Outlaw (2600): Outlaw is another simple, but fun multiplayer game for the 2600. In it you square off against an opponent and shoot it out. While Outlaw does offer a target practice mode and a battle against the computer, it’s best enjoyed as a two-player experience.
Pong (Arcade): Pong is about as simple a game as it gets. Pong is a basic looking virtual table tennis experience. Despite its simplicity though it really is a lot of fun. It can get really intense despite its basic design, and limited audio and graphic appeal. Pong helped to create the commercial video game and arcade industries, and despite its age it remains a fun experience to play with a friend.
Quad Tank (New): Quad tank is basically Combat, but beefed up and expanded upon. In it you control a tank using the same unusual and fun controls found in Combat, and try to get upgrades to help you shoot your opponent’s tank up. While this game is really fun with multiple players (especially if you can get four people to play), as a one player game it was way too difficult (at least for me).
Quad Run (2600): One thing that I think a 2600 game should never be is confusing. With the limited graphical power of the VCS, even when playing a more complex game it should be clear what you are doing. Sadly, this isn’t the case with the game Quad Run. For the life of me I cannot figure out how this game works. Supposedly you have to make incredibly difficult shots and then collect your bullet after hitting the target. Even after researching and playing it multiple times though I’m still puzzled as to why this game is so needlessly complex. I wouldn’t recommend this one unless you are willing to put in a lot of time figuring it out.
Quantum (Arcade): Quantum is basically Qix, but better. In it you surround shapes with a glowing line and capture them. While the game is really simple, it has a really nice aesthetic and more freedom of movement than Qix does. It also can get really hectic when you are faced with aggressive flying saucers. While not the best on the collection, playing Quantum is still a fun time and the game’s vector graphics look great.
Race (2600): Race is one of those simple multiplayer games that got lost in the shuffle. Just as the name implies it is a simple racing game similar to super sprint. Like other multiplayer games on the VCS it isn’t much fun without another player. As a two-player game though this game is fun, despite not standing out much.
Real Sports Baseball (2600): Oh, how I dreaded reviewing Atari’s 2600 Real Sports line. Many of these titles hold up about as well as wet tissue paper, and Real Sports Baseball is no exception. Even for the VCS this game looks terrible, but it plays even worse. The game takes a long time to start up and it isn’t worth the wait. Its clunky controls do it no favors, nor does the fact that much better sports games were on the horizon. Even (and especially) if you love baseball avoid this game!
Real Sports Basketball (2600 prototype): Somehow this game is even worse than Baseball. Unless you want to play a game where just throwing baskets is a challenge, with terrible graphics (even for the 2600) and where the ball sounds like an atomic bomb then this game should be avoided at all cost. There is a reason why it wasn’t released.
Real Sports Boxing (2600): Finally, a Real Sports game that is actually fun! Real Sports Boxing reminds me of the old toy Rock em’ Soc em’ Robots. It is a boxing game that is simple, but effective. If you want a good sports game in this collection this is the one to play.
Real Sports Football (2600): Competing for the worst Real Sports game title with Basket Ball is Real Sports Football. While I’m not a huge football fan, I don’t think that a fan of the sport would enjoy this game either. The same thing always happens, the round starts and then you are quickly tackled and a whistle blows, then you do it again and again. If your looking for fun look elsewhere.
Real Sports Soccer (2600): This game should be titled Real Sports Kick the Can. While it is an improvement on some of the Real Sports titles this doesn’t keep it for being a slog to play. The controls remain poorly designed and stiff, and the game continues to be not worth playing.
Real Sports Tennis (2600): While boring this game is so much more playable then most of the games on the list. It is really simple, but it at least functions well and can be enjoyed. Other than boxing this is the best of the series, and is actually worth experiencing at least once.
Real Sports Volleyball (2600): Thankfully this is last game in this line of terrible games. While better than some of the other Real Sports games Volleyball still is kind of meh. It suffers from perspective issues and some hit detection problems. It does play well enough other than that, but it is still not worth trying. Stick with Tennis or Boxing.
Ruiner Pinball (Jaguar): Believe it or not Ruiner Pinball is actually a fun game. Unlike most Jaguar games Ruiner Pinball holds up quite well. While it only has two tables and has an old school video pinball style it does a great job, especially for its time making those tables varied and having a solid early physics engine. While not one of the best pinball games you will ever play it holds up quite well, especially considering how poor many Jaguar games are.
Major Havoc (arcade): Major Havoc is beautiful to look at, and despite having uneven quality of gameplay is a lot of fun. Major Havoc’s design was clearly influenced by Star Wars films. It starts out as a fast-paced shooter where you have to break through an enemy battleship’s defenses and land on it. The next part of the game has you running around a maze in zero gravity while dodging enemy robots and using your shield to prevent damage. Your goal in this part is to get to the reactor, plant a bomb, and get back to your ship before the battleship explodes dramatically. While I feel that the space shooter part is far more fun than the maze part, I enjoyed both elements. The sleek vector graphics alone though make this a game worth playing.
Malibu Bikini Volleyball (Lynx): Thepoor Atari Lynx is home to some of the most mediocre games in history, and this is one of them. Malibu Bikini Volleyball isn’t worth playing. It’s the sort of game that isn’t remarkably bad, but fails to impress in any way. It’s a simple game with bad hit detection and AI, but isn’t unplayable so much as it is boring. While it might have been an alright filler game for the Lynx there are so many much better volleyball games out there and so many better games in this collection.
Maze Invaders (Arcade Prototype): Another great game that Atari for some reason passed on; Maze Invaders is Atari’s version of Pac-Man. It focuses more on navigating complex mazes than Pac-Man, and offers multiple exits that lead to the next stage. In addition to it’s gameplay it’s graphics and music are also a lot of fun! While not as thrilling as Pac-Man Maze Invaders absolutely should have been released as it is still a really fun game and brings some new elements to the table.
Millipede (Arcade, 2600, 5200 ((prototype)): Millipede is an excellent sequel to Centipede which is as good if not better than its predecessor. Millipede adds faster gameplay and exploding DDT barrels, but the sharp, creative, and fun core features of Centipede remain in tac. The best version of this game is the arcade as the 2600 version sacrifices the arcades graphics to maintain the thrilling gameplay and the 5200 version is far too sluggish (which is probably why it wasn’t released).
Miner 49er (2600, 800): Miner 49er like its sequel is alright, but feels like a product of its time in the worst ways. Like Bounty Bob Strikes Back it’s all about collecting everything in a level and lighting up all the paths by touching them. It’s a slow and methodical game that suffers from the same stiff and finicky jump controls its sequel has. If you are going to play this game stick with the 800 version. The poor 2600 tries its best but is far too slow and clunky to do the game justice and only features three levels.
Missile Command (Arcade, 2600, 5200): Missile Command is one of those games that is iconic for a reason. While it was created in response to cold war fears of nuclear apocalypse, it remains deeply relevant and effecting to this day. Missile Command has you trying to stop incoming attacks using missiles in order to save cities. It is a surprisingly simple and fun game, while also being deeply disturbing and cerebral. The 2600 version of the game is more accessible and is easy to last longer in, but lacks the impact of the arcade. The 5200 version though is a major letdown due to how much slower it is; making it vastly inferior to the 2600 and arcade versions.
Missile Command 3D (Jaguar): It’s incredible to think that despite being fifteen years older than the original Missile Command this game pales so much in comparison to it. It all comes down to the speed of the game. While Missile Command 3D has 3 different modes none of them are as thrilling or well designed as the original game. It is really disappointing that even the classic mode is so much slower than the arcade and 2600 versions, despite sporting vastly superior hardware. Stick to the arcade game or it’s 2600 port instead.
Neo Breakout (New): Neo Breakout is another great example of a game that manages to balance feeling both new and classic at the same time. By creating an objective based style of gameplay while maintaining the simple block bursting action of the original game Neo Breakout is able build upon the original formula. Instead of focusing exclusively on simply surviving each round it employs all sorts of gimmicks to spice up the gameplay, while also allowing the player to start on any stage played previous to balance out this new challenge. Neo Breakout is well worth playing especially for Breakout fans.
