I vividly remember renting a PlayStation 2 from BlockBuster, and taking advantage of its "two rentals for the price of one" deal. Instead of getting PS2 ​games, though, I went for two PS1 titles: Mega Man X5 and Digimon World 2.

This wasn't a mistake: I lusted for Mega Man X5 after devouring articles about it in "Expert Gamer" and, after having played it with my best friend (the one who is scared of clowns), I desperately needed more, especially because its music is absolutely amazing. 

On the other hand, Digimon World 2 was something of a random choice. I liked Digimon, and I certainly wasn't a huge fan of it when compared to Pokémon, but there was just something about this game that drew me to it. 

Unsure what to expect, I found myself surprised that Digimon World 2 was nothing like the glimpses I caught of Digimon World 1, and was, instead, a decidedly hardcore dungeon crawler. It was slow, punishing, ruthless and, without a Memory Card, impossible to make any kind of meaningful progress. Yet I still liked it.

After finally acquiring a PS1 and PS2 a year or two ago, I made sure to add both Mega Man X5 and Digimon World 2 to my collection for their sentimental value. And while it was a ton of fun to relive my youth by revisiting X5, it ended up being DW2 that I was most excited to check out.

As has become increasingly apparent in recent months, I'm a major fan of the "dungeon crawling" genre, so the thought of playing through this punishing digital adventure from the past (armed with a Memory Card, this time!) was thrilling.

Despite being considered the worst of the Digimon World trilogy on PS1 due to its numerous flaws, I couldn't help but fall in love with it. 

Yes, it's slow. Yes, it's unfair. Yes, it's ruthless.

... but it's also addicting.

sfs How should I prepare my Digi-Beetle, the tank in which I travel through the perilous, randomized "Domains?" What items and equipment should I bring? Should I risk limited inventory space with gifts for Wild Digimon, in the hopes that they'll join me? Or should I instead focus on anti-trap and healing items?

Then there's the whole Digivolution system, which seals the deal in terms of addictive gameplay loops. Unlike Pokémon, where evolution is almost always A -> B -> C, the evolution in the Digimon World games isn't set in stone.

Using an immensely complex system (that's so complicated it's not even fully understood today), countless traits, factors and criteria determine the growth of your digital pet, meaning it might transform from A into B, but it also might go to G, or possibly 1, or maybe even 1b or 2c.

Furthering the fun, DW2 also incorporates "DNA Digivolving," which is basically the classic "monster breeding" mechanic where two parents create an offspring, pass down some attributes and techniques, and then disappear into the sunset, leaving their weak baby behind... but this weak baby has the potential to grow far more powerful than either parent ever was. 

The prepping, exploring and Digivolving, coupled with some straightforward (but still fun) RPG battles mix together to create a rough, but satisfying experience... and it's made even better by a few excellent tracks of music  ('bout time I got to the point, huh?)

In short, Digimon World 2 has some music that is way better than it probably should be. In fact, all of the PS1 Digimon World games do, but today, we'll exclusively be focusing on a few selections from 2's soundtrack. 

Let's have a listen!

The theme for the game's hub world, "Digital City" is a bubbly and heroic piece that, at only :13 seconds in, reveals it true nature with this exquisitely noble brass sequence (and the little chimes that accompany it!)

However, it's the moment at :41 that really seals the deal on this piece's coolness, with an unexpected breakdown that blends the feelings of heroism, adventure, peril and the unknown into a fitting mixture, and culminates in a driving, string-led sequence that makes you feel like you're about to bravely set out on your digital journey! 

While Wizardry and The Dark Spire opted for intense and menacing dungeon themes, Digimon World 2 goes for an infectiously energetic and adventurous theme, which is perfect reflection of the game's overall feel. 

The core of the piece is a triumphant sense of hopefulness, overflowing with the spirt of adventure, yet those quick, sharp bursts of brass coupled with uncertain-sounding strings hint at the underlying peril of exploring these dangerous Domains!

Finally, at :55, there's an airy and delightful string sequence (which also contains a tinge of menace) that somehow manages to musically boil down the entire genre into a single thought: despite the unknown perils of dungeon crawling, these games are FUN! 

Right from the very outset of this piece, the stakes seem inordinately high. 

A heavy use of digital sounds, desperate strings, driving percussion and incredible dynamics (like knowing when to ease back on the intensity from :18 - :31, only to surge towards a new climax that brings it back with an even greater force!) all combine into one heck of an awesome track, and one that covers all the bases for what makes a thrilling boss theme (moments of despair, moments of hope, moments of triumph and a general sense of this being an all-or-nothing encounter.)

Alas, considering that this is easily the best boss music in the game (by far), it's a real shame that it was wasted by being placed at the very start of the adventure, where the difficulty in minuscule, and you barely understand what you're doing, meaning you can't appreciate it as much as it deserves to be appreciated. 

