Posted on June 16, 2018
Top 10 Favorite SNES Games Of All Time
Scroll below and enjoy
presents a
Favorite
Games Of
All Time
Remembering the SNES
“Dude, your only playing with regular power? You gotta get the SUPER power!!!” Sega may have uppercutted Nintendo back to the ropes with their Genesis, but they rallied back with a flurry of haymakers when they introduced the Super Nintendo. In many ways rightfully considered the grand peak of the 16-bit generation, the Super Nintendo was a radical newer version of the regular Nintendo that I was lucky enough to get as a Christmas present during its launch period. Even though I had been jealous of my next door neighbor’s kick ass Genesis, the tables had been turned as now he was relegated to second-fiddle under the relentless surge of this awesome new super power 
.
Certain genres seemed to work better on the Super Nintendo to me (specifically role players and fighting games) which I found very interesting at the time. Also, this was the first example I would remember having of comparing cross-platform games of similar strength to see which ones were better. I mean, it made sense for 16-bit Genesis games to look and sound superior than the 8-bit NES ones but how did it fair to Nintendo’s newest creation of equal bit strength? It was as if the SNES was a witness to the bullying that its little brother had gone through and stepped in promptly to remind Sega to pick on someone its own size. The 16-bit wars had begun!
After tearing through the wrapping paper that adorned the giant box with my name on it (best Christmas present… EVER!!! 
), I was beyond excited to hook this hot rod up and dive into a brand new world of gaming goodness. Awesome titles like Mario Kart 
and Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts 
had me in love with my new super-powered console right away and more than eager to rub it in the face of the Genesis contingent that had entrenched itself at the top of the virtual perch! Suddenly, the tides had turned back to Nintendo’s favor and I felt extremely fortunate to be standing at the precipice during this amazing 16-bit gaming revolution that had manifested itself during the ‘tude era. This spirit of competition drove both companies to their zenith’s during this generation, sparking a new “golden age” of gaming and higher quality titles across the board in every genre.
The biggest beneficiaries to this “iron sharpening iron” period were us ‘tude babies and the Super Nintendo spearheaded this forward as much (or more) as any other gaming console during this time with excellent titles that had people comparing video games to pieces of art. Role playing games, for example, blew UP on the SNES and catapulted deep storytelling and beautiful aesthetics to new plateaus that had never been achieved before which showcased the maximum power of the Super Nintendo. With grand adventures like Chrono Trigger 
, EarthBound 
and Breath of Fire II 
loaded up in their barrels, the SNES fought back valiantly against Sega’s advances and met their charge head-on with with the best kind of high-quality products that you could expect out of Nintendo.
Other genres looked and played amazing on the system as well most notably fighters. Fighting games felt more tailored to the Super Nintendo right away thanks to the 6-button controller that came standard with the system out of the box. I swear playing Street Fighter II with the original 3-button Genesis controller just feels criminal in comparison (you have to press start to switch buttons from punches to kicks… 
) and is a good example alone of the excellent foresight of Nintendo’s 16-bit brainstorming sessions. Mortal Kombat 
looked and played great also and furthered the SNES status as the system for fighters though they did get in hot water from fans (…and ME) for wussin’ out and replacing the blood with “sweat”. No worries though, even Nintendo caught a ride on the ‘tude train after awhile and brought mature material to later editions of Mortal Kombat as well as other titles like Killer Instinct 
just to ensure the masses that they knew how to push the envelope in this department in addition to all their other great work.
Yeah I love the Super Nintendo and feel extremely fortunate to have grown up with Nintendo’s 16-bit powerhouse! Playing through the multitudes of high-quality titles found here over the years has been nothing short of pure joy and I feel I owe the SNES the justice of my best efforts towards selecting my personal favorite games that this wonderful system had to offer. Thanks to Sega and their all-out assault launched against Nintendo during the 80’s & 90’s, the Super Nintendo pushed itself to pure greatness and rooted the companies feet in the ground with the firmest stance ever seen in video games. One things for sure, regardless of the final outcome of the console wars during this generation, I feel like we’re all winners. Now you’re playing with SUPER power ‘tuders 
!
The following is a list of The ‘Tude Dude’s 10 favorite SNES games of all time.
