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Review: SNK 40th Anniversary Collection

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We bet that when you think of SNK you think of the NEOGEO, however SNK was developing and publishing pretty decent arcade games well before the NEOGEO.

When the SNK 40th Anniversary Collection was announced earlier this year, we immediately took note, as we got quite excited at the prospect of playing SNK’s library of awesome classic games on our Nintendo Switch.

This collection represents SNK’s golden age of arcade games, a true arcade connoisseurs anthology, which is already proving quite popular in the office – we have to wait our turn on the shared Switch (Ed: perhaps we need to leave a coin on the screen!).

So which SNK games can you play straight away? The current list of titles, which is a mix of arcade and console ports, are a great start for the trip down memory lane:

  • Alpha Mission (Console/Arcade)
  • Athena (Console/Arcade)
  • Crystalis (Console)
  • Ikari Warriors (Console/Arcade)
  • Ikari Warriors II: Victory Road (Console/Arcade)
  • Ikari Warriors III: The Rescue (Console/Arcade)
  • Guerrilla War (Console/Arcade)
  • P.O.W. (Console/Arcade)
  • Prehistoric Isle (Arcade)
  • Psycho Soldier (Arcade)
  • Street Smart (Arcade)
  • TNK III (Console/Arcade)
  • Vanguard (Arcade)

But wait, there is more! On December 11, there will be an additional 11 games added (for free!) to the already packed collection – check out these beauties:

  • Munch Mobile (Arcade)
  • Fantasy (Arcade)
  • Sasuke vs. Commander (Arcade)
  • Chopper I (Arcade)
  • Time Soldiers (Arcade)
  • Bermuda Triangle (Arcade)
  • Paddle Mania (Arcade)
  • Ozma Wars (Arcade)
  • Beast Busters (Arcade)
  • Search and Rescue (Arcade)
  • World Wars (Arcade)

With regular patches being released to enhance gameplay experience (like the Day 1 patch adding ‘Single Stick’ mode amongst a raft of other improvements), this compilation truly gets better and better. The emulation has a few bumps here and there, but nothing that detracts from the overall gameplay experience – If you have never played these games or played them long ago, you would never notice. And as mentioned, patches are being released to tighten up any loose ends.

Speaking of user experience, the overall presentation is simply awesome, with an easy to use menu system that not only provides access to the arcade games with enhanced features (like rewind gameplay, auto-fire and 1080p resolution to name just a few), but also a brilliant museum mode where a lot of painstaking effort was made to catalogue and preserve the legacy of one of Japan’s leading developers, which includes high definition artwork and original promotional assets. We actually spent a lot of time in the museum going through each game and finding out information we could not find anywhere else – those of you that are into history and research will love this mode.

We are really glad that SNK chose to celebrate their extraordinary milestone by giving us, the gamers, a brilliant high quality compilation. The SNK 40th ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION is packed full of retro gaming goodness with top-notch features with a complimentary museum mode which tops off what is an already solid package for those of you craving for nostalgia.

This is an essential collection to add to your Nintendo Switch games library. The only problem you’ll have is making the choice between physical or download – either way, you can’t go wrong!

image source: NIS America

Disclosure: SNK 40th Anniversary Collection [Nintendo Switch – download] was kindly provided by NIS America for this review.

 

Spider-Man PS4: The Hype is Real

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By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

Recently, I received a text message from a friend asking, “Should I buy the new Spider-Man game? Is it worth it?”

First, I didn’t even know she was a gamer. And second, I hadn’t played the game yet. I saw the trailer; I thought it looked interesting, but nothing about a new Marvel Spider-Man game, published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4, intrigued me. Then, I fortunately played the game at a store demo.

Insomniac Games Spider-Man could be one of the most entertaining video games I’ve ever played. Superhero games are my wheelhouse. I’m not a big Spider-Man fan, but this game and the new Marvel films, starring Tom Holland as Peter Parker, have stealthily made me one.

The web-shooting is so clean and quick. You have a wide selection of weapons, but web slinging, to travel around the city and to battle foes, is a necessity to effectively navigate through the game. Sticking your webbing to a trash can, or manhole cover, and slinging it around to hit your enemies is one of the best fighting options. I find it oddly satisfying every time I do it to goons who have no idea what’s coming.

Swinging around New York City with your webbing is one of the most thrilling things about the game. The graphics are so exceptional; every swing down a new block is like a scene from a Spider-Man movie. The combo of fighting villains, who are sometimes morphed into baddies by others, and swinging to all of the unique locations, makes for what I think is the game of the year. Sorry, Red Dead Redemption II. Insomniac Games has made the definitive Spider-Man game, and, perhaps, the defining superhero game of the decade.

