Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks, retro gaming enthusiasts and other gamers!
There is nothing like having fun with retro gaming on a modern console. With regards to my Xbox gaming experience, when Team Xbox falls short on delivering great fun with their latest releases, retro gaming fills the gap nicely. The good news here is that there are a lot of collections of old games or remastered releases available on the Xbox online store.
Right now, I am having fun playing for the first time ever Zombies Ate My Neighbors on my Xbox Series X. I recently purchased online the remastered collection Zombies Ate My Neighbors and Ghoul Patrol (fully titled as Lucasfilm Classic Games: Zombies Ate My Neighbors and Ghoul Patrol) for that 1990s, 2D adventuring gaming experience. The remastered collection was released in 2021.
The game’s box cover for the SNES.
Back in 1993, I was playing games on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) but I never had the opportunity to rent nor purchase Zombies Ate My Neighbors. Back then, the 2-page print ad of the game that appeared in comic books and gaming magazines really caught my attention as well as my interest.
Zombies Ate My Neighbors – the SNES version specifically – is fun, charming and has a unique type of challenge when played on my Xbox console. The game developers did a fine job remastering the game without drastically altering the 2D graphics design. The 2D sprites looked unaltered and because of the high definition visuals, I can see them looking pretty detailed. This is pixel art that was preserved and looking lively in HD. The game controls are responsive enough on the Xbox controller and you only need to use a few buttons along the way.
There is nothing like encountering a giant ant in the local community.
Imagine making your way through the local grocery only to encounter a zombies and a masked man armed with a chainsaw.
Zombies Ate My Neighbors has a creative concept that combines elements of the sci-fi, horror and adventure genres of pop culture. Don’t let the cover art and the title of the game fool you. Zombies are definitely not the only monsters you will encounter. In fact, there are werewolves, spiders, evil dolls, vampires, blobs, giant ants, mummies and even UFOs!
This is a game that puts the player in the middle of an American city (composed of suburbs, commercial joints, museums and parks to name some) filled with monsters. Your mission is not only to survive but also to save at least a few surviving neighbors in order to proceed to the next level (by means of a door appearing out of thin air near you).
Those little ones carrying axes are mechanical dolls, not little kids.
You better have a lot of weapons and some med kits when encountering the giant baby.
As this is an adventure game, there is a unique touch on the action made by the developers. The action is about attacking monsters with varied weapons such as the Uzi water gun, bazookas, explosive soda cans (makeshift grenades), ice pops, fire extinguishers and silverware to name some. Since the game was made with a wholesome audience in mind, the violence is unsurprisingly cartoony to look at.
The exploration aspect of the game involves collecting useful items for your survival and your ability to fight monsters. In fact, there is an abundance of weapons and ammunition. Getting medkits is essential and there are simply not enough of them which should remind you to be more strategic where you go and what you encounter. The game allows you to save anywhere.
Zombies Ate My Neighbors will keep gamers busy not just because of the adventure and the action, but also due to the fact that the developers created so many levels (50+) for you to explore and make your way through! Had I played this game on the SNES back in 1993, I definitely would have gotten a lot of value for my money with its content and length.
Conclusion
If you saved at least one surviving neighbor, this door will appear for you to exit. This will end the current level.
I can say clearly that Zombies Ate My Neighbors is pretty enjoyable. I made it through a lot of the levels and there’s not a moment of frustration as I played. This game from 1993 is a playable gem and already I’ve gotten a lot of entertainment value from my purchase of the Zombies Ate My Neighbors and Ghoul Patrol remastered collection (which also includes extra stuff and retrospective fun). I will play Ghoul Patrol as soon as I’m done with Zombies Ate My Neighbors. This is indeed retro gaming fun that Xbox gamers should check out.
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. Japanese Macross video games print ads
This 2-page ad had Minmay, Misa and Hikaru.
Computer-generated image of the Skull Leader Battroid was used here.
Looking at the history of Macross video games released only in Japan, there were these notable games that catered to the fans with different tastes during the period of 1997 to 1999. The two Japanese print ads here promoted the PlayStation version of The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? (read my retro review by clicking here) and Macross: VF-X2 (only on PlayStation). 1997 marked the 15th anniversary of the entire Macross franchise and game publisher Bandai Visual kept the excitement for fans on high gear by aggressively promoting the two advertised games for their respective releases in 1999. These two print ads still resonate with long-time fans as each were clearly made to emphasize the games (with details, screenshots and original artworks) while using the right images of the Macross franchise for relevance.
2. Star Raiders print ad
This Star Raiders print ad made me interested enough to play the game on Atari 2600.
