Josh
@geekcritique.org
The Geek Critique (TGC) features video gaming nerd analysis, computerized guru reviews, poindexter software entertainment media exposition, and bad jokes.
He/Him
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He/Him
YOUTUBE: geekcritique.org
PATREON: patreon.com/geekcritique
I realized that my opinion of Mega Man flips every game, so
1 < 2 > 3 < 4 > 5 < 6
Then I remembered that Star Trek movies are said to follow the same pattern.
*Then* I realized that at least the first 7 Mega Man games have funny parallels with the first 7 Star Trek movies.
The *Geek* Critique.
1 < 2 > 3 < 4 > 5 < 6
Then I remembered that Star Trek movies are said to follow the same pattern.
*Then* I realized that at least the first 7 Mega Man games have funny parallels with the first 7 Star Trek movies.
The *Geek* Critique.
January 16, 2026 at 1:52 AM
I realized that my opinion of Mega Man flips every game, so
1 < 2 > 3 < 4 > 5 < 6
Then I remembered that Star Trek movies are said to follow the same pattern.
*Then* I realized that at least the first 7 Mega Man games have funny parallels with the first 7 Star Trek movies.
The *Geek* Critique.
1 < 2 > 3 < 4 > 5 < 6
Then I remembered that Star Trek movies are said to follow the same pattern.
*Then* I realized that at least the first 7 Mega Man games have funny parallels with the first 7 Star Trek movies.
The *Geek* Critique.
My favorite controllers - 2D *only* edition. I'm not judging these by how much I like them for 3D games.
January 15, 2026 at 10:15 PM
My favorite controllers - 2D *only* edition. I'm not judging these by how much I like them for 3D games.
This stage is excellent.
January 15, 2026 at 8:44 PM
This stage is excellent.
My favorite's still the GameCube! That pressure-SNAP, so good.
Handhelds feel like cheating (portability being a concern and all), but by far the worst triggers I've ever used on a major console are the PS3's. They should've just given us the boomerang if they couldn't do any better than that.
Handhelds feel like cheating (portability being a concern and all), but by far the worst triggers I've ever used on a major console are the PS3's. They should've just given us the boomerang if they couldn't do any better than that.
January 14, 2026 at 8:45 PM
My favorite's still the GameCube! That pressure-SNAP, so good.
Handhelds feel like cheating (portability being a concern and all), but by far the worst triggers I've ever used on a major console are the PS3's. They should've just given us the boomerang if they couldn't do any better than that.
Handhelds feel like cheating (portability being a concern and all), but by far the worst triggers I've ever used on a major console are the PS3's. They should've just given us the boomerang if they couldn't do any better than that.
The 360's is bad, but I think either option for the OG Xbox is even worse.
I eventually got one of those special controllers with a telescoping d-pad, and that was a big upgrade. And the current Xbox Series d-pad dish thingies are excellent, probably my favorite of the current consoles.
I eventually got one of those special controllers with a telescoping d-pad, and that was a big upgrade. And the current Xbox Series d-pad dish thingies are excellent, probably my favorite of the current consoles.
January 14, 2026 at 5:55 PM
The 360's is bad, but I think either option for the OG Xbox is even worse.
I eventually got one of those special controllers with a telescoping d-pad, and that was a big upgrade. And the current Xbox Series d-pad dish thingies are excellent, probably my favorite of the current consoles.
I eventually got one of those special controllers with a telescoping d-pad, and that was a big upgrade. And the current Xbox Series d-pad dish thingies are excellent, probably my favorite of the current consoles.
I'm trying to decide if the Xbox Duke or the GameCube had a worse d-pad. Both were dreadful in unique ways. But I played the GCN way more, thus it bothered *me* more, so let's go with it.
January 14, 2026 at 5:44 PM
I'm trying to decide if the Xbox Duke or the GameCube had a worse d-pad. Both were dreadful in unique ways. But I played the GCN way more, thus it bothered *me* more, so let's go with it.
> Favorite and least-favorite d-pad?
Favorite is easy: Sega Saturn. Not even a contest.
Least is tougher. The worst I've ever used is the R-Zone, but that doesn't even really count as a video game. So counting only the major consoles of the "big four"...
Favorite is easy: Sega Saturn. Not even a contest.
Least is tougher. The worst I've ever used is the R-Zone, but that doesn't even really count as a video game. So counting only the major consoles of the "big four"...
January 14, 2026 at 5:44 PM
> Favorite and least-favorite d-pad?
Favorite is easy: Sega Saturn. Not even a contest.
Least is tougher. The worst I've ever used is the R-Zone, but that doesn't even really count as a video game. So counting only the major consoles of the "big four"...
