A lot of really interesting options, as always! Maybe this round we'll finally get to Freddy Pharkas?

Beneath a Steel Sky and Another World are both classics which I hope people play at least once. BASS has a bit more replayability IMHO but, on the other hand, Another World has achieved global cultural significance (perhaps in no small part due to its lack of dialogue).

If you've played and like Beneath a Steel Sky (1994) definitely check out its modern sequel Beyond a Steel Sky (2020): https://store.steampowered.com/app/1146310/Beyond_a_Steel_Sky/

Ys Origin

I'll reiterate what I said when nominating it:

A fun action-adventure RPG from 2006, now with modern ports on PC/Switch/PS4/PSV/XBO ($5 on Steam currently). Especially once the series went 3D, Ys makes for an interesting counterpoint to the Zelda series in that it's all about speed! It feels kind of like an arcade game meets Zelda in that it rewards you for aggressively chaining from one pack of enemies to the next and mowing them down as quickly as possible, while rocking out to up-tempo music and arcade-like sound effects.

Origin is a nice entry point for the series in that it's a distant prequel, and it's relatively short and linear (so not too much of a commitment). You start at a base camp at the entrance to an enormous demonic tower and try to make your way through the different sections to the top. And if you finish early in the month, there are multiple playable characters, each with a very different play style and a slightly different story for their route.

And I'll expand on that and add that I think it's a series that tends to get overshadowed by Zelda, but stands well on its own. Additionally, I think Ys Origin is perhaps the best entry point to the series: it's a fast and aggressive solo hack-and-slash dungeon crawl through a gigantic 25 floor demonic tower. There are NPCs and levels, typical of RPGs, yes, but it doesn't dwell too much on the dialogue, levels mainly just help you kill faster and more easily and survive longer (conversely, you can get away with underleveling if your reflexes are good), and you won't be spending much time on menu and equipment screens at all. With a fast and fluid core gameplay loop, I'd call it more of an arcade game in an ARPG's clothing, with an energetic sound track to match.

A full run of it with a single character tends to clock in at about 10ish hours, so it's not a big time commitment and doesn't overstay its welcome. And there are three playable characters if you feel like you want still more (the third - whose run is canon - is revealed and unlocks after finishing with either of the first two).

Speaking of the playable characters they all play rather differently. Of the initial two that you can choose from, Yunica is your classic melee character. She has no innate magical skill but she more than makes up for it with for it with grit, heart, and a giant battle axe:

"I may be a mouse compared to you when it comes to enchantments... but I'm the buffest, meanest mouse you'll ever see!"

The other initially unlocked character, Hugo, is a more enigmatic staff-wielding young mage. With a pair of magical orbs floating over his shoulders, his primary attack kind of looks like a dual plasma cannon (and on top of that he can charge up to melt things with a glorious pair of fiery twin death rays for a few seconds), making for a more ranged play style that feels almost more like a shoot 'em up.

Anyway, here's a nice review, though - fair warning - it's quite spoilery.

Last time, I lobbied for Another World. I linked it, but I'll also repost the text here.

This time, I also want to lobby for the Spooky Mansion Adventures Arcade Special. Because October is Spooky Month, and while yes, I know Halloween is an American thing, it's still fun to celebrate with people by indulging in spooky media. And doesn't get much more classic than spooky mansions!

The games chosen for it are Maniac Mansion, 5 Days a Stranger, and Alone in the Dark. I have not played any of them, but Maniac Mansion is one of those classic point-and-click adventure games by LucasArts (in fact, the first one developed AND self-published), with a comedic twist. It's a classic and heavily acclaimed, helping to cement LucasArts' place in the game development scene, and is considered one of the best adventure games of all time.

