Castlevania – Author Carlo Carrasco

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 162

November 11, 2026November 9, 2026carlocarrasco

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 English-dubbed Super Dimension Fortress Macross episodes – As some of you are already aware, I am a Macross fan when it comes to anime. I saw lots of anime since I was little but it was the Super Dimension Fortress Macross anime TV series that I found very compelling and engaging to watch. A few years ago, I view all of the original SDF Macross TV episodes subtitled in English. Recently, I found this YouTube channel called MacrossMan and it featured all 36 SDF Macross episodes dubbed in English (the dub was done in 2006 by ADV Films). Apart from having a really good cast of voice actors, original Macross singer and voice actress Mari Iijima returned as Lynn Minmay complete with English dialogue! For your viewing pleasure, posted below are three videos covering the first 18 episodes of Super Dimension Fortress Macross.

#2 Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest revisited – The original Castlevania console game of 1986 is still widely remembered by long-time fans and retro gamers not only because it started successfully and paved the way for a long-running game franchise, but also because it was an inspired work that captured the popular elements of horror connected with pop culture. I noticed there are gamers who still replay the original Castlevania on different platforms to this day. Strangely enough, not too many Castlevania fans and retro gamers talk about the 1987 sequel Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest. I myself played and finished that game and it was loaded with gameplay features that made it play and feel different from its predecessor in many ways. To learn more about Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest, watch the retrospective video below.

#3 Japan’s effort to protect the future of food – Food is undeniably essential. Without food, people would not survive and nations will collapse. In Japan, there are these gene banks that store a few hundred thousand genetic resources. Those gene banks were designed to preserve varied food genes such as the rare heirloom vegetables, fruit varieties from around the world and more. These gene banks reflect Japan’s focus on ensuring food security as well as the survival of different types of food on the genetic level. Watch and learn from the Nippon TV video below.

#4 The House of the Dead remembered – Remember the sudden rise in popularity of zombies and horrific monsters in video games back in the mid-1990s? Apart from the success of the original Resident Evil video game, Sega made its presence felt in horror-themed gaming with the release of The House of the Dead in 1996. Powered by Sega’s Model 2 arcade hardware, The House of the Dead is a light gun arcade game that had players facing off with zombies and other horrific creatures. The game was a tremendous arcade success with sales of more than 8,500 cabinets globally and it led to the production of ports and sequels in the years that followed. If you are wondering who created The House of the Dead, what specific audience Sega targeted and what controversies did the game generate, watch the video of the late PatmanQC below.

#5 The 1989-90 Phoenix Suns remembered – Before Charles Barkley joined the Phoenix Suns and led them to the 1993 NBA Finals, the team’s strong formation and rise happened in the late-1980s. Entering the 1989-90 season, the Suns had the high-scoring Tom Chambers and the action-packed point guard Kevin Johnson who were already among the elite players. That said, the Suns made quite an impact on the Western conference during the 1990s NBA playoffs. To find out what the 1989-90 Suns achieved and why they were a solid team, watch the retrospective basketball video below.

#6 You, Me and The Movies reacts to The Return of Godzilla – Way back in 1984, Toho revived the Godzilla movie franchise with grittiness, darkness and the Cold War mixed in. They achieved that with The Return of Godzilla and it truly was a return to form for Japan’s iconic cinematic monster. To make things clear, this is NOT Godzilla 1985 which was a butchered low-budget Western version that had Raymund Burr. Recently, You, Me and the Movies posted their reaction video of The Return of Godzilla and it is entertaining to watch.

#7 Moxy Swim 2026 Miami Swim Week fashion show – Are you familiar with Moxy Swim? Moxy Swim is a popular, creator-designed brand of swimwear. During this year’s edition of Miami Swim Week, Moxy Swim had a flashy fashion show showcasing many beautiful women and the latest swimwear of the company. Watch and enjoy the video below.

#8 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers reaction videos – In early 2003, I saw The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers in a local cinema with many other moviegoers. It is truly a great fantasy movie and the cinematic experience was captivating despite the long runtime. There are even a few film buffs who considered it the best of the LOTR film trilogy. To see how much of an impact The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers has on YouTubers, watch the videos below.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 161

November 4, 2026November 3, 2026carlocarrasco

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 Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring reaction videos – I can hardly believe it has been almost 25 years since The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was first released in cinemas. The first time I saw it (the first part of a cinematic trilogy) was during its final week of showing at the local cinema and I ended up being very engaged by it. Since then, the Peter Jackson-directed fantasy movie (and its two follow-ups) was released in different editions on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray formats, ultimately offering movie buffs and J.R.R. Tolkien fans a lot of choices. Considering its great cinematic quality, in-depth storytelling and memorable characters, The Lord of the Rings film trilogy is arguably the greatest cinematic fantasy spectacle ever made. As such, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring itself was featured many times in reaction videos by YouTubers, and posted below are the ones I enjoyed watching. Go watch the videos below.

#2 Islamic Slave Trade examined – When it comes to the disturbing topic of slavery, not too many people want to discuss the Islamic slave trade which started from 7^th century and even persisted in various forms into the 20^th century. When compared to the transatlantic slave trade, Islamic slave trade happened across North Africa, East Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Southern Europe and South Asia. There were women who were trafficked as domestic laborers or concubines, there were men who were recruited into specialized elite slave militaries, and there were others who subjected to brutal physical labor in various forms in different regions. The Islamic slave trade was indeed twisted and cursed, and it should never be revived. To find out more, watch the in-depth video below.

#3 The impact of Super Castlevania IV remembered – Released in December of 1991 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in America, Super Castlevania IV was easily one of the most anticipated new games of that year given the fact that the Castlevania game series was already wildly popular with gamers. Considering its American release date, it was also the most pursued SNES game during the Christmas season. As such, its impact with gamers during the season was memorable and the YouTube video below by My Retro Life captured the game’s impact.

