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About Me


Life is my hobby. Video games are my life.

I enjoy other things, but that's not important here. We're here for the love of video games.

I've been a loyal, addicted member of Destructoid since around March of 2008.
Thank you, Niero. Helluva site, man! I use it daily.

I've been a hardcore gamer since I received a N.E.S. Christmas of 1987. Can't believe it's been that long! Video games are a major part of my life and that will never change.

Systems and games come and go, but a great game will never, eeeeever be forgotten.





By the way, I ran a shirt company. A video game inspired shirt company. It was fun, while it lasted...
'1UPshirts.com'

http://twitter.com/1UPshirts
http://www.myspace.com/1upshirts
facebook coming soon!



*Currently(January 2012), I'm busy as hell with:

*Batman: Arkham City(PS3) - Comic book video game perfection. Also, the combat challenge mode is utterly addiciting. I am... Batman.

*Super Mario 3D Land - Perfect mix of new and old Mario elements in a true 3D space. A near-perfect portable experience. I am always thankful for Nintendo. Also, the Special World is special.

*Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D - Pretty much what I wanted from a portable version of the classic Mercs mode from the Resident Evil series. Besides the frame rate issues(which don't seem so bad the more you play) and the permanent save fiasco, it's a damn fine, fun time. Also, addicting as hell.

*Bionic Commando Rearmed 2(PS3) - Although not as "clean" as the original remake, this sequel is a rad addition to the franchise. Also, jump.

*Marvel vs CAPCOM 3(PS3) - Albert. Chris. Also, Nathan. Elite.

*Donkey Kong Country Returns - Spectacular. One of the best, pure platform games in years. It's on like Donkey Kong! Wait. Can I say that?!

*Castlevania: Lords of Shadow(PS3) - Triumphant. An absorbing gothic effort from MercurySteam, Kojima Productions and, of course, Konami.

*Metroid: Other M - Ambitious. A 3D game with a 2D feel. The combo of running and gunning mixed with first person works surprisingly well. The strange tag team of Nintendo and Tecmo have delivered a bold and unique Samus Aran experience.

*Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game(PS3) - Epic. The classic video game graphics, sound, gameplay and references are awesome. Also, it's only 10 bucks.

*Punch Out!! Wii - Classic. This newest entry into the series proves it's best not to mess with a formula that works. The title defense mode is incredible(also, incredibly difficult)!

*Super Mario Galaxy 2 - Mesmerizing. Beyond amazing Nintendo platforming Miyamoto masterpiece. I'm now searching for the elusive green stars. One more to go...

*Mario Kart DS - Timeless. One of the best Mario Kart games in the franchise. It's damn near perfect. Dry Bones in the Dry Bomber! Do you snake?!

*Donkey Kong(Arcade) - Historic. Almost every week, after a tasty Philly Cheese Steak sandwich, my friend Eric and I play a few games of the Miyamoto classic at a local independent arcade/game store(Phoenix Games). We're training hard to one day defeat the scores of Mitchell and Wiebe(also, Chien). Listen, if you haven't seen The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters you are doing yourself a great deal of injustice.



*Games I can't wait for:
-The Last Gaurdian
-Resident Evil: Revelations
-Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
-Resident Evil 6
-The Last of Us
-Kid Icarus: Uprising
-Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
-Mirror's Edge 2
-Bubsy 4













My PS3 user name is:
Artemus311



My Wii code is:
3579-8218-6810-5725



My Mario Kart Wii code is:
3480-2995-4978



My Brawl code is:
2750-0943-6835



PM me, so we can exchange lame, super ridiculous Nintendo Wii friend codes and play some Brawl, Kart or Dr. Mario.


Pai Mei: "It's the wood that should fear your hand, not the other way around. No wonder you can't do it, you acquiesce to defeat before you even begin."



