Happy Easter! And, speaking of being saved… here are ten instances of unique ways to save in video games!
10. Animaniacs (SNES, 1994)
Zany to the max indeed!
Despite there existing hundreds of games that already had the ability to save a game directly to a cartridge, the 1994 Animaniacs game for the Super Nintendo opted to use the archaic method of passwords in order to retain your progress. Not only was this a horrendous decision in itself, but the developers chose to use a series of character portraits instead of the typical long strand of letters and numbers that we had generally seen in the past. I’m thankful that I was a big fan of the show so I could easily jot down the character names, but I can’t imagine what others might have had to write in order to remember this style of password.
“Top row: Goofy mouse, blonde lady, red hat, rabbit mime. Middle row: blonde lady, cop, angry mouse, bald guy. Bottom row: red hat, cop, goofy mouse, blonde lady.
9. The Legend of Zelda (NES, 1986)
Zelda isn’t the only person who needs saving.
Why, 8 years before Animaniacs, you *could* save your game right to the cartridge in the original Legend of Zelda, one of the first games to use a battery backup save system. In order to do so, though, you either had to die, or you had to get your little brother or sister to hold up + A on the second control pad while you were on the inventory screen. Does this count as a two-player game? Also, make sure you hold the reset button as you turn the power off! I bet you didn’t, you naughty child!!!
8. Earthbound (SNES, 1994)
If you’d like to fax me, press the star key.
In Earthbound, saving your game is just a phone call away. What better way to remember what you’ve been doing than by having a conversation with your supportive father who’s always at work and constantly sending you money because you beat up animals? Ness is just lucky that the telephone company has a few lines set up in the heart of a secret underground world inhabited by dinosaurs.
7. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest (SNES, 1995)
Tuition is out of control.
If you want to keep your progress in Donkey Kong Country 2, it’s included in your tuition to the Kong Kollege! To lure you in, Wrinkly Kong will offer your first save for free, but each time after that will cost a hefty two banana coins. Aren’t books already expensive enough? We need a revamp of the education system.
6. Crash Bandicoot (Playstation, 1996)
Walt sent me.
Crash Bandicoot was one of the first games to come out for the original Playstation when people weren’t yet used to the fact that you’d need to purchase an additional memory card for your system to save most of your games. So, if you didn’t yet own one, the game gave you the option to show a traditional password that you could write down in your handy dandy notebook.
The opportunity to save, however, was a total pain in the ooda-booga. Save screens would appear after completing a short mini-game stage that could only be accessed after picking up a set of three collectible character icons. If you died during this mini-stage, though, you’d miss out on your chance to save and would have to go find another set of collectibles before you could try again!
5. Dragon Warrior (NES, 1986)
But thou must!
Releasing the same year as The Legend of Zelda,Dragon Warrior had a similar battery backup save system. To do this, you better hope that your character hasn’t wandered too far from home. The only way to save is by walking back to the very first castle where the game began and then speaking to the king who will record your “deeds” in the “Imperial Scrolls of Honor.” Does the castle have an Imperial Bath of Relaxation to rest my now weary feet?
4. Nier: Automata (Various, 2017)
NieR. FaR. WhereveR you ArE.
I can’t speak personally to this game, having never played it, but I’ve been told that something *very* interesting happens regarding your save data when you reach the end of the game. Apparently, part of the story urges you to DELETE YOUR SAVE FILE completely when you finish the game. And, there’s a seemingly very good story reason for why you would want to do this. I have *no idea* what this entails, but I’m intrigued enough that I’d love to give this game a go someday to find out for myself. I’ve been warned, because I guess save points are very far apart from each other, too.
3. Xenogears (Playstation, 1998)
What’s this? What’s this? There’s data everywhere!
It has been ages since I’ve played (or watched a Let’s Play) of Xenogears, but I remember there being a mind-blowing segment of the game that questions the act of saving altogether. As pictured above, your main characters reach a room where “memory cubes” have been collected by some higher agency, implying that you’ve been watched this entire time through your save data. I desperately want a remaster of this game so I can re-experience this amazing story (that I never was able to finish even after reaching the final dungeon).
2. Resident Evil 2 (Playstation, 1998)
The greatest thing you’ll ever learn…
In a game where resource management is essential, not even your save files are guaranteed. And, you better be damn sure that you want to save your game in Resident Evil 2 because the option to do so relies on your ability to collect ink ribbons that can be used with typewriters found throughout the journey. If you run out of ink ribbons, you might be playing for awhile! What makes this mechanic even less believable is the thought of Leon or Claire sitting down to type out their thoughts in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.
Honorable Mentions:
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (N64, 2000)
Finally, an owl that won’t talk your ear off.
Horizon Zero Dawn (Various, 2017)
Submitted for the approval of the midnight society, I call this story… The Tale of Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost.
1. Mega Man Legends (Playstation, 1997)
Ninety-nine monkeys jumpin’ on the bed.
Mega Man Legends branches off from the traditional Mega Man formula by putting you in a fully 3D world set in the far distant future. To talk completely about the game’s save system would be a major spoiler, but I’ll just say that it was one of most incredible twists that I had ever experienced. Anyway, all you need to know is there’s a monkey, his name is Data, and he saves your game. Now, please go beg Capcom for a Mega Man Legends collection so you can find out for yourself!
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The original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1989) video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System was known for its brutal difficulty and a deceptive jump where you can just walk over it. I owned this game as a kid and had nightmares just trying to get through the infamous water stage.
While I’ve never beaten it (without cheating), I can’t dismiss it completely. After all, it’s part of my most treasured franchises. Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo were my best friends. They’re the reason I love pizza. They’re the reason I say “dude” casually in conversation. They’re the reason I’m okay with Vanilla Ice.
I still have all my old action figures, I have a small collection of the comics, and I even have some TMNT-theme PJs that my mom had given me (as an adult!). When the new Turtles movie came out last summer, I donned my most bodacious retro shirt and Cowabunga’d all the way to the theater. It’s no surprise that one of my favorite Halloween costumes was the following:
Yes, that’s me.
I had wanted to put together a set of pixel art from the game for a long time now, and I knew that the character portraits from the pause menu would be perfect. Below are my results!
Leonardo leads.Donatello does machines.Raphael is cool but rude.Michelangelo is a party dude.
And here’s a taste of some TMNT art from my childhood:
Thanks for stopping by to check out my art! Do you remember playing the Ninja Turtles game for the NES? Leave a comment, and tell me about your experience! If you’re enjoying my content, consider following my page or subscribe via email to have articles delivered directly to your inbox!
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2023 held some big moments for me. I fulfilled a lifelong dream by moving into a full-time position at my job as an instructor of vocal music at our local college. I fulfilled another lifelong dream by helping to run a summer music camp that we put on in June. And, I got to spend some time traveling – making a lot of great music along the way.
Yet, I still snuck in a few occasions to play some games! Per tradition, I’ve compiled the six titles that I managed to finish this year and given my thoughts on my experiences. What games did you finish in 2023? Tell me about them in the comments, and maybe I’ll be inspired to play them in 2024!
Skyrim (Nintendo Switch)
Finished the main quest on April 1st, 2023 at 5:37 pm.
Talos and I are both voice teachers.
All it took was a little hype from my friends and a sale on the eShop for me to dive into the ever expansive world of Skyrim. Originally released in 2011, I was familiar with most of the memes and knew the game had some laughable jankiness to it, but I had no idea the adventure that laid ahead of me.
This is normal.
In my 115 hours with my main Dragonborn, Elric (named after the iconic brothers from Fullmetal Alchemist), I joined a legion of werewolves, solved a ghastly mystery at a farm, defeated a crew of vampires at a dinner party, sailed to the country of Morrowind, lured a giant to an encampment of bad guys, recruited some animal friends, and cleansed the mind of a crazy person. Oh yeah, and I slayed a few dragons. Was it moral? Was it just? I loved having the freedom to do essentially whatever I chose.
I also somehow got my horse to stand on a castle, I witnessed this cow clip through a wall, and I adopted a daughter who then stood in the exact same location for the entire game, never leaving the city to join me at one of my many homes. There was even one time where one of my companions was seemingly stuck in a crouching position.