#4 Skipjack tuna’s impact in Japan – If you are fond of eating tuna, are you familiar with skipjack tuna? Skipjack tuna (also referred to as Katsuwonus pelamis) is a medium-sized, streamlined pelagic fish in the tuna family of Scombridae. It is the one tuna species that got heavily fished and chances are, you canned tuna you ate came from it. In Japan, there was a surplus of skipjack tuna which not only brought down prices but also made an impact on customers through the restaurants and groceries. Watch and learn from the Nippon TV video below.

#5 The history of Tron – If you have seen the classic sci-fi movie Tron from 1982, were you able to play the official video games about it? Back then, there were video games of Tron released in the arcades and on game consoles of the time. Having seen the movie first, I remember wanting to play the Tron video games whenever I saw a print ad or a poster about the games. To learn more about Tron and its impact on video gaming, watch the video below from the late PatmanQC.

#6 Bill Clinton’s immorality, lying and sex scandal revisited – It has been almost thirty years since the Bill Clinton – Monica Lewinsky scandal first rocked the world resulting in massive news media coverage, legal implications, political debates and even a successful impeachment of Clinton. If you set aside the politics and media coverage, Bill Clinton’s sex scandal alone was essentially embarrassing and tarnished the Office of the President of the United States. I personally know Democrats who had trouble defending their immoral and dishonest President Clinton, and they are still worshipping both Bill and Hillary to this day. Recently, a comprehensive look back at the late-1990s sex scandal of Bill Clinton was released on YouTube and I encourage you to watch it now. Learn from history and never ever follow the evil Clintons.

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What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 160

October 28, 2026October 28, 2026carlocarrasco

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 Gone Girl reaction videos – When Gone Girl was released in local cinemas back in 2014, I never bothered to see it. Along the way, buzz about the movie spread like wildfire through North American entertainment websites and social media with assorted topics like toxic marriage, manipulation, dishonesty, defamation and betrayal discussed. I eventually saw Gone Girl via streaming just a few years ago and I can say it was a very intriguing movie to watch. That said, it is not surprising that a lot of movie reaction videos featuring it were posted on YouTube. Posted below are the more engaging reaction videos selected for you all.

#2 Why Manga Keeps on Triggering the Internet – It is a very sad fact that there are a lot of fake fans and phony intellectuals out there who seriously believe they are experts on entertainment. This explains why there are so many video essays or so-called analysis focused on established entertainment franchises and entertainment media. That said, there are a lot of fake fans, pretenders, larpers and online tourists who posted their distorted views about manga (Japanese comics) and misinterpret what the original creators did. To learn exactly why, go watch Ranting for Vengeance’s video below. Pay attention to the details.

#3 Maximum Carnage video game remembered – Back in the 1990s, I read the comic books of the Maximum Carnage crossover storyline but I never played the video game adaptation. Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage had a very ambitious marketing campaign that captivated many gamers, Spider-Man fans and comic book readers. There was this movie-like build-up that easily kept people thinking about the video game. When it was officially released, there were gamers who expressed disappointment after playing it. To examine what the video game’s quality and impact, go watch the video below.

#4 The Pizzerias in the Mountains of Japan – There is absolutely nothing like exploring the countryside and other nature spots of Japan. Deep in the mountains of Tokyo and Saitama are pizzerias that offer visitors food with unique flavors, homemade ingredients and the immersive closeness to the natural environment. I personally want to visit these food joints the next time I visit Japan. Watch and learn from the Nippon TV video below.

#5 Totally Whatever reacts to Fast Times at Ridgemont High – It has been over forty years since Fast Times at Ridgemont High was first released in cinemas. To this day, a lot of film buffs considered it as one of the most defining movies Hollywood released in the 1980s, and also one of the most memorable American teen movies ever. Not only that, Fast Times at Ridgemont High was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” The old movie continues to impress first-time viewers and you should see how it impacts Totally Whatever in their reaction video below.

#6 Castlevania games revisited – This year marks the 40^th anniversary of the original Castlevania video game released on the Famicom Disk System in Japan. The classic horror-themed, 2D side-scrolling adventure game produced by Konami made a huge impact on gamers who enjoyed 2D adventure games and the success it achieved led to the release of many sequels and spin-offs across different platforms. There is a lot of creativity and inspiration behind the production of the original game. To learn more about the original Castlevania and how it grew into an enduring game franchise, watch the video below.

#7 Ashleigh Burton reacts to Teen Wolf – When it comes to the 1980s, Michael J. Fox is often remembered for playing the teenager Marty McFly in Back to the Future and Back to the Future Part II. Speaking of teenagers, Fox was the star in the 1985 coming-of-age fantasy comedy movie Teen Wolf where he played a high school student who could turn into a werewolf. As it was released after Back to the Future, Teen Wolf emerged as a surprise commercial success grossing more than $80 million worldwide. This old movie was featured in several reaction videos on YouTube and Ashleigh Burton’s reaction is fun to watch. Watch the video below.

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Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 46

September 2, 2026August 31, 2026carlocarrasco

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 from the 1980s to the early 2000s.

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 to the 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. Frogger Print Ad

When Frogger was first released in video arcades in 1981, it easily attracted countless gamers offering them bouts of fun and the video game critics were very impressed with it. Considering its massive arcade success, it was unsurprisingly ported to the game consoles and home computers of the time. Parker Brothers secured the license for cartridge versions and the company produced Frogger ports for not just the Atari 2600 but also the Atari 7800. This print ad they came up with had a deliberate cartoony artwork (with a touch of humor) and an artist created a hand-drawn illustration intentionally made to resemble a screenshot from the game. I saw this ad a number of times when I read comic books in 1982.

