Cloak & Dagger Is Fun And Challenging To Play On My Xbox Series X

Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks, retro gaming fans and other gamers!

If you are disappointed with modern console gaming and if you don’t like what the game makers are doing, retro gaming will restore the fun and help you forget about the disappointment.

When I was a very young boy, I saw Cloak & Dagger on home video. The movie – starring Henry Thomas and Dabney Coleman – was a thriller laced with Cold War elements, espionage and video gaming. In fact, the video game giant of the time – Atari – was involved in the movie production and their arcade game Cloak & Dagger appeared in the form of a fictional Atari 5200 game. Each time I saw the gameplay footage while watching the movie (read my retro review by clicking here), I was thrilled and always wanted to play it.

Finally, in 2024, I was able to play Cloak & Dagger on my Xbox Series X after purchasing the physical copy of Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration. Since then, I’ve been replaying Cloak & Dagger a lot in the comfort home and it sure is challenging and fun.

To be clear, this is not a retro game review of Cloak & Dagger. Rather, it is a nostalgic close look at the Atari video game that happened to be featured in the 1984 movie which in turn was released on 4K Blu-ray in 2022. Combine that with the Atari 50 release also in 2022, the Cloak & Dagger game made a comeback in the retro gaming radars of many while also becoming available to play with on modern consoles and Windows PC.

Game design and gameplay

In the arcade game, you play Agent X (the 2D sprite colored green and wearing the hat) and you will encounter challenges from enemies (often robot guards which can fire shots at you), conveyor belts that can impact your movement and the possibility of the giant bomb exploding.

Developed by Atari for the arcade, Cloak & Dagger is a 2D multi-directional shooter in which you play Agent X (who appears wearing a hat, a mask and a coat) whose mission is to infiltrate the massive base of an enemy that goes very deep underground (33 levels/floors).

Each level the player enters require surviving obstacles and defeating (or avoiding) the enemies (robot guards are the most common opposition while the crawling eye occasionally appears) and then move to the other side of the level in order to get into another elevator to keep on descending. The ultimate goal is to reach the final level below to recover top secret plans from Dr. Boom (the main villain and the one responsible for stealing the said plans), destroy his underground bomb factory (which explains the existence of oversized bombs and many explosives on conveyor belts) and get out.

As registering high scores was the trend of video gaming back then, players will be rewarded with shooting at the enemies (example: robot guards are worth 50 points each when asleep or 200 points when awake, while the main villain Dr. Boom is worth 50,000 points) as well as interacting with in-game items such as the unarmed explosives (10 points when shot but worth 100 when collected), armed explosives (50 points each when destroyed) and mystery boxes (worth 200 to 1,800 points plus random effects on the player such as extra life, improved speed and even extra life). For every 30,000 points scored, the player will be granted an extra life. In many levels are gigantic bombs that players can ignite using the Fuse button for extra points. 

Between levels, you will see an animated Agent X during the short rides in the elevator.
The game is very challenging because so much is going on around you. The robot guards will always fire shots at you while the conveyor belts often move items and explosives (both the armed and unarmed). You can ride a converyor belt to move around but make sure you do not touch the armed explosives (red containers) as they will kill you upon contact.

Other items players can collect are the extra boxes (resulting in extra life) and the secret maps (which partially reveal safe paths through each fourth level).

When it comes to the controls, Cloak & Dagger has a dual joystick (twin sticks) setup similar to Robotron 2084 and Smash T.V. (read my retrospective look at it by clicking here). One joystick allows players to move Agent X around while the other allows shooting projectiles (using Agent X’s weapon) at any direction. The fuse action (for igniting the oversized bombs in the enemy lair) is done by simply pressing a button. As I am playing this game on Xbox Series X, the game’s controls functioned well on the Xbox controller. Both precision and response of the game are sharp with the Xbox controller.

When it comes to the enjoyment and overall value of Cloak & Dagger, I can say that it is indeed more challenging and more chaotic when compared to the more notable twin stick games Robotron 2084 and Smash T.V. For one thing, each level has different layouts complete with obstacles or hazards plus enemies that will certainly challenge players. Many levels have conveyor belts moving unarmed explosives, armed explosives (which you must avoid touching because you will die upon direct contact) and items around which form obstacles when it comes to shooting robot guards on the other side (note: you can use the obstacles defensively when the robot guards fire at you).

From time to time, you will enter a somewhat sparse looking level like this which actually has mines hidden. The locations of the mines do get revealed in specific moments but only for a few seconds. That being said, it is always best to be able to collect maps that appear on conveyor belts.

Apart from the robot guards and the crawling eye, there are also forklifts which don’t attack you but their solid exterior will deflect any projectile you fire at them and send them back to your direction.

