Joseph Moorer

“Though I am so far impressed with these Gold Master Series, this one is ranked 3rd out of 3, if I include the amazing Atari 50. I respect the hell out of Jeff Minter for being THE indie game creator. There are some games missing that may come at a later date, and some that I'll never play again. But I think that's what Jeff wants. Stay weird, Mr. Minter. Stay weird.”

“Cricket Through The Ages isn't much about Cricket, and that's ok. It starts slow, but with a pretty cool payoff in unlocking the other modes. It's way more entertaining to watch others play it, but you playing at home, alone, trying to convince other people to play it, is useless. Fire it up, hand your friends the controllers, and watch chaos ensue.”

“Cookie Cutter is a good Metroidvania, elevated by some pretty stellar graphics. Don't expect to walk through this one - the game raises the difficulty in response to your character powering up. A lot of value here for the asking price.”

“Sanabi is a secret masterpiece. I don't know why it's a secret, but it is. It's a platforming clinic, with extremely tight controls, and the story hit me in the center of my heart. You'll probably play it one more time to speed run it, but I wont. Some games are better left one and done. This is one of those games. Unbelievable.”

“Everything you wanted to know about Karateka, but was afraid to ask, is here. Digital Eclipse has done it again. The bonus reimagined games are cool too. Go save the girl, and shoot down some alien bats. If this is the first in the series, I'm ready to get kicked in the face, multiple times.”

“Wrestlequest has a cool idea on paper, but the battle system is clunky at best. That mixed with unlikable characters, and legends that deserve a better video game, make WrestleQuest very hard to care about at all. Like a certain wrestling companies PSA, "Please, don't try this at home."”

“TMNT: SR is the game that keeps on giving. They've given us free updates, and now the first paid DLC. If this trend holds, and they keep adding characters and modes, this could become the greatest arcade game of all time. You get to unlock more stuff for nine characters. Do you deserve this goodness? No. Should you get it? Shell Yeah.”

“Mr. Run and Jump is a platforming clinic. You are not here to blast through on your first try. If you are easily frustrated, Run and Jump past this one, but for those that appreciate an extreme challenge, Atari has done it again. They didn't necessarily invent the wheel, but there is some very challenging stuff here. Tell your friends. Pack a lunch.”

“Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons comes during a time where we wouldn't mind some good ol' fashioned beat 'em up side scrolling games. A huge roster of characters and a great new tag team feature really push the franchise forward. While it gets everything right, it baffles me that we have to wait for online co-op. Still, that shouldn't deter you. Double Dragon fans should grab this right now.”

“City of Beats has a lot of genres combined into one, and it may have too much going on for itself. With the game literally stopping you from progressing the way that you want to, it's a little hindering. For the price, you may want to give it a shot. A shot. Like, just one. Don't worry if you lack rhythm, City of Beats does sometimes too.”

“In 2023, it's nice to know that an old formula still works. Taito overloaded the cute-ness on this title. The online mode is a nice touch, and definitely extra points for the Space Invaders crossover. Plus, who can turn down online Puzzle Bobble? Puzzle Bobble fans, this one's for you. PAYOMPA!”

“Teslagrad 2 is built for fans of the original. If you're looking for a longer campaign, you'll have to look elsewhere, but if you find a good deal on a bundle, pick it up. Play the first, then the second. Maybe speed run them the second time around. Graphics and sound are amazing, and the game will definitely give a challenge. But that could be where it's electromagnetism stops.”

“Have a Nice Death is not only this game's title, it's an interjection. It's the bully at the gaming playground. It's the ex that keeps coming back to your house to get their belongings, one thing at a time. You beat these types of games before, right? All of that is gone. Still a little buggy, but at it's price point, you'll have a hard time blaming the glitches, and spend more time telling yourself that you're not good at the game.”

“Akka Arrh is a resurrected version of a game that never existed. And if you don't know the lore, it's ok. It's colorful chaotic nature will keep you at bay for a few hours. You can get those high scores, and win, but it won't be easy. If you want that Atari pain, this is a little less hurtful than usual, but mastering it will still take a while.”

“Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is a fantastic game. It reminds you of how those old SNES and Genesis games were, enhanced with plenty of quality of life elements. If all your side scrolling melee retro games got together, and created a game in the lab of a maniacal government, it would be this. If you love retro 16-bit action games, you won't regret this. Cyber ninja vanish.”

“From Space is a challenge, but probably not in a good way. Between all the perks, items, weapons, specialists, and all the other things you have to do to even play the game, it is a little more tedious than fun. I waited for a patch, and to no avail. As of now, From Space needs a little more time in the UFO.”

“50 years of memories. 50 years of being the king. I love how the 50th Anniversary Collection shows the ups and downs, and exposes the vulnerabilities, of one of the greatest companies of all time. Although some games could go, and I would love to see some DLC. Digital Eclipse deserves a round of applause for this as well. You love documentaries, and you love games, so here's both. And you're going to love it.”

“Missile Command: Recharged is the upgrade you didn't think you needed. It's new missions and graphical polish is a very nice touch. I'd dare say this is one of the first tower defense/bullet hell games, and Atari never skimps on delivering the "hell" part of that equation. With snappy controls, and a cool soundtrack, Missile Command: Recharged will keep you on your toes, for as long as it wants to.”

“If you want a fighting game that you'll have fun watching, and playing, Them's Fightin' Herds is the game for you. A lot of charm. A lot of depth. 4-legged fun 4 all!”

“Atari Mania is not going to have an issue finding its own audience. There are gamers out there who are historians and will get a kick out of it. With 150+ minigames, and some very challenging unlockable items, it will keep you busy. These are the hardest Atari games rolled up into one charming, nostalgic mini-game extravaganza. Grab this one if you like that good ol' Atari pain.”