The Reset Button - My Favorite Christmas Game of All Time.

My Favorite Christmas Game of All Time

Deck the Halls, folks. After a long hiatus, mostly due to work and Thanksgiving, the Reset Button finally makes it's triumphant return to New Geek Protocol. I'm back, pumped, and ready to get some bloggin' done.

Buckle up. Strap in. Let's talk gaming.

When you think of Christmas, video games probably come to mind occasionally. Especially when you're giving gifts to friends or family. We all have someone who games in our lives, or at least I'd like to think we do. But one thing you don't really think about is Christmas-themed video games. Sure, there are a handful of them out there in the wild. But most of them aren't very good.

Today, I'm going to fill you in on my personal favorite all-time Christmas game. It's not a very GOOD game, so to speak, but I love it. Every year, I fire it up in hopes of conquering it, but never do. It's not an easy game, to tell you the truth. It has eluded me since childhood, with me always coming back in my adult years in hopes of besting Marv and Harry.

I haven't yet. But this might be my year. That's right. The game I love to play around Christmas is none other than HOME ALONE on the Nintendo Entertainment System.

Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal.

While the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo releases had better graphics, sound, gameplay, and controls, the NES version had a stupid charm I couldn't escape. The premise of this game is simple. As an 8-bit Kevin McCallister, you have 20 minutes to stop the Wet Bandits from robbing your house. Using a bunch of traps like Christmas ornaments, paint cans, Micro Machines, and the Tarantula, you booby trap your house in hopes of vanquishing those wacky bandits. If you manage to hold out for the 20 minutes, the police arrive and take Marv and Harry to the slammer. Fail and the Bandits win, looting your house for all it's worth and leaving Kevin's fate to your imagination.

Ohhhh noooooo...

Simple premise and simple gameplay, but dammit is it fun. The music is corny as all get out, but I love it. Your typical Nintendo music. A bunch of random sounds, but it just works for the theme of the game. The treehouse, main house, and basement all had different soundtracks, which was a nice touch.

 Since Home Alone is one of the best Christmas movies ever made, I had such high hopes that the game would be one of the best Christmas games ever made. Long story short, it wasn't. But it holds a special place in my heart during the Yuletide season. I remember playing this as a kid and running out of traps to set, only to find myself hiding Kevin in the Christmas tree for 3 minutes while the moronic Bandits searched for me. Eventually, Kevin was discover and it was game over, but the thrill of hiding that long while they ran around the house was both epic and hilarious.

There are all sorts of tactics you can try to defeat the bandits. I repeatedly tried to set up shop in Kevin's treehouse, but for this to come close to working there needs to be a large stockpile of traps in close proximity to you. Note: it never once worked for me. What's worse is if you are venturing back to the house for more traps from the treehouse via the rope and run into Marv or Harry, it's curtains. Game over. Each attempt to fortify the treehouse, master bedroom, or basement failed miserably, with the Bandits torching my defenses and robbing the McCallisters blind. I sure hope Harry didn't bite off every one of Kevin's little fingers one at a time.

I like to think the Old Man with the Shovel saves him when I lose instead of Kevin being drowned his basement.

The McCallister House - In NES form

As time continues to tick away, Marv and Harry seem to gain an increase in speed, as they come out of nowhere like the Flash to stop you in your tracks. Nothing worse than being on a good run, working your way towards justice, only to walk into the living room right into one of the bandits. Whoops.

One of the cooler things about Home Alone on the NES is when you pause the game or are caught by the Bandits, a display appears showing trap locations, time remaining, and score. I'd find myself pausing the game every 25 seconds to see how much time remained. It never seemed to go fast enough. And there's nothing worse than seeing no traps available on the screen. You know you're living on borrowed time at that point.

If you're looking for a fun little challenge this holiday and have an emulator, download Home Alone and see if you can do the impossible. Those Wet Bandits are some sticky bastards (see what I did there?). I just tried again this morning to best this game and was captured with less than 4 minutes left. Think I'm over-exaggerating? Check out the gameplay video below and judge it for yourself.

You guys give up or are you thirsty for more?

Do you have a favorite game to play during the holidays, with or without a Christmas theme? Let me know what it is and why.

Merry Christmas to all our readers. We appreciate you spending the past year with us and look forward to 2015.

Until next time...

Game On.

-ML

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Why We Love Crappy 8-Bit Games

Why We Love Crappy 8-Bit Games

Have you ever woken up and just felt like you wanted to stop being an adult? You know what I'm talking about. Those days where all the stresses of being a responsible human being just gets to a point where you want to jump in a DeLorean and return to a time where Friday nights meant sitting in front of your tube TV playing your favorite 8 or 16-bit console until the wee hours of the morning.

