Sega Genesis Mini Review

A crapload of games.  Some heavy hitters.  A low price.  A cute, but authentic appearance.  This is the Sega Genesis Mini.

I remember it well.  It was Christmas Day.  My parents walked me over to the Christmas tree and showed me a big wrapped package with my name on it.  I ripped open the wrapping, knowing in my heart there was a Super Nintendo inside...until I saw a sleek black console, not gray box-like one.  It was a Sega Genesis and despite not being what I wanted, it's the source of a lot of childhood memories.  So when I saw this mini console, I got curious.  Would this mini get it right and or would it be just another terrible Genesis mini?

Right of the bat, I must say the aesthetic is spot on.  It looks just look a real Genesis shrunk down.  The power switch, reset button, and volume slider are present.  Heck, the cartridge slot even opens, but obviously you can't put in any games because the console isn't much bigger than the included controllers.

It looks genuine while taking up less space that a PS4 box.

The two controllers look pretty close to the real thing.  The controls are of each game are responsive and if there is lag, it was so minor I didn't notice it.  The d-pad feels a little off from the real thing, but it doesn't break the experience.  What DOES break the experience is the fact that they chose to go with the three-button controller instead of the six-button ones.  This is quite baffling as some of the games are best played with the six-button controller.  The games can still be played, but it's awkward.  Why couldn't just ONE of the controllers have six buttons.

Why they went with the 3-button controller instead of the 6-button is beyond me, but at least it works well.

As for the games, there's a pretty strong collection here.  There are games like Sonic 2 and Alisia Dragoon that I remember fondly.  There are also a number of games I am playing for the first time, such as Castlevania Bloodlines and Contra Hard Core.  On the whole, I'm happy with the list of titles.

The games library is mostly hits with a few misses mixed in for spice.

The collection isn't perfect, however, as a lot of the heavy-hitters aren't here.  This isn't too big a deal as the missing games have been included in so many collections and shoddy mini consoles it's not funny.  What IS a big deal is the fact that some of the console's trash made it in for some reason?  I actually don't mind that Sonic 3 and Golden Axe 2 aren't in, but why is Tetris here?  Who asked for Mega Man: The Wily Wars?  I've never liked Alex Kidd, but that keeps finding his way into these collections.  There are better games they could have added without touching the classics that have been in a trillion collections.  Where's Gods?  Rocket Knight Adventures?  X-Men 2: Clone Wars?  The Adventures Of Batman And Robin?  Nowhere to be found.

The games play fine with some minor hiccups here and there.  Sometimes sound effects skip or are late.  Also, there are only two screen sizes.  Most games look best in the smaller size, but some don't look good in either.  I mean, poor Alisia Dragoon.  Did it always look this bad?  Another minor complaint is saving and exiting a game.  I am certainly thankful for the save and/or exit function and the fact you can do it two different ways is a plus.  You can either press and HOLD the start button or physically hit the reset button.  Using the controller method feels clunky and harder than it should be.  It's the same with exiting a game.  Hitting the reset button is a somewhat smoother experience, but it requires getting up from your comfortable seat and lumbering over to the console.  Once again, it's just a minor complaint, so no biggie.

With the Genesis Mini, we have a cute exterior and a pretty strong interior.  The games work just fine, with responsive controls and graphics that have held up as well as can be expected.  There are some games that shouldn't have been included that are, while other should have been but weren't.  The decision to go with the three-button controller instead of the six-button controller is the biggest flaw.  There are a few sound issues, but they're very minor.  Saving and exiting games is clunky process, but at least it's there.  If nothing else, it's a good value as you're getting some of the console's best games at a nice, tidy price.  The small flaws can't take that away.  It could cost hundreds or potentially thousands of dollars to hunt down the cartridges and put this collection together yourself.  Check it out, especially if you have any interest in old-school gaming.

What A Haul...

Black Friday is a good time to be a hypernerd.  It's all about cheap games and tech.  Thanks to a lot of hard saving, I managed to pick up a lot of stuff.

