tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892563478364944692024-03-14T06:37:36.494+00:00The Saturn Junkyardfatherkrishnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01523813350137435244noreply@blogger.comBlogger627125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689256347836494469.post-34457168682581780692022-10-11T18:12:00.011+00:002022-10-12T14:53:05.593+00:00On the TitanCast: Kenji Eno's Legendary D with Derek Alexander of Stop Skeletons From Fighting<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86iVSwQ2Ydmt9Hh1JkpM4UFXQV0j3HO8CYRb2bbz5oSiZct_XHr2aFP4xrOm6B_Mf-WJUVeLUHRR5mZdC1izqiiB8x9OmA5gK1gzuWLz6j56r972aqe4oUae4qVg63kNjMlzG-fc0uicCikkavH2hQl1kePBA_9UMPI0KRDwYk3BzobBwmVoBap_eug/s2001/SJY%20TC%20E39%20D%20-%203.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1127" data-original-width="2001" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86iVSwQ2Ydmt9Hh1JkpM4UFXQV0j3HO8CYRb2bbz5oSiZct_XHr2aFP4xrOm6B_Mf-WJUVeLUHRR5mZdC1izqiiB8x9OmA5gK1gzuWLz6j56r972aqe4oUae4qVg63kNjMlzG-fc0uicCikkavH2hQl1kePBA_9UMPI0KRDwYk3BzobBwmVoBap_eug/w640-h360/SJY%20TC%20E39%20D%20-%203.png" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Greetings Junkies!</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The Halloween season is upon us and Stop Skeletons From Fighting's Derek Alexander joins the TitanCast crew for a D-lightful retrospective deep dive into Warp and Kenji Eno's cinematic horror adventure game, D.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Help us wallow in the spooky spirit as we vibe in Kenji Eno’s brain castle!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: medium;">Now playing on a podcast app near you, including:</span></b><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-saturn-junkyards-titancast/id1320249250" target="_blank"><img alt="Listen on Apple Podcasts" height="71" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0253/6393/9406/files/podcast-apple-logo.png?v=1577285589" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/7qGmDoSNqcq9tQ55aKftpz" target="_blank"><img alt="Listen on Spotify" height="82" src="https://urm.academy/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/listen-on-spotify-logo-4.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xMzkwMTEucnNz" target="_blank"><img alt="Listen on Google Podcasts" height="51" src="https://authenticparenting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/google_podcasts_badge@8x.png" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://player.fm/series/series-2287282" target="_blank"><img alt="Listen on Player FM" height="53" src="https://remarkableresults.biz/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Player-fm-logo.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thesaturnjunkyard.buzzsprout.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Listen on Buzzsprout" height="133" src="https://podjobs.net/r/j/300/1/134.png" width="200" /></a><br /><b>(Host site w/ more app links)</b></div><p><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Referenced links:</span></u></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Stop Skeletons from Fighting</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">SSFF's Patreon, including Stop Skeletons From Podcasting episodes | <a href="https://www.patreon.com/StopSkeletonsFromFighting" target="_blank"><b>https://www.patreon.com/StopSkeletonsFromFighting</b></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">SSFF's Kenji Eno Past Mortem video | <a href="https://youtu.be/i3TrfyNTcB8" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/i3TrfyNTcB8</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">SSFF on Twitter | <a href="https://twitter.com/stopskeletons" target="_blank">@stopskeletons</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Nuno's book via Editorial Divergênci (publisher site)</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Book page: <a href="https://divergencia.pt/loja/pela-cabeca-do-rei-edicao-exclusiva/" target="_blank"><b>Pela Cabeca do Rei Volume</b></a></span></p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Virtua Planet (Brian's blog)</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Main page<b> | <a href="https://thevirtuaplanet.com/" target="_blank">https://thevirtuaplanet.com/</a></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"The Bouncer: Square's Cutscene 'Em Up Sandwich" | </span></p><p><a href="http://thevirtuaplanet.com/2022/10/04/the-bouncer-squares-cutscene-em-up-sandwich/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">http://thevirtuaplanet.com/2022/10/04/the-bouncer-squares-cutscene-em-up-sandwich/</span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>TitanCast Episode 29 -- The Yakuza: Like a Dragoncast with Kinsey Burke and KC RadioMan </b>| <a href="https://thesaturnjunkyard.blogspot.com/2021/03/yakuzalikeadragoncast.html" target="_blank">https://thesaturnjunkyard.blogspot.com/2021/03/yakuzalikeadragoncast.html</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Host links</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Brian's Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/VirtuaSchlub" target="_blank">@VirtuaSchlub</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Camron's Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/tsundain/" target="_blank">@Tsundain</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Sam's Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/SMylesDrew" target="_blank">@SMylesDrew</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Junkyard links</span></b></p><p><a href="http://thesaturnjunkyard.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">Saturn Junkyard website/blog</span></a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/TheSaturnJunkyard" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">Saturn Junkyard YouTube channel</span></a></p><p><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/thesaturnjunkyard" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">Saturn Junkyard Twitch channel</span></a></p><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/847041952136186" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">SJY Facebook community</span></a></p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/saturnjunkyard" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">SJY Twitter (@SaturnJunkyard)</span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.thedreamcastjunkyard.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Dreamcast Junkyard website/blog </a>(sister site)</span></p><p><a href="https://www.thedreamcastjunkyard.co.uk/p/podcast.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Dreamcast Junkyard's Dreampod podcast</span></a></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Jet Brian Radio (@VirtuaSchlub)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10822526071943092178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689256347836494469.post-1783916101495146292022-02-01T19:28:00.000+00:002022-03-01T19:54:53.825+00:00Listen to the Saturn Junkyard's TitanCast Podcast!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Jet Brian Radio (@VirtuaSchlub)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10822526071943092178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689256347836494469.post-42615067798560109482021-10-27T20:58:00.000+00:002021-10-27T20:58:17.773+00:00Halloween On The Saturn 2021 - Frankenstein: Through The Eyes Of The Monster<p><br /></p><p><b>Introduction -</b> </p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5V5ch5XPhek/YXmuIDmXtoI/AAAAAAAAINQ/nrVabzF2m9gXu6kqcQ-CKMcRQSh5Ww5-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s240/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="155" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5V5ch5XPhek/YXmuIDmXtoI/AAAAAAAAINQ/nrVabzF2m9gXu6kqcQ-CKMcRQSh5Ww5-ACLcBGAsYHQ/w258-h400/download.jpg" width="258" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The game will cost you between £100 - £300!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I'm not sure why I associate Halloween with the Saturn. It could be that it's because we relaunched the Saturn Junkyard about this time in 2017... I remember writing the "Halloween Saturn Games List 2017" and posting lots of photographs of people involved in less than impressive Saturn themed cos-play, the Junkyard littered with lots of pumpkins (carved with a Sega related themes) and actually getting my Saturn light-gun out to play House Of The Dead for the first time in years... <b>Great times!</b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RuNEWjAlTvU/YXmvEJSuJPI/AAAAAAAAINY/4fBnyX4jH48vqRw1zWfbuPf9ts5A-EUFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s620/Halloween-Fun-with-Sega-Pumpkins-header.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="620" height="191" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RuNEWjAlTvU/YXmvEJSuJPI/AAAAAAAAINY/4fBnyX4jH48vqRw1zWfbuPf9ts5A-EUFwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h191/Halloween-Fun-with-Sega-Pumpkins-header.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halloween Pumpkin carved in honour of our leader Segata Sanshiro</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Whatever the reason, Halloween always inspires me to put pen to paper, and churn out a horror game-themed article, to celebrate the season! The one issue I've found challenging in the past, when writing subsequent Halloween articles, is finding Saturn games that have been seldom reviewed or written about. My one rule when writing about games, is that I must have played them, usually on the original hardware, and I must have drawn my conclusions, from my own experience with the title. in 2021, I think I've found a perfect game for the time of year, that has been largely overlooked by the Saturn community (as far as I know...) </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> Welcome to "Frankenstein: Through The Eyes Of The Monster."</b></p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GBVeMtF5wYk/YXmt05xITnI/AAAAAAAAINI/YQ2PkdElbhgmogYxbpd7zuaxBrctAdQqACLcBGAsYHQ/s338/f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="225" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GBVeMtF5wYk/YXmt05xITnI/AAAAAAAAINI/YQ2PkdElbhgmogYxbpd7zuaxBrctAdQqACLcBGAsYHQ/w266-h400/f.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How most of us think of Frankenstein's monster...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><b>Frankenstein In Our Modern Consciousness -</b></p><p> Okay, so when we think of Frankenstein, we usually think of the monster - as played by Boris Karloff in the 1931 movie version - flat head, sunken eyes, bolts in neck, built up shoes - Herman Munster type vibes. But Mary Shelley, the author of the book back in 18-- had a very different (opium induced) dream of the monster, less of a hideous creature and more as a "reanimated man". One with a brain, a consciousness and a soul. For Shelley the monstrosity was in man's desire to play God and flout the laws of nature in the process. The game draws far more on the original gothic novel for it's source material rather than any particular Hollywood re-telling. Central to the story, of course, is Doctor Frankenstein - played by the legendary British actor, Tim Curry (more on him later). We don't get to see the monster, apart from "his" arms and hands, so we don't have to critique his visual appearance.</p><p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8CqV71zX3cs/YXmw-9WP3zI/AAAAAAAAINg/sP3KvaKkHmAnoUPU_vxM_uP3vcUq-g44QCLcBGAsYHQ/s482/Fred-Gwynne-in-The-Munsters-Premium-Photograph-and-Poster-1022954__61004.1432433136.386.513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="386" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8CqV71zX3cs/YXmw-9WP3zI/AAAAAAAAINg/sP3KvaKkHmAnoUPU_vxM_uP3vcUq-g44QCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h400/Fred-Gwynne-in-The-Munsters-Premium-Photograph-and-Poster-1022954__61004.1432433136.386.513.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Frankenstein's Monster we love the most... </td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Boring Game History -</b> </p><p>The game was developed by Amazing Media and published by Interplay Entertainment Corps for PC, in 1995. The game was ported to the Saturn in 1997, towards the end of the Saturn's life-span. The game is a 'point and click adventure', made using CGI backgrounds and full motion video clips, which are triggered, as the player clicks on various items. As such, the game is a slow burner, requiring patience and detailed exploration of the environments, in order to progress steadily through the narrative. This type of game was extremely popular in the mid 90's and for many game developers, the quest was to make an "interactive movie". Frankenstein TTEOTM, is very much trying to be this form of entertainment. As well as the scene stealing performances of Tim Curry, we have the monster played by Robert Rothrock, Rebecca Wink as villager Sara and Amanda Fuller as Gabrielle, the monster's daughter. </p><p><b>The Story - </b></p><p>The story begins to unfold, as soon as the title screen commences. As the opening credits roll, we hear the dialogue of an arrest and subsequent judgements of a murder trial. It seems a man has murdered his daughter, but the details are unclear, as we do not know the story's protagonist yet. As the opening titles fade, we see the view seen by the monster. You are lying on a platform suspended by four chains. The doctor is standing over you peering down. He immediately proclaims "LIFE! I have created life!" he gloats and crows, then seems to remember his 'patient'. "Here, this'll make you feel better..." He injects you using a syringe, which he then proceeds to stab into his own neck, with a celebratory: "A toast!" YIKES! This doctor is clearly deep into some serious mal-practise! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FjLtFOJRtes/YXmzJ9P3-fI/AAAAAAAAINo/wUgd0BiAGWAdB0kcp1wgsKvnnIboaPPeACLcBGAsYHQ/s525/138468-Frankenstein_-_Through_The_Eyes_Of_The_Monster_%2528E%2529-1491129566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="525" height="217" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FjLtFOJRtes/YXmzJ9P3-fI/AAAAAAAAINo/wUgd0BiAGWAdB0kcp1wgsKvnnIboaPPeACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h217/138468-Frankenstein_-_Through_The_Eyes_Of_The_Monster_%2528E%2529-1491129566.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>It doesn't take long for the horror to unfold... As you look at your arms (one familiar, one not so much...) you exclaim "Good god my hand! ...Its the hand of a woman! What has this vile bastard done to me?!" Dr. Frankenstein begins to cackle evilly and gloats - he get's stuck in there straight away, cracking sick jokes, indicative of his sick nature... "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" (sniggers) "You have no idea how close to the truth that statement really is..." Clearly this man is no family practitioner. He is the true monster in the original story <b>and</b> the game... But in the game they've ramped (camped?) his diabolical nature to 11.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b74nePnDYUk/YXm0kInKYII/AAAAAAAAINw/LDSSh8KuqZw-E7qvkfmny1mRsCqdTcmCACLcBGAsYHQ/s704/Frankenstein_Sat_title.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="704" height="272" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b74nePnDYUk/YXm0kInKYII/AAAAAAAAINw/LDSSh8KuqZw-E7qvkfmny1mRsCqdTcmCACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h272/Frankenstein_Sat_title.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>And so the story begins to unravel, as you point and click away. The dialogue is camp, over the top and very theatrical. The conversations between the characters, flesh out the story and background in a wholly unrealistic way, speaking line after line of a narrative, that would only be necessary if trying to squeeze a long and drawn out Victorian novel's plot, into the two hour time frame, of a point and click computer game.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ji1v5n_o7sE/YXm1JnskBiI/AAAAAAAAIN4/L3r24bzQfm8r5ngqDFvEDRB5trNtz9PhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s676/32467-ingame-Frankenstein-Through-the-Eyes-of-the-Monster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="676" height="284" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ji1v5n_o7sE/YXm1JnskBiI/AAAAAAAAIN4/L3r24bzQfm8r5ngqDFvEDRB5trNtz9PhwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h284/32467-ingame-Frankenstein-Through-the-Eyes-of-the-Monster.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>You are scientist Phillip Wren and you've been framed for the murder of your daughter Gabrielle. You've been tried, found guilty and hanged by the neck until dead (by the mysterious Judge Rothenbush). As if that wasn't enough, you've been brought back to life with a hodge-podge of other people's bits, and are now trapped in the laboratory of the evil genius who has reanimated your ravaged corpse. Not a great predicament to begin your quest, but the one you are faced with, nevertheless. </p><p>Your mind in turmoil - "I'm an experiment!" - you begin to explore, further and further into Frankenstein's castle. This is how the game starts and represents the stage of the game, where I became unable to play without the help of a Youtube playthrough guide.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ua9Ms9EANaI/YXm2fc8IgaI/AAAAAAAAIOA/7mCu-sYLFJcxbYdHehTaGLZOYbqt28kbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/250270-frankenstein-through-the-eyes-of-the-monster-windows-3-x-screenshot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ua9Ms9EANaI/YXm2fc8IgaI/AAAAAAAAIOA/7mCu-sYLFJcxbYdHehTaGLZOYbqt28kbQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/250270-frankenstein-through-the-eyes-of-the-monster-windows-3-x-screenshot.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The views from the castle are to die for...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Without wanting to spoil the whole plot, you make some gruesome discoveries as you explore the fortress and suffer further persecution for your trouble. The game involves you stealing your way through the castle, solving puzzles, collecting notes and moving both physically and temporally through the mystery of your current circumstance.</p><p><b>The Gameplay - </b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PlrhdOIlSrI/YXm5PXfxrOI/AAAAAAAAIOI/vtu0hjWbNtofygp-PAnIO9rAFsvOXXK4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/250016829_10165711940290364_6386436372268459407_n%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="960" height="206" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PlrhdOIlSrI/YXm5PXfxrOI/AAAAAAAAIOI/vtu0hjWbNtofygp-PAnIO9rAFsvOXXK4ACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h206/250016829_10165711940290364_6386436372268459407_n%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The style of game is exactly what western game developers thought would be the future of gaming. The "interactive movie". There were thousands of dollars and pounds invested in these FMV games. The irony is that these titles, at the cutting edge of technology back in 1995, as games passed from cartridge to compact disc. The best Saturn games used FMV for cutscenes and intros only. Very few of these video based titles, have stood the test of time. In fact they seem to be amongst the most dated and least enjoyable titles available for Saturn gamers and retro gaming in general.</p><p><b>The Good -</b> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ov8-Wr43KNM/YXm5yHCKOuI/AAAAAAAAIOQ/MlCdNFt5_y4ZZ99twuGLAOva8Gu-ZI2eACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/250275-frankenstein-through-the-eyes-of-the-monster-windows-3-x-screenshot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ov8-Wr43KNM/YXm5yHCKOuI/AAAAAAAAIOQ/MlCdNFt5_y4ZZ99twuGLAOva8Gu-ZI2eACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/250275-frankenstein-through-the-eyes-of-the-monster-windows-3-x-screenshot.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We'll start with some of the supporting features, before we get to the main draw. First of all, the acting. As well as the talents of the start of the show, the supporting cast of actors do a pretty good job of guiding you through the castle and reacting to the spooky sights and shocking surprises you uncover as you make your way though the castle. If we are kind enough to suggest that the title fits the interactive movie slot, in the way it was intended, then the acting has to be pretty good. When we think of titles such as Deep Fear, Resident Evil, House Of The Dead or Corpse Killer, we are not looking for Oscar winning thespians doing Royal Shakespeare quality performances, we are looking for campy, over the top, slightly "hammy" acting. If that is the case, then Robert Rothrock, Rebecca Wink and Amanda Fuller do a more than adequate job as a supporting cast. The CGI "scenery" and "sets" provide the right atmosphere and background for the action, and the letters, diagrams, notes and plans you discover on your journey are well made and convincing. The music by David Dvorin, is atmospheric and fitting. However, it can become rather grating, as it loops around again and again whilst you struggle to find the way out of your current setting. And, that's about all that can be said about the game other than... </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YZB2vGg1dl4/YXm7mHHgV9I/AAAAAAAAIOY/2NPV3KuiCFwAZNE0a9NkjFbrbnW7ojVVgCLcBGAsYHQ/s225/fnf.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YZB2vGg1dl4/YXm7mHHgV9I/AAAAAAAAIOY/2NPV3KuiCFwAZNE0a9NkjFbrbnW7ojVVgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/fnf.png" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0NaiMsO4YR8/YXm77bgup6I/AAAAAAAAIOg/OSrpFT5ZBGUfo_ikLSlNPds1BowdoifXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s976/p08hc6hj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="976" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0NaiMsO4YR8/YXm77bgup6I/AAAAAAAAIOg/OSrpFT5ZBGUfo_ikLSlNPds1BowdoifXgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/p08hc6hj.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>TIM CURRY!!! TIM "FRANKENFURTER" CURRY!!! TIM "SCARY MOVIE" CURRY!!! TIM MOTHER-FREAKING CURRY!!! He is literally the main draw for this slow moving, rather turgid game. You're not going to be enthralled by the action, you're not going to be absorbed by the plot or transfixed by the atmosphere. But you can drink in, devour and satiate yourself on every over-pronounced syllable, every rich, chocolatey vowel, every twisted muttering and snarkily delivered snigger, from one of the finest actors the world has ever seen! Curry burst onto the British acting scene in Richard O'Brien's cult, musical homage to 1950's suspense and science fiction B Movies, The Rocky Horror Picture Show as the "sweet transvestite, from trans-sexual, Transylvania" Dr. Frankenfurter. This was a fabulous role, that allowed Curry to preen, pout and generally flounce about as he sang, stomped and smashed his way into our consciousness. Twenty years later, Curry was either at the cutting edge of video entertainment, or making a fast buck by selling his acting prowess, standing in front of a green screen and rasping out hammy dialogue for a fairly uninspiring video game. If I was hooked in by one thing, it was the appearance of this legend on the box. Not the only time that a video game has been sold on the inclusion of a Hollywood star. The latest Far Cry release has been sold on the inclusion of current Hollywood favourite, Giancarlo Esposito. But once the lure of Tim Curry has begun to be eclipsed by the lame gameplay, the game has very little to redeem it. As with many point and click adventure games, the ending you see, depends on the route you take through the game and the actions you perform and the choices you make. This allows for a degree of re-playability, that wouldn't exist without it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oK8JW6N4UjE/YXm8IjPeIvI/AAAAAAAAIOk/qh_XyzCrWigu0pok_RBvs8K8mw8xjv8-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/dr_400x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oK8JW6N4UjE/YXm8IjPeIvI/AAAAAAAAIOk/qh_XyzCrWigu0pok_RBvs8K8mw8xjv8-gCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/dr_400x400.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><b>The Bad - </b></p><p>This is a very dated game. A very slow moving, plodding title. The one trick pony of FMV video games IS the reactive FMV scenes triggered by your actions. These can be so finickity to find and trigger, that you can easily become bored or frustrated very quickly. In order to progress I had to watch a video on Youtube, showing an entire playthrough of the game. I then had to keep pausing the game, trying out what I had seen in the video and this made the playing of the game even MORE slow moving and plodding - as if the title wasn't already tortuous enough to play through in 2021... . And as usual, certain actions which worked in the video DID NOT work on my Saturn - this is a phenomenon I've noticed more and more. The execution of certain actions within games seem to not work form machine to machine, from disc to disc. Recently I've had to source new copies of Casper and Exhumed, in order to get them to work on my machines. and I couldn't get the game Tunnel B1 to work on any of my Saturns, despite trying three different discs of the game...Very frustrating.</p><p>In the end I just gave up and watched the game unfold for the person creating the Youtube video. The experience was basically the same as if I was triggering the cutscenes. It just involved far less faffing around and frustration. Although there are a couple of alternative outcomes, I defy anyone to enjoy the game enough to give it a second spin...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9w0lLe_yQfY/YXm8aFWk4CI/AAAAAAAAIOs/Vb30v5OH6a03w8EWanpxk6mKK4ArhQW-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/249654174_10165711937875364_50946388763526544_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="960" height="204" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9w0lLe_yQfY/YXm8aFWk4CI/AAAAAAAAIOs/Vb30v5OH6a03w8EWanpxk6mKK4ArhQW-ACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h204/249654174_10165711937875364_50946388763526544_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spoiler alert!</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p><b>Conclusion - </b></p><p>If you're looking for some Halloween fun on the Saturn this year, you could do a lot better with some of the console's other offerings. There are a plethora of horror, monster and sci-fi themed games on the Saturn that will scratch your itch... <b>Deep Fear, Vampire Savior, Resident Evil, House Of The Dead, Exhumed</b> and of course, the big daddy of them all, <b>Casper.</b> Unless you want to be bored rigid in some kind of masochistic indulgence of tortuous, snail-paced shite, avoid this game like the plague. As if God is taking a hand in saving us from this nightmare, the price of this turd of a game has sky-rocketed in recent years. A copy of Frankenstein TTEOTM will set you back between £100 and £300, depending on where you source it. Only the most ardent of Saturn completist, should fork out silly money for this game. I got a pristine "repro" of the game from the excellent Nightwing Productions (shout going out to my man Marvin Macias!) which enabled me to experience it without losing the shirt off my back, I'd have been pretty sorely pissed, if I'd splurged out top dollar for this dollop of doo doo. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9R2yhhG9oQQ/YXm8ysN2RZI/AAAAAAAAIO0/tzsuy7aifNk6rMuZxPHRm94aj1Noj746gCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/250276-frankenstein-through-the-eyes-of-the-monster-windows-3-x-screenshot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9R2yhhG9oQQ/YXm8ysN2RZI/AAAAAAAAIO0/tzsuy7aifNk6rMuZxPHRm94aj1Noj746gCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/250276-frankenstein-through-the-eyes-of-the-monster-windows-3-x-screenshot.png" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>My advice? Avoid this game at all costs... if you really want to experience this game for yourself, emulate, burn a disc, buy a repro or simply watch the Youtube video below... the one thing that did give me a laugh, was Victor Frankenstein's OTHER creation, but you have to get pretty far into the game to see it! Other than that leave it alone, Games which are comparably bad? <b>Corpse Killer, The Crow</b> and <b>Alone In The Dark</b>, If the comparison to those three nightmares doesn't give you a scare this Halloween, nothing will! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UyCM98zzdk4/YXm9JoypnZI/AAAAAAAAIO8/C0idztXGqZ8okpdR0FQWokP8Q3aeanD8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/249473082_10165711937640364_1797092586805954588_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="960" height="209" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UyCM98zzdk4/YXm9JoypnZI/AAAAAAAAIO8/C0idztXGqZ8okpdR0FQWokP8Q3aeanD8wCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h209/249473082_10165711937640364_1797092586805954588_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>fatherkrishnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01523813350137435244noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689256347836494469.post-52422537656043527872021-04-28T21:12:00.018+00:002021-04-28T21:43:54.754+00:00Astal - An Old Star Is Re-Born!<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></blockquote></blockquote><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BTckVuhpNBc/YInHTg6dIII/AAAAAAAAIFY/FQxpWRipylENOpuXwyKH-2I0ATCbuhGXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/10493.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="400" height="148" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BTckVuhpNBc/YInHTg6dIII/AAAAAAAAIFY/FQxpWRipylENOpuXwyKH-2I0ATCbuhGXgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h148/10493.png" width="400" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div>They say hindsight is 20/20. In other words, it's far easier to look back and make a correct judgement, than making it in the moment. When I first had my Saturn in 1995/96, I was interested in new and innovative games. If someone had told me that then Saturn would excel at 2D game presentation, it would have meant nothing to me. I had no interest in 2D fighters. They looked dated and cartoonish to me. I wanted the "gritty realism" of Virtua Fighter, the arcade thrills of Sega Rally and the cutting edge technology that allowed me to play Virtua Cop in my living room. These were the games that floated my boat. The graphics on Panzer Dragoon, were good enough to play in snippets, over and over again, as "visuals" when friends came back to my house, for post-rave chill outs. </span><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QcdW5ctDIIg/YInIkyYS1KI/AAAAAAAAIGs/YD2jHZMRerszGv03BDP02MLCvfWrVSucACLcBGAsYHQ/s350/astal_j_front_0.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QcdW5ctDIIg/YInIkyYS1KI/AAAAAAAAIGs/YD2jHZMRerszGv03BDP02MLCvfWrVSucACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/astal_j_front_0.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br />One thing I definitely was NOT doing, was looking back, with any nostalgia, at the 16 bit titles I had played on my Megadrive. I would have sneered at Street Fighter, scoffed at Sonic Jam, turned my nose up at the Sega Ages titles and looked past any sort of Arcade Collection that featured Defender, Robotron and Joust - all of which I now own.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mCNJZvnSGP8/YInJCxEKxMI/AAAAAAAAIG0/EicemSaC8L8YNRdq2AXqKW9RYzvxeMc-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s259/download.pngast.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mCNJZvnSGP8/YInJCxEKxMI/AAAAAAAAIG0/EicemSaC8L8YNRdq2AXqKW9RYzvxeMc-gCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/download.pngast.png" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;">I would have also snubbed Astal. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R9WwY7KReH8/YInJUO8DtXI/AAAAAAAAIG8/QLtxf2__LvAQP5Y62OuR8fce5CI-9KOtgCLcBGAsYHQ/s259/download.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R9WwY7KReH8/YInJUO8DtXI/AAAAAAAAIG8/QLtxf2__LvAQP5Y62OuR8fce5CI-9KOtgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/download.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Astal was released in Japan in April 1995, developed and published by Sega. In fact, owing to the absence of a Sonic title on the platform at this point, Astal could have become the Saturn's mascot character, as his game was a Saturn exclusive. Astal is a 2D action platformer, the story, is far more convoluted than I care about and to be honest, has absolutely no significance to the gameplay.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astal">Wikipedia describes it thus</a>:</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;">"Somewhere in the universe, the Goddess Antowas created a world from a single jewel. On this world, Quartilia, she created the sky, earth, and air. To inhabit this world, she created two humans: from a green jewel, a girl, Leda, who has the power to make things live on Quartilia; and from a red Jewel, a boy, Astal, whose purpose was to protect Leda. Content with her creation, Antowas slept.</span></div><p style="font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;">While she slept, the evil Jerado tried to take over Quartilia. To ensure victory, Jerado created a warrior: Geist. Geist kidnapped Leda, and held her at the bottom of the ocean. In an effort to get her back, Astal tore Quartilia apart, awakening Antowas. As punishment, Antowas banished Astal to Quartilia's moon. Leda took pity on Astal, and gave him her jewel. Once Astal and Jerado were dealt with, Antowas went back to sleep.