Crowned as one of the hardest games for the original Nintendo, Ninja Gaiden brings back a lot of fond memories for me. Growing up in a house where video games and computers were the norm, my Dad introduced me to most of the games on the NES. He usually picked them up from yard sales around the area during the early 90’s. Ninja Gaiden was one of them. Being intrigued by ninjas at a young age, with Ninja

Turtles and the like, I was determined to beat this game. At the time, I certainly realized how frustrating it was learning all the patterns, getting skilled with using the various weapons you could throw. I’m pretty sure I flung out my first string of curse words at this game.

My mother would yell at me for cursing, but I didn’t care, it became commonplace for me to express my frustration that way. In the beginning of trying to conquer this impossible game, I got so excited when I reached the end of the second stage. Watching the anime-style cutscene go by rewarded me for my arduous efforts. I soon reached the third stage, fourth, each time progressing with hidden skills. I learned how to climb back up a wall when I accidentally missed a jump, by flicking the D-Pad quickly left and right. I learned how to throw a boomerang star and time each of the jumps in the stage so that it would swirl around me, creating a maelstrom of destruction as I quickly ran through each level. I found out that with the boss with the spinning sickle, I could get hit and bounce up higher on the wall so that he freaks out, spins the other way, and I could jump over him and take him out easier. (continue reading…)

The Holidays are here, and all the worthwhile game companies have made sure that their biggest blockbusters are on the shelves just in time for Christmas, Hanukah, Ramadan (we are a few months late, but still), or for whatever reason people may want to buy games for. However, biggest doesn’t necessarily mean best, and it definitely doesn’t mean original. If you can’t get that special someone the game they want, here are a few great substitutes. Or maybe you can’t get enough of your favorite game? Or maybe you are just too full of yourself to play the mainstream games, even though you really want to. Or maybe you rather buy five games for the price of one. Whatever the reason, here they are.

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