I miss that excitement from going to Blockbuster to rent a new game, and a lot of the times those games you rented, looking back now, were pretty horrible. Yet, at that moment in time, it was exciting, because it was your freedom, your break from life.

This past week has been one of those weeks where Pop and I (Mom...duh!) wished to return to a simpler time, so we thought, "How can we do that?" 

I had been aching to play Smash TV, one of my favorite NES games (don't ask me why), and we realized it was on the Midway Arcade Origins compilation. Obviously, there are more games on this compilation, and after many hours of exploring, we have chosen a few favorites. Some of them are just hilarious to play, and interestingly enough, these games offered the most nostalgia because of those memories of renting a game and being sorely disappointed at how lame it was.

So check out our first video in the Midway Arcade Origins series, where we play Marble Madness and a little bit of another game (no spoilers). I promise you the cheesy music is worth the watch, plus I'm pretty sure I die of laughter at some point. 

This past week we also played more Castlevania, BioShock, and The Evil Within so click on those links and catch up on some premium gaming. 

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Emulators: Part Deux - The Best for PC and Android

"Re-branded and it feels so good..."

Emulators: Part Deux - The Best for PC and Android

That's right, folks. Retro Thursday has been re-branded. Welcome to...The Reset Button. Your one and only destination for all things gaming, retro gaming, or whatever gaming topic I feel like exploring on a weekly basis.

It's awesome!

So, last week I went over my top 5 NES titles of all-time. If you missed it, I'm disappointed. But I'm willing to give you a second chance. Check it out right here. Some people were displeased with my leaving out of triple-A titles like "Contra" and "Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!", but I assure you these titles are up there on my list. I just wanted to give love to some other titles that deserved praise. I hope you got a chance to try some of them out. If you didn't, we may be able to solve that problem today.

About 2 weeks ago, I went over what emulators are and why they're awesome. But I didn't really go into too much detail about which were the best and where you could download them. Since it isn't against any laws to download an emulator, as it isn't copyright property, I can give you the skinny on which emulators rock and how you can get your gamer hands on them. We've got a lot to do. Let's get to it.

NES

Let's touch on the Nintendo Entertainment System first. If you're playing on PC, the granddaddy emulator of them all is FCEUX. Whether you are a rookie at the emulator game or a seasoned veteran, this emulator gives you all the bells and whistles you need to get your retro gaming session off the ground. There are tools in place for debugging, speed adjusting, recording your gameplay, having a ROM, and saving your progress on the fly. This one is available on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux and is highly recommended. You can download the FCEUX emulator here.

"New to emulators? Who gives a F...CEUX?" 

On Android, which is my preferred emulator format, I'm currently using NES.emu by Robert Broglia. Like FCEUX (which save state files and be crossed over to NES.emu and vice-versa), this one does it all. It supports ROM-based games in .nes and .unf formats, had zapper/gun support on the touch screen, Bluetooth and USB gamepad/keyboard support, and has cheat file support. The best part about emulators like this on Android is they don't take a lot of space up on your phone. The files are small and you can save a LOT of games on your phone. I actually have every US NES release ever on my Nexus 5 right now. An entire console generation in my pocket. It's great. This emulator does cost $3.99 to download, but it is worth every penny. Check it out on the Google Play store.

"Somewhere some villain schemes, but his number's up..."

SNES

The Super Nintendo has been branded the best console of all time by many gamers out there. I wouldn't disagree. This system was home to some of the best RPGs of all time. So why wouldn't you want to relive some of those classic experiences? I would, and I'm sure you would. Which brings us to SNES emulation on PC and your King in the North: SNEX9X. This one has so many refined options, it is the clear cut winner across the board. Image upscaling, video filters, online multiplayer (!), and cheats are a few options available in addition to  save states and the extremely useful Turbo Mode. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't power leveled in Final Fantasy III with that feature. The even better part of this emulator is this emulator is available on Windows, Mac OS, and Android platforms. This is the actual emulator I use on my Nexus 5. The download is free, but I would easily pay $5 for all it offers. Check out SNES9X at their website and on the Google Play store.

"SNES9X: A Link to the Past"

Sega Genesis

To round out the top 3 classic console emulators, we dive into the Sega Genesis. Home of Sonic the Hedgehog, Kid Chameleon, Streets of Rage, and Shining Force II, the Genesis was a powerhouse of excellent 16-bit titles. On your PC, there is one option available for quality Genesis emulation: Kega Fusion. While it is missing emulation options for the Sega Saturn and Dreamcast, it offers emulation options for the Genesis with 32x add-on, Game Gear, and Sega CD. Multiple console options all wrapped up in one emulator. All it's missing is a pretty little bow. In addition to playing titles from those consoles, Kega Fusion offers the norm in emulation options. Save states, cheat support, audio and video capture, gamepad support, and even online play are options for this gorilla of an emulator. Ports are available for download on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux systems. Check out what Kega Fusion has to offer by following this link.

