5 Christmas Wishlist of 2023

 

Have you ever been wondering about what's all these decorations and all other stuff going on that keeps happening on every winter season year? well as you can see, these people are celebrating the holiday season that involves setting up the lights, bobbles and tinsels hanging on the trees, building up bunch of snowmens in every street homes, making roast dinners for families and friends get together, watching favourites family's winter films, singing jingle bells all the way, and of course Santa giving away all the gifts to kids while flying on the sleigh with the Rudolfs.  

So what do you know guys it's f***ing Christmas because it's one of the biggest and most common holiday celebration in every winter years.

I had done listing my 5 most wanted Christmas stuff that I'm considering to get it on the day of Christmas or maybe it's week before the Christmas depending on how my planning went.

Okay, enough talking for now because we should be enjoying the Christmas holiday for now and without go further do here is my 5 Christmas Wishlist of 2023.

1 - Sonic Frontiers (PS4)    

After struggling to find a decent Sonic titles over the years since my childhood starting from classic 16-bit platformers to modern 3D platformers.

Stuff like Sonic 1,2, 3, and Sonic & Knuckles are the prime definition of being a best 16-bit platformers that helped the hardware sales of the SEGA's 16-bit machine, and in years later SEGA had transitioned a Sonic titles into a 3D platforming action such as Sonic Adventures 1 and 2 which is heavily regarded as one of the greatest 3D platformer of the franchise, where as the games like Sonic Heroes, Sonic 06, and Sonic Unleashed are among being the worst libraries of the series that hurts the SEGA's beloved franchises.

It made a great comeback with the later games like Sonic Colors and Generations that got the game just right where it should be, then it became so bad again with the Sonic Boom and Sonic Forces, and then gone great again with the Sonic Mania.

SEGA's Sonic the Hedgehog franchise had a shares with flaws when SEGA's development teams hasn't had learned their lesson from the past which is why it couldn't able to beat their rivalry with Nintendo's most successful franchises such as Super Mario is the major examples of how to make a biggest quality platforming titles that attracted the attention of young audiences can able to pick-up and play it on their system, which SEGA couldn't do any better with their blue hedgehog franchise is due to polarising reception of some titles from the media critics and gaming fans which made them turned away from the flagship franchise that helped the company since the era of early 90's gaming.

SEGA then trying to win their trust back to their fans which they had bought a yet better again with Sonic Frontiers which many gaming critics had labelled it as an improvement over the previous installiment which seems to be a good news for the Sonic fans can able to give those a blue hedgehog title a second chance, so this is what SEGA could have done better with the previous titles from the past. 

As I am looking forward to play a Sonic's new installiment, this game is somewhat quite different from any of traditional 3D action-platformer with large open-world environments to explore, has multiple challenges, fight robotic enemies, gaining new abilities, and many single-player campaign levels, so this feels more like if SEGA had given us a new Sonic Adventure sequel which is why I am interested in playing Sonic games that doing something different rather than repeating a same old traditional 3D action-platformer from the previous titles.

2 - Virtua Cop: Elite Edition (PS2)

Being a fan of the light-gun shooter genre which is quite common back in mid-80s and early-90s. Stuff like the Nintendo's classics like Duck Hunt and Hogan's Alley are the major examples of introducing the players with the light-gun controller that allow players to point and shoot things at the screen, which had became quite popular in Arcades and NES releases in 1985. 

Then Taito did a same with the Operation Wolf which popularised the military-themed light gun shooters at late-80s, and pushing forward with the early-90s titles like Midway's arcade hit Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Konami's Lethal Enforcers uses the digitised sprite visuals that are looking quite realistic at the time.

There's one of the SEGA's franchise that caught my attention which is Virtua Cop, the very first light-gun shooter title that make use of the real-time 3D polygons in shooter game genres. 

It was a huge success in 1994 on both the Arcade and Saturn releases which received acclaimed praise for its innovation such as 3D graphics, camera system, realistic animations, and ability to target specific body parts.

The success of the SEGA's 3D light-gun shooter title had influenced on later shooter games with 3D polygons being adopted by subsequent light gun shooters such as Namco's Time Crisis and SEGA's The House of the Dead.     

It had follow-up title such as SEGA's Virtua Cop 2 which was released in 1995, a year after the first original, which also received similar praise hailed the game as a improvement over the original game due to its more interactive environments and higher intensity in the chase sequences making it feel more of the big budget action movie.

Both of these Saturn's classics light-gun shooters are also received a fully remastered releases for PS2 titled as Virtua Cop: Elite Edition which featured an enhanced visuals, gallery extras, and implementation of Namco's G-Con 2 light-gun support. 

It's does sounds like a perfect titles for those who previously loves Virtua Cop 1 & 2 on Arcade or Saturn should consider checking these out for PS2.

 

3 - Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg (Gamecube)

       

    

I really love the 3D action-platforming game in general which I grew up playing the classics from the mid-90s such as Nintendo's Super Mario 64, Rareware's Banjo-Kazooie, and SEGA's Sonic Adventure are the major examples of how to create the best 3D platforming title which fully defines not only it changes the whole gaming industries, but also our childhood that made me loved the video games as my all-time favourite hobbies.

I also being grateful with some of the 3D platformers like Rareware's Conker's Bad Fur Day and Ubisoft's Rayman 2: The Great Escape, as well as the later ones in modern day era such as Activision's own remastered titles like Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy and Spyro Reignited Trilogy which is why I really loved playing the 3D title with real-time 3D environments, open-spaces levels with full exploration and goals, and platforming filled with puzzles and obstacles that keeps me playing all day night and long.

There's one of the game that caught my interest which is SEGA's own obscure title that some of you may or never heard of this before such as Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg which was released exclusively on Gamecube in 2003.

what made the game quite interesting is that the game was created by a same team behind the success of SEGA's flagship series such as Sonic the Hedgehog.        

It is a 3D platform game which involve rolling throughout the levels with the gigantic egg which allows the player to perform several of cool techniques with the egg, such as egg dunking, slamming, dashing, and shooting which adds the uniqueness of platforming gameplay style that are quite different from any of the traditional 3D platformers.

This is the kind of the 3D platforming game that I'd like to play that are doing something new which is why I really wanted to play this on Gamecube, so despite the game's poor commercial sales and had received an average reception from gaming media which didn't really stop me from picking this game up because I also heard plenty a good things from those who previously liked this 3D platforming title, so it's quite a shame that it never got any of sequel and remastered, and of course it still being remained stuck on one console platform which makes Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg as one of the SEGA's most forgotten gem in years.    

4 - Wolfchild (SNES)

           

Speaking of hidden gems related-stuff, I love spending my time to collect many games libraries to add it to my gaming collection, but when it's comes with the hidden gem titles that are sorely being long forgotten or is it a failed to notice that are being completely ignored by the public's eyes which is why we had an internet that allow us to discover and browse the games that are not being well remembered or is it met with the poor overall sales.

Sometime these forgotten games can also be labelled as an cult-following by the fans communities or maybe these games are actually plays pretty good that are worth owning to our collection. 

I was considering to get a copy of a obscure SNES action-platformer called Wolfchild, a 1992's title was originally released for Amiga, Atari ST, SEGA Mega CD, Genesis/MD, GG, SMS, and of course SNES was developed by Core Design, a development team behind the commercially successful series such as Tomb Raider. 

After watching the YouTube gaming channel such as Console Wars who recently made the video comparison between the SNES and Genesis/MD to see which are the best version of Wolfchild to pick up and play, so it's easy to say that I might be interested in to pick an SNES version in terms of gameplay and graphics quality.       

Even though it never been released outside of the U.S which likely the U.S imports will not work on PAL format consoles, but I also had a SNES converter adapter that allowing the imports games being played on any region consoles makes it easier to bypass the SNES's restrictive region-lock system.  

5 - Contra 4 (DS) 

  

Contra is one of the Konami's well recognisable series that defines the Run n Gun genres back in the mid-80s.

Stuff like we had Contra and Super C on NES which many of gaming press had labelled them as being one of the best arcade to console conversion for 8-bit platform, where as the later titles like Contra III: The Alien Wars on SNES and Contra: Hard Corps on Genesis/MD really showcasing the 16-bit hardware with greater level of parallax scrolling details and aggressive use of visual effects are surprisingly looking impressive for the 16-bit standards, while sharing with the solid gameplay action filled with over-the-top action-platforming levels, unique weapons power-ups, and of course frantic boss stages is what made Contra so special back then.

There's one of the game for DS that caught my attention which was came out at the year of 2007-08 in the U.S and Japan lacking the UK/EU releases, so that is Contra 4 developed by WayForward Technologies, a same development team behind their well-known indie series such as Mighty Switch Force and Shantae.

The game serves as a direct sequel to SNES's 1992 title as Contra III: The Alien Wars to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the franchise.

