Pickups September 2020

Excitebike – Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

Excitebike is a motocross racing video game from Nintendo. It debuted as a launch title for the NES in 1985.
At the start of the game, the player can choose from five tracks in which to race. Whether the player chooses to race solo or against computer-assisted riders, there is a certain time limit. The goal is to qualify for the Excitebike championship race by finishing at third place or above in the preliminary challenge race. The times to beat are located on the stadium walls for first place, and in the lower left corner for third place. In any race, the best time is 8 seconds ahead of third place. When the player places first, a message appears: “It’s a new record!” Additional points are earned by beating the previously-set record time.
I got this game as part of my Top 10 quest. The box is held together by tape and it has no manual or insert, so I will have to source them.
Price Paid £20 (CEX Online)

Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 – Nintendo Game Boy Advance

Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 is the Game Boy Advance remake of the 1988 NES game Super Mario Bros. 3, and is the fourth and final entry in the Super Mario Advance series of games on the GBA. It boasts similar graphics and sound to the Super Mario All-Stars version, and made use of the e-Reader. Also, like the Super Mario Advance games that came before it, it features an identical remake of Mario Bros.
Players take control of either Mario or Luigi, adventuring through eight kingdoms of the Mushroom World to defeat the seven Koopa Kids and Bowser, who have taken the seven magic rods from the kings of these seven kingdoms, transforming them into various creatures.
This game is part of my top 10 quest. It came with a nice brochure for Nintendo V.I.P and a poster for Mario Kart Double Dash for the Gamecube, which is nice.
Price Paid £20 (CEX Online)

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island – Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island is a 1995 platform game by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). To reunite baby Mario with his brother Luigi, who has been kidnapped by Kamek, the player controls Yoshi, a friendly dinosaur, through 48 levels while carrying Baby Mario. As a Super Mario series platformer, Yoshi runs and jumps to reach the end of the level while solving puzzles and collecting items. In a style new to the series, the game has a hand-drawn aesthetic and is the first to have Yoshi as its main character. The game introduces his signature abilities to flutter jump and produce eggs from swallowed enemies.
The game has a coloring book aesthetic with “scribbled crayon” backgrounds, and Yoshi vocalises with its every action. Expanding on his “trademark tongue” ability to swallow enemies, Yoshi, as the focus of the game, was given a new move set: the ability to “flutter jump”, throw eggs, and transform. Yoshi can also pound the ground from mid-air to bury objects or break through soft earth, and use his long tongue to grab enemies at a distance. This game forms one of my top 10 games quest. It came without a manual so I will have to get one.
Price Paid £35 (CEX Online)

New Super Mario Bros.U Deluxe – Nintendo Switch

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is a side-scrolling 2.5D platform game released on the Nintendo Switch in January 2019. It is a port of the Wii U launch title New Super Mario Bros. U. It contains both the base game and the New Super Luigi U DLC.
Princess Peach is held captive in her castle by Bowser, Bowser Jr., and the Koopalings who invade and use a giant mechanical arm to throw Mario, Luigi, and two Toads far away. Mario and friends must now travel across this new land returning to Peach’s castle in order to save her. On the way, they encounter seven Koopalings each controlling their own worlds, plus Kamek, Nabbit, Bowser Jr., and many minor monsters like Goomba.
Price Paid £28 (Cash Converters)

Sonic Mania Plus – Nintendo Switch

Sonic Mania is a 2017 platform game published by Sega for Nintendo Switch. Produced in commemoration of the Sonic the Hedgehog series’ 25th anniversary, Sonic Mania homages the original Sega Genesis Sonic games, featuring speedy side-scrolling gameplay. It takes place over 12 levels, including 8 redesigned stages from past games. The story follows Sonic, Tails and Knuckles as they venture to defeat their nemesis Doctor Robotnik and his robotic henchmen, the Hard-Boiled Heavies.
Sonic Mania takes place over 12 levels, called zones; the game features eight “remixed” zones, such as Green Hill Zone from the first Sonic game (1991), alongside four original ones. Remixed stages consist of both new elements and recycled gimmicks and ideas from other past Sonic games.
Players select one of 3 playable characters, each with their own unique abilities: Sonic can perform a “drop dash” which sends him rolling in a dash after a jump, Tails can fly and swim, and Knuckles can glide and climb walls. As with Sonic 2 (1992), players can play as Sonic and Tails simultaneously, or a second player can control Tails independently.
The ‘Plus’ version of this game includes an art book and a Sega Mega Drive reversible cover. The art book is fantastic, it includes a lot of concept art for the game showing character iterations, level prototypes and logo ideas. I love looking through art books like this, a lot of game art books just show generic finalised renders, so this book stands a cut above the rest in my eyes.
The Mega Drive reversible cover is great too, I prefer it to the Switch cover.
Price Paid £14.40 (Cash Converters)

