lifebeginsat8bit

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In 1986, Square carried out an experiment to determine what happens when you apply a distinctly fantasy vibe to a vertically-scrolling shooter. The result was "King's Knight" which asked us to not only shoot everything on screen, but search for power ups and secrets. Fast foward to 2022 when Devolver Digital and Doinksoft gave us "Demon Throttle" a game that took King's Knight formula and asked, "but what if there were demons and cowboys?" Demon Throttle is also one of the only games we can think of recently that released exclusively on physical media, both as a stand alone title and as part of the "Doinksoft Collection" (2024) along with "Gato Roboto" (2019) and "Gunbrella" (2023). Tonight, we'll keep our indie game exploration going with Demon Throttle and Gato Roboto. See you at 7:30 Central! twitch.tv/lifebeginsat8bit

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A staggering 43 years after the character’s comics debut in 1954, “Turok: Dinosaur Hunter” (1997) brought the native american dino dispatcher to the television screen in the form of a first-person shooter from now defunct Iguana Entertainment. 

So why Turok and why in 1997? Valiant Comics revived Turok in the ‘90s, shortly before being purchased by Acclaim. In a bid to make the most of their recently acquired IPs, a trio of Turok games were created. “Turok: Dinosaur Hunter” put players on a quest to collect all the pieces of the “chronosceptor” and stop the evil Campaigner. “Turok 2: Seeds of Evil” (1998) added multiplayer to the mix and an armory full of creative weaponry including the “cerebral bore” which pretty much operated as advertised.   

Turok is the second stop of our month-long look at dinosaur video games. Last week we stomped goombas as a Mario-ified T-Rex in “Super Mario Odyssey” (2017). It barely applies, but we were excited about the Nintendo Direct. This week is two Turok titles for the N64. After that, we’re extracting the dino DNA from games like “Adventure Island II” (1991) and “Dino Crisis” (1999). Did you know there are dinosaurs in “Skull Island: Rise of Kong” (2023)? 

Don’t miss dino month, continuing tonight at 7:30 Central on the Life Begins at 8-Bit stream. twitch.tv/lifebeginsat8bit

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What’s got us back-tracking through our favorite metroidvanias all month long? A clever theme: Marchtroid-Vania. Please clap. 

We’ve already revisited the Planet Zebes in “Metroid: Zero Mission” (2004), a remake of the original from the Famicom Disk System remade for the Game Boy Advance. Last week, we explored “Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth” (2021) from Team Ladybug. Tonight, we’re taking on a more combat-heavy Metroidvania in the form of “Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown” (2024). The latest entry in the series was created by Ubisoft Montpellier—the same folks who created “Rayman” (1995) and “Beyond Good and Evil” (2003).

Will we find any lost crowns or will we realize the subtitle is actually metaphorical. Tune in starting at 7:30 Central to find out! twitch.tv/lifebeginsat8bit

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Happy Valentine's from the boy one, the girl one, and your one true love: video games.

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Hang onto your VMUs because it’s been (almost) 25 years since Sega’s Dreamcast launched in the North American market. Sega’s ill-fated, final gaming console brought arcade quality games into the home and introduced us to quirky games like “Power Stone” (1999) and “Seaman” (1999) on September 9, 1999 (or September of 1998 in Japan). 

In the last 25 years, we’ve seen the undeniable influence of the Dreamcast just in ports and remakes of its games, but in the spiritual successors of games that first graced our screens via the sixth generation console. You don’t get “Bomb Rush Cyberfunk” (2003) without “Jet Set Radio” (2000). And “Sayonara Wild Hearts” (2019) owes more than a few concepts to “Rez” (2001). 

Streaming tonight at 7:30 Central, we’re celebrating all things Dreamcast with a quick spin around some of its library. Is there a game you want us to play? Jump into chat and let us know!

twitch.tv/lifebeginsat8bit

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With “Space Marine II” itching to chain sword its way onto consoles and PC early next month, we’re revisiting the grim, dark original, “Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine” (2011). The first “Space Marine” comes to us from Relic Entertainment by way of publisher THQ and are notable for “Homeworld” (1999), the “Company of Heroes” series, and several Warhammer releases, 

