Funco Land - A land of Fun...co..

Where kids came to trade in their games for $3 and buy pre-owned ones for $50 with nice colorful cases. The good 'ol days!

Toys'R'Us Video Game Slips Nostalgia

When all it took was a video game slip to purchase your favorite video game

A Re-seller RANT

The days of where we could find NES and SNES games for a few dollars are gone...thanks to the RESELLER. A RANT.

How I let EARTHBOUND slip through my fingers...

My ultimate prize...gone again.

The Ultimate NES Review Collection

Join me as I suffer through every single NES game known to man! Prepare yourself!

Friday, January 30, 2015

Nerdicus SNES Review #57: Chester Cheetah: Too Cool to Fool



Title : Chester Cheetah: Too Cool to Fool

Publisher : System Vision

Developer : Kaneko


Genre : Action Platformer

Players : 1

Release Date : 1992

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $5 - $10

Probably the greatest thing on television nowadays are the Cheetos commercials. Chester Cheetah, is by far one of the best mascots to ever be put on a bag of chips. Then again, I think he's the only mascot to be used for chips, isn't he? Were there others? Who knows. Seriously though who can resist a bad ass cheetah who has an attitude problem and is quite possibly one of the most sarcastic arses ever.

Hell, he was everywhere. I'm talking T-shirts, hats, playing cards, toys. You name it. This cat was all about sucking in that pre-teen kid and getting them to buy product. Most of the time it worked.


I really hope Cheetos starts doing Super Bowl commercials. Speaking of which, Happy Super Bowl Weekend....hope the Pat's get destroyed. OH, hope I didn't lose any fans there lol.

And I don't know about you people, but Cheetos are probably one of the best "chips" out there. Okay, besides kettle salt n vinegar potato chips, those are the best. But, can you even call Cheetos, chips? What do you call chips that aren't potato chips? 

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Retro Gamer Memories #7: The Day I Transformed Into A Gamer

Last month I happened across a little thing called Man Crates - Side note, if you haven't heard of man crates yet, you need to check them out. Picture the most epic loot boxes ever created, that are required to be open by the use of a crowbar. Who doesn't want to pry open a wooden box with a crow bar!? That would make me feel like Indiana Jones unveiling the hidden Arc in that giant government facility with all the wooden crates. Drool.

Then I was struck by one of the most eye-pleasing images this gamer could ever feast upon - quite possibly the most awesome man-crate around. The Video Game Nostalgia kit......Yes, please.



I thought to myself, "Hey, what the heck would go into my own gaming man-crate?" Oh, boy. The things I would throw in that sucker.

First off, I need a Nintendo in there. The OG. The system that made it all happen for me. Throw in a few classic NES games, and I'm talking Super Mario Brothers 3, The Legend of Zelda, Contra, Mega Man, and I'm set for life. After all, those are some of the games I've played numerous times over the years, and they just keep on calling to me. Hell, there's a reason why I enjoy retro games more than the modern ones. HA, probably because they're downright awesome and actually provide a challenge. Unlike the hand-holding crap we're forced to endure nowadays.

Secondly, for my late night gaming sessions, I'm going to need some sort of caffeine buzz. Back in the day, when my friends were gaming into the wee hours of the morning, we always started the night by making a  7-11 run and stocking up on goodies. I'm talking bags of Cheetos, an occasional Taco Bell chili cheese burrito (why don't they make those anymore), and a few bottles of Jolt. Come on, who remembers JOLT! That soda was insane. Probably because it made you absolutely off the wall hyper.

Third, while this can't be included in the man-crate, it's something I always enjoy having when I'm getting into my gaming moods: a group of good friends to game with. Although, it would be funny to see them shoved into a crate and shipped to me. With air holes of course. Don't want them keeling over during the trip.

Thinking about what went into my crate though posed an interesting question. All this talk about gaming, and my survival needs through the use of an epic crate made me think about what got me to where I am today? What was that 'key moment' that turned ME, you're average kid, into a gamer?