To be clear, you are not required to destroy all the robot guards (or the huge crawling eye enemies) in each level. You can simply try to avoid obstacles and enemies to make it to the next elevator to keep on descending although doing so means scoring much lesser points. Picking up items will add points and randomly alter your character’s capabilities (by picking up mystery boxes).

Adding pressure to you on each level is the giant bomb located in the middle which you can ignite using the fuse action. Once ignited, you only have a few seconds left to make it to the next elevator as the giant bomb will explode and spread fire throughout the whole level. Igniting the said thing will grant you a lot of points provided you survive and made it to the elevator going down.

To be able to play the Cloak & Dagger arcade game on your console or on PC, purchase a copy of the Atari 50 collection.

Cloak & Dagger is indeed a fun game but the opposition, the obstacles, time limit (indicated by the giant bomb) and chaotic turn of events make it more challenging than Midway’s two notable twin stick shooters. The game would have been more forgiving and more playable if only it did not have the one-hit-death embedded on it. Considering the challenges each level has and the many levels players have to go through, it would have made more sense to have Agent X have a life bar/health meter/shield and be able to absorb some enemy projectiles (before dying).

Of course, the game was never designed to be like that and the one-hit-death is also found in Robotron 2084 and Smash T.V. That being said, if you played Cloak & Dagger with a high level of success and completed everything without losing all your lives, then you would be a great achiever.

Pop culture significance

It has been reported that Cloak & Dagger – which was released as an arcade kit for machines that ran Robotron 2084, Joust, Defender and Stargate – did not have a big presence in the arcades in America. The 1984 movie dramatically increased public awareness of it.

Print ad of the arcade game.

When Cloak & Dagger was still in game development (created and led by Russell Dawe) under the title “Agent X”, Atari and certain movie producers became aware of each other’s projects and decided to work together. The deal made business sense as Atari could benefit from reaching a mainstream audience through the cinemas while the movie producers joined in the 1980s Hollywood trend of movies that featured powerful computers, software and artificial intelligence as seen in WarGames (1983), Superman III (1983), and The Terminator (1984).

Much to the credit of the filmmakers, the presence of the game actually added good value to the plot. The film’s concept of the Cloak & Dagger game becoming a very wanted object (plot device actually) resulting in chases, intense action scenes and suspense turned out to be very believable as well. It should be noted that director Richard Franklin took inspiration from Alfred Hitchcock which gave the film a unique touch on the suspense and shock scenes. Check out the movie clip below…

When it comes to the Cloak & Dagger game appearing within the movie of 1984, you will see how the filmmakers and Atari cleverly created the illusion of the game operating on the Atari 5200 console by showing not only video game footage, but also having Henry Thomas acting like he’s playing it using the Atari 5200 controller (which has an analog joystick and buttons on one side). When I was a young boy watching the movie, I found the game footage very entertaining and wanted to play it.

Cloak & Dagger portrayed as running on Atari 5200 in this scene with Henry Thomas and Dabney Coleman. (photo source – AtariProtos.com)
A Cloak & Dagger arcade cabinet seen in the background (right side). (photo source – IMDB.com)

If you are an Xbox gamer who intends to play Cloak & Dagger now, buy the Atari 50 collection in digital format by clicking https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/atari-50-the-anniversary-celebration/9N3TFDSQ531T

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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

Elevator Action Returns is still a lot of fun to play again!

Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks, retro gaming fans and other gamers!

If you are disappointed with modern console gaming and if you don’t like what the console makers are doing, retro gaming will restore the fun and help you forget about the disappointment.

I recently purchased a copy of Elevator Action Returns S-Tribute for my Xbox Series X because I wanted to play Elevator Action Returns again but in the comfort of home. For the newcomers reading this, Elevator Action Returns (also titled as Elevation Action II in some markets overseas) was first released in Japanese arcades in 1994.

The Japanese arcade flyer of Elevator Action Returns.

In my experience here in the Philippines, I played the original Elevator Action on the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom) in 1986 and I played its sequel for the first time at the arcade of X-Site Amusement Center inside Festival Mall in Alabang in 1998. Upon playing Elevator Action Returns arcade version, I was instantly hooked as it was pretty playable, exciting and fun to play. To the best of my memory, I replayed Elevator Action Returns a number of times at X-Site Amusement Center until early 2001. Today, the game is no longer available in X-Site’s arcade selection which is a bummer.

In recent times, I’ve been replaying Elevator Action Returns and the original Elevator Action on my Xbox Series X thanks to the Elevator Action Returns S-Tribute digital copy I purchased. What I am writing here is not a game review but more of an observation about the mid-1990s game in general and how it played using the Xbox controller.

