87 years ago today (July 18, 1936), “Owl Jolson” made his grand debut on the big screen and sang his way into the hearts of American moviegoers. Several decades later, “I Love To Singa” would become one of my most memorable cartoons and maybe one of my earliest connections to jazz music.
The story of “I Love To Singa” begins with a musical owl couple, Professor Fritz Owl and his accompanist wife, who are eagerly awaiting the hatching of their four eggs. Outside their home, a sign reads that Fritz Owl is a “teacher of ‘voice, piano & violin’ BUT- NO JAZZ!” Naturally, they have high hopes that their hatchlings will follow in their same love for classical music.
The first hatchling emerges and immediately belts a few lines from “Chi mi frena in tal momento” from Lucia di Lammermoor by Gaetano Donizetti. The second egg pops open with an owl already holding a violin in their hands. They play a segment of “Träumerei” by Robert Schumann. A third egg springs to life, and an owl with a flute begins “Spring Song” from Felix Mendelssohn’s Songs Without Words. The owl parents are very pleased so far.
At long last, the final egg cracks open. “Hello, Stranger!” the owl bellows with a wave to his new folks. He immediately dives into a swinging chorus of “I Love To Singa” while strutting to and fro along with the rhythm.
“Ock!!! A jazz singer! A crooner! Stop. Stop! STOP!” his father shouts in horror. Mrs. Owl passes out. This is unacceptable! Professor Fritz, feverishly fanning his wife, assures her that “if he must sing, we will teach him to sing like we want him to.”
The next scene depicts a very annoyed youngster who quietly sneaks in bits and pieces of his jazz tune between lines of “Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes” while Mama owl turns pages. When he’s able to fit it in, his eyes light up, and he bobs along with the music. When singing his art song, his stance is rigid, breath support is gone, and his tone has an edge of nasality. He hates it. The father eventually catches him and, in a fit of rage, promptly throws him out of the house.
Our young crooner seems unaffected by this whole scenario and merrily makes his way down the street, continuing to sing his favorite song. He stumbles upon a talent contest at a nearby radio station and eagerly jumps in the line. With a shot at finally showcasing the music he loves, he hands the judge a business card that reads “Owl Jolson” and starts to perform. The judge, who had quickly dismissed the last several lackluster acts, is enthralled with the young owl’s energy. He reaches for the First Prize trophy.
Meanwhile, the Owl family, who has since put out a call for their missing son (even though they were the ones who threw him out) hears their son’s voice on the radio and rushes to the station. When Owl Jolson notices them watching through the window, he trauma reacts to their appearance and begins to sing his old classical repertoire. The judge begins to put the trophy back. Professor Fritz sees what’s happening and hurries inside.
“Stop! Stop! Stop! Enough. It’s too much!” he says as he takes the boy into his arms. Realizing that his son truly does have talent and others are noticing, he begins to sing the same song that he hated so much before (with a few changes to the words). “Go on and sing-a, about your moon-a and your June-a, ’bout-a Spring-a.” He raises his finger in the air, smiling, and starts to dance. “Go on and sing-a!” The young owl catches on and finishes the lyric. The rest of the family fall in line behind him and act as backup dancers while the performance carries on. Pleased once again, the judge excitedly shakes the hand of Owl Jolson and awards him the aforementioned First Prize trophy. Jazz wins!
I didn’t know it at the time, but this entire short is a tribute to The Jazz Singer, a 1927 film starring Al Jolson. Its release was significant in that it was the first picture to break free from the silent film era and feature audible dialogue/singing along with background music. This movie also carries with it some historical controversy as its story involves the main character performing in blackface to try to earn their fame.
The song “I Love To Singa” was from Al Jolson’s 1936 film The Singing Kid and can be heard in one of the first scenes where Jolson’s character sings atop a rooftop along with Cab Calloway who is standing on an another nearby ledge. It was common then for Warner Bros, who owned the rights to these films and songs, to ask for cartoons to feature their music in order to promote sales of songs.
As a music teacher and a lifelong music student, I can relate to a lot of the themes in the “I Love To Singa” cartoon. I, too, would often shun the “boring” music that my teachers gave me and seek out opportunities to learn the “fun” songs for which I actually cared. Now that I’m in education, it’s a tricky balance to select repertoire that students will enjoy while also employing fundamental techniques. Furthermore, I am somewhat bound by the curricular requirements that are set in place by my institution.
Despite this, the last thing I would ever want to do is turn my students off to music simply because I didn’t have a natural affinity for their musical tastes. As an arranger, I’ve been fortunate to find something of value in almost every piece of music to which I’ve ever been exposed. I try to help my students find that kind of connection. It doesn’t always work. But, at its core, I think music is about exploring, experimenting, and just having fun.
Check out the full 1936 “I Love To Singa” cartoon below:
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Duke Nukem (July 1991) and Commander Keen (Dec 1990) were among some of the earliest games that I got into when our family purchased our first computer, an IBM that ran Windows 3.1. I learned a lot about computers that year. MS-DOS was required to boot Windows, so I was constantly exploring the command prompts to see what sort of things our new system could do. I think I only accidentally formatted the hard drive just one time.
With no internet, installing a new game meant inserting of a series of floppy disks into an external floppy disk drive and sometimes manually copying files onto your hard drive. “Shareware,” games distributed by companies for free, were all the rage, so it was common for people to exchange copies of the games with each other via their own personal floppy disks. Often, only the first “episode” or two might be available in these games. After completion, you would be prompted to mail a check to the company to purchase the rest of the game (no one ever did this).
