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Mike Hodder @mikehod.bsky.social · 6h

31 Days of Monsters - Video Game Edition

Day 10

Bloody Roar in the Arcade (1997)

A moderate one on one fighting game in which your fighter can transform into a lycanthrope style beast, be it a tiger, a rabbit, a fox and so on. Outside of this mechanic, there’s not much to really recommend it.

Mike Hodder @mikehod.bsky.social · 1d

31 Days of Monsters - Video Game Edition

Day 9

Shadow of the Beast on the Amiga (1989)

A technically impressive side scrolling platformer with beat em up and shooter elements that I always found to be style over substance, wherein you play Aarbron looking to get revenge on the Beast Lord.

Mike Hodder @mikehod.bsky.social · 2d

31 Days of Monsters - Video Game Edition

Day 8

Devil May Cry on the PS2 (2001)

Spinning out of the development of Resident Evil 4, Devil May Cry is a third person action title wherein you play Dante, a demon hunter on a quest to avenge the deaths of his brother and mother.

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Mike Hodder @mikehod.bsky.social · 3d

31 Days of Monsters - Video Game Edition

Day 7

Monster Max on the GameBoy (1994)

Created by the same team as Batman and Head Over Heels, Monster Max is a similar title to those games, but is far larger game, as you play rock star Max, whose out to confront King Krond who’s banned all music.

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Mike Hodder @mikehod.bsky.social · 4d

31 Days of Monsters - Video Game Edition

Day 6

Ant Attack on the ZX Spectrum (1983)

An all time classic game sees you entering an Escher inspired city to rescue a hostage from giant ants. Grenades are your only defence, but these can harm you as well as the ants. A must play.

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Mike Hodder @mikehod.bsky.social · 5d

31 Days of Monsters - Video Game Edition

Day 5

Frankenstein: The Monster Returns on the NES (1991)

A pale imitation of the Castlevania games, this sees the Monster return, capture a girl with the goal of making her his bride. You play a villager who sets out to rescue her and stop his plans.

Mike Hodder @mikehod.bsky.social · 6d

31 Days of Monsters - Video Game Edition

Day 4

Alien Trilogy on the PS1 (1996)

A cracking first person shooter based on the Alien movies as you play Ellen Ripley working her way through three levels and thirty missions inspired by locations from the first three movies.

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Mike Hodder @mikehod.bsky.social · 7d

31 Days of Monsters - Video Game Edition

Day 3

Scary Monsters on C64 (1986)

A game with a good story and fine box art, but that fails in being a good game. You have to hunt down monsters on an island to destroy them, which utilises both an overhead and side on view, and neither is very good.

Mike Hodder @mikehod.bsky.social · 8d

31 Days of Monsters - Video Game Edition

Day 2

Rampage in the Arcade (1986)

One of the most unique games ever made, Rampage sees you playing a human transformed into a giant monster who’s trying to destroy cities. Smashing tower blocks and fighting off the army, it’s still enormous fun.

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Mike Hodder @mikehod.bsky.social · 9d

October means scares, and this time it’s Monsters..

31 Days of Monsters - Video Game Edition

Day 1

3D Monster Maze on the ZX81 (1981)

The great granddaddy of games like Doom and survival horror games, Monster Maze sees you trying to escape from a maze whilst being chased by a huge T Rex.

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Mike Hodder @mikehod.bsky.social · 10d

30 Days of War - Video Game Edition

Day 30

Flying Corps on PC (1997)

One of the best WWI flight sims ever made, Flying Corps can be a tricky title to get running and set up, but once that’s done, it’s a glorious example of old fashioned dogfighting, with excellent graphics and realistic flight.

Mike Hodder @mikehod.bsky.social · 11d

30 Days of War - Video Game Edition

Day 29

Into The Eagles Nest on the ZX Spectrum (1986)

Possibly one of the best, and certainly the most original of the clones that followed in the wake of Gauntlet’s release, has a WWII flavour as you infiltrate a Nazi stronghold on a rescue mission.