I remember the old days of play Star Raiders on the Atari 2600 back in the early 1980s. Strangely enough, I don’t remember seeing this old print ad. Regardless, I really like the way the ad makers used hand-drawn art work to dominate the space while leaving enough space for text description, a screenshot and the picture of the Atari console with the TV set. In my view, this old ad is both amusing and attention-grabbing.
3. The Empire Strikes Back arcade flyer
This is still a great looking arcade flyer.
Here is a Star Wars game I never played but managed to play it on a home computer. Released by Atari in 1985, The Empire Strikes Back (full title: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back) arcade game was the follow-up to the very popular Star Wars arcade game. Like its predecessor, it used vector graphics and certain sounds from the 1980 film for immersion. This arcade flyer is well designed showing three selected screenshots, a picture of the arcade cabinet and a portion of the AT-AT walker from the movie. The flyer truly showed gamers and arcade operators what they would get by selecting The Empire Strikes Back.
4. Steve Meretzky’s Spellcasting 301: Spring Break print ad
Clearly the promoted game is for adult players only.
In the realm of computer gaming, there were certain games that catered to the more mature players. One example is Steve Meretzky’s Spellcasting 301: Spring Break which was released on for personal computers running on DOS (Disk Operating System) in 1992. This print ad clearly shows the adulterated nature of the game emphasizing sexy women with a paradise setting. This is the kind of print ad that you only in computer gaming magazines which had predominantly adult readers.
5. Pitfall! print ad
Still a great looking print ad.
Back in 1982, 2D adventuring on the Atari 2600 reached new heights when Pitfall! was released. The game garnered wide praise for its gameplay and graphics, and because it was so enjoyable, it sold millions of copies and its success spread across other platforms. A key factor to its commercial success and strong identity with the Atari 2600 was this colorful print ad. The ad makers daringly used original artwork to emphasize the jungle, wilderness and adventure concept while leaving some space left to show a screenshot and the Atari 2600 game cover. Pitfall! is a video game classic.
6. Mario Bros. print ad
I saw this comic-style print ad while reading a comic book.
A few years before Nintendo skyrocketed with the massive success of Super Mario Bros., there was Mario Bros. on the Atari 2600 and Atari 5200. Published by Atari on their consoles, Mario Bros. was already a hit in the arcades. To capitalize on the popularity of the game, Atari came up with this comic-style print ad to capture people’s attention with the hope that the Atari 2600 and Atari 5200 ports will sell a lot. I first saw this ad while reading a comic book and it remains entertaining to see.
7. Ghoul Patrol print ad
Too bad the screenshots, the game box cover and white descriptive text were too small to look at.
Released in 1994 on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), Ghoul Patrol is the accidental sequel to Zombies Ate My Neighbors. This was because the game did not start as a sequel but rather as an unrelated project that used the same gameplay engine of its predecessor. Since Zombies Ate My Neighbors already had a dedicated fanbase, a decision to turn the game into a sequel followed. Ghoul Patrol’s print ad took a different creative approach on its presentation by trying to look cool and catchy with a dominating pink background and slightly adulterated descriptions in green leaving little space left for screenshots and the white descriptive text. The print ad of Zombies Ate My Neighbors remains more engaging and more eye-catching than this one.
8. Silpheed print ad
This ad caught my attention and even made me interested on the Sega CD.
Released in 1993, Silpheed on Sega CD was a remake of the original game of 1986. Like its predecessor, the Sega CD had 3D effects but used pre-rendered computer animation for a background that actually was full motion video. The print ad of this game had this fantastic looking computer-generated artwork and displayed four screenshots that looked really exciting back in 1993. If you look closely at the captions, the ad emphasized the CD-quality look and the cinematic graphics the game had. This old ad has aged well.
For the newcomers reading this, Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars was released on March 6 and it contains Suikoden and Suikoden II (Japanese title: Genso Suikoden II). This is a cause for a celebration not only for fans of the Suikoden game franchise (created by the late Yoshitaka Murayama during his time at Konami) and JRPG enthusiasts but also for people who love retro gaming.
With Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars now available on multiple platforms, gamers – both the veterans as well as the younger players – now have the golden opportunities to play the first two Suikoden games.
Suikoden on Xbox
A lot of characters got their share of the spotlight in short scenes like this in Suikoden.
As mentioned earlier, Suikoden is my most played game on my Xbox Series X since March 6. The release of Suikoden games on Xbox platforms is highly significant given the fact that the franchise has often been identified with PlayStation for so long. What many gamers do not know is the fact that Suikoden was also released on the Sega Saturn and Windows PC in Japan in the late-1990s.
As history showed, most Suikoden RPGs released by Konami from 1995 to 2006 mainly on the original PlayStation console (the first two games) and PlayStation 2 (the third, fourth and fifth games). Spin-off games were released on PlayStation, PS2, Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS. That being said, there were absolutely no Suikoden games on the original Xbox console and Xbox 360.