"KEGA!!!!!!"

Over on the Android platform, there are dozens of options for Sega Genesis emulation. Instead of going through the various options, I'm going to recommend MD.emu by Robert Broglia. This guy is the emulator guru on Android. MD.emu features high quality sound and video, save states, gun support on the touch screen, supports multiple file formats, and has Bluetooth and USB gamepad/keyboard support. The ROM files are small, in addition to the emulator itself, so you don't need to worry about a lot of space being filled on your phone. My Nexus 5 runs this emulator with no issue whatsoever. If you're itching for some Toe Jam & Earl, but don't want to shell out the cash on an actual Genesis, grab MD.emu over on the Google Play store. It costs $4.99, but is worth every penny.

"Toasty!"

N64

I was initially going to leave N64 alone, but decided to include it in after trying a few out. For PC, the absolute best N64 emulator is Mupen64Plus. It is pretty light in the features department, only featuring save states, multiplayer, cheats, and an option to adjust speed. It runs smoothly and recently had an update that addressed numerous bugs. If you've wanted to get back in the Kart with Mario and hurl some red turtle shells at Bowser, Mupen64Plus will get you gassed up and ready to go. It's available for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux systems. Grab it for your operating system here. They also offer an Android app, Mupen64Plus AE, which you can download on the Google Play store. There is a free version or a $0.99 ad-free version available. I'd recommend the ad-free version, as this keeps the app clean and helps the developer make some money. And if they're making something off the app, they'll be more inclined to update it regularly. Follow the link to check it out.

That is one rickety looking bridge...

So, there you have it. The top classic emulators for PC and Android. Sorry, iOS users. Unless you were quick to grab an emulator off the App Store when it was posted, as Apple is pretty quick to pull emulators down, they're extremely hard to come by. You can always jailbreak your device, but that's another topic for another day. There are also emulators out there for PSOne, Game Boy (original, Color, and Advance), and even the DS and PSP. I just tend to stick with the Big Four, as the file sizes on some of those later-generation emulators, like the DS and PSP, tend to swell in size.

Hit some of those links and check these emulators out. Remember, I can't openly say where to download the ROM files, but a quick Google search will point you in the right direction. And once you know where to find them, you'll be up to your neck in retro gaming goodness.

Next week, I am going to dive into the top 5 most difficult games in the NES library. There are definitely some you'll be familiar with. Maybe even some you've conquered.

Thanks for checking out this week's The Reset Button. Let me know how you like those emulators, what you're playing, and what you'd like to see in the coming weeks. And remember, every Thursday is a new edition of The Reset Button. So don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to New Geek Protocol and we will keep the content coming.

Until next week. Game on.

-ML

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Retro Thursday: MoneyLaunderer's Top 5 NES Games of All Time.

Previously on "Retro Thursday": Emulators. Missed it? Check it out here.

I hope some of you had a chance to check out a few emulators and what they have to offer. It's really an awesome way to play the classics in the HD world.

But, enough of that. It's a new week, a new edition of "Retro Thursday". So, let's get into it.

This week, I'm going to give you my top 5 Nintendo Entertainment System titles of all time. This is more of a personal preference, but I have amazing taste in games (among other things), so these are definitely worth checking out if you haven't experienced them before. I am going to warn you about one thing, though. There will be NO Super Mario Bros. titles on this list. We all know they're classics. No need to say it again and again and again.

I'm guessing a title or two may not surprise you, but a few may have you wondering. And that's fine. I'm here to make you think, in addition to fueling your desire for all things retro. 

And now, I give you...The NOC List. I hope you got the "Mission: Impossible" reference. If you didn't, I'm disappointed and sad.

Number 5

The first Batman game I played back in 1990. Side-scrolling action featuring the Caped Crusader fighting his way through the thugs and criminals of Gotham City en route to a showdown with the Joker. Batman can wall-jump, à la Ryu Hayabusa in Ninja Gaiden, which is a useful skill when trying to avoid enemies or pools of waste from 'Axis Chemicals'. In typical Batman fashion, he has multiple tools at his disposal. His trusty Batarang, spear gun, and 3-disc blade launcher. The latter weapon is fierce and destructive. You fight some familiar foes in this one, as well. Deadshot, Killer Moth, and The Electrocutioner, to name a few. But it all comes down to your fight with the Joker. This was one of the more challenging games I experienced in my youth and it still holds up over time. While not many Batman games featured quality gameplay, and was something the Dark Knight struggled with throughout his video game career, this one was ahead of it's time when it released in 1989. The music is killer, as well. But let's face it, most 8-bit soundtracks were.

