Super Mario Run is hardcore as shit if you give it a chance

Published on by Chris Scullion3 Comments

smrs_marioSatan is ice-skating to work, pigs are getting their pilot’s licences and Mario is on the iPhone.

Yes, after years of ‘expert’ analysts saying Nintendo should make mobile games and Nintendo fans saying it shouldn’t, it’s finally actually happened.

The result is Super Mario Run, a game that’s split more people than a Hollywood divorce lawyer, with some saying it’s amazing and others claiming it’s a disaster.

Let’s break down why that may be, and why – cards on the table right away – I think it’s bloody brilliant. Continue reading “Super Mario Run is hardcore as shit if you give it a chance” →

Drive!Drive!Drive! (PS4) review

Published on by Chris Scullion1 Comment
Choice Provisions / Different Cloth
PS4 / STEAM (PS4 version reviewed)

Creating a game with a unique gimmick can be a dangerous thing to do.

If it works well the result is a truly original game that not only brings something different to the table but could potentially inspire others to follow suit and build on it.

On the other hand, if a game’s built around a new gimmick and it falls on its arse, you’re left with a disaster and the realisation that maybe there’s a reason nobody else had tried it before.

Drive!Drive!Drive! is very much a game with a gimmick, and thankfully it’s one that works for the most part. Continue reading “Drive!Drive!Drive! (PS4) review” →

The Great Tired Old Hack Survey™

Published on by Chris ScullionLeave a comment

Tired Old Hack turns two years old next month, and truth be told I still feel like the site’s in its early stages.

Since January 2015 I’ve been messing around with different ideas and article types, trying to see which ones stick and which are roundly ignored or disliked.

Now though, it’s over to you. I’ve put together a 20-question survey and I would massively appreciate it if you could fill it in.

HERE BE THE SURVEY ME HEARTIES AND SUCH

It’s entirely anonymous (though you get the chance to put your name in at the end if you want me to know it was you), and there are loads of comedy GIFs in there in case the idea of surveys bores you to tears.

Thanks in advance folks.

Chris

21 iconic musicians who were influenced by PaRappa The Rapper

Published on by Chris Scullion1 Comment

Last week Sony announced it’s releasing a special 20th anniversary version of PaRappa The Rapper for PS4, featuring enhanced 4K visuals.

For those not in the know, PaRappa The Rapper was a 1996 PlayStation game that is considered to be one of the first modern examples of the rhythm action genre.

What’s less discussed, however, is the sheer number of iconic musical artists who took inspiration from the lyrics in PaRappa The Rapper. Continue reading “21 iconic musicians who were influenced by PaRappa The Rapper” →

Picross 3D: Round 2 review

Published on by Chris Scullion1 Comment
NINTENDO / HAL LABORATORY
3DS

I love Picross. I’ve loved it ever since a 12-year-old me visited the Edinburgh branch of Toys R Us back in 1995 and discovered Mario’s Picross on the Game Boy.

This relationship has survived 21 brain-teasing years. And, as in the best relationships, just as things look like they’re starting to go stale something manages to breathe new life into proceedings and remind me why I fell in love in the first place. Continue reading “Picross 3D: Round 2 review” →

Cover Me Badd #5 – The 25 worst Wii game covers

Published on by Chris Scullion13 Comments

Cover Me Badd is my regular series looking at the worst video game covers in history. Each article will focus on a specific format. If you missed it, catch up on Part 1: NES games, Part 2: SNES games, Part 3: Nintendo 64 games and Part 4: GameCube games.

A few months back I shared my choices for the 20 worst GameCube box covers. It was inevitable, then, that the Wii would get its turn.

The problem is, the Wii had far more games released for it than previous Nintendo home consoles, and many of them had truly horrendous box art. Since I really couldn’t decide on a final 20, I’ve instead gone with 25 to ensure I didn’t have to drop any of my choices.

As ever, click on a cover to see it bigger: some of them really do have to be seen in their full-sized glory.

‘Enjoy!’ Continue reading “Cover Me Badd #5 – The 25 worst Wii game covers” →

Nintendo Switch wishlist: 13 features I hope it… um, features

Published on by Chris Scullion5 Comments

Unless you’ve been living under a rock you’ll know that Nintendo’s next console, now officially named the Switch, is a part-console part-handheld hybrid that’s due for release next March.

If you’ve been living under a rock you’ll also be unaware that the “unless you’ve been living under a rock…” intro is massively overused, so as far as you’re concerned I’m some sort of editorial genius. Everyone else thinks I’m a prick.

nintendoswitch_hardware-0-0As the longest-running member of the Official Nintendo Magazine team back in the day, upwards of literally three or four people have asked my opinion on the Switch and what I’d like to see it do.

Here, then, is my list. Rather than specific game titles or franchises (that’s been done to death elsewhere and the usual candidates are obvious), here’s my wishlist of what I’m hoping will be included in the Switch hardware when the cheeky wee bastard launches next year. Continue reading “Nintendo Switch wishlist: 13 features I hope it… um, features” →

The Tired Old Hack NES Mini stream (REPLAY!)

Published on by Chris ScullionLeave a comment

nes-miniThe NES Mini is finally with us, even though that isn’t really what it’s called (it’s the NES Classic Edition in America and the Nintendo Classic Mini NES in Europe).

Over the past couple of weeks you may have seen all manner of YouTubers and website journalists giving their takes on the system. Now, as someone who paid legit cash money for the privilege of having to wait until launch day to get it, it’s my turn.

This Saturday (12 November 2016) I streamed all 30 NES Mini games in a massive five-hour Twitch stream. Continue reading “The Tired Old Hack NES Mini stream (REPLAY!)” →

Review code, the ‘media’, YouTubers and all that shite

Published on by Chris Scullion8 Comments

Right then. Let’s do this.

This is the only time I’m going to discuss this topic in any great detail. I’d rather Tired Old Hack focused more on games themselves than the bureaucracy that surrounds the way they’re covered, but given that it’s something that’s been a part of my life for a decade I might as well briefly give my take on it before moving on.

I should also make it clear here that if you’re someone who’s followed other gaming websites for a while, very little of this will be news to you. I’m only really writing this because, well, it’s my site and I want to put my opinion on the record, just so I have something to refer back to every time this happens in the future (and it will, many times). Continue reading “Review code, the ‘media’, YouTubers and all that shite” →

PlayStation VR review

Published on by Chris Scullion2 Comments

playstation-vr-boxThe future is finally here. Well, one potential future is, at least.

Despite Nintendo claiming it has no interest in virtual reality and Microsoft only cautiously promising Oculus support for its Scorpio console next year, Sony has made it clear in no uncertain terms that it’s very much on board the VR hype train.

The result of this is PlayStation VR, a headset designed exclusively for the PS4 which promises a (relatively) cheap way to join the virtual revolution.

The big questions are obvious. Does PlayStation VR really transform the way you play PS4 games? Will it make you ill? And is it the future of gaming? Continue reading “PlayStation VR review” →