The release of Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and the aging Xbox One is indeed a game-changer. There are lots of Xbox gamers who are fond of Japanese RPGs and there are also Suikoden fans who happen to own Xbox consoles. The Xbox ecosystem itself now has lots of role-playing games (RPGs) released in this current console generation and there are lots of Xbox players who love RPGs. As such, Konami made the right move bringing the Suikoden franchise to Xbox consoles.
Playing the first Suikoden again but in shinier form
The group battle in the game. The remastered work includes presentation in high-definition and a variety of visual enhancements. The frame rate is also stable.
Since the launch of Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars, I have been playing the first Suikoden game a lot on my Xbox Series X. It has been a fun-filled nostalgic gaming experience on my part and I can also say that Konami – for the most part – did a good job remastering the game with high-definition visuals in mind.
Visually, this is the best the first Suikoden RPG ever looked! The in-game character sprites and creatures/monsters sprites from before have been preserved and because everything is in high-definition, the said sprites look larger and you can see the detailed pixels within them. When it comes to the visual effects to emphasize in-game magic and other spectacles, the new effects implemented resulted in a lot of pleasing eye candy.
Mini-games like this one added fun and variety to the game. If you keep winning in this one, you can make a lot of in-game money.
The occasional close-ups during group battles like this added to the spectacle of playing. The enhanced visuals also made this look better.
When it comes to the character portraits, they have been redrawn from scratch by Junko Kawano and each artwork per character looked clearer and more detailed than before. Some long-time Suikoden fans might find the new character portraits looking too clean and might make them miss the older artworks.
Suikoden’s story is about the Scarlet Moon Empire, political developments, corruption that goes beyond politics, and how they all affect the people. The playable protagonist is the son of the imperial general Teo McDohl, and through him you will witness political intrigue and unexpected twists that will compel you to stick closer with your family friends to escape the empire and form a new army of rebels by recruiting members across the land.
Even in subtle forms, the enhanced visuals made dramatic scenes like this look more lively.
While the storytelling is satisfactory at best, there is a wide variety of characters who collectively added colors to the narrative. This is due to the many types of personalities that the important characters have. Take for example Matthiu who is the calm and calculating strategist, Viktor is the brave and brash rebel, and Gremio is very dedicated to protecting the protagonist no matter what happens. Along the way, character development is truly limited which is not surprising because a lot of characters shared the spotlight.
In terms of game design and gameplay features, Suikoden has aged well. The battle systems – solo battle, group battle, army battle – are still functional, efficient and fun to do. While some grinding (leveling-up) is needed, it is not stressful to do because the auto-battle options make the group battles flow smoothly, especially when your characters (up to six) are collectively strong enough to overwhelm the enemies.
This is the formation of the members of your party. Those with short-range attacks should be placed on the front row but they need strong defense values to keep on fighting. Characters with long-range attacks are ideally placed in the back row.
Meet Odessa.
The gameplay is just as fun to do as before. I really like the fact that up to six characters can be part of my party/group as I went adventuring and focused on story scenes. The solo and army battles are understandably few but the payoff (in return to the build-up leading to them) was worth it. I should state that the unite attacks (limited to specific characters who are present in the party) are fun to watch and the creators’ approach on presenting the battle animations and spectacle are great to see.
A great, long border wall in the game.
While the gameplay is clearly fun, Konami’s remaster team did not fix one old problem the game had since the start – limited spacing of items per character. Each character has his/her/its own pieces of clothing to wear, specifically for the body, head and two accessories. The game counts those clothing items as part of the overall item spacing per character. Once you have the four items for a character to wear, the remaining spaces for carrying other items (examples: medicine, ore, anti-toxin) become severely limited for the character.
Along the way, there is the constant need for you to purchase stronger pieces of clothing to increase the defense value of the newest character who joined your army. That being said, you must earn a lot of money, take time to out purchase items, and equip them on new characters while dealing with limited storage per character. The item management problem is the one thing that prevented the gameplay from achieving perfection.
My long-time experience with the Suikoden franchise
Viktor is the brash and brave fighter who becomes part of the Liberation Army. He is an important supporting character which you will easily realize.
In my personal gaming history, I played and finished the original game on PlayStation way back in 1996. While I really enjoyed the game and its unique gameplay features, I never replayed it as my taste on PlayStation gaming kept changing in 1997. When Wild ARMs and Final Fantasy VII landed on PlayStation, I forgot about Suikoden until its sequel was released in English in 1999.
Fortunately, Suikoden II was so much bigger and better than its predecessor and it remains the most defining game of the entire Suikoden franchise (read my retro review by clicking here). That being said, I will start playing the remastered Suikoden II on my Xbox Series X soon.
