Anyone who grew up with a Nintendo Entertainment System, and has a taste for the ultra-violence, should give this game a try: http://abobosbigadventure.com/fullgame.php

It’s a bloody mish-mosh of classic, and not so classic, characters and gameplay styles from a slew of NES games. You start of in Abobo’s home turf of Double Dragon, only there’s more than just street thugs trying to take you out. Bosses from Kung-Fu, goombahs, and Donkey Kong are only the beginning of what becomes a huge list of enemies you must punch and kick your way past in the most sadistic fashion. Civilians from River City Ransom become health power-ups, as Abobo rips their heads from their shoulders and with the flick of his wrist pops them his in his maw. It is not a game for the faint of heart.

I would go further, but that would spoil surprise after surprise that this game constantly delivers. So stop reading this and go play it now!

Well, I went and spent the 800 points on the Pinball FX2 Core collection, and I am very glad I did it. The Street Fighter 2 table just wasn’t enough, and I needed an alternative. Four new tables is definitely enough as I haven’t had the time to get very familiar with all of them, yet. But I have a few thoughts on each.

First, Biolab is really cool. I played a couple rounds of hotseat with two friends on this table, and we had a blast. (Sidenote: I prefer the hotseat mode over split-screen, as it’s great to watch how everyone plays and take note of different strategies.) There’s a lot to the table, and so far, I really love the cute, little monster in the tube and all the challenges surrounding trying to upgrade his abilities. Some of those challenges are really hard, like making 3 skill shots as quick as possible, but feels rewarding once completed. By the time we finished playing both friends told me they’d be buying PFX2 when they got home that night.

Rome is just way too red, and I find it hard to concentrate and see all the little touches on the table. But, I really like the aqueduct ramps. It makes me wonder if anyone ever introduced water into a real pinball table. I’m gonna have to research that.

I haven’t spent nearly enough time with Secrets of the Deep to form a decent opinion, but sweet jeebus PASHA! LOVE IT! From the cobra spitting the pinballs into the lamp to lock for multiball, to the tiny table underneath where I can to knock down bandits for points, this is a very exciting table. I’ve broken 10 million on this one, and I plan on taking the high score with some more practice.

In other gamingness, I’ve tuned in my magical antenna to play Tomba! and it’s just as good as I remember it. I’m gonna be spending most of my time with this one, as I never beat it when I originally played it on release. I rented it once, fell in love, but quickly turned my attention elsewhere after returning it. I was a fickle, easily distracted youth, which isn’t too different from now, but nevermind that! Now is the time to conquer Evil Pigs!