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Chrono Trigger, Final Fight series, Contra III: The Alien Wars, Street Fighter Alpha 2, The Lion King, Madden NFL series, Breath of Fire 1 & 2, Space Megaforce, Super Ghouls n’ Ghosts, Zombies Ate My Neighbors, Super Bomberman 1 & 2, NBA Jam & NBA Jam T.E., Beavis and Butt-Head, Secret of Mana, Mickey Mania, Tetris Attack, Biker Mice From Mars, The Legend of the Mystical Ninja, Killer Instinct, Super Star Wars series, Pilotwings, ActRaiser 1 & 2, Star Fox, Castlevania: Dracula X, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, Total Carnage, R-Type III: The Third Lightning, FIFA Soccer series, Maximum Carnage, Saturday Night Slam Masters, Demon’s Crest, Mortal Kombat series, NHL series, Knights of the Round, E.V.O.: Search For Eden, Bust-A-Move, Captain Commando, Top Gear 1 & 2, Sparkster, Wild Guns, Dirt Trax FX, Earthworm Jim 1 & 2, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Pebble Beach Golf Links, EarthBound, Firepower 2000, ESPN Baseball Tonight, Donkey Kong Country 2 & 3, Super Smash TV, Joe & Mac 1 & 2, NBA Give N’ Go, Prince of Persia, Axelay, Fatal Fury Special, SimCity, Rock n’ Roll Racing, Super Double Dragon, Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball & Ken Griffey Jr’s Winning Run, Magic Sword, Shadowrun, Mega Man X2 and X3, Kirby’s Dream Land 3 & Kirby Super Star, Tetris & Dr. Mario, NHL Stanley Cup, Pocky and Rocky 1 & 2, The Lost Vikings, Tecmo Super NBA Basketball, The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse, The Combatribes, Out of this World, UN Squadron, Disney’s Aladdin, Wing Commander, NBA Live series, Super Off Road, The Adventures of Batman & Robin & Batman Returns, Mario Paint, Super Mario All-Stars, Mario Kart, Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island and the generically named but awesomely executed Metal Warriors |
.Thanks for reading! Questions/Remarks/Suggestions?
Leave below in the comments section or…
E-Mail The ‘Tude Dude
radwriting@thetudedude.com
Follow The ‘Tude Dude
-Pushing Reviews to the EDGE!
Published by 
Posted on June 16, 2018
Top 10 Favorite Sega Genesis Games Of All Time
Scroll below and enjoy
presents a
Favorite
Games Of
All Time
Remembering the Sega Genesis
“Genesis does what Nintendon’t 
!” The Sega Genesis- proprietor of unabashed console coolness and hard-charging advertisement bravado, blazed into the atmosphere of my understanding like a meteor and slammed into my soul with a ‘tude–filled THUD, leaving behind a crater of influence that’s as responsible for my inception as a lover of attitude in gaming as anything else! No doubt, my prepubescent eyes were not prepared for the awesomeness when my neighbor “snuck” open his Christmas present a week early to reveal a brand new Genesis. YOWZAA!!! Right away, games like Sonic the Hedgehog 
, Streets of Rage 
and Road Rash 
had our little 90’s ducktail heads spinning with delight! Even though he (of course) got in trouble for it, he said “it was totally worth it cause I got to play Sonic early.” …Fair enough. That sort of rebelliousness seemed to pair with the system in the same way that a spiked leather jacket and sunglasses does on a biker as the Genesis strove to the top of the video game mountain with an edgier approach to both hardware and software design as well as aggressive ads unlike anything ever seen before. You can keep your puny “power” Nintendo, ours is MEGA-POWERED 
!!!
Even though I was extremely fond of my Nintendo and the vastness of its game library, the Sega Genesis was instantly impressive with titles that blew me away both aesthetically and structurally such as Golden Axe 
and Strider 
. Not only did these look and sound more like real arcade games but they played smoothly and displayed graphics far beyond the power of the NES. It was around this time that “bits” entered my lexicon as a tool for measuring a game console’s capabilities as my next door neighbor (or Genesis Boy as I started calling him) was more than proud to point out that the reason his system looked and sounded better than mine was due to the fact that it was made with 16 of these mysteriously magical “bits” while the Nintendo was only using 8. Holy crap… that’s like double the bits!!! Makes sense then why these games looked so much more amazing. With that, the first shots were fired for me in what would become the largest ever debate in video game history… Nintendo vs. Sega.
Sega didn’t hold back as they relentlessly attacked Nintendo through advertising propaganda during this era which fit right in with the new ‘tude-filled angst that permeated through our culture during the punk rock 80’s leading into the hip hop 90’s. Even Genesis owners like my neighbor fell into this cyclone of game bullying as he reveled in the magnificence of his new system while constantly putting down the NES (which was kind of funny to me since he owned one of them as well). “The Genesis is WAY better than the Nintendo” he would exclaim which always struck me as an unnecessary declaration. Do we really need to pick? I mean, I want to live in a world where I can enjoy all the fruits that fall from the gaming tree. NOPE… you’ve got to choose! *Sigh* At least, that’s the way it seemed.
I had to side with the NES (and later the SNES) at the time since it was the console that I had but I was always fond of the bad boy Genesis and would read as many articles as possible to keep up with new information and play it at friends houses as often as I could. Meanwhile, games such as Toejam & Earl 
and Mutant League Football 
continued to tantalize, bursting out the seams with ‘tude (at least through my eyes) while at the same time providing a perfect contrast to the more family oriented titles found in Nintendo’s library. Sports games (one of my personal favorite genres) also looked and played amazing on Sega’s 16-bit ruffian. Gotta say, I’m really diggin’ the look and design of the black console and cartridges as well. Man, I don’t even care about this dumb debate… I HAVE to get my hands on one of these things!