Doors? Where we’re going, we don’t need doors.
I’m so glad I picked up this game and finally got to experience it for myself. By now, it’s a huge part of gaming culture, and many open world games have tried to copy the formula. I’ve especially enjoyed watching YouTube videos of people pretending to be the mindless NPCs from the game. I used to not know what Skyrim was like. Then I took an arrow in the knee!
My rating: 10/10
The Stanley Parable (Nintendo Switch)
Purchased on April 29th, 2023 and earned a few of the game’s “endings” shortly afterward.
And when everyone’s super, no one will be.
Here’s a game that always piqued my curiosity. I knew about The Stanley Parable from some old content creators that I followed who played it on livestream. I, however, avoided the videos because I heard there was some sort of twist to it that would ruin my experience if I ever wanted to try it.
Well, the “deluxe version” went on sale on the Nintendo Switch shop, so I decided to go for it. And… it was… okay. Having played other games that toy with the fourth wall or go against your expectations (Undertale, OneShot, Portal), I was fully prepared to ignore everything the narrator told me so I could do my own thing. Thus, I basically circumvented the entire point and never felt the full effect of the game’s surprises. Essentially, I had ruined my own experience by consuming too much media!
I understand that there are dozens of endings. Unfortunately, I’m not compelled to see how far this rabbit hole goes.
My rating: 3/10
Final Fantasy 4 Pixel Remaster (Nintendo Switch)
Completed on September 24th, 2023 at around 8:00 pm.
Cecil no longer plays for the Detroit hockey team.
Final Fantasy 4 is easily one of my favorite games of all time. It was likely my first introduction to RPGs and something that preoccupied my young mind so much that I’d use class time in elementary school to go to the computer lab so I could write a fanfic about it (starring all of my best friends as character types from the game!). I’d argue that it even helped solidify my connection to music with its incredible soundtrack.
Normalize spoony.
I was so happy to see the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster collection come to the Nintendo Switch. I bought all six games on day one, and I started in immediately with FF4. The upgrade was absolutely brilliant – wide-screen graphics, the option for characters to run, and new animations to enhance some of the more dramatic moments. Furthermore, a fully remastered music score accompanied every step of the journey.
I want this on a coffee mug.
I finished this game on the SNES. I finished its 3D remake on the Nintendo DS. And now, I am thrilled that I was able to experience it again on a contemporary console.
My rating: 10/10
Sonic Superstars (Nintendo Switch)
Completed with Sonic on November 30th, 2023 at 9:27 pm.
Sonic gives this game six Sonic coins out of six!
The Sonic series has been a roller coaster of emotions for me. I was blown away by Sonic Mania when I finished it in January of 2022. But, I grew bored of Sonic Frontiers when I played through it in November of the same year. Sonic Superstars promised a return to the 2D platforming that we had all come to love, but the reviews were hit and miss. Not to mention, the game came out on the very same day as Super Mario Wonder which also harkened back to the traditional elements of its own series. Despite the raving reviews for Mario, I decided to go with Sonic and found myself generally enjoying my selection.
I can only name three characters in this picture.
It took a minute to get used to the feel of this game. In particular, Sonic needed a little time to build up momentum before he got moving which made it difficult to navigate certain segments of each level. Before long, though, I had mastered all the new techniques and figured out ways to better command my movement. I also really liked the variety of bosses that were challenging enough to be a threat but followed patterns that I could quickly learn. My favorite aspect, though, was that the game’s story required me to use different characters on certain stages which shook up the style of gameplay and made me want to try out those characters on future playthroughs.
Sonic Superstars had all the elements one would expect from a classic Sonic game, and I felt right at home playing it.
My rating: 7/10
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo Switch)
Finished the main quest on December 15th, 2023 at 11:14 pm.
Jazz musicians be like:
Here it is! Nintendo’s grand sequel to one of its most beloved franchises! I played Breath of the Wild on the Wii U and was completely encapsulated by the open-world approach to Hyrule. So, when Tears of the Kingdom was announced, I needed it.
Most true Zelda sequels gave us something completely new to creatively explore the world in an unexpected way. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link introduced side-scrolling action, branching off from the top-down perspective of the original game. Majora’s Mask followed up Ocarina of Time by including a repeating 3-day cycle a la Groundhog Day which forced Link to race against the clock while also learning the routines and patterns of the inhabitants of Termina. A Link Between Worlds expanded upon A Link to the Past by adding a mechanic in which Link could attach himself to walls like a painting, allowing for clever puzzles in a familiar setting.
I heard this in my head as an 80’s metal song.
Tears of the Kingdom fitted Link with an ability to merge materials together allowing for the creation of new weapons or vehicles as he explored the added regions of the sky islands and the gloomy depths. However, despite these new features, it wasn’t enough to excite me, and I felt like I was doing just “more of the same” with little to reward my efforts. Completing shrines, collecting Korok seeds, finding the four or five switches to activate in the four main temples – this is all stuff that I just did in Breath of the Wild.
Voice students, take note!
I may need to write a separate post to discuss my gripes with this game, but I desperately long for a return to the classic Zelda formula. One of my favorite aspects of Breath of the Wild, the shrines, was ruined by having too many bland puzzles or similar types of scenarios. By the end of TotK, I must have done at least 15 missions in a row where I had to transport a crystal to a shrine location.
What I miss most from the old games is the feeling of advancement and power every time I acquired a new item that allowed me to reach a previously unexplored area. Tears of the Kingdom was also littered with treasures that I simply never used – armors that called back to previous games, weapons that broke after fighting just one enemy, and companions that cluttered up my screen. If I spent time building a vehicle, it would disappear if I ventured too far from it. On the story side, I had to watch nearly the exact same cut scene (4 times!) about the “Imprisoning War” each time I beat a main dungeon.
I know a lot of people loved this game, but I will never go back to it.
My rating: 6/10
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Nintendo Switch)
100% on Adventure Mode on December 29th, 2023 at 2:37 pm.
I like to kick, stretch and KICK!
I’m pretty proud of this one. Super Smash Bros holds some deep nostalgic value for me as it’s something my friends and I would play nearly every night for years. I spent a majority of my time with Brawl on the original Wii where I main’d a mean Diddy Kong (who even took me to 1st place at a Smash tournament held by my acquaintances!). We were hardcore. We had headbands with our top fighters depicted on them. We used a giant projector screen to play in the driveway. We stayed up til 1 am claiming that’d we do “just one more.”
Despite all this time with the game, I never actually owned it until I purchased Smash 4 for the 3DS. I particularly liked this version because it connected to the Wii U version of the game (a system I didn’t yet own), and I could even use my 3DS as a controller when I brought my gear to friend’s houses. This meant that I could practice on the small screen at home and have the same experience when I played with others on a TV.
After all this time, Super Smash Bros Ultimate finally went on sale at my local Walmart, and I immediately made the 25 minute drive to secure my own copy. So began the journey of unlocking all the characters (minus the DLC which I still need to purchase). My friend Andrew suggested that I tackle the “World of Light” to unlock them the quickest. Realizing that I was within a mode that I could “beat,” I made it a personal goal to obtain 100% before the end of the year. I had no idea what I was getting into.
The World of Light is MASSIVE! I’d wager that I spent roughly 30 hours navigating the various maps to obtain all 73 characters and jump kick my way through all 615 battles to earn my true ending. My only regret is that I didn’t take any other screen shots besides the one where I unlocked Sonic (my main from my 3DS days). This particular playthrough was all about Kirby. Just under the wire, I poyo’d my way to victory. I think I’m finally ready for some online battles!
My rating: 9/10
There’s a small handful of games that I played but did not finish. Namely, I started Final Fantasy V and got about 15 hours in before I started to focus on Zelda again. I’ve also been playing It Takes Two with my friend, Mandikat, who lives overseas. So, it has been a challenge to coordinate our schedules. F-Zero 99 provided a few hours of entertainment. I managed to get 1st in a couple races before everyone else got too good at the game. Finally, my girlfriend and I occasionally bust out Nintendo Switch Sports which can’t be “beaten” necessarily, but it’s great to pull out when we’re in the mood for bowling.
I’ve made my choice!