</span></p><p style="font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;">However, Geist was still free, and Quartilia was not restored from the changes Jerado wrought. From his prison on the moon, Astal witnessed Geist kidnap Leda again. Consumed with the need to protect her, he freed himself and returned to Quartilia. Now Astal journeys in search of Leda through a Quartilia transformed by Jerado's dark design, along with a strange bird who for some reason just won't leave him alone.."</span></p></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RmR8ZP3ovEA/YInJ2wJGKlI/AAAAAAAAIHI/2ZNnOoL3B08yroW5ab0bCfSWjmPEIxdJQCLcBGAsYHQ/s366/220px-Astal_Coverart.png" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="220" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RmR8ZP3ovEA/YInJ2wJGKlI/AAAAAAAAIHI/2ZNnOoL3B08yroW5ab0bCfSWjmPEIxdJQCLcBGAsYHQ/w240-h400/220px-Astal_Coverart.png" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: times;"><br /><span><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;">OK. Got that? Good. Astal is a beautiful looking game. The art direction is original and highly stylised. It has a certain, "other worldly" feel. The creatures and characters are hand drawn, excellently animated and have a strange crystalline quality. There is absolutely no evidence that they were designed under the influence of the brain-warping psychedelic, DMT, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if I found out it was... </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;">The spaced out visuals, are hugely complimented and enhanced, by the dreamy musical score, written and directed by composer Tatsuyuki Maeda. This cannot be praised highly enough<span>. It is an integral component of the game and can be credited with a large percentage of what makes this game special. The score would be something you could happily listen to, as a contemporary ambient composition in your headphones as you carried yourself through a lazy day. When coupled with Astal's sumptuous looking vistas, there is a certain synergy which elevates a "good game", to a "great game."</span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EW34Da2sfi4/YInKF4P15TI/AAAAAAAAIHQ/0erdh6fsT0oA_s6P69ttG6YkXI5HRbzYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/50825--astal.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="640" height="280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EW34Da2sfi4/YInKF4P15TI/AAAAAAAAIHQ/0erdh6fsT0oA_s6P69ttG6YkXI5HRbzYwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h280/50825--astal.png" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"> Astal is a strong and brave individual. He can grab enemies and body slam them, he can summon his bird companion, to either vanquish foes, or collect health giving fruit. Astal can also take a huge breath, which swells his chest alarmingly. He then literally blows his foes away. Astal can also lift and throw large, heavy objects, such as boulders and trees. Finally he can strike the ground, which will send a shockwave through the platform to floor his opponents. As you can see, attacks are varied and as you progress through the game, you will have to work out which attack is most effective for dispatching each adversary and traversing the levels to the boss. The game can also be played as a two player co-op, with one player controlling Astal and one player controlling the bird.</span></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mwukWxeW8RM/YInKWHetS8I/AAAAAAAAIHc/Mx419s1ZMO8-6HhK7wXwDfQ5a50oVYj7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/unnamed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="320" height="280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mwukWxeW8RM/YInKWHetS8I/AAAAAAAAIHc/Mx419s1ZMO8-6HhK7wXwDfQ5a50oVYj7gCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h280/unnamed.png" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;">And that's basically it. As Astal, you work your way from left to right, screen to screen until you reach the end of the level. Then you will be treated to a boss battle. One level has a sort of "shmup" feature, where you have to travel on the back of a large river monster,. avoiding or killing foes, by jumping on the creatures back and making him cough up a projectile. The game is beautifully coloured with pastel shades and tones, looking resplendent </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>throughout</span><span> each level. </span></span></span><p></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cf9R91GviuI/YInKm3ntTiI/AAAAAAAAIHk/6N0oNwfm2_kdbWqsNYtLcf5jqc9621mZACLcBGAsYHQ/s709/a374f1113a83bb17bd6865dc9327494c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="709" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cf9R91GviuI/YInKm3ntTiI/AAAAAAAAIHk/6N0oNwfm2_kdbWqsNYtLcf5jqc9621mZACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/a374f1113a83bb17bd6865dc9327494c.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;">"So, Father K..." (I pretend to hear you ask...) "If this game is so bloody fantastic, why wouldn't you have bought it, or even wanted to play it, back in the day?" And so, I shall now do my best to explain my earlier assertions, to the puzzled or cynical readers of this particular epistle...</span></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SQyrmZ1QqGY/YInK0LNUYcI/AAAAAAAAIHo/6RIvi1DAni8cmMAUlt7ET4uY90XQEpMsQCLcBGAsYHQ/s330/Astal_Level_Select.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="330" height="291" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SQyrmZ1QqGY/YInK0LNUYcI/AAAAAAAAIHo/6RIvi1DAni8cmMAUlt7ET4uY90XQEpMsQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h291/Astal_Level_Select.png" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /><span><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span>When the Saturn came out, the very last thing I wanted to do, was play a 2D game. That meant no 2D brawlers, no side scrolling 2D platformers, no 2D puzzle games and no shmups. All of these genres didn't interest me in the </span><span>slightest</span><span>. To me, they were "old school" and "</span><span>retro" at</span><span> a time when neither of those things were considered cool. I couldn't have given a flying fuck about the Saturn being a 2D powerhouse. I wanted 3D depth, polygons, full motion video and uncanny characters formed from shiny computer graphics. Tomb Raider, Virtua Cop, Deep Fear, Burning Rangers, Panzer Dragoon - these were the games I would have craved or aspired to. Even Clockwork Knight, which was a side scrolling platformer of sorts, looked a million miles away from the 16 Bit Era games, fitting perfectly into my expectations of 32 bit gaming. </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ti7UO7RLpE0/YInLF3TGh0I/AAAAAAAAIH0/eOOsFY_jp1s67_ACSd2i48qDKUG4TIlagCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/5738028486_74046814c0_b.jpg" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="1024" height="291" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ti7UO7RLpE0/YInLF3TGh0I/AAAAAAAAIH0/eOOsFY_jp1s67_ACSd2i48qDKUG4TIlagCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h291/5738028486_74046814c0_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /><span><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span>But Astal? Well that would have just looked to me like a particularly pretty Megadrive game. (It didn't of course - in fact it was graphically beautiful in a way that the developers using Megadrive hardware, could never pull off). But that is exactly what the 1996, thirty year old me, would have said and </span>thought<span>. I'd really enjoyed my experiences of the 16 Bit era - games such as Revenge Of Shinobi, Golden Axe, Sonic 1 & 2, Streets Of Rage and so on, had been played to death, over many hours, when my kids were small, and my days as a carefree raver, had long since disappeared. But I wasn't nostalgic for those days. I wanted the new systems to provide me with completely new experiences - not a revision, remix or extended version of the past.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span>Fast forward to 2017. The rusty old gates of the Junkyard, had been blown away, and the website and Facebook page were up and running, and gaining some traction in the new scene. It was at this time, </span>that<span> some of the sweethearts at the Saturn Junkyard </span>Facebook<span> page, started sending me burned copies of games. Envelopes stuffed with blank looking cds, the names scrawled large across the disc in magic marker. The first genre I fell in love with was the fighting games - Vampire Savior, Street Fighter, King Of Fighters, Marvel Super Heroes and so on. These games looked so visually gorgeous and played so fast, that I immediately fell in love. Time had not been kind to Virtua </span>Fighter - <span> and what had </span>once<span> looked amazing, now looked farcical - the sharp points and angular facial features of the characters, were cringeworthy. The same with the Shmups. In 1995, I wanted story driven games such as Resident Evil or Panzer Dragoon (or pure blasts of arcade pleasure such as Virtua Cop, Sega Rally or Virtua Fighter.)</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b78GYkAFMN0/YInNDHve1qI/AAAAAAAAIH8/ApUFax5i7PYdyaa7kkTXXP9FDCqWP0iqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s268/images.jpg" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="268" height="281" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b78GYkAFMN0/YInNDHve1qI/AAAAAAAAIH8/ApUFax5i7PYdyaa7kkTXXP9FDCqWP0iqgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h281/images.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /><span><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span>Shmups looked hard! Plus very dated to me also - they are now one of my favourite genres. Platformers were not taboo for me in 1995. I played a few. But I was much happier with the arrival of the 1.5 D <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemonium!_(video_game)">Pandemonium</a>, when compared to a regular side-scrolling </span>platformer such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayman_(video_game)">Rayman</a> or Astal, yet both games were visually fantastic, innovative and original<span>. </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span>It was only much, much later that I got a copy of Astal. It's one of those games, that once experienced, I had to have an original copy of. A bought, factory produced </span>disc<span> was required. </span>I've<span> recently started playing it again and I have to say, whilst sometimes very difficult, the </span>pleasure of playing<span> very definitely outweighs any of the pain of playing. Only by practising, exploring each level and making mistakes, will you learn the enemy patterns and level pitfalls, to make it to the end of the title. It's a sublime and uplifting game, very Japanese, but also very accessible to a Western audience. </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EO4PpSkideg/YInNXWQwmQI/AAAAAAAAIIE/meGPgKi7L3YiNaBA35-ebpE4TcjxrsrngCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/116yif7shm951.png" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1669" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EO4PpSkideg/YInNXWQwmQI/AAAAAAAAIIE/meGPgKi7L3YiNaBA35-ebpE4TcjxrsrngCLcBGAsYHQ/w326-h400/116yif7shm951.png" width="326" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></span><p></p></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;">Astal will run you about <a href="https://www.pricecharting.com/search-products?type=prices&q=Astal&go=Go">$80 in the US</a> as a Japanese import. That's potentially expensive! I suggest you burn a copy or emulate it. But whatever you do, get playing.. It's a must play experience for the Saturn fan and a quintessential Saturn experience.</span></p></div></div></blockquote>fatherkrishnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01523813350137435244noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689256347836494469.post-78710259309169680342021-04-01T07:23:00.002+00:002021-04-01T14:40:55.014+00:00Finally Revealed: How to Play as Ryo Hazuki on the Sega Saturn!<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aWKOSa9RKKc/YGR21qj8TqI/AAAAAAAAG9c/ZN5j0FbuqQsIJnXTg_GueaXBOTt1dXK1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1542/Ryo%2BHazuki%2B3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1542" height="352" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aWKOSa9RKKc/YGR21qj8TqI/AAAAAAAAG9c/ZN5j0FbuqQsIJnXTg_GueaXBOTt1dXK1ACLcBGAsYHQ/w503-h352/Ryo%2BHazuki%2B3.png" width="503" /></a></div>OK, so it ain't Saturn Shenmue but bear with us here. This is still really dang cool!<br /><br />As many fans already know, AM2’s Fighters Megamix is an ambitious crossover 3D fighting game for the Sega Saturn, featuring a mashup of iconic Virtua
Fighter and Fighting Vipers characters duking it out for...reasons. For those who are unfamiliar with the game, we have written about it <a href="https://thesaturnjunkyard.blogspot.com/2020/02/fighters-megamix-bears-and-cars-oh-my.html" target="_blank">here</a> on the Saturn Junkyard. It even ranked just outside folks' top 10 all-time favorite Saturn titles in <a href="https://thesaturnjunkyard.blogspot.com/2019/11/sega-saturn-25.html" target="_blank">our community poll</a> a while back.<br /><br />Aside from being an all-around excellent video game, Fighters Megamix is particularly notable for its
smattering of weird and obscure unlockable fighters, including Bark and Bean
from Sonic the Fighters, Janet from Virtua Cop 2, Rent-A-Hero (in the Japanese version), original character Deku, the
prototype VF1 character Siba (who was cut from the original game before release), and most notoriously, the Hornet stock car from Daytona USA. And,
uh, meat. The game even lets players fight as the AM2 palm tree logo once they've logged in a whopping 84 hours!<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
But apparently, that isn't everybody…<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--xLoADf88gk/YGRz8NfaWxI/AAAAAAAAG80/N3yFVfdvfr442106rxTLANzQUbPF8KxtgCLcBGAsYHQ/s624/FM%2BCharacter%2BSelect.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="624" height="384" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--xLoADf88gk/YGRz8NfaWxI/AAAAAAAAG80/N3yFVfdvfr442106rxTLANzQUbPF8KxtgCLcBGAsYHQ/w602-h384/FM%2BCharacter%2BSelect.jpg" width="602" /></a></div><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In a recent Japanese interview as part of the GO SEGA 60th Anniversary
series, former Sega arcade/AM2 executive and Fighters Megamix director Hiroshi Kataoka let it slip
that, buried deep within the recesses of Fighter Megamix’s code, there is one more unlockable fighter that the community has yet to unearth. Further, it was
strongly hinted that this character would go on to be a massive fan favorite in
the Sega community, which is especially <s>since you bought merchandise</s> relevant given the
recent <a href="https://www.segasaturnshiro.com/2021/03/25/saturn-shenmue-the-search-continues/" target="_blank">hubub</a> surrounding certain <i>other</i> infamous AM2 prototypes on the Sega
Saturn.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The fact that he is apparently unlockable as an alternate
Akira skin also lends some credence to our suspicions, and it was later confirmed that Shenmue's Ryo Hazuki -- or at least a very early prototypical iteration of him -- is indeed a hidden playable character in Fighters Megamix.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S48Ty9YJl-M/YGR0F68YE-I/AAAAAAAAG84/QK82jA1qLOMp2rkf5sOE4U9obJL1PPCTQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1430/Saturn%2BRyo%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="1430" height="353" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S48Ty9YJl-M/YGR0F68YE-I/AAAAAAAAG84/QK82jA1qLOMp2rkf5sOE4U9obJL1PPCTQCLcBGAsYHQ/w504-h353/Saturn%2BRyo%2B1.jpg" width="504" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ryo? In Fighters Megamix?! This is cool!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It can't be overstated how monumental this potentially is for the Sega fan community. The fabled Saturn prototype build of Shenmue (a.k.a. Project Guppy, a.k.a. Virtua Fighter RPG: Akira's Story, a.k.a. Project Berkley) has been a white whale for fans ever since AM2 revealed detailed footage from the prototype project alongside Shenmue II. Perhaps one day a former Sega or AM2 employee (who is also a supremely benevolent and all-around wonderful human being) will step forward and grace the world with a playable build of Saturn Shenmue and give us adoring fans a chance to experience it for ourselves in its full 32-bit glory. Unfortunately, this prototype build reportedly ran on an upgraded version of the Saturn (rather than stock hardware), which could pose its own practical challenges to our collective pipe dream. Nevertheless, it would be a remarkable glimpse into the unbridled ambition of a masterful Yu Suzuki-led AM2 team who dared to <a href="https://www.thedreamcastjunkyard.co.uk/2020/05/Shenmusings.html" target="_blank">unravel the seams of the medium</a> to engage players in new ways and immerse them fully in its living, breathing virtual world.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Until then, having the chance to play as Ryo in a 25 year-old fighting game could be the next best thing. However, there is a catch. Unlocking our (baby) boy Ryo
in Fighters Megamix is apparently a very time-consuming ordeal and none
of us at the Junkyard have had a chance to try it since learning this information a
couple of days ago. For any patient and dedicated souls in the community with some extra time their hands, this is how it’s supposed to work:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Similar to other secret characters in the game, unlocking Ryo requires
playing Fighters Megamix for a certain threshold of time before be
becomes playable. Unfortunately, in Ryo's case, this is double the amount of time it takes to unlock the AM2 palm tree: 168 hours!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rlbi9KIqn_E/YGR0SyBuA2I/AAAAAAAAG9A/GbUsxbInPfYOrqCE4dkpGNMsGrZBKsT-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s296/FM%2BPalm%2BTree.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="296" height="352" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rlbi9KIqn_E/YGR0SyBuA2I/AAAAAAAAG9A/GbUsxbInPfYOrqCE4dkpGNMsGrZBKsT-wCLcBGAsYHQ/w491-h352/FM%2BPalm%2BTree.png" width="491" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Worth it.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">Done doing that? Good.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After logging a full 168 hours into Fighters Megamix, simply go into any
mode and <b>highlight Akira</b> on the fighter select screen, hold *<b>L+R+B+X+Z</b> simultaneously
before selecting the character with either <b>A</b>, <b>C</b>, or <b>Y</b>. <br /><br />* Note: we believe they meant L and R as in
the shoulder buttons, not the D-pad inputs.<br />
<br />
And after that…?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YOHNNhtL-h8/YGR0jCH9D7I/AAAAAAAAG9M/zig53xiNmtQcUQC4ITNa1CUn_mX8_ynpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1430/Saturn%2BRyo%2B2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="1430" height="352" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YOHNNhtL-h8/YGR0jCH9D7I/AAAAAAAAG9M/zig53xiNmtQcUQC4ITNa1CUn_mX8_ynpwCLcBGAsYHQ/w502-h352/Saturn%2BRyo%2B2.jpg" width="502" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Let’s get sweaty.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">That’s all we know so far. We will follow up with some
updates once we’re able to play as Ryo for ourselves. In the meantime, if anyone
in the community can unlock Ryo first and share their spoils with the Saturn Junkyard
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/thesaturnjunkyard" target="_blank">Facebook community</a>, we will be forever grateful for your legendary exploits!<br /><br />May Segata Sanshiro guide your path.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T7F1Zz4xuEc/YGR0umgl74I/AAAAAAAAG9Q/fZYJTdtTNeEk3njbTuERPGOkdXbzE9o9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s444/hornet-fighters-megamix-animation.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="444" height="427" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T7F1Zz4xuEc/YGR0umgl74I/AAAAAAAAG9Q/fZYJTdtTNeEk3njbTuERPGOkdXbzE9o9wCLcBGAsYHQ/w522-h427/hornet-fighters-megamix-animation.gif" width="522" /></a></div><p></p>Jet Brian Radio (@VirtuaSchlub)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10822526071943092178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689256347836494469.post-89075688753284351442021-03-02T19:00:00.019+00:002021-03-31T19:31:00.838+00:00New SJY TitanCast Episode -- Yakuza: Like a Dragoncast w/ Kinsey Burke & KC RadioMan!<p style="text-align: center;"><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rCIX_qwdYhk/YD6K1s5KERI/AAAAAAAAG7E/BjMcLmlxvZocrX66tTb6rNQcLZvKzDYagCLcBGAsYHQ/s1752/SJYTC%2BE29%2BThumbnail%2B-%2B2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="1752" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rCIX_qwdYhk/YD6K1s5KERI/AAAAAAAAG7E/BjMcLmlxvZocrX66tTb6rNQcLZvKzDYagCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/SJYTC%2BE29%2BThumbnail%2B-%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span arial="" face="lato, "Helvetic Neue", Arial, san-serif" helvetic="" lato="" neue="" san-serif="">Join us for a monumental celebration of SEGA and RGG Studio's Yakuza: Like a Dragon (a.k.a. YakLAD)! In this mega episode of the Saturn Junkyard's TitanCast, Brian and Camron are joined by special guests KC (host of The SEGA Lounge on Radio SEGA) and Kinsey (YouTuber and Producer at Chuhai Labs) for a lively deep dive into the inaugural adventure of Ichiban Kasuga and friends.<br /><br />Available on podcast sites everywhere, including:</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-29-yakuza-like-a-dragoncast-w-kinszilla-kc-radioman/id1320249250?i=1000511303764" target="_blank"><img alt="Listen on Apple Podcasts" height="58" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0253/6393/9406/files/podcast-apple-logo.png?v=1577285589" width="163" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1M4FK21oMp1grnnDcTK6Um" target="_blank"><img alt="Listen on Spotify" height="76" src="https://urm.academy/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/listen-on-spotify-logo-4.png" width="186" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly90aGVzYXR1cm5qdW5reWFyZC5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xMzkwMTEucnNz/episode/QnV6enNwcm91dC04MDU4NTQ0?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwiA-O_0oJLvAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAg" target="_blank"><img alt="Listen on Google Podcasts" height="45" src="https://authenticparenting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/google_podcasts_badge@8x.png" width="180" /></a><br /><a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/139011/episodes/8058544" target="_blank"><img alt="Listen on Buzzsprout" height="69" src="https://podjobs.net/r/j/300/1/134.png" width="104" /></a></div><p><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif">For the first half of this episode, we have a spoiler-free chat about our broader experiences and impressions of LAD as a sequel and entry point, and its merits as both a continuation of and departure from the series' legacy. Later in the episode, things take a turn for the absurd and spoilery as we fawn over Ichiban, reminisce about our hypercapitalist tomfoolery in the business sim mini game, and talk mad shit about certain “supporting” characters.</span></p><p><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif">Whether you already love Yakuza and Like a Dragon or are curious what all the hoopla is about, join us for a fun time, either way!</span></p><p><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif"> Games discussed in this episode: Yakuza: Like a Dragon (and not much else)</span></p><p><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif"> Panelists (Twitter links):</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif"><b><a href="https://twitter.com/KinsZilla" target="_blank">Kinsey (@KinsZilla)</a></b></span></p><p><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif"><span b=""><a href="https://twitter.com/KCRadioMan" target="_blank"><b>KC (@KCRadioMan)</b></a></span></span></p><p><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif"><b><a href="https://twitter.com/Tsundain" target="_blank">Camron (@Tsundain)</a></b></span></p><p><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif"><b><a href="https://twitter.com/VirtuaSchlub" target="_blank">Brian (@VirtuaSchlub)</a></b></span></p></blockquote><p><br />Related Links:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://thesegalounge.podbean.com/e/bestofsega2020/ " target="_blank"><b>The Sega Lounge podcast site </b>- https://thesegalounge.podbean.com/e/bestofsega2020/</a></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif"><a href="https://www.radiosega.net/" target="_blank"><b>Radio Sega main site </b>- https://www.radiosega.net/</a></span></p><p><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif"><a href="https://twitter.com/thesegalounge" target="_blank"><b>The SEGA Lounge Twitter (@thesegalounge)</b> - https://twitter.com/thesegalounge</a></span></p><p><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif"><br /></span></p><p><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif"><a href="https://www.chuhailabs.com/" target="_blank"><b>Chuhai Labs main site (w/ Discord link)</b> - https://www.chuhailabs.com/</a></span></p><p><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif"><a href="https://twitter.com/chuhailabs" target="_blank"><b>Chuhai Labs Twitter (@ChuhaiLabs)</b> - https://twitter.com/chuhailabs</a></span></p><p><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif"><br /></span></p><p><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif"><a href="http://thesaturnjunkyard.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>The Saturn Junkyard blog site</b> - http://thesaturnjunkyard.blogspot.com/</a></span></p><p><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/thesaturnjunkyard" target="_blank"><b>SJY Facebook page & community</b> - https://www.facebook.com/thesaturnjunkyard</a></span></p><p><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/TheSaturnJunkyard/" target="_blank"><b>SJY YouTube channel </b>- https://www.youtube.com/c/TheSaturnJunkyard/</a></span></p><p><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif"><a href="https://twitter.com/SaturnJunkyard" target="_blank"><b>SJY Twitter (@SaturnJunkyard)</b> - https://twitter.com/SaturnJunkyard</a></span></p><p><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif"><br /></span></p><p><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif"><a href="https://www.thedreamcastjunkyard.co.uk/" target="_blank"><b>The Dreamcast Junkyard home page</b> - https://www.thedreamcastjunkyard.co.uk/</a></span></p><p><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif"><a href="https://www.thedreamcastjunkyard.co.uk/2021/01/LegacyofShenmue3.html" target="_blank"><b>Brian's Shenmue III article on DCJY</b> - https://www.thedreamcastjunkyard.co.uk/2021/01/LegacyofShenmue3.html</a></span></p></blockquote><p><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif"> </span></p><p><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif"> </span></p><p><span face="lato, Helvetic Neue, Arial, san-serif"> </span></p>Jet Brian Radio (@VirtuaSchlub)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10822526071943092178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689256347836494469.post-65152039466956659182020-10-29T23:13:00.003+00:002020-10-30T02:14:18.735+00:00Halloween 2020 - 5 Saturn Games To Get You In The MOOD!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ig_mR0uAN7k/X5tEOCf61OI/AAAAAAAAIBI/EPMjgngVw5wXnTJVAv5dTPNiVjk0812IgCLcBGAsYHQ/s633/123135011_10164340770390364_5137258198999827538_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="526" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ig_mR0uAN7k/X5tEOCf61OI/AAAAAAAAIBI/EPMjgngVw5wXnTJVAv5dTPNiVjk0812IgCLcBGAsYHQ/w533-h640/123135011_10164340770390364_5137258198999827538_o.jpg" width="533" /></a></div><p>I love Halloween. <b>LOVE IT!</b> I get excited at the end of September, and it is one of the few consolations I have to keep me buoyed up, as as the summer starts to fade and we tumble into Autumn...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k8XIoxudOeM/X5tFd07n8vI/AAAAAAAAIBc/whB7rrFEi0QciuwuzQXNF5z5dY4uCcN8QCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="209" data-original-width="242" height="345" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k8XIoxudOeM/X5tFd07n8vI/AAAAAAAAIBc/whB7rrFEi0QciuwuzQXNF5z5dY4uCcN8QCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h345/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-align: left;">As such, it's one of the very few seasons that can get me motivated to "put pen to paper" (so to speak) and whip up an article for the Saturn Junkyard. This is now the fourth year since we resurrected the Yard, so thinking of a set of titles that I've never mentioned in my annual Halloween epistles, is becoming harder and harder. The links between horror and gaming are getting more and more tenuous, the choices of games becoming more and more scarce... My rule of thumb thus far, is that I have to have played the game myself, rather than having simply heard of it, or watched YouTube videos about it. As such, I <i>was</i> going to start waxing lyrical about Frankenstein -Through The Eyes Of The Monster, or indeed Battle Of The Monsters, but i decided against it. I briefly looked at purchasing the afore mentioned game until I saw it's </span><a href="https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SEGA-Saturn-Frankenstein-Through-The-Eyes-Of-The-Monster-PAL-/152586473863" style="text-align: left;">price tag</a><span style="text-align: left;">... I think I will perhaps order a repro copy from the most excellent "Nightwing Productions", so I can perhaps report on it in my Halloween 2021 post.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hC1h-gGtLqQ/X5tFwY2IjBI/AAAAAAAAIBk/niOkSO03QMI_neNQcHsa8vvk0wuHIqC0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/2016-sonic-channel-halloween-wallpaper.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hC1h-gGtLqQ/X5tFwY2IjBI/AAAAAAAAIBk/niOkSO03QMI_neNQcHsa8vvk0wuHIqC0QCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h320/2016-sonic-channel-halloween-wallpaper.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>So, on with this year's journey into the spooky world of Samhain, where we will rub shoulders with broom riding witches, crazed, blood thirsty monsters, brooding, growling ogres, antagonistic anal probing (probably) aliens, mutated, maximum security prisoners, demonic despotic prison bosses, howling crazed mental patients and... erm... anthropomorphic needles(!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hz8Z3Jmu0Yo/X5tF7GkDKKI/AAAAAAAAIBo/grWZ7iynVnAOal_MqzltOd9M8YcOMXBcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s225/cb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hz8Z3Jmu0Yo/X5tF7GkDKKI/AAAAAAAAIBo/grWZ7iynVnAOal_MqzltOd9M8YcOMXBcQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/cb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><b style="font-size: large;"><u>Cotton Boomerang:</u> </b></p><p><i>WooOoooOoo.... WOOOoooOOO..</i>. Are you scared yet?<i> No?</i> Well I'm afraid this first game is merely dipping a green, warty toe into the slime infested swamp of Halloween. What we have here, is an early evening, pre-watershed, kid-friendly "cute 'em up" - in other words, a cute, cartoony, side scrolling shmup. The Halloween link comes from the fact, that rather than controlling a spaceship or WWII fighter plane, you control a witch on a broomstick... <i>See?</i> We're getting there... A cute witch... who isn't scary at all, but a witch, nevertheless... </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GObSrC1kBV8/X5tGGTUaPbI/AAAAAAAAIBw/doDCZxCspfUx0dRmdOiKa4ztzqXx9ajogCLcBGAsYHQ/s704/12044-Cotton_Boomerang_%2528JUET_980709_V1.000%2529-1488017721.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="704" height="255" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GObSrC1kBV8/X5tGGTUaPbI/AAAAAAAAIBw/doDCZxCspfUx0dRmdOiKa4ztzqXx9ajogCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h255/12044-Cotton_Boomerang_%2528JUET_980709_V1.000%2529-1488017721.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_(series)">Cotton franchise</a> is a series of multi-platform titles, developed by Tokyo based developers <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Success_(company)">"Success Corporation"</a>, making it's debut in 1991 with <b>Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams,</b> with the Saturn release of <b>Cotton Boomerang</b> arriving in 1998. The game consists of piloting your witch and her broomstick, through a series of magical and haunted worlds, battling mythical creatures, while all manner of projectiles - crystals, power ups and even Jack O' Lantern pumpkin heads - fly towards you. As well as your ability to fire regular or hyper-powered shots, you can switch between characters, each of which has different styles, attributes and abilities.