At first, I though this was going to be something pretty formulaic to answer. After all, I have been considering myself a gamer since I was just a wee lad. Surely the instant which I transformed into one has been ingrained in my mind. Hell, I posted it about it when I first started this blog. Go ahead, travel back and time and view those original posts if you dare. I'll link them here real quick for your viewing pleasure.


Maybe it was the months, okay I'm lying, years I spent playing World of Warcraft. Nah, that's too recent, but hell I had a heck of a time playing that game and made a dozen new friends through the incredible interaction found through online gaming. But that's for another post, and that's not really what turned me into a gamer. I was a gamer way before that. 

So perhaps playing with friends is a huge part of gaming? This is true, and I can go on and on about the midnight binges and competitions my friends and I had in the depths of my gaming basement back in high school creating tournaments of Mario Kart 64, Goldeneye, and Super Smash Bros. Still, too recent...we need to go back. Quickly, do the Waynes World wavy fingers sound effect dream sequence thing.





Of course, it had to have been when I first played the Atari 2600. Why wouldn't it be? It was the first video game console I was ever exposed to. Hours on end playing Pitfall, Keystone Capers, Dig Dug, Donkey Kong, and of course Pac Man. But, then again...I was really young back then, with a true lack of appreciation for what I was actually doing. Hell, I didn't even know what I was doing half the time when I was playing video games back then. In fact, most of the time I would pass over the controller to my older sister or my parents, and just watch them play. They were always better at it, and I only found myself practicing the same areas over and over again. Seriously, I don't think I got past the first or second screen on Pitfall without lunging head first into the gaping maw of a croc. So, maybe it wasn't the Atari.

Moving on..


You have got to love that picture right there. Video Game ads are quite possibly the worst at portraying how people play video games. They're so unbelievably fake, and it really makes me wonder if ad agencies have ever a) played video games, and b) SEEN anyone play video games before. First of all, most parents would be prying their kids away from sitting too close to the screen. Secondly, you need to plug the game into the system, and actually have the console hooked up. Third, it isn't a two player game you idiots! AGH! What else is wrong...point it out..come on..I dare you.

Okay so then it had to have been the Nintendo, right? This is the system that made me a gamer! In a way, this is correct. Nintendo was what really sucked me in as a gamer, and I remember vividly more than anything every single game I played on that system. Hell, there is a reason I am going through and reviewing every single Nintendo game ever made, and it's because this system had the biggest impact. From Super Mario Brothers, to Contra, to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Mega Man. The list goes on and on of games that impacted me as a kid. And thanks to Nintendo, it transformed me into that "Gamer" profession. Ha, profession. I wish.

But thinking about it now.....it could have only really been one moment. The day I turned into a gamer didn't just involve a video game. Nope, it involved both a video game and a magazine. A little magazine by the name of NINTENDO POWER. 

Need a hint? Well, here's a copy of the letter from one of the greatest promotions ever given by a company.


That's right. If you were a reader of Nintendo Power, you most likely remember that issue where they offered a free copy of DRAGON WARRIOR to anyone who subscribed to the magazine. You see, I was already buying this magazine, but if I remember correctly I was just getting it sporadically from my parents, and had no idea where they were getting it from. I recall my parents asking me how much I enjoyed the magazine, and they really didn't have to. I was glued to the pages for hours at a time, and if you need any more proof of my obsession, I still have all my original issues to this day. Sure, they're in absolutely horrid shape, but that just proves how many times I actually re-read them all. Over....and over...AND OVER again.

Then I happened upon a commercial on TV, and my brain practically exploded. One of the most epic commercials for a video game to every grace a kids sponge of a brain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDLfm4nybvc

So, my parents subscribed to Nintendo Power, and a month later the package came in the mail. A copy of DRAGON WARRIOR a cool little card with a map of the world and a list of all the monsters you were going to encounter in your quest. You have no idea how I LONG to have this back in my collection. Sure I have the game, but I wish I had the original promotional envelope and package that it came in. I doubt I'll ever find it unless I stumble across it on eBay one day. Who knows, I can dream.