First off, we have four games, with Tropico 6 being the crown jewel.  You'd better believe I'll be plugging a lot of hours into this one and yes, there will be a review in the near future.  Bloodstained is a game I've been waiting a long time to grab and review.  It sucks that I could only find a pre-owned copy, but it seemed to be the only copy I could find in my city.  Rayman Origins was a nice pick up.  I played the Wii version quite a bit and I will also play the PS4 version a lot.  Nioh was a cheap pick up, so I just went for it.  It should be interesting as I'm going into it totally blind.  Perhaps there may be a review.

Not a bad set of pickups, but not as good as it could have been.

Tropico 6 is definitely the standout in this bunch.

Up next is the Genesis Mini.  I have lots of past Genesis collections, but there were a number of games on this thing I've never played, such as Castlevania Bloodlines and Contra Hard Core.  I absolutely can't wait to fire this thing up and review it.  I know I'm late to the party on this, but the timing couldn't be more relevant to me for reasons that will be explained in the coming review.

Review on this coming soon.

Finally, we have not just one, but two of the best shitty computers money can buy.  First is the HP Pavillion with a Ryzen 5 processor.  The outer shell is metal, so it's kind of nice to touch.  It's also quite light, so that's good, too.  It sucks that there's no disk drive, but that's why you don't throw out your old computers.  Is it the powerhouse it's been made out to be?  I intend to find out.  Make no mistake, I will put this thing through the ringer.  Maybe my Steam version of City Skylines will actually work on this, unlike on my last two computers.  Here's hoping...

The other computer is an HP laptop (no special name) with an A9 processor.  Not sure what to expect from it, but it was only $200.  The specs weren't too impressive and there's no disk drive (apparently that's the future of computers), but maybe it's better than it looks.  It could be a serviceable backup.

And that was my Black Friday haul.  As you can see, things are going to get very busy here at The Hypernerd.  Lots of reviews and other stuff are on the way.  Stay tuned and prepare for some more good reading.

Dead Or Alive 6 Character Wishlist

Having played DOA 6 for a number of hours, I can say I like most of the roster.  I have no problem with the roster or its size.  That said, we know there will be more characters.  All we can do is hope they don't suck or break the game.

But who to add?  It's time for me to update my DOA wishlist and name 10 characters I'd like to see in DOA 6.

10.  Pai Chan (Virtua Fighter)

Pai needs to do like Mai and make a return to DOA.

Of all the Virtua Fighter characters they brought in for DOA 5, she was my favorite.  She had the best fighting style, the best wardrobe, and the best looks (sorry, Sarah fans).  A return to DOA 6 would not disappoint me.

9.  Steve Fox (Tekken)

With an unrepresented fighting style and the potential to signal a crossover, Steve Fox would be a sensible addition.

He's a boxer and boxing is a fighting style some fans want to see represented.  Plus, he's a Tekken character, which would be the more interesting a facet of his inclusion.  If he's added and well-received, the potential for a DOA/Tekken crossover is there.  THAT is something I'd like to see.

8.  Kyo Kusanagi (King Of Fighters)

KOF could use some male representation in DOA.  I nominate Kyo.

They already have the sexiest game girl ever, Mai, from KOF.  They also added Kula for whatever reason.  They might as well add a guy.  Kyo would probably be a good fit for the roster.

7.  Cammy White (Street Fighter)

DOA could use the sexiest butt in gaming.

In terms of characters from Street Fighter, there wouldn't be a better addition.  She's hot, she's tough, and her wardrobe is a good fit for DOA.  Most of her moves would mesh well into the DOA fighting engine.  Plus, Ayane shouldn't be the only character with a drill kick.

6.  Saya Tsubaki (Kensei Sacred Fist)

The prettiest ugly girl is due for DOA-style makeover.

DOA doesn't have an ugly girl.  Hitomi is the closest thing they have to an ugly girl, but she's not quite there.  Marie Rose is isn't as appealing as the other girls, but she's not ugly, either.  Saya would be an excellent addition to fill the ugly-but-cute niche.  Saya also has an unrepresented fighting style with fully fleshed out moveset that would be easy to translate into the DOA fighting engine.  She also has a wardrobe that would fit in with DOA, though it is small.