Favorite is easy: Sega Saturn. Not even a contest.
Least is tougher. The worst I've ever used is the R-Zone, but that doesn't even really count as a video game. So counting only the major consoles of the "big four"...
TGC'S NES TOP FIVE (one game per series)!!!
5 - Balloon Fight
4- Kirby's Adventure
3 - Punch-Out!!
2 - Mega Man 2
1 - Super Mario Bros.
(honorable mentions to Zelda 1, Metroid, and of course, Felix the Cat)
5 - Balloon Fight
4- Kirby's Adventure
3 - Punch-Out!!
2 - Mega Man 2
1 - Super Mario Bros.
(honorable mentions to Zelda 1, Metroid, and of course, Felix the Cat)
January 14, 2026 at 5:41 PM
TGC'S NES TOP FIVE (one game per series)!!!
5 - Balloon Fight
4- Kirby's Adventure
3 - Punch-Out!!
2 - Mega Man 2
1 - Super Mario Bros.
(honorable mentions to Zelda 1, Metroid, and of course, Felix the Cat)
5 - Balloon Fight
4- Kirby's Adventure
3 - Punch-Out!!
2 - Mega Man 2
1 - Super Mario Bros.
(honorable mentions to Zelda 1, Metroid, and of course, Felix the Cat)
Nine times out of 10, I'm the dude in these pictures. xD
January 14, 2026 at 11:43 AM
Nine times out of 10, I'm the dude in these pictures. xD
Just finished Megaman 4 in one go...
*Without* ever looking at Mandi Paugh's Mega Man Homepage.
I'm a professional now.
*Without* ever looking at Mandi Paugh's Mega Man Homepage.
I'm a professional now.
January 14, 2026 at 12:40 AM
Just finished Megaman 4 in one go...
*Without* ever looking at Mandi Paugh's Mega Man Homepage.
I'm a professional now.
*Without* ever looking at Mandi Paugh's Mega Man Homepage.
I'm a professional now.
Oh, here's my most-played games since 2017.
January 13, 2026 at 10:59 PM
Oh, here's my most-played games since 2017.
Big year, especially the second half.
January 13, 2026 at 8:26 PM
Big year, especially the second half.
It was *supposed* to be, and it was promoted that way, but then they misprinted the discs and they weren't actually different. So they fixed it, but made no effort to distinguish which one was which. You had to carefully examine the shrinkwrap.
But yes day one patches are killing games.
But yes day one patches are killing games.
January 13, 2026 at 12:50 PM
It was *supposed* to be, and it was promoted that way, but then they misprinted the discs and they weren't actually different. So they fixed it, but made no effort to distinguish which one was which. You had to carefully examine the shrinkwrap.
But yes day one patches are killing games.
But yes day one patches are killing games.
Haha, yeah, I mean, that *was* reality for me!
I Game Over'd in Chemical Plant, Mystic Cave, Oil Ocean, Metropolis, Wing Fortress, then OVER AND OVER in Death Egg, and every time I had to play the ENTIRE GAME ALL OVER AGAIN from the start.
Superstars seems positively gregarious in comparison!
I Game Over'd in Chemical Plant, Mystic Cave, Oil Ocean, Metropolis, Wing Fortress, then OVER AND OVER in Death Egg, and every time I had to play the ENTIRE GAME ALL OVER AGAIN from the start.
Superstars seems positively gregarious in comparison!
January 13, 2026 at 12:08 PM
Haha, yeah, I mean, that *was* reality for me!
I Game Over'd in Chemical Plant, Mystic Cave, Oil Ocean, Metropolis, Wing Fortress, then OVER AND OVER in Death Egg, and every time I had to play the ENTIRE GAME ALL OVER AGAIN from the start.
Superstars seems positively gregarious in comparison!
I Game Over'd in Chemical Plant, Mystic Cave, Oil Ocean, Metropolis, Wing Fortress, then OVER AND OVER in Death Egg, and every time I had to play the ENTIRE GAME ALL OVER AGAIN from the start.
Superstars seems positively gregarious in comparison!
And it came out *after* Link to the Past, Super Mario Kart, *Sonic 2*.
The NES formula may have jumped the shark here. I don't think it's a bad game unto itself, but a step down in every way I can think of from MM4. As part of the series, it's the first one to feel perfunctory.
Also Megaman NO-
The NES formula may have jumped the shark here. I don't think it's a bad game unto itself, but a step down in every way I can think of from MM4. As part of the series, it's the first one to feel perfunctory.
Also Megaman NO-
January 13, 2026 at 12:01 PM
And it came out *after* Link to the Past, Super Mario Kart, *Sonic 2*.