Here I was, an 8 year old kid, ready to embark on the journey of a lifetime. Little did I know, I was about to get my butt handed to me.


Now I won't get into details on Dragon Warrior just yet, because I'll save that for my reviews, but let's just say Dragon Warrior was basically every Nintendo players introduction to RPG's. Unless you were exposed to some of the old PC RPGs. For me, this was it. A hero of a legendary line sent on a quest to rid the world of the evil Dragonlord. Yeah, it doesn't get quite better than that for someone obsessed with Dragons and Knights. 

However, the game was actually quite hard, and there was a lot, and I mean a LOT of level grinding involved. Most of my days were spent coming home from school, or waking up early just so I can level up my character more in order to ready myself for the next cave, or trek to the next town. Hell, you knew that when you crossed those bridges, the enemies were ready to demolish you, and they usually did. 

But getting back to the point of this article. The moment I really transformed into a gamer. I had spent weeks playing this game. Preparing myself for the final battle against the Dragonlord. It was late at night when I finally reached his throne room. I had all the best equipment, and my inventory was stocked with medicinal herbs. Before me, was the Dragonlord himself. I engaged in battle with him, and to my surprise I completely and utterly destroyed him.

I jumped to my feet, cheering, running through the house and telling my parents to come into the front room where we had the television and Nintendo set up. I pointed at the screen, showing them how I just defeated the Dragonlord, and then it happened. My dad laughed and said to me, "It doesn't look like you did." I was taken aback. Of course I beat him. I just saw him vanish from the screen. As I looked at the television, my jaw dropped. A new monster had appeared. The true form of the Dragonlord.


There was little eight year old me, crapping bricks in front of my parents. My sister, didn't give a rats arse what I was screaming about, but my parents sat down next to me and watched as I grabbed the controller, took a deep breath, and engaged in the fight of my life. The Dragonlord and I went back and forth for what seemed like an eternity, exchanging blows, and recovering health at any opportune moment. There were times when I thought I was never going to defeat him. He was just too powerful, and I was just a measly knight. Then, with one final slash of my sword, the Dragon vanished from the screen, and the text scrolled across the bottom that I was victorious. 

I can't lie. I probably cried as a kid. Tears of joy from defeating the hardest boss I had ever encountered in a video game, and a test of my perseverance and determination over the past few weeks. I took my warrior back into the castle gates, and watched as the ending credits rolled. To be honest, Dragon Warrior was the first game I EVER beat on my own. Every other game, I also asked for assistance. Even the first Mario game I had made my sister beat the very last Bowser because I thought I was going to lose. Not this time though. This time, the Dragonlord met his match, by an 8-year-old gamer.




So that's it. The real moment in time where I became a Gamer. Or at least what I can think of now. Sure enough, I'd probably think of more moments in time that probably impacted me, but those are for another blog post, don't you think?

That about covers it, folks. The moment in which I became a gamer, and what I'd toss into my good 'ol MAN CRATE nostalgia gaming box. How bout you? What turned you into a gamer, and what the heck would you want in your man-crate? Let me know, and feel free to post about it in the comments section.

Until next time.

Keep on Gaming.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Nerdicus Genesis Review #51: The Chaos Engine (SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE)


Title : The Chaos Engine (SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE)

Publisher: Renegade Software

Developer: The Bitmap Brothers

Genre: Run N Gun

Players: 1 / 2 Players

Release Date: 1993

Estimated Value (as of today's date): $7-$10

A few announcements!! First off, the northeast was hit by a monster of a snow storm, in case you didn't. What, didn't JUNO!? HA!! Wow, no laughs? Don't get it? Storm was called Juno..play on words...Juno = you know? Oh, come on people. Anyway, I was stuck in doors most of the day, and couldn't even get to my job in the city because, well, the trains were ACTUALLY shut down. The storm wasn't even bad as predicted. We were supposed to get three feet of snow, but ended up only with 2...bummer.

