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A New Beginning

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/new-beginning-a/A point-and-click from Daedalic, one of their more serious games in contrasted to their usual comedy stylings. There will be more from the company covered in the fear future, including the Deponia games.

Hybris / Battle Squadron

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/hybris/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/battle-squadron/Two vertical shooters from Cope-Com. Both are Amiga titles, though the latter was ported to the Genesis.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/star-wars-knights-of-the-old-republic/BIoware/Obsidian's duo of Star Wars theme RPGs, which arguably helped introduced the concept of "Western RPGs" to a console audience, and are pretty fine games in their own right, especially the story/characters in the second.

Top 47,858 Games of All Time Episode 95: Tecmo Super Bowl, Hani on the Road, Killer Instinct (2013) [Patreon bonus]

Join the HG101 gang as they talk Bo Jackson and archaeology. Bo knows Kofun period funerary rites. Patreon bonus for this episode is Killer Instinct (2013). Outro music is from Steam-Heart's (PC-98).

Kaze Kiri Ninja Action

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/kaze-kiri-ninja-action/One of those fairly expensive PCE action games which tends to be talked up pretty highly. It's decent, though perhaps not as good as its reputation suggests.

Japanese Video Game Obscurity: Sengoku Turb

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/sengoku-turb/The last (for now) in the Japanese Video Game Obscurity column focuses on this silly and bizarre action-RPG for the Dreamcast. Just over 12 hours left to support the Japanese Video Game Obscurities book if you want a first edition copy with your name in it!

The Three Great She-Devils of Square

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/the-three-great-she-devils-of-square/A collection of three (well, technically four) female characters from Square RPGs that drew ire from the Japanese fanbase. Note that these aren't personal selections, just what has become infamous among Japanese players. Two of these games weren't originally localized so I don't think too many people would be familia...

Catacombs / Catacombs 3D

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/catacombs/A two-parter series about the original overhead action game series, leading into the 3D PC games, which were predecessors to Wolfenstein 3D.

Japanese Video Game Obscurity: Holy Umbrella: Dondera no Mubou

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/holy-umbrella-dondera-no-mubou/The Japanese Video Game Obscurity Kickstarter campaign is finishing up in a few days, and here's the next to last entry, a rather silly RPG/platformer for the Super Famicom. Definitely grab the fan translation for this one.

Top 47,858 Games of All Time Episode 94: Cave Story, 999, Binary Domain [Patreon bonus]

Join the HG101 gang as they get tore up on red flowers then awake the next morning with a bomb in their stomach. Patreon bonus for this episode is Binary Domain. Outro music is from Dark Seraphim (PC-98).

Magical School Lunar / Dragon Song

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/magical-school-lunar/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/lunar-dragon-song/And now, the bad Lunar games - a side story for the Game Gear/Saturn (which wouldn't have been so terrible except for some development issues with the Saturn version that essentially buried the series for a number of years) and an extremely bad DS prequel.

Lunar: The Silver Star / Lunar 2: Eternal Blue

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/lunar-the-silver-star/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/lunar-eternal-blue/Two of the standout RPGs from the 16-bit, both initially released on the Sega CD.This series of articles has been sitting around on my computer for nearly four years, so I've finally gotten them all together! In the next couple of days, we'll also be posting reviews for the other two ...

Revengers of Vengeance

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/revengers-of-vengeance/A somewhat failed but interesting experiment at genre-mixing with a craaaaazy title given to it by its American publisher.

Top 47,858 Games of All Time Episode 93: Zone of the Enders - 2nd Runner, Robot Alchemic Drive, Cybernator [Patreon bonus]

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss the "Orbital Frame" known as "Jehuty" and take it 100 percent seriously. Patreon bonus for this episode is Cybernator. Outro music is from Cruise Chaser Blassty (PC-98).

Hollow Knight

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/hollow-knight/Another quality indie Metroidvania from last year.