Luckily, a few years later I was able to get a Genesis of my own and could finally dive into the blast processing world that had intrigued me so much as a youth. YOWZAA x2!!! Having access to the huge library of awesome titles that I read so much about in magazines felt surreal. Suddenly, I could shop in the Genesis section at my local Blockbusters or toy store instead of avoiding it like a pack of Greasers trying to shake me down 
. Now it’s time see what these games are really all about!
DUDE… I’m in love!!! There’s awesome and worthwhile titles in every corner of this thing! Fun platformers, sick arcade ports, twitchy puzzlers and many more all polished with Sega’s unique blend of ‘tudey visuals and twangy sounds. The ‘Tude Dude approves 
! Even though I didn’t understand the full scope of the console wars when I was a kid, I began to realize the reasoning behind choosing a side and the pride that came with it. Now that the dust has long settled from that far off battle I can say with the utmost certainty that I’m a Genesis guy 
through and through and feel a special kinship with Sega’s 16-bit juggernaut!
Processing through the Genesis library over the years has been a blast (lame pun intended) and attempting to choose 10 favorites will certainly be difficult considering its sheer size of mega power-infused titles but it’s a challenge that I proudly accept. I feel well-traveled enough in the Genesis universe at this point and am curious to see which games fall where in my rankings after all these years (*cracks knuckles*… time to start crunching some numbers!). So without further ado… The ‘Tude Dude presents a comprehensive breakdown of his favorite games from his favorite overall retro console… the Sega Genesis. SEGA 
!!!
The following is a list of The ‘Tude Dude’s 10 favorite Sega Genesis games of all time.
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Strider, Road Rash 1 & 3, Zombies Ate My Neighbors, TMNT: The Hyperstone Heist, Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi & Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master, Ghouls ‘n Ghosts, NBA Hangtime, Contra: Hard Corps, Kid Chameleon, Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse & Mickey Mania, Columns 1 & 3, NFL Football series, Super Hang-On, Mega Man: The Wily Wars, Golden Axe 1 & 2, Mortal Kombat series, Mutant League Football, Phantasy Star series, Splatterhouse 3, Rocket Knight Adventures, Pit-Fighter, Tommy Lasorda Baseball, Rolling Thunder 2 & 3, Madden NFL series, Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition & Super Street Fighter II, PGA Tour Golf series, Out of This World, Evander Holyfield’s ‘Real Deal’ Boxing, Mega Bomberman, The Adventures of Batman & Robin, NHL Hockey & NHLPA ’93, LandStalker, Pat Riley Basketball, Alien Soldier, Gauntlet IV, Space Harrier II, Earthworm Jim 1 & 2, Pirates! Gold, NBA Jam & NBA Jam T.E., Streets of Rage 1 & 3, Quackshot starring Donald Duck, Strike series (Desert, Jungle and Urban), Jerry Glanville’s Pigskin Footbrawl, King Salmon: The Big Catch, Alisia Dragoon, Skitchin’, The Punisher, Coach K College Basketball, Vectorman 1 & 2, FIFA Soccer series, Mercs, Truxton, Shining Force 1 & 2, Toejam & Earl, NBA Live series, General Chaos, Championship Pro-Am, Thunder Force series, Sunset Riders, Tony La Russa Baseball, Super Off Road, Mario Lemieux Hockey, Rock N’ Roll Racing, X-Men 2: Clone Wars, Double Dragon, Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker, Jurassic Park, Outrun, Toughman Contest, Crusader of Centy, Haunting Starring Polterguy, Disney’s Aladdin, Sonic The Hedgehog, Sonic The Hedgehog 3, Sonic & Knuckles and the stupidly appropriate for the Genesis, Comix Zone |
.Thanks for reading! Questions/Remarks/Suggestions?
Leave below in the comments section or…
E-Mail The ‘Tude Dude
radwriting@thetudedude.com
Follow The ‘Tude Dude
-Pushing Reviews to the EDGE!
Published by
Posted on June 16, 2018
Top 10 Favorite NES Games Of All Time
Scroll below and enjoy
presents a
Favorite
Games Of
All Time
Remembering the NES
The Nintendo Entertainment System was the first console I ever owned as a kid and therefore remains the #1 most nostalgic gaming rig to me personally. While the system employed many kid friendly titles, the NES also was not without its fair share of mondo triumphant ‘tude–filled releases! One things for sure… these games were hard as HELL and would mold even the laziest gamer into a keen eyed predator if you gave them enough of a chance before giving up in frustration. Welcome to the generation of POWER 
!
