6 retro games I'm looking forward to buying and playing in 2016

You all knew this was coming, right? Or at least you had a strong feeling it was coming after you saw (and maybe even read) the posts I published over the last few weeks about some of the 3DS, DS, PSP,  Vita, Wii and even Xbox 360 games I'm looking forward to playing in 2016.  

At any rate, here's a little write-up about six of the older games I want to buy and play between now and the end of this year. 

Bahamut Lagoon (Super Famicom)--I'm not sure how it came to be that I've played at least a smidgen of all of Squaresoft's Super Famicom titles except this one. Oh, and Hanjuku Hero. Anyway, I've been curious about this strategy RPG since it was first released back in 1996, so I figure now's as good a time as any to finally give it a go--especially since I'm currently on a bit of a SuFami kick at the moment. 

Dig Dug II (Famicom)--OK, so I've actually spent a few minutes with this odd sequel to Namco's arcade classic before now. The emphasis should be on "few," by the way. Why haven't I spent more time with it? To be honest, its gameplay, which veers quite a distance from that of the original Dig Dug's, didn't sit well with me. Still, I want to own an actual copy of Dig Dug II (I've only experienced it via emulation up to this point), and I'm desperately hoping the expenditure will prompt me to push past my indifference and find a way to appreciate, if not embrace, this 1986 release.

Kaze no Notam (PlayStation)--Considering copies of this Japan-only PlayStation title, made by those wonderful weirdos at Artdink, cost just a couple of dollars these days, it's ridiculous that I've yet to pick one up. It's even more ridiculous given that it's been on my "to buy" list for ages now. Of course, how could it not be on such a list? It's a game that tasks players will piloting a hot-air balloon, for crying out loud. Granted, this surprisingly recent review of Kaze no Notam makes it sound like more of an "experience" than a proper game, but that doesn't bother me much.

Rhyme Rider Kerorican (WonderSwan)--Here's another old game I've had designs on owning for years. That's easy to understand when you read its credits--namely, that it was developed by the folks at NanaOn-Sha, better known as the makers of PaRappa the Rapper, UmJammer Lammy and Vib-Ribbon. Rhyme Rider Kerorican isn't supposed to be anywhere near as good as those classic PlayStation games, but I want to own--and play--it anyway thanks to its cheery visuals and its "generative melody" (which means its soundtrack changes based on your in-game actions).

Salamander (PC Engine)--I'm a big fan of Konami's output during the 8-bit and 16-bit eras. As such, I've played a lot of their games from those years--especially the ones that are part of the shmup (or shoot 'em up) genre. The odd man (if you can imbue a video game with gender) out here is this Gradius follow-up. Why have I given it the cold shoulder for so long? This is shock a good number of Salamander fans, I'm sure, but the simple truth is that I've never really cared for this game's aesthetics. Also, I've never been all that keen on top-down shmups. (The unquestionably fantastic Pop'n TwinBee for the Super Famicom is a rare exception.) Despite those misgivings, one of my many gaming-related goals for 2016 is to give Salamander a second chance--and hopefully walk away from the encounter with a newfound appreciation for this seemingly unique title.

Shining Force Gaiden (Game Gear)--The first pair of Shining Force titles, which were released for the Genesis (or Mega Drive) back in the early 1990s, are two of my all-time favorite games. Sadly, that love has yet to translate into me picking up copies of this vaunted series' Game Gear spin-offs. Which is a shame, as all three of them look like quality efforts. On top of that, none of these releases seem to be horribly expensive these days, which is a definite plus in this era of skyrocketing retro-game prices.

Are you hoping to buy and play any particular retro games within the confines of this year? If so, let me and others know which ones in the comments section that follows.

See also: my earlier posts about the 3DS, DS, PSP,  Vita, Wii and even Xbox 360 games I'm looking forward to playing in 2016

Five favorites: WonderSwan box art

I know I haven't mentioned it in some time, but the wonderfully named WonderSwan handheld continues to intrigue me more than maybe it should.

Actually, that's not completely fair. After all, there's a lot to like about this weird, Japan-only portable and its similarly odd catalog of games. For instance, there's the WonderSwan's unique design, which allows users to hold their systems either in a horizontal or vertical position (depending on the cartridge that's stuck inside, of course).