Overview: 40 years ago, a cataclysm erased the memories of everyone in Paradigm City and, presumably, the world. The real threat isn't the loss of history, though; it's when ghosts of the past show themselves. Enter Roger Smith, the "City of Amnesia's" top negotiator. Finding himself wading deeper and deeper into a conspiracy regarding the "Event" from 40 years ago, he sets out to discover the truth. Oh, and giant robots fight each other. 

The Good: An incredible aesthetic, reminiscent of Batman: The Animated Series that shows itself in both the slick character designs and the 1940, Art Deco, "retro future" look of the city and its technology. Stellar cinematography, especially when it comes to framing and capturing the titanic scale of the battles. A color palette with major "Film Noir" influence. An eerie tone and intriguing sense of mystery. Superior animation and attention to detail that sells every action and window-shattering impact. A unique storyline with a great voice cast, sharp writing, interesting characters and fantastic music. It's also short (13 Episodes.)

The Bad: One or two episodes seem weak when compared to the otherwise-high level of excellence. Also, the second season is an offensively jarring downgrade in terms of aesthetic, plot and overall quality. Avoid it unless you sincerely can't resist another trip to Paradigm City.

I have a thing for brutal dungeon crawlers. Hunting for treasure in underground fortresses while imminent death waits around every corner gets my blood pumping in a way that few other genres are capable of.

Some of my favorites include the overtly menacing The Dark Spire, the musically gorgeous Wizardry, and the overwhelmingly gargantuan, ruthlessly unforgiving Daggerfall, the absolute best game in the Elder Scrolls series (challenge me... if you dare!)

The one we're focusing on today, though, is the Genesis' odd addition to the genre: Fatal Labyrinth.

Not exactly a classic, first person dungeon crawler like The Dark Spire or a sprawling RPG like Daggerfall (and inarguably inferior to both), Fatal Labyrinth still manages to be a fairly enthralling experience with its harsh difficulty, dreary atmosphere, randomly generated dungeon floors, endearingly clunky gameplay and surprising addition of "Rogue-like" elements. 

Now, considering that this article is an entry in the "Title Screens" series, it's probably time we get to discussing why ​Fatal Labyrinth has earned its place amongst the pantheon of superior title screens, with peers such as Ocarina of Time and Xenoblade Chronicles.

What stands out most about this Title Screen is the overwhelming sense of atmosphere: the moment the SEGA logo fades, we see the gloomiest landscape possible, with stormy, billowing clouds, a pitch-black night and a dense, likely haunted forest. 

Soon after, the gigantic, ominous castle erupting from the ground very clearly paints a menacing picture, fitting quite well with the already bleak environment (and its occasional lightning bolts!)

​Then there's the title itself, crudely carved from stone and protected by the skeletons of dragons, appearing in the air as the world around it continues to swirl with the excellent use of parallax scrolling. 

All of these elements, including the unexpectedly tranquil music, combine into an impressive title screen that truly conjures (and sells) the vibe of the game with great success. 

Despite its weird, unexpectedly rocky start, Disney+ is pretty cool. But it could be cooler. 

After being sold on the promise of having access to all of Disney's treasured creations along with new ones, I'm still surprised at what's missing (or being held back), and by what could be there but isn't. Therefore, I've decided to help Disney out by posting this entirely reasonable list of fixes, additions and out-of-the-box inclusions that range from normal to obsessively weird.

However, before we begin, I just want to be clear about Disney+'s most heinously glaring flaw: the awful, bastardized aspect ratios with shows like The Simpsons. It's intolerable. I chose not to include it on this list because it's so obvious and widely hated that it's not even worth pointing out. 

Disney, even if you ignore the entirety of this list, for the love of God, fix the aspect ratios. 

Anyway... 

I think it's safe to say that many Disney fans (myself included) have a tendency to be rabid, especially when it comes to the theme parks. And while we did get cool stuff like the excellent Imagineering documentary, I'm honestly surprised that Disney hasn't catered even more to this particularly hardcore crowd of park-loving zealots.

One very easy solution to this problem is to play the in-ride films from long dead attractions.

I know I'm not alone when I say I'd love to watch the oft-skipped "The Spirt of Norway" from the deceased "Maelstrom" (damn you, Frozen). And although I'm not sure how it'd be possible, I wouldn't mind seeing "Reflections of China" after it gets replaced. Alas, the whole "Circle-Vision" thing would probably prevent it from making it the service ... unless... they somehow implemented it into VR........ my God. 

As of this writing (at least as far as I can tell) there is only one episode of Disney's beloved "Wonderful World of Color" available on Disney+.

I only have one question: why?

