Tag: PC gaming

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)

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)

carlocarrasco

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…

From branching chaos to faction-fueled futures, everything unfolds across Arcadia: a lawless new frontier where your choices cut deeper, the stakes hit harder, and the corporations somehow got even worse. Bigger choices, weirder science, stranger weapons, and even worse decisions. Just the way we like it.

Cut off from Earth, Arcadia is a colony cracking under pressure, torn apart by space-time rifts, shifting alliances, and three power-hungry factions locked in a war for control. It’s louder, riskier, and more unpredictable than anything the Halcyon system ever threw at you.

You’ve been sent in as an Earth Directorate agent, but how you handle the mission – who you help, hinder, or exploit – is entirely your call. Build your character with expanded traits, flaws, and backgrounds that shape every decision and unlock new ways to fight, sneak, talk, or blow things up.

Players can play the game in 3rd-person view.

At the heart of The Outer Worlds 2 are three factions with fundamentally opposing visions of what humanity should be:

    The Protectorate: A military regime powered by endless resources that believes people are happiest when they don’t have to think for themselves. Order is peace. Obedience is comfort. Truly loved by all loyal citizens – just ask them.

    Auntie’s Choice: The loud, smiling merger of Auntie Cleo’s and Spacer’s Choice. They promise freedom, fulfillment, and a future where your only real choice is which Auntie’s product you’ll need next.

    The Order of the Ascendant: Rogue scientists turned faith-based futurists, determined to perfect humanity by solving the Universal Equation. They worship patterns, predict the future through math, and perform rituals in labs with terrifying precision all in service of a better tomorrow.

Each faction has its own areas, followers, audio design, and propaganda. You’ll see the war in real-time as towns change hands, radio stations shift tone, and the world responds to your choices.

And thanks to Arcadia’s ever-present radio system, you won’t just hear the news – you’ll be the news. Your decisions are retold with spin, bias, and cheery jingles tailored to each faction’s agenda. One station might call you a folk hero. Another might name you public enemy number one. All of them think you should try their new line of health tonics.

RPG systems have been reimagined for this sequel to give players more freedom and more flavor. For example, Traits and flaws dynamically evolve based on how you play. Steal enough and you’ll be offered Kleptomaniac, which boosts loot sales but risks auto-theft when you so much as glance at an item.

Science weapons and armor return in full force. The Shrink Ray is back – only now, you can crush enemies underfoot once they’re bite-sized. And yes, there’s a suit of armor made from something that used to be alive. His name is Gary.

First-person view is available for those who want it. Lots of new weapons and unique shooting experiences await gamers.

Movement and combat also feel better across the board. Dash, leap, and parkour your way through Arcadia, or switch to third person and marvel at how cool you look while doing it.

You’ll travel with six companions, each with personal stakes in the colony’s future – and their own opinions on what you’re doing.

One might beg you to spare a faction leader. Another might ask you to murder an entire town. Sacrificing a companion could help you survive a key moment, but lock you out of their questline – and you’ll hear about it. On the radio. From the faction you just betrayed.

This is one of the companions players will encounter in the game.

These aren’t just followers. They’re allies, wild cards, and occasional liabilities who breathe fire (literally). And each one brings something different to the table:

    Niles: Another Earth Directorate recruit torn between duty and defection.

    Inez: A former experiment from Auntie’s Choice with a grafted combat edge and a moral core.

    Aza: A chaos-loving Rift worshipper with a taste for violence and room to grow – maybe.

    Marisol: A stoic killer from the Order of the Ascendant with calculations to settle.

    Tristen: A walking tank and judge from the Protectorate, looking to dispense justice – or redefine it.

    Valerie: A floating, chirping support unit with unexpected upgrades and untapped potential.

The Outer Worlds 2 will be available in two editions: Standard Edition for $79.99 USD and a Premium Edition for $99.99 USD. The Premium Edition includes up to five days early access, DLC Pass for two future expansions, Corporate Appreciation Premium Pack (Golden Moon Man armor and helmet, signature melee and long-range weapons, a loyal Golden Sprat pet), plus a digital artbook and soundtrack.