Some of the things I didn’t like about the game was how a certain villain morphs other random strangers, who are dressed as popular Spider-Man villains, into real threats. It seemed a bit gimmicky and just weird. My first time playing, I had a very difficult time with a large man dressed as super-villain Rhino.

Some of the instant call-ins from characters like Aunt May and Mary Jane took me out of the game when I was in the middle of action. It was clever, but it wasn’t needed. Also, the music by John Paesano seemed subdued.

3.3 million copies of Spider-Man PS4 have been sold, and I’m sure it’ll be on a few Christmas lists this year.

image source: Marvel

 

Marvel’s Joe Fixit Deserves a Game Piece

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By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

When I devoured The Incredible Hulk comics growing up, I always liked it when the writers had Hulk take on the identity of Joe Fixit, a shadowy behind the scenes figure, working in Las Vegas on behalf of a corrupt casino owner, Michael Berengetti. Joe Fixit was a morally vague Vegas enforcer and tough guy.

Joe Fixit seems like an obvious choice for a video game. Grey Hulk in his dark suit and fedora, creating carnage across Sin City seems perfect for an Android or console game.

Joe Fixit could be assigned a task by shady casino owner, Michael Berengetti, and the game could follow Fixit throughout a night in Vegas fighting off bad guys around Vegas landmarks.

Fixit could fight a bunch of hoodlums on the Ghostbar balcony of The Palms Casino. He could do battle with some baddies in the Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower. All of Vegas could be Joe Fixit’s playground in this game. The game could be a Mortal Kombat or Mafia sort of format. There could be a lot of dark alley fights, where Fixit, in the comics, would brawl with several villains. A fight in or around the Bellagio fountains pool could be a fun set piece.

Joe Fixit is a playable character in Marvel: Contest of Champions. I highly recommend a Fixit and Juggernaut battle; it’s a thrill if you’re a fan of the two characters. A Fixit game could have the sharp graphics of Contest of Champions, but its gameplay and mission could be like Nintendo’s original Double Dragon. Not exactly like a level game, but each Vegas landmark stage could be Fixit getting closer to completing his mission. What Marvel villain could be waiting for Joe Fixit at the final stage? The developers would have an enormous catalogue of villains to choose from. Kingpin or Juggernaut in a casino high-rise on The Strip?

Sometimes, I still break out my back issues of The Incredible Hulk when Joe Fixit appeared. Oh… Joe Fixit fighting a bunch of hoods dressed as pirates at Treasure Island. That could be a visual feast for gamers.

image source: Marvel Database

 

5 Health Benefits of Video Games

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We all love video games and all of us know well enough about our parents dislike for these games. But did you know that video games are not all harmful but have various advantages? Have a look at these five health benefits of playing video games.

1. Reduce Stress And Improve Social Skills
Everyone experiences stress and anxiety at certain points in their lives. Video games help us cope with them, and nothing relieves stress quite like annihilating your enemies (in a game). There is plenty of evidence that proves how video games help in reducing levels of stress, and even rates of depression. The reason is that games keep your brain busy and occupied.

You are constantly slammed with real life stress and anxiety, so when you play something like Angry Birds, it can be quite therapeutic. All your attention is focused on how to find and kill those nasty pigs that are stealing your eggs. Games are also a great social outlet. So, if you are a bit socially awkward, you will get a chance to get some interaction with other fellow players. Online gaming enables multiple players to engage in a particular game simultaneously, and that often requires them all to work in a team. Even if there are no teams, there is constant communication between players – that results in the development of meaningful and casual relationships among the players. Players meet new friends and also strengthen their bonds with old friends.

2. Memory Boost
Many studies are showing how video games are good for memory. Recently, another study found that the hippocampus, the region that is associated with complex learning and memory in the brain, is altered by playing 3-D games. This improvement in memory was as high as 12% in some individuals. The reason why or how these games are helping memory is not clear, but this opens up many doors where people can be helped with their memory. Playing your favourite game requires both visual and audible memory. You do not have to read or listen to the instructions provided at the beginning of the game and have to remember them throughout the entire game. This helps in improving your memory, both short and long-term.

3. Coordination
Video games help in impressive levels of coordination. In fact, they are so helpful that games are being used to help train surgeons to make their movements more precise and to help them perform tasks in minimal space. When a person, whether she/he is an adult or child, is playing a video game, the player is not only staring at the computer, but their brain is also working on other things in the background. Sure we are focused on the activities and actions on the screen, but we are also subconsciously noticing any out of the ordinary change. This ability to be attentive provides a lot of mental stimulation.