Between my bouts of shoveling, which has left me reeling in pain today (obviously not as young as I used to be), I managed to update my blog to be reflective of the new format. Drum roll please.....NEW FORMAT HAS BEEN MADE LIVE!!! Was working on this for awhile, fiddling with templates and catering it to make it my own and voila, here we go. Now, I'm loving it so far, and what made me even more ecstatic was that I was able to rescue all the potentially lost google plus comments that you, my fans, have given over the years! 

Is it true? DO I HAVE FANS?! Meh, not really, probably just people stumbling upon my blog and reading a few video game reviews and continuing on their way. But I can dream. While the new blog format is up, the worst part about it is that I need to go back into each and every post I've written to make sure that the text and background color to the text is cohesive...which for the most part it isn't. That means, I'll be spending the next few weeks going back over 300 blog posts and adjusting the HTML. Anyone want to do that for me? I will pay in video games.

As for a FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT, seeing how my new blog format is up, that means the RAFFLE is on it's way! I shall be announcing the raffle this FRIDAY, so stay tuned. It's going to be exciting, and if you're a retro gamer or a looking to start your own retro gaming collection, you'll want to get in on this. All the details coming, but be sure to come back Friday for the announcement. Okay, now that all that junk is out of the way, onto some more video games.

Monday, January 26, 2015

Nerdicus NES Review #167: Defenders of Dynatron City


Title : Defenders of Dynatron City

Publisher : Lucasfilm Games

Developer : JVC

Genre : Action

Players :  1 Player

Release Date : 1992

Estimated Value (as of today's date): $15-$20

Before we get started! A little update as to how the new blog launch goes. It's coming, but I'm having a pain in the arse getting the template to work. And part of me is quite a bit disappointed that I'll be losing out on a lot of my google plus comments once I transfer over to the new design. After all, a huge reason why I keep doing this is because I love interacting with all you fellow retro gamers out there, and to lose some of the old comments that I like to read back on, well it's a bit disheartening. Then again, another side of me is thinking to the bigger and better things to come! Including a sortable review list of everything I've reviewed so far. That way you can sort from worst to best reviewed! WOW!!! So, give it a few more days as I work out the kinks on the new site design, and prepared to be overloaded with retro-loving goodness!

Not only that, I've put together everything I needed for my blog launch raffle, and by God is it looking delectable. Retro delicious! OH, and possibility of some staggered reviews the next few days. There's a huge blizzard hitting us today and tomorrow, and if I can't work on reviews, I'll be working on revamping the site...that is all - now on to the gaming.
Leave it to Lucasfilms to come up with some of the most bizarre games for the Nintendo Entertainment system. We're talking Ballblazers, Maniac Mansion, and one of the most underrated NES gems of all time, DEFENDERS OF DYNATRON CITY! All right, I admit I am a sucker for anything Lucas Arts, so this review may come off a bit as biased. So it automatically gets an extra point (and it's going to need it)Then again, this game is far from anything good, but it's hilariously well-designed in terms of concept. Especially when you're talking about a game designed by the main man behind Maniac Mansion (easily in my top 5 fav. NES games). But come on, who can possibly resist a game about bizarre superheroes? Forget about Batman, and Superman. We're talking about Toolbox, Monkey Kid, and Radium Dog!

HOW CAN YOU NOT LIKE RADIUM DOG!?

Friday, January 23, 2015

Nerdicus SNES Review #56: Casper



Title : Casper



Publisher : Natsume

Developer : Absolute Entertainment

Genre : Action Adventure

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1996

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $40-$50

Happy Friday, everyone! We wrap things up this week with something I really have no interest in playing, but hey, what are you going to do? I'm stuck reviewing most of all these games thanks to my ever-growing dedication of playing the entire NES / SNES and SEGA libraries. Seriously, what have I gotten myself into? I was truly never a fan of Casper, the Friendly Ghost. I'm sorry, but ghosts aren't supposed to be friendly. They're supposed to haunt you, and scare the beejeezus out of you.