If you purchase the Standard Edition or are playing with Xbox Game Pass and decide you want the Premium Edition, you can upgrade at any time for $29.99 USD. Upgrade before launch to play up to five days early and get the pre-order bonus Commander Zane Battle Pack, in addition to all the digital extra content.

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

I am having a lot of fun with Smash T.V. on my Xbox Series X

I am having a lot of fun with Smash T.V. on my Xbox Series X

carlocarrasco

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

I finally did it! I finally played the arcade version of the classic game Smash T.V. as I recently purchased Midway Arcade Origins (Xbox 360) on the Xbox store. Thanks to backward compatibility, Midway Arcade Origins operated smoothly on my Xbox Series X and it comes with more than thirty arcade games owned or published by Midway Games from the early 1980s to the early 1990s.

My history of playing Smash T.V. is awkward. The very first time I played the game was not in the arcade but with the Smash T.V. port released on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).

The classic game debuted in arcades in 1990 and during that precise point of time, I rarely visited arcades here in the Philippines. I started visiting arcades more starting in 1992 as the fighting game craze started luring new gamers driven by the popularity of Street Fighter II. To the best of my memory, I saw very few arcade machines of Smash T.V. and never got to play the game. In fact, there were very few arcade machines that had the dual joystick control set-up which was exactly required to play Smash T.V.

The 2D sprite activity and action can get pretty wild and intense on-screen during battle. Expect lots of waves of enemies coming in before you proceed to the next room.

To make things clear, arcade games were already popular here in the Philippines and there were lots of local arcades particularly in shopping malls. As for playing Smash T.V. on the SNES, it was fun but the SNES control pad was not ideal for the immense in-game shooting.

Going back to Midway Arcade Origins, I played Defender first and had some bouts of fun with it. After that, I went back to the main selection and scrolled through the many other games offered until I saw Smash T.V. and selected it. As soon as I started playing, I was immediately engaged as the fun kept growing as I played.

Apart from dealing with dangerous enemies, you will also encounter in-game hazards such as this room releasing snakes a lot.

Firstly, the game made fine use of the two analog sticks of the Xbox controller which was the closest thing to matching the dual joysticks set-up of the original arcade game. The left analog stick was for movement while the right analog stick allowed me to shoot in different directions. The severe limitations on shooting on the controller of the SNES were completely gone, and as I played the game more on Xbox, I found myself moving around enemies and obstacles while being able to fire at directions where shooting was needed.

Secondly, Smash T.V. on Midway Arcade Origins is the genuine arcade experience from the controls to the functionality, gameplay, the visual design and 2D sprites that dominated the screen. For those who don’t have the original arcade machine, this is the closest thing to enjoying the arcade fun of Smash T.V. in the comfort of home. I can also say that the game ran smoothly on my Xbox Series X and not a single case of slowdown nor any cases of visual distortions ever happened!

To really defeat an end-of-level boss like this one, you need to use whatever special weapons or power-ups that appeared during battle. Be mindful of the enemy’s powerful defense and attacks.
This face particular end-of-level boss deteriorates further as I kept on attacking him with special weapons.

More on the gameplay, it is undeniably challenging as many enemies enter and their different abilities to attack you ensures lots of intense moments of action and struggle to survive. The on-screen action is often intense and still the gameplay did not grow tiresome to me. More on the combat, there are always huge and powerful enemies (end-of-level boss) at the conclusion of each level and defeating them will push you to use special weapons as soon as they pop up.

Lastly, there is also the prize aspect of the game (which has a dystopian TV concept inspired by the 1987 film The Running Man starring Arnold Schwarzenegger) which allows you to collect prizes (in cash or prize items) while playing. The prizes can add a lot to your score and even your potential entry into the online leaderboards (see below).