Having played the remastered first game on my Xbox console, I can say that it was a fun-filled trip on my end. At the same time, I remembered scenes and several small character moments in between that I have forgotten long ago. Although a lot of characters were presented, following the narrative was still easy to do since it was light compared to what Suikoden II told.
Conclusion
A shot of a feast within the army of rebels with their leader Tir McDohl. The young McDohl is the playable protagonist.
With the first Suikoden alone, I can say I got really good value and enjoyment with my purchase of the digital copy of Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars for my Xbox Series X. This is a fine example about retro gaming literally saving the day when Team Xbox failed to deliver the promised great fun with their own games.
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book 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 superhero enthusiasts, 20th century pop culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1975 to take a close look at one of the many tales published through the original Superman monthly series (first launched in 1939).
When I first read the literary rivalry between Superman and Lex Luthor, it was before Crisis on Infinite Earths happened. The pre-Crisis Luthor was a criminal mad scientist (as opposed to the tycoon Luthor of the post-Crisis age) who had to use technology and smart moves during his encounters with the Man of Steel. The pre-Crisis conflicts between the two were often dynamic and fantasy inspired. Of course, there is a lot more between Superman and Luthor starting with a shared past in Smallville.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman #292, published in 1975 by DC Comics with a story written by Elliot S. Maggin and drawn by Curt Swan.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins at the ruined Metropolis International Airport with Superman helping with the huge repair efforts. It turns out, he and Lex Luthor just had an encounter there. When Mr. Hales of the airport authorities asked him why Luthor was always evil, Superman begins to remember the friendship he had with his rival when they were both teenagers in Smallville…
Quality
Yes, it is all true. Lex Luthor and Clark Kent were students in the same high school in Smallville when they were teenagers.
To make things clear, this comic book has two stories and the first one – titled “The Luthor Nobody Knows” – is clearly the main story.
The main story has this unusual format of storytelling that resulted in an abundance of flashbacks dominating the present-day tale. In connection with the tale’s title, this is a dramatized look back at the time when Luthor and Clark Kent (then Superboy) were high school students in Smallville. The creators took their time portraying young Clark Kent as the mild and ethical student and the teenage Lex Luthor as the daring student who truly believes he can make great achievements through science.
For those who might have heard the fabled start of the rivalry between Luthor and Superboy, you will see that in this comic book as well as the negative impact the former made as time went on. Along the way, you will see the stark differences between them which were nicely dramatized by the creators. Notably, you will see a more human portrayal of Luthor in his younger self.
The 2nd story of this comic book – titled “The private life of Clark Kent” – is just a 5-page additive geared towards Superman fans wanting more of him in his civilian identity.
Conclusion
This battle between Superman and criminal mad scientist Luthor should resonate with comic book fans who love the pre-Crisis era of DC Comics.
Considering the way the main story was crafted, Superman #292 (1975) is technically an origin story of Luthor who went from an ambitious young student into a criminal mad scientist. This should surprise readers who remained unaware of the shared past between Luthor and Superman before Crisis on Infinite Earths happened. In relation to what was mentioned earlier in the review, the Superboy-Luthor conflicts here looked dynamic. There is a good amount of entertainment here to see and it should resonate with long-time comic book readers who miss the pre-Crisis era of DC Comics.
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 topics and the related videos I found.
#1 The Beastmaster revisited – I find it curious that there are not too many movie reaction videos about the 1982 fantasy film The Beastmaster starring Marc Singer. The film was not a big hit in cinemas but it was viewed by millions of viewers on home video and cable TV which resulted in a dedicated following. When it comes to searching for video reviews of the movie, there are more available for viewing on YouTube. For the Beastmaster fans reading this and for those who enjoy the fantasy genre, I posted below a reaction video by You, Me and the Movies, and a video review by Decker Shado.
#2 Misha Petrov’s inspiring testimony – Being a Leftist is not only a terrible way of living as it includes living with a very distorted view of reality, rebelling against family and order, and being twisted. YouTuber Misha Petrov was once a Leftist and she eventually left the Satanic Left to be liberated. Very clearly, being liberal means being foolish and wokeness is a disease that truly ruins those trapped by it. Learn from Misha Petrov’s inspiring testimony in the PragerU video below.
#3 Do not be fooled by socialist influencers – I like watching the videos of John Stossel as there are often informative and engaging. Recently, Stossel posted a video about what the many socialist influencers get wrong. It is a reminder that no matter how powerful the words spoken and no matter how unique the presentations looked like, socialists do not want you to know the truth that does not back up their claims. That being said, I encourage you to watch Stossel’s explanatory video below.