What made the Contra 4 so great is that it made the return to the form for the franchise since the previous entries such as Contra: Legacy of War and C: The Contra Adventure for the PS1 are completely flopped that destroys the franchise's legacy, where as the Contra: Shattered Soldier for the PS2 made an improvement over the previous twos.          

Contra 4 is one of the game that Konami should have been sticking to the traditional 2D scrolling shooter, instead of wasting their time on crappy 3D style top-down shooter like the two PS1's titles that I've mentioned above. 

The good news is that most of the DS games are fully region free which means that it can be played on any of the region DS system without any restriction, so there's the chance that I will able to play it on my Nintendo's dual-screen system someday. 

Honourable mention:

Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution (PS2)

Rygar: The Legendary Adventure (PS2)

Raiden 3 X Mikado (PS4)

Super Fantasy Zone (Genesis/MD)

Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes (Gamecube)

Bomberman Generation (Gamecube)

Maken X (Dreamcast)

New Super Mario Bros 2 (3DS)

The Lion King (SNES)

Super Smash Bros (N64)

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This is Zeeshan Mirza's Blog and I'll see you next time, happy blogging and have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.      

Top 5 16-bit Shoot-em-ups Games

 

The genre that I mostly like spend time playing it on the 16-bit platform like on the SNES, Genesis/MD, and of course TG16/PCE (I own PCE CG Mini) that shares many great libraries of shooters which is we all know it as the term called Shoot-em-ups (A.K.A Shumps). 

The shoot-em-ups came with the 2 different categories of 2D sub-genres like the side-scrolling horizontal shooter and top-down perspective vertical shooter which is commonly being well known back in the late 80's and early 90's for its unique power-ups that allow players to shoot multiples of firing weapons, dodging many of enemy's projectiles been scattered around the screen making it very difficult to evade stuff, and battling with the bosses which requires the strategic ways of defeating them such as finding their weak spot and memorising their attacking patterns is what made the genre so amazing back then.

Today I decided to pick my 5 favourite titles that I mostly enjoyed playing it on the 16-bit platforms to give it reason why I liked the game that are so ground-breaking for the 16-bit perspectives.

So without go further do, here is my top 5 16-bit Shoot-em-ups games.  

5 - Blazing Lazers (TG16/PCE) 

   

Blazing Lazers is a vertical scrolling shooter game was released in 1989 for TG16/PCE which was developed by Compile, a same team behind Puyo Puyo, M.U.S.H.A, Aleste, and Devil's Crush.

It is also known as Gunhed in Japanese release which is based on the Japanese film of the same name in 1989.

You're taking control of the Gunhed Advanced Star Fighter must battle against the enemy space armada called Dark Squadron and its Super Weapons to save the galaxy.

What made the Blazing Lazers so great on the PC Engine/TG16 is the fast vertical scrolling gameplay and a wide array of weapons for the player to use that really adds the intensity of game itself.

It features 9 vertically areas to playthrough contains one or more bosses to defeat, and it has numerous types of weapons can either be upgraded or changed by collecting various numbered power-ups and purple orbs starting from rapid-fire main cannon to long-range plasma lazers. You can collect optional power-ups to help fight through the game such as multibodies, homing missiles, shields, and enhanced firing capabilities, so these are the weapons are fast and responsive works effectively against the large enemy's ship that took time to defeat which requires a much stronger weapon adds up a difficulty pretty nicely.

The level design is crispy and detailed in each areas from space station to alien's organs, desert planet to big floating bubbles which I am very impressed with the use of scrolling effects, colors details, and background visuals really fits the graphical capabilities of hardware itself showing much appreciate to its quality, and it has the incredible use of sound design with no sign of scratchy noises and it definitely has the best soundtrack of all PC Engine/TG16 library with outstanding percussion and melody throughout the game's Shoot-em-ups action.

Blazing Lazers is regarded as one of the better Shoot 'em up video games for PC Engine/TG16 system is the must play for the fans of the genres.

Despite the closure of Wii's Virtual Console service since this version got re-released in 2007, I was hoping this game should deserve another re-release for Switch (via eShop) in future or if any of you preferred to play it on actual hardware instead then be warned the actual copy of the game cost around between £170 and £200 making it harder to find it online or alternately you can also get it on built-in miniature system such as PC Engine CoreGrafx Mini for more than £100 which included this game as part of 57 pre-installed titles, so I just got lucky for owning the miniature system that I had one for two years ago just for worth £70.  

4 - Gradius III (SNES)

Gradius III is a side-scrolling horizontal shooter was originally released for arcade in 1989, and was came later for SNES in 1990/91 which was both developed and published by Konami.

You're the pilot starfighter controlling the fighting ship called Vic Viper to battle against the evil alien empire to save the entire galaxy. 

What made the game so great on the SNES is the gameplay mechanics system where your ship started out quite slow and weak at the beginning of the first stage, so you will definitely needed to upgrade your ship by collecting and using these single power-ups items which let's you choose any of these 6 power-ups when the desired power-up is highlighted on the bottom screen.

Stuff like you can increase the speed of the ship makes the movement bit faster, it drops missile on the ground areas, it fires long-range laser dealing heavy damage, it has ripple that deals with wave-sized projectiles, the shields that protects you from taking damage from enemy's projectiles, and of course the best of all is the 5 option projectiles which allowing you to fire additional range of vulcans or lasers. 

The game was notoriously being the tough ones thanks to narrowly layered level design for some areas and multiples of enemies makes really insane amount of projectiles are the reason why it's made it quite tougher to beat which requires many learning curves and strategy in order to successfully beating the entire game which is why it made the game quite good to play. 

The boss battles are insanely epic that made Gradius III worth to play, so stuff like you have long-sharp armed Goliath, big blobbed Bubble Eye, metallic ship Big Core MKIII, long-firey Vulture Dragon, large-piranha Choking Weed, blue-glossy Crystal Core, and many more total non-stop bosses that gives you a great ass-kicking all the way.

Gradius III is a solid Shoot-em-ups title that never officially got released at PAL region, so thankfully I've bought the copy as an Super Famicom releases which I also had a SNES converter adapter that allowing me to bypass the Japanese imports games on my PAL SNES system due to system's region-locked restriction.

You can get the SNES copy of either the NTSC US or JP version just for less than £30 online or you can also get it on PS2 titled as Gradius III and IV for £40 or less, and PSP titled as Gradius Collection for £50. 

Oh it is also available on PS4 and Switch as arcade archives for between £5.79 and £6.29 could be a better and affordable option for newcomer too.  

3 - U.N Squadron (SNES) 

     

U.N Squadron (A.K.A Area 88 in JP release) is a side-scrolling horizontal shooter was released in 1989 for Arcade, and was later released in 1991/92 for SNES which was developed and published by Capcom, and it is also based on the manga series of the same name titled as Area 88.

You take control of 3 of the pilot fighters went on the mission is to stop a terrorist group known as Project 4.

As I previously enjoyed the arcade version quite a long time ago, I decided to give a SNES version a go to see if the game does anything do better in terms of additional features and gameplay wise, the answer is it's a damn fine SNES shoot-em-ups game that does the job right.

What made the SNES version so interesting is that it featured additional mission select which allows you to choose any of the level such as the main and bonus missions.

What made the game quite unique to play is that each of the 3 fighter pilots has different style of play such as Shin Kazama has mid-range vulcan cannon which is perfect for well-balanced players, Mickey Simon has strong valcan cannon but has weak air-to-ground options, and Greg Gates has Gatling gun that has a second gun that shoots downward angle but has stronger ground options. 

After beating each stages will earn you with currencies which you can spend these to the weapon shop that gives you ability to use a variety of explosion bombs and various of planes with different capabilities such as the firing range and damage which really adds up the gameplay experience.

The graphics and presentation in this game are surprisingly look amazing for the SNES shooter with detailed landscape, nice foreground layouts, and great use of colours just feels like a true 16-bit title had to offer, and of course it provides the best soundtrack in any of Capcom's Shoot-em-ups that makes you keep playing the game for the action.       

       

U.N Squadron is a fantastic Shoot-em-ups game that I highly recommended to all SNES owners who grew up playing this particular genre. The SNES copy are not particularly that expensive which goes from £20 to £35 more which is worth owning the title for the retro collectors.

2 - M.U.S.H.A (Genesis/MD)

      

M.U.S.H.A (A.K.A Aleste in JP release) is a vertical scrolling shooter was released in 1990 for Genesis/MD which was developed by Compile, a same team behind behind then again such as Puyo Puyo, Blazing Lazers, Aleste, and Devil's Crush.

You take control of flying mecha pilot who has the mission to destroy a large super intelligent computer that threatens the human life and planet Earth. 

