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Category Archives: Opinion

Retro Game Review: “Fox’s Peter Pan & The Pirates: The Revenge of Captain Hook” (NES)

Posted on April 24, 2023 by The Splintering Staff One comment

Today we’re going to look at Fox’s Peter Pan and the Pirates: The Revenge of Captain Hook, an action-platformer published by THQ (aka Toy Headquarters) for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1991. Developed by Equilibrium, Revenge of Captain Hook is based on the animated series of the same name that ran on Fox Kids’ Saturday morning cartoon rotation, Peter Pan and the Pirates. The game naturally

Game Review: “Hunt The Night” (Steam PC)

Posted on April 17, 2023 by Jayden Kaige Leave a comment

A link to the past… few games that were also SNES Action/Adventure also available on Steam… Looking back, all of my favorite games (Chrono Trigger, Earthbound, Pokémon) in some way emulate what The Legend of Zelda started back in 1986: Assumption: Most of you have played these games, finished these games, and played them again and again. Objectively, these games

Review: “Cannon Dancer” (Nintendo Switch)

Posted on April 14, 2023 by The Splintering Staff One comment

Osman, huh? That’s the name that they went with for the English release. I feel like Cannon Dancer is a way cooler name than Osman, although I guess this release is trying to rectify that by tagging on the Cannon Dancer name this time around.* I figured “Osman” had to mean something, though. After some quick internet research, I found

Review: “Ninja JaJaMaru: The Lost RPGs” (PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch)

Posted on March 2, 2023 by The Splintering Staff Leave a comment

Jaleco’s little red ninja that could is getting a bit of a renaissance lately, with a an all-new multiplayer game and multiple retro collections including both Ninja JaJaMaru: Retro Collection and Ninja JaJaMaru: The Lost RPGs. Today we’re going to take a look at Ninja JaJaMaru: The Lost RPGs, a bundle of two RPG-style games from the 80s and 90s that

Game Review: “Ninja JaJaMaru Retro Collection” (PS4, Nintendo Switch)

Posted on February 27, 2023 by The Splintering Staff 2 comments

Konichiwa! Today we’re going to take a look at Ninja JaJaMaru Retro Collection, a compilation of side-scrolling Ninja JaJaMaru games from the 80s and 90s recently published by ININ for the Nintendo Switch and PS4.* Developed by City Connection, Ninja JaJaMaru Retro Collection includes six games… eh, more like five. We’ll say five and a half. The games are as follows: We’ll

Review: “Heroineburgh” Issue 3 – “AntiHeroineburgh”

Posted on February 20, 2023 by The Splintering Staff Leave a comment

The Pittsburgh-based superhero enthusiasts behind Heroineburgh are still going strong, delivering more live-action episodes of the web series and a third issue of the Heroineburgh comic book.* Originally launching in 2017, Heroineburgh began as a web series featuring the exploits of a large cast of super-powered characters. The project has since expanded to a bi-weekly comic strip and a full comic book series, too, bringing the

Review: “Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection” (Nintendo Switch, PS4)

Posted on February 3, 2023 by The Splintering Staff 2 comments

Today we’re all celebrating the Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection,* a new retro compilation of all of SEGA’s Wonder Boy and Monster World games from the 80s and 90s released to mark the 35th anniversary of the series. Weird number, but who’s complaining? If you’re thinking that this review seems awfully familiar, there’s a very good reason, as ININ Games published a Wonder Boy Collection less than a

The Book That Saved a Movement?

Posted on January 17, 2023 by Luke Stone One comment

How an unassuming art book saved the ComicsGate name

Throwback Comic Review: “The Rogues – New Year’s Evil” (DC Comics, Jolly Jinglings Special)

Posted on December 29, 2022 by The Splintering Staff Leave a comment

Welcome back to Jolly Jinglings, The Splintering’s celebration of forgetting auld acquaintance. Today, we’re going to take a look at The Rogues: New Year’s Evil, published by DC Comics in 1998 (or late 1997, depending on how you’re counting).

Game Review: “Big Dipper” (Nintendo Switch, Steam PC; Jolly Jinglings Special)

Posted on December 27, 2022 by The Splintering Staff Leave a comment

Welcome back to Jolly Jinglings, The Splintering’s celebration of all stars of royal beauty bright. Today we’re going to pick apart Big Dipper, a visual novel “game” published by Top Hat Studios and developed by Zimno Team for the Nintendo Switch and Steam PC. Why the quotation marks around “game”? Because Big Dipper isn’t a game in any sense. Zero. It is merely

Throwback Comic Review: “Gen 13: A Christmas Caper” (Wildstorm, Jolly Jinglings Special)

Posted on December 22, 2022 by The Splintering Staff One comment

Welcome back to Jolly Jinglings, The Splintering’s month-long celebration of all pipers piping and ladies dancing. Today we’re going to take a look at “Gen 13: A Christmas Caper,” published by Wildstorm in 2000.

