#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.08 Mario Kart DS (NDS). It's been years since I last touched my DS and the PolyQuest provided a good opportunity to dust it off. I've never played this game before, but it's great! It's a fast racer with tight controls and memorable tracks. Recommended!

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.07 Poko Nyan! (SFC). For the thumbs bingo square I wanted to do something special. What's better than one thumbs up? Four thumbs up! My 4-yo daughter, her best friend, my 9-yo son and myself all played it. It's a great game for kids (or kids-at-heart 😉). 👍

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.07 Kirby's Dreamland DX (GBC). Color patch by GreenAndACat. Taking place on the planet Popstar, it's a neat little adventure and still my favorite Kirby game. Nostalgia plays a big role, but it's also just a charming, accessible classic.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.06 Super Mario Bros. Special (NES). Developed by Hudson and originally released on the NEC PC-8801. In 2021 it was fan ported to the NES by Frantik, who did an amazing job! It's a fun licensed sequel, but pretty tough, especially the later worlds.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.05 Mission in Snowdriftland (NSW). Graphics & gameplay are fine, music is forgettable (I listened to a podcast). I was having fun until the second-to-last boss. It's so stupidly hard, that beating it it took longer than the rest of the game combined.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.04 The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe (NSW). PolyQuest working as intended: I never would’ve played this without the bingo square, and that would’ve been a huge miss. Hilarious, existential, brilliantly written, and expertly narrated. Highly recommended!

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.03 Cyber-Lip (NSW via Hamster). Similar to Contra, Cyber-Lip is a run-and-gun that exemplifies early ’90s cyberpunk design. Its detailed pixel art, aggressive pacing and weapon choices are pretty good, though nothing particulary stands out. Check it out!

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.02 DoReMi Fantasy: Milon no DokiDoki Daibouken (SFC). Patch by RPGONE. I really wonder why this was never brought over to the West. It has greath graphics, great music and great gameplay. Definitely check this one out if you love retro action platformers!

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.01 Parodius (SNES). I recently talked about Parodius, which got me in the mood to play it again. My favorite shmup ever. I love the little touches, such as the umbrella on Vic Viper when it starts to rain. Highly recommend, also for shmup novices!

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.258 Athenian Rhapsody (NSW). Have Undertale, Megami Tensei and Mother 3 smoke weed and you get this game. A strange, but fun RPG with dodge mechanics. The dialogue and whimsical nature does gets grating, but the game is short enough it's not gamebreaking.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.257 Burning Angels (PCE). A solid vertical shmup with a few nice twists. Long stages and mid-bosses stand out, but enemy patterns lack variety and visuals can feel blocky. The generous health bar is nice, but no lives or continues are brutal.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.256 Donkey Kong Land 3 (GBC). Patch by Blaziken257 (only the Japanese version was released on the GBC). Just as it's predecessors, it's a really fun game, even if it's basically just a summery and remix of the SNES game. Be sure to check it out!

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.255 Donkey Kong Land 2 (GBC). Color patch by Specialagentape. Not an exact port, but more of a remix of the SNES DKC 2 game. I liked it a lot. It's plays well if you are used to DKC2. It's well worth checking out, if you desire a more bite-sized adventure.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.254 Daze Before Christmas (MD). It's basically the same game as the SNES port, but it plays faster and rope climbing actually works properly. While the SNES game looks a bit nicer, this is a rare occasion where I actually prefer the MD version.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.253 Santa's Chimney Quest (NSW). You play as Santa, delivering presents into chimneys and try to reach the end of the 25 levels before the timer runs out. It's very easy and barebones, but I'm a sucker these kinds of games and it's perfect for the season.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.252 Daze Before Christmas (SNES). This or the MD version is a traditional yearly Christmas time playthrough for me. While it's nothing really special, it is a fun game with nice sprites and backgrounds. The stage title cards are also very nicely done.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.251 Seiken Densetsu 3 (SFC). With this third playthrough I have now finally beaten all three final bosses. Graphically and musically unmatched on the SFC. Gameplay-, and story wise it's a little slow and tedious and not all that great. Still, recommended!

