Being a PC gamer at heart, the one thing I consider myself spoiled for is options. Tons of options. PC gaming, you see, offers everything from a quirky selection of indie games, to tons of freeware, cheap retro gaming, MMORPGs, budget titles, casual games and even bleeding edge triple A games, that can easily put the combined might of the Xbox 360 and the PS3 to shame. Crysis, after all, still is a PC exclusive and so are epics like The Witcher.

On the other hand, to truly enjoy those triple A offerings, you’d probably need a state of the art gaming PC, and -let me tell you- these things cost a lot of money. Even then, after acquiring such a monster that is, you’d probably need to keep making sure it is constantly up to date with all the latest bells and whistles, like say a physics card, and after a while you’d either end up living on the streets or upsetting your ultra-rich daddies. Then again, you could wisely stick with your older computer and try some less power hungry games. There are lots of brilliant ones and they are usually moderately priced too. Here are some of the best:

Heroes of Might and Magic V (turn-based strategy)
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War (RTS)
Fahrenheit (adventure)
Sid Meier’s Civilization 4 (uhm, it’s Civ…)
XIII (FPS)
Dungeon Siege (action RPG)
Sim City 4 (city building, apparently)
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey (adventure)
Serious Sam 2 (FPS)
Sam & Max Series 1 (adventure)
Starcraft & Broodwar (RTS)
Deus Ex: Invisible War (FPS/RPG)
Rome: Total War (RTS with turn based bits)
Football Manager 08 (obvious)
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (RPG)
World of Warcraft (MMORPG)

It’s been ages since the last proper Street Fighter sequel, but it seems the wait has been worth it, for Street Fighter IV looks utterly gorgeous in its cel-shaded 3D glory. So, uhh, look at Zangief, gawk at Chun Li, laugh at Dhalsim, smile at Honda, thoroughly examine Blanka, be all impressed by the spankin’ shiny new Guile and generally enjoy those lovely SF4 screenshots we’ve posted all over the place (for your eyes only). Just don’t ask what consoles this will be released for. All I know is you should be playing it at the arcades soon, provided of course you live in Japan or any arcades in your vicinity have survived, and I would dare guessing the game should also be appearing on the Xbox 360 and PS3. Eventually, that is. Actually, a Wii version wouldn’t come as much of a surprise either. Oh, and the game will play in the traditional 2D way. Joy!

Still, for now, all you can do is be patient, lament the loss of the arcades and watch this space for further info. Intently. Till your head starts spinning. Better though, stop watching intently and start working on those fighting skills again. Intently. Playing anything (or everything) from Hyper Street Fighter II - Anniversary Edition to the complete Street Fighter Alpha Anthology on the PS2 should probably do the job. Lacking a PS2, well, you shouldn’t have trouble tracking down a SF copy for your Xbox 360, Dreamcast, PC, C64, SNES, whatever. You can even play Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX on the PSP. Anyway, here are the rest of the screenshots:

There are two kinds of Xbox 360 gamers: those who have already played Mass Effect to death, those that will soon do so and those with a bricked console. Uhm, yes, that’s three kinds apparently. Right. Anyway. What truly matters is that you either know what a great game Bioware’s latest epic is or you should really do bother and find out. Now, in case you are already aware of this simplest of truths, you’ll be happy -nay, elated- to know that the first downloadable expansion for the game has just been announced and will be available on the 10th of this very March for a very reasonable 400 MS points. Oh, and the expansion has been given the properly epic title of Bring Down the Sky.

Bring Down the Sky will include a brand new uncharted world and introduce the notorious, nasty and appropriately ugly alien race of the Batarians. It seems, that a Batarian extremist group has hijacked a mobile asteroid station in the Asgard system, setting it on a collision course with the nearby colony world of Terra Nova. It thus falls to the player to promptly save the millions of innocent civilians before the asteroid completes its deadly (though banal) descent and earn valuable xp while at it. If you must know, Bring Down the Sky should contain approximately 90 minutes of gameplay and even a new achievement worth 50 Gamerscore points.

Finally, everything you ever wanted to know about Nintendo’s Mario, provided of course all you ever cared for were his appearances and cameos in video games of all kinds, in one convenient place: Here! Or, to be precise, included in the following list, which -I am sure- is not a 100% complete, despite cataloging over 100 games on more than a dozen platforms ranging from the ZX Spectrum to the Wii. Obviously, all the latest gems and our very dear Super Mario Galaxy have been included. Oh, and, please, do let me know of any omissions.

