Game Manuals Are Cool, Actually

30 March, 2026

Hello friends, writing these things in one sitting is wild. I plan on not doing that next week. Anyways, onwards with the blog.

I'm Suddenly A Big Fan of Game Manuals

I sorta miss gaming manuals, as a kid when you bought a game chances are you ripped open the box and went straight to the system, slammed that cartridge into the slot and fired that mutha up. Maybe then you'd read a manual to figure out what it was you were doing, but for the most part the experience is raw and visceral.

Instead of locking into those Switch ports of Pokemon Fire Red or Leaf Green I looked at my long abandoned Pokemon: The Series playthrough, I got as far as running credits in Pokemon Blue before canning the idea, however, I did buy Pokemon Pinball and put in a few sessions without understanding a lick of the board apart from the basics of the basics. There's a Catch 'Em mode and an Evolution mode, sure, whatever.

I finally bit the bullet, and in a mood for something authentic I opted for a .PDF upload of the manual instead of GameFAQs, Strategy Wiki or god forbid Wikia.

I recommend you read along. My favourite detail is probably on Page 7 of the manual itself where it instructs you on HOW you can CHEAT in the GAME, you can just casually knock the ball into the field?? The diagrams of the Red (p8) and Blue (p10) board, and little character illustrations (See Mewtwo on page 12) are nifty... invaluable is understanding how the Map actually works, and a beginner's guide of what Pokemon may appear (p24-25)

Unfortunately, none of this has made me a God at Pinball, but it's getting my a little closer to collecting the freaks inside my cartridge and validating my long held opinion that you should always follow the instructions when constructing furniture.

Read a game manual today!

Leaky Faucet 1, Nintendo 0

I hate dumb leaking discourse, it takes the air out of actual gaming... instead of enjoying the art, we instead think of the what if's. What if I did not commit to my yearly playthroughs of Star Fox 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and instead played the newest entries in these games?

Well it could be a reality, should the leaks mean a thing. Star Fox will be in the Mario movie, and I guess he has a new design... Like Donkey Kong did, remember that? Then there was a new Donkey Kong game... This is as far as I got with the rumour, if you've never played a Star Fox, play 64.

Ocarina of Time also sits in the range of "Final Fantasy VII was remade, what about the other best game of all time?"

I lack imagination, I just don't see how it could work but sure I'll hand over $100 sight unseen to find out.

I've watched enough Hitchcock to watch other director's Hitchcock movies.

I'm no film critic, but I realised by watching Brian DePalma and Roman Polanski DVDs I'm actually watching some legit flicks in the vein of Hitchcock but of course, without being Hitchcock. Buy a DVD today, see a Doctor who has no business in detective work out flank an entire workforce in a foreign country. It's your civil duty.

Fuel is expensive

I'm considering public transport for more of my needs, I can game... or just casually goon around on a train. What I would normally do at home, I can do on a train. It's a loading zone you see.

More as it develops, until then cya next week.