Both Duke Nukem and Commander Keen were some of the first games to utilize “parallax scrolling” where gameplay would seamlessly scroll to the right without having to load more screens (like seen in early single-screen arcade games). This meant that computer games could now look and feel like the Nintendo and Sega titles that had been dominating the market at the time.
I enjoyed the games simply because they were colorful, and they were the only games I owned on PC that had a sense of progression. Thus, those images triggered some major nostalgia when revisiting them. I had to add some pixel art of these guys to my collection. Keep scrolling to see what I made!
Step 1: Outline in black!
Step 2: Add some color!
Step 3: Create a background!
Thanks for stopping by to check out my art! Did you play any of the original Duke Nukem or Commander Keen games? Tell me about it in a reply! If you like my work, consider following my blog or subscribing via e-mail to have posts delivered directly to your inbox.
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I love talking about games, and, in the past three years since starting my blog, I’ve had the perfect outlet to discuss over 200 games through top ten lists, yearly wrap-ups, and nostalgic memories. For my 100th post, I’ve decided to do something special by highlighting one game from every system I’ve ever owned (or my parents owned). These are games that might not fit snuggly onto one of my lists, but they deserve a moment to shine because of the time I had spent with them.
Walk with me as we explore a trip through my gaming eras!
Megamania (Atari 2600, 1982)
Megamania! It’s gonna drive you insane!
The Atari 2600 was one of my earliest experiences with video games, and I even have VHS tape evidence of me playing Pac-Man when I was around 4 years old (in the video, I kept dying and was very angry that my parents were interrupting my play time).
We were fortunate to have a healthy collection of Atari games. Some of my favorites were Donkey Kong,Kangaroo, and Summer Games. However, the game that had me coming back the most (and one that I was quick to share with my friends when they came over) was Megamania, a single-screen space shoot-’em-up game similar to Space Invaders but practically perfect in every way.
Larger sprites, an energy bar, and a satisfying sound when destroying enemies all contributed positively as I pushed further and further for the ultimate high score. Gone, too, was the stressful music and speed of Space Invaders when you’ve dwindled the fleet down to just a few ships.
I never saw the marketing for this game, but this commercial would have anyone hyped. Check it out!
Advertising at its finest.
Super Spike V’Ball (NES, 1988)
No, it’s not the Viennese Ball.
I was not generally into sports games but there was something incredibly eye-catching and addictive about Super Spike V’Ball for the Nintendo Entertainment System (a port of the original arcade game). The controls were simple, matches were quick, and it was a blast to play with a friend. I remember the feeling of legitimate progress in the game’s World Cup mode, excited to see which country I’d be facing in each new match and how that would change the background.
One fun Easter egg in the game was that you could play as Billy and Jimmy from the Double Dragon series. Beyond that, nothing was quite as satisfying as sending a spiked volleyball speeding toward your opponent while the game vividly displayed “Kabooom!!” above their hurtling bodies.
Needs more Abobo.
Lock ‘n’ Chase (Game Boy, 1990)
Lock? A thief? I’m getting some FF6 vibes here.
For the longest time, myGame Boy library consisted of just four games: Tetris, Kirby’s Dream Land, Gargoyle’s Quest, and Lock ‘n’ Chase. While those first three games have been thoroughly discussed over the last 30+ years, Lock ‘n’ Chase has been somewhat lost to the depths of time.
So, what is it? Well, it’s basically a Pac-Man clone with a few twists. You play as a thief who is attempting to rob a series of banks (that all happen to be shaped like Pac-Man mazes) while avoiding capture by the police. The main gimmick is that the thief can close off gates behind him, forcing the police to take an alternate route in their pursuit. Power-ups will also sporadically appear that can temporarily incapacitate the cops or make you invincible.
I enjoyed the game’s boppin’ soundtrack and always looked forward to the cutscene after each level which would show the thief escaping to their next location via car, jet pack, hot air balloon, or plane. I also remember the last stage involving a creative puzzle where the thief needed to push a key through the maze to open a lock leading to a giant diamond. I was completely elated when I finally succeeded!
The player in this video never even uses the lock function in the entire game! Impressive.
Vertical Force (Virtual Boy, 1995)
Red-y or not, here I come.
When I was in 8th or 9th grade, I foolishly traded my NES copy of Mega Man 3 to an acquaintance who lived nearby for their copy of Vertical Force for the Nintendo Virtual Boy. Yes, I was one of the five people in the world who happened to own a Virtual Boy (and still do!). Naturally, this was maybe the dumbest move I had ever made, but I truly felt like I had gotten my fill of Mega Man 3 having beaten it dozens and dozens of times. (Don’t worry, kids. I eventually replaced my copy of Mega Man 3 when I saw it at a pop-up gaming shop at the mall for $30).
Anyway, despite Vertical Force being for a generally defunct console, it’s actually a really great game! Modeled after your typical scrolling shooters like 1942 or Gradius, Vertical Force puts you in the cockpit of a starship that blasts its way through several stages of three-dimensional dangers. Utilizing the Virtual Boy’s 3D effects, players have the unique ability to toggle the ship between the foreground and the background which can be strategically optimized when parts of the screen start to become too chaotic. Helper drones can also be collected and exchanged with each other depending on what’s best for the situation.
Many warned of the potential for eye strain when playing Virtual Boy, but it never bothered me. I’d sit for hours in pure darkness doing my best to get lost in the red and black world of Vertical Force or Mario Tennis, the only two games I ever owned for the system.
Wouldn’t a vertical force just be gravity?
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble (SNES, 1996)
Adventures in babysitting.
