The Hardcore Retro God

26/05/2025

Original Date of Production/Release: April 2025 (ONCE AGAIN, I deeply regret the overdue timing due to my account & pages being temporarily suspended due to Meta's CORRUPT AI from 2/28 to 5/23)

I'm back with yet another epic review for everyone! This time, it's on one of Konami's underrated shmups which made its debut back in '83...in which you're helming a 360°-traveling attack craft mowing down one adversary after another between every planet. "It's a death-defying risk, and only a hero can succeed"...NO CAP! Also, let's not forget the fact that the NES port we're experiencing was localized by Konami's already-defunct Ultra Games label (EA's Skate or Die / Kings of the Beach / Ski or Die; Cinemaware's Defenders of the Crown; Micro Prose's Pirates / Silent Service with the cooperation of Rare; Metal Gear / Snake's Revenge / Rollergames / Mission: Impossible / TMNT 1 & 2 / TMNT - Fall of the Foot Clan / Nemesis / Operation C, etc.)

24/02/2025

UPDATE: While I've been able to regain access to my laptop (in terms of easily logging in again WITHOUT any Wi-Fi connectivity and/or support, no less)... The sound drivers have been recently corrupted due to System Update complications, and regardless of which methods* I've experimented with to have my audio resurrected, I'M STILL UNABLE TO HEAR ANYTHING, LET ALONE RECORD ANY VOICEOVERS.

But I'm not out of the woods yet... (or am I?)

18/02/2025

In case anyone's still following: DUE TO SERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND MY CONTROL, I'm currently incapable of continuing production of Reviews #92, #93 & #94 of Strike Gunner STG / Gyruss / Viewpoint until further notice.

The laptop I always work on (HP EF1082nr) has become temperamental in its conduct lately, hence the reason for my temporary hiatus. Until I can find a way to restore Windows 10's crucial data & peripherals, Be sure to scope out - AND BUY, IF POSSIBLE - my official merch on TeePublic.com! Full link in the comments!

09/02/2025

From the combined efforts of the already-defunct Jaleco & Aicom (aka Yumekobo, later - RIP to both companies) comes an unforgettable, epic lore unlike anything one's ever imagined! Despite being introduced into the arcades in '89...what we're looking at is its console-exclusive variation, with a ton of changes to the premise and gameplay aspects.

Centering around the title 16-year old high school student in Greenview, he's been harboring a recurring dream in which a girl calls out his name over and over. Eventually, he's transported & summoned to another realm outside Earth - the Kingdom of Remlia, courtesy of the vivacious, well-meaning fairy Cutie. According to her, ASTYANAX's raison d'etre is to rescue Remlia's sole ruler Princess Rosebud (hence, the very same girl that called out to him in these random dreams) who's been held captive by the dark-hearted wizard BLACKHORN - not without his magic weapon BASH (An axe / spear / sword in one) and 3 incantations - Blast, Bolt & Bind (8 fireball projectiles, lightning and a temporary time-stop).

07/02/2025

Switching gears back to SEASON 8, here's my latest, long-awaited review...this time it's on one of the PlayStation 2's underrated launch titles; a "pyrotechnics puzzle craze" involving fireworks detonated from multicolored flares that fly around from various places. For more info, please refer to the pre-captured Gameplay Samples from before this review was conducted.

07/02/2025

Typically, I always avoid the overhyped, flagship platformer franchises - even for the purposes of exploring / researching other underrated & obscure titles, but why not give what we're about to witness a chance?! In celebration of its [belated] 31st Anniversary - I've decided to showcase the true 3rd installment to SEGA's "blink-and-you'll-miss-him" Blue Blur! He and Tails are out to prevent Robotnik's (aka Eggman's) re-launch of his Death Egg space station (hence the setting of the previous game's finale) after it crash-lands on a floating island - mostly by gathering all of the Chaos Emeralds.

Did I forget to mention KNUCKLES made his debut in THIS?!

FUN FACTS - Originally BOTH this and Sonic & Knuckles were supposed to be released as one entire game but the developers decided to split them in half due to cartridge costs & time constraints. Also, the late, great "King of Pop" [whose name won't be revealed] contributed his partial efforts to the game's soundtrack (in collaboration with Kashima, Maeda, Nagao, Sawada, Senoue, Setsumaru, Ogawa & Uwabo / Brooks, Buxer, Grace, Grigsby III, Jones & Ross) but eventually left the project and went uncredited.

02/02/2025

The final 2 scenes of the FANTAVISION journey take us into 2 unknown multicolored "black hole" voids.

P.S. - Forgive the overlapping scoring details at the end of Stage 8. (It's due to emulated graphic plugin conflicts; same as with Samples 2, 4 & 5)

02/02/2025

We're then magically transported to 2 lunar landscapes while more flares are waiting to be magically set off by the player's [YOUR] capable intellect and hands!

P.S. - Forgive the overlapping scoring details at the end of Stage 6. (It's due to emulated graphic plugin conflicts; same as with Samples 2, 4 & 6)

28/01/2025

Currently, I've opened up another merchandise store site through TeePublic.com! T-shirts, pins, mugs, the whole nine...THEY'RE ALL THERE!

No need to be displeased, we've got all your needs beyond this link!

Shop t-shirts, phone cases, hoodies, art prints and mugs created by independent artists from around the globe.