The Pop-Culture E-Zine
Here it is folks, part 4 of great hucard games for the PC-Engine / TurboGrafx-16.
If you missed the previous parts in the series, don’t stress, hit them now: part 1, part 2 and part 3.
[Read more…] about PC-Engine and TurboGrafx-16: great hucard games – part 4
Welcome to part 3 of great hucard based games for the PC-Engine / TurboGrafx-16.
If you need a recap, check out part 1 and part 2
[Read more…] about PC-Engine and TurboGrafx-16: great hucard games – part 3
Here it is, part 2 of great hucard games for the PC-Engine / TurboGrafx-16.
But just in case you missed it, check out part 1
[Read more…] about PC-Engine and TurboGrafx-16: great hucard games – part 2
Anyone that knows me will know that I have a soft spot for the NEC console known as the PC-Engine (TurboGrafx-16 if you are outside of Japan).
There are bags full of great hucard games on this little beast. Rather than inundating you all with the complete list in one big hit, I thought it would make more sense to break it down into several parts.
So sit back, relax and trawl through part 1 of the great hucard games list for the PC-Engine / TurboGrafx-16 (in alphabetical order):
[Read more…] about PC-Engine and TurboGrafx-16: great hucard games – part 1
The below time lapse video shows artist Chris Carlson creating a 3D image of Super Mario jumping over a NES controller in chalk. This is my kind of art (and video) !
UK gamers, get ready for the gaming event of 2012 !
Did I hear you say “what gaming event?” ?
Well, if you get your head out of the sand, you might just find out. Read on………..
Play Expo, formerly Replay Expo, will take place on the 13th and 14th October 2012 at EventCity, next to the Trafford Centre, Manchester.
Play Expo will comprise four unique events:
• re.play – retro consoles/computers with freeplay arcade & pinball too!
• now.play – latest releases for Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC and handheld
• pro.play – eSports event featuring pro gaming tournaments
• cos.play – costume role play including masquerades, talks and anime.
What are you waiting for – get your tix now !
This is the beginning of a fantastic story!! Let’s make a journey to the cave of monsters!
I know, too many exclamations. Well, when you are reviewing Bubble Bobble, you just can’t help yourself!
So what is this game about ? Well, in case you have been under a rock since 1985, you play two transformed dinosaurs, Bub and Bob – you try to complete 100 levels and then rescue your girlfriends by trapping the Baron’s minions in bubbles and bursting them. Sounds easy huh ? Well, not quite. This game grabs you by the scruff of the neck and then shakes you up in the later levels – it gets hard, very hard. However, Baron von Blubba has left a number of power-ups and hidden abilities to help Bub and Bob get further in the game, like: bubblegum, teapot, umbrella (to teleport), water and lightning bubbles. You better get your bubble-blowing fingers in readiness !
Well, what can I say that has not been said about this great coin-op game. Bubble Bobble is an absolute classic !
| Graphics | Cute graphics of Bub and Bob blowing bubbles and bursting their enemies |
85% |
| Sound | The sound effects and catchy soundtracks are dead on perfect and complimentary to the visuals and gameplay |
85% |
| Playability | An easy to pick up and play game. This game is fun in single player mode, but when you grab a friend and frolic in joint play, nothing else beats it ! |
92% |
| Lastability | With 100 levels, and two game modes (normal or super) this will last a life time. Yeh, you may find it tough after level 20, but I guarantee you will want to keep going. That is its timeless charm |
92% |
| Overall | This is as close as you can get to a perfect game. Easy to get into and play, fun and hard levels (and there are 100 of them!) and in the end, you rescue your girlfriend and become a hero. Nothing could be better |
93% |
Manufacturer: Taito
Year: 1986
Genre: Platform
Number of Simultaneous Players: 2
Maximum number of Players: 2
Gameplay: Joint
Control Panel Layout: Multiple Player
Joystick: 2-way [left or right]
Buttons: 2 [fire and jump]
Sound: Amplified (Mono or Stereo)
The PBS Arts Off Book series investigates 8-bit art and music pop culture.
The “Evolution of 8-bit art” video is an audio and visual extravaganza, celebrating the genius of 8-bit artists and chiptune musicians.
[PBS Arts]
Good old Bomb Jack. Could he have been the first ever bomb disposal expert in video gaming ? Perhaps he was. It doesn’t really matter, does it.
Released in 1984, our little hero garnered a cult following. He may have worn red spandex, but that didn’t stop us from pumping coins into his machine.
The premise of the game is pretty straight forward – collect all the bombs to complete a screen. Only one bomb at a time has a lit fuse. If you collect 20 or more of these lit bombs on a level, you get a bonus.
It’s not all easy going for Jack, he has to avoid various monsters and aliens that chase him around the screen. However, if you collect the powerball when it appears, it freezes the baddies for a short period of time, during which, you can kill them simply by touching them. There are other items to be picked up that give you additional bonus points or extra credits.
The game starts to repeat after Level 18. However, you will be too busy darting around the screen, collecting bombs to notice. Bomb Jack is one of those old games that invoke memories of playing it at the corner shop or fish’n chips store across your school. I know, it does for me. Most of my pocket money went into playing this game. It kept me out of trouble, which is always a good thing.
| Graphics | It was 1984, so what do you expect ! |
72% |
| Sound | As above ! |
70% |
| Playability | Another typical arcade game from the early / mid 80’s – dart around the screen, collect stuff and avoid the baddies. Damn that’s a lot of fun |
85% |
| Lastability | Well, the levels repeat after level 18, but who cares, this game oozes nostalgia. It is a great “pick up and play for 10 minutes” kind of game – which is perfect for us time-poor gamers |
85% |
| Overall | This will not be the first game that comes to mind from the 80’s arcade era. But, if you do come across it, play it. It has the perfect mix of platform and puzzle fun. I guarantee it will put a smile on your dial. |
85% |
Manufacturer: Tehkan
Year: 1984
Genre: Single screen platform
Number of Simultaneous Players: 1
Maximum number of Players: 2
Gameplay: Alternating
Control Panel Layout: Single Player
Joystick: 8-way
Buttons: 1 [jump]
Sound: Amplified Mono (single channel)
“How would you like to to play Yu Suzuki’s full-body 1980s arcade games, including Out Run; take a dance challenge in Alex Rigopulous and Eran Egozy’s Dance Central 2; test yourself in a four-player version of Firemint’s Real Racing 2; and be immersed in a 3D display of Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s Child of Eden” – Sounds like a dream come true !
Gamers rejoice ! Game Masters is coming to town. The highly interactive videogame exhibition will be at ACMI (the Australian Centre for the Moving Image) from 28 June till 28 October 2012.
As part of this exhibition, there will be a showcase of work from local and international videogame designers, with over 125 playable games (woohoo !) from the arcade era through to the latest consoles, PC and mobile gaming platforms.
Hold onto your hats, the list of games from world renowned game designers (from the pioneers to the contemporaries) reads like a who’s who of the videogaming industry.
Hit the Game Masters site for further event program details.
ausretrogamer will bring you live twitter feeds from the Game Masters exhibition. Get following now !
Event Details:
Event: Game Masters, The Exhibition
Venue: ACMI, Federation Square, Melbourne
Date(s): 28 June – 28 October 2012
Ticketing: Event ticketing details
Full($22.00), Concession($17.50),
Child (Aged 4-15)($11.00),
Family (2 Adults & 3 Children)($60.00)
3 Session Pass Full($55.00)
3 Session Pass Concession($45.00)
Group (15 or more people)($18.50)
Group (50 or more people)($16.50)
Event trailer: Go here