Donkey Kong Country 3 was one of the last games to be released for the Super Nintendo, and it was the last game that I was gifted for the system before I became a Sony kid. The stakes have been raised even higher in this third adventure where both Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong have been captured by the menacing Baron K. Roolenstein. It’s up to Dixie Kong and a random gorilla baby with massive arms to save the dynamic duo.
I was and continue to be a huge fan of the DKC series (see last year’s Halloween costume for confirmation). Nintendo hooked most of us right from day one after sending us a certain VHS tape in the mail that highlighted the making and gameplay of the first game. I played the crap out of DKC1 and had access to its sequel at a friend’s house.
“The video you are about to see contains scenes of a graphic and animal nature.”
I was excited to receive the third game which came out just two years after the release of the first one. Secrets abound, I enjoyed exploring every nook and cranny. It became one of the few games back then that I completed to 103% (a running gag since the first game which allowed you to get 101% and then 102% in DKC2). New vehicles, hidden banana birds, and a secret lost world, DKC3 managed to continue the platforming magic and wonder of the first two games. While it isn’t quite as perfect as Diddy’s Kong Quest, I’m glad I have this one as part of my collection.
I’ve always wanted that Hover Boat.
Croc: Legend of the Gobbos (Playstation, 1997)
Captain Hook’s arch nemesis.
The N64 and original Playstation ushered in a new era for 3D gaming, and developers were all scrambling to create the next platforming icon. Mario 64, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon,Banjo Kazooie, Gex, Conker, Ape Escape… The list goes on and on! In between them all sat Croc, an endearing reptile in a colorful world who weirdly controlled like a tank. I was all about it.
Don’t get me wrong. Croc could be horribly frustrating. Often, I’d find myself misjudging the distance of a jump, fumbling with camera angles, or simply trying to turn around so I’d be lined up for the next sequence of moves. Yet, like in DKC3, I was oddly determined to save all the Gobbos.
I think it was a game I really needed at the time. It came out right around when my parents were getting divorced. I’m guessing I would have gotten it the following year or so. I’m happy I had the distraction. And, hey, maybe I’ll come back to it if this remaster turns out to be true!
Baron Dante: an everlasting Gobbo-stopper.
Bomberman DS (Nintendo DS, 2005)
I went down, down, down and the flames went higher.
One of my favorite multiplayer experiences when I was younger was the Multitap mayhem of Super Bomberman for the SNES. So, when I saw that Bomberman had made his way to the dual screen chaos of the Nintendo DS, I knew it would be a winner.
It did not disappoint. I was fortunate to be surrounded by a handful of friends who were also proud DS owners, and a major plus of the Bomberman game was that only one person needed to own the cartridge in order to play with others. Furthermore, up to EIGHT people could partake in a full on battle royale extraordinaire. This game was a hit on several Vocal Jazz trips where we were all crammed on a bus together, and we’d regularly bust it out at get-togethers. One of my favorite aspects of the multiplayer mode was the ability to get back into the game after being sacked by flicking bombs via the touch screen toward unsuspecting players.
I think I did end up beating the single-player campaign at some point. But with Bomberman, it’s all about blowing up your friends.
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance
My first experience playing Dance Dance Revolution was at the house of a friend who was having an up-all-night gaming marathon. Everyone brought TV’s and their own gaming systems, and there was stuff going on in almost every corner of his large basement room. One person, however, took the cake by showing us his moves in this rousing rhythmic rigamarole.
We were so entranced that friends were lining up in hoards for their turn to prove that they’re not an ordinary fellow. While we waited, we would stand on the sidelines and “practice” following the arrows on the imaginary dance pads that we laid down on the floor in front of us. Most of us were musicians (and in show choir!), too, so we felt personally attacked if we couldn’t keep time. We must have played for hours, and none of us were able to advance much further than “basic,” but it lit a fire within us.
Several years later, I had an epiphany. Wait a minute. I could have owned this game all along! After receiving some Christmas money, I rushed out to Best Buy and finally grabbed my own copy of Dance Dance Revolution: SuperNOVA. I was on my way to greatness (I’m pretty okay on Difficult but start to tire easily when attempting an Expert track).
It would take a little time for me to be in good enough shape to get back to my glory days. I also have downstairs neighbors who might not enjoy my attempts. However, I’m hoping to bring my PS2 back out of storage the next time I visit home. My favorite track? Mur Mur Twins.
I have no idea what this song is about.
Pilotwings Resort (Nintendo 3DS, 2011)
Not to be confused with the Wu Tang Island.
There was a time when I would compulsively buy cheap DS and 3DS game off of Amazon, and Pilotwings Resort just happened to be the right price (a $7 purchase in 2012!). I was genuinely interested, though. For one, I was very curious to see how the natural 3D effect would enhance the gameplay (it actually made it a little more challenging because the effect required a very specific amount of focus), and I was eager to revisit the Wuhu Island setting that I knew from Wii Sports Resort.
It would take me 8 years to finally achieve 100%. Pilotwings Resort was something I could play in short bursts at any time, so it was easy to take it little by little over almost a decade. I liked that it would continue to throw new challenges at me, and it was incredibly enticing to want to perfect my score for each vehicle when it seemed like I was only a few points away. I loved that the classic rocket belt, plane, and hang glider all had secondary super vehicles versions that could be unlocked, continuing to spice up the quality and longevity of the game.
