Hi, I'm Dranzerstorm
Welcome to the Video Game & Music Lounge
This world is dedicated to Video Games and Music as I'll be showcasing the following.
Video Game Reviews set to the same tones as Retro Retrospective's Anime Reviews
Music reviews of Anime Openings & Closings
Western Cartoon music
Vocaloid Classics.
We may even have some Top Tens
I hope this World entertains you.
Today is a game that should've been way more popular than it's numbers suggested.
Released in 2010 for PS3, 360 and PC, Blur was the last swan song for Bizarre Creations better known for works like Project Gotham Racing, it was billed as the Mario Kart for the hard core gamer where progression was dictated by fan numbers instead of currency. And yes you can blast your opponents with power ups, so their mission statement is very much real.
It's legacy lives on in Forza Horizon who took on several of it's crew when Bizarre Creations got shut down.
Pros
Extremely fun
Good power ups
Some epic races
Cons
Progression is painfully slow
Never really got the social media selling point to work.
Some bull shit achievements.
Verdict
I love Blur for being fun and I actually do find the game better than Mario Kart
I'm a little late but I'll be up to date later on today.
Also it's rare for me to look at any PlayStation games.
King of Route 66 is the sequel to 18-Wheeler American Pro Trucker; released in 2002 by Am2, the game is built as a heavier to control Crazy Taxi where you have to make successful deliveries against a rogue trucker group; there is even a new mode where you help out the state Queens on the Route 66.
This was meant to be a Dreamcast game originally
Pros
Really silly and clearly doesn't take itself too seriously.
Surprisingly high replay value despite being a short game.
Queen mode with Highway Cat is just so wholesome.
Cons
Not aged well.
Most of the replay value comes down to the amount of times you'll be restarting as the game is quite hard.
Oh god, the voice acting is hilariously atrocious.
Verdict
I can really appreciate the simpler titles especially when it's clear a lot of fun went into it and King of Route 66 is one of those.
So moving on in the Advent Calendar of classic games is Vectorman for the Genesis.
Released in 1995, Vectorman is a Sci fi shooter set in a post apocalyptic Earth where a rogue machine has taken over leaving Vectorman to save humanity.
The game is unique by it's graphical capabilities for such a 90s console game as much of the cast use pre-rendered 3D models, it really gives Vectorman it's unique identity.
There was an attempt to bring it back early 2000 which fell through.
Pros
Uses the Blast Processing Sega promised well.
Slightly quirky with it's secrets.
Uses it's setting well.
Cons
Can play a little awkward with mechanics
Enemies take a million hits to takedown
Criminally short
Verdict
Underrated in my opinion but I can see people getting frustrated with some of the mechanics
This will be the last of the Gameboy selection.
Known as Pitman in Japan and released for Gameboy in 1990, Catrap is a puzzle game where either as Catboy or Catgirl you must shift around stone blocks, dig through dirt and climb ladders to defeat various ghouls. With 100 levels to play, you certainly get your money's worth. But what most people don't know, is this game features the first known use of time rewind mechanics, long before Prince of Persia popularised the concept.
Catrap was originally developed 5 years earlier for a home computer release.
Pros
A lot of levels for your money
Go back to any stage anytime
Nice sense of satisfaction in completing a stage without a guide
Create your own stages
Cons
No difference in who you pick as your character gameplay wise, sometimes you control both characters
Catgirl's theme is bad
Even with rewind, you can still get stuck.
Verdict
Catrap stands out as one of my very favourite Gameboy titles, there are even puzzle games today that do less than Catrap did 30 years ago.
I found out more than I expected with this next title, Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle.
Released in 1989, Crazy Castle wasn't originally supposed to be Bugs Bunny, it was actually supposed to be Roger Rabbit but to avoid conflict with a similar game using the same rights, they went with the Looney Tunes making Bugs Bunny the lead who has to navigate the castle avoiding his regular entourage of antagonists in order to escape.
Other properties to receive this treatment include Mickey Mouse, Garfield, Ghostbusters, Kid Klown and current Crazy Castle character Woody Woodpecker.
Pros
Considering the checkered history of Looney Tunes games this franchise was always the strongest.
Literally put any character in and it'll still play well.
Pretty straightforward.
Cons
Doesn't have a long playlife
Barely innovates between games
Has actually gotten worse over time.
Verdict
It's great for it's genre but a lack of innovation would never see this exit the 90s