Game design and gameplay

Developed by Taito, Elevator Action Returns was built up on the foundation it inherited from its 1980s predecessor. The game has a 2D visual design and with more detailed sprites and artistic elements of the time. The game was designed with a joystick and two action buttons (one for shooting and the other for jumping) arcade control set up in mind.

The first level is a creative remake of what was presented in the original Elevator Action game. Only this time, the action is more intense, faster and more explosive.

Players will have to make their way through the floors in each level (six in total), shooting the enemies (the in-game terrorist group), entering all the red-colored door to retrieve something essential, survive and then making your way to the exit point of the level. As the game has a designated health meter or life bar for the player, this allows players to keep enduring the challenges without worrying about any one-hit deaths.

As players make their way through each level, they can pick up new weapons like machine guns or launchers. Players can also enter doors to pick up not only new weapons but also health boosters or points.

The 2D sprite work and animation are fantastic to look at. The artistic details in the background and foreground added visual dept.
You can pick one of three characters to play as.

When compared to the original Elevator Action, the sequel comes with good variety per level prepared. The first level was traditional in design like the previous game as players have to move down a tall building by floors, accomplish with the red door and conclude the level at the ground floor. The other levels are more horizontal in design and players will definitely be moving more sideward fighting the terrorists while avoiding environmental hazards. There also will be times when players will have to climb up one floor to the next by escalator or by elevator depending on the level designed.

When it comes to the constant opposition, the terrorists are many and players should be aware of them appearing when they are least expected. What it noticeable is that the terrorists become more aggressive and relentless the longer players take to finish a level. I promise you readers, you will do a lot of shooting, jumping, and even melee attacks when fighting the bad guys.

Levels like this one allowed for more sideway movement as well as opportunities to climb up or down a floor in order to accomplish your objective.
With a health meter implemented, you can endure more damage as you fight the bad guys and make your way through. Beware of environmental hazards along the way.

As for the controls, the arcade control set-up of a single joystick and two buttons remains the best way to play it. Elevator Action Returns is playable enough with the Xbox controller. While the left analog stick of the Xbox controller works well in moving the character, I ended up using the directional pad (D-pad) a lot more because it works much better and allows me to make more precise moves. This game can be played in single-player or in 2-player co-op.

A sequel released at the right time

I like the artwork the game developers prepared highlighting your mission accomplishment and survival. A lot of effort was invested on making the artwork displayed here.

Being a mid-1990s game made with more advanced visual elements, better hardware and a modern approach to gameplay, the action in Elevator Action Returns is unsurprisingly faster, more action-packed and more explosive than its predecessor. Indeed, this is a high-quality sequel and a true evolution of the classic Elevator Action formula. As Islamic terrorism became a major problem in global affairs in the 1990s, the terrorism theme of the game’s story was timely and fitting as the fictional terrorist group is obsessed with causing destruction and death worldwide. As such, the game allows players to pick one of three character of a counter-terrorism unit, and each character has differences with regards to speed, armor, firing speed, health and sub-weapons. The levels are plentiful and the same can be said about the varied action which makes the game worth replaying from start to finish. I should state that the 2D sprite work is great and timeless to look at.   

Elevator Action Returns is a classic and it ensures a lot of fun for anyone who loves retro gaming and the Elevator Action series in general. This is one of the best arcade games of the 1990s now available for playing on modern consoles.

If you are an Xbox gamer who is interested in Elevator Action Returns S-Tribute or if you have decided already to acquire it only, click https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/elevator-action-returns-s-tribute/9p2r96pgmstr

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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

Xbox affected as Microsoft executes new round of layoffs

Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks, and other gamers!

It has been more than a week since Microsoft announced its latest round of layoffs affecting not only thousands of employees but also Team Xbox, its game studios and certain game projects as well.

To be clear, this is not the first time Microsoft had layoffs this year but it is much more significant because the latest layoff round hit Xbox really hard and already Xbox fans and gamers saw their excitement about future video games drop. It is important to keep in mind that Microsoft and its Xbox division are both profitable which makes the new round of layoffs baffling to some. So far this year, over 15,000 employees were laid of by the technology giant. With the layoffs affecting Xbox’s developers and projects, there are matters that concerned both the Xbox fans and gamers who could have joined in.

Firstly, the Xbox game studio The Initiative will be closing down and their high-profile game Perfect Dark (which involved Crystal Dynamics) has officially been cancelled. This is tragic because Team Xbox had the opportunity to reboot the decades-old Perfect Dark franchise, delight the long-time PD fans while offering other gamers something new and exciting to play. A lot of gamers have been anticipating Perfect Dark for many years now only to end up frustrated. 

The Perfect Dark reboot is no more!