Silent Movie Review: “A Christmas Carol” (Edison Studios, Jolly Jinglings Special)

Posted on December 21, 2022 by The Splintering Staff Leave a comment

Welcome back to Jolly Jinglings, The Splintering’s month-long celebration of all things humbug. Today we’re bringing you another Silent Film Review, this time taking a look at A Christmas Carol produced by Edison Studios and released on Christmas Day, 1910.

Game Review: “Chained Echoes” (Switch, PS4, Xbox One, Steam PC)

Posted on December 21, 2022 by The Splintering Staff Leave a comment

Just a few months ago, I decided to bust out my old copy of Chrono Trigger and relive a bit of my youth. As I played I was reminded why it is considered by many one of the best games ever made. The music, the gameplay, and the innovative ideas put Chrono Trigger into a whole new category of what

Throwback Comic Review: “Pete the P.O.’d Postal Worker: Pete’s Very Special Christmas” (Sharkbait Press)

Posted on December 20, 2022 by The Splintering Staff Leave a comment

Welcome back to Jolly Jinglings, The Splintering’s celebration celebration of all things that shake like a bowl full of jelly. Today we’re going to take a look at Pete the P.O.’d Postal Worker: Pete’s Very Special Christmas, which was published in 1997 by Sharkbait Press. Written by Marcus P. Meleton and illustrated by Pete Garcia, the book follows the titular Pete,

Throwback Comic Review: “Christmas With The Super-Heroes” #2 (DC Comics, Jolly Jinglings Special)

Posted on December 15, 2022 by George Travlos One comment

Today, we take a look back at DC’s Christmas With the Super-Heroes #2 in this Jolly Jinglings Throwback Review special

Game Review: “Jitsu Squad” (PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Steam PC)

Posted on December 14, 2022 by The Splintering Staff Leave a comment

There was clearly a lot of love that went into the making of Jitsu Squad – love for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game, that is. Aside from the obvious inspirations and comparisons to TMNT, there are a plethora of other video game and pop-culture references throughout Jitsu Squad.* Naturally, some light spoilers will follow. Much like the aforementioned TMNT arcade game, Jitsu Squad lets you pick from four

Game Review: “Intrepid Izzy” (Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch)

Posted on December 13, 2022 by Blake Worrell Leave a comment

It’s short for Isabelle, methinks. Publisher Ratalaika Games recently released the retro-inspired 2D platformer Intrepid Izzy for modern consoles.* Developed by Senile Team, Interpid Izzy started its life as a small-scale indie project for the SEGA Dreamcast successfully crowdfunded in 2017. While the game is fairly light on plot, the titular “Intrepid Izzy” seems to be some kind of explorer who happens

Retro Review: “Batman Returns” (SEGA Genesis, Jolly Jinglings Special)

Posted on December 12, 2022 by Blake Worrell Leave a comment

Welcome back to Jolly Jinglings, The Splintering’s month-long celebration of all dancing sugar plums, fairy type or otherwise. In 1992, “Batmania” was in full effect. The success of Tim Burton’s Batman film in 1989 had reignited mainstream interest in the Dark Knight, what followed was a marketing blitz of toys, school supplies, breakfast cereal, and every other piece of cinematic synergy that

Throwback Comic Review: “The Thirteen Days of Christmas- A Tale of the Lost Lunar Bestiary” (Jolly Jinglings Special)

Posted on December 8, 2022 by Blake Worrell Leave a comment

Welcome back to Jolly Jinglings, The Splintering’s month-long celebration of everything frankincense and myrrh. Today we’re going to torture ourselves yet again with another disappointing Christmas comic book: The Thirteen Days of Christmas: A Tale of the Lost Lunar Bestiary. Published by DOGSTAR Press in 1998, The Thirteen Days of Christmas is written by David Quinn and illustrated by Kristen

Throwback Comic Review: “Sun Runners Christmas Special” (Jolly Jinglings Special)

Posted on December 5, 2022 by Blake Worrell One comment

Welcome back to Jolly Jinglings, The Splintering’s festive holiday extravaganza that celebrates all things Yule. But you want to know what won’t be celebrating the season along with us? The Sun Runners Christmas Special by Amazing Comics. Not only did it mark the end of the Sun Runners series in 1987, but it had absolutely zero to do with Christmas or the Holiday Season

Game Review: “Animal Shelter Simulator” (Xbox)