Considering that Disney and its fans love to indulge in nostalgia, there'd be no better way to capitalize on that than to conjure up the man himself, Walt Disney, where, in his prime, he hosted a slew of classic television shows. Whether it's him hyping up the creation of his then-upcoming inaugural theme park  in "Walt Disney's Disneyland," or delighting us with teases for upcoming projects in "Wonderful World of Color," there's much joy to be had, and the fact that these series haven't yet been uploaded in their entirety is both perplexing and disheartening. 

Maybe it's just me, but I'm pretty miffed that we only have the first season of "The Mickey Mouse Club."

Yes, it's still delightful, charming, cute and fun, but the so-called "first season" only consists of a mere handful of episodes, and we know there's plenty more left in the "Disney Vault."

Why hoard them, Disney? Unleash the beast so we can continue to watch Cubby and Annette steal the show for many episodes to come. 

It's already intolerable that Disney+ doesn't have every season uploaded for everything that's already on the service, but sometimes they don't even have every episode of a season!

Why the critically important opening episode of the astonishingly excellent Tron: Uprising isn't currently available is tremendously bizarre (but it shouldn't stop you from watching the series, because it's awesome) and I can only hope it's rectified shortly. (And, while we're at it, how about continued Tron: Uprising as a Disney+ exclusive? God knows you need exclusives, after all, and it's hard to go wrong with a series as great as this one.)

Likewise, I find it strange that some truly classic Disney Channel series have yet to make an appearance... specifically the beloved (and trippy!) Adventures in Wonderland. This show was one of my favorites as a kid, and it's still great today. It was also extremely popular during its run, so I can't even begin to fathom the reasons it's not currently on the service.

Here's the thing: if the WWE can essentially upload their entire catalogue of content onto their streaming service, the WWE Network, Disney most certainly can, too. They're just choosing not to, and that's annoying. 

I can understand why people love the 2008 Clone Wars series, especially its recent, Disney+-exclusive final season, but it just never clicked for me. 

While I'm currently trudging my way through the show by means of a wonderfully curated episode guide from occasional contributor Joe Prescott (who's pretty good at making cases for why certain shows demand your attention), I think I'll still end up preferring the 2003 "micro-series" of the Clone Wars, from Dexter's Laboratory and Samurai Jack mastermind, Genndy Tartakovsky. 

Consisting of slick designs, outstanding animation and phenomenal spectacle, the 2003 Clone Wars is masterpiece of cinematic storytelling, where it lets its visuals do most of the talking while you sit there, slack-jawed in amazement. 

If Disney does indeed own the Star Wars franchise, and this series isn't wrapped up in some weird rights-holder battles,  I see no reason why they shouldn't add it to the Disney+ library. 

Even if they absurdly and nonsensically believed they'd be "competing with themselves," the latest (and final) Clone Wars season just ended, so now there are no excuses. 

We want to see Durge in all his glory, jousting Obi-Wan Kenobi on a speeder bike. And we want to see Mace Windu dismantle a droid with the Force and use the screws to shred dozens more. And a General Grievous that is far from a joke. And a legion of Clone Troopers abandoning their exploding battleship by jumping into the void of space, landing on a Separatist frigate, doing battle on its hull, and then stealing it. 

I could go on, but I'll stop myself now. 

I'm a simple man: I want to hear the ambience of Pirates of the Caribbean's queue while I cook, I want to hear the sound of the Haunted Mansion's Doom Buggies while I do laundry, and I want to hear the waterfalls and gentle island breeze of the Enchanted Tiki Room at all times, every day, for the rest of my life. 

But seriously, YouTube has a slew of videos up like "10 hours of the Haunted Mansion's thunderstorm," and while that's fine, it'd be awesome for Disney to release official videos of stuff like the Tiki Room's waiting area or temple pools with crisp sound quality.

I love the Yule Log and how it transports you to another place in time, so it might sound weird to suggest this Disney Park version of the concept, but hey, the Disney freaks will eat it up (again, myself included.)

Trust me, they (I) would go nuts if there was a 10 hour long shot of the homestead and river from Living with the Land, or the pyramid and volcano from Gran Fiesta Tour. 

Once you arrive at your hotel for your Disney Park adventure, one of the first things you do is turn on your TV and, for many years now, you're greeted with the WDW TV series "Must Do Disney," hosted by the ever-excited Stacey. 

Look, I don't care how outdated some of her lists are, I want every last one of them on Disney+ and I want to watch them now. 

Likewise, I wouldn't mind a livestream of their "Walt Disney World Today" channel, which plays exceedingly charming renditions of classic Disney themes while sharing weather forecasts and news. 

I can't make this more clear: Disney fans are freaks, and we want this. 

Maybe this is going too far, and maybe it's part of the sixth and seventh entries, but I don't care: I want the old and new versions of the "Special Events Channel" on eternal loops, and I don't give a damn who thinks that's an insanely obsessive request. 

