Games

Most unofficial Pokémon game modifications, often called ROM hacks, need an emulator – software that lets you play older Game Boy or Nintendo DS games on your computer or device. These hacks often use graphics and other content from the original games, like Pokémon FireRed or LeafGreen, so you’ll need to be able to play those games first. While there are many guides available for setting up emulators, most ROM hacks will also explain how to apply their changes to the emulator software.

On January 23rd, the classic beat ’em up games Fighting Force and Fighting Force 2 are coming to PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The first Fighting Force debuted on PlayStation in 1997 and was created by Core Design, the team famous for the original Tomb Raider. While reviews were mixed, the game was successful enough to warrant a sequel in 1999. However, Fighting Force 2 didn’t perform as well, ultimately ending the series. Now, fans who’ve been waiting to revisit these retro games will finally have the chance!

Before the recent Switch release, the last Advance Wars game was Advance Wars: Days of Ruin, which came out on the Nintendo DS in 2008. While Days of Ruin played like a typical Advance Wars game, it had a noticeably darker and more serious tone. Despite positive reviews, it didn’t sell very well, likely because it was released around the same time as other popular Nintendo games. It’s disappointing that the Advance Wars series stopped after Days of Ruin.

Yuki Tsukumo’s death during the Culling Game Arc is considered one of the most heartbreaking moments in the series. Fans were particularly upset because it felt sudden and she didn’t get a proper conclusion to her story. With the anime currently airing, this scene may actually have a greater emotional impact than it did in the manga.

Today marks 18 years since the final episode of Codename: Kids Next Door aired on January 21, 2008. Unlike previous episodes, this special jumped forward in time, showing the characters as adults reflecting on their childhood adventures. It hinted that their battle against adults would never truly end, but sadly, fans never got to see how that future conflict would unfold.

Fans can soon revisit Bikini Bottom! Season 15 of SpongeBob SquarePants is coming to Paramount+ on January 21st. The new season originally aired on Nickelodeon over a year ago and features SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy, Mr. Krabs, Plankton, and Squidward embarking on even more underwater adventures. Since its debut in July 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants has been the most-watched animated series, and Season 15 continues the hilarious misadventures we all love.

As reported by Deadline, Max Parker will form part of the series, playing the part of Heimdall.

Recently, the price of physical copies of the Nintendo DS game Cory in the House has dramatically increased. Sealed copies are now selling for as much as $500, and even copies with the original box and manual (complete in box) are going for between $200 and $300. This isn’t an isolated incident – dozens of sales have been confirmed on eBay in just the past few days. Previously, the game was considered low quality and sold for only $5 to $12.

As a lifelong Trek fan, I always find it a little frustrating how much flak the newer shows – what some call “Nu-Trek” – get for making changes, especially when those changes could actually enrich the overall story. I mean, why not have Odo’s return to the Dominion eventually lead to something cool like a Klingon/Jem’Hadar hybrid? It’s a neat idea! And it’s good they’ve confirmed things like Harry Kim becoming an admiral – a little payoff for long-time viewers. But honestly, not every change feels necessary. The one in the first episodes of Starfleet Academy felt a bit…much. A random extra revealed the Cheron – those striking black and white aliens from the original TOS episode “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” – are still around centuries later. I get why some fans might find that hard to swallow.

While Square Enix is famous for hits like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy, they also have a number of lesser-known, and sadly, forgotten games. Among these are true gems – titles so good it’s a shame the company hasn’t revisited them. One game, in particular, deserves more attention, as it actually laid the groundwork for a popular JRPG that players are currently loving.