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.
To survive the Video Game market, you need to be the likes of Mario, Sonic, Halo and so on but not everyone can make it, however through sheer tenacity despite not really being mainstream, some still survive against all odds, these ten franchises prove it.
Some ground rules first, the franchise must have a game released on a current generation console or plan to release a game on one in the next year.
Has to have been released in the west.
Also no reboots or compilation packs or spiritual successors.
This list is in order of franchise age.
10. Shantae-2002
The youngest entry on this list, Shantae started on the Gameboy Colour but shot to better acclaim on future consoles in Nintendo evolving perfectly from it's early 2000 era to it's spunky anime design now.
9. Dynasty Warriors-1997
You could argue that Romance of the Three Kingdoms game is older and they'd be right but I've no proof that any of that franchise made it to the west meanwhile Dynasty Warriors hack n slash effort shows no sign of stopping, still bringing the camp.
8. Sakura Wars-1996
Assumed lost among Sega's growing pile of ended franchises only to make a surprise comeback this year with a new instalment headed by Bleach artist Tite Kubo. Honourable mentions to Shenmue and Streets of Rage building a mini Sega comeback.
7. Harvest Moon-1996
Assumed dead after Stardew Valley appeared, it's still going along with it's expansions now dubbed the Story of Seasons franchise but still very much Harvest Moon.
6. Soul Calibur-1995
Another series assumed dead especially after number 5's poor showing and for many years falling out of favour in competitive fighting games but comes back with a sixth instalment back to normal and back among it's peers, honourable mention to SNKs fighting franchises.
5. Jikkyo Powerful Pro Baseball-1994
Despite being a Konami title and largely unknown in the west (did get some release in the west) it's actually one of the best selling sports games of all time sitting short of 21 Million sold.
4. Puyo Pop-1991
With Tetris still hanging around as top puzzler and under pressure from mobile games making big cash off a similar style of colour matching puzzles, it comes as a shock when Puyo Pop returned as an Esports ready title.
3. Leisure Suit Larry-1987
I am shocked this franchise is still going, it's the biggest load of trash you'll ever play with each game being rated abysmally low and is about as out of touch with Modern Values as a senile grandparent. Guess sex still sells.
2. Dragon Quest-1986
Quietly keeps going while Final Fantasy gets all the applause and will likely keep going as long as Akira Toriyama is still going.
1. Kunio Kun-1986
I bet you are wondering what Kunio Kun is?
Well to list a few titles in Western form include Renegade, River City Ransom, plenty of old Nintendo sports titles including Super Dodgeball. Kunio Kun can be credited with popularizing the good hearted delinquent type, he already looks like Kuwabara from Yu Yu Hakusho. But more recently the River City Girls game has appeared along with a planned Kunio game for next year. I only knew about this franchise this year and it's the same age as me.
I've now finished the game so I'll share my thoughts.
Released in the last couple of weeks, Sword and Shield takes the Pokemon formula to Galar, a British inspired world.
Pros
Gym Leaders are the best they've been and I enjoy the format
Dynamax is a great mechanic for the game
Wild Area is an inspired creation
Streamlined actions meaning you can heal on the go without being dragged through town
Looks incredible as a spectacle
Just Sonia
Cons
Worst most annoying rival ever
Too many cut scenes
Most routes are short and uninspiring
Lack of trainer battles meaning your only real area to train is the wild area
Lag can be annoying in the Wild Area
Post game is lacking
Just when you want more it's over
Overall
An enigma of sorts, as it delivers high quality gameplay but it's attempts to streamline the experience has left it with far less content.
Closest were going to get to a waifu fighting game.
Released in 2018, SNK Heroines is a fighting game about the many female cast members (as well as some transgendered males) of SNK fighting titles being thrown into a pocket dimension where they must escape the clutches of a crazed hooded fighter, all while stuck in a variety of sexy costumes.
Pros
Really doesn't take itself too seriously
One of the easiest fighting games to pick up and play
Hilarious dialogue
Some creative choices with DLC
Female Terry Bogard is inspired
Cons
Missing alot of characters who would've been perfect for this
Not much of a challenge
It's pretty corny
Overall
A fun poke at the SNK Girls with some welcome surprises I wasn't expecting considering the kind of game it is but hardly a game changer.
Taking some time out to write a top ten, to explain this one it captures cartoon theme songs that either use public domain music, sounds way too similar to another piece of music or out right steals a song and adjusts this for their own tastes.
Honorable Mention: Tom and Jerry
It's entire soundtrack is Metro Goldwyn Mayer's entire music catalogue, for an example you can sometimes hear Over the Rainbow from Wizard of Oz. Left off because I'm only covering opening themes and Tom and Jerry's theme is unique to them and a few other MGM cartoons.
10. Smurfs
Quite low as it's unclear which came first, but it sounds similar to the song Centerfold by J. Geils Band
9. Dennis the Menace (US version)
I say US version as Britain has it's own Dennis the Menace. Weirdly they did have a servicable theme song but went public domain for future series.
8. Wacky World of Tex Avery
Public Domain again, added bonus the actual opening is disgusting.
7. Berenstain Bears
Probably the most shameless use of public domain music.
6. Inspector Gadget
It's Hall of the Mountain King, another Public Domain track, I'd compare them.
5. Scooby Doo Get A Clue
They ripped off the Offspring, it sounds too similar to One Fine Day.
4. X-Men
As awesome as this theme song is, it's Whitney Houston's I'm your Baby Tonight.
3. MASK
Childhood not ruined yet?
Credit to UncannyX, my inspiration for this list.
2. MadBalls
This show failed to go beyond two episodes mainly because it stole Jerry Lee Lewis' Great Balls of Fire, they didn't even try to hide it.
1. Swamp Thing
This is the most embarrassing one, not only does it destroy a good rock ballad, in this case Wild Thing by The Troggs but the lyrics they chose are some of the worst I've ever heard, an easy candidate for worst cartoon theme song.
Now for the next title Cuphead
Released in 2017 as an Indy title, Cuphead is a run and gun game famed for it's notorious difficulty and a graphic style inspired by 1930s cartoons from the likes of Disney, Warner Bros, Felix the Cat and most prominently Fleischer Cartoons.
It's about brothers Cuphead and Mugman whom after a casino gamble goes wrong they end up being owned by the Devil, eager to not get dragged to hell they convince the Devil that they can help him retrieve the souls of a number of colourful cartoon characters.
Pros
Art style is really pleasing to see especially next to current day cartoons
To back it up everything is hand drawn
Memorable bosses with their own fanbases
Gameplay is easy to pick up despite the difficulty curve
If you've played classic Megaman this will be easier
Cons
Some battles try and pack so much on screen that it's impossible to know what's going on
If you've not played classic Megaman then you're going to have a bad time
Being honest if you cannot even pass the tutorial then you've wasted your money
I don't exaggerate the notorious difficulty
Overall
Worthy of it's accolades and reviving a lost style, Cuphead is a worthy and welcome addition to the current era of gaming.