Ninja Golf (7800): My first thought when looking at this game was that its premise was too strange to ever live up to my expectations. While it does turn out to primarily be a novelty Ninja Golf does actually offer some fun (so long as you don’t compare it with games like Ninja Gaiden or Shinobi). It combines a simple golf game with a scrolling beat em’ up. In it you first tee off and then journey across the course to where your ball was hit battling other ninjas as you go. While it’s a fun game to play for a bit due to its absurdity, this wasn’t a game that I felt compelled to invest any major time into.
Historical manga has played an important role in Japanese history. Art in Japan has long reflected historical topics with many woodblock paintings, sculptures, hand scrolls, and tapestry depicting religion, important events, stories, and the culture of Japan. These subjects made their way into manga, with many of the comics coming out in World War II representing nationalism through the use of brave Samurai figures and depictions of the war effort. During the postwar period manga changed drastically, but the representation of history remained important. Books like Sazae-san helped depict the experiences of women during the post war periods and highlight the new attitudes and roles of Japanese women. Eventually this emphasis on history and the post war influence of Western cultures on Japan would lead to a massive increase in titles covering histories outside of Japan with books like Riyoko Ikeda’s Rose of Versailles, Masako Watanabe’s adaption of Heidi, and many works by Osamu Tezuka including Crime and Punishment and Princess Knight exploring history and historical settings from around the world.
The concept of biographical works as a manga began in the 70’s with and included Shigeru Mizuki’s biography of Adolf Hilter, two works based on the famous swordsman Mushashi, an autobiography by the famous manga creator duo Fujio Fujiko, and a work based on Cleopatra. The 1980’s though saw a huge expansion of the genre with a plethora of major cultural and historical figures getting manga biographies including: Osamu Tezuka, Napoleon, Hokusai, Date Masamune, King Don Pedro the first, Liu Bei, Adachi Mitsuru, and a number of pro-wrestlers (just to name a few). This boom in content continues to this day with many manga artists such as Kabi Nagata and Hilnama focusing on autobiographical works.
In the United States historical manga was an important part of manga history from the beginning. Titles like The Legend of Kamui and Lone Wolf and Cub were among the first major titles to be published in the United States, and were major early hits. Biographical titles took some time however, with Barefoot Gen being the only major and early biographical work to see publication. The United States saw a major boom of these works, however in the 2000’s with biographical works by Toshio Ban, Jorshiro Tatsumi, Moyoco Anno, and Hideo Azuma being published. The United States now has a steady stream of popular historical and biographical manga appearing regularly in bookstores.
1. A Bride’s Story: Kaoru Mori has a deep connection with historical based manga. Her first two titles Shirley and Emma are both Victorian era dramas starring maids. After these two series, however, Mori would take a surprising departure from England for her next work A Bride’s Story. While also a 19th drama, A Bride’s Story is set in Central Asia rather than the UK. The story focuses on Amira, a young woman who travels from her mountain town for an arranged marriage to Karluk, a much younger man. Many of the stories in A Bride’s Tale also focus on the lives and marriages of the various women Amira encounters.
Kaoru Mori is an expert when it comes to culture and setting. A Bride’s Story does an incredible job pulling the reader into the character’s world by making sure that every detail fits into the setting and time period. Her art and story highlight the customs, details, and culture of the period and they fit seamlessly into the story’s reflections on everyday life and feminist themes. Perhaps A Bride’s Story’s strongest element though is its characters. Amira and Karluk are both given believable personalities, while also standing out as engaging and detailed. This character detail though is not limited to the two leads as most of the cast is given vibrant characterization. Mori’s attention to setting and time period, along with her detailed and vibrant characters makes A Bride’s Story an engaging series to read.
2. Vagabond: Musashi Miyamoto is one of the most famous samurai of all time. Renowned for his prowess and the stories of his famed duels he has been the subject of a number of manga series and stories. Perhaps the most famous manga adaption of his life though is Takehiko Inoue’s Vagabond. Vagabond tells the epic story of Musashi’s life starting from how he became a wandering samurai, and then covering the many fights and trials he faced.
Vagabond is a biographical tale filled with detail. Like many of Inoue’s other comics it has a compelling story and meticulous art, and focuses on the struggles the characters face. Despite sometimes being slow paced, Vagabond always has a tense and violent atmosphere designed to keep the reader on the edge of their seat, even outside of the incredible fight scenes. Each battle Mushashi faces is not just one of survival, but also a clash of wills between him and his opponent. Despite Mushashi’s skill, his journey is set with struggles and mistakes, allowing the series to balance the larger than life nature of Mushashi with a compelling realism and challenge. This undying and unrelenting spirit combined with Inoue detailed art and epic yet relatable writing helps drive the reader forward, and makes the long length of this series a treat rather than a chore to read through.
3. My Alcoholic Escape from Reality: Kabi Nagata is well known from her autobiographical accounts. Her stories reflect her own struggles with mental health, sexuality and gender, and family life. Like her other works My Alcoholic Escape from Reality explores these topics, but adds the additional topic of alcoholism and how it effects her body. This book covers how Nagata’s drinking eventually leads to a diagnosis of pancreatitis, and to an extended stay in the hospital. It also explores her struggles after leaving the hospital maintaining a low alcohol and low-fat diet.
One thing that is fascinating about all of Kabi Nagata’s works is how candid they are. Nagata does not hide or sugar coat things, and gives a very honest look at her experiences and feelings. A large part of this book is composed of the challenges she faces trying to manage her life and alcohol intake, despite her ongoing mental health struggles. The other part of the book is dedicated to her trying to feel validated and comfortable with continuing to write in a memoir style, and overcoming the guilt she has about discussing her family so candidly. These two parts come together to show how her life causes and effects her dependency on alcohol. While different from some of her other books, My Alcoholic Escape from Reality continues to be a deeply real, emotional, and relatable text.
4. Buddha: Osamu Tezuka’s manga epic about the life and history of Siddhartha Gautama, and his spiritual journey towards enlightenment and becoming the Buddha is worth reading even if you aren’t a Buddhist. The story follows the Buddha’s journey from a privileged Prince, to a monk struggling to find a way towards helping others, to an enlightened being and teacher.
This title combines the prominent teachings and themes of Buddhism with the creative sensibilities of Tezuka. In addition to the Buddha Tezuka creates and draws from a variety of colorful characters to make his tale both meaningful and palatable to readers. His cast is engaging and helps to highlight the Buddhist themes of the interconnectedness of life and life’s shifting fragility. This series is also filled with “Tezukisms,” including moments of goofy comedy, Tezuka inserting himself into small roles in the story, and his signature style of art and character design. Buddha manages to effectively meshing Tezuka’s own art and storytelling style with the stories and traditional values of the Buddha and Buddhism.
5. A Drifting Life: When thinking about what I would put into this category A Drifting Life was the first work that came to mind. A Drifting Life covers the life and work of Yoshihiro Tatsumi, a leading figure in the Gekiga movement. It primarily covers his beginnings getting into manga writing, and establishing a style and partnerships with others.
A Drifting Life is an incredibly important book in understanding not only Tatsumi and his influences on manga, but also in the development of the modern manga industry as a whole. It explores in detail the industry’s origins and how it moved from short 4 panel gag strips to longer stories aimed first at children and eventually expanding to include a more adult audience. This work also shows Tatsumi’s own journey from High School comics fan and submitter to a full-fledged manga artist, and his work and struggles along the way finding his own style and voice through his work. A Drifting Life highlights the real emotions, struggles, and environments Tatsumi experienced, and gives detailed context of how his cinematic and gritty story telling style evolved alongside his friends. A Drifting Life is an essential read for those looking to learn more about Tatusmi, the Gegika movement, and manga history.