Did you play any of the games from my review? Do you agree with my assessments? Let me know your thoughts!
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Spooky season is upon us, and that means it’s time to take in all of our favorite Halloween-related content! What’s your go-to October media? Are you watching classic slasher films like Friday the 13th and Scream? Or, do you prefer something a little more light-hearted like It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown?
Naturally, since music is such a big part of my life, I tend to gravitate toward anything that has a melody. And, gosh, there are a lot of incredible pieces of music and performances that immediately put me into the spirit. With that said, I decided to compile some of my favorites. Here are ten instances of iconic Halloween-related performances!
What’s your favorite Halloween-related performance? Let me know in a comment!
“I Still Believe” The Lost Boys (1987)
When I was younger, I was very much into Peter Pan. So, when I stumbled across an unmarked VHS tape that was labeled The Lost Boys, I had to check it out! An adventure all about those kids who ended up in Neverland! How did they get there? Who were they before they arrived? What are they doing now?
Well, needless to say, I did not get the Peter Pan content that I was searching for. Instead, I was infinitely traumatized by teenage vampires who were into eating maggots. I still haven’t recovered. However, this movie did bless us with the “I Still Believe” scene featuring Tim Capello giving it his all while blasting away on the saxophone.
“Double Trouble” Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Something wicked this way comes! John Williams pulled lines directly from another famous William, specifically Macbeth by William Shakespeare, to create this magical choral performance from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I’m just happy that a school as mysterious as Hogwarts still has time for a glee club! Expecto breathsupportum!
“Feed My Frankenstein” Alice Cooper (1991)
Okay, so it’s not really Halloween but Alice Cooper’s “Feed My Frankenstein” is completely on brand. Little did I know that it was actually a cover of a song written by a British band named Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction (never heard of them!). Of course, I always think of the scene in Wayne’s World where Alice begins this song in front of a giant skeleton prop. It doesn’t get much more Halloween than that!
“Heffalumps and Woozles” Winnie the Pooh (1968)
Another traumatizing moment from childhood is this bizarre acid trip from Winnie the Pooh. Did this really need to be a thing? Who was the audience here? The scariest part to me was all the different types of voices who chant out the opening lines – an effect that becomes even more jarring when they repeat “A Heffalump or Woozle’s very sly, sly, sly sly!” That last “sly” chilled me to the bone, a horrible croaking voice from the depths of the underworld!!
“Monster Mash” Groovie Goolies (1962)
It was a graveyard smash, indeed! It’s hard to have a Halloween list about music without including the classic Monster Mash. In all my childhood tv-viewing, I was fortunate that this music video was a staple of cable nearly every October. That catchy beat along with smooth harmonies, I’m pretty sure this was one that got me dancing in my living room.
“This Is Halloween” The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
We all know that The Nightmare Before Christmas isn’t really a Halloween movie, but it certainly starts that way. All the ghouls and ghosts of Halloween Town come out of the shadows to perform this incredible piece of music by Danny Elfman. The scariest part for me was when the shadow on the moon appeared to proclaim he was “filling [my] dreams to the brim with fright.” Great. Now I can’t look at the moon anymore.
“Mamushka” The Addams Family (1991)
In a cruel plot to try to steal all the riches of the Addams family, the imposter Gordon, along with his conniving mother, poses as Fester Addams to infiltrate the macabre mob and sneak his way into the vault. However, over time, this character grows to adore the family, and he finds himself dancing the dance of brotherly love with his brother, Gomez. It eventually becomes revealed that he was in fact the real Fester the entire time (with a horrible case of amnesia). I guess some people do get out of the Bermuda Triangle after all.
“I Put A Spell On You” Hocus Pocus (1993)
I know Max was trying to warn the patrons of this party about the eminent danger amongst them, but I cringe pretty hard every time he interrupts the cool skeleton band in order to issue his warning. At least let them finish their song first! In any case, Bette Midler’s rendition of “I Put a Spell on You” is easily one of the best moments from this iconic 1993 movie. It’s made all the better by the backup dancing and singing from her sisters, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker. “Watch out, watch out, watch out, watch out!”
“Day-O (Banana Boat Song)” Beetlejuice (1988)
After a tragic automobile accident results in the deaths of Adam and Barbara Maitland, a new family moves into their old home. The only problem is that Adam and Barbara still live there… as ghosts! So, now they’re trying to reclaim their home by haunting the new tenants. A touch of possession, a splash of music, and a dash of demonic hands that grab the faces of your dinner guests, smashing their heads into the table. How did that not work???
“Halloween Song” The Worst Witch (1986)
Ironically, I’ve never seen The Worst Witch, but this video shows up constantly on my social media feeds, and it is absolute 1980’s Tim Curry perfection. Can he be topped? I might even like this better than Rocky Horror! Will someone watch it with me? The movie itself is just a little over an hour, and it was part a Halloween Special in 1986. The plot is as follows:
Mildred is one of the young girls at a prestigious witch academy. She can’t seem to do anything right and is picked on by classmates and teachers. The headmistress of the school, Agatha, has an evil twin sister who plans to destroy the school. Can Mildred foil the plan before the Grand Wizard (Tim Curry) comes to the Academy for the Halloween celebration you’ll never forget?!!
Thanks for stopping by to read my article! Can you think of other iconic music performances from the Halloween season? Drop me a comment and let me know! Also, if you’re enjoying my content, consider following my blog or subscribing via e-mail to have postsdelivered directly to your inbox!
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What is your greatest fear? For me, it’s trying to drive over mountainous roads that don’t have guard rails in the middle of winter (can my state please invest in guard rails???). It’s a task that I try to avoid, yet every year there comes some reason or two where I have to literally rise to new heights in order to attend an event of importance. I face my fears.
After a successful blog collaboration last month, I was asked again by Kim of Later Levels to work together on another pair of articles. She told me that October 10th is National “Face Your Fears” Day, and it invites others to muster up the courage to conquer their foremost frights. Kim is using this as an opportunity to write about her greatest nightMARE: horses. Going in a different direction, I decided to look up the ten most common phobias and paired them with ten video games that are best suited to address each specific scare. Play these, and you, too, can face your fears!
Make sure to visit Later Levels and read Kim’sarticle about how she faced her fear with video games, too!
FEAR #1:
Arachnophobia: an intense fear of spiders and other arachnids.
Skyrim (Various, 2011)
Why spiders? Why couldn’t it be follow the butterflies?
If you’re afraid of spiders, Skyrim does a great job of setting the scene on your approach to one. First, the walls become lined with webbing. Then, you may see an egg sac or two scattered about. Finally, you’re forced to cut your way through a thick string of silk where a giant frostbite spider awaits you on the other side. However, if you’re well equipped and have a companion, you should be more than prepared!
I’ll add that later in the game, you can free a couple helper spiders that have the ability to cast protective spells on you. They’re your friends!
FEAR #2:
Ophidiophobia: an intense fear of snakes.
Rattler Race (PC, 1991)
Why’d it have to be snakes?
These snakes aren’t going to bite you. They just want to be fed an endless supply of apples. Their greatest enemy is the elongated version of themselves. Totally harmless. Now grab your graphing calculator, and get playing!
FEAR #3:
Acrophobia: an intense fear of heights.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo Switch, 2023)
Kris Kross’ll make ya (Jump jump).
After a few hours of exploring the sky islands, Tears of the Kingdom kindly asks you to jump to the ground thousands of feet below you. Don’t worry. You’ll be fine as long as you land in (deep) water. Between the sky and the depths, you’ll get used to these heights rather quickly!
FEAR #4:
Aerophobia: an intense fear of flying.
Pilotwings (SNES, 1990)
We regret any inconvenience the sudden cabin movement might have caused. This is due to periodic air pockets we encountered. There’s no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you enjoy the rest of your flight… By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane?
Speaking of heights… Pilotwings is a game literally designed to help you earn your virtual pilot license through flight lessons. Rocket belt, parachuting, hang gliding, and light plane are all included in the training. And, to really put you to the test, you’re forced to rescue your instructors via a helicopter combat mission in the final levels!
FEAR #5:
Cynophobia: an intense fear of dogs.
Nintendogs (Nintendo DS, 2005)
One fine morning, a puppy popped his puppy paws out of his puppy house.
