Yes. Everything Is Rubbish.

I move through these types of games pretty slowly. I'm that person who does side quests early, moseys around, and grinds every now and then, because I don't wanna be forced to have to do everything right before the end, because I'm not strong enough, don't have enough items, and all that shit. Plus, I just like being able to take advantage of moments when I'm not just being thrown through the story. So my progress has been slow as fuck through this new RPG focused Yakuza. Speaking of RPG, I didn't mention the biggest change to this game in my first play journal, so lemme talk about it, now that Ichiban's Angels have been cracking skulls for a good minute. All of the other Yakuza games featured combat, but it was your standard brawler affair that you get in most action / adventures; your Arkham City's, your God of War's, Spider-Man'ses. You hit buttons to attack, some are contextual, environments can be used, you can also do specials and finishers...

So, I decided to buy Yakuza: Like a Dragon. If truth be told if it wasn't for the pandemic and the UK in the midst of Lockdown Part II, which nobody seems to be adhering to, I probably wouldn't have bought this. Not because the game looked bad, but because I would have been able to wait a while. But I'm home all of the damn time and bored for most of that time; so I figured, 'Fuck it'. I could do with a distraction, and I know the Yakuza games are a good time having played through a Yakuza game before and enjoying it. My first Yakuza game was Yakuza 0, which I bought out of sheer desire for a Shenmue sequel. Shenmue III was taking for-fucking-ever, and what I was seeing of it wasn't doing much for me. So I figured I'd give Yakuza a shot, which seemed to be the next best thing that could quite possibly fill the void. Bitch. I was not prepared for it to be anywhere near as good as it ended up being. If you've never played a Yakuza game before, and don'...

Okay. So, I've had a bit more time with Sonic mania and I'm ready to hit you with a full blown lowdown of how I feel about this game. Key word being 'I' ya'll. First thing's first. Sonic mania is a good game. After having so many Sonic titles from SEGA which seem to have no respect for the series' origins, it's nice to have a game which does. Sonic mania feels like a love letter to the original Sonic the hedgehog titles (i.e 1, 2, 3, CD and Sonic & Knuckles). Sonic mania references each of these games through zones, gameplay mechanics, animation and bosses.

Something that a few of my followers know (or none of my followers know) is that every now and then I like to compose music in the vein of something that sounds like it could slot into a video game. It's rare that I compose stuff because I'm often *takes a deep breath* creatively blocked or I need a really strong idea or catalyst which sparks an idea, a vision, a melody, anything fucking thing to make me compose suttin'. Way back. Like waaaaaaaaaaaaaay back, 6 years ago to be exact, I composed an original Sonic the hedgehog soundtrack. Just for fun. I based the sound on the original Sonic soundtracks. So everything is a bit tinny and minimal, but still has some kick to it. I composed 10 pieces in general for a bunch of fictional zones which are based somewhat off of existing zones spanning the series. You can listen to the entire thing below. If you dig it, please like, comment, share 'n' all of that social shit that people do when they love shit. You can ...

I think I have a problem. For the past 4 years most of what I've composed has ended up sounding like something from a Sonic the hedgehog game. The first batch of fruits from these sessions spawned the creation of an original Sonic the hedgehog soundtrack (which you can listen to here). But I enjoyed working on it so much that I decided to work on another, but with a twist: That it sounds much more retro and Mega Drivey. Yep. I'm not just making music, but I'm making up words now. As much as I love my original soundtrack, I will confess that not every composition on it sounds as Sonic-esque as it could have done. Some of the compositions were just random compositions, with Sonic strutting into the picture in dem red shoes as I was working on the piece. Where-as everything on this soundtrack was composed with Sonic always in mind. From the very first note until the fade. If you like what you hear, spread the word. Tell yo' friends. Tell SEGA. Write me cheques so I can up...

The Streets of rage II soundtrack is fucking awesome. I will slap, beat down, run over anybody in Ryo Hazuki’s forklift truck who tells me otherwise. The Streets of rage II / Bare knuckle II soundtrack features many stand-out / classic pieces (the whole damn soundtrack is a stand-out classic) but I always had a soft spot for “Back to the industry” because it felt more melodic and like a ‘theme’ in comparison to everything else which was steeped in dance / house anthems for Blaze to squat in her red skirt and pop her pussy to. So here’s my homage to it. For all of my pimps, playa's and hoes who like ninjas, men in motorcycle helmets who throw grenades and giant conveyor belts. If you like it, please like it, share it and all that lovely shit ♥

Ages and ages ago during a period of my life when I used to update this blog daily as though it was my full time occupation, I had posted bits here and there of something I was working on. This 'thing' was never something I planned to do. It kinda just happened. I was in the midst of composing something and as I was working on it I thought to myself "This sounds very Sonic like..." So I finished the piece with Sonic clearly in mind; then all of these ideas for zones and sounds were running through my mind. And before I knew it I was actively creating an original soundtrack for the world's most famous anthropomorphic hedgehog. Sonic has some fucking awful games in his gameography. But the one thing which never falters with any of the games is the soundtrack. Each very distinct in it's own way. Yet despite being helmed by different composers, there is always an over arcing sound which you can only describe as 'Sonic like'. I tried to draw on that for th...

