hg101

Ys Online: Ark of Napishtim

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/ys-online-ark-of-napishtim/

Ys VI gets a remake....as a mobile F2P RPG.

Desert Falcon

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/desert-falcon/

A Zaxxon-style isometric shoot-em-up, complete with a really cool Sphinx.

Rolo to the Rescue

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/rolo-to-the-rescue/

A Genesis platformer starring an elephant, from the developers of the James Pond series.

HG101 Patreon Postcards - Power Blade and Metal Black

We're running behind on the Patreon postcards, so to make up for it, I've commissioned a few more before we send them off to the printers. In this batch, we have Metal Black by Mike Morrocco and Power Blade by Rusty Shackles!

Top 47k Ep 790: Space Invaders + Dog Patch

LATE SUMMER/EARLY AUTUMN OF ARCADE CONCLUDES WITH TWO 1970s GAMES! Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank the space alien shooter that kicked off an entire industry. Then stick around for Dog Patch, a competitive volleyball-esque game with shotguns!

Bonus Get 370: Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Force

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank the 1v1 mech fighter that experimented with being a 2v2 mech fighter!

Top 47k Ep 789: Rolling Thunder + Pokémon Puzzle League

LATE SUMMER/EARLY AUTUMN OF ARCADE CONTINUES! Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank the game that paved the way for Shinobi to exist. Then stick around for Pokémon Puzzle League, the puzzler that continued Tetris Attack's proud tradition of obscuring its roots as a Panel de Pon game!

Bonus Get 369: Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank a loving spiritual successor to Shinobi III and Mega Man X!

Tempest Rising

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/tempest-rising/

A modern RTS that follows the lineage of classics like Command & Conquer.

Contra: Rogue Corps

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/contra-rogue-corps/

Konami's misguided sequel to the long-running run-and-gun series.

Raimais

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/raimais/

A maze-dot collecting game from Taito with a sci-fi aesthetic and plenty of secrets.

Top 47k Ep 788: Mace: The Dark Age + Fashion Police Squad

LATE SUMMER/EARLY AUTUMN OF ARCADE CONTINUES! Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank Atari's 3D fighter that strove to corner the competitive... N64 fighting game scene... of 1997. Then stick around for Fashion Police Squad, the most glamorous FPS you can imagine!

September Patreon Podcast Poll

Cast your vote for an upcoming episode!

Bonus Get 368: Baraduke

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank Namco's sci-fi action game, that introduced us all to the most terrifying version of Pac-Man imaginable!

Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/broken-sword-5-the-serpents-curse/

Catching up on updating some article series with a look at this adventure game series revival.

Dragon Quest Wars

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/dragon-quest-wars/

Dragon Quest and Intelligent System's Wars series meet head on in this DSiWare strategy game.

HG101 Movie Game Panel at Retro World Expo in Hartford, CT on Friday September 12th, 2025!

I'll be attending Retro World Expo in Hartford, CT next weekend, where I'll be giving a panel on Actually Decent Movie Licensed games on Friday evening and hanging around the whole weekend. Come say hi!

Soukaigi

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/soukaigi/

A Japan-only PS1 action-RPG from wrestler developer Yuke's, known more for its brilliant soundtrack than its shoddy gameplay.

Top 47k Ep 787: Elevator Action + Bonanza Bros.

LATE SUMMER/EARLY AUTUMN OF ARCADE CONTINUES! Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank Taito's spy action thriller that will literally crush you with excitement. Then stick around for Bonanza Bros., Sega's multiplayer co-op heist game!

Bonus Get 367: Pu-Li-Ru-La

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank Taito's surreal arcade beat-em-up... yes, it's the game with the legs!

The Thief, the Witch, the Toad, and the Mushroom,

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/thief-the-witch-the-toad-and-the-mushroom-the/

An Australian VN/gamebook hybrid that embraces a storybook aesthetic.

Fhey Area

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/fhey-area/

An early Mega CD RPG from Wolf Team, promising cinematic battles but dragged down by tedium.

A little while back, I ran a poll regarding upcoming books. The clear winner was the Ys and Fa...

Top 47k Ep 786: Scramble & Super Cobra + Anteater

LATE SUMMER/EARLY AUTUMN OF ARCADE CONTINUES! Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank Konami's first horizontal shooter, plus its more challenging follow-up. Then stick around for Anteater, a game about an anteater who is incredibly vulnerable for some reason to... ants?!

Bonus Get 366: Prismatic Solid

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank a geometry-destroying vertical shooter!

Schildmaid MX

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/schildmaid-mx/

A shoot-em-up where running into bullets makes you stronger.

Missland

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/missland/

A duology of "spot the difference" games released in the early days of the Japanese PlayStation's life.

Bomberman World

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/bomberman-world/

Our Bomberman series coverage continues with this isometric PS1 entry.

Top 47k Ep 785: Major Havoc + Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters

LATE SUMMER/EARLY AUTUMN OF ARCADE CONTINUES! Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank Atari's magnum opus of vector-based gaming. Then stick around for Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters, an isometric Gauntlet-like with a '50s sci-fi theme!

Bonus Get 265: Hypnospace Outlaw

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank an alternate history late '90s internet adventure!

Gradius Origins / Salamander III

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/gradius-origins/

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/salamander-iii/

The latest compilation from M2 and Ko...