Darren Hupke

I was at work and got caught on my phone, so that last sentence was abruptly ended, but stick with it. Give yourself limits. Engage in a limited way and see if that helps.

I slimed down to JUST this, and I decided when I made the account to only post positive things and engage in conversation with my hobbies.

I have faltered here and there, but it’s good overall!

The book “The History of Metroidvania Decade One: 1980-1990”

New book for the personal library. I am looking forward to digging in to this. I’m a big fan of @jparish.bsky.social’s stuff (check out his YouTube channel).

I’m also interested in learning how he redefines a decade as 11 years. 1980-1990…

Agreed.

I remember this. Wasn’t good.

Pixels and Polygons Quarterly - 2026 Q2 A premium zine focused on retro video games. Read about three games' history, personal essays, screenshots, artifacts, and more!

The next issue of Pixels and Polygons Quarterly is shaping up to be a good one! Guest contributors for this issue include @nadiaoxford.bsky.social, @brendanlh.bsky.social, and @cloud-line.bsky.social. I hope you're ready to read about some odd Square games!

Get your copy now!

A picture of Darren Hupke promoting an appearance at GameOn Expo 2026

A promotional photo of all of the pixels and polygons books

A bearded man reading a zine called Pixels and Polygons Quarterly

A green book on a table of stickers called 32 Bit Library Greatest Hits Vol 1

Hey Phoenix, I’m going to be hanging out at GameOn Expo all weekend, March 13th-15th!

I’ve been going to this show for a few years and I am beyond excited to be a guest!

I’ll be bringing copies of 32 Bit Library, Retro Game Zine, Beat ‘Em Up Vol 1, and the new Pixels and Polygons Quarterly.

A further collection of 9 games. Plants vs Zombies, shadow of the colossus, Persona 5 Royal, Death Stranding, Pixeljunk Monsters, Monster Hunter World, Guacamelee 2, Blue Prince, Octopath Traveler 2

I had to continue a bit…

Yes. One of them.

Here’s my top* 9!

I know I forgot a few, but it’s still a good idea of my general idea of a list like this.

my9games.com

Here’s a complete fly through of my route I took to complete Cairn. It’s in x2 speed.

I thought it was already done.

That last one looks like old man Joshua Jackson.

Here’s a complete fly through of my route I took to complete Cairn. It’s in x2 speed.

Screenshot of stars in the sky and the title of the game Cairn.

Screenshot from Cairn of a night sky with the text: Thank you for making it to the top. And you — what is your summit?

Screenshot of Cairn showing completed gameplay time and final save data. Summit reached! Day 15 Play time: 11:57:16 Difficulty: Alpinist Assist mode: Off

That’s it for Cairn. That was a rad game. A few challenging spots, but a nice game overall.

We can all call them Final Fantasy. That’s what they were called when any kid in North America played them in the early 90s.

Seiken Densetsu: Final Fantasy Gaiden - yes, it is a spin off, but it’s the first game in the Mana series and would go on to be a wholly different thing after this first.

But Makai Toushi SaGa wasn’t a spin off and was its own jam out of the gate.

Cover of a PS2 game, Eve of Extinction

Posted for the irony that these Final Fantasy titles are actually SaGa and Mana games localized into these packages.

Magazine ad featuring 4 different Game Boy Final Fantasy games

Once Again, the Fate of the World Rests in One Brand.

Is there a tingling of interest or hope you’ll enjoy it? Or are you wanted to play it based on the reception it generally received and you want to see it based on that?

Reading the comments, I’m with that @adashtra.bsky.social energy.

Play it to know, play it to have the experience, even if it’s short, but play it and see.

It may be worth trying still, though. Maybe this one has the mix of mechanics that will get you interested enough to see it through?

No.

I do like many of those games and Blue Prince was my favorite game of last year.

I also don’t dig other big games people seem to love, so to each their own!

Okami game box art for the Wii featuring a watermark from the website IGN.

Well… they have a history of not saving some of that original art themselves.

Kickstarter Kompilation: March 2026 edition Forget February's failings; embrace the month of March

New for March in our monthly Kickstarter Kompilation: video game-related crowdfunding projects from @2old4gaming.bsky.social @darrenhupke.bsky.social @frostwood.bsky.social @gameonthemovie.bsky.social @hueygames.bsky.social & more
retronauts.com/article/2483...

Metal Gear Solid 4... I am sorry. Maybe because I haven't replayed you in YEARS, so let's hope this new collection will help. You're still fun, just... not as fun as the others.

I’m almost done with Cairn. Not sure what to play next. I’d like something short and sweet…

Cover of a book titled Green River killer in front of a bookcase

“G is for…”

Green River Killer by Jeff Jensen and @jonathancase.bsky.social

The story of Detective Tom Jensen (father of the author!) and his investigation into the GRK. Great pacing, amazing art, engaging from first to last page.

WE'RE LIVE PAL (on ios)!!!!!

Eras of Wrestling, the wrestling management simulation game i drew EVERY SINGLE WRESTLER for is now available for download!

apps.apple.com/us/app/eras-...