And what's up with Casper and his friends anyway? They all look like marshmallows. Oh, and to make things even more intriguing with this game, it's based on one of the worst movies of the 90's. Basically, we're asking for double trouble here. A game based on a character I despise, and a game based on a movie, which are 99% of the time absolutely awful.

Ugh, whatever. Let's just make this quick. I'm tired, and lacking coffee.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Nerdicus NES Review #166: Defender of the Crown


Title : Defender of the Crown

Publisher : Ultra Games

Developer : ???

Genre : Scrolling Shooter

Players :  1 Player

Release Date : 1989

Estimated Value (as of today's date): $5-$10

Robin Hood, the Crusades, Hordes wailing armies, deaths of kings, and the infamous black plague. We're taking a trip back to the good 'ol dark ages of the medieval times.

If you're looking for the closest thing to a Renaissance Fair video game, well this is it. Playing as a mighty Saxon, you will be rescuing fair maidens, competing in jousting tournaments, and rescuing the land from vicious Norman hordes. After all, wasn't that what Medieval times was all about? Speaking of which, has everyone ever BEEN to Medieval times? I've been honestly trying to plan a corporate work party to go there (because I'm awesome like that), yet I have no knowledge of the damn place.

You would think that someone has "nerdy" as me with an obsession of the fantasy world and medieval era would have been there numerous times already. Nope, sorry. And even my lust to don a suit of armor and ride a horse into battle with my lance at the ready didn't even bring me to go there. Meh, the fact that you have to make reservations, and that it's all a big Disney-styled stage show kind of irks me. I want the blood and gore dammit....although don't get me wrong, I'd participate in one of those events in a heartbeat. Remember that scene from Cable Guy?

Wow, again...sidetracked...damn.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Nerdicus Genesis Review #50: Chakan: The Forever Man


Title : Chakan: The Forever Man

Publisher : Sega

Developer : Extended Play Productions

Genre : Platformer

Players :  1 Player

Release Date : 1992

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $5-$10

Apologies again for the 2 days lag, but I am busily preparing the launch of my updated blog, and trust me, it's going to be a hoot. Totally redesigned, and kicking it off with a smashing raffle that'll have you guys going bonkers! It'll drive you all to the grave you'll be that excited! In fact, you'll probably end up looking like this fella here. 

Tell me this game's box art would have scared the crap out of you as a kid. What the hell is that!? Samurai, zombie, ninja!? With a cowboy hat!? I don't even know what the hell it is, but that is NOT my idea of a protagonist I want to play as. Then again, it is kind of bad ass when you think about it. And I'm all about being a bad ass...in video games anyway.

Chakan: The Forever Man actually ended up being one of my favorite platformers for the Sega Genesis. In an era where platformers were repetitive, and the kiddy 'ol mascots were growing tiresome, to see someone like this with a backstory that is absolutely "killer" was nice and refreshing.

Friday, January 16, 2015

Nerdicus PS4 Review : The Evil Within

Title : The Evil Within

Publisher : Tango Gameworks

Developer : Bethesda

Genre : Survival Horror

Players :  1 Player

Release Date : Oct, 2014

Estimated Value (as of today's date): $49.99-$59.99

When all else fails, and you're looking for a game to kill some time (and kill your sleep habit), always put your faith in the latest survival horror. We're in a day and age now where gaming has gone beyond cheap "scare tactic" parlor tricks and jump fright tactics. Now a game plays more like an in depth movie with intertwining plot twists and major character developments. These aren't your average games anymore.