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 – Sony Playstation 4

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 is a 2015 skateboarding video game. The sixteenth instalment in the Tony Hawk’s series, the game is the first traditional entry in the main series since 2007’s Proving Ground and the first Pro Skater since Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4, as the series had been put on hold following a lack of critical and commercial success with later games.
Like most other games in the series, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 oriented its gameplay to classic arcade games. The goal of most modes of the game is to achieve a high score or collect certain objects. As with previous Pro Skater games, the game does not feature a story. To score, the player has to successfully perform and combine aerials, flips, grinds, lips, and manuals, with successful executions adding to the player’s score. The point value of the trick is based on time maintained, degrees rotated, number of tricks performed in sequence, performing tricks on specific landmarks on the map, and the number of times the tricks have been used. Successful tricks also add to the player’s special meter, which, once full, allows for the execution of special tricks which are worth a great deal more than normal tricks.
Price Paid £8 (Ebay)

Call Of Duty Black Ops: Declassified – Sony PS Vita

Call of Duty: Black Ops: Declassified is a 2012 first-person shooter video game for the PlayStation Vita. The game features single player, multiplayer, and hostile modes, with the game taking place between Call of Duty: Black Ops, and its sequel, Black Ops II.
Call of Duty: Black Ops: Declassified makes use of the Vita’s dual-analog sticks, touch screen and rear touch pad. These include the ability to hold breath using the rear touch pad. The ability to throw grenades is similar to Resistance: Burning Skies in that the front touch screen is used. The ability to melee is achieved by swiping or touching anywhere on the touch screen.

An all new mode called ‘Hostiles’ has been added, in which the player is pitted against 4 different waves of enemies.
The single player campaign in Call of Duty: Black Ops: Declassified consists of objective-based missions that players can revisit to improve their performance. The single player part of the game is titled Operations that has the main story of the game with an addition of a Time Trials mode which has the player running and gunning down wooden enemies to beat the time. This game forms part of my top 10 games quest.
Price Paid £11.95 (Ebay)

Luigi’s Mansion – Nintendo Gamecube

Luigi’s Mansion is a 2001 action-adventure video game by Nintendo for the GameCube. The game was a launch title for the GameCube and was the first game in the Mario franchise to be released for the console. It is the second video game in which Luigi is the main character instead of Mario.
In Luigi’s Mansion, the main story is played out over four stages, with players able to also access a training room and a gallery at the Professor E. Gadd’s laboratory between stages. In each stage, players control Luigi as he explores the mansion’s rooms and hunts down the ghosts that lie within them, acquiring keys to get through locked doors and eventually dealing with a boss ghost hidden at the end of the stage, with more rooms becoming accessible as each stage is completed. To assist him in his task, Luigi uses a flashlight and two inventions supplied by E. Gadd – the Poltergust 3000, a specially modified, high powered vacuum cleaner; and the Game Boy Horror, a play on Nintendo’s Game Boy Color. This game forms part of my top 10 games quest.
Price Paid £25 (CEX Online)

Jurassic Park – Sega Mega Drive

Jurassic Park is a 1993 video game developed by BlueSky Software and published by Sega for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. It was released as part of the tie-in merchandise to the 1993 film of the same name. The game includes elements from Michael Crichton’s 1990 novel, Jurassic Park, on which the film is based.
Jurassic Park is a standard side-scrolling action video game, with platform gameplay elements. The end objective is to reach the end of each level, using items placed at fixed locations. However, the game features a then-uncommon variation in action games, giving players the option of using two characters that played independently to one another. The game is playable as either palaeontologist Dr. Alan Grant, or a Velociraptor. Grant is the default character and can be switched to the Raptor using the “Player” option on the game’s main menu. This game forms part of my top 10 games quest.
Price Paid £12 (CEX Online)

Dino Crisis – Sony Playstation

Dino Crisis is a survival horror video game for the PlayStation in 1999. It is the first instalment in the Dino Crisis series and was developed by the same team behind Capcom’s Resident Evil series, and shares many similarities with it. The story follows Regina, a special operations agent sent with a team to investigate a secluded island research facility. Finding the place overrun with dinosaurs, Regina must fight through the facility to discover its secrets and ultimately escape alive.

