Category Archives: NES/Famicom

My History with Game Systems (and Game Collection)

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The “My History With…” series are my thoughts back when I was a kid to young adult, about when I got games of a series, my initial thoughts about them, and other thoughts about the games. I stick to games I have or had, not one I played for the first time when i discovered emulation or modern system remakes. 

Besides certain game series, I have a long history with various game systems growing up, my last system getting was my Dreamcast (not including buying a new slim PS2). So here I’ll talk about my memories receiving them as gifts or whatever else I can remember on my thoughts. I put PSX and PS2 together, along with the Commodore 64 and Atari XE computer systems. I don’t remember most of the years or my age when I received these systems either. A list of my Top 5 16bit era RPGS at the end of this post.

The Atari 2600 was my first system and next actual system was the NES aside from a Commodore 64 and Atari XE. Video games got me through a lot of tough times growing up, loneness with few friends, even making gaming friends back in the 1980’s through say 2000s. Video games also helped me learn problem solving skills, perseverance, improve my reading and more. Along with frustration and muscle memory from repeating parts of games over and over again with no to few mistakes, especially racing games. Outside of the few friends I had, they were always there for me to escape to, and learn and enjoy and thrive to this day, even when life throws too much at me.

I also wanted to share in this post my full game collection spreadsheet, recently revised and updated on 7/1/2026. All my games, rarities, and more. Ask me anything about them!

Note these are older pics of my game systems. Excuse the mess. Safe to say this list is my gaming console jurney.

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Hack Showcase: Contra 2in1 Hack (NES) by Corpse Grinder

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Hack Showcases and RPG Hack Showcases are a series where I show off various game and rpg hacks along with fan remakes. I try to stick with hacks that improve gameplay or add quality of life features, completely or partially change the plot and characters, along with additional content, dialogue, graphical and sound improvements. Non-rpgs I try to give a full run to, or at least enough for a solid review. Rpgs I will stick with titles that have enough changes in the beginning to show off, and when I can, show parts later in the games where more differences appear. There may be spoilers in the reviews and videos. Some of these I may stream fully in the future or play on my own. Reviews are open to later revisions due to bug and content updates or me playing them and finding anything new I wish to bring up.

Contra 2in1 is a NES hack by Corpse Grinder which combines both NES Contra and Super C games into one 16 level adrenaline action packed game! Some enemies and bosses hit harder and the level progression switches from Contra to Super C’s levels and the hack uses Super C as a base (So use Super C’s Konami Code).

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My History with the Dragon Quest Series

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The “My History With…” series are my thoughts back when I was a kid to young adult, about when I got games of a series, my initial thoughts about them, and other thoughts about the games. I stick to games I have or had, not one I played for the first time when i discovered emulation or modern system remakes. 

I think the Dragon Quest/Warrior series was my first dip into playing RPGs as a kid and what got me hooked. I always enjoyed the longform story of having a main objective (or objectives) and your heroes solve problems in other locations along the way, figuring out how to utilize gear, and more. Even as a kid I didn’t mind grinding that much (though now with emulators you got that magic fast forward button). Sure the DQ/W series progressed slower than the FF series, but I loved it all the same. I started playing the games a bit out of order, but the stories being told in each games still fascinated me seeing how even as a kid I was into sci-fi and fantasy genres. I had a wide range of emotions playing all of these: joy, anger and sadness at plot points. I should really start replaying some of the remakes of these and rediscover my childhood joy.

I’m sticking with 1-4 and 8 since those are the ones I own or have owned. I have played the original and remakes of 5-7 but never owned them now or growing up.

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Hack Showcase Christmas 2024: Die Hard Special Edition (NES) & Home Alone Improvement (NES)

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Hack Showcases and RPG Hack Showcases are a series where I show off various game and rpg hacks. I try to stick with hacks that improve gameplay or add quality of life features, completely or partially change the plot and characters, along with additional content, dialogue, graphical and sound improvements. Non-rpgs I try to give a full run to, or at least enough for a solid review. Rpgs I will stick with titles that have enough changes in the beginning to show off, and when I can, show parts later in the games where more differences appear. There may be spoilers in the reviews and videos. Some of these I may stream fully in the future or play on my own. Reviews are open to later revisions due to bug and content updates or me playing them and finding anything new I wish to bring up.

