Author: davegladow

Super Mario Kart — Retro Gaming Essentials (No. 20)

So, here we are.

I’ve written 19 of these things so far. I’m on my last review for a perfect Top 20, and I’m faced with probably a dozen or so worthy contenders (at minimum) for the final slot.

The biggest question I asked myself as a tie-breaker was this: Is a particular genre under-represented?

As it happens, the answer to that question made it an easy choice.

Say hello to Super Mario Kart, one of best racing games of all time, an inspired use of an existing, popular license, the genesis of an entire sub-genre of gaming (“kart racing”), and just a damn fine piece of popular entertainment.

Super Mario Kart at a glance:

Genre: Racing
Released: 1992
Platform: SNES
Next Generation’s No. 7 game of all time (1999)
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Soldier Blade — Retro Gaming Essentials (No. 19)

One of the earliest genres of video games is the shooter.

Why?

Simplicity.

Here’s the concept: Fire a projectile at an enemy or obstacle, watch it blow up, rinse, repeat.

You see? With such a relatively modest list of goals for a group of programmers to try to achieve, the appeal is obvious.

And for the gamer, the idea of blowing crap up is fun too.

So, shooters’ explosion in popularity in the 1970s and 80s was probably inevitable, and they’re an important part of gaming history.

I included the wack-a-doodle Air Zonk earlier in this countdown, but I also knew, given the genre’s importance, I should probably include a more traditional shooter somewhere in my Top 20.

How did I settle on Soldier Blade?

It’s really stinking good.

Soldier Blade at a glance:

Genre: Shooter
Released: 1992
Platform: Turbografx-16
5/5 from GamePro
Continue reading Soldier Blade — Retro Gaming Essentials (No. 19)

WhoDatJedi podcast: How do the prequels enhance the original Star Wars trilogy?

So lots of people complain about the prequels. I get it. But I like them.

Here are some of the ways the prequels enhanced the original movies.

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