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Mike Hodder @mikehod.bsky.social · 12d

30 Days of War - Video Game Edition

Day 28

Nam-1975 in the Arcade (1990)

For those who have played Taito’s Cabal, this will look very similar. Set in 1975 during the waning days of the Vietnam War, you play a solider who fights enemies across six stages to rescue a scientist and his daughter.

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Mike Hodder @mikehod.bsky.social · 13d

30 Days of War - Video Game Edition

Day 27

Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII on the XBox 360 (2006)

A more action oriented WWII flying game than you’ll find on most home computers, this game will take you through from 1940 to the end of the war fighting in a number of theatres.

Mike Hodder @mikehod.bsky.social · 14d

30 Days of War - Video Game Edition

Day 26

Lords of the Rising Sun on the Amiga (1989)

A bit of a retread of Cinemaware’s earlier Defender of the Crown game with a 12th Century Japanese setting, the game is still a nice mix of action and strategy. Cinemaware have done better, but it’s still fun.

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Mike Hodder @mikehod.bsky.social · 14d

30 Days of War - Video Game Edition

Day 25

Gettysburg: The Turning Point on Apple II (1986)

Gettysburg is an early turn based strategy game based on the famous and decisive American Civil War battle. With each turn comprising of an hour of battle, it’s one of the better strategy games of its era.

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Mike Hodder @mikehod.bsky.social · 15d

30 Days of War - Video Game Edition

Day 24

Defcon on PC (2006)

Clearly inspired by the ending scenes in War Games, Defcon is a nuclear war simulator, which plays as a stripped down real time strategy game wherein units are placed and the goal is to cause more destruction than you suffer.

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Mike Hodder @mikehod.bsky.social · 17d

30 Days of War - Video Game Edition

Day 23

Cromwell at War: 1642-1645 on the ZX Spectrum (1991)

The only other English Civil War based game that I’m aware of is pretty standard strategy fare for the era in which it was released, but a good solid game nevertheless.

Mike Hodder @mikehod.bsky.social · 18d

30 Days of War - Video Game Edition

Day 22

Beach Head on the C64 (1983)

One of the most fondly remembered C64 games, Beach Head is set in the pacific theatre of WWII and involves a number of mini games as you guide your forces against a massive enemy gun. Still fun and playable today.

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Mike Hodder @mikehod.bsky.social · 19d

30 Days of War - Video Game Edition

Day 21

Men of Valor on the XBox (2004)

By the same team that programmed Medal of Honor, comes Men of Valor, a first person shooter set during the Vietnam War. A good solid game that has good levels and atmosphere, but is let down by some frustrating sections.

Mike Hodder @mikehod.bsky.social · 20d

30 Days of War - Video Game Edition

Day 20

Joan of Arc: Siege and the Sword on the Amiga (1989)

Clearly influenced by Defender of the Crown, Joan of Arc is a similar game set during the 100 years war and involves fighting English invaders and rebellious French barons.

Mike Hodder @mikehod.bsky.social · 21d

30 Days of War - Video Game Edition

Day 19

Great Battles of Rome on the PS2 (2007)

A poor man’s Rome: Total War with a similar setting and real time strategy gameplay, the only draw in this title is with the documentary features that are included. But the game is a rather shoddy attempt.

Mike Hodder @mikehod.bsky.social · 21d

30 Days of War - Video Game Edition

Day 18

Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines on PC (1998)

A fantastic squad based tactical game that goes with a real time playing style rather than a turn based one. Leading your squad of WWII commandos, you must use their expertise to complete missions using stealth.

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Mike Hodder @mikehod.bsky.social · 23d

30 Days of War - Video Game Edition

Day 17

Ghost of Tsushima on PS4 (2020)

An open world third person game set during the First Mongol Invasion of Japan in 1274, as you play a surviving samurai looking to fight of the invasion. A thought provoking title that looks gorgeous.

Mike Hodder @mikehod.bsky.social · 23d

30 Days of War - Video Game Edition

Day 16

Rorke’s Drift on the Amiga (1990)

One of the few games based on the 1879 battle this real time strategy game is limited to playing only the British forces, and being overly complex in the order mechanics. Still, as one of the few, it’s worthy effort.