I'll always go to bat for Gunstar Super Heroes. It's a full on sequel to the Genesis game - hardly anyone seems to talk about it, which is a shame because it's incredible. Easily one of the best action games on GBA, if not the best. Absolutely deserves a spot in any top GBA list, right alongside Astro Boy Omega Factor.
Ages is fantastic if you like Zelda for the puzzles. I've always preferred it over Seasons because of that, but honestly they're both excellent games and criminally overlooked.
I'm just glad this is going to enable more people to try these out. They've always deserved more attention than they've received - I feel like many people playing for the first time will be surprised by how substantial of a Zelda experience these are.
The term that's stuck for this subgenre (for better or worse) is "Character Action". It's not particularly descriptive - I agree with Kamiya in that it ought to make clear that it's in reference to the Japanese school of action game design, which is very distinct from western sensibilities.
That said, I'd consider the best western take on the genre is the indie game Furi.
I was extremely late to the party with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, never having played any of them until 2016 or so. Having long missed the zeitgeist, I figured it would be one of those instances where the games were massive in their time but are simplistic or clunky to play now. But man, was I wrong....
the best way to play a game is strictly up to the player
This is always the right answer. There are very real, tangible benefits to using a CRT that isn't just nostalgia - but anyone saying it's the "only" way to game is just gatekeeping. I say this as someone who owns like 10 CRTs and moderates CRTs@kbin.social.
I do the best of both worlds, a component-input CRT paired with a hombrewed Wii to emulate retro games in their original resolution with minimal lag. If your setup keeps you happy, then that's all that matters.
Now everyone can experience how outrageously difficult it is to reach the credits of Pokemon Stadium 2 only using rental Pokemon. It's speedrunner strategies or bust - Wobbuffet MVP
Picked up a 19" at a garage sale for 5 dollars. Hadn’t realized it only had an RF input until I got the sucker home, just wondering if anyone has adapter recommendations or tips for picture quality?
There's not a whole lot you can do to improve things with RF - it's the lowest quality signal type supported by most retro consoles, and CRTs that only had that as an input were generally older or budget sets.
Make sure you get good quality coaxial cable that isn't fraying or super old, and keep daisy chaining of adapters to a minimum. Also, try to get RF Modulators that are OEM whenever possible. It's still going to look rough compared to other signals, but that's all you can really do.
By the way, there's a CRT magazine on Kbin if you or anyone else would like to join (questions like this are encouraged over there!)
Both of these websites are actively cataloguing the vast number of CRTs in existence, complete with specifications, service manuals, and photos. They also provide extremely helpful guides to help walk through some of the more complicated repair procedures....
like it says on the tin, I’ve read up on the safety tips and have a pretty modern set (FD trinitron KV-13FS100) so I’m knowing that reduces my risk too as those are supposed to discharge faster naturally (and I’m already planning on leaving it unplugged for at least a day)....
You can go to an industrial supply store like Grainger to custom order electrically insulated gloves. That's where I went to get mine - they helped me get properly fitted and find one that was suitable (Ansell Class 0).
Whatever you do, don't rely on Amazon for stuff like this. These kinds of gloves are vetted for protection for only a certain amount of time and you can't rely on random resellers to guarantee that. Careless packaging and handling can also potentially damage the gloves and render them useless, another reason to order directly from an industrial supplier.
Also, don't allow yourself to be careless when operating on a CRT just because you have electrical gloves. Do your research thoroughly and plan out exactly what you need to do beforehand. I haven't gotten shocked yet with mine, but I don't want to put it to the test for obvious reasons.
Mike Chi, the creator of the excellent Retrotink line of products, revealed that the upcoming Retrotink 4K will support pretty much every relevant video signal under the sun over its HD15 (VGA) port:...
Great list of games for one of my favourite systems - the GBA. What are your picks? (www.one37pm.com)
Game Boy – July 2023 Game Updates – Nintendo Switch Online (www.youtube.com)
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages...
Hideki Kamiya thinks Japan should be proud of ‘JRPG’ and wants to use ‘J-Action’ | VGC (www.videogameschronicle.com)
What's a game you think has aged surprisingly well?
I was extremely late to the party with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, never having played any of them until 2016 or so. Having long missed the zeitgeist, I figured it would be one of those instances where the games were massive in their time but are simplistic or clunky to play now. But man, was I wrong....
How Should I Retro? (OC, Long Post) (7hemitch.wordpress.com)
Hey all! The link leads to the full article with pictures and formatting. Text is included here for an ad-free experience. Thanks for reading :)...
Game Boy and Nintendo 64 - August 2023 Game Updates - Nintendo Switch Online (www.youtube.com)
Pokémon Trading Card Game (Game Boy)...
Share your stash here! How many CRTs do you own, and which are your favorites?
To kick things off, here's my current hoard, er, stash:...
Tips for getting the best of an RF CRT?
Picked up a 19" at a garage sale for 5 dollars. Hadn’t realized it only had an RF input until I got the sucker home, just wondering if anyone has adapter recommendations or tips for picture quality?
Two fantastic resources everyone should know about - CRT Database and CRT Wiki
Both of these websites are actively cataloguing the vast number of CRTs in existence, complete with specifications, service manuals, and photos. They also provide extremely helpful guides to help walk through some of the more complicated repair procedures....
20 Years Later: Soulcalibur II is Fighting Game Perfection (goombastomp.com)
Now that the Japanese console versions of Soulcalibur II are 20 years old, it's worth looking back at why the game remains so iconic.
[The Verge] Reddit pressures mods to end the blackout as they find new ways to protest (www.theverge.com)
“We’ll no longer comment on hearsay, unsubstantiated claims, or baseless accusations from The Verge. We’ll be in touch as corrections are needed.”...
Fire Emblem – Game Boy Advance – Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack (youtu.be)
OC The GBA may have had a tiny LCD display, but these games look damn good on a CRT in 240p
Suggestions for what Class of Electrician Gloves I Want for Fiddling About in my CRT
like it says on the tin, I’ve read up on the safety tips and have a pretty modern set (FD trinitron KV-13FS100) so I’m knowing that reduces my risk too as those are supposed to discharge faster naturally (and I’m already planning on leaving it unplugged for at least a day)....
OC Insane Sellers - "No remote, busted screen, needs repair...$500"
The Retrotink 4K is shaping up to be the most advanced retro gaming upscaler ever created (twitter.com)
Mike Chi, the creator of the excellent Retrotink line of products, revealed that the upcoming Retrotink 4K will support pretty much every relevant video signal under the sun over its HD15 (VGA) port:...
Wipeout Phantom Edition: A New Source Port for the 1995 Original (www.retrorgb.com)
A new source port of the classic 1995 sci-fi racer, Wipeout, has just popped up on GitHub.
Final Fantasy VI – The End of All Things (goombastomp.com)
Few RPGs can boast as much freedom as FFVI does, but Final Fantasy VI was built on a foundation five masterpieces-strong.
What's the furthest you've traveled to acquire a CRT?
Curious just how far some of you have gone for a CRT, and why!...
OC Fire Emblem 1 (Switch) @480p on the Lacie Electron Blue IV
Bioshock Infinite Retrospective - a Blast in This or Any Other Reality (goombastomp.com)
OC The Toshiba 32AX60 in action - highly recommend keeping an eye out for these Cinema Series Toshibas! (imgur.com)
https://imgur.com/a/6Iqa7Ah
[RetroRGB] The Dell P1130 Trinitron – A High Performance PC CRT (www.retrorgb.com)
The Dell P1130 is a 4:3 bland Dell PC monitor from the early 2000s. So, why is it significant now?