Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Kergon @kwrgon.bsky.social · 7h

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.217 Witch Rise (NSW). An unexpectedly charming take on old-school FPS games with a magical twist. Its tight core systems, rewarding upgrades, and boss encounters shine through even if the experience is brief. No masterpiece, but I enjoyed it a ton!

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Kergon @kwrgon.bsky.social · 3d

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.216 Red Bow (NSW). A short but thoughtful pixel horror adventure. Its eerie atmosphere and simple storytelling make good use of its brief runtime. A quiet, unsettling experience that sticks with you more than you’d expect.

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Kergon @kwrgon.bsky.social · 4d

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.215 Avenging Spirit (ARC). The arcade game the GB game was based on, and it's just as good. Great gameplay, colorful graphics, fun mechanics, and not so punishingly difficult as most arcade games. Be sure to check it out. It's a lot of fun!

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Kergon @kwrgon.bsky.social · 7d

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.214 Makaimura (WS). Not a port, but an original entry for the WonderSwan. A solid game that captures the series’ atmosphere and challenge, though it feels easier than the other titles.The visuals and level design impress, but the stiff jumping is annoying.

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Kergon @kwrgon.bsky.social · 7d

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.213 Avenging Spirit (GB). A surprisingly decent port of the arcade game. It's an action-platformer with a haunting premise: you’re a ghost possessing enemies to fight for revenge. Tight controls and creative mechanics make this one to check out!

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Kergon @kwrgon.bsky.social · 9d

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.212 Zombie Raid (ARC). While obviously best played with an actual light gun, it's still fun blowing up zombies to a bloody pulp. Mind, the level design is repetitive, and enemy variety is limited. Regardless, it’s still a strong horror arcade experience.

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Kergon @kwrgon.bsky.social · 13d

This one is awesome! I played it a while back, too.
Good to see you are also giving arcade games some love 😜

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Kergon @kwrgon.bsky.social · 16d

I did, actually! I enjoyed that one quite a bit, though it's not very remarkable. The boss theme is absolutely amazing though!

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Kergon @kwrgon.bsky.social · 16d

Congratulations! I 100% agree. Another one removed from our lengthy RPG backlog!

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Kergon @kwrgon.bsky.social · 16d

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.211 Magic Knight Rayearth (GB). Patch by LIPEMCO! It surprises with charming sprites and clean visuals that capture the anime’s spirit. Sadly, the gameplay is so easy it barely challenges. I enjoyed the 1 hour game, but it's very shallow for an RPG.

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Kergon @kwrgon.bsky.social · 17d

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.210 Final Mission (FC). It delivers sharp visuals and a great soundtrack (by Contra's composer no less), but its punishing difficulty drags down the fun. A stylish, impressive shmup that only the most patient players will see through.

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Kergon @kwrgon.bsky.social · 18d

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.209 Super Bikkuriman (SFC). @dorobodabe.bsky.social pointed me towards this Kusoge. Indeed it plays like it was coded during a lunch break. Sluggish, boring, and no special moves. While I had fun (for the 10 whole minutes the game lasts), not recommended.

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Kergon @kwrgon.bsky.social · 18d

Thanks, man, it was a lot of fun as always.
Next up, Sweet Home! I'm already looking forward to it 😀

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Kergon @kwrgon.bsky.social · 18d

Despite having played almost all SNES and SFC fighting games, this one I somehow missed. I'm going to give it a go soon for sure! I don't mind Kusoge's. I once played every version of Shaq Fu, so go figure!

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Kergon @kwrgon.bsky.social · 18d

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.208 Vanguard Bandits (PS1). Played in conjunction with my buddy @gohobogo.bsky.social. We had a randomizer pick a Tactics RPG and boy, did it pick a good one. It mixes strategy and story brilliantly, offering epic battles and great gameplay. Recommended!

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Kergon @kwrgon.bsky.social · 19d

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.207 Insector X (FC). A short bug-themed shmup with pretty impressive, colorful sprites. While simple, its charm and steady action make it an enjoyable pick for fans of classic shooters. The final stage, with its tight maneuvering, can be tough, though.

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Kergon @kwrgon.bsky.social · 20d

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.206 Astérix (ARC). This brawler nails the spirit of the comics with expressive animations and faithful character charm that shows Konami’s knack for adapting source material with love. Gameplay-wise, it's nothing special, but it's a fun game. Check it out!

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Kergon @kwrgon.bsky.social · 22d

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.205 Arabian Magic (ARC). A very solid brawler with a distinct Arabian Nights theme, smooth gameplay, and four varied characters. It holds up well, isn't insanely hard, and has its own unique charm. I enjoyed this one a lot. Recommended!

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Kergon @kwrgon.bsky.social · 25d

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.204 Air Attack (ARC). A vertical shmup from 1996 that apparently uses stolen assets in its background. It's fine, nothing you haven't seen before. Also, there are no end credits as the game just loops after beating stage 7.

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Kergon @kwrgon.bsky.social · 26d

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.203 Xexex (NSW via Hamster). A Konami shmup that isn't very well known. Visually, a spectacle (the warp stage 6 is especially cool), with some interesting mechanics, but difficult to the extreme. Play it for the spectacle, but don't expect to 1cc it.

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Kergon @kwrgon.bsky.social · Sep 15

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.202 Koutetsu Yousai Strahl (NSW via Hamster). A solid arcade shmup experience. Decent weapon options and sharp visuals. It doesn’t reach the heights of top-tier shooters, but it’s a worthy play for fans of 90s arcade action.

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Kergon @kwrgon.bsky.social · Sep 15

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.201 Ganso!! Yanchamaru (GB). This is not a port of the NES game, but an original GB title in the Kid Niki series. They scaled down the difficulty, and it's pretty short (two pluses in my book!). The graphics are nice and the gameplay is tight. Recommended!

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Kergon @kwrgon.bsky.social · Sep 13

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.200 (😀 😀) Titus the Fox (GB). I should have picked something better for my 200th beat of the year. The graphics make it hard to see anything, the music is poor and the gameplay is bad, with the level design being the most egregious. Avoid this boring game!

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Kergon @kwrgon.bsky.social · Sep 13

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.199 Kishin Douji Zenki FX: Vajura Fight (PC-FX). A showcase of the system’s strengths. Fluid animation, great pixel art, and vibrant colors. The gameplay is nothing special though, with the brawler sections being especially weak. Still, it's worth a play.

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Kergon @kwrgon.bsky.social · Sep 12

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.198 Chōjin Heiki Zeroigar (PC-FX). Patch by SamIAm. The only shmup on NEC’s ill-fated console. Solid mechanics, but what sets it apart is the anime story and cutscenes. It's not groundbreaking, but it is easily one of PC-FX’s best exclusives (I think).

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