Secondly, the successful and reliable Xbox game studio Turn 10 saw several of its employees laid off and their team will reportedly work as a supporter for Playground Games. For the newcomers reading this, Turn 10 created and built up the Forza Motorsport franchise of simulation racing games that started in 2005. To see Turn 10 get demoted and work on support duty for Playground Games on the Forza Horizon franchise is just very odd and baffling. Could this mean that Forza Motorsport (2023) is the last game of its franchise? Do you think a leaner Turn 10 will still be able to make another Forza Motorsport game?

Thirdly, the much-delayed Xbox game Everwild got cancelled and its developer also suffered from the Microsoft layoffs. This unfortunate development only added to the perception that developer Rare (the team behind many hit games it made with Nintendo decades ago) kept going downhill creatively, critically and commercially. Considering how long the game development lasted, I can only imagine that many millions of Dollars were spent on Everwild and Microsoft decided to pull the plug.

Fourthly and most notably, Xbox head Phil Spencer’s official email (addressed to employees) related with the huge layoffs was revealed and its content has been posted below for you to see. Some parts in boldface…

Do you miss the good old days of Xbox? Are you a long-time Xbox gamer who became disappointed over Team Xbox’s decisions and releases? You are not alone!

This is my opinion about Spencer’s message…as head of Xbox, Spencer is really powerless and he has no choice but to follow orders from Microsoft’s top management whose views about video game culture and interests do not really match with what we gamers and the game makers have. For Microsoft’s leadership, they have a business to run but it is clear that gaming (electronic entertainment) won’t be going away soon and they will keep investing more money in video game projects. Of course, Microsoft expects healthy returns on its investments which is why they will keep the Game Pass subscription service moving, offer games to varied users (console, computer, mobile and cloud) and they will push through with the next-generation Xbox with AMD as a bigger strategic partner.

Regarding layoffs reaching thousands, it is depressing on face value because those who lost their jobs will have to deal with the high costs of living in first world economies like the United States and in parts of Europe. However, I see an opportunity that others cannot see…the opportunity for Team Xbox to get rid of their least-productive employees as well as laying off the woke activists scattered among the employees of the many Xbox game studios. As seen in entertainment over the past several years, woke activists working in movies, video games, comic books and TV shows do not prioritize quality, do not care about the fans, and they keep on abusing the company resources as they prioritized their Leftist agenda. Is it any wonder why modern entertainment sucks? Did you notice the use of pronouns in Xbox games?

To be fair, Microsoft and Team Xbox both have been woke for years already. In America, the tone of society has changed drastically ever since Donald Trump successfully returned as United States President. Perhaps Microsoft and Xbox executives realized that they should get rid of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) from their business practices and corporate culture before the wave of change under Trump’s America leaves them behind. As of this writing, Trump is making America great again and the woke know they are losing the culture war.

As US President Trump is reshaping America to be great again, meritocracy has become essential too. This means DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) really has no place in government, business, entertainment and culture. DEI must DIE!

I can only speculate that as Xbox game studios each have less employees to work with, there could be a renewed effort to focus more on making high-quality video games that are both enjoyable to play and worth the money of customers. The Outer Worlds 2, which will be released this October, has an eye-catching American price of $79.99 (regular edition) and already a lot of gamers – including The Outer Worlds fans – find the price excessive.

The way things are right now, the future of Xbox looks gloomy and the excitement of the Xbox fans and other gamers have weakened. That being said, we can only wait and see what will happen next in the near future. Perhaps a month from now, Team Xbox will clarify what direction they are headed to and what exciting projects or events fans can still look forward to.

How do you gamers feel about Xbox gaming right now? If you are an Xbox fan, are you feeling disappointed with the cancellation of Perfect Dark and Everwild? Do you think it is time for Team Xbox’s leadership to be changed now that Microsoft impacted the gaming projects and work forces?

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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

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 85

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 Cannonball Run revisited by GoodBadFlicks and You, Me and the Movies  – Do you enjoy 1980s comedy films? How about a film that has comedy, an all-star cast, lots of cars and lots of stunts? You will find that in The Cannonball Run which was released in 1981 and became a box office hit. The film has a memorable cast including Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore (technically playing James Bond), Farrah Fawcett, Dom DeLuise, Jackie Chan, Adrienne Barbeau, Tara Buckman and others. For your enjoyment, I posted below the recent reaction video by You, Me and the Movies, and a retrospective video by GoodBadFlicks. If you have not seen The Cannonball Run, watch it first (available on Blu-ray format). Otherwise, enjoy the videos below.

#2 PatmanQC examines Super Mario Bros. 3 – When it comes to picking which is the most influential platform game on the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom)/Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 3 are often the most popular choices as both games are really great. While the first game sold a lot more copies worldwide, the third game remains highly significant as it influenced platform game designers for a number of years. Not only that, Super Mario Bros. 3 notably was featured in the 1989 movie The Wizard. To see how Super Mario Bros. 3 was made, what the legendary Shigeru Miyamoto and teammates did and how much of an impact the game had on players, watch the in-depth video of PatmanQC below.