2. The Legend of Kage Japanese Arcade Flyer

*Action and excitement in ancient Japan!*

In my life, I never had the opportunity to play the original arcade version of The Legend of Kage and ended up playing only the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom) port. Behind the scenes, Taito itself came close to preventing The Legend of Kage from being released in the arcades. The company placed it in a certain game show where it received praise by many which prompted Taito to give it a full arcade release. To promote the game, the Japanese arcade flyer had lively hand-drawn artwork that perfectly reflected what the game is about, who the playable hero is and what ancient Japanese setting was used. Fortunately for Taito, The Legend of Kage became a huge commercial hit and this led to the production of ports for different consoles and computers.

3. Hyper Olympic Japanese Arcade Flyer

*Arguably the best track and field game ever made for the arcades.*

In 1983, Konami released their summer Olympics-inspired arcade game Hyper Olympic (titled Track & Field in other parts of the world) which offered players the opportunities to compete in a series of events with emphasis on pressing the buttons as quickly as possible. The arcade flyer Konami came up with featured fine-looking hand-drawn artwork showing athletes competing in track and field events (with the types of events displayed at the top-most part of the flyer) while showing just one screenshot (lower right) and displaying the officially 1984 Los Angeles Olympics logo (lower left). In my view, this old arcade flyer does a good job promoting both the arcade game as well as the 1984 Olympics itself. Too bad nobody makes this kind of arcade flyer anymore.

4. Terra Cresta Japanese Arcade Flyer

*Did you ever play Terra Cresta in the arcades in Japan?*

Nichibutsu, which produced a lot of arcade games that were released only in Japan, released Terra Cresta in Japanese arcades in 1985. It turns out Terra Cresta is a sequel to their 1980 game Moon Cresta which itself was their first big arcade hit game. Nichibutsu literally loaded the front of Terra Cresta’s arcade flyer with lots of visuals and details. As you can see, seven screenshots of the game were displayed (each with descriptive text), a fancy looking artwork that emphasized the science fiction setting, some English descriptive text, the cocktail table arcade machine and a pretty Japanese lady wearing an aerobics outfit with legwarmers (popular in the 1980s). This flyer truly has a strong 1980s flavor.

5. Sega Master System European Print Ad

*From the early days of Sega’s console business.*

After many years doing arcade games, Sega made the bold decision to start competing in console gaming with the release of the SG-1000 in 1983 in Japan. Even though Nintendo was a very tough competitor with the best-selling Famicom, Sega did not give up and proceeded to launch their console in America and Europe referred to as the Master System. In a serious attempt to gain customers specifically in England, Sega made a print ad showcasing a family sitting in front of a TV set with the young boy playing a racing game on a Master System. Looking at how the descriptive text was presented, it was clear that Sega emphasized bringing the arcade game experience into the comfort of home while also promising that a lot more new games will be released in the near future. This is an eye-catching ad and also a fine example of aggressive marketing by Sega.

6. Ken Griffey Jr.’s Winning Run North American Print Ad

*What was the best baseball video game you ever played?*

Following the commercial success of the 1994 Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) game Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball, Nintendo got Ken Griffey Jr. again as endorser and proceeded with the follow-up Ken Griffey Jr.’s Winning Run. With the highly talented Rare (Donkey Kong Country) chosen as game developer, Nintendo was highly confident with the baseball sequel and the 2-page print ad reflected that. The Ken Griffey Jr.’s Winning Run ad had a striking image of a broken baseball bat on one side while the game’s details, two screenshots and the creative description dominated the other side. While I am not so interested in baseball, I can say that this old print ad is indeed attention-grabbing.

7. 2Xtreme North American Print Ad

*From the time when the X Games were wildly popular.*

Remember how popular the X Games (Extreme Games) were back in the 1990s? Early in the life of the PlayStation console, Sony released ESPN Extreme Games which sold over a million copies worldwide. As expected, a follow-up titled 2Xtreme was approved for a 1996 release. Sony came up with a 2-page ad that had an upside-down X Games participant with roller blades dominating most of the space and six screenshots were displayed. The descriptive text in the lower part of the ad was deliberately written to be hip and cool.

8. Macross Plus Japanese Arcade Flyer

Based on the mid-1990s anime OAV, the Macross Plus video game from Banpresto was designed as a vertical-scrolling 2D shooter that captures the feel and intensity of the anime’s spectacle. The front of the Japan-only arcade flyer showcased the YF-19 Excalibur, the YF-21 Sturmvogel and the VF-11 Thunderbolt (plus the basic arcade controls on the lower-left) which were all rendered in 3D polygons to delight Macross fans and gamers who are interested in new 2D shooting experiences. The rear of the flyer showed additional details and it even includes English text descriptions. Strangely, no screenshots of the game were displayed. Being a long-time Macross fan, I can say this old arcade flyer is still engaging to look at.

9. Macross VF-X2 North American Print Ad

*An impressive looking print ad for a Macross video game that never got released in North America.*

In the late 1990s, Bandai prepared to launch Macross VF-X2 (the sequel to 1997’s Macross Digital Mission VF-X) on the PlayStation console in North America. This was a very intriguing move because Bandai never brought the mentioned 1997 Macross game outside of Japan. Shortly after the official announcement of a North American release, Macross VF-X2 got featured in video game magazines, an English demo of the game (first mission only) was distributed through Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine, and Bandai came up with the 2-page print ad you see here. Unfortunately, Macross VF-X2’s North American release got cancelled because of copyright issues and legal obstacles (note: Harmony Gold held the Western rights to Robotech and actively blocked the release of genuine Macross products in America). As such, this impressive looking Macross VF-X2 print ad for North America ended up as a promotion for nothing!

