First Black Friday 2012 Pickup

So the first of my Black Friday pickups arrived today: Forza Horizon. I've been really wanting this game since it first was announced a few months ago, but didn't think it was really worth the $59.99 asking price. I felt that this should have really been an add-on to the game available via DLC or a cheaper disc (something like $29.99). I almost bought the game for the full price minus a $25 coupon at the Microsoft Store, but was fortunate enough to get this for $15 shipped during Microsoft's Black Friday sale. What's more is that the game was later discounted to $10! At that price who can argue with picking up a copy (I think that's cheaper than previous iterations of Forza)?

As for the game itself, I really like it so far. I like the open environment, as it is reminiscent of the Need for Speed games of the past. One of my biggest gripes about today's driving simulators, especially GT5, is how much work they are. GT5's home console is absolutely overwhelming and it takes so much work just to jump into a race. This game allows you to cruise around for fun, which is something I can totally go with.

Rage of the Primal Variety

Back in 1995 I used to frequent an arcade in Houston's Memorial City Mall known as Exhilarama. Exhilarama was an arcade like no other arcade you could imagine; incredibly expansive, this arcade had every type of beat-em-up game, fighting game, rides, a separate section for adult games (I'll NEVER know what was in there), and some insane prizes. I remember seeing a Sega Master system offered as one of the prizes and wondered what on Earth it was given that the current offering at the time was the Sega Genesis. My sister and I did the math back then and estimated that it would cost the same to purchase the console outright as it would to earn the required tickets, but one can't argue that playing for the console would be way more fun.

I remember seeing Primal Rage in the arcades and thinking how GOOD the graphics were. The whole game itself was prolific--I mean, you're fighting with gigantic dinosaurs here, people. The 32X and Genesis ports were a bit disappointing (to say the least) and the stop-motion animation didn't really translate well to the console. Getting the 32X release of this game, let alone in decent shape, runs upwards of $40. I was able to snipe this for a paltry $8, complete with the box and manual. Now to master those stupid farting and urinating combos...

Another Infatuation...Video Game Box Protectors!

Watching Pat the NES Punk's videos I can't help but try to peek at the expansive collection in the background. With pretty much the entire NES library in the background one has to think that he's protecting a very expensive collection in some sort of way. I remember seeing that his CIB NES games were encased in some sort of plastic, but I couldn't figure out what it was.

During Half Price Books' insane "Halfy Days" holiday sale I ran into a local collector (discussed in prior entries) and he mentioned an eBay seller known as "Keep em' Minty." This eBay seller sold the exact video game box protectors I had seen in the past, and as it turns out they have a website, too. I ordered a bunch of boxes for my loose NES carts, CIB Zelda, dual disc games such as Shenmue and Final Fantasy, long boxes (PS1 and Sega CD), box protectors for my 32X games, and even a box protector for my sealed copy of Speed on VHS (ridiculous, I know).

Let me just say that these boxes are an OCD person's DREAM. Super cheap, relatively durable, clear, glossy, and perfect. These things add so much pop to a shelf and do a decent job of protecting the games as well. I will be ordering more for the rest of my longbox games, a few more 32X boxes, and my Gameboy boxes (they were out of stock). Check them out for sure.

Finally Got This One Back

After months and months of not having this game (thanks to Juan) I finally was able to get it back before the Thanksgiving break. Juan, being the weird guy he is, owns a parrot and he (the parrot, not Juan) has the tendency to peck at anything shiny and worth money, including game cases. New Super Mario Bros. Wii, to me, still remains a mystery, despite the fact that I'm happy to have it back.

For starters, it's hard to believe that this game was originally released on a portable platform before being ported to the Wii (normally this is the reverse). It's also hard to believe how many spinoffs have resulted from this: Wii bundles, themed Wiis, a sequel exclusive to the 3DS, themed merchandise, etc. What really gets me, though, is how this game has never fluctuated in price. I paid $49.99 for it when it was first released and to this day it still retails for this exact price. I know that some games just never come down in price, such as Smash Bros., but is this the same caliber of classic game? Another thing that bothers me about this game is the red jewel case. Some people may think this is nifty as hell, but I hate that it sticks out like a sore thumb on the shelf, and lord knows this will be a royal pain to replace if it ever breaks in the future. Rant ASIDE I still enjoyed this game for what it was and am happy to have it back (all $50 of it).

Metal Gear Solid HD Collection: All But One

As I child I missed out on some great games due to a lack of money/time/interest/knowledge of what was out there. One of these legendary games was Metal Gear Solid. Now sneaking-around types of games normally don't appeal to me (I loved Serious Sam like nobody's business), but I heard so many positive reviews of this game that I knew I would have to have it one day. When I heard that they were doing a re-release of the game in HD I was stoked, and the game instantly went to the top of my wishlist. For those who may or may not know my wishlist can get rather long, and often times I buy stuff that isn't even on the list, thus depriving the list of any sort of money. It just keeps growing.

As months rolled on the price of this game continued to drop. From $49.99 (ish) down to $34.99 down to $29.99 I kept getting lured in by this release until Best Buy posted a coupon that made this game $19.99. With $25 in Reward Zone certificates this was a no brainer, especially when purchased with Epic Mickey (which was $8). For roughly $3 out the door I walked away with two very good games. My only regret is that Konami didn't release the original MGS for the PSX on this disc. Now I know they didn't remaster it in HD for a variety of reasons, but I would have gladly taken the game as is on a modern disc. Oh well, one more game to go hunting for....

Epic Mickey for Epic Cheap

You know, for a while I really wrote off the Wii as a piece of crap. For a system released in the year 2006 it didn't play DVDs, didn't really have good internet capability, required you to enter a crazy long serial number to game with your friends, etc. I went as far as selling off most of my Wii collection (with incredible regret now) and almost sold the Wii itself until it was only worth about $35. Titles like Epic Mickey made me feel this way and made me change my mind.

Nintendo is known for first-party games and childrens games. When I saw Epic Mickey released I wrote it off as another kid-friendly game that I had no business playing. After reading the reviews and playing it for myself I can see this being a real classic. To put it in so many words, this is a Mickey game that has a much darker than usual spin on the cartoon/series. I've always been a huge fan of dark takes on otherwise lighthearted series or series geared towards children (Batman Beyond, especially). While many people will recognize this as a clever, mature, and valuable take on the franchise I have no doubt that many will write it off as well; regardless, I can really see this being the next Castle of Illusion. Disney had some real magic back in their hayday, and I think that's what made Castle of Illusion so successful. Now I'm not saying Epic Mickey was a total dud, but being lumped in with all of the other childrens games couldn't have helped it much. Regardless, I picked up this bad boy for $7.99 less my Reward Zone certificates, making this pennies on the dollar. Well bought for sure.

Fighting Game Owners and Poorly Treated Games?

So one of my final 32X pick-ups (for now) is the ever-elusive and well-made Mortal Kombat II. From what I have heard (and seen to an extent) the 32X version sports better sprites, smoother graphics, and an overall better gaming experience than the Genesis edition. Is this worth the cost of the 32X, plus the hassle of finding the games, getting them to work, etc.? Probably not.....but I'm just a bit crazy.

Anyways, moving onto the topic at hand. One thing I have noticed over the years, especially now, is how fighting games tend to be in really poor condition most of the time. It's not a particular franchise or console, but the genre as a whole. I can't help but wonder why this is the case. Is it a demographics sort of deal? Are fighting-game fans less careful with their things? Does it have something to do with their household? Am I over-thinking this? Take care of your things, people! I have had one hell of a time finding clean copies of Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter, and we all know how many iterations exist on the SNES and Genesis.