#4Why the playable hero of Oblivion starts inside a prison – If there is anything consequential about the release of the current Xbox-exclusive fantasy role-playing game (RPG) Avowed, it is the renewed public interest in two well established games that have similarities with the Obsidian-developed game – The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. My previous blog post had a comparative video featuring Avowed and Oblivion. More on Bethesda’s 2006 RPG, it is remembered that the hero gamers got to play as started inside a prison whenever they begin the single-player campaign. As to why the playable hero is already behind bars, watch the analytical video below from YouTuber A Bard’s Ballad.
#5 VKunia and Ashleigh Burton’s respective Captain America: The Winter Soldier reaction videos – Back in 2014, I saw Captain America: The Winter Soldier on opening day in a local cinema here in the Philippines and it was a very thrilling and engaging experience. Back then, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) was still expanding its lore during the Phase 2 stage, and the Captain America movie itself was really a superhero tale told in the form of an espionage thriller. It was a bold creative direction that really paid off for Marvel Studios. When it comes to the YouTube reaction videos of it available, I find the ones from VKunia and Ashleigh Burton the most entertaining. If you have not seen the movie yet, I urge you to watch it first. Otherwise, enjoy the videos below.
#6 PatmanQC examines R-Type – When it comes to sci-fi themed, 2D side-scrolling shooters in video games, Japan a lot of them and arguably the most popular game franchise related to the sub-genre is Konami’s Gradius. There is, however, another sci-fi 2D side-scrolling shooter series that started in Japanese arcades – R-Type. Like Gradius, R-Type went on to have sequels and many of its games were released on many platforms through the decades. To find out how R-Type started and what were the inspirations behind it, watch PatmanQC’s in-depth video below.
#7 Baywatch revisited by Minty Comedic Arts – Back in 1989, Baywatch was launched on television and it went on to become a massive hit with TV viewers around the world. The series about attractive lifeguards working at beaches lasted more than ten seasons and ultimately became a pop culture phenomenon. It was also the sexiest show on TV during its time. Of course, there are lots of interesting details about the series and I urge you to watch the trivia video of Minty Comedic Arts below.
#8 Palestinian clerics openly call for genocide against Jews – As I mentioned before, the Palestinians have stake in the land of Israel and they as a people have destroyed their credibility a long time ago by following the their terrorist leaders and brainwashing children to hate the Jewish people. In recent times, religious leaders of the Palestinians used sermons calling for the extermination of the Jews. That being said, it is not surprising that the mainstream news media (which have not only a liberal bias but also Islamo-Leftist beliefs) does not even bother to cover the recent Palestinian campaign of hate targeting the Jewish people and Israel. While those corrupted news media outlets are staying away, CBN News covered the very issue. Watch their news video below. Keep on standing in support of Israel and push back against evil acts of the Palestinian terrorists and the wicked Palestinian Authority.
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book 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 superhero enthusiasts, 1980s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1980s to explore a part of the DC Comics shared universe through a tale of the iconic Superman.
Shortly after the end of the original multiverse of DC Comics, the publisher organized a massive reboot of its superhero franchises and universe. To reboot and modernize the iconic Superman, DC hired John Byrne and backed him up with a solid creative team. The result was the 6-part comic book mini-series The Man of Steel. Previously, I reviewed The Man of Steel #1 and #2 which collectively established Superman and Lois Lane as the iconic superhero and the definitive supporting character of the post-Crisis age respectively. Of course, the super villain opposite the post-Crisis Superman had to be established.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at The Man of Steel #4, published in 1986 by DC Comics with a story written and illustrated by John Byrne.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins when a daringly dressed Lois Lane arrives at the apartment of Clark Kent who has not even fully prepared himself for their trip to an extravagant gathering. It turns out, Lois’ ride picked her up earlier than expected which explains her early arrival.
After entering Clark’s apartment, she slowly begins to discover what he looked like in school and who his parents are. By this time, it has been almost eighteen months since Clark beat her to the first-ever Superman news story at the Daily Planet.
Afterwards, Lois and Clark took a surprising helicopter ride going to the luxurious ship of the powerful tycoon Lex Luthor…
Quality
Superman intervenes to protect Lois Lane from one of the terrorists.
To make things clear, this issue is all about John Byrne presenting a new version of Superman’s definitive rival Lex Luthor with the 1980s in mind. Instead of a mad scientist, the post-Crisis Luthor is a billionaire whose corporation (Lexcorp) has an interest in virtually every business in Metropolis and his immense wealth makes him a very powerful figure. This new version of Luthor was clearly done to be more grounded with reality, specifically with regards to the rise of tycoons in America in the 1980s. In short, Luthor was the ruthless and powerful businessman before Michael Douglas even got to play Gordon Gekko in 1987’s Wall Street.