6. The Osamu Tezuka Story: When it comes to manga creators, no creator has had the same impact and influence on the industry as Osamu Tezuka. Nicknamed, “the God of Comics,” Tezuka and his work have had an impact in almost every facet and genre of manga. His work also helped to create the post war manga and anime industry that we know of today. This biography was created by Tezuka’s assistant Toshio Ban shortly after Tezuka’s passing, and tries to encapsulate the life of Tezuka and his major works, exploring the influence he has had on manga and how the industry influenced his own works.
While trying to cover Tezuka and all that he has done is nearly impossible, this 900-page biography comes about as close as any work can to covering Tezuka’s life and contributions. Somehow it manages this monumental task while also reflecting Tezuka’s own art style and being an accessible read. While a positive representation of Tezuka, this book by no means glosses over his struggles and faults. It puts a lot of effort not only in showing Tezuka at his peak such as with Astro-Boy and Black Jack, but also his struggles to adapt with the changing tastes of the market, the cut throat and low paying nature of manga industry, and his own personal issues. While there are some major omissions in this work like Tezuka’s family life and his love for nature and environmental work, Ban clearly did his best to accurately portray Tezuka, the manga industry, and how the world around Tezuka effected and was effected by his works.
7. Disappearance Diary: Disappearance Diary chronicles the life of Hideo Azuma, a man struggling with depression and alcoholism. The book chronicles his experiences leaving everything behind including his home, job, and family to live on the street. It also covers his struggles with depression, and how these struggles lead to alcoholism and health problems.
One thing that is so remarkable about this work is the tonal disconnect between Azuma’s experiences with depression, homelessness, and alcoholism, and his art style. Despite its dark subject matter, Azuma’s art remains cute and upbeat, purposefully contrasting the story’s tone. This makes Azuma’s work and dark subject matter far easier to digest as a reader. In a way it also feels like this art style allows Azuma to talk about the difficult aspects of his life more candidly.
Another aspect that this work explores is the contrast between Japan’s cultural expectations, and the realities of those struggling with mental illness. This autobiography shows that Japan doesn’t support those with mental health issues or those who are homeless properly. While leaving everything behind Azuma frequently has to deal with the challenges of trying to survive while struggling with depression. Instead of support though, at one point he is picked up by the police who suspect him of being a murderer just for being homeless, and at another point is woken up by loud firecrackers. In many ways this book is designed as Azuma puts it to have, “…a positive outlook on life, and so it has been made with as much realism removed as possible.” Despite his removal of realism though, this book is well worth reading and does a number of times give an unflinchingly real view of what it is like dealing with struggles of poverty, homelessness, and mental health and the lack of support for these issues.
8. Showa: A History of Japan: Showa: A History is a highly unusual work that blends autobiography with historical background. Showa focuses on the history of Japan before, during, and after World War II. It also covers the early life of its creator Shigeru Mizuki, and his misadventures growing up during war time.
While I was highly tempted to place Mizuki’s Onward to Our Noble Death’s (which is also an incredible book in its own right) on this list, I found this book’s combination of biography and history fascinating. Showa is incredible because it works to bring together contrasts. It intertwines Mizuki’s own story into the story of the war bringing both together into a singular narrative. It presents his character Rat Man as a narrator, but also contains real accounts of his life. Its art also brings together contrast, and combines photorealism with Mizuki’s more caricatured style. Another stand out element of this series is that it focuses directly on World War II, and often depicts the war and Japanese military in a negative light. Even many years after the war it is rare to see Japanese works that talk about World War II so candidly. Mizuki does not shy away from commenting on the brutality of war and the mistakes he felt Japan made as a nation. This contrast in story, art, and tone and the honesty in which it is written makes Showa stand out as important not only from a historical angle, but also as a look at one of Japan’s most accomplished manga creator’s life and influence.
9. Me and the Devil Blues: Sometimes a legend can be more impactful and important than, “the truth.” This is the case with the story of Robert Johnson a famous Blues musician who was said to have sold his soul for his incredible musical talent. This manga tells this legend, before branching out to cover Johnson’s further adventures as he runs from the Devil who is now hunting him down.
The first thing that stands out about Me and the Devil Blues is its art. As some other reviewers have pointed out, the art is so effective in this series that it invokes feelings. These emotions and the Blues music are both represented visually in a way that very few other works have been able to do, and are essential parts of Johnson’s story. Another factor that is remarkable about this book is how it balances over the top themes of violence and sexuality with realistic depictions of race, language, and culture. Incredibly Akira Hiramoto is able to depict the rural south of the 20-30’s, despite existing so far outside of that cultural background. While far from realistic (especially when Johnson meets Clyde Barrow) Me and the Devil Blues does feel like a compelling legend that blends fact and fiction.
10. Barefoot Gen: It would have been negligent of me to not include this classic autobiographical manga on this list. While there are many important works focused on World War II, I couldn’t think of a more fitting autobiography set in the period then Barefoot Gen. Barefoot Gen focuses on Gen Nakaoka, a boy living in Hiroshima during the war. Gen’s life is tough with the war causing shortages of vital materials including food, and his father’s resistance to military propaganda branding the family as traitors. Things get much worse though when the atomic bomb is dropped causing mass horror and suffering.
Barefoot Gen stands out for a variety of reasons. First off is that it depicts the real and human effects of the war from a civilian perspective. Barefoot Gen doesn’t hold back when depicting brutality caused by the bomb, and the effect it and the war proceeding the bombing has on family and community. Despite being somewhat fictionalized, its accounts of forced patriotism, the horrors of war, the suffering of the everyday citizen, and a child’s perspective all ring true. While Barefoot Gen is a very difficult and frightening read, its depictions of family and community is powerful without being naïve or corny or downplaying the struggles Gen, his family, and his community face.
Fatale run (2600, 7800): Fatale run is a super scroller game that has you driving, shooting, and dodging enemies on a long road. It is surprising just how well this game runs on the older hardware Atari uses. The 2600 has incredible graphics for the console, but the 7800 not only upgrades the graphics but also makes incredible changes in gameplay making it more complex and fun. While its gameplay does get a bit repetitive, both versions are fun and well worth checking out for the graphics alone.
Fight for life (Jaguar): More like run for your life. This game is one of the worst 3D fighters I have played. This makes total sense though when you learn about the troubled and incomplete development cycle this game had. Unlike much better games of its era, Fight for Life’s graphics and gameplay are chunky and clunky. When this game came out it’s polygons already looked outdated compared to the Tekken and Virtual Fighter games. Its gameplay also feels outdated, and lacks the combos, strategy, and flashy moves great fighting games are known for. The only thing you will be fighting with this game is to stay awake. Skip this game!
Fire truck (arcade): Fire Truck is the sort of game that I think I would have liked more playing on an actual cabinet. This arcade game just involves driving the firetruck as fast as possible without crashing into things. While Fire Truck is fun for a bit it isn’t a game that will hold your attention very long.
Food Fight (arcade, 800): Food Fight is exactly what classic era arcade games are all about. In it you play a smug kid who wants to eat ice cream. Sadly, a league of angry chefs seem to hate you and hate ice cream. Your mission is to get an ice cream cone on the far side of the map by throwing the various food items at these chefs, while trying not to get caught by the chefs or hit by thrown food. While the Atari 800 version is fun, it’s much faster and harder to play than the arcade. Stick with the arcade version and enjoy this chaotic game!
Gravitar (arcade): Gravitar is a very hard game. It combines trying to shoot at turrets and ships, with dealing with realistic gravity and a limited amount of fuel that has to be recovered through the use of a tractor beam. While the concept for this game is great, it’s far too hard for me and most players. Those with the patience to learn how to play this game might find it more fun, but it is a game only for the serious players willing to invest the time needed to learn it.
Haunted House (2600): This game remains iconic for a reason. In Haunted House you use a lamp to search for an urn, while vampire bats, tarantulas and a ghost try to attack you. While this game takes imagination, it’s a lot of fun and promotes exploration. It is unlike any other game I know of on the 2600 and is a lot of spooky fun!
