Ephemeral Enigmas
@ephemeralenigmas.bsky.social
Giving offbeat, obscure, forgotten, or just cool and interesting games the attention they deserve on my blog once a week. Also a contributor to Hardcore Gaming 101. He/Him
http://ephemeralenigmas.com/
http://ephemeralenigmas.com/
Me: I have a lot of experience with SaGa, how bad could the new arena battles in the SaGa 2 DS remake be?
SaGa 2 DS: Here's enemies that poison you, paralyze you, petrify you, charm you, OHKO you, shoot a beam that almost OHKOs you, also they're all faster than you and there are 46 of them, die :)
SaGa 2 DS: Here's enemies that poison you, paralyze you, petrify you, charm you, OHKO you, shoot a beam that almost OHKOs you, also they're all faster than you and there are 46 of them, die :)
December 8, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Me: I have a lot of experience with SaGa, how bad could the new arena battles in the SaGa 2 DS remake be?
SaGa 2 DS: Here's enemies that poison you, paralyze you, petrify you, charm you, OHKO you, shoot a beam that almost OHKOs you, also they're all faster than you and there are 46 of them, die :)
SaGa 2 DS: Here's enemies that poison you, paralyze you, petrify you, charm you, OHKO you, shoot a beam that almost OHKOs you, also they're all faster than you and there are 46 of them, die :)
For this #RandomGameSaturday, I have Wild Arms XF, the only strategy RPG take on the series. As a big Wild Arms fan, you'd think I'd have finished it around launch, but the game's challenging, puzzle-like map design pushed me away.
I really want to revisit it, so maybe 2026 will be the year!
I really want to revisit it, so maybe 2026 will be the year!
December 6, 2025 at 8:27 PM
For this #RandomGameSaturday, I have Wild Arms XF, the only strategy RPG take on the series. As a big Wild Arms fan, you'd think I'd have finished it around launch, but the game's challenging, puzzle-like map design pushed me away.
I really want to revisit it, so maybe 2026 will be the year!
I really want to revisit it, so maybe 2026 will be the year!
I usually fill out these GOTY things pretty quickly, but I'm totally stumped on what the winner should be this year
Heck, I haven't even played enough 2025 games to fill out a top 10 yet! My end of year GOTY blog posts are gonna be coming in real hot lol
Heck, I haven't even played enough 2025 games to fill out a top 10 yet! My end of year GOTY blog posts are gonna be coming in real hot lol
December 6, 2025 at 2:16 AM
I usually fill out these GOTY things pretty quickly, but I'm totally stumped on what the winner should be this year
Heck, I haven't even played enough 2025 games to fill out a top 10 yet! My end of year GOTY blog posts are gonna be coming in real hot lol
Heck, I haven't even played enough 2025 games to fill out a top 10 yet! My end of year GOTY blog posts are gonna be coming in real hot lol
I befriended the kid by filling up more of my Meat Dictionary and he gave me Grenades for it
December 4, 2025 at 11:44 PM
I befriended the kid by filling up more of my Meat Dictionary and he gave me Grenades for it
97. Power Stone
I've put so much time into Power Stone 2 that this one simply can't compare, but it still has its charms. It has a couple of exclusive characters, VMU minigames, and is strictly a 1v1 arena fighter unlike 2. One of the better picks you could make for the Dreamcast launch, probably!
I've put so much time into Power Stone 2 that this one simply can't compare, but it still has its charms. It has a couple of exclusive characters, VMU minigames, and is strictly a 1v1 arena fighter unlike 2. One of the better picks you could make for the Dreamcast launch, probably!
December 4, 2025 at 6:02 PM
97. Power Stone
I've put so much time into Power Stone 2 that this one simply can't compare, but it still has its charms. It has a couple of exclusive characters, VMU minigames, and is strictly a 1v1 arena fighter unlike 2. One of the better picks you could make for the Dreamcast launch, probably!
I've put so much time into Power Stone 2 that this one simply can't compare, but it still has its charms. It has a couple of exclusive characters, VMU minigames, and is strictly a 1v1 arena fighter unlike 2. One of the better picks you could make for the Dreamcast launch, probably!
