at.
Elevator Action Returns is a classic and it ensures a lot of fun for anyone who loves retro gaming and the Elevator Action series in general. This is one of the best arcade games of the 1990s now available for playing on modern consoles.
Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following videos I found.
#1 How to catch a shark and prepare it for consumption – If you are fond of fishing, have you ever tried catching a shark and then preparing it for cooking and eating? You can learn a lot from the video of Darcizzle Offshore which showed how a blacktip shark was caught. That being said, let me ask you – when was the last time you had shark for a meal? Watch the video below.
#2 Arcade games that never got ported – Through the decades, I visited the local arcades and played a lot of games. Along the way, there were times when I simply watched other games being played by others. Being an avid gamer, I noticed that there were several games of the arcade that never got ported on to consoles nor home computers nor the mobile devices. I recently stumbled on this video by Just Jamie which is entertaining to watch.
#3 Female bodybuilders and fitness influencers who died this year – With your current knowledge about health, do you often think that being healthy and being very muscular are always related with one another? Did you believe having a bulked up body means you are healthy? Believe it or not, there are already some female bodybuilders who did recently and certain details behind their deaths might shock you. Watch and learn from the video below.
#4 You, Me and the Movies posted another Friday The 13th (1980) reaction video – In July of 2021, YouTuber You, Me and the Movies posted its reaction video of 1980’s Friday The 13th. Recently, You, Me and the Movies posted another reaction video of the same movie but “Mrs. Movies” has been replaced by her sister Berly. I encourage to watch the video below.
#5 Fig Newtons remembered – Back in the 1980s, I saw an eye-catching print ad of the snack Fig Newtons while reading a superhero comic book here in the Philippines. Some years later, I managed to eat Fig Newtons imported from the United States and it was delicious to eat. If anyone of you likes snacks in general or if you really loved eating Fig Newtons before, posted below for your viewing pleasure and learning is a video about the history of Fig Newtons.
#6 SwordQuest contests and prizes remembered – Back in the 1980s, Atari released on their Atari 2600 console a fantasy-themed series of video games called SwordQuest. Not only did they release three SwordQuest games (click here, here and here), the company even organized contests (about the games) that had luxurious prizes made of real gold and jewels for champions. To take a close look at the events that happened – complete with archive video footage and pictures – watch the video by Save Data below.
#7 Ashleigh Burton reacts to Moonraker – If you are less than thirty years-old and you started watching James Bond movies in the 21st century, were you able to watch the movie that had Agent 007 go to outer space? 1979’s Moonraker is the one and only James Bond movie (starring the late Roger Moore) that featured space travel and even laser battles in space. Moonraker was also the first James Bond movie to surpass the $200 million mark in global ticket sales. For some people, Moonraker aged badly but for some it still is entertaining to watch. To find out more about Moonraker, watch Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video below.
#8 The international box office weakness of James Gunn’s Superman explained – No matter what Warner Bros. did and no matter the overseas promotional tours done by the filmmakers and stars of James Gunn’s Superman, the movie ended up as a box office disappointment outside of America grossing only $95 million during its first international weekend. In fact, the new Superman movies could not take down Jurassic World: Rebirth in certain countries during the weekend of July 11-13, 2025. As America generated the majority of its ticket sales, the movie has lesser chances of making $1 billion worldwide and I would not be surprised to see it gross less than 2013’s Man of Steel ($670 million worldwide). To learn why James Gunn’s Superman is already a commercial disappointment with moviegoers outside of America, watch the videos below.
Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following videos I found.
#1 Calvin Dyson’s The Spy Who Love Me in-depth review – One of the best James Bond-focused YouTubers is Calvin Dyson. Years ago, he posted his in-depth retro review of The Spy Who Loved Me – starring the late Roger Moore – which is pretty entertaining to watch. I saw the 1977 James Bond film a number of times in my life and I can say that Dyson not only made an engaging retro review, he also provided crucial insight about the movie. For those who have not seen The Spy Who Loved Me, watch it first entirely before watching Dyson’s spoileriffic review. Otherwise, enjoy his video belo.
#2 Slope’s Game Room examines Popeye video games – Growing up, I saw cartoon episodes about Popeye. I also read a few comic books about the character and even saw the live-action movie of 1980. When it comes to retro gaming, I played the Popeye Game & Watch game and then the Family Computer (Famicom) port of the Popeye arcade game. I recently found Slope’s Game Room’s retrospective video about Popeye games and to my surprise, there were more video games about the character which I never played. To discover the Popeye games and their collective history, watch the video below.
#3 The decades-old conflict between Donald Trump and Rosie O’Donnell – In case you somehow missed the buzz all the time, the conflict between Donald Trump and Rosie O’Donnell has lasted for decades. As far as the modern age is concerned, Trump successfully returned as President of the United States and O’Donnell left America for another country. The truth about Rosie O’Donnell is that you cannot trust her and you should never let her manipulate. Behind all the Hollywood glamor and entertainment glitter, Rosie O’Donnell is problematic and unstable. Her conflict with Trump goes a very long way back and I urge you to watch the video below. It is both entertaining and compelling to watch.