If dogs aren’t your thing, then there’s no way you’ll come away from Nintendogs with any distaste. These cute little puppers are craving your attention and will patter at the screen in order to let their needs be known. The DS version of the game even adds an extra touch of interactivity through use of the stylus to physically “pet” your new little buddies.
FEAR #6:
Astraphobia: an intense fear of thunder and lightning.
Final Fantasy X (PS2, 2001)
A bolt of lightning. Unfortunately, you never know when or where it’s ever gonna strike.
The Thunder Plains in Final Fantasy X is riddled with bolts of lightning. But, you’ll be an expert at avoiding this shocking experience since you’re required to pass through this area while dodging a set number of lightning strikes. It’s comforting to know, too, that Rikku shares your same fear!
FEAR #7:
Trypanophobia: an intense fear of injections.
BioShock (PC/Xbox 360, 2007)
Just a little pinprick.
Injections can give you superpowers! Well, they can in BioShock. If you were to carry over the belief that every time you see a needle being plunged into your arm, you’re being enhanced with a Plasmic that could give you telekinesis or the ability to shoot lightning (look out, astraphobiacs!), then maybe injections won’t seem so bad after all.
FEAR #8:
Social phobia: an intense fear of social interactions
Quiplash (Various, 2015)
Don’t talk to me until I’ve had my coffee.
Here’s a game to get you out of your shell. While you technically don’t have to say a word while playing Quiplash, you do need to delve into the psyche of how your cohorts are thinking. Are they into clever answers that challenge the roles of society, or do they just want a goofy response about butts? Which one are YOU?
FEAR #9:
Agoraphobia: an intense fear of places that are difficult to escape, sometimes involving a fear of crowded or open spaces.
Game & Wario (Wii U, 2013)
Even in a crowded room Baby, it’s just me and you, yeah
The “Fruit” mini-game of Game & Wario makes wonderful use of the separate Game Pad that was a staple of the Wii U. The player who is “it” must navigate their character through a crowded screen of people while trying to collect a series of fruit without being noticed by the other players who are actively searching for you by simply watching the TV screen. The goal is to try to blend in. At the end of a round, the other players will try to pick your character out of a lineup and vote for their choices. If you have agoraphobia, then crowds are your greatest asset in this game!
FEAR #10:
Mysophobia: an intense fear of germs, dirt, and other contaminants.
Dr. Mario (NES, 1990)
Do you concur?
What better way to face your fear of germs than by destroying them directly with giant, multicolored pills? Dr. Mario showed us that anyone can put on a white lab coat, don a head mirror, and wrap a stethoscope around our necks to take on illnesses of all kinds.
Thanks for stopping by to read my article! What are some of your greatest fears? And, what game could you play to face them? Let me know in a comment!While you’re at it, stop by Later Levels, and read Kim’s article about facing her greatest fear!
Also, if you’ve been enjoying my content, consider following my blog or subscribing to me via e-mail to have posts delivered directly to your inbox.
If you really want to go above and beyond in supporting me, share one of my articles with a friend who also loves video games! Or, you can “buy me a coffee” or two or ten by clicking on the following link:
October is here! A couple years ago, I challenged myself to post cover photos on Facebook of spooky moments from video games for every day leading up to Halloween – including the day itself. Now that I have a blog, I finally have a proper way to share all these photos in one go! Without further ado, please enjoy my 31 Games of October!
Did you play any of these games? Have any that you would add? Leave me a comment!
1. Banjo Kazooie (N64, 1998)
In Mad Monster Mansion, Banjo and Kazooie get flushed down a toilet and also climb a giant organ being played by phantom hands.
2. Mega Man 4 (NES, 1991)
Skull Man attacks Mega Man with his iconic Skull Barrier – which is really just a rip-off of Wood Man’s Leaf Shield.
3. Earthbound (SNES, 1994)
Ness and the gang capture a hoard of zombies in Threed by using “Zombie Paper.”
4. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (Game Boy, 1993)
Link helps a restless soul recapture a little of their life’s memories by taking them to their old home.
5. Adventures in the Magic Kingdom (NES, 1990)
Our nameless hero explores the Haunted Mansion attraction of Disneyland in order to find keys that will open the gate to Cinderella castle.
6. Ducktales (NES, 1990)
Scrooge finds himself in Transylvania looking for lost treasure.
7. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (NES, 1988)
A casual stroll through the town graveyard for Dr. Jekyll on his way to his wedding.
8. Monster Party (NES, 1989)
Mark grabs his trusty baseball bat and faces off against classic monsters trying to help a flying bird-alien named Bert.
9.Werewolf: The Last Warrior (NES, 1990)
It’s up to Ken, a.k.a “Warwolf,” to defeat an ancient evil on a vast colony planet known as “Red Earth.”
10. Legend of the Mystical Ninja (SNES, 1991)
Goemon and Ebisumaru (Kid Ying and Dr. Yang in the USA) investigate a temple where ghosts are appearing at night.
11. Zombies Ate My Neighbors (SNES, 1993)
Zeke and Julie take on all manner of ghouls in an attempt to rescue their clueless neighbors.
12. Haunted House (Atari, 1982)
It’s up to you to retrieve three pieces of a magic urn inside this dark haunted house.
13. Alone in the Dark (PC, 1992)
Private Investigator Edward Carnby’s search for an antique piano takes a turn when he gets caught up in a sinister plot involving the occult.
14. Super Mario Kart (SNES, 1992)
Bowser puts the pedal to the metal in this race through Ghost Valley.
15. Ghosts ’N Goblins (NES, 1985)
Sir Arthur double jumps his way through an onslaught of zombies, giants, and demons, amongst other monsters, in order to rescue his beloved Princess Prin-Prin.
16. Startropics (NES, 1990)
Only women can enter SheCola, so Mike Jones enters the mysterious Ghost Village to retrieve the crystal ball of a fortuneteller who can help him out.
17. Super Metroid (SNES, 1994)
Samus Aran sizes up Phantoon, guardian of an ancient wrecked ship on the planet Zebes.
18. Contra III: The Alien Wars (SNES, 1992)
A giant skeleton-alien forces the walls open as Bill Rizer blasts it with homing missiles.
19. The Addams Family (NES, 1992)
Gomez Addams must save his family and his home which has been commandeered by their greedy attorney, Tully Alford.
20. Super Mario 64 (N64, 1996)
Mario ground pounds his way to victory while challenging the famous ghost himself in Big Boo’s Haunt.
21. Final Fantasy 6 (SNES, 1994)
Sabin and Cyan must have taken a wrong turn at Albuquerque when they find themselves on a Phantom Train designed to transport departed souls to the land of the dead.
22. Dragon Warrior (NES, 1986)
Ghosts and Poltergeists are just some of the creatures that the hero encounters on his journey to defeat the Dragonlord (and save the princess if he wants to).
23. Friday the 13th (NES, 1989)
Jason Voorhees terrorizes the camp counselors at Camp Crystal Lake.
24. Chrono Trigger (SNES, 1995)
Zombor takes a cue from the “Three Billy Goats Gruff” and tries to prevent Chrono, Lucca, and Marle from crossing the Zenan Bridge of the Middle Ages.
25. Super Castlevania IV (SNES, 1991)
Dracula just won’t give up. He’s back again only to be challenged by another member of the Belmont clan, Simon.
26. The Legend of Zelda (NES, 1986)
Link searches the graveyard to find the sixth dungeon that houses a piece of the Triforce. He might also stumble upon the Magical Sword but can only use it if he has enough hearts.
27. Super Mario World (SNES, 1990)
The Ghost Houses of Dinosaur Land always involve some sort of puzzly gimmick in order to complete them.
28. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64, 1998)
Link freezes in fear as a ReDead makes its way slowly toward its next victim.
29. Wizards & Warriors (NES, 1987)
Kuros readies his sword as the Demon Skull prepares for his attack.
30. Mortal Kombat (Arcade, 1992)
Fatality! Scorpion removes his mask to deliver a fiery finish to the fight.
31. Luigi’s Mansion (GameCube, 2001)
Luigi just won a huge mansion and invited his brother over to celebrate. Except… where’s Mario?
