2021 Video Game Retrospective - Favorite Modern & Retro Gaming Pickups

In this episode, we cover some of our favorite modern and retro gaming pickups from 2021 with some other excellent channels.

Make sure you're subscribed to all the channels featured in this episode:
00:00 - Intro & Honorable Mentions
3:31 - RetroTInk 5x
4:57 - Square Pegs - https://www.youtube.com/c/SquarePegs
Famicom Dojo - https://www.youtube.com/c/FamicomDojo
6:22 - Import Games
10:01 - Linda AKA the Gamer Girl - https://www.youtube.com/c/Lindaakathegamergirl
11:36 - PC Engine & Turbografx 16 Games
15:00 - GameDad - https://www.youtube.com/c/GameDadShow
16:42 - Systems We Bought in 2021
21:18 Bitty Kong's Quest - https://www.youtube.com/bittykongsquest
24:08 - Studio Additions, ROM Hacks
24:30 - NexiGo PS5 Accessories
25:31 - TerraOnion Super System 3HD
26:39 - Game of the Year
29:09 - Final Thoughts

2021 has been an up and down year for sure. We were able to get back to several conventions, from here in Illinois, the South East Game Exchange, Pinball Expo 2021, and even the Midwest Gaming Expo again. We picked up a lot of different games, systems, and other awesomeness for our collection, both US & import items. We also had a chance to hang out with a lot of great friends and other YouTube creators, many of which are featured here. Let's take a quick look at some of our favorite pickups from the past trip around the sun.

Honorable Mentions:
- Anet ET4 & Creality Ender 3 Max 3D Printers
- New House
- Sphero R2D2 Storage Shelf
- TESMart 16x1 HDMI Switcher

Favorite Accessory Pickups -
RetroTink 5X
When it comes to my favorite accessory from this past year, the RetroTink 5x is without a doubt my favorite accessory I've added to the collection. I currently have 10 systems connected to it, between Component, Composite via SCART Adapter, and RGB SCART. I love everything the RetroTink 5X does, and have gone thru and highlighted different systems going through it for comparison. It is so much simpler to use than my OSSC, I actually sold it earlier this year. At $300 it wasn't inexpensive, but it is an investment I am glad I made.

Terra Onion Super System 3 HD
How many people can say an accessory is what made them buy a video game system? Well, the Terra Onion Super System 3 HD for the PC Engine did just that. Not only does it provide an HDMI out with 720P resolution, but it also can play and dump ROMs to its onboard micro SD card. This is such a great device, and it is truly one of my favorite pickups ever.

Favorite Retro Games
Mighty Final Fight
I added a lot of cool stuff to the collection this year, but my import games really grew this year. In December, I added my favorite title of the year to the collection in Mighty Final Fight. This is a game that is stupid expensive now when it was about $150 just a few years ago. I've played it on other collections, and even got a ROM hack from Castlemania Ryan at PRGE in 2019, but to have the Famicom version in the collection is amazing.

Super Back to the Future 2
I have been after this game for years, ever since playing the ROM in 2017 or 2018. This is the Back to the Future game we should have gotten in the USA, it's bright, it sounds great, has amazing artwork, and is just a terrific game. I managed to find this one on eBay from a seller in Indonesia for $80, boxed, and I am thrilled that the hunt for this one is over.

Favorite Systems:
CIB Black Nintendo Wii
Wii consoles are all over the place, I now own 4 for some reason, but this one has a special place in my collection. This particular Wii was my Dad's, and ever since losing him in 2019, as dumb as it sounds, I wanted to add this to my collection. It's not a rare or odd variant, although the 2-in-1 Wii Sports/Sports Resort disk is a bit unique. It's special to me for no other reason than it was my Dad's. And that's enough for me.

Boxed Super Nintendo Jr
I was going to add the PC Engine here, but I said enough about it above, so the 3rd runner-up has to be the boxed Super Famicom Jr I got in the spring. It is super-clean, included the controller, the box was in decent shape, and the price was ok for me. I did wind up RGB-Modding it and now, going through Insurrection Industries SCART Cables & the RetroTink 5X, this truly looks amazing.

Game of the Year
Ratched & Clank: A Rift Apart
What can I say about Ratchet & Clank? I dare say it may be my favorite franchise of all-time, even surpassing Mario and Earthworm Jim. Rift Apart is the first truly next-gen gaming experience I've had a chance to play, and it is absolutely stunning. It takes everything we loved about previous titles, and it almost looks like a cartoon at times. The play control is amazing, it's a great story, and it is the first must-have title for the PS5.

#YearInReview #VideoGames #Nintendo

The footage used in this review are used under the Fair Use laws, referenced below:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/107