Alone in the Dark meanwhile is similarly acclaimed within the gaming scene, and more horror-oriented since it's a classic survival horror game. In fact, it's considered the first 3D survival horror game, and set the tone for the rest of the genre. Yes, that includes Resident Evil, which this French article has creator Shinji Mikami outright state that it probably would have just been a first-person shooter if he hadn't discovered Alone in the Dark. Grabbed the link from Alone in the Dark's Wikipedia page. Kind of wild to me how forgotten Alone in the Dark feels compared to Resident Evil given its influence on the genre.

And 5 Days a Stranger... Honestly, I know nothing, @balooga suggested it. It's the most recent of the 3 games, released in 2003 as a freeware adventure game. Actually, I think there are sites where we can play it in our browsers, which is part of why I decided on it. It may be genuinely the most accessible game in all of CGA. that and it seems to be short

Besides that though, early 2000s freeware games are just interesting. I think most of the games we'll end up playing in the CGA will be "professional" games that were published for consoles or computer games sold in physical stores or catalogues. Freeware games represent a different part of the gaming scene, namely small-scale indie developers who genuinely worked for passion for gaming. 5 Days a Stranger seems like a fun window into that era!

Resident Evil (REmake)

I think REmake is perfect for CGA. It's an amazing game that I think many people might not try on their own, which is exactly what our group is all about. It's also highly influential, relatively short, has aged remarkably well, and is available on dozens of retro and modern platforms. We also have October coming up, which is the perfect time to play this game.

What makes it strong isn't purely the horror anyway. The fun is in exploring the mansion, learning its layout, managing limited resources (including saves), and solving puzzles to gradually open up more of the map. The pacing is excellent throughout.

It's also very campy and more fun than a "horror game" might suggest on the surface. It has zombies, giant snakes, rocket launchers, grenade launchers, flamethrowers, B-movie dialogue, and more.

Even if you finish it and decide Resident Evil isn't for you, I think it's worth experiencing at least once. I originally went into the game strongly disliking horror and came out of it with an entirely new appreciation for a genre I had categorically written off.

DESCENT

I got this game (the full version - had the shareware one and played the heck outta it) for graduation back in 1995 I believe. It was amazing because with two hands on a keyboard, you could control your spacecraft better than any game with a mouse in I've encountered in a fully 3d environment since. (This includes joysticks with extra items. The only thing it lacked was the gradient movement, but honestly the game didn't really need it at all.) Additionally, the whole game was intriguing and almost got a little easy once the controls were fully integrated into my muscle memory. My brother and I put so many hours into this, and still we'll reference it in reminiscing by the resulting "gabbagabbahey" sultry voice cheater.

Edit: also the soundtrack still slaps.

Tetris

So you know Tetris but do you know Tetris?
I bet you didn't knew that Tetris is not a game but a genre? And that there's several lineages of games with distinct game design goal and approaches. I'll help you discover the meticulousness of NES Tetris, the relentless pace of Tetris the Grand Master, and the franic race of guideline Tetris

And you play Tetris but do you really play Tetris? There's a fundamental theorem of Tetris playing that valid for all games yes, but then there's loads of subtle mechanisms to know that can drastically change the character of the game.

But then maybe you just want to play the original Tetirs. But which original one? The gameboy one you grew up with? The IBM port that got released to the west? The elusive Electronica60 that's somehow playable with lots of emulation ?

Ratchet & Clank

Simply put, a fun third person shooter with a variety of unique weapons giving different gameplay options, all wrapped up in an art style that makes the game age gracefully.

I grew up on these games, and have recently been going back and playing through them. One of the most interesting things about the first game is how well polished the gameplay is for the first iteration. The gameplay loop feels tight and establishes mechanics for the series. I would equate it to the first season of Community, where they get it right at the first attempt, and further games are just making minor tweaks to refine it

Crystalis

Crystalis is an action RPG for the original NES. It was clearly inspired by The Legend of Zelda (similar viewpoint and general movement), but it has an actual pretty interesting plot for a game of the era and more variety in gameplay. I have never quite understood why it didn't become more well known as it was such a solid game back then. Maybe Nintendo didn't like SNK for making a better Zelda and didn't promote it much via Nintendo Power :). There was also a port later for the Gameboy Color which maybe be the better one to play if you are playing via emulation. I haven't played the GBC version so I can't verify which is better.

