|
 On 12/07/2018 at 04:04 AM by Cary Woodham See More From This User » |
Merry Christmas everyone! It’s that time of year again for my annual tradition, my pretend Christmas party on my blog. Here’s how it works. In the comments section, you give me a pretend Christmas present. It can be anything you want. It’s the thought that counts…literally! Then I’ll reply with a pretend Christmas gift for you! It’s fun when it’s fun. And I have some extra gifts: more reviews I’ve recently written at GamerDad.com! Please click on the links and read as many as you can, and maybe post a ‘like’ or comment or two! I’d appreciate it. OK, let’s begin!
Nintendo Hallmark Christmas Ornaments
We’ll start things off with something Christmas related. This year, Hallmark had a selection of Nintendo themed Christmas ornaments for sale. I managed to get them, so I showed them off here. There is a Donkey Kong arcade cabinet ornament, a Mario Kart one, and a classic Zelda one! And even more than that, but you’ll just have to check out the review to find out! What video game themed Christmas ornaments would you like to see?
In one of the first LEGO Batman games, one of the best things about it was after you beat the main story, you could play levels from the villains’ point of view. And this game is all about DC Comics bad guys. It plays just like any other LEGO game, but maybe just slightly edgier. Still good kids’ fare, though. Who’s your favorite DC villain? I don’t think I have one, myself, so you can pick out one for me, too, if you like.
Starlink: Battle for Atlas (Switch)
While this is just Skylanders with spaceships, it suits older kids and players more because of the slightly more serious sci-fi storyline and more complicated controls and involved gameplay. I was surprised how good this game was. It’s even better if you get it on the Switch, because the spaceship you get is the Arwing from Star Fox and you get a little Fox figure for it, too. That’s almost worth the price of the game alone for Nintendo fans. Fox and his team are in the game, too, and have their own side missions. But they don’t feel shoehorned in the game either, they fit right in with everything else in the story. At the very least, this is a better Star Fox game than Star Fox Zero, which was one of Nintendo’s worst games in my opinion. I think my favorite non-Star Fox character here is Razor, because she has blue hair and muscles.
I do have one complaint that I didn’t express in my review, because it wasn’t appropriate and didn’t affect my view of the game at all. Ubisoft has been supportive of me since the Dallas Morning News days over 20 years ago. But when I requested a review copy of this, they just sent me a download code. Now granted, it had all the ships included, but didn’t have the Star Fox stuff. I think that’s wrong for two reasons. When I review a game, I should get the whole experience, and using the toys is part of that experience, I think. Also, my Switch hard drive is only half full, but this game would’ve filled it up and I still would’ve needed 15 GB to play it. So I would’ve either had to buy a new memory card or the game. I chose to buy the game. I would’ve bought it anyway because of the Star Fox ship, but also because when I requested a review copy and they sent me the code, it’s still a promise that I would review it, so I have to uphold that. It just annoys me because Activision and WB Games both were very supportive in sending me Skylanders and LEGO Dimensions material to review. Ubisoft is just as big of a company, if not bigger. Why couldn’t they do that, too?
The Legend of Zelda Astro Gaming Headset
When I was writing for The Dallas Morning News, did you know that I wrote more articles than just game reviews? I also wrote reviews on game accessories. Things like controllers, memory cards, headsets, etc. When Tomb Raider was first popular, I even reviewed a memory card for the PSOne that was shaped like Lara Croft. I wanted to say in my review it was the only memory card with boobs, but I decided not to do that. Anyway, so I’m back in the accessory reviewing saddle again with headsets made with Zelda insignia on them. And they’re pretty good headphones, too. Check it out!