While the effort of making a really new version of Superman’s arch-rival is clear, Luthor here does not appear too menacing at first. The story and impact of Luthor’s evil really started to materialize as soon as the South American terrorists appeared, but not in a way that you might expect. As mentioned above, Luthor here is more grounded with reality and that means you won’t see him oppose Superman with science and technology. Instead, Luthor simply has wealth, the power and resources to go against the Man of Steel. The tycoon also knows that the American-born Kryptonian would not dare attack him as laws already exist.
Having read lots of Superman’s encounters with Luthor in the pre-Crisis era – particularly the 1970s up to the mid-1980s – it is clear to me that their first post-Crisis encounter turned out underwhelming and never dynamic. In fairness, I really enjoyed reading the 2nd encounter between Superman and Luthor as the words of the latter were filled with anger and tension. It should be noted that Byrne’s visual approach on showing the city and the people as Luthor’s dialogue went on was a great touch.
When it comes to the storytelling, it is quite simple which is not surprising because it was crafted to make way for post-Crisis Luthor to be introduced and dramatized. As for the character development, there is indeed progress with regards to the chemistry between Clark Kent and Lois Lane who are portrayed as friends living with a journalistic competition between them. It was also in this comic book where you will see Superman follow the law and the command of Metropolis’ highest official.
Speaking of law, you will notice what kind of impact Luthor has on others when he really does things his own way. This is something you should read in this comic book.
Conclusion
This is John Byrne’s version of Lex Luthor in the form of a powerful tycoon. A complete departure from the mad scientist Luthor of the pre-Crisis era of DC Comics.
While the first-ever conflict between Superman and Luthor in the post-Crisis age was indeed underwhelming, it was John Byrne’s in-depth writing and portrayal of events that made The Man of Steel #4 (1986) a worthy read. Don’t expect to see a lot of action here nor anything spectacular with Superman. Clearly, the tycoon Lex Luthor is the feature character of this tale and the start of his hatred towards Superman is really worth reading. In retrospect, Luthor’s ruthlessness and evil got stronger and clearer after the end of this comic book (for reference, click here).
Overall, The Man of Steel #4 (1986) is recommended.
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 topics and the related videos I found.
#1 Popcorn in Bed reacts to Planet of the Apes (1968) – YouTuber Popcorn in Bed finally did it…posting a reaction video featuring the classic science fiction movie Planet of the Apes (1968). The video has both Cassie and Carly reacting to the Charlton Heston-led film. Considering how many Planet of the Apes reaction videos have been posted on YouTube, I can say that Popcorn in Bed’s video is entertaining to watch. Watch it now!
#2 Comparison video of Avowed and Oblivion – In case you missed the news, the long-awaited Xbox-exclusive fantasy role-playing game (RPG) Avowed has been released and it is the latest game from RPG specialist Obsidian Entertainment (an Xbox game studio). Recently, someone posted a new video comparing Avowed with the 2006 RPG The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion focused on specific details. It’s clear that Obsidian still has a long way to go to truly make Avowed’s world a living and breathing realm. I encourage you all to watch it now.
#3 Slope Game Room examines the history of Zombies Ate My Neighbors – Recently, I purchased the digital collection of Zombies Ate My Neighbors and Ghoul Patrol for my Xbox Series X. As of this writing, I’m still playing Zombies Ate My Neighbors – specifically the Super NES version – and I’m enjoying it. First released in 1993, Zombies Ate My Neighbors was developed by LucasArts and published by Konami for the two 16-bit consoles of the time. It turns out, there is a lot of interesting details behind the development of the game, what led to the creation of Ghoul Patrol and more. To know more, watch the video of Slope’s Game Room below.
#4CNN supports Hamas terrorists – I don’t trust the opinions and news publishing of CNN (originally called Cable News Network) which has turned into a propaganda machine for the corrupted Democrats, Islamo-Leftists, and woke mobs. In recent times, CNN had an entire segment defending the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas and the two personalities who spoke clearly have no love for Israel. To find out what happened, watch the video below.
#5 You, Me and the Movies react to Air Force One – At last, YouTuber You, Me and the Movies posted its reaction video featuring the 1997 blockbuster Air Force One with Harrison Ford playing a tough, fictional US President. It is an entertaining reaction video to watch and the old film itself is relevant once again as Trump-led America today has toughened its stance against terrorists. If you have not seen the film, watch it first. Otherwise, enjoy the video below.
#6 Ashleigh Burton reacts to a 1999 comedy – I never saw the 1999 comedy 10 Things I Hate About You in the cinema but some friends of mind did and they found it funny and memorable. A few years later, I finally saw it on cable TV and home video and it was entertaining. Recently, Ashleigh Burton posted her reaction video and I enjoyed how she responded to it.