This kid is a freak
December 2, 2025 at 2:20 AM
This kid is a freak
For this #RandomGameSaturday, I have the GBA version of Mega Man & Bass, which was revelatory for me at the time. I didn't have the SFC version, so I gladly dealt with the tiny screen to play a "new" Mega Man
I had a great time with it, which apparently means I'm crazy from what I hear nowadays lol
I had a great time with it, which apparently means I'm crazy from what I hear nowadays lol
November 29, 2025 at 9:47 PM
For this #RandomGameSaturday, I have the GBA version of Mega Man & Bass, which was revelatory for me at the time. I didn't have the SFC version, so I gladly dealt with the tiny screen to play a "new" Mega Man
I had a great time with it, which apparently means I'm crazy from what I hear nowadays lol
I had a great time with it, which apparently means I'm crazy from what I hear nowadays lol
I really enjoyed Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, but the fact they had Takenobu Mitsuyoshi play Joe Musashi only to make him a silent protagonist is crazy work
He should be breaking into song in every level, a clear missed opportunity
He should be breaking into song in every level, a clear missed opportunity
November 29, 2025 at 6:06 PM
I really enjoyed Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, but the fact they had Takenobu Mitsuyoshi play Joe Musashi only to make him a silent protagonist is crazy work
He should be breaking into song in every level, a clear missed opportunity
He should be breaking into song in every level, a clear missed opportunity
96. Rule of Rose
This one is hard to get through at times, but it really pays off! The story is told in such an artistically inspired way that feels strongly and intelligently influenced by movies
The combat is "bad" in a way that I happen to find really funny, so I actually didn't mind that part
This one is hard to get through at times, but it really pays off! The story is told in such an artistically inspired way that feels strongly and intelligently influenced by movies
The combat is "bad" in a way that I happen to find really funny, so I actually didn't mind that part
November 28, 2025 at 8:30 PM
96. Rule of Rose
This one is hard to get through at times, but it really pays off! The story is told in such an artistically inspired way that feels strongly and intelligently influenced by movies
The combat is "bad" in a way that I happen to find really funny, so I actually didn't mind that part
This one is hard to get through at times, but it really pays off! The story is told in such an artistically inspired way that feels strongly and intelligently influenced by movies
The combat is "bad" in a way that I happen to find really funny, so I actually didn't mind that part
I'm having a pleasant Thanksgiving, but that's not stopping me from feeling like this the whole time
November 27, 2025 at 11:59 PM
I'm having a pleasant Thanksgiving, but that's not stopping me from feeling like this the whole time
95. Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble (replay)
I've always said this is my favorite of the three and after this replay, that's thankfully still true! I just adore the different atmosphere, the soundtrack, and all the unique level ideas that make it feel so unpredictable throughout
I've always said this is my favorite of the three and after this replay, that's thankfully still true! I just adore the different atmosphere, the soundtrack, and all the unique level ideas that make it feel so unpredictable throughout
November 26, 2025 at 5:41 PM
95. Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble (replay)
I've always said this is my favorite of the three and after this replay, that's thankfully still true! I just adore the different atmosphere, the soundtrack, and all the unique level ideas that make it feel so unpredictable throughout
I've always said this is my favorite of the three and after this replay, that's thankfully still true! I just adore the different atmosphere, the soundtrack, and all the unique level ideas that make it feel so unpredictable throughout
I wanna meet K. Rool's wife so bad
November 23, 2025 at 9:22 PM
I wanna meet K. Rool's wife so bad
94. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (replay)
Pleased to say this still deserves its reputation as one of the best platformers out there! I do think they overuse Squawks and the bramble stages, especially near the end, but that's a small price to pay for atmospheric and musical perfection
Pleased to say this still deserves its reputation as one of the best platformers out there! I do think they overuse Squawks and the bramble stages, especially near the end, but that's a small price to pay for atmospheric and musical perfection
November 23, 2025 at 4:12 PM
94. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (replay)
Pleased to say this still deserves its reputation as one of the best platformers out there! I do think they overuse Squawks and the bramble stages, especially near the end, but that's a small price to pay for atmospheric and musical perfection
Pleased to say this still deserves its reputation as one of the best platformers out there! I do think they overuse Squawks and the bramble stages, especially near the end, but that's a small price to pay for atmospheric and musical perfection
Rule of Rose has multiple unlockable costumes, but my favorites are the octopus + crab combo and the one that turns the dog Brown into a chair for some reason
November 22, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Rule of Rose has multiple unlockable costumes, but my favorites are the octopus + crab combo and the one that turns the dog Brown into a chair for some reason
93. Illbleed
Now this game is one heck of a ride! It's a unique approach to horror that's outrageously weird, extremely funny, and mechanically interesting. It sure feels like Peak Dreamcast to me!
You should absolutely play this if you haven't and you should go in knowing as little as possible
Now this game is one heck of a ride! It's a unique approach to horror that's outrageously weird, extremely funny, and mechanically interesting. It sure feels like Peak Dreamcast to me!