5.  Nina Williams (Tekken)

Nina would make for a lot of good matches in DOA 6.

Her brutal, Bayman-esque chain throws just scream DOA.  Also, while her outfits aren't particularly sexy, she has developed enough wardrobe diversity over the years to appeal to DOA players.  Naturally, the potential for a crossover would be a bonus.

4.  Chun Li (Street Fighter)

An appearance in DOA 6 could give Chun Li a little extra "bounce."

She might be kind of tough to pull off, but who wouldn't want to see Chun Li and her legendary legs bouncing around with the girls of DOA.  Plus, she has a number of delicious-looking outfits.  Seeing her trade kicks with Lei-Fang would be a dream come true.

3.  Tifa Lockheart (Final Fantasy 7)

Please Team Ninja, find a way to put this girl in DOA 6.

A Final Fantasy Character who could realistic work in DOA.  Her moveset will need some serious fleshing out, but she's got all the tools to be a good addition to the roster.  It doesn't hurt that Team Ninja has it's hands in the Dissidia series, where the picture above is from.  In other words, this could actually happen if Team Ninja wants it badly enough.  Let's hope they do.

2.  Asuka Kazama (Tekken)

There would literally be no downside to adding Asuka to the DOA lineup.

It's obvious why DOA should borrow Asuka.  She's hot.  She's got the wardrobe.  She's got the moveset.  Plus, it could possibly lead into a DOA/Tekken crossover.  That would excite me more a heck of a lot more than Street Fighter X Tekken did (still hoping for Tekken X Street Fighter, though).

1.  Ryofu Housen (Ikkitousen)

If this girl shows up in DOA 6 Tecmo Koei can have my money.

If there's one anime character who should be in DOA, it's Ryofu Housen.  She's hot, she's badass, she's got the wardrobe.  Her brutal fighting style should make it fairly easy to create a moveset that works.  Simply put, she BELONGS in DOA.

And those are just a few characters I'd like to see in a DOA game, whether it happens to be DOA 6 or a future title.  Some characters will require fleshing out, but I'm sure Team Ninja will do right by them, like they did with the Virtua Fighter characters.  All that's left to hope is that they actually bring a few of these characters over.

Agree?  Disagree?  Who would you add if you could?  Comment and have your voice heard.

Indivisible Review (PS4)

A colorful world.  Colorful characters.  A protagonist who absorbs people.  This is Indivisible.

Indivisible is an interesting game that mixes the RPG and platformer genres.  You take the role of Ajna, a no-nonsense young badass with an attitude spicy than hot curry.  She seems to be a dumb brute with a sharp tongue, but I think she's charming little brat.  It's just fun to watch her move around and listen to her back-and-forth with the other characters.  Any, it doesn't take long for tragedy to befall her, sending her on a quest for vengeance and potentially saving the world.

Ajna doesn't take crap from anyone.  Not even her father.

Ajna's world is turned upside down, forcing her into action.

It always comes down to saving the world.

Along the way, she'll run into the aforementioned colorful characters.  So, what kind of people join Ajna on her journey?  You have the man who lead an attack on her village, a sadistic shaman, an androgynous healer, and many more.  These people get...absorbed(?) into her head and come out when its time to fight.  You can visit these characters at any almost time by meditating and traveling to Ajna's Inner Realm to share barbs and dialogue that aren't voiced for some reason.

Each character you recruit has a short intro...

...as well as a short tutorial.

As mentioned before, gameplay is a strong mix of RPG and platformer.  The combat isn't unlike Valkyrie Profile.  Each character is assigned a face button.  The character will either attack or, when targeted by an enemy, block attacks when their button is pressed.  Blocking enemy attacks is VERY important, because it is extremely easy to die before you know what happened.  You can also press L1 to make everyone block at the same time, but you'll want to be careful about when you use it.  That because it uses a lot of iddhi (that blue bar in the upper corner), which you'll need to resurrect fallen characters.