For someone to play successfully, he or she has to coordinate their audio, visual and physical movement. The link between motor skills and video games has been a well-known fact for some time. Fast-paced games, such as first-person shooters, can help boost motor skills and develop fast decision making. Action video games can capture the player’s attention for a lengthy period of the game because of the player’s need to achieve certain goals and objectives within the game.

4. Cognitive Health
We know how games help with memory, but they also help with the overall cognitive function as well. This means that when you are playing your favourite game for some time, you are becoming more focused, attentive, and perceptive while thinking in a critical way to make decisions. This is important as playing games may be a treatment option for people who are suffering from age-related cognitive diseases. When you play an action game, you will have to be very observant. The game will require you to move your joystick or keys while you are looking at the screen such as your energy levels, ammunition left, oncoming adversaries, available time and other factors vital to winning. So, the player can observe and react at the same time.

5. Develop Problem-Solving Skills
Video games have certain rules which we have to follow. The player has to think before making any decision or move to ensure that the rules are not broken. Several times, the players have to make split-second decisions that determine whether they will advance to the next level.

No doubt computer games are beneficial and fun, but they need to be played in moderation. Another critical factor is to pick the right game because not all of them provide the same relaxation and cognitive benefits. Small children, specifically, should not be exposed to violent games.

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Catalina Smith
Catalina is a young digital marketer by profession and is utterly obsessed with the growing technology. She has covered the gaming world online for over six years. She regularly posts at Dimble.

 

 

 

80’s Arcade Video Games, Pinball and Mullets

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Ah the good old days of the 1980s, hanging out at our local arcade parlours with mates and our monster mullets!

Thanks heaps to We Are Diehards on Facebook for sharing this most awesome vid with us all – let the nostalgia ooze baby!


source: We Are Diehards via Facebook

 

80’s Street Party To Celebrate Barkly Square’s 35th Anniversary

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Woohoo, who doesn’t like an 80s party? If you put your hand up, then this isn’t for you! For everyone else, read on…

Barkly Square is turning 35! Barkly Square will be marking this milestone (September 7 to 9) with an 80’s themed street party celebration which will feature 80s-style workshops and cool stuff from the best decade, like arcade games, flash dancers, hula-hoops, scrunchies and even an old-school JB Hi-Fi 80s type stall to name just a few!

If you want to attend and celebrate 80’s style, then check out the full details here.

image source: Barkly Square

 

Game Wars: PlayStation 2 vs Xbox

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As it has always been customary, a gamer would choose one system to be loyal to and then rubbish the competition and defend their chosen system to the death, metaphorically speaking of course!

At the dawn of the 21st century, the old guard, Nintendo, took a back seat to watch the new looming console war between Sony’s PlayStation 2 and the new kid on the block, Microsoft’s Xbox. BBC Worldwide’s The Money Programme follows Sony executive Alan Welsman, frantically preparing for the vital launch in November 2000. Meanwhile in Seattle, Microsoft’s Jay Allard reveals the secrets of the X-Box, slated for an early 2001 launch. Caught up in all of this is British games designer Martin Kenright, racing against time to complete a driving game, which, he hopes, will steer him to a fortune (Ed: driving puns fully intended).

Now sit back and enjoy this doco!


source: Manufacturing Intellect: Documentaries

 

Review of Brutal Soulslike Switch Platformer: Salt and Sanctuary

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After dying for the umpteenth time in the Festering Banquet (one of the early areas), I came to the realisation that Salt and Sanctuary is not a game to be underestimated, it cannot be rushed through; every mistimed step, jump, slash, hack, stab or even healing can bring about an untimely demise and progress lost. I knew then that I needed to respect the game, its mechanics, its pacing and its world, only then did I truly discover the wonderful experience on offer by Salt and Sanctuary.

Originally released in 2016 on PS4, PC and the Vita, Salt and Sanctuary is a 2D adventure/platform game that tasks you with rescuing a kidnapped princess, however Super Mario this is most definitely not. The world setting here is grim, its foes monstrous and combat brutal. This is not your average platformer, but an amalgamation of retro side scrollers (Metroid, Ghouls ‘n Ghosts) and the modern classic action RPG Dark Souls series.

You begin by creating a character and picking a class, ranging from paladins to mages to hunters to thieves which slightly alters your starting skill point allocations and gear. Perhaps befitting the game title (or not), I couldn’t help but notice the particularly hilarious chef class, armed with naught but an iron pot and a chef’s hat and apron, ready to rid the world of nasty beasts and save the day. I went with the knight class in the end, it just felt safer with a sword and shield in hand.

