Weekly Halloween~ Ouija for kids!

I've talked about board game manufacturers dabbling in the occult before, but it's really a long standing tradition. Variations of the talking board date back thousands of years, but none are more famous in the present than the Ouija board. Basic spirit summoning with the risk of opening a portal to hell is available as close as your nearest Target. Even today it has an aura of mystery and a forbidden nature. I guess it's all fun and games until Zozo shows up.

Genghis in Space

I've been revisiting Gyruss is recent days. It's a classic space shooter game made by Konami released in 1983 as an arcade game. Since then it's been on pretty much every system since. Despite it's age and the many versions on various hardware, there's never been a sequel. That's really weird in gaming, perhaps Gradius and other Konami's shooters fill that role. Still, I wouldn't mind a follow up. The only thing else is a bootleg game called Venus. You know I'm talking about an old arcade game when the subject of bootleg versions comes up.

Game play is pretty standard shooter fair. Though instead of your ship residing in the foreground, it can rotate around the entire screen similar to Tempest. This style of game is called a tube shooter, though it feels more like a hybrid of styles to me in Gyruss. Enemies come in waves as do obstacles with a boss at the end of the levels. Plot is light, you're flying through the solar system ridding the universe of evil along the way. Depending on the version you're playing, Genghis Khan is the main villain behind the forces you're fighting. Don't ask me how Genghis Khan came back as a galactic threat, or where he got all those eyeball space ships... but I dig it.

Spinjas don't get dizzy

This past weekend when I was at Kroger looking through the blind bag toys, I saw Beyblade packs and was admittedly tempted to grab a few. It's not the first time either, I've often thought they looked neat. My main draw to them though if thanks to Spinjas, a very long forgotten and short lived toy line/game from Parker Brothers. From what I've gathered the line has had a few reboots both officially and non officially throughout the years in various countries. Which isn't surprising. What's not to love about making little figures duke it out? Instead of wwwaaaaayyyyy too many rules and instructions that just don't make any sense (looking at you every other miniature game ever made). Just pop the toys in a little gizmo and let them fight as tops, who gets knocked out of the ring looses.