The final challenge for me was the game’s “Free Flight Mode” which allowed you to fully explore Wuhu Island in the vehicle of your choosing during various times of the day. The goal here was to collect balloons or rings at every location on the island within a time limit. Once collected, it would register to your overall total, and you wouldn’t have to collect it again. However, these items didn’t disappear on each subsequent attempt, and it only registered as a new find if they had never been collected before. For years, I would aimlessly wander the map searching for ONE last balloon in the rocket belt free flight mode. I would even study Wuhu Island maps to try to chart out my course, searching desperately for a place I hadn’t yet seen. Finally, May 14th, 2020: it was roughly 10:45 pm, and I decided to try it one more time. I can’t remember exactly where it was, but when I saw that untouched balloon, my heart leapt. Finally! Another chapter of my gaming life had come to a close.
100% would go on vacation here.
Nintendo Land (Wii U, 2012)
MC Ballyhoo in digital form.
I had watched demos of Nintendo Land at E3, and the gameplay looked like a blast. I thought the new gamepad with a separate screen was an incredibly clever and inventive way of using the new hardware. I couldn’t wait to see what developers would do with this power! Unfortunately, the Wii U didn’t catch on like they had hoped, so only a few games truly utilized this unique feature. That didn’t stop us from having boatloads of fun.
Nintendo Land featured some of the most thrilling multiplayer experiences I had ever played on a home console. A series of minigames based off of classic Nintendo franchises, each selection took full advantage of the second screen, gyroscope, and motion controls. In “Mario Chase,” a group of Toads (your friends) try to catch Mario (you) who is using the gamepad with the ability to see the entire map as well as the location of each Toad. In “Luigi’s Ghost Mansion,” equipped with their flashlights, a team of Luigi’s (your friends) try to track down an invisible ghost (you) who is attempting to pick off each green Mario one by one. In “Metroid Blast,” a small army of Samus Arans (your friends) are joined by Samus’ gunship (you) to take on several stages destroying enemies, collecting tokens, and facing off against classic Metroid bosses.
In addition to the multiplayer games (and I’ve only named a few), there’s a plethora of single player challenges that are equally as engaging. I particularly loved “Donkey Kong’s Crash Course” which had you tilting the controller to navigate a trolley through DK-themed obstacle courses. To activate certain mechanisms, you may find yourself twisting a control stick, toggling an L or R button, or even blowing into the microphone! This was the kind of gameplay I had always wanted from a Nintendo system, and I’m sad that we never got a sequel.
Cranky’s worst nightmare.
Inside (Nintendo Switch, 2018)
Because you’re mine, I walk the line.
Long before Bo Burnham released his brilliant mid-Pandemic commentary on the state of his (and our collective) mental health via Netflix, the Indie developer Playdead released their own mind-bending tale of a horrifying dystopian society.
Inside pulls you in immediately with its story. Dropped into the woods, your main character has no choice but to proceed to the right where they must quickly avoid capture by strange men with flashlights and their guard dogs. You’re not sure why you should be avoiding these people, but there’s something sinister going on that slowly unravels as you explore each new area. I had to find out. I won’t give it away, but let’s just say that this game was well worth the $5 I paid for it on the Nintendo Switch (it’s often on sale!). Do yourself a favor, and play it as soon as you can!
Open wide, here comes the content.
I’ll point out that there’s a certain lack of N64 and Wii games on this list. While my sister and Mom owned both of these systems, my access to them was limited. I also never owned a Sega or Microsoft system. Additionally, I decided to exclude selections from my PC life. That’s worthy of a whole separate post of its own!
I hope you enjoyed my journey, and please stick around for the next 100 articles!
Thanks for stopping by to check out my post! What are some of your favorite games from each of your gaming eras? Let me know in a comment below. Also, if you’re enjoying my content, consider following my blog or subscribing via e-mail to have posts delivered directly to your inbox!
Show your support by sharing one of my posts with a friend who loves video games. Or, contribute to me monetarily by “buying me a coffee” or two or ten.
Recently, a GQ interview with Naoki Yoshida and Hiroshi Minagawa, producer and art director of the upcoming Final Fantasy 16 game, discussed the possibility of dropping the numbers for future titles from the beloved Final Fantasy series which debuted way back in 1987. In the interview, Yoshida claimed that it could be difficult for new players to get into the games when they think that they have to start from the beginning, not knowing that each entry is a completely unique story. Personally, I think they should keep the numbers as they are a clear indication of when they were made (without being tacky and adding years to the titles like several sports game franchises).
However, what if the previous Final Fantasy games did have their own individual titles? What would they have been called? Running with that thought, I decided to take it upon myself to name each of the numbered entries for Final Fantasies 1-15 (not counting 14 because it technically already has its own name). If you had to give titles to the Final Fantasy games, what would you choose? Leave me a comment and let me know!
Final Fantasy (1): The Warriors of Light
Final Fantasy 2: Hellspawn
Final Fantasy 3: The Dark Crystals
Final Fantasy 4: Secret of the Moon
Final Fantasy 5: The Sealed Evil
Final Fantasy 6: Magic’s Ruin
Final Fantasy 7: Cry of the Planet
Final Fantasy 8: Transfer of Power
Final Fantasy 9: Black Mage Army
Final Fantasy 10: The End of Sin
Final Fantasy 11: The Crystal War
Final Fantasy 12: The Lost Princess
Final Fantasy 13: Enemy of Cocoon
Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn (official name from Square)
Final Fantasy 15: Starscourge
Thanks for stopping by to check out my post! What would you name the Final Fantasy games if they weren’t numbered? Tell me in a comment! Also, if you like what you’ve read, consider following me or subscribing to my blog via email to have posts delivered directly to your inbox!
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As you may or may not know, May is Zombie Awareness Month, and it is the goal of the Zombie Research Society to “bring awareness about zombies and the possibility of a future zombie apocalypse.” While I’m hopeful that we’ll never live to see such a day, I feel generally prepared having dealt with my own fair share of the undead (albeit in digital form).