Haunted Houses reimaged (Original PC): Haunted House Reimaged is an interesting game. In many ways this game is a 3D version of the original. In it you go through a big haunted mansion with a light and search for the pieces of an urn. While it is still a lot fun I think I prefer the more simplistic original game. This game is worth playing though, especially if you are looking for a fun spooky game for Halloween that isn’t a horror title.
I Robot (arcade): I think this game is too complex. While a variety of gameplay styles can keep a game from getting repetitive, I feel like this game would have been better if they stuck with one style of gameplay and improved it. I Robot has you first trying to drive around and match colors while avoiding the wrath of a giant eye and space birds. Then it turns into a brief shooter segment before taking you to the next stage. The best part of this game is its psychedelic space graphics which help the game stand out. It isn’t a terrible game or concept, but neither section really holds up when compared to Atari’s best games.
Liberator (arcade): Often described as a reverse Missile Command, Liberator is a fun game despite it not being as good as Missile Command. In it you play a spaceship commander trying to defend your ship from missiles being fired from bases on a planet. Your job is to destroy these bases, and protect your ship from being blown up. Even though it doesn’t have the gravitas of Missile Command it is still an enjoyable game.
Lunar Lander (arcade): Lunar Lander is another difficult game featuring Atari’s gravity system. Unlike Gravitar the main objective is just to land a craft on a moon using gravity and propulsion to prevent crashing. While this game is a lot of fun, it is also incredibly tough to learn. Those who stick with this game will absolutely find it fun, but personally I enjoy games like Asteroids a lot more.
Canyon Bomber (2600): Canyon bomber is another classic 2600 multiplayer game. In it you and another player try to drop bombs into a canyon, and earn points based on the crater created. Its arcade style simplicity is great, as are its sound effects. This game is one of the best VCS (2600) multiplayer games within this collection, because it is easy to play and get involved in.
Caverns of Mars (800): Caverns of Mars is a fun little game with big creativity. Instead of flying through space firing at enemies like a traditional shooter, it instead features slaloming through a cavern and field of space ships shooting powerups and obstacles. The goal is to make it to the base at the bottom of the cavern and then back out of the cavern in time. While this game is simple it’s an easy to enjoy game well worth trying out.
Centipede (arcade, 2600, 7800)- Atari doesn’t get any more classic than this game. Part of Atari’s line of bug shooters, Centipede tasks you with blasting through a descending long centipede within a field of mushrooms. These mushrooms determine the bugs movement, and can effect the speed of its descent. To add to the challenge various other insects including spiders are also out to attack you, and each shot segment transforms into a mushroom and can cause parts of the bug to split off. While the 7800 version isn’t as impressive as the arcade and the 2600 sacrifices graphics, all the versions of this game are great, creative, and exciting.
Cloak and Dagger (arcade): While not remembered to the same degree as many of Atari’s other games, Cloak and Dagger is actually one of the best games Atari produced. Your goal in Cloak and Dagger is to invade an underground base and collect the essential items in it before the bomb on that floor explodes. Despite being complex, this game does a great job of teaching the player its mechanics, and quickly becomes incredibly addicting and fun. In addition to this great gameplay is incredible action-packed spy music and detailed humorous animation. Cloak and Dagger is one of the must play games of the collection.
Club Drive (Jaguar): In contrast to Cloak and Dagger this is a game falls into the must be avoided category. One of the worst games for the already unimpressive Jaguar, Club Drive wasn’t good to begin with and age has only made it worse. Club Drive feels like it was designed to answer the question, what if a driving game was created that was no fun. A boring collectathom, the only impressive element of this game is its many camera views. The fact that this game was released more than ten years after Pole Position, and less than a year before games like Wipe Out, Mario Kart 64 and Cruising USA and is still so terrible is very telling.
Combat and Combat 2 (2600): Combat is the type of game that comes to mind when talking about multiplayer games on the 2600. In Combat and Combat 2 you pilot tanks or planes, and battle against your opponent. What makes this game stand out is that its controls involve doing special actions for each type of movement for the tanks. Unlike most games where this complexity of control would be a detractor, in Combat it helps make the game more unpredictable and fun. Combat and its sequel are both great games to play with a friend, but don’t really work all that well without one.
Crystal Castles (arcade, 2600): While not as well remembered today as other major mascot characters like Pac-Man, Mario, or Sonic, Bentley Bear deserves major a spot in the history of mascot characters. Crystal Castle is by far his most famous game and is an incredibly fun experience to play. In it you guide Bentley through pseudo-3d maze stages collecting crystals, and avoiding enemies who want to harm him and steal the jewels he is collecting. Similar to Pacman Bentley has power ups which in this game takes the form of a magical hat or honey jars. These objects can help protect him from his enemies and fight back against some of them. Crystal Castles is a fast paced and rewarding game, with great music, exciting turbo charged gameplay, and loads of creativity, and is an important game in this collection to play.
The arcade version of this game is the one to go with. The 2600 version of this game is a lot of fun and does try its best, but really can’t replicate the environments of the original well. Both are well worth playing, but the arcade does the game so much more justice. While Bentley only starred in this game and the disastrous Atari Kart, he still lives on as the cute and interesting mascot of Atari.
Cybermorph (Jaguar): Made infamous by the Angry Video Game Nerd and the internet, Cybermorph is a game that only partly deserves its ire. While very far from a good game and having aged poorly this game is still much better than most games I have played for the Jaguar. Despite it feeling like Star Fox with all the fun taken out of it, it still functions well enough. In Cybermorph you fly a ship and try to collect objects, while avoiding obstacles and shooting down enemy ships which isn’t that difficult. Despite not being thrilling the gameplays works well enough for what it is; it just does nothing to stand out or make it worth playing.
Dark Chambers (2600, 7800): Those looking for a satisfying dungeon crawl will find Dark Chambers delightful. With a similar feel to games like Gauntlet, Dark Chambers presents a fun adventure through a winding dungeon filled with spooky enemies and spawning generators. Your goal is to travel as far as possible into the dungeon, and prevent the evil beings in it from destroying you. Both the 7800 and the 2600 versions are great, with the 2600 being one of the best looking and most complex games for the system.
Demons to Diamonds (2600): The 2600 is known for many different things, including shooters. What it is not known for though is bullet hells like Demons to Diamonds. This game has you shooting demons and the fast-moving diamonds they drop. This isn’t easy though because shooting the wrong demons results in them transforming into deadly laser blasting skulls. It’s surprising just how quickly this game gets difficult, and the reflexes it demands to ensure you are avoiding skulls, and are shooting the correct targets. This game is a lot of fun and to pardon the pun; a hidden gem.
Doge em’ (2600): Doge em’ is a game very similar to Head On and Rally X. In it you drive around a small twisting map trying to avoid other cars. While its scope is much smaller than some later titles it remains a lot of fun, with fast driving action. Doge em’ might be simple, but is worth giving a whirl.
Evolution Dino Dudes (Jaguar): Also known as The Humans, Evolution Dino Dudes is so far the best Jaguar game I’ve played. Despite not being a fan of character puzzle games like The Lost Vikings, I still have to give this game credit for having interesting gameplay and running well. It’s not pushing the Jaguar in any area, but it has great gameplay and is perfect for fans of these types of games. For those who enjoy character-based puzzle games this one is worth checking out.
Many old Atari ads would pose the question, “Have you played Atari today?” Well I am glad to report that my answer to this question lately has been yes! It’s amazing to think about just how much impact Atari has had on the gaming industry, and yet how little most gamers now know about Atari. Atari revolutionized the gaming industry with its innovative games, and the creation of the first popular arcade game and ROM carriage and microprocessor run gaming console. It was also very infamous, though, for its change from a company of forward-thinking dreamers and social outcasts on the cutting edge, to a company whose employees and customers became increasingly dissatisfied by a corporate culture, mismanagement, and its inability and unwillingness to change.
