A few of you Poweteers might remember a little known PC game called MAD TV. In it, you played as a TV exec who competed against other execs for TV ratings, TV/Movie licensing deals, lucrative advertising contracts, and the affections of the lovely nature show producer on the top floor. Obviously it wasn’t based on the sketch comedy show of the same name (although they were both inspired by the same satire magazine). Although it received little fanfare, it was unique and fun. Years later, Realmforge and Kalypso Media released M.U.D TV (which stands for Mad, Ugly, Dirty Television), a game that is more than inspired by the classic title, although the developers claimed they never played it. Anyway, the game is just as fun as the game it apparently isn’t based on, even if the game gets a bit too difficult at times.
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Some time ago, some guy posted a Youtube video of Greg Jennings catching a 99 yard touchdown pass with a broken leg during a game of Madden. Some time later, EA decided to make an achievement out of it for Madden 2012. Catching a 99 year TD pass with Mr. Jennings nets you 50 gamerpoints. Thankfully you won’t have to do so with a broken leg. Sadly there’s no “F&*$ YOU GUMBY” achievement for players who sign out of Xbox Live mid-game.

Based upon the 1991 movie, which was based upon the 80s comic, which was a homage to 30s and 40s era pulp action comics, The Rocketeer was a fun side scrolling platformer for the NES which is reminiscent of The Batman game that came out for the NES. You play as Cliff Secord, who recently discovered a rocket pack stashed away in one of the planes. Suddenly you have to battle against legions of mobsters, gangsters, and undercover Nazis in order to keep you and your friends safe. You have an assortment of weaponry at your disposal, and if you have gas, you can fly. There are also boss battles, in-game cinematics, and the music is pretty catchy as well. Like the film it’s based on, the Rocketeer may have been forgettable, but it’s a fun ride while it lasts. And really, who doesn’t want to fly around in a jetpack killing Nazis? Hopefully it shouldn’t be too much trouble for iIntendo to get this on Virtual Console. While we’re at it, lets bring back the comic series.

Back in the 90s, there was a little known game called Barkley: Shut Up and Jam. It had it’s high points, but really, it was a little more than a rip off of NBA Jam, which was released a short time before. It got a sequel which was just as forgettable. Years later, a group of developers known as ‘Tales of Games’ used a copy of RPG maker to create a sequel. Instead of another NBA Jam clone, this sequel would instead be a role playing game about one of the greatest ballers in the sport. Oh, and according to it’s creators, the game’s story is canon.
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8 Eyes, developed by Thinking Rabbit and published by Taxan, can best be described as the lovechild of Mega Man and Castlevania. Just like Mega Man, you select stages and have to proceed in a certain order, while it’s graphics and gameplay are vaguely reminiscent of Castlevania. However, it can’t do either right, and is better off being given a $10 million bribe to remain out of all out lives.
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Hoard is an example of why a game doesn’t necessarily have to have complex graphics or gameplay to be fun. In Hoard, you control a dragon, and your job is to cause as much chaos as you can while building a stockpile of gold. You steal treasure, kidnap princesses for ransom, burn down buildings, and scare villages into offering tribute. Of course you’ll have to deal with wizards, knights, thieves, and other dragons. Up to 4 players can participate in either co-op or competitive modes. While the game is simple enough to get into, the gameplay mechanics are deep, and as you progress, strategy and planning become important. You can upgrade your dragon’s abilities, and the upgrades you choose also fit into your strategy. Hoard may not be Call of Duty, but at least it’s good for a quick fix. And really, who doesn’t want to be a badass dragon?

Remember back in the days when instead of Japanese developers making games that appeal to American audiences, it was the other way around? Well, not necessarily American developers making games for Japanese audiences, but rather American developers making Japanese-style games? Well, Shogo: Mobile Armor Division is a relic from that era. Developed by Monolith (F.E.A.R, Condemned, Blood 2), Shogo takes its inspiration from Japanese anime such as Robotech and Gundam, putting players in control of a big robot. Rather than being a mech simulator like Mechwarrior, Shogo is a straight forward first person shooter. Playing as a young man named Sanjuro, who is a commander in the UCS, you step into the midst of a war over the planet Cronus. Sanjuro’s brother, childhood friend, and girlfriend were killed during the war. The game features a mix of mech and on-foot sections. Taking a cue from role playing games, players can sometimes hit enemies with a ‘critical shot’ which does increased damage. The game even features multiple paths and multiple endings. It was Monolith’s first game using their Lithtech engine. The character models and sparse textures show thier age, although the plot is much deeper than most FPS titles from it’s day and the gameplay is as fast paced as ever. The source code was released for the game some years ago, and there is probably a modding community that still supports it. If you love old school fps games and anime tributes (as cheesy as they might be), then you’d do well to check this out. It’s available at gog.com on the cheap.

Moon Diver isn’t just a throwback to the days of old, it’s basically a time machine that takes you back to the good old days of video gaming. You (and up to three of your pals) take control of a super badass ninja and slash the shit out of everything in your way. The plot is your typical ‘save the world’ storyline you see often, but you’ll be too busy enjoying yourself to care. Just like all those old school titles, it’s HARD. Not like Ninja Gaiden or Castlevania thankfully, but it will give you a challenge. If you like classic side scrollers, please check this out. It’s even more fun if you bring along some buddies. There is even some downloadable content available for it as well. Oh yeah, if this looks a little bit like Strider, that’s because its director was Koichi Yotsui, who helmed the legendary Capcom classic.