This month, I’m excited to be joined by Kim from Later Levels as we team up to compile some of our best-loved instances of brain-eating blights in video games. Check out Kim’s article entitled “Infectious Fun: My Favourite Zombie Video Games.”
My top ten picks are below, and I made it a personal challenge to avoid the typical survival horror genre (mostly because they give me nightmares). To honor the month, I’ll include a Zombie Survival Takeaway for each game to help us in the event of a full-on zombie uprising!
10. Secret of Mana (SNES, 1993)
All aboard the zombie train! Actually, this particular section of the Underground City in Secret of Mana contains “ghouls” – a stronger variant of the zombie baddies found earlier in the game. Apparently, these enemies have an extreme fondness for sweets, too, because they will commonly drop candy upon being defeated!
Zombie Survival Takeaway: Avoid the subway.
9. Final Fantasy 4 (SNES, 1991)
After being stripped of his rank as leader of the Red Wings, Cecil is given one last mission to deliver a “package” to the village of Mist which is home to a powerful group of summoners (plot twist: the package is not a new set of curtains from Amazon). Zombies are one of the first enemies encountered in the game, and they can be found in the Underground Waterway on the way to their destination. Since Cecil is a Dark Knight, his attacks only deal 1 HP of damage.
Zombie Survival Takeaway: Make sure you’re a Paladin before fighting/do not attack with darkness.
8. Adventures in the Magic Kingdom (NES, 1990)
“This thriller has the scariest ghouls and ghosts in the Magic Kingdom” according to the original manual for Adventures in the Magic Kingdom. This THRILLER?? I see what you did there. Thankfully, “monsters hate the light,” and you’re equipped with a limited supply of lit candles to throw in their faces. I’ve never been to Disney, but I’m pretty sure you don’t get attacked by zombies in the Haunted Mansion. Correct me if I’m wrong?
Zombie Survival Takeaway: Always carry a lit candle.
7. MediEvil (Playstation, 1998)
One good thing about fighting an evil sorcerer that commands an army of undead warriors is that you might have a chance at revenge if you’re killed in your first battle. This is what happened to Sir Daniel Fortesque who was accidentally resurrected by Zarok when the sorcerer tried to raise another batch of zombie troops 100 years after his first attempt at ruling the kingdom of Gallowmere. Freshly reanimated, Dan can even use his own limbs as weapons!
Zombie Survival Takeaway: If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em – and THEN beat ’em.
6. Castlevania (NES, 1986)
You have to hand it to Dracula (or “The Count!” as he’s called in the manual) for dressing all of his zombie minions in matching robes. The color coordination is off the wall (or *IN* the wall if you’re a piece of pork chop). Truthfully, I never thought these guys were zombies, but then I checked the instructions…
Zombie? More like skeleton cosplaying the Grim Reaper. In any case, these “zombies” are the first enemies that you see, and they will never stop spawning.
Zombie Survival Takeaway: If you’re at a good height, stairs are safe.
5. Minecraft (Windows/MacOS, 2011)
Admittedly, I’ve still never played Minecraft, but I know it has a huge following. I think it’s a game I would have really enjoyed if it came out when I was a kid. My Lego collection was quite extensive, and I loved building towns! In the meantime, I just know what I’ve seen.
Zombies are one of the basic “mobs” that can attempt to ruin your crafting experience. While they’re generally pretty easy to kill on their own, they can become a nuisance in large groups. If the sun happens to peak over the horizon though, they’ll burn to a crisp.
Zombie Survival Takeaway: The day is the way.
4. Monster Party (NES, 1989)
If you try to attack the zombies in round 5 of Monster Party, they will infinitely reform, and you will never escape their room. Upon entry, you’re told to “watch my dance,” and that’s literally what you have to do. Though it’s not quite as thrilling as the moves from “Thriller,” this pair of undead dancers get down to a prehistoric pentatonic party. Once they finish, they collapse into a heap of bones, and you’re free to continue the level.
Zombie Survival Takeaway: Never interrupt a zombie jamboree.
3. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (N64, 2000)
Majora’s Mask already has some pretty dark vibes going on, and this sequence about a father who slowly turns into a mummified Gibdo is utterly horrifying. In short, the father was a connoisseur of the paranormal who lived with his daughter in a Music Box House that’s programmed to play a song that repels the undead. The music box eventually lost power, and the father became cursed while investigating a well. This led to him being shoved into a closet in the basement by his own daughter who was frightened by the potential of an impending Gibdo attack.
Of course, the player doesn’t initially know that there’s a cursed researcher stuck in the closet. When curiosity gets the best of you and you reach for the door, the monstrous mummy jumps out and starts slowly creeping toward you. The only option at the time, other than replacing your pants, is to run away.
Zombie Survival Takeaway: Leave the door closed.
2. Earthbound (SNES, 1994)
According to the original Earthbound strategy guide, “Threed was once called the ‘Fun’ capitol of the world because it is home to the famous Threed Circus.” Now, it is overrun by an onslaught of zombies who answer to a gelatinous blob named “Belch.” After a series of events involving a mysterious “Zombie Chick,” a telepathic call to a new friend, and a battle with a Big Top, Ness and his pals receive a call from an inventor friend who has a solution to the city’s walking dead problem. How to round up the remaining zombies? The same way one would catch flies – sticky paper!
Zombie Survival Takeaway: Zombie Paper.
Honorable Mentions:
“Re: Your Brains” – Rock Band 2 (XBox 360/PS2/PS3/Wii, 2008)
“We’re not unreasonable. I mean, no one’s gonna eat your eyes.”