Sonic CD is one of my favourite Sonic games. I'd even say it's the best one. I remember playing the game for the first time back in '93 on my Uncle's Mega CD and being completely enchanted by the colour, the speed, the time travelling, the sickening over use of parallax scrolling and the soundtrack that is so good that I believe it has the ability to cure Cancer. 2 years later my father would buy me a multi mega. And 3 months after that I would acquire a copy of Sonic CD , finding it on my local market stall after weeks and weeks of searching and scouring every Woolworths store in London. But my time with the game would be short lived. Sony would release the PlayStation which had me question why Sega's CD games looked so poo when Sony's looked so good and could do "3D and dat innit" . And seeing Street Fighter Alpha 2 for sale on the shelf of my local Blockbuster would have me terminate all allegiance to the Multi mega and Sonic CD and flog it at so...

I played the Sonic generations demo today and I really like it! Playing as the little pot bellied Sonic I remember from the Mega Drive days, and whizzing around the lavish Green hill was great fun. I was lovingly google eyed in all of that good nostalgic shit. But of course, one has to be weary of Sega and their Sonic the hedgehog  game demos. I really liked the Sonic unleashed demo and thought it was all kinds of amazing. I even considered buying it. But oh, how Sonic team swiftly sucker punched me with disappoint when I played that full game. A playable stretchy limbed werewolf and QTE sections of death. Really!? It would be nice if Sonic team delivered with this game. It's bad enough what they've done to "modern Sonic" over the years without tainting old school Sonic in the process. I still like him, dammit!

Chemical plant zone is my shit. It had funk, it had a fly little beat on it and it stank of Michael Jackson (on the good days when he kept away from the boys and Bubbles). So it was definitely my muse when I did this. Funk, beats and something a little blue n***a in red shoes can step to. I dance to this myself sometimes. Like nobody is watching. Although secretly hoping somebody is so that they can witness the nirvana which is my shoulder bounce.

I've been wanting a new Shenmue game for so long. The first two games were flawed to Osama's hideout and back, but they were great games which played unlike no other. The first game sucked me in completely. And I failed assignments and starved myself down to a size 1 for the second. If I were to have a list of recommended games to play before you die, Shenmue 1 and 2 would most definitely be on it. The ending to Shenmue 2 somehow managed to go all mystical and Final Fantasy- like to the point where I seriously expected Shen-hua to summon an Aeon. But it cliff-hung in a way which was so abrupt, WTF? -worthy and made me want the next game so badly - that I dropped my controller on the floor, which sent my VMU flying underneath a bookshelf. Resulting in me having to do the entire final section again because my save messed up. I wanted Shenmue 3 to take me whilst I was on all fours scrambling to find my VMU and just give it to me there and then. That's ho...

Guardian heroes is one of my all time favourite games on the Saturn. Quirky anime style. Sheer on-screen mayhem. Some basic RPG-like leveling up elements. And it being a scrolling beat 'em up just rounded off the F**KING AWESOME!! So I'm absolutely stoked that this game will be getting a HD re-release. This was a criminally overlooked game on the Saturn. So this is a great chance for those who owned it, to own it in HD. Those who played it but didn't fancy taking out a second mortgage to afford a Saturn and a copy of this game, to own it at an affordable price. And for all those who had heard of it, but never played it; to check out what the fuss was all about. This release should have happened sooner. But I'm just happy it's happening at all. I was beginning to think nobody was answering my prayers, and that Sega were annoying my letters, my sack of post-it's and the blimp I hired to hover above their offices. I'm really glad I didn't have to send this...

The first time I hit stage seven in Streets of rage II , took the fight to the elevator and the music started, I knew shit was about to go down . "Expander" is one of the heaviest, frantic, high energy sounding songs on the whole of the Streets of rage II soundtrack and I f**king love it. As with my previous Streets of rage remixes-that-aren't-really-remixes, I decided to give "Expander" a shot. I started the damn thing 3 years ago and only managed to finish it this week. I love "Expander" so much that I didn't even want to change anything. I just wanted to know I could recreate the sound of the original and give it some extra kick where I could. Listen: Expander New arrangements & production by Random J © Sega / Yuzo Koshiro You could play "Expander" in clubs, and rest assured drugs would get taken to this shit and everybody would head bang with their hands up around the shiniest object they can find at eye level on the dance floo...

Ever since Sonic entered the third dimension, things have not gone well for him. He's starred in a slew of terrible titles which have seen Sega do everything but make the games not suck. But when it comes time for Sonic to hit a handheld, somebody on the development team seems to remember what the fans love, and less of what they don't. Okay, so the GameBoy advance port of Sonic the hedgehog 1 was a complete stinker. But other than that. Sonic on handhelds have been pretty decent affairs. Something which was thankfully continued on with Sonic's debut on the DS. Sonic rush plays like pretty much every other Sonic game. But as is the case with every new Sonic game, there are some new gameplay altering twists. First off is that the game is played across two screens. Sonic and new playable character Blaze the Cat will zip along the top screen and swoop down into the bottom during their sprints through stages. It's a minor thing, but it really does add to the frantic pace...