Many of Atari’s employees ended up creating their own game companies like Activision to wrestle back creator control of game design and to ensure that game creators were paid fair wages. These 3rd party companies sadly also opened the floodgates though to low quality game producers, saturating the market with poorly designed and offensive content. This in turn along with a number of other factors (such as poorly designed games from Atari and competition with other consoles and computers) caused consumers to lose confidence in the gaming industry causing a major video game crash in 1983. By the time Nintendo finally brought back interest in gaming consoles within the United States; Atari had become a shell of their former selves, and were unable to ever regain people’s interest or confidence.
I myself only played and knew a bit about Atari thanks to the internet, my research into video game history, and a few arcade games by Atari that I played (mostly online). I grew up with a Sega Genesis, and didn’t even learn anything about Atari’s consoles until much later in my life. My impressions of Atari before playing more of their games was that most of their games (especially their console games) were too outdated to interest me. My experiences playing VCS (2600) with my girlfriend Hana though quickly showed me that I had been seriously missing out on a lot. I realized that I had been narrow minded, and that I wanted to learn more about Atari, their history, and their games.
The Atari 50th anniversary collection helped me with all these goals in an incredible way. Not only does this collection contain some of Atari’s biggest classic games throughout their history including modern remakes of their most popular games, but it also explores that history in detail through text, art, and interviews. This collection contains 103 different games from throughout Atari’s history. While some of these games aren’t good (with some being down right terrible), this collection does a great job of capturing Atari’s impact on the gaming industry and contains masterpieces. Most importantly though this collection further convinced me just how important Atari was and still is for the gaming industry.
While I would have loved to see more 3rd party and licensed classic games in this collection such as River Raid, Demon Attack, Dolphin, Snoopy and the Red Baron, Alien vs. Predator, Berzerk, Mario Brothers, Pitfall, Theme Park, Klaxx, and Space Invaders what is on here is great and it isn’t a surprise to me (other than Klaxx) that these games weren’t included. Even with the 103 games provided though, knowing what games are good and which to skip can be a challenge, especially with the variety of versions many games in the collection have. While I enjoyed most of the games I played, some are definitely better than others, and I felt it would be fun to share my experiences with each game. Because there are so many games though I will be breaking up this list alphabetically by title to ensure I can cover a variety of different games and platforms. I hope you enjoy this look into gaming history, and that some of you will also be playing Atari today!
3D Tic-Tac-Toe (2600): Starting off with the first game in the collection is the mind-bending game 3D Tic-Tac-Toe. I’ll be honest and say that the history and concept of this game (created by Carol Shaw, one of the first women to program and design video games) interested me far more than the gameplay. I found it hard to figure out the game’s mind-bending gameplay largely due to the 2600’s limited graphics. In theory it has an interesting concept, but in practice I found it frustrating.
Adventure (2600): While the graphics for this game have aged, it is a prime example of the innovative gameplay that was developed for the VCS (2600). Adventure has you solving puzzles in order to find a grail, and bring it back to your castle. Challenging you though are three roaming dragons who are trying to stop and eat you. While this game does require some imagination, its plot and gameplay are fun and well designed.
Air Sea Battle (2600): Air Sea Battle is a prime example of a simple two player game for the 2600. While it is primarily a shooting gallery, it is still fun to play and has a classic graphical style, sound effects, and gameplay. While not the best two player game for the 2600, it is still well worth playing.
Akka Arrh (Arcade): Why didn’t Atari release this game? This creative shooter is one of my favourite of Atari’s games. In it you try to defend your base from enemies. What makes this game stand out though is that your base has an inner and outer view. On the outside you try to blast enemies on specific geometric rings before they make it inside your base. Inside the view is changed and has you fighting back against enemies in order to protect your cannon from their attacks. While this game is a bit challenging it is a blast to play and hard to put down. It’s hard to believe that Atari missed out on releasing this game because it is so much fun!
Asteroids (Arcade, 2600, 7800): What can I say, Asteroids is a classic. Developed originally for Vector graphics in the arcade before being ported over to the 2600 and later the 7800 Asteroids has made a huge mark in the industry. In it you play a spaceship whose goal is to shoot all the Asteroids on screen. Gameplay lets you rotate your ship, accelerate it through space, and randomly teleport if you need to. It is important to master these controls as the asteroids you shoot will break apart into smaller faster pieces when they are blasted, and alien saucers will also sometimes show up and aggressively attack you. While the arcade and 7800 versions are very similar (with the arcade’s graphics and sound having a slight edge) the 2600 is a surprisingly great variation that is slightly easier, has incredible graphics, and even a slight edge in its sound effects. All versions though are well worth experiencing.
Asteroids Deluxe (arcade): Asteroids Deluxe was created to test the medal (and drain the quarters) of those familiar with the original game. It is a much more aggressive and difficult game with the space rocks hurtling around much faster than in the original. Instead of a teleport button this game features a shield that can help provide protection, providing your ship is not bounced around too much. Asteroids Deluxe is still a great looking and playing game, but I would recommend playing the original first for a while before jumping into this one.
Atari Karts (Jaguar): Alas this is the first game that I simply cannot recommend. Atari Karts is basically Mario Kart for people who hate fun or good gameplay. While the game does run well enough, and doesn’t have any big issues with it, that is about as far as my praise can go. It is a game with no major power ups or weapons, no shortcuts, no good music, and no fun. Skip this one!
Basket Brawl (7800, Lynx): While not as bad as Atari Karts, Basket Brawl isn’t a game I would recommend either. While it is easy to pick up and play, its concept of (literally) battling it out on the courts quickly becomes boring. Even the Atari Lynx version with its additional updates from the 7800 version isn’t that fun. Skip this one and instead find a copy of NBA Jam to play.
Black Widow (arcade): It’s surprising to me that this game isn’t considered as much of a classic as some other Atari’s other games. Black Widow is a fast paced and fun insect shooter where you play a spider defending its web. It includes intense gameplay that is easy to learn, but hard to master. I especially like the concept of insects planting dangerous eggs onto your web, and you have to push them off the web to avoid them hatching. Despite not being as well known as some of Atari’s other games, Black Widow absolutely belongs among Atari’s best titles.
Bounty Bob Strikes Back (800, 5200): I really wanted to love Bounty Bob Strikes Back more than I did. It is one of those games that has an early computer charm to it similar to games like Jet Set Willy, Hungry Horace, and Chuckie Egg. Sadly, though this game is hindered by stiff and fussy controls. The concept of just stepping on all the blocks in a level would have been alright if the game’s controls were designed better. There is some fun to be had with Bounty Bob Strikes Back, especially the 5200 version which features more reasonable layouts. To find that fun, though, takes a lot of patience.
Breakout (arcade, 2600): Another classic game, Breakout helped to establish the block breaker genre that games like Arkanoid and Alleyway built off of. Its concept derives from pong, but instead of competing against another player in a game of digital ping-pong the goal is to use the physics of a ball and the paddle to break all the colored bricks in a level. This isn’t easy, especially with a controller rather than the game’s original track ball layout, but this collection does a surprisingly good job adjusting the controls to a controller. While this game lacks any sort of power ups, it is still a lot of fun and both the arcade and 2600 versions do an excellent job of capturing the game’s complex physics.
As many of you know due to my previous posts here, I’m a huge Godzilla fan. I grew up renting Godzilla movies from my local video store Video Visions (R.I.P.) and enjoying them immensely. I consider myself extremely lucky that this store had so many of the classic Godzilla films (which were extremely rare at the time). I enjoyed renting and watching every Godzilla film I could find at Video Visions. Even the worst Godzilla films such as Godzilla vs. Megalon felt like they were worth watching, largely because of the incredible amount of effort put into making the practical effects. Another thing that I loved about these films was that they were sometimes so entertainingly cheesy that they were not only hilarious to recount, but became family jokes. While Shin-Godzilla certainly has a bit of both elements, it sets itself apart by being very different in many ways to most Godzilla films, despite still lovingly following some Godzilla traditions.
