hg101

Death Wing

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/death-wing/

A Japan-only PS1 space flight sim with an absurdly difficult finale (there's also an accompanying podcast episode!)

Top 47k Ep 762: TMNT: Shredder's Revenge + Scooby Doo! Night of 100 Frights

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank a modern beat-em-up homage to the TMNT cartoon. Then stick around for NIGHT OF 100 FRIGHTS, a 3D platformer with Scooby Doo for the PS2!

Bonus Get 242: Die Hard Trilogy

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank Probe Entertainment's ambitious three-in-one hit.

Sol Cresta

PlatinumGames brings back Nichibutsu's classic Cresta shooter series in an overly complicated but satisfying revival.

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/sol-cresta/

March Patreon Poll

Vote for the topic of an upcoming episode! We're re-running some previously nominated games this month.

Top 47k Ep 761: Dredge + Take No Prisoners

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank 2023's best horror fishing game. Then stick around for TAKE NO PRISONERS, Raven Software's top-down run-and-gun that probably owes money to John Carpenter!

Mawaza

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/mawaza/

A Japan-only PlayStation 2 puzzle title from Media Vision, the folks behind the Wild Arms games.

Puchi Carat

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/puchi-carat/

Arkanoid meets Puzzle Bobble in this cutesy Taito arcade game.

Great Swordsman

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/great-swordsman

Duel your way across three different time periods in this early versus fighting game from Taito and Allumer.

Bonus Get 341: Guilty Gear 2 Overture

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank a fighting game sequel that finally gave players something new.

Top 47k Ep 760: Max Payne + Battle Construction Vehicles

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank Remedy's pilled-to-the-gills Neo-noir 3PS. Then stick around for BCV: BATTLE CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES, Artdink's fighting game where instead of two people facing off it's two people driving bulldozers.

Time Bokan Series: Bokan to Ippatsu! Doronbo

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/time-bokan-series-bokan-to-ippatsu-doronbo/

The beloved and ever-incompetent villains from the Yatterman anime series star in a duology of comical overhead shoot-em-ups.

Agent USA

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/agent-usa/

A mid-1980s computer title from Scholastic, combing multiple genres as you adventure throughout the United States.

Bonus Get 340: Pengo

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank Sega's block-pushin', Sno-Bee-squishin' arcade gem.

Saturn Bomberman Fight!!

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/saturn-bomberman-fight/

The lesser known Japan-only Saturn Bomberman game, featuring an isometric perspective.

Top 47k Ep 759: Catherine + Screamer

Join the HG101 gang and special guest Ghaleon Unlimited/Chris Hatala (https://bsky.app/profile/ghaleonunlimited.bsky.social) as they discuss and rank Atlus's naughty puzzle game about sheep and monogamy. Then stick around for Screamer, DOS's favorite arcade racer that's scheduled for a modern comeback!

Bonus Get 339: Defender 2000

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank Llamasoft's loving update of the arcade classic.

Sunsoft is Back! Retro Collection

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/sunsoft-is-back-retro-collection/

A collection of three previously Japan-only Famicom titles, released officially in English for the first time - The Wing of Madoola, Ripple Island, and Fireworks Thrower Kantaro.

The Wing of Madoola and Ripple Island were previously covered on the site, but we have a new write-up for Fireworks Thrower Kantaro:...

Top 47k Ep 758: Tomb Raider (2013) + The Terminator (Sega CD)

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank Lara Croft's triumphant return to ghoulish plunder! Then stick around for Terminator for Sega CD, a Terminator where you don't play as Terminator because it's based on the movie Terminator. And we're joined by special guest Ghaleon Unlimited/Chris Hatala [https://bsky.app/profile/ghaleonunlimited.bsky.social]!

Macross: Shooting Insight

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/macross-shooting-insight/\

A Macross game finally makes out of Japan...without the characters that originally started it.

Love² Torokko

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/love-love-torokko/

The PS1 mashup of mine cart levels and dating sims that everyone has been waiting for.

Bomberman 64

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/bomberman-64/

We're going to continue Bomberman posting over the next month or two, starting with Bomberman 64, which turns the explosive series into a 3D platformer.

Bonus Get 338: Food Fight

• Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank the coin-op classic about a guy dying for ice cream.

February Podcast Poll

Cast your vote for an upcoming episode! The theme for this month is handheld games.

Squirrel with a Gun

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/squirrel-with-a-gun/

Exactly as it says.

Top 47k Ep 757: Castlevania Dracula X (SNES) + Fez

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank Bizarro Rondo of Blood. Then stick around for FEZ! Does it hold up?

Bonus Get 337: Autobahn Tokio

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank a 3DO arcade racer with some seriously confusing geographical implications.

Chase HQ

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/chase-hq/

Sprite-scaling racing action meets Hollywood action movie shoot-outs in this arcade buddy cop game from Taito.

Typhoon Gal

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/typhoon-gal/

A judo-based brawler from Taito, released during the craze of the so-called "onna sanshirou".

Top 47k Ep 756: Jak II + Doctor Hauzer

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank Naughty Dog's slightly darker, slightly better (?) Jak and Daxter sequel. Then stick around for Doctor Hauzer, the Japan-only survival horror game for the 3DO!