Some of my all-time favorite games(no order):


N.E.S.:
-Super Mario Bros.
-Super Mario Bros. 3
-Mega Man
-Mega Man 2
-Castlevania
-Kid Icarus
-Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
-Contra
-Metroid
-The Legend of Zelda
-Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
-Duck Tales
-River City Ransom
-Tecmo Bowl
-Ikari Warriors
-Rygar
-Shadow of the Ninja
-Rolling Thunder



Super Nintendo:
-Super Mario World
-Super Mario Kart
-The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
-The Legend of the Mystical Ninja
-Mega Man 7
-Ganbare Goeman 2
-Earthworm Jim
-Earthworm Jim 2
-Super Castlevania IV
-Contra III: The Alien Wars
-Star Fox
-Super Metroid
-The Adventures of Batman and Robin
-Super Punch Out!!
-Super Tecmo Bowl
-Nosferatu



Nintendo 64:
-Super Mario 64
-Mario Kart 64
-The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time​
-Star Fox 64
-Goldeneye
-Goeman's Great Adventure
-WWF: No Mercy



Gamecube:
-Super Mario Sunshine
-Mario Kart: Double Dash
-The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker​
-Luigi's Mansion
-Resident Evil 4
-Super Smash Bros. Melee
-Batman Vengeance



Nintendo Wii:
-Super Mario Galaxy 2
-New Super Mario Bros. Wii
-Donkey Kong Country Returns
-Metroid: Other M
-Punch Out!!
-Contra ReBirth
-Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles
-Super Mario Galaxy
-Mario Kart Wii
-Mega Man 9
-Mario Party 8
-Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles
-Wario Ware: Smooth Moves
-Super Smash Bros. Brawl
-Wii Sports
-Wii Sports Resort
-Lost Winds



There are games(and systems) I've forgotten! So, I'll finish this list later. Need to think! So many amazing games! I mean, who the hell could ever forget:
Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse, Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Super Mario Bros. 2, Donkey Kong(arcade), Willow(arcade), Dick Tracy(Genesis) Dino Crisis 1 and 2, Gauntlet(arcade), Double Dragon, Excitebike, Die Hard Trilogy(PS), Rastan, Karnov, Gradius, ActRaiser, Altered Beast, Contra 4, Golden Axe, Streets of Rage, Fatal Fury, Super Ghouls and Ghosts, Sonic the Hedgehog 1-3, Jumping Flash!, Twisted Metal, Battle Arena Toshinden, Ico, Trauma Center, Deadly Towers and Bubsy, among others.
Well, maybe not Deadly Towers.



*Games I wish I had played that I hopefully will sooner than later:
-No More Heroes(and 2)
-Shadow of the Colossus
-Killer 7
-Dead Space
-Conker's Bad Fur Day
-The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge
-Donkey Kong 64
-Bubsy 3D: Furbitten Planet


I absolutely love the DS Lite! My DS Lite(along with Mario Kart DS) share a pocket with my cell phone. I never leave home without 'em.



Yes, I am a Nintendo fanboy(hate that word).
And yes, I love my PS3.





That's it for now...

Get the heck out of here, you nerd!












Gamer Profile
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PSN: Artemus311
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* The Start of the Affair: Ganbare Goeman!
Artemus | 8:04 PM on 06.22.2008 11 comments


I've been reminiscing a lot about classic games...

I say the word "classic", but that doesn't mean the game had to be popular or mainstream such as Pac-Man, Donkey Kong or Super Mario Bros.. There are many other "classic" games out there that didn't get the attention they deserved.

Konami's, ridiculously Japanese, Ganbare Goemon(known as The Legend of the Mystical Ninja in North America) quickly comes to mind.



It is, was and always will be a prolific, addictive and fun video game series.



From the moment I played my rented copy of The Legend of the Mystical Ninja for the SNES, in 1992, I was hooked! I kept it several weeks past the due date! Yes, it was that damn good. The affair had begun...

American box cover... Somewhat assy.


The game had it all: Memorable characters, bizarre boss battles, unique gameplay, stunning Mode 7 graphics and detailed sprite work. Not to mention a catchy, synthesizer-infused, traditional Japanese instrument soundtrack.

Japanese box cover... Not assy.


The game's two main protagonists are Goeman(horribly renamed Kid Ying in the American version) and my favorite, Ebisumaru(renamed Dr. Yang). Get it? Ying and Yang? My gawd, Konami! Why?! Yet, all is forgiven - Considering all the joy this game has given.



Anyway, Goeman, the title character, is a cool, spikey blue-haired, smoking pipe weilding bad-ass. Ebisumaru is his kooky, plump, slightly effeminate, blue-clad ninja sidekick. The two heroes, upon the disappearance of Princess Yuki, start to search Edo and its surrounding Japan. They soon discover the evils of the Otafu army and the adventure begins...