Also, although quite a few uninteresting (especially to Western audiences) games--many of which could be described as downright turds--were released for the WonderSwan during its relatively short "reign," a good number of quality titles were made available for it, too.

Something that often goes hand in hand with quality games, of course, is quality box art--especially when we're talking about Japanese games.

That's true even when it comes to the lowly WonderSwan, as the following five examples of cover imagery should help prove.

Engacho!--OK, so this particular piece of box art is a bit gross. It's also got a lot of verve, though, and the use of color is nothing short of brilliant, if you ask me. An added bonus: its puzzling gameplay's actually loads of fun.

Hataraku Chocobo--This Final Fantasy spin-off's nearly unknown outside of Japan, which is a shame as it seems pretty interesting. Specifically, it sounds like an Animal Crossing-esque sort of experience, although I'm guessing this Chocobo-centric twist on Nintendo's world-conquering series is quite a bit less deep in the content department.

Mr. Driller--This 2001 port of Namco's classic arcade puzzler is proof that it's been released for pretty much every system imaginable over the years. Not that I'm complaining. I'm beyond thrilled that the WonderSwan got in on the Mr. Driller action--although the thing that's chiefly responsible for my bliss is the beautiful box art seen above.

Rhyme Rider Kerorican--This portable music game was made by the well-regarded crew at NanaOn-Sha, perhaps best known for PaRappa the Rapper, UmJammer Lammy and Vib-Ribbon. Rhyme Rider doesn't quite have the same cachet among gamers as those previously mentioned titles, but at least its cover imagery stacks up to the counterparts of its predecessors rather admirably.

Tane wo Maku Tori--This unique puzzler's box art is, without question, my favorite of the bunch showcased here. I like its use of color, of course, and I also like that it looks as though it was crafted out of pieces of cut-up paper, but there's more to it than that, too. Maybe it's that it gives off slightly melancholy as well as cheerful vibes, much like its in-game graphics?

Do you have any favorite examples of WonderSwan cover art? If so, let me (and everyone else) know about them in the comments section that follows.

See also: previous 'five favorites' posts

Four Japanese retro games I'd like to buy (and play, of course) in 2014

I know I've complained once or twice (or 24 times) over the last few months about the size of my gaming backlog, but that doesn't mean I can't add a few more titles to the pile in 2014 if the fancy strikes, right? Right?!

As for which retro games I'll be stalking on eBay should the "need" arise, here are the four that currently top my "consider buying in 2014" list:

Wario Land Advance (GameBoyAdvance)--Also known as Wario Land 4 in the West, this GBA title is a fairly recent addition to my lengthy "to buy" list. I'm sure this will sound strange to some of you, but I've never been a huge fan of this Nintendo character outside of the WarioWare series--although I bought and played a bit of the first and second Wario Land games. I hardly loved either of them, though, which is the main reason why I passed on this 2001 sequel. For a whole host of reasons, though, I think 2014 may be the year I finally give it a go.

Mesopotamia (PC Engine)--It's been some time since I've added a PC Engine game to my collection, and that's a real shame--in part because it's kept me from picking up ones like this Atlus-made oddity (which was released in North America as Somer Assault). I mean, it isn't often that you can play a platformer-ish game that stars what can only be described as a Slinky with a gun. Bonus: its cover art (see it here) is as appealingly unique as its gameplay.

Pajama Hero Nemo (Famicom)--This title, which was renamed Little Nemo: Thre Dream Master when it was brought to the US, is one of my favorite games of the 8-bit era, no question. Admittedly, I was better able to meet its challenges back when I was a teenager, but I still get a kick out of it today. It helps, of course, that it features some of the best sprites to appear in the medium. Anyway, I've been meaning to pick up a complete-in-box copy of the Japanese release for ages now, and I'm hoping I'll finally go through with it sometime this year.

Rhyme Rider Kerorican (WonderSwan)--Here's another game I've had my eye on for some time. The main reason I've yet to get it: I still don't have a WonderSwan system to play it on. Other than that, though, it's a pretty attractive import-only retro title, as it's readily available and it almost always has an accessible price tag attached to it. (By the way, if you're curious to know more about this funky portable rhythm game, whose art style has long reminded me of the PaRappa the Rapper series), read the review of it over at stuckinthe90s.webs.com.)

Which retro games (Japanese or not) are you guys and gals hoping to acquire sometime next year?