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K_FDY58Vqpw/X5tGWK0MIKI/AAAAAAAAIB4/_5EKmSRyBKcBotANKWYC7u67wCPA7PZfgCLcBGAsYHQ/s285/imagesc.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="285" height="248" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K_FDY58Vqpw/X5tGWK0MIKI/AAAAAAAAIB4/_5EKmSRyBKcBotANKWYC7u67wCPA7PZfgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h248/imagesc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p> Despite it's cute visuals and cartoonish outlook, Cotton is not an easy ride. Fortunately, as is often the case with games of this genre, there are a plethora of 'continues' to access, and you should be able to progress nicely through each charming level, soaking up the magic of this ghoulishly charming game...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1KAdhchmSoY" width="320" youtube-src-id="1KAdhchmSoY"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C9TbsaG9C20/X5tGj6u-0-I/AAAAAAAAIB8/TgY3-8PmZicJBSaRts-rqT00V649hNmBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/sega-saturn-gex.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="192" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C9TbsaG9C20/X5tGj6u-0-I/AAAAAAAAIB8/TgY3-8PmZicJBSaRts-rqT00V649hNmBQCLcBGAsYHQ/w256-h400/sega-saturn-gex.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Gex:</u></b></span></p><p>Now hold on there Father! Are you having a laugh? <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gex_(video_game)">Gex</a> is a 90's, 'Tude-fest, TV themed action platformer! What on earth does that have to do with the spookiest time of the year????</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-297tI5f_3OI/X5tGxhTNUAI/AAAAAAAAICA/m6u8SgNEwKAUx8rV3cYltNvlNQRBBzgXACLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/486e424a02cbe77112c12562c6ab5fee.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-297tI5f_3OI/X5tGxhTNUAI/AAAAAAAAICA/m6u8SgNEwKAUx8rV3cYltNvlNQRBBzgXACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/486e424a02cbe77112c12562c6ab5fee.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Yes... I know, I know... I'm stretching it... but as I said, I have to have played each title - and whilst my Saturn collection is fairly large - finding five horror themed titles that I hadn't considered before on these very pages, was becoming rather difficult. Fortunately, during Gex's rather long and drawn out back-story, it becomes apparent that the stereotypically wise-cracking, Star Trek impersonating Gecko is watching a horror movie as he is zapped into the television, by the evil Rez. The object of each level is to find hidden TV remote controls, and by doing so, progress to the next... </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YKrgMTBPtwM/X5tG7ipRAnI/AAAAAAAAICI/KeRtTYh8gU494vdHvL0cHSJEXCMUuCyYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/900x.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YKrgMTBPtwM/X5tG7ipRAnI/AAAAAAAAICI/KeRtTYh8gU494vdHvL0cHSJEXCMUuCyYgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/900x.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Therefore! As we delve into the hub world of the game, we are treated to a level which is incredibly suitable for a bit of Halloween Saturn fun. We are in a graveyard, a suitably murky palette of colours and creepy zombie ducks(?) lumbering slowly towards you, arms out-stretched in classic undead style... </p><p>Gex was developed by Crystal Dynamics for the 3DO and ported to the Saturn in 1996. Critical reception for the games was good and the game is an entertaing platformer with a very satisying gameplay and a large dollop of humour, thanks to the character of Gex which was voiced by comedian Dana Gould. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--vDrCJ4Cn7g/X5tHLR4xkcI/AAAAAAAAICQ/ZEaGEpTxg7Iee7Nho50Q45gNgqLPR7ORgCLcBGAsYHQ/s480/hqdefault.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--vDrCJ4Cn7g/X5tHLR4xkcI/AAAAAAAAICQ/ZEaGEpTxg7Iee7Nho50Q45gNgqLPR7ORgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/hqdefault.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As Gex, the bad ass, fun loving reptilian, you must wall walk, tail spin and bounce your way through the level, flicking out your tongue and munching golden flies... and that's it! I cannot tell you about any of the other levels, as I have consistently failed to find any of the remotes and therefore, have never progressed beyond the spooky horror themed hub world... therefore I always think of Gex as a spooky title. Good job really, as my selection this year was a bit thin on the ground, as mentioned earlier...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rPmopeQRrn8/X5tHjq6doiI/AAAAAAAAICc/6-RtxYIUlkoqqhNnaiSIJbz1ySZQbtlVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s220/220px-Gex_screenshot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="220" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rPmopeQRrn8/X5tHjq6doiI/AAAAAAAAICc/6-RtxYIUlkoqqhNnaiSIJbz1ySZQbtlVwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/220px-Gex_screenshot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R3k2dY4G_ms" width="320" youtube-src-id="R3k2dY4G_ms"></iframe></div><p>So... moving on swiftly, it's about time we ramped up the fear factor. Let's get to something a little less juvenile and a bit more adult oriented. Ladies and germs I bring you... </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qH8Prk-0v6g/X5tHuNW7koI/AAAAAAAAICg/NmrA6l7RyukJoIXeWXPikKVsDnkZUdBXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/136902--d.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="420" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qH8Prk-0v6g/X5tHuNW7koI/AAAAAAAAICg/NmrA6l7RyukJoIXeWXPikKVsDnkZUdBXgCLcBGAsYHQ/w263-h400/136902--d.png" width="263" /></a></div><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>D:</u></span></b></p><p>This is a strange one. A two disc opus, brought to us by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D_(video_game)">Warp</a>, again originally developed for the 3DO in 1999. The game is more of an interactive movie and features the protagonist and "digital actor" Laura, who featured in a number of games by Warp, In this one, Laura finds out her father, a respected medical practitioner, has gone insane and murdered all of his patients. As Laura, you must enter the hospital to investigate what has happened. As soon as she walks through the door, her world begins to morph and mutate and she finds herself in a gothic looking building, with strange instruments of torture and mutilated bodies scattered around.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5uJlZ-7e4CU/X5tH7MGRmfI/AAAAAAAAICo/-4AWoFcWuEo6qB_vbFXPYzKT7XGzhulPACLcBGAsYHQ/s480/hqdefault%2B%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5uJlZ-7e4CU/X5tH7MGRmfI/AAAAAAAAICo/-4AWoFcWuEo6qB_vbFXPYzKT7XGzhulPACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/hqdefault%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The mood is dark and mysterious, Strange events, psychedelic visions, shifting dimensions and surreal happenings are triggered as you move through the building. You have two hours to complete the game, with no opportunities to save. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VFLEMgy4Y3U/X5tILaXcfII/AAAAAAAAIC0/Kdys4WBUjxcRAtkgxZMVPL4ZcJ9BS_NlACLcBGAsYHQ/s480/hqdefault%2B%25283%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VFLEMgy4Y3U/X5tILaXcfII/AAAAAAAAIC0/Kdys4WBUjxcRAtkgxZMVPL4ZcJ9BS_NlACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/hqdefault%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Whilst the game is interesting and atmospheric, it is far from linear, and can be very difficult to navigate easily to the end of the experience. You might find yourself, as I did, struggling to progress at pace, finding yourself wandering and backtracking fruitlessly. Although I liked what I saw, it was not enough to keep me going, and after an hour or so, I became frustrated and bored. Watching a walkthrough video would not be conducive to the "search and reveal" nature of the game, but by the same token, unless I get some hints, the experience will stagnate and dissipate. Perhaps that is the most horrific element of the game. Certainly the biggest nightmare I faced within it's clutches...</p><p>So, from one moody gothic mansion to another... this time you're really going to be scared. In fact you're going to...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3qiVh-G7phc/X5tIY9xZMhI/AAAAAAAAIC4/weceJGe0c0si0W51MF0qrr7hAZZjhJSpQCLcBGAsYHQ/s460/jaquette-quake-saturn-cover-avant-g.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="300" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3qiVh-G7phc/X5tIY9xZMhI/AAAAAAAAIC4/weceJGe0c0si0W51MF0qrr7hAZZjhJSpQCLcBGAsYHQ/w261-h400/jaquette-quake-saturn-cover-avant-g.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><p><b style="font-size: large;"><u>Quake:</u></b></p><p>There's not much of a backstory here. You find yourself in a dark and foreboding castle. Outside, as glimpsed through the arched gothic windows, black clouds race across a deep purple sky. The dark, dank corridors and subterranean dungeons are patrolled by a variety of foes including gun wielding "grunts" and hammer wielding ogres... there are health, armour, weapon and ammo pick ups scattered throughout the levels. The scares come from the enemies, who pop up and attack you when you are least expecting it...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bgJ3RKLGj9A/X5tIm4MI5GI/AAAAAAAAIDA/bdyuL_2Cuj8VoLyabAkirwWaKsJ-TlwPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/maxresdefault.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bgJ3RKLGj9A/X5tIm4MI5GI/AAAAAAAAIDA/bdyuL_2Cuj8VoLyabAkirwWaKsJ-TlwPgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/maxresdefault.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Developed by Lobotomy Software, the Saturn version of Quake was the first console release of the popular PC first person shooter. The game utilises the SlaveDriver engine, first developed for the excellent Powerslave/Exhumed/1999. As such, this is not so much a port as a game built from the ground up...</p><p>The Saturn version boasts an exclusive hazard (the void) and an exclusive, very un-FPS unlockable - "Dank and Scuzz - a voice acted story set within the Quake world. The game has been oft praised for the textures, colours and lighting effects, which to some extent surpass the original. The brutal Nine Inch Nails provide the soundtrack, which is unsurprisingly dark, menacing and drive the game forward.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-75Z25UNXD1Q/X5tIzwgeuGI/AAAAAAAAIDI/mbnyhxKJaaA8T8lyKsQtleTzggafO0qpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/39409-quake-sega-saturn-screenshot-sega-intro-screen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-75Z25UNXD1Q/X5tIzwgeuGI/AAAAAAAAIDI/mbnyhxKJaaA8T8lyKsQtleTzggafO0qpwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/39409-quake-sega-saturn-screenshot-sega-intro-screen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>This one really <i>IS</i> a good one for the Halloween season and like it's cousin Powerslave, is a quality title which fits the mood of the season perfectly...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S9gYBXrIWXc" width="320" youtube-src-id="S9gYBXrIWXc"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KOsmZjEKwmc/X5tJEYU69PI/AAAAAAAAIDU/F602bgHhOBc17SQuX-FH05YYyDItG7rXQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1244/164488-area-51-sega-saturn-front-cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1244" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KOsmZjEKwmc/X5tJEYU69PI/AAAAAAAAIDU/F602bgHhOBc17SQuX-FH05YYyDItG7rXQCLcBGAsYHQ/w258-h400/164488-area-51-sega-saturn-front-cover.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><br /> <b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Area 51:</span></u></b><p></p><p>Not too long ago, in a pre-Covid world, gangs of slightly insane nerds, gathered at the US military installation known as Area 51, poised to do <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VpiBd0DLcw&t=46s">"Naruto runs"</a> headlong towards the armed military guards, with the hopeless intention of busting in, and subsequently seeing the alien bodies and captured saucers that have been held there since the greys crash landed into the Roswell desert in 1947...</p><p>Thanks to<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_Games"> Atari Games</a>, Saturn light gun enthusiasts do not have to compromise their personal safety, in order to observe the interior of the Groom Lake facility. All they have to do, is load up this title, pick up their Stunner and get ready to go... </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3zMbwGwFy_w/X5tJT8ss2_I/AAAAAAAAIDc/SGJAudM2eOEzuHrm3z7GlrAz5kfnfqVMQCLcBGAsYHQ/s282/s.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="179" data-original-width="282" height="254" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3zMbwGwFy_w/X5tJT8ss2_I/AAAAAAAAIDc/SGJAudM2eOEzuHrm3z7GlrAz5kfnfqVMQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h254/s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>In a matter of seconds, all the aliens in the facility will start to jump out in front of you in order for you to shoot! How very accommodating of them! Seriously though, this is not a bad game. It has it's roots in the arcade and whilst it is no Virtua Cop, it far outstrips <a href="http://thesaturnjunkyard.blogspot.com/2019/10/saturn-junkyard-halloween-2019.html">last year's offering</a> Corpse Killer! </p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">You are a member of the STAAR (Special Tactical Advanced Alien Response) Team, along with your colleagues Lieutenant Stephanie Grant and Sergeant Major Marcus Bradley, you are tasked with activating a nuclear self destruct button... </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fPr-WFqAMwU/X5tJkwD4JLI/AAAAAAAAIDk/BDjaCgjktOwLbuyNP3MvwEhubtVaSICzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/shot4-300x210.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="300" height="280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fPr-WFqAMwU/X5tJkwD4JLI/AAAAAAAAIDk/BDjaCgjktOwLbuyNP3MvwEhubtVaSICzgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h280/shot4-300x210.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hang on a minute??? Who the hell is going to sign up for that??? </span></p></span><p></p><p>As well as aliens, you are also faced with mutated zombie soldiers, meaning it conveniently gets a pass for our Halloween selection... the presentation is better than our other Halloween light gun favourite, House Of The Dead and this is a better graphical spectacle, utilising digitized video - enemies, innocents and explosions are 2D digitized sprites. The vehicles and levels are pre-rendered 3D. I'm saying that like I have a clue what it means, when in reality I just nicked it all from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_51_(1995_video_game)">Wikipedia.</a> </p><p>Overall, the game is a winner, and if you've had enough HOTD for one year, you should definitely give it a blast!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yKu0kqkj4eM/X5tKLe-vRiI/AAAAAAAAIDw/IYXp4hfr1EQboNqkBycNjTurH6JAjn1PgCLcBGAsYHQ/s704/353120.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="704" height="255" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yKu0kqkj4eM/X5tKLe-vRiI/AAAAAAAAIDw/IYXp4hfr1EQboNqkBycNjTurH6JAjn1PgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h255/353120.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>So there we have it... Five titles that will take us through till, this time next year, when I will have invested in some proper horror titles to report on! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BlwM2kh9eCQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="BlwM2kh9eCQ"></iframe></div><p></p><p>*( Last minute honourable mention goes to Loaded... a top down 2D shooter, based around a maximum security prison. I'd always thought it was a bit shit, but having persevered, I have to say I rather like it!</p><p>Put it down as next year's first on the list...) </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>fatherkrishnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01523813350137435244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689256347836494469.post-15752657325008136732020-07-26T13:38:00.001+00:002020-08-05T03:42:02.448+00:00Five Platform Games On The Saturn Which Still Hold Up In 2020<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Do you ever start something and think to yourself; "I really don't know what I'm doing here..."? Well I think that is the starting point for this brief consideration of platform games on the Saturn. As I started, I realised I didn't really have the exhaustive knowledge necessary to write this article, that I was unaware of all examples of the genre available for our 32 Bit obsession, and that I hadn't even played any of these games sufficiently to actually pass judgement on them.<br />
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SO - please look upon this written passage as a way for you to dip your toe in the waters of Saturn platforming, rather than an exhaustive deep dive into the ocean of up and down, left to right and occasional back and forth...<br />
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My initial consideration was about the exact type of game I should include... should I include games such as Sonic 3D, NiGHTS or Burning Rangers? Should I include Castlevania or Metal Slug - both of which contain platforming elements - the directional side to side and up & down movement, being integral to both games? Should I include Clockwork Knight - (by far my most played Saturn platformer, but also one which <a href="http://www.thesaturnjunkyard.com/2018/09/clockwork-knight-definitive-saturn.html">I had highlighted before</a>?) In order to cover myself on all fronts, let's just re-brand this article as "5 Platform Games On The Saturn (Part 1)" implying there will be careful consideration of other games in the future!<br />
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Okay, caveat over, we'll dive straight in...<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Rayman -</span></b> Released by a young Ubi Soft in 1995, Rayman is perhaps the most impressive platformer on the Saturn. Impressive for so many reasons, visually, musically, in terms of slick development and level design and in terms of character creation and overall awesomeness. Not an easy game by any means, but one which will keep you coming back, time and time again, simply to spend time in it's graphical magnificence. The story (briefly) is of a harmonious word being overturned by a malevolent force and the quest to undo the damage it causes. Rayman himself is a magical creature, a cartoon-like being, presented with disembodied hands and feet. Rayman can run, jump and punch, plus "float with style" occasionally. The game invites you to traverse a series of visually opulent lands, collecting "tings" and rescuing fellow creatures. The game even has some shooter elements and some great bosses to battle. Painfully hard, the title is not for the faint hearted, but pracstise makes perfect, 'continues' are generous and the game itself will make you want to keep trying. This was a hugely popular game and was given a sequel on The Dreamcast. The music is sublime too! For a great review of the game watch the video above!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Keio Flying Squadron 2</b></span> - Another beautiful, side scrolling masterpiece, this time developed by Victor Entertainment in 1996, the game is a follow up to Keio Flying Squadron, which appeared on the ill-fated Sega CD . The game sees you play as Rami, a 14 year old girl and the keeper of a treasure - a golden sphere which unlocks a treasure kept deep in the mountains (or some other such guff... 🤣) Safe to say, this is a humorous and cartoon-like adventure, steeped heavily in Japanese culture and aesthetic. Like Rayman, it makes full use of the Saturn's colour palette.<br />
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Like Rayman it includes some side scrolling shmup elements. And like Rayman, it's excellently designed levels can be challenging on initial playthroughs, until enemy attack patterns and safe routes are learned. Whilst platforming, you will be bothered and pestered, by an assortment of creatures who look deceptively cute, so it's great that you can grab one of the large comedic hammers scattered throughout the levels, with which to thwack them over the head. See if you can spot the only bit of feminist dialogue to be found on the Saturn, during a cut scene involving Rami and some Sumo wrestlers!<br />
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I enjoyed my Japanese import copy of Keio Flying Squadron so much, I wanted the PAL version so I could understand the story... but in truth it's not that amazing, so I'm not recommending you follow my lead. What is important is that you stick with it, learning the patterns and level design, no matter how difficult or frustrating that learning curve is!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Astal</b></u></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-krcbLvsYA-0/XaygCnOuIXI/AAAAAAAAHx0/BSmfdW3jjGAd-huR5HY7dy_57jT5003ygCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>In my mind (<i>though not actually related in any actual way...</i>) Astal makes the third in a trilogy of Saturn games, with the two other games just highlighted, in the preceding paragraphs. A trilogy of beautiful and imaginative side scrolling 2D platformers, whose inventive use of graphics and colour, original characters, and psychedelic game worlds is unsurpassed on any system. Astal tells the rather perplexing story, of a Goddess that creates children from jewels, who then get into some bother or other and have to find each other (or some such mystical nonsense...) - If you're interested, you can read the full and unexciting story <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astal">here</a>.<br />
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The resultant game, created by <b>Sega</b>, is a joy to behold, with a sweeping soundtrack and a collection of slightly annoying character noises. The protagonist Astal, is a rather tough little guy, who stomps grumpily through levels, throwing crystal inspired creatures over his shoulder or smashing them into the ground with his fists. A combination of the D-Pad and the B button cause Astal to breathe in a large gulp of air, then exhale so sharply that he literally blows enemies away.<br />
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In truth, like so many other titles, I've not had the patience to stick with this one, so I've seen little of later levels, But if anyone is looking for a game which shows off the Saturn as a console, you could do worse than looking at this beautiful 2D masterpiece.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>'90s 'Tude Inspired Platformers...</u></span></b></div>
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If you have no idea, what "'Tude" is, then enjoy one of my favourite episodes of the excellent GameSack, featured above. The 90s was a time when advertisers, magazines, music moguls, fashion designers were all searching for 'TUDE... Short for "attitude", the very word 'tude denotes the very feeling it is meant to evoke...Carefree, unrestricted by convention, cheeky, bold and daring - all served up with a side order of razor sharp wit and snappy catch-phrases... 'Tude was embodied by Sega's mascot Sonic... but as the Saturn failed to deliver us either an original 2D or 3D platformer, I'm afraid our blue tinged spike rat doesn't make the cut. Instead we'll deliver you a couple of Saturn substitutes, starting with a certain juiced up insect...</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Bug and Bug Too!</u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qw8D4W2davY/Xa3b-Y-YxQI/AAAAAAAAH1Q/ycf9QW5zbCg9QzyK7oWbKYj0WD9TyIdoACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/page1-612px-Bug_Sega_Saturn_JP_Manual.pdf.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qw8D4W2davY/Xa3b-Y-YxQI/AAAAAAAAH1Q/ycf9QW5zbCg9QzyK7oWbKYj0WD9TyIdoACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/page1-612px-Bug_Sega_Saturn_JP_Manual.pdf.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="612" height="391" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qw8D4W2davY/Xa3b-Y-YxQI/AAAAAAAAH1Q/ycf9QW5zbCg9QzyK7oWbKYj0WD9TyIdoACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/page1-612px-Bug_Sega_Saturn_JP_Manual.pdf.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Bug was an original IP developed by Real Time Associates and published by Sega. Like Pandemonium and Clockwork Knight, Bug represents a "2.5D platformer". By 2.5D we mean the illusion of a 3D environment, produced on a 2D plain. As well as going left to right and up and down, Bug has the ability to venture "into the screen" and "out again", providing depth, as well as back and forth and up and down. Bug is a cartoon like adventure, set in a world entirely populated by creepy crawlies. </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vtNBFppsmdY/Xa3b-oxWXtI/AAAAAAAAH1Y/03c98BkN87M8PEzK5saSI-Cpqcx2zTuvACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/punometer.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vtNBFppsmdY/Xa3b-oxWXtI/AAAAAAAAH1Y/03c98BkN87M8PEzK5saSI-Cpqcx2zTuvACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/punometer.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="342" height="293" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vtNBFppsmdY/Xa3b-oxWXtI/AAAAAAAAH1Y/03c98BkN87M8PEzK5saSI-Cpqcx2zTuvACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/punometer.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vtNBFppsmdY/Xa3b-oxWXtI/AAAAAAAAH1Y/03c98BkN87M8PEzK5saSI-Cpqcx2zTuvACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/punometer.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>The game centres around Bug, a Hollywood actor (the game parodies the movie industry), who has to defeat the evil Queen Cadavra as part of his quest to become a star. Bug has enemies to stomp and juice to collect, as well as powerups and coins. As well as running and jumping, Bug will have to crawl and slide, timing his actions just right in order to avoid (frequent) death... The game is pun laden and cute looking, but is also LONG and unforgiving. Bug Too is more of the same, with a particularly good horror level, apt for the time of year, titled "The Weevil Dead"...</div>
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Heavy on humour, that doesn't always hit the spot, Bug and it's sequel are difficult games. A running theme could be that I have not seen the conclusion or even later levels, as death comes quickly and easily for our six legged friend. Definitely worth a go if you've never played them, but more tricky than this particular gamer could handle.</div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">GEX:</span></b></u></div>
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Gex was originally a 3DO title, published by Crystal Dynamics, which Saturn owners were lucky enough to have ported to the system in late 1995. The game receives a very healthy write up in wikipedia, where you can find out all of the stuff you're dying to know and I am too lazy to tell you. Read about it <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gex_(video_game)"><b>here...</b></a></div>
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<u></u><b></b><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Horror themed and stuffed full of 'Tude, Gex is not a million miles away from Bug in it's aesthetic, but very different gameplay due to the titular reptile's tail spin and ability to traverse vertical and even upside down surfaces. Zombie creatures are out to get you as you move through the levels, but you can whack them with your tail to get rid of them. The levels have secret traps and dimensional portals which zap the player to hidden parts of the game-world, necessary for the collection of TV remote controls, which are your tickets to progressing to the next channel. Snappy and humorous, this is another great looking game, but like it's contemporary 2.5D partners, it looks far more dated than it's "pure 2D" platform rivals. </div>
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So there you go! Five of the Saturn platformers which I enjoy. What are your favourites? What should I include next time? Do you know of any obscure Japanese platformers that we all might enjoy? Let me know!!! </div>
fatherkrishnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01523813350137435244noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689256347836494469.post-39916185226000058262020-06-26T18:28:00.001+00:002020-06-28T01:09:03.557+00:00Modern Controllers on the Saturn and Dreamcast: Early Impressions of the Brook Wingman SD<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1oLa907L_Q8/XvP58rKpczI/AAAAAAAAGdI/n2I4tV-yKC0sXRYonX5lylXP_qpNPigDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Wingman%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1oLa907L_Q8/XvP58rKpczI/AAAAAAAAGdI/n2I4tV-yKC0sXRYonX5lylXP_qpNPigDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Wingman%2B3.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Let’s just get this out of the way: the original, Japanese-style Saturn gamepad is one hell of a controller. It’s easily one of the greatest ever crafted…for 2D games.<br />
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When it comes to 3D, the Sega Saturn’s pedigree is considerably more complicated. Sega’s initial attempt at an analog controller – the 3D control pad – was a perfectly serviceable, albeit rough-around-the-edges attempt at giving Saturn players a handle on the third dimension. But it worked well enough. As an early showpiece title for the controller, NiGHTS into Dreams drew us in with its vibrant, imaginative worlds and addicting score attack premise. Yet it was our seamless connection to the game’s smooth and blistering flow – thanks largely to the 3D control pad – that cemented Sonic Team’s soaring jester simulator among the Saturn’s most beloved and iconic games. At the very least, it was clear that analog controls were our future.<br />
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Unfortunately, like most other consumer products of the 1990s, those original 3D control pads were not made to last forever. After two and a half decades of wear and tear, their fraying rubber membranes and wobbly analog sticks are slowly becoming more rules than exceptions. Inevitably, there will be a day when our passion for 3D Saturn games like NiGHTS will outlive our ability to fully play them as intended on original hardware. In the meantime, we’ll just have to enjoy our ratty old 3D controllers while they last…<br />
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That is, unless we had a viable alternative.<br />
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It’s not for a lack of trying. A couple of years ago, Retro-Bit announced plans to produce its own <a href="https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/retro-bit-showcases-a-wave-of-sega-genesis-and-sat/2900-2500/" target="_blank">aftermarket 3D Saturn gamepads</a>. The company has since released its well-received interpretation of Sega’s original 2D Japanese-style pad, yet its 3D analog models ostensibly lie in design stasis. Earlier this year, Retro Fighters launched its BrawlerGen controller for the Genesis and Saturn. With any luck, I hoped it would be the silver bullet that saves the Saturn from an apocalyptic, 3D controller-deprived future.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NhUtRA0WPSo/XvP6myAdJhI/AAAAAAAAGdY/dKdY2cfpAs0SNlCBgGTW7gTuG7eobLH3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BrawlerGen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NhUtRA0WPSo/XvP6myAdJhI/AAAAAAAAGdY/dKdY2cfpAs0SNlCBgGTW7gTuG7eobLH3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/BrawlerGen.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>It wasn’t.</i></div>
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The BrawlerGen’s form factor feels reasonably ergonomic and it sports an analog stick for directional input but it completely lacks analog functionality. Disappointingly, its analog stick simply mimics the d-pad’s eight-way digital input without any of the pressure-sensitive, omni-directional functionality of the original 3D pad. The BrawlerGen is still a useful controller – especially for some Genesis games and non-analog 3D Saturn titles like the original Panzer Dragoon – but it hardly remedies the Saturn’s scarcity of analog controller options.<br />
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So here we are. Unlike Retro-Bit and Retro Fighters, gaming peripheral manufacturer Brook has taken a wildly different approach to alleviating that scarcity. Instead of a brand new controller, Brook’s Wingman Converter SD is a controller adapter dongle that lets players use an array of modern gamepads and arcade sticks on both the Saturn and Dreamcast. The company sent me an early unit to test out and write about, so I tested it and now I am writing about it.<br />
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So how does it work?<br />
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As it turns out, pretty damn well…with plenty of caveats.<br />
