J-Chiptunator's recent activity
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Comment on What's something that's more challenging for you than it is for others? in ~talk
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Comment on Tokyo, yeast, and expectations in ~travel
J-Chiptunator Link ParentIt's worth adding a bit of context for why people in Japan (and anyone who's spent substantial time there) often hesitate to voice even good‑willed, constructive criticism while in the country. In...It's worth adding a bit of context for why people in Japan (and anyone who's spent substantial time there) often hesitate to voice even good‑willed, constructive criticism while in the country.
In Japan, what's considered rude isn't merely the content of the criticism, but its disruptive nature. Japan is a hierarchical, collectivist society that places a strong cultural emphasis on preserving face and maintaining social harmony (wa).
If you raise any kind of criticism or potentially awkward topic in a direct or confrontational way, especially in public or across status lines, you risk disrupting that harmony. That can strain not only your relationship with the person involved, but also your standing in the wider social circles you both belong to, including family and work networks.
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Comment on CGA-2026-08 🗡️🛡️❤️🔺 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past in ~games
J-Chiptunator Link ParentThe stretch parameter you're looking for is IgnoreAspectRatio. If you leave 0 in it, it'll stick whatever aspect ratio you chose, which will always give you square pixels no matter how large is...The stretch parameter you're looking for is IgnoreAspectRatio.
If you leave 0 in it, it'll stick whatever aspect ratio you chose, which will always give you square pixels no matter how large is your window/screen.
Set it at 1, and the screen will automatically stretch to fill in the black bars, which is what we needed for my trick to work.If you add extend_y to the ExtendedAspectRatio parameter, the game will natively render with 240 vertical lines instead of the normal 224.
Here's my zelda.ini config file for reference.
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Comment on CGA-2026-08 🗡️🛡️❤️🔺 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past in ~games
J-Chiptunator (edited )Link ParentIf you want the game to look exactly like it did in 1992 and can use the OpenGL render method, consider giving the CRT Royale shaders a shot. They reproduce CRT effects well on modern flat panels,...If you want the game to look exactly like it did in 1992 and can use the OpenGL render method, consider giving the CRT Royale shaders a shot. They reproduce CRT effects well on modern flat panels, especially with the composite variants. If the game stutters or you prefer a slightly cleaner look, try the S-Video variants.
Here's my recommended shader setup:
- Extend Y: Disabled
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Fullscreen Mode: Window
- Window Size: Custom and
256 x [integer value] x 1.143X224 x [integer value](e.g. 1756x1344 for 1440p) - Stretch: Enabled
- GLSL Shader: Either crt-royale-ntsc-320px-composite.glslp or crt-royale-ntsc-320px-svideo.glslp
This config aims for a time-period accurate and shimmerless display with the intended 8:7 aspect ratio for NES/SNES titles, based on the hardware's dot clock rate. It won't work in Borderless Fullscreen or Fullscreen modes with RadzPrower's launcher.
Also worth pointing out that the game was designed to render at a 256x224 resolution. At wider-than-4:3 aspects, you'll see black tiles at area boundaries as you approach edges.
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Comment on CGA-2026-08 🗡️🛡️❤️🔺 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past in ~games
J-Chiptunator LinkA Link to the Past is one of the many retro games that has received a decompilation port. While there isn't a dedicated randomizer for this port yet, it does let you play the game natively on a...A Link to the Past is one of the many retro games that has received a decompilation port. While there isn't a dedicated randomizer for this port yet, it does let you play the game natively on a variety of platforms, including:
This is especially handy if your hardware can't handle a cycle-accurate SNES emulator, or if you don't have access to original SNES/GBA consoles or FPGA devices. The port also comes with several quality-of-life improvements, such as:
- Support for wider aspect ratios (e.g., 16:9)
- Higher-quality world map
- No longer being limited to just one active item slot
- Ability to switch your current item using the L/R buttons
If you're feeling adventurous, there's also a cross-game randomizer that blends A Link to the Past and Super Metroid, shuffling items from both games into new locations. Talk about killing two birds with one stone!