This game plays on vertical perspective view and the player starts off with the main weapon that can be increasingly upgraded by collecting power chip, so there's are three different types of special weapons can be picked up such as piercing lasers, fire-based explosives and rotating shields. It also has useful drones which can be set to one of the six attack modes, such as aiming forward, behind, or rotating around the player.

What made the game incredibly impressive is that the gameplay as a whole has tons of action-packed levels starting from floating temples to industrial facility then solid-rocked layed area to dark-thunderous skies which has the best overall design for its stage presentation, and you can't go wrong with the mecha bosses like golden templed freak fires with 5 waves of firey projectiles, big metallic headed barfing out bunch of scraps out of his mouth, big fat dude with two kabuki heads floating around the multi-spiked ball and firing 4 silvered orbs, a large ship with creepy-looking facemask with 2 floating fists throwing punches at you, the badass mecha guy shoots you with 4 blue projectiles and uses long-range blue whip as melee weapon, and many more to fight against is what made the game quite epic for its atmosphere. 

The graphics as a 16-bit standards are looking spectacular which really shows the power of the SEGA's 16-bit machine for its technical stand point.

The use of background layered parallax scrolling, the foreground special effects, the crispy and sharp looking animation, and detailed environments are such an incredible to look at for its design perspective making it a most technically impressive title of 16-bit libraries, and of course you had to give the game a remarkable credit for its blazing and wicked heavy metal soundtrack which makes it being the best part of the Shoot-em-ups games like this really fits the personality level of SEGA's 16-bit machine. 

M.U.S.H.A is one of the game that shamefully never got the release at PAL region (not until it got re-released on Switch (via N.S.O Subscription E.P in 2021), but still it is also an outstanding Shoot-em-ups game that you really need to play this on Genesis/MD. This game is stupidly expensive for game collectors out-there because it's goes up for more than £300, so I got lucky that I've bought this game as a reproduction copy of the game from Ebay for £7.00 a very long time ago. 

You can also play it on the Switch under the Nintendo Switch Online subscription (Expansion Pack) which are also an welcome options for newcomer who are interested in playing the 16-bit Shoot-em-ups libraries.          

 

1 - Thunder Force IV (Genesis/MD) 

  

Thunder Force IV (A.K.A Lightening Force in US release) is a side-scrolling horizontal shooter was released in 1992/93 for Genesis/MD which was developed by Technosoft, a developer teams behind Herzog Zwei, Dragon's Fury and Hyper Duel, and it is also a fourth title of the series. 

You take control of fighter spacecraft called Rynex to battle against Vios forces throughout the 10 stages.

You can select any of these stages at the level select menu, and the game plays on the horizontal perspective view.

The game still retains the same upgradeable defaults, speed settings, and unique extra weapons from the previous third game, as you have ability to change the speed of the ship that suits for your playability starting from slow to fast settings making the ship's movement feels realistic.

You also have each types of weapons that gives you the advantage of using the powerful projectiles which ranges the level of firing system starting from twin shot to blades that shoots forward, back shot to rail gun which fires backward, snake that fires 2-ways angle, hunter that fires multiples of bouncy projectiles, and of course the free way that fires insane amount of missiles which I consider these firing system as being one of the ground-breaking things they ever done in any of Shoot-em-ups libraries had to offer. 

It has 10 epic stages with intense action that are fast-paced and over-the-top, it has multiples of insane enemy's ships in the whole on-screen that fires amount of projectiles, has cool looking bosses that are ridiculously large, and has quite an atmospheric level design with in-depth environments going on starting from top to bottom of the areas are quite lethal to play thanks to numerous of hazardous objects and structures which is why it made the game so amazing to play.

The overall visuals is what I call it the bestest things that they ever done for SEGA's 16-bit machine in terms of heavy use of parallax scrolling, detailed environmental layouts from back to front, crystal sharp textures, and magnificent overall use of animation and special effects which I call it a biggest technical marvel of one of the SEGA's ultimate hardware console of 16-bit era.

The game also has epic use of heavy metal soundtrack that are sounds incredibly awesome especially with the title track such as "Metal Squad" which really blew everyone mind up with the heavyness of action-packed music that fits the game's Shoot-em-ups action. 

Thunder Force IV is definitely one of my all-time favourite 16-bit Shoot-em-ups game that defines my gaming childhood, and it is definitely must play for Shoot-em-ups fanatics.    

The copy for Genesis/MD goes from £40 to £50 more which is quite bit pricey, but also recommended for big game collectors out-there.

You can also get it on Saturn titled as Thunder Force Gold for more than £70 which is hella expensive, but the best way to play this game is the Switch release as part of the SEGA Ages collection (via Nintendo eShop) for £6 digitally.   

Honourable Mentions:

Axelay

R-Type 3

Space Megaforce

Gleylancer 

Gaiares 

Vapor Trail 

Lords of Thunder

Soldier Blade

Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire (Galaxy Policewoman Legend Sapphire)

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This is Zeeshan Mirza's Blog and I'll see you next time, happy blogging everyone.

Top 5 Resident Evil Games

 

Video games had an amazing numbers of categories back then, so stuff like we grew playing with action, platforms, arcades, RPGs, and FPS, but there's one of the thing that shook the gaming worlds which is a horror, the genre that focuses on the level of scares and terror that you've never seen anything frightening in video games such as people getting their bodies torned out in pieces, there's monsters coming to fright you with jumpscares, a psychological stuff with many dark illusions themes going on, crazy demonic rituals scattered all over the places, and many more dark shit with the level of gores and hearing someone screaming at the background kinda makes your skin go shivers and feel mentally disturbed after playing these kinds of games that offers a huge numbers of scare factors which is why the genre became quite popular in video games industries.

As a long time fan of the horror games, I got to talk about a Capcom's flagship horror franchise called Resident Evil which many of gaming medias and fans communities heavily regarded this series as not just being one of the greatest, but also a most popular video game franchises of all-time had labelled the series as a major example of popularising survival horror genres thanks to varieties of fantastic main titles like the first and second RE games are clearly an successful titles that created the whole franchise in mid-90s. 

I wanted to make my 5 favourite RE games that really defines my gaming childhood which I really never forget the moments that I really liked spending time defending myself for survival purposes, saving up enough ammos and health packs, running through the corridor rooms in each areas, solving numerous of puzzles to reveal mysteries, and of course fighting with hordes of zombies and monsters.

So without go further do, here is my top 5 RESIDENT EVILLLLLLLLLL!!!! GAMEEEEEESSSSS!!!!

5 - Resident Evil 7: Biohazard 

    

After I got really disappointed with the previous entry such as Resident Evil 6 which led many of the fans and the critics just straight-up hated the game that kills the franchise's legacy because it took away the horror elements from the earlier RE games which is why it labelled as the worst entry in the series.

Capcom had learned the lesson after the failure of RE 6 which led the developers had decided to going back to its original root that should have been in the 6th game for first place, so this is why they bought a next installiment such as Resident Evil 7: Biohazard which was hailed as the franchise's return of the survival horror that everyone been wanting for the RE game.

In RE 7: Biohazard, you get to play as Ethan Winters went on searching for his lost wife in the abandoned house of Baker's family.

What made the game got it right is the mainly survival horror roots which retains a original style of gameplay elements involving a survival approach and puzzle solving, and much darker and the intense level of scares is finally what you called a true Resident Evil game that we been asking for ages.

What makes the game stands out is the whole presentation design shares the influence from the 70s and 80s classic horror movies such as Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Hills Have Eyes, and The Evil Dead which adds the excellent overall atmosphere fits pretty really well to the game's concepts, and the best part of the game are mostly Baker's family members because I finding these people quite terrifying as f**k, such as you have Jack Baker is a chaotic bold-head old man that has ability to break through the wall and starts beating the shit of the Ethan, so that what you call a one tough old son of a bitch. The rest are sick-minded freak like Marguerite that surprise you with unexpected jumpscares, and that crazy asshole Lucas that really threatens the f**k out of Ethan is just makes these villains so insanity, but entertaining at the same time.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is an huge improvement over the previous entry makes the return to its roots that made the whole franchise successful again, so it's definitely must play for the fans of the series, as well as horror genre fans in general, so it's available on PS4, PS5, XBONE, XSX/S, Switch, and PC.

4 - Resident Evil (Remake)

As I much loved the first RE game for PS1 back then, there are a full remake that just got released in 2002 for Gamecube, so that is a first Resident Evil.

 

You take control of two S.T.A.R.S members such as Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine went inside the mansion to uncover the mysteries behind the Umbrella's dark secret who are responsible for the virus outbreak incident that had occurred at Raccoon City infecting the whole human citizens which transformed them into a zombies. 

The game is exactly like the 1996's original, but featuring a better overall graphics and cinematic presentation, improved story written with fixed dialogue, and has much more scare factor than the 1996's original counterpart.

