Contra 4: Return of the Run ‘n’ Gun King

By Peter W. Smorynski [Review: Gaming!] Title: CONTRA 4 Platform: Nintendo DS Publisher: Konami Developer: WayForward Technologies ESRB Rating: T Year: 2007 A military helicopter zooms toward the archipelago of Galuga, off the coast of New Zealand. Aboard this craft are the four strongest soldiers on Earth, known collectively as "Contra." Their mission: to eliminate …

AGO! Scoring System

[Announcement!] Below is the 6-point scale used by AGO! in the final evaluation of anime and games: [!] - - - - - Subpar [!] [!] - - - - Rental [!] [!] [!] - - - Average [!] [!] [!] [!] - - Solid [!] [!] [!] [!] [!] - Stellar [!] [!] [!] …

Mega Man 9: Robotic Recycling or Revival?

By Peter W. Smorynski [Editorial: Games!] Is Mega Man 9 being overhyped? There's no doubt it's a must-play game, especially for Mega Man fans, but the buzz about it being among "the best" in the series seems to be crossing the line. As a fan of Mega Man since Mega Man 2 on the NES …

The Revolution was Televised (PART 2 of 2): Toonami’s Broader TV Legacy

By Peter W. Smorynski [Editorial: Anime!] As noted in PART 1, from March 1997 to September 2008, Toonami inspired a generation through its positive philosophy and a fresh dose of creativity. However, with the end of this revolutionary action-cartoon block, I've noticed that most major animation news outlets have downplayed or even ignored Toonami's contributions …

The Revolution was Televised (PART 1 of 2): The Toonami Generation

By Peter W. Smorynski [Editorial: Anime!] March 17, 1997. Deep space. On the Ghost Planet, the decision was made to fire an experimental cannon. That afternoon, an unidentified object burst through Earth's atmosphere and blazed a luminous trail across the sky. Trying to control the frenzy sweeping the globe, authorities tracked down the UFO to …

Creativity has a New Home: AGO! Welcomes You!

[Announcement!] Welcome to the Anime & Gaming Outpost! I'm [Pete], editor-in-chief, blogmaster, and outpost guide. The AGO! is a fresh new blog taking an unconventional, analytical, and even avant-garde look at the state of creativity through editorials and reviews on the mediums of, and related to, anime and gaming. With an aim to give readers …