These calming, hypnotic channels, with their spinning logo, tranquil seas and shooting stars are such a nostalgia trigger that they're needed. 

And you know what? Here's the thing: almost everything on this list is already available on the internet, including the "Special Events Channel," so it's up to Disney whether or not they want people enjoying these things through YouTube, or if they want to put them up on their own service and bring in the very audience that's watching and uploading these things on YouTube.

But what do I know? I'm just a guy who loves rotating logos, stagnant "must do" lists and the "Spirit of Norway." 

​Overview: Humanity is on the brink of extinction as the battle for Earth is slowly lost to the hordes of monstrous aliens known as the Radam. When all hope seems lost, a mysterious young man takes the fight to the invaders by transforming into a super-powered, armored warrior known as "Tekkaman Blade." Despite his cryptic origins, Blade seems to be Earth's last, best and only chance to win the war, but the secrets of his past breed mistrust... as does the nature of his relationship with the other, hostile "Tekkamen" that start to appear.

The Good: The decidedly dark and bleak storyline makes for an impressive tragedy of Shakespearean proportions: it starts out as a cool sci-fi plot, but slowly twists into a grim exploration of psychological trauma. This isn't a typical "superhero" tale: Blade's awesome powers are not a gift, they are a burden, and it's fascinating to see this side of the "superhero" coin be explored. Rounding things out, the series features gripping performances from a wonderful voice cast (infamously, Blade's voice actor destroyed a microphone with his voice during the recording of one particularly furious scene), impressive pacing (particularly during the second half), and incredibly well-developed, three-dimensional characters. There's also one hell of an epic transformation sequence, and the impressive character and mechanical designs (especially Blade's armor) have had an enormous impact on me. Lastly, there are three excellent OVAs ("Twin Blood," "Burning Clock," and "Missing Link") to complete the Tekkaman Blade experience, with "Burning Clock," in particular, being one of the most soul-crushingly depressing and devastating character studies I've ever seen.

The Bad: Aside from a few spectacular moments here and there, the majority of the series' animation is horrendous due to being stilted, off-model or both, and this can be hard to overlook, even if the power of the story and writing deserve it. And I can't stress enough how tragic, depressing and often times disturbing the story gets, with deep dives into warped psychological complexes and deep seated familial issues, so if that's not your thing, definitely avoid. Another thing to avoid would be the bafflingly awful sequel series, Tekkaman Blade II. 

Oh, and you'll need to read subtitles.
​

Overview: Did you ever wonder why Congress seems to be comprised of increasingly bizarre, untrustworthy, and mentally disturbed individuals who seem to live and operate in an alternate reality? BrainDead endeavors to offer an explanation. Spoilers: the answer is brain-eating bugs from space. 

The Good: Described by the creators as being the "weirdest" and most "anti-network show" possible, BrainDead is a cult classic that's even more hilarious and topical today than it was during its initial 2016 run, as the only logical explanation for our current, hyper-partisan political reality is an invasion of brain-eating space bugs. Helmed by the creators of The Good Wife and The Good Fight, BrainDead contains the very same trademark surrealism, intelligence, wit, charm and humor, but turned up to the highest degree possible. Aside from its great cast, razor sharp writing and truly bonkers storyline, BrainDead constantly lambasts the worst traits of both Republicans and Democrats in a way where, no matter where you stand on any issue, you'll constantly find yourself laughing out loud. Most importantly, though, it features the best recaps ever committed to the visual arts: every episode starts with a unique and catchy song that sums up the previous episode in a humorous fashion, but occasionally deviates from the path with detours into some very bizarre and unexpected territory. With just one self-contained season (12 episodes total), there's no better way to relieve some political tension than watching BrainDead. Also, I love the logo, and how the guy's leg twitches during the intro. 

The Bad: If you're not into politics, or are into politics but can't laugh at yourself, stay very, VERY far away from BrainDead. Also the premise is admittedly absurd, and therefore not for everyone.

Ristar is one of those franchises that SEGA has inexplicably locked away (along with the likes of Golden Axe and Shinobi) and, much like those franchises, it possesses a unique charm and impressive level of quality that demands some more time in the spotlight. 

​Players take on the role of the titular Ristar, a mighty little shooting star that uses his stretchy arms and strong grip to both navigate colorful and imaginative planets and attack the colorful and imaginative enemies that live there. 

With unique gameplay, surreal level designs, and a wonderful aesthetic made even better by the game's gorgeous graphics, Ristar is a delightful gem. 

And, considering that this is "Weekly Soundcheck," you can be certain that it's got some great tunes, too!

