Hello everyone! How are the button-mashing sessions going? A while back I started several other sections of the blog, but due to the lack of time (I really need longer days!) I could no dedicate as much attention as I wanted to them (although I promise I’m working on it), so in this entry I’m going to talk about something different. Well… kinda… Instead of games, I’m going to talk about books… related to games. No good collection can be complete without a few almanacs that show to your guests that you are not just some button-mashing loony, but a well-read-button-mashing loony. In the recent years the market has received several high quality “gaming almanacs” in which some erudites share all the knowledge they have gathered for years about our favorite hobby, so in this entry I will review some of the most interesting almanacs. Please keep in mind that, despite including some art, the books included in this list ARE NOT artbooks per se, neither are they guidebooks, but books that provide all kind of information about the games and companies themselves. Also, please keep in mind all these books are in English. Very well then, after this small but necessary clarification, let’s review these interesting gaming books.
Hardcore Gaming 101 Presents: The Guide to Shoot-Em-Ups Vol. 1
The website Hardcore Gaming 101 is definitely one of the best sources of knowledge on the industry, and more specifically about the early days of the relatively still young industry. Thanks to the support from the fans, the team behind the website has managed to publish a series of almanacs that compile several of the articles published on the website. The first book I will talk about will be The Guide to Shoot-Em-Ups Vol. 1, a book that, just like its name indicates, gathers information about some of the best classic Shoot ‘Em Up games. The book includes 154 full color pages full of articles related to over 50 titles from the 80s and 90s with all kind of information and pictures of classics such as Zanac, Aleste / Power Strike, MUSHA, Space Megaforce, The Guardian Legend, Star Soldier, Gate of Thunder, Sapphire, Thunder Force, Hyper Duel, R-Type, X-Multiply, Dragon Breed, Cotton, Rayxanber, Recca, Magical Chase, Coryoon or Gleylancer, making it a perfect collector´s piece for any fans of the genre. You can check the complete list of titles included in the book here: http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/shooterbook/shooterbook.htm
Hardcore Gaming 101 Presents: The 200 Best Video Games of All Time
We continue with the books published by Hardcore Gaming 101. This time is a book that talks about the best 200 games ever released according to the popular website. This 216 full color pages book includes articles with all kind of information and images about the classics included in the book. You can check the complete list of classics included in the book in this link: http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/200bestgames/200bestgames.htm A book that every videogame fan should own.
Hardcore Gaming 101 Presents: The Unofficial Guide to Konami Shooters
Another book by Hardcore Gaming 101 dedicated to the Shoot ‘Em Up genre, and more specifically to several Konami classics related to the genre. The book has 152 full color pages full of information and pictures about classics such as Gradius, TwinBee, Parodius, Otomedius, Life Force, Salamander, Axelay, Thunder Cross, Space Manbow or Xexex, among many others. You can check the complete list of classics included in the book here: http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/kshooterbook/kshooterbook.htm A book no fan of the genre should miss.
Hardcore Gaming 101 Digest Vol. 2: Taito Arcade Classics
Another great book by Hardcore Gaminfg 101, this time focused on some of the best arcade classics from Taito. 98 full color pages full of information and pictures about classics such as Rastan, The Legend of Kage, The Ninja Warriors, The New Zealand Story or Metal Black, among many others. You can check the complete list of classics included in the book in this link: http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/digest2/digest2.htm A great review of the history of one of the most relevant companies during the arcades golden era.
Hardcore Gaming 101 Presents: Sega Arcade Classics Vol. 1 y Vol. 2
Two more books by Hardcore Gaming 101 that review the long history behind the company of the blue hedgehog. Two books with more than a 160 full color pages filled up with all kind of information and pictures related to classics such as After Burner, Golden Axe, Space Harrier, Shinobi, OutRun, Fantasy Zone, Alex Kidd, Altered Beast, Gain Ground, Alien Syndrome, Wonder Boy / Monster World, Galaxy Force, Alien Storm, Crack Down, Dynamite Dux, ESWAT, Thunder Blade, Quartet or Power Drift, among many others. You can check the complete list of titles included in the books here:
http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/segabook/segabook.htm
http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/segabook2/segabook2.htm
Two fantastic gaming bibles of one of the companies that helped to lay the foundations for the game industry as we know it nowadays that should not be missing in the collection of any fan.
Hardcore Gaming 101 Presents: Data East Arcade Classics
Another Hardcore Gaming 101 book very similar to the previous ones, but this times it focuses on the history of Data East, authors of several arcade cult classics. The book includes 146 full color pages full of information and pictures of classics such as BurgerTime, Karate Champ, Karnov, Trio the Punch, Desert Assault, Night Slashers, RoboCop, Captain America and the Avengers, Boogie Wings, Windjammers, Magical Drop, Bad Dudes or Two Crude Dudes, among many others. You can check the complete list of titles included in the book in this link: http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/dataeastbook/dataeastbook.htm
Hardcore Gaming 101 Presents: Castlevania
The last Hardcore Gaming 101 book in the list is probably the best “videogame bible” ever written about Konami´s timeless (and unfairly neglected) classic. On its 158 full color pages we will find all kind of information related to more than 30 titles related to the franchise that go from its very origins to the more recent entries such as Castlevania Lords of Shadow 2, including tones of graphic material such as official art, screenshots or even character sprites. If you are a fan of Konami´s veteran franchise, you must own this book, for it’s the ultimate tribute to the Belmonts. You can check the complete list of titles included in the book here: http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/cvbook/cvbook.htm
Super Nintendo: The Box Art Collection
This magnificent hardcover book contains 276 full color pages that collect images of the Japanese box art of some of the most famous titles available in the Super Nintendo. On top of the box art, the author also included some relevant info related to each of the games included in the book, making it the perfect collector piece for any fan of Nintendo´s classic 16-bit console.
Playing with Power: Nintendo NES Classics
Another awesome book dedicated to yet another awesome Nintendo console; the classic 8-bit NES. This 320 full color pages book includes tons of info and images about 17 classics, including games such as Zelda, Mario Bros, Kirby or Mega Man. It is also worth to mention the book´s high quality hardcover binding, including a fantastic cover that imitates the shape of the old NES cartridges. A true collector´s piece that will surely help to bring back some good old memories.
Art of Atari
Despite the title, Art of Atari is much more than a simple artbook of the American legendary game company, for on top of the box art, the 352 full color pages of this hardcover book are packed with other things such as development sketches and promotional art, as well as interviews with some designers and illustrators and all other kind of information related to the Californian company and its games, making it the perfect book for any fan of the company in particular as well as any fan of videogames and their history in general.
Sinclair ZX Spectrum: A Visual Compendium
Similar to the previous book, Sinclair ZX Spectrum: A Visual Compendium is much more than a simple book, for its 304 full color pages are packed with all kind of information about 130 titles of this legendary gaming computer. It is also worth to mention the book´s flawless presentation, including its high quality hardcover and a box to protect the book. Another collector´s piece that will allow you to have a piece of gaming history right on your shelf.
And that´s all. These are some of the most interesting gaming almanacs out there right now. I hope they will help you to discover some hidden gaming jewels you never heard of before, and if not, I hope at least they will give you some good conversation topics for you “gaming wise men councils” with your fellows.
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