Thanks for stopping by to read my article! Can you think of any other scary games for the month of October? Tell me about them in a comment! Also, if you’ve been enjoying my content, consider following my blog or subscribing to me via e-mail to have posts delivered directly to your inbox.
If you really want to go above and beyond in supporting me, share one of my articles with a friend who also loves video games! Or, you can “buy me a coffee” or two or ten by clicking on the following link:
Cover art from the Mario & Wario comic in Nintendo Power.
Just a quick update on my recent pixel art!
Below we have Wario as he appeared in Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (1994). I loved using the grays of my marker set to make it look like a screenshot straight from the original Game Boy (or, more appropriately, the Game Boy Micro which actually had true black and white). My first experience with Wario, like many, was facing off against him as the final boss of Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins. I also briefly played as him in the crossover game Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman! Having just written about him in my elephant article, I’d love to see his return to 3D platforming!
Underneath Wario we’ve got the legendary Samus Aran as she appeared in the original Metroid (1986) for the Nintendo Entertainment System. I only had a handful of opportunities to play this game when a friend brought it over to my house. I don’t know how he did it, but I was able to watch him beat it. Years later, another friend and I attempted the same feat and could barely even make it to the first boss. It takes a lot of patience – especially when you die and your energy only starts at 30 health. In my youth, I was more experienced with the Game Boy sequel, Metroid II: Return of Samus, which I was able to actually beat when I borrowed it from someone. I’ve since played Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion, and Metroid Dread. And, I’ve just purchased Metroid Prime Remastered to try for the very first time!
Thanks for stopping by to check out my art! Did you play any of the Wario or Metroid games? Which ones were your favorite? Tell me about it in a reply below. Also, if you’ve been enjoying my content, consider following my blog or subscribing to me via e-mail to have posts delivered directly to your inbox.
If you really want to go above and beyond in supporting me, share one of my articles with a friend who also loves video games! Or, you can “buy me a coffee” or two or ten by clicking on the following link:
We’re now in the thick of it; school is in session! I’m in my third year as a (now full-time) teacher at a two-year community college, and the first few weeks are always a healthy dose of chaos. Learning names, prepping lessons, and picking out all the music to be used by my music ensembles. It’s a lot of work, but I love hearing it come together!
A few months ago, when I stumbled upon a video game-themed article about eggs from Kim who writes for her Later Levels blog, I just had to share with her that I recently wrote about a similar topic. This single act spawned a conversation that led to a collaborative opportunity where we united the power of our pens (keyboards) to simultaneously release a pair of articles about the undead in honor of Zombie Awareness Month. Our blog posts, “Infectious Fun” and “Double Tap”, discussed some of our favorite zombies in video games.
Afterward, I reached out to Kim about an idea I had surrounding schools in video games and was surprised to learn that she also had a career in academia. The fates had aligned again! She was more than eager to hop on board for another collaboration. As we prepared to write, we exchanged our lists of schools in games that we wanted to use in our articles, and I was blown away to see that our lists shared only one common game (I think you’ll be amused to see where it ranks between the two of us).
The girl in the middle is way too happy about her disembodied frog.
Here’s a game that has basically been lost in the sands of time… Hollywood High was a computer program that let players create their own cartoon scenes much in the same vein as the Spider-Man Cartoon Maker or 3D Movie Maker. Budding script-writers could take their colorful cast of 12 characters to over 50 locations to act out the most absurd of situations. Just don’t confuse it with the B-movie teen comedy of the same name from 1976.
9. The Classroom (Flash Game, 2003)
It’s nice to know that Cool Spot finally found his passion for teaching.
“You are Alex. A boy that just can’t (read won’t) study. So, simply you just cheat at tests. The last 10 days of school are here and so are the final knowledge tests. What to do? Cheat!” -from the Instructions screen of The Classroom.
If Metal Gear Solid isn’t your thing, take it down a notch by trying this stealthy substitute. As per the instructions, your goal is to copy answers from the classroom nerd (indicated by the yellow dot) without being noticed by the teacher’s watchful eye. If you can successfully fill up your cheat bar, you move on to the next stage. Let’s be real, though. Teacher’s see EVERYTHING, and you would be kicked out of the class for just leaving your seat!
8. Kong Kollege Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest (SNES, 1995)
I thought only Kremlings replaced their “C’s” with “K’s.” PLOT TWIST!!!
Kong Kollege is a total sham. In an effort to recruit new students, Wrinkly Kong will allow you to save your game for free if it’s your first time visiting. Each time after, however, it will cost you two shiny banana coins. And you thought tuition was out of control already!!
Let’s hope you’re not a math major. Look at those equations on the chalk board. 9 divided by 3 = 6. 8 x 1 = 9. 4 + 2 = 5. Yeesh. It’s no wonder Wrinkly decided to retire to her cave to look after Banana Birds and play N64 in between the occasional exercise session in the next game.
7. The Relationship Classroom The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Wii U/Switch, 2017)
Hyrule desperately needs Tinder.
Dating is tough – especially if you live in a village where there’s a severe lack of potential mates. Have no fear! The relationship classroom is here! In the all-female city of Gerudo Town, the relationship classroom teaches young “vai” how to attract their “voe.” It seems like they need a lot of help, too…
In one lesson, the teacher posits a hypothetical situation to her class, “You’re walking down the street on your way somewhere, and a handsome voe you’ve never met approaches…”
A students stands, “Oh! I would wave casually to him but also keep myself prepared in case he’s a distraction for a bandit ambush!”
Another says, “Oh! I would enthusiastically greet him, approaching him with a smile and with my hands clearly empty!”
The final student rises, “Oh! I would walk casually toward him and then strike a fierce blow when he least suspected it!”
“Risa…” the teacher languishes, “That would be a crime…”
They’re still learning!
6. We Love Katamari (PS2, 2005)
Just havin’ a ball!
“Is school fun for you?” asks the King of All Cosmos. “More fun than Katamari Damacy? Oh really, that’s nice.”
No, of course it’s not more fun than Katamari Damacy! Plus, when you’ve got the opportunity to roll up your classroom (and classmates) into a giant ball, you can’t pass it up.
As the Prince assigned to try to restore all the stars in the universe, your journey takes you to one of the messiest schools in existence. Stuff is EVERYWHERE. Bowling pins are set up in the hallway, there’s a goose in the bathroom, and apparently the bell schedule has no meaning. Maybe it was time that this place invested in some remodeling anyway….
5. School II Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (PS1, 2000)
Screenshot from remastered version.
Home of the Chula Villa Chickens, School II will have you ollie-ing near the library and kickflipping in the gymnasium. Some of the objectives here include collecting all five hall passes, grinding three roll call rails, and wall riding five bells. It’s like they just took generic skateboard terms and added school stuff to it. Look, I can do it, too. Alley-oop the teacher. Backside the final exam. Indy grab the chalk board.
Anyway, by my quick search of Reddit, School II seems to be a fan favorite compared to the original School level of the first game. One person commented to say that “there’s way too much open space in School 1.” Also, there’s a severe lack of runaway golf carts in the original – a staple of every campus!
4. Balamb Garden Final Fantasy 8 (PS1, 1999)
Same, Squall. Same.
If you’ve always wanted to be a mercenary when you grow up, look no further than Balamb Garden! Here you can train to become part of “SeeD” which stands for… uhhhh… actually, I’m not sure it stands for anything. I think it’s supposed to be a metaphor about gardening. And, the capital D is just for show.
One of the interesting aspects of Final Fantasy 8 is that instead of earning money through random encounters, you are actually paid a salary at regular intervals throughout the game. The higher your SeeD rank, the more money you earn. To increase your rank, you return to the classroom to take generic “Yes or No” exams about your adventure. So, I got out my real life pen and paper to cheat my way through all 30 tests. With all that mercenary work to do, I can’t spend time with trivial matters like studying!
3. Yasogami High School Persona 4 (PS2, 2008)
I can’t think of any classes where an answer would flow from someone’s hand. Maybe conducting?
I’ve never played a Persona game before, but it seems like something I might really enjoy.