Whether it be a cryptically puzzling affair that was hard to figure out (like Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest 
for example) or a brutally tough action game with relentless enemy a.i. and twitchy platforming (Ghosts ‘n Goblins 
fits nicely here), NES titles brought it in the difficulty department and provided my childhood with many sleepless nights of “just one more try” when I should have probably been catching some zzz’s. I swear, there’s just something about the challenge from Nintendo’s little grey box that makes beating these games very accomplishing and rewarding despite the usually disappointing single-screen ending that would typically loiter itself at the finish of many of these adventures. Regardless though, the journey is what matters the most anyways (especially in video games) and the NES acted like a wise and disciplined sensai training all those who were worthy to become better, faster and more coordinated in the gaming world whenever you were able to overcome any of its more difficult challenges.
It wasn’t all about difficulty though. Accessibility to new players as well as an extensive library of games for all ages provided the NES with even more incentive to give it a spin especially for families. Peripherals such as the Zapper 
were so easy to understand that they got my 90 year old great-grandparents to give Duck Hunt 
a try despite barely understanding the concept of what a video game even was! Who doesn’t comprehend shooting things with a gun? I know they did and it was a blast for the whole family to watch Nana and Papa squint their eyes at the t.v. to try and get a clear shot at one of those pesky flying mallards. Additionally, the NES controller was relatively simple for most people to grasp and paired nicely with the multitudes of different games that adorned the grand library of Nintendo’s 8-bit behemoth.
Speaking of games (…that is why we’re here after all), the NES was chocked full of exciting and challenging titles that were sure to keep you busy for many trips around the Sun. Action games, puzzlers, shooters, arcade ports… they’re all here and given the chance will supply tons of entertainment to players of all varieties. Picking a favorite’s list will not be easy considering the size of the library combined with the other previously mentioned attributes but it’s a challenge that I’m willing to take considering my love of the NES and its vast array of awesome games. Now you’re playing with power dudes 
!
The following is a list of The ‘Tude Dude’s 10 favorite NES games of all time.
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  Combining action/rpg elements to an addictive beat em’ up engine, River City Ransom excels for me as a non-traditional brawler game full of charm and character. |
  One of the easiest pick-up-and-play sports games on the NES, Blades Of Steel provided the best arcade style ice hockey experience on the console (complete with a glove-dropping and jaw shattering fight simulator). |
  The godfather of puzzle games, Tetris supplies players with an extremely addictive gameplay style mixed with a relaxing and engaging soundtrack that always has me coming back for more. |
  With impressive cinematic cut-scenes and all the wall climbing a masked assassin could ask for, Ninja Gaiden still ranks as one of my personal favorite action entries on the console and yet another excuse to escape into the world of shurikens and katana swords. |
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.Thanks for reading! Questions/Remarks/Suggestions?
Leave below in the comments section or…
E-Mail The ‘Tude Dude
radwriting@thetudedude.com
Follow The ‘Tude Dude
-Pushing Reviews to the EDGE!
Published by
Posted on June 16, 2018
A Retro Review – Super Mario Bros. 3
Hit play above for in-game music from this title
Scroll below for review
presents a
by
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 (Coolness not guaranteed) |
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 (Great game) |
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Without question one of the greatest video gaming experiences that can be had in the hobby, Super Mario Bros. 3 provides players with a BEYOND-grandiose 8-bit adventure full of fun and satisfaction that somehow seems like it shouldn’t all be able to fit within one single NES cartridge |
Story
Bowser returns in Super Mario Bros. 3 armed with a fleet of airships and flanked by 7 new Koopa generals known as Koopalings. Each Koopaling is sent to one of the 7 kingdoms of Mushroom World where they have stolen that king’s magical wand and transformed him into an animal of some variety (because… of course). Now it’s up to the Mario Bros. to travel to each besieged land and restore the monarchs back to normal otherwise surrender to the Koopa King and his horde once and for all!
Overview
In Super Mario Bros. 3, your goal is the same as previous installments (i.e. collect power-ups, stomp enemies, make it from beginning point to end, etc.) however this was the first Super Mario Bros. game to have an “over world” screen essentially allowing you to alternate your path through each world and avoid some areas if desired. The worlds (or kingdoms) are made up of many different types of platform stages all leading up to an airship encounter at the end containing one of Bowser’s 7 Koopalings who must be defeated (done by jumping on their heads 3 times) before you can proceed. There’s also a couple of different bonus levels/mini games that can be played to obtain power-ups and extra lives during your journey.
Mario can jump on enemies just as before but also can use power-ups when he finds them such as the Super Leaf (which allows Mario to use a tail whip attack and also fly) as well as the Hammer Suit (which enables Mario to throw hammers) and many more. Even better, you can now store these items for later (when received on the over world) and use them at your discretion! Traverse your way through the 7 different kingdoms in the Mushroom World defeating all of Bowser’s Koopaling henchmen along the way to open up your path to the vile Dark Land. Conquer your way through this final gauntlet to reach the Koopa King Bowser himself and defeat him to complete the game.