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The Wingman Converter SD promises wireless and wired compatibility with a variety of modern first party controllers, including the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Switch, and others. It took me a while to get some of them to sync consistently and ultimately, some worked better than others. Granted, most of the PS4 and Xbox One controllers I own are early launch-era models so it’s possible the Wingman simply doesn’t play nice with those older gamepads. At one point, Brook's <a href="https://www.brookaccessory.com/detail/62472958/" target="_blank">website</a> also suggested the Wingman would be compatible with some modern arcade sticks. Unfortunately, I don’t own any so I wasn’t able to test them. I’ll also note that I’m using an early pre-production Wingman SD unit so it’s possible – even likely – that some of the issues I mention here will be ironed out before release or via future firmware updates. Hell, even as I've been using this adapter, Brook has already issued a couple of updates which cleaned up some earlier issues I experienced considerably.<br />
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After syncing various modern gamepads via their respective USB charging cables (not included), I noticed some fairly major differences in their performance. For instances, my launch Xbox One controller (non-Bluetooth model) felt like it had very little dead zone in its analog stick and was a bit too sensitive, making it more difficult to finesse directional movements. The Switch Pro Controller works reasonably well with the Wingman but because its shoulder buttons (ZL and ZR) lack analog sensitivity, it poses obvious problems for driving games which rely on pressure-sensitive acceleration and braking. That left me with a newer DualShock 4 (Model #CUH-ZCT2U) which I primarily used wirelessly with the Wingman SD. For the purposes of sharing my impressions here, I’m going to focus on my experiences with particular controller.<br />
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<i>Playing Dreamcast games with a DualShock: Heresy? Sure, but it’s heresy that works.</i></div>
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Despite some of the quirks I mentioned earlier, the Wingman SD has a great deal of potential to turn modern gamepads into fully functional alternatives for playing 3D games on Sega’s penultimate and swansong platforms. After syncing it with the Wingman, my DualShock 4 worked wirelessly on both consoles with little fuss. Overall, it feels solid where it needs to: it’s highly responsive while adding no discernible lag. Most crucially for games like Burning Rangers and NiGHTS, the PS4’s analog stick supports a full range of granular directional inputs that I’d expect from the original 3D control pad. The trigger buttons also share a comparable range of motion and pressure sensitivity, which is critical for racing games like Manx TT and Sega Rally Championship.<br />
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I hesitate to say the Wingman SD and DualShock 4 work better than the original Saturn 3D control pad, but at the very least, it’s a damn fine alternative. There are a couple of Saturn games I feel the Wingman SD works especially well with: Power Slave/Exhumed and Sonic R. Honestly, a lot of this may come down to the DualShock 4’s smoother and more resistant analog stick. It provides a more stable and nuanced feel for these games that is less finicky than Sega’s official 3D pad. Combine that with a more ergonomic formfactor, I really do think the Wingman/DS4 will be my preferred way to play many of these games going forward.<br />
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Additionally, the Wingman SD supports button remapping and turbo functions, which is particularly useful as the default face button assignments don't always intuitively between the Saturn and PS4 controllers. As far as I can tell, you can’t swap the analog sticks to map physical movement to the right stick (I’ll get into that in a bit). But with a few button combinations outlined in the instruction manual/website, I was able to remap the face and shoulder buttons fairly easily.<br />
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In case you’re wondering how the default button mapping works for using a DualShock 4 with Saturn games, the Wingman assigns X, Y, and Z, to square, triangle, and L1 and A, B, and C to cross, circle, and R1, respectively. This set up works well for most 3D games I’ve tried so far, though I wouldn’t recommend it for games which require equal access to all six face buttons. Honestly, you’ll still want to keep those 2D Saturn pads and arcade sticks handy for shmups, fighting games, etc.<br />
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OK, now let’s talk about the Dreamcast because that’s where the Wingman SD will have some extra value. For all of Sega’s groundbreaking and forward-thinking accomplishments, its failure to include a second thumbstick on its Dreamcast controller was almost comically shortsighted. Some developers attempted to design around this by mapping physical movement (forward/backward/strafing) to the Dreamcast controller's face buttons. This was an admirable attempt that worked to the benefit of 3D shooters like Fur Fighters, MDK2, Slave Zero, Quake III Arena, Outtrigger. That said, it was hardly a great, let alone perfect solution.<br />
<br />
To that end, the Wingman SD manages to give players a little taste of how dual analog support might have worked on the Dreamcast. Surprisingly enough, it kind of does a solid job at it.<br />
<br />
I say “kind of” because neither the Wingman SD nor modern controllers are not going to miraculously convert digital A/B/X/Y inputs into full analog directional inputs. However, they will let players functionally use the left stick for aiming and the right stick for basic eight-way movement for any action/shooting games with those mapping options. For those aforementioned games I’ve tested so far, it works surprisingly well. Unfortunately, the Wingman lets you remap the face and shoulder buttons but not the analog sticks, which means I was basically stuck with a southpaw configuration for my faux dual stick set up. If that’s your preference and/or you’re able to adjust to it (I eventually was), it works reasonably well.<br />
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There’s also another Dreamcast-specific feature I should mention. Unlike other controller converters (e.g. the <a href="https://www.play-asia.com/total-control-3/13/7046" target="_blank">Total Control products</a>) the Wingman SD does not have a VMU port on the unit itself (you can load one from a second controller). However, the unit does function as its own built-in memory card with a full 200 blocks for game saves. For those familiar with Brook’s earlier PS3/PS4-to-Dreamcast Super Converter adapter, which only had a few dozen blocks of memory, the Wingman SD is a notable improvement.<br />
<br />
Well, that’s pretty much all I have to say about the Wingman SD for now. Overall, it's an ambitious peripheral and I've encountered plenty of quirks and issues during my time with it. Regardless, the Wingman is a nifty little adapter that I see myself using fairly often going forward. As our older analog sticks grow looser and wobblier – and as Saturn 3D pads become rarer and more expensive – we’ll need solutions like this to keep enjoying those classic 3D games on original hardware. For its part, the Wingman largely succeeds.<br />
<br />
The Brook Wingman Converter SD is scheduled to release in mid-July for $49.99.<br />
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Thanks for reading -- You can find me on <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtuaSchlub" target="_blank">Twitter (@VirtuaSchlub)</a> where I post about random video game musings as well as occasional Junkyard write ups and podcasts.Jet Brian Radio (@VirtuaSchlub)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10822526071943092178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689256347836494469.post-51644917119743141922020-03-29T09:26:00.001+00:002020-04-23T02:00:38.704+00:00The Panzer Dragoon Remake: Flying Blind Through Familiar Skies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-amzihR39W2g/XoBktad6BLI/AAAAAAAAGVY/X3sO8qomgeU9ZGe8gNWjGcr_MFIqAiuTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_5397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-amzihR39W2g/XoBktad6BLI/AAAAAAAAGVY/X3sO8qomgeU9ZGe8gNWjGcr_MFIqAiuTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_5397.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I’ve always been
sympathetic to, and even charmed by Sega’s mid-‘90s transitional struggles. For
a time, the company was caught perpetually off guard as the industry conventions it had relied on (and indeed, helped define) crumbled amidst a swift generational shift. Sega adapted, more
or less. It eventually forged its own creative renaissance that continues
to endear the company to many of us today, even if it was ultimately a victim
of that sea change.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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In my mind, no
game exemplified that precarious phase more than the original Panzer Dragoon. As
something of a killer app in the Sega Saturn’s early days, the original title stands
as a cult classic, particularly by association with its offspring. Fans maintain
an enduring fondness for the original Panzer Dragoon, of course, but it remains
even better known for kicking off a remarkable and criminally underappreciated gaming
franchise.<br />
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For its
part, the original Panzer Dragoon was a timid first step in a bold new direction.
It navigated a generational chasm between a familiar arcade-action framework and
the unbound possibilities of 3D gaming. Between them, Panzer Dragoon took a
contorted middle path. It utilized the third dimension to great artistic and
mechanical effect, hoisting players atop a majestic dragon and immersing them in
a 360<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">˚</span>
perspective as they locked lasers with fantastical beasts in a mysterious,
post-apocalyptic setting. Those concepts contributed to a distinct vision and
tone that felt entirely new. However, several of the game's structural aspects –
like its rigidly linear pathways, finite life/continue counts, and lack of upgrades
or progression systems – did not.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The game is
about dragons, after all, so in those terms the original Panzer Dragoon was like
a young fledgling: confined to well-trodden ground despite its loftier
ambitions for flight. With later installments, the series would grow its wings,
evolve with more modern conventions, and soar with a swagger to match its ambition.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But now, 25
years later, developer MegaPixel Studio and publisher Forever Entertainment return us to that young
fledgling via the Nintendo Switch (for now, with PC and other platforms eventually).</div>
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<br />
At face value, the Panzer Dragoon remake basically does what it promises. It lets me hop back into the dragon’s saddle and guides me through the linear pathways
and familiar locales from the original game. Homing lasers in tow, I again blast
the waves of monsters surrounding me. The remake largely succeeds in replicating
the basic structure of Panzer Dragoon, no doubt, but it overlooks many of the things
which defined its novel vision in the first place.<b> </b>At no point does the Panzer
Dragoon remake ever make a compelling case for why it really needed to exist.</div>
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Shit. OK. That
sounded harsh.</div>
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<br />
Before I go on, I want to clarify that this is not a review. If you’re already
interested in the Panzer Dragoon remake – either as a long-time fan or a prospective newcomer – buy it if you can. Support the developers. The remake certainly isn’t
<i>bad</i>. It’s an enjoyable game in a similar way the original Panzer Dragoon
was an enjoyable game. From a value standpoint, the remake includes the same six stages
as the original. It takes about an hour to play through – which is also on par
with the original – and contains no additional material beyond that (at least as
of this writing). 25 bucks may be a steep asking price for what’s included but your
mileage will vary depending on how much you want to replay it. Anyway, whatever. It’s fine. I had fun.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
With that out of the way, I’m more interested in discussing the broader purpose
of video game remakes and assess the ways the Panzer Dragoon remake succeeds
and fails in upholding the original’s legacy as it also charts its own path through
modern skies.</div>
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Taking a
step back…<o:p></o:p></div>
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Whether it’s
a video game, film, or a property of another medium, a good remake is an art
form. It requires an intentional and cohesive direction that commits to a thoughtful
interpretation of the original work. A good remake preserves its most critical themes
and presents them in ways that underscore their meaning and enduring importance.
It can expand or recontextualize its original source material for renewed
relevance, and even critique it. But at its core, a good remake should illustrate how the original work remains relevant today.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In that sense,
the Panzer Dragoon remake fundamentally fails to capture the spirit of Team Andromeda’s
original vision and does little to evolve it in any interesting or meaningful
way.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Like most retro
game remakes, Panzer Dragoon attempts to make text of subtext by relying on high
fidelity visuals to more <a href="https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-02-04-the-question-of-fidelity-and-shadow-of-the-colossus" target="_blank">explicitly articulate</a> its setting. The Panzer Dragoon remake’s most noticeable accomplishments
– namely its reimagined environments, creatures, and assets – are indeed impressive.
The sheer work and talent that went into creating them is obvious. Among the
most striking examples is the game’s opening setting – the flooded ancient ruined
city – which sports a paradoxically modern facelift, even if the accompanying fog
and pop-in are constant reminders of the game’s ‘90s lineage.</div>
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Unfortunately,
the remake’s decidedly more vibrant and cluttered art direction routinely undermines
the original’s lonely atmosphere and calm, yet menacing tone, without offering
a rich or coherent enough substitute. In this remake, the original’s subtlety
and desolation have been slathered over by a vivid, pastel-like coat of paint,
which now imbues its world with a saccharine, almost plastic-like sheen.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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In theory, the
Panzer Dragoon remake’s more saturated appearance could have reflected a
legitimate departure from the original’s vision if other aspects of the game
were also committed to that same direction. Unfortunately, the remake fails to utilize
its broader presentation and gameplay toolsets to support its brighter, more optimistic
aesthetic. For instance, the environments are now dense with varied features
and topography but have few memorable landmarks, set pieces, or cursory
wildlife to establish a distinct sense of place. The original soundtrack’s synth
and orchestral arrangements* – while obviously brilliant – have been reused
verbatim and feel awkwardly out of step with the updated visuals. The remake also
closely mimics the flow of the original game, both mechanically, like in its pacing
of enemy waves, and in its shot-for-shot recreations of cinematic cuts. Through
this approach, it misses an opportunity to establish a more deliberate and
dynamic rhythm of its own.<br />
<br />
There’s an overarching sense that, rather than working toward a shared artistic vision, the Panzer Dragoon remake’s revamped visuals look pretty for pretty’s sake. It makes the aspects that have not evolved in tandem feel stagnant and jarring.<br />
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<i>* Launch
note: The much-anticipated soundtrack arrangement from Orta and Saga composer, Saori
Kobayashi, did not accompany the remake at the time I’m writing this. I remain
optimistic that this, and other future updates, will continue to improve the
experience significantly.</i></div>
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Then there’s
our blue-scaled companion. In the Panzer Dragoon games, the dragons you ride are
far more than simple avatars. They are the windows through which players are
drawn into the action, the world, and the narrative. The connection we build
with our dragon raises the stakes for the rest of the experience. Crucially, I believe
MegaPixel Studio understands this and largely gets it right. Although the
dragon has received a similar new candy coating as everything else, great care
has been taken in its fittingly exaggerated, yet natural animation. Your dragon maintains momentum by flapping its wings and undulating its body
before gliding intermittently. It’s a nice touch that suits the new bubbly
aesthetic surprisingly well, even if its wide range of motion makes gauging your dragon’s hit box a
bit of a crap shoot at times.</div>
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Otherwise, the
Panzer Dragoon remake seems uninterested in modernizing the original game’s feel, which may
be a feature or a bug depending on your outlook. To be fair, some quality of
life improvements are baked into the remake’s analog stick compatibility and relatively
smooth aiming (thank the deity of your preference for those). You can also
adjust the aiming reticule’s sensitivity to your liking. However, the homing
laser targeting is more finicky than I remember it, demanding more patience to
hit smaller targets at a distance. It’s manageable – it just takes a little
getting used to – but it can add an unnecessary layer of frustration while
trying to stay ahead of incoming enemy waves during the game’s more frantic
segments.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Panzer Dragoon
remake also stumbles through a variety of quirks which inject the experience with an underlying cheapness. Among them: explosion animations that dissolve a
bit too abruptly; hasty post-boss battle transitions which undermine their
sense of resolution and impact (ditto for player/dragon death animations), a lack
of kinetic punchiness or weight behind its attacks (both to enemies and the player/dragon),
and an uneven sound mixing that fails to support all of the above. These are each small, subtle blemishes which compound to further muddy whatever vision the remake
is working towards.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This comes back
to a few fundamental questions: What is the purpose of this remake? What aspects
of Panzer Dragoon is it celebrating? And what vision is it laying out for
itself? After three playthroughs, the answers to these questions still aren’t
clear to me.</div>
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At the end
of the day, the most valuable benefit of the Panzer Dragoon remake is that it renews
the series’ presence and prolongs its existence in the gaming lexicon. That’s a
simple thing, but it is crucial. Despite all of the criticisms I’ve laid out above,
I am grateful this remake exists. I’m happy to have returned to its world and I
want to support Forever Entertainment and MegaPixel Studio for taking on this
project, especially as they continue work on Panzer Dragoon Zwei (my favorite
Saturn game).<o:p></o:p></div>
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As a remake – and at least for now – Panzer Dragoon fails to mount a compelling
argument for its timid interpretation of Team Andromeda’s original vision. But
looking forward, it’s important to hold out hope. Panzer Dragoon was a young fledgling
and the same can be true of its remake. When learning to fly, struggling and learning
are vital parts of the process…but eventually, that fledgling will fly. Whether
it’s the upcoming Zwei remake, any future updates to this game, or something
else entirely, I’m still more than eager to see where Forever Entertainment and
MegaPixel Studio take us from here.</div>
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Thanks a lot for reading! Have you been playing the Panzer Dragoon remake? Let us know your thoughts.<br />
<br />
- Brian (<a href="https://twitter.com/VirtuaSchlub" target="_blank">@VirtuaSchlub</a> on Twitter)<br />
<br />
<br />Jet Brian Radio (@VirtuaSchlub)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10822526071943092178noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689256347836494469.post-63030407388273023322020-02-20T21:30:00.001+00:002020-02-20T21:30:23.220+00:00Sonic The Movie - Did It Suck???<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">******* SPOILER ALERT! ******** YOU MIGHT WANT TO WATCH THE MOVIE FIRST...</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">😳</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LPifqGIiZ4U/Xk71Af8FFZI/AAAAAAAAH6M/TGxXBbVv4-kF4MxXqZv1kNeZJQu94l6oACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/220px-Sonic_the_Hedgehog_poster.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="220" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LPifqGIiZ4U/Xk71Af8FFZI/AAAAAAAAH6M/TGxXBbVv4-kF4MxXqZv1kNeZJQu94l6oACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/220px-Sonic_the_Hedgehog_poster.webp" width="270" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay first things first, there's something we need to get out of the way before we start. I was always going to love this movie. I love Sega. I love Sonic. I love anything that celebrates, promotes or endorses either. I'm an unrepentant fanboy.A movie about Sega's mascot in 2020 did not seem very likely a few years ago, as Sonic's decline seemed to be as meteoric as Mario's ascent. Beloved of Retro-gamers in the US and recognised by even the most ardent of non-gamers, Mario could do no wrong. Nintendo seemed to get all the love in the 21st century - the DS, the Wii and the Switch have all been a smash. Every Mario game is hailed as a classic and a plethora of games featuring supporting characters like Luigi, Kirby, Wario and even the lizard guy, all seem to be met with both critical and commercial success. </span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ccTPsxUD5k4/Xk71CN8Z-LI/AAAAAAAAH6k/7TJPeUV35A8mA39cTLHdbRjyccjKup09wCEwYBhgL/s1600/sonic-robotnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ccTPsxUD5k4/Xk71CN8Z-LI/AAAAAAAAH6k/7TJPeUV35A8mA39cTLHdbRjyccjKup09wCEwYBhgL/s400/sonic-robotnik.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sega on the other hand, and Sonic in particular, have been on the decline since we passed from one millennium into another. First of all, Sonic Adventure 1 & 2 failed to ignite enough interest to save the Dreamcast. Whilst Mario's first foray into 3D gaming (in Mario 640, had been met with rapturous applause, Sonic's Adventures had been met with mixed reviews. Over ambitious, glitchy and with some poor supporting characters, the main criticism was one which would be oft repeated when reviewing Sonic games for years to come... they just didn't capture the pace or feel of the original games. So Sega abandoned it's hardware production and became a developer of games for Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, PC and mobile gaming.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zlmwxJw-P4I/Xk72mj81tvI/AAAAAAAAH7o/NO5hSTYy0m4ec49CmXtCUutdR1h1gxjNACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/maxresdefault%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zlmwxJw-P4I/Xk72mj81tvI/AAAAAAAAH7o/NO5hSTYy0m4ec49CmXtCUutdR1h1gxjNACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/maxresdefault%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so with each subsequent release, Sonic slipped further and further out of the public consciousness. People still bought the games, released across every conceivable platform, but in significantly smaller numbers. The cartoon franchise stopped, the toy production slowed down and images of Sonic stopped being used as a tool for selling children clothes, shoes, hats, canned pasta and hamburgers. At one point, during the 1990s, at the height of the Megadrive's success, Sonic was as universally known as an icon, as Mickey Mouse. Twenty five years later, children are very unfamiliar with Sonic, unless a determined Sega-loving parent has taught their offspring about him. On purpose. Much the same with Jim Carrey.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YM3xketXwvg/Xk72naiqR5I/AAAAAAAAH70/JOGvjcaGf2sVUJXQnJbGzCg2wHNLVfC-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/sonic-mania-adventures.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YM3xketXwvg/Xk72naiqR5I/AAAAAAAAH70/JOGvjcaGf2sVUJXQnJbGzCg2wHNLVfC-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/sonic-mania-adventures.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The main draw for the movie apart from the inclusion of our favourite amphetamine fuelled rodent, is Jim Carrey playing Dr. Robotnik. Although the supporting cast of James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally and Neal McDonough do an admirable job, it is neither remarkable nor particularly memorable. We won't be discussing them here. That's not a diss, there is just little to discuss. The reason this became such a must see film as soon as it was announced, was the inclusion of Carrey.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_B6mUEULsBo/Xk72kAJ0I-I/AAAAAAAAH7I/rDfvL6fZQGIfiNNpf6OJB82k9lHGNC6mwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/4e8c215ac8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_B6mUEULsBo/Xk72kAJ0I-I/AAAAAAAAH7I/rDfvL6fZQGIfiNNpf6OJB82k9lHGNC6mwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/4e8c215ac8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Carrey's decline may have been less dramatic than Sonic's. It may have been a decline of equal stature. Carrey was the hottest comedy property in Hollywood during the 90s. Films like The Mask, Dumb and Dumber, Ace Ventura and Batman Forever had established Carrey as an actor who would literally throw himself into a performance. The films were money spinners that did great box office, VHS and DVD sales - and spawned cartoons, toys and a similar variety of novelty tat aimed at children, as Sonic himself.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mhWWg4mxpm8/Xk73wNXRQDI/AAAAAAAAH8o/W1BFdwsAnqADrYxYM_AEDHCOtEC5ZCOiwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/JvWwZ4pbpkmmDlQtry5-tvbTE6KD0jXi4PCaxpagwJQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mhWWg4mxpm8/Xk73wNXRQDI/AAAAAAAAH8o/W1BFdwsAnqADrYxYM_AEDHCOtEC5ZCOiwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/JvWwZ4pbpkmmDlQtry5-tvbTE6KD0jXi4PCaxpagwJQ.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the 2000s, Jim both developed and expanded his acting talents, taking on serious roles in films such as 23, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Man In The Moon. This last role involved some hardcore method acting. He actually felt that as a person he had literally disappeared and assumed the personality of Andy Kaufman and his obnoxious alter ego Tony Clifton. Jim began acting very strangely. Rumours circulated that he was difficult to work with. That he acted like an asshole around his co-stars. That the production was short on laughs and high on drama.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u1rDMOxzye4/Xk75ncrs-0I/AAAAAAAAH9c/vPul3adAKGE-lJ9EF1As-ScBgI7N-RxrACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/jim-carrey-framed-for-killing-girlfriend-after-exposing-illuminati-secrets-1717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="620" height="218" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u1rDMOxzye4/Xk75ncrs-0I/AAAAAAAAH9c/vPul3adAKGE-lJ9EF1As-ScBgI7N-RxrACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/jim-carrey-framed-for-killing-girlfriend-after-exposing-illuminati-secrets-1717.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Carrey began to withdraw from the Hollywood life, still taking roles, but never really re-capturing his 90s appeal. His private life seemed to be littered with allegations of drug use and things seemed grim when his girlfriend died under tragic circumstances, some more malicious commentators (incorrectly and unfairly) placing the blame on JIm. Carrey's appearances on talk shows and proclamations on social media, did little to endear him to the more conservative members of his audience. His prophet-like beard and often bizarre behaviour began to alienate some of the Ace Ventura fans. But I never stopped loving him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I loved beardy Jim. Weirdy Jim. Cosmic, spacey, mystical Jim. But I'll be honest. I missed straightforward comedy Jim...</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9en0DJZnt0k/Xk74IZsfMSI/AAAAAAAAH80/J_P537ehCmQGr-gJlBLVfiy-qOQ0TgYGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/sth_ff_027r2.0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9en0DJZnt0k/Xk74IZsfMSI/AAAAAAAAH80/J_P537ehCmQGr-gJlBLVfiy-qOQ0TgYGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/sth_ff_027r2.0.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So... for me, seeing Carrey take on the role of the maniacal Dr. Robotnik in a movie about Sonic - such an important icon in my life, was something I never thought I'd see. But would it be as good as I'd hoped? We all know the story of the Sonic first build that was leaked to the internet. It was universally hated - a dis-proportioned nightmare that showed the ineptitude of the CGI artists and the production team. Not a good omen. With a year to go, the people at the director Jeff Fowler, announced that Sonic would be redrawn - redrafted so to speak - and the newly proportioned, wider eyed Sonic was introduced to the world, much to the relief of fans. </span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-79_4VfmQbY4/Xk74T87niCI/AAAAAAAAH88/DTXowwIFnkkK4b35tDen2oo1NUmsURPwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/ggg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-79_4VfmQbY4/Xk74T87niCI/AAAAAAAAH88/DTXowwIFnkkK4b35tDen2oo1NUmsURPwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/ggg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whilst I'm not going to tell you the plot (you can read <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_(film)">a synopsis here</a>, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone) I will tell you about Sonic and Robotnik. Voiced by Ben Schwarz, Sonic is the hedgehog we wanted. Sassy yet cute, independent yet vulnerable, self reliant, yet desperate for human interaction and acceptance, Sonic has plenty of <i>'tude</i>, but never gets cocky or annoying. In fact, his demonstrations of self reliance (playing a game of baseball with himself and commentating on his performance) seem funny and cartoon-like, they end up looking sad and lonely. We end up wanting Sonic and his reluctant human foster 'mum and dad' (James Marsden and Tika Sumpter) to end up as a happy family. In other words, Sonic becomes a believable, likable character. We root for him. </span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oys4FaQScuA/Xk74gXqwnhI/AAAAAAAAH9E/ET-we7MDlGYPktp4CQ5wOsOmivc9o21zACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/sonic-the-hedgehog-sth-ff-029r_rgb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oys4FaQScuA/Xk74gXqwnhI/AAAAAAAAH9E/ET-we7MDlGYPktp4CQ5wOsOmivc9o21zACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/sonic-the-hedgehog-sth-ff-029r_rgb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Carrey, you may be unsurprised to hear, is superb. Playing Robotnik as a narcissistic, unhinged inventor - the nerdy victim of bullying, who offloads his childhood traumas by bullying anyone he addresses in adulthood. Robotnik is mustachioed and militaristic, but also weak and ill disciplined. His megalomania is fascistic, He wants to capture Sonic on behalf of the military, not because of the potential damage that can be caused by Sonic's power surges, but for the glory of being the only one capable of doing it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hOzrHPhNSl8/Xk755PgDdAI/AAAAAAAAH9k/YK-VoeXl9RcxbDNc5Rx6eQFu_93u2MO5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/xtVOl_ulAbNSXTWQelFk-lfX82wtkk-XI-z8txFgnrI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hOzrHPhNSl8/Xk755PgDdAI/AAAAAAAAH9k/YK-VoeXl9RcxbDNc5Rx6eQFu_93u2MO5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/xtVOl_ulAbNSXTWQelFk-lfX82wtkk-XI-z8txFgnrI.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Robotnik is pompous and obnoxious. Absurd and overblown, bombastic and belligerent. A cartoon, pantomime villain, he huffs and puffs his way through the movie with comic aplomb. Always setting himself up to fail, his technology at first looking awesome and intimidating, but like the game, never any match for Sonic. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which would seem to be a good place to sign off. After all, Sonic is a movie based on a video game. How did the movie relate to the game franchise? </span><br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9Xe9DM7Nd8o/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9Xe9DM7Nd8o?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We do see Sonic's island at the start of the movie - and the producers have represented Sonic's hub world well. Sonic is transported to our world because of a lame ass plot device relating to baddies in his own world. He could possibly have gone to the "mushroom world" (a friendly jibe at Mario), but as soon as he gets to our world, the links to the game become tenuous. The film sets us up beautifully for a sequel, with a newly bald and <i>even more </i>unhinged Eggman stuck in a different dimension, vowing revenge on his nemesis... It also introduces a favourite character from the franchise that we'd all love to see as a character in Sonic 2.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In summary, as predicted, I love this movie. Nostalgic in just the right measure, feel good and optimistic, with enough humour, action and drama to keep my non-Sonic loving nephew and niece entertained. Go and see it!</span><br />