#7 RK Outpost explains box-office disappointment of Captain America: Brave New World – Are you aware that the woke Disney company, Marvel Studios and its wicked Hollywood media partners are lying to you and trying to manipulate you into believing that Captain America: Brave New World had a successful launch? YouTuber RK Outpost posted a video explaining in detail why the new movie (starring Anthony Mackie) is actually a box office disappointment upon launching, how the Hollywood players are lying, what facts are being ignored, and why you should not be fooled by Disney and its partners-in-crime. Watch and learn!
Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks, RPG enthusiasts and other gamers!
The long wait for the next Xbox-exclusive fantasy role-playing game (RPG) experience is finally over as Avowed has officially been released for Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC and Xbox Game Pass (XGP Ultimate) today. Five days ago, the game developed by Obsidian Entertainment was released on early access for those who paid the premium for the privilege.
For the newcomers reading this, Avowed is the newest game from RPG specialist Obsidian Entertainment and it has a fantasy setting and a unique concept for gamers who enjoy in-depth exploration, intense action, consequential decision-making, engaging role-play and strong storytelling. Avowed is set in the fictional world called Eora and is also part of the same universe as seen in Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity.
To get oriented, watch the launch trailer below.
Is it really great? Is it worth purchasing at all?
As of this writing, the critical reception remains questionable even though a lot of gaming publications posted their respective reviews resulting in a collective average that keeps on changing. As of now, the collective critical average for Avowed is mostly positive but additional reviews could change that.
For some insight, watch the video reviews of Avowed from MrMattyPlays, Colteastwood, GameSpot, XboxEra and Pure Xbox.
If you want to watch some extensive gameplay footage of Avowed that could help you decide to go for the game or not, watch the videos below.
Having waited more than four years to play Avowed (read my previous posts by clicking here, here and here), I will play it on my Xbox Series X console but not immediately. I’d rather wait for Obsidian to patch the game first to fix the bugs and other technical problems. I’d rather play an improved version over its launch version. Here is hoping that Obsidian will be listening to gamers’ feedback and improve the game accordingly.
I should mention that Obsidian is also working on its other high-profile video game The Outer Worlds 2 which is actually a multi-platform release (including PlayStation 5).
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 to the year 2000.
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. Tutankham print ad
This print ad appeared in several comic books in 1983.
First released in the arcades in 1982, Tutankham is a 2D adventure game that had a mix of shooting, maze exploration and puzzle-solving with Egyptian settings and concepts. It made its way to the Atari 2600 published by Parker Brother, and it was this specific version I played. This game print ad appeared in comic books I read in 1983, and the people who made it implemented a hand-drawn art of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun dominating the space to emphasize the Egyptian setting. In fact, this ad made me think more of Egypt and left little to give me an idea of the game design.
2. Star Trek arcade flyer
The clever use of classic Star Trek imagery was used in this initial flyer by Sega.
Back in the 1980s, a futuristic design for an arcade machine like this one was mind-blowing.
I never played the Star Trek arcade game (full title: Star Trek: Strategic Operations Simulator) Sega released in 1983. I only saw its graphics and gameplay during an episode of Starcade. With its game design and visual presentation, Star Trek was a very ambitious arcade project for its time and Sega really went in to promote it. The initial arcade flyer (first one above) was meant to grab the attention of both gamers and arcade operators. The next arcade flyer (2nd one above) showed the ambitious design of the arcade machine made with player immersion in mind.
3. Battlezone arcade flyer
While the hand-drawn artwork was too detailed for the arcade game’s graphics, it still emphasized strongly the concept of the game.
In the history of video games, Battlezone was a groundbreaking game both visually and with game design. It was designed to give gamers an immersive experience of driving a tank with 3D graphics, fun gameplay and a first-person view. Its own history is worth researching. Atari knew it had to heavily promote their ambitious game and the arcade flyer above featured nice hand-drawn artwork while also showing the two types of Battlezone machines that arcade operators can choose from. Battlezone went on to become a highly influential arcade game.
4. Chrono Cross North American print ad
Arguably, this print ad was aimed at RPG enthusiasts, Chrono Trigger fans and gamers looking for something adventurous to play.
First released on PlayStation in Japan, Chrono Cross made its way to the said console in America just a few months before the PlayStation 2 launched there. While there was a risk that came with releasing the ambitious follow-up to the classic Chrono Trigger so late in the PlayStation’s life, Squaresoft (now Square Enix) still went on to aggressively promote Chrono Cross in America. This 2-page print ad that appeared in many gaming magazines remains captivating to look at. As typical of the time, 3D polygonal models and the epic-looking art were used in dominating fashion leaving the small space (lower-left corner) to display a few gameplay screenshots and other 3D art. Still it a fun game to play and this should remind you that Chrono Cross was recently remastered for modern consoles.
5. Ms. Pac-Man arcade flyer
The wife of Pac-Man and the machine.