For Christmas 2024 I did a special Chef Kaine Christmas Special with the Die Hard Special Edition and Home Alone Improvement Hacks for the NES. Reviews will be for the hacks themselves on how they fix the games, and I’ll add my thoughts on both games as well.

Die Hard Special Edition by Magnus Nilsson aims to fix a number of cosmetic and gameplay elements to this underrated game along with lowering the difficulty a little bit.

  • Changes:
    Almost all graphics including sprites, UI and hundreds of background tiles
  • Text now have a new font and a couple of script edits
  • Time limit per lock is now 5 minutes instead of 4
  • Health powerups now gives 5 points instead of 1
  • Line of sight tweaked in a few areas

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Hack Showcase: Legend of Super Mario: Save the Mushroom Kingdom (NES)

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Hack Showcases and RPG Hack Showcases are a series where I show off various game and rpg hacks. I try to stick with hacks that improve gameplay or add quality of life features, completely or partially change the plot and characters, along with additional content, dialogue, graphical and sound improvements. Non-rpgs I try to give a full run to, or at least enough for a solid review. Rpgs I will stick with titles that have enough changes in the beginning to show off, and when I can, show parts later in the games where more differences appear. There may be spoilers in the reviews and videos. Some of these I may stream fully in the future or play on my own. Reviews are open to later revisions due to bug and content updates or me playing them and finding anything new I wish to bring up.

Created by NesDraug (who also did Beatles Adventures in Pepperland), this combines Mario with Legend of Zelda into one really fun adventure! Travel the Mushroom Kingdom to save Peach from Bowser in an adventure game style like Zelda! Find weapons and gear, travel dungeons to find the Star Pieces, fight the Koopa Kids and more! All items from Zelda have a counterpart that’s useful in this hack. What’s also great is the hack comes with a map and manual, and box art to make your own physical copy!

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Hack Showcase: Who Framed Roger Rabbit Reframed (NES)

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Hack Showcases and RPG Hack Showcases are a series where I show off various game and rpg hacks. I try to stick with hacks that improve gameplay or add quality of life features, completely or partially change the plot and characters, along with additional content, dialogue, graphical and sound improvements. Non-rpgs I try to give a full run to, or at least enough for a solid review. Rpgs I will stick with titles that have enough changes in the beginning to show off, and when I can, show parts later in the games where more differences appear. There may be spoilers in the reviews and videos. Some of these I may stream fully in the future or play on my own. Reviews are open to later revisions due to bug and content updates or me playing them and finding anything new I wish to bring up.

Created by , this hack aims to fix a number of the game mechanics and issues plaguing Who Framed Roger Rabbit for the NES. The rng of the game still makes this a different run each time you play, but now the game mechanics are much more manageable including:

– Revised punching mechanism. Allows to hold the B button to increase the power meter. No more needs to tap.
– Buff damage done with the punch.
– Buff damage done with throwable items. (makes items usable)
– Birds no longer drop bombs in the close-up view
– Animals no longer collide with the player in the close-up view (except the reds ones protecting items)
– Bats in no longer collide with player in caves
– Decreased speed of the red animals protecting items
– No more timer when selecting a punchline to release Roger from the weasels
– Infinite continues

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Hack Showcase: Rock Man 2: Basic Master (NES)

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Hack Showcases and RPG Hack Showcases are a series where I show off various game and rpg hacks. I try to stick with hacks that improve gameplay or add quality of life features, completely or partially change the plot and characters, along with additional content, dialogue, graphical and sound improvements. Non-rpgs I try to give a full run to, or at least enough for a solid review. Rpgs I will stick with titles that have enough changes in the beginning to show off, and when I can, show parts later in the games where more differences appear. There may be spoilers in the reviews and videos. Some of these I may stream fully in the future or play on my own. Reviews are open to later revisions due to bug and content updates or me playing them and finding anything new I wish to bring up.

Rock Man 2: Basic Master 1.2 by Tatsu changes everything for Rock Man 2: enemies, Robot masters, weapons and a lot more! Some quality of life features from later MM games were incorporated and new Items that you start the game with!