While noting the improvement, the game as a whole are just plays fantastic especially on Gamecube which I am impressed with the visuals that are surely dark and terrifying, as opposed to the 1996's counterpart which are not so creepy as the 2002's remake. 

What makes the whole game so great that made the first RE game quite recognisable is the major focus on exploration where you need to explore around the rooms to gather the documents to reveal a Umbrella's history behind outbreak, as well as collecting important keys and objects that leads into a next areas can be solved by completing numerous of puzzles, while your goal is to protect yourself from getting bitten by zombies which requires a limited survival tool that may helps you to defend against them such as weapons and health items only if its necessary to use it. 

There are really great stuff that made the first game quite horrifying such as the zombie dog jumps out the window, the zombie comes out the closet, the big boulder came rolling down to you in undergound, the bunch of crows flying onto you in painting room, there are a one trap room where you'll likely to get squashed like a Jill's sandwich, and you'll be encountering by numerous of creatures like big long python, huge clawed green hunter, large eight-legged tarantula, tall-balded dude tyrant with one spikey arm, and of course indestructible monster Lisa Trevor which is why the game is not typically just a zombie game, but more of a monster-style horror game that is why I really liked having a kinds of title that are quite different from traditional zombie genres.     

Resident Evil Remake is a fantastic horror title that you may want to check it out on Gamecube or also on the Wii as part of the RE archive.

It is also got fully remastered for later platforms such as PS4, XBONE, Switch, and PC as part of the Resident Evil: Origins Collection which features two games such as Zero and first RE Remake, supports 5.1 surround sound, 1080p resolution with 16:9 widescreen aspect ratios, and added new control scheme allowing players to move their character in the direction of the analog stick as opposed to old-fashioned tank controls from the original counterpart release makes it a welcoming recommendation for newcomers, so don't forget to get yourself a Jill's sandwich ready for lunch guys.

3 - Resident Evil 2 Remake

 

 

   

Resident Evil 2 is a Survival-Horror title for PS4, XBONE, and PC which was developed and published by Capcom. It is a 2019's full remake of 1998's title of the same name and of course a sequel to first Resident Evil game.

The game takes place two months after the event of the first game and it's set at Raccoon City in September 1998 where most of the people have been turned into zombies, due to an outbreak of a viral bioweapon known as the T-Virus, manufactured by Umbrella Corporation.

You take control of Leon S Kennedy or Claire Redfield in 2 separate scenario depending which characters you're playing as first in single-player story mode, as their goal is to find the way of escaping from the city feasted with hordes of zombies.

The story is is done absolutely well for making the plot much easier to follow the point of the story that has well-written dialogue, memorable story sequences, and of course two of the major characters like Leon and Claire are my favourite RE characters is what really adds the game's biggest highlight.

The whole presentation in the game is pretty well done which brings up the nostalgia of the original design. You have the recognisable locations such as police station filled with the hallways, library, office room, statue's room, clock tower, parking garage, the sewers, and underground base that these settings in the remake are much more appealing to look at and how nicely these level structure came close to the 1998's original design. 

I also liked the tone of the whole game are much terror and darker than the original version that really adds up the overall atmospheres of horror design. 

The remake made the improvements upon the original 1997's game such as playing on third-person perspective view which really helps the game, as opposed to fixed-camera angle from the original that didn't hold up to today standards which is the reason why Capcom wanted to go for a over the shoulder view for its easier gameplay design such as being able to aim and shoot freely at enemies, making easier to navigate items and objects what's front of you, and controlling your playable character precisely than the tank controls from the original that made the game fully playable for newcomer of the series.

The combat system is nicely balanced with limited ammo and range-shot that are heavily designed for survival depending on which weapons that works effectively against types of monsters, as well as using it as the self-defence mechanics rather than being the lethal is what makes the game feels just right for the genres.  

The puzzle solving aspects is actually fantastic that keeps me engaging with the game well because I really liked finding objects to reveal the hidden area as well as finding key or cards in different rooms that leads me to next locations that makes the whole exploration very satisfied.

The best of all are actually cast of monsters such as Lickers the fast moving monster can scratch you with their deadly claws, Plant 43 creatures can bite your head off clean, Lesser G monsters has large tentacle mouth and arm, Tyrant Mr. X chases you around the rooms till you get a massive beatings, Giant Crocodile is a huge-ass monster chases you through the sewers hall, and that god damn William Birkin always never dies that adds up the scare factor which is the reason why these monsters are so memorable in the game.

Resident Evil 2 is by far the best remakes of whole franchise that is worth checking out for all newcomers and the fans of the series will be impressed with the game's results turns out very successful.    

2 - Resident Evil: Code Veronica 

I know many of you been wondering why did I put this game a bit higher than the 1 and 2? well it's just my sake of opinion guys, so please don't get upset because this is my first childhood game in the series that made me more interested in the franchise back then. 

The game set after the event of RE 2 and RE 3: Nemesis, so you take control of Claire Redfield went on her quest to search for her lost brother Chris Redfield in Rockfort Island.

What made the game so great is that I really liked how the overall production had been produced in the game such as cinematic design just feels more like a actual movie, as opposed to in-game dialogue sequences as seen in RE 2 and RE 3: Nemesis. 

The voice performance and story dialogue are very well done during the conversation between the characters which feels like the characters are talking and communicating each other.

The gameplay plays just like the previous entries in the series which is totally fine for late 90's standards, but what makes the game quite great is that it had a best encounters in any of RE games such as yellow long-armed creature can grab your head in long-range distance, long large ground-worm digging through the grounds, a tall-balded tyrant with one spikey arm, mysterious three-long arms Nosferatu, and of course creature-looking chick Alexia Ashford.

The graphic design is looking specular especially on SEGA Dreamcast's hardware which really nails the overall 3D environments on every in-game settings just to make the game look more appealing on 6th gen system.

It clearly has the best overall soundtrack in any of Resident Evil games just came quite close to previous RE games. 

The game also offers a cool battle mode where you need to complete a hordes of monsters while aiming to beat a new time record in order to get a higher overall rank is a nice bonus to this game.  

Resident Evil: Code Veronica is a must have title for Dreamcast owners who are looking for a best possible survival horror games on their libraries, or you could also get it on PS2, Gamecube, PS3, X360, and PC titled as Resident Evil: Code Veronica X which featuring additional cutscenes and story elements that aren't present on original Dreamcast releases.

1 - Resident Evil 4 (Original)

      

There's one of the RE games that really changed the gaming industries back in mid-2000s, so the title that I did not expect to be a game changer which is Resident Evil 4 for Gamecube in 2005.

It's one of the game made a departure of survival horror genres from the previous entries, instead they made the horror game as a action-oriented approach which I thought the ideas they putting in the game might not work so well to the franchise, but boy I was wrong when the game got released in the 2005 it became a universally acclaimed title which I did not expect the game turns out to be one of the greatest games of all-time, and it also credited as a most influential video game which they viewed Resident Evil 4 as the biggest pioneer of modern third-person shooter genres, so I had to pick-up a copy of RE 4 for Gamecube to see if this really changes my expectations.

The answer is yes because this really consider it as one of my all-time favourite game for Resident Evil franchise that I ever played.

You take control of Leon S Kennedy set in Spain for mission to search for president's daughter named Ashley Graham, an annoying young blonde lady who are being held captive by groups of Spanish cult members.

It is a quite different from the previous RE games which you'll notice the new changes that you don't see from the previous titles.

Stuff like the gameplay design where they changed the third-person perspective of fixed-camera angle into the over-the-shoulder view which makes the navigation quite easier to interact what's front of you, and it also improves upon the aiming control where you can able to freely aim at the enemies with the laser-pointing cursor makes the shooting accuracy so much easier to point and shoot at them. 

Controlling the character in the game is a big changer because you don't have to go for a old-school tank-controls like from the previous game, instead you can freely move around thanks to over-the-shoulder perspective makes it so much practical for third-person shooters.

I had to admit that the game has the best looking visuals for Gamecube libraries because it feels like a early 7th gen era than the 6th gen standards which delivers a best looking character's design, the environments in many places filled with large open-areas, sharp details textures and uses a special effects techniques that you've never seen anything amazing on the 6th gen console. 

The game does have the best written story and has likable cast of characters that really adds the game's main highlight entirely. 

It has Leon S Kennedy which is one of our favourite RE's greatest heroes in the franchise, and it also has Ada Wong which she's one of the returning character we know her from RE 2. 

It also shares with the greatest boss battles in any of RE games such as tall-bearded guy Bitores Mendez, tiny-little freak Ramon Salazar, big-tough solder Jack Krauser, and of course dark cultist Osmund Saddler are the best part of the game.

The best part of the game which includes the mercenaries mode where you had to take down the endless numbers of villagers to gain many scores as possible in order to get a highest ranking, and you have an extra scenario called "Separate Ways" where you take control of Ada Wong which never been featured on Gamecube version, so you really need to get it on other console platforms in order to play this scenario.    