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Comment on Give me your culture clash stories in ~travel
J-Chiptunator Link ParentI should have clarified more about when and where I got spontaneous assistance, all of which I never had to ask for first. My only trip to the UK was a little under three years ago, and I don't...I should have clarified more about when and where I got spontaneous assistance, all of which I never had to ask for first. My only trip to the UK was a little under three years ago, and I don't remember that kind of helpfulness in London either, though that may simply be because I wasn't struggling to get around there.
There were two times during my month-long trip through England, Edinburgh, and Glasgow when I was automatically handed several tissues while I visibly had a runny nose. Both happened on trains with a young woman, and one of them was on a journey to or from Bath or York. There was also an adult man in Salisbury's Greggs who, without being asked, opened a surprisingly difficult Dr Pepper bottle for me after seeing I was struggling to twist the cap with my slippery, dry hands.
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Comment on Give me your culture clash stories in ~travel
J-Chiptunator LinkWhen I spent a few weeks traveling around England, I was surprised by how often strangers offered help at the slightest sign of struggle. A few times, someone even handed me a tissue when I had a...When I spent a few weeks traveling around England, I was surprised by how often strangers offered help at the slightest sign of struggle. A few times, someone even handed me a tissue when I had a runny nose on the train, and another stranger opened my plastic bottle of Dr Pepper because their grip was stronger than my slippery dry hand.
In Quebec province, where I'm from, people usually tend to keep to themselves and mind their own business unless the situation is more serious. It often feels like you need to be in real trouble, or cause someone a significant inconvenience, before people step in. My impression is that Quebec society is still fairly individualistic, even if it may feel a bit more community-oriented than some other parts of North America.
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Comment on Physical disc production ending in January 2028 for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles in ~games
J-Chiptunator Link ParentThat figure includes every game on the PlayStation Store, even titles that never had a physical release. Because of that, it does not tell us which format sells better for games that are available...85% of all PS4 and PS5 game sales worldwide were digital in Q4 2025.
That figure includes every game on the PlayStation Store, even titles that never had a physical release. Because of that, it does not tell us which format sells better for games that are available both digitally and physically.
A more meaningful comparison comes from the leaked 2023 sales data. Those numbers show that, for most first-party titles, physical copies actually outsold digital versions.
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Comment on Physical disc production ending in January 2028 for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles in ~games
J-Chiptunator LinkSaw this shift coming as far back as the Wii Shop Channel in 2006, but I still can't say I'm looking forward to it. The move toward digital over physical didn't happen naturally; platform holders...Saw this shift coming as far back as the Wii Shop Channel in 2006, but I still can't say I'm looking forward to it. The move toward digital over physical didn't happen naturally; platform holders pushed it because it's more profitable.
Over the past decade, console manufacturers have made digital purchases increasingly attractive. Higher margins, greater control over distribution, and access to detailed user data all work in their favor. To get there, they leaned on frequent discounts, preloads, early access, and subscription models that normalize not actually owning games.
At the same time, physical releases have become less appealing. Discs often still require large patches, special editions feel less meaningful, and retail space has shrunk. Add in the rise of digital-only consoles, and the direction is pretty clear.
If Sony really phases out physical media in the next couple of years, it will likely set a precedent that Xbox and Nintendo eventually follow. Most consumers probably won't mind, since convenience tends to win out over ownership. Personally, though, I think something important gets lost in that shift.
Back in the late 2000s, the idea of having a huge library of games accessible anytime, anywhere felt incredible. That's why I went almost fully digital during the 8th generation.
But over time, that same convenience became a downside. I've accumulated more games than I can reasonably play, and it's led to analysis paralysis. Finishing games feels harder now, not because they're more difficult, but because my attention is constantly split. Gaming has started to feel more like a commodity than the special hobby it once was.
Kind of ironic, isn't it?
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Comment on Donkey Kong 64: Recompiled announcement in ~games
J-Chiptunator LinkDonkey Kong 64 worked around with the N64's slowdown quirks, a pain point among emulators and even the official port on Wii U and Switch. In MiSTer FPGA's N64 core (which is based off from ares),...Donkey Kong 64 worked around with the N64's slowdown quirks, a pain point among emulators and even the official port on Wii U and Switch.
In MiSTer FPGA's N64 core (which is based off from ares), Donkey Kong would always fail on latching onto the floating vine during the title intro, and remains an unresolved issue to this day. Depending on which hardware you play, bonus games would also wind up being noticeably easier or harder.