Sonic the 3D Hedgehog

In the late '80s and early '90s, Sonic defined 2D momentum platforming: levels that mixed high-speed runs with careful platforming, using downtime to balance the pace and reward speed buildup.

When 3D arrived in the fifth console generation, SEGA's big challenge was translating that design philosophy into three dimensions. Needless to say, this was a lot harder than it sounded.

Amid executive tug‑of‑war between SEGA of America and SEGA of Japan, Sonic X‑Treme was meant to launch on the Saturn. It never did. What Sonic Team produced leaned more toward labyrinthine layouts and a fixed, front‑facing camera (closer to fan game Sonic Robo Blast 2) than the seamless, speed‑first experience fans expected.

That transition finally clicked in 1998–99 with Sonic Adventure on Dreamcast: the first proper 3D Sonic not hobbled by late, rushed 3D hardware. The generous draw distance let you see far ahead, making it actually possible to plan moves at speed.

What I love most about Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2 (more than later entries) is how they deliver both freedom and speed without sacrificing tight, compact level design with some breathing room. Unlike the on‑rails Boost games, the inconsistent Lost World, or the sprawling Frontiers, you aren't locked into predetermined lanes. You can veer off the main path, explore a bit, and often find hidden shortcuts and rewards through keen discovery or mastery of character's physics.

And that's just from playing as Sonic and Shadow, the standout characters in both games. Sonic Team kept things fresh by adding more characters with very different roles:

• Gamma (SA1), Tails and Eggman (SA2): Bulky mechs that trade agility for ranged firepower. Shooting enemies along your line of sight is often required to progress.
• Knuckles and Rouge: As mobile as the hedgehogs, but focused on hunting three hidden items per large stage using an in‑game proximity radar. Gliding, wall‑climbing, and hint monitors keep the search from dragging.
• Amy (SA1 only): A chase stage where you flee a big robot without Sonic‑level speed, but can gain height with hammer swings while running.
• Big (SA1 only): Essentially a fishing minigame. It's intentionally slow and clearly the least engaging of the cast.

On top of all that, Sonic Team included a surprisingly deep pet‑raising sim: the Chao Garden. You could:

• Use a VMU or GBA to take your Chao "on the go" or raise it in a smaller, portable garden.
• Win battles and minigames, feed fruits, and train stats.

It's rare to see that much care poured into what could've been throwaway side content, especially by today's AAA standards.

To further seal the deal, Jun Senoue's score ties everything together. Both games, especially SA1, have a cool, dreamy, energetic vibe that perfectly captures that early‑2000s "bold new future" feeling.

Put it all together and you get a duology whose charm and earnestness left an optimistic and lasting impression on my younger self for years after finishing them. Will they stand the test of time? Maybe. But what they set out to do, and largely achieved, is what matters to me.

The Genesis of Treasure

A little over six months ago, I posted a brief overview of why nearly all of Treasure's high‑energy, inventive Genesis/Mega Drive titles, the ones that helped the studio step out of Konami's shadow, deserve your attention. Since that post was easy to miss, I'll bring those writeups back here:

Gunstar Heroes

Treasure's debut title, Gunstar Heroes, regularly appears on lists of the best Genesis games, and for good reason. While it takes cues from Contra with its run-and-gun gameplay and classic power-ups, it also pushes the genre forward through clever stage design and inventive mechanics rather than relying solely on punishing difficulty.

At the start, you choose between two characters: one can shoot while moving, and the other can aim freely in eight directions. You also select one of four weapon types: rapid-fire, laser, homing, or flamethrower, and later combine them for stronger or hybrid attacks.