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fatherkrishnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01523813350137435244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689256347836494469.post-19926524535262946282020-02-20T11:07:00.001+00:002020-02-20T11:07:18.457+00:00We Are Back!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--pXMWcQXjs0/Xk5n_eaEbxI/AAAAAAAAH58/Sh39VUzBOQ88f90Abw6fzpQ2EsCi7EXBACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/fk%2Bseal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="254" data-original-width="254" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--pXMWcQXjs0/Xk5n_eaEbxI/AAAAAAAAH58/Sh39VUzBOQ88f90Abw6fzpQ2EsCi7EXBACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/fk%2Bseal.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After an extended hiatus, we are back! Praise Segata! </span>fatherkrishnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01523813350137435244noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689256347836494469.post-58404474013583262652019-11-22T10:30:00.001+00:002019-11-27T21:23:48.341+00:00WELCOME TO YOUR PARTY, SATURN!!! YOU'RE SO OLD NOW (The SJY Community's Top 100 Favorite Saturn Games List)So it’s
been 25 years, huh? A quarter century? Well, shit.<br />
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<br />
This is one hell of a milestone. To be honest, we weren’t really sure how to celebrate
the 25<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the Sega Saturn’s Japanese launch so we figured
we’d ask for the community’s help. We started by putting together a survey to capture
the community’s all-time favorite Saturn games. About 150 of you responded
(thanks, everyone!). And after that, we tallied up your responses to build the
community’s all-time top 100 favorite Saturn games list, which we’ll feature at
some point in this piece. Probably towards the end.<br />
<br />
But we didn’t just want to throw together the list and leave it at that. We
also asked some of our friends from around the community to contribute a few
words to share their love and enthusiasm for some of the Sega Saturn games which
mean the most to them. Before we jump into it, I’d like to thank our wonderful contributors,
including Retro Faith, the Dreamcast Junkyard’s Mike Phelan, Kev Mason, and Lewis Cox, Saturn
Junkyard alumni Lady Morgan, resident Clockwork Knight guru Peter O’Hanlon, Patrick
Traynor and Peter Malek of Sega Saturn Shiro! and the Saturn Junkyard’s own
Camron Graziano, Gaz Cormack, and Jeff Bradford. I’d also like to give a huge thanks to the one
and only Simon Early – a.k.a. Father Krishna – the deeply passionate and generous
bloke who got us into this whole mess in the first place.<br />
<br />
Thanks for helping us celebrate – now let’s party!<br />
<br />
- Brian</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dXUFTDs9Djs/XdeyoBltWmI/AAAAAAAAGPU/THVN8AeVYosilXY58EKOm37zVf3cN5RQgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Saturn%2Bin%2BShenmue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dXUFTDs9Djs/XdeyoBltWmI/AAAAAAAAGPU/THVN8AeVYosilXY58EKOm37zVf3cN5RQgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Saturn%2Bin%2BShenmue.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Shenmue's timeline, the Sega Saturn would be at least 33 years old.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Keio Flying Squadron 2 | SEGA | Victor
Entertainment | 1996 (JP & EU) | Unranked (Out of top 100)</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sega
Mega-CD owners may very well be familiar with the Victor-developed Keio Flying
Squadron. These days, it seems to be more known for its ridiculous second-hand
asking price, but those in the know will sing praises for its wacky
anime-centric shoot-em-up gameplay. Its 1996 Saturn sequel, on the other hand,
seems to have fallen by the wayside, perhaps due to it never reaching a full
international release (it was never released in North America, only Europe and
Japan). It also switched out the original’s beloved shoot-em-up gameplay
(mostly) for side-scrolling platformer levels. But what the game changes about
its gameplay, it doesn’t lose in presentation, fully taking advantage of the
Saturn’s ability to create amazing 2D environments – and in Keio 2’s case, ones
that feature many references to both ancient and modern Japanese culture. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Players
take control of bunny-eared protagonist, Rami, jumping on the heads of enemies
or whacking them with one of the game’s few weapons. The gameplay, in all honesty,
is pretty generic, not being that far removed from any other standard
platforming fare, but what Keio Flying Squadron 2 lacks in original gameplay,
it makes up for in imagination. Every single second of Keio 2 is filled with
excitement and insanity, featuring unique and highly varied levels, from
underground racoon mines to deadly theme park attractions (featuring a ridable
roller coaster), and Ninja castles. The plot just seems to take Rami all over
the place, and the boss fights are complete madness. The high level of
imagination put into Keio Flying Squadron is undisputable, and in a way,
features the same kind of balls to the wall, anything goes creativity that we
often rely on modern indie studios to provide. I’m a big fan of games that take
me by surprise, and Keio Flying Squadron 2 is a wonderful and well-executed
example. Its gameplay might not blow you away, but damn, what a hilariously
trippy experience from start to finish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">- Lewis
Cox, <a href="http://www.altmaguk.net/">Alt:Mag</a> and <a href="http://www.thedreamcastjunkyard.co.uk/">The Dreamcast Junkyard</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Clockwork Knight | SEGA | 1994 (JP); 1995 (US
& EU) | Ranked 75<sup>th</sup></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Clockwork
Knight has always been a very special game to me. I always had a thing for
platformers, but something always just felt a bit different from the others
with the fact the main character was an old, classic style toy and that he used
his key to attack. My first experience of the series was actually a Japanese
copy of Clockwork Knight 2, and we played it on our PAL Model 2 Saturn via a
"CD+Plus" cart plugged into the top of the console. I don't know what
it was at first that made it so special, but I suspect that it had to do with
my age at the time. I think I was around 6 years old, and I still loved the
whole legend of Toys coming to life while you slept... it all seemed a bit
magical to me, and seeing this game just added a little bit more magic to my
childhood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Another
thing I always loved about the series was the music. The mix of different
styles always stood out to me and was a big difference between what the Mega
Drive and what the Saturn can do. A huge memory of mine is the end credits
scene where the perfume bottle "Soltia" sings the classic song
"A Lullaby". It was always just something really interesting for its
time I felt, and me and my father both really loved it, so we've always had a
bonded memory and love over the series. As a small footnote, "A Lullaby"
was actually written before Clockwork Knight by the composer "Hirofumi
Murasaki" for his daughter who had recently been born. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I was
lucky enough to meet Hirofumi Murasaki over Facebook in 2012, becoming good
friends with him, and in 2015, I actually met up with him for drinks in Tokyo,
where he signed by Clockwork Knight soundtrack. Every year I'm discovering more
hidden secrets about the series, even to this year where we found out that an
illustration contest took place and the winners’ drawings were shown in the
credits of the second game’s Japanese version. I don't think I'll ever stop
loving it, and I think all Saturn players should give the game a fair shot...but play 1 and 2 if you do!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">- Peter
O’Hanlon (Tongara)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Winter Heat | SEGA | AM3 | 1997 (JP); 1998 (US
& EU) | Ranked 69<sup>th</sup></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Winter
Olympics has always been that slightly weirder younger brother of its summer
counterpart, and the same can be said of its place in video games, with the
snow and ice always playing second fiddle to another joystick waggling track
and field clone. But with Winter Heat, SEGA not only delivered an awesome
arcade sports title that bettered its sunnier compatriots, it delivered what is
still the best video game Winter sports compilation ever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sure,
there’s a bit of button mashing in the speed skiing, but the sheer variety on
offer - from the angular 3d alpine and sliding events to timing and reaction
based high flying events - and the sense that the game offers depth rather than
instant gratification, marks it out more like a precursor to the DC’s Sports
Jam than a sequel to Athlete Kings. Still popular now thanks to its excellent
record keeping and multiplayer joy, there’s not many niche genres that can
still hold a Saturn title up as best in class like Winter Heat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">- Mike Phelan,
<a href="http://www.thedreamcastjunkyard.co.uk/">The Dreamcast Junkyard</a><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Shinrei Jusatsushi Taromaru | Time Warner
Interactive | 1997 (JP) | Ranked 63<sup>rd</sup></span><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Shinrei
Jusatsushi Taromaru (Psychic Assassin/Killer Taromaru) came out on January
17th, 1997 in Japan. For a while, it was slated for a US release (according to
some game magazines at the time), but since the release of Taromaru coincided
with the end of Time Warner Interactive, the game never traveled west and, in
fact, had an extremely limited print run (5,000-7,500 copies; some have said
60,000 but given its rarity, I find that unlikely). Before hipsters ran the
prices of Saturn games into the stratosphere, it was extremely difficult to
track down a copy of Taromaru to buy (back when it cost $75+).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Taromaru
is a side scrolling action game in the similar vein as Treasure's masterpieces
of the time. In fact, Treasure legend Hiroshi Iuchi even drew a comic for the
game that can be found in the game's manual (and did some work on the backgrounds).
One aspect of the game that tends to throw new players off is that it relies on
a lock-on system; that is, to attack enemies, the player has to wait for
targets to lock on to them, at which point Taromaru (short range, but whose
charge shot can hit multiple enemies at once) or Enkai (long range; charge shot
hurts a lot) can rapidly shoot lightning bolts at them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In so far
as the comparison to Treasure, this really comes from a wealth of masterfully
designed boss fights, both in terms of art and gameplay. Taromaru also features
a killer soundtrack. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">These
days, Taromaru fetches obnoxious prices but it is most definitely worth playing
for Saturn fans and is an absolute treat of a game to master across two
playable characters and multiple difficulties. (I like call to this masterpiece
the “Zap-Zap Game!” If you've played it, you'll understand!)<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">- Lady
Morgan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Policenauts | Konami | 1996 (JP) | Ranked 60<sup>th</sup>
(Tie)</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lying back
in your chair, feet on your desk, neon lights to your back, and your trusty
pistol on your desk. A women wanders into your office. She hands you pills and
a photo, and tells you her husband has gone missing. Then it dawns on you, it’s
your ex-wife, but she looks 20 years older than you are. Then it dawns on you,
you were frozen for several years, and you are a relic of a time gone bye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Policenauts
has to be my favorite game on the Sega Saturn, PERIOD! An entertaining and
thrilling Visual Novel with Light Gun elements interspersed, by the legendary
Hideo Kojima. Not to mention the amazing soundtrack, which was so good, it was
released on vinyl…IN THE WEST!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">While us
westerners never got our hands on this game, we are able to enjoy this finally
translated on the Sega Saturn!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you’ve
never played this before, get a RHEA/Pseudo Saturn/Phantom chip, get a light
gun or a mouse, sit back, relax, and enjoy the experience!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">- Patrick
Traynor, <a href="https://www.segasaturnshiro.com/">Sega Saturn Shiro!</a><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-53y6N2MHFgs/Xdeyd2NvFkI/AAAAAAAAGPQ/HGV1kKGLYfw4R732DMF8pA4ME_iPdQOhACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Sonic%2BJam%2B-%2B1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="1235" height="347" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-53y6N2MHFgs/Xdeyd2NvFkI/AAAAAAAAGPQ/HGV1kKGLYfw4R732DMF8pA4ME_iPdQOhACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Sonic%2BJam%2B-%2B1.png" width="640" /></a></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Sonic Jam | SEGA | Sonic Team | 1997 (JP, NA,
& EU) | Ranked 27<sup>th</sup></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sonic fans
were buzzing with the news of a 3D game for Sega's new console. The
anticipation that was bubbling would turn sour as delay after delay hit Sonic
Xtreme. The first time we would see Sonic in 3D was as a secret character in
Christmas Nights but there was another title that gives us one of Sega's
greatest 'what ifs'.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sonic Jam
brought together the classic sonic story from the original Mega Drive titles.
To compliment the games Sonic Team added a large museum featuring artwork,
videos and music from the series. The museum was brought to life in a 3D
environment where you control Sonic to reach the various museum exhibitions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There are
five challenges to complete in the 3D Green Hill Zone that allows you to
explore a 3D Sonic world for the first time. Completing the challenges uncovers
a giant ring that displays the game credits when you jump through. As a huge
Sonic fan this tantalising taste of what could have been on the Saturn is both
cruel and intriguing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">- Retro
Faith, <a href="https://retrofaith.uk/">Retro Faith UK</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Magic Knight Rayearth | SEGA | Working Designs
| 1995 (JP); 1998 (NA) | Ranked 25<sup>th</sup></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">From one
of the first Saturn games announced to the last US release. Rayearth had quite
the journey West. Legal issues with rights holders and even lost code that
Working Designs had to rewrite themselves. Was it worth the wait and all the
efforts? Personally I would say yes, yes it was. What makes it such a joy? The
anime FMVs, the easily accessible gameplay, the vibrant colourful world, the
simple story premise, the cheeky bits of Working Designs translation and even
reading the girls diary’s. Working Designs hard work and dedication to deliver
on their promise to fans shines through in Magic Knight Rayearth. If you
haven’t given Rayearth a try and you’re in the mood for a charming adventure,
that stars three endearing young girls. You really can’t go wrong with Magic
Knight Rayearth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">- Camron
Graziano (Tsundain), <a href="http://www.thesaturnjunkyard.com/">The Saturn
Junkyard</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Virtual On: Cyber Troopers | SEGA | AM3 | 1996 (JP, NA, & EU) | </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ranked 24</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"><sup>th</sup></span></span></b><br />
<br />
Little did I know that the game sampler I received with my Saturn would contain a demo such as this. Virtual On was the first overhead fighter I had ever played in my life. At first, it was very hard to control and I had no idea what was happening half the time. It took practice, a lot of it.<br />
<br />
The more I played, the better it became. I love firing missiles and gigantic lasers at robots and destroying them while making super high jumps. The most fun this game has to offer is telling your friend to split screen with you and watch them struggle to keep up while you maul them mercilessly. Virtual On is run and gun fun for everyone and has been my favorite Saturn game seemingly forever.<br />
<br />
- Jeff Bradford (Virtua Neptune), <a href="http://www.thesaturnjunkyard.com/">The Saturn Junkyard</a><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tomb Raider | Eidos Interactive | Core Design | 1996 (NA & EU), 1997 (JP) | Ranked 23<sup>rd</sup></span></span></b></span></span></b><br />
<br />
The Sega Saturn is actually my favourite console of all time, there I said it! A huge part if it’s charm for me at the time was discovering it was the underdog, something I was completely unaware of at the time of purchase as I put almost zero thought into it, It said Sega on it and I had played Sega Rally and Virtua Cop one afternoon at a friends who had one, and then instantly demanded one for Christmas as soon as my mum picked me up that later that day.<br />
<br />
Throughout the era of Saturn I only knew one other person who had one, that included the entire cohort of my 1400+ school. Whilst I had always been a games obsessive there was already a part of me that loved that only me and my friend Jared actually had the Sega Saturn, it made the special games seem more special somehow.<br />
<br />
Away from the ‘big names’ of the system, there was one game I was obsessed with. Tomb Raider, I remember seeing the screens for it and thinking it looked like nothing I had seen before. Replaying now I was surprised by how minimalist and sparse the sound design is, and I use that as a positive. As it really adds to the experience that I loved all those years ago that you are alone and isolated in some unforeseen land, being an actual adventurer and explorer, rather than an action hero as seems to be the norm now. I loved the feeling of carefully moving your way through the environments, positioning yourself to climb and scale as you work out the puzzles and environments and where switches are likely to be, I remember thinking it was cool you could holster and pull out the guns as that was something I had never seen before, and made sense you wouldn’t climb with them out.<br />
<br />
At the time I was playing the game competitively to see if I could complete it before my brother (Playstation) and my friend (PC) - so was finding myself compelled to methodically press on no matter how hard it got. The T-Rex is a moment that everything remembers, and rightly so, however, there were many great moments, the first appearance of the man in black who was hounding you, the arrival of each new creature that is stalking and hunting you, the falling blades. Tomb Raider for me is easily one of my top 5 Saturn games, and in terms of overall ‘experience’ of what a game and it’s memories mean to me, is easily in my own personal top 10.<br />
<br />
- Kev Mason, <a href="http://www.thedreamcastjunkyard.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Dreamcast Junkyard</a><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Shining the Holy Ark | SEGA | Camelot Software
Planning | 1996 (JP); 1997 (NA) | 21<sup>st</sup> Ranked</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Are you
lost in the mines? I bet you are. Welcome to Shining the Holy Ark! And don't
let the silly name fool you; this game is not to be taken lightly. Sonic
Software Planning did not hold back with this title. Like its older brother
Shining in the Darkness (Sega Genesis 1991), Holy Ark is a first-person dungeon
crawler known for its lengthy dungeons and over-the-top level of difficulty.
Released for the Saturn in December of 1996 (May 1997 US), Holy Ark was the
second Shining title to grace the console. While fans impatiently waited for
the 3rd installment of the Shining Force Saga, Sega took a leap of faith and
released Holy Ark first. A bold move indeed, but well worth the risk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You play
the role of Arthur, a mercenary hired by the King of Enrich castle to eliminate
a ninja named Rodi. Right from the very beginning of the game, you know you are
in for one hell of an adventure. The music alone is enough to drag you in, and
you can't help but feel a bit intimidated as you enter the first dungeon.
Within a few minutes you will understand why this game is notoriously known for
its difficulty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The music
is outstanding and the graphics are surprisingly stunning! The monsters are
well designed and some a bit scary even. I was blown away by how good this game
looked. And I still am. I'm currently working my way through this game blindly
and enjoying every moment of it. The dungeon puzzles are unique and a bit
frustrating at times, but the payoff of conquering one will make you feel like
a champion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you
have flirted with the idea of indulging in Holy Ark, know that I highly
recommend this game for any gamer. Even though it's extreme in the difficulty
category, the gameplay is silky smooth and controls very well. So what are you
waiting for? Shine that Holy Ark!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">- Lady
Morgan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sonic R | SEGA | Traveller’s Tales & Sonic
Team | 1997 (JP, NA, & EU) | </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ranked </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">17<sup>th</sup></span></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Dearest Sonic
R,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You’re the
community’s 17<sup>th</sup> favorite Saturn game which, to some, probably feels
high…just like the diamonds in in the sky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But guess
what, baby? You’re my number one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Over the
years, many of us dismissed you as a quirky, unconventional racing game with a
cheesy soundtrack. You polarized fans with your clunky, unwieldy controls and
they bitterly derided you for not being a “real Sonic game.” And once upon a
time, I might have agreed…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">…but that
was before I learned how to treat you right…and left, using the 3D pad’s
shoulder buttons. It made a world of difference, baby. I gave you another
chance and it didn’t take long for me to finally feel the sunshine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I’m so
glad we could work it out. Take me back in time and I would’ve realized your
cheese was really charm all along. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Once I
stopped trying to see you as a racing game or a Sonic game, the pieces all came
together. I wasn’t racing. I was exploring. I was strategizing. I was
collecting. Once I realized that, I was in love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And so
today, I give up dreaming. You may not have been the Sega Saturn Sonic game I
thought I wanted but you were absolutely the one I needed.<br />
<br />
With love always,<br />
<br />
Brian Vines, <a href="http://www.thesaturnjunkyard.com/">The Saturn Junkyard</a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nG9MW4-YckU/XdeyK_TafBI/AAAAAAAAGPE/1D-ouNEJP2s394VUG7LERxPneU9BNm0IgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Radiant%2BSilvergun%2B-%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="610" height="459" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nG9MW4-YckU/XdeyK_TafBI/AAAAAAAAGPE/1D-ouNEJP2s394VUG7LERxPneU9BNm0IgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Radiant%2BSilvergun%2B-%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Radiant Silvergun | SEGA | Treasure | 1998 (JP)
| </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ranked </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">13<sup>th</sup></span></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There you
are, after round and rounds of enemies, after so many bullets and Game Overs…
There you are, fighting a Red/Black Silhouetted man, jumping and flipping all over
the place… “Awesome!” While I can’t say I was at the ground floor for Radiant
Silvergun, I certainly fell in love with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Addicted
to Ikaruga, I tried this game out, knowing it would be just as fun if not more
fun… And I was a bit disappointed at first. The game felt pretty slow, the
controls were confusing, and I kept dying on easy….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Playing it
more and more, I finally get the controls, learn how to effectively use them.
Every Treasure game has a gimmick, and this one didn’t disappoint. While slow
going, it’s worth the effort!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">- Patrick
Traynor, <a href="https://www.segasaturnshiro.com/">Sega Saturn Shiro!</a><br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Radiant
Silvergun is my go-to Saturn game for whenever I have no idea what I’m in the
mood to play. I’m not sure I’ve ever tired of it. It’s frequently featured in
discussions about the platform’s best shmups – and indeed, Silvergun is the
highest-ranking 2D shmup on this list – but I’d hesitate to peg it squarely in
the genre without a cavalcade of asterisks. Part shooter, part puzzle game,
part platformer, with a dash of light RPG elements, Radiant Silvergun is a
deeply innovative, genre-bending title.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Treasure’s
seminal shooter is unique in that, to truly maximize your score (which may or
may not be your goal), it demands players emphasize restraint as much as
destruction. Silvergun’s enemies come in three different colors to destroy, and
the game gives you six very different weapons to get the job done. Kills reward
you with progressive score combos when you chain together as many like-color
enemies as possible. You’ll begin to learn the increasingly-complex enemy and
obstacle patterns the game throws at you. You’ll need to assess the most
effective weapons for each situation, determine which enemies to shoot and – even
more importantly – which not to shoot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like jazz,
as they say, sometimes it’s about the notes you don’t play. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Also like
jazz, there isn’t necessarily a single best way to enjoy this game, which lies
at the heart of its lasting appeal. Silvergun places a heavier emphasis on experimentation
than most shmups. It frequently rewards you for trying new tactics in various
situations – whether it’s trying a different weapon against familiar enemies or
zigging when you would have zagged. Silvergun’s focus on discovery helps make
the process as rewarding as the outcome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You’re
also not obligated to utilize any of Silvergun’s pattern/puzzle chain mechanics
just to enjoy it. You can also treat it like a typical shmup, focusing on
precision movement and memorization, and blasting everything in your path. Each
of your six weapons will level up the more you use them, allowing you to
progress from where you leave off in subsequent playthroughs. Destroying
everything won’t net you the highest scores but it’s a surefire way to
build up your weapons and tear through the parade of larger enemies and bosses
with little fuss – and that is rewarding in its own right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">- Brian
Vines, <a href="http://www.thesaturnjunkyard.com/">The Saturn Junkyard</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Burning Rangers | SEGA | Sonic Team | 1998
(JP, NA, & EU) | </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ranked </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">8<sup>th</sup></span></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">At times
it feels like a glorified tech demo, showcasing all that could be done in the
right hands. And at other times Burning Rangers goes beyond tech demo to
deliver an overload for the senses. Every box gets checked off, lighting and
particle effects, transparencies, polygons everywhere and a bumpin up beat
techno jazz tunes that just ups that late 90s charm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now that
you are convinced that Burning Rangers looks the part, how does it play? Well
there’s the tricky part. Burning Rangers is about putting out living firing and
saving people. You’ll use jet packs, lasers and voice guidance to save the day.
Using the 3D pad will yield the best results, but there will still be
occasional missed grabs and landings. Even with this in mind Burning Rangers is
still a technical marvel, a challenging adventure and oozing with charm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">- Camron
Graziano (Tsundain), <a href="http://www.thesaturnjunkyard.com/">The Saturn
Junkyard</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-54zgQrPjERM/Xdex_duVz9I/AAAAAAAAGO4/EjLIhDvy6Ngcf0_yH6RZGuyZn7Y2kkv3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Shining%2BForce%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-54zgQrPjERM/Xdex_duVz9I/AAAAAAAAGO4/EjLIhDvy6Ngcf0_yH6RZGuyZn7Y2kkv3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Shining%2BForce%2B3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Shining Force III: Scenario 1 | SEGA | Camelot
Software Planning | 1997 (JP); 1998 (NA & EU) | </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ranked </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">6<sup>th</sup></span></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Shining
Force III is one of the most well-known RPGs on the Saturn and quite possibly
the best in the bunch. This delightful addition to the Shining Series is broken
up into three different scenarios which follow three different protagonists;
Synbios, Medion & Julian. Each scenario takes place at the same time, often
overlapping with each other. What makes this game even more unique is that you
can actually link your save files together; keeping all of the names &
stats from each scenario! And for those who collected all three volumes,
Camelot also released a premium disk that offers a series of battles in which
you can choose characters from all of your save files.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But there
is some bad news. Sadly, only Scenario 1 was released in the US. It wasn't
until nearly two decades later that a fan site took the time to translate the
last two scenarios. Although a bit choppy, fans finally got to finish what they
started years prior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Shining Force
III is a tactical turn-based RPG that plays like its older brothers, Shining
Force 1 & 2, which were released for the Sega Genesis. Camelot Software
Planning also added a new feature called the Friendship System. This allows
characters to form bonds with each other which would help boost actions on the
battlefield. In general, Shining Force III was a bit more challenging than its
brothers, but not unbearable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Scenario
1: 12-11-97 Synbios // God Warrior of the Kingdom<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Scenario
2: 4-29-98 Medion // Target: Child of God<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Scenario
3: 9-23-98 Julian // Bulzome Rising <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Shining
Force III was composed by the talented Motoi Sakuraba. Music and gameplay go
hand-in-hand and Sakuraba delivers! Like Holy Ark (also composed by Sakuraba),
the music alone will suck you in. The enticing melodies will be stuck in your
head for days, forcing you not to forget the battle at hand. Unfortunately, the
graphics are a bit below par, but the gameplay and soundtrack make up for all
of the visual flaws.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I highly
recommend this game. The in-depth storyline is absolutely fantastic and will
leave you starving for more. Be forewarned: Shining Force III is a time trap.