The NES formula may have jumped the shark here. I don't think it's a bad game unto itself, but a step down in every way I can think of from MM4. As part of the series, it's the first one to feel perfunctory.
Also Megaman NO-
The NES formula may have jumped the shark here. I don't think it's a bad game unto itself, but a step down in every way I can think of from MM4. As part of the series, it's the first one to feel perfunctory.
Also Megaman NO-
10. MEGAMAN 5
Definitely the one I like the least so far. Makes me see what the 80s kids were on about wrt 4-6: Some of the robot master designs are the bad kind of goofy, the weapons mostly suck, but I guess that doesn't matter because the Mega Buster is OP as heck and solves all your problems.
Definitely the one I like the least so far. Makes me see what the 80s kids were on about wrt 4-6: Some of the robot master designs are the bad kind of goofy, the weapons mostly suck, but I guess that doesn't matter because the Mega Buster is OP as heck and solves all your problems.
January 13, 2026 at 12:01 PM
10. MEGAMAN 5
Definitely the one I like the least so far. Makes me see what the 80s kids were on about wrt 4-6: Some of the robot master designs are the bad kind of goofy, the weapons mostly suck, but I guess that doesn't matter because the Mega Buster is OP as heck and solves all your problems.
Definitely the one I like the least so far. Makes me see what the 80s kids were on about wrt 4-6: Some of the robot master designs are the bad kind of goofy, the weapons mostly suck, but I guess that doesn't matter because the Mega Buster is OP as heck and solves all your problems.
The first revision of Sonic 2 crashed if you bounced from a rock onto a Rexon in Hilltop Zone.
Can you imagine how insufferable Twitter and ragebait SonicTubers would have been about that if they had existed in 1992?
Can you imagine how insufferable Twitter and ragebait SonicTubers would have been about that if they had existed in 1992?
January 13, 2026 at 9:47 AM
The first revision of Sonic 2 crashed if you bounced from a rock onto a Rexon in Hilltop Zone.
Can you imagine how insufferable Twitter and ragebait SonicTubers would have been about that if they had existed in 1992?
Can you imagine how insufferable Twitter and ragebait SonicTubers would have been about that if they had existed in 1992?
I'm thinking top of B-rank for Powered Up. Also the Japanese name is "Rockman Rockman" and that's beautiful.
January 12, 2026 at 11:34 PM
I'm thinking top of B-rank for Powered Up. Also the Japanese name is "Rockman Rockman" and that's beautiful.
9. MEGAMAN POWERED UP
I had a complete save file (on Easy) from 2009 when I first got my PSP, but I remembered NOTHING about it. Did it on Normal this time!
It's so cute, and a huge shame they put it on a handheld where apparently nobody cared about Mega Man.
I had a complete save file (on Easy) from 2009 when I first got my PSP, but I remembered NOTHING about it. Did it on Normal this time!
It's so cute, and a huge shame they put it on a handheld where apparently nobody cared about Mega Man.
January 12, 2026 at 1:18 PM
9. MEGAMAN POWERED UP
I had a complete save file (on Easy) from 2009 when I first got my PSP, but I remembered NOTHING about it. Did it on Normal this time!
It's so cute, and a huge shame they put it on a handheld where apparently nobody cared about Mega Man.
I had a complete save file (on Easy) from 2009 when I first got my PSP, but I remembered NOTHING about it. Did it on Normal this time!
It's so cute, and a huge shame they put it on a handheld where apparently nobody cared about Mega Man.
8. MEGAMAN 11
I saw someone saying they beat it on BlueSky, so I had to go play it again, too. :V (on normal this time)
Yep, this is still my favorite classic Megaman game. Playing it next to the NES games, I really noticed how much faster the movement speed is, so it's no wonder I like it so much!
I saw someone saying they beat it on BlueSky, so I had to go play it again, too. :V (on normal this time)
Yep, this is still my favorite classic Megaman game. Playing it next to the NES games, I really noticed how much faster the movement speed is, so it's no wonder I like it so much!
January 12, 2026 at 10:11 AM
8. MEGAMAN 11
I saw someone saying they beat it on BlueSky, so I had to go play it again, too. :V (on normal this time)
Yep, this is still my favorite classic Megaman game. Playing it next to the NES games, I really noticed how much faster the movement speed is, so it's no wonder I like it so much!
I saw someone saying they beat it on BlueSky, so I had to go play it again, too. :V (on normal this time)
Yep, this is still my favorite classic Megaman game. Playing it next to the NES games, I really noticed how much faster the movement speed is, so it's no wonder I like it so much!
I've played through all of these at least a dozen times.
January 12, 2026 at 10:04 AM
I've played through all of these at least a dozen times.