#4 Friday The 13th (1980) reaction videos – Do you find the 1980 horror movie Friday The 13thnotable if not special at all? For me, there is absolutely nothing special about the slasher horror film directed by Sean Cunningham (read my retro movie review by clicking here). If there is anything notable about it, it would be its economic achievement of grossing almost $60 million worldwide on a negative cost of less than $3 million (including marketing and distribution costs). When it comes to story, cinematic concepts and performances, it is still pretty weak. Still the flaws of Friday The 13th (1980) did not stop it from becoming a popular film of choice for reaction videos by YouTubers. For your interest, posted below are assorted reaction videos of the movie.
#5 Reviews of James Gunn’s Superman – Now playing in theaters worldwide, James Gunn’s Superman is bringing in a lot of money. Of course, commercial success does not clearly reflect the film’s overall quality nor the reviews it gathered from the corrupted mainstream media and from independent bloggers and content creators. It also sucks that there are some movie-focused websites that signed marketing deals with contractors of movie studios that guaranteed not only constant film promotion but also the publishing of overall positive reviews. That being said, I encourage you to take time out to watch the selected video reviews of James Gunn’s Superman below sourced from four YouTubers. If you have not seen the new movie in the cinema and you are leaning towards watching it soon, then the videos below are a must-see.
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the video game and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back retro gaming enthusiasts, Atari fans, geeks and others who are passionate about video games!
Today we go all the way back to the year 1980 when Atari released in arcades a game that strongly resonated with people who were concerned about a potential nuclear conflict between the United States and Russia during the Cold War…Missile Command.
Designed by Dave Theurer and programmed by Rich Adam with Theurer, Missile Command is a 2-dimension shoot ‘em up arcade game that had a trackball to allow players to control a crosshair to defend six existing cities. The arcade also had three buttons players could use to launch surface-to-air missiles from the three missile bases to protect the cities from incoming ballistic missiles that came from an unseen enemy.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at the Missile Command arcade game of 1980 developed and published by Atari.
The arcade flyer with a great looking painted artwork. This one really resonated with gamers who lived during the Cold War.
Game design
As the commander of three missile bases (each armed with 10 defense missiles), the player is tasked to protect six existing cities from waves of ballistic missiles (launched by an unnamed enemy) coming down. From time to time, the enemy deploys bombers, satellites/drones and smart bombs to overwhelm your defense and test your precision and decision making.
You have three missile bases that each has its own supply of defense missiles. There are cities between each base which you have to defend from the endless assault of enemy missiles, smart bombs, war planes and satellites/drones.
When your defense missile detonates in the air, it creates an explosion which serve as a shield to destroy enemy missiles, war planes and satellite/drones when contact is made. If any projectiles from the enemy manages to get through the aerial explosion, you will have to quickly launch more defense missiles from the near base you have.
Players use a single crosshair which designates which part of the sky a defense missile can be fired at. Once the defense missile reaches its destination (placed by the crosshair) in the sky, it will explode and cause a growing flame lasting seconds. The said flame serves as a shield that can destroy the enemy’s ballistic missiles, smart bombs, war planes and satellites/drones upon contact. Defense missiles can be launched consecutively into selected spots in the sky in anticipation of the incoming weapons of the enemy.
To proceed from one level to another, the player must have at least one city remaining intact. Once all the six cities have been destroyed and the player no longer has any unused missiles (and no new cities earned by reaching certain high scores that justify rewards), the game will end with a “Game Over” screen with an explosion in the background.
Quality
In this screenshot, the enemy’s satellite/drone is floating while a smart bomb is about to hit the missile base at the lower-right. Smart bombs can be challenging to intercept because it reacts by avoiding the aerial explosion of defense missiles.
This arcade game – which is currently available for modern console owners to play via the Atari 50: The Anniversary Collection – remains very engaging and a lot of fun to play with after all these decades. As a player, my only objective was to defend the six existing cities and three missile bases from the waves of enemy ballistic missiles (and smart bombs in later levels) coming from the sky. Given the way the game was designed, this is strongly emphasized and the only times I could attack the enemy is by launching my own missiles towards the enemy’s bombers and satellites/drones (note: both of these are capable of launching more missiles at you).
If any of the enemy’s weapons hits one of your missile bases, it and the remaining supply of defensive missiles will be wiped out. Enemy missiles that hit a city will result in total destruction. Considering the intentional increase in challenge with each new level of play started, the enemy’s ballistic missiles move faster, the warplanes and/or satellite/drones appear more and the smart bomb – which is the most difficult to intercept as it deliberately avoids the aerial flames caused by your defense missiles – get launched against you.
When intercepting enemy missiles, you have to think quick where to aim (ahead of incoming missiles), which missile base to use to launch defense missiles and remember how much missiles do you have left per base.
That being said, the game deliberately becomes harder which compelled me to be more watchful of enemy weapon movements, and to be more strategic using my defense missiles while keeping a quick eye on the remaining supply of missiles per base. While the in-game difficulty intensifies per level, the game never became frustrating to play nor did it ever turn into a chore on my part. I just keep playing because I found the increasing challenges actually fun to take on.