Combat is a lot like Valkyrie Profile, with each character getting a dedicated button.

Each battle ends with a dramatic pause so you can savor that last hit.

The combat throws in a few things to keep you on your toes and prevent mindless button mashing.  There are enemies who can only be hurt by juggling them or launching them into the air.  In another instance, one of the bosses jumps off-screen, forcing you to dodge acid and kill little spiders before jumping back in.  The game also trolls the heck out of players with some nasty surprises.  Simply put, you can't just fall asleep and spam buttons until you win.

I like the platforming parts of this game.  These sections feel like most "Metroidvania" games, with a map to show you what you might be missing and areas blocked off until you have the right tools to get through.  Speaking of which, Ajna has a number of tools and abilities to help her get around, including a wall jump for...well, wall jumping and a slide to get under walls and aid in getting preemptive strikes on enemies.  She gets other abilities, too, but that would be spoilers.

Ajna calculates her next move as she slides down a wall.

Sliding around in those shorts all day must be hard on her poor legs.

The game has a heck of a sense of humor.  Granted, I wasn't rolling on the floor with laughter, there are plenty of laugh out loud moments.  You'll do some laughing, that's for sure.

You don't get this kind of humor in Super Metroid.

On to the little stuff.  The graphics are pretty good.  Everything is nice and colorful.  The characters and monsters are cute, but not too cute.  There are also some disgusting designs, such as flying strands of hair that part to reveal nothing but guts underneath.  I do wish things were slightly bigger as you're running around, but there's no threat of going blind like in other games.

I would have liked the graphics to look more like this outside of combat, but...

...they usually look like this.

The music is blah.  Some of it sets the mood nicely, but nothing will stick with you or make it's way onto your I-pod.  The voices are pretty good.  As mentioned before, the back and forth between Ajna and the others is nice.  There are times where the acting could have been better.  For instance, there are scenes where character should be yelling, but they sound calm, like they're ordering a pizza.  Maybe it's meant to be humorous, but that's doubtful.  It just comes off as flat.  The voices work for the most part, though.

On another note, I like how the title screen is literally the last bell you saved at.  There is no loading screen if you simply choose to continue your most current game.  Ajna just rolls up her skirt and gets straight to work.  It's a nice touch.

Without beating around the bush what we have with Indivisible is a pretty good game.  The combat is solid, the platforming is well-done, and the humor is genuinely funny.  As long as you can hand a few nasty surprises, you'll enjoy it.  This one is solidly in "play it" territory.

9 Good Games/Series' For Gamer Girls

First off let me start off by saying I'm a straight guy.  As a result I can't really speak with any certainty for what women want in videogames.  What I can say is that videogames in general aren't aimed at females.

Obviously, that doesn't mean that women can't enjoy videogames.  Sometimes you can girl it up.  Other times, you'll have to get in touch with your masculine side.  These are just few of the MANY games hardcore females can enjoy.

9.  Heavenly Sword

The world needs more Nariko.

Hand out beatings by the truckload with smoking-hot Nariko.  The only bad thing is that a sequel remake, or remaster hasn't been churned out yet.  What the heck?

8.  Tenchu Fatal Shadows

Ayame and Rin slice through enemies one vocal chord at a time in this sequel.

Take up your sword as series mainstay Ayame or newcomer Rin, a pair of determined female protagonists, and kill from the shadows.  There are a number missions, each with three enemy layouts and three difficulty setting for added replay value.  If you can overcome a shitty camera, you'll find an underrated gem of a game.

7.  Resident Evil Revelations 2

Claire and Moira make a heck of a team.

What could be more fun than using two women to work a zombie over in tandem?  Blind them with a flashlight using Moira, then shoot them with Claire.  Or shoot them with Claire until they fall, then use Moira to bash their heads in with a crowbar before they can get up.  You can also blast heads indiscriminately in Raid Mode with legendary characters such as Jill Valentine.  Lots fun to be had here.

6.  Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn

You'll find a diverse collection of women when you play Radiant Dawn.