Shin Godzilla is a film designed for those who dislike the direction Godzilla has taken, and want to see Godzilla once again as a menace. This movie seems to have been purposely designed to get Godzilla away from the old Toho films where he is a heroic protector, and the Legendary pictures film series that have a more flippant popcorn movie tone. This film instead chronicles the government’s response to a mutating and deadly Godzilla hell bent on bringing savage destruction to the city. Godzilla is bad news, a walking disaster rather than any sort of hero or even unintentional savior.
Instead of the constant action found in the American Godzilla films this film often emphasizes scenes of officials talking, trying to figure out what to do about Godzilla, and how Japan should respond to the demands of the world. Many of the human scenes also focus upon a young low-level politician hero trying to get the government to act on the Godzilla situation, and later working to stop Godzilla with the help of quirky scientists. The rest of the film features Godzilla moving relentlessly towards Tokyo spreading destruction, carnage, and death in their nuclear wake.
In many ways Shin Godzilla is a modern-day reboot of the original film and The Return of Godzilla (Godzilla 1985), focused on telling the cautionary tale of the dangerous effects of nuclear energy in a modern way. Shin Godzilla is especially interested in exploring the Japanese government’s lack of rapid response during disasters. The film is clearly especially critical of the government’s failings after the Fukushima plant incident. It also is a critique of Japan’s reliance on foreign countries, rather than being self-sufficient. Despite this it is also deeply nationalistic and portrays the military as hard working and noble, Japan’s scientists as brilliant, and even some of the politicians as well-meaning and deeply caring about the country and its future.
Shin Godzilla is a much better film than its American counterparts. It feels far more sincere, and “serious,” than the American films. It also manages to make Godzilla terrifying again, and better represents the challenges and human costs that would occur if Godzilla were to attack. Godzilla is made more frightening than through the use of a sinister looking design (including creepy jagged teeth and a tail made out of screaming people), and the massive powers of destruction they wield. This movie also better captures the feel and elements of the early Godzilla films much better than the American films. While sadly designed entirely with CGI, Shin Godzilla specifically focused on making its effects look as much like practical effects as possible, giving it a more classic feel. Another element that the film uses to reflect the earlier films is Akira Ifukube’s wonderful themes for Godzilla and the military, further connecting this film to Godzilla’s legacy. It is clear to me based on these factors that much more love and care went into this film then the Legendary Pictures movies.
Despite being a great film, Shin Godzilla is not without its flaws. Like many Godzilla stories the human plot elements do get in the way of the pacing of the film. The low-ranking politician’s story is especially dull, and often slows down the film’s momentum considerably. His frustration with the older generation and the political system, but also his deep love of his country and his hope for its future quickly became tiresome. It made him seem like a stand in for the creator’s points, rather than a believable or fleshed out character. I didn’t find his spunky semi-romance and banter with the Japanese American politician effective either. Perhaps my feelings stem from not having the same investment in Japanese nationalism or a direct understanding of its entrenched political system or gender roles in relationships, but often these elements felt tacked on, over emphasized, and cliché.
The film’s use of CGI rather than any practical effects was also disappointing. This CGI was especially bad when it was highlighting chemical companies working to develop a way to stop Godzilla. These scenes felt un-necessary, were unconvincing, and seemed like an excuse to promote Japanese industry. While the CGI used in the film for Godzilla and the battle scenes were at times very effective and did make Godzilla terrifying, I still would have preferred physical effects. Practical effects are a huge and important part of the Godzilla tradition and it saddens me that they have recently been phased out in most films for an entirely or mostly CGI approach.
The biggest issue with the movie though is that Godzilla is once again not the main focus. A lot of time is spent building up the human elements of the movie. While sometimes in films (such as Jaws) this can be a good thing as a less is more approach makes the monster(s) more frightening and the human’s more relatable, in this film I wanted to see a lot more of Godzilla. While the film does an excellent job showing just how much destruction Godzilla has wrought, I really wanted to see more of Godzilla causing that destruction and the effects that had on people (similar to the first Godzilla film). I think the film would have been better had it been more streamlined, reflected more of the impact Godzilla had on people, and had more scenes directly involving Godzilla.
Despite all these issues I still think this is a great film. Shin Godzilla does an excellent job making Godzilla terrifying again, and blending recent political and social themes with the traditions set by other Godzilla films. While far from perfect, it is still one the best Godzilla films I’ve seen in years and helps to make up for the disappointment I’ve had with the recent American productions. If you’re a fan of Godzilla films, but are tired of the more silly tone that many Godzilla films have had then this film is a must see.
With the passing of this living legend I feel it is only fair that I talk about the enormous influence Leiji Matsumoto has had on me. I first encountered Leji Matsumoto’s work during my first year of college, where I was introduced to it in my college’s Anime club. I was fortunate enough to be introduced to many of his great classics while in Anime club including: Space Captain Harlock, Gun Frontier, Galaxy Express 999, Endless Odyssey, and Space Battleship Yamato. Experiencing these incredible series changed my view of on anime and my life.
While I was already a major anime fan before seeing these shows, Matsumoto’s work had a lasting and major impact on me. It showed me just how much depth and heart an anime series could have, and what constituted a timeless masterpiece. Despite their age many of his series spoke to me in a way that no series had ever done before. They presented larger than life figures and journey’s dedicated to finding better ways of living. They also involved grappling with important real world issues such as: discrimination, the effects of war, how we deal with adversity, what it means to be human, and how we interact with technology. These themes reflected my own personal challenges during college including my struggles to find my own way in life, and my journey to embrace who I was as a person. Matsumoto helped to pave the way for me to grow, and to reflect on myself. His works continue to have a profound influence on me, pushing me to make my dreams a reality and reflect upon the world around me.
Another important thing that comes to mind when thinking about Matsumoto and his influence on me is his boundless imagination. Like many masters of manga and anime such as Osamu Tezuka, Hayao Miyazaki, Rumiko Takahashi, and Moto Hagio (just to name a few) his works not only continues to be relevant, but are also a lot of fun to watch and read, and filled with creativity. Whether it is the epic battles of space pirates trying to defend earth, a boy trying to find himself through a journey thru space on a flying train, a spaghetti western, or a movie set to the music Draft Punk, Matsumoto’s works reflect his personal experiences, views, and most importantly his dreams. They also have specific design traits and story-telling styles that are immediately recognizable and shares a world structure, while also standing alone and apart as unique experiences.
The loss of Leiji Matsumoto is for me a huge one. Despite it being very unlikely that we would have ever met, I still wish I could have had the chance to just to shake his hand and tell him how much his works meant to me. His creations are incredibly important, and will remain a major part of my life that will never be forgotten. Despite him being gone, his works will live on not as a legacy of his achievements but as a timeless reminder of the power dreams can have on people, the future, and animation as a whole.
Food and drink plays an important role in many societies, and Japan is no exception. Japan has a long and complex history surrounding food and drink, and has had manga titles covering everything from snacks and fast food to gourmet food such as sushi and sake. Strangely though these themes weren’t a major topic of manga until the 1970’s when titles such as Totsugeki Ramen, Cake Cake Cake, Kitchen Kenpo, and Ajihei the Cook were released. These series set the groundwork for a variety of major themes found in cooking manga, and helped pave the way for the food and drink based manga explosion during the 80’s.
Food and drink themed manga sadly hasn’t been as big of a hit in the United States as in Japan. While some series have done alright many haven’t been nearly as successful in the States. This isn’t a reflection on the quality of manga that has been published within the United States so much as it is a lack of consumer interest in food and drink manga. While most food and drink titles have been considered niche there have been a few titles that have had mainstream success in the States such as Food Wars! and What did you eat yesterday? These successes along with the success of the Light Novel series Restaurants to Another World have helped encourage U.S. publishers to continue the release of culinary manga.
1. Food wars!: Food Wars! Is probably the most popular and best known cooking manga within the United States. It focuses on Soma Yukihira, a teenager who works with his father Joichiro at a small, but gourmet family style restaurant. When Soma’s father decides to close up shop and travel the world again, he enrolls Soma into the elite Tōtsuki Culinary Academy. At this school Soma is faced with intense cooking battles in order to survive the academy’s strict classes and exams, and to prove his medal against other expert chefs.