Cast
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 Toad (protagonist support) Bonus house proprietor |
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 Bowser (main antagonist) Scourge of Mushroom Kingdom… proud dad |
This 3rd Time Is The Ultimate Charm (XL section)
*Disclaimer* The following review contains many out-of-context lines and pictures from the awful, yet memorable movie The Wizard. If you have not seen the film then feel free to disregard the quotes entirely as they have absolutely no merit on the review at all other than some additional comedy and perspective from the past. And now, without further ado…
(“I love the Power Glove… it’s so bad 
!”)… Man, there’s no way I can even think about Super Mario Bros. 3 without remembering the movie The Wizard. My introduction to Mario’s 3rd entry on the system was found in the film’s “Video Armageddon” scene which promised to reveal a brand new NES game. After sludging through what seemed like an eternity of terrible dialogue (“I was closing in on the barbarian 
!!!”), ridiculous story and very little actual in-game footage, the movie slammed me in the face like a Mack truck with one of the coolest endings I have ever seen in the world of films (“Now I’m really gonna brain you out 
!”)!
After an awesome futuristic door opening scene (and an epic space shuttle sounding countdown), the large screens behind are revealed to show the brand new (at the time) Super Mario Bros. 3!!! HOLY COW! What a rad introduction as it had me jacked to play the game as fast as I could tying it together with this movie in a very unique way. Not really sure how they knew where to find the magic whistles right off the bat but who cares… MARIO 3 AHHHHH!!! (Wipes brow… composes self) Whew… okay now that we got that out of the way let’s move on to just the game… (“Ninja GaiDEN…Hai 
!!!”)… haha no not that one.
Super Mario Bros. 3 is an action platform game where the object is to defeat each level by making your way from the starting point and avoiding enemies and obstacles on your way to the final goal (presented as like a Mario item slot machine box – “Get the star Jimmy get the star 
“). While simple sounding enough, the sheer amount of quality level design in the game is an absolute marvel to behold. Truly no 2 stages are the same as each new area brings a different kind of challenge whether it be a water level full of Jelectro 
(stationary electric enemies that Mario must swim around) or a castle where you have to navigate opposite moving treadmills while avoiding Boos 
(ghost enemies that trail you when your not looking at them) just to name a few however the less said about scrolling levels (especially ones where you have to navigate platforms in the air while the screen is moving) the better (“What is this kid some kind of cyborg or something 
?” … cough cough) though luckily there’s not too many of these. In addition to the “in-game” stages, a brand new to the series “over world” screen adorns Super Mario Bros. 3 allowing for several new gameplay variables like item storage and mini games which were all equally innovative and cohesive to the gameplay overall.
Coupling perfectly with the excellent level variety is the super deep enemy rundown led by returning oldies Goombas 
and Koopa Troopas 
as well as new additions like Chain Chomps 
and Venus Fire Traps 
plus many many more. The boss battles have improved dramatically over previous games from the small castle Boom Boom’s 
(I swear some of the game’s most intense moments come in these very simple mini boss battles) leading up to the fun assortment you’ll get from Bowsers Koopaling generals each one offering a difficult airship level and unique battle such as shooting projectiles at you (like Wendy 
does with her rings) or jumping down on the floor and stunning you (Ludwig’s 
favorite strategy… “Just keep your Power Glove off of her pal 
“ … clears throat). Bowser 
himself looks great in his return from hiatus and the final trudge through the hellish “Dark Land” to get to him is the most challenging and rewarding part of the whole game.
Okay so we know that there are many different types of levels and enemies but how about Mario himself 
? Well, he’s great thanks for asking and why shouldn’t he be. Yet another trip into the Mushroom Kingdom to go spelunking for weird items and jumping on the backs of unsuspecting enemies. Luckily, Mario feels good when you control him though he does have a definite slipperiness that sometimes feels like you stop a little farther than you want to but it’s very minor (honestly it feels much the same as Mario 1 to me). My favorite part of the controls is the jumping. It really feels responsive and it’s more fun than ever to try and juggle bounce off of a multitude of baddies.
Returning power-ups are back from Mario 1 & 2 like the Mushroom 
, Fire Flower 
and Star 
but they all cower in fear to the Super Leaf 
, a brand new enhancement that allows Mario to fly as well as tail whip enemies to attack them. Man, how did we ever survive without this thing? With the power of this amazingly turbocharged tree debris, Mario becomes pretty much like a superhero and the Mushroom Kingdom melts into your hands like butter as he flies above hazards and floats down safely to accessible platforms. Further enhancements grant Mario even more power like the Frog Suit 
which makes swimming much easier, the Hammer Suit 
which grants you the ability to… throw hammers (similar to the Fire Flower) and the Tanooki Suit 
which brings all the same abilities as the Super Leaf as well as the option to turn into a statue 
which makes you invincible at the expense of movement (quite useful for those pesky “fireball windmills” in the castles). Couple all that with the new option to keep collected power-ups stored away for the first time ever in a Mario game (accessible on the over world screen) and you have the fewest amount of excuses EVER to not persevere through all of Super Mario Bros. 3 offerings regardless of how difficult they get.