Once you start, it's hard to put the paddle down. What you intend to be a
couple hours of gaming will turn into a full day of war! If you are an RPG
fanatic, this game is a must. It contains all the ingredients that make for a
near flawless Fantasy Role Playing game. Oh, you didn't play Shining Force 1 or
2? That's okay. There is no connection in story. So go for it! The Bulzome Sect
isn't going to destroy itself, ya know...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">- Lady
Morgan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Virtua Fighter 2 | SEGA | AM2 | 1995 (JP &
NA); 1996 (EU) | </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ranked </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">5<sup>th</sup></span></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Does
anyone remember seeing Daytona USA running on the Saturn for the very first
time? I do, back in 1995 my local Virgin Mega Store had a Saturn kiosk running
Daytona, I actually heard it before I seen it, the famous and instantly recognisable
intro music drew my attention straight away, I was already getting a Saturn for
Christmas that year so this was a chance to see one of its flagship launch
games running for the very first time. Back in those days we just had
screenshots in magazines to look at, I walked up to the kiosk with my bud Glen
at the time to check Daytona out, now I knew it was never going to be a match
for a $15,000 Model 2 arcade machine, however, what I was greeted with upon
casting my eyes on the screen felt like a punch to the gut. The disappointment
was hard to stomach. I thought this looked absolutely horrendous – was this
really the extent of the Saturn’s 3D capabilities? The insanely poor draw
distance with textures popping up everywhere was an eyesore beyond belief.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now pop up
was common place back in the 32-bit era, but this...this was on another level,
to further confound my disappointment was the atrocious choppy frame rate which
maxed out at 20fps with frequent drops below that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The game
not only looked like a dog’s dinner, but it ran like it also. To even further
reinforce this and cast my disappointment in stone, a few days earlier I seen
Ridge Racer running on the PlayStation and visually it completely destroyed
this. THAT was next generation 32-bit graphics. Not this. My feeling of regret
for choosing the Saturn was strong, I tried to convince myself it didn’t look
so bad, I knew I was getting a Saturn so I felt at the time I had to,
completely bullshitting myself to my friend stood beside me who’s
disappointment was also written all over his face – “hey this looks all right,
doesn’t it?” – fishing for any crumbs of assurance and approval from him but
instead his silence spoke volumes more than any words could.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Having
been a die-hard Sega owner this felt like one of the biggest let downs I had
ever felt in gaming. We all know that the gameplay is spot on, they got that
right thankfully, it handled like the arcade game. However, first impressions make
a huge impact back then. I wanted next generation 3D graphics and this didn’t
deliver.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now what
does all this have to do with Virtua Fighter 2? Well nothing, but I thought it
was appropriate to convey how I felt about the Saturn in that moment in time and
to give you an insight about what I thought the Saturn was only capable of, and
to give you as big a contrast as possible to how I felt about seeing Virtua
Fighter 2 for this first time,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
seeing Daytona, I thought this was it for the Saturn…this is as good as it gets
visually. I had also had the chance to play the first Virtua Fighter a few days
earlier and although it was not the greatest port, being that it was a port
from a model 1 game I still didn’t mind it as much. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Virtua
Fighter 2 is a game I played in the arcade. It’s incredible, lifelike, fully-textured
characters comprising of a massive polygon count and silky-smooth framerate
blew me away, at that point it felt like graphics couldn’t get any better, this
was well beyond anything I had seen.<br />
<br />
The game was hard. I didn’t know many of the moves back then but I knew there
was a very deep fighting game in there. I was aware this was being ported to
the Saturn; I was looking forward to it of course but I didn’t hold much hope
for a good-looking game, but it wasn’t until seeing a small trailer for the
game running on the Saturn on the TV show Games Master it COMPLETELY blew me
away. I recorded every episode of Games Master on VHS back then and must have
watched this small clip of VF2 around 200+ times, it felt overwhelming. “The
Saturn can’t do this” seeing it for the first time I mistakenly thought it was
the arcade version of the game, what we got here was a rock-solid, unwavering
60 frames per second, crispy hi-resolution textures, and incredible lifelike
animation that was equal to the £15,000 arcade machine. A game that graphically,
in my eyes, blew Tekken on the PS1 out the water which was considered the
benchmark for graphics in a 3D fighting game at the time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The term “arcade
perfect” was one that got thrown about a lot back then, but this felt like that
to me seeing the small clip. It was a very long - month wait for the game to be
released, I continued to play the arcade game when I had the chance until – at long
last – I finally bought the Saturn game on release. Seeing it running on my
screen for the first time was easily and still to this day one of the biggest
“wow” moments I’ve experienced in gaming. My faith was absolutely restored in
the Saturn. It was more than restored; it was exceeded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I must
have played Virtua Fighter 2 every day without fail for around a year solid. I knew
every single move the game had to offer across all characters. I had Ranking
Mode High Scores in CVG magazine. I played it so much that most of the moves
are still ingrained into my mind today in 2019. I can play it and still know
around 80% of all the moves. Of course, my reflexes are not as good any more
but this is still a game I play occasionally on Xbox Live and PS3. <br />
<br />
VF2 is a classic example of a game that’s easy to play and get into but very
hard to master. Pulling off moves is easy, but the key to success is utilising
the normal moves effectively. Chaining combos need to be inputted so fast that
they can only be pulled off by doing them faster than the move appears on
screen. Akira’s Stun Palm of Doom 5-hit combo takes much more skill and
precision than any 50+ hit combo you’d care to mention in Killer Instinct. This
is a combo that I personally have only been able to pull off a few times. <br />
<br />
A quick look on YouTube and some of the professionals in japan where this game
was huge is simply mind bending to watch. These guys are able to pull off chain
combos with basic and special moves that you didn’t know existed or were technically
possible. It’s like watching a master at his craft and this is the beauty of
this game. VF2 is easy for anyone to play and anyone can get something from it
no matter what your skill level is, but it also has depths that can only be
unlocked by a select few.<br />
<br />
- Gaz Cormack, <a href="http://www.thesaturnjunkyard.com/">The Saturn Junkyard</a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">NiGHTS into Dreams… | SEGA | Sonic Team | 1996
(JP, NA, & EU) | </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ranked </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">3<sup>rd</sup></span></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">NiGHTS
dropped as competition to Mario 64 and to Crash Bandicoot, though that’s not
very fair, as the game is nothing like the aforementioned titles. NiGHTS is a
score attack game presented with glitz, glamour and pizzazz to stand out as a
jewel in the Saturn gaming crown.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The game
revolves around two troubled children who find NiGHTS in their dreams. But what
is NiGHTS? Is it a dream, a figment, or a memory? Whatever it is, together with
NiGHTS the children fight off the nightmares of the evil Wiseman and at the
same time grow as individuals in order to overcome their worldly problems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The game
is an insanely well-tuned, high-scoring, point chaining thrill ride. The
sensation of flight is fluid and free, taking advantage of the Saturn 3D
Analogue Pad to translate every nuance of motion to an action on screen. The
timed levels engender a palpable adrenaline rush as the player endeavors to
find the most optimal flight line to pick up the most points possible. Each
point collected gives the player a brief moment to collect the next point to
form a chain – and each item chained multiplies in value for a higher score.
Thus, the game is a mad, thrilling flight in collecting items in the most
efficient way possible to rack up the best score.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
gameplay, coupled with the ridiculously good graphics and ever-changing game
music would be quite enough to propel NiGHTS into the top tier of Saturn
gaming, but there is even more to the game. Tracked in a separate memory file
is the Pian population – the little angel beings that roam the levels. They
fly, they mate and lay eggs, and they even build little statues and snowmen,
depending on the level. The gamer has a cursory effect on their life cycles…
and their overall happiness is what determines how cheery or sad level music
is. Further, there is even the possibility to breed strange mutants, if a Pian
and a Maren (enemy) mate. The ultimate goal is to produce a King Pian in this
quasi-side quest of the game proper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The game
itself is quite short – only seven dreams for the kids to play through – but of
course, with a game like NiGHTS, finishing the game is really a subjective
point. The story may be complete, but the quest for a slightly higher score
will burn brightly long after the contemporary Mario 64 and Crash Bandicoot are
done and begin to collect dust on the shelf. Pure gameplay, in a blend of
instant, arcade-like thrills and deep, satisfying replay value that has you coming
back again and again is NiGHTS' bread and butter. This is SEGA at its finest,
folks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">- Peter
Malek, <a href="https://www.segasaturnshiro.com/">Sega Saturn Shiro!</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uZl2mA71jbg/Xdex4WmZm8I/AAAAAAAAGO0/BYE_1Y-lHdUHxb4BtMiy-_lWzBRWxCo6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/PDS%2BKilled%2BKenny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uZl2mA71jbg/Xdex4WmZm8I/AAAAAAAAGO0/BYE_1Y-lHdUHxb4BtMiy-_lWzBRWxCo6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/PDS%2BKilled%2BKenny.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Panzer Dragoon Saga | SEGA | Team Andromeda |
1998 (JP, NA, & EU) | </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ranked </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">1<sup>st</sup></span></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">An RPG
more famous for being expensive and rare. A game that was plagued with set back
after set back and even rumored that a priest had to chase away evil spirits.
It still remains as fresh and unique as it was in 1998. Panzer Dragoon Saga is
the third entry into the Panzer Dragoon franchise and for me personally the
best entry in the series. What Saga does for me is everything the other games
don’t, the biggest thing is the freedom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Other
Panzer Dragoon games are on rail shooters that require we memorize patterns and
course layout. Saga on the other hand relies on you exploring every inch of the
dystopian world Team Andromeda crafted. Even in the bleakest seemingly most
empty corners of the map there is still much detail and love crafted in. Even
after repeated play throughs I still enjoy hopping onto my dragon and just
soaring. Now after 25 years there has never been a more accessible time to
experience this legendary game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">- Camron
Graziano (Tsundain), <a href="http://www.thesaturnjunkyard.com/">The Saturn
Junkyard</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s
hardly a surprise – and maybe only appropriate – that Panzer Dragoon Saga nabbed the
top spot on the community’s list of favorite Sega Saturn games. Despite owning
the damn game for nearly a decade – and despite Panzer Dragoon Zwei being my all-time
favorite Saturn game (it still is) – it took me forever for me to finally get
around to playing Saga. It had an undeniable mystique. It just never felt like
the right time to play it. In hindsight, perhaps I just didn’t know what I was
missing. I always figured I’d probably play it…eventually.<br />
<br />
**** Thematic spoilers for PDS to follow. ****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And eventually
came – literally last year – when I finally broke down and accompanied Edge on his
futile quest for revenge in a ravaged world he’d never truly understand. While
the rest of gaming was caught up in the narrative arms race towards convoluted,
cinematic, and overwrought storytelling, Saga sought simplicity. It relished in
its opacity. Saga trusted us as its co-authors, leaving us space to derive
meaning between the breadcrumbs of its story arcs and world building. It felt intentional.
It was refreshing. It would not be replicated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">**** End
spoilers. ****<br />
<br />
In some ways, Saga feels like it exists in a distinct place and time, on its
own plane of existence from the rest of gaming history. And perhaps there’s some truth
to that considering it was released at the tail end of the Saturn’s lifespan, long
after its future was ceded to the Dreamcast. I dunno. Maybe it’s only fitting
that a neglected JRPG set in a hopeless, post apocalypse would come to define the
Saturn’s own post apocalypse. Still, considering the context in which the community
continues to revere Panzer Dragoon Saga today, perhaps it just proves that some apocalypses are
merely temporary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like Team
Andromeda’s swansong, the Sega Saturn was also of its own place and time –
existing adjacent to and beyond the medium’s history – and also lost to it. For
a time. During its marketable lifespan, the Saturn was unknown to most and appreciated
by a dedicated few. But give it 25 years and those few have grown into an
enduring community of fans who’ve ensured the Saturn’s best years are yet ahead
of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If the
following list is anything to go by, we’ve got a shit ton of amazing Saturn games
to play. So we must. It’s the Sanshiro mandate.<br />
<br />
- Brian Vines, <a href="http://www.thesaturnjunkyard.com/">The Saturn Junkyard</a>
(<a href="https://twitter.com/TheVirtuaSchlub">@TheVirtuaSchlub</a> on Twitter)
<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div align="center">
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTable15Grid5DarkAccent1" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 480px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: -1; mso-yfti-lastfirstrow: yes;">
<td colspan="2" nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 359.75pt;" width="480"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 5; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk25281801"><b><span style="color: white; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Community’s Top 100 Favorite
Sega Saturn Games<o:p></o:p></span></b></a></div>
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<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Rank<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Title<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">97<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Croc:
Legend of the Gobbos<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">97<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Lunar: The Silver Star Story<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">97<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Road
Rash<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">97<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Twinkle Star Sprites<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">94<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Mega
Man 8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">94<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Shinobi X / Shinobi Legions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">94<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Three
Dirty Dwarves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">93<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Bug Too!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">90<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Bust-A-Move
2 / Puzzle Bobble 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">90<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Dragon Force II<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">90<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Sega
Worldwide Soccer '98<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">88<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Out Run<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">88<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Shienryu<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">82<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Asuka 120% Burning Fest Limited<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 15;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">82<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Hyper
Duel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 16;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">82<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Parodius<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 17;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">82<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Quake<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 18;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">82<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Steep Slope Sliders<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 19;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">82<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Super
Tempo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 20;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">78<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Elevator Action Returns<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 21;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">78<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Enemy
Zero<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 22;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">78<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Gex<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 23;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">78<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">World
Series Baseball '98<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 24;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">77<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Lunacy / Torico<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 25;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">75<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Clockwork
Knight<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 26;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">75<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">DecAthlete / Athlete Kings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 27;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">74<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Sakura
Wars / Taisen 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 28;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">70<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Dungeons & Dragons Collection<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 29;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">70<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Manx
TT SuperBike<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 30;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">70<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Rayman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 31;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">70<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">WipEout<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 32;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">69<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Winter Heat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 33;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">68<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">DoDonPachi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 34;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">63<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Digital Pinball: Last Gladiators<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 35;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">63<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Duke
Nukem 3D<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 36;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">63<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">GunGriffon II<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 37;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">63<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Shinrei
Jusatsushi Tarōmaru<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 38;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">63<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Street Fighter Collection<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 39;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">60<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">GunGriffon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 40;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">60<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Policenauts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 41;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">60<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Thunder
Force V<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 42;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">59<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Alien Trilogy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 43;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">58<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Sonic
3D Blast / Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 44;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">57<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 45;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">56<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Marvel
Super Heroes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 46;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">51<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Baku Baku Animal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 47;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">51<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Batsugun<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 48;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">51<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Die Hard Trilogy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 49;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">51<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Galactic
Attack / Layer Section<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 50;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">51<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Soukyugurentai<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 51;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">49<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Dark
Savior<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 52;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">49<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Virtua Fighter / VF Remix<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 53;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">48<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Christmas
NiGHTS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 54;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">47<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Cotton 2 / Cotton Boomerang<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 55;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">46<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Fighting
Vipers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 56;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">45<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Sakura Wars / Taisen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 57;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">44<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Marvel
Super Heroes vs Street Fighter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 58;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">43<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Battle Garegga<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 59;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">42<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Mr.
Bones<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 60;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">40<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Darius Gaiden<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 61;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">40<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Last
Bronx<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 62;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">39<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">X-Men: Children of the Atom<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 63;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">38<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Akumajō
Dracula X: Nocturne in the Moonlight (Castlevania: SotN)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 64;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">37<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Deep Fear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 65;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">36<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Bulk
Slash<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 66;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">35<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">House of the Dead<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 67;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">34<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Legend
of Oasis / Story of Thor 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 68;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">33<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Dead or Alive<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 69;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">31<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Grandia<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 70;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">31<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Virtua Cop<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 71;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">30<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Resident
Evil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 72;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">29<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Albert Odyssey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 73;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">28<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Vampire
Savior<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 74;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">27<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Sonic Jam<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 75;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">26<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Astal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 76;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Magic Knight Rayearth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 77;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">24<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Virtual
On: Cyber Troopers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 78;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">23<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Tomb Raider<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 79;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">22<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Street
Fighter Alpha 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 80;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">21<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Shining the Holy Ark<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 81;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">20<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">PowerSlave
/ Exhumed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 82;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">19<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Die Hard Arcade / Dynamite Deka<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 83;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">18<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Street
Fighter Zero 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 84;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">17<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Sonic R<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 85;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">16<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Saturn
Bomberman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 86;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">15<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">X-Men vs Street Fighter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 87;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">14<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Virtua
Cop 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 88;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">13<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Radiant Silvergun<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 89;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Dragon
Force<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 90;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">11<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Fighters Megamix<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 91;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Daytona
USA / CE / CCE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 92;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Panzer Dragoon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 93;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Burning
Rangers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 94;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Guardian Heroes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 95;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;">Shining
Force III: Scenario 1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 96;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #A6A6A6; border-bottom: solid white 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid white 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 166; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: background1; mso-border-right-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 307.75pt;" width="410"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: white;">Virtua Fighter 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 97;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: #4472C4; border-top: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-alt: solid white .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 52.0pt;" width="69"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1;">4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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<span style="color: white;">Panzer
Dragoon Zwei<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">NiGHTS into Dreams<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Sega
Rally Championship<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Panzer Dragoon Saga</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Good God, that was a long article. With that, thanks for reading and thanks
again to the various friends of the Junkyard for their wonderful contributions.
Thank you for helping us celebrate the Sega Saturn’s 25<sup>th</sup> birthday
and remember…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Jet Brian Radio (@VirtuaSchlub)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10822526071943092178noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689256347836494469.post-13686878449429968982019-10-31T15:42:00.000+00:002019-11-03T00:16:29.012+00:00Saturn Junkyard Halloween 2019 🎵<i>"It's the most wonderful time, of the year..."</i>🎶 as the song goes. It just gets the season wrong, for of course, the most wonderful time of year for us gamers, is <b>Halloween</b>. "Why FK?" I (don't) hear you ask... I'll tell you why, dear Junky. For the games of course, for the games! Today, I'm going to offer you five seasonal Saturn delights, which to a certain extent, are off the beaten tracks... Now usually, when we think of horror themed games for Saturn, we think of a few old favourites: <a href="http://www.thesaturnjunkyard.com/2017/10/the-best-halloween-saturn-game-of-all.html">Casper</a>, <a href="http://www.thesaturnjunkyard.com/2018/10/halloween-2018-on-saturn.html">House Of The Dead</a>, <a href="http://www.thesaturnjunkyard.com/2007/07/resident-evil-re-visited.html">Resident Evil</a>, <a href="http://www.thesaturnjunkyard.com/2017/10/fighting-your-way-through-halloween.html">Vampire Savior</a> and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-21-exhuming-powerslave/id1320249250?i=1000440179836">Exhumed</a> for example, all with their very obvious tropes - haunted houses, creepy mansions, ghosts, zombies, monsters and mummies - but there are of course some less known offerings which will scratch your Halloween horror itch... Let's take a shallow dive into the world of <b>Saturn Horror</b> in time for this years bewitching holiday...<br />
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<a name='more'></a>So where do we start? Well let's start with something with something whose difficulty alone is enough to give you nightmares...<b> <span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">for we begin with...</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Mr. Bones:</u></span></b><br />
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This title was brought to the Saturn by developers Zono and published by Sega. The game is something of a multi media affair, with blistering soundtrack supplied by gnarled old rocker Ronnie Montrose, who's band's first album, was heralded as "America's answer to Led Zeppelin". The game certainly rocks out... The game also has some impressive cut scenes, developed sperately for the game by Angel Studios. The game commences with a rather impressive cut scene, which lays out the back story for the titular Mr. Bone's post-death adventure.<br />
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The rather convoluted story, perfect for Halloween, tells us of the mad philosopher DaGoulian, who has come to the unlikely conclusion, that the only way he can ensure the world is suffused with "goodness", is by creating and spreading pure evil. This twisted goal, he hopes to acheive, with the help of an army of the undead, in skeletal form. To animate these bony soldiers, DaGoulian plays a rhythm which unlocks their "skeletal magnetism". This compels them to act under his command. Still with me? Good! Back to the plot. Our own Mr. Bones is not affected by DaGoulian's spell, however and now Now he must escape the skeletal horde, whilst attempting to unlock the secret of DaGoulian's power!<br />