Case in point, "Round Clear 2 ~ Beyond Space:"

After defeating a boss, Ristar launches himself off the planet's surface, shooting into space. You're treated to a gorgeous and triumphant sequence where Ristar lives up to his shooting star design,  soaring through the cosmos to his next destination while your points are tallied up and this incredible piece of music plays. 

It's so celebratory, dreamy, light-hearted, spacy, genuine and pure... and every time it starts its triumphant finale at :20, which climaxes at :29/30 with Ristar playfully saying "come on!!" as you're given an encouraging ranking for your point total... It makes me want to cry. 

... actually, I just cry. 

I'm crying now, to be honest. 

..... God, someone please bring back Ristar and do it right. Or, at the very least, give me an orchestral rendition of this piece.

​I need it. 

​Overview: In this canon JRPG sequel to Space Jam, Charles Barkley, one of the last B-Ball players alive following the "Great B-Ball Purge," must face his tragic past after Neo New York is wiped out by a cataclysmic "Chaos Dunk," the very same technique that Barkley used years ago, which unintentionally brought the "Cyberpocalypse" to fruition. Hunted by Michael Jordan, the former hero of the Space Jam, Barkley is in a race against time to discover the truth about the terrorist organization "B.L.O.O.D.M.O.S.E.S.," who (or what) was truly behind this latest "Chaos Dunk," and maybe, just maybe, "redeem basketball once and for all." 

The Good: In case it wasn't immediately apparent, Barkley is absurd and hilarious. It's filled to the brim with bizarre, laugh-out-loud humor. While the surreal aesthetics and content are great on their own merits, Barkley manages to be a surprisingly well-developed JRPG, and includes features such as a unique, interactive battle system (featuring "action commands") and an outstanding score by Final Fantasy's maestro, "Nobuo Uematsu" (at least according to the credits. Regardless, whoever actually composed the music did an excellent job). There are also a few impressive gameplay elements, like thrilling QTE cutscenes, out-of-the-blue mini-games (like a dating sim) and satisfyingly weird side-quests. Best of all, though, is that despite all the humor and absurdity, you'll be surprised by how emotionally invested you are in the characters, how impactful the story becomes, and how genuinely satisfying (and authentic) this JRPG truly is. I kid you not when I say I cried at the end. Oh, and it's free. And short (3-5 hours.)

The Bad: Honestly? Not much. Aside from some very minor rough edges (which are expected from a zero-budget, independently developed game), the only thing I can think of is that its style of humor might not be for everyone... and if the humor doesn't work for you, you're not going to enjoy the game, as sad as that might be. 

In my previous entry, I suggested that StarTropics' Mike Jones was probably the least likely of DLC hopefuls to actually make it into Ultimate... but I did hint at one other choice that could fare even worse... and that'd be today's entrant (or entrants, rather): Altair and the Masked Trio from Bomberman 64!

Bomberman 64 is easily one of the best entries in the Bomberman franchise and certainly one of the Nintendo 64's best games. Featuring a fantastic blend of 3D platforming, intense action and intriguing puzzles, Bomberman 64 stands on its own when compared to its peers, and it's a shame that it (and its clever gameplay elements) has been relatively forgotten, becoming something of a "hidden gem." 

The fact that Bomberman 64 no longer enjoys the popularity and presence it once did (and continues to deserve) is likely the biggest reason why Altair and the Masked Trio's chances of getting into Smash Bros. are so slim... but that doesn't mean I won't go on an explosive rant about why they belong, nor will I stop singing their praises until Sakurai, Nintendo, Konami and Hudson hear my plea. 

​​Who They Are And Why We Need Them:

Bomberman 64 has a surprisingly interesting plot, with memorable characters and unexpectedly dark writing (along with one hell of a plot twist, which I won't spoil here; I'll leave that to a future "Shatterpoint!")

In the game, Planet Bomber is attacked by Altair and the Masked Trio, villainous space pirates who possess an artifact called the Omni Cube, which they use to siphon energy from planets they conquer, and it's up to Bomberman to stop them.

Altair is the leader of the gang, and his three subordinates are the fire-ball throwing Artemis, the aggressive Orion, and the deathly fast Regulus.  

Aside from their cool names, they all possess excellent designs that strike a perfect balance between simple and cool (something that's almost never happened again in the franchise), and they're all armed with a slew of interesting abilities and personality quirks.

Most importantly, though, all four of these villains exude a genuine coolness that, despite their limited dialogue and depth, manages to cement them as memorable and impactful adversaries who set my imagination ablaze. 

Unique Traits:

Normally, I start off with general traits, but the special nature of these characters dictates that we address their unique traits first.

For starters, yes, you will actually be playing as all four of these characters simultaneously. This isn't done the same way as the Ice Climbers or Pokémon Trainer, either. Instead, you choose who your main character is (in the same fashion you'd choose their colors), and that's who directly control on the battlefield. The members you didn't choose make their appearance when delivering their unique special attacks. 