The music in Super Mario Bros. 3 is very fun and catchy being both cutesy and lighthearted in some levels and “bassy” and heavier in others displaying a nice contrast. This back and forth blends perfectly with each new area as the music appropriately pairs with Mario’s surroundings whether your bouncing off of a Boomerang Bro 
in a happier outside stage or sliding on your butt into a Buzzy Beetle 
while navigating an ominous underground level. The sound effects are, of course, extremely memorable (i.e. collecting coins, going down a pipe, jumping on a Koopa Troopa, etc.) and hearken your brain instantly to a special place when hearing them as is par for the course with any release in the Super Mario Bros. series.
The graphics are absolutely beautiful and some of my favorite overall on the system especially the sprites. Most of the colors are fun and different and you always feel that the area your in is draped in an appropriate hue (i.e. the sandy browns of the desert levels or the lush greens in any of the grassy stages) though some of the backgrounds look questionable which prevents the visuals from entering the masterpiece realm. Still, when stacked up against the multitudes of Nintendo games out there Super Mario Bros. 3 looks great and definitely belongs in the upper echelon in this category.
Analyzing Super Mario Bros. 3 with the ‘Tude Meter yields some edgy feedback (Roy Koopa’s glasses are dope 
!) mostly from the spiteful enemies and final hell stage though Mario himself has never stood out particularly in this department to me (“I don’t care if you did like me your attitude sucks 
“)! He basically looks like a real life plumber (minus the exposed butt-crack thank god) making him seem like just a more normal and nice kind of guy which doesn’t exactly warrant intimidation. It’s not really like he’s ever needed it though I mean he gets along fine without superficiality but it’s slightly more noticeable here considering the game’s release (1990) during the heightened trend towards eye-grabbing machismo. I will say he’s always looked more boss when he’s little for some reason like a determined underdog willing to go the distance 
as opposed to the dopey looking bigger version of himself who resembles a snowman with hair 
but it’s far from anything I’d consider ‘tudey.
To be honest, the only gripes I could really muster up about this game would be negligible at best and not even worth mentioning next to the monumental awesomeness of every great thing including two components I just had to squeeze in. The first is the difficulty level which in my opinion is one of the best examples of a hard NES game that’s not unfair, meaning that it’s totally beatable but the challenge is extremely satisfying. The second is the super cool multiplayer aspect (essentially a clone of the arcade game Mario Bros.) where players can battle each other for goal cards which caused many fun and competitive sleepovers with friends when I was younger. It’s this great attention to detail coupled with an absolutely wonderful cornucopia of quality gameplay, excellent controls and pleasing aesthetics that makes Super Mario Bros. 3 one of the greatest overall experiences that can be had in gaming. There’s no doubt, this game is playing with power like nothing else and to think it all started with a kid walking in the desert saying… “Caleefornia 
.” … ugh!
Critical Analysis
5/5 |
5/5 |
5/5 |
5/5 |
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This game RULES! Despite its cheesy association with the guilty-pleasure crapfest film The Wizard (a movie I LOVE to hate), there’s truly not much higher praise I could lump down on this perfect blend of platforming goodness other than to give it as high a score as I can possibly give! Coalescing many of the components that already made the series great with a plethora of fresh ideas befitting of a top-flight sequel, Super Mario Bros. 3 absolutely KILLS IT claiming top marks as both a single and multiplayer affair chalked full of fun factor and variety at every turn. Its excellent level design, appealing graphics, cool sounds and outstanding controls make this game one of the most fun experiences you will EVER have on the NES bar none! Furthermore, I find the challenge to be an absolutely perfect climb from beginning to end as it starts out simple enough in the early levels but crescendo’s beautifully in the later stages leading to many loud “ohh’s” and “ahh’s” especially in the final hell world where the challenge reaches its peak. It’s only “low” point for me is its modest approach towards superficial ‘tude which is par for the course of the g-rated Mario Bros. series though I do feel like this one turned up the dial a little bit more than its predecessors indicating its proximity to the neon anomaly as the 90’s picked up steam. Overall though, Super Mario Bros. 3 is one of the greatest NES games there is and cannot be recommended enough. In fact, it’s one of the greatest games PERIOD! Its showcase of quality and depth is unparalleled and remains instant fun now and forever. Play it alone… play it with friends… who cares… JUST PLAY IT! |
“These enemies are freakin’ Cheep… Cheep 
!”