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.250 The Legend of Santa (NSW). This b̶l̶a̶t̶a̶n̶t̶ ̶r̶i̶p̶o̶f̶f̶ homage to the Mario games tries hard to mimic the classics. Steeped in generic design and weak music, this short game never becomes more than a cheap holiday diversion. Not too bad, but entirly forgettable

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.249 The Flintstones - The Surprise at Dinosaur Peak (NES). Very similar to the first game, but it plays just as well, if not better. The challenge is more even this time around, but I really dislike the final stage. Overall, a decent enough game.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.248 Monster Maulers (ARC). This fighter is amazing. It’s got tight controls, great sprite work, and over-the-top action. Add in a fantastic soundtrack (including some cheesy vocal tracks), and you’ve got a clear winner. Konami goodness at its finest!

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.247 The Flintstones: The Rescue of Dino & Hoppy (NES). A surprisingly polished platformer with vibrant sprite work and clever level variety. Its difficulty spikes can frustrate, but its charm makes it one of Taito’s stronger licensed titles on the system.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.246 Joe & Mac (GB). Rough around the edges, with uneven difficulty and some cramped stage layouts, but it still comes together better than the NES version. The tighter controls and more focused structure make it the stronger, if still modest, way to play.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.245 Joe & Mac (NES). I beat the SNES one a few years ago, so I tried the NES port. It’s short and tougher to make up for it. Figuring out enemy/boss patterns is satisfying, but overall (coupled with iffy controls) it’s not really worth your time.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.244 Warrior Blade (NSW via Hamster). This sword and sorcery brawler is nothing short of a spectacle. Sliding down a mountain, riding a horse, flying on a Wyvern, all while slashing hordes of wizards and demons? Sign me right up!

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.243 Chuck Rock 2: Son of Chuck (Mega CD). The platforming is serviceable and the visuals are solid, but nothing truly stands out. The funny intro video is the highlight, adding charm the gameplay doesn’t fully match. Decent, but far from essential.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.242 64th Street: A Detective Story (ARC). A Jaleco beat ’em up where two detectives brawl through six gritty stages to stop the “Legacy” gang and rescue a kidnapped girl. It's good, but not a top-tier brawler. The death sounds are amazing, though!

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.241 Neo Bomberman (ARC). I never knew an arcade Bomberman even existed. It plays very similar to something like Bomberman 4 for the SNES as it was made by the same team. The gameplay is great and a lot of fun, but some of the enemies are very annoying.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.240 Bomber Boy (GB). Bomberman's first portable outing. The stages all have (sometimes very annoying) gimmicks and you can select your items beforehand. It can get repetitive, but it's bomberman; what you see is what you get. But as always: pretty fun!

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.239 U.N. Squadron (ARC). It doesn't do anything wrong, but it doesn't stand out either. The controls are fine and it's fast paced, but it goes on for too long, is very hard and the stages aren't all that interesting. A good game, but nothing special.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.238 Digimon Battle Spirit 2 (GBA). Basically the exact same game as part one. That's not necessarly a bad thing. Having to collect the orbs for points after hitting your opponent is still fun and the sprite work is just as good. Check it out!

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.237 Digimon Battle Spirit (GBA). Fast, chaotic fighting with colorful animation and a strong roster that captures the series’ charm. Its short campaign and limited move sets hold it back, and the AI can feel uneven, but I had a lot of fun with it.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.236 Irem Skins Game (SFC). Easy to learn hard to master. It offers a clean presentation and but slow pacing and brutal opponents hold it back. Its precision-focused gameplay is finicky, especially when putting. Still, one of the better SNES golf games.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.235 Chase H.Q. II (MD). It delivers fast, arcade-style pursuit racing, but it’s held back by stiff controls and repetitive enemy encounters. The sense of speed is solid and the soundtrack pumps, yet the overall experience feels a bit shallow.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.234 Neo Turf Masters (ARC). My favorite golf game of all time. I beat the game with strokeplay last year, so my friend and I decided to play matchplay against each other this time around. It's a super fun game and comes highly recommended.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.233 Aerofighters (ARC). A buddy of mine grabbed a new arcade cab, so we fired up one of my favorite shmups. His kids jumped in and loved it. We ended up beating the game together. Always happy to pass on some retro-arcade love!