I don’t like Red Bull or most any energy drink, so I really never look at them in the grocery store. Luckily a relative noticed that Red Bull had Pac-Man on the can and pointed it out to me, so I got some and wrote about it (but did not drink it). Apparently you can use codes on the cans when you open them to unlock special mazes in the Pac-Man mobile app. Normally I don’t mind commercials and video games together, in fact, sometimes I think it’s kind of fun. But for some reason, Pac-Man shilling Red Bull kind of irks me. Probably because it’s my favorite video game character associated with something I don’t like. Also there is another special app you can download that lets you play Pac-Man with Wreck-It Ralph characters.
Apparently when I reviewed Heavy Burger, I got onto their press list of Data East games they release for the Switch. Night Slashers is like a combination of Final Fight meets Splatterhouse. It’s a 90’s 2-D beat ‘em up (they were a dime a dozen back then), but this one has a horror theme. I don’t remember seeing it in arcades back then, though. It’s about average. Not bad, but not great either.
Bunnymare: Circus Escape (iPad)
This is a Lemmings style puzzle game featuring weird puppet rabbit things in a circus setting. Poor in-game instructions ruined the game for me, though. You’ll notice that’s a trend in some of the recent games I’ve been reviewing.
And last is this army game that I didn’t ask to review, but they sent me a code anyway so I was like, “Oh, what the heck.” You just sit in a turret and shoot army guys all around you. I think it was really meant to be more of a VR novelty thing than an actual fun game, though.
Merry Christmas!
And that’s all for now! Thanks for reading my blogs and reviews and posting ‘likes’ and comments. I really do appreciate it. And don’t forget your pretend presents! Later! --Cary
Your Christmas present is a date with Cammy from Street Fighter. Apparently, she likes cats. Maybe take her to a cat cafe?
If romance isn't your thing, then a Pac-Man Christmas ornament in whatever style you want. It eats literal bad ghosts, so your house will never be haunted again.
Like this?
What on earth is coming out of Pac-Man's mouth?
I have no idea, but look, I got one of those Hallmark DK arcade cabinets.
I put in the batteries and it plays. Pretty loudly too.
Yeah it's a really nice ornament. I hope they make more arcade cabinet ornaments like that!
If they do, I'll be in collector's heaven. . . or debter's hell, I can't tell which.
There are some mini arcade cabinets that other companies are making that could make a good Christmas ornament if they put a hook on them.
Only if they are incredibly accurately detailed like the Hallmark one.
Yes they are, and they're playable, too. I'll write about them sometime later.
I'm starting a mini arcade. I want to run a train set around it too. The train to arcade town. Ha ha.
I want to live in Arcade Town.
At E3 last year, one of the companies making mini arcade cabinets had them on display with a Ken doll standing over one like he was playing it.
All right! A date with Cammy! I'll take that. I'm sure that would be...interesting.
My family does have a cat. Her name is Dixie. Not sure Cammy would like her. She's...not a good cat.
But what on earth is a cat cafe? If we were on the planet Melmac, that would be a place that ALF would eat, but I'm sure that's not the case here.
I'm surprised they haven't made more Pac-Man ornaments. I mean, he's just a round ball. Same goes with Kirby. I'm just glad Hallmark made a Pac-Man arcade cabinet ornament a few years back.
As for having ghosts in my house, I don't have to worry about that now. My new girlfriend Cammy will beat them up! :)
YOUR pretend present is a full size Cuphead arcade cabinet. Yes they do exist. I played one at an arcade bar on Mockingbird Lane in Dallas a couple of months ago.
I need to check out that Cuphead cabinet. Sounds fun. I'll have to see what my scores are like if it's in or near a bar ...
Yeah, you'd think round balls would be no-brainer ornaments. Half the time they just morph cutesy characters like Pikachu into balls anyway, if I'm not mistaken.
Yeah the only place I've seen that Cuphead cabinet is at an arcade bar near Mockingbird Lane. The bar is called Cidercade, but the sign out front says something else. It's the name of their local brewery, but I forgot the name of it now. I imagine the Cuphead cabinets were made to promote the game at trade shows like E3, kind of like how Disney made Fix-It Felix Jr. cabinets for Wreck-it Ralph.