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Leave below in the comments section or…
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Posted on June 15, 2018
A Retro Review – Sonic The Hedgehog
Hit play above for in-game music from this title
Scroll below for review
presents a
by
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 (Sega Genesis) |
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(Platform) |
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 (Single-player) |
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 (Coolness guaranteed) |
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 (Good game) |
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Not just the catalyst to a larger franchise, Sonic The Hedgehog stands firmly on its own as a speed-racing side-scroller capable of delivering a fun and rewarding experience to players of all skill levels |
Story
Dr. Robotnik has put all of the local animals into metal robot suits for the purposes of collecting the 6 Chaos Emeralds and gaining their power. What did they do to him anyways… who knows? Now it’s up to Sonic to rescue the fuzzy little guys and halt Robotnik’s very farfetched and inhumane plan.
Overview
Sonic the Hedgehog is a mad dash side-scrolling platform game where you guide Sonic from the beginning point of each stage to the end while avoiding enemy attacks, collecting rings and generally blitzing at breakneck speeds as often as feels right. Each level consists of 3 “acts” with 2 platforming sections leading up to a Dr. Robotnik boss battle who blocks your path for further admittance until defeated. Pretty much all of the stages involve dashing Sonic around at high speeds (which is good considering there is a time limit in the game) though there’s also some slower sections that require a more methodical approach.
Sonic’s only real attack involves him hitting a foe while spinning which can be accomplished by either jumping on an enemy or rolling into one. Along the way, you may optionally collect the 6 Chaos Emeralds if you can guide Sonic through the maze-like bonus stages that contain them which will unlock the “proper” ending. To gain access to these areas, Sonic must have 50 rings in his possession when crossing that level’s end goal which simultaneously act as his “health” allowing him to take a hit from an enemy as long as he has at least one on him ensuring the player’s desire to maintain a steady greed for them throughout gameplay. Make your way through all the different stages and defeat the final incarnation of Dr. Robotnik (with or without the Chaos Emeralds) to complete the game.
Cast
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 Animal Friends (in distress) Seriously… any monster that would exploit these adorable little creatures needs to be stopped like yesterday! |
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Speed Kills… The Opposition (XL section)
Ahhh Good ole’ Sonic. Let’s be honest, if you’ve never heard of the blue hedgehog than you’ve probably clicked on the wrong website. Just hearing that “SEGA” 
chime as soon as the game boots up still gets my Genesis senses tingling. Sonic the Hedgehog, the quintessential Sega mascot, is The ‘Tude Dude’s first ever experience with a Genesis game and remains a super RAD time even to this day! Why is Sonic so rad? Cause of the mega ‘tudage dude 
(god I hope somebody said that somewhere)! In reality it probably has more to do with the game’s fun control scheme, memorable music and cool graphics.
Or perhaps it has something to do with the SPEED– Sonic’s biggest standout attribute by far. While other platforming characters move and run at a modest pace, this hedgehog zips at maximum velocity and shows off capably the incredible blast processing power of the Genesis. Holding down the d-pad either left or right will engage Sonic in his favorite activity and you’ll be having tons of fun right away running with brisk ferocity through these “roller coaster” like stages.
The concept is simple – make it to the end of each level without dying so that you can face and defeat Dr. Robotnik 
(in various mechanical contraptions) and free the animals of whatever zone your in. Along the way you’ll collect rings 
which serve as both a means to unlocking the bonus stages that house the Chaos Emeralds (if you can hold on to 50 or more of them when reaching the end goal of the level) and also a sort-of health for Sonic as he can take a hit from an enemy as long as he’s holding at least 1 ring but will die if he has none. Additionally, there are some power-ups that can be utilized for more help during your trek such as the shield 
which surrounds Sonic in a force field and protects him from getting hit once, the speed shoes 
which give Sonic a ridiculous tempo increase for a short time and invincibility 
which grants Sonic invulnerability for a brief stint.
You’ll run and flip through a variety of stages avoiding/engaging several different types of enemies such as Buzz Bombers 
, Choppers 
and Caterkillers 
just to name a few. Sonic can attack these henchmen by jumping on top of or rolling into them but beware their unique means of defense as each enemy must be addressed differently such as avoiding the spiny backs of the Caterkillers and only attacking their heads for instance. The boss battles work much the same as every incarnation of Dr. Robotnik will need to be jumped into by Sonic while avoiding his attacks and/or the obstacles of the surrounding area.
The controls feel tight whenever moving Sonic which is nice especially when dashing at fast speeds. Navigating the different level types while going at a kamikaze rate feels insanely awesome and this game always has me throwing normal conventions to the wind as I continuously trade in slow-moving safety for balls-to-the-walls speed! Thankfully, the controls are with you every step of the way and they’re a real high-point to Sonic the Hedgehog (and the whole series in my opinion) as they’re simple, accessible and responsive throughout all facets of Sonic’s adventure.