The arsenal doesn't stop at guns. You can perform sliding kicks, body slams, and even throw enemies (or your co-op partner!) for explosive damage.

The early game lets you tackle four opening stages in any order, each with its own unique twist. The Strange Fortress, for example, features a creative board-game sequence where dice rolls determine what type of challenge or mini-boss you'll face next.

Despite the Sega Genesis's technical limitations, Treasure found ingenious ways to push its hardware. By stitching sprites together and using rotation effects, they created massive, articulated bosses that felt alive. One of the most famous is the humanoid form of the Seven Force boss, an impressive showcase of both creativity and technical mastery.

If you only have time for one title from The Genesis of Treasure Arcade Special, make it Gunstar Heroes. It perfectly captures the balance of challenge, spectacle, and inventiveness that defines Treasure's best work.

McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure

If you thought Grimace's Birthday, that charming free Game Boy Color game from the 2020s, was the only good McDonald's console title, think again. Back in the early '90s, McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure proved that even a corporate mascot could star in a genuinely fun platformer.

Commissioned by Sega, the project gave Treasure a chance to show off their game design chops under a familiar brand. It was meant to be a safer, attention-grabbing debut, but Gunstar Heroes' huge success quickly made that safety net unnecessary.

What sets this seemingly standard platformer apart is its clever HP system. Throughout the journey, Ronald McDonald can spend some of his health gems to unlock new areas or even damage bosses, adding a light strategic layer to an otherwise straightforward adventure.

While it's much easier than Treasure's usual fare, it still delivers the studio's signature mix of lively setpieces, imaginative stages, and tight mechanics. It's the perfect entry point for players who found Gunstar Heroes a bit too intense, offering a gentler taste of Treasure's creative spark.

Dynamite Headdy

This is Treasure at their most chaotic, colorful, and completely unrestrained. Dynamite Headdy bursts with theater-inspired visuals, hyperactive sound design, and wild gameplay that never lets up.

As the name suggests, Headdy literally fights with his head, tossing it in eight directions to attack enemies or latch onto nodes for platforming tricks. Throughout the adventure, you'll collect more than a dozen alternate heads, each granting unique abilities like the powerful Hammer Head, the Vacuum Head that pulls in enemies and items, or the Invisible Head for stealthy moments.

The real magic, though, lies in its variety. Nearly every stage introduces fresh mechanics or visuals without ever feeling disconnected from the core gameplay. Whether you're in a side-scrolling shooter segment or an offbeat platforming challenge, the game's consistency in physics and control keeps the mayhem manageable.

Take one standout sequence: during a tense fight with Trouble Bruin, Headdy must keep attacking while restrained by his foe's grip, a claustrophobic twist that still feels true to the game's logic. Moments earlier, you were navigating a swaying 3D-like platform section, showcasing Treasure's boundless imagination within Genesis hardware limits.

With its dazzling creativity, strong level design, and dynamic pacing, Dynamite Headdy is a highlight of The Genesis of Treasure Arcade Special lineup. For the best balance of challenge and fun, stick with the Japanese version; it avoids the artificial difficulty spikes added to the Western release to deter rentals.

Alien Soldier

Arguably the toughest game of the bunch, but also one of the most exhilarating. Alien Soldier takes the intense 2D run-and-gun formula of Gunstar Heroes and distills it into a near-endless parade of boss battles. Most stages are just a short prelude before you’re thrown into another showdown against one of 25 strikingly designed foes, ranging from the cool to the downright grotesque.

At the start, you choose four weapons from a set of six for your bird-like super-soldier. Each has different ranges, spreads, and strengths, and taking duplicates increases ammo reserves. You can swap weapons mid-game whenever you find a pickup, and matching icons refill your ammo while boosting capacity.

