Deprecated Gaming

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 09:26:50 -0500

Starting Sunday morning the right way 🎮

Super Mario Kart

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 11:17:58 -0500

Nintendo EAD | Nintendo

Kart Racing | Super Nintendo (1992)

Reviewed on SNES and Nintendo Classics on Switch

Most of us have fond memories of playing Mario Kart with family or friends, but the series didn’t become a household name until Mario Kart 64. I played the original SNES version occasionally at friend’s houses (I was a Sega kid) but never owned it myself until many years later. Now that three decades (good lord) have passed, it’s worth revisiting the series’ origin to see how this genre-defining racer holds up as not only a game, but a technical time capsule.

Mario Kart’s formula is at its most basic here. Eight Mario universe characters race to the finish with arcade-style go-kart racing gameplay. Super Mario Kart was a technical feat at the time, utilizing Mode 7 parallax scrolling to create the illusion of depth and 3D. Grand Prix mode has you racing across a set of courses, trying to finish in the top three. Battle Mode pits you against opponents in arena combat. Both modes feature items, such as turtle shells, banana peels, and other power-ups, and can make or break a race. Landing a red shell on whoever is playing next to you remains a blast.

Despite the SNES controller’s D-pad predating modern analog sticks, the controls are surprisingly responsive. Characters have distinct handling differences based on weight class. Lightweights like Koopa Troopa dart around corners while heavyweights such as Bowser can plow through opponents. The track design may be basic compared to later entries in the series, but the timeless foundational design is the reason why tracks like Rainbow Road and Bowser’s Castle have been sequel mainstays. The colorful pseudo-3D Mode 7-powered visuals are still a delight, and even gave this Sega kid some envy back in the day.

There isn’t usually much to gripe about with Nintendo’s game design, but rubber-banding AI seems to be a constant throughout the series, and this entry is no exception. Opponents can magically catch up no matter how masterfully you race, which can be infuriating. There’s also the reality that single-player will never be as satisfying as playing next to a real, breathing friend.

Super Mario Kart laid the foundation for one of Nintendo’s most beloved and best-selling multiplayer franchises. While later entries in the series perfected the formula, it’s still worth grabbing a player two and seeing where it all began.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Good:

Responsive controls
Timeless track design
Mode 7 pseudo-3D visuals

Bad:

Frustrating rubber-banding AI
Better with friends than solo

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 14:28:17 -0500

New additions! I’ve gotta solder a new battery into Zelda, but otherwise all cleaned up and ready to go!

Disney Illusion Island Review

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 10:02:19 -0500

Disney Illusion Island

Dlala Studios | Disney Games

2D Platformer | Nintendo Switch (2023), PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S (2025)

Reviewed on Xbox Series X

I have fond memories of playing Castle of Illusion with my cousin on Sega Genesis, so I was pleasantly surprised to see this spiritual successor from Dlala Studios, the team behind the 2023 Battletoads reboot. Disney Illusion Island launched as a Nintendo Switch exclusive in 2023 before arriving on other platforms in 2025. I picked it up during the 2025 Holiday sale on Xbox, and had to give it a shot just because I love the art style so much.

Disney Illusion Island is best described as a Metroidvania-lite. Gameplay centers on platforming mechanics such as double jumping, wall-bouncing acrobatics and avoiding enemies rather than fighting them. As you progress, you gain new abilities that unlock previously inaccessible areas of the map. Gameplay is broken up by some really excellent cutscenes featuring the same animated charm as Dlala’s 2023 Battletoads. The adventure spans across three distinct biomes (each ending with a boss battle) and clocks in around 8 to 10 hours; excellent for a weekend game.

Platforming is excellent, and remarkably accessible. Adjustable difficulty means whether you’re introducing someone to platformers or a platforming veteran, you’ll find a sweet spot of challenge. Controls are tight and responsive - which is incredibly important to the genre. Visually, it’s a treat for cartoon fans: vibrant colors, clean outlines, and character designs that pop off the screen while keeping the Disney cartoon charm. Four player co-op is an option as well, if you can round up the pals. I played through solo and never felt like anything was unbalanced for single player.

The game isn’t without friction points. Enemy encounters can feel frustrating since you’re always dodging rather than fighting back. Some players may find the constant evasion and acrobatic mechanics more stressful than satisfying. The constant need to chain together precise platforming sequences won’t appeal to everyone. You also won’t find the sprawling depth of many other Metroidvanias. This is more of a weekend rental than something you’ll be playing for 40 hours.

