Games Cheats and Reviews

Destructoid writes: "Growing up, birthdays and Christmases were about the only times I would ever get new games. I was always excited to play them right away, but when you’re a kid, you have to at least feign courteousness and wait for everyone else to open their gifts and visit a while before holing up in your room with your Sega Genesis. At least, that’s how my Christmases always worked.

Anyway, to keep myself sane through the wait, I would thoroughly go over the supplemental material that came along with the games I got. Year after year of this repeated behavior ingrained it in me to the point where I now mentally tie together memories of reading game manuals with the holiday season. Yes, as silly as it sounds, reading videogame manuals is a holiday tradition of mine.

Consequently, I can’t help but think of shrinking manual sizes around this time of year. I know that they are fast becoming extinct for several good reasons: saving paper, ink, money, and utilizing in-game tutorials. And I’m all for these changes. It’s just a little sad to see something you grew up with vanish completely, leaving nothing but thin, uninteresting leaflets in their wake. Interesting tutorials are too few and far between to fill the hole that’s left.

Being sad around the holidays is no good, so let’s just think to the glorious past for a while. Here are the seven best videogame manuals of all time.. or, at least my personal favorites!"

Koku Gamer writes: "The Sega Genesis is a venerable piece of equipment in my house. Like many though, my system and its games often rest in a sealed plastic container to keep it free from dust and other threats. Even though contemporary games garner most of the attention of consumers these days, rightly or not, it is always a thrill go back to the games that you grew up on. From time to time, I set up the Genesis and play a few games with my brother and it brings back great memories. While the emulation of these games on programs like GENS or Kega Fusion would suffice and roms are plentiful, they do not give the full experience – the original controller in your hands and a mind numbingly dull Sanyo television bolster the experience immensely. Nostalgia for the console has gotten to such a level that new games on cartridges have even come out in the last few years. The following games are such fun that they force me to turn on the Genesis regularly because they stand the test of time."

Miss your old Sega Genesis, NES, Super Nintendo, ColecoVision, Atari 2600, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games?  Of course you do!  Dry your eyes because a solution is here, and it comes in the form of Console Classix (http://www.consoleclassix.com).

Console Classix has re-launched their web site, and added an improved user interface, more consoles to play, and a ton more titles to choose from.  Console Classix has also made it easier to find the games you want to play, and created a more seamless and pleasant experience for the user.

“Console Classix is the only legal online source for most of these games,” says Aaron Ethridge, Owner of Console Classix. “These are not simply PC-ports of classic video games as you may find on other online services. The games on Console Classix feature the actual original game code to deliver the most authentic experience possible.”

Console Classix games originally appeared on video game systems including:

• Atari 2600
• ColecoVision
• Game Boy
• Game Boy Color
• Game Boy Advance
• Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
• Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)
• Sega Game Gear
• Sega Genesis
• Sega Master System

If you would like to give Console Classix a try there is a free version available that will give you access to to hundreds of Nintendo, Atari 2600, and ColecoVision games.  If you want more classic games, you can subscribe to the service for $5.99 per month or $59.99 annually.  And with over 3,000 titles to choose from, and more being added every week, Console Classix is sure to have all of your favorites from yesteryear.

That Gaming Site writes: "In memory of the recent 20th Anniversary of the Sega Genesis, we here at TGS Retro have compiled our second A-Z list on a truly impressive classic console: Sega Genesis. If you haven’t experienced some of the great games that originated on the Genesis it may be time to pick up a few Xbox Live Arcade versions or even the slightly rare but low priced Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection on 360 or PS3. Without further ado we bring you the A-Z of the Sega Genesis."

You can vote for the next Sega Genesis game to appear on the Xbox Live Arcade of the Xbox 360.

Do you experiencing a feeling of dread when attempting to use clunky next generation controls? Have you or any member of your family ever seen a low resolution texture, missing ember effect, or felt a sense of blurriness while gaming? If the answer is "yes," then don’t wait another minute. Pick up your Genesis controller and play a 2D "movie game" masterpiece – Ghostbusters. Read all about it in this ghastly retro Review.