In this 4th adventure (5th in the series), you play as a teenager who gets wrapped up in a mysterious circumstance where an urban legend turns out to be true. Apparently, if you watch too much TV, you die! Seriously, though, the plot seems wild, and it involves some reverse Poltergeist/The Ring-type lore where you have to literally climb in and out of televisions in order to figure out what’s going on.
But first, in true anime fashion, you spend a few hours attending classes, making friends, and joining clubs at the Yasogami High School in the game’s main setting of Inaba. The game’s length sits at about 70+ hours, so you’ve got plenty of time for activities!
It’s official. I’m intrigued. And it’s only $20 on the Nintendo eShop. Should I go for it??
2. San Romero High School Lollipop Chainsaw (PS3/Xbox 360, 2012)
Somehow I don’t think anyone is going to register for the Self Destruct Tutorial.
Do you remember your 18th birthday? My Mom threw me a surprise party that was attended by basically everyone I knew, and then my high school cover band gave a concert for all of our guests. I felt like a star.
Juliet Starling’s 18th birthday, however, was interrupted by a full-on zombie apocalypse (wait, did I forget to put this game on our previous collaboration??). Lucky for her, she just happens to come from a long line of zombie hunters. Now it’s up to this spunky cheerleader, armed with her trusty bedazzled chainsaw, to rid the halls of San Romero High School of the walking dead (all while maintaining a 3.4 GPA!).
Honestly, though, going to school can sometimes make me feel like a zombie anyway – especially when Mr. Fitzgibbon says we’ve got a math test today.
Honorable Mentions:
Mikie (Arcade, 1984)
Hey, Mikie, you’re so fine. You’re so fine you blow my mind!
Avatar High (Flash Game, 2007)
From Nickelodeon’s The-N.com.
Snow Wood Boarding School Earthbound (SNES, 1994)
Shoutout to Tony – always there to help you escape from boarding school.
Hill Valley High School Back to the Future (NES, 1989)
When was the last time you blocked a kiss with your textbook?
Hogwarts Legacy (Various, 2023)
“Help will always be given at Hogwarts.” – Dumbledore
1. Bully (PS2, 2006)
School principal, Dr. Crabblesnitch excels at “fixing little boys like you!”
Hands down, if you ask me to think of a game with a “school” theme, I will always think of Bully first. Essentially a Grand Theft Auto set in academia, Bully gives you control of James “Jimmy” Hopkins as he attempts to the climb the ranks of the classic cliques at Bullworth Academy boarding school (home of the Bullhorns, complete with a totally non-threatening gargoyle statue sitting atop the school’s front gate!).
While the title kind of makes it seem like it’s a game about causing shenanigans as a teenager, the central plot revolves largely around putting a stop to the mistreatment of students around the academy. The preppies, the greasers, the nerds, the jocks – even the town gets involved at one point. Okay, maybe it does rely on quite a bit of deception and violence to achieve this goal.
Within the first hour or so of the game, Jimmy beats up a trio of boys who are blocking the dorms, he acquires an arsenal of stink bombs, and he pelts kids by use of a slingshot in the auditorium (to be fair, this is in an attempt to allow a student to give a speech while onlookers try to stop it from happening).
I don’t remember this part from Ernest Goes to School.
Naturally, due to the content of the game, there was a lot of controversy surrounding its release. While it ultimately avoided being banned, the concern was understandable. A 2019 article from pluggedin.com summed it up nicely:
“The game has its share of profanity (“d–n,” “b–ch,” “b–tard” and some misuses of God’s name). However, although there are plenty of punches thrown, Bully‘s violence is tame in comparison to GTA and doesn’t rely on knives, guns or rocket launchers. Yes, you lie, cheat, steal, rebel against authority and hit people with stink bombs, bottle rockets and slingshots (immoral choices that are all rewarded) but at least nobody dies.”
In the end, it’s still just a fantasy with a plot no crazier than the likes of Wednesday, The Politician, and Scream Queens. Bullworth Academy may not be for everyone, but its connection to the trials and tribulations of life at school certainly is memorable!
Thanks for stopping by to read my post! And thanks again to Kim of Later Levels for joining me in this collaboration! Please make sure to check out her page. I really enjoyed one of her recent articles about her experience with Sea of Thieves!
Can you think of any other notable schools in video games? Leave me a reply and tell me about it! Also, if you’re enjoying my content, consider giving me a follow or subscribe to me via e-mail to have content delivered directly to you!
“World Elephant Day” was August 12th, and with a new elephant-themed power being teased in the upcoming Super Mario Bros Wonder game, I had to dedicate a post to other appearances of these iconic creatures. So, grab a bowl of peanuts, and enjoy my Top Ten instances of elephants in video games!
10) The Manhole (Mac OS, 1988)
Sit down you’re rockin’, rockin’ the boat!
Like Alice down the rabbit hole, young players in 1988 opened up a sewer to see the fantastical wonders of this pre-Myst point-and-click adventure. Sporting East Indian attire and an accent, the aptly named Rejan Elephant invites you aboard his canoe so you can navigate the waterways below the surface. If you try to pick a direction that you can’t go, Rejan will pipe up to explain your error.
“We cannot turn around! I mean it!”
At one point in the journey, it’s possible to find yourself out in the open where you can spot a giant rabbit who’s watching a scrambled TV. The rabbit turns around and notices you.
“Oh my! There’s a tiny boat in my teacup! And you, Mr. Elephant, you should know better!” he says while pointing his finger.
Yeah, this game is weird.
9) Wario World (Gamecube, 2003)
Somebody call Sharon, Lois, and Bram.
Always on the hunt for treasure, Wario’s avarice gets the best of him when one of his riches, the evil “black jewel,” awakens and turns “all of this greedy sap’s jewels into evil spirits! Bwah ha ha ha ha!!!” Along with it, Wario’s newly constructed castle gets split into four distinct locations: Excitement Central, Spooktastic World, Thrillsville, and Sparkle Land (these names aren’t very menacing for an all-powerful evil black jewel).
The elephant enemy can be found in Spooktastic World, and they’re seemingly part of the “Wario Circus” (formally titled “Wonky Circus”) that is being advertised on posters throughout the stage. While they can show signs of aggression, they can easily be avoided. And, they’re no match for Wario who has enough strength to lift them straight into the air without a care in the world. Where was THAT show of power in Smash Bros??
8) Final Fantasy X (Playstation 2, 2001)
Whoa, what the…whoa!
The Shoopuf is an elephant-like creature that shuttles citizens of Spira across the Moonflow. When Tidus meets this beast for the first time at the Shoopuf Station, Yuna tells him that she hadn’t ridden one in ten years. Kimahri chimes in to expand on the story and explains that after she fell off the ride by accident, she jumped off on purpose three more times because she loved being scooped up by the Shoopuf’s long trunk!
Can we get a Shoopuf Station in my town?
7) Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings (PC, 1999)
War (elephant), what is it good for?
War Elephants are some of the strongest units that can be produced by the Persians of Age of Empires 2. Though they are slow, they are quite deadly in packs if they can get close enough. When they emerge from the castle, they let out a mighty bellow. It’s so nice that they come with their own built-in trombone!
6) Rolo to the Rescue (Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, 1992)
Save the animals!
In this 1992 Electronic Arts game for a pair of Sega systems, our trusty elephant, Rolo, has been quested with freeing his animal friends who have been helplessly trapped in cages while on a journey to rescue his mother from the circus.
Once freed, players can swap between the different animals who all have their own unique abilities, leading to some interesting puzzle-like situations. Rolo’s unique ability, of course, is using his massive weight to leap high into the air so he can crush his enemies from above – just like a real elephant! 🤣
5) The Simpsons: Bart’s Nightmare (SNES, 1992)
Pink, it’s my new obsession.
When Bart falls asleep while doing his homework, he learns that he can still get a good grade if he conquers the crazy scenarios in his nightmare to retrieve the missing pages of his assignment (yeah, that’s not how that works).
In one part, Bart grabs a slingshot, dons his “Bart Man” superhero attire and flies through the radioactive skies above the Nuclear Plant. At the midpoint of the level, he must fight the local drunk, Barney, who is riding a floating, pink elephant that blasts peanuts from its trunk. At the same time, Bart has to avoid gaseous green clouds that emerge from the depths of Barney’s belches.
