Zippo's Nonsensical Ramblings and Other Stuff

  In other "No Shit, Sherlock!" news, I've been told by multiple sources that Nintendo is preparing a new general Nintendo Direct for next month. This will reportedly focus on their remaining lineup for this year and will give us peeks at early 2022 games. I do not know the content of the direct currently, but it's logical to expect final looks at Metroid Dread, Mario Party Superstars, the final Smash character and Advance Wars 1+2. As of this writing, I haven't been given an exact date, but I've been told that this direct could air as early as next week.  When/if I hear more, I'll be sure to update this post. Update: Hearing once again that this Direct is imminent. This week is sounding like the week. Wednesday-Thursday.  If it somehow isn't this week, it's next week. The rumors about an NSO announcement *are* accurate. Hype at your own risk.  Update 2 (09/21/21): Well, this has certainly been a trip. Firstly, Nintendo has filed a new controller ...

  Sonic. Mania. What a game. I'll have some more scoops (you'll find one at the end.) and more articles for you very soon, but today, I'm just gonna gush, I just gotta fanboy out here. My sincerest apologies. Today (erm, yesterday.) marks four years since the release of  Sonic Mania, and I'll be frank: This is my favorite Sonic game and it's very high in my list as one of my favorite games of all time, full stop.  It also happens to be best Sonic game ever made. I didn't think Sonic 3& Knuckles would ever, ever be topped, but somehow, some way, they did it. The Mania team did it.   I'm still blown away by how good this game is every time I play it. The Positives : The visuals. Absolutely one of the best looking 2D sprite based games ever made. The amount of frames and the attention to detail is something the should be commended for. Sonic 2 is also used as the basis for Sonic's sprite and in my opinion, that was the right move. Sonic 3's is fine,...