I'm curious on how this recompilation project will handle all these instances, but I believe they'll be adjusted to better reflect how they were played on the N64 sans the slowdowns.
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Conclusion and Recap in ~games
J-Chiptunator LinkWell, that was my very short-lived Backlog Burner run. I played two games in total and managed to beat one of them. Due to concerns about fatigue and eye strain affecting my health, I had to step...Well, that was my very short-lived Backlog Burner run. I played two games in total and managed to beat one of them.
Due to concerns about fatigue and eye strain affecting my health, I had to step away from the event early. I explained previously how I was feeling and the steps I took to address it.
The good news is that I'm doing much better now. My tiredness has decreased significantly, and I'm regularly getting at least six hours of sleep in a row again. At this point, I can handle a few hours of gaming, as long as I don't fall too deep into web browsing, which is easier said than done, especially during the insufferably long Canadian winters.
I'm planning a month-long trip to Japan starting November 10, so I may not have much time for that month's Backlog Burner event. However, I'll very likely be back for May 2027.
See you next time!
J-Chiptunator's Final Progress Report
Continuing: Ape Escape
Shelved: Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom -
Comment on Mighty Cuphead Adventure | Teaser trailer in ~games
J-Chiptunator Link ParentAccording to the press release from the official Studio MDHR website, Mighty Cuphead Adventure is confirmed to be developed for the Sega Master System. Its physical cartridge will be released for...According to the press release from the official Studio MDHR website, Mighty Cuphead Adventure is confirmed to be developed for the Sega Master System.
Its physical cartridge will be released for the system along with the emulated version coming for modern systems. -
Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 5(ish) Discussion in ~games
J-Chiptunator LinkSorry I didn't end up participating in the Backlog Burner event as much as I expected, let alone finishing more than one game. Over the past month, I've mostly been dealing with fatigue: burning...Sorry I didn't end up participating in the Backlog Burner event as much as I expected, let alone finishing more than one game. Over the past month, I've mostly been dealing with fatigue: burning eyes and yawning two to three times more than usual.
It's likely due to spending around 10 consecutive hours a day in front of a screen for the past six months. With that in mind, gaming became the last thing I wanted to do.
When I mentioned my symptoms to my sister, she said she experienced something similar from overworking with screens and heavy reading. I tried a few things to reduce the fatigue, and some of them helped:
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Using my Mudita Kompakt without backlight, which was easy enough since I'm usually under a light source
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Subscribing to three gaming magazines—Nintendo Force, EDGE, and Retro Gamer, since I realized I don't need gaming news immediately, and I struggle to focus on long articles on screens anyway
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Setting up LeechBlock on Firefox to limit web browsing to 45 minutes, forcing me to be more intentional and efficient online
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Planning screen-free activities outside of work, like installing modboards on retro consoles or fixing controllers, taking anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours.
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Taking at least a 15-minute break from screens or reading every 1–2 hours
Over the past few days, especially with the last two changes, I've reduced my screen time to about five hours per day, which has significantly improved my fatigue. There are still some lingering effects, but they seem to be fading.
I also had a clinic appointment last week, and they recommended more exercise. The activities I've been doing should help with that as well.
Next week, I'll schedule the next step of my health checkup to rule out anything underlying. For now, though, I feel noticeably better than I have in months.
As for the Backlog Burner, I've made very little progress since my last post. In about an hour, I only got through 8.1% of another game based on its completion tracker.
Unfortunately, between the fatigue and limited time, I had to bow out early, making me probably the least active participant in the event. Still, I've got a writeup ready just below.
Ape Escape
You know what's more fun than a barrel of monkeys? These simian fellows!
I remember seeing Ape Escape back in late 90s and early 00s through a PlayStation Underground subscription card from either my PS1 or PS2, and one of the few Official PlayStation Magazine issues we had. It featured a review of the PSP remake, On the Loose, which didn't exactly sell me on the game as a must-play.
At the time, I was mostly into Nintendo and already had plenty of 3D platformers to play, so I overlooked the series despite its success. About a decade later, I stumbled across Retropolis Zone's Quickies Don’t Cut It review of Ape Escape, and that's when it hit me; I had missed out on a genuinely unique take on the genre.
