Based on the famed Atari classics Breakout and Super Breakout, Arkanoid for the NES is a essentially a remake and reshaping of the original games. The NES clearly had a much stronger technological punch than the good old Atari 2600, so indeed any remake of an Atari game will look and sound better than its original counterparts. The question is though, does it play better?

     The original Breakout and Super Breakout games did not utilize the joystick controller but rather the paddle controllers which consisted of a large rotary turning knob. If you have a paddle controller in good condition, you were in Vintage Gaming Heaven. However, those old paddle controllers are generally prone to breakage after heavy and continued use, thus rendering those games unplayable - so be gentle on those paddle controllers if you should have them. However, in Arkanoid, there was a special controller packed in with the original game known as the "Vaus" Controller. Since I acquired this game used only recently, I wasn't aware of the Vaus controller then. Apparently, this Vaus controller was similar to the Atari's paddle controllers as it uses the same potentiometer technology, but I'd wager it was better in quality considering it was made much later in time. In any case, the Vaus seems like a great idea and probably plays well with the game. I use the original NES controller, and it works exceptionally well but the paddle only moves at a single moderate pace, whereas the Vaus allows for a more delicate control over speed.

     As I alluded to earlier, the graphics are vibrant, the music themes basic yet very appropriate and entertaining. The sound effects are clear and crisp, and the gameplay is very tight, responsive, and ultimately fun. Speaking of gameplay again, there are also various upgrades you can acquire to make your paddle more dynamic - they include lasers, lengthening and shortening the width of the paddle, multiple balls, amongst others. It makes for a very engaging experience with plenty of dimension and variety.

     In a nutshell, you can't go wrong with the game. It's fun - it really embodies what it means to be a game. It's simple, to the point, very straight-forward, and ultimately, it's just good times to be had by people of all ages.

-Kurt L.

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

-Kurt L.

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     Ah, the dreaded Zombie. Ever since I first got the chance to kill the in 3D action was with the Playstation release of Resident Evil. It was a satisfying experience, taking down undead after ghoulish undead with a trusty Beretta 92fs (along with plenty of other weapons) in that creepy mansion setting. There was no denying that I was hooked, and zombies have become one of my favorites for gaming target practice. Perhaps my favorite of the Resident Evil franchise was the second installment, Resident Evil 2.

     Resident Evil 2 takes place shortly after the Mansion Incident that took place on the outskirts of that American suburb, Raccoon City. This time around our "survivors" are Leon Kennedy, a rookie cop whose first day on the job happens to take place as flesh eating zombies have over taken the city (talk about bad luck), and Claire Redfield who is the sister of Chris Redfield from Resident Evil 1. Resident Evil 2 will take players through the streets of the infected city, deep inside a puzzle filled police station, city sewers, and other places where death is potentially waiting around every corner.

     Resident Evil 2 plays very much like its predecessor. The control schemes remain the same, and the inventory screen is essentially identical despite some minor graphical upgrades, and puzzle solving still has an impact on the game advancement. The similarities between the two games is a good and bad thing. Veteran Resident Evil gamers will feel right at home playing Resident Evil 2, and everything works as it is designed to, but the minor annoyances that plagued the first game return in the sequel. For example, the two largest annoyances are sometimes aiming can be difficult depending on the camera angle, and players still need to rely on inventory crates to store or retrieve necessary items. The constant running back and forth to grab a much needed key, or weapon from the inventory crate can be a monotonous task just as it was in the original. There is nothing more disheartening than reaching your destination then realizing you forgot something, and have turn right around to get to a crate. Those who have played Resident Evil 2 through a few times will be able to overcome these flaws, being they'll know ahead of time which items are needed and when. Those who plan on playing Resident Evil 2 for the first time however...well just prepared for the backtracking. As far as game play changes go, possibly the biggest change comes in the way of the character selection. Just like in Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2 has two playable heroes as I mentioned before. Players can start their adventure by either using the Leon play disc, or the Claire play disc. This starts the adventure as the respective survivor, and their half of the story will play through as such. Upon completing either Leon or Claire's story, players can save the game after the credits, and play through the remaining scenario. This makes Resident Evil 2 much larger in scope than the original Resident Evil, as now we are getting another side of the same story. The events that take place are drastically different between the two survivors, and add to the overall replay value of the game.