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Thus ensues a side scrolling platformer, which must be traversed at high pace, through a graveyard and out into the night. And that, my dear reader, is as much as I can tell you about the game, because it is so ball-breakingly hard, that I've never made it past the first level.<br />
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You have to run away through the cemetery, leaping graves from which the undead occasionally rise, or conversely you can fall into the grave itself. At the same time, the undead army pursuing you are firing bolts of skeleton-fuelled energy at you. Both the grave grabbing and energy bolts, cause you to slow down and more annoyingly, lose bones. Yes, that's correct, you can lose so many bones, you end up as a skull, lamely and largely unsuccessfully attempting to hop your way to freedom. That's where we'll have to leave this bony odyssey to progress to something altogether more achievable and full of Halloween monster themed fun...<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Monster Slider:</span></u></b><br />
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Here we have a rather creepy themed puzzle game, that I secured at the 2018 Play Expo Retro Fare in Blackpool in 2018. As well as meeting up with Mike Phelan, Kev Mason and Tom Charnock of the <a href="http://www.thedreamcastjunkyard.co.uk/">Dreamcast Junkyard</a>, I did a little shopping for cheap Japanese Saturn games, and in the blink of an eye, I had a game that would change my life, for about half an hour. Monster Slider is your typical <i>"join three coloured blocks and they will disappear"</i> type game, so beloved of mobile phone gamers right now, in 2019! But the gimmick for Monster Slider, is that you can use the shoulder buttons on your controller to shunt the gaming board onto an angle to the left or right. This in turn allows you to slide your tiles (Geddit? Monster <i><b>Slider</b></i>) and cause them to link up in different ways.<br />
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Creepy cartoon-like characters include a vampire girl, a Frankenstein's monster, a wolf-man, a medusa, a skeleton, a witch, a creature from the black lagoon and a couple of uniquely Japanese looking monsters, one of whom I've just decided, could be a yeti. To be honest, this is not a game that will make you shit yourself, and might be better enjoyed at the early part of Halloween when the kids are still up eating monkey nuts and bobbing for apples, and you haven't cracked your Halloween beers yet... (<i>Surely not just me?</i>) Onto something a little more likely to induce those Halloween skid marks... (<i>Surely not just me?</i>)<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Castlevania Symphony Of The Night: </span></u></b><br />
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Where next on our whistle stop tour? A very apt Halloween setting... <span style="color: red;"><b>Dracula's Castle!</b></span><br />
This game, will be forever (<span style="color: red;">blood</span>)stained with the curse of being a far inferior port than it's Playstation cousin, but so what? As a stand alone Saturn title, it's a damn fine game! Don't let hyper-critical YouTube commentaries put you off playing this fantastic adventure on your favourite 32 bit powerhouse. In this epic quest, you control Alucard, Dracula's son. (It has only just occurred to me that his name is Dracula backwards, and I've been playing the game for about a year and a half...) You have to traverse the candle lit halls and torch-lit dungeons, fighting and fending off hordes of ghoulish and gory adversaries.<br />
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Using your trusty whip and jumping ability, you travel from room to room, dispatching enemies and demons whilst lightening flashes and thunder roars. As you collect various power ups and abilities, such as shape shifting into a werewolf, avenues that were once blocked become open. Brought to us by Konami in 1997, the game was not initially met with any sort of fanfare, but has subsequently been lauded as one of the best video-game of all time. So if that doesn't get you crapping yourself, maybe it's time to move on once again... Maybe it's time to go to one of the most terrifying video games of all time...<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8rYtzRvYj_s/Xbr7V7O4yiI/AAAAAAAAH48/v5b6QkOrvrMlI3vrkwpBcW23SIdcCHWawCEwYBhgL/s1600/9e5d6bf1-7164-432c-92a1-9a53cba329f7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="183" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8rYtzRvYj_s/Xbr7V7O4yiI/AAAAAAAAH48/v5b6QkOrvrMlI3vrkwpBcW23SIdcCHWawCEwYBhgL/s400/9e5d6bf1-7164-432c-92a1-9a53cba329f7.png" width="260" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Corpse Killer:</u></b></span><br />
<br />
Some say it's the scariest video game of all time. Others say it is an absolute pile of steaming dog shit. But I wanted to know which was true. So I bought a copy. Now I wish I'd bought a steaming pile of dog shit. For it is indeed... rubbish. Published by Sega and developed by Digital Pictures, it starts off optimistically enough, with a great FMV showing you the back story of your mission - basically to rid a tropical island of it's many voodoo animated zombies. Whilst there are some great, cheesily delivered lines and impressive cameos (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_Schiavelli">Vincent Schiavelli</a> anyone?) the game is terrible. Schiavelli plays Hellman, an evil protagonist who wants to turn the natives of the island (and evidently some of your army comrades) into zombies. You meet a saucy reporter and a terribly accented Rasta on your mission, which is basically shooting the fuck out of a load of comically flying zombies and not much else.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eLtmn5gpLGE/Xbr7avaaamI/AAAAAAAAH44/wHiV5dsNvR8IanN-cgH-0rB4L3ZeR393wCEwYBhgL/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eLtmn5gpLGE/Xbr7avaaamI/AAAAAAAAH44/wHiV5dsNvR8IanN-cgH-0rB4L3ZeR393wCEwYBhgL/s400/maxresdefault.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-umQqS91022s/Xbr7YxjBMwI/AAAAAAAAH48/wZEXBvn55CMn2Vq9L_B0TmL-MbbV9k9MwCEwYBhgL/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="299" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-umQqS91022s/Xbr7YxjBMwI/AAAAAAAAH48/wZEXBvn55CMn2Vq9L_B0TmL-MbbV9k9MwCEwYBhgL/s400/download.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The story, is okay I suppose. Originally, the game was developed as a Sega CD/32X title, which might explain why it's FMV heavy. It was also intended as a light gun game, although for some bizarre reason the Saturn port never got light gun compatibility. If you have ever played a light gun game with a game pad, you will understand how difficult it is to get your 'gun sight' from one target to the next. Which, basically makes the game a little more "Cack Killer" than "Corpse Killer". Shall we take this Halloween journey somewhere a little darker than the sunny Caribean? Perhaps to a windswept abbey, where a sage-like monk shows us into the deep recesses of his reliquary, to present us with ...<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KxPObbKexGc/Xbr7Tob3cDI/AAAAAAAAH44/QZboYBUIr7MAn-HrTrUrwSprHQ3U07r_wCEwYBhgL/s1600/219317-digital-pinball-necronomicon-sega-saturn-front-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="800" height="396" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KxPObbKexGc/Xbr7Tob3cDI/AAAAAAAAH44/QZboYBUIr7MAn-HrTrUrwSprHQ3U07r_wCEwYBhgL/s400/219317-digital-pinball-necronomicon-sega-saturn-front-cover.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Necronomicon Pinball:</b></u></span><br />
<br />
One of the best looking video pinball games of all time, Kaze's Necromnicon Pinball is a dark and eerie presentation of the genre, with a stunning metal soundtrack by John Petrucci of Dream Theatre. Now this really <b><i>would</i></b> be a great Halloween soundtrack fora spooky party, and the atmosphere of the FMV sequence is doom laden and shrouded in mystery. You get to choose from three pinball tables, entitled Arkham Asylum, The Cult Of The Bloody Tongue and Dreamlands. The first table, is the best, but all are crafted with skill and technical aplomb and the tables are all equally challenging, yet keep the player coming back for more.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mp6PX23W2cA/Xbr7UrfyGhI/AAAAAAAAH4s/dpJnnkO8r_o9V1BvfMHBiJXUuFBE85EUgCEwYBhgL/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="320" height="280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mp6PX23W2cA/Xbr7UrfyGhI/AAAAAAAAH4s/dpJnnkO8r_o9V1BvfMHBiJXUuFBE85EUgCEwYBhgL/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Features such as a manic multiball make the tables fun and huge scores can be racked up if you play with skill. For me, this game is is one of the best looking Saturn games and I defy anyone to critique the graphics or ball physics for this game - both are immaculate. Plus the great things about this game is that the score you rack up, becomes what you aspire to beat, In other words you want to beat yourself. So lets leave our Halloween journey there, with me all alone, in the dark beating myself furiously...<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TmYDnsV1rP8/Xbr7bUZ_eMI/AAAAAAAAH5A/TIJb8RNJQyUN9Ud0j0pSRmojve-aOKxVQCEwYBhgL/s1600/necro5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="640" height="280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TmYDnsV1rP8/Xbr7bUZ_eMI/AAAAAAAAH5A/TIJb8RNJQyUN9Ud0j0pSRmojve-aOKxVQCEwYBhgL/s400/necro5.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FLyAKoZePWo/Xbr7brYT0nI/AAAAAAAAH48/AJBnHhyDfgsgtX34d0Tdkd0_zdlyYyxJACEwYBhgL/s1600/necro6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="640" height="280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FLyAKoZePWo/Xbr7brYT0nI/AAAAAAAAH48/AJBnHhyDfgsgtX34d0Tdkd0_zdlyYyxJACEwYBhgL/s400/necro6.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Happy Halloween 2019 folks!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MeSUrtJ1jxo/XbsAm-c6_EI/AAAAAAAAH5I/rUOXGo1tTMAVXvxrwxAdfPApvi5tWn_jQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Halloween-Fun-with-Sega-Pumpkins-header.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="191" data-original-width="400" height="304" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MeSUrtJ1jxo/XbsAm-c6_EI/AAAAAAAAH5I/rUOXGo1tTMAVXvxrwxAdfPApvi5tWn_jQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Halloween-Fun-with-Sega-Pumpkins-header.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />fatherkrishnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01523813350137435244noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689256347836494469.post-33217024558234499232019-08-25T08:08:00.005+00:002019-08-29T19:20:26.981+00:00The Saturn HDMI Cable From LevelHike: Impressions & Footage<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_rUWThWWuGs/XWIABvMwVeI/AAAAAAAAGLU/nh4ECTKT-bAqK3-ZzZqZVhkdXverYuIjwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_rUWThWWuGs/XWIABvMwVeI/AAAAAAAAGLU/nh4ECTKT-bAqK3-ZzZqZVhkdXverYuIjwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_5102.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The box.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Perhaps
you’ve noticed the growing number of direct-to-HDMI video cables cropping up for
retro consoles recently. This Sega Saturn HDMI cable </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">– </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">from the new retro peripheral manufacturer LevelHike </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">–</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> is</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> one of those.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />The pitch is simple: it’s a single, inexpensive HDMI cable that aims to rout a
serviceable RGB signal via HDMI as a convenient, no-fuss option for making our retro
game consoles look less like dog shit on HDTVs. No more, no less.<br />
<br />
Some quick disclaimer stuff: This post includes a rundown of some of my impressions
of the LevelHike HDMI cable for the Sega Saturn. They sent us an early version
of the cable for free ahead of distributing it and future versions will likely include
some revisions. I may update this post with my thoughts based on any revisions
later on, as needed. I’ve spent about a dozen hours playing various games with
the LevelHike cable so far.<br />
<br />
And some product notes: LevelHike’s Saturn cable is available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SCYLJXF?fbclid=IwAR0lDUEC-fc-K4fH6j3bKKNpC8f2Ci_sKE7LtrtCS3b903Acyvw61l5KPxM">Amazon</a>
(US) and <a href="https://www.ebay.com/itm/273975802922">Ebay</a> for $30. Note
that LevelHike also makes cables for a variety of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=LevelHike&ref=bl_dp_s_web_0">other
platforms</a>, including the Dreamcast, PSP, Neo Geo AES/CD, and (most
interestingly), the Turbografx-16. I haven’t yet tried any of those other ones,
though.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X94NOCfUhFU/XWH_4xH8ELI/AAAAAAAAGLY/oH7Tm1MARvUQoL5U8iY9i5QGDpKuL5SgACEwYBhgL/s1600/Sonic%2BJam%2BPic%2B-%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X94NOCfUhFU/XWH_4xH8ELI/AAAAAAAAGLY/oH7Tm1MARvUQoL5U8iY9i5QGDpKuL5SgACEwYBhgL/s640/Sonic%2BJam%2BPic%2B-%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
<br />
Before I get too much further, it’s also important to knock expectations down a
few pegs. When it comes to connecting your Sega Saturn to an HDTV, if you’re
looking for a video solution that all at once 1) has the convenience of a
single, direct-to-HDMI cable, is 2) is cheap (three Alexander Hamiltons or
less), <i>and</i> 3) rivals the quality of
expensive, higher-end offerings of a (properly shielded) RGB SCART cable via a
pricey upscaler like Framemeister/OSSC or an $80 (with Genesis-to-Saturn
adapter) <a href="https://www.hdretrovision.com/saturn">HD Retrovision</a>
component cable via a $100 <a href="http://www.retrotink.com/">RetroTINK</a>
device…there just isn’t a $30 HDMI cable that can compete with those higher-end
solutions. It’s not a fair comparison. They’re not in the same ballpark, let
alone playing the same sport. <br />
<br />
As someone who cares more about #1 and #2 and doesn’t generally obsess over
having the best possible video output for my retro games, I might be the kind of person these cables
are geared toward. Not that great video quality isn’t nice to have but there
are diminishing returns after a point. I’ve always subscribed to the idea that
the best video option is anything that gets out of the way. As long as the output
looks decent enough and isn’t distracting with excessive blur, color loss, or
lag – and especially if I don’t have to spend much of time or money on it –
sometimes good enough is good enough.<br />
<br />
So what about the LevelHike cable? Is it good enough?<br />
<br />
Apart from the Engrish text adorning the product’s packaging, I can’t help but
be intrigued by the promise it makes as such a simple device. As a no-frills HDMI
cable that aims to be cheap, convenient, and good enough, I think it largely
succeeds though not without some quirks.<br />
<br />
As much as I like my TV, it doesn’t force a 4:3 aspect ratio so I’m SOL when it
comes to many retro HDMI cables and SCART-to-HDMI converters. The nifty thing about LevelHike’s cable is it has a switch to force
4:3 in case your TV can’t do the job. Alternatively, you can also set the image
to 16:9 for the occasional anamorphic widescreen mode in games like NiGHTS or Panzer
Dragoon Zwei. it’s a simple, albeit greatly welcome feature.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PDslEAJocz8/XWIABhPta-I/AAAAAAAAGLc/aLYpGc-euRQsg20xBidINluS5DSp-tKAgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_5103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PDslEAJocz8/XWIABhPta-I/AAAAAAAAGLc/aLYpGc-euRQsg20xBidINluS5DSp-tKAgCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_5103.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The LevelHike box handles conversion duties and is powered via a USB power cable (included). You can see the aspect ratio switch in the top-right of the unit.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Overall, the LevelHike cable’s image quality looks considerably better than I’d
expect for its price point. It retains most of the clarity and color of the
original RGB signal, without much noticeable input lag. In motion, there is some
slight blur and occasional artifacts, which I noticed more in 2D games – and especially shmups
like DoDonPachi and Shienryu – which feature constantly-scrolling backgrounds
and a bevy of moving sprites and particles. That said, I don’t think
these issues are overly distracting and I didn’t notice them as much with the
3D games I tried with it. Is it perfect? No. Does it look as good as the pricier video
solutions? No. But it does stay out of the way.<br />
<br />
Below is a video compilation of footage from a smattering of games I felt like
playing this week. I captured it all with the LevelHike cable and aimed for a variety
of genres and number of dimensions. At the very least, this footage should give
you an idea of what to expect. Honestly, I feel like it might look slightly better
in person than what my Elgato was able to capture but you’ll get the gist.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6zpDYXsIOF4/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6zpDYXsIOF4?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
Capturing all of this footage was actually a lot of fun. I forgot how addicting
Kyuutenkai Fantastic Pinball was. I suck at Astal but it sure looks purdy.<br />
<br />
There are downsides, to be sure. For several games, I’ve noticed the
LevelHike cable shrinks the image to varying degrees depending on the game. You
may have noticed it in my footage compilation above. It seems a bit random and
I’m wondering if it has to do with the cable struggling to retain divisibility with
the original 240p resolution in certain games.<br />
<br />
The most nagging flaw is with the cable’s audio. Now, the sound quality itself
is solid; I’ve noticed no distortion and the full richness and range of the audio seems in tact. Unfortunately, the LevelHike cable actually <i>swaps</i> the right and left stereo audio channels. This is a more glaring
issue in 3D games where directional audio is crucial for reinforcing the player's spatial positioning relative to everything else in the environment. The severity of this
ranges. In Sega Rally, it’s only mildly distracting – if even a bit amusing – when
careening into a wall elicits a satisfying crunch from the opposite side of the
car. However, this issue is compounded in 3D shooters like Power Slave, where I rely on the stereo audio cues to determine which
direction enemies are coming from.<br />
<br />
Digging into the issue a bit further, it seems this channel-swap issue is
likely carried over from an error in the most widely-available Saturn A/V port
schematics floating around online. The schematics incorrectly flip their depictions of the audio
pins so many would-be cable manufacturers who reference it are also duplicating
the error in their own products. I suppose this underscores the importance of the timeless adage: don’t believe everything you read on the internet.<br />
<br />
To LevelHike’s credit, they’ve acknowledged the issue and are updating subsequent
batches of cables to correct the audio channel issue. If this is a deal breaker
for you, I’d recommend waiting a bit. In the meantime, I’ve reverted to playing
most games with mono audio, which works fine for now.</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GaS4QlAJ0BY/XWH_7P3cCBI/AAAAAAAAGLg/vYuziewATrgyyexW6k9Dv4noXKnV7c93gCEwYBhgL/s1600/Darius%2BGaiden%2BPic%2B-%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GaS4QlAJ0BY/XWH_7P3cCBI/AAAAAAAAGLg/vYuziewATrgyyexW6k9Dv4noXKnV7c93gCEwYBhgL/s640/Darius%2BGaiden%2BPic%2B-%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />And that’s about all I have to say about the LevelHike HDMI cable for now. Given
the device’s emphasis on simplicity, convenience and affordability, the video
quality is surprising solid, all things considered. Not that it’s an
apples-to-apples comparison but I do see the LevelHike as a noticeable step up
from similar direct-to-HDMI cables I’ve used on other platforms from established
manufacturers like Pound and Hyperkin, which often take a larger hit in color
quality and can run noticeably darker or more saturated. <br />
<br />
As a simple and affordable solution for connecting your Saturn to an HDTV, I’m mostly
impressed by LevelHike’s first Saturn offering and I look forward to seeing how
it improves going forward. It’s obviously not in the same league as higher-end video
solutions but for what it is, it’s plenty good enough.</span>Jet Brian Radio (@VirtuaSchlub)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10822526071943092178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689256347836494469.post-23557282148002754182019-07-20T11:31:00.001+00:002023-08-14T15:43:06.116+00:00Life on Saturn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<i>Thoughts from someone who, until recently, had never owned or played a Saturn.</i><br />
<br />
I love racing games. It's one of those genres, along with tower defence, which I just keep coming back to. I get a buzz from starting a race and then realising that I know the track from a completely different game (or indeed system.)<br />
<br />
It's one of my gaming regrets that my family do not really enjoy racing games. There's no one who will go head to head with me in anything other than Mario Kart. And whilst MK has its place and is huge fun, races which aren't decided by a well placed banana hold more appeal to me.<br />
<br />
Which brings me onto...<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51tQqw29E0L._SY445_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for daytona saturn" border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51tQqw29E0L._SY445_.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
<br />
The only other Daytona game I've played is a Dreamcast one which I remember being extremely twitchy. So I was interested to see how its predecessor played.<br />
<br />
The first thing that hit me about the game was the music. I'm sure there's been loads written about it so I'm not going to say much other than: it seems incredibly positive. The sort of thing which might be played at a funeral as people are leaving. So musically, it's a big thumbs up.<br />
<br />
The other aspect about the sound which I found interesting was the voice. It's everywhere! I wondered if SEGA (or AM2?) were trying to prove a point back in the day. My favourite instance was when I inputted my initials. Especially when it said all 3 back to me like it was trying to read.<br />
<br />
As I started the game my 14 year old daughter glanced up from her book, "Why does it say '<i>Gentlemen</i> start your engines?"<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Image result for daytona saturn crash" src="https://www.gamingrespawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/startup.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just in case you didn't hear it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Erm.<br />
<br />
Whilst racing, my 16 year old son wanders in to ask if I'd like a go at Tetris 99. He looks at the tv and adds, "but I can see you're playing this graphical masterpiece!"<br />
Honestly, the youth of today.<br />
<br />
But, in truth, I didn't really try to defend the graphics. I found them difficult to enjoy. I prefer the handling to the Dreamcast version but I find the game as a whole rather headache inducing.<br />
<br />
As with all driving games, I'm not very good when I first start. It is easy to overtake a few cars but then I started to bump into the walls and lose a lot of speed. I liked the skid animation and the crashes were impressive. There's always something satisfying about smashing cars up. I liked the way the car took damage and the suspension started to rapidly rock up and down as if there were a couple of bunnies inside doing what bunnies do best.<br />
<br />
The ultimate test of whether a driving game is enjoyable in our house is how long it takes someone to start driving backwards round the course. I knew the game was not going to be a winner when my 9 year old, who wanted a turn, began to do this after just a few laps.<br />
<br />
I enjoyed Daytona but, sadly, I won't be coming back to it very often. The graphics and frame rate just hold it back for me.<br />
<br />
Now, where's that banana?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Davecasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850316059453875964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689256347836494469.post-3828404636699407452019-05-16T15:35:00.002+00:002019-07-19T01:53:29.415+00:00Saturn Quake Takes: Killing Them Slowly<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I don’t need to tell you that Quake rocks. Father K already <a href="http://www.thesaturnjunkyard.com/2019/02/2019-year-of-first-person-shooter.html">covered
that</a> a while back, offering praise for it and the other iconic first person
shooters <a href="https://youtu.be/lMUUrFtwHDY">Lobotomy Software</a> famously
ported to Sega’s mid-90s underdog console.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s also no secret that Quake’s presence on the Saturn was practically
a miracle in the first place. Digital Foundry’s John Linneman has even gone as
far as to dub it the “</span><a href="https://youtu.be/LUZ436FXB4U" style="font-family: inherit;">Impossible Port</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">.”
The Saturn was notoriously a pain in the ass to develop for – particularly for devs
hoping to utilize the third dimension – and yet it still runs Quake somehow. Granted,
plenty of concessions were needed to make that happen. Compared to the PC
original, the Saturn Quake sports choppier frame rates, reduced responsiveness,
and less precise movement and aiming sans mouse and keyboard. But despite its limitations,
it remains infinitely more impressive than the PlayStation port of Quake…which
doesn’t exist.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">
<br />
Tech stuff aside, I’m more interested in delving into some interesting ways Saturn
Quake managed to differentiate its player experience from the classic PC original.
As a likely result of the technological and design compromises Lobotomy made to
get Quake to function on Saturn hardware, I quickly noticed the Saturn version
forces me to approach its gameplay in some fundamentally new and unexpected
ways.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
Compared to the frantic run-and-gun chaos of the PC game, I found myself plodding
through each of Saturn Quake’s levels far more methodically and at a much
slower clip. I can no longer trust myself to smoothly negotiate its ledges and
trap-filled spaces or quickly dodge and pull off circle-strafe shots at will. As
the action heats up and everything goes to hell, you can bet I’ll find a way to
fuck up. Nowhere is this more evident than in my penchant for repeatedly falling
into the lava pit while trying to run around the goddamn Chthon boss.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mjvZPdFnOcU/XN1_c1h-6AI/AAAAAAAAF4g/ZA1ht3dLcDUZXvd7WKlm7FnEz3j6h3URACLcBGAs/s1600/Quake%2B-%2B1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="400" height="350" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mjvZPdFnOcU/XN1_c1h-6AI/AAAAAAAAF4g/ZA1ht3dLcDUZXvd7WKlm7FnEz3j6h3URACLcBGAs/s400/Quake%2B-%2B1.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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height:192pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">Damn thing took me at least twenty tries.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
While it’s easy to frame Quake Saturn’s technical and gameplay limitations in a
damning light – not that my own incompetence in aiming and navigating with the
gamepad isn’t also a key factor – I actually think the game’s technical concessions
generally work to its benefit. By forcing me to drastically slow down the game
flow, these limitations help establish a unique identity for Saturn Quake independent
of its PC upbringing.<br />
<br />
Saturn Quake emphasizes preparation over improvisation. It requires me to focus
less on how I deal with enemies in the moment and more on planning out each
situation ahead of time – strategy and contingencies become crucial. After all,
if I screw up and get caught in a volley of ogre grenades, I’m unlikely to
simply dodge or circle strafe my way out of it lest I snag myself on the level’s
geometry or accidentally fall into lava and die anyway. Instead, my best bet is
to prepare my most effective weapon ahead of time, pay close attention to where
my cover is, and take as many cheap shots as I can to avoid engaging enemies directly.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s8AoRZuvDV4/XN1_qyMjxMI/AAAAAAAAF4o/NaXNFxTT7Xke8hTxGZ5h6lmqTiwtDNGBQCLcBGAs/s1600/39410-quake-sega-saturn-screenshot-ahh-yes-the-grenade-launcher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s8AoRZuvDV4/XN1_qyMjxMI/AAAAAAAAF4o/NaXNFxTT7Xke8hTxGZ5h6lmqTiwtDNGBQCLcBGAs/s400/39410-quake-sega-saturn-screenshot-ahh-yes-the-grenade-launcher.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3"
o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Image result for sega saturn quake grenade"
style='width:278.5pt;height:209pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">The bouncing grenade launcher kicks ass, btw.</span></div>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
<br />In its own way, I appreciate how Saturn Quake’s reduced margin for error raises the stakes of each encounter. I feel I need to be constantly aware of my positioning and carefully gauge my movements and jumps before attempting anything rash. The game pushes me to learn which monsters are where, plan out which weapons I’ll need and when, and even set up my aiming and retreat strategy ahead of time.</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At the end of the day, I find myself playing Saturn Quake almost like a methodical
horror game rather than the fast-paced, action-packed murderfest as originally
intended. I know this all sounds like a decisively un-Quake way to play Quake and
honestly, I’m okay with it.<br /><br />
Although Saturn Quake is far from a butter-smooth frag fest, turns out it plays
just fine as a tactical grenade-chucking simulator.</span></span>Jet Brian Radio (@VirtuaSchlub)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10822526071943092178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689256347836494469.post-28799985716476305132019-05-06T20:32:00.002+00:002019-05-06T20:32:50.348+00:00Being A Retro Gamer, Stops Me From Playing The Saturn!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y8aCye6ZWb4/XNCXFn5mQEI/AAAAAAAAHs0/Ay9z-L5UZvcFrIKOBnL8Rs1zOTkSGpg_ACLcBGAs/s1600/5ac917107c8ce_5abbd09546aee_bbfinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="620" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y8aCye6ZWb4/XNCXFn5mQEI/AAAAAAAAHs0/Ay9z-L5UZvcFrIKOBnL8Rs1zOTkSGpg_ACLcBGAs/s400/5ac917107c8ce_5abbd09546aee_bbfinal.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
We all love a bargain...</div>
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</tbody></table>
I remember when I first started collecting for the Saturn as a "Retro Gamer" (as opposed to a current gen buyer in the 1990s). The year was 2006, and I was avidly buying up Dreamcast hardware and software. I had inherited a couple of Dreamcasts from people who wanted to get rid of "clutter". They had given them to my kids to be honest, but my kids could not have been more disinterested. They had a PS2 and were dreaming of a 360. I on the other hand was very interested - I had missed out on the Dreamcast completely, because my late 90s and early 2000s had been a blur of parenthood, work and excessive raving. The Dreamcast was a revelation to me... I was enthralled by it and spent my post-raving days buying up as much Dreamcast guff as I could. Most of my transactions and purchases took place at a Gamestation within Blockbuster in Fallowfield, Manchester, where vast quantities of games were being offloaded by punters, usually to pay for new stuff - it was an exciting time - the PS3 and 360 had just come out and the Wii was imminent. The Dreamcast was dead in the water... games that had fetched £40 + were now being sold at Blockbuster for £2.50. The console itself was £17 if you wanted one, and peripherals such as light-guns, keyboards, microphones etc could be picked up for under a fiver. The term retro-gamer had just been coined for people who were generally into systems such as the ZX Spectrum, BBC Micro, Amiga, Commodore 64 etc. If retro-gamers were into any sort of consoles, it was systems like the Atari 2600, the NES or Master System.<br />
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So where did the Saturn fit into this world? Well, the value of Saturn games and hardware was even less than that of the Dreamcast. It was available for pennies... literally. The Saturn was simply seen as a failure, an "also ran" system that had been vastly inferior to the PlayStation, and that it had failed both critically and commercially. Many people simply didn't know the system had existed. One of the most exciting things about collecting for Dreamcast or Saturn was the ability to score a bargain. We all love a bargain, right? We tell friends about them, we post our shopping triumphs on Facebook and remember them, sometimes for years after we have used them up, or thrown them away. I distinctly remember the time in 2006 that I found a copy of Sega Rally for 20p!<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V30k0yTmah4/XNCCD9siayI/AAAAAAAAHrw/24L2TBPEnjwbqftW63DzgcKJgcSWj47zwCLcBGAs/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="180" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V30k0yTmah4/XNCCD9siayI/AAAAAAAAHrw/24L2TBPEnjwbqftW63DzgcKJgcSWj47zwCLcBGAs/s400/download.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
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<b>20p?</b> In 2006, that was a paltry amount of cash - one could perhaps buy a cheap packet of crisps or a small chocolate bar with it. But here was one of my favourite games in pristine condition for 20p! Again, back at the time of production, this would have gone for £30. I remember the fact that I had got a game I rated and valued <i>SO MUCH</i> had blown my mind. For a week or so, I played my Sega Saturn more than my Dreamcast. I revelled in the fact that my gaming pleasure had cost me so little... indeed, it seemed for every hour of Sega Rally I clocked up, the pleasure I took from my purchase seemed to grow. It was a feeling I had forgotten about, until now...<br />
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Fast forward 13 years, and times have changed drastically in the world of retro-gaming, but particularly in terms of the Saturn. In 2006, when the doors of the Saturn Junkyard were swung open, the Saturn was not considered a "niche console" or a "2D Powerhouse". It's games did not command a high price (with the exception of HOTD which cost me £25 even then...) Very few people were interested and our blog got very little traffic. There were no YouTube channels or stars who extolled the Virtues of the Saturn, although the odd video of gameplay floated around the Internet. Now we have a plethora of people who tell us that the Saturn is something of a Holy Grail for Retro-Gamers, and there are indeed a plethora of new and exciting experiences out there for those who missed out on the system. But one thing you will rarely get these days is a Saturn bargain - and if you do, it will be one relative to the fact that most PAL/US NSTC Saturn games cost an arm and a leg these days.<br />
It's possible to pick up a Japanese import bargain from time to time, but even this is becoming more and more difficult, as sellers are becoming aware of a growing demand for Japanese copies of games that demand a high price for PAL/US releases.<br />
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I paid £80 for my copy of Burning Rangers. At the time I didn't begrudge it... I desperately wanted to play the game, having failed miserably to get anywhere with my JPN copy. I played it almost to completion, then my skillset let me down. I never completed it. the games that have given me the most pleasure on my current Saturn cycle, consist of the burned CDs and repros given to me by friends in the community. I recently bought beautifully built custom cases for two discs which have their titles scrawled on in magic marker (Radiant Silvergun and Deep Fear)… For some reason owning the genuine (very expensive) article doesn't interest me.<br />