One of the greatest SRPG's of all time has a lot of good (and bad) women in it.  Titania, the horse-riding badass.  Nephenee, the spear-wielding hick.  Lucia, the brave and powerful swordswoman.  Lethe, the hairy catgirl.  The eternally hungry Ilyana.  Heck they even have a fat, ugly woman in Meg.  There's no need to feel underrepresented here.

5.  The Atelier Series

Girly yet challenging defines the Atelier series.

If you want a game that feels "girly" but is as tough as balls, the Atelier series fills the bill.  You get to play as a cute little girl, travel around a cute little world with cute little allies, and kill cute little monsters, all while listening to cute little music.  Don't let all the cuteness fool you, though.  Underestimate these games and you'll suffer a terrible ass-whuppin' or at least not bad able to get the best endings.  You'll work for everything you get.

4.  Dead Or Alive Series

For better or worse, DOA has always been about hot women beating ass.

Yep.  You read right.  DOA is known for it's sexy women, sexy outfits, and fast action.  As such, it appeals heavily to males.  But just because these women are sexy, that doesn't mean they are weak.  They hit just as hard as the guys and outnumber them in the most recent games.  Who doesn't want to kick butt and STILL be sexy?  And there are some attractive guys to drool over if that's what you're into (which I'm assuming the majority of women are).

3.  The Street Fighter Series

From Chun Li on down, Street Fighter features perhaps the most recognizable collection of game girls.

Chun Li.  Cammy White.  Sakura Kasugano.  Juri Han.  The series is filled to the brim with iconic females who kick ass.  And of course the games are fun to play.

2.  Valkyria Chronicles

Jane Turner is just one of the many cool and powerful women in this game.

Valkyria Chronicles is a tactical RPG with a large number of characters.  As such, there are a lot of cool and powerful women floating around.  Alicia Melchiott, Wendy Cheslock, and (my fave) Jane Turner, among others are just waiting to be plopped into your party and blast heads alongside the guys.  And the first time you fight female badass Selvaria (stay out of her sight and DON'T attack her), it's a pant-pissing experience.

1.  The Tomb Raider Series

While the quality of some games is questionable, Lara's badassery isn't.

Honestly, can there be any better game for the hardcore gamer girl than Tomb Raider?  You get to play as one of the most iconic (if not the most iconic) game girl of all time, Lara Croft.  You'll blast heads, solve puzzles, and do acrobatics that would make Batman hesitate.  A kick ass series, starring a kick ass heroine.  What more could a female gamer want?

So, ladies (guys, too) are these good suggestions or is this straight male off the mark here?  Obviously, these are just a few good games centered around capable females.  What games would you add or take off the list?  Comment and make your voice heard.

Stardew Valley Review (PS4)

Growing a farm.  Aiding a town.  Killing monsters.  No, it's NOT Rune Factory.  It's Stardew Valley.

Stardew Valley is similar to the Harvest Moon series and its spinoff, Rune Factory.  Like in Harvest Moon, you live daily life as a farmer in a small town.  You start off creating your protagonist and choosing the plot you want to farm on.  Each of these plots has advantages and disadvantages so they are all worth trying.  Once that's done, it's off to the farm.

You have more than enough options for your character and your farm.

The passage of timeline is also like Harvest Moon.  Each season is a month long and has its own unique crops you can grow.  Festivals dot the calendar and you'll have the chance to go or not.  Days don't drag, each able be played through in mere minutes.  The game saves automatically after each day, so you won't have to worry about losing too much progress in case there's a power outage or something like that.

You won't just be growing crops and tilling soil, though.  You'll fish, butter up a soulmate, mine ores, go questing, and fight monsters, among other things.  Everything is simple, including combat.  You'll never feel like you're in over your head when you run into an enemy while mining for ores.  And the monsters aren't overly tough.  Simply don't get hit.  You won't be ruing the day you decided to go into the mines instead of going to the festival.