10. Star Wars: Racer Arcade Japanese Print Ad/Poster

*This is one of the many video games based on Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.*

In 1999, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace was a massive box office hit in theaters around the world and it marked a new era of Star Wars movies with digital effects available. Similar with 1993’s Jurassic Park, George Lucas’ movie also had a huge lineup of merchandise, action figures and video games. The pod racing from the movie became the basis for Star Wars: Racer Arcade which was released in Japan on June 2000, and then in America a month later. To help arcade operators attract gamers and Star Wars fans, a print ad and poster were released featuring a very dynamic image of pod racing from the game dominating the background, a few screenshots displayed and some computer-generated of characters and vehicles. At the lower right part of the ad/poster is the image of the arcade machine which has a huge screen, a seat and control panel. The descriptive Japanese text was written to excite both fans and gamers. Did you play this Sega-produced Star Wars game in the arcades?

11. Konami Wai Wai World Japanese Print Ad

*Can you spot Simon Belmont, Mikey Walsh and King Kong in this Japan-only print ad of Konami Wai Wai World?*

Going back to the late-1980s, Konami released a 2D adventure game on the Famicom that was very ambitious as it featured side-scrolling treks, vertical-scrolling shooting sequences and, most notably, a cast of characters that emphasized crossovers between intellectual properties of gaming. I am talking about Konami Wai Wai World (sometimes called Konami World for short) which had characters, settings and elements of Konami’s own properties like Gradius, Castlevania and Twin Bee. Not only that, King Kong of King Kong 2: Ikari no Megaton Punch and Mikey Walsh of The Goonies were also featured which is astonishing because they represent entertainment intellectual properties that were licensed to Konami for video game adaptation. That said, the emphasis of crossovers and excitement was shown in the form of 2D character sprites in this Japanese print ad of Konami Wai Wai World. This is the kind of game that Konami itself will never be able to make again and to do a remake or an enhanced re-release of Konami Wai Wai World will require overcoming all the legal obstacles in the way.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 123

February 13, 2026February 12, 2026carlocarrasco

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 Dawn Of The Dead Remake Revisited – Back in 2004, I saw the Dawn of the Dead remake inside a cinema located inside a shopping mall here in the Philippines. The Zack Snyder-directed film only inspired me to look for the 1978 original version of Dawn of the Dead directed by the late George Romero. The only thing the two films have in common is the concept of desperate people taking refuge inside a shopping mall during a zombie apocalypse. Zack Snyder’s film was more about violent action with horror elements blended with it. As Snyder went on to direct high-profile DC Comics superhero movies and produced other such projects of Warner Bros., it was natural for film buffs to gravitate to 2004’s Dawn of Dead which was his directorial debut. To learn more about the said remake and see the cinematic elements that formed the style of Snyder, watch the videos below.

#2 Premium Sushi, Hearty Tempura And Wagyu Beef For Breakfast In Japan –If you were traveling overseas, how hungry do you get when you start the day? Would you go for a simple and affordable breakfast or would you want something special in the morning? In Tokyo, there are these food joints that offer customers a luxurious breakfast with Wagyu beef, special tempura and premium sushi to name some. Already, local and foreign tourists are flocking to such food joints for the premium breakfast experience and you can learn more from the Nippon TV videos below.

#3 The Different Versions Of Final Fantasy VI – Among all the many Final Fantasy games released since 1987, Final Fantasy VI is still my favorite of them all. I first played the classic Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) on Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1994 which was titled “Final Fantasy III”, and it has a great epic story, a huge cast of playable characters, lots of unique gameplay features and great game design. Through the decades, Final Fantasy VI was ported to many consoles, mobile devices and even on personal computer. You might be wondering which version of Final Fantasy VI is the best in terms of visual quality, which one is the most available and which one is the most updated version. That said, you can find out by watching the video below.

#4 Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest Revisited – When Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest was first released on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1987, many fans who enjoyed the first game were alienated by how different the sequel felt, looked and played. It still was horror-themed 2D adventure game with Simon Belmont as the playable protagonist again but the creative team of Konami implemented role-playing elements and open-world exploration into the gameplay. Major game design changes aside, Castlevania II still has a lot more than meets the eye and you can find out by watching the video below. Surely it will challenge what you know about Simon Belmont and the Castlevania lore.

#5 Why Feminists Support Islam – Let’s be very clear here. Islam is a truly ugly religion and it is incompatible not only with Western democracy and values, but also with several other cultures around the world. The strange thing is that modern-day feminists actually support Islam even though the ugly religion itself goes against women’s rights, against personal liberty and against freedom as we know it. In the video below, Ayaan Hirsi Ali explains in detail why mainstream feminists today support Islam, why feminism today is very twisted and why feminists even aligned themselves with Islamic terrorists.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 38

January 2, 2026January 21, 2026carlocarrasco

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 to the 1990s.

With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…

1. Starflight Sega Genesis Print Ad

*Sometimes the very detailed artwork made gamers imagine Starflight as a sci-fi movie waiting to happen.*

By the time it was released on the Sega Genesis in 1991, Starflight was already popular as it was released on varied computer systems and entertained a lot of gamers several years prior. To promote the Sega Genesis version, a 2-page print ad of Starflight was made with a grand-looking artwork of space, spaceships and planets dominating the space. The ad makers managed to utilize the remaining space below the artwork to show selected images, the descriptive text and the game’s box cover to make it clear to gamers that Starflight on Genesis is real and made to be playable. The artwork itself remains a powerful grabber of attention even to this day.

2. Defender Japanese Arcade Flyer

Defender is one of my favorites among the many games of Midway. In recent times, I’ve been playing the arcade version of Defender on my Xbox Series X using the Midway Arcade Origins digital copy I purchased online. As Defender became a massive hit in America, it was released in Japanese arcades with Taito handling the distribution. The arcade flyer Taito came up with used hand-drawn art for the background on the front along with pictures of the arcade cabinet and the arcade cocktail table versions of the game. While the rear of the flyer looks very simplistic, the front remains attractive to look at.

3. Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse Print Ad

*Some people found the artwork looking creepy or even terrifying.*

By the year 1990, the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) was present in several millions of households all over America and there were lots of great games available. Among the NES gamers were fans of the Castlevania game series and Konami went on to release Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse in America. As part of the company’s aggressive promotion, a single-page ad featuring a detailed looking artwork of a gamer getting immersed with the game’s fantasy elements (look at the creepy looking characters, monsters and the game’s hero present) was done. While the artwork was a strong attention grabber, what stood out was the sweepstakes form for gamers to cut out, fill it with their information and mail it for the chance to win a trip to the hometown of Dracula. Do you personally know anyone who won in the sweepstakes?

4. Double Dragon Games Print Ad

*Print ad made with Double Dragon fans in mind.*

When it comes to the console and handheld presence of the Double Dragon games franchise, it was on Nintendo hardware – specifically the NES and the Game Boy – where gamers and the fans could find them. Acclaim Entertainment knew how popular Double Dragon games were with Nintendo gamers and they aggressively marketed Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones and Double Dragon II with a single-page print ad that had great looking painted artwork. Very clearly, this early 1990s ad was made to connect strongly with Double Dragon fans and its presentation still looks very solid even with today’s standards.

5. Konami 3-in-1 Game Boy Games Print Ad

*The excitement of sports is clearly shown in this old ad.*

From the mid-1980s to the early 1990s, Konami published a lot of games on Nintendo’s wildly popular platform the NES and among them were classics like Contra, Castlevania and Metal Gear. Konami’s support also made it to Nintendo’s Game Boy handheld device (first released in 1989) which itself sold strongly and became the leading platform for portable gaming. As such, Konami made a 2-page print ad promoting NFL Football, Blades of Steel and Double Dribble: 5 on 5 for Game Boy. Cleverly, the ad makers used fancy artworks on the left (reflecting the different sports) side while using the space on the right side for descriptive text, screenshots and game box covers. This fine looking ad has a strong appeal towards Game Boy users and sports enthusiasts.

6. Tengen 6-in-1 Print Ad

*This old print ad is a delight for those who owned a Sega Genesis.*

Back in the 1980s, Atari formed the company Tengen to not only develop games but also publish game for computers and game consoles. During that decade, Tengen published games on the NES but they had trouble working within the strict licensing terms of Nintendo. The two companies would later get into court battles over a series of events within the gaming business. Eventually, Tengen started doing business with Sega and published games on the Genesis console. As part of their aggressive publishing of games on Sega’s console, Tengen came up with this 2-page print ad promoting six different games emphasizing that the fun arcade experiences are coming to gamers’ homes.

7. Dig Dug Print Ad

*Are you aware of the business relationship and trust between Atari and Namco?*

When Atari opened its branch in Japan – called Atari Japan – in the 1970s, they established a partnership with Namco to distribute arcade games there. As they experienced trouble penetrating the Japanese market, Atari eventually sold Atari Japan to Namco which paved the way for their Japanese partner to get into video games. Just a few years later, Namco developed its own original arcade game Dig Dug which became a massive hit in Japan. As a licensing deal was already in effect, Atari distributed Dig Dug in American arcades which the above magazine print ad clearly shows.

8. Sega Genesis Over SNES Print Ad

*Sega directly attacked Nintendo by emphasizing the larger quantity of games and* *varied game experiences that can only be found on the Genesis back then.*

By the time Nintendo released the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1991, the Sega Genesis console has been in the video game market for a few years already. In America, Tom Kalinske led Sega and his approach to marketing and resonating with gamers was essentially aggressive. The aggressive approach includes naming their competition and showing why Sega is superior. Given the lead time they had on the North American market, Sega came up with this print ad showing their Genesis consoles having a lot more games than the SNES. Competitive console gaming was very different back then.

9. Atari Jaguar Print Ad

*Did you spend $159.99 on an Atari Jaguar console back in the 1990s?*

In the 1990s, Atari attempted a comeback in console gaming with the Atari Jaguar console. Early on, their marketing emphasized the so-called 64-bit capabilities of the Jaguar to convince gamers theirs is the most powerful console on the market. Sadly, the console failed to achieve strong sales and a huge price cut was executed. To attract customers, Atari came up with this 2-page print ad to inform them of the cheaper $159.99 price while reminding them of the “most mind-blowing, head-exploding games” they can have with the Jaguar. Obviously this ad campaign failed as the Atari Jaguar never achieved commercial success.

10. Side Pocket Print Ad

*The Side Pocket print ad with a subtle touch of sexiness.*

After its original release in the arcades in 1986, Side Pocket was ported by Data East to many consoles and handheld devices in the 1990s. When it comes to promoting the Sega Genesis version, Data East came up with this print ad showing a lady in a sexy dress in the background (head hidden) which instantly created a sexy aesthetic. The large text displayed emphasized the game of billiards supported by the screenshots shown. The screenshot at the upper-left corner shows artwork of a pretty lady smiling at the viewer which added to the sexy aesthetic of the ad.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 94

August 11, 2025August 8, 2025carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Popcorn in Bed react to Man of Steel – It has been over twelve years since I first saw Man of Steel in the cinema. Directed by Zack Snyder, the 2013 Superman movie had a mixed reception but managed to gross $670 million worldwide and led Warner Bros. to releasing more DC Comics superhero movies in a shared universe (ended in 2023). Recently, Popcorn in Bed finally posted its reaction video of Man of Steel and I can say it is worth the wait. Watch it now.

#2 Where to buy onigiri in Tokyo – Have you tried eating onigiri lately? Onigiri is a rice ball (rice wrapped in nori) popular in Japan and it is eaten by hand. While there is a growing number of convenience stores selling onigiri, there is still nothing like buying freshly made onigiri in dedicated stores or restaurants in Tokyo. Watch and learn from the video below.