#3 Unsolved Mysteries examines 2001 anthrax attacks  – 2001 will always be remembered as a year of uncertainty and chaos. During that year, 9/11 shocked the world which raised public fear about terrorism. Adding further to the shock and fear of the time, the 2001 anthrax attacks happened shortly after 9/11. Suddenly, a lot of people got afraid of touching pieces of mail as the anthrax attacks happened through the distribution system of the US Postal Service. Eventually, the TV series Unsolved Mysteries (hosted by the late Robert Stack) released an episode dramatizing and examining the 2001 anthrax attacks. Before watching the video below, be advised that the details can be quite disturbing.

#4 Examining the so-called success of Xbox RPG Avowed – It has been months since the Obsidian-developed Xbox fantasy role-playing game (RPG) Avowed was released. Shortly after, there were these individuals or publishers that declared the game a success even though there is no evidence to prove it was. This only reminds me of the sad reality that there are a lot of woke activists, Marxists and fake fans who have infiltrated the gaming and entertainment industries which explains the misinformation spreading around us. I played and finished Avowed and I can say that it never lived up to my expectations and the long wait since it was first announced was not worth it. Along the way, it is clear that Obsidian allowed its assigned game makers to add elements of identity politics into Avowed. Externally, there are woke nuts among game journalists, vloggers and bloggers who dedicated themselves to make Avowed look like a smash success even though reality, truth and facts are not on their side. Watch and learn from the selected videos below.

#5 James Gunn’s Superman movie to end up a huge disappointment? – Recently here in the Philippines, director James Gunn, producer Peter Safran, Rachel Brosnahan and David Corenswet arrived to meet the fans as part of their world tour to promote the new Superman movie. Considering how lavish the activities and promotions are, it is simply hard to ignore that Superman of 2025 is looking bound for box office disappointment based on the latest box office analysis and predictions. While RK Outpost examines the weakening Superman box office prospects, Ranting for Vengeance examines the many elements of the James Gunn-directed movie (based on the latest footage shown) that could turn off long-time and genuine Superman fans, and lead to failure. Watch the videos below and pay close attention to the details.

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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

The Outer Worlds 2 set for October 29 release on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Battle.net, Steam, Xbox Cloud, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Game Pass (XGP)

Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks, role-playing game (RPG) enthusiasts and other gamers!

It is official! Following this year’s Xbox Games Showcase, Team Xbox announced that the sci-fi role-playing game (sci-fi RPG) The Outer Worlds 2 will be released on October 29, 2025, on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Battle.net, Steam, Xbox Cloud, PlayStation 5 and also on the Xbox Game Pass (XGP) service (Ultimate level).

Watch the in-depth presentation of The Outer Worlds 2 by Xbox studio Obsidian Entertainment in the video below. Also check out the game’s official trailer.

To find out what to expect when playing The Outer Worlds 2, posted below are selected excerpt from the Xbox.com post. Some parts in boldface…

Players can play the game in 3rd-person view.
First-person view is available for those who want it. Lots of new weapons and unique shooting experiences await gamers.
This is one of the companions players will encounter in the game.

Having seen Obsidian’s video presentation and the detailed information released on Xbox.com, it looks like The Outer Worlds 2 will be a loaded and feature-rich game. The developers added new features here and there, ensured the conversation sequences have enough depth, made some adjustments on gameplay features inherited from the 2019 game, and they came up with an all-new sci-fi setting (a new colony with environments that are large and ideal for exploring personally) as well as a new cast of characters.

Instead of the “blank slate” protagonist seen in The Outer Worlds, the sequel has Earth Directorate agent as the playable protagonist and there will be ways on how gamers can play the game as they want to (within the limits set within).

Quite predictably, the upcoming game still has that anti-capitalism theme like the first game, only this time they added themes of dictatorship, propaganda, and war.

While Obsidian Entertainment’s video presentation of The Outer Worlds 2 is clearly comprehensive, they failed to emphasize the aspect of space travel in the sequel. Considering the limited budget of The Outer Worlds, it was understandable that the game’s space travel was simplistic and really limited in terms of scope and freedom of travel.

I was hoping The Outer Worlds 2 would have better space travel and more interactivity such as being able to pilot the space ship and be able to blast enemy ships similar to what Bethesda pulled off in Starfield. Perhaps Team Xbox and the developers will come up with another trailer of The Outer Worlds 2 showing space travel.

To put things in perspective, I am a fan of The Outer Worlds (2019) and I replayed it a lot – including finishing the two DLC releases – on Xbox One and on Xbox Series X over the past few years. Developed by Obsidian Entertainment, The Outer Worlds was technically Fallout with space travel and some Wild West-inspired elements. The 2019 sci-fi RPG clearly does not have the high production values and epic design of Starfield, and yet it has certain elements and features that made it more enjoyable than Bethesda’s 2023 game.