This game truly is a nightmare.
4) Diddy Kong Racing (N64, 1997)
Now I’m in a whole new world with Taj.
Taj is the resident elephant genie that lives on an island owned by Timber the Tiger’s family. Now separated from his lamp, he helps out a rowdy group of teenagers who have decided to host a racing tournament while the adults are out of town.
Taj can be found wondering about the central part of the island where he will award players with trinkets or allow them to switch their vehicles between a car, hovercraft, or plane (these kids are really taking the “no parents” thing to the extreme). Taj will also grab his trusty magic carpet and challenge racers to a few laps around the island one-on-one.
If Diddy Kong and his crew can best the evil Wizpig (who has tried to take over the island via racing, I guess), a golden carving of Taj’s head will be proudly displayed on the mountain in place of the porky wizard. Move over, Mt. Rushmore!
3) Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble (SNES, 1996)
She’s gone from suck to blow!
Speaking of Diddy Kong… He’s been captured along with Donkey Kong himself! So it’s up to Dixie Kong and her cousin Kiddy (a name that will cause some regret when he grows up) to save the iconic duo.
Along for the ride is Ellie the Elephant, a new animal buddy that replaces Rambi the Rhino from the first two games. This merry mammoth has the abilities to spray water from her trunk and suck up barrels from afar that can then be carried and tossed at your enemies.
When I think of Donkey Kong Country 3, my mind goes straight to Ellie as she is involved in a few of the most memorable sections of the game for me. The first is when she is used to fight a giant slug head behind a waterfall in Cotton Top Cove by squirting water in his eyes – a positive experience. The second is when she gets frightened at the sight of a mouse in Murky Mill and runs uncontrollably in the opposite direction – a negative experience.
I’m glad that the folks who made the next few DKC games decided to bring back Rambi, but it was a nice change of pace to try out some new animal friends in this third adventure. Now, let’s get even more animal buddies in the next game!
2) Mega Man X (SNES, 1993)
Flame Mammoth would be a great name for a metal band.
Flame Mammoth was one of the few Maverick Hunter’s who purposely joined the evil Sigma as an excuse to wreak some fiery havoc. He can be found guarding a captured factory. At first, he might be one of the trickier battles due to the conveyor belt on which he stands that can change direction when he trumpets a tremendous blast of sound. A heavy hitter, his powerful poundage can also temporarily stun X if he hits the floor while you’re grounded.
If X has Boomer Kuwanger’s weapon, there’s a chance that Flame’s trunk can be separated from his head, eliminating the ability to manipulate the conveyor belt. Oddly enough, his weakness is wind. A few shots from the Storm Tornado, and he’ll be taken down easily.
Honorable Mentions:
Lulu (Atari 800, 1984)
I don’t usually talk about honorable mentions but this find was an anomaly. Lulu was an unfinished Atari game from 1984 by Russ Wetmore. Describing the game, Russ wrote “Lulu was a dancing elephant in the jungle trying to fill up dry ponds for the other animals while other animals tried to take her out.” I checked out some footage on YouTube, and not only are the graphics pretty great, but the music is on point!
Animal Crossing (Gamecube, 2001)
1) The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Wii U/Switch, 2017)
I should be on a top secret mission with crack commandos but instead, I’m in an episode of McHale’s Navy starring Dumbo, Mr. French, and the Three Stooges!
Divine Beast of the Zora Domain, Vah Ruta towers over the region from the comfy waters of the East Reservoir Lake.
When I played Breath of the Wild, this enormous elephant was one of my first stops. I loved every bit of it – having to sneak around a Lynel to collect shock arrows, riding on Prince Zidon’s back to neutralize the beast, and then discovering that there was an entire dungeon INSIDE the creature itself. I particularly enjoyed having to manipulate the trunk in order to solve puzzles based on where water would shoot out.
I’ll admit, the divine beast formula got a little old after discovering that they all operated relatively the same, but I’m glad that Vah Ruta was my introduction to this massive new approach to dungeons in a Zelda game.
Bonus: We went to the zoo the other day, and I was happy to capture a picture of this fellow. He’s not real, but he’s real cool.
Thanks for stopping by to read my article! Can you think of any other elephants in games? Tell me about them in a comment! Also, if you’ve been enjoying my content, consider following my blog or subscribing to me via e-mail to have posts delivered directly to your inbox.
If you really want to go above and beyond in supporting me, share one of my articles with a friend who also loves video games! Or, you can “buy me a coffee” or two or ten by clicking on the following link:
Cover photo: Dr. Steven Jones from Startropics (NES, 1990)
Almost 10 years have passed since I first became an uncle, and this idea has been sitting with me from the very beginning. Well, it’s time to turn my dreams into reality! And, since July 26th is National Aunt and Uncle’s Day, my timing couldn’t be any more perfect.
Here is my list of the Top Ten Uncles in Media!
UPDATE: After reading some of the comments, I realized I was missing a big name. So, this list is now technically a Top 11!
11. Uncle Rico (Napoleon Dynamite, 2004)
Jon Gries
If only coach would have put him in fourth quarter, they would have been state champions.
When Grandma gets injured in a traumatic dune buggy accident, the Dynamite brothers, Napoleon and Kip, are put under the care of their brainless Uncle Rico. Thick-headed, smarmy, and borderline creepo, Rico is not the best person for the job, but he does provide a high percentage of the humor for me in this quirky movie from the early 2000’s.
His head is often in the clouds thinking about what he could have been “if only things were different,” or he’s trying to come up with the next get-rich-quick scheme by selling Tupperware or a questionable type of enhancement product to young girls. When he’s not out with Kip trying to make some cash, he’ll spend time filming himself throwing footballs in hopes that someone will see him for what he had in his glory days. My personal favorite scene is when he throws a steak in the face of a biking Napoleon. What’s your favorite Uncle Rico moment?
10. Uncle Jed Clampett (The Beverly Hillbillies, 1962-1971)
Buddy Ebsen, the original Jed Clampett
Oil, that is. Black gold. Texas Tea.
Jed’s nephew, Jethro Bodine, isn’t actually his nephew at all. In fact, he’s the son of Jed’s cousin, Pearl Bodine. Despite this, he still refers to the old mountaineer as “Uncle Jed.” I only caught glimpses of the original show when I was growing up, but the 1993 movie is where I really came to love these people.
Jed Clampett was a simple, backwoods man from Missouri who struck it rich after accidentally discovering oil while he was out hunting. Now a billionaire, he decided to buy a mansion and move his family to California to offer a better life for his daughter and his nephew. His life of luxury doesn’t change his character, though, and he still holds true to his strong family values of trust and respect. Naturally, this leads to some hilarious fish-out-of-water interactions with the citizens of California who eventually grow to find a great deal of charm from his simple way of thinking.
Jim Varney as Jed Clampett in the 1993 film
9. Uncle Phil (The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, 1990-1996)
James Avery
Certainly Jed Clampett lives just down the road from Philip Banks, who makes his home in the comfy hills of Bel Air, California. A man of the law, Philip runs a tight ship when caring for his family, and personalities clash when he is tasked to care for street-wise Will Smith who was sent to live with him after “one little fight” in West Philadelphia.
Philip worked hard to get where he is today. He attended Princeton University before moving on to Harvard Law. He had a hand in promoting civil rights. He even boasted that he had heard Malcom X speak and was intimately familiar with his literature.
Though he’s often on the receiving end of a joke or two about his weight, we learn the true extent of his care for Will in one of the most powerful scenes in the series where Phil confronts Will’s dad who has returned after 14 years.
8. Uncle Traveling Matt (Fraggle Rock, 1983)
Voiced by Dave Goelz
One of my favorite segments from Fraggle Rock was the misadventures of Uncle Traveling Matt as he explored the vast wonders of “outer space” and relayed his tales to his Nephew, Gobo, via postcard. For a Fraggle who normally lives deep within the rocks of Earth, “outer space” was simply his term for the surface world above them.
Matt’s travels often consisted of (clumsy) interactions with everyday human objects that were strange and foreign to him. In one segment, he mistook parking meters for living creatures that were often fed round objects by people. In another, he tried out a type of mass transit that just happened to be a roller coaster. Later, he posited that umbrellas were devices that could pull water out of the sky.
