The 30 best SNES games

Published on by Chris Scullion21 Comments

This is the sixth in my ’30 Best’ series of articles in which I discuss my favourite games ever on a system-by-system basis for the first time in my career. In case you missed them, I’ve already covered the 30 best Wii games, 30 best Amiga games, 30 best DS games, 30 best GameCube games and 30 best Dreamcast games.

’30 Best’ will now be a monthly series, thanks to my lovely Patreon followers helping me reach a stretch goal. If you want to contribute and help me reach my next goal (to start a Tired Old Hack podcast), please visit my Patreon page.

SNES
The European and Japanese SNES, with its lovely coloured buttons

It says a lot about the Super Nintendo Entertainment System that more than a quarter century after it first launched, there are still some who claim it’s the greatest games console that ever existed.

It’s easy to see their point. The SNES was host to a wide number of technically impressive games, many of which redefined existing genres or created entirely new ones altogether. Continue reading “The 30 best SNES games” →

The week in games 27/5 – snake in a PS4, shit Mega Man

Published on by Chris ScullionLeave a comment

‘The week in games’ is my weekly series covering the week’s gaming news in a (hopefully) humorous way. If you missed the last edition, check it out here.

Where the Street has two names

Capcom has confirmed that the names of the two chaps who fight each other at the start of the Street Fighter II arcade intro are Max and Scott, putting to rest 25 years of speculation.

In further news, the company is also expected to announce that the massive skyscraper that features at the start of the Mega Man 2 intro is called Colin.

street fighter max scott Continue reading “The week in games 27/5 – snake in a PS4, shit Mega Man” →

Grand Prix Rock ‘N Racing review

Published on by Chris Scullion3 Comments
ENJOYUP GAMES / ENJOYUP GAMES
XBOX ONE

Grand Prix Rock N Racing pic 9In case you haven’t gathered already, I’m an unashamed fan of all things retro gaming.

I have fond memories of simpler times, when it was obvious where you stood with a game: beat this level, unlock that, get the ending, piss off happy.

A time when there was no need to worry about microtransactions, expansion packs, title updates or working servers.

Basically, what I’m getting at in a roundabout way is that I fondly remember gaming back in the days when Super Sprint was considered the dog’s balls. Continue reading “Grand Prix Rock ‘N Racing review” →

The week in games – cancelled titles, starter Pokemon

Published on by Chris Scullion2 Comments

‘The week in games’ is my new weekly series covering the week’s gaming news in a (hopefully) humorous way. If it seems familiar it’s because I tested it out with a couple of articles last year, but now it’s here to stay in a weekly form.

Losing its Spark

project sparkMicrosoft has finally properly cancelled Project Spark. The free-to-play game is no longer available for download, and if you already have it online services will be cancelled from August.

Anyone who bought the retail version of the game will be getting the price refunded into their Microsoft account. The company will be holding emergency talks to discuss how to recoup the £79.98 they’ll lose as a result of this. Continue reading “The week in games – cancelled titles, starter Pokemon” →

The day the console war stopped

Published on by Chris Scullion7 Comments

You may have heard the World War I story about how, on Christmas Day in 1914, British and German soldiers stopped their fighting for one day, opting to toss their differences to the side and instead play football and exchange gifts on No Man’s Land.

In my school, we had our own war. It was far more frivolous – lives weren’t lost and we used words, not weapons – but it still mattered to us. And on one special day, we had our own truce too. Continue reading “The day the console war stopped” →

Coffin Dodgers review

Published on by Chris ScullionLeave a comment
MILKY TEA / WALES INTERACTIVE
XBOX ONE / PS4 / STEAM (XBOX ONE VERSION TESTED)

Typical. A couple of months ago in my Beach Buggy Racing review I complained about the lack of kart racing games on current-gen systems. And now here’s a second one.

What I should have moaned about was the lack of great kart racers, because it’s safe to say Coffin Dodgers doesn’t exactly scratch that itch. Continue reading “Coffin Dodgers review” →

I’ve started a Patreon! (also: why I’ve started a Patreon)

Published on by Chris Scullion10 Comments

Earlier this week I clocked up a full ten years as a video games journalist (as you’ll know if you’ve already read my article on my favourite memories).

It’s a milestone I’ve wanted to hit ever since I started back in May 2006, because it’s one thing to get your dream job but another to do it to a decent enough standard that you get to stick around for a long time.

Me as a child. Trust me, it was Halloween
Admit it, this photo of me as a child is more than enough reason to throw money at me in pity

At the end of my recent article, I said “here’s to another 10 years”. And I do have a long-term plan that will, all going well, mean I’m still writing about games in 2026.

That’s assuming video games still exist then, of course – for all I know we could just end up paying to have Steam achievements injected into the base of our spines.

The first step of my plan is a potentially controversial one: I’ve launched a Patreon account. To address this, allow me to reuse the tried and tested ‘fake Q&A’ technique in an attempt to convince you that I’ve thought this through properly and that, if you aren’t interested, your Tired Old Hack experience won’t suffer as a result. Continue reading “I’ve started a Patreon! (also: why I’ve started a Patreon)” →

10 years as a games journalist – my most memorable moments

Published on by Chris Scullion11 Comments

On 2 May 2006, I joined Official Nintendo Magazine as a Staff Writer.

After a quick glance at my calendar, I have determined that today is therefore my 10th anniversary as a video games journalist (or critic, or writer or whatever you want to call it: I still don’t really know myself).

My first ever ONM review: a shit DS racing game. The glory days
My first ever ONM review. They got better, honest

Over the past decade I’ve loved every minute of working for ONM, then Nintendo Gamer, then CVG and finally as a freelancer.

And now I’ve got Tired Old Hack, which gives me more freedom to write what I want than I’ve ever had. In short, it’s been a bloody good 10 years.

With that in mind, although games are usually the main focus when I write, I hope you don’t mind if I make today’s article about my own career.

Here are 20 of my favourite memories as a games journalist over the past decade. These are not all of them, not by a long shot: they’re just the ones that stand out at this very moment. Continue reading “10 years as a games journalist – my most memorable moments” →

What next for Lego Dimensions? Season two character predictions

Published on by Chris Scullion1 Comment

The fifth and ‘final’ wave of Lego Dimensions characters is due to be released on 10 May, adding Slimer, Bane and Ninjago character Lloyd to the roster.

lego-ghostbusters-12-25Once those three are out, that’ll be essentially be the entire first batch of Dimensions figures available to buy. But it probably won’t be ending there.

Warner Bros and developer Traveller’s Tales have made it very clear that there’s a three-year plan for Lego Dimensions, and so far we’re only 7 months into it.

It’s almost certain that more ‘seasons’ of content are on the way, adding even more characters as well as (hopefully) level packs and free-roaming adventure worlds to expand the game further.

On Friday, an apparent promotional image showing off a Supergirl minifig for Lego Dimensions was supposedly leaked, suggesting the second batch of content could be announced any time now.

With that in mind, I’ve put together this list of 20 potential new licences I’d love to see in Lego Dimensions, to join the 14 already in the game. Continue reading “What next for Lego Dimensions? Season two character predictions” →

Cover Me Badd #3 – The 20 worst Nintendo 64 game covers

Published on by Chris Scullion6 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 and Part 2: SNES games.

It was a mere month and a half ago that I regaled you with tales of the 20 worst SNES covers of all time. Oh, how we chuckled.

If you still pine for that lovely time some 40-odd days ago, now’s your lucky moment, as we both continue our journey through shit box art memory lane. This time, it’s the Nintendo 64’s turn. Continue reading “Cover Me Badd #3 – The 20 worst Nintendo 64 game covers” →