#3 Faked presentation of starvation in Gaza exposed! – You might have seen all the news and images about starvation in Gaza through mainstream news outlets such as CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, Reuters, Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, The Washington Post and more. Countless reports and images were published showing Gaza residents (Palestinians) desperate for food made gullible people sympathetic for the hungry while also becoming angry towards Israel. The truth of the matter is that the portrayal of Palestinian starvation is fake, staged and deliberately crafted by the Islamic terrorists who have lots of mainstream news media partners-in-crime with them. There is no real famine in Gaza at all and it is undeniable that Palestinian terrorist group Hamas (loved by the Islamo-Leftist media) stole humanitarian aid to feed themselves leaving nothing for their fellow Gaza residents. Watch and learn from the videos below.

#4 Full Metal Jacket reaction videos – Released in 1987, Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket succeeded in intriguing or even shocking moviegoers whose perception of the Vietnam War got shaken. To be clear, the movie (which starred Matthew Modine, R. Lee Ermey, Vincent D’Onofrio, Adam Baldwin, and Arliss Howard) was more than just about war. It also showed the dehumanizing effects of war preparation, the dark humor that happens during war time and how people react when their emotional limits and sanity were really pushed hard. That being said, you should see how the movie draws reactions from the following YouTubers through their respective reaction videos.

#5 Slope’s Game Room examines Castlevania game franchise – Since the 1980s, Konami and its talented developers produced a whole lot of Castlevania video games ranging from 2D side-scrolling adventures into 3D polygonal escapades. Considering how significant Castlevania is as a game franchise, now is a good time to examine the history of Castlevania through the in-depth videos of Slope’s Game Room below.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 25

December 30, 2024June 7, 2025carlocarrasco

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. Defender arcade flyer

*Perhaps Atari did not have enough original artwork of Defender to be used in this arcade flyer. So they ended up using footage of an astronaut on the moon.*

Very long ago, I played the classic game Defender a lot on the Atari 2600. Strangely enough, I never played its arcade version as my visits to arcades were quite limited as I was so young back then. When it comes to the arcade flyer of Defender, I find the use of stock footage of an astronaut on the moon as the artistic backdrop baffling because the game’s concept was all about fighting back alien invaders and protecting the citizens. Ironically, the image blended well with the photos of two arcade machines showcased.

2. Amidar Atari 2600 print ad

*Does this ad make you think about King Kong or animals?*

When I was a young boy, I saw this Parker Brothers print ad of Amidar appear in many superhero comic books I read. I never played the game on the Atari 2600 nor in the arcades. Each time I saw this ad, I always wondered how the game played and what its creative concept was all about. The constant showing of a giant gorilla on the game box cover reminded me of King Kong.

3. Reactor Atari 2600 print ad

*Parker Brothers made this ad imagining gamers getting very engaged with reactor once they start playing it.*

Reactor was one of those video games that was somewhat influenced by the subject of nuclear technology, particularly about the nuclear reactors. This is another game I never played on console nor in the arcades. This Reactor print ad by Parker Brothers for the Atari 2600 has a visual style and creative concept that I still find fascinating to look at.

4. Punch-Out!! arcade flyer

*This was years before Nintendo hired Mike Tyson to endorse the console version of Punch-Out!!*

In 1984, Nintendo released the original Punch-Out!! game in the arcades and literally punched its way through to the top of American arcades that year while also scoring big in other arcades around the world. While the game proved to be very playable and a lot of fun, it could be argued that the intriguing image Nintendo used for the North American arcade flyer – a boxer down after literally getting beaten by the Punch-Out!! machine – made an impact on both gamers and arcade operators.

5. Arumana no Kiseki flyer

*Is the famous Indiana Jones theme music playing inside your mind right now as you look at this art?*

Released in 1987 on the Disk System of the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom) in Japan, Arumana no Kiseki was one of the many 2D adventure games Konami released that entertained gamers. When compared to Castlevania – strongly influenced by American horror movies – this game was very influenced by the Indiana Jones movies of Steven Spielberg which is very evident in this promotional flyer.

In fact, some gamers who could not read the Japanese title actually thought this was an official Indiana Jones video game because the artwork was so suggestive. Having played and finished the game myself, I can say that Arumana no Kiseki was simply an Indiana Jones-inspired adventure game that had its own creative concept and unique settings and characters.

6. Devastators arcade flyer

*The 1980s female Rambo smiling towards you.*

By looking at the track record of Konami closely, you will notice that many of their games in the 1980s were influenced by Hollywood movies and they hired pretty or sexy models for their arcade flyers. This arcade flyer of Devastators is no exception and you can clearly see the Rambo-inspired lady smiling while carrying a weapon. Devastators itself had strong Rambo vibes for its concept.

7. S.P.Y. Special Project Y arcade flyer

*Somehow the picture of this flyer reminds me of Miami Vice.*

Still with Konami, S.P.Y. Special Project Y is 1989 arcade game that featured action sequences in which players fight against countless enemies in order to progress with the minimal story. This game had certain spy movie elements and to promote it, Konami came up with this arcade flyer showcasing three sexy women wearing swimwear accompanied by two men who looked more like operators or schemers. Can you imagine yourself as an arcade operator looking at this flyer trying to decide to buy the game?

8. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade flyer/poster

*This arcade flyer is still great and exciting to look at, even if your not a TMNT fan.*

Now this is one of the most definitive arcade games Konami ever made. Released in late 1989, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles became a massive arcade hit in North America constantly attracting lots of fans and casual gamers to play at each machine. The demand was so great, Konami had no choice but to hire a company to manufacture more machines. When it comes to promoting the game, Konami cleverly used a mix of artworks for the TMNT characters and fantasy environment while having a hired model playing April O’Neil blending in smoothly.