That said, there's one more element to this multi-character mayhem: the character you do choose, be it Altair, Artemis, Orion or Regulus, is what determines most of your basic attacks. While that doesn't count for much in the long run, their traits are varied and specific enough that you might prefer one over the other. 

For example, Regulus does fast slashing damage with his standard attacks, Artemis does middle-of-the-road fire damage, Orion has slow-but-strong clobbering moves and Altair gives off a shock with every mighty strike. 

Likewise, your chosen character also dictates their weight and speed: Altair and Orion are slower and heavier, while Regulus and Artemis are lighter and faster.

Differences aside, they all share a few things in common, namely that their Smash Attacks all consist of bomb dropping/tossing/kicking and laying.

Lastly, each of these characters has less-than-stellar jumping prowess, but, in reference to the jump mechanics in their source game, their second jump drops a small, weak bomb in its wake that explodes in mid-air (and it's the little hop off the top of said bomb that propels the villains into the air a second time.)

Just to be clear, this "small, weak bomb" is exactly that: nothing more than a nuisance that likely won't even cause a victim to flinch. 

... oh, and for those wondering, yes, being knocked out or having a shattered shied results in the same, infamous stars-orbiting-head unconsciousness from Bomberman 64, minus the need to rotate the control stick.

Stats/General Traits:

Aside from the aforementioned awkward jumps and (relatively slight) differences in speed, weight and attack variations, this quartet is generally average in all quarters.

Indeed, it's less about what makes these characters powerful and more about how they are used, especially when it comes to the timing of their mighty bomb-related Smash Attacks. 

​Move List:

Below, you'll find each character's unique basic attacks, their shared Smash Attacks, and their varied Special Moves, all of which were plucked directly from Bomberman 64!

Basic Attacks:

The entire quartet possesses categorically similar attacks, but each has their own unique animations and traits.

1) Regulus attacks with his wrist blades in series of quick slashes. Although it's unlikely Regulus will send opponents flying with these fast (but quite weak) standard attacks, there is a dangerous potential for enemies caught in his razor-filled flurries to quickly accrue damage.

2) Orion attacks enemies with his brute strength by means of punches, kicks, headbutts and tackles. Although these attacks are slow, they pack the potential to send enemies soaring. 

3) Like Regulus, Artemis is quick, but her attacks have more of a punch behind them. Using kicks and punches, Artemis typically starts and finishes a combo with some burst of burning, fiery damage.

4) Altair fights with precision. His moves (a mix of martial arts and raw power) are strong but delayed (somewhat like Ike), meaning that players will need to think ahead. That said, if a move makes contact, an opponent will know it through either damage percentage or being blown away. And, naturally, as the man who possesses the Omni Cube, some of its stored cosmic power comes out in each of Altair's precise strikes, which surges through victims upon contact. 

As mentioned in the "Unique Traits" section, each character's Smash Attacks are essentially identical, and basically all consist of dropping/kicking/tossing or laying bombs. 

Side Smashes result in kicking bombs, Down Smashes result in planting bombs (and dropping them down if done in mid-air), and Up Smashes toss bombs into the air. These bombs always travel at the same velocity, but charging a Smash Attack results in a bigger bomb, bigger explosion, and faster detonation. 

Special - Artemis Fireball

Artemis shoots three fireballs in the general direction of the nearest opponent(s.)

Though lacking in raw power and launch potential, the fiery damage of these speedy fireballs are impressive, calling to mind Ness' annoying PK Fire, and their explosive areas of effect are greater than you might think. A good hit will also send the target straight up into the air, even if there isn't much height to it. 

Up Special - Vega's Flight

Vega, Altair's mechanical "pet," appears, grips the player and then takes them towards the platform while firing its beam at nearby threats. An incredible recovery, yes, but Vega isn't infallible, and is capable of missing its target, meaning that skill and timing are absolutely necessary for survival. 

Side Special - Death Dash

Regulus dashes in the direction of the move's input and delivers lighting-fast slashes to the first opponent he comes into contact with. The strikes are powerful, and the final hit launches the victim upwards, but it'll take a considerable amount of damage for this move to fatal. That said, "Death Dash" can also be used as a decent recovery, though Vega is often your best option.  Note: this move can be charged up. When fully-powered, Regulus will ask "ready?" as he initiates the attack.

Down Special - Shockwave

Orion produces a powerful defensive shockwave that protects him from opponents, projectiles and items, while also knocking back and damaging anyone caught in its range. While this move certainly has offensive applications, it is best suited for defense and escaping sticky situations.

 Final Smash: "Playtime Is OVER!" / Merge With Vega / Super Altair

Announcing that "playtime is OVER!," Altair summons Vega and the two merge. The newly-formed foe, dubbed "Super Altair," shouts "I'll finish you!" and fires out a powerful shockwave, and those caught in the beam not only take major damage but find themselves on the receiving end of a powerful death beam delivered by the transforming warrior, Sirius.