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.232 Zero Team U.S.A. (ARC). A slick, overlooked arcade beat-’em-up with punchy combat and that classic ’90s charm. Not as frantic as Capcom’s brawlers, but super satisfying once you get the timing down. The final stage is pretty tough, though.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.230 Kamiko (NSW). Part Zelda, part Gauntlet, this game is a neat experience. There are some frustrating parts, but slashing through hoards of enemies, solving simple puzzles and defeating large bosses is a lot of fun. Short and sweet,it's one to check out!

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.229 Astérix (NES). I played the GB version as a kid, but only recently found out about the NES version. It's equally as fun, if not better. Jumping is slippery, but the easy difficulty and great graphics and music make this an easy recommendation!

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.228 Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge (GB). A charming portable debut for the Blue Bomber. Tight controls, great 8-bit tunes, and classic boss battles shine, but the brutal difficulty and no checkpoints in the final stage make it a true test of patience.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.227 Crayon Shin-Chan 4: Ora no Itazura Dai Henshin (GB). Based on the anime I used to watch as a kid, this game has a lot of charm. It is very short and easy, but with enough variety to have it stand out. If you have half an hour to spare, check it out!

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.226 Fix & Foxi: Episode 1:Lupo (GBC).The jumping momentum is awkward, and the levels can be confusing, but otherwise, this is a pretty decent platformer. The graphics are nice, as is the music, and it doesn't overstay its welcome. It's pretty easy, though.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.225 Therapy with Dr. Albert Krueger (PC).A really cool short game you can get on Itch.io. You play as a patient going to therapy with the psychiatrist asking increasingly disturbing questions. It's a lot of fun trying to get all three endings. Recommended!

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.224 Space Gun (ARC). A tense, atmospheric arcade shooter that blends sci-fi horror with fast, precise gunplay. Its detailed visuals and eerie sound design create genuine tension, while the branching paths and enemy variety keep each run engaging.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.223 Beast Busters (ARC). A chaotic, fast-paced arcade shooter that mixes zombie horror with military action. Visuals and sound show their age, but belasting zombies and monsters is always fun. A gritty relic of coin-op excess.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.222 Mad Father (NSW). A well-crafted horror game with a strong story and eerie atmosphere. Its mix of puzzles and emotional themes keeps it engaging from start to finish. You'd be mad not to play this game if you're a fan of short indie horror games.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.221 Amanda the Adventurer 2 (NSW). Recommended by @potomax.bsky.social. I liked the puzzles more this time, but I found the first one to be more unnerving. The videos now felt less creepy, but maybe that's because you kinda know what's up with them?

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.220 Ib (NSW). Recommended by @peteepuff.bsky.social on the latest @indiequestpod.com. A haunting masterpiece of minimalist horror. Its eerie art, unsettling music, and emotional storytelling prove that atmosphere and subtlety can outshine jump scares.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.219 Raging Bytes (NSW).Suggested by and played in conjunction with the legendary @gohobogo.bsky.social. A gripping zombie JRPG that blends classic pixel art with modern tension. Its turn-based combat and survival-driven narrative make it a compelling game.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.218 Evil Diary (NSW). Blasting endless hordes of zombies and aliens in this budget action game. It's dumb, mindless, and a ton of fun! Graphically not very impressive, but the music slaps, the gameplay is tight, and it doesn't overstay it's welcome.

#JustBeatIt @polykillpodcast.bsky.social No.217 Witch Rise (NSW). An unexpectedly charming take on old-school FPS games with a magical twist. Its tight core systems, rewarding upgrades, and boss encounters shine through even if the experience is brief. No masterpiece, but I enjoyed it a ton!