     The key place where Resident Evil 2 stands out above all the rest of the Resident Evil games in my mind, is the overall setting. With the improved graphics, the background settings are truly eerie. Whether it is walking through a trashed alley filled with graffiti, or the truly devastated police station, Resident Evil 2 just feels creepier. Everything looks as if zombies and other horrors have thrashed their way through killing anyone who is unlucky enough to get in their way. Mixed in with the outstanding use of sound effects and excellent musical scores, at times walking through the environments are scarier than the game play itself.

     As far as story goes, Resident Evil 2 is pretty solid. Voice acting is much better than the original Resident Evil, although there are still plenty of tacky moments that have come to be expected from the Resident Evil franchise. The story itself is about how the Umbrella company continued their biogenic research on the T-virus, and discovered a mutated version of the virus called the G virus which is running rampant through Raccoon City. Resident Evil 2 uses more CGI style cut scenes than first game, and gives a more cinematic feel to the franchise. These cut scenes still look pretty good today, considering they were made in 1998. Despite the better cut scene graphics, I found the standard in game interactions between different characters to be much more interesting. Every character has a defined role and personality, and make for some memorable moments that continue to bring me back to Raccoon City today.

     What else really needs to be said about this game? Since its release, its been incredibly popular to Playstation owners and has been re-released N64, Gamecube, and even the PSN store making it available on PSP and Ps3. Sure early Playstation graphics weren't the greatest, but Resident Evil 2 hit all the right notes. With its eerie settings, and zombie killing action, this game has earned its place as one of the greatest Survival Horrors out there.

Written by: RB

Over and Out!

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     This stunning sequel boasts one of the most impressive soundtracks to ever grace a video game. If you think back to why NES games are known for such classic gaming music, Mega Man 2 is probably the primary reason. One memorable track after another will keep you humming them for decades - it surely has done that to me, I can't stop humming them to this day! My favorite song from this game is in Flash Man's stage, if you're curious. Aside from that, the sound effects themselves are enhanced over the first game, but are much more closely linked to the original than the rest of the series. Needless to say, this game is a pleasure for the auditory senses.

     The gameplay is tighter and more enjoyable than the first game as well. Not to knock the original Mega Man, but MM2 just exudes a better technical prowess in that sense. Mega Man gameplay wouldn't quite be perfected until Mega Man 3 (when a slide feature was introduced), but it's still top-notch here in the sequel. The level design is also a big step up. First off, there are more robot masters to defeat here, and each of their respective levels are endowed intricately with their personalities.

     Another aspect of Mega Man 2 is its intense difficulty. Indeed a supremely hard game, and that goes for the entire Mega Man NES series, but "2" is particularly tough. It indeed features one thing I've always hated about these early games is those darn disappearing/reappearing platforming blocks - you know what I'm talking about! They are incredibly aggitating, and I feel detract from the flowing action. There are some tricks to get around them, and I've definitely tried my best to avoid them, so, if you can do that, then all the more power to you. The Dr. Wily stages are also very hard - especially the bosses, so, you'll need your most prime skills to defeat this one, and it's worth it, because the ending is a surprise, and shows off one of the most hauntingly odd stages I ever saw in an NES game; I can't say anymore about it though, for you must see for yourself.

     Mega Man 2 is not only one of the best games in the Mega Man library, but it is one of the best NES games period. The next game in the series would indeed be the best, but MM2 stands along side it as a close second. This game certainly garners itself the silver medal in terms of Mega Man games, with "3" getting the gold - why allusions to the Olympic medals? I have no idea. In any case, if you want to play some intense action with awesome 8-bit visual flare, and with one of gaming's greatest soundtracks to boot, then this is the game for you.