Instead of the pre-rendered backgrounds of the Resident Evil games that preceded it, Dino Crisis uses an original real-time engine with 3D environments. Gameplay features traditional survival horror mechanics including action and puzzles, and it was developed to have more consistent visceral terror with the dinosaurs being quick, intelligent, and violent. Capcom would later market the game as “panic horror” as opposed to “survival horror” due to these design changes. This game forms part of my top 10 games quest.
Price Paid £18 (CEX Online)

F.E.A.R. Microsoft Xbox 360

F.E.A.R. First Encounter Assault Recon is a survival horror first-person shooter video game and was released in 2005. The game’s story revolves around a supernatural phenomenon, which F.E.A.R.—a fictional special forces team—is called to contain. The player assumes the role of F.E.A.R.’s Point Man, who possesses superhuman reflexes, and must uncover the secrets of a paranormal menace in the form of Alma, a young girl.
A prominent gameplay element is “reflex time”, which slows down the game world while still allowing the player to aim and react at normal speeds. This effect is used to simulate the character’s superhuman reflexes.
Price Paid £2 (Cash Converters)

Pac-Man Game Keyring

Take a trip down memory lane and experience one of the most beloved all-time classic retro games, Pac-Man! Get lost in nostalgic gaming with this awesome original Pac-Man game keyring! This classic handheld Pac-Man game keyring has all the original sounds and gameplay of the official Pac-Man game! Complete with on/off button, volume button, start/pause button, reset button and 4-directional move buttons, This amazing retro game keyring makes the ideal nostalgic gift for any keen gamer! This awesome red and Yellow official Pac-Man retro game comes as a keyring so you can take it anywhere with you! This Pac-Man original retro game keyring is made from a durable plastic, has an LCD screen and measures approximately 9cm (H) x 6.5cm (w) x 2cm (D). simply insert 2 x AAA batteries to start playing this all-time classic Pac-Man arcade game!
Price Paid £8 (B&M Stores)

Space Invaders Game Keyring

Turn back the clocks and experience classic retro gaming with this awesome original Space Invaders Game keyring! This classic handheld Space Invaders Game keyring has all the original sounds and gameplay of the official Space Invaders Game! Complete with start/pause button, sound button, reset button, shoot button and right/left buttons, This awesome retro game keyring makes the perfect nostalgic gift! This fab little official Space Invaders Retro game comes as a keyring so you can take it anywhere you go! The Space Invaders original retro game keyring is made from a durable plastic, has an LCD screen and measures approximately 9cm (H) x 6.5cm (w) x 2cm (D). simply insert 2 x AAA batteries to start playing this all-time classic Space Invaders arcade game!
Price Paid £8 (B&M Stores)

The Sims 3 – Nintendo DS

The Sims 3 was released on the Nintendo DS in 2010.
Create Sims with unique personalities, fulfil their desires, and control their lives within a living neighbourhood that you can customize. Unlock all-new Karma Powers and unleash them on your Sims: help your Sim get lucky with the power of “love connector”, bless them with the power of “age defiler” or “instant beauty” or curse them with an “instant enemy”. Use these powers wisely, because they may have unexpected results! As you guide your Sims through life, you can complete challenges to unlock additional items, new buildings and landmarks.
Price Paid £2 (Ebay)

Need For Speed: The Run – Nintendo 3DS

Need for Speed: The Run is a racing video game and was released in 2011. Players take part in street racing across real world locations in the United States. There are over 190 miles of road, three times more than Hot Pursuit, making it the biggest Need For Speed game on release. Most event types require the player to overtake opponents to win the race. There are also time attack events and survival events where the players must prevent their vehicle from being destroyed while under attack. Cars are divided into tiers based on performance. During a race, the player can enter a gas station to change the vehicle they are using and make visual customisations. Unlike previous Need for Speed titles, The Run features sections where the player exits their car and is travelling on foot. Gameplay in these sections is restricted to quick time events.
Price Paid £2 (Ebay)

Disneys Cars 2 – Nintendo 3DS

Based on Pixar’s computer animated film, Cars 2: The Video Game was released on the Nintendo 3DS in 2011. The game follows the exploits of car characters Lightning McQueen and Mater as they train in a secret facility known as CHROME, short for Command Headquarters for Recon Operations and Motorized Espionage. They are joined by British Intelligence agents Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell as they attempt to become the car-equivalent of spies. Several characters from the Cars universe appear.

