Top 5 Retro Video Games - With My Nephew Chris! - NES, PS1, ColecoVison

 

Having my nephew Chris join me on my YouTube channel to talk about his five favorite retro video games was a fantastic experience. He was home from Okinawa, and it was great hanging out with him. Not only did it allow me to showcase a fresh perspective on some classic titles, but it also provided viewers with a glimpse into the gaming interests of a “younger” retro gamer (at least compared to me). Chris and I covered several nostalgic games, with two of his standout picks being Smurf: Rescue in Gargamel's Castle for the ColecoVision and Final Fantasy VII for the original PlayStation—two vastly different games that highlight the diversity and depth of retro gaming.

First, Smurf: Rescue in Gargamel's Castle is a unique retro title that Chris remembers with great fondness. Released in 1982, Smurf was a significant game for its time, especially because of its cartoonlike graphics and innovative platforming mechanics. In the game, players take on the role of a Smurf trying to save Smurfette from Gargamel’s Castle, which Chris found both beatable and fun—he liked that it had an actual ending.

On the opposite end of the retro gaming spectrum, Chris’s choice of Final Fantasy VII for the original PlayStation revealed his appreciation for immersive storytelling and deep gameplay. Final Fantasy VII, released in 1997, is considered a landmark title in the RPG genre and is one of the most beloved games of all time. The game has complex characters, such as Cloud Strife and Sephiroth, and a memorable storyline, which revolves around saving the planet from the evil Shinra Corporation. It has an excellent turn-based combat system, something common in classic JRPGs. Our discussion of Final Fantasy VII brought out his appreciation for both the technical achievements of the time and the depth of gameplay that has allowed it to remain relevant in the gaming community even decades after its release.

Throughout the video, Chris and I covered additional retro titles that rounded out his top five, emphasizing the qualities that make each game a special part of gaming history. He offered a bonus pick as well. From early arcade-style games to the more graphically rich RPGs of the late ’80s and into the 90s, Chris’s picks showed the evolution of retro games and his broad taste in video game genres.

Sharing these insights with my YouTube audience not only enhanced my content but also appealed to viewers who have a shared passion for retro video games. It was a fun experience for both of us, and I look forward to having him back on the channel to discuss more games.

5 Questions with Patrick Hickey Jr. - New Red Dead Revolver Comic Book!

I recently caught up with my buddy and occasional collaborator Patrick Hickey Jr., who has a new project he’s incredibly excited about: Red Dead Revolver, based on the awesome Western-themed video game. It’s not just any comic, though, as you’ll discover in the interview below.

BRETT WEISS: What inspired you to choose Red Dead Revolver as the focus for this comic, and what unique aspects of its development story are you most excited to explore? Is this a one-off issue? Do you plan on covering other video games in this manner?

PATRICK HICKEY JR.: The story of Red Dead Revolver is an amazing one, full of twists and turns, and I felt like I needed another way to connect audiences to my video game journalism. Like my Minds Behind the Games books, it delves into the development cycle and the history of the game’s development, mainly how it was a game Capcom had no idea what to do with, as well as how damn good Angel Studios was before (and after) their merger with Rockstar.

This story appears in my Minds Behind the Shooter Games book. However, that book, despite performing well in the marketplace, was a victim of a sad realization that many gamers don’t want to read “real books.” They see black and white photos and a ton of text and get turned off. They want something fun, something they put on the coffee table and something they can pick up and read quickly. Despite the fact my books are chapter-based and easily accessible, the fact that they were released through an academic publisher hurt their mainstream appeal as well. It sucks when you know you have killer content that wasn’t presented to the proper audience, so I felt the need to figure it all out in another way.

After writing seven video game books in six years, I started my own comic book company, Legacy Comix. After the death of Ed Piskor earlier this year, who did an amazing job telling the origins of Hip Hop History and the X-Men in comic book form, I felt this was a fitting tribute to his work and a way for me to combine my two major creative loves, comics and games.

My hope is that this is just the beginning of telling stories in this manner. I just need the audience to come out and support.