Since the days of Resident Evil yore on the Playstation where you dreaded every moment you stepped through a door into the next room, I have been waiting for a game to give me a similar feeling of impending doom. Luckily, The Evil Within comes pretty damn close to that. I can't say it was as memorable, but it definitely hit the spot for satiating my thirst of a good horror game.

There's of course a reason for that. It was headed by acclaimed Resident Evil mastermind, Shinji Mikami.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Nerdicus NES Review #165: Defender II


Title : Defender II

Publisher : HAL Laboratories

Developer : Vid Kidz

Genre : Scrolling Shooter

Players :  1 Player

Release Date : 1988

Estimated Value (as of today's date): $3-$5

Some of you oldies may remember this gem from back in the early 1980s. Heck, I wasn't exposed to this game until I was in my teens when I ran into it at a local arcade. Of course, I saw it as Defender Stargate, but when it was pushed over to the home console it's name changed to Defender II. Not sure why, I prefer the name Stargate but it really has nothing to do with the famed series that came out many years later.

Apparently there was a whole trademark thing going on, but I don't really want to get into that because it's not my cup of tea. So if you're interested in hearing about lawsuits, legal issues, and all that good stuff, go to wiki. It's quite funny though, because Atari released it under Stargate, but the other consoles didn't, so the naming wahoo for this game is an absolute mess.

You know what, I actually think I have an old atari cart lying around for this game. I better go dig through my closet later.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Nerdicus SNES Review #55: Carrier Aces


Title : Carrier Aces

Publisher : Cybersoft

Developer : Synergistic Software Inc.

Genre : WWII Action Simulator

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1995

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $7-$10

We're back at it with some Super Nintendo action, this time with a World War II flight simulator. Not one of my favorite genres of video games, but hey what are you going to do. It's my life long quest to play through all these games no matter how much I may not want to. Oh, and I apologize in advance for some lack of capital letters in this upcoming review. Writing from my laptop, and my left shift key is completely busted. 

I also might be a tad bit distracted, because Congo just started playing on Netflix...I can't resist a bad movie, much less a bad video game. So, here we go. Carrier Aces pitting you in epic dog fights between US and Japanese forces, however the twist of this game is you can actually choose between the Japanese and US side. Typically you're defaulted into the US cockpit, so this is a nice change.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Nerdicus NES Review #164: Deadly Towers


Title : Deadly Towers

Publisher : Broderbund

Developer : Lenar

Genre : Action RPG

Players :  1 Player

Release Date : 1986

Estimated Value (as of today's date): $3-$5

Apologies once again for the sporadic updates the last few days - I've been recovering from a nasty bout of the flu so instead of gaming, I've actually been trying to sleep. NOT THE WAY I WANTED TO START 2015....but...I can't help it. I'm on the road to recovery though, so expect my more traditional daily updates coming.

There come's a time in every retro gamers career (yes, I say career) where you a play a game that is so unbelievably frustrating that you just can't put it down. It's not because you want to prove to yourself that you can beat it. Nor is it because you are just that stubborn that you refuse to acknowledge that a game could be so unforgiving. Nope, it's really all about discovering whether or not the developers truly DESIGNED the game to be this frustrating, or it was just an absolute cluster.

And here we are, Deadly Towers, probably one of the most common NES games out there. Seriously, if you ever frequent garage sales, or thrift stores, or anyplace else where you get your old school games, you'll most likely come across a copy of Deadly Towers. There was a time where I must have had at least a dozen copies of this game lying around because every time I bought a bundle I would end up with this monstrosity.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Nerdicus Genesis Review #49: Centurion: Defender of Rome


Title : Centurion: Defender of Rome

Publisher : Electronic Arts

Developer : Bits of Magic

Genre : Turn Based Strategy

Players :  1 Player

Release Date : 1990

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $5-$10

Pardon me for the "hastiness" of this review, but I'm dealing with a nasty bit of a cold and trying to conserve my energy for the trying weekend to come (still big changes coming and a LOT of work to do). But I digress, Rome wasn't built in a day. Oh, WOW. Did you see what I did there? I incorporated that old saying into this very blog review about a game based on Rome. Clever, aren't I?