There is nothing like collecting prizes in the game! It is as thrilling as the action.
Between the levels are the bonus segments in which the value of the prizes you collected will be added to your overall score (technically in-game money earned).

Thirdly, I really like the online leaderboards and score attack mode that came with Midway Arcade Origins. For Smash T.V., the score attack challenge is to score as many points as you could using only one turn (which comes with the initial six in-game lives). Score attack does not allow any continues (that is for free play mode) and this was enough to make me focus on my skills, moves and timing when it comes to fighting waves of several enemies that entered the in-game arenas.

I was able to make my presence felt online as the servers for the leaderboards are still functioning and recording in-real time the scores achieved.

Every time you encounter new enemies, you have to observe how they move, attack and behave.

Smash T.V. is a classic not only because of its immense fun gameplay, entertainment impact and timeless game design, but also because it was a creative wonder from significant game creators such as Eugene Jarvis (Defender, Robotron 2084), John Tobias (Mortal Kombat) and Mark Turmell to name a few. The game borrowed elements from The Running Man and the creators made their own concept that mixed well with the game design they came up with. The result is a highly playable, challenging and ultimately enjoyable video game. To learn more about the creation and history of Smash T.V., watch the in-depth videos of PatmanQC and Slope’s Game Room below.

“Big money! Big prizes! I love it!”

Smash T.V. is a lot of fun and its gameplay never gets old. It is currently my favorite of all the games in Midway Arcade Origins and it is an excellent addition to my retro gaming experience on my Xbox Series X.

If you are an Xbox fan who is interested in retro gaming and if you have already decided to play Smash T.V., buy Midway Arcade Origins by clicking https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/midway-arcade-origins/bs97kvxlt9lk

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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 80

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 80

carlocarrasco

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 VKunia and Popcorn in Bed react to Minority Report – In 2002, I saw Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report inside one of the cinemas of Festival Mall here in the Philippines. The suspenseful science fiction movie was the first-ever creative collaboration between Spielberg and Tom Cruise, and it ultimately entertained and intrigued many local moviegoers. To find out if Minority Report remains an engaging film by today’s standards, watch the reaction videos of VKunia and Popcorn in Bed below.

#2 PatmanQC examines Zaxxon – I never played Zaxxon in the arcade but managed to play a version of it on MS-DOS PC in the 1980s. Back then, I was often intrigued with Zaxxon’s visual design which involved an isometric view and a clever presentation of the 2D sprites. Due to its depth of gameplay related to the overall design, it was indeed challenging to play. To find who were responsible in making the game and what inspired its visual design, watch the in-depth Zaxxon video of PatmanQC below.

#3 You, Me and the Movies react to Creature from the Black Lagoon  – Released in 1954, Creature from the Black Lagoon is a black-and-white 3D monster horror movie kept moviegoers on the edge of their seats. The feature film’s creature went on to become a part of Universal Picture’s classic monsters and also left an impact on American pop culture. Several months ago, You, Me and the Movies posted their reaction video and it is entertaining to see.

#4 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters retrospective videos – I never got to play Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters when it was released in 1993. We had a Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) but we never bought the game. I heard from a few of my friends – who were fortunate enough to play it – that the game was indeed a lot of fun to play and was a nice addition to the sudden rise of fighting games at the time. Developed and published by Konami, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters was a commercial and critical hit clearly with the SNES version. To find out what made the game competent with other fighting games and why many considered it to be a great licensed video game, watch the selected retrospective videos below.  

#5 Ashleigh Burton reacts to Alien vs. Predator – Back in 2004, I saw Alien vs. Predator in the local cinema in Cebu City, and after watching it I went back home feeling numb and disappointed. For one thing, it was directed by Paul W.S. Anderson who really is not a very good director. Next, the script was pretty bad in quality. Ultimately, the filmmakers did not raise serious efforts to delight fans of both Aliens and Predator. For YouTuber Ashleigh Burton, however, the film has a different impact on her and you can watch her reaction 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

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 79

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 79

carlocarrasco

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 You, Me and the Movies react to Night of the Living Dead (1990) – While there are a lot of YouTube videos about the Night of the Living Dead from 1968, there are simply much lesser videos to the 1990 remake by comparison. For the newcomers reading this, the 1990 version of Night of the Living Dead was directed by Tom Savini, presented in color and had its own ways of modernizing the zombie apocalypse genre of film. In my experience, I saw the 1990 remake long before I accidentally discovered on cable TV the 1968 original. If you want to discover the movie and don’t mind spoilers, check out You, Me and the Movies’ entertaining reaction video below.