WEISS: How did your experience as a video game journalist and author of the Minds Behind the Games series influence the way you approached writing this comic?

HICKEY JR.: I knew I had killer quotes, but writing a comic book script and an article are two different beasts. Luckily, I have 30 single-issue comics under my belt the last two years, and I was able to condense and tell a story here that works wonderfully in 24 pages. Add in excellent sequential art by Joshua Adams and two variant covers, and it’s got something for everyone.

WEISS: The comic is told through the perspective of Dominic Craig, one of the game’s developers. How did you decide on him as the lens for the story, and what parts of his story resonate most with you? Are there fictional elements to the story?

HICKEY JR.: There are zero fictional elements to this story. It is Dominic’s story to tell because I felt he had the most insight, and considering how well we worked together on other chapters in my books, it was a no-brainer. From his breaking into the industry to his efforts on the game, he’s incredibly kind, relatable and honest—the type of person you’d want to hear a story from. This I feel makes his view of the development cycle perfect for a comic.

WEISS: How closely did you collaborate with artist Joshua Adams and variant cover artists Valentin Quinones and Brandon Bentfeld to visually capture the atmosphere of the Red Dead universe while staying true to the real-life story of the game’s creation?

HICKEY JR.: I not only wrote the comic, but I’m the Editor-In-Chief and Owner of Legacy Comix. Every single page has my blessing. I hired Josh, Val and Brandon for their respective roles. If the book fails, it’s all on me. The whole goal was to bring this story to life and connect gamers and comic book fans the same way a sports fan will watch an ESPN 30-for-30 or someone will watch an episode of a Netflix documentary. I think we’re on our way to doing that.

WEISS: Given Red Dead Revolver's place in gaming history as a precursor to the Red Dead Redemption series, what do you hope readers and fans of the games take away from this behind-the-scenes look at its development?

HICKEY JR.: That this game almost never existed and was marred by uncertainty and failure before becoming a success on the Xbox and PS2 and before helping, in its own way, to provide the identity to one of gaming and Rockstar’s most successful titles. Can you seriously imagine Rockstar without this series? Maybe, but I can’t.

Red Dead Revolver

Legacy Comix

Written By Patrick Hickey Jr.

Letters, Pencils, Inks, Colors and Cover by Joshua Adams.

Variant Covers by Valentin Quinones and Brandon Bentfeld.

Available January 2025

The NES & SNES Omnibus Digital Books - Just $3 For All Four - Brett Weiss

If you're a fan of retro gaming, I've got an insane deal for you on my Patreon page! For just $3, you can get access to FREE PDFs of all four of my massive Omnibus books, covering the NES and SNES consoles—two of the most beloved systems in video game history. That's right—$3 gets you immediate access to all four volumes of my critically acclaimed series:

1.     The NES Omnibus: The Nintendo Entertainment System and Its Games, Volume 1 (A–L)

2.     The NES Omnibus: The Nintendo Entertainment System and Its Games, Volume 2 (M-Z)

3.     The SNES Omnibus: The Super Nintendo and Its Games, Vol. 1 (A–M)

4.     The SNES Omnibus:The Super Nintendo and Its Games, Vol. 2 (N–Z)

These digital books are packed with in-depth details about the NES and SNES, covering every North American release for both consoles, plus foreign releases for the NES. Each book is a comprehensive guide, featuring descriptions, reviews, quotes from other sources, nostalgic stories, production info, and a wealth of historical context—perfect for collectors, gamers, book lovers, and pop culture buffs.

But that’s not all. By signing up at the $3 level, you also get access to a ton of exclusive content that I offer to my Patrons. This includes:

• Early access to upcoming books and projects before anyone else gets to see them
• Exclusive articles and videos, including behind-the-scenes insights into my work process
• Personal updates about my life and business, so you can follow along with what I’m enjoying and what I’m working on
• Photos of rare video game items, along with information them
• And much more!

It’s an amazing value—especially if you’re passionate about retro gaming and want to dive deeper into the history of these iconic consoles. These books are available digitally as PDFs, so you can download them instantly and read them on your computer, tablet, or e-reader.

