August 2018 – Retro Game Resource

UPDATE: Check out my first impressions of SOR4 post-release here

When my 3-year old self managed to convince my parents to get me a SEGA Genesis just like my older cousin, one of the first games I received was Streets of Rage 2. Even as a barely functional toddler, it quickly became one of my favorite games on the console; spending much of my time bludgeoning hordes of “Galsia” with steel pipes and incorrectly mimicking the inaudible battle cries of the protagonists while they were performing their special moves on-screen (honestly, who the hell understood what they were saying back in the day?).

As mentioned in a previous post, a different cousin of mine, who was the same age as me, also happened to receive a Genesis and SOR2 the same year, and we played it together everyday following our daily 12:00 PM dismissals from pre-school; She the massive, possibly steroid infused, Max Thunder, and I, the scrawny pre-pubescent boy Skate. These character choices were particularly ironic considering I was big for my age, while she was pretty scrawny back then. As a side note, now she is pretty jacked, perhaps inspired by her childhood favorite Max?

Continue reading “What the Streets of Rage 4 Announcement Means to Me… and Thoughts”

Retro Revamped is a series of review articles written about new games that attempt to embody the founding principles of their respective genres, whilst still yielding an experience that feels nuanced and fresh. What constitutes a game that “feels” retro is completely my subjective opinion, and may not have been the intention of the developers.

Introduction

Bravely Default was responsible for renewing my interest in JRPGs, following a prolonged hiatus resulting from burn out. When I first obtained Bravely Default, I held on to it for over a year before jumping in. Why? Well, because I feared I didn’t have the time to invest in an expansive JRPG. At the time this was true, considering I was working multiple jobs and going to school at night. When the doldrums of life were replaced instead by a more sustainable existence, I finally did venture into the world of Luxendarc my life quickly reverting back to my childhood. I went on an RPG binge that continues even now.

After taking a break from the Bravely Default for a while, exploring new JRPGs and childhood favorites such as Phantasy Star, I revisited the game and tied up some loose ends; namely defeating the secret Uber-bosses, The Adventurer and Comrade.

This additional taste of the Bravely world compelled me to finally commit to finishing the sequel: Bravely Second: End Layer; but how would it measure up to the well-regarded original? Would it continue to foster my reignited passion for JRPGs, or would it usher in a new era of RPG-fatigue?

Continue reading “Retro Revamped #2: Bravely Second: End Layer”