#2 Unsolved Mysteries Season 3 episodes (hosted by Robert Stack) – If there is any American TV show that made weekday nights entertaining or engaging, it’s none other than Unsolved Mysteries hosted by the late Robert Stack. It’s a good thing for Unsolved Mysteries fans worldwide that episodes hosted by Stack are available for free viewing at YouTube via the FilmRise channel. That being said, posted below are assorted episodes from season 3 of the show for you to discover.

#3 PatmanQC examines the RoboCop arcade game  – In 1988, Data East released their adaptation of RoboCop in the arcades achieving tremendous success around the world. RoboCop is considered by some as an arcade classic and is arguably the best RoboCop game ever made. To find out who were responsible for the arcade game and what made it so enjoyable, watch the in-depth video by PatmanQC below.

#4 Healthy breakfast recipes by Shannon Barker – Shannon Barker is a pretty model who appeared in lots of fashion shows. In my retro comic book review of The Solution #17, I expressed my opinion that Barker would make a very good cosplay photograph model as Shadowmage. Apart from fashion, Barker is also a lifestyle vlogger and if you are interested in health breakfast recipes, watch her video below.

#5 Space Quest revisited – Decades ago, me and my friends were able to play on PC (DOS era) the graphic adventure game Space Quest (full title: Space Quest: Chapter I – The Sarien Encounter). Space Quest was one of my computer games released by Sierra On-Line and it involved being observant, being able to pay attention to the descriptions, and typing the right commands in order to progress. Recently, I saw a retrospective video of Space Quest done by YouTuber Power Pak, and it definitely is both nostalgic and fun to watch.

#6 Ashleigh Burton reacts to Howard the Duck – In 1986, the comedy Howard the Duck was released in cinemas and ended up failing both critically and commercially. While it is considered as one of the worst films ever released, it still has a dedicated following. Believe it or not, the movie was produced by George Lucas and his company Lucasfilm made it. To say that Howard the Duck is cinematic trash is extreme and if you want to see how it impacts Ashleigh Burton, watch her reaction 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 Classics now available on Game Pass covering Xbox consoles, PC and other devices

Retro Classics now available on Game Pass covering Xbox consoles, PC and other devices

carlocarrasco

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

In what is clearly the most serious effort exerted by Team Xbox on retro gaming, they recently released Retro Classics on the Game Pass subscription service covering gamers with Xbox consoles, personal computers (PCs) and device with cloud gaming.

To get things started, watch the official launch trailer of Retro Classics below.

For insight about Retro Classics, posted below is an excerpt from the official announcement on Xbox.com. Some parts in boldface.

Retro Classics games are available to play for Xbox Game Pass members. Players who stream on the Xbox app on PC now have an additional streaming option with GeForce Now. Game Bar introduces quick settings, visual updates for Widgets in Compact Mode, and coming soon, Microsoft Edge Game Assist, an in-game browser that brings an immersive game-centric experience to Edge. And Xbox gift cards can now be redeemed for any amount via Xbox Rewards.

Announcing Retro Classics available for Game Pass Members – We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Retro Classics, a collaboration between Xbox and Antstream Arcade, available to play for Game Pass members globally.

Starting today, Game Pass members can dive into a collection of 50+ classic Activision games from the ’80s and ’90s, including beloved titles like Commando, Grand Prix, Kaboom!, Mech Warrior 2: 31st Century Combat, and Pitfall! This initiative is a step in our commitment to game preservation and backwards compatibility, allowing players to experience many timeless games on modern devices.