Having seen the 1980s animated series myself, I can say that the ad makers struck gold when it came to making a promotional image that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fans can easily recognize and go to the arcade to play the game.

9. Batman arcade flyer

*If you saw the 1989 movie, did you play this in the arcade?*

The live-action Batman movie of 1989 was simply inescapable as there was so much hype, merchandising and promos connected with it. When it came to video games, it was not surprising that a lot of companies talked with Warner Bros. and eventually Atari made the official arcade game based on the movie (for insight on the production, watch PatmanQC’s video by clicking here). This early-1990s arcade flyer had a simplistic approach showing a few screenshots and descriptive text while having the live-action Batman (note: Michael Keaton in costume) dominating in the middle. Simplistic yet effective in telling gamers and arcade operators what to expect.

10. Xevious arcade flyer

*This arcade flyer is exciting and creative to focus on.*

Xevious is a long-running series of video games owned by Namco. Since the early 1980s, several Xevious video games were released on arcades, consoles and mobile devices. Believe it or not, the original Xevious game was published by Atari for North American arcades and the company came up with this dynamic looking flyer to promote it. The arcade flyer really looks dynamic due to the hand-drawn art surrounding the photo of the machine. Even by today standards, this flyer still looks modern and energetic.

11. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves print ads

*Tell me if this ad makes you want to play the game.*

*Original artwork here was meant to immerse viewers into the fantasy setting of the game based on the movie.*

If you saw the 1991 movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, were you able to play the video game adaptation? Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) was notable for being specially featured in the Nintendo Power magazine and its game design was truly ambitious at the time. To promote the game and take advantage of the movie’s popularity, Virgin Games came out with two print ads targeting movie fans and NES gamers.

The first print ad above had lots of selected screenshots surrounding the game’s box and crammed the descriptive text. The 2^nd print ad had original artwork to emphasize the fictional setting and used only three screenshots. Looking at both print ads, it was clear that the ad makers had no permission to use the likeness of Kevin Costner as Robin Hood. The same with other actors and their characters. Regardless, the ads still reminded me enough of the movie while keeping me informed about the video game.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 24

July 8, 2024July 8, 2024carlocarrasco

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 or informative 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 topics and the related videos I found.

#1 Germany is suffering from the acceptance of so many so-called refugees – I want to make clear to all of you that I personally reject illegal immigration and mass migration as I truly believe that nations should always secure their borders, prioritize their citizens, protect their national sovereignty and deport all foreigners who committed crime in their country. That being said, there are lots of YouTube videos about Germany’s suffering which is the result of the huge acceptance (open-borders approach) of so many foreigners in 2015 perceived by the administration of then Chancellor Angela Merkel as so-called refugees. Merkel eventually expressed regret about the big move.

To be clear, allowing so many foreigners to enter your country as migrants or asylum seekers often leads to new waves of crime, cultural tensions and a tremendous drain of taxpayer-funded resources. Also, think carefully about how many asylum seekers lied to German immigration officials about their backgrounds and situations just to enter? Is each and every asylum seeker a genuine victim of war, poverty and crime in their home country? How many people among the asylum seekers are actually terrorists and crooks? Do these asylum seekers seriously believe in reshaping Germany based on their selfish interests and impulses? How many of these migrants are willing to integrate themselves into German society and norms? For your enlightenment, posted below is a video from The Journeyman Pictures about what happened in Germany when the specially treated migrants were already in.

#2 Sega Saturn vs. Arcade videos by Sega Lord X – I never owned a Sega Saturn console. There were times when I wish I owned one as I was fond of arcade games and wanted to play them in the comfort of home. For your retro gaming interest, the Sega Saturn had ports of arcade games and there were some that were released only in Japan. Watch the selected videos of Sega Lord X below.

#3 Ashleigh Burton’s Sean Connery James Bond videos – If you are a fan of Sean Connery and his James Bond movies, then you would be interested to see Asheigh Burton’s movie reaction videos of Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, and Diamonds Are Forever. Each of her videos are entertaining to watch.

#4 A look back at Asteroids – Way back in the early 1980s, I played the classic video game Asteroids on the Atari 2600 a lot. I never got to play it in the arcades but I played the arcade version on my Xbox Series X using the Atari 50 Collection software. If you want to know the history and impact of Asteroids, watch this video by PatmanQC.

#5 A look back at Konami Wai Wai World – Way back in 1988, my friends and I played Konami Wai Wai World (called Konami World for short) on the Family Computer (Famicom) and no matter how challenging it was to write down and input Japanese text for the passwords, we persevered to play and complete it. Konami Wai Wai World was a 2D, side-scrolling adventure game that had this ambitious concept of a crossover gathering of playable original Konami characters plus the characters from licensed games – Mikey Walsh (The Goonies and The Goonies II) and the iconic King Kong (King Kong 2: Ikari no Megaton Punch). The video by RetroGamingKnight is a must-watch for those who intend to really learn a lot about Konami Wai Wai World.

#6 You, Me and the Movies’ Creepshow reaction video – The 1982 film Creepshow is one of those horror movies made to provide viewers horror and fun. It was a film that featured the combined talents of author Stephen King and director George A. Romero. This reaction video by You, Me and the Movies is a must-watch.

#7 Minty Comedic Arts’ X2: X-Men United trivia video – I saw X2: X-Men United in the cinema here in the Philippines on its opening day on April 30, 2003. Sometimes referred to as X-Men 2, the movie was clearly an improvement over its predecessor and the filmmakers took inspiration from a very notable sci-fi movie for its storytelling and character development. This and a lot more await you all in Minty Comedic Arts’ trivia video of X2: X-Men United.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 11

June 17, 2024May 17, 2024carlocarrasco

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 from the 1980s and 1990s. In addition, there will be a few flyers of arcade games as well as promotional posters of a notable console game that was released only in Japan.