Given the fact that Pac-Man was so massively successful, it was not surprising that a sequel had to be made and released on as many arcades as possible. Ms. Pac-Man was the sequel and it was released in arcades in 1982 eventually achieving huge commercial and critical success. To promote the game, Midway’s ad makers came up with an ad showing unique art of Pac-Man’s wife looking glamorous (with a driver and a vehicle in the background) and a photograph of the arcade machine on the right. This also was one of the early arcade flyers to use the words “femme fatale”.
6. Centipede arcade flyer
Three machines of Centipede for arcade operators to choose from.
Centipede is another arcade classic from Atari. Released in 1981, a lot of players enjoyed the game’s simplistic and yet addicting design of shooting an incoming centipede and its remaining portions that move down the field. Similar to the Battlezone arcade flyer, this game’s flyer had nice art of a centipede on the top and images arcade machines. Even by today’s standards, this flyer remains eye-catching.
7. Tempest 2000 print ad
This 2-page print ad of Tempest 2000 is still captivating to look at.
Back in the 1990s, Atari went on to release their Jaguar console which was promoted as a 64-bit machine. At a gaming convention, the company met with prospective game developers over Jaguar projects and one of the developers volunteered to do Tempest (a memorable Atari arcade game). This resulted in the development of Tempest 2000 which was a remake of the classic.
As a Jaguar-exclusive game, Atari came up with an eye-catching 2-page ad showing off the 3D visual presentation (6 gameplay screenshots and one original artwork) while boasting in the text description that Tempest 2000 was named the “Best of Show” at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The game was released in 1994 attracting mostly positive reviews from game critics and was one of the best-selling Jaguar games (note: Tempest 2000 can now be played in the Atari 50 collection). With the Atari legacy and presentation combined, this print ad remains captivating to look at.
8. Alien vs Predator print ad
Arguably the most defining and most entertaining game on the Atari Jaguar.
If there is any game that truly defined enjoyment and the technological features of the Atari Jaguar, it is the 1994 first-person shooter Alien vs Predator. At the time of its release, it was one of the most immersive games of the Alien vs. Predator crossover franchise and it allowed players to experience what fighting the Predator or the Xenomorph was like. The game also allowed gamers to play as a Colonial Marine (human soldier).
To sell the game, Atari came up with a 2-page ad highlighting the Aliens on one page and the Predator on the other. As the Predator was shown with a grotesque human skull, the use of photographs (most likely sourced from the movies) strongly emphasize the game was aimed at the mature audience among gamers. Six screenshots of gameplay were displayed by the ad makers who were clearly aware of the high popularity of first-person shooting games. Alien vs Predator was a critical and commercial success, and its print ad is arguably the most memorable one of any Atari Jaguar game ever made.
Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks, retro gaming enthusiasts, fighting game enthusiasts and other gamers!
With the current Xbox-exclusive fantasy role-playing game Avowedcoming out on February 18, I’m supposed to be excited about what Team Xbox has prepared this year. Of course, there were disappointments not only with certain Xbox first-party releases but also with the way things have been changing on the part of Team Xbox.
Wow! That’s a collection of very fun and popular games Capcom released from 1993 to 2000. With the exception of The Punisher arcade game (a 2D adventure game), I played them all in the arcades decades ago and I can say that having them in a single collection for the modern Xbox consoles is indeed a blessing for long-time Xbox gamers who love 2D fighting games and retro gaming. The way I feel right now, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics looks really enticing to purchase.
Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes is not just a lot of fun to play but also will please those who love the characters. With Wolverine, Spider-Man, Venom, Captain America from Marvel’s side included, there is something that will bring both geeks and gamers together.
I have fond memories of Capcom 2D fighting games that carried Marvel’s intellectual properties. X-Me: Children of the Atom was enjoyable to play with and it resonated with me as I was already an X-Men comic book reader back in the 1990s. Marvel Super Heroes was also fun to play and it somewhat reminded me of The Infinity Gauntlet storyline. X-Men vs. Street Fighter was the most intriguing crossover fighting game at the time of its release and it really raised the bar for fast-and-furious style gameplay complete with a quick character swap during the heat of battles. Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter was the follow-up which came with changes that were not well received by the fans.
Then came the two Marvel vs. Capcom crossover fighting games which really built upon the foundation of X-Men vs. Street Fighter for more team battles with speed and impact in mind. I could not forget the inclusion of Resident Evil characters, Mega Man and others.
X-Men vs. Street Fighter is a classic tag-team, crossover-oriented video game! Fast and furious action ensured!
The Punisher arcade game is the only non-fighting game of the collection. Punisher fans should look at this.
Adding further zest to the collection is online play that allows casual matches, ranked matches, custom matches. Think about how your skills or your scoring will compare with those of other players from around the world.
That being said, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a retro gaming package that deserves attention as it carries some of the finest video games Capcom ever made.
Author Carlo Carrasco 