Number 4

Mega Man 2: the crown jewel in the Mega Man 8-bit lineup. As the blue blazer himself, Mega Man, you traverse 8 stages on your way to battle the evil Dr. Wily. Along the way, you encounter 8 bosses whom you must defeat to capture their special power in order to infiltrate Dr. Wily's compound: Metal Man, Air Man, Bubble Man, Quick Man, Crash Man, Flash Man, Heat Man, and Wood Man. Each boss features a level unique to their special ability. For example, Heat Man features a level based on fire, Wood Man's level is in a forest, and Bubble Man is an aquatic-themed level. And each boss has a weakness to the power of another boss. In addition to the special abilities gained by defeating bosses, you also acquire special abilities from Dr. Light that help you reach areas you previously could not.

I'm guessing if you've owned a Nintendo, you've played Mega Man 2 or have seen someone playing it. It's by far my favorite in the franchise and features my favorite soundtrack to any NES title ever made (Ninja Gaiden is a close second). Featuring great platform/action gameplay and a difficulty level that can cause frustration, Mega Man 2 is definitely one of my top 5 NES titles of all time.

Number 3

Maniac Mansion was a bit of an acquired taste, as it was well ahead of it's time. The game had a difficulty level many players couldn't overcome without the help of a guide or walkthrough (which, back when this game was released, wasn't easy to find).

The premise of  the game is your girlfriend is kidnapped by Dr. Fred, who wants to harvest her brain for experiments. Her boyfriend, Dave, and two of his friends plot to rescue her by entering Dr. Fred's mansion and breaking her out. Along the way, you'll encounter Nurse Edna, Weird Ed, 2 sentient tentacles (one purple and one green), and Dead Cousin Ted. This was an adventure game featuring a point-and-click mechanic that was difficult to grasp at first with the NES controls. There were times when, to avoid capture, you needed to click on an area of the screen quickly, but the NES D-pad was extremely unforgiving. But this didn't destroy the gameplay. If you were captured and thrown into the dungeon, one of your comrades could break you out with a rusty key or by pushing a 'loose brick' in the cell (this would open the cell door) if locked up with you. Eventually, you solve various puzzles through the house and work your way to Sandy, eventually saving her from Dr. Fred...if you don't accidentally blow up the house in the process.

This was one of the most entertaining games on the NES featuring a cast of interesting characters. Plus, like the other titles on this list, the soundtrack doesn't disappoint. Actually, each of the playable characters features their own soundtrack when controlling them. This was a title not to be missed.

Number 2:

River City Ransom, or RCR, was one of my favorite co-op games on the NES. A beat-'em-up game with a touch of RPG elements, As Alex and Ryan, you fight your way through the streets of River City to rescue Ryan's girlfriend and River City High from Slick, your arch-nemesis. Along the way, you battle various street gangs with interesting names like "The Jocks", "The Squids", and "The Generic Dudes". Very intimidating names, I'll tell you. One by one, you take them down and work your way to Slick. When you defeat enemies, either through hand-to-hand combat or with different weapons like chains, pipes, and brass knuckles, they drop coins. These coins can be used at shopping centers, restaurants, or book stores throughout the game. You can buy power-ups like Stone Hands and Dragon Feet that make your attacks stronger or health items and power-ups that permanently increase stats.

With it's open-world environment, you can venture back to turfs you've already conquered or push on towards the final showdown with Slick. This game had a very Double Dragon-ish feel to it, but with it's own added charm. Sitting down with a friend and playing through this game was one of the first co-op experiences I had in gaming and it's one of the best gaming memories I have. If you've never sat down and played River City Ransom, you need to correct this colossal mistake. It's aged very well and offers one of the best gameplay experiences on the NES.

Number 1

Number one with a bullet. The best NES title ever created. The Legend of Zelda. This one probably tops 9 out of 10 "all time" lists out there, but leaving it off my list would have been a travesty and a lie. The first adventure of Link in Hyrule was my introduction to the RPG genre. It would be followed by Final Fantasy, another of my favorite NES titles, but this one took the grand prize. I can't tell you how many times I've played through this title. At least 20. And each time, I love it. The gameplay, the music, the environment, the weapons, the dungeon design. Everything about this game screams "masterpiece". Gamers are all familiar with The Legend of Zelda and hold many RPGs to the standard this game brought forth. Even today, game developers are paying homage to this gem. For example, 3D Dot Game Heroes on the Playstation 3 was a game that took dozens of cues from The Legend of Zelda. It's basically a generic clone, but manages to capture the charm of the 8-bit game, while adding a higher difficulty and extended gameplay world. And imitation is the purest form of flattery.

So, there you have it. My top 5 NES games of All Time. What games would round out your top 5? Do you agree with my list? Disagree? Sound off in the comments below and let me know what you'd like to see on next week's "Retro Thursday". Always looking for next week's topic.

Thanks for checking it out. And, as always...

Game on.

-ML

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