We will not purport to be lore-steeped experts on Warhammer 40K, but we are intrigued by it. You might say we’re dangerously close to making a poor (great) financial decision that involves armies of tiny plastic orks. Hopefully, playing this game will suffice for now. Tonight at 7:30 Central, we stream FOR THE IMPERIUM! Get your bolters ready to massacre some orks and see how the original “Space Marine” holds up while we await the much hyped sequel.  twitch.tv/lifebeginsat8bit

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“Resident Evil Zero” (2002) along with the remake of the original “Resident Evil” (2002) added some heavy-hitting survival horror titles to the Nintendo Game Cube’s library. But Rebecca and Billy’s adventure was intended for the Nintendo 64. What improvements were made possible by the beefier hardware? That’s what we’ll be contemplating tonight as our play through of "Resident Evil Zero" continues tonight starting at 7:30 Central on Twitch. twitch.tv/lifebeginsat8bit

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Happy 41st anniversary to the Nintendo Family Computer!

It's easy to forget that early consoles had a direct connection to the arcade. The Nintendo Family Computer (AKA the Famicom) was no different. The console was designed with the idea of bringing arcade hits like Nintendo's "Donkey Kong" (1981) into the living room. And that's just one of several arcade games that wound up as part of the Famicom (and NES) library.

In honor of the Famicom's 41st anniversary, we're doing a special Life Begins at 8-Bit stream tonight revisiting some arcade classics on Nintendo's classic console. twitch.tv/lifebeginsat8bit

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Did you know that the original “Resident Evil” (1996) takes place in July of 1998? That means that its prequel, “Resident Evil Zero” (2002) also takes place outside of Racoon City in the sweltering heat of July. So we’re guessing those zombies aren’t just spooky, but funky-smelling as well. 

Streaming tonight at 7:30 Central: With Capcom’s recent announcement of more Resident Evil remakes on the way, including “Code Veronica” (2000) and “Zero,” we decided that July of 2024 would be the perfect time to revisit Rebecca Chambers’ original GameCube adventure remastered for modern consoles. twitch.tv/lifebeginsat8bit

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The first thing you should know about the Earth Defense Force series is that the Vita release has (in our opinion) the greatest video game title ever crafted by man: “Earth Defense Force 2: Invaders From Planet Space” (2015). The second thing you should know is that this series started as an entry in the “Simple” series of budget-friendly games developed by D3 Publisher. From these humble beginnings, the series has grown into a monstrously successful cult franchise. Streaming tonight at 7:30 Central: With “Earth Defense Force 6” (2022) receiving a worldwide release on July 25, we’re training up by revisiting “Earth Defense Force 5” (2017) just in time for Independence Day. twitch.tv/lifebeginsat8bit

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Today marks the 16th anniversary of the “end” of the Metal Gear series. “Metal Gear Solid IV: Guns of the Patriots” (2008) only happened because of fan pressure to understand some of the unresolved plot threads from “Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty” (2001). Who are <LALILULELO>, for example. If Director Hideo Kojima had his way, “Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater” (2004) would have ended the series. 

Despite criticism of the game’s liberal use of long, cinematic cutscenes (one cutscene lasts for a whopping 71 minutes) “Guns of the Patriots” is considered one of the very best games in the PlayStation 3 library with near-universal acclaim. Unfortunately, “Metal Gear Solid IV” remains a PS3 exclusive with no official port available on any platform. Here’s hoping the “Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2” finally fixes that when it’s released. 

Streaming tonight at 7:30 Central: In honor of Metal Gear Solid IV’s anniversary, we’re taking to the battlefield once more tonight. Will we reach the end of Metal Gear? You’ll have to tune in to see how things snake out.  twitch.tv/lifebeginsat8bit

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Do you know how to pull off a “Crystal Flash” in 1994’s “Super Metroid” for the SNES? Playing through Super Metroid, I’m struck by all the hidden details that add to the depth of the game even if they are not required to beat it. The Crystal Flash, for example, is a secret technique Samus can perform to regain energy if she’s running low. To initiate a crystal flash, Samus must be at less than 50 energy with empty reserves. You’ll also need at least 10 missiles, 10 super missiles, and 11 power bombs. While in the morph ball, use one power bomb and hold L, R, down, and the fire button. If performed correctly, you’ll see Samus without her suit, engulfed in a ball of light as her energy tanks refill. 