It turns out, I needed the more appropriate battle apparatus too, as the gameplay in Salt and Sanctuary is absolutely ruthless. Understanding how and when to utilise block, parry and dodge as well as managing resources such as stamina is key to surviving; running out of it mid battle prevents you from performing further attacks or defensive actions, which leaves you open to enemy hits and usually results in a swift death. The combat here is precise and different weapons exhibit appropriate weight to their animation so timing your hits is critical, especially when facing multiple foes at once.

Defeating enemies grants you their essence, ‘salt’ and the amount you carry is lost upon death, with it only retrievable if you can defeat the monster that killed you initially, fail that and you lose it permanently. Salt can be spent at Sanctuaries spread across the game world, where you can summon certain NPCs such as blacksmiths, travel guides and shop vendors to assist you with your journey. The Sanctuaries are aligned to certain ‘creeds’ you pledge to which provide different bonuses. If this set up sounds familiar, that’s because this is effectively the same risk and rewards system implemented so well by the Dark Souls series with some minor differences. It works wonders here as well for Salt and Sanctuary; the player is encouraged to carefully analyse their situation and surroundings; should you venture forward for further progress but risk losing precious salt, or should you return to a sanctuary and spend your hard-earned salt but having to re-tread old grounds and face respawned foes? The decision can be a difficult one to make at times but that’s also what makes it feel so rewarding when the right one is made.

This is accentuated by the intimidating boss battles dotted around the world, you never truly know when you might stumble upon a boss fight, but it is typically accompanied by the feeling of regret of not spending your salt earlier. Despite the lack of warnings of upcoming bosses, I did find the pacing of the game to be spot on. The intricately designed game world is interconnected with branching pathways, hidden entrances and shortcuts that keep you on your toes at all times. And just as you start to feel confident and familiar with the layout of an area, a newly discovered path may lead to one of the many bosses, so you are never really in the comfort zone for long. You’re not always in the dark as to what is coming up though, as other players can leave ‘helpful’ messages in a bottle, providing hints to ambushes or hidden treasures, although their legitimacy is up to you to interpret; I know I’ve plunged to my death on many occasions when told to “jump, trust me!”.

Presented in a unique hand drawn style, Salt and Sanctuary is a gorgeous game to look at, although I did find it difficult to see certain details (such as trap switches), especially when playing in handheld mode due to the largely black, grey and brown colour palette and the intentional dimly lit world. Performance is largely stable and smooth at 60fps, which is essential in a game where every animation counts.

Salt and Sanctuary doesn’t try to hide from its Dark Souls influences, but it manages to transform what made them so great into its own identity (in 2D no less) that it doesn’t have to. It is a challenging game that rewards patience and perseverance and offers deep gameplay and an interesting world to explore for those who dare to venture forth.

Disclosure: Salt and Sanctuary [Nintendo Switch] was kindly provided by Strider PR for this review.
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House
House plays pretty much anything and everything but has almost time for nothing. A devout beat’em up fan, House enjoys a round of captain commando every now and then and can never forget spending hours in dark arcades playing warriors of fate after school. Oh yeah, his favourite console of all time is the original Famicom!

 

 

 

Negan in Tekken 7 is Smart

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By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

When it was revealed at EVO that Negan from “The Walking Dead” would be a new character in Tekken 7, I thought it was one of the most out of left field crossover ideas ever conceived. But after some thought, it’s pretty smart for both properties.

I wonder who called who? Did the makers of Tekken 7 call “The Walking Dead” people, or was it the other way around? Negan being in Tekken 7 is an odd choice because the character is more of a manipulator and schemer than a brawler. However, he has had his moments of hand-to-hand combat in the comic book.

And who does this help more, Tekken 7 or “The Walking Dead”? The ratings for the AMC television show have been on the decline. Negan is a fascinating character, but since his appearance, the show’s ratings have been on a downward spiral. Will adding Negan bring more players to Tekken 7? I’m sure Jeffrey Dean Morgan, the actor who portrays Negan, will have a blast doing the voice work for the popular game. Like his Negan or not, Morgan is a solid actor who always elevates everything he’s involved in.

image source: golem13.fr

I’m sure when Negan is available in Tekken 7, every gamer will select him to see what he’s capable of in a scrap. It’ll be interesting to see Negan’s fight moves. His bob wired baseball bat, Lucille, will be appealing to use on an opponent, but I don’t see how the game keeps its Teen rating if you do. In the comic book and the show, Lucille is a very violent weapon. I can’t see Negan doing air combat flips and powerful jump kicks. He could ground and pound and do brutal overhead hits that result in wall bounces.

Those in attendance at EVO seemed excited that Negan will be featured in Tekken 7. They went absolutely wild when Negan was teased in the trailer. The decision of adding Negan to the Tekken franchise is a bold one. Curious gamers that are fans of both properties will find it irresistible to try a few brawls with Negan.

image source: gamegeek.gg