At0micPunk

Team Rocket is back! Their tactics have now escalated to actually murdering Pokémon, as evidenced by the restless spirit of Marowak. Time to make them pay!

A gauntlet of Rockets stands between you and Mr. Fuji.

Mr. Fuji thanks us for trying to save him, but he came here of his own free will to calm Marowak's soul, which we did for him.

Mr. Fuji gives us the Poké Flute, which can wake up any sleeping Pokémon, in or out of battle.

Team Rocket's tactics have moved up to actually killing Pokémon, so we gotta make them pay! Get through a gauntlet of Rockets and you'll meet Mr. Fuji, who gives us the Poké Flute, which wakes up any sleeping Pokémon.

I know where this can be used... #retro #retrogaming #gaming #pokemon #pokemon30

The vibes don't get much better at the top of Pokémon Tower, where the literal ghost of a Marowak killed by Team Rocket challenges you. You can't catch it (since, ya know, it's DEAD) but defeating it will pacify it. #retro #retrogaming #gaming #pokemon #pokemon30

Title screen/main menu of "Red Faction" for the PlayStation 2. In the background is the planet Mars, the overall setting of the game, with the title "Red Faction" in the center of the screen. Surrounding the title are numerous options of the main menu.

Gameplay of "Red Faction." It's a first-person shooter. The player character is holding a pistol in his right hand, with an ammo counter in the top right corner of the screen, and in the top left is the player's health indicator, a circular gauge with two numbers showing your health and shield. A miners' uprising has begun deep under Mars, and one of our fellow miners shows us how to deal with fascists. Sadly, most interactions between the miners and Ultor guards will end with the former getting killed.

A yellow "x" in a circle painted on red dirt in a mine on Mars. The player character is hold a yellow detonator for a "remote charge" that is set on the "x." The player has their thumb on a red button, ready to set off the detonator. One of the weapons in the game is the "remote charge." These help demonstrate Red Faction's "GeoMod" (geometry modification) engine, allowing for plenty of environmental destruction, a big deal at the time. The opening area of the game has some very helpful yellow markings on the ground and walls where you can set a remote charge, then detonate them to open up new pathways or reveal hidden rooms. There are many possibilities with the GeoMod technology, and buildings and terrain can be significantly altered if you so desire.

Top of an elevator shaft leading to an upper level of the mine, with the logo for the Ultor Corporation on the wall defaced with graffiti in the form of a large red "x."

This week's #ScanlineSunday brings Red Faction on PS2! Take part in a miners' uprising on Mars against the oppressive Ultor Corporation! This 2001 FPS's big claim to fame was its "Geo-Mod" technology, providing destructible environments. #retro #retrogaming #gaming #playstation2 #ps2 #redfaction

"May the Souls of Pokémon Rest Easy POKéMON TOWER"

"My Growlithe... Why did you die?" For a long time, even into the late-90s, many games released in America would have references to death censored or outright removed, yet here were Pokémon Red/Blue just coming right out and referencing that Pokémon can indeed die, even if they only "faint" in battle. It's an odd bit of morbidity in an otherwise very kid-friendly game.

Befitting an area that's basically a giant cemetery, Pokémon Tower is crawling with Ghost-type Pokémon.

Almost all the trainers you encounter in the Pokémon Tower are Channelers who have been possessed, another dark aspect to introduce in a kid-friendly game. Fortunately, defeating them in battle brings them back to reality, for some reason.

For an otherwise kid-friendly game, the Pokémon Tower certainly brings some morbidity to things. Creepy music, uncensored references to death, possessed trainers, and Ghost Pokémon infesting the place. The vibes are off, as the kids say. #retro #retrogaming #gaming #pokemon #pokemon30

I remember the first time I went through Pokémon Tower, not knowing I needed the Silph Scope. I had no idea how to get past these ghosts, since my Pokémon were "too scared" to fight them, and they'd just tell you to "get out." I thought I was stuck. #retro #retrogaming #gaming #pokemon #pokemon30

An example of a "spin tile" puzzle found in Team Rocket's hideout under the Game Corner in Celadon City.

