Monday, August 10, 2015

Re-Releases You Should Play Part 1

Hello and welcome to the sister series of Much Needed Re-Releases. This series features games that have been fortunate enough to receive a re-release that you should check out.

Mega Man 7 - SNES




Released in 1995 on Nintendo's 16-bit baby, Mega Man 7 became one of those rare SNES carts and as such, you can expect to pay a hefty sum of change for a physical copy. The game's first re-release was for the 2004 Mega Man Anniversary Collection on the PS2 and GCN, but it was not the best way to play the game as it had slowdown, some input lag and Mega Man's slow walk during the end credits was completely removed due to emulation issues. Mega Man 7 has thankfully been re-released on the Wii U's eShop and has none of the hiccups that were present on the Anniversary Collection. While yet another solid entry in the classic Mega Man series, Mega Man 7 has unfortunately received a bad rap because it uses larger sprites than the first 6 NES Mega Man games. Yes, this does alter some of the precise movements with the sprites taking up more space but the game's pros far outweigh the cons. There's lots of secrets to uncover via exploring with Mega Man's numerous weapon power-ups, the game gave us the excellent due of Bass & Treble and it has a sweet selection of tunes.

Available On: Wii U


Monster World IV - GEN




For years, fans had two options if they wanted to play Monster World IV, arguably the best game in the Monster World franchise. Either import the game and pay absurd prices or get the fan translated ROM. In 2012, Monster World IV finally received an official release outside of Japan, fully translated in English. The game is a wonderful action platform affair with RPG elements strewn about. You'll explore numerous dungeons, find treasure, get immersed in the plot all while being treated to some of the finest audio and visuals on the Genesis. Even today, Monster World IV looks and sounds fantastic.

Availalbe On:  Wii, PS3, 360

EarthBound - SNES



Known as MOTHER 2 in Japan, EarthBound released in 1995 in the west to abysmal sales. An RPG with a modern day setting was a wonderful breath of fresh air after years of swords and sorcery. Unfortunately RPGs were still a niche at the time and many could not get over the game's simplistic visuals, which are really a large part of EarthBound's charm. At one point I actually remember seeing the game in Best Buy for $8. Since this game came with a Nintendo Power player's guide, that was quite the bargain. If you jumped on a such a deal back in the day, congrats because now even loose carts of EarthBound are very costly. In 2003, EarthBound was released on a GBA cart along with the prequel as MOTHER 1 + 2. Naturally, this released stayed in Japan. In 2013, fans prayers were finally answered when EarthBound was at long last released on the Wii U's eShop. Beneath EarthBound's simple visuals lies a hefty does of humor with plenty of dark themes. The MOTHER/EarthBound series has a very dedicated fanbase, which not only lead to the release of EarthBound, but the first official release of the EarthBound Beginnings, the first MOTHER game, in both America and Europe.

Available On: Wii U

Sonic CD - SCD



Having played through Sonic CD a few times, I'm baffled as to why so many claim it to be the greatest Sonic game ever made. The overdose of pinball mechanics is very unhealthy, there are too many spikes and the level design can be a mess in lots of place. That being said, I still think Sonic CD is a game worth experiencing. Being able to see past and future versions of each zone is a cool concept and both the Japanese and American soundtracks are incredible. The PS3 and 360 versions are the ideal way to play Sonic CD since it features both region's soundtracks and the option to use Sonic 2's version of the spin dash since Sonic CD's version is pretty wonky.

Availalbe On: PS3. 360

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