Posted on December 1, 2022 by The Splintering Staff Leave a comment

Today we’re going to take a look at Games Incubator’s Animal Shelter Simulator, which is just about as self-evident a video game title as a title can be.* It really is just that: a simulation game that gives players the chance to start and operate their own animal shelter – caring for dogs and cats, matching them with new homes,

“SuccuBUSTED!” Creator Isaac Fox Talks Greed, AI Art, and Bayonetta (Interview, NSFW)

Posted on November 21, 2022 by The Splintering Staff One comment

With an emphasis on “U busted!” Independent comic book creator Isaac Fox recently launched a Kickstarter campaign for the second issue of SuccuBUSTED!, a supernatural comedy book. We were fortunate enough to get a chance to discuss his latest SuccuBUSTED! campaign, which is available to support here. This is the second time we’ve had the opportunity to speak with Fox, and the

Crowdfunding Review: “Dwarfs Versus Lion” (Bryan Butvidas, Juanito Sanabria)

Posted on November 15, 2022 by Amanda B 2 comments

Who do you think would win between 50 diesel-powered dwarfs and one monster lion? Would you be #TeamDwarf or #TeamLion? This campaign (and comic book) by Airith Saga creator, Brian Butvidas aims to answer that question. This premise is based on a bar room discussion, of sorts. Characters, story details and the campaign set-up all derived from a live chat

Remembering Steve Ditko on His Birthday, November 2

Posted on November 2, 2022 by George Travlos One comment

Today would have been Steve Ditko’s birthday and in honor of that we’ll be looking some of our favorite comic book covers that he illustrated

Comic Book Review: “Carnival of Souls” (Malibu Comics, Festival of Dread Special)

Posted on October 27, 2022 by The Splintering Staff Leave a comment

Welcome back to the Festival of Dread, The Splintering’s month-long celebration of all things haunting and hair-raising. Today we’re going to take a look at Carnival of Souls, written by Michael H. Price, illustrated by Todd Camp, and published by Malibu Comics in 1991. The 50-page comic is a retelling of the 1962 film by director Harold “Herk” Harvey, which

Retro Game Review: “Ghostbusters” (SEGA Genesis, Festival of Dread Special)

Posted on October 26, 2022 by The Splintering Staff 2 comments

Welcome back to the Festival of Dread, The Splintering’s month-long celebration of all things strange in you neighborhood. Today we’re going to take a look at Ghostbusters, a side-scrolling action game released for the SEGA Genesis in 1990. Developed by Compile (Guardian Legend, Blazing Lazers) and published by SEGA, Ghostbusters is based on the characters from the movie of the same name. That’s

Comic Review: “Stoker & Wells” (Festival of Dread Special)

Posted on October 25, 2022 by The Splintering Staff One comment

Welcome back to the Festival of Dread, The Splintering’s month-long celebration of all things batty and blood-sucking. Today we’re going to look at Stoker & Wells: Order of the Golden Dawn, an alternate history of Victorian Era England with some fantastic and horrific twists. Some story spoilers will follow. Written by Steven Peros and illustrated by Barry Orkin, Stoker & Wells was successfully funded

Retro Game Review: “Alien Syndrome” (NES, Festival of Dread Special)

Posted on October 24, 2022 by The Splintering Staff 2 comments

Welcome back to the Festival of Dread, The Splintering’s month-long celebration of all things inhuman and otherworldly. Halloween is mostly known for ghouls, goblins, and the like, but aliens are sometimes wrapped up in the festivities due to their often frightening portrayal in pop culture and – you know – their propensity for probing. If any representation of space aliens

Silent Movie Review: “The Eyes of the Mummy” (Festival of Dread Special)

Posted on October 20, 2022 by The Splintering Staff Leave a comment

Welcome back to the Festival of Dread, The Splintering’s month-long celebration of all things that lurk in the shadows. Today, we’re going to do another Silent Movie Review, this time looking at The Eyes of the Mummy directed by Ernst Lubitsch. Originally released in 1922 (in the United States, anyway), this year marks an anniversary of sorts for The Eyes of the Mummy.

Retro Game Review: “Kenseiden” (SEGA Master System, Festival of Dread Special)

Posted on October 19, 2022 by The Splintering Staff One comment

Konnichiwa minnasan to the Dread Matsuri, The Splintering’s month-long celebration of all things 暗い and 怖い (“kurai” dark and “kowai” scary). In any case, today we’re going to take a look at Kenseiden, a genre-blending, side-scrolling action RPG developed and published by SEGA in 1988 for the Master System. Indeed, you will all be subjected to my surface-level, one semester’s worth of community college Japanese