Video length: 54:20

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Difficulty level: 3 out of 5

My original video of this game was a playthrough with Blaze alone, but somehow the audio desynched briefly near the start, so it got deleted. Probably for the best though as it meant me and Matt got to do a co-op run, with me using Adam and Matt using Blaze.

I don't particularly like Adam -whilst he's meant to be the strongest in the game, the truth about the strength levels is that they aren't much different between each character. However speed is another issue, and Adam is really, really slow to move around. This makes dealing with certain bosses harder than it would be if I'd been using Axel.

Video length: 58:00

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Difficulty level: 2 out of 5

Co-op playthrough with Blaze (me) and Axel (Matt). This game is way easier than the first, although towards the end you get a lot of enemies thrown at you and some of the bosses can be tough to beat. We took the easy way out with the fifth round boss, if you can keep a sword with you, you'll have no problems beating him.

Video length: 1:15:46

Game region:

Difficulty level: 1 out of 5

Co-op playthrough with Blaze (me) and Axel (Matt). The Japanese version of the game is the easiest one in the series. This run shows the best possible route and ending (which is shown if you beat the final boss within the time limit). Turn on annotations if you want subtitles for the cutscenes.

One slightly embarrassing thing about this game is that if you complete it, SEGA forgot to let you put your initials in. This was actually fixed for the American version, which is one of the few good changes they made.

Video length: 10:46

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Difficulty level: 4 out of 5

Playthrough of the version included on Mega Games I. This game has no ending so it's just a case of surviving for as long as possible, which is easier said then done.

Whilst this is the European version, the how to play text is in Japanese due to the game being played on a Japanese console.

Video length: 21:17

Game region:

Difficulty level: 5 out of 5

This game is one of the few I haven't one credit cleared, mainly because it sucks and I don't have the patience to get good at it (although that might be impossible anyway). Just visit my site for more stuff about this bad game.

Video length: 38:12

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Difficulty level: 4 out of 5

The reason this gets a 4 is because of the end of the game. The last level is a bit of a maze, but the bigger problem is that you've got these incredibly annoying bat enemies swarming all around you constantly, so you've got to repeatedly use the arrow magic as much as possible to get through them alive.

Video length: 18:54

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Difficulty level: 3 out of 5

Playthrough with Terry. The Genesis version of Fatal Fury plays better than the SNES port, but two characters were cut: Hwa Jai and Billy. To make up for this, at some point in the game you have to fight the other playable characters, a feature exclusive to this version.

The special moves seem to have had their damage decreased so it isn't as effective to spam Terry's power wave and burn knuckle as it was in the Neo Geo version. It isn't that hard to still win, and Geese can be taken out with a really easy strat: just knock him down once and then keep jumping towards him and kicking. He'll usually try to counter with his own jump kick, but fail.

Video length: 28:04

Game region:

Difficulty level: 2 out of 5

Playthrough with Terry. Genesis Fatal Fury 2 plays quite differently to the Neo Geo version, and in a good way. Many move properties were changed, and there a ton of combos that are exclusive to this version. The CPU has also been toned down, making it easier to get through the game, although the last few bosses can put up more of a fight, especially Krauser.

Video length: 18:59

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Difficulty level: 2 out of 5

Playthrough with Rayden. The Genesis port of this game is easier than the arcade version, and it also requires a cheat code to turn the blood on (which I used). The default difficulty for this version is easy, so I moved it up to normal.

Video length: 19:50

Game region:

Difficulty level: 5 out of 5

Playthrough with Liu Kang. Unlike the first game, the difficulty of this one matches up with the arcade version, so it's way too hard. With Liu Kang you can get through it by spamming his bicycle kick a lot, you need to time it so you do the move right when the opponent is next to you. His jump kicks can also be very effective, as the CPU will often just stand there and get hit by them.

This is just a little thing I'd noticed which I've not seen before -look at how Reptile changes to Sub-Zero's stance at 10:08. It happens again in the second round, and then again in the third round. I wonder what caused that to happen?
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Video length: 16:53

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Difficulty level: 4 out of 5

Playthrough of the warrior tower with Cyrax. The CPU's difficulty seems to have been increased when compared to the arcade version. With Cyrax you just need to abuse his net to win -if you do it when the opponent is near you, they'll usually always try to sweep and will get hit by the net, letting you combo them. If you want to play it safe, net them, then do a roundhouse kick, then run in and repeat.

Motaro is a lot easier than in the arcade game. To beat him, let him get close, then do a neutral jump. As you land, immediately do a short combo, and repeat. Motaro's grab is glitched in this port, as he can grab you when you're jumping. but most of the time, the jump to combo strat works fairly well.

