Bullet Heaven HD, Episode 89 - Macross (FC5 #2)

n this episode of Bullet Heaven, we take a look at the first-ever collaborative efforts of BAN-DAI and Namco with the horizontal Famicom shooter, Macross. based on the classic anime, how does this early licensed Famicom game stack up?  

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QCF: Legend of Zelda: Link Between Worlds

hile the consensus is more arguable than mainstream, it’s more apparent than ever that one of the most revered franchises in video games is experiencing a wave of disenchantment in the more recent years of the present game climate, and more players have come forward with their fatigue towards the series. You might have heard of it, it’s called The Legend of Zelda.

Ironically the iconic Nintendo property of late, has been more instrumental in inspiring successes in new franchises that liberally imitate it while failing to significantly innovate itself beyond its esteemed but frankly aged conventions—that is until now.

Nintendo and Monolith entered dangerous territory when announcing that they were working a direct sequel to what many consider the greatest video game of all time that could never live up to the legacy it holds to this day; if Link to the Past is Rocky then consider Link Between Worlds Rocky IV.

This 3DS entry is a shining example that the magic of The Legend of Zelda is very much alive, transporting all who play it into a very familiar and yet robust Hyrule, with tons of astonishment and whimsy in store from start to finish.

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Bullet Heaven HD, Episode 88 - B-Wings (FC5 #1)

elcome to the FC5, the first special block of the new season! In today's episode of Bullet Heaven, we take a look at the first ever game by Data East on the Famicom, B-Wings (aka Battle Wings). As an obscure famicom title based on an already obscure arcade game, just how did B-Wings fare in 1986? And how does it hold up today?

QCF: Contrast

hose familiar scenes from a movie you can’t quite remember, the ones with the atmosphere of streetlights and Deco art posters, streets filled with cabarets and burlesque shows for fellas and dames— The Great Gatsby withstanding , the 1920’s is an era so vaguely romanticized for its appearance over culture . It was always what was seen or heard versus what was said or done, with all of the style and bravura on stage and never too much indulged on the history and culture behind it.

Compulsion Games means to tell a story that’s born in the thick of it, and while the fiction is rich in intrigue and complimented with exquisite eye candy--Contrast is a collective of ambitious gameplay mechanics that manage to grease that platforming wheel, the rotation however, doesn’t come close to spinning full circle.

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Bullet Heaven HD, Episode 87 - Giga Wing & Giga Wing 2

he Sega Dreamcast was (and still is) a pretty amazing system with a decent wealth of shooting games within its awesome library. Giga Wing kicked them all off and even saw a Dreamcast sequel (Giga Wing 2) a year later. How do they stack up? 

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Life Through The Pixel Glass-11/30/13

hese days, more and more people seem to get more excited about the advent of Black Friday than the ACTUAL Holiday that precedes it; it’s kind of a bummer—especially since people keep getting hurt or even killed over savings. So here’s a friendly reminder, be thankful.

Showing gratitude for your way of life this holiday weekend and appreciating the small privileges you take for granted like the opportunity to read this editorial on some dumb video game website for instance, is habit that’d be healthy for all 365 days of the year but on the day of Thanks and the .

Spread it around with everyone and especially the ones that you love.

So that’s enough of that shit, let’s get on with the real meaty Sir Loin of this latest entry to Life Through The Pixel Glass; there’s so much superficially worthless cool garbage trash to get excited about you guys! Let’s go!

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PPR Presents Now Showing: 11/28/2013

his current edition of Now Showing is as Japanese as it gets. We’ve assembled a new collection of trailers that showcase the latest and greatest to come from the likes of Atlus, XSEED, Square Enix, and Nis America that prove that the JRPG is more than still just a thing, it’s a movement that’s still followed—Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

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QCF: Super Mario 3D World

einvention, a simple concept constructed on the notion of reimagining any established creative property with the advantage of it definitively cutting the work out towards its execution by branching off the strength into something new—and yet, difficult to perfect upon what worked so well to begin with. More recently, we’ve seen older franchises like Tomb Raider and Castlevania adapt their famed hallmarks to fit into a different format design modern sensibilities that make use of the latest tech to advance the franchise; some have made it work, and others, not so much.

However, there are moments like these that can completely turn around a promising yet troubled new console that’s struggled for the better part of its first twelve months, The Wii U has finally received its killer app. 

Super Mario 3D World isn’t just the best reason to own a Wii U—it manages to set a new benchmark in redefining how game development can refresh historic franchises and properties into an entirely new breathtaking experience.

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