Omni Cube:

In this alternate Final Smash, Altair sucks opponents into his Omni Cube, drains their energy (damaging them and healing himself), and then has his base, Black Fortress fire a scorching laser across the map. 

Taunts:

Thankfully, Altair and each member of his Masked Trio possess a few epic voice lines in Bomberman 64, all of which make for great taunts! (And I'd hope they use the exact sound files from the original game; nothing beats those line deliveries and intentions!)

1)  Altair strikes his battle pose while posing a threatening question: "you wanna fight me?"

2) Artemis threatens her enemies in the same way she threatened Bomberman: pointing and declaring "you're mine!" (or, on occasion, saying "bye, bye!!") 

3)  Regulus slashes through the air like he did in his showdown with Bomberman, asking the fateful question: "ready?" 

4*)  Orion, a man of few words, merely roars in rage and fury: "RAAUUGGGHH!"

* = Considering that there are only three slots for taunts, and that Orion doesn't actually say anything of merit, his specific taunt is inaccessible by default, only being used when he's chosen as your main character, where it replaces Altair's "you wanna fight me?"

Stage Entrance(s):

Each member of this bad-bomber gang has their own unique entrance, all of which are based on their entrances from Bomberman 64.

1) Altair descends from a beam of light.
2) Orion digs up and bursts forth from the ground.
3) Artemis floats down from the sky, hovers in mid-air, and lands.
4) Regulus jumps from the background and into the foreground. 

Stage(s):

Bomberman 64 has a great selection of levels, but due to the nature of Smash Bros., it was integral to pick the most "iconic" locations, or the ones that best showcase the game they hail from... and that's a problem in this case. Bomberman 64 doesn't have a famous hubworld or distinct, beloved landmark; it simply has a selection of equally great levels. Because of that, I decided to pick a level that shows off the mayhem of Bomberman, but also acts as a fitting "home field" for the Altair and his goons.

1) Black Fortress: Trap Tower

The level right before the fateful showdown with Altair, "Trap Tower" is a large, complex, puzzle-filled area with all kinds of booby traps and trouble. In the Smash version, players would fight on a large platform, with two or three elevator-styled platforms that would change elevation during the battle. The main battleground would travel up and down the multiple floors of the Trap Tower, each with their own hazards, such as Altair's security forces taking potshots at players. 

However, this stage's key feature would be titular "traps." Throughout the battle, three floor panels/switches would light up, and stepping on them would trigger certain effects. For example, two sections of the main platform are made of a translucent purple material, and stepping on their adjacent panels causes the glass to disappear, which creates a brand new pitfall (at least temporarily) to worry about.

The third switch would have a variety of effects, some of which are helpful, and some that are... not quite so helpful. For example, the third switch might close the newly opened pitfalls, or open them both simultaneously. It could also produce food or an item. Or it might be a trap and make you explode. 

You know, being the "Trap Tower" and all.

2) Black Fortress: Throne Room / Vs. Altair

For those that want less traps, and more of a straight-up brouhaha, there's Altair's Throne Room. This platform floats over a chasm, and is essentially a no-frills arena for in-your-face brawling. However, there is a unique trait in the form of the bridges. 

On either side of the main platform, there's a bridge that extends the length of the arena right off into the kill zone. During battle, Vega swoops in and disintegrates the bridges, significantly shrinking the battle area.

3) Up and Down (Multiplayer Map):

Considering that Bomberman is a series known for its multiplayer, I'd be remiss not to include a multiplayer map, even if the aforementioned Black Fortress stages would be better choices overall.

Up and Down is one of the best multiplayer arenas in the game, and would translate well to Super Smash Bros. due to its multiple levels of small platforms. 

Heck, they should probably include this level's "trap" as an Easter Egg or major mechanic, too: in Bomberman 64, if your multiplayer match lasts too long, each stage has a death trap that activates. In the case of "Up and Down," the sea level rises until there's a winner... or everyone drowns. If implemented in Ultimate, it could be one hell of a way to cause a frenzy as players all battle for the top platform, hoping to either win or at least survive until the water levels recede. 

4) Blue Resort:

Okay, so there's really no purpose for me including "Blue Resort" on this list... I just love this level and, even though it wouldn't really make a great Smash Bros. stage, what can I say? Blue Resort is awesome. 

5) Black Fortress:  

... alright, one more. Though "Trap Tower" and "Vs. Altair" would definitely be better, cleaner stages, the entire world of Black Fortress is filled with a lot of great set pieces that'd make for a cool Smash Bros. stage. The arena could start on the streets at the entrance of the fortress, where incoming vehicles pose a hazard. Then, the arena floats up to Cerberus' lair, who unleashes his weapons at the players for a brief time before the the stage transitions upwards into a truncated version of the "Trap Tower." Finally, it makes its way to the Throne Room before finally restarting at the entrance.