So, what are you waiting for? Head over to my Patreon page, sign up at the $3 level or higher, and start downloading your free PDFs today! You’ll also be supporting me in my ongoing work, which means I can continue to produce high-quality content for you to enjoy.

Sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/c/brettweiss

Thanks so much for your support, and enjoy all the amazing content I’ve put together for you!

Brett Weiss

 

8-Bit Guy's New Video Game & Pinball Arcade in Bedford, Texas - Time Rift

My recent video on the new Time Rift Arcade in Bedford, Texas has really blown up, especially for a channel my size. You can watch it by clicking HERE. Featuring a quick interview with co-owner The 8-BitGuy, it has well over 28,000 views and counting, with tons of great comments. I’ve posted some of the better ones here:

@torham – Toobin’ would be enough to get me in the door if I lived in the area.

@davidworley6342 - No Rastan? Blah. Cool arcade, though.

@ComdrStew - I've been to newer arcades. Well, they call them arcades, but they are usually crap. This looks like a real arcade. They are even using the CRTs for the old consoles, the only way they look good.

@Jad_the_Taff - Just found out this is about 5 minutes from my house. I will definitely be coming by. Thanks for the video because I didn't know just how nice a place this is on the inside. Great job 8-Bit guy!

@user-tb5ns7hc5i - I have never seen an arcade with machines all in that good of condition and working order.  Omega Race! Terrific.

@JasonDavis103 - WOW. I wish this was in Atlanta. It seems to only be missing Satan's Hollow and Crazy Climber. I'm so jealous that you can go there on the way to work.

@JimmyRussle - Great tour and great commentary! David is a cool dude. Definitely going to check out the arcade when I’m in Dallas for work next month.

@Jolly-Green-Steve - A very well-balanced arcade that I wish had a location in Central Florida. All the best arcades seem to be in Texas for some reason, besides Galloping Ghost.

@dave4shmups - This looks like an awesome arcade!  I really hope that it does well.  I’ve seen some of the videos of The 8-Bit Guy helping refurbish some of the arcade cabinets and he put in a lot of work.

@xtremejay2000 – Dang, there is one glaring genre that is my favorite, missing. Where are all the beat-’em-ups? Final Fight, Double Dragon? I spotted Simpsons, and I am sure Ninja Turtles was there but still very slim on the beat-’em-ups and almost NO vertical shooters.

@michaelcharach – Wow, looks great.  Most important thing to me is that all the games work properly. Nothing worse than playing these old games and the controls stick, etc. With the 8-Bit guy at the helm, I bet everything works perfectly.

@voodoomotion5855 - These bring back memories of the arcade at the swimming pool in the ‘80s. We couldn't afford to play and had to pretend we were playing the demos.

@piggsinablankie - This is awesome.  Thanks for the tour.  Hope the 8-Bit Guy has much success. I was hoping to see the Sinistar arcade game and the Gorgar pinball machine. Two voices that used to scare the heck out of me as a kid. Really nice ones there like Spy Hunter and Mr. Do!

@ChrisH0Y - Awesome -  Rad selection! I played so many of these when I was a kid. I'm so glad my parents were generous with the quarters on pizza night. The background music for RallyX still is stuck in my head to this day. Maybe they will find a Sinistar machine someday? "Beware I Live!"

@Starchface - Damn. Is there no game you haven't played?  This place looks magnificent, full of pristine machines each carefully restored by David and his brother Mike.  With them and Electric Starship Mike as the 3 partners, I think it will do well. I don't even want to imagine the electric bill, though!

@andymanaus1077 - I live on the other side of the world, and it's bittersweet to me to see such an amazing arcade appearing 40 years after most of the games were new.  It's incredible to see the favorite games of my teenage years side by side with games I've never heard of and other games I know but have never seen in real life, all in perfect working order. I wish the guys every possible success. Are all the games free play? That would be the icing on the cake for me. As a kid, my family and I were poor, and I had to carefully pick and choose the games that were worth my money. I could spend days in this arcade. I hope it does really well.