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The Nintendo DS turns 20 in Oz today. A brightly backlit frontier opened up to me when I first opened the clamshell of this silver beast. In time, it birthed the DS Lite, DSi, and DSi XL to the tune of 154M units sold. Also, bangers aplenty in its insane 3,000+ games library.

submitted 10 days ago • 1 comment

Well, I'm addicted to #EldenRingNightreign and the zippy as hell, bane of kidneys everywhere Duchess class. Here it is running on a PS5 Pro rather well indeed. Can't wait to play more. youtu.be/8sosoHGVX3w?...

submitted 18 days ago • 0 comments

Gran Turismo 2—two PS One discs I played the absolute scratch 'n' sniff off of, for an "authentic pit stop smell"—is 25. Just a brilliant sequel with more cars (650) and more tracks (27 plus rallying) and my very first exposure to Laguna Seca's corkscrew. Thanks for signing, Kaz.

submitted 37 days ago • 0 comments

Kirby's Fun Pak (aka Super Star) is 28. This 8-game platformer omnibus was uncommonly equipped with two-player co-op. A mate and I loved playing Spring Breeze (Kirby's Dream Land abridged) and The Great Cave Offensive (a Metroidvania teeming with Nintendo stablemate references).

submitted 42 days ago • 0 comments

It's been 16 years since we (repeatedly and hilariously) flung ourselves down Mega Compounds and into the Hall of Meat in Skate 2. This sequel was a pretty phenomenal upgrade over the OG, and cemented the franchise as a proper threat to the Birdman's Pro Skater empire. Holds. Up.

submitted 43 days ago • 0 comments

Super Mario Kart is 32. My neighbour got this at launch and months were spent perfecting green shellings and powerslides in 2P grudge matches. The combat racing concept hooked us from the very first green light. There's little wonder why this is now a 180M-copies-sold series.

submitted 44 days ago • 1 comment

LittleBigPlanet 2, that sacktacular PS3 classic that elevated 2.5D platforming and user-generated content to new heights, is 14. My mates and I sunk tons of hours into the co-op campaign and then the hilaribad physics of Super LBP Fighter II Turbo. Truly, a golden age of UGC.

submitted 45 days ago • 1 comment

It's been 29 years since I used an ice cream van to dispense post-apocalyptic vehicular violence with a clown instead of overpriced Cornettos. That inaugural Twisted Metal would go on to spawn 10 titles produced by a variety of devs, plus a surprisingly decent TV show.

submitted 49 days ago • 0 comments

Happy 37th birthday Metroid. I played the absolute cartridge pins off you in the Aussie bicentennial obsessed year of 1988. You've been on an unstoppable [morph ball] roll ever since.

submitted 50 days ago • 0 comments

I've cooked a trash can roast feast for the 32nd birthday of Streets of Rage 2, a seminal beat 'em up and massive personal favourite I played the cartridge pins off. Most notably, this ever rightward punk-punch-a-palooza had one of the most jam-pumping OSTs of its time.

submitted 51 days ago • 0 comments

Darksiders is 15! It didn't exactly gallop the genre forward, but was an intoxicating amalgamation of 2000s-era mechanics. Still worth saddling up for deity infights, Joe Mad comic art, and to finally see what War is in fact good for (mass slaughter with a sword the size of God's own letter opener).

submitted 58 days ago • 1 comment

In addition to Jeebus, I'm celebrating the 28th birthday of Christmas NiGHTS, arguably gaming's greatest goodwill limited edition freebie. I adore this advent calendar / demo disc. Play it every year without fail.

submitted 71 days ago • 2 comments

In early 2004, I heard excited whispers of a Japanese game where one hunted colossal monsters. An impulse import was made. An immense language barrier (and claws and fangs) were overcome. Today, that copy became a signed trophy of triumph thanks to Series Producer Ryozo Tsujimoto.

submitted 77 days ago • 0 comments

Happy 26th (Aussie) birthday, Ocarina of Time. I still adore you.

submitted 78 days ago • 0 comments

I'm using some Yoshi eggs to make a 31st birthday cake for Super Mario All-Stars. Way back when, if you owned this cart and a SNES, you were livin' large and envied by many. The most blessed feature add-in here was saving. No more leaving the console on for days and getting yelled at for you!

submitted 80 days ago • 0 comments

Let's build this right. OOT forever.

submitted 81 days ago • 0 comments

Why? Because "I needed another one to test and write about multiplayer games" felt like a legitimate enough excuse

submitted 92 days ago • 0 comments

Advent calendars (preferably LEGO based ones) for Christmas. I'm a sucker for the classics.

submitted 98 days ago • 0 comments

It's proving to be a super day for democracy. God, I love me an old school LAN. Can't be beat.

submitted 102 days ago • 0 comments

Manhunt is 21. Pictured: the rare Aussie MA15+ version (that got pulled from shelves). I dug playing this with a USB mic headset. Luring serial killers closer with your voice and having snuff director Lionel Starkweather (Brian Cox) in your ear was creeptastic stuff.

submitted 105 days ago • 0 comments

I'm busting out a 26-shaped cake (and The Robot) for Bust A Groove. One of those "Damn, I Wish They Remastered That" games of yore, this 1v1 dance fighter was big ol' can of earworms. A mate and I used to play the 2P Versus mode way, way too much.

submitted 106 days ago • 0 comments

It's the 30th anniversary of the piggybacking pioneer Sonic & Knuckles. Dubbed "lock-on technology" by Sega, the general idea was basically proto DLC for your Sonic 2 and 3 cartridges. Truly mind-blowing stuff for '94 era me.

submitted 107 days ago • 0 comments

It's the Aussie 29th of the OG PS. This unassuming brick of wonders debuted at $A699.95 (A$1,447 now), and in 11 years, it would offer 7,900 games for its 100M units install base. Pictured is my SCPH-1002 original. The old grey mare still works, and I still love it to (32-) bits.

submitted 111 days ago • 2 comments

I'm celebrating the 21st of cult hit Beyond Good & Evil. One of those pleasant surprises, this one. A lovely blend of photojournalism meets Wind Waker-esque action-adventuring, stealthing, and semi-open-water exploration. How BGE2 has been 16 years in the making is beyond me.

submitted 112 days ago • 0 comments

Played the hell out of Lego Horizon Adventures in 2P co-op with my eldest. He was very... "helpful." Lots of fun, albeit short. youtu.be/Gj_Kr8UNIlI

submitted 112 days ago • 0 comments

Mirror's Edge, a 'First Person Parkourer' pioneer, is 12. I recall being mighty impressed when DICE took a break from its usual Battlefield shenanigans to (almost completely) ditch gunplay in pursuit of FPS platforming flow and good old-fashioned flykicking fascists in the face.

submitted 113 days ago • 1 comment

CoD: World at War is 16. Back in 2008, I flew to Treyarch to preview this and was highly impressed with its co-op campaign (2P split or 4 online), the inaugural version of Nazi Zombies, and the way military advisor Hank Keirsey's eyes lit up when we spoke about flamethrower use.

submitted 114 days ago • 0 comments

It's the 19th of Resi 4, a port that blew PS2 owner minds like a .223 calibre Rifle round to the melon. Yes, the GC OG looked better, but Separate Ways was quite the cherry. Truly, one of top 3 of a console flush with all-timers. Skip the Remake and you're Ganados levels of loco.

submitted 115 days ago • 0 comments