Way too complicated, but still cool. 

Music:

Bomberman 64 might have one of the most underrated soundtracks on the N64 (which I'll definitely get to in a review one day soon!), so there was plenty to pick from. The said, I came to my decisions based not just on quality, but appropriateness in terms of the characters in question:

1) A remix of the "Masker" theme would be highly appropriate, considering that it's the theme plays for the battles with Artemis, Orion and Regulus.

2) A remix of Black Fortress' theme would be fitting for both a Black Fortress level, and as a theme for the Altair and the Trio.

3) A remix that combines both "Altair I" and "Altair II" would be great for the character and also a tense Smash showdown. 

4) "Red Mountain" is one of the best songs in Bomberman 64, and while it doesn't exactly fit with Altair, the Masked Trio or any of the theoretical stages, it's an awesome song. 

Reveal Trailer:

This could go a few ways, all of which are weird, and one of which is terribly dark. Let's start with that one (especially because it's the most developed scenario, hah.)

1) We see standard Smash gameplay. It's a four-player match between Bowser and a few other villains. Bowser grabs an assist trophy and Bomberman pops out. Instead of fighting, he desperately tries to tell Bowser and the others something. Instead of listening, they pummel him. Especially Bowser. 

We see a montage of this happening again and again, with Bomberman getting smashed into oblivion every time he tries to warn Bowser and the fighters about whatever he's worrying about.

Finally, Bomberman is unleashed from yet another Assist Trophy and now, more than ever, he is losing his mind and pointing at the sky. Bowser and the rest all look at each other and get ready to knock the poor guy out... only for a shadow to come over the arena. It's the Black Fortress.

They look at Bomberman in shock, back at the fortress, then back at Bomberman, who simply shrugs in a "I tried to tell ya" way.

The Black Fortress then opens fire on the stage, sending the main bully, Bowser, off into the distance with a flaming butt. 

Altair and his Masked Trio descend onto the arena. The remaining three characters, joined by Bomberman, strike a fighting pose, to which Altair responds "you wanna fight me?" 

2) Bowser and the Koopalings are causing a lot of mayhem, shredding heroes left and right before running into Altair and his Masked Trio, who proceed to show him who the baddest gang of all is. 

3) A group of fighters are overwhelmed by Altair and his invading forces, so they desperately throw out Assist Trophy after Assist Trophy until Bomberman comes out, causing great joy. Rubbing his eyes, Bomberman groggily looks around and, upon seeing Altair, bugs out and runs for his life, causing the previous aura of joy to become one of dread and despair. 

As for the tagline(s), here are two possibilities.... both of which are cringey: 

"Altair and the Masked Trio are here to steal your energy AND the show!" (or vice versa)

-or-

"Altair and the Masked Trio explode onto the scene!"

... I apologize. These were hard, hah. 

Overview: After being thrown into an impossibly colossal (and thoroughly perilous) fantasy world, the player is given unbridled freedom to set out and do just about anything they want. This is Skyrim's Great-Grandfather.

The Good: You know how in Rugrats, Grandpa was always saying stuff like "back in my day, we had to walk FIFTEEN MILES to school!" to show how hardcore his life was? Skyrim's Great-Grandpa is exactly like that except, unlike Mr. Pickles, Daggerfall isn't exaggerating. The game's world is comparable to the real-life Great Britain, possessing a staggering amount of towns, quests and dungeons. Speaking of the dungeons, almost all of them are randomly generated by an unchained program with no concern for length, safety, logic or reason. In other words, if you're intent on braving the dangers of a dungeon, you better prepare to be lost for hours. In fact, you might never get out at all. The oppressive difficulty of adventuring, dreary atmosphere, palpable dread of exploring dungeons, great music, terrifying perils of combat, overwhelming sense of wonder at the massive world,  the absurd level of freedom (want to buy a boat or a house? Do it!) and the fact that you can drink mead at taverns whenever you please, all make for an exciting game that blows its safer, more refined great-grandchild out of the water. It's free, too!

The Bad: Most obvious negative is the crushing difficulty and genuinely overwhelming freedom. Then there's the peril of making the reckless decision to explore some nearby crypt, which might lead to 15 hours of trying to find a way out, realizing you can't, and then simply giving up. However, the worst part of Daggerfall is, by far, its unstable, bug-ridden nature. Dungeons, locales and quests can be excessively glitchy, and save files regularly corrupt themselves for no discernible reason (so save often, and in multiple slots). While I personally find all of this meta-level terror to be thrilling, I doubt many others share the opinion.