I can sense that you're laughing at me, so I'll just continue with the review. Here we are with a traditional turn-based strategy game set in the confines of Rome. I always found it intriguing when consoles attempted to pull off successful strategy games, because they were always a big time hit or miss. After all, it was the PC that was really known for those type of games. Always easier to play them with a keyboard and mouse anyway.

But here we are with Centurion: Defender of Rome, and to my surprise, the game succeeds! And there was much rejoicing!

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Nerdicus NES Review #163: Dragon Spirit: The New Legend


Title : Dragon Spirit: The New Legend

Publisher : Bandai

Developer : Namco

Genre : Vertical Shooter

Players :  1 / 2 Players

Release Date : 1990

Estimated Value (as of today's date): $4-$6

If you ever need me to convince me to play a vertical shooter, all you have to do is say "Hey, Tom. You get to be a dragon in this one." I'll just drop whatever I'm doing, whip that controller right out of your hand and play to my heart's content. Pray tell, what game is it I speak of? Why, it is DRAGON SPIRIT: THE NEW LEGEND of course for the NES. Quite possibly one of the most overplayed games of my youth. I am proud to say I even still have my original copy from back in the day, although the pins are probably absolutely destroyed at this point for the amount of times I've slammed this bad boy into the system.

Point of advice, banging the cart and slamming it up and down in the NES to get it to work probably isn't the best idea. Should go back in time and tell that to my young self. Recently, I've made a point of playing this game again, but not the NES version, rather the original Arcade. I've managed to find one over at the Barcade in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and hell it's probably one of the hardest vertical shooters to date and it certainly is a quarter eater. The arcade, compared to the NES one, is a no contest. The NES one is a breeze in comparison. The arcade is downright monstrous, but still utterly enjoyable.

The NES version is actually a "semi-port" sequel from the arcade, hence the additional title "THE NEW LEGEND" because it takes place after the original. Same premise though, you're a bad ass knight with the capability of turning into a fire breathing dragon. All to rescue the damn princess. Screw the princess, I want to fly around and blow stuff up!

Monday, January 5, 2015

Nerdicus SNES Review #54: Captain Novolin



Title : Captain Novolin

Publisher : Raya Systems

Developer : Sculptured Software

Genre : Educational Platformer

Players : 1 Player

Release Date : 1992

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $40-$50

Happy 2015 everyone! 2014 was definitely a interesting year for me. A lot of crap, but also some good things mixed in. One thing I have to say, is thank you to all you folks out there that actually read the blog and keep coming back. I can't believe how much my views have increased over the last several months, especially compared to when I first started.

Can it be I have some sort of following!? Sure, it might only be around a hundred people or so, but that's better than nothing, and the fact that it keeps growing makes me want to keep doing this more. So thank you again! 

I figured I'd use this sorry excuse of an educational game to tell you a little bit about the exciting things coming for Life of a Gamer Nerd blog, as well as some of my other endeavors. This way, it'll give you to something to look forward to and, hell it might even give you a reason to keep on coming back to this sorry excuse of a retro gaming blog. First off, in the upcoming month I'll be giving this blog a major overhaul. Will hopefully be making it look a tad more professional with the help of some "web developer-bloggy" friends I have. We shall see, but from what I've been peeked out, it's going to be awesome.

Expect some more contests coming up, and I'm talking up major raffle prizes. Retro Game galores! I've got tons of doubles lying around in boxes that I'm aching to give away! The first one will be announced in a week or so.

As for my Twitch and Youtube channels, well those are coming back to life. A lot of people have been asking me to keep doing my retro haul videos, so I'll go back to that, and I'm really debating doing some live feed Twitch LETS PLAYS, but I'd really need some opinions as to what you guys would like to see and when you would want to see it. Even if I do a live twitch feed, I'll just end up throwing it on youtube anyway.