The days of Sega manufacturing hardware are over. But in these days of licensed technology and retro appreciation, Sega hardware still lives on, in this case with the return of the Nomad, Sega’s handheld Genesis.

With the original SEGA Vintage Collection pleasing so many fans, it was a no-brainer for SEGA to continue their collection as soon as possible. The collection will include:

Gunstar Heroes (XBLA & PSN) – The classic side scrolling shooter from the SEGA Mega Drive returns to captivate fans new and old with its non-stop action and cooperative play.

Altered Beast (XBLA) – “Rise from your Grave” as the original Mega Drive launch game is reborn and comes to a new generation of gamers. Fight hordes of undead warriors and monsters as you return to battle in order to save Zeus’ daughter Athena.

Shinobi (arcade) (XBLA) – Battle your way through the “Ring of Five” as you save hostages with your ninja abilities.

Comix Zone (XBLA) – The game features an innovative art style that transports players directly into the panels of a comic as they fight their way to save a world from destruction as Sketch Turner. Everything from the speech bubble text, level design, and the revolutionary graphics scream COMIX!

Phantasy Star 2 (XBLA) – SEGA’s classic RPG which expanded on the success of the first with its epic storyline and battle system.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (XBLA) – The game that introduced Knuckles the Echidna comes to a new generation of gamers as Sonic explores Angel Island and discovers the true power of the Master Emerald. Speed through each level at lightning speeds as either Sonic or Tails as you foil Dr. Eggman’s in his new Death Egg station.

Sonic and Knuckles (XBLA) – Picking up where Sonic the Hedgehog 3 left off, players can now play as Knuckles for the first time. In addition, if players already have Sonic the Hedgehog 3 or Sonic 2 in their library, they will be able to access the lock-on bonus content for each game for the very first time since the days of the SEGA GENESIS!

All of these games will be coming this summer, but for some reason only one game has made the list for the PSN so far. What gives SEGA? We’ll have to wait and see what comes of this, but until then enjoy this trailer for the upcoming games.

Seeing how Nintendo will no longer be releasing content weekly for the Wii alone, we felt it appropriate to change the name of the WiiWare release posts to Nintendo Today, where we’ll keep you up to date with the latest releases on not only WiiWare and the Vitual Console, but the DSiWare as well. That said, we’ll kick things off with the latest from the Wii and work our way down to the portables.

Family Pirate Party (WiiWare)

Board games have always been a great pass time, and now you can enjoy them on consoles, which makes them even cool-er. With Family Pirate Party the whole family can gather around the boob tube and sail the open seas trying to gather treasure. Each player will roll the dice and sail through the islands to gather as much gold as they can carry. Up to four players can run through this pirate adventure, with the ability to fill in the missing spots with CPU controlled players. The pirate with the most gold at the end wins and can be crowned “king of Family Pirate Party.”

For those of you out there looking for some pirate booty, you can expect to dish out 500 Wii Points for this bad boy. A fair price to pay for a good time with the family or friends.

Galaxy Force II (Virtual Console)

Originally on the Sega Genesis, Galaxy Force II is an arcade shooter with a 3-D view from behind your spaceship. Players will be able to fly through five different planets, taking on enemies in environments that range from a peaceful garden to lands made of fire or ice. Players should be ready to navigate treacherous landscapes while trying to blow up enemy robots, ships and turrets, including flying through the depths of every planet to destroy the alien stronghold.

The ticket to ride this rocket ship will cost players 800 Wii Points. Galaxy Force II was a great game back in its day, but does 800 points sound like a good price to re-live this classic shooter?

Real Soccer 2009 (DSiWare)

Players on the go should get a kick out of this one! Soccer season is ready to be taken to the max with Real Soccer 2009 for the Nintendo DSi. According to Nintendo it will have “never-before-seen soccer experiences” to offer players of all ages. Touch screen controls will be active for this soccer slam, as well as user photos that enable players to create a ball or team flag out of any photo they snap with their DSi Camera.

198 Teams using real player names, realistic opponent behaviors and touch screen controls could make this the best portable soccer game we’ve seen yet. Only time will tell.

Nintendo has something for the whole family this week, so tell them all to get their game on!