We could also use a bit more energy in the old E-tank, so we’re kicking back with Super Metroid on original hardware during tomorrow night’s stream. We started a month of games from 1994 with Super Metroid last Wednesday and tomorrow night, we’re taking the fight all the way to Mother Brain as Life Begins at 8-Bit continues on Twitch at 7:30 Central. twitch.tv/lifebeginsat8bit

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It was not readily apparent, thanks in large part to the naming conventions of the day, that “Secret of Mana” (1993) was a follow up to “Final Fantasy Adventure” (1991) on the GameBoy. In Japanese, the games are called “Seiken Densetsu” or “Legend of the Sacred Sword” parts one and two. 

Still, “Secret of Mana” was a big game for its publisher Squaresoft (now Square-Enix) and for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System thanks to its bright, colorful graphics, epic plot, and real-time battle system that let you whack foes with a button press rather than a menu prompt. 

Streaming tonight at 7:30 Central: Our odyssey into the games of 1993 continues! After a brief pit stop to play “Final Fantasy Adventure,” we’ll claim the mana sword and begin our adventure in “Secret of Mana” for the SNES. twitch.tv/lifebeginsat8bit

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Mirror’s Edge (2008) introduced gamers to parkour-based, first-person platforming with an emphasis on flow, not combat. It’s hard not to think of Ghostrunner (2020) and its 2023 sequel Ghostrunner II as the other side of the parkour coin. Both games empower you to use lightning quick reflexes and parkour skills to dispatch your opponents with all the precision of a cybernetic ninja. And it is kill or be killed because one successful bullet or misstep is enough to take your robot butt right out of the action. 

Streaming tonight at 7:30 Central: We’re getting our steps in (virtually) with a little Ghostrunner II on PS5. And if we get winded? We’ll enjoy the stompy mech action of Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon (2023). twitch.tv/lifebeginsat8bit

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Have you ever considered moving to a remote island so you can go fishing underwater and open a small sushi restaurant? I mean, who hasn't at this point? We certainly have! And if you're like us, then “Dave the Diver” (2023) might just be the perfect cozy game for you!

“Dave the Diver” is a (mostly) relaxing game where you spend your day scuba diving and impaling all manner of underwater life so you can spend your evening helping your friends work a busy sushi bar. Everything a good, cozy game needs is here including relaxing music, cute pixelated graphics, inventory management, low stress fishing, and monstrous boss battles. Wait, what? 

Streaming tonight at 7:30 Central, we’re plumbing the depths for adventure in “Dave the Diver.” And if we need a break from being underwater, there’s plenty of buried treasure from 2023 to enjoy. twitch.tv/lifebeginsat8bit

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Buried under a seemingly ever-increasing pile of open-world explorathons, and free-to-play multiplayer shooters, it’s easy to miss games that focus on contained, single-player experiences. Somehow,”Evil West” seemed to come and go like a blood-drenched tumbleweed with little to no fanfare. That’s a real shame because if you ever wondered what would happen if “Resident Evil 4” (2005), “God of War” (2018), and “Doom” (2016) had a baby, “Evil West” would be that baby. 

Part third-person shooter, part over-the-top brawler, “Evil West” puts you in the spurs of vampire slayer Jessie Rentier. Jesse’s on a quest to keep the Wild West safe from the creatures of the night one bullet (or electrified punch) at a time. 

Streaming tonight at 7:30 Central: We’re tangling with the undead in “Evil West.” And just in case you need another throwback action game, “Gun Grave G.O.R.E.” (2022) is also on deck.  twitch.tv/lifebeginsat8bit

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When word dropped that we were getting a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game in the style of fan favorite TMNT arcade game, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles In Time” (1991), we just about came out of our shells. And the more we learned about it, the more the hype sustained us like an extra-large pizza with marshmallows and pepperoni. 

“Shredder’s Revenge” (2022) came to us from “Streets of Rage 4” (2020) developers Dotemu and Tribute Games, who worked on “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game” (2010) and previously developed TMNT games for the GameBoy Advance. A beat ‘em up pedigree established, we also learned that the actors from the 1987 television series would return for one last ride in the Turtle Van. Combine that with a soundtrack featuring Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Mega Ran, and Mike Patton and you’re in for a shell of a good time. 

Streaming tonight at 7:30 Central, we’re playing Shredder’s Revenge with you! Head to the Life Begins at 8-Bit discord to share Switch friend codes. What other 2022 games await us? Only one way to find out.

twitch.tv/lifebeginsat8bit