-Kurt L.

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     Pac-Man for the Atari 2600 was one of the biggest failures in video game history. In the newest Ethos Video Review, I take something of an in-depth look at this notorious bomb and even delve into a little gaming history and discuss the Video Game Crash of 1983. I even touch upon another gaming disaster - E.T.

     This is Episode #6 in the Ethos Video Review series. Click on the link below to watch! Thanks so much for watching!

     Any veteran of the first game will feel just at home in the sequel as you control the same commando as before, and have essentially the same weapon upgrades. There are some minute differences in the weapons - such as the Fire gun has been changed to having a giant fire ball bursting into four smaller fire balls. Aside from that, it's the same - and again, that's a good thing. Why mess with such a successful formula? The great folks at Konami have made yet another classic side-scrolling run and gun shooter.

     If you've played Contra already, is it worth playing Super C? Of course! The NES had its fair share of bombs on the system when it came to make side-scrollers, so why pass up such a terrific game here? If for some reason you didn't like the original game, there isn't much here that would change your mind. However, if you're a fan, you are in for a big treat.

     As I alluded to earlier, the graphics are slicker here. While the original Contra featured some of the best NES visuals available, Super C does just the same. Some levels have more complex looking backgrounds, some with lightning effects (like the first level), and nice glowing effects too in some of the level backgrounds. There is one really cool level where you descend from the top of this base, and it's as if you are jumping down from the side of this colossal structure, and enemies pop out of each door from each platform - it's awesome.

     I would say that Super C is much more challenging than the first game - and that is saying a lot, considering this series is known for its fairly high difficulty. However, it doesn't detract from the enjoyment level because these games are not frustrating because they are made poorly, they are high quality games that are just with high difficulty threshholds. Anyway, this game is not nearly as tough as Contra III: The Alien Wars for the Super Nintendo (previously reviewed here on Ethos by the way), but still stands as a formidable challenge - especially the final level. Also, it doesn't feature the "Konami Code" where you can instantly start with 30 lives like in the original, however, there is still a code you input on the title screen that gives you 10 lives.

     In a nusthell, Super C is a bonafide NES classic, ranking up there with many of the system's best. It is available on the Wii's Virtual Console, if you dare to undertake its strong challenge, but ultimately uber-fun gameplay. As something of a sentimentalist, I prefer to play it on the good old NES, but an original cartridge may be hard to come by these days. In any case, it's worth the purchase. It's a heck of a lot of fun.

-Kurt L.

     *Also, if you haven't already and are interested, I made a Video Review for the original Contra game. It's now on the Ethos YouTube Channel. Here's the link if you'd like to check it out. Thanks for watching and reading our reviews!*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypu8h2Ap12g

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     For all intensive purposes, both NES versions of Punch-Out are identical. Players will assume the role of a small, but tough boxer named "Little Mac". Little Mac will have to fight his way through some colorful, and memorable opponents. To fight, players will use the A and B buttons that act as their right and left hands to throw punches. Using the D pad will cause Little Mac to dodge, left or right, and block. With each win, Little Mac gets closer to a title bout. Lose a fight, and Little Mac is knocked to a previous match up, or rank. The goal is to continue winning titles, and advancing your rank until you face either Mike Tyson, or Mr. Dream. Sounds simple enough, right?

     Well, luckily it is and isn't. Punch-Out has a great mix of challenge, being that each boxer Little Mac will come up against has their own special hits and weaknesses. Figuring out their patterns could cause an instant knock down, counter-punch, or simply give you a heads up on when to duck. Getting this right will earn you a star, which is used to activate Little Mac's powerful Uppercut. Some of Little Mac's adversaries are easier to defeat than others, while some are down right hard to beat. For example, the boxer Glass Joe is a particularly easy fight. His weak spot is his glass jaw, so popping him one in the face is a good way to bring him down. A much harder opponent is say the end game boss, being Mike Tyson or Mr. Dream. Good luck against those guys, taking them down isn't a cake walk. To make things worse, its game over if they knock you out. Their mighty furry has caused many years of vintage frustration in my gaming youth, yet I always came back for more.