Food Wars! Draws a lot of its inspiration from the over the top cooking contest series before it such as Iron Wok Jan, Mr. Ajikko, Yakitate!! Japan, and Chūka Ichiban! Like its predecessors it contains exciting cooking clashes where chefs have over the top contests to determine who is a better cook. To take things one step further though, Food Wars! presents meals as orgasmicly delicious, and tries to express food tastes through the use of visual language. Food Wars! uses a shonen style of art that allows both the meals as well as the characters to shine through as unique and attention getting. This series is perfect for those looking for a hit manga that is loud and exciting, and that has over the top shonen food battles.
2. What Did You Eat Yesterday?: What Did You Eat Yesterday? presents food as a means of coming together, and sharing experiences. This series features Shiro and Kenji, a middle aged gay couple as they explore their life, their contrasting personalities, and enjoyment of meals as a couple.
Food in this work is a means of bringing both men together despite their wildly different personalities, and helps them with the shared struggles they face as gay men within a heteronormative society. Somehow Shiro and Kenji form a relationship and stay together despite their extreme differences in personality, and this togetherness is implied to be largely based around them sharing meals with one another. This series is great because it presents a complexity within Shiro and Kenji’s relationship that is honest, while also presenting the food cooked by Shiro as more than just a delicious meal. For Shiro, cooking food is a means of expression of his inner and closed off feelings, sharing them with his outgoing partner Kenji. Those looking for a manga highlighting not only food, but also a realistic and meaningful relationship story will find a lot to enjoy with this series.
3. The Drops of God: The Drops of God is a manga focused on wine and wine tasting. When Shizuku Kanzaki estranged father Yutaka Kanzaki passes away he and famous wine critic Issei Tomine are placed in a contest to see which one can inherit Yutaka’s estate and famous wine collection. To win, Issei and Shizuku must compete in a multi-stage contest where they do a blind taste test of one of Yutaka’s thirteen favourite wines, in order to figure out what the wine is.
The Drops of Gods is famous for its accurate and educational portrayal of wine. Its content is so educational in fact that it has been featured in the New York Times the Dining and Wine section. One of the major reasons for this is that the writer Tadashi Agi stated that he wanted the wine to be the main character. Though the contest is exciting, Agi places his strongest emphasis on wine and the mood and flavors it evokes. Though it was not very popular as a print manga in the states and was sadly discontinued in its physical form, it continues to be a popular downloaded title and has appeared multiple times on the New York Times Best Selling manga list.
4. Yakitate Japan: When most people think of Japanese food, bread is typically not the first thing that comes to mind. Yakitate Japan, however, is all about Japanese breads and bread making. It features Kazuma Azuma who dreams of creating a signature bread that can represent all of Japan. His passion for baking and his special warming hands allows him to go to Tokyo to pursue his dream at the famous Pantasia bread shop. Along his journey he meets many other bakers with similar dreams to his own, and works hard to learn from them and grow as a baker.
Yakitate Japan is a great manga because it does an excellent job balancing its educational aspects with a fun and light hearted shonen feel. The series teaches a lot about different styles of bread, while also having a silly fun time with its wacky characters, over the top contests, and the character’s wild reactions. The art style of Yakitate Japan also helps to emphasize its goofiness by including all sorts of odd characters including ones with: afros, who wear clown outfits, and who are samurai (just to name a few), while still giving them a competitive drive to create excellent bread. Behind all the silliness and competition though Yakitate Japan provides a fun and informative style that is an enjoyable read.
5. Oishinbo: A true classic, Oishinbo has had a huge impact on the development of food manga. Oishinbo involves Shirō Yamaoka, a newspaper food critic who is put in charge of discovering the “ultimate menu,” along with his assistant Yūko Kurita. When not out seeking the best foods Shiro usually is found lazing around or squabbling with his estranged father Yūzan Kaibara, a famous gourmet and artist.
Oishinbo is a series dedicated to the cuisine of Japan. Starting in 1983 and lasting until 2014 this series has provided many stories about the food and culinary traditions of Japan. Oishinbo has covered all sorts of Japanese food and drinks in depth, looking not only at how food is made, but also how food is sourced. Another element Oishinbo does excellently is its use of a unique design. Oishinbo has a distinct appearance that makes it immediately stand out to the reader, but not in a way that detracts or distracts from its story. While Oishinbo sadly has only been released in the states in “a-la-cart,” compilations, those looking to learn more about the Japanese food and drink industry will still find a lot of great content in these books.
6. Silver Spoon: While most series focus on how food is made, Silver Spoon instead is centered on the source of food. Silver Spoon follows Yuugo Hachiken, a high-schooler who goes to an Agricultural High School to avoid his strict father. He quickly finds though that his high school experience is going to be more difficult than he anticipated and that he has a lot to learn due to his lack of farming background.
Despite being created by Hiromu Arakawa and featuring her signature style of art, Silver Spoon is a very different work from her previous action series like Fullmetal Alchemist. Despite its differences, Silver Spoon was a huge hit in Japan because of Arakawa’s experience growing up on a dairy farm. Through this experience she was able to create interesting and amusing characters based on real people she knew, and to base the stories’ farming practices on her personal familiarity with them. Arakawa’s personal investment in Silver Spoon allows it to not only be a great look at how food is farmed, but also a fun and engaging read.
7. Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles: Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles is a story designed primarily around informing the reader about ramen. Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles features Koizumi, a quiet and standoffish girl with a passion for Ramen. Koizumi classmate Yū Ōsawa quickly becomes obsessed with her despite Koizumi’s antisocial behavior, and soon Yu’s own friends and classmates end up getting involved in the joy of eating ramen along with Koizumi.
The plot of this series is primarily a vehicle for learning about ramen. Koizumi’s love for all kinds of ramen is delightful, and is really helpful in teaching about how ramen is made, how and where it is eaten, and the many variants of ramen that exist. This is especially informative for those outside of Japan who are curious about diving into the subject, and learning not only about the soup but the cultural context attached to it. The fun plot of this series helps to convey and make its detailed information more accessible and fun to read.
8. Toriko: While Food Wars presents a shonen plot involving cooking real foods, Toriko is all about creating meals out of fantastical creatures. Toriko is a series all about searching in a wild and dangerous world for fierce and fantastic foods to make, while also preserving and protecting that world’s balance. Its title character Toriko has superhuman strength and powerful abilities which he uses to hunt for dangerous and exotic ingredients so that he can create the ultimate full course meal.
Toriko is a series that combines big bombastic action with mouthwatering delicious food. It presents a world full of strange and wonderful (and often dangerous) animals and plants that are used to create delicious looking dishes, but also stresses the importance of protecting natural resources from exploitation. A lot of the fun reading this series is just seeing what new challenges Toriko and his friend Komatsu will face on their quest, and what sort of meals they will make after overcoming these challenges. Filled with a colorful and creative world, tons of action, and incredible fantasy dishes, Toriko is thrilling and fun read.
9. Sweetness and Lightning: Not all stories about food need to be about gourmet cooking. Sweetness and Lightning is not about standing apart from the rest as a top level chef, but rather about how food can bring us together. After his wife dies, single parent and teacher Kōhei struggles to get his young daughter good and nutritious food. This all changes when he runs into his student Kotori at a family restaurant, and she helps by teaching him how to cook. Together Kohei and his daughter Tsumugi come to form a bond with Kotori connected by a love for cooking and shared need for company.
Sweetness and Lightning focuses on being heartwarming, and themes of coming together through cooking and eating. Despite Kotori missing her mother who is often away doing a cooking show, and Tsumugi and Kohei’s family loss they are able to join together and support each other. Food is something to be cherished and shared in this series, and a means of helping people connect with one another. This unique and heartwarming outlook helps to make this series stand out among other food and drink based titles.