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Hack Showcase: Alien Soldier Hacks (Genesis) & Dragonball – Dragon’s Mystery Hacks (NES)

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Hack Showcases and RPG Hack Showcases are a series where I show off various game and rpg hacks. I try to stick with hacks that improve gameplay or add quality of life features, completely or partially change the plot and characters, along with additional content, dialogue, graphical and sound improvements. Non-rpgs I try to give a full run to, or at least enough for a solid review. Rpgs I will stick with titles that have enough changes in the beginning to show off, and when I can, show parts later in the games where more differences appear. There may be spoilers in the reviews and videos. Some of these I may stream fully in the future or play on my own. Reviews are open to later revisions due to bug and content updates or me playing them and finding anything new I wish to bring up.

Seeing how both of these are more gameplay/translation hacks, I won’t have that much to say about them except for how they work, etc, so I’ll include some mini-reviews of both games too.

Alien Soldier: 6-Button Controller Support by NaOH gives Alien Soldier for Genesis, a game never officially released in the US except on the Sega Channel until emulation and the Mini systems, this hack enables 6-button support and makes it easier to perform your special moves just by pushing a button, instead of hitting a button and the directional pad.

Complete list of changes:

  • You can now dash by pressing Z. (Down+C no longer dashes in 6-button mode.)
  • You can now perform the “Counter Force” parry manoeuvre by pressing Y. (Double-tap B no longer parries in 6-button mode.)
  • You can now toggle shoot modes by pressing X or Mode at any time. (Down+A no longer swaps shoot mode in 6-button mode.)
  • The new controls are displayed in the “control test” screen, assuming a 6-button controller is inserted.
  • On the password input screen, pressing up now increments the number and down decrements. Furthermore, A, B, and C can now all be used to confirm password.
  • Bypasses internal checksum verification and region lock.

Alien Soldier – Weapon Cycling by i_hate_drm allows players to cycle through their weapon arsonal just by pushing the A button, instead of hitting A and cycling through them with no pause in the action!

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My History with the Final Fantasy Series

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The “My History With…” series are my thoughts back when I was a kid to young adult, about when I got games of a series, my initial thoughts about them, and other thoughts about the games. I stick to games I have or had, not one I played for the first time when i discovered emulation or modern system remakes. 

I started my journey in the Final Fantasy series started later than Dragon Quest/Warrior, but i fell in love with it as I did DW. I loved reading as a kid and my love for sci-fi and fantasy really drove me to the FF series seeing how Dragon Warrior was always more medieval fantasy. The longform storytelling here of having an objective for your party and solving problems along the way, or not knowing who or what you’re fighting or fighting for made me want to keep playing as I grew up. I also loved the deep and involved storylines in the games and watching the heroes overcome their personal traumas and come out the other end better people. It was always fun learning that the big enemy you’re chasing after really isn’t the last guy near the end. Even as a kid I didn’t mind grinding that much (though now with emulators you got that magic fast forward button). I should really start seeing down with these again with some the remakes and rediscover my childhood joy. For this I stuck with ones I’ve had or have, not ones I started playing via emulation. I also do have Tactics, but not a bit fan of strategy rpgs.

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Hack Showcase: Celeste Mario’s Zap & Dash (NES)

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Hack Showcases and RPG Hack Showcases are a series where I show off various game and rpg hacks. I try to stick with hacks that improve gameplay or add quality of life features, completely or partially change the plot and characters, along with additional content, dialogue, graphical and sound improvements. Non-rpgs I try to give a full run to, or at least enough for a solid review. Rpgs I will stick with titles that have enough changes in the beginning to show off, and when I can, show parts later in the games where more differences appear. There may be spoilers in the reviews and videos. Some of these I may stream fully in the future or play on my own. Reviews are open to later revisions due to bug and content updates or me playing them and finding anything new I wish to bring up.

Celeste Mario is a hack made in the span of 2 months by w7n. This hack completely changes Super Mario Bros gameplay into that of the PC game Celeste, where you have to dash and jump in different ways to collect items and solve puzzles to progress. Mario is there along with other stuff from SMB! Every few rooms you can save and failing to solve a room doesn’t mean game over cause you have unlimited tries to succeed!

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