Time to deal with Team Rocket again!

Giovanni, the big boss man of Team Rocket, a tall man very short hair, dressed almost entirely in black with a triangular-shaped patch on the left side of his shirt, meant to represent the Team Rocket logo. Keeping with the Mafia/Yakuza vibe of classic TR, Giovanni is basically "The Don" of the syndicate. He specializes in Ground-type Pokémon, but in Red & Blue he doesn't have his signature Persian; that wouldn't become a thing until Yellow version.

Silph Scope. A Rocket Grunt mentions that this item can help people identify ghosts. I wonder where/when this will come into play...

Time for the Rocket Hideout. This place is infested with annoying "spin tiles" and plenty of Team Rocket members. We have our first encounter with Giovanni, TR's big boss, and we receive the Silph Scope. I'm sure that will be useful at some point. #retro #retrogaming #gaming #pokemon #pokemon30

Title screen/main menu of "Red Faction" for the PlayStation 2. In the background is the planet Mars, the overall setting of the game, with the title "Red Faction" in the center of the screen. Surrounding the title are numerous options of the main menu.

Gameplay of "Red Faction." It's a first-person shooter. The player character is holding a pistol in his right hand, with an ammo counter in the top right corner of the screen, and in the top left is the player's health indicator, a circular gauge with two numbers showing your health and shield. A miners' uprising has begun deep under Mars, and one of our fellow miners shows us how to deal with fascists. Sadly, most interactions between the miners and Ultor guards will end with the former getting killed.

A yellow "x" in a circle painted on red dirt in a mine on Mars. The player character is hold a yellow detonator for a "remote charge" that is set on the "x." The player has their thumb on a red button, ready to set off the detonator. One of the weapons in the game is the "remote charge." These help demonstrate Red Faction's "GeoMod" (geometry modification) engine, allowing for plenty of environmental destruction, a big deal at the time. The opening area of the game has some very helpful yellow markings on the ground and walls where you can set a remote charge, then detonate them to open up new pathways or reveal hidden rooms. There are many possibilities with the GeoMod technology, and buildings and terrain can be significantly altered if you so desire.

Top of an elevator shaft leading to an upper level of the mine, with the logo for the Ultor Corporation on the wall defaced with graffiti in the form of a large red "x."

This week's #ScanlineSunday brings Red Faction on PS2! Take part in a miners' uprising on Mars against the oppressive Ultor Corporation! This 2001 FPS's big claim to fame was its "Geo-Mod" technology, providing destructible environments. #retro #retrogaming #gaming #playstation2 #ps2 #redfaction

Four Gyms down in Pokémon Blue! Erika wasn't too bad, although her Pokémon all using moves like Wrap were really annoying. We get the Rainbow Badge and TM21 - Mega Drain, for our trouble.

But we're FAR from finished in Celadon City. #retro #retrogaming #gaming #pokemon #pokemon30

Where's my Crazy Taxi collection? All Sega does is port 1. And now you can't even get that anymore.

(Don't mention that new one to me. It looks like some competitive online thing.)

I will trounce anyone with my Ninetales and Pikachu hero/sidekick duo. If somehow you down them, I will feed you to my Gyarados and reset the match.

Venusaur.

Venusaur.

Capped off this way-too-long session of Pokémon Blue by finally getting Deku (Ivysaur) to evolve into Venusaur. My starter is fully evolved! Next session it'll be time to tackle the Rocket Hideout at the Game Corner! #retro #retrogaming #gaming #pokemon #pokemon30

patriotism re-entering my body the second kyle schwarber drills a 500 foot dinger off the british

SCHWARBOMB

♫ ... and the rockets red glare...
Schwarbombs bursting in air... ♫

That's it, I'm muting AYN Thor on here.

I'm tired of being reminded of something that I'm soon not gonna ever be able to buy.

An underrated Resident Evil super power I would love to have is the ability to know when you definitely won’t need an item anymore.

It would help get rid of so many random USB cables.

"I'm guarding this poster! Go away, or else!"

After getting through Celadon City Gym, this mook was no challenge at all.