Linda³ (Japanese Video Game Obscurity)

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/linda%C2%B3/The Japanese Video Game Obscurities book has been successfully funded (thanks again everyone!) but for the remainder of the campaign I'll still be posting a few more excerpts. Here's one that's actually wilder than Tengai Makyou: The Apocalypse IV, as far as one of the most out-there JRPGs.

Wulverblade

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/wulverblade/Wulverblade, an indie hack-and-slash beat-em-up set in Rome-occupied Britain

Crypt of the Necrodancer

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/crypt-of-the-necrodancer/Crypt of the Necrodancer, an unlikely mashup of a roguelike and a rhythm game

Cleopatra no Mahou

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/cleopatra-no-mahou/An early (pre-Final Fantasy) adventure-RPG from Square for the FDS. A slightly expanded write-up from the FDS book.

Love & Destroy (Japanese Video Game Obscurity)

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/love-and-destroy/Another entry for the (successfully backed!) Japanese Video Game Obscurity book, which is a hybrid mecha shooter and love sim, with character artwork by the guy who did the manga Video Girl AI, and plenty of anime cutscenes by Production IG.

Top 47,858 Games of All Time Episode 92: Lemmings, Boogerman, Jack Bros. [Patreon bonus]

Join the HG101 gang as their migratory instincts give rise to an enduring metaphor for self-destructive group behavior. Patreon bonus for this episode is Jack Bros. Outro music is from Rusty (PC-98).

Bonkers

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/bonkers-snes/Most people recall Capcom's run of Disney titles, like the Mickey Mouse games, Aladdin, and, uh...Bonkers? Anyone? Hmm.

The Tale of Oeilvert – Final Fantasy’s Forgotten Heroine

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/the-tale-of-oeilvert-final-fantasys-forgotten-heroine/A short write-up on a minor fan-favorite (in Japan) character who's basically been scrubbed out of (English speaking) history due to localization decisions

Chroma Squad

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/chroma-squad/An indie strategy-RPG that's also an homage to tokasatsu/sentai TV shows. Just got a "make your own scenario" update not too long ago, I believe.

Captain Rainbow (Japanese Video Game Obscurity)

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/captain-rainbow/Japanese Video Game Obscurity: Nintendo's Captain Rainbow, sort of a reverse Super Smash Bros., at least thematically.Anyway, as of tonight, this has been funded! I'm actually surprised (and super happy) this was funded as quickly as it was, especially since it had really leveled out over at Unbound. I'm gonna be discussing stretch goals...

Aztec Adventure

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/aztec-adventure/Charming but extremely difficult action game for the SMS, with some light RPG elements. This is one of those early SMS games I'd see on the posters and promo guides Sega stuck in every case, but never got to play until much later. As far as we can tell, it was designed by Chieko Aoki, the woman who was one of the core team that created the origi...

Top 47,858 Games of All Time Episode 91: Armored Core, Super Runabout, Bad Day On The Midway [Patreon bonus]

Join the HG101 gang as they engage in tactical squatter-eviction. Patreon bonus for this episode is Bad Day On The Midway. Outro music is from Guardian Recall (PC-98).

Mitsurugi Kamui Hikae

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/mitsurugi-kamui-hikae/An indie Japanese 3D hack-and-slash, which made its way stateside (and on the PS4!) thanks to Playism.

HG101 Presents: Japanese Video Game Obscurities book now live on Kickstarter!

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/hg101-presents-japanese-video-game-obscurities-book-now-live-on-kickstarter/Direct Kickstarter link:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/769422597/hardcore-gaming-101-japanese-video-game-obscuritieAs I mentioned a few months ago, we finally got those book up on Kickstarter to complete the funding, since it has a much wider platform than Unbound. One day down and it...

Aladdin (SNES / Genesis / SMS)

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/aladdin-snes/We thought this would be a straightforward set of articles - compare/contrast two heavily debated 16-bit Disney games across competing platforms! - except then we went down the rabbit hole of ports, bootlegs, and a surprisingly decent (and completely different) SMS/GG game.