Ape Escape stands out as one of the first Sony-published games to fully use the DualShock's dual analog sticks. Instead of the now-standard setup, camera on the right stick and actions on face buttons, the right stick directly controls your equipped gadget. Depending on the item, you'll swing tools or guide their trajectory based on the direction you tilt the stick. It's a very different feel compared to typical 3D platformers.
There are also vehicle sections, like a rowboat, where both sticks must be rotated in specific ways to move. For example, simultaneously rotating the left stick counterclockwise and the right stick clockwise moves you forward; reversing that moves you backward. Turning, however, was something I never fully figured out; I mostly brute-forced my way through those sections. It's definitely not intuitive.
That said, once you get used to the controls, they allow for a lot of flexibility in how you capture monkeys. Each one has different behaviors and environments, so there are often multiple ways to approach them. Some are fast and require stealth, meaning you have to watch their awareness indicator and avoid moving when they're alert. Others require a bit of problem-solving to flush them out.
For example, one monkey is hidden inside a cluster of eggs near a large pterodactyl. You have to spot the shaking egg and smash it to reveal the target. Moments like that add variety and keep things engaging.
The camera can be a bit hit-or-miss. It auto-adjusts, but it's sometimes slow or gets stuck at awkward angles. You can manually adjust it with a shoulder button or D-pad, though using the D-pad leaves you unable to move at the same time. Fortunately, these issues are relatively minor, and regularly recentering the camera behind your character helps a lot.
The soundtrack fits the gameplay perfectly, with high-energy J-pop and techno-inspired tracks. It even changes dynamically—for instance, toning things down when you're sneaking up on a monkey.
I've only played a little over an hour so far, yet it's already clear that I'm enjoying it. Once I'm less fatigued and can put in longer sessions, I'm definitely looking forward to finishing Ape Escape.
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 1 Discussion in ~games
J-Chiptunator Link ParentThe voting period ended yesterday, and the results are in! Game Votes Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble 2 Bio-Miracle Bokutte Upa 1 Fire Emblem 1 The Ignition Factor 1 Mega Man X...The voting period ended yesterday, and the results are in!
Game Votes Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble 2 Bio-Miracle Bokutte Upa 1 Fire Emblem 1 The Ignition Factor 1 Mega Man X 1 Phantasy Star IV 1 Shadow Dancer 1 Star Fox 2 1 Super Air Zonk: Rockabilly-Paradise 1 Ufouria: The Saga 1 Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble came out on top, barely, with just one vote ahead of a 9-way tie. Since I can only allow two additional community picks alongside the top choice, I had to randomly select two from the tied titles. Here's what I ended up with:
- Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble
- Phantasy Star IV
- The Ignition Factor
As for the games that didn't make the top three, each one will receive an extra entry per vote. Here are those titles:
- Bio-Miracle Bokutte Upa
- Fire Emblem
- Mega Man X
- Shadow Dancer
- Star Fox 2
- Super Air Zonk: Rockabilly-Paradise
- Ufouria: The Saga
These will be added to my Backlog Burner Pool, while the three selected games will be removed to prevent the randomizer from picking something already decided.
There weren't many voters this time, so no game received more than two votes. I might consider using a StrawPoll next time (yes, it did make a bit of a comeback in the 2020s) to make voting easier than typing out responses.
As for a hint about the next game: it features monkeys, but not from the Donkey Kong series. Donkey Kong Country 3 and the others will follow afterward.
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 1 Discussion in ~games
J-Chiptunator Link ParentPrincess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom uses a context-sensitive verb system, but in a fairly simple way. Your character usually stays in place, performs the selected action, and then returns to...Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom uses a context-sensitive verb system, but in a fairly simple way. Your character usually stays in place, performs the selected action, and then returns to their original spot. There's no combining verbs like in The Secret of Monkey Island, so the overall complexity is lower.
Most commands, Look, Check, Talk, Take, Buy, Hit, Fight, and Praise, let you choose a specific object or character if multiple options are present. Meanwhile, Use, Give, and Dump open your inventory menu within the text box.
One odd quirk is the Give command: if more than one character is on-screen, you need to talk to the intended recipient first before giving them an item. The game never explains this, which can make it seem like the command isn't working properly.