One of my favorite Rock Band 2 songs is a quirky tune by Jonathon Coulton that tells the tale of a man named Bob who has recently been zombified, and now he wants to consume the brains of his coworker. I mean, we’ve all been there, right?
Zombie Survival Takeaway: Just go with it. Here’s your chance to get back at that annoying guy at your job.
1. Zombies Ate My Neighbors (SNES, 1993)
I’ve had some neighbors where I wouldn’t mind if this happened.
The quintessential zombie game of the 90’s, Zombies Ate My Neighbors had it all. Werewolves, mummies, chainsaw maniacs, and aliens are just a few of the classic-horror, B-movie characters that you’ll go up against as you race to save your neighbors who have seemingly gone on with their day to day lives. Armed with an arsenal that includes your trusty squirt gun, you and a pal can tackle 48 levels of monster mayhem culminating in a battle against the maddening Dr. Tongue who is the cause for all of the mania.
Zombie Survival Takeaway: Break out the Super Soaker.
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An army of ninja cats, two-player cooperative action, and a colorful array of in-game mini-games including a playable demo of Gradius 3? The Legend of the Mystical Ninja holds a fond place in my memory as an ever enjoyable experience despite its ramped up difficulty later in the adventure.
I remember playing this with my sister and enjoying the simple act of just wandering the first area, collecting tons of cash from defeating enemies, and exploring each little shop that was scattered about the town. The game was jam packed full of activities, and I never felt the need to continue the story in order to have fun.
Of course, once we decided to move on, the game proved to be a thrilling test of reflexes as we jumped over spiked pits, swatted at ghosts, and rode on each others’ backs during the trickier sections.
Years later, a friend and I gave this game a serious attempt, but we were thwarted when we lost all of our lives to a challenging boss and subsequently sent back to a part that required a heavy grind for coins. We never finished. With the advent of Nintendo-approved save states, I’d like to give it another try. It’s a great game and worth it to hear the soundtrack alone!
Below is a piece of pixel art I put together using my trusty markers and graph paper – starring Goemon himself! Were you a fan of these games? Tell me about it in a reply!
Step 1: Our black outline! Trying to keep my lines straight.Step 2: Blues and grays. Nice to see him with some hair and eyes.Step 3: Browns, oranges, and yellows. Doesn’t add too much, but gives a little structure to his face.Step 4: Reds for days. I’m not sure I totally like the hue of pink on his face, but it was the closest color I had.Step 5: A craaaazy background! I used shades of green to make him pop out. At this angle, it really looks like he’s jumping on a 3D landscape! Overall, I love it and I don’t notice the pink as much when I see it in its entirety.
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As an adult on Easter, I may not be searching for colorful capsules filled with candy, but that doesn’t mean I can’t take my hunt to other mediums! This year, I went on a quest to find the top ten instances of eggs in video games! Can you think of any others? Tell me about it in the comments!
10. Metroid II: Return of Samus (Game Boy, 1991)
Which came first: the Metroid or the egg?
If you’re seeing these shells, that means there’s a Metroid nearby – and you’ll be seeing a lot of them! In this Game Boy sequel to the original NES game, Samus explores the depths of planet SR388 to exterminate the “last” of these parasitic pests (47 in total!). Make sure you have your hand-drawn map nearby!
9. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii, 2007)
Feed me, Mario!
He’s a mean green mother from Good Egg Galaxy. Once you’ve cracked this egg, Petey Piranha 2.0 attempts to get revenge for his defeat in Super Mario Sunshine (but actually there’s no relation). In any case, this good egg has definitely gone bad.
8. Mario Kart 64 (N64, 1996)
Whirrrr.
No matter how hard you try to avoid this thing, it will always hit you. This giant egg in Yoshi Valley follows the same path as your DVD screensaver except there’s no cathartic feeling if it perfectly touches the corner. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been comfortably in 1st place only to be completely ruined at the last moment. My only question is – where is the giant Yoshi that laid this egg??
7. Jurassic Park (Super Nintendo, 1993)
Dino DNA.
Remember that scene in Jurassic Park where Dr. Alan Grant had to scour the entire island in search of dinosaur eggs? Me neither. But apparently that’s a significant enough idea to build a game around it. Unfortunately, they didn’t “spare no expense” when they developed this Super Nintendo adventure.
6. Adventure Island (NES, 1986)
Adventure Island – right next to Gilligan’s Island.
Axes, flowers, milk, and eggplants… this Easter egg hunt is out of control. If you’re really lucky, Master Higgins will find a skateboard with a full set of safety gear inside these eggs scattered around Adventure Island. All I ever got were Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
5. Dizzy (ZX Spectrum, 1987)
Dizzy Devil’s yucky.
Over 20 games spanning almost three decades, the Dizzy series has flown completely under my radar. We all know that Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Well, his distant cousin Dizzy rolled around the land in order to rescue his fellow “Yolkfolk” from the clutches of an evil wizard. If I ever come across one of these games, I’ll have to take a *crack* at it!
4. Banjo Kazooie (N64, 1998)
Photo from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – Guh huh!
One of the coolest aspects about Banjo Kazooie is how it forces you to fully utilize all of your abilities in order to succeed – especially during the multi-tiered final boss battle. Of course, the toughest phase of the fight involves our dynamic duo pooping eggs into a series of Jinjo statues. Does this count as defacing public property?
3. Adventures of Lolo (NES, 1989)
I’m not throwing away my (magic) shot!