If you’re looking for a fun game to consume a weekend, look no further. If you see it on sale, even better! I especially recommend Disney Illusion Island to those curious about Metroidvanias, or more challenging 2D platformers, as Dlala has done an excellent job making the genre accessible. I also recommend it to animation fans; the cutscenes are genuinely enjoyable and very well done. However, if you just don’t like these kinds of games, or are looking for a gameplay sequel to Castle of Illusion, this isn’t for you.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Good:

Solid, accessible platforming with adjustable difficulty
Gorgeous hand-drawn animation style
8-10 hours long

Bad:

No way to dispatch of enemies
Precision platforming can be an acquired taste

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 13:41:36 -0500

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown is a $20 simple turn based strategy game, and it happened to pull me in over the weekend. Way more fun and addictive than I thought it would be. Check it out! 🎮

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 16:34:35 -0500

Just finished all the Grand Prix races in Sonic Racing Crossworlds. Tons of fun if you like Mario Kart. I happen to like Mario Kart and Sonic, so yeah, easy recommendation (though a reduction in price would be nice. Good lord). 🎮

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 10:48:37 -0500

Daytona USA is awesome because of the music. I mean, it’s a fun arcade racer as well, but really, it’s the music. I mean, just listen to this. 🎮

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 13:33:35 -0500

It doesn’t matter how thin and light an iPhone is, I’m still going to end up dropping it on my face while using it when laying down. 🫡

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 12:45:34 -0500

It’s new iPhone and Watch time for me and the wife this year. I am excited. If I have to participate in capitalism by sitting in an office 40 hours a week, I’m gunna participate in the other side as well by being a brat and getting new stuff! We skip every other year typically.

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0500

**Earthworm Jim 2 ** had a release on Sega Saturn and PlayStation, though the latter only came out in the UK. I regard the Saturn version as the definitive edition of EWJ2. The best graphics, sound, music and most of all, controller. The Saturn controller is so good for platformers. 🎮

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0500

Dark Seed was released in Japan on the Sega Saturn and features artwork from H.R. Giger, which is awesome. Aside from that, since it’s in Japanese, I have no idea what is going on here. While voice lines are in english, the voice acting is REALLY painful. 🎮

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0500

Virtua Fighter was ahead of its time, despite being a Sega Saturn launch title (what a masterfully executed launch of a console that was). It’s pretty close to the arcade cabinet, which was supposed to be what the Sega Saturn delivered. 🎮

Sat, 06 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0500

I don’t think the SNES version of Earthworm Jim is as good as the Sega Genesis version, but there are enough differences that it’s worth checking out. You can now switch between normal gunfire and special ammo, which is useful, but the controls and “feel” are too different, at least for me. 🎮

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 08:22:58 -0500

Disney’s The Lion King is maddeningly difficult, but so many people my age have fond memories of this game. We never actually saw more than a few levels. I prefer the Sega Genesis version myself; I feel like the SNES directional pad makes for awkward jumps. 🎮

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 08:22:55 -0500

Battletoads in Battlemaniacs was another reason for me renting a SNES a few times as a kid. It was exclusive to the SNES, and I loved the NES Battletoads. It’s not quite as difficult, but it’s still impossibly hard. I can get to the second-to-last level before tapping out. KILLER soundtrack! 🎮

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 10:45:14 -0500

Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land is an excellent end to the original Mario Land trilogy, and even better beginning to one of my favorites, the Wario Land series. Lots of great gameplay mechanics add lots of fun for such limited technology. 🎮

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Batman Returns may not be as good as its namesake movie, but it does have some interesting audio, as well as a unique mechanic where kicks can stop bullets. Unfortunately, that’s about all the positive things I can say about it. It was a while before Batman had proper video game representation. 🎮

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 10:00:00 -0500

Super Mario Kart gave me, the Genesis kid, a little bit of SNES envy. Luckily, I had friends who owned it, so I didn’t need a SNES. I’ve had fun playing through the different cups with the wife, who is a big Mario Kart fan but hadn’t played any prior to the Wii one. I still think it plays great. 🎮

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 10:00:00 -0500

I was a Sega kid, but Super Mario World is awesome. I loved the additon of Yoshi, and the sound effects and music are so memorable. I ALWAYS forget how to get past the ghost house. Always have to look it up… It drove me nuts when I first played through! 🎮

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 10:00:00 -0500

F-Zero rocks. It’s super fast, controls great, and the special effects the SNES provided for parallax scrolling really stood out at the time. I adore the music. 🎮

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 10:00:00 -0500

Kirby’s Dream Land was new to me, having only played the NES Kirby’s Adventure. It’s really cool to see how the gameplay formula started, prior to the ability copying mechanic. Plays great, but definitely not as fluid as the NES successor (obviously). 🎮

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 10:00:00 -0500

Why do I have the Japanese version of Sonic the Hedgehog for Mega Drive? Because this came out after the USA version and contains some minor differences, like moving clouds in Green Hills and less spike glitch deaths. So, basically, for the nerdiest reasons possible. 🎮

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 10:00:00 -0500

Ahhhh, what a timeless classic the Game Boy version of Tetris is. To this day, I can play this for so long. Perfect for podcasts, reruns, long car rides, challenging your friends high scores; stuff like that. 🎮

Sat, 16 Aug 2025 10:00:00 -0500

Super Mario Land is a fun handheld take on Super Mario Bros. It’s a very different feeling game than the NES counterpart. Fun to play through while watching reruns, and the start of a great handheld series! 🎮

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 10:00:00 -0500

R.C. Pro AM is an early Rare developed game, so I snagged a cartridge. It’s pretty advanced for NES and has a cool isometric view. I’m not a huge racing game fan (I can barely stand driving in the real world) but its pretty fun! 🎮