Are you ready to explore new worlds and take part in combat and intriguing tales? Obsidian Entertainment really looked like they gave it their all in The Outer Worlds 2.

The way I look at it right now, The Outer Worlds 2 looks very promising and it could deliver the great stuff and high enjoyment that Avowed lacked. If the upcoming game really turns out great to play on October 29, 2025, I might be convinced to go back to subscribing to Xbox Game Pass again to play it. Right now, The Outer Worlds 2’s retail prices are simply too high for me and I am certain there are other Xbox fans and other gamers who feel the same way. Do you have $79.99 for the standard edition of The Outer Worlds 2? Are you satisfied with what Team Xbox prepared for the $99.99 premium edition?

If you have decided to pursue The Outer Worlds 2 and want to order it this early, click  https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/the-outer-worlds-2

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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

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 81

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 Retrospective videos of Krull – I was a young boy when I saw Krull inside the cinema way back in 1983. It was an entertaining experience for me as the movie had a clever mix of fantasy, science fiction and even horror in its presentation. As many years passed by, I replayed Krull as an adult on cable TV and DVD, and it still remained entertaining. For those of you who intend to learn more about (or rediscover) Krull, I posted below some videos for your enjoyment. If you have not seen Krull yet, watch the movie entirely first.

#2 The George Foreman Grill remembered – The late George Foreman will be remembered for a long time. He made an impact on the world in professional boxing during his younger days and made a tremendous comeback by becoming the oldest heavyweight champion at age 45. Along the way, he became a preacher of God’s Word, led a local church and managed a youth center. Along the way, the late Foreman found tremendous success by endorsing a product that became the George Foreman Grill. To find out more about the Foreman and the popular grill, watch the video below.

#3 France’s President humiliated  – With the way he is leading France as its President and the way he is helping Palestinian terrorists by antagonizing Israel, Emmanuel Macron is on the wrong side of history. He was back in the media spotlight as he got slapped by his wife recently. Watch and learn from the videos below.

#4 Ashleigh Burton reacts to Casper – It has been a little over thirty years since the live-action movie Casper was released in cinemas. As a young boy, I read some Casper comic books and saw some episodes of the cartoon shows on TV but I never was a fan of the character. I did not see the Casper film until it started showing on cable TV. Casper of 1995 does not interest me much but you should see how it draws reactions from Ashleigh Burton in the video below.

#5 PatmanQC examines Cruis’n USA – Cruis’n USA is one of those hit arcade games from the 1990s that I never got to play in Iocal arcades. Most of the time, I received information of Cruis’n USA primarily due to its port for Nintendo 64 (N64) being heavily reported by video game journalists back then. While the original arcade game was successful with both players and game critics, the same cannot be said about the N64 port. To find out more, watch PatmanQC’s in-depth video below.

#6 Ramnexus examines Oblivion Remastered – It’s been over a month since Oblivion Remastered (full title: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion – Remastered) was released, and I still have not played it on my Xbox Series X. While it is popular with gamers, I still was not convinced to return to subscribing to Xbox Game Pass (XGP) for it. The original Oblivion of 2006 is one of my favorite RPGs of the 21st century and I just might consider playing its remastered version someday. For now, I am just watching YouTube videos of the remastered game and I found a recent video by Ramnexus that turns out to be an engaging look at it. Watch Ramnexus’ video 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 31

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. Operation Wolf American and Japanese arcade flyers

Operation Wolf for American arcades.
Operation Wolf for Japan.

In the late 1980s, Taito achieved massive success in arcades around the world with Operation Wolf. Released during the late stage of the Cold War and with many militaristic action movies already released by Hollywood, Operation Wolf attracted a lot of money from countless players as well as praise from game critics. For the American market, Taito came up with a colorful yet gritty looking arcade flyer that had nice hand-drawn artwork and enough details and screenshots to give readers a useful look at what to expect. The Japanese arcade flyer meanwhile has an even grittier looking original artwork that strongly emphasized war, guns and action. In retrospect, I look both arcade flyers a lot.  

2. Centipede Atari 2600 and Atari 5200 print ad

I played Centipede a lot on Atari 2600.

While I completely missed out on the arcade version of Centipede, I managed to play its Atari 2600 version a lot. Ultimately, the simple game design and unique challenges resulted in lots of fun-filled bouts in my experience. To promote the game’s versions on Atari 2600 and Atari 5200, the game giant came up with this particular print ad that had two near-identical artworks that reflect the concept of Centipede. The ad also has some catchy expressions in the text description. This old ad is still fun to look at.