Nearly every command is required at some point in the game, except Item, which just displays your inventory. Some verbs are used frequently, while others only come up in very specific situations.
When entering a new area, or revisiting one after unlocking something, it's generally a good idea to try Look, Check, and Talk on everything. In some cases, you'll even need to repeat the same command on the same object or character multiple times to progress.
Overall, the verb system seems simple, and it works fine when puzzle solutions feel logical. However, the game's lack of consistent intuitiveness can make navigation feel clunky, turning menu interaction into a bit of a chore.
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 1 Discussion in ~games
J-Chiptunator Link ParentWell, I forgot to mention that I've already beaten Donkey Kong Country 1 and 2 ages ago, so these aren't in my scope for now. 3 is the only one I haven't beaten despite being more than halfway...Well, I forgot to mention that I've already beaten Donkey Kong Country 1 and 2 ages ago, so these aren't in my scope for now. 3 is the only one I haven't beaten despite being more than halfway through it.
Given the votes I've accumulated between the Backlog Burner announcement and Week 1 thread, Donkey Kong Country 3 is definitely leading the pack with 2 votes. At the rates the votes are coming in, that game might as well be the next I'd play starting after the deadline has been met. And on a brand-new file instead of my 15+ years old save file at that, just so to refresh my perspective.
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 1 Discussion in ~games
J-Chiptunator Link ParentPrincess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom A trip through a world of anthropomorphic fruits and veggies to kick off my Backlog Burner journey? It's not VeggieTales, but it's definitely a premise you...Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom
A trip through a world of anthropomorphic fruits and veggies to kick off my Backlog Burner journey? It's not VeggieTales, but it's definitely a premise you don't see every day.
I first heard about this game when Corbie Dillard reviewed its Wii Virtual Console release on Nintendo Life back in 2010. It seemed charming, but not enough to justify spending my limited Wii Points at the time.
It wasn't until news of the Wii Shop Channel's closure that I started grabbing a bunch of notable Virtual Console titles that might never return. Among Jeremy Parish's recommendations in an old 1UP article was Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom. I bought it... and then let it sit untouched for years.
That changed after I finished The Secret of Monkey Island last holiday season. Curious, I booted up Princess Tomato on my MiSTer FPGA, played a few chapters in about an hour, then dropped it again. I only came back to it this month as one of two games to start my Backlog Burner run.
This time, I kept a walkthrough handy, cutting down on trial-and-error. Even so, after roughly four hours total, I reached the credits feeling mostly apathetic.
The game is a text-based adventure where you navigate as Sir Cucumber and the baby persimmon, Percy, using a fixed set of commands. Unlike Monkey Island, there's no cursor; just static screens and text descriptions. Since the NES lacked a keyboard, everything is handled through a menu of 14 verbs:
- Move
- Look
- Check
- Talk
- Take
- Use
- Give
- Buy
- Hit
- Fight
- Praise
- Dump
- Item
- Percy
Progression often depends on using the right command at the right time, but puzzle quality is inconsistent. Solutions can feel more obscure than logical, and sometimes you're forced to retry the same actions repeatedly. Without a walkthrough, brute-forcing options is often unavoidable.
The "Percy" command (added in the NES version) gives hints depending on your location, sometimes with a bit of humor. It's a helpful addition, but not always enough to smooth out the design.
Combat comes in the form of "finger wars", a twist on rock-paper-scissors. You must both pick the winning hand and then match your opponent's facing direction. Lose the hand, and you must instead face away from their chosen direction to cancel their win. It's a clever idea, but heavily luck-based.
Most enemies follow patterns you can learn, though one late-game fight is purely random. Oddly enough, that didn't frustrate me as much as expected. My workaround? Rapidly mashing the same direction on the D-pad; my second attempt succeeded much faster than my doomed first attempt. So much for the definition of insanity.
There are also a few simple, pseudo-3D maze sections. They don't add much beyond showing off what the NES could do technically.
Between the obtuse puzzles, RNG-heavy combat, and unremarkable mazes, the game tends to drag despite its short runtime. Even with a forgiving password system and minimal punishment, it felt longer than it actually was. Was it worth it? Maybe.
That said, the game's quaint, nostalgic absurd charm is undeniable. The concept of a produce-filled kingdom, combined with its cartoonish character designs, gives it a unique personality. The humor, often tied to wrong command choices and quirky characters, lands more often than not, and there's even a classic Hudson Soft cameo.