The citizens of this town and even the town itself is quirky.  You have the mayor, a maniacal store manager, a trailer park whore, wizard, and a homeless man, among others.  Quite the diverse cast. Their interactions are just as diverse.  Some are assholes, while others aren't.  The people aren't particularly talkative, either.  Most people will only talk to you once or twice a day, then say nothing.  There's nothing wrong with that, but it's not par for the course.

The characters aren't always happy-go-lucky, unlike Harvest Moon.

Yeah...we've all been there, sister.

Some people will be straight-up assholes until you become their friend.

There's also some grown up humor here.  For example, you'll catch somebody digging through someone's garbage.  He then promises to not dig through that person's garbage anymore, only to turn around and dig through someone else's garbage.  Stuff like that would never happen in a Harvest Moon game.

You won't see jokes like this in Harvest Moon.

On to the little stuff.  The graphics are good...at least that's what I want to say.  If this were a Gameboy Advance they would be great.  At night, you won't be able to see anything, but not because it's dark.  It's a good thing graphics don't make the game.

The game looks terrible when night falls.

The music is forgettable.  The town theme will make you feel like a yokel.  It'll make you want to rustle up some trouble.  It's a knee-slapping good time.  Sadly, it's the only song I can remember.  There are short stretches where you'll go without music, but it's not like the whole game is without it.  It's not even particularly bad.  Other than the city theme, though, none of it stuck with me.

If there's one glaring flaw, it's the inability to load another save or reload your current day without shutting the game down entirely.  For instance, let's say you're tired of playing your first farm, so you want to switch over to another farm that you've already started or maybe you screwed something up and want to do the day over.  The only way to do so is go out to the PlayStation menu, "close application", and reboot the game.  There's no way (that I've figured out, at least) to simply go back to the title screen or load from the file you're currently playing.  This is weird and clunky.  There's no reason it should be that way.  Maybe the other versions of the game aren't like this or maybe there's something I haven't figured out yet.  It's not game-breaking, but it is a little confusing.

It may seem unfair to say that Stardew Valley is Harvest Moon for adults, but that's what it is.  It plays, looks, and even sounds like a Harvest Moon game.  Anyone who's ever played a Harvest Moon game will know that's not a bad thing.  The game does has a good sense of humor and a set of characters that separates it, though.  Play it, especially if you're a Harvest Moon or Rune Factory fan.

Cool Characters: Fie Claussell

She's a cute little girl, with a cute little voice, who kills enemies with cute little weapons.  No, it's not an Atelier protagonist.  It's Fie Claussell From Trails Of Cold Steel.

Fie Claussell is a character with a deceptive appearance.  She looks like an innocent little girl who just wants to find a corner, open a book, and be invisible.  In reality, though, she is a highly-skilled killing machine who would make Mikasa Ackerman piss her pants.

She is also compared to a cat, because she has a tendency to sleep a lot and in weird places.

Falling asleep on the train is asking for trouble.  At least she's in the company of classmates.

She's notoriously stupid in the classroom, but...

At least she's not the stupidest kid.

…she's on her A-game in the field.

She's like Batman in a miniskirt.

And this is coming from a student who attends a military academy.

She can be lazy...

Rean won't be roped into during her dirty work.

And short.

Fie is short in stature and in speaking.

She always speaks her mind.

Tell them how you really feel, Fie.

She so cute, grown men can't help but faint upon seeing her.

She will either bless their dreams or haunt their nightmares.

And the ladies like her, too.

Fie's appeal works on both genders.

She can cook her ass off...

Look how serious she looks.

...which is good when you eat a lot.

But you just ate a big ass sandwich on the train.

Compliments from her don't come easy.

Careful, Fie.  The chef may kill you.

She seems dull, but she does, in fact, have a personality.

She's such a weeb.

She comes off as a loner, but teamwork isn't beneath her.

Machias doesn't know what to think.

And her Sylphid Dance is just the cutest.  She's like a tornado of knee socks and bullets.

And that's Fie Claussell.  She small but deadly.  Book dumb but street smart.  Cute but edgy.  Quiet but speaks with no filter.  Check her out in Trails Of Cold Steel.