Well, I think I've given you enough Pac-Man gifts by now, so for this year, you're getting an Ulala cookie jar!
I just wanted some visual aid.
What is that? An ornament?
Yes it is.
I guess anyone can slap a DeviantArt picture on an ornament nowadays.
I wonder what an Ulala cookie jar would look like? I need to get an artist friend to draw that.
My pretend gift to you is a batch of freshly baked homemade cookies, except these cookies give you super powers when you eat them.
My gift is a Power Girl figure.
I love those Hallmark Nintendo ornaments. I'm going to have to look for one tomorrow.
I'd love to collect those Starlink ships.
Hey how'd you know I like Power Girl? Not sure why I like her. Her name is easy to remember at least.
Your pretend present is a real life Arwing. Just check your G-Diffusers before you do any barrel rolls.
One of these days we are going to get those drones you can fly in instead of cars. I'm designing mine to look like the Arwing.
Instead of focusing on drones that people can ride in and fly themselves, I wish people would focus more on making reliable cars that drive themselves. As someone who can't drive a car, that would make my life SO much easier.
Those are on the way. I just found out the problem with people sized drones. They are noisy and there's no way around it.
I'm about to spoil Mega Man 11 for you, so if you don't want it spoiled, don't read the rest of this. Anyway, one of Dr. Wily's boss fights is him piloting a giant people sized drone.
Ha. That's cool. I love the graphics and story of the Mega Man games, but I can never get anywhere in them.
They are really hard. For my first playthrough on Mega Man 11, I put it on easy. I know that's a sin, but I don't have time anymore to be that frustrated with a game and spend a lot of extra time with it.
I guess you won't be surprised that I went out and bought the DK arcade ornament. DK is my favorite arcade game of all time, and the arcade machine is probably my favorite cabinet design. I always wanted the Coleco Tabletop Donkey Kong when I was a kid, and as an adult I wouldn't mind having a full size DK machine even though I can play the original DK on Switch, which I still do regularly.
The original Link ornament was a pleasant surprise and I picked that one up too. My Christmas trees from childhood on have never had simple colored balls. My mom made all kinds of felt animal ornaments when my sister and I were growing up. They're now over 40 years old but my family still has them.
Your pretend present is a Jr. Pac-Man arcade machine.
Well I'm glad you managed to get the DK arcade ornament since you like it so much.
I think Midway made Jr. Pac-Man so they could salvage the money they lost on Mappy arcade cabinets.
Your pretend present is a DK arcade tabletop fashioned out of a barrel. I've seen pictures of them online, they look cool.
It isn't a Christmas Party until we have multiple people wearing ugly Christmas sweaters. Have no fear I am wearing one and I brought you one too! Now it's a party!
It's a shame about the Star Fox game. The digital copy with everything appeals to someone like myself who really doesn't want the toys, but for someone who reviews games for folks who buys games for the young ones, it's crazy. Using the toys is important to the games, and to give you just a code is disappointing.
I owned the Lara Croft Tomb Raider Memory Card. It held all my Tomb Raider saves.
Pac Man and Red Bull sound like an odd combo but I do like that you can get special game boards in the mobile game. It's kinda like when Fruit Ninja was the big craze and there was a Star Wars version, and the Brisk Ice Tea game/ad.
I actually have an ugly Christmas sweater I got on sale last year at GameStop after Christmas. It has Super Mario World characters on it.
You must have played a lot of Tomb Raider back then. The only Tomb Raider game I ever got into was Tomb Raider GO on my iPad. Did you play that one? It was a fun little puzzler. I'd play more Tomb Raider games If they were more like Kirby. :)
I remember when they had a Ghostbusters version of Fruit Ninja, too!
Your pretend present is a life sized football stadium of your choice that you can build with LEGOs. Have fun with that for the rest of your life. :)
Comments