The music is really good at times (Green Hill Zone and Marble Zone are my favorites) and somewhat forgettable at others (Spring Yard Zone and Scrap Brain Zone just aren’t bringing it like the earlier levels did) however the sound effects are extremely satisfying and perfectly unique for the game (ring chime anyone). Hearing the “WONG” sound from getting the shield power-up or the “oh EH” from getting an air bubble just tickles my brain in a very happy and strange way. Quite literally, all it takes is one tick from any of these recognizable noises and I’m instantly transported to playing this with my next door neighbor as a kid.
The graphics are also quite nice especially the sprites. Many of the animations from the in-game characters look cartoony and cool while Sonic himself looks the best of all whether moving his legs in a whirlwind when running at high speeds 
or wobbling near the edge of a cliff 
just to name a few. Most of the colors look good as well and each level has a distinct tone and feel contrasted by a unique visual design although some of the backgrounds can be pretty funny looking to say the least. Sonic’s racing at full-speed down the highway to success however there’s a few potholes in the road that slow our ‘tude filled buddy down.
One area of the game that I find to be a mixed bag is the level design. The most fun zones have you speeding Sonic through a multitude of maze-like loops and tunnels while your brain goes on auto-pilot to an almost drool inducing catatonic state while other, stranger areas, have you plodding through water slowly or waiting for weird elevator-type things to finish their slow rise so that you can proceed 
. That bonus stage too… WOW! Why does Sonic have to spin inside a room that’s spinning surrounded by more spinning things? What’s with the trippy birds and fish in the background? My brain hurts just thinking about it… moving on. Also, the boss battles feel underwhelming to say the least though seeing Dr. Robotnik with his angry face after you defeat him each time is rather satisfying 
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Without question this game is oozing ‘tude all over with distinctive Genesis twang and Sonic’s overall demeanor. I swear he looks pissed all the time and quite frankly I love it. It’s like he’s ready to get in a bar-fight with anything at anytime (even you “the player” if you make Sonic stand still for too long 
) making you feel as though you can super run your way through the whole game blindfolded and not too many things sound more bodacious than that!
Looking back on the game as a whole, Sonic the Hedgehog is certainly not without some flaws but in terms of platforming (especially for its time) you will be hard pressed to find anything more satisfying and accessible while also being “cool”. I swear, the Genesis simply wouldn’t be the same without this Mario rival and Sega has become as synonymous with their pack in mascot as any other video game company. It brought a unique challenge with its super-fast speed and also offers some replay value with its alternate ending reward for obtaining all of the chaos emeralds before defeating the final incarnation of Dr. Robotnik. Even if your a hardcore Nintendo fanboy (sheesh I hope the battle is long over now), give Sonic the Hedgehog a spin and try out some blast processing in your diet!
Critical Analysis
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3/5 |
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4/5 |
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4/5 |
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5/5 |
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At the end of the day, Sonic the Hedgehog presents a pleasantly gratifying experience on the Sega Genesis providing quality metrics across the board! Blast processing and mega-powered ‘tude seem to fuel “the blue blur” making him the perfect representative for the up-start and rebellious Genesis and this the perfect “killer app tech-demo” platform game to showcase the performance and bravado of the console. Though Nintendo had effectively set the initial bar in the mainstream’s conscience with the Mario Bros. series, Sonic the Hedgehog loaded up Sega’s barrels for the impending gunfight against the mushroom eating plumber admirably with a unique experience predicated on “roller-coaster/pinball” gameplay which was too tantalizing to ignore. Add to that a finger-snapping soundtrack and eye-popping graphics and you’ve got a true contender to the crown in its running and jumping genre! Of course, it’s not all golden rings and chili dogs for our hero otherwise the score would reflect that but I digress. The pacing screeches to a besmirching halt at times foregoing its namesake as you wait for any number of obstacles to move out of your way showcasing some of the clumsier moments. I mean, it DOES feel a little anti-climatic to be zipping around loops in some sections only to have to stand idly on a slow-moving conveyor across lava (“quit looking at me like that Sonic I can’t make this thing move any faster than you can!”) but it is what it is I suppose. Also, many of the boss battles with Dr. Robotnik (miss me with that Eggman stuff) feel a little too scaled down for my taste in terms of difficulty tempering the excitement a bit for what should be some of the juicier moments in the game. Overall though despite some speed bumps, Sonic the Hedgehog delivers a totally bodacious, ‘tude filled, spinning, flipping, dashing good time sparking a revolution within the gaming universe as a Hall of Fame-worthy mascot character while at the same time supplying a fun and memorable title that kick-started a long (…and FAST) running franchise. Now that’s playing with MEGA power! |
“You know what… you can keep your Chaos Emeralds – I’m on the vertigo fringe!”
Thanks for reading! Questions/Remarks/Suggestions?
Leave below in the comments section or…
E-Mail The ‘Tude Dude
radwriting@thetudedude.com
Follow The ‘Tude Dude
-Pushing Reviews to the EDGE!
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