Survival hinges on mastering two key mechanics: the counter and the teleport. The counter (performed by double-tapping the shoot button) absorbs enemy projectiles and converts them into health pickups, occasionally deflecting attacks back at the boss, a lifesaving move since most bosses fill a third of the screen and can shred your HP bar in seconds. The teleport lets you zip across a quarter of the screen in an instant; when your health is full, crashing into a boss during a teleport deals heavy damage at the cost of some of your life.

For your own sanity, it's worth switching from Superhard to Supereasy mode in the Options menu. You'll get unlimited continues and a password save system. It won't make the fights themselves much easier, but at least you won't have to start all over every time Alien Soldier humbles you.

Light Crusader

Did you know Treasure also made a top-down, isometric dungeon crawler for the Genesis? Light Crusader is the oddball in their otherwise explosive action catalog, and all the more interesting for it.

You play as Sir David, a knight investigating a sprawling underground crypt linked to mysterious disappearances in a nearby town. The sparse storytelling does its job, leaving most of the focus on exploration and gameplay.

Unlike many isometric games of the era (like Landstalker) that restrict movement to four diagonal directions, Light Crusader lets you move freely in all eight. Sir David feels nimble, with snappy walking speed and long, floaty jumps that make navigation smooth and responsive.

Combat, however, can be awkward. His short sword forces you to get uncomfortably close to enemies, relying on hit-and-run tactics unless you use your limited stock of magic. Fortunately, the spell system adds some depth; you can combine up to four elemental spells for unique effects, like mixing fire and earthquake to create a devastating meteor strike.

The game's physics engine also adds charm and personality. Pushable blocks follow gravity and can fall off ledges, and yes, you can cheekily shove around townsfolk too.

While Light Crusader doesn't rank among Treasure's best-known titles, it's a fascinating experiment that proves the studio's willingness to step outside their comfort zone. It's a solid, imaginative dungeon crawler that shows even Treasure's lesser-known works were brimming with creative curiosity.

I nominated StarCraft, which I still think is a very solid choice. We could set up some 4v4 matches or a tournament after people play the campaign. StarCraft was one of the main games of my childhood, and was my introduction to online gaming... If you've never played it, I would highly recommend trying it out someday. I've heard it described as the chess of the future.

In retrospect, I probably should have gone with WarCraft due to the fact that WC3 just got a new expansion like 23 years later. Damn shadow drops!

Mother 3

I’m not as eloquent as many here, but I’ll still lobby for this game!

It’s a quirky, unique RPG with a great story. It has feels, adventure, humour, and it’s still relevant today because it’s “pixel/sprite” art style is in fashion.

The combat system is unique, where you have to listen for a more or less hidden rythm (depending on the mob) to tap your attacks in rythm and make insane combos. But you don’t have to, it also works without.

One of the few games I think back about randomly because it was such a pleasant and unique experience.

Wizball

Quoting from the Commodore 64 gaming magazine Zzap64!, page 106 of issue 043, November 1988:

(Paul) Not to put too fine a point on it, Wizball is nothing short of being a work of mad genius! The amount of thought put into this game is exemplary, with a marvellous plot, so many neat control touches, terrifyingly addictive play, beautiful graphic design and some of the best music you'll ever hear from a Commodore. Apart from the addition of more levels, there are no improvements which could be made to this game -- everything you could possibly want from a piece of computer entertainment is in there and nothing has been compromised. I don't know how it missed out on a Gold Medal back in Issue 27, but hopefully the DEF award [for the greatest game in its genre] will go some way to reconciling that small misdemeanor.

(Gordon) There's not much I can add to that: for me, it's a toss up between this and Dropzone, with this winning by virtue of its originality. The only fault I found with it was the initial difficulty, but the subsequent gameplay makes up for that by about a millionfold. It's crammed with cute touches (not something you normally find in a shoot 'em up) and is almost totally unique. I've played it and completed it, and I still play it -- if you ever see it lying around, snap it up, because it's not only the best shoot 'em up around, it's one of the best games of all time.