With Retro Classics, Game Pass members can expect a seamless gaming experience across console, PC, and on supported devices with cloud gaming. Whether playing on Xbox console, the Xbox app on PC, or streaming on supported LG and Samsung Smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV devices, and Meta Quest headsets, Retro Classics offers a versatile and accessible way to enjoy these nostalgic titles.  Game Pass members can access Retro Classics through their Game Pass membership by searching and installing the feature via their console or on the Xbox app on PC. Additionally, players can take on friends, rivals, or the entire world with unique challenges. For the achievement hunters, there are some great new ones to collect, and for newer players, the ability to save and reload your progress, a first for many classic titles.

Game Pass members can look forward to discovering additional games added from Activision and Blizzard, expanding the Retro Classics collection to more than 100+ titles over time.

Now that Activision and Blizzard were mentioned in the official announcement, it is clear that this retro gaming approach by Team Xbox (in strategic partnership with Antstream Arcade) is one of the benefits of the 2023 acquisition of Activision-Blizzard-King.

Having played video games for decades, I know for a fact that Activision alone has lots of old video games from the 1980s and the 1990s. I still remember playing Activision’s Keystone Kapers on the Atari 2600 when I was very young. The same company also released Pitfall! and River Raid on different consoles in the 1980s. The Activision games of the 1990s I often remember were MechWarrior, MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat and Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure. As for Blizzard, I remember playing Blackthorne and I witnessed some people who played Warcraft and StarCraft games in the 1990s.

See a retro game that interests you? (Photo source – Xbox.com)

There definitely be more old-but-fun video games coming into Retro Classics for Game Pass subscribers to enjoy. It remains to be seen how fast Team Xbox and its partner will be able to add the games.

If you are already a Game Pass subscriber and if you have decided to enjoy retro gaming, you can do so by availing of Retro Classics by clicking https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/store/retro-classics/9MTVJ3HHTQGS

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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 78

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 78

carlocarrasco

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 Star Wars: The Phantom Menace revisited – Remember way back in 1999 when Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace was released with a massive amount of hype and anticipation? I first saw that George Lucas-directed movie at the cinema in Festival Mall which was full of people. As the years passed by, The Phantom Menace did not age well as it had serious pacing issues, lots of childish elements (mainly because of a certain very annoying character) and it ended up inferior compared with its sequels Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. But let’s be honest here…while The Phantom Menace is indeed the weakest film of the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, is it truly terrible and unwatchable? Now is a good time to revisit the 1999 movie through retrospective videos posted below.

#2 You, Me and the Movies react to Cape Fear (1991) – In recent times, YouTuber You, Me and the Movies posted their reaction video of the 1991 version of Cape Fear starring Robert De Niro and Nick Nolte. For the newcomers reading this, Cape Fear of 1991 is pretty hard core with its violence and, more notably, it carries elements that would terrify both viewers and their respective families. It is the kind of movie that will make you think about your family and how to protect them from cunning and violent criminals. Watch and learn how the movie impacts You, Me and the Movies.

#3 PatmanQC examines the history of Operation Wolf  – Now for some retro gaming fun! I remember back in the late 1980s, Operation Wolf was popular in arcades here in the Philippines. As that game was released during the late stages of the Cold War, it was not surprising that it was both socially relevant and enjoyable for gamers. If you are wondering who created the game and what inspired them to produce Operation Wolf, watch the in-depth video by PatmanQC below.

#4 King’s Quest revisited – Still with retro gaming, I want to share with you all that in the late 1980s, I was fortunate to have played King’s Quest on PC (DOS specifically) which was an intriguing and challenging gaming experience for me. I never finished the adventure game from Sierra On-Line but I enjoyed its game design, its groundbreaking visuals and its fantasy world. I recently saw Space Quest Historian’s retrospective on King’s Quest and it had a nice mix of comedy and attention to details. Watch it now.