Shao Kahn sucks. All of his moves are completely unfair, and his fireball in particular is really dumb due to how fast he can throw them out. What you need to do is try and net him, then uppercut, then run in and do Cyrax's longest combo as he gets up. Then repeat this until it's over. He will often counter the net with a fireball, but if you keep it up you'll do more damage to him than he will to you, so you'll win in the end. You have to get the timing down with the combo though as if you're too slow, he'll hit you with his hammer.
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Video length: 18:40

Game region:

Difficulty level: 1 out of 5

Playthrough with Robert. Originally I loathed the idea of playing through this game as I just remember it being really hard... but I couldn't get the American version (which is known as Art of Fighting) to work, the picture kept being in black and white when I tried to record. So I purchased the Japanese version and I was totally surprised at how much easier it is, they clearly made the American version much harder. The Japanese version is a joke in comparison, difficulty wise.

Video length: See below

Game region: &

Difficulty level: 1 out of 5

The first Sonic game is the easiest one, generally I think the odd numbered zones are easier than the even ones. The final boss is really easy since you can just hide to the right whenever the pistons move, and dodging the projectiles is easy.

The first playthrough is the Japanese version. The second playthrough is of an obscure European variant version which had previously believed to have been only released in Japan -it features scrolling clouds in Green Hill Zone, and a ripple effect to Labyrinth Zone's water, among other minor things.

Japanese version (46:02)

European version (1:02:44)

Video length: 23:52

Game region:

Difficulty level: 3 out of 5

This game, which was called Street Fighter II' Special Champion Edition is America, is two games in one. It has versions of Champion Edition and Hyper Fighting to choose from, I've done a playthrough with Ken in the Champion Edition mode. I put the difficulty onto the hardest setting.

Video length: 10:36

Game region:

Difficulty level: 3 out of 5

Playthrough of the Junior/Asia course. As an early Mega Drive arcade port, Super Hang-On is one of the best. It doesn't run as smoothly as the arcade version but it still plays really well, and also has an original mode where you can earn money to buy better parts for you bike.

Video length: 51:24

Game region:

Difficulty level: 4 out of 5

The Japanese version of Shinobi III is slightly harder in places than the American and European versions (see this page for more details). Overall the difficulty doesn't really ramp up until the sixth level, which involves making a lot of precise jumps, and the last level is very tough as well.

Video length: 25:38

Game region:

Difficulty level: 3 out of 5

Playthrough with Ken, on the hardest difficulty setting (8 stars).

Video length: 19:03

Game region:

Difficulty level: 4 out of 5

Playthrough with Scorpion. This port had a lot of things cut from it, but does feature some extra characters who aren't in the arcade version (although they're more ninja palette-swaps).

It's just as hard as the arcade version though. The strategy I'm using here doesn't work in the arcade version, and doesn't work against every character in the Mega Drive version. The strat is to jump back and do a kick, which from the third opponent and onward will make the CPU use their projectile move. What you need to do is use Scorpion's teleport punch, and when that hits, immediately use his spear to drag the opponent in and combo them, then repeat. In the Mega Drive version, certain characters (Kitana, Stryker) will always sweep Scorpion when you try to spear them. The opponents I got for this playthrough all fall for it.

The strat for beating Motaro is a little different than it is in the arcade, as you need to go on the offensive -jump in and keep doing combos, he will often get hit over and over so you can just repeat this. Be careful of his grab -he is able to grab you even if you are jumping, something I don't think he could do in the arcade version. Shao Khan is as horrendous as ever, if you can just land one spear you should be good, but even getting that can be a pain.
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Video length: 5:46

Game region:

Difficulty level: 5 out of 5

Playthrough of the beginner circuit (Big Forest) on the highest difficulty setting. This game on hard is next to impossible! If you want to win the race you simply cannot afford to make any mistakes at all, no matter how minor they are.

I also used manual gears, which I don't think I've ever done in any other racer. It's just that I'm not sure if you can win on hard with automatic gears -the car has a slower top speed when compared to manual.

The car handling in this game seems a little inconsistent when it comes to taking corners at certain speeds. One lap the car will go around fine, and then next lap it doesn't. It just seems to refuse to turn sharply and it can completely ruin the race. Maybe I haven't mastered the controls.

The reason I wanted to beat the circuit on hard is because you have to be on that difficulty to see the credits sequence. After the amount of tries it took to beat the beginner circuit I can safely say there is no chance I'll ever do the other two tracks on hard. I imagine it'd be easier to win an F1 grand prix in real life than it is in this game.

Video length: 1:15:41

Game region:

Difficulty level: 2 out of 5

Playthrough of the World Cup mode with France, using the version included on Mega Games I. I remember this game being really hard when I was a kid, but playing it now it's pretty easy to thrash every CPU team you go up against. The main strategy is is to run down one side of the pitch, cross the ball over to the other side and then immediately shoot, you can usually score fairly easily using this method.

There's no referee in this game either, which means slide tackles from behind are a perfectly viable tactic to use.