Lord Spencer's Gaming (and other stuff) Blog

Few games are as defined by their main competition as Sonic the Hedgehog . Here is a game that was not formed naturally, but deliberately designed to compete with Nintendo’s Mario and provide Sega with its own mascot to rally behind. Knowing that, Sega was not in a position to halfheartedly make any game, but needed a sure hit. This was going to be a game that could compete with the most iconic character in video games, and it needed to be something special. The result was the first Sonic the Hedgehog game, a complete opposite to Mario in design and philosophy, which nevertheless managed to convince people it was in the same league. Even if we now find that illusion to be far-fetched, Sega actually fooled a generation of people into thinking that it was huge. 20: Sonic the Hedgehog:- Year: 1992. Genre: Platformer. Publisher: Sega. Developer: Sega.  

Sometimes, a game can have all the right ingredients behind it, and yet still manage to be a complete disappointment simply because the programming experience wasn't there. Traysia is an RPG that could have been among the top in its genre, yet curious beginner mistakes and balancing issues relegate it to the footnotes of the Genesis library. R2: Traysia:- Year: 1992. Genre: JRPG. Publisher: Renovation Products. Developer: Telenet Japan.  

The Phantasy Star series is nearly as old as the Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy RPG series, and while it is held in high regard, it never reached the acclaim of those other two franchises. The second game in the series is the first on the Genesis, and is highly regarded by Genesis fans. Unfortunately, this is an example of an early JRPG that didn't age well. Still, there are glimpses of the brilliance that made gamers love it 26 years ago. 67: Phantasy Star II:- Year: 1990. Genre: JRPG. Publisher: Sega. Developer: Sega.    

Among Phantasy Star fans, the third game in the series is usually derided for being different than the rest, and is considered inferior to the second and the fourth game. Finding Phantasy Star II to be a terribly aged experience, I came into this game with some reservations. Anything that is considered "inferior" to that game would be damn near unplayable. Yet, I found a significantly better game in Phantasy Star III , one that, while retaining some of its predecessor's major faults, still manages to push the envelope of RPGs in general. Ironically, this game might feature one of the earliest misguided fanboy tantrums in videogame history. 79: Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom:- Year: 1991. Genre: JRPG. Publisher: Sega. Developer: Sega. 

Of the three important TRPGs of the 16-bit era, the Langrisser series is probably the least well-known, and that's because few of its titles were ever localized in the West. Warsong is actually the first Langrisser game. With that in mind, we are discussing a game that is arguably as important as the first Fire Emblem and Shining Force games. Obviously, since the series went on to find some success, the first game in the series must have had some positive elements. It sure does, but it also has its share of obviously glaring problems . 69: Warsong:- Year: 1991. Genre: TRPG. Publisher: Treco. Developer: Masaya Games 

Of all the Studio Ghibli movies, this one is most about perspective and how you look at the world. In another way, it can also be seen as the perspective of a first-time director, Hiromasa Yonebayashi, on the work of his mentor Hayao Miyazaki, which is why Arrietty manages to so closely simulate earlier Studio Ghibli work while being the work of a fresh director. Based, like many of Studio Ghibli’s works, on a Western children's fantasy novel, Arrietty follows the adventures of the titular character, a girl from an almost extinct race of very small humans, as she interacts with our world. The entire premise of The Borrowers hinges on the wonder of looking at our world from the eyes of a race that is as small as insects, and that’s where perspective is key. For Arrietty and her family, who sometimes need to go into human kitchens to “borrow” supplies, the walk between one side of the kitchen to the other becomes a grand adventure. Needles become swords, tissue paper a valuable fab...