#5 Pedro Pascal’s wokeness exposed and explained – I really hate it when entertainment gets poisoned by the woke mob from the movie studios down to the performers and creators. I also despise the trend in which woke forces in Communist-filled Hollywood (Commiewood) make movies and shows that promote their Satanic Leftist agenda, and then the woke stars propagate their toxic beliefs in multiple ways. Recently Ranting for Vengeance posted new videos exposing the woke toxicity of actor Pedro Pascal and explaining in detail what happened. I can say this early you should stay away from Pascal’s projects such as the new woke Fantastic Four movie. As for Warner Bros., I don’t like James Gunn’s Superman. Watch and learn from the 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

Lunar Remastered Collection now available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One

Lunar Remastered Collection now available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One

carlocarrasco

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

Published GungHo Online fulfilled what they promised before…Lunar Remastered Collection is now available for gamers to enjoy on Xbox Series X|S and the aging Xbox One console. Xbox gamers who love Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) and retro games can order a digital copy of Lunar Remastered Collection by clicking here or the physical copy by clicking here.

To get things started, watch the official launch trailer of Lunar Remastered Collection below.

For the newcomers reading this, Lunar Remastered Collection’s release marks the first time ever that the Lunar role-playing game (RPG) series appeared on any Xbox console. The series developed by Game Arts first started way back in 1992 with Lunar: The Silver Star on the Sega CD (Mega CD in other markets) which was an add-on device on the Sega Genesis (Mega Drive). Lunar: Eternal Blue was released also on Sega CD in 1994.

During the 5th console generation, both games were remade – Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete and Lunar 2: Eternal Blue – were released on Sega Saturn and the PlayStation, taking advantage of each console’s capabilities for better presentations technically and artistically. The remade Lunar games each had technical enhancements and animated cutscenes. In case you are wondering, the stories of the two games are set around one thousand years apart.

As seen in the launch trailer above, Lunar Remastered Collection includes a lot of features to suit the tastes of gamers such as the option to choose between classic and remastered modes, adjustable battle speed, the option to choose between English and Japanese voice-overs, and more.

Remember this battle from Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete?

For those who want the best quality for viewing anime cutscenes, the remastered mode features enhanced visuals that make the anime footage look more presentable on HDTV. As for the English voice-overs, be aware that the voices of the characters and enemies are all new. This means that the previous English voice-over works produced by Working Designs (defunct since 2005) for the North American versions of Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete and Lunar 2: Eternal Blue are simply not available.  

More on Lunar Remastered Collection for Xbox consoles, Xbox Wire published a feature interview with GungHo America’s Senior Graphic Designer Amy Nguyen and there are lots interesting details to discover. You can read the feature interview by clicking https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2025/04/18/lunar-remastered-collection-logo-amp-package-design/

Unlike what happened in the Grandia HD Collection, the 2D sprites in the Lunar remastered games were not filtered. Their organic sprite look was maintained.

If you are a long-time JRPG enthusiast, or if you are an avid retro gamer, or if you are a long-time Lunar RPG fan who already owns a modern Xbox console, Lunar Remastered Collection is worth checking out. It is the latest retro gaming release this year that Xbox gamers can enjoy. Watch the YouTube video below for reference as to how the game looks on Xbox.

If you intend to purchase Lunar Remastered Collection for your Xbox, you can do so by clicking https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/lunar-remastered-collection/9MTLLLG0S7RN for the digital copy, or by clicking https://a.co/d/0vhAIqL for the physical copy.

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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 67

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 67

carlocarrasco

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

The unique fun of playing Zombies Ate My Neighbors on Xbox Series X

The unique fun of playing Zombies Ate My Neighbors on Xbox Series X

carlocarrasco

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.

If you intend to purchase Zombies Ate My Neighbors and Ghoul Patrol for your Xbox, you can do so by clicking https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/store/zombies-ate-my-neighbors-and-ghoul-patrol/9NQ33RF63019

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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 28

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 28

carlocarrasco

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.  

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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