The music is another highlight. The chiptune soundtrack has a mellow Mega Man-like feel; less complex, but adaptable and pleasant, as long as you don't linger in one area for too long.
If you're curious about Princess Tomato, I'd honestly recommend watching this two hours longplay instead of playing it yourself. You'll get most of the charm without the frustration, along with some that I didn't catch on.
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Comment on May 2026 Backlog Burner: Week 1 Discussion in ~games
J-Chiptunator LinkWhile I'm about to start one of two picks, you still have time to vote for up to five games from the list below. Reply to this post with those to make it count. Voting closes on May 5th at 11:59...While I'm about to start one of two picks, you still have time to vote for up to five games from the list below. Reply to this post with those to make it count.
Voting closes on May 5th at 11:59 PM EDT. The three most-voted games will be guaranteed spots in my playlist, while the remaining titles will have their chances increased based on votes (1 + number of votes).
For more details on how I'll tackle this month's Backlog Burner, feel free to check the linked reply.
Let the games begin!
My Backlog Burner Pool
ActRaiser
Bio-Miracle Bokutte Upa
Blazing Lazers
Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
Choplifter (SMS)
Contra (NES)
Contra (Arcade)
Contra: Hard Corps
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble
Donkey Kong Land
Dr. Mario 64
Final Fantasy III (Final Fantasy VI)
Fire Emblem (GBA)
Game & Watch Gallery 4
Kato-chan & Ken-chan (J.J. & Jeff)
Mega Man 5
Mega Man 7
Mega Man X
Mega Man Zero 1
Mega Man Zero 2
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (GEN)
New Adventure Island
Nobunaga no Yabou: Haouden (3DO)
Pac-Land (NES)
Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
Road & Track presents: The Need for Speed (3DO)
SD Gundam GCENTURY (SAT)
Shadow Dancer
Sonic 3D Blast (GEN)
Sonic Spinball (GEN)
Star Fox 2
Street Fighter II Turbo (SNES)
Streets Of Rage
Streets Of Rage 3
Strider Returns: Journey from Darkness
Super Air Zonk: Rockabilly-Paradise
Super Punch-Out!!
Super Tennis
Sword of Vermilion
The Ignition Factor
The Mysterious Murasame Castle
The Revenge of Shinobi
Top Hunters (Neo Geo)
Treasure Hunter G
Ufouria: The Saga
Wario's Woods (NES)
Wiz 'n' Liz (GEN) -
Comment on Announcing the Backlog Burner event for May 2026: Shrink your unplayed games list this coming month! in ~games
J-Chiptunator (edited )LinkJ-Chiptunator here, back with more Backlog Burner shenanigans for May 2026! This time, I'm changing things up quite a bit. In the past, I've mostly used my MiSTer FPGA setup for tinkering and...J-Chiptunator here, back with more Backlog Burner shenanigans for May 2026! This time, I'm changing things up quite a bit.
In the past, I've mostly used my MiSTer FPGA setup for tinkering and configuring cores, adjusting upscalers, trying things for a few minutes, then moving on. Not exactly meaningful playtime... so this month is going all-in:
OOPS! All MiSTer FPGAs.
I'll be sticking strictly to platforms with available cores from the MiSTer-devel GitHub:
- Arcade
- NES
- SNES
- N64
- GB
- GBC
- GBA
- SMS
- Genesis
- Saturn
- Game Gear
- TurboGrafx-16
- Neo Geo
- 3DO
- PS1
- WonderSwan
Most of these cores support save states, which should help avoid getting stuck too long on tough sections. Genesis is the main exception here, so that one might be a bit brutal, especially with games that kick you back to the start after a Game Over.
For controls, I'll be using original hardware whenever possible via SNAC (through SNAX64 v3.1 and adapters or SNAC PC-Engine). That means authentic controller feel with zero input lag.
For cores without SNAC support, I'll fall back to a RetroPad32 over USB (still under 1ms latency) with either Wii Classic Controller Pro or the original bean-shaped Neo Geo arcade pad.
Here comes another twist: instead of sampling a bunch of games, I'll aim to finish each one in under 8 hours before moving on. Gotta actually burn that backlog, and write about it properly.