Sega's Sonic the hedgehog 4 has taken a much preferred turn towards the Mega Drive classics of the 90's. But this has not only been in regards to the gameplay, but the music too! No Sonic rush Breakbeat funk or Sonic adventure 2 punk rock here. Just old skool 16-bit beats. Listen: Splash hill zone (Act 1) © 2010 Sega This shit makes me wanna go skip through a park and have a water fight with friends, all the while stowing a pet hedgehog in my man bag. It's so damn light, fun and upbeat! If it was any more so, I'd be throwing up Butterflies and shitting Skittles. "Splash hill zone" is not as classic sounding as "Green hill zone", as funky as "Palmtree panic zone" or as super cool as "Escape from the city", but it's cool and nostalgic, and I love it. Sega continually mess up with the gameplay where Sonic games are concerned, but graphics and music are the 2 things they continue to get right every time. And it looks and sounds...

Yakuza has always held a place in many gamers hearts, because it's pretty much as close to Shenmue 3 as anybody is going to get. A game which has clearly had an influence on Yakuza . But it's great that Sega have been able to spin it into a solid series of it's own, and they're wasting no time. Yakuza 4 is about to release in Japan, just as Yakuza 3 is releasing in North America and Europe! So many mini-games, down right stupid beatdowns and side quests were shown that I didn't even see a hint of a story! This game looks crazy, over-the-top, Japanesey as hell and I love it! It's making my love for Shenmue resurface all over again, and is making me want to go back to Japan like yesterday. I think I might need this game. I've not yet played through any of the Yakuza games, but I really like the look of this one.

I tend to have tunnel vision sometimes when it comes to things I like. The only 2 pieces of music from the first Sonic game I remembered vividly and loved were Green hill zone and Marble zone. Anything other than that, to me; just wasn't worth bothering with. But during my friend and I's fan boy conversation about "sick" video game soundtracks, he brought up Spring yard zone from Sonic the hedgehog. I said I didn't really remember it and that I wasn't fussed about it. Then he played it...and memories of it came rushing back. It was f**king awesome! I did this remix back in 2006. I played it recently and didn't change a thing. It's one of the few remixes I've done where I've not had this urge to go back and tweak 'n fix anything. Would Sonic and Yuji Naka approve? I'm sure Sonic would. I doubt he cares. Since when has Sonic cared about quality control. You've played his games lately.

Sonic team's swan song for the Sega Saturn was like something straight out of the 1980's. It takes everything you loved about children's' anime such as Voltron and Ulysses: a funky sing-a-long theme song, a futuristic setting, a couple of mecha's and a team of heroes in tight spandex, short jackets, white gloves, headbands and dodgy haircuts. This is the world of the Burning rangers. It's almost as though Sega saw me coming! Those pesky devils. The Burning rangers being a team of futuristic fire fighters, players take control of one of two new recruits: Shou or Tillis. The game is made up of a handful of missions which have you navigating through labyrinths of fire filled buildings to put out fires, stop explosions and rescue any helpless civilians you happen to come across. As you play through the missions you will come across crystals. Crystals are a form of currency which is needed to teleport civilians to safety. If you do not have enough crystals, then...

Before Soul Calibur came Last Bronx. A weapons based beat 'em up from the very same folk who brought us Fighting vipers, Virtua Fighter and were responsible for the graphics board that ran the titties-'em-up game Dead or Alive. Unlike these games, Last Bronx didn't get to see a sequel. But it was nice whilst it lasted, and at least gave us a taste of 1-v-1 beat 'em ups with weapons. Last Bronx enjoyed a Saturn conversion that even Sega's beloved Virtua Fighter games hadn't been treated to until the release of Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution. Last Bronx featured a full on anime intro (complete with your obligatory J-Rock sing-a-long theme), a story mode, extra options. And for the Japanese release: a second disc complete with a full on tutorial mode, complete with blackboards explaining the in's and outs of the fighting system and explanations from the characters themselves. As with Fighting vipers, Last Bronx wasn't seen as a staple in the Sega lib...

Amidst a bunch of boring, predictable and unoriginal games which tried a bit too hard to push the envelope; Guardian heroes was a breath of fresh air. Sure, it didn't break much new ground or re-invent the wheel. But it had fun in absolute spades and had a quirky plot and memorable off the wall characters to boot. Guardian heroes plays similarly to your average side scroller, but with some twists. For a start; moving up and down the screen is done differently. You have 3 planes: The front, middle and back. You hop between these planes at the tap of a button to beat punks down and avoid attacks. Characters are also able to unleash magic attacks, which consume magic points. These can be leveled up as you progress through the game, doing what a magic level up does: increasing range and power of the attack. At certain points in the game you'll get given options which decide determine the path you'll take through the game and ultimately which final boss you face. This provides...