Author: Alex Lucard

  • Retrograding Mailbag 02.17.03

    Right, well I’m holding off on the Shining Force discussion, as 2-3 of you had a point that I should put it up along with the Shining SOUL review I’ll be doing as they will complement each other nicely. So the week of the 17th will be Shining Force week here at 411games. As well,…

  • Retrograding 02.12.03

    Man, what a busy week it’s been. Only an Advance and mailbag column from me last week! I must be slipping. Actually, I’ve been exceptionally busy with real-world stuff. Dealing with White Wolf, Games Workshop, Eden Studios, and WotC in terms of things I’ve written, and also conducting two interviews for upcoming Retrograding columns. One…

  • Retrograding Advance 02.01.03

    Quick note before we begin, it appears the wheels are back in gear for Alex to do the first “All Flesh Must Be Eaten” Graphic Novel. No idea when it’ll be on shelves, but it gives you a reason to pester www.allflesh.com to get he buzz started. 411comics will probably be enjoying that bit of…

  • Retrograding 01.28.03

    Let’s see, first off I was in Stratford-upon-Avon this weekend. Nice little town. Probably the best I’ve seen in the UK so far. And not just because of Shakespeare. Anyways, I had one of my Spider-Sense tingling, like when I found FF Tactics and the Strategy guide for sale for $20 in a little down…

  • Retrograding Mailbag 01.24.03

    You know it surprised me the other day when the excellent Joseph Stanley mentioned Jason Masters tried an “Ask 411 games” column that failed. I mean, I get enough emails and questions from you guys to do a weekly mailbag issue for you. Maybe the time just wasn’t right, but I think it’s a kick…

  • Retrograding Advance 01.23.03

    Well, people, a little comment as I get emails about this. My columns are not put up as soon as I write them. I give them to Chris, and when he has time, they go up. So yes, you WILL notice me talking about things over email to you that may seem different from what…

  • Retrograding Mailbag 01.20.03

    Okay, It’s my letter column. I’d like to start it off by saying it’s my one-month anniversary here at 411, but it feels like years, huh? I’d also like to say I know finally have a copy of HELL NIGHT to call my own and it only cost me 9.99£! Damn that’s sweet. If you…

  • Retrograding 01.17.03

    La mayyitan ma qadirun yatabaqqa sarmadi Fa idha yaji’ al-shudhdhadh fa-l-maut qad yantahi. ‘That is not dead which can eternal lie, And with strange aeons even death may die.’ Abdul Alhazred, the Necronomicon Right, and if quasi-Sumerian and strange prophetic phrases about Great Old Ones rising to destroy mankind in both the flesh and soul…

  • Retrograding Advance 01.14.03

    Before I start, let me say with all modesty, I appear to have had a good effect on the 411 staff. I mean, before me, there was NOTHING on the GBA. Now Ron, Chris, Bebito and that other guy are all commenting out. Good for them. And good for all of you supporting GBA news…

  • Retrograding Mailbag 01.10.03

    Hey guys. This is really late. It’s about 10 days old. It’s been done for a while, but just not sent off. Still, it is just letters, so I guess being up to date on the mailbag is no big deal, right? But you’re here to read my letters, so let’s show ’em Most of…

  • Retrograding 01.09.03

    Okay, first up: what do you guys want to see reviewed more: Metroid Fusion, Defender of the Crown, or Lunar Legends? Let me know! Otherwise it’s Rocky and Pocky with Becky! If I reviewed the Hamtaro game, would you guys actually read it? I’m so tempted to get the game just to see how everyone…

  • Retrograding Advance 1.03.03

    Okay, since this is a crazy semi-FAQ/semi-review /semi-comparison to the old SSI version of this game, we’re going to not use the usual 411-review formula. Ratings will be at the end of the column though for you. I simply can’t put everything I’m going to say into the standard form here. Now, the original Eye…

  • Retro-Grading 12.27.02

    Okay. Bottom line, this is about bootlegging, using emulators, and the like. It make sense Retrograding should be the column to cover this aspect of gaming because 99% of the time, emulators are used for old games. I’m going to be fair to both sides however, and allow you the reader to come to your…

  • Retrograding Mailbag 12.27.02

    Hey everyone. I promised a mailbag edition if a ton of you wrote me, and here it is. I received nearly 100 emails from my RPG column, about two dozen from the Pokemon and Robotech column and about a dozen have come in for Phantasy Star. I’ve decided to mainly go with letter from my…

  • Retrograding Advance 12.24.02

    First I have a few things to say. Thanks to the 2 dozen who emailed me last week. I answered them all and I as very glad and shocked to see how many of you wanted GBA and import news. I’ll be keeping it up. Secondly, thanks to the zillions of you writing in about…

  • Retro-Grading 12.21.02

    Right. Welcome to Retrograding. I’m your host, Alexander Lucard. You may make the token Hellsing, Castlevania or random dyslexic Dracula joke now. I’ve heard them all growing up. :-P Retrograding is hopefully going to be something new here at 411mania.com. Where the other writers are looking at the current gaming situation, doing reviews of the…

  • Retrograding Advance 12.17.02

    Retrograding is going to be about old games, systems and other stuff. The other Columnists like Ron and Bebito are the people you go to for current US releases, news and rumours. I’m the guy who comes off like an old hermit raving about the Neo*Geo and how games are far too easy nowadays and…

  • History Of Shining Force: Part Two

    Shining Force II Release Date: October 19th, 1994 System: Sega Genesis This is it. The best of all the SF games. My pagan fantasy RPG God and the game that completes my top five RPG games of all time: This, Guardian Heroes, Sakura Wars 1, Persona 2: Eternal Punishment and Valkyrie Profile are the best…

  • History Of Shining Force: Part Three

    Shining Force 3: Scenario 1 Before I get into the plot, I’d like to speak about the changes made to the game series. First, Shining Force went into full 3D mode here. Yes, the majority of the world was in the usual 2D fashion SF fans had grown to love, but now the battles were…