Five games the Turbografx-16 Mini needs

The Turbografx-16 Mini is getting closer and closer.

The official Twitter account of the PC-Engine Mini (the Japanese version of the system) recently sent out a tweet showing the box art for the device.

This tweet had the two-fold effect of:

  1. Making me once again super excited for a product that is still roughly four months away.
  2. Making me sad about the now seemingly near 0% chance that any more games will be added to it.

On that first point, here’s where I express thanks and appreciation for what we are getting. Yes, it could be better (and we’ll be getting to that point shortly), but it is not lost on me that I get to both experience the nostalgia of some of my favorite games from my youth, but also I get to play the games that I never could at the time (all for a price point I can afford). That last point is HUGE, because the Japanese games that did NOT port over to the United States were oftentimes much better than their American counterparts. Trying to acquire them was difficult/expensive, so it became a non-starter.

I recall being insanely jealous that I couldn’t play Castlevania: Rondo of Blood or Street Fighter II on my Turbografx-16. But having already sunk money into the expensive CD add-on, I was wary of trying to jump through the financial hoops necessary to try to play these amazing games.

But in four months, that’s not going to be a problem anymore, because on the American version of this mini, they’re including games localized to America AND Japan, and that Japan lineup is pretty much just a bunch of kick-ass all-stars (and a few weirdos, but whatever).

But anyway, on to Point 2, which is the point [sic] of this article.

I feel there are still some pretty important games that are missing. I’ve hoped some of them might be added, but alas, that doesn’t seem likely.

Still, I’m ever the optimist. In this article I propose the manufacturer of this exciting system, Konami, make five simple additions to take this system from great to phenomenal. Konami could make the call to replace five games, just five games on this thing and it would be basically amazing.

Continue reading Five games the Turbografx-16 Mini needs

WhoDatJedi Podcast — The Mandalorian Season 1, Episode 2: Lone Wolf and Egg

On “The Mandalorian,” I can say this: I’m really digging this show.

If you are too, come listen to some New Orleans guys gab about it for awhile.

Continue reading WhoDatJedi Podcast — The Mandalorian Season 1, Episode 2: Lone Wolf and Egg

WhoDatJedi Podcast — The Mandalorian Season 1, Episode 1: ‘I have spoken’

Welp, I’m getting back into the podcasting game

Good friend Aaron Svoboda broached the topic several months back, and while flattered, I didn’t feel up to the challenge.

What changed for me was a persistence by Aaron and a love for the material — Star Wars and other pop culture from a New Orleans perspective — and so, well, here we are.

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The Last Jedi retrospective: Why we’re still here

Do you like “Star Wars” or do you not like it?

It seems like a simple question to me.

I mean, if you’re sitting here reading this, chances are, you like this stuff, right? At minimum, you like some of it. But then again, that doesn’t preclude you flaming the hell out of some of the rough bits … or at least fairly critiquing said rough bits (I certainly engage in the latter).

It just seems like a fair question to pose when some people have been so enormously hostile toward some of the films in the series (particularly lately). Because if you’re still on board with some of this material, it doesn’t make sense to me to try to ruin some of the rest of it for others.

Common ground = being a Star Wars fan.

Opinions about the entirety of that universe will differ widely from person to person, so it stands to reason some people will enjoy what you don’t. Some people like the prequels. Some don’t. Some find the teddy bears in “Return of the Jedi” revoltingly offensive. Some love them to pieces. Some people HATE the Disney era. Some of us love it. I don’t think we’re ever going to reach a consensus here on any of it. So, it just doesn’t make any sense to me to devote hours upon hours of dedication to an angry YouTube channel to tear down that which you claim to love.

Do you like “Star Wars” or do you not like it?

“The Last Jedi” — maybe more than any other film in the series — will put you on the spot and demand you answer that question one way or the other.

Continue reading The Last Jedi retrospective: Why we’re still here