10. The Solitary Gourmet: In the Solitary Gourmet food is a means of personal reflection. Its plot focuses on Gorō, a traveling private trader who goes throughout Japan to a variety of restaurants. At these restaurants he enjoys exploring the food and atmosphere that they have to offer. A man of taste and strong preferences, The Solitary Gourmet follows Goro’s experiences eating and enjoying food.
Like many of Jiro Taniguchi works, the solitary gourmet has a relaxing pace and focuses on character development. Despite only illustrating this series, his influence is very strongly felt throughout the manga. The series is not about eating at fancy and premier restaurants, but rather the exploration of small and cheaper places off the beaten track and how Goro enjoys his meals. It is a celebration of the joy of eating, and centered around self-reflection that is emphasized rather than a journey to find the “best meal.” While the Solitary Gourmet is not currently published (as of this blog’s publication), it is planned to be published in July of 2023 and offers an important and differing view of food and drink.
It’s time once again to celebrate the holidays, and to present another year’s worth of films to watch with my father. It has become a tradition for us on Friday or Saturday nights to sit down to watch films together, and snack on popcorn and other treats. While the films we watch aren’t always good, the experience of watching them together with my father is a magical one, especially if the film is memorable and/or really weird. This tradition means a lot to me, and I’m really looking forward to continuing it this New Year with a brand new list of 12+ films to see!
1. War of the Worlds: War of the Worlds is a true classic of Science Fiction. This original adaptation of Wells’ story is well known for its tense atmosphere, excellent special effects, and creative spaceship and alien designs. What is most exciting about it though is its famous sound effect which was created using a recording of three electric guitars being played in reverse. The sound of the ships blasting away is a real treat, as is seeing this film again.
2. The Boxer’s Omen: The Shaw brothers were known for some very unusual films, but the Boxer’s Omen is perhaps the strangest of all their titles. After his brother is injured by a cruel Thai fighter, Chan Hung seeks out revenge on this crooked martial artist. This somehow leads him to a Buddhist temple where he learns from a decaying master that he is destined to become a famous monk and fight black magic users. This film combines Kung-Fu action with some of the weirdest supernatural duels of all time. Filled with strange effects created by the film’s director Chih-Hung Kuei, The Boxer’s Omen is a film too odd and exciting to do justice in a brief explanation.
3. Return of Daimajin: Daimajin returns to once again wreak vengeance on the corrupt in this sequel. After an evil lord decides to take over the two neighboring villages during a festival the people go to the Daimajin statue for protection. As the cruelties of the evil lord rise though, so too does the wrath of the mountain deity. This is another thrilling period drama which ends with the giant statue awakening, and going on a rampage to deal out vengeful justice. Like the first film this one is well acted and has a simple, but strong story built around the mounting tensions.
4. Fist of Death and The Fury of the Karate Experts: A Santo double feature featuring his final two films! Both films have a similar plot and were filmed back to back in Florida. In these titles Santo gets involved in conflict between two warring cosmic space sisters. Unfortunately for Santo one sister is evil and has wrestlers and Kung-Fu fighters designed to stop him from helping the good sister. What follows is a battle in the Everglades between an elderly Santo and his enemies to return peace to the world. Truly a must watch?
5. NTR Superman (V. Madhusudan Rao): What happens when you have a Superman film that has almost nothing to do with Superman? You get this South Indian oddity, about a religious orphaned boy who is granted the powers of superman by the god Hanuman. He proceeds to hunt down his parents murders (who are cowboys) and protect a mine from evil magic. Why did this film choose a superman motif, especially when the lead seeks out murderous vengeance? Why does the main character have a backstory more like Batman? We may never know, but what is clear is that this is a silly film.
6. Carnival of Souls: Carnival of Souls does what Manos failed to do, create a film classic on a low budget. While its plot is relatively simple, it is extremely effective. After surviving a traumatic accident and being repeatedly terrorized by a strange gaunt man, Mary Henry is drawn to a creepy carnival at the abandoned Saltair building. What is so remarkable about this film is how it creates such a creepy atmosphere with such a small production budget. The film plays to its creative strengths through the use of surrealist imagery, simple but effective makeup, eerie organ music, and through the use of the abandoned resort giving it a haunting feel. The result is a film that is not only great for a low budget film, but a great film in general.
7. The Champions of Justice and The Champions Five Supermen: It’s hard to argue with films containing so many Mexican wrestling legends. The Champions of Justice and The Champions Five Supermen features Mil Máscaras, Blue Demon, and a number of famous luchadores as they face off against evil luchadores and wrestling midgets. The weird cheesy nature of these films are part of their charm, but it is really all about seeing a bunch of the top Mexican wrestlers working together.
8. Wheels on Meals: Another great Jackie Chan picture co-starring and directed by Sammo Hung; Wheels on Meals is a must see for Chan and Hung fans. Hung plays a private detective sent to Spain to catch a pickpocket. This pick pocket then ends up getting involved with a duo of street vendors played by Chan and his frequent co-star Biao Yuen. What follows is chaos as the three fight off gangs and engage in some of the best choreography of Jackie’s early career. Wheels on Meals is a great watch filled with Chan and Hungs wonderful stunt work.
9. Witchfinder General: Vincent Price is typically known for his tongue and cheek style of filmmaking, but Witchfinder General is a major exception to this rule. Witchfinder General stars Price as Mathew Hopkins, a crooked lawyer hired to root out witchcraft during the English Civil War. He is opposed by the young soldier Richard Marshall who challenges Hopkins’ corruption and brutality. What follows is one of the most suspenseful Folk Horror films as the two men square off in a battle of wills. Despite the conflict that went into making the film and its initial poor reviews, Witchfinder General has stood the test of time as a folk horror classic.
10. Horror Express: Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee co-star in this classic horror film. While traveling through Siberia the two must deal with the strange occurrences caused by a mysterious ancient frozen ape. Horror Express is surprisingly deep and frightening as more and more danger plagues the train as it travels through the snowy environments. Horror Express makes the most of Cushing and Lee’s performances together, and another incredible team up of the duo.
11. The War of the Gargantuas: While Godzilla is rightly the monster most people think of when they think of Kaiju, The War of the Gargantuas proves that not all great giant monster movies need the big G. In this hidden gem two giant clones of the Frankenstien monster emerge from his previous demise. One of the monsters is kindly and wants to protect humanity, while his clone brother has other ideas and proceeds to attack cities and feast on humans. This of course leads to a war between the two monsters as they battle one another for dominance, while the humans try to survive. Despite its silly premise the War of the Gargantuas is a satisfying miniature crushing, tiny tank blasting good time.
12. Son of Frankenstein: While not the equal of Bride of Frankenstein, Son of Frankenstein still is a very impressive outing. Son of Frankenstein stars Basil Rathbone who plays Wolf, the son of Henry Frankenstein who moves into his father’s hometown despite the objections of the local villagers. Wanting to save his family’s reputation he tries to fix things and befriends the police inspector Insp. Krogh (played by Lionel Atwill). Things get more troubling though as he discovers the remains of the monster and the maniacal Yigor (played by Bella Lugosi), an undead fiend with sinister plans. Widely considered the last great Frankenstein movie, Son of Frankenstein still delivers the goods with an excellent cast and its high production values.
Bonus
13. 3 Giant men: With such an inspiring plot how could I not include 3 Giant Men onto this list? In 3 Giant Men, Captain America and Santo (not played by the actual Santo sadly) are sent to Istanbul to stop Spiderman’s empire of crime. What follows is a wild and strange adventure as the two battle against Spiderman and his gang of thugs to end their crime spree. What else could you want from a film?
14. Super Sentai: Super Sentai is a series of TV shows that is a must watch for fans of cheese and giant Kaiju battles. Beginning in 1975 and still continuing to this day, Super Sentai is a show mainly aimed at kids, and nostalgic adults who enjoy silly action. The show features groups of color-coded heroes who battle monsters and weird looking villains in order to save the world. Included in these shows are giant robot vs. monster battles, and plenty of practical effects including miniatures, odd costumes, and lots of sparks and explosions. A classic part of Japanese television history, these shows are silly fun and are easy to digest.
Secret House of Anime 