3. Atari RealSports print ad

Long before EA sports video games, there was this.

Way back in 1982, Atari launched its RealSports line of sports video games mainly to revitalize sports gaming for their consoles. In fact, RealSports was the result of a critical and aggressive ad campaign by competitor Intellivision which had its Sports Network series of games. In this RealSports print ad, a large image of Atari’s baseball game was used probably to emphasize the scope of the field. The ad had screenshots of the volleyball and football games, while the text description reflected Atari’s aggressive response to Intellivision. This ad is an early example of competition between rival game console makers focused on sports gaming.

4. Lethal Enforcers Sega CD print ad

When was the last time you bought a video game with a hard copy and a peripheral bundled together?

Porting light gun games from the arcade to the console is very difficult and tricky to do. This is what Konami did in the early 1990s when they released a version of the arcade hit Lethal Enforcers on the Sega CD console and the package had a light gun with the game on disc. To promote the Sega CD version, Konami came up with a 2-page print ad with the catchy line “You won’t find a toy like this in any Cracker Jack box.” In addition, their ad had a few paragraphs of descriptive text to not only excite gamers but also gently inform them that Lethal Enforcers was also available on the Sega Genesis (note: this console is required for the Sega CD add-on to work) and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). Overall, this old ad has a strong visual approach and a clever marketing strategy.

5. Pitfall II: Lost Caverns Atari 2600 print ad

A very stylish layout to promote the game.

In 1982, Activision struck gold with the huge success of Pitfall! which became an influential model of designing platform games. Of course, the publisher (now owned by Microsoft) did not stop there as they went on to make the sequel Pitfall II: Lost Caverns to not only keep the success going but also to exceed the standard they set with the first game. Activision came up with a print ad that not only told gamers of Pitfall Harry’s next adventure but also express humor visually. In line with Activision’s policy of crediting its creators (note: Atari was notorious for refusing to credit its game makers during this era), game designer David Crane was acknowledged in the ad.

6. Team USA Basketball print ad

See your favorite NBA player from the 1990s?

In 1992, a lot of people were obsessed with the Dream Team Olympic basketball squad of the United States as its roster had NBA legends like Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley and David Robinson to name a few. In fact, the Dream Team became the most popular attraction among all teams in any sport of any country that participated in the summer Olympics in Barcelona. Knowing how popular the squad really was, Electronic Arts (EA) made the video game Team USA Basketball and released it on the Sega Genesis which was already a popular console for sports video games. EA came up with this eye-catching 2-page print ad that strongly emphasized the Dream Team, international basketball gaming, and the company’s tested design on 2D basketball video games. In retrospect, this print ad is still amusing and exciting to look at.

7. Jungle Hunt Atari 2600 and Atari 5200 print ad

Do you fine the parallel artworks amusing or disturbing?

Following the huge success of Jungle Hunt (previously titled as Jungle King), Atari saw potential Dollar signs and made a deal with Taito to publish ports under their own brand for the Atari 2600, Atari 5200 and 8-bit computers. As with the Atari console ads of Pitfall II: Lost Caverns and Phoenix, Atari came up with a print ad that featured two parallel artworks that look similar with each other as they promoted Jungle Hunt for Atari 2600 and Atari 5200. To their credit, the artworks used were detailed and eye-catching, and the descriptive line of words displayed carried a possible reference to 1975’s Jaws.

8. GameShark print ad

A James Bond-inspired way of promoting GameShark.

Remember GameShark? For the newcomers reading this, GameShark is the brand of a line of products released on different video game consoles and personal computers (Windows specifically) that gamers use to cheat in video games.  GameShark was popular at a time when not too many people had access to the Internet nor did gamers had the means to search for cheats online, and codes were needed to enable cheating. GameShark became so popular, more ambitious and stylish print ads were realized such as this James Bond-inspired 2-page ad. On face value, this ad looked like it was a promoting a particular game but ultimately it was about promoting GameShark with style, cool and some sexiness.

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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 67

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 next Xbox will include Steam and PlayStation? – The vibe of the next-generation of console gaming is only intensifying by the day. When it comes to Xbox itself, there is speculation that the next-generation Xbox will not only be a hybrid PC console but also include access to Steam games and even those of PlayStation. I know it sound crazy but if it is clear that Microsoft is doing its own approach on the next-generation Xbox in radically different way compared with PlayStation and Nintendo. If you want to know more details, watch Colteastwood’s video below.

#2 PatmanQC examines NBA Jam – Were you able to play basketball videos in the arcades way back in the 1990s? Back then, NBA Jam was a massive excess attracting so many players and generating lots of income for arcade operators. The game also sold a lot on many game consoles as well. NBA Jam is a 2-on-2 arcade-style basketball game with emphasis on fast-paced scoring without the hindrance of normal basketball rules. To discover more about the history of NBA Jam and who were the people behind its production, watch the video of PatmanQC.