Nintendogs + Cats – Nintendo 3DS

Nintendogs + Cats is a real-time pet simulation video game for the Nintendo 3DS. It is a sequel to the Nintendogs games for the Nintendo DS.
The game retains much the same style of gameplay as the original Nintendogs, including various breeds of dogs and cats as well as training exercises included in the first game. The tricks, however, have been changed; there is now a tutorial for each trick as the game progresses, and the player is no longer required to say exactly the same name of the trick. In addition to touchscreen and microphone input, the game also employs the system’s camera along with facial recognition technology to interact with the player. For example, after a while, the player’s pet will recognize them and will likewise greet them. However, if a new player shows up, they may react negatively. If the trainer puts their face close to the camera, then the puppy will come up to the screen and lick them; they will also mimic them if they tilt their head. The 3D capabilities of the 3DS are also utilized. The game also uses augmented reality capabilities to project the player’s dog or cat onto one of the “?” AR Games cards. In addition to this, if one of the Nintendo character cards (i.e. Mario, Link, Samus, Kirby, etc.) is used, the dogs will appear wearing hats, fitting the theme of their respective games.
Price Paid £2 (Ebay)

SWIV – Nintendo Game Boy Color

SWIV on the Game Boy Color is an adaptation of the 1992 SNES version Super SWIV.
Somewhere in the mid-Atlantic a terrifying arsenal of weapons has been assembled by a mysterious race with deadly intentions. As a final resort the world looks to you to combat this awesome threat. In your jeep and helicopter you must fight your way through deserts and jungles until you reach the very heart of the enemy. There you will face the most unbelievable array of military might the world has ever seen.

SWIV is a vertical scrolling shooter where the player may choose to pilot a chopper or to drive an attack Jeep. The chopper is not blocked by obstacle, but can only fire straight forward. Unlike the SNES/Genesis version, Jeep and Chopper have same specs: same speed, same armour, same agility. Levels are also ‘inspired’ by the 1992 version but modified (less long, less enemies).
Price Paid £2 (Cash Converters)

E.T. The Extra Terrestrial- Nintendo Game Boy Color

E.T. is in serious trouble, and needs your help! You must race against time to save him from the government agents, scientists and law enforcement officers that are trying to catch him. YOUR MISSION: Assemble the transmitter that will allow E.T. to “phone home”, then arrange for him to be picked up by his spaceship before it’s too late! E.T. needs your help; go save him…
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial lets you play as Elliott, E.T., or both in an action-adventure game that re-creates the characters, locations, and excitement of the 1982 movie. You’ll face the same challenges as the movie’s heroes, such as assembling the transmitter to phone home, breaking E.T. out of quarantine, piloting the bikes through the treetops, and trying to flee the authorities.
This game offers three levels of difficulty and supports one player. Additional play environments include Elliott’s house, the forest, treetops, and more.
Price Paid £2 (Cash Converters)

Paladone Super Mario Bros. Glossary Coffee Mug

Take a break from your quest to rescue Princess Peach from that pesky King Koopa and enjoy a nice cuppa in this Super Mario Bros. Glossary Mug.
This standard sized drinking mug has a matte silver design that features a number of iconic symbols and characters from the much loved game.
Price Paid £3.99 (TK Max)

Paladone LED Collectible Pac Man Lamps

They say keep your friends close, and your enemies closer, well now you can keep Pac-Man’s arch nemeses by your side with these Ghost Lights.
These fun retro lights feature Blinky the Ghost from the iconic retro arcade game Pac-Man in a stylish, pixelated design and is perfect for your living room, bedroom, study, and games room.
These 3D collectible lights stand at 10cm (4”) tall and is an ideal gift for lovers of the Pac-Man series as well as general retro gaming fans.
There are 3 different lamps in this series and because I only have the 2, I will need to get the Pac Man version.
Price Paid £4.99 each (TK Max)