You should absolutely play this if you haven't and you should go in knowing as little as possible
November 22, 2025 at 12:27 AM
93. Illbleed
Now this game is one heck of a ride! It's a unique approach to horror that's outrageously weird, extremely funny, and mechanically interesting. It sure feels like Peak Dreamcast to me!
You should absolutely play this if you haven't and you should go in knowing as little as possible
Now this game is one heck of a ride! It's a unique approach to horror that's outrageously weird, extremely funny, and mechanically interesting. It sure feels like Peak Dreamcast to me!
You should absolutely play this if you haven't and you should go in knowing as little as possible
I looked up a map for Rule of Rose since I'm finding it confusing to navigate, and while I appreciate the effort that was clearly put into making this one, I think I'm just as overwhelmed as I was before
November 20, 2025 at 10:26 PM
I looked up a map for Rule of Rose since I'm finding it confusing to navigate, and while I appreciate the effort that was clearly put into making this one, I think I'm just as overwhelmed as I was before
What did she mean by this
November 19, 2025 at 10:03 PM
What did she mean by this
92. Tengai Makyou: Shinden / Kabuki Klash
My main takeaway from this is that I really need to play both Tengai Makyou and Samurai Shodown! This is a weapons-based fighter very similar to the latter but with the addition of items for some chaos. The animation and spritework on offer is incredible
My main takeaway from this is that I really need to play both Tengai Makyou and Samurai Shodown! This is a weapons-based fighter very similar to the latter but with the addition of items for some chaos. The animation and spritework on offer is incredible
November 19, 2025 at 5:51 PM
92. Tengai Makyou: Shinden / Kabuki Klash
My main takeaway from this is that I really need to play both Tengai Makyou and Samurai Shodown! This is a weapons-based fighter very similar to the latter but with the addition of items for some chaos. The animation and spritework on offer is incredible
My main takeaway from this is that I really need to play both Tengai Makyou and Samurai Shodown! This is a weapons-based fighter very similar to the latter but with the addition of items for some chaos. The animation and spritework on offer is incredible
91. Shiryou Sensen: War of the Dead (PC Engine)
An early horror game that charmingly broadcasts its many movie inspirations. The story feels a bit ahead of the curve and I like the Zelda II-style structure, but the amount of backtracking to the same location you do is so absurd it becomes funny
An early horror game that charmingly broadcasts its many movie inspirations. The story feels a bit ahead of the curve and I like the Zelda II-style structure, but the amount of backtracking to the same location you do is so absurd it becomes funny
November 16, 2025 at 4:21 PM
91. Shiryou Sensen: War of the Dead (PC Engine)
An early horror game that charmingly broadcasts its many movie inspirations. The story feels a bit ahead of the curve and I like the Zelda II-style structure, but the amount of backtracking to the same location you do is so absurd it becomes funny
An early horror game that charmingly broadcasts its many movie inspirations. The story feels a bit ahead of the curve and I like the Zelda II-style structure, but the amount of backtracking to the same location you do is so absurd it becomes funny
For #RandomGameSaturday, I have Treasure Master, the game where the totally radical protagonist has The World's Funniest Strut. This one is known for its soundtrack and association with an MTV contest. Part of me would have liked to try my hand at winning, but the game's what I'd call a huge pain!
November 15, 2025 at 10:35 PM
For #RandomGameSaturday, I have Treasure Master, the game where the totally radical protagonist has The World's Funniest Strut. This one is known for its soundtrack and association with an MTV contest. Part of me would have liked to try my hand at winning, but the game's what I'd call a huge pain!
90. Echo Night
This game is quite different from what FromSoftware usually does, offering a slow, mysterious, and exploratory horror adventure that's all about helping others move on from the past. The slowness makes the few chase sequences kinda goofy, but the atmosphere is excellent all around
This game is quite different from what FromSoftware usually does, offering a slow, mysterious, and exploratory horror adventure that's all about helping others move on from the past. The slowness makes the few chase sequences kinda goofy, but the atmosphere is excellent all around
November 13, 2025 at 10:01 PM
90. Echo Night
This game is quite different from what FromSoftware usually does, offering a slow, mysterious, and exploratory horror adventure that's all about helping others move on from the past. The slowness makes the few chase sequences kinda goofy, but the atmosphere is excellent all around
This game is quite different from what FromSoftware usually does, offering a slow, mysterious, and exploratory horror adventure that's all about helping others move on from the past. The slowness makes the few chase sequences kinda goofy, but the atmosphere is excellent all around
GODILLA
SIZE IS PROBLEM
SIZE IS PROBLEM
November 12, 2025 at 10:29 PM
GODILLA
SIZE IS PROBLEM
SIZE IS PROBLEM