     Graphically, Punch-Out is one of the best looking games available on the NES console. The key to Punch-Out's graphics, is in character animation and design. As I mentioned earlier, characters are colorful and memorable, and for good reason. A character's animation, or character design all give the player a clue of what their opponent's weakness will be. There are also some animated cut scenes in Punch-Out, like Little Mac running past the Statue of Liberty in his pink jump suit. Mix in a pretty solid sound track, and we have the NES equivalent to a Rocky movie.

     Punch-Out is one of those games that refuses to be knocked out. It has stood the test of time, and has seen numerous re-releases, and has even made the jump onto the Nintendo Wii. It is one of the truly iconic games, on a truly iconic system. I mean seriously, where else can you see super Mario referee a title bout!?

Written by RB

Over and Out.

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     I tackle one of the most difficult NES games ever made in my new Ethos Video Review! Contra was a classic run and gun side scrolling shooter made for the NES in 1987 by Konami. I try and get as far as I possibly can without the use of the famous "Konami Code" (which gives you 30 lives) or without the aid of Game Genie. How far will I get with just three lives to start? Click on the link below and find out! And as always, thanks for watching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypu8h2Ap12g

-Kurt L.

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     Released for the Sega Saturn (as well as the Sony Playstation) in 1997, Street Fighter Collection is a compilation package of a few of the Street Fighter games, and emphasis on "few." The term "collection" is used loosely here because this game is only compiled of three SF games, and they are - Super Street Fighter II, Super Street Figher II: Turbo, and Street Fighter 2 Alpha Gold (previously unreleased in the United States). The collection comes on two discs, with Alpha Gold taking up the entire 2nd disc. However, that is all you'll get. There are no upgrades to the games themselves, which for many gamers may come as a dissapointment, but let's face it, these games are great as they are anyway - no upgrades are necessary. To be honest, this game is a lot of fun.

     I suppose the only true downer on this collection is that it is only three games. For collectors, it may have limited appeal because it only features the three games on it. I personally don't mind that fact because I already own Street Fighter II for the SNES (which is brilliant). Though, I can't help but feel it should have included the original Street Fighter game, which I actually have never played, but is apparently drastically different and primitive in nature in comparison to the later releases in the franchise. Also, why include the Super Street Fighter II games and not include the original Street Fighter II? That's a bit odd. Basically what I am saying is, the collection is indeed not a complete one by any means, but it is definitely a servicable release.

     That being said, I had to give this game a fairly average score of 3.5. If you like to base it strictly on gameplay itself, it'd be a different story. The games themselves included on SF Collection are terrific! They are the arcade ports, so they include a little bit of blood, and the graphics are stellar. Sure, they may be considered dated by 1997, but I say they are timeless. The Saturn handles these 2D fighter classics as good as any system, and since it has more horsepower than the SNES, they run very well, and nothing needed to be compromised to port these arcade games. Not to knock the SNES, as they ran exceptionally on that system, but the Saturn can handle the full presentation of the arcade ports. The only hurdle that the Saturn and other disc-based systems can't overcome are loading times. They aren't bad here, but compare that with no load times on the SNES - so there's something of a tradeoff.

     Using the Saturn controller is another natural fit, as was the SNES controller. The control, like in all Street Fighter games, is flawless and incredibly responsive. The Saturn controller works just so well and executing various moves is a breeze and a blast.

     So all notions of game inclusion or exclusion put aside, Street Fighter Collection is really great. For me, it is a wonderful collection of games, and the new Alpha Gold is another excellent entry in the series. If you have SF II already, then by all means get this compilation to round out the rest of your Street Fighter collection. The games are classic and they play and sound very, very well - and they surely boast some tremendous visuals. It is one of the most enjoyable experiences I've had on the Sega Saturn thus far, if not the best, simply because the games included here are just that good.

-Kurt L.

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