In Lolo, you collect hearts which *might* give you a set of magic shots. One shot will turn an enemy into an egg which you can push around or use as a pedestal in water. A second shot will send that enemy off the screen into oblivion. These eggs can be the puzzliest parts of Lolo because some stages require strategic placement to block our blue bestie from being pelted by flames or spikes. Other stages are even trickier because they ask the player to send an enemy offscreen and cover their original spawn location with a separate egg, which then forces the original enemy to respawn in a secondary spot that’s needed to complete the stage. Whattttt???
2. Yoshi’s Island/Super Mario World (SNES, 1995/1990)
What’s the difference between an egg used as a weapon and an egg used to birth baby Yoshis? Maybe I don’t want to know! In Yoshi’s Island, a prequel to Super Mario World (and every Mario game for that matter), Yoshi carries and protects a young Mario in an attempt to return him to his separated brother Luigi who has been captured by Kamek and imprisoned in a young Bowser’s castle.
Eggs are a plenty! They can be spewed out infinitely from pipes, knocked out of specific blocks, or created on the fly by consuming a small enemy and popping them out of the rear! Apparently, when unfertilized (I assume), they can be aimed and shot at enemies throughout the entire adventure. How many eggs do you think Yoshi breaks during this game???
In Super Mario World, eggs are *only* used for birthing baby Yoshi’s (and sometimes 1-ups if you already have a Yoshi). These eggs can be green, blue, yellow, or red and each give rise to different colored Yoshi’s with special powers based on their colors. At the end of every castle level, after defeating a Koopaling, Mario rescues a special Yoshi egg that had been kidnapped by Bowser. He then returns them home to Yoshi’s house at the end of the game. What was Bowser’s plan here? Enslaving Yoshi’s for his own personal army? I’d love to see that plot unravel in a future game…!
Honorable Mentions:
Chrono Trigger (SNES, 1995)
Don’t forget to check your Chrono Trigger to make sure you didn’t get a cracked one.
Alien 3 (Sega Genesis/SNES, 1992/1993)
At least I got off the morphine.
Final Fantasy 6 (SNES, 1994)
Don’t tell Gaston about this.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (Game Boy, 1993)
Warning: Does not work on real eggs.
Speaking of Yoshi eggs… After surviving a horrendous shipwreck, Link wakes up on a strange island which is home to a giant egg atop a mountain. Upon recovering his sword, which had washed up on the beach, an owl expounds an encyclopedia’s worth of exposition unto Link telling him that the whole world is a dream. The only way to be roused from this dream is to play the eight Instruments of the Sirens in front of the egg and then wake the mystical “Wind Fish” (a giant, flying whale). The most impressive part of this feat is that Link can play eight instruments at the same time. How come they never taught me THAT in music school??
Thanks for stopping by to check out my article! Which instance of eggs in games from my article is your favorite? What are some other games that have eggs in them? Leave me a reply, and let me know! Also, if you’ve been enjoying my work, considering following my blog or subscribing via email to have content delivered directly to your inbox.
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While the world was dealing with a pandemic, I was wrapping up my first year of a Master’s degree and holding true to my New Year’s resolution: to create a video game-related top ten list (based on a witty pun) for every month of the year.
Due to the nature of WordPress, it could be difficult to scroll back and find all of those classic posts from my early writing days. So, to make it easy for all of you, I’ve decided to archive all my 2020 posts in one place!
If you’re new to my page, I hope you’ll check some of these out. If you’ve read all of these before, I hope you take a moment to enjoy them again!
Thanks for stopping by to check out my work! Which article from 2020 was your favorite? Is there a top ten list you’d like to see me create in the future? Leave me a reply and let me know about it! Also, if you’re enjoying my content, consider following my blog or subscribing via e-mail to have articles delivered directly to your inbox.
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With Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania just around the corner, we will finally get a full glimpse of the “other” Kang in all his glory. Kang… Kang… Hmmm, that name sounds a lot like some other fictional bad guys out there in the world…
Let’s name the Top Ten “K” Villains (who only have one syllable in their name)!
10) Klump Donkey Kong Country
He’s Klump. He’s Klump. He’s in my head.
A sergeant in King K. Rool’s kremling army, Klump appears in the very first stage of Donkey Kong Country. Apparently, a helmet and a tubby belly is all you need to be protected from Kong children. While Diddy Kong is unable to do any damage to Klump, Donkey Kong’s strength can conk him out in one fell swoop!
9) King Mega Man and Bass
It’s good to be the King.
Talk about your all time backfires. When Dr. Wily built King to be a more powerful robot than his previous project, Bass, he didn’t expect that his creation would turn on him (you better get used to this, Wily). King, aptly, declares himself “King of Robots” and attempts to shape the world to his own liking. Don’t worry. He eventually learns his lesson and decides that maybe he should “fight for everlasting peace” instead.
8) Kane Command & Conquer
Live actors? In my game? It’s more likely than you think! Kane played by Joseph David Kucan.
He ain’t here for a long time. He’s here for a real-time strategy game.
Actually, Kane *has* been on Earth for a very long time and has been essentially using a crazy religious cult that he founded in order to achieve his wildest ambitions. Not only that but he’s friends with Stalin… and he thinks he’s the Messiah. At least at class reunions it’s true when they tell him “you haven’t changed a bit!”
7) Kaa The Jungle Book
THE JUNGLE BOOK, Kaa, Mowgli, 1967, (c)Walt Disney Pictures/Courtesy: Everett Collection
The sinister snake of The Jungle Book, Kaa isn’t bad – he’s just drawn that way. But for real, a snake has to eat and when a young boy just happens to be passing by, who wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to snag a meal? Though, when was the last time you tried to lull your lunch into a manic state of hypnosis while simultaneously strangling it to death? Who knows – maybe I should try it!