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 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. M.I.A.: Missing in Action arcade flyer

*This is an effective way of catching the attention of both players and arcade operators. I can imagine the woke, the SJWs and rabid feminists getting easily offended by this.*

Konami was a very prominent producer of games back in the 1980s. Not only did the company produce high-quality and enjoyable military-themed games on consoles and computers, Konami also made its presence felt in the highly competitive sector of arcade games. In 1989, they released the arcade conversion kit of M.I.A.: Missing in Action and this flyer is the best know promotion of it. M.I.A.: Missing in Action is the follow-up to Konami’s hit game Rush’n Attack.

Visually, the flyer’s display of four screenshots combined with a dominating photographic image of prisoners of war (POWs) getting delightfully released by an attractive female Rambo-type rescuer were designed to catch the attention of young adult and adult gamers. The text descriptions (note: there were more details on the back of the flyer), however, were geared towards arcade operators who were looking for new games to acquire without the hassle of having to buy an entire arcade cabinet. That being said, this flyer was a clever way to appeal to arcade operators and the people who love playing arcade games.

2. Fonz arcade flyer

*Simplistic yet effective to look at. If you are an arcade operator, this flyer conveniently has key information displayed.*

Believe it or not, Sega was already active in arcade games way back in the 1970s. In this particular flyer, Sega’s arcade game Fonz (also called Moto-Cross, Man T.T.) offered players the unique experience of driving a digital vehicle using actual handlebars on the machine that were meant to create an immersive and realistic feel. If you look closely, the flyer has lots of details written with arcade operators and players in mind.

3. Haunted Castle arcade flyer

*Indeed, this game is part of the Castlevania game franchise. It was one of the first Castlevania games released for arcades.*

Arguably, Konami is best known for the Castlevania game series which covered handheld gaming devices, personal computers, video game consoles and even arcades. Haunted Castle (Japanese title: Akumajō Dracula) is the 2^nd arcade game of the Castlevania franchise and it is not a port of any console game. Like the arcade flyer of M.I.A.: Missing in Action, this one was crafted to lure the attention (and money) of arcade operators looking for conversion kits to replace their old games. The visual presentation is eye-catching and even though the Castlevania brand was nowhere to be seen, Castlevania fans could tell this this arcade offering was part of their favorite game franchise.

4. The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? flyer and poster

*The poster promoting the release of the game for Sega Saturn in Japan.*

*The flyer promoting the Sega Saturn game’s 1997 release as well as the 15th anniversary of Macross.*

In 1997, the 15^th anniversary of the Macross multimedia franchise was celebrated in Japan and among the highlights was the release of The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? on the Sega Saturn. To promote the game and the franchise itself, lots of flyers and posters were released in Japan. If you look at the illustrated images on the promotional materials closely, you will realize that they are not from the original 1982-83 Macross anime TV series but rather from the The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? animated movie of 1984 (read my retro movie review by clicking here).

While it might be baffling to some as to why the original anime TV series was not used as the source material for the 15^th anniversary celebration through gaming, the 1984 anime feature film was actually more adaptable for a video game project (read my retro review by clicking here). It is so obvious, you just have to ask yourselves this question – how can the game developers compress the entire concepts of the 36-episode Macross anime series into one game while ensuring fun gameplay? Regardless, the game was a lot of fun to play and I enjoyed playing the PlayStation version in 1999.

5. Venom/Spider-Man: Separation Anxiety print ad

*A clear effort to sell the game to gamers as well as fans of Spider-Man and Venom.*

In 1994, Acclaim released Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage (based on the 1993 comic book storyline Maximum Carnage) on Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and Sega Genesis ultimately becoming popular with comic book fans and gamers who enjoyed sidescrolling beat-them-up games.

Subsequently, Acclaim and develop Software Creations reunited to release the sequel Venom/Spider-Man: Separation Anxiety a year later on the two leading 16-bit consoles as well as on personal computer (PC). If there is anything notable about this eye-catching print ad, it is the fact that its visual presentation (with graphics on-par with the previous year’s game) cleverly hides the fact that it did not have much new to offer gamers with regards to gameplay and story cutscenes (which the previous game prominently had). Eventually, this game attracted weaker reviews from game critics and has since been forgotten.

6. Tecmo Super Bowl SNES print ad

*From the time when Tecmo was still a strong producer of sports video games.*

In 1991, Tecmo Super Bowl was released on the aging Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and because its game design greatly entertained gamers, it became a tremendous commercial success. Not even the very high launch price of $54.99 stopped it from selling a lot.

To keep the commercial success and public interest going, Tecmo announced a new version of the game for the more powerful SNES console with the simple title of Tecmo Super Bowl. If you look closely at the print ad, you will notice that gameplay screenshots were not used at all. Instead, they showed images of the nicely illustrated art works they prepared as eye candy for the game with the intention of making it look cinematic. This is very curious because gameplay itself was the main selling factor of the NES version of Tecmo Super Bowl. I can only guess that Tecmo was not ready to show gameplay images by the time this print ad was made.

7. X-Men 2: Clone Wars print ad

*The art used is too alienating for promoting this game.*

During the age of the 16-bit consoles, there was a variety of X-Men video games released and produced by different companies. In 1993, an X-Men game published by Sega was released exclusively on the Genesis console which turned out to be fun for gamers and received mostly positive reviews from the critics. Sega went on to publish the sequel X-Men 2: Clone Wars and this print ad caught my attention because of how exaggerated the characters looked. It’s so strange, it’s as if the artist took visual reference from a somewhat blocky 3D polygonal portrait then tried to make them look hand-drawn. I wonder if anyone from Sega regretted this.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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