#3 Slope’s Game Room examines the Strike games franchise – Remember back long ago when Electronic Arts (EA) released a series of military themed shooter games on game consoles? I’m referring to the Strike series of games that include Desert Strike, Jungle Strike, Urban Strike, Soviet Strike and Nuclear Strike. Those games were released across two console generations in the 1990s and the series has not been revived until now. To look back at EA’s Strike games, watch the video by Slope’s Game Room.

#4 VKunia reacts to Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice – I recently browsed through the many videos of YouTuber VKunia and took time to watch her reaction video of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. The film directed by Zack Snyder is significant not in a positive way but because of its very dark approach on storytelling and spectacle involving DC Comics’ icons Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. The way it was presented, not even the combined talents of Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Ben Affleck and others could spare the film from negative reception. I think by today’s standards, this is a superhero film that can only entertain a limited type of people. Still, I find VKunia’s reactions to it a must-watch.

#5 Woke garbage in comic books exposed and explained – As a geek, I really hate it when these modern day Leftists – Communists, socialists, Marxists, liberals, diversity zealots, inclusion zealots, LGBTQ activists and Islamo-Leftists – ruin movies and video games by emphasizing their radical agenda through them. The same has happened in comic books and it is clear that the Leftists working for the publishers made established superhero icons look terrible. These unfortunate developments will remind you that comic books are meant for escapism and not political agenda which comic book legends Jim Shooter and Stan Lee confirmed long ago. Watch and learn from the video of YouTuber Ranting for Vengeance right now.

#6 The free speech solution against DEI poison – In this John Stossel video I recently saw, the topic of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) was discussed and it turns out there is a free speech solution against the woke virus. This is about the ongoing information war between the Satanic Left and the ones who believe in common sense and reality.

#7 Ashleigh Burton reacts to The Breakfast Club – Were you able to watch any movies written or directed by the late John Hughes? A lot of people considered Hughes’ works collectively defined the cinematic American teenagers of the 1980s. One of the more popular works of Hughes was The Breakfast Club and Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video is a must-see.

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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

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 63

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 US President Trump’s address to Congress – Recently, US President Donald Trump addressed the joint houses of Congress and it came at a time when his 2nd non-consecutive term implemented so many reforms right from the start. Along the way, the Trump administration pushed back hard against illegal immigration, exposed the corruption of USAID, reinvigorated the USA-Israel alliance and more. Trump’s speech is a must-watch as it will give you a clear view on the direction of the current administration and the pathetic Democrats can only rebel and freak out. Clearly, America is back!

#2 Popcorn in Bed reacts to No Way Out – I never saw No Way Out in the cinemas when it was first released in 1987. I saw some parts of it on cable TV but decided not to watch it further since I missed the start of its showing. Recently, YouTuber Popcorn in Bed posted a reaction video about the film and I enjoyed watching how they (Cassie and Carly) reacted to several key moments of it. Oh yes, the late Gene Hackman is in No Way Out and the reaction video was posted not so long after his death.

#3 Varied developments and views about Trump’s address to US Congress – Going back to US President Trump’s address to Congress, there were lots of developments that happened along the way. One of the Democrats was so disrespectful, he got escorted out of the venue. Meanwhile, the Satanic Left mainstream news media networks ended up getting embarrassed as their own viewers reacted positively to Trump’s speech. Posted below are the must-see videos.

#4 AVGN reviews the Gex game trilogy – Remember long ago when there were several Gex videos games released across multiple platforms during the 1990s? Gex is no longer remembered by most gamers today but the first game was successful enough, it led to the release of sequels. Recently, the Angry Video Game Nerd (AVG) posted a video about the Gex video games. Check it out.

#5 The rise and fall of the Halo game franchise – If there is any video game franchise that truly defined Xbox – not only as a brand but as a series of consoles and an ecosystem for gamers – it is definitely the Halo franchise. Bungie was the original developer of Halo and the first game was already in development even before Microsoft acquired the studio. Bungie went on to produce several Halo games (from the original Xbox to Xbox 360) before leaving Team Xbox and Microsoft. Of course, the aesthetics and quality of Halo games under Microsoft’s own control changed mostly for the worse. Watch and learn from the video below.

#6 The French Connection trivia by Minty Comedic Arts – Going back to the late Gene Hackman, the most memorable of his cinematic performances that I ever saw is his role as Popeye Doyle in The French Connection. The 1971 film won the Academy Awards that mattered the most and I was fortunate enough to have seen it on a rented laserdisc in the early 1990s. Recently, YouTuber Minty Comedic Arts posted his trivia video about The French Connection which is a must-see!

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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

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 61

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.

#4 Why 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.

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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