Resident Evil 4 is clearly being the Capcom's biggest horror masterpiece which is definite an recommendation to all gaming horror fans out there, so you can get it on Gamecube, PS2, and PC, and you can also check out a Wii edition which features a Wii motion controls are perfect to play for Wii players.

It also has re-releases stuff on PS3, PS4, X360, XBONE, and Switch which features better controls, HD resolution, and all bonus content from previous releases.     

The game also received an 2023's full-on remake was released for PS4, PS5, XSX/S, and PC, which also gained a higher praise for its more horror-focused presentation, modernised combat gameplay, and redesigned visuals.

 

Honourable Mentions:

Resident Evil Zero

Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (Original)

Resident Evil 5

Resident Evil Revelations 1 and 2

Resident Evil 8: Village  

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Tormented Souls PS4 Review

 

Tormented Souls is a survival horror game was released in 2021 for PS4, PS5, XBONE, XSX/S, Switch, and PC.

It was developed by Dual Effect & Abstract Digital, and published by PQube Limited.

Growing up with the classic survival horror, a genre that was pioneered by the likes of Alone In The Dark, and populated by Capcom's Resident Evil and Konami's Silent Hill.

Those are games that delivers the nightmarish of horror atmospheres which shook the gaming worlds with the gruesome gory effects, multiples of death sequences, fighting for the survival, unexpected jumpscares, and uncovering the dark secrets is what made these games quite popular back in the 90's.

Of course we had games back in mid-2000s like Resident Evil 4, FEAR, Condemned, and Dead Space had improved upon the gameplay design and horror elements, where as in year 2010s such as Alien Isolation, The Evil Within, and Resident Evil 7: Biohazard which brought us into the new level of horror that makes everyone shitting their pants off. 

 

The popularity of the genre had spawned with many clone titles or the titles that was inspired by the classic survival horror games was made by some of the small indie game developers or fan communities site as today.

It is really interesting to bring back the 90's style horror game into the modern platforms, so there's one of the indie game that gives us a nostalgia throwback to classic survival horror genre which is Tormented Souls.

It's one of the horror title that got me attention after I've discovered the actual trailer back in year 2021 which I was originally planned to wait bit longer until I had a chance to get a PS5 console, but sadly my plan didn't go well which is why I've changed the mind to get a PS4 version instead, so that I can play the game that I've wanted to look forward re-visiting the 90's classic horror roots. 

I had spent a week to play entirely to see if this game are actually just as good as the classic horror games that I've played back then, so my answer will be fully discussed on this review that I'll be covering some of the goods and bads aspects that the game is either a worthy to play that made the classic survival horror so great in the 90's or is it just a colossal mess that didn't do the game's justice.

So without go further do, let's start the review.

Presentation

The game starts out with the young woman named Caroline Walker had discovered the unknown letter from the Wildberger Hospital, which has the photo of the two mysterious twin girls are likely being missing in the mansion. She then headed to the mansion to investigate the situation and find the two girls that are missing in the mansion. 

The story in the game are kinda a bit sounds above the average, but it does give the game a bit of the charm which is actually not that bad at all entirely.

I know you guys been thinking "why this woman really needed to investigate such a dangerous place and that?" so it may be sounds clueless at the beginning of the game, but not until you had to progress through the game to find out a part of the game may going to surprise you.

You may need to collect a numerous of diaries to uncover the mysteries behind the whole mansion may going to help you understand the plot of the game quite a bit.

Aside with the story, I say Caroline Walker is actually looked decent in the game which I really liked her outfits with black leather jacket, white dress with red ribbon, and black shoes. She does has nice short red-brownish hair and wears a eyepatch which sadly someone did something to her right-eye quite badly. 

I also liked the concept design of the enemy monsters are kinda gives me a H.P Lovecraft's aesthetics to it, so you have a creature sat on the wheelchair armed with claws, the legless deformed crawlers will nab you closer and has nasty spitting, the wall-mounts creature are bolted to corridors with deadly scythes for hands, the Drip monster hooked to an IV bag will linger you with spikes, the tall-hulking walker with rusted blades attached to their arms, the big-fat bloating monster are floating across the room, and the big husky robot with hazmat suit armed with giant hammers. Those are the monsters which I finding it quite terrifying as any of 90's classic horror games had to offer. 

I got to say the presentation in the game is quite amazing for its settings and locations because it really brings closer to the 90's classic horror game that we had seen it something similar to these environmental design, so stuff like in the mansion are filled with dentist room, bedrooms, meeting room, hall area, dining area, kitchen, sewers, library, basement, office, and etc. 

Each of these locations has the mixed of house and hospital setups where most of the humans are being horribly experimented which they turns into a horrifying creatures.

You will see several of rooms and wards are filled with pool of blood and particles of gory limbs scattered all over the places, and there are some of the room and basement are nothing but a pitched-black that became too dark to traverse around which adding the creepiness of the game's horror tone.

Overall, it has quite fair story, decent main protagonist, and amazing horror presentation. 

Gameplay

You take control of Caroline Walker in fixed-angle perspective, so in order to find the missing two girls you must find the way of heading to the destination goal by solving the puzzles that leads you into the new area, as well as uncovering the secrets and fighting for survival in the terrifying mansion.

The game has two control style that plays differently in the game, so you'll have a modernized controls scheme which are suitable for newcomers such as the left stick controls acts as 360s degree movement which you can move in 8-ways direction, where as the classic control schemes uses the d-pad buttons as the traditional rotation-tank controls like mostly from the 90's classic horror games, but you can also do 180s back-turn by holding the d-pad backward then press the square button.

You can interact, pick-up objects, and opening doors by pressing the cross button, where as holding the square button then pressing the d-pad button forward to make her run through the area, but she can also run automatically by simply just pushing the left-stick control without holding the square button makes it easier to control. 

In combat, you get the weapon ready by aiming with the left trigger or right shoulder button, then fire the weapon with the right trigger or cross button which attacks the enemies, but you can also reload the weapon by pressing the circle button.

You can access to the inventory menu screen by pressing the triangle button, so this will let you equip the weapons that you have obtained, examine the objects like opening or fiddle stuff, and combining the two items together.

So unlike Capcom's Resident Evil where you can able to store more items into the safe storage box, this game lets you keep all the items and weapons on your inventory screen much longer which I'm kinda surprised by it, but it's not a bad thing because you don't have to keep backtracking to the save rooms over again just to swap or grab the items that you'll need it for the later part of the game.

You can also access to the map menu screen by hitting the right thumbstick button which let's you navigate the map location which tells you where you are and where to head at the next area.

So far, they did a good job of re-creating the classic horror elements into a horrifying experiences where it had the intensity level of scare factor aspects in the game. 

Stuff like you'll be walking into the dark areas which likely you'll be dragged out and killed by random monsters unless the lighter item will save you from getting caught in action.

There'll be a tons of enemy monsters giving you unexpecting surprise in the dark areas and they'll move violently towards you receiving a severe damaging attack, so you'll be needing to use your weapons in order to defeat them, but be really careful about using the weapon frequently because you'll need to save up enough ammunition unless use it to kill if it's necessary. 

These enemy's A.Is are really smart enough to catch you if you get really close to them or they'll see you in mid-range distance.

There are some of the weapons that came in useful such as crowbar which acts as close-range melee weapon, the pistol that are good for all-balance dealing with light damaging attack, the shotgun is a close-range weapon deals with heavy damaging attack are effective against the big enemies, and the electric rod that not only stuns but kills the enemies too. 

The best part for the classic horror-style games is the puzzle solving segments where you need to solve the puzzle parts in each rooms which rewards you with the key items or objects that can leads you to next area, so stuff like figuring out the passcode to unlock stuff like padlock and cash register machine, activating the generators, using the correct patterns on door knocker, getting the elevator to function, unveiling the hidden secret door, using the valid combination key for locked doors, and many more to deal with the puzzle solving stuff.

While the game plays pretty decent throughout the story, I never liked how they designed the fixed-camera angles which I finding it quite cliché for most classic horror games but I never against the choices for gameplay design which I can fully respect it, but the problem is that having the fixed-angle orientation can cause the distraction when every time you walking or running across the areas it changes the angle differently can be nauseating for some players and you couldn't really tell where to find the items can be bit difficult to navigate stuff inside the rooms.

I got to be really honest about the movement controls which many newcomers had said that the traditional tank controls hasn't aged quite well as we remembered back then, so you have an option to use a modernised control scheme which I find the 360s degree movement on the left stick control tends to be quite easier to control because you don't have to go through with the tank controls like most of the classic horror games from the 90's era unless if you're one of the horror veterans who rather much preferred the old-school play which is sounds totally fine.