6) Kain Soul Reaver: Legacy of Kain
“Conscience? You dare speak to me of conscience?!”
Bram Stoker’s Dracula denied his Lord after the love of his life was taken from him. Castlevania’s Dracula befell a similar fate. Edward Cullen was dying of the Spanish influenza. What tragic backstory drove Kain to vampirism? Well, he was denied a drink and then murdered outside a bar.
Kain was the main protagonist in Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain where he sought revenge on his assassins. A few thousand years laters, he’s doing pretty well for himself having set up a full-on vampiric empire in a decaying world (that he caused). When his lieutenant, Raziel, seemed to surpass Kain by growing a sweet set of wings, Kain threw Raziel into the Lake of the Dead.
Now the tables have turned, and Raziel has his shot at revenge. Kain’s just jealous, man, ’cause he ain’t got the moves!
5) Klaw/Klaue Fantastic Four
Next time, Gadget! Next time!
It’s unlikely that we’ll see Klaw again in the current MCU, but anything is possible when you’ve got an infinite set of multiverses to explore!
Ulysses Klaue first appeared in Fantastic Four #53 way back in May of 1966. He had an unhealthy obsession with trying to acquire Vibranium and lead several attacks on Wakanda to try to get it. In his second attempt and as a last-ditch effort, he merged his body into a “sonic converter device” which miraculously turned him into “living sound.” Despite this new power, Mister Fantastic still managed to get the best of him.
As an aside, “Living Sound” would be a great title for a New Age music album.
4) Kong King Kong
De plane! De plane!
The “Eighth Wonder of the World,” Kong got his name from the natives that lived on the island that he inhabited. Naturally, he wasn’t too thrilled when a bunch of greedy Americans decided to whisk him away to New York to put him on display. Kong did the most sensible thing he could think of when he escaped: kidnapped a beautiful woman and climbed to the top of a tower.
Of course, my favorite iteration of this gargantuan gorilla will always be this guy:
Homer Kong vs Bartzilla from Bart’s Nightmare
3) Kraid Metroid series
When you wish upon Brinstar…
Bored with his mediocre life as a construction worker, Kraid decides to liven things up by visiting a mysterious company called “Rekall” that can make dreams seem like a reality (essentially a reverse Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). Little did he know that this would kick off a thrilling psychological action/adventure where the line is blurred between fact and fiction. Oh wait, I’m thinking of Quaid.
The look of someone who just saw three…eyes.
KRAID is a space pirate in the Metroid franchise who works alongside his partner Ridley to utilize the titular alien species as a deadly biological weapon. His appearance is almost always memorable as he ends up being one of the largest bosses to face off against Samus Aran.
Wait. Do we need a Total Recall/Metroid crossover? I think we do.
2) Krang Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Shredder: You have a brilliant brain, Krang! Krang: Of course. It’s all I really am.
Hailing from the vast expanses of Dimension X, Krang spends a majority of season 1 asking the Shredder for a body in the original 1980’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon. That’s right. On their own, the Krang race (“Kraang” in the 2012 Nickelodeon version) are just a bunch of brain-like creatures who use technology to navigate their surroundings.
With all the weird belching and glorping that Krang emits, though, I’d like to believe that he’s really just a disembodied brain that belongs to Rick.
Honorable Mentions:
Krug Heroscape
Move: 5, Range: 1, Dance: 10, Looks: 3.
This tumultuous troll towers terrifyingly over the sprawling self-created landscapes of the Heroscapeboard game. Players facing off against Krug will want to tackle him from afar; otherwise, one risks being smashed by his deadly double attack – which only gets worse as he takes more and more damage!
1) Khan Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan
This is the fashion of the future that I’ve always wanted.
Who’s the number one character on my list? Everyone shout it with me, “Khaaaaaaaaaaaaan!”
Easily the best film in the Star Trek franchise, Ricardo Montalbán as Khan takes the cake as one of the greatest villains of all time.
There’s a certain amount of empathy that can be felt for this character after learning that he and his companions had been exiled to Ceti Alpha V for fifteen years by our main man, Captain James T. Kirk (not to be confused with Captain James B. Hook). The theme of “un-winnable situations” persists throughout, and tension continues to build as the two men try to outwit each other in an ongoing stalemate. Even when Kirk finally gains the upper hand, it comes at the price of a tremendous sacrifice from his crew. If you haven’t watched it yet, check out Wrath of Khan immediately!
Thanks for stopping by to check out my article. Do you agree with my choices? Can you think of any other single-syllable “K” villains? Leave me a reply and let me know! If you’re enjoying my content, consider following my blog or subscribing via e-mail to have articles delivered directly to you!
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The original Wizards & Warriorsgame came out for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987 (before Japan!). I remember playing this game briefly at my neighbor’s house which was being rented by a group of college students who happened to have some of those early games.
Later in life, I ended up getting its sequel for either a birthday or a holiday. I was never good at the game, but the graphics were interesting and the music was outstanding (naturally so because it was composed by the legendary David Wise of DKC fame). I think I needed to use Game Genie to actually finish it. It certainly left an impression. You can read about it a little in my There She Blows article that details instances of wind in video games.
I chose the game’s protagonist, Kuros, for my late pixel art project. Enjoy!
After finding my template, I sketched out the black outline.Add a little grey for shading…Kuros takes to the skies!
Thanks for stopping by to check out my art! Have you played any of the Wizards and Warriors games? Let me know about it in a reply below! If you’re enjoying my content, consider following my blog or subscribing via e-mail to have posts delivered directly to you.
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Eric Hagmann Music 