Shining Force


  • One Man’s Quest to Review Every 16-Bit Game

    One Man’s Quest to Review Every 16-Bit Game

    I’ve played, reviewed, and documented my thoughts about every single game that was released in North America during the 16-bit era. Crazy, right? That’s 716 Super Nintendo, 704 Sega Genesis, and 95 TurboGrafx-16 games, for a grand total of 1,515 fourth-generation titles. Obviously, this begs two questions: Why would you do such a thing? My…


  • 16 Underrated NES Games

    16 Underrated NES Games

    The Nintendo Entertainment System is one of the most successful and most enduring video game consoles ever invented. Following the North American console crash, the NES emerged not only as the dominating force in home gaming, but as a pop culture icon so ubiquitous as to be almost unmatched in its ubiquitatious ubiquitosity! Mario, Metroid,…


  • Final Fantasy vs Dragon Warrior pt 1: A deep dive into JRPGs for the NES

    Final Fantasy vs Dragon Warrior pt 1: A deep dive into JRPGs for the NES

    …in the Japanese version…a woman offers to sell puff-puff – a Japanese onomatopoeia for a girl rubbing her breasts in someone’s face, or juggling her own breasts. In the North American version, the woman sells tomatoes.


  • The 15 Best Sega Dreamcast RPGs

    The 15 Best Sega Dreamcast RPGs

    Sega’s systems have had plenty of great RPGs, but like Rodney Dangerfield, they get no respect.  Sega Dreamcast was a very intriguing system that never lived up to its full potential. Despite having internet connectivity and good graphics, the Dreamcast lacked the sales to keep up with the competition.  Remember, the system suffered from the…


  • 25 NES Hidden Gems You’ve Got To Try

    25 NES Hidden Gems You’ve Got To Try

    How hidden can a gem possibly be? I mean, we’ve had like 35 years to discover these games. Presumably, they were never really hidden. This list should be more like Games You Forgot. But “hidden gems” is such a buzzword, I’d rather use it. Regardless, there is a massive number of NES games that are…


  • 10 Sega CD Games that Might Justify Owning One

    10 Sega CD Games that Might Justify Owning One

    Even if the Sega franchise strikes you as dabbling in old school gaming, it is well worth a look at the systems. Some of the original Sega CD (or Mega-CD in Europe) games have an astounding amount of appeal that lovers of all things gaming should consider giving a try.


  • Successfully Speedrunning Resident Evil: Village

    Successfully Speedrunning Resident Evil: Village

    If you’re going to speedrun Resident Evil Village, then there are a few crucial tips you’re going to have to keep in mind. Fortunately for you, I’ve done the grunt work of testing these methods in-game so that I can inform you about them in the most efficient way possible. Keep in mind that before…


  • Batman: Arkham Asylum—The Value of Dynamic Settings

    Batman: Arkham Asylum—The Value of Dynamic Settings

    Right behind The Dark Knight, Arkham Asylum is my second-favorite Batman experience of all time. Most people will often site the sequel—Arkham City—as the undisputed champion of Batman games, but for me, that title belongs to the first entry in Rocksteady’s esteemed franchise. Critics and fans alike have sung the praises of these games for…


  • The Best Movie-Themed Games

    The Best Movie-Themed Games

    Games and movies have a long and storied history together. Ever since video games became widely available, major movie franchises would influence some of the titles that were released, with many being direct tie-ins to certain films. Offering a video game experience of a popular movie is a singular opportunity; fans of the film will…


  • How to Connect Nintendo Switch to a TV

    How to Connect Nintendo Switch to a TV

    Game lovers worldwide always wait for innovations the companies come up with to enhance their gaming experience. Be it Playstation or Nintendo, gamers always rejoice with the better devices and technologies. One such switch was the “Nintendo Switch” that can help to bring your game consoles to your TV, much like PS5. The Switch helps…


  • Will retro game prices go down?

    Will retro game prices go down?

    Nope. Thanks for reading!   …but seriously. There have been some ongoing external factors over the last year and a half that have certainly laid a big, blunt, bludgeoning bruise across the butt of the retro games market. Most recently, Sony’s decision-then-undecision to close down the Playstation 3 and PS Vita online stores played total…


  • What Is the Best Console for RPGs?

    What Is the Best Console for RPGs?

    Role-playing games (RPGs) are some of the most popular games released by video game developers. They tend to have elaborate stories, give players a sense of immersiveness that isn’t present in other genres, and give the player freedom in a digital world. Also, RPGs are a great measurement of a video game console’s capabilities. These…


  • Prices are Still Rising for these Sega Genesis Games

    Prices are Still Rising for these Sega Genesis Games

    Hello all and welcome back to another Hyp3rblue’s Top Lists. Last month I spoke about some SNES games I used to own and how a few that I’m looking to add back to my collection have really gone up in price. I was both a SNES and a Sega Genesis (or Mega Drive) kid. Luckily…


  • Are Video Games a Good Investment?

    Are Video Games a Good Investment?

    If you’re looking for a solid financial investment, video games are probably not it. Your collection is very unlikely to cover your retirement. But if you’re determined and savvy, it’s perfectly reasonable that you could have some success investing in video games, whether that means finding actual financial success, or simply having a hobby that…


  • Sega Dreamcast Prices Are Rising Fast: What Games Should You Collect?

    Sega Dreamcast Prices Are Rising Fast: What Games Should You Collect?

    Retro gaming consoles tend to follow a predictable price pattern as they age. They are expensive on release, somewhat rapidly drop in price as new merchandise becomes available, and then inevitably rise in price when the system is old enough to  inspire collectors.  Guess where the Sega Dreamcast prices are at on the timeline? That’s…


  • The History of Gaming

    The History of Gaming

    Although the pandemic has pushed a lot of scheduled game launches back a few months, 2021 is a great gaming year. New Pokemon Snap, Returnal, Legend of Zelda, Knockout City are just a few of the new games launching this year. The gaming world has evolved enormously over the years. So, let´s take a look…