It is good to have the 360s degree movement which really helps the game, but I wish they should have added the aiming controls with the right stick as well because aiming with the left stick can be bit confusing for those who uses the modernised control option, but that didn't hurt the game as much to be honest.

What really matters the most is being able to enjoy the entire horror experiences filled with many monsters in each room that you had to either fight them or defend yourself for survival, cracking down the puzzles to reveal a hidden secrets, and uncovering the dark truths behind the mansion is what makes the game plays decently throughout the playthroughs.    

Overall, it has good puzzle-solving and great survival gameplay. 

Graphics

The graphics in the entire game are looking spectacular for the modern gaming platform because I really liked the way they improved upon with the lighting settings and environmental design which is so much cleaner and detailed which quite came close to games like Capcom's Resident Evil 2002's remake.

You have a bold textures of room's details, the structures of the building objects that are well designed, the use of the lighting effects in some areas gives us a great mix of light and dark tone of settings depending which locations are you at which adds up the game's atmospheres.

The use of the gory level are quite gruesome in some parts of the game, so you'll see a dead bodies everywhere, the pool of blood splattered on the floor, and the particles of body limbs that are surely slimy and squishy is just unpleasant to look at these kinds of stuff is what made the game quite disturbing to play.

The character's animation in this game are sure looking fantastic with their body movement and physics are keeping well intact to make human character moves like human being, and the creatures moves like a creeping monsters just got it really right in the game.

I also got to say that the PS5, XSX/S, and PC version delivers a best results for its smooth frame-rate and less loading times.    

Overall, it has gruesome gore levels, fantastic character's animation, great lighting effects, and well detailed environmental design.

 

               

           

Music and Sounds

The original soundtrack in the game are sounds magnificent because its had sort of a Capcom's Resident Evil vibes for its calming piano tunes at the title screen and save room which gives a moment of the relief from the nightmare, where as the rest of the music such as the chase sequences, fighting with the monsters, and entering the darkest rooms with pitch black areas are kinda has Konami's Silent Hill aesthetics for its dark environments sounds that makes your mind feel unsettling and building up anxiety which is why they did a good job of capturing the horror atmospheres.

The sound effects in the whole game offers a great range of horrific noises coming out from the backgrounds, hearing a haunting screams in some places, and the roar of the monsters.

I got to say the voice acting in the game are sure quite cheesy just like the 90's classic horror games, so don't let it fooled you because I totally understand the concept of the 90's classic horror genres is what makes the game an interesting throwback to 90's classic horror games back then.                       

Overall, it has magnificent soundtrack and horrific sound design.

Special Features

I am grateful to have a free downloadable PS5 upgrade which is a fine bonus, but unfortunately there's no additional content in this game. It would have been better if they offer stuff in the game like unlockable galleries, needs to add enough more costumes than just 1, new game plus mode, add more game's difficulty option, and of course battle mode that could have given the game enough addition, so that's a shame because this game provides a really good single-player horror campaign which I've enjoyed it so far, but I wish they should have included the additional content features. 

Overall, quite a shame.

Advantages

Amazing horror presentation

Cool concept design for enemy monsters

Decent main protagonist

Good puzzle solving 

Great survival gameplay 

Spectacular visuals 

Magnificent soundtrack

Horrific sound design 

Disadvantages

Fixed-camera angles may be not suited for some players

Aiming control should have been added to right stick option

Not adding unlockable content 

Final Verdict

Presentation 7.5/10 - quite fair story, decent main protagonist, and amazing horror presentation. 

Gameplay 7/10 - good puzzle-solving and great survival gameplay.

Graphics 8.5/10 - gruesome gore levels, fantastic character's animation, great lighting effects, and well detailed environmental design.

Music and Sounds 8/10 - magnificent soundtrack and horrific sound design.

Special Features 1/10 - lack of additional content.

Overall 7/10 - Tormented Souls is yet a good horror game that does the job quite right. It's feels like a true love letter to 90's classic survival horror genres that we adored the style of horror game which delivers a horrifying experience filled with multiples of deadly creatures coming to chase you through the corridors, discovering a rooms with amounts of blood scattered around the walls and floors, using a weapon and health kit as a tool for survival, and solving the mysteries to uncover the dark secrets is what made the game quite fun.

Even it does have shares with few drawbacks like the fixed-camera angles can be distracting for some players, the aiming control could have been better with the right-stick option, and of course the lack of the additional content that I've mentioned above which could have made the game done a bit better.

That being said, the game provides a good single-player campaign which I've been enjoying the game entirely, so yeah it's plays pretty good without any regret.

The game cost around between £15 to over £20 which you can get it physically on PS4, PS5, and Switch, where as you can also get it digitally on the digital storefront for all platforms just for between £16 or £17.

If you're one of the 90's classic survival horror fanatics out there interested in this type of style, then Tormented Souls is definitely for you to pick-up, and I am hoping for the game developers will able to do well on the upcoming sequel in the near future.    

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Sonic Origins Plus PS4 Review

 

Sonic Origins Plus is a side-scrolling platformer game was released on June 2023 for PS4, PS5, XBONE, XSX/S, Switch, and PC.

It is a video game compilation of classics 16-bit side-scrolling platformer from the early 90's era featuring remasters of the first 4 platform games in SEGA's Sonic the Hedgehog series.

It was developed by Sonic Team and published by SEGA, and it is also a expanded version of the 2022's original adding extra content.

Going back to the early 90's days when we had a blast of playing a good old SEGA Genesis/MD, a 16-bit machine that bought us many great libraries of childhood games like Golden Axe, Streets of Rage, Shinobi, Columns, and of course one of the system's landmark title that changed gaming forever is Sonic the Hedgehog which many gaming medias and fans calling it one of the system's best platformer and also became one of the system's best-selling title that helped the SEGA's hardware sales during the 1991's launch. 

The success of first original had turned into the flagship franchise in later years and decades spawns numerous of sequels, spin-offs, animated series, films, merchandises, comic books, and pop culture which is why it became the best-selling video game franchises selling over 140 million units by 2016 and grossing over $5 billion as of 2014.

Many regarded Sonic the Hedgehog as one of the iconic video game mascots loved by the fans, communities, and medias entirely labelled him as cool, speedy, and also entertaining.

As I previously enjoyed some of the Sonic's games that I mostly liked such as the first 4 original games from Sonic 1 to Sonic 3 & Knuckles, first 2 Sonic Adventure, Colors, Generations, and of course Sonic Mania that does the job right, where as others shared with the stinkers like Heroes, Sonic 06, Unleashed, Sonic Boom, and Forces are just downright sucks which we all know the series has its own kinds of "hit or miss" libraries, but that doesn't really mean the whole franchise are totally doomed because SEGA might consider themselves lucky with a good Sonic games in recent years such as Sonic Frontier as an example of how to make a proper good Sonic game again, as long as they took the franchise quite seriously knowing what made blue hero hedgehog a recognisable video game icon worldwide.

So going back to this review, there's one of the game that I am looking forward to play it on my PS4 which is Sonic Origins Plus.

It's a video game compilation which includes the remasters of the 4 classic originals, additional game modes, unlockable galleries, and of course the plus edition comes with 12 Game Gear titles and new playable character.

I heard the plus edition are surely bit better than the original 2022's after receiving the criticism from the fans and media where the additional game modes and extras are required to unlocking it by purchasing the overpriced DLCs pack for the original 2022's game, so thankfully these previously DLCs pack from the 2022's original are fully included in the 2023's plus edition.

Is it worth replaying the childhood games again or is it just a straight-up cash grab? let's just see how this expanded version of the game fairs by comparing with the 2022's releases in regards of the quality and content.

So without go further do, let's start the review.  

 

 

Presentation

The game starts out with the cool opening intros with stylish animated sequences and of course several of animated cutscenes which sets the events of 4 original games.

You're basically a blue hedgehog named Sonic running through the green hill zone went on the quest to defeat the crazy scientist named Dr. Robotnik who has imprisoned innocent animals inside the robots and stationery metal capsules, and seeks the 7 powerful gems known as chaos emeralds.

The game also introduces other 3 characters made a first appearance in later games such as Miles Tails Prower from Sonic 2 which became Sonic's sidekick, Knuckles the Echidna from Sonic 3 and Knuckles which happens to be Dr. Robotnik's new henchmen until you'll see a surprising outcome at the later part of the game, and of course Amy Rose from Sonic CD which is a Sonic's adorable girlfriend.

So far, there are no actual dialog in the animated cutscene which is perfectly fine because we know exactly what's going on in the game, I mean hell even we can also take a look at the instruction manual book from the gallery to know what the game is all about. 

The ideas of having a insane villain planning to steal all powerful gems as well as capturing all cute animals, and the blue hero hedgehog went on his action to save the day and defeat the foe is what made the 4 original classics quite dead on simple and straightforward, so I liked it because it's a mother f***ing Sonic everyone. 