Arcade: Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., Mario Bros, Vs. Super Mario Bros, Super Mario Bros., Mushroom World Pinball (an actual pinball machine!), Super Mario Bros 2., Super Mario Bros. 3., Super Mario World, Mario Kart Arcade GP, Punch-Out!, Vs. Dr. Mario.

Atari 2600, 7800: Donkey Kong, Mario Bros.

Game & Watch and Mini Arcade: Mario’s Cement Factory, Mario the Juggler, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., Mario Bros., Mario’s Bombs Away, Donkey Kong Hockey

ZX Spectrum (Yes!): Mario Bros.

Nintendo Entertainment System, or NES (or even Famicom if you prefer) & Famicom Disk System: Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Classics, Donkey Kong Jr., Donkey Kong Junior Math, Donkey Kong 3, Dr. Mario, Golf, Mario is Missing, Mario’s Time Machine, Mike Tyson’s Punchout, NES Open Tournament Golf, Nintendo World Championships, Return of Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels, Super Mario Bros. 3, Tennis, Wario’s Woods, Wrecking Crew, Yoshi, Yoshi’s Cookie, Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally, Kaettekita Mario Bros.

NEC PC-8801: Mario Bros. Special, Punch Ball Mario Bros., Tennis, Super Mario Bros. Special.

Game Boy and Game Boy Color: Alleyway, Donkey Kong, Dr. Mario, F1-Race, Qix, Game & Watch Gallery, Game & Watch Gallery 2, Game & Watch Gallery 3, Mario’s Picross, Mario’s Picross 2, Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, Super Mario Land, Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, Tetris Attack, Mario Tennis, Wario Blast featuring Bomberman!, Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, Wario Land 2, Yoshi, Yoshi’s Cookie, Mario Golf.

Super NES (SNES, Super Famicom): Excitebike: Bun Bun Mario Battle Stadium, Mario and Wario, Mario is Missing, Mario’s Time Machine, Mario Paint, Mario’s Super Picross, Mario’s Early Years: Fun with numbers, Mario’s Early Years: Fun with letters, Mario’s Early Years: Pre-School, Nintendo Power Dr. Mario, Picross Nintendo Power, Super Mario All-Stars, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, Super Mario Kart, Super Mario World, Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island, Tetris and Dr. Mario, Tetris Attack, Wario’s Woods, Wrecking Crew ‘98, Yoshi’s Cookie, Yoshi’s Cookie: Kuruppon Oven De Cookie, Yoshi’s Safari, Zelda 3, Super Scope 6.

Virtual Boy: Mario Clash, Virtual Boy Wario Land, Mario’s Tennis.

CDi: Hotel Mario, Super Mario’s Wacky Worlds (unreleased).

Nintendo 64 & N64 DD: Dr. Mario 64, Paper Mario, Super Mario 64, Mario Tennis, Mario Golf, Mario Party, Mario Party 2, Mario Party 3, Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart 64, Yoshi’s Story, Mario Artist: Paint Studio, Mario Artist: Talent Studio, Mario Artist:Polygon Studio, Mario Artist: Communication Kit, Donkey Kong 64.

PC and Mac: Mario Teaches Typing, Mario Teaches Typing 2, Mario’s Fun with Numbers, Mario’s Fun with Letters, Mario’s Pre-School fun, Mario’s FUNdamental, Mario’s Games Gallery.

Game Boy Advance (excluding the Classic NES series): Game and Watch Gallery 4, Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga, Mario Bros., Mario Party Advance, Mario Party, Mario Tennis Advance, Mario Pinball Land (a.k.a. Super Mario Ball), Mario vs. Donkey Kong, Super Mario Advance, Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World, Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi’s Island, Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario Advance 6: Mario is Missing, Wario Land 4, WarioWare Inc: Mega Microgames, WarioWare Twisted!, Famicom Mini: Wrecking Crew, Yoshi Topsy Turvy, Mario Kart Super Circuit.

GameCube: Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, Luigi’s Mansion, Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Nintendo Puzzle Collection, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Super Mario Sunshine, Mario Superstar Baseball, Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, Mario Power Tennis, Mario Party 4, Mario Party 5, Mario Party 6, Mario Party 7, Super Smash Bros. Melee, WarioWare Inc.: Mega Party Game$, NBA Street v3, Super Mario Strikers (a.k.a. Mario Smash Football), Dance-Dance Revolution: Mario Mix, Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes.