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But something that has taken me away from the Saturn (for the first time in 18 months) in the past few weeks, It all started when I went to <a href="https://www.game.co.uk/">Game</a> with my son. he wanted to buy a Switch (a system I had studiously ignored for the last two years) so that he could experience and participate in the latest edition of Smash Bros. Whilst there, I was surprised to see the rows and rows of second hand games had seemingly disappeared. Whether or not they sold second hand current gen games, I have no idea. but their PS£ and 360 stock had all but disappeared. What was there was reduced to a single shelf of raggedy looking last gen titles, all squeezed onto a very low shelf in an unassuming crevice at the back of the shop.<br />
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There must have been 60 games in total, and from this tawdry pile of discarded plastic, I managed to sieve out the following titles... Kane and Lynch, Gran Turismo, Assassin's Creed, Killzone 2, Bioshock 2 and Resistance 2 for the PS3.I considered whether or not I needed to stock up on a bunch of games I had already played some years ago,. Didi I need any more old shite to clutter up my already bulging collection of dusty, old, rarely played games? <i>Of course I did!</i><br />
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<i></i><br />
This whole pile cost me £4.20. <b>70p a game! </b>You can see where I'm going here? The realisation that I had purchased a stash that would have cost me nearly <b>£300</b> in the not too distant past, for the paltry sum of <i>70p a pop</i>, gave those games an instant draw and appeal - and I spent the two weeks battling through the FPS side of my haul... Killzone 2 was particularly magnificent. After 18 months of Saturn gaming, it looked graphically sumptuous and luxuriant. The other three didn't get a look in, but I might come back to them some time later.<br />
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Of course, I couldn't resit going back for more... like an addict drawn back into the circle of junkies, I returned to the Game in question to delve deeper into the world of budget last gen pick ups. This time I picked up Bioshock Infinite, Resistance Fall Of Man, Fallout New Vegas and Sega Superstars Tennis for the PS3... All good games, and all worth the pittance I ended up paying for them. But what REALLY got me excited was finding DJ Hero 2 on Xbox 360 for... You guessed it! <span style="font-size: large;">20p!</span><br />
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And YES! I did dust my old DJ Deck peripheral off. Not so much 'wheels of steel', as a giant "wheel of plastic". I'm very pleased to report that I still have all of the 'skillz which pay the bills' and this afternoon, I've been scratching more than a man with eczema and chicken pox, after falling into patch of poison ivy wearing a mohair jumper. Retro Gaming is anything from the last gen backwards. It won't be too long before we are ordering our PS5 and Xbox Whatevers. The right time to buy REAL bargains is right now. But not on The Saturn!<br />
<b></b><b></b><br />
<br />fatherkrishnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01523813350137435244noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689256347836494469.post-19402187448331461562019-04-21T16:11:00.000+00:002019-04-23T17:37:33.024+00:00Virtua Fighter in HD<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TRONNSREtnY/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TRONNSREtnY?feature=player_embedded" width="480"></iframe></div>
<br />
Virtua Fighter needs no introductions and would be a prime candidate for a full-on remastered collection for modern systems, but until SEGA delivers we can always improvise and try to make it ourselves. For the second entry in the "REMASTERED" click-bait titled series I picked every numbered entry in the VF series and tried to make it look as good as possible, meeting the modern standards of Full HD resolution (1920x1080) and widescreen 16:9 picture format.<br />
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You can watch the results above and read more about the particular setup and challenges for each game below:<br />
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VIRTUA FIGHTER 1<br />
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There wasn't much choice in regards of version or emulator for VF1. The original arcade version ran on the Model 1 board, which can only be emulated at native resolutions in MAME, so that was a no go. The only other option was the Saturn version and the only recommended emulator for HD resolutions was YabaSanshiro (or one of its many forks).<br />
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For the widescreen hack I relied on the community effort from the folks over at the Assembler Games forum, something I've covered before in this <a href="http://www.thesaturnjunkyard.com/2018/04/killing-pixels-parte-tres-aspect-raidou.html">article.</a><br />
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VIRTUA FIGHTER 2<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D7GH30qYRec/XLnA7oKTgJI/AAAAAAAABXA/pAKwRC8wR80IwandFFKZX8kNkuzvGQjugCEwYBhgL/s1600/2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="1600" height="94" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D7GH30qYRec/XLnA7oKTgJI/AAAAAAAABXA/pAKwRC8wR80IwandFFKZX8kNkuzvGQjugCEwYBhgL/s640/2.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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For this one the choice was obvious. Not only does the original arcade version, running on the very powerful Model 2 board, looked much better than the Saturn port, but the emulator support is amazing.<br />
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The aptly named Model 2 Emulator does everything we need, from upping the resolution to running in widescreen, and it just looks stunning. For the widescreen mode, as with other games running on this emulator, you'll need to create a special file and put it into the scripts folder. Just create an empty text file (I recommend using Notepad++) and copy and paste this into it:<br />
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require("model2"); -- Import model2 machine globals</div>
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function Frame()</div>
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Model2_SetStretchBLow(1)</div>
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Model2_SetWideScreen(1)</div>
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end</div>
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Then rename it to [name of the game rom].lua (so, for Virtua Fighter 2, it should be vf2.lua) and put it into the scripts folder.<br />
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VIRTUA FIGHTER 3<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1E0q1ESMRRs/XLnA8HKO3TI/AAAAAAAABXE/mkR9hwiFgi4zXIuv_ltV4jtqMz5cC7isACEwYBhgL/s1600/3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="1600" height="94" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1E0q1ESMRRs/XLnA8HKO3TI/AAAAAAAABXE/mkR9hwiFgi4zXIuv_ltV4jtqMz5cC7isACEwYBhgL/s640/3.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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My first choice was the original arcade version running on the Supermodel emulator, but quickly ran into a problem. When forcing a widescreen mode the background would remain in 4:3 with black borders on either side, which was both distracting and completely ruined the immersion.<br />
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Fortunately there is the Dreamcast version. Just like with The House of the Dead, my emulator of choice for this particular purpose is Demul, thanks to the usually flawless way that widescreen hacks work with it. Unfortunately it's a very tiresome process, that involves using CheatEngine while the game is running to change memory addresses in real time, but the result speaks for itself.<br />
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VIRTUA FIGHTER 4<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HeDFgSVTE5A/XLnA8TbUDhI/AAAAAAAABXI/xwENXbateIIJtCP0jphBj0CdwHmB3VP0gCLcBGAs/s1600/4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="1600" height="94" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HeDFgSVTE5A/XLnA8TbUDhI/AAAAAAAABXI/xwENXbateIIJtCP0jphBj0CdwHmB3VP0gCLcBGAs/s640/4.png" width="640" /> </a></div>
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As with VF3 before it, I tried the arcade version with Demul, but unfortunately the old video plugin - the one that allows for higher resolutions - crashes the game on boot, so that went nowhere fast<br />
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The obvious second choice was the Playstation 2 port and the rather solid PCSX2 emulator. Increasing the resolution is a breeze and the game even detects and applies widescreen hacks automatically for you. Unfortunately an keen eye will notice that the whole image seems blurred despite the high resolution. I've tried switching hardware renderers and messing with other configuration options, but in the end nothing worked, which left me thinking it might simply be some kind of filter, like a very aggressive form of antialiasing or interlacing, hardcoded into the game.<br />
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Still, it looks pretty.<br />
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VIRTUA FIGHTER 5<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PkNJMaktgz8/XLnA8mdS24I/AAAAAAAABXM/JFO3ZF10oO0Yq6KV8ou4SWD4vB9Ijwo5ACLcBGAs/s1600/5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="1600" height="94" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PkNJMaktgz8/XLnA8mdS24I/AAAAAAAABXM/JFO3ZF10oO0Yq6KV8ou4SWD4vB9Ijwo5ACLcBGAs/s640/5.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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By far the least dramatic change, since the original game already ran in HD-ish resolutions and in widescreen, but it looks even better in true 1080p. My choice was the Playstation 3 version running in RPCS3. Unlike other, very demanding games, VF5 runs at fullspeed even on a midrange CPU and has almost no graphics glitches. NebachadnezzaRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16756898898698386158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689256347836494469.post-70219927292494510152019-04-08T22:53:00.001+00:002019-04-12T06:08:27.593+00:00Yaba Sanshiro, a Sega Saturn Emulator That's worth your time. I am not an advocate for Emulation, but with today's advanced TVs and Setups, plus with the age of the Sega Saturn, I am all for these great classics living on for decades. It would be a crying shame for these great games to completely disappear from the earth, so this is why I began checking out this new Emulator for Android users.<br />
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It's called Yaba Sanshiro, and it is a unofficial port of uoYabause. This project is focused on the Android version of yabause using OpenGL ES 3.x. It is currently in active development and it is making quite the stirring for Sega Saturn Fans! You can download the emulator directly from the Google Play Store, and, of course, you have to provide your own Disc Images. I personally only use Emulators to play games I already own in HD, so being able to fire up NiGHTS and Daytona USA in glorious 1080p brings a smile to my face. It is true that not all Sega Saturn games will work right now, while others have multiple glitches, but it's absolutely amazing how far this emulator has come in a relatively short amount of time!<br />
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There is an active community of players who are constantly reporting on what games work and what doesn't, and the great thing is that the developers actually are listening! They read everything and try their best to fix any issue that happens to come up! You can check out a compatibility list and everything else you may need over at http://www.uoyabause.org/</div>
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My initial tests are proving to be fantastic. I tried games like Street Fighter Zero 3, Dead or Alive, and even Panzer Dragoon Zwei and ALL of these games ran Flawlessly! Virtua Fighter 2 and Fighting Vipers also look and play Fantastically!!!! Games like Panzer Dragoon Saga and Burning Rangers are, sadly, not fully supported as of yet, but trust me .. a little patience and I am 100% sure that these games, among other great hits, will be playing 100% in no time!</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v0X-J66Q8OM/XKvQjZIDa9I/AAAAAAAABAE/d2MAqK4hGPcAlLjOgdfRmFEtY5CwGTnZQCLcBGAs/s1600/screenshot%2B%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1426" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v0X-J66Q8OM/XKvQjZIDa9I/AAAAAAAABAE/d2MAqK4hGPcAlLjOgdfRmFEtY5CwGTnZQCLcBGAs/s320/screenshot%2B%25281%2529.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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The latest update to the emulator has Analog controllers added, and you can also edit your controller while in a game! Also, Virtua Fighter Kids, X-Men vs Street Fighter and Mr Bones are now Fully Playable with MORE on the way!</div>
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In my opinion, the best way to experience this emulator is with the NVidia Shield TV 4K Box. All of the Sega Saturn Games look fantastic through this device, but other android devices out there that have access to the Play Store can also run this emulator, even your tablet! </div>
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Check this one out! This may be the best way to Keep the Sega Saturn Alive for Centuries!!</div>
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--CC</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689256347836494469.post-30059920960684659032019-04-01T20:35:00.001+00:002019-04-01T20:35:19.620+00:00Titan is the best moon<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uxde-oNyzZw/XKJ13qGjWNI/AAAAAAAABWU/g_cucrFf8UwTmxt6xoT6syQ05dtzbEUFACLcBGAs/s1600/titan_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uxde-oNyzZw/XKJ13qGjWNI/AAAAAAAABWU/g_cucrFf8UwTmxt6xoT6syQ05dtzbEUFACLcBGAs/s400/titan_large.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Yes, it is.<br />
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Tian is waifu. Titan is bae.<br />
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Sure, Earth's Sattelite is round and pale and full of craters, so it that's your thing...well, who am I to judge.<br />
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Come on! It doesn't even have a proper name. It's just "moon". What the hell? Can you imagine if the Earth was called "planet"?<br />
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Now Titan, that's a proper moon! Just check out these cool facts:<b> </b><br />
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- Titan is the largest moon of Saturn and the second-largest natural satellite in the Solar System.<br />
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- It is the only moon known to have a dense atmosphere, and the only object in space, other than Earth, where clear evidence of stable bodies of surface liquid has been found<br />
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- Titan is 50% larger than Earth's moon and 80% more massive.<br />
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- It is the second-largest moon in the Solar System after Jupiter's moon Ganymede, and is larger than the planet Mercury, but only 40% as massive.<br />
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And those are just a few! Heck, it's so popular that there's even an arcade system named after it, the ST-V - short for Sega Titan Video. But of course you don't care about that. You're not a video game nerd, are you?<br />
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Of course not! You're into hardcore stuff like astronomy and stargazing, so go dust off your old telescope and point it towards the firmament. Oh yeah, baby!NebachadnezzaRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16756898898698386158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689256347836494469.post-20453961251379966292019-04-01T05:31:00.000+00:002019-04-01T05:40:30.522+00:00Top Reasons Saturn is Awesome (and Earth Can Eat Shit)Here are just a few of the many reasons why Saturn is the best damn planet in the solar system...<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M6ixt4b4Svc/XKGkKK1GXJI/AAAAAAAAF30/eaMop55OFosb_WA00cn2oF4GNsZLGn0jQCLcBGAs/s1600/F3C43B9B-1DF5-4514-AC89-4A555CFFBE8B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="600" height="171" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M6ixt4b4Svc/XKGkKK1GXJI/AAAAAAAAF30/eaMop55OFosb_WA00cn2oF4GNsZLGn0jQCLcBGAs/s400/F3C43B9B-1DF5-4514-AC89-4A555CFFBE8B.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>It's roundish.</b><br />
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Even flat Earthers can fucking believe that Saturn is round. It's also slightly squished and is not a symmetrical sphere which makes it way more interesting.<br />
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<b>All those fucking moons, man.</b><br />
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Saturn has 62 moons, which is 62 times more than Earth's one shitty moon. Also, how woefully uncreative is it that we just refer to our only moon as "Moon"? Fucking pathetic. Meanwhile Saturn's largest moon, Titan -- named after the mega-popular Saturn Junkyard TitanCast podcast -- is larger than some entire planets, including Mercury and Pluto.<br />
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<b>It's made largely of hydrogen and helium.</b><br />
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Sure, Earth has all of its rocks and nitrogen and oxygen and other boring bullshit. But try hanging out on Saturn for a while and you'll start to talk like one of those green aliens from Toy Story. That's way cooler. It's the claaaaaaaaw, motherfuckers.<br />
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<b>The bling.</b><br />
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Saturn's got all those kickass ice rings hanging around it. You know what Earth has? A bunch of lame shit like decommissioned satellite debris, global warming, and Nazis.<br />
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<b>No time for your crap.</b><br />
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The average day on Saturn is 10 hours and 39 minutes long. That's efficiency.<br />
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<b>Peace.</b><br />
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Every war in the history of our solar system has happened on Earth. Fuck Earth.<br />
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<b>In sum, the Earth is dumb. Everyone should move to Saturn.</b>Jet Brian Radio (@VirtuaSchlub)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10822526071943092178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689256347836494469.post-75533274449335771912019-02-24T20:43:00.002+00:002019-02-24T22:03:13.757+00:002019 - The Year Of The First Person Shooter?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wr-GYnLyir0/XHL9tIxZ1sI/AAAAAAAAHpo/W9YilcVuKV4c5lrhSEQwtuOmykkSQRHVgCLcBGAs/s1600/Exhumed%252520%2528E%2529%252520Front%2525201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1169" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wr-GYnLyir0/XHL9tIxZ1sI/AAAAAAAAHpo/W9YilcVuKV4c5lrhSEQwtuOmykkSQRHVgCLcBGAs/s400/Exhumed%252520%2528E%2529%252520Front%2525201.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>
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The moment I dipped my toe back into the healing waters of Saturn gaming back in September of 2017, I was immediately hit with a tsunami of experiences, that I had in no way anticipated. The dawn of the Pseudo Saturn in my gaming life, meant that rather than exploring my small back catalogue of bought PAL games, I would be playing the very cream of the Saturn's software offerings on burned CDs and repros…<br />
For the rest of the year and far into 2018, I would predominantly be playing Japanese shmups, provided for me by Junkyard stalwarts, <b>Jon Lee</b> and<b> Daniel Turner</b>. These included the Parodius collection, Darius Gaiden, Wolf Fang, Salamander, Gradius, The Game Paradise, Radiant Silver Gun, Tempest 2000 and Sol Divide. Later in the year I "discovered" a new genre, the puzzle game - Baku Baku Animal, Tetris Plus and Columns ...and this consumed the tail end of 2018 as we moved into the current year.<br />
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But if 2019 has been defined for me by any genre of Saturn games so far, it would have to be the First Person Shooter (FPS). In an attempt to generate a common topic for our forthcoming podcast, my good friend <b>Mr. Brian Vines </b>(<b>The Virtua Sclub</b> - remember him? He used to write here!) suggested we should all play the game<b> Exhumed.</b> <a href="http://www.thesaturnjunkyard.com/2018/10/halloween-2018-on-saturn.html">I had had a lot of fun with <b>Alien Trilogy</b></a> in October, as part of our Halloween games drive... I didn't need much persuasion to try another Saturn FPS as January drew to a close.<br />
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Made popular by the PC crowd in the early 90s, the FPS was an attempt at immersion by perspective, allowing the player to see the end of his hand/weapon only, as if the screen view were the players own eye view... looking down on his own body. This was an alternative to the traditional third person view, where the player's whole avatar could be seen. The incredibly dark and incredibly popular <b>Doom</b>, was the FPS title which <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doom_(franchise)">captured the gaming world's attention.</a> The game also<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#Video_games"> drew the ire of the nation</a> when the school shooters responsible for the massacre at Columbine, were found to be avid players of the game. The <b>Call Of Duty</b> FPS franchise would become the <a href="https://www.pcgamesn.com/call-of-duty-black-ops-4/call-of-duty-marvel-money">biggest money spinner of the entertainment world</a>, surpassing the revenue earned by the top music of film releases of successive years...<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EgUYY5WJ_O8/XHL-RpY6aAI/AAAAAAAAHqA/98p1mv--tz0NegAtttJ19iZIbREJD-72QCLcBGAs/s1600/thMVXPJQ36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="474" height="298" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EgUYY5WJ_O8/XHL-RpY6aAI/AAAAAAAAHqA/98p1mv--tz0NegAtttJ19iZIbREJD-72QCLcBGAs/s400/thMVXPJQ36.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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But what about the <b>Saturn</b>? Can it's FPS offerings still hold their own in 2019?<br />
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Having spent the last month playing three of the Saturn's best, I can firmly state a very loud <b>"YES!" </b><br />
The three games do not include the afore mentioned <b>Doom</b>, the port of which did not fa<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HUy0TXvmF-E/XHL_IxJXlvI/AAAAAAAAHqc/mVSChwXJ6EsR66PSL_9QqVOGha1Gi2cDgCLcBGAs/s1600/160420081028183850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HUy0TXvmF-E/XHL_IxJXlvI/AAAAAAAAHqc/mVSChwXJ6EsR66PSL_9QqVOGha1Gi2cDgCLcBGAs/s1600/160420081028183850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a>re well on our favourite console. Instead we'll be looking at a trilogy of games created by <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobotomy_Software">Lobotomy software</a></b>… <b>Exhumed</b> <b>-'Powerslave'</b> in the USA, and <b>'1999'</b> in Japan - , <b>'Quake'</b> and<b> 'Duke Nukem 3D'</b>. I won't be covering<b> 'Congo' , 'Doom'</b> or <b>'Hexen'</b> (I don't own them yet.)<br />
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First off - confession time, I have not finished any of these games, so I'm not writing from a thorough, completist perspective. But I have spent hours and hours, much of it a considerably intense time, playing <b>Exhumed</b> - both the PAL and (easier) Japanese iterations - to the point of both weary frustration and intense elation. Bizzarrely, when I needed a break from this endeavour, I would often opt for a session on either <b>Quake</b> or <b>Duke Nukem</b>. So whilst none are finished, I have spent a good amount of time with them all. Enough to see common strands of both excellence and weakness in all three titles... So this is just rambling thoughts on all three, not a comprehensive review by any means...<br />
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First of all, the common features - all three games are excellent. <b>EXCELLENT!</b> This cannot be stated enough. Whilst many games on the system fare badly compared to ports on other systems, these three games were built from thr ground up for the Saturn, using the <a href="https://www.giantbomb.com/slavedriver-engine/3015-2301/">Slave Driver Engine</a> developed by <b>Lobotomy</b> themselves. Despite initially poor sales, <b>Exhumed</b> was a critical success and has subsequently become a much sought after game. The Saturn iteration is said to be the superior version of the game... and there are not too many 3D Saturn games that can boast the same achievement! Both <b>Quake</b> and <b>Duke</b> built on the success of that game and owe it's creation a huge debt in terms of their own success.<br />
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<b>Exhumed</b> is an Egyptian themed, adventure/platform/FPS. The player is required to work their way through a series of tombs, temples, tunnels, watery caverns, crypts and canyons, finding keys treasures and weapons in order to progress. Of course, there are a plethora of mummies, jackal headed minions, jumping spiders, flesh eating fish and secret-containing crockery to shoot and destroy! The graphics and lighting effects are gorgeous and still impress today. The frame rate and movement are buttery smooth and the player progresses through the levels at a pace! The music is outstanding and adds tons to the whole experience...<br />
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Like it's compatriots<b> Quake</b> and <b>Duke</b>, this game is <b>HARD</b>. It's a game I've been tempted to abandon on a number of occasions. and is in no way linear or obvious. As platforming is as much a feature of the game as the FPS element, you'll be dying as much by falling off platforms and into lava, as being eaten piece by piece by chomping arachnids or killed outright by one of the game's bad guys. The game is hugely reliant on the player's desire for exploration. If you do not explore, you will not progress. Only by lots of trial and error (and let's face it, endlessly repetitive, agonising death) will you learn where to go, or the correct order in which to complete tasks. And herein, lies the flaw with all three games, as far as I am concerned.<br />
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If you had paid £45 (or $45) for this game back in 1996, you would <b>not</b> want to complete it within a day. You might have to make this game the ONLY game you were able to play for a long period of time for financial reasons. Not everyone had public libraries to steal games from, after all...<br />
Once you had forked out a hefty sum for your game, you would want it to present you with a challenge. Something to keep you engaged and intrigued for weeks, perhaps. Nowadays, as a 52 year old gamer, with thousands of titles in my own collection to distract me, I <b>definitely</b> <b>don't </b>want to be locked into any one game for too long... my attention span and resilience to death, are simply not strong enough, to plough on through tough times in games any more. (Although, I do feel compelled to finish Exhumed), usually I just want short spurts of mindless fun, to while away half an hour or so, between the more mundane tasks of the day.<br />
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In the dark, angst laden and <a href="http://www.nin.wiki/Quake_Soundtrack">Trent Reznor soundtracked</a> <b>Quake</b>, level design is clever and intricate, although again, it can be a little too vague at times. Secret areas are peppered throughout <b>Quake </b>and the same trial and error style of gameplay is required. Whereas<b> Exhumed</b> is clearly Egyptian themed, I don't really know what you would say was the story context of <b>Quake</b>. There is no themed, cutscene driven narrative as there is in <b>Exhumed</b>. As the protagonist, you work your way through a dungeon laden castle full of ogres and grunts, skeletons and monsters, Like <b>Exhumed</b>, there are moving platforms and secret passageways, although the whole "platforming" element is thankfully missing. The health and ammo system are notably different to <b>Exhumed</b> and although there are some nice lighting effects, the graphics are not as impressive, <b>Quake</b> can look "blocky", pixelated and dated. The gameplay is equally slick, but just doesn't have the exotic flair of<b> Exhumed</b>.<br />
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The same criticism could be levelled at <b>Duke Nukem 3D</b>. In this ridiculous B Movie sci-fi plot, aliens have landed and are capturing earth women for various nefarious purposes. Our all American '80s action stereotype, <b>Duke</b> as to rescue them by kicking alien ass.<i> Or something like that...</i><br />
The whole feel of this game is comedic. It never takes itself seriously. Purposely gratuitous images of women can be seen cavorting on various monitors throughout the levels, although they are so pixelated, they just look ridiculous and therefore no longer shock or titillate. Like the breast jiggling in <a href="http://www.thesaturnjunkyard.com/2018/06/policenauts-greatest-story-ever-told.html">Policenauts</a>, it seems somewhat cliche'd and superfluous to the game these days, but I think revisionist moralising is a dangerous activity, so I won't dwell on it! The graphics are very different to <b>Quake</b>, with a lighter, less claustrophobic vibe and soundtrack. <b>Duke's</b> in game commentary, where he congratulates himself and comments on the coolness of his exploits, are funny and compliment the silly action nicely! The three games making up Lobotomy's FPS Saturn trilogy are worth playing at the same time for 'compare and contrast' exercises, but also because they are a hell of a lot of fun.<br />
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This has been a very scant, whistle-stop tour of a small section of a genre, which has consumed me this year. It wasn't meant to be a comprehensive review of the games, just an explanation of why 2019 has been the year of the FPS for me so far... In order to make up for the shortcomings of this article, I will add some informative videos, including DF Retro's fabulous breakdown of Exhumed!<br />
I will be trying to play both Doom and Congo, before my birthday in May. It could well be the case that these less than spectacular titles are enough to kill my current enthusiasm.<br />
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<br />fatherkrishnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01523813350137435244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689256347836494469.post-18508903765882434042019-01-28T18:49:00.002+00:002019-01-28T18:50:02.828+00:00A Sega Saturn Classic? Good Idea or Bad Idea?<br />
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With the release (and subsequent price drop) of Sony's Playstation Classic, one has to wonder how a Sega Saturn Classic system would fair in today's market. Yes the PS Classic did poorly, but that was due to lack of care on Sony's part The Games list was questionable, the hardware was weak and the Emulator choice was not the best route they could of taken. So what do you all think, would a Sega Saturn Classic work? My initial thought would be No, seeing as how Companies seem to be moving away from the Classic Console and investing into newer consoles that share the classic name. The ColecoVision Phoenix and Intellivision Amico are on the horizon and these will have new game as well as play the classics. Lets not forget The AtariBox ... I mean, we've heard NOTHING about it for a while, but it's still out there ... Maybe.<br />
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Anyway, after giving it a little more thought, a Sega Saturn Classic Would be absolutely the perfect thing to get the Classic Mini market the charge it needs. Look at all the great games that can be put on it. Even if it shipped with only 20 Games, you can bet that the Sega Saturn 20 will be a hell of alot better than Sony's picks.<br />
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If there will be a Sega Saturn Classic ... Here is a list of everything that it must include, in my personal opinion. Its a given, that licensing issues and technical jargon may prevent these things from happening, but I am only striving to give the best product around. I'll let the lawyers and technical wizards handle the rest.<br />
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SEGA SATURN CLASSIC SYSTEM<br />
Of course make it look like the Saturn, with matching 6 Button Controller<br />
This is kind of a no Brainer, but I don't want anyone getting any funny ideas. Don't mess with this look! Also the Controller MUST be a Model 2 style!<br />
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THE OPEN BUTTON<br />
Make the button actually open the lid! Why? Because you can put a MicroSD Card to save your games. This it what it will Officially be used for. But It will be ok if someone else finds another use for it...<br />
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PACKAGE IT WITH AN AC ADAPTER<br />
I don't know why companies give you the Micro USB cord but no Adapter. Thats dumb. Make it come with an AC, it's not hard and won't drive up costs!<br />
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THE GAMES<br />
Here's the fun part! I would love to hear your takes on my list and would love to hear what you would want to add or change. This is my personal list, so don't be offended if your game isn't listed. I really want to hear your feedback though, so please comment away!<br />
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US LIST:<br />
Panzer Dragoon Zwei<br />
Panzer Dragoon Saga<br />
SEGA AGES<br />
Bug<br />
Sega Rally Championship<br />
Daytona CCE<br />
Fighters MegaMix<br />
Virtua Fighter 2<br />
NIghts (With Christmas Nights)<br />
Clockwork Night<br />
Shinobi Legions<br />
Burning Rangers<br />
Astal<br />
Dragon Force<br />
Guardian Heroes<br />
Albert Odyssey<br />
World Series Baseball<br />
Sonic Jam<br />
Virtual ON<br />
Legend of Oasis<br />
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Well, That's about all it would take. The US, EUR, and JPN Markets would have a few different games naturally. Here are some proposed changes:<br />
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EUR MARKET:<br />
Change World Series Baseball to Deep Fear<br />
Change Legend of Oasis to Keio Flying Squadron 2<br />
Change Bug to Parodius<br />
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JPN MARKET<br />
Change Virtua Fighter 2 with Fighting Vipers (Japan Version with Pepsiman)<br />
Change World Series Baseball With Pocket Fighter<br />
Change Legend of Oasis to Magic Knight Rayearth<br />
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What to you all think, Can a Sega Saturn Classic work like this, or do you have better ideas?<br />
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--CCUnknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3689256347836494469.post-23322002998961147712019-01-22T16:25:00.000+00:002019-01-22T16:25:02.218+00:00Listen to the latest episode of the Junkyard's TitanCast!Need a Sega-stuffed podcast in your life? Join us for the latest episode of the Saturn Junkyard's TitanCast! Listen to it on iTunes, Google Play, Buzzsprout, and wherever else...<br />
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iTunes: <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-saturn-junkyards-titancast/id1320249250?mt=2">https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-saturn-junkyards-titancast/id1320249250?mt=2</a><br />
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Google Play: <a href="https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Irnjy5iegkh5pfj6cdx3gjqnxle">https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Irnjy5iegkh5pfj6cdx3gjqnxle</a><br />
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Buzzsprout: <a href="http://thesaturnjunkyard.buzzsprout.com/">http://thesaturnjunkyard.buzzsprout.com</a><br />
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PlayerFM: <a href="https://player.fm/series/series-2287282">https://player.fm/series/series-2287282</a><br />
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<br />Jet Brian Radio (@VirtuaSchlub)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10822526071943092178noreply@blogger.com3