The game shares with likable characters that are so recognisable in the whole series, so you have Sonic the Hedgehog who is a fastest running blue hedgehog speeding through the loopholes, has a cool attitude, and of course kicking Robotnik's ass like in every Sonic games is what I've liked about the blue hero hedgehog.

I also liked the other 3 characters which are also quite cool in the game too, so you have Tails which I considered him as Sonic's little helper and also his best mate in every Sonic games, and then you have Knuckles which is a tough-looking dude really good at throwing powerful punches but also can be knucklehead in some Sonic games, and lastly a pink hedgehog Amy who loves chasing after Sonic just like in Sonic CD which is kinda cute, yeah I mean really cute because she's really loves Sonic that's all. I got to say that Dr. Robotnik as the main villain of whole Sonic titles which he loves causing many trouble and being obsessed with chaos emeralds is what I liked about him especially from 1993's animated series as well as both 2020's and 2022's  live-action films. 

I got to say the presentation is outstanding because now you have an cool animated opening intros showing Sonic and friends on the title logo resembles the iconic title screen from classic Sonic games, while the rest of it just shows Sonic blasting bunch of Dr. Robotnik's minions off, Amy being chased by the Metal Sonic, Tails flying off with the plane in air, and of course Sonic and Knuckles are having battle each other.

Aside from the opening sequences, the in-game settings in each zones are looking really amazing especially from 16-bit era where we grew up playing classic Sonic games on SEGA Genesis/MD.

In Sonic 1, you have Green Hill Zone which is a giant field filled with greenery and blue lakes, short and massive mountains, slopping cliffs, and natural pillars. 

Marble Zone has ancient ruin structures such as blue stone pillars, greco-roman architecture, purple bricks, torches, and mosaics.

Star Light Zone is a large construction site takes place at night and highways filled with street lamps, green girders, red traffic cones, and flashing red lights.

In Sonic 2,  you have Casino Night Zone is a city-themed filled with gigantic gambling machines, slot machines, and crazy pinball stuff.

Mystic Cave Zone has huge dark cave filled with minecart systems, green crystals, and decorated vines and torches.

Oil Ocean Zone are industrial buildings filled with oil rig, tanks, framework, and flooding oil ocean.

In Sonic 3 and Knuckles, you have Ice Cap Zone which features snowy mountains with snow-topped trees, icebergs, and cold looking structures. 

Lava Reef Zone takes place inside an volcano filled with hot burning lava, and various of large rocks.

Sandopolis Zone is a ancient Egyptian like desert area filed with pyramids, tombs, and quicksands.

In Sonic CD, each of the zones will have 3 time-traveling system which changes the settings of the sceneries starting from past to future, so you have Collision Chaos Zone has colourful themes with zig-zag patterns, and the surrounding area has a lot of blocky structures.

Metallic Madness Zone has a metallic stronghold stuff, construction site, machines, and cranes.

Tidal Tempest Zone is a underwater base area that has rocky structures and massive level of water elevation. 

Overall, it has cool animated cutscenes, memorable characters, and recognisable stage zones settings.

Gameplay

The game has featured 2 game modes to choose from such as anniversary mode and classic mode.

The anniversary mode shows game in 16:9 aspect ratio and provides infinite lives are good for the beginners, so you don't have to worry about being thrown back to the title menu, where as the classic mode is just like from the original Genesis/MD in 4:3 aspect ratio with limited lives and a game over screen are recommended for Sonic's expert players.    

You will have 4 characters to select and play as in any of 4 Sonic games, so you have Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy to choose from which, unlike Sonic are pretty standard to play besides insta-shield items, 3 of them has its own abilities like Tails uses his twin-tails to fly above in mid-air as well as swimming underwater, Knuckles can glide through the stages as well as climbing up the wall, and of course Amy uses her jumping attack with the hammer.

You'll play as whichever the characters you've picked in 2D side-scrolling perspective, as your main objective is to being able to reach it at the finishing goal as well as defeating Dr. Robotnik and his inventive weapons in each boss stage.

You'll start off with the basic controls, so pushing the left and right d-pad buttons or the left stick controls to move the player around, and holding down the d-pad button or left stick down will make them crouch.

Pressing the cross or circle button to make them jump on platforms as well as jumping on the enemies as jump attack, while double tapping the same button will allow 3 of the characters do their abilities that I've mentioned above.

While holding down the d-pad or left stick down then tapping the cross or circle button will allow them to do spin dash giving them a extra boost of speed manoeuvring to reach through the loopholes and platforming heights.      

Most of the levels had filled with hazardous areas, smaller enemies and couple of dead ends in which you are required to avoid enemy's projectiles and falling off the stage. There are item box that comes in useful which gives you ability to perform any of these cool things like power sneakers which makes you run in high speed, invincibility makes you go invincible for 10 seconds, and there are 4 different types of insta-shields which can be only used by Sonic such as regular shield which protects you from enemy's projectiles and hazardous objects, the lighting shield which allowing you to double jump, flame shield allows you to perform fireball dash attack, and water shield allows you to bounce jump.  

You will need to collect rings which acts as the character's health, but getting hit by the enemies or any hazardous can lead you to lose many of rings in which you can still retrieve these remaining rings that scattered around everywhere before it disappears in next 5 seconds. 

You may have a secondary objectives where you'll need to collect all 7 chaos emeralds which can be found from bonus stages, so in order to do that you really need to gather all 50 rings before you've reached at the finishing goal without losing all 50 rings in Sonic 1 and CD, where as in Sonic 2 which can be found on checkpoint object if collected all 50 rings, and in Sonic 3 and Knuckles which you don't really need to collect all 50 rings instead you'll spot a large massive ring can be hidden somewhere in the stage.

Once you've entered the bonus stage, there are a 4 kinds of bonus stages you may want to complete the challenge such as self-rotating stage in Sonic 1, endless half-pipe stage in Sonic 2, blue spheres in Sonic 3, and destroy all UFOs in Sonic CD, so if you completed these challenges then you'll be rewarded with the chaos emeralds.

If successfully gathered all 7 chaos emeralds which turns your playable characters into a super form can be activated by hitting the triangle button, if collected all 50 rings as requirement to use it, allowing them to perform a ultimate power which means you can able to breeze through levels, instantly kills all enemies, and not taking damage from projectiles and hazards, but it can also drain down the remaining rings which means your super power form will get deactivated if the rings reaches to 0. 

So far, the game plays it really well especially all 4 original games that I've played it on SEGA's 16-bit hardware back in my childhood days, but as I played all these 4 games again with the Sonic Origin Plus

it felt like the different kinds of experience because now you can able to play all your 4 favourite heroes in 4 original games, so I can finally get to play as Tails and Knuckles in Sonic 1 and CD for very first time since an early 90s where they weren't been introduced till they made their first appearance in Sonic 2 and Sonic 3 & Knuckles, and it is good to have Amy being a new playable character in all 4 original games are also welcoming indeed. 

What made me liked all these 4 original games is that it is known to have a best stage zones that these games can pull-off several of the fun factors stuff that defines the 2D platformers. Stuff like you have recognisable stages like Green Hill Zone and Emerald Hill Zone are simplistic levels filled with crazy loopholes structures that considered to be a famous and iconic video games levels of all-time and was the first Sonic experience for many gamers.

Then you have stuff like Casino Night Zone and Carnival Night Zone are total non-stop platforming that made you bounce around the stages with pinball flippers, bouncy collisions objects, balloons, and giant rotating barrels.

Ice Cap Zone has one of the segment where you rode on the snowboarding surf throughout the icy stage adds the excitement part of the game's action.

Sandopolis Zone in act 2 where you had to evade these floating ghost by finding the light switch to make them temporary disappear.

Finally let's not forget some of the water stages like Tidal Tempest Zone, Hydrocity Zone, and Aquatic Ruin Zone are quite has the most intense moments where you'll be fall into the underwater, so you had to find the way of retrieving your oxygen by touching the large size bubble to prevent from drowning which is absolutely nightmare to get past through the stage.

I got to say the boss stages are the best part of the entire Sonic games thanks to Dr. Robotnik's top-secret weapons in each zones starting from swinging wrecking ball to stumping large tube in Sonic 1, drilling vehicle to big fat mecha-machine with hand-claws in Sonic 2, a ridiculous inflatable bumpers to egg razing machine in Sonic CD, and three-tiers tall rocket to giant looking robo in Sonic 3 and Knuckles which became the greatest boss fights in whole Sonic series.

I also liked the bonus stages in each Sonic games, so my favourite bonus stages has to go with both the endless half-pipe from Sonic 2 and Blue Spheres from Sonic 3 and Knuckles which I considered them as addicting and fun to play.

It shares with redeeming replay-values thanks to two possible endings in each games, if you had collected all 7 chaos emeralds which can result a true endings.