Nintendo DS: Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time, Mario Basket: 3 on 3, Mario Kart DS, New Super Mario Bros., Super Mario 64 DS, Super Princess Peach, Tetris DS, WarioWare: Touched!, Itadaki Street DS, Yoshi Touch and Go, Mario Slam Basketball, Mario vs Donkey Kong 2, Mario Party DS, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, Yoshi’s Island DS.

Wii (excluding Virtual Console offerings): Super Mario Galaxy, Super Paper Mario, Mario Strikers Charged Football, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, Super Smash Bros Brawl, Mario Party 8, WarioWare: Smooth Moves

Sonic the Hedgehog was really big, you know. Bigger than Horace ever was and definitely bigger than Zool. He almost won the 16-bit console wars too (if ever there was such a thing), and -admittedly- is still recognizable enough to sell the odd overpriced copy. Then again, everyone can see the character and his truckload of silly overacted friends aren’t doing half as well as expected and -that’s the ugly bit mind you- usually star in some shockingly dreadful games.

Now, as I’m not one to necessarily demand a return to Sonic’s 2D roots and 90s gameplay form, even though you have to admit that Sonic Rush for the DS was the best Sonic for what felt like ages, I think Sega should realistically have a long hard look at Sonic’s current-gen outings. Try to figure out what they can do right and what they simply should do away with. And you know what? It’s as easy as having a look at two 2007 games.

The first one is simply called Sonic the Hedgehog and debuted on the Xbox 360, though a virtually identical PlayStation 3 version did promptly follow. Oh, yes, and it is such an astonishingly awful game you’d think it was meant as a bloody interrogation tool for a consolized version of hell. Also, despite its title, this abomination has nothing to do with the implied return to form you might be hoping for. On the plus side though, Sonic the Hedgehog Next-Gen could probably also serve as a developer’s map of the things designers should avoid: tons of horribly unfunny Sonic Team written dialog, an overly complex control scheme, graphics without style or flair, a silly soundtrack, weird missions, a horrid camera system, pointless exploration bits, exhausting loading times, an interesting selection of bugs and glitches, a badly judged difficulty curve, nonsensical ideas regarding save points and only a few moments of fast platform (almost) properly Sonic action, that unfortunately aren’t that good anyway.

On the other hand, the other extreme if you wish (you know, to, uhh, justify this post’s title) we have Sonic and the Secret Rings for the Wii, an impressively better game that really tried to focus on the basics that helped define and elevate Sonic to classic status, while also trying to keep up with the gaming mainstream of today: it’s in 3D and uses the Wii Remote. Happily it also offers a simple -almost intuitive- control system, great speed and what can essentially only be described as 2D gameplay. It is thus a fun game that feels properly Sonicy. Mind you, it’s not perfect, not by far, but definitely a step in the right direction. And it does spare us those anime cartoon anthropomorphic animals that aren’t Sonic…

Game publishers are cowards. It’s an unfortunate truth, I know, but it’s an undeniable one nonetheless. They are terrified of innovation, mortally afraid of stylistic differences, fearful of artistic statements, horrified of any genre outside FPSs or platformers and unable to sleep at the mere thought of 2D graphics. Unless of course we speak of handheld games. There, for some miraculous reason, games don’t have to constantly show off their cuttingedgeness (sp?). Games can simply be fun. And even 2D, especially when based on a classic franchise.

Then again, the reimagining of classic franchises is neither a bold move forward nor a foolproof idea, as retro remakes can be (extremely) nasty affairs and the danger of shoddy updates is always present. Remember the countless Pac-Man sequels? Good, you see what I mean. Then again, thankfully, there are games like Ultimate Ghosts ‘n Goblins for the PSP, that could easily serve as the blueprint for every classic remake to follow.

Ultimate Ghosts ‘n Goblins, you see, is a brilliant game that manages to be fun for the aging hardcore gamers and the younger audience alike, while simultaneously looking and sounding both impressive and retro at the same time. Really. The graphics are probably the best the Sony PSP can manage. They are crisp, detailed, colourful, artistically beautiful, excellently animated, filled with a ridiculous variety of special effects and sporting one of smartest 2D/3D hybrid engines you’ve ever seen. Astonishingly they are unmistakably Ghosts ‘n Goblins too.

The same applies to the gameplay part of things. UGnG is a classic linear 2D platformer, is as tough as any retro inspired game should be and is immediately accessible, while also evolving the series by introducing new enemies, power-ups, abilities and mechanics. Oh, and thankfully there are three difficulty levels available, though only particularly masochistic souls would ever hope to enjoy the toughest one.

What’s more, the game is budget priced too. Hooray!