The game’s visuals are still good to look at. It’s still engaging to see streaks of missile trails (both your defense missiles and the enemy’s ballistic missiles) fill the air above the cities and the flashing light effects that simulate explosions are still effective as eye candy. Along the way, the game’s sound effects worked perfectly with the visuals and they added a lot to the immersion.
When you score enough points, the game will reward you with a bonus city.
Me putting my initials after achieving a great score in Missile Command.
Considering its simplicity and the way it was designed, there clearly is no way for players to win at all. Rather, the game will challenge your precision, decision-making and ability to defend your cities and bases. That being said, the greater challenge is to survive and be able to move on to the next level with missile bases and whatever cities remaining you still have to defend. As with other games of the past, achieving the high possible score – which reflects your endurance, skill and progress – is a goal here. Achieving certain high scores also result in an extra city for you.
Cultural relevance
Missile Command’s legacy as one of the greatest arcade games ever released is undeniably real. Not only that, this game resulted in a lot of ports for consoles, portable gaming devices and home computers through the decades. This classic was re-released in several compilations from Atari and the Xbox-listed Missile Command contains the arcade version. In 2020, a remake called Missile Command: Recharged was released as part of the Atari Recharged series of games.
The different Missile Command arcade machines.
Missile Command even appeared for a few seconds in Terminator 2: Judgment Day which added more to the film’s concept of nuclear war.
With regards to arcade gaming, Missile Command is notable for having a trackball on its machine as a way for arcade players to control the crosshair during game sessions.
Conclusion
Apart from being the commander of missile defense, try imagining yourself being on of the citizens living in one of those cities. Can you imagine watching real-life missiles get intercepted in sky above you?
The Missile Command (1980) arcade game is a true video game classic and it remains compelling and enjoyable at the same time. It can also be an intriguing game experience since it does not let players complete the game by winning. All players can do is perform the best defense they could, survive to the next round and keep playing until their defense gets overwhelmed by the enemy and the rising in-game difficulty.
As a result of the game design, playing Missile Command is actually moral because the concept of defending your people using powerful yet limited resources is very strong all the time. Even with progressive difficulty, the game never became frustrating to play and I actually enjoyed the challenges knowing that defense and survival are main goals. Achieving the highest possible score is the other goal as reflected by video gaming of the era. Missile Command simply delivers bouts of fun and you cannot go wrong with playing it. It is not surprising that this game became a massive hit and established itself as a true classic among video games.
Overall, Missile Command (1980) highly recommended and the best way to play it on console today is to avail of Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration compilation.
Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following videos I found.
#1 Ashleigh Burton and Popcorn in Bed react to The Spy Who Love Me – Remember The Spy Who Loved Me? Released in 1977, the film was Roger Moore’s 3rd performance as James Bond and it was also the start of Albert Broccoli’s full control of the film franchise after breaking up with his partner. The filmmakers went all-in making The Spy Who Loved Me filled with a lot of thrills, dangerous stunts and a twist on Cold War politics to not only delight James Bond fans but also attract moviegoers who wanted something grand and fun to watch. That being said, you should watch how this 1977 Agent 007 movie drew reactions from Ashleigh Burton and Popcorn in Bed.
#2 PatmanQC examines Chase H.Q. – I never played Chase H.Q. in the arcade nor any of its ports on consoles and home computers. Historically, the game was a huge arcade hit and it was praised by game critics during its time. Chase H.Q. offered players the unique experience of playing a police officer (who has a partner) and must drive a fancy car to chase criminals who are trying to get away on the road. The game is an inspired work and if you want to discover more about how it was made and who the creators were, watch the in-depth video of PatmanQC below.
#3 James Gunn’s Superman controversy – By the time you are reading this, James Gunn’s Superman movie is already playing in theaters around the world. Just before it was released, James Gunn confirmed in a media interview that his take on DC Comics’ icon is indeed political and he even used the word “jerks” to refer to those who reject his movie. For analysis, explanations and opinions, watch the videos below.
#4 You, Me and the Movies react to Cannonall Run II – Believe it or not, the first Cannonball Run movie I ever saw was the 2nd movie titled Cannonball Run II. Released worldwide in 1984, Cannonball Run II had an all-star cast, stunts and a lot of comedy but ultimately it failed to match the commercial success of its predecessor. You, Me and the Movies recently posted its reaction video of the sequel and it deserves your attention.
#5 When Obama mocked Donald Trump – Remember back in 2011 when Barack Obama – and the elite – mocked Donald Trump during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner? Back then, Obama was US President and he abused his authority to put down Trump (who was rumored to run for President in the 2012 contest) to conveniently boost his own chances of for re-election. Not only that, Obama’s elite allies also pounced on Trump. By today’s standards, the 2011 event is painful for the liberals, the woke, the Satanic Left and the Democratic Party because Trump got elected as US President twice. No matter what Obama and the Satanic Left did, Trump only got stronger and hit back at them hard. Watch the video below.
Author Carlo Carrasco 