Each of the games shares with cheats codes which allows you to select stages, using super form mode, and of course most coolest things in classic Sonic games is the debug mode which allows you to mess around with the debugging system during the in-game stages.        

As I've enjoyed all 4 games, Sonic Origins Plus offers a really good game modes like I've mentioned anniversary mode which is perfect for beginners and the classic mode plays just exactly like the original SEGA Genesis/MD with limited lives, but I got to say that the other game modes that are pretty quite good as well that keeps you busy with these games even more such as the mirror mode which is a game being played on the reversed stages, the boss rush is where your main task is to defeat all the bosses as possible without losing all life, and of course the mission mode is where you had to complete all the challenge tasks as possible such as beat the stage without killing enemies, head to finishing goal without taking damage, and collecting enough rings in time limit.

I also wanted to praise the inclusion of 12 Game Gear games which shares with 8 great classics such as Sonic 1 (8-bit), Sonic 2 (8-bit), Sonic Chaos, Sonic Triple Trouble, Sonic Drift 1 and 2, Tails Adventure, and Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine, while 4 of the others are considered as nothing but a stinkers like Sonic Spinball, Sonic Labyrinth, Sonic Blast, and Tails Skypatrol, so for the software emulation purposes in this plus version which ran pretty decent with no sign of slowdowns and lags, but I will get into with the graphics and sounds for later on the review. 

Aside with the positive side, I wanted to point out several of criticisms that the plus content had missed out some of the games that aren't included in the collection such as Knuckles Chaotix which is a 1995's 2D platformer game still remain stucked on one and only platform like SEGA 32X, SegaSonic The Hedgehog is a 1993's arcade game that never got ported to console releases due to problems with replicating the trackball control system on a standard controller, and most surprisingly Sonic 3D Blast which is a 1996's 3D platformer game that's being missed out the collection, so it would have been nice to include these 3 games that could have given a complete Sonic's classics collection.

The one thing that really baffling the most is the forced DLCs voucher codes that's being included in the physical copy which means that your plus content stuff like Amy as new playable character, Knuckles being playable in Sonic CD, and all 12 Game Gear games are being locked out unless you have a valid voucher codes inside the game case in order to unlock these content which is not pretty smart move by SEGA themselves because they haven't learned the lesson from the 2022's original release where several of game modes and extras are required to unlock by purchasing the overpriced DLCs pack that nobody been asked for, so thankfully these previously DLCs pack from the 2022's original are being included in the 2023's plus releases which I am happy about it, but no they did it again with the plus edition where the rest of the plus content that I've mentioned above are requiring to redeem with the voucher code, which is why people are not very happy about SEGA's poor marketing strategy, so it would have been sounds better to include all the plus content on the disc without requiring a voucher code to unlock all otherwise it won't becoming complete without it.

There are a second option if the voucher code is already been used, so you may consider getting a plus DLCs pack separately off the digital storefront just for nearly £9, but the issue is it's not worth of that price which should have been cost bit of less.  

That's the shame because I've been enjoyed playing 4 of these classic Sonic games with 4 characters to play, as well as some Game Gear titles are nicely bonus to this collection. 

Overall, it has solid platforming gameplay, epic boss battles, and awesome game modes.  

Graphics

We can't deny the beauty of the 16-bit visuals that made 4 of the classic Sonic games looked recognisable.

It offers a nice parallax scrolling, the use of special effects, colourful environmental design for stage layouts, has pusedo-3D visuals on both the bonus stages from Sonic 2 and Sonic 3 & Knuckles, and of course the character's sprite are surely just pure as a crystal.

what made the improvements on the Sonic Origins Plus is the inclusion of the anti-aliasing details which eliminates the jaggy screen effects and pixels distortion which I am glad that they made all 4 original games looked crisp and clean on the HD screen especially with Game Gear titles are finally got fixed with the patch update really helps the game's screen detail, and the game has the options to choose any of 2 aspects ratios that suits the screen display such as 16:9 and 4:3 depending which two of the game mode you're playing on. 

Overall, it has nice parallax scrolling, colourful environmental stages, and the inclusion of anti-aliasing details.

Music and Sounds

You can't go wrong with the classic Sonic games has the most memorable soundtrack in entire 4 original games, so stuff like you have Green Hill Zone, Starlight Zone, Spring Yard Zone, Emerald Hill Zone, Metropolis Zone, Angel Island Zone, and Marble Garden Zone are among my 7 favourite songs in any of classic Sonic games.

Unfortunately there are 3 of the songs from Sonic 3 had completely missed out due to licensing rights issues surrounding M.J's contribution to Sonic 3 that SEGA had struggle to get the rights is the reason for the hold-up, instead these 3 songs are being replaced with the new track by the composer such as Jun Senoue which I don't blame SEGA for missing out 3 original songs that aren't featured in Sonic Origins Plus, but still it's quite a shame for those who really liked the M.J's work on Sonic 3 soundtrack.

The sound effects in each 4 games still remain intact with memorable jingle effects you may recognise it from the classic 16-bit platformer, so you still have ring collecting noises, clinging bouncy objects, big dingy checkpoint sounds, and jumpy boing sounds. 

I'm still glad that SEGA had patched out the Game Gear's sound emulation which you can set it to mono effect that fixes the distortion stereo sounds.

Overall, it has great soundtrack and memorable sound jingles.

Special Features

Sonic Origins Plus has numerous of unlockable galleries such as illustrations, sounds, and movies, and best of all is that the physical copy comes with cool artbook and reversible cover depicting the old-school 16-bit cover art are also a nice bonus for game collector. 

The physical PS4 copy are also comes with free downloadable PS5 upgrade.

Overall, a splendid features. 

Advantages

Cool animated cutscenes

Memorable characters

Recognisable stage zones and bosses 

Has 4 great games to play

Awesome game modes

Nice visuals 

Great soundtrack                                 

       

       

Disadvantages

Forced voucher codes for physical copy

Missing out some games (such as Knuckles Chaotix, Sonic 3D Blast, and SegaSonic The Hedgehog Arcade)

Missing out some songs in Sonic 3

Final Verdict

Presentation 8/10 - cool animated cutscenes, memorable characters, and recognisable stage zones settings.

Gameplay 7.5/10 - solid platforming gameplay, epic boss battles, and awesome game modes.

Graphics 9/10 - nice parallax scrolling, colourful environmental stages, and the inclusion of anti-aliasing details.

Music and Sounds 9/10 - great soundtrack and memorable sound jingles.

Special Features 8/10 - unlockable galleries and physical copy's bonuses.

Overall 7.5/10 - I would love to give it a high score, but instead I just give it a honest reception because it is a decent video game compilation which has 4 great titles to play and has additional game modes which is fair, but it does shares with flaws that the plus edition had some issues.

Not only it misses out the M.J's songs in Sonic 3 and not been adding 3 games in the collection are quite a bummer, it's the forced voucher codes for plus DLCs pack which I considered it the anti-consumer practice because there are some people might be fooled to pick up a second hand copy with used DLCs code that cannot be redeemed, so you're about to waste an extra of £9 to get a plus DLCs pack off from digital storefront as an second option.

     

Let's be honest, I wouldn't give this compilation a low score seems quite unfair because the thing that Sonic Origins Plus had done it right so far is that the side-scrolling gameplay is still remain intact, has cool boss battles, playing as 4 favourites heroes with different abilities, many great game modes to play, and some classic game gear games that are really fun which is why I had a reason to picked a copy for myself. 

We got to be appreciate with the Sonic Team's effort as they going through their hard work on this collection because it's a video game compilation that are designed for those who grew up playing those classic titles that made Sonic series quite famous back in the early 90's era.

Nothing can go wrong with the fast-paced platforming action that made you speeding through the stages, collecting many chaos emeralds as possible, surviving through the water stages, and epic showdown with Dr. Robotnik is what made people like me from the old days of gaming liking the blue hero hedgehog franchise that defines SEGA's gaming legacy. 

I wish that the plus DLCs content are all included on the disc that does not really need the voucher code as an requirement to unlock all extra content, as well as adding M.J's soundtrack in Sonic 3 and add 3 more games, so that could have made a worth of money to spend which then I would have give it a high score if only could SEGA had made the right decision.

    

The physical copy cost around between £25 to £30 for all console platforms, so be vary of buying the second-hand copy with used DLCs code that I've mentioned before unless get a plus DLCs pack from the digital store for £9, and alternately you can get a digital copy instead just for £35 as plus edition from PS Store, Nintendo eShop, Xbox Store, and Steam.  

It's better off to wait for the sale goes down to half of the price would be a wiser option unless you're a big Sonic's fanatic like myself could get it on full price, so make your choice to choose whether you're really happy to get one or maybe it's best to wait for a bit longer till your time is right. 

 

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