"A switch behind the poster!?"

A doorway opens to the Game Corner's basement. What awaits us on the other side?

Team Rocket makes their presence felt again with this suspicious-looking fella guarding a poster that hides a switch. Flipping that switch opens a door to a Rocket hideout.

The plot thickens... #retro #retrogaming #gaming #pokemon #pokemon30

Getting the Coin Case from a fella who lost everything.

"ROCKET GAME CORNER The playground for grown-ups!" Note the name.

$1,000 for 50 coins. I used to grind the Elite Four over and over to get enough money for coins so I could get good prizes.

A look at the slot machine mini-game in the Game Corner. I never figured out how to manipulate this thing for the best results.

Time for the Celadon Game Corner! Get your coin case and start gambling! However... #retro #retrogaming #gaming #pokemon #pokemon30

Four Gyms down in Pokémon Blue! Erika wasn't too bad, although her Pokémon all using moves like Wrap were really annoying. We get the Rainbow Badge and TM21 - Mega Drain, for our trouble.

But we're FAR from finished in Celadon City. #retro #retrogaming #gaming #pokemon #pokemon30

The suicidal, homicidal, genocidal, death-defying maniac, Sabu!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuET...

YouTube video by WWE Vault Sabu’s greatest moments: WWE Top 10, Sept. 19, 2024

The suicidal, homicidal, genocidal, death-defying maniac, Sabu!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuET...

My Ivysaur is better than yours.

IVYSAUR MIRROR MATCH LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! #retro #retrogaming #gaming #pokemon #pokemon30

On this day in 2022:

At Revolution, CM Punk comes to the ring to his iconic “Remix Terminator Music,” more commonly known as AFI’s “Miseria Cantare.”

This was his old ROH theme, just days after AEW and Tony Khan purchased ROH. Arguably Punk’s best entrance in AEW.

(via AEW)

"Celadon City Pokémon Gym." This is a Grass-Type gym, whose leader is Erika. All of her subordinate trainers are women, so of course...

There's this old guy outside the Gym being a pervert.

Even the guy who you can normally talk into when you first enter a Gym (the guy who starts conversions with "Yo! Champ in making!") isn't here. Truly no boys allowed, huh?

Alright, enough dicking around. Time to tackle Celadon City Gym for the fourth badge. And who can forget the old man outside being a perv. Celadon Gym is indeed full of women, but they're here to fight, not to flirt. #retro #retrogaming #gaming #pokemon #pokemon30

.

.

This girl at Celadon City's Dept. Store is thirsty, and if you give her one of each kind of drink, she'll give you three VERY GOOD TMs: 13 (Ice Beam), 48 (Rock Slide), and 49 (Tri Attack). Well worth taking the time to get these. #retro #retrogaming #gaming #pokemon #pokemon30

"A sleeping Pokémon blocks the way!" And it's gonna be a while before we can make it move.

This lady values her privacy, so she gives us HM02 - Fly so we'll leave her alone.

Fly, obviously, requires a Flying-type Pokémon to use.

Using Fly, you can quickly travel to any town you've already visited.

Still grinding up for Celadon City Gym, taking a detour to acquire HM02 - Fly. True fast travel and much more useful than Teleport. #retro #retrogaming #gaming #pokemon #pokemon30

Front cover for the GameCube version of Sonic Heroes. The three main characters Sonic (blue hedgehog), Tails (yellow fox), and Knuckles (red echidna), are featured prominently on the cover, comprising "Team Sonic." Above them is the game's logo near top center, and to the left of that is a blurb saying "All New Sonic!" This was the first original Sonic game for consoles after Sega had dropped out of hardware development and became a third-party company.

Another #RandomGameSaturday and spin-dashing into the spotlight this week is Sonic Heroes! I loved this game when I was younger, but it did NOT hold up when I recently revisited it. Team gimmick was cool but the overall game was half-baked. Music's good, though. #retro #retrogaming #gaming #sonic

I'm no baseball guy but sorry, Britain, you ain't beating us in our games.

swung on

CRUSHED

OOH SHIT