Since my fairly meaty Backloggery list isn't varied enough (200+ playable games), I'm skipping Backlog Bingo categories and doing something more community-driven instead. For that, I've created a pool of 50 randomly selected games for you guys to vote.
To participate, reply with 5 games from the list below you want me to play.
My Backlog Burner Pool
ActRaiser
Bio-Miracle Bokutte Upa
Blazing Lazers
Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
Choplifter (SMS)
Contra (NES)
Contra (Arcade)
Contra: Hard Corps
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble
Donkey Kong Land
Dr. Mario 64
Final Fantasy III (Final Fantasy VI)
Fire Emblem (GBA)
Game & Watch Gallery 4
Kato-chan & Ken-chan (J.J. & Jeff)
Mega Man 5
Mega Man 7
Mega Man X
Mega Man Zero 1
Mega Man Zero 2
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (GEN)
New Adventure Island
Nobunaga no Yabou: Haouden (3DO)
Pac-Land (NES)
Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
Road & Track presents: The Need for Speed (3DO)
SD Gundam GCENTURY (SAT)
Shadow Dancer
Sonic 3D Blast (GEN)
Sonic Spinball (GEN)
Star Fox 2
Street Fighter II Turbo (SNES)
Streets Of Rage
Streets Of Rage 3
Strider Returns: Journey from Darkness
Super Air Zonk: Rockabilly-Paradise
Super Punch-Out!!
Super Tennis
Sword of Vermilion
The Ignition Factor
The Mysterious Murasame Castle
The Revenge of Shinobi
Top Hunters (Neo Geo)
Treasure Hunter G
Ufouria: The Saga
Wario's Woods (NES)
Wiz 'n' Liz (GEN)After one week:
- The top 3 voted games will be selected for upcoming weeks
- Other voted games will have increased odds (1 + number of votes)
In the meantime, I'll kick things off in Week 1 with a couple of picks from my unbeaten backlog.
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Comment on Which covers did it better than (or put a fresh twist on) the original? in ~music
J-Chiptunator Link-ERROR by Tokoyami Towa The devilishly kind-hearted talent from Hololive JP 4th Generation delivers a faithful cover of niki's -ERROR, while elevating the emotional depth of the song. She brings...- The devilishly kind-hearted talent from Hololive JP 4th Generation delivers a faithful cover of niki's -ERROR, while elevating the emotional depth of the song. She brings out the feelings in the lyrics even more strongly, and her performance highlights her cool, powerful singing voice; especially impressive since the original track is in a higher pitch than her actual range.
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Reading. I can read and understand short to medium texts just fine, up to about a dozen paragraphs, like most web articles or forum posts. But when a text has heaps and heaps of paragraphs and I have to read for more than 10–15 minutes, I invariably either lose focus or start reading much, much more slowly for a long time.
Because of this, I often wind up being the last student to finish any reading task. It makes me wonder why my peers are so much faster, and it leaves me feeling inadequate in a society that seems to expect quick, efficient readers.
In primary and secondary school, this wasn't a huge problem. I was classified as a "student with difficulties", so I could always ask for extra time on exams and tests.
However, things are much less forgiving in cégeps. In primary/secondary school, each school year covers about 8 months of classes; in cégep, that's cut roughly in half for each semester. The result is much more condensed courses and far less time to complete assignments, even for the struggling students who can buy more time.
This is especially true in literature classes. We're assigned three books, and for each one we have to build a convincing, detailed thesis. The assignments are staged:
We're expected to "read between the lines", taking the culture and context of the time period into account, and to come up with convincing theses. On top of that, the topics are often uninteresting and unrelatable to me, which makes the kind of close, "nerd‑like" scrutiny they want feel monumentally laborious. This subject is far harder for me than any other I've had to study.
It sometimes feels as if you need almost intimate knowledge of these literary topics right after finishing secondary school in order to get the cégep diploma, no matter what job you actually plan to do. But the education system overestimated how much time would be spent studying French in secondary school, leaving very little room (if any) for serious literature classes.
To this day, I still haven't obtained my diploma, even though I've passed every other subject that doesn't involve literature. And even among students who didn't struggle nearly as much as I did, about half have to retake the same literature class at least once.