What made the game so much fun was having a friend join you in the 2-player co-op mode. Something not always available in games at the time. Remember, this was back in 1992. Players could help each other out and even perform a hilarious piggy-back ride move! Funny? Yes. Fun? Yes. And highly effective! The player giving the ride runs and jumps from danger, while the other attacks it, from above his friends back! The N64 game Goeman's Great Adventure, even featured 4-player co-op play! Although, in that game, it had to be unlocked.





The Legend of the Mystical Ninja was revolutionary 16-bit video game excitement... The casual gamer needed to invest a little time into the game before they realized what amazing depth and variety of game play it actually possessed. Players would roam busy towns in search of money, clues and items. Then fight in highly detailed side-scrolling levels. You could even catch up on some health by staying in one of the towns hotels. The more money you had, the fancier your room!

Konami spared no expense... Included were a plethora of different mini-games(including Whack-A-Mole, a rad Quiz Show and even a few levels of Gradius, to name a few). This game was simple, addictive platforming action at its best!



Konami worked the system to its maximum limits. This game truly utilized and showcased the power of the SNES.

The Goeman/Mystical Ninja titles all feature sweet gameplay, beautiful graphics and amazing Japanese style music. The few games that made it to the United States are definitely worth checking out... Especially The Legend of the Mystical Ninja and Goeman's Great Adventure. Begin your Goeman affair!



Do yourself a gaming pleasure and go download The Legend of the Mystical Ninja from the Virtual Console). You won't be disappointed. If you can locate a copy of Goeman's Great Adventure for the N64, buy it immediately.



Many years later, I still enjoy the hell outta these games. Thank you Konami! It's just too bad they didn't get the mainstream exposure they deserved.

Who couldn't love Ebisumaru?!



*Is a next gen Goeman game in the works? Sure hope so... Come on, Konami! What are you waiting for?!



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6 comments | showing # 1 to 6
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Brahms's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/22/2008 20:37
Brahms
Hardcore Gaming 101 did an extremely expansive review of the Ganbare Goemon series here:

http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/goemon/goemon.htm

It's a pretty interesting read, I think.
Kinji's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/22/2008 22:03
Kinji
"HEY,
NO CLOSE UPS!"
I watch that first cutscene every time I play.
There was a ton of awesome cutscenes too, every different choice of travel gave you a different one in between acts, depending on the price you paid.

I loved Legend of the Mystical Ninja so much, I've got an import copy of Goemon 3 (my favorite non-english one), a perfect mix of Zelda-like overworld exploring, and amazing sidescrolling dungeons.
I've also got a copy of the PS2 one, sadly it never came to North America, Working Designs, the guys who brought us Lunar and Alundra (not the second) was working on bringing it over, and they were almost done when they got shut down.
Namakubi's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/23/2008 00:16
Namakubi
I love the Goemon series. I actually imported the DS Goemon and it's great, classic Goemon gameplay. Did you ever play the first N64 Goemon game? Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon?
Artemus's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/23/2008 02:22
Artemus
@KINJI
Yeah, I forgot to mention that! Damn. You're right, brother! The game had hilarious cutscenes. Konami really made you like these characters, no matter how wacky they were! Hey, I was a proud owner of a SNES WildCard DX(back-up unit/copier). I had the pleasure of playing all four SNES Goeman action titles! I loved them so much! Still play them, from time to time. Man, the second game was so awesome!

@NAMAKUBI
Yeah, I played the first N64 game and I really, really liked it. It suffered from horrible hit detection and crazy camera issues, but it's still one helluva an early N64 effort! Kudos Konami! Man, I still play Goeman's Great Adventure! It should be released on the Virtual Console... Come on Nintendo! Do it. Do it.
Dimly's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/19/2009 16:36
Dimly
The humor in these games is second to none.

I think Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon for N64 was my indoctrination to quirky Japanese humore.

Awesome!
Artemus's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/20/2009 21:42
Artemus
@Dimly
Thanks for reading! Appreciate it, son...
Yeah, man - This series has humor, action and great gameplay! Konami, baby!
They should get a Wii version in the works...
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