With the heart of an explorer, Uncle Traveling Matt truly embraced the mantra that “worry’s for another day.” Down in Fraggle Rock.
7. Uncle Scrooge McDuck (Ducktales, 1987)
Originally voiced by Alan Young
“Unca Scrooge! Unca Scrooge!”
They say that “life is like a hurricane, here in Duckburg” where the affluent Scrooge McDuck makes his home. Deemed the “world’s richest duck,” Scrooge is portrayed as a no-nonsense Scottish-American who made his money by being “tougher than the toughies and smarter than smarties.” Some of his favorite pastimes are scouring the world for hidden treasures, fawning over his Number One Dime, and swimming in a giant pool of gold coins.
While I watched a great deal of DuckTales during the Disney Afternoon cartoon block, most of my love of the series came from the 1990 Game Boy game. I also remember that DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp was a common VHS rental from our local video store.
Meanwhile, did you ever notice that the DuckTales logo was a blatant “homage” to the Indiana Jones logo?
6. Uncle Gadget (Inspector Gadget, 1983)
Originally voiced by Don Adams
Four years before we had the crime-fighting cyborg Robocop, Inspector Gadget was patrolling the streets of Metro City to undermine the evil aspirations of the notorious Dr. Claw. Enhanced with a series of bionic gizmos, Gadget need only say “go go gadget _______” to activate his desired device (I wish I could replace my iPhone’s Siri with this. Can you imagine? Go go gadget text message! Go go gadget Spotify! Go go gadget snooze!). Some of my favorites were his elongated arms/legs, his suit that could be used as a floatation device, and his hat that could sprout a handheld helicopter!
Despite being loaded up with everything he’d ever need to rid the world of bad guys, Gadget was lacking somewhat in IQ. Most of his cases were secretly solved behind the scenes by his genius niece Penny and their dog, aptly named, Brain.
I recently learned that Inspector Gadget was voiced by Don Adams who had previously played a similar character that I loved, the dimwitted super spy, Maxwell Smart, from TV’s Get Smart which ran from 1965-1970. That fact alone was enough to make me say “Wowsers!”
5. Uncle Ben Parker (Spider-Man, 2002)
Cliff Robertson
For many of us, Cliff Robertson’s portrayal of Uncle Ben Parker in the 2002 release of Spider-Man was our first exposure to the character that truly set Peter Parker’s journey into motion as he grappled with his new arachnoid powers. However, there have been countless tales and re-imaginings of this famous father figure.
Ben’s first appearance was actually in an issue of Strange Tales #97 from 1962 in which he was shown caring for his wheelchair-bound niece, Linda Brown. Oh, did I also mention that she was a mermaid?
Perhaps the next Spider-Man movie will deal with Peter learning about his aquatic cousin. Heck, let’s get Namor in on this, too.
While Ben has been credited with telling us that “with great power comes great responsibility,” those words did not initially come from him. In fact, they appeared as a bit of narration at the end of Stan Lee’s Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962) where Spider-man first started slinging webs. The original text reads as follows:
“And a lean, silent figure slowly fades in the gathering darkness, aware at last that in this world, with great power there must also come — great responsibility!”
Aside from the 1960’s sitcom where he was the uncle of Morticia Addams, most modern portrayals of the electrifying Fester Addams show him as a brother to Gomez Addams and an uncle to Wednesday and Pugsley Addams. His look is iconic with the dark overcoat, hollow eyes, and pale, hairless scalp. At first he can seem sinister, but despite his macabre quirks, he’s generally lovable.
Christopher Lloyd as Uncle Fester in the 1991 film
I remember him best from the 1991 film, and its subsequent 1993 sequel, where he is played by Christopher Lloyd. I always thought it was interesting that they essentially made him the main plot point of both films when he was such a trivial character in most other appearances.
In the the first movie, he is part of a classic 90’s get-rich-quick-scheme where a con-woman claims Fester as her son after she finds him in the Bermuda Triangle suffering from amnesia. She uses his resemblance to the Addams’ Uncle to try to work her way into the family and eventually into their vault.
Joan Cusack holding shovel next to a smiling Christopher Lloyd in a scene from the film ‘Addams Family Values’, 1993. (Photo by Paramount/Getty Images)
In the second movie, Fester falls in love with the new nanny, Debbie, who also has her eyes set on the riches of the family and just so happens to have a history of offing her husbands in order to collect their inheritance.
Opening cinematic of Fester’s Quest (1989)
Let’s not forget the time that Uncle Fester fought off an invasion of space aliens in the 1989 video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System!
3. Uncle Buck (1989)
John Candy
“Do I have an uncle?” asks the befuddled Miles (Macaulay Culkin).
“Unfortunately,” replies an unenthusiastic Tia (Jean Kelly).
In this feel-good pre-Home Alone John Hughes film, John Candy plays Buck Russell who has been called in by his brother to take care of their three children while they are away. I remember trying to watch this movie several times as a kid but never being able to get through it. There was something about seeing that smokey, old car that immediately turned me off. However, I recently gave it another shot and can confirm that this is a wonderful movie.
While Buck might not be leading the most ideal lifestyle, his heart is in the right place, and he always stood by what was right for his brother’s kids. Saving his niece from a horrible guy, telling off a delusional principal, and punching a drunk clown in the face, we all need an Uncle Buck in our families.
2. Uncle Iroh (Avatar: The Last Airbender, 2005)
Voiced by Mako Iwamatsu
Honorable, honest, and always up for a cup of tea, Uncle Iroh was the perfect role model for his hot-headed firebending nephew Prince Zuko. His calm demeanor and impeccable sense of reason contradicted most of his nation’s ideals but ultimately helped to form an important alliance that could save the world. His story is heightened when we learn of his tragic background involving his family, leading to a powerful moment where he sings “Leaves from the vine,” a song honoring a loved one.
His knowledge is infinitely quotable, and I even shared a line from him on my contact page as it relates directly to my philosophy of teaching:
“It is important to draw wisdom from many different places. If we take it from only one place, it becomes rigid and stale.” – Uncle Iroh
Honorable Mentions:
Uncle Owen (Star Wars: A New Hope, 1977)
Phil Brown
Uncle Albert (Mary Poppins, 1964)
Ed Wynn
Uncle Henry (The Wizard of Oz, 1939)
Charley Grapewin
Uncle Vernon (Harry Potter, 2001)
Richard Griffiths
Scar (The Lion King, 1994)
Voiced by Jeremy Irons in the 1994 film
1. Uncle Joey/Uncle Jesse (Full House, 1987)
Dave Coulier and John Stamos
They say it takes a village when it comes to raising children, and Danny Tanner put that statement to the test when he enlisted the help of his brother-in-law Jesse Katsopolis and best friend Joey Gladstone to live at his home after the tragic loss of his wife, Pam. With six people now in the house (at first), the trio of men cobble together their unique set of skills (obsessive cleaning, rock ’n roll, and comedy) to take care of Danny’s three daughters: DJ, Stephanie, and Michelle.
Naturally, shenanigans ensue as the two uncles (an honorable title for Joey who is not their biological uncle) try to navigate the trials and tribulations of fatherhood. In the first episode alone, the simple act of changing a diaper ends in a trip to the kitchen where they use a copious amount of paper towels and a garbage bag.
I think I resonated especially close to both Joey and Jesse as a major fan of telling jokes and making music myself – the essence of their two personalities combined. If Joey was talking about cartoons and doing impressions, I was super on board. If Jesse grabbed his guitar to sing for the family, count me in. One of my favorite moments in the entire series was when Danny, Jesse, and Joey formed a makeshift a cappella group in Michelle’s room to try to get her to go to bed.
This blend of music and comedy continued throughout Full House‘s run of 8 seasons (192 episodes in total!). I can’t think of a more iconic pair of uncle’s than Uncle Joey and Uncle Jesse!
Thanks for stopping by to read my article! Did you watch any of these shows or movies? Who are some of your favorite Uncles in media? Can you think of any I missed? Leave me a reply and let me know! Also, be sure to FOLLOW my blog or you can subscribe via e-mail to have content delivered directly to your inbox.
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Eric Hagmann Music 