PixlBit

It may not be perfect, but it's a shame this unique Picross game never made its way to America.

Picross is hands-down my favorite pick-up-and-play puzzle title of all time. I've played nearly every game based on nonograms I could get my hands on, including flash ones online. However, due to being Japan only releases, there were two big Picross titles that eluded me for a while, Picross 2 and Mario's Super Picross. After scouring eBay for an available copy of either title I was delighted to see that both games were relatively inexpensive as far as imports go and impulsively purchased them both. After their very long journey to my house across thousands of miles it was only right to play them immediately, and since Picross 2 arrived first, it received the honor of the first playthrough.

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What can I say? It's just fun.

It’s been a long time since I found a game to play that was simple, challenging, addicting, and just plain fun. For months now I’ve desired an uncomplicated gaming experience that was lighthearted, didn’t require a membership, was devoid of long, drawn-out cutscenes, and could be played within my very limited free time. So, thank goodness for the arrival of Mercury Hg. Thank you Ignition, for allowing me to escape the reign of epic titles for a few solid and incredibly fun hours.

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Witness the original arcade Donkey Kong get beaten into the dirt.

Please note that this review will not cover 3DS Virtual Console or Super Game Boy features.

I have a confession to make: I hate the original arcade Donkey Kong. Yes, sneer at me all you want, but I have good reasons for disliking it so much. While I have been very spoiled by Mario platforming adventures, his first battle with Donkey Kong is not something I eagerly replay. Note that this is coming from someone who enjoys games like Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, and Dig Dug (notice a pattern here?); I will admit that the original DK arcade game has some sound elements that would set a benchmark for Mario’s debut, but with those awful jumping mechanics Donkey Kong isn’t a game I rate highly.

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They’ve finally done it - a title more niche than the standard bullet hell shooter!

Bangai-O is one of those series that would normally be completely unknown to most players, but given the release and critically acclaimed sequel Bangai-O Spirits on the DS, the series has gained some notoriety. Originally released on the N64 and later ported worldwide to the Dreamcast, Bangai-O offers a unique blend of gameplay that pairs bullet hell shoot-‘em-up mechanics with puzzle solving techniques. Its niche status wasn’t exactly unwarranted - like many of the titles Treasure creates